Hapoel Jerusalem blew away Nes Ziona 78-56 as all cylinders were clicking on both ends of the court to record the win. The Reds played suffocating defense early on as Willy Workman stymied Nes Ziona while Suleiman Braimoh, Retin Obasohan, Sean Kilpatrick and Jalen Adams all scored in double digits to record the easy victory.

Adams led the way with 16 points, Obasohan added 13 points, Kilpatrick chipped in with 12 points and Braimoh scored 11 points in the win. Golan Gutt paced the hosts with 14 points, Diante Garrett added 12 points and Rank Bartley scored 11 points in the defeat.

“We were there for the entire 40 minutes and there were almost no defensive issues,” Jerusalem coach Yotam Halperin said following the game. “We defeated a good a team on their home court and every time you can hold a team to 56 points you’re in good shape. In this league any team can beat anyone else and being a title contender isn’t in our lexicon whatsoever right now.”

Nes Zion coach Lior Lubin reflected on his club’s play. “This wasn’t a good offensive performance by us and against Jerusalem that’s just not going to be good enough. They scored 78 points and we could live with that but we just couldn’t score. We need to find a way to get back on track.”

“We’re happy with the way we performed defensively,” Workman noted. “Holding them to 56 points is a great effort. We’re winning ball games and I don’t think we have scratched our potential and we can be even better. It’s about staying the course right now.”

Willy Workman and Itay Segev got to work early for Hapoel Jerusalem while Simisola Shittu countered for Nes Ziona as the visitors held a 10-6 advantage midway through the first quarter. Suleiman Braimoh began to get busy for the Reds as did Sean Kilpatrick and Retin Obasohan while Shittu and Diante Garrett also scored but Yotam Halperin’s charges led 18-12 after ten minutes of play.

Workman and Kilpatrick found the hoop for Hapoel, Tal Dunne and Garrett answered for Nes Ziona as Jerusalem maintained the lead 24-17 with 5:38 remaining in the second quarter. Dunne and Gutt quickly scored to cut into the lead, Obasohan went from the outside and the inside to counter right back while Frank Bartley tried to keep Lior Lubin’s squad within striking range but feel behind 37-27 at halftime.

Briamoh in the paint and Adam Ariel from downtown scored for the visitors while Bartley and Garrett did the same at the other end but Jerusalem held serve as they stayed in front 44-34 midway through the third quarter. Kilpatrick dialled up long distance, Obasohan cleaned up the boards, Braimoh added a deuce, Adams checked from the line and went from deep as the Reds ripped off a 10-0 run to end the frame and go up 62-39 after thirty minutes of action.

Adams began the fourth quarter with a layup while Tim Soares did the same for Nes Ziona. Obasohan and Adams once again while Anthony Bennett scored his first points of the game with a dunk to bump up the lead to 73-43 with 7 minutes left in the period. Gutt and Amit Gershon traded triples while the coaches cleared the benches during garbage time galore as Jerusalem took the 22-point win.

Hapoel Eilat stunned Hapoel Holon 90-72 as five Red Sea squad players scored in double digits to take the surprising 18-point win. After a close opening quarter, Ariel Beit Halachmi’s team put the pedal to the metal and pulled away from hosts with fine performances by Israelis Joaquin Szuchman and Roi Huber. Szuchman led the way with 22 points, Huber added 16 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists and Bryon Allen scored 18 points. Rafi Meno scored 17 points, Michale Kyser chipped in with 12 points and newcomer Adam Smith scored 11 points in the loss.

“This was a hard fought game,” Allen said. “We knew how important this game was for us especially playing against a great team. We played hard and fought until the last minute. Great team win for us today really proud of us.”