Hapoel Jerusalem downed JDA Dijon 73-64 to punch their ticket to the Top 8 of the Basketball Champions League and advance to the quarterfinals of the continental competition. The French squad gave the Reds problems from the get go as Markis McDuffie and Gavin Ware kept Dijon in front throughout the first half. But Khadeen Carrington got hot while Zach Hankins and Speedy Smith helped Aleksandar Dzikic’s team pull ahead and take the lead for good to move into the playoffs.

Carrington paced Jerusalem with 17 points, Hankins checked in with a 13 points and 10 rebound double-double while Smith chipped in with 12 points in the win.

“I want to congratulate our opponent on a tough game and it was what we were expecting it to be,” Dzikic began. “Khadeen said we know we could have played better and it’s not like we didn’t want to, we had a taste of out own medicine as they played super aggressive into the body, a lot of contact aggressive on the the ball, great scrambling and we managed to survive.”

“We showed totally differently than the last two games,” Dijon coach Nenad Markovic said. “With a lot of energy and hustle as team but that was not enough. They fought a lot and gave 100%. The game was in the small details, we missed a few they hit some shots and created a nice gap and we couldn’t come back.”

The game MVP Khadeen Carrington reflected on the win, “I don’t think we played the way we wanted to and we know we could but we stayed locked in and got some timely buckets and got the win, but we could have played better. I enjoyed my time here and the people were great and enjoyed coming back but I definitely wanted to come out with the win.”

Markis McDuffie also spoke about the game, “I thought we played hard and had a good showing, better than the last two and when we play like that we usually win but they hit their shots. We did well but they made some good shots and they were aggressive in the second half and we couldn’t get the spark we needed.”

Zach Hankins scored inside for Hapoel Jerusalem but Markis McDuffie and Gavin Ware found points to give JDA Dijon in front 14-12 at the end of the first quarter. McDuffie and Ware continued to inflict damage for Nenad Markovic’s squad while Brandon Brown drilled home a pair of 3-pointers for Aleksandar Dzikic’s team but David Brembly’s layup as the first half came to an end gave the hosts a 33-30 advantage.

McDuffie kept pouring in points as Gregor Hrovat also scored but Speedy Smith hit a pair from deep, Levi Randolph found points while Khadeen Carrington scored on the inside and outside to give the Reds a 54-52 lead after thirty minutes of action. Carrington picked up where he left off last quarter and continued to score in bunches while Hankins put the finishing touches on the win.

Hapoel Tel Aviv downed a pesky Hamburg Towers 91-85 to bump up their EuroCup record to 11-5 and solidify their playoff position as they will host a Round of 16 one-game knockout in April. The Reds started out slow but the backcourt duo of J’Covan Brown and Xavier Munford were very active on the offensive side of the game as Danny Franco’s squad ended the contest with four players on double digits.

Brown and Munford each scored 21 points, JP Tokoto recorded a 12 point and 10 rebounds double-double while Jaylen Hoard checked in with 10 points in the win. Yoeli Childs with 19 points, Ziga Samar added 18 points and Anthony Polite chipped in with 17 points in the loss.

“No the game was not tougher than I expected, I know we’re just in a very tight schedule with a lot of guys injured and missing,” Franco said. “We have guys coming in with injuries into the game, so I knew that we didn’t have our flow coming into this one. We had a rough couple of days, so I knew that eventually our level of focus in the game would determine [things]. I think we didn’t play offense like we can, but we still scored a lot of points.”

“It was a game where, until the end, we were in it; we were able to win the game,” Hamburg head coach Benka Batloschky said. “You make a couple of shots more, we put ourselves in an even better position. I think, the tough shots, the important ones, Hapoel made them and we didn’t make them. But, I’m very proud of the team.”

J’Covan Brown looked back at the win, “Of course, we needed to find our rhythm again. Since we came back from the break, we haven’t been ourselves. We still gave up a lot of points; they’re a great team, but on the defensive end, this is unacceptable. We’re better than this. But, we got the win and that’s all it’s about, and we’ve got to build from this.”

Ziga Samar also spoke about the contest, “We got into the game very well. With our energy and our will to win, we were able to defy the difficult atmosphere. But in the crucial moments, we made mistakes that cost us our good position to end the game with a win. In the end, we didn’t have the concentration to hit the shots and catch up again.”

Hamburg opened up strong as Anthony Polite and Yoeli Childs gave the visitors a quick lead but JP Tokoto helped Hapoel Tel Aviv stay close but down 29-26 after ten minutes of action. J’Covan Brown, Jaylen Hoard and Xavier Munford pulled Danny Franco’s squad ahead but sharp shooting by Ziga Samar sent Benka Barloschky’s team into halftime nursing a slim 54-52 advantage.

Harrison Cleary and Childs got busy for the visitors but Munford and Brown kept the Reds close while Jordan McRae nailed a triple as the two sides headed into the final frame all knotted up at 69-69. Brown scored at will and Munford filled the basket as well to break away from the Germans and notch the win.

Hapoel Holon fell to Strasbourg 80-65 in BCL play in a game that had no impact on the standings after the purples had been eliminated from contention last week. In his debut, Manny Harris scored 21 points, while Javin DeLaurier and CJ Harris each added 16 points in the loss. Leo Cavaliere paced teh French team with 17 points and Rodions Kurucs scored 16 points in the win.

“It was not an easy game for us to play,” Holon coach Guy Goodes said. “We were playing for nothing and had some injuries to our players. I was very afraid that this game would be one sided for Strasbourg. I have a lot of respect for the players and with 6.5 players, we fought until the end and we showed that we are a team that has character.”

Delaurier spoke about the clash, “Tough game in terms of champions league standings as it didn’t mean anything to either team but we wanted to make sure we came in and competed regardless. We have a lockerroom full of professionals and we play basketball to win, but unfortunately we were unable to do that.”