Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Hapoel Gilboa Galil 87-60 to grab a 2-1 quarterfinal series lead as four players scored in double digits to take the win. The Reds took a bit of time to get rolling against a shorthanded Galilee squad who snatched a slim 19-17 lead after ten minutes, but once they did with a 15-0 run in the second quarter led by game MVP Suleiman Braimoh, Jerusalem were on their way to take a 38-29 lead at halftime. Michael Brisker and Ronnie Harrell tried to keep Guy Kaplan’t team close, but Jalen Adams, KC Rivers and Retin Obasohan scored at will to help Jerusalem take the series lead.

Yotam Halperin’s team will look to close out the best of five series on Monday night up in Gan Ner as Gilboa will once again be without London Perrantes and Tyus Battle for a matchup that will most certainly be aggressive and intense.

Adams led Jerusalem with 16 points, Rivers added 14 points, Obasohan chipped in with 13 points while Braimoh scored 12 points and added 8 boards in the win. Harrell scored 17 points as Brisker and Yotam Hanochi scored 13 points in the defeat.

“Gilboa tried to hurt our offensive game and sometimes it worked quickly and sometimes less,” Jerusalem coach Yotam Halperin said. “It’s not easy to win a game in the first or second quarters. Gilboa came into the game with clear tactics that have not allowed us to start off well. The gap at the end of the game really doesn’t tell the entire story of the game.”

“There was a great atmosphere here for a Friday afternoon playoff game,” Gilboa coach Guy Kaplan commented. “We were able hit some of our goals which is what we wanted. The game on Monday won’t be a basketball game but a physical game and a playoff game and we will give it our all.”

Braimoh also reflected on the victory, “This was a game where two teams fought hard. We got some 50/50 balls and tough shots. It wasn’t pretty and ugly but we found a way to get the win. Credit to them (for their aggressive play) and it shows a lot of character. I’m happy that we responded to the challenge with a quick turnaround.”

KC Rivers drilled home a corner triple for Hapoel Jerusalem to get the game off and running, Ronnie Harrell hit a jumper in the paint for Hapoel Gilboa Galil, Jalen Adams went in for a layup off of the baseline as did Michael Brisker at the other end as the Reds grabbed an early 9-6 lead midway through the first quarter. Yotam Hanochi put in a jumper and a 3-pointer, Suleiman Braimoh and Adams answered at the other end, Harrell scored a floater, Hanochi went from deep again as Guy Kaplan’s team took a slim 19-17 lead after ten minutes of play.

Adams scored off the glass to begin the second quarter, Adam Ariel scored a layup, Derek Cooke scored inside and Hanochi added points as the game was all knotted up at 23-23 with 5:44 left in the first half. Or Cornelius scored a 3-pointer, Braimoh responded with one of his own, John Egbunu put down a dunk, Rivers added a layup and Noam Dovrat dialled up long distance to polish off a 15-0 run and grab a 38-29 lead at halftime.

Michael Brisker scored a layup to get the third quarter underway, Harrell went from downtown for a pair of triples, Itay Segev found points in the paint, Harrell knocked down a jumper but Rivers scored a corner 3-ball to keep Jerusalem ahead 43-39 midway through the frame. Adams nailed a 3-pointer, Egbunu and Dovrat added points while Adams scored a 3-point play, Brikser went from deep twice, Hen Halfon scored in the paint but Braimoh found points as the buzzer went to give the Reds a 59-50 lead after thirty minutes of action.

Egbunu began the fourth quarter with points, Rivers went from deep and scored inside to bump the Jerusalem advantage up to 71-51 with 5:35 remaining in regulation time. Obasohan put down a dunk, Hanochi and Harrell scored for Gilboa but an incident around the Gilboa bench saw head coach Guy Kaplan and CEO Artzi Parti ejected. Obasohan, Willy Workman and Eyal Sasson all scored to wrap up the victory.