Hapoel lost to Valencia
Hapoel was defeated by the Spanish team in the opening of their European season, 80:64
25/09/2024
| 22:30
| Post-Game
For the first time since the 2017/18 season, Hapoel "Bank Yahav" Jerusalem opened its European campaign in the EuroCup, but the red team from the capital suffered a defeat in the opening round—losing 80-64 to Valencia in a "home" game held tonight (Wednesday) in Samokov, Bulgaria. Jared Harper stood out with 27 points against his former team, and Speedy Smith added 10. The red team will continue its European campaign next Tuesday against Lietkabelis.
Game Summary
Hapoel's lineup: Speedy Smith, Jared Harper, Yovel Zoosman, Chris Johnson, Austin Wiley.
Valencia's lineup: Branko Badija, Xavi Lopez, Samir Aujla, Nate Sestina, Ethan Happ.
The game began with runs: Valencia quickly opened a 2-8 lead with two consecutive three-pointers from Sestina, but Hapoel responded with an 0-8 run featuring two steals and two blocks from Wiley. However, the Spaniards scored 18 points until the end of the quarter—compared to just four for Hapoel—finishing the first quarter with a 14-26 lead. At the start of the second quarter, Johnson hit Hapoel's first three-pointer, while Jeremy Morgan and Speedy Smith also got on the board. Yet, Lopez-Arostegui, Aujla, and Jean Montero pushed Valencia to a maximum lead of 17 points at halftime, ending it at 29-45.
Dovrat
Speedy.
The red team returned sharper for the second half, starting with a basket-and-foul from Speedy Smith, and a three from Harper cut the Spanish lead to 12. Lopez-Arostegui responded with two points, but another basket from Harper brought Hapoel within ten—49-39, exactly midway through the third quarter. However, the capital's squad got stuck again, allowing the Spaniards an 1-8 run, which extended the gap at the end of the quarter to 44-59 for Valencia. At the start of the final quarter, Hapoel managed to bring the deficit back to ten led by Harper, who had already scored 18 points, but the Spaniards responded with two three-pointers that kept the red team at bay. Hapoel tried to apply pressure but couldn't convert steals into points, as Montero and Aujla opened a new maximum lead of 19. Harper reduced the gap slightly with 27 points, maintaining a perfect shooting percentage from the free-throw line, but it wasn't enough for his team, which ultimately lost 80-64.
Wiley defancing in the paint
Coach Yonatan Alon
Scoring for Hapoel "Bank Yahav" Jerusalem:
Harper 27 (13-13 from the line), Speedy Smith 10 (7 assists), Wiley 8 (12 rebounds, 3 blocks), Justin Smith and Chris Johnson 6 each, Zoosman 4, Morgan 2, Dober 1. Also played: Chachashvili and Cornelius.
Scoring for Valencia:
Costello 16 (5-7 from three), Aujla 12, Montero (8 assists) and Sestina 10 each, Lopez-Arostegui 9, Jovic, Roberts, and Puerto 6 each, Pradilla 4 (11 rebounds), Badija 1. Also played: Happ and Marie.
Harper. The Top Scorrer
Game Summary
Hapoel's lineup: Speedy Smith, Jared Harper, Yovel Zoosman, Chris Johnson, Austin Wiley.
Valencia's lineup: Branko Badija, Xavi Lopez, Samir Aujla, Nate Sestina, Ethan Happ.
The game began with runs: Valencia quickly opened a 2-8 lead with two consecutive three-pointers from Sestina, but Hapoel responded with an 0-8 run featuring two steals and two blocks from Wiley. However, the Spaniards scored 18 points until the end of the quarter—compared to just four for Hapoel—finishing the first quarter with a 14-26 lead. At the start of the second quarter, Johnson hit Hapoel's first three-pointer, while Jeremy Morgan and Speedy Smith also got on the board. Yet, Lopez-Arostegui, Aujla, and Jean Montero pushed Valencia to a maximum lead of 17 points at halftime, ending it at 29-45.
Dovrat
Speedy.
The red team returned sharper for the second half, starting with a basket-and-foul from Speedy Smith, and a three from Harper cut the Spanish lead to 12. Lopez-Arostegui responded with two points, but another basket from Harper brought Hapoel within ten—49-39, exactly midway through the third quarter. However, the capital's squad got stuck again, allowing the Spaniards an 1-8 run, which extended the gap at the end of the quarter to 44-59 for Valencia. At the start of the final quarter, Hapoel managed to bring the deficit back to ten led by Harper, who had already scored 18 points, but the Spaniards responded with two three-pointers that kept the red team at bay. Hapoel tried to apply pressure but couldn't convert steals into points, as Montero and Aujla opened a new maximum lead of 19. Harper reduced the gap slightly with 27 points, maintaining a perfect shooting percentage from the free-throw line, but it wasn't enough for his team, which ultimately lost 80-64.
Wiley defancing in the paint
Coach Yonatan Alon
Scoring for Hapoel "Bank Yahav" Jerusalem:
Harper 27 (13-13 from the line), Speedy Smith 10 (7 assists), Wiley 8 (12 rebounds, 3 blocks), Justin Smith and Chris Johnson 6 each, Zoosman 4, Morgan 2, Dober 1. Also played: Chachashvili and Cornelius.
Scoring for Valencia:
Costello 16 (5-7 from three), Aujla 12, Montero (8 assists) and Sestina 10 each, Lopez-Arostegui 9, Jovic, Roberts, and Puerto 6 each, Pradilla 4 (11 rebounds), Badija 1. Also played: Happ and Marie.
Harper. The Top Scorrer
