Hapoel Gets Winner Cup Campaign Off to a Winning Start

Hapoel, which won the Winner Cup last season for the second time in club history, began its title defense with a victory. Sasa Obradovic's new-look team defeated newly promoted Maccabi Ashdod 110-77 on the road, improving to 1-0 in Group D, which also includes Hapoel Be'er Sheva, whom we will host at Pais Arena on September 18.

Hapoel scorers: Kenny Lofton Jr. 23, David Roddy 17, Shake Milton 14, Ethan Burg 12, Jaleen Smith 11, Roi Huber 9, Yovel Zoosman 6, Dusan Miletic, Yotam Hanochi and Gabi Chachashvili 5 each, Nimrod Levi 3.

Hapoel was without the injured Jared Harper, but even in the absence of the league and EuroCup MVP over the past two seasons, the Reds were able to assert their superiority over Ashdod. After a close, back-and-forth first half, the visitors took complete control of the game with a dominant third quarter, winning the period 33-10. From there, Hapoel cruised to victory, stretching the lead to as many as 34 points.

Kenny Lofton Jr. gave the fans in red their first taste of his versatile abilities on both ends of the floor, finishing with 23 points. David Roddy, another new addition in Jerusalem, also impressed with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists.


Hapoel fans made the trip south to the port city as well (Photos: Liron Moldovan)

Obradovic. A winning start for his team (Photo: Liron Moldovan)

Game Recap

The hosts in yellow opened with Turner, Hill, Weissman, Wahab and Roby, while we started with Huber, Milton, Lofton Jr., Roddy and Miletic. Ashdod knocked down five three-pointers in the opening quarter, including two from Turner, and built an eight-point advantage (24-16) after approximately six and a half minutes.

At the other end, Zoosman, Smith and Chachashvili came off the bench and helped Jerusalem cut into the deficit, with the hosts leading 29-26 at the end of the first quarter.

After an opening period controlled by Ashdod, the second quarter was much more balanced and particularly eventful, with the lead changing hands no fewer than 11 times. The final lead change came with six seconds remaining before the buzzer, when Milton's basket set the halftime score at 51-50 Hapoel.

The second half began with a 12-0 Hapoel run, with the first nine points coming from one man - Lofton Jr. The Reds from Jerusalem remained firmly in control throughout the rest of the quarter, before Smith closed the third period with a three-pointer at the buzzer. Hapoel led 84-60 heading into the final ten minutes at Hakirya Arena.

The trend continued throughout the fourth quarter, as Hapoel cruised toward the finish line behind Lofton Jr. and Roddy. 110-77 Hapoel at the final buzzer.

Lofton Jr. Led the winners with 23 points (Photo: Liron Moldovan)

Smith and Roddy. Both finished in double figures (Photo: Liron Moldovan)

Every possession is a fight, Hapoel (Photo: Liron Moldovan)

Milton. Showed flashes from the backcourt (Photo: Liron Moldovan)

Obradovic. Plenty to be pleased with after a winning start to the season (Photo: Liron Moldovan)

Hapoel players thank the fans after the final buzzer (Photo: Liron Moldovan)