Hapoel Jerusalem captured the Israeli Basketball Classico as they cruised past Maccabi Tel Aviv 95-83. Jared Harper was sensational throughout the matchup scoring early and often while Austin Wiley and Khadeen Carrington scored timely baskets to make sure the yellow-and-blue would not be able to mount a late game comeback.

The reds began the game with an onslaught of 3-pointers with Harper and Yovel Zoosman leading the way to take an early lead. Maccabi tried to cut down the gap with points from Roman Sorkin and Rafi Menco but Carrington who just signed an extension with the capital city squad would have none of that as he helped his side head into halftime with a 43-35 lead. Harper and Wiley continued to cause all kinds of headaches for Maccabi as Jimmy Clark tried in vain to narrow the lead but more points from Zoosman and Carrington closed out the win.

Harper scored 30 points, Carrington added 16 points and Wiley checked in with a 15 point and 10 rebound double-double in the victory. Clark scored 24 points while Sorkin and Randolph each scored 13 points in the loss.

“We brought 40 minutes of defensive intensity and we didn’t give up,” Hapoel Jerusalem Head Coach Yonatan Alon said. “We work hard during o practice and this gave us the positive result. We have been practicing very hard and we have time to do so and with that we are able to do some good things.”

“I have to give credit to Hapoel Jerusalem,” Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach Oded Katash said. “They had more time to prepare and were able to take advantage of the situation. We took the first punch from them at the start of the game and we tried to calm things down but we just weren’t successful. We were very soft in this game and we have not played well in the Israeli league recently and we paid the price.”

Austin Wiley spoke about his team’s victory, “We came with the right sense of urgency and did the right things on the defensive end while limiting our mistakes. We have been trying to get back the rhythm and this was a statement win. Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv are good teams but if we compete like we did we will also be there as well.”

Jimmy Clark reflected on the loss, “As a team as a whole we have to come in with the same mindset like a Euroleague game. It should never change and always be the same. If we stay with that mindset I feel that it will be better in the Israeli league games. We had some sports in this game but not the whole 40 minutes.”

Hapoel Jerusalem opened the game at a frantic pace with triples from Yovel Zoosman, Jared Harper and Jeremy Morgan, Rokas Jokubatis scored a pair of nifty baskets and handed out a smart assist to Jimmy Clark while Jaylen Hoard, who was making his comeback from injury dunked for Maccabi Tel Aviv but more points from Harper and a 3-pointer from Nimrod Levi gave the reds a 24-18 lead after ten minutes of play.

Harper and Zoosman bumped the lead up to begin the second quarter, Roman Sorkin, Trevion Williams and Clark responded, while Rafi Menco scored on the inside and then Sorkin scored from the outside, Harper came back with points and fed Austin Wiley for a dunk while Khadeen Carrington drilled home a corner 3-ball to end the half with Hapoel Jerusalem ahead 43-35.

Wiley and Harper continued to pace Yonatan Alon’s team to get the third quarter off and running, Menco and Jokubatis tried to keep Oded Katash’s squad relevant, but free throws galore gave Hapoel a 57-41 midway through the period. Clark put in a deuce and a triple, Will Rayman added points, Harper stopped the run with a layup, Zoosman drained a 3-pointer and Carrington put in points to stay in front 68-54 after thirty minutes of action.

Harper and Wiley once again combined to give Jerusalem points to start off the final frame, Morgan drained a 3-pointer, Clark, Tamir Blatt and Levi Randolph did the same at the other end to pull to within 80-69 with 5:14 remaining in regulation time. Carrington went from deep and Harper sealed the deal with a 4-point play as the reds took the final Classico of the regular season.