Maccabi Tel Aviv captured the Israel State Cup for a record 46th time with a 87-72 win over Hapoel Jerusalem. The yellow-and-blue saw MVP Rokas Jokubatis and Levi Randolph take control of the contest early on to head into halftime with a 36-30 lead. But Oded Katash’s squad really blew the game wide open in the third quarter with huge triples from Tamir Blatt along with points from Jasiel Rivero and Roman Sorkin to help Maccabi win their first cup since 2021.

Jokubaitis scored 20 points, Randolph added 19 points and Rivero chipped in with 13 points in the win. Jared Harper paced Jerusalem with 23 points and Khadeen Carrington scored 11 points in the loss.

The stage was set as the Jerusalem Arena began to fill up close to two hours before tipoff with fans of both teams anticipating a terrific matchup in an Israeli Classico State Cup Final. Songs filled the air as both teams took to the court as cheering, whistling, singing and dancing filled the aisles and the sections of the 11,000 seat facility. Players took in the atmosphere as President Isaac Herzog entered to the sound of trumpets as all of the pomp and circumstance was on full display.

After a stirring rendition of Hatikva, the national anthem was sung it was off and running for both teams as Yovel Zoosman went in for an uncontested layup to start the scoring for Hapoel Jerusalem and Rokas Jokubatis hit an off balance left handed jumper on the baseline for Maccabi Tel Aviv. Levi Randolph then went from deep, Justin Smith came back with a pair of baskets in the paint while Jasiel Rivero did the same as Jokubatis well as Randolph added layups to give the yellow-and-blue a 14-6 lead midway through the first quarter.

Khadeen Carrington and Austin Wiley came out of the timeout with points, Jokubatis answered right away, Jared Harper put in his first points of the game, Rivero went into the lane for an easy deuce and Trevion Williams scored inside to keep Maccabi in front 20-15 after ten minutes of play.

When Randolph took to the floor prior to the game the Jerusalem fans let him have it loud and clear that he was a traitor and public enemy #1 after captaining the reds last season and then moving over to the yellow-and-blue where he has been able to provide incredible consistency being arguably the club’s second best player this season. With a third cup in a row in the offing for Randolph it was clear that the Alabama product was going to come out with fire in his eyes and tons of energy and that’s exactly what he did to the delight of the Maccabi fans and to the dismay of the Hapoel supporters.

Harper put in a 3-point play to begin the second quarter, Noam Dovrat used the backboard for points, Roman Sorkin and Harper traded baskets and Jokubatis drilled home a 3-pointer to keep the yellow-and-blue ahead 25-22 with 5:19 left in the first half. Carrington hit a midrange, Sorkin put in a deuce, Harper scored, Randolph drained one from beyond the arc and added a long range deuce while Williams scored just as the half came to a close to give Maccabi Tel Aviv a 36-30 advantage.

Jared Harper is without a doubt one of Europe’s top stars this year with points a plenty game after game after game in the EuroCup and in the Israeli league. The guard took a step down from the Euroleague where he had played Valencia last season and the move has paid dividends as he has been the star of the show for the reds. Harper attended Auburn University where he learnt under the tutelage of Head Coach Bruce Pearl who is not only Jewish but also a massive supporter of the State of Israel. Just a few years ago he brought Auburn to Israel for a number of exhibition games and the trip was an absolute blast as it have some of his players the sense of what it’s like to be in the Holy Land. Pearl is one of Israel’s greatest ambassadors and because of that Harper along with Austin Wiley who also attended Auburn are playing for Hapoel Jerusalem.

Rivero put in an easy bucket, Blatt came back from deep, Sorkin scored inside, Blatt went from downtown again to get the third quarter off and running, Sorkin put down the hammer and Randolph hit a midrange jumper to give Oded Katash’s team a 50-35 lead. Blatt went from way downtown, Jokubatis added points, Cornelius and Chachashvili tried to keep Jerusalem in the game from long distance, but Randolph went from deep again and then put in another basket off the backboard and Sorkin scored as well to give Maccabi a 66-44 lead after thirty minutes of action.

Rokas Jokubaitis came to Maccabi Tel Aviv this season after three years at Barcelona in what was an off the bench role and was tasked with more of leadership position, to be the floor general that he had yearned to become. Under Head Coach Oded Katash he knew that he was going to not only going to get that chance but he would also learn from one of the best in the business and that’s exactly what occurred. It took some time for Jokubaitis to learn the new role but did he ever show what he gained since the summer in Katash High this past week. First he led Maccabi to a tremendous win over Hapoel Tel Aviv with 27 points in the semifinals and then he came out with guns blazing in the final to the delight of the fans setting the tone early and often in the final. The Lithuanian scored the yellow-and-blue’s first points of the game and never let his guard down after that to have the opportunity to celebrate with the fans in the stands.

Rivero with another bucket inside started off the final frame, Williams added points, David DeJulius knocked down a corner 3-ball, Chris Johnson and Harper both scored to try and will Yonatan Alon’s team, Jokubatis continued to score, DeJulius hit another pair of triples as Maccabi Tel Aviv wrapped up the State Cup in style.