Hapoel Jerusalem downed Hapoel Gilboa 69-60 in a rough a tumble game as the capital city Reds recorded their first win of the young Israeli league season. Aleksandar Dzikic’s squad took an early lead as Zach Hankins controlled the inside but it was Khadeen Carrington who came out in the second half like a man on a mission who almost single-handedly finished off the game. The one worrying factor that came out of the game was that Jerusalem’s Oz Blayzer dislocated his shoulder in the second half.

Carrington led the way with 20 points, Levi Randolph added 12 points and Hankins chipped in with 10 points in the win. Payton Willis and Justin Gorham paced the visitors with 18 points a piece in the loss.

“He had a super game and a great preseason,” Jerusalem coach Aleksandar Dzikic said about the game MVP Khadeen Carrington. “In fact his last two games were more of a surprise as to the way he played. In this game he was not hesitant and he was aggressive and determined.”

Carrington reflected on the game and his performance, “It felt good to get in and get the win as this will create momentum. We are trying to win some games before the FIBA window. It’s only been three games since we won last but it felt like ten. The last couple of games I felt I wasn’t aggressive enough and I came out in this game driving to the basket and shooting my regular shots that I work on, but everybody played hard and it was really a team effort.”

“We took a step forward with our defense,” Gilboa Galil Coach Rami Hadar said. “But we have to give credit to Hapoel Jerusalem who played tough defense on us. We have an issue with our offense which we are aware of that. I will have to find a way to fix this issue with changes in style and/or changes in personnel.”

Zach Hankins scored easily on the inside for Hapoel Jerusalem while Payton Willis went from deep for a pair of 3-pointers for Hapoel Gilboa Galil as the capital city reds held a slim 15-12 lead after the minutes of play.

Levi Randolph went in for a layup and also knocked down a triple, Willis and Josh Perkins scored at the other end, but a quick 3-pointer by Khadeen Carrington a dunk by Itay Segev and a basket by Hankins gave Aleksandar Dzikic’s club a 30-21 advantage at halftime.

Rashard Odomes and Randolph traded baskets to begin the third quarter, Mareks Mejeris and Or Cornelius nailed 3-pointers, Perkins, Willis and Justin Gorham scored at the other end, but Randolph and Carrington responded with triples and Oz Blayzer scored a runner to keep Jerusalem in front 50-42 after thirty minutes of action.

Carrington opened the fourth quarter with a basket on the break, added a layup and then went from deep to put the hosts ahead 61-47 midway through the frame. Carrington dropped a floater, Yuval Sznaiderman, Gorham and Odomes all scored but it was too little too late as Jerusalem took their first victory of the season.

Hapoel Beer Sheva slipped by Kiryat Ata 100-99 as Khalil Ahmad hit a game winning 3-pointer to send the fans home happy and hand head coach Lior Lubin his first win of the season. David Efiyani scored 19 points, while Ahmad and Ben Moore each scored 17 points in the win. Chavaughn Lewis led the way for Kiryat Ata with 30 points and 12 assists while Yotam Hanochi and Amin Stevens each scored 17 points in the loss.