Hapoel opens the top 16 with a W
Hapoel continues its winning streak and opens the top 16 stage with an important away win after a thriller that went to overtime. An excellent game by Speedy Smith (22 points, 6 assists) brings the Reds a positive European opening
24/01/2024
| Post-Game
With a lot of character: with an impressive winning streak, and without a loss so far in the month of January, Hapoel today (Wednesday) records an important and complex away victory over the Greek Peristeri 77:75 after overtime. The Reds didn't start the game well, but an excellent third quarter, especially with the help of Speedy Smith (22 points, 6 assists), and after a close game that dragged into overtime - the Reds scored a spectacular three-pointer, picking up the desired victory and the positive start of the Top 16 stage. In the week Next, Hapoel will continue their European journey with a match against Krashyaka.
Course of the game
1st Quarter
Hapoel opens the game with Speedy Smith, Or Cornelius, Levi Randolph, Oz Blayzer and Zach Hankins. The game starts at a very fast pace. Although Ragland received unique treatment from Or Cornelius, Thompson was able to punish the Reds in the paint and take a quick 7:0 lead. Zach Hankins with 6 consecutive points brought Hapoel back to business but the collaboration between Ragland and Thompson sent Kantzouris to a timeout, trailing by 9 after 5 minutes. From the timeout, the Reds came out with a much tighter and more aggressive defense, but Hapoel was unable to punish on the other end. Jacorey Williams, the new signing of the Reds, entered towards the end of the quarter, but was unable to stop the Greek offensive flow, and at the end of the quarter - 26:16 to Peristeri.
Zach Hankins. Bright point
2nd Quarter
The quarter opened with the team being more aggressive and sharper, on both sides of the field, mainly because of the excellent work of Chris Johnson, who is having an excellent time. Together with Williams, Hapoel managed to continue to put points even in the absence of offensive flow. Speedy and Cornelius managed to reduce the difference to 5, but Peristeri came back to run and produce good and fast offensive points, restored the double-digit advantage, and sent Hapoel to a time-out. The timeout didn't help so much as it struggled against the huge shooting percentages of Spanoulis's team. A 3-pointer by Oz Blayzer was enough for the former Greek player to take a timeout of his own, after which Hapoel continued and ran with 4 more consecutive points that brought Peristeri back to the drawing board. Although Hankins continued his good game, the Greeks were the ones who signed with a three-pointer, and at the end of the half - 46:36 for Peristeri.
The new Hapoel. Jacorey Williams
3rd Quarter
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Hapoel wanted to open the third quarter much more aggressively and decisively in everything related to the defensive side, and in this way enter into an offensive flow. The tall lineup of Chris Johnson and Jacorey Williams got it going on the offensive end, with Speedy Smith and Khadeen Carrington tasked with getting the Jerusalemites into an offensive rhythm. With determination and system, the Jerusalemites reduced the difference to only one posession, as they continued with a pressing and responsible defense, and with a continuous attack with quality points. Hapoel was not satisfied with narrowing down and a crazy basket by Brynton Lemar closed the quarter with a Jerusalem advantage - 56:54, with 10 more minutes of basketball.
Speedy, brings Hapoel back to the game
4th Quarter
An unsportsmanlike foul and two technical fouls opened the last quarter, but Gabi Chachashvili and Brynton Lemar, who entered an excellent game starting in the second half, continued to play as they should, and thanks to Carrington who started the Jerusalem attack and activated his friends - Hapoel managed to increase the advantage to 7 and send Spanolis and his apprentices for a timeout. From the time-out, Peristri comes out much sharper and more determined, goes on an 8:0 run, and regains the advantage in the game. Speedy Smith with a hard 3-pointer at the end of the clock restores the advantage to Jerusalem, and the game turns into a tense and stubborn game on both sides, with a difference of up to 3 points, which changes hands. The ball also changes hands, and reaches Peristeri with Hapoel's lead by 2, with 16 seconds on the clock. 2 successful free throws by the Greeks tie the game - and send the game to overtime with 66:66.
Dino. Offensive engine
Overtime
The last 5 critical minutes were opened by Hapoel with poison in their eyes, with Jacorey Williams and Chris Johnson in smart fighting actions increasing the advantage to 5 points. Hapoel's defense tightened up and made it very difficult for the Greeks, and they sent Spanoulis to a timeout. From the timeout, Peristeri returned with a three-pointer that tied the score, but 3 successful free throws put Hapoel ahead by 3. Two good offensive moves by Ragland and Thompson put Peristeri ahead by a point, leaving one attack for Hapoel. Speedy Smith was the one who got the last ball, scored the three-pointer, and established an amazing victory 77:75!
Can't be closer
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