Hapoel lost to Venice
Hapoel fell 76:75 in Venice and missed a chance to move up to second place. Carrington led with 21 points but missed at the buzzer. (Photo: Umana Reyer Venice)
22/01/2025
| 23:45
| Post-Game
After a dramatic loss to Cedevita Olimpija in the previous EuroCup round, Hapoel suffered another painful defeat in the competition tonight (Wednesday), falling 76:75 to Venice in a game held in Italy. With the loss, the team from the capital dropped to a 9–7 record and missed an opportunity to climb into second place in Group B. Four other teams, aside from the Israeli club, now share the same record – Bourg, Cluj-Napoca, Venezia, and Turk Telekom – with only four of them advancing to the Round of 16. However, another loss by Cedevita in one of the two remaining rounds could reopen the race for second place – which grants a direct ticket to the quarterfinals. The game remained close throughout, with no team able to open a lead greater than six points. The Reds – who recorded only 13 team assists – stayed in the game thanks to strong individual efforts from Khadeen Carrington (21 points) and Jared Harper (17, 5/18 from the field), but in the decisive moment, they missed a potential game-winner, as Carrington was blocked under the rim.
Once again, Yonatan Alon’s squad shot under 50% from two-point range (24/50), hit just four three-pointers out of 24 attempts (4/24), and couldn’t secure the win despite grabbing 20 offensive rebounds – including one in the final possession. In the next round – the penultimate round of the regular season – the Reds will travel to France for a critical clash with Bourg, after facing Hapoel Holon this Saturday night at Toto Arena in Round 15 of the Israeli League.
Everywhere. Everytime.
Game Flow:
Hapoel starting five: Jared Harper, Tarik Phillip, Yovel Zoosman, Gabi Chachashvili, Justin Smith
Venice starting five: Tyler Ennis, Jordan Parks, Kyle Wiltjer, Karl Weatle, Mfiondu Kabengele
Chachashvili opened the game with a three, but was answered immediately by one from Kabengele, before Harper made it 5:3. From there, Yonatan Alon's squad struggled against Venice’s tough defense, which took a 10:5 lead with a three by Ennis after five minutes. Khadeen Carrington came off the bench and quickly got going, scoring six of the Reds’ next eight points, but on the other end, ex-NBA guard Xavier Munford scored five of his own to keep a 17:13 lead.
Derek Ogbeide drew an unsportsmanlike foul, hit two from the line, and Tarik Phillip tied it at 17:17 to end the first quarter.
The capital club opened the second quarter with five straight points, including a steal and three-point play from Jeremy Morgan, but a timeout by Neven Spahija settled things and his team responded with an 8–0 run – six of them from Alessandro Lever – to make it 25:22.
Both teams struggled offensively, Carrington and Harper kept Hapoel close with solo efforts, while Kabengele maintained Venezia’s lead. Zoosman tied the game with a nice drive, before Wiltjer closed the half from the line, 38:37 Venice.
Harper. Painful loss for the team from the capital city (Photo: Umana Reyer Venice)
The Italians opened the second half with five straight points to go up 43:38, but Zoosman knocked down an important three to cut it to two. Solid plays by Weatle kept the hosts ahead.
Ogbeide returned from the bench and made an impact in the paint, tipping in a Carrington miss to restore the lead, and Harper made it 53:50. Kabengele converted an and-one inside, Rodney McGruder followed with a similar move, and Venezia went back in front, 58:55. Harper tied the game, but Juan Fernandez hit a three to end the quarter, 61:58 Venice.
Smith scored first in the fourth to cut it to one, but two easy drives from McGruder made it 65:60 and sent Alon to the scorers' table for a timeout. Carrington answered with a clutch three, Smith dunked and followed with another bucket inside to put the Reds back in front. Weatle and Ennis turned it around for 70:68, but Harper completed a fantastic three-point play to regain the lead with four minutes to go.
Weatle and Ennis once again gave the Italians a three-point edge, but Phillip responded with a corner three to tie it at 74 with two minutes left. The guard was fouled on another three-point attempt from the same spot, but made just one of the three free throws, while Wiltjer hit two on the other end to make it 76:75 for Venezia.
The drama peaked with 22 seconds left as Hapoel held the ball for the final possession, trailing by one. Harper was blocked by Kabengele, Carrington grabbed the offensive rebound and got a clean look from mid-range – but missed at the buzzer. 76:75 Venice.
Hapoel scorers:
Carrington 21 (7/11 2pt, 4/6 FT), Harper 17 (5/18 FG, 7 assists), Ogbeide and Smith 8 each, Phillip 6 (1/3 FT), Morgan and Zoosman 5 each, Chachashvili 3, Johnson 2.
Venice scorers:
Kabengele 16 (5/5 2pt, 6 rebounds), Weatle 13 (5/6 2pt), Ennis 12 (2/5 2pt, 2/4 3pt), McGruder 7, Lever and Munford 6 each, Sims and Parks 4 each, Fernandez and Wiltjer 3 each (Wiltjer 5 rebounds), Tessitori 2.
Once again, Yonatan Alon’s squad shot under 50% from two-point range (24/50), hit just four three-pointers out of 24 attempts (4/24), and couldn’t secure the win despite grabbing 20 offensive rebounds – including one in the final possession. In the next round – the penultimate round of the regular season – the Reds will travel to France for a critical clash with Bourg, after facing Hapoel Holon this Saturday night at Toto Arena in Round 15 of the Israeli League.
Everywhere. Everytime.
Game Flow:
Hapoel starting five: Jared Harper, Tarik Phillip, Yovel Zoosman, Gabi Chachashvili, Justin Smith
Venice starting five: Tyler Ennis, Jordan Parks, Kyle Wiltjer, Karl Weatle, Mfiondu Kabengele
Chachashvili opened the game with a three, but was answered immediately by one from Kabengele, before Harper made it 5:3. From there, Yonatan Alon's squad struggled against Venice’s tough defense, which took a 10:5 lead with a three by Ennis after five minutes. Khadeen Carrington came off the bench and quickly got going, scoring six of the Reds’ next eight points, but on the other end, ex-NBA guard Xavier Munford scored five of his own to keep a 17:13 lead.
Derek Ogbeide drew an unsportsmanlike foul, hit two from the line, and Tarik Phillip tied it at 17:17 to end the first quarter.
The capital club opened the second quarter with five straight points, including a steal and three-point play from Jeremy Morgan, but a timeout by Neven Spahija settled things and his team responded with an 8–0 run – six of them from Alessandro Lever – to make it 25:22.
Both teams struggled offensively, Carrington and Harper kept Hapoel close with solo efforts, while Kabengele maintained Venezia’s lead. Zoosman tied the game with a nice drive, before Wiltjer closed the half from the line, 38:37 Venice.
Harper. Painful loss for the team from the capital city (Photo: Umana Reyer Venice)
The Italians opened the second half with five straight points to go up 43:38, but Zoosman knocked down an important three to cut it to two. Solid plays by Weatle kept the hosts ahead.
Ogbeide returned from the bench and made an impact in the paint, tipping in a Carrington miss to restore the lead, and Harper made it 53:50. Kabengele converted an and-one inside, Rodney McGruder followed with a similar move, and Venezia went back in front, 58:55. Harper tied the game, but Juan Fernandez hit a three to end the quarter, 61:58 Venice.
Smith scored first in the fourth to cut it to one, but two easy drives from McGruder made it 65:60 and sent Alon to the scorers' table for a timeout. Carrington answered with a clutch three, Smith dunked and followed with another bucket inside to put the Reds back in front. Weatle and Ennis turned it around for 70:68, but Harper completed a fantastic three-point play to regain the lead with four minutes to go.
Weatle and Ennis once again gave the Italians a three-point edge, but Phillip responded with a corner three to tie it at 74 with two minutes left. The guard was fouled on another three-point attempt from the same spot, but made just one of the three free throws, while Wiltjer hit two on the other end to make it 76:75 for Venezia.
The drama peaked with 22 seconds left as Hapoel held the ball for the final possession, trailing by one. Harper was blocked by Kabengele, Carrington grabbed the offensive rebound and got a clean look from mid-range – but missed at the buzzer. 76:75 Venice.
Hapoel scorers:
Carrington 21 (7/11 2pt, 4/6 FT), Harper 17 (5/18 FG, 7 assists), Ogbeide and Smith 8 each, Phillip 6 (1/3 FT), Morgan and Zoosman 5 each, Chachashvili 3, Johnson 2.
Venice scorers:
Kabengele 16 (5/5 2pt, 6 rebounds), Weatle 13 (5/6 2pt), Ennis 12 (2/5 2pt, 2/4 3pt), McGruder 7, Lever and Munford 6 each, Sims and Parks 4 each, Fernandez and Wiltjer 3 each (Wiltjer 5 rebounds), Tessitori 2.
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