Hapoel Jerusalem downed Hapoel Haifa 89-77 to get back onto the winning track just ahead of the international break. Retin Obasohan paced the Reds scoring early and often while Sean Kilpatrick scored 10 consecutive points in the second quarter to give Yotam Halperin’s squad a 39-32 lead at halftime. However, Kadeem and Allen and Scottie James helped lead a Haifa comeback for Elad Hasin’s team to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter but sharpshooting by Adam Ariel, Jalen Adams and Obasohan quickly turned the tables on the visitors to snatch the 12-point win.

Obaohan led all scorers with 28 points, Adams added 22 points and Adam Ariel chipped in with 11 points in the win. Kadeem Allen with 24 points and Scottie James with 20 points were the high scorers for Elad Hasin’s squad in the defeat.

“We aren’t playing the basketball that we wanted to play,” Halperin began. “The guys stepped up in the second half and in the last quarter when they took a four point lead we stayed calm, we knew how to make the right plays and our defense made the stops.”

“We played a good game and there were a lot of ups and downs, each team made their runs,” Hasin explained. “At the end we didn’t have that experience and focus as we gave up a pair of triples to Adam Ariel. We knew that he is a clutch shooter plus the big baskets by Adams and Obasohan. Great players make great plays at the end of games.”

James Thompson opened up the game with points on the inside and Kadeem Allen swished a 3-pointer for Hapoel Haifa as Retin Obasohan had the Hapoel Jerusalem baskets but the visitors held an 8-5 lead midway through the first quarter. Jalen Adams went from deep, Gregory Vargas and Amit Simhon responded for Haifa but Anthony Bennett, Willy Workman and Adams with another triple put the hosts in front 21-16 after ten minutes of play.

Adams scored again for Yotam Halperin’s team to begin the second quarter, Allen answered for Elad Hasin’s crew but Obasohan scored to keep Jerusalem in front 26-20 with 6:41 left in the first half. Sean Kilpatrick hit back to back 3-pointers from the corner and added a floater in the lane and a jumper for 10-straight points to put the capital city Reds in the drivers seat up 36-22 with 3:17 to go in the period. Obasohan drilled home a 3-pointer but Allen, Amit Simhon and Thompson countered at the other end to cut the lead to 39-32 at halftime.

Gregory Vargas began the third quarter by dialling up long distance, Scottie James added points while Obasohan scored for Jerusalem as they still continued to lead 45-40 midway through the frame. Allen went from deep, James and Thompson scored inside but Bennett came right back with a pair from downtown, however, Spencer Weisz and James scored from beyond the arc to close the gap to 62-59 after thirty minutes of action.

Adams started off the fourth quarter with a bucket, Weisz came back with a triple as Allen added a layup and a 3-pointer to give Haifa a 67-66 lead with 7:20 left in regulation. Thompson scored in the paint, Adams did the same for Jerusalem and then went from deep to put Yotam Halperin’s team back in front 73-72 with 4:34 remaining in the period. Allen stole the ball and put down a dunk but Adam Ariel with a pair of triples along with an Obasohan 3-pointer helped the Reds sew up the double digit victory.

Hapoel Galil Elyon chalked up another victory as Barak Peleg’s squad downed Hapoel Beer Sheva 73-61 in the southern capital. The hosts grabbed a 35-23 advantage as Dererk Pardon led the way but the Galilee side saw Chavaughn Lewis, Ike Iroegbu and Omer Tal helped lead a ferocious comeback to take the away victory. Lewis led the way with 17 points, Nimrod Levi added 13 points Nes Ike Iroegbu scored 11 points in the win. Pardon scored 17 points and Etou chipped in with 10 points in the loss.

“This was a very important win for us,” Omer Tal role The Sports Rabbi. “This showed that we really believe in the path that we are taking no matter what the result is. We tightened up our defense in the second half and we continued to play our style of basketball. We showed a lot of character and I think that this represented what our team is.”

Hapoel Tel Aviv sunk a hapless Hapoel Eilat 88-62 down by the Red Sea as the Reds controlled the game from the get go to record the blowout win. James Young led the way for Danny Franco’s squad with 18 points and 9 rebounds, Idan Zalmanson added 16 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double while JP Tokoto chipped in with 14 points in the win. Ariel Beit Halachmi’s team saw Zuf Ben Moshe lead all scorers with 19 points and Justin Patton scored 10 points in the loss.