Hapoel Lost To Ljubljana
Even the tremendous support of dozens of traveling fans in the stands couldn’t help Hapoel, who fell 74:70 to Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and will no longer control its own fate in the battle for second place
14/01/2025
| 22:00
| Post-Game
Hapoel fell this evening (Tuesday) 74:70 to Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in a EuroCup home game in Samokov, dropping to a 6-9 record in the competition – complicating their battle for second place in Group B.**
The Slovenian side now holds a 5-9 record with a game in hand, and could overtake the Reds in the standings. Yonatan Alon’s squad, whose injury list now includes Gabi Chachashvili, struggled in the paint against the visitors, who won the rebound battle 50:36, including 16 offensive rebounds that turned into 19 second-chance points. Hapoel couldn’t hold on to a four-point lead they had during the fourth quarter.
Jared Harper led the scoring with 16 points and eight assists, tied with Justin Smith, but endured a rough shooting night, going 6/16 from the field and missing two key three-pointers in the final minutes. Kadre Carrington added 15 points, but aside from the trio, no other Hapoel player scored more than six.
The Reds did take care of the ball with only six turnovers, but shot just 35% from the field (22/63), including six made threes.
In the next round of the competition, Hapoel will visit Venezia. Before that, they’ll face Hapoel Be’er Sheva/Dimona in the State Cup quarterfinal this coming Saturday night.
Carrington. A frustrating loss for the Reds
Game Flow:
Hapoel starting five: Noam Dovrat, Chris Johnson, Jared Harper, Yovel Zoosman, Tarik Phillip
Cedevita Ljubljana starting five: Brynton Lemar, D.J. Stewart, Joan Beranger, Devin Robinson, Aleksej Nikolic
The game started slowly, with Beranger scoring first and Johnson tying from the line, but Lemar hit a three to put the visitors up 8:2. Harper kept Hapoel in it with strong drives, but another Lemar triple and a Nikolic bucket extended Ljubljana’s lead to 14:8.
Late in the quarter, Carrington and Smith helped Hapoel narrow the gap, ending the period down 13:16.
The hosts kept the momentum going in the second quarter, tying it with a Morgan basket. Lemar hit another three, but Carrington responded with a crucial bucket. The game stayed tight, with both teams exchanging baskets - Harper gave Hapoel the lead with a three, but Nikolic answered, hitting another triple in the final minute to give Ljubljana a slim 33:32 halftime lead.
Smith. Hapoel struggled in the paint
The third quarter began with a 7:2 run for Ljubljana, extending their lead to 40:34. Hapoel responded, led by Smith with back-to-back scores. The game remained close as both teams failed to create separation. Zoosman hit a three to give Hapoel a 48:44 lead near the end of the third, but the Slovenians closed strong with a 6:0 run to enter the fourth up 50:49.
Hapoel began the final period trailing by one but regained a 61:57 lead after a Johnson three. The visitors answered with a 7:2 run to reclaim the lead. In the final minute, with Cedevita up 67:66, Harper and Smith missed critical possessions.
Nikolic and Lemar were clutch at the free throw line to seal the 74:70 road win.
Hapoel scorers: Harper 16 (6/16 FG, 8 AST), Smith 16 (7/10 FG, 6 REB), Carrington 15 (5/13 FG, 5/5 FT, 5 REB), Zoosman 6 (6 REB), Johnson 5, Also played: Morgan 6, Ogbeide 4, Phillip 2
Cedevita scorers: Lemar 17 (4/8 3PT, 5 AST), Nikolic 16 (8/8 FT), Robinson 15 (7/14 FG, 9 REB), Jones 9 (3/5 3PT), Beranger 8 (11 REB), Blazic 5, Stewart and Tasic 2 each
The Slovenian side now holds a 5-9 record with a game in hand, and could overtake the Reds in the standings. Yonatan Alon’s squad, whose injury list now includes Gabi Chachashvili, struggled in the paint against the visitors, who won the rebound battle 50:36, including 16 offensive rebounds that turned into 19 second-chance points. Hapoel couldn’t hold on to a four-point lead they had during the fourth quarter.
Jared Harper led the scoring with 16 points and eight assists, tied with Justin Smith, but endured a rough shooting night, going 6/16 from the field and missing two key three-pointers in the final minutes. Kadre Carrington added 15 points, but aside from the trio, no other Hapoel player scored more than six.
The Reds did take care of the ball with only six turnovers, but shot just 35% from the field (22/63), including six made threes.
In the next round of the competition, Hapoel will visit Venezia. Before that, they’ll face Hapoel Be’er Sheva/Dimona in the State Cup quarterfinal this coming Saturday night.
Carrington. A frustrating loss for the Reds
Game Flow:
Hapoel starting five: Noam Dovrat, Chris Johnson, Jared Harper, Yovel Zoosman, Tarik Phillip
Cedevita Ljubljana starting five: Brynton Lemar, D.J. Stewart, Joan Beranger, Devin Robinson, Aleksej Nikolic
The game started slowly, with Beranger scoring first and Johnson tying from the line, but Lemar hit a three to put the visitors up 8:2. Harper kept Hapoel in it with strong drives, but another Lemar triple and a Nikolic bucket extended Ljubljana’s lead to 14:8.
Late in the quarter, Carrington and Smith helped Hapoel narrow the gap, ending the period down 13:16.
The hosts kept the momentum going in the second quarter, tying it with a Morgan basket. Lemar hit another three, but Carrington responded with a crucial bucket. The game stayed tight, with both teams exchanging baskets - Harper gave Hapoel the lead with a three, but Nikolic answered, hitting another triple in the final minute to give Ljubljana a slim 33:32 halftime lead.
Smith. Hapoel struggled in the paint
The third quarter began with a 7:2 run for Ljubljana, extending their lead to 40:34. Hapoel responded, led by Smith with back-to-back scores. The game remained close as both teams failed to create separation. Zoosman hit a three to give Hapoel a 48:44 lead near the end of the third, but the Slovenians closed strong with a 6:0 run to enter the fourth up 50:49.
Hapoel began the final period trailing by one but regained a 61:57 lead after a Johnson three. The visitors answered with a 7:2 run to reclaim the lead. In the final minute, with Cedevita up 67:66, Harper and Smith missed critical possessions.
Nikolic and Lemar were clutch at the free throw line to seal the 74:70 road win.
Hapoel scorers: Harper 16 (6/16 FG, 8 AST), Smith 16 (7/10 FG, 6 REB), Carrington 15 (5/13 FG, 5/5 FT, 5 REB), Zoosman 6 (6 REB), Johnson 5, Also played: Morgan 6, Ogbeide 4, Phillip 2
Cedevita scorers: Lemar 17 (4/8 3PT, 5 AST), Nikolic 16 (8/8 FT), Robinson 15 (7/14 FG, 9 REB), Jones 9 (3/5 3PT), Beranger 8 (11 REB), Blazic 5, Stewart and Tasic 2 each
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