Holon gets by Jerusalem 80-77 in thriller to book place in final where Herzliya awaits

Jun 2, 2022 | Holyland Hoops

Hapoel Holon just slipped by Hapoel Jerusalem 80-77 as they moved onto the Israel Basketball League finals where they will face Bnei Herzliya. Joe Ragland did as he pleased over the course of the second and third quarters while Tyrus McGee hit his free throws down the stretch to seal the deal and send Guy Goodes’s squad into the finals.

Herzliya will host game one at the HaYovel Arena on Monday night, Holon will host game two at the Toto Arena on Thursday while game three if necessary will be back in Herzliya on the following Sunday night.

The Reds jumped out to a quick lead as Retin Obasohan and Suleiman Braimoh did the damage early for Yotam Halperin’s team but Tyrus McGee kept Holon close over the opening ten minutes, but Joe Ragland began to score at will with three triples to begin the second quarter and give Guy Goodes’s squad a 47-43 lead at halftime. Braimoh, Obasohan and Jalen Adams and kept Jerusalem close but Ragland continued to score and McGee knocked down his free throws along with savvy play from Michale Kyder including a key block on KC Rivers sewed up the 3-point victory.

Joe Ragland – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman


Ragland led the way with 30 points, McGee added 21 points and Kyser chipped in with 13 points in the win. Obasohan scored 20 points, Braimoh added 17 points and Adams put in 13 points in the loss.

Guy Goodes – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman


“We didn’t start off well,” Holon coach Guy Goodes began. “But the Basketball Champions League games gave us some experience with the toughness and physicality as well as having played in numerous knock out the games gave the guys the know how of what to expect. It wasn’t easy to win at this arena but we did and moved onto the finals.”

Yotam Halperin – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman


“It was a basket here and a basket there,” a disappointed Jerusalem coach Yotam Halperin said. “We missed some as did they but it was a tough series against a very tough team. We can go home and say that we did do everything that we could to win this series but we didn’t win. We have to learn from this and understand what we need to do better as a club.”

Guy Pnini and Niv Misgav – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman


Holon captain Guy Pnini reflected on the win, “It’s an amazing feeling and it was a fantastic win as we went through so much physical and mental work to get to this point. We recorded an amazing win at the toughest arena in the country and we were able to do something special and go to the finals.”

Retin Obasohan – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman


Chris Johnson scored in the paint for Hapoel Holon, Retin Obasohan answered with a 3-point play for Hapoel Jerusalem to get things underway, Michale Kyser found points inside, Suleiman Braimoh and Obasohan both went from deep while the latter then put down an alleyoop to give Yotam Halperin’s team a 11-4 lead midway through the first quarter. Rafi Menco dialled up long distance, Braimoh came back with a layup, Joe Ragland and Tyrus McGee each scored for Guy Goodes’s squad, Noam Dovrat put in a 3-point play and KC Rivers knocked down a triple while McGee and Niv Misgav did the same to cut the Jerusalem lead to 21-18 after ten minutes of play.

Joe Ragland – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman


Joe Ragland opened the second quarter with a trio of 3-pointers, Johnson put in a rebound, Braimoh scored in the paint, Ragland responded, Jalen Adams went from downtown and Adam Ariel scored an easy deuce but Holon grabbed a 33-29 lead with 5:50 left in the first half. Braimoh knocked down a 3-pointer, Ragland fed Kyser for an alleyoop, McGee hit a long two, Ragland nailed another pair from deep and added a layup up the middle, Willy Workman scored a trio of buckets, Ragland scored yet again to keep Holon in front 47-43 at halftime.

Su Braimoh – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman


Braimoh drilled home a triple and Itay Segev dunked to start off the third quarter, McGee responded from deep and Ragland went in for a layup, Adams did the same at the other end, Obasohan went from downtown but Misgav hit an off balance jumper as Holon maintained a 56-54 lead midway through the frame. Ragland nailed another 3-pointer, Adams answered with a layup, Ragland put in a tear drop, Rivers went from beyond the arc, McGee scored off the baseline as Holon went into the last quarter ahead 63-59.

Tyrus McGee – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman


Rivers hit a jumper to begin the fourth quarter, Kyser cleaned up a broken play and added another bucket, Dovrat went from deep and Misgav sliced through the defense as Holon kept the lead 69-66 with five minutes remaining in regulation. Kyser hit a jumper, Rivers scored in the paint but Obasohan went to the hoop and scored a 3-point play to tie the game up at 71-71 with three minutes to go.

Michale Kyser – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman


Braimoh put in a layup, Kyser came back with an and-one play of his own, Obasohan hit two from the free throw line, Braimoh missed his pair from the charity stripe, McGee put the ball off the glass for a bucket to retake the lead 76-75. On the ensuing possession Kyser blocked Rivers forcing Jerusalem to foul as McGee knocked down his free throws to seal the victory and move onto the finals where they’ll face Bnei Herzliya.

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