Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Olimpija Ljubljana 75-64 late Tuesday to improve their EuroCup record to 2-0, as the Reds opened a double-digit lead late in the first half and remained in front for the balance of the game to take the victory.
Dusan Miletic scored for Hapoel Jerusalem while Cameron Houindo countered for Ljubljana early in the game, as Shake Milton and Devontae Cacok also put points on the board for the Reds, while Noah Kirkwood did the same for the Greens to leave the game knotted at 18-18 after the first quarter.
Kenny Lofton Jr. began to make his mark on the game and helped Sasa Obradovic’s team open up a lead, while Anthony Cowan tried to keep the hosts close. However, David Roddy connected from deep late in the first half to give Jerusalem a 37-27 advantage.
Cacok and Roddy continued to score for the Reds, while Kirkwood kept finding the bottom of the basket for Ljubljana and Cowan also scored. Miletic, however, continued to be effective from the line to keep Jerusalem in front, 55-47, after 30 minutes.
Zoosman and Roddy scored in the final quarter, as did Smith, to make sure that Obradovic’s squad was able to notch the win.
Miletic led the way with 14 points, Roddy added 12 points and Lofton put in 11 points in the win, while Kirkwood scored 17 points and Cowan added 14 points in the loss.
Coaches, players speak about the game
Jerusalem head coach Sasa Obradovic spoke about the win.
“It was not a high-quality game from both sides, but we managed to win after the traveling and game after a couple of tough two days. You could see the lack of concentration, but I was happy with the effort of the guys. We are still searching for the right chemistry and this was also Lorenzo Brown’s first game. I think we will be fine.”
Ljubljana bench boss Zvezdan Mitrovic also talked about the game.
“We fought and we saw that on the court. I wanted to see how they would fight against a serious team with serious players and they did. I think we can improve on offense and we will be better when we get a few players back who have been out. All in all, this was a good game against a team like Hapoel Jerusalem.”
The MVP of the game, Dusan Miletic, spoke about the keys to the win.
“In the last quarter we showed character. When they hit us, we hit them back and we showed the physicality, which is why we won the game.”
Devontae Cacok shared his thoughts on the victory.
“I feel every game we can improve and it was messy at some moments, but we will clean it up with better communication, be on the same page and make sure we don’t make as many mistakes as we did. Our schedule is tough, but we have a great group of guys and coaches that can help us lock in. I feel good in Jerusalem and we had a lot of fans who traveled here, which was great.”
Hapoel Holon lose to Cholet Basket
In Basketball Champions League action, Hapoel Holon fell to Cholet Basket 99-79 as its European campaign began on the wrong foot in a game played in Samokov, Bulgaria, which will serve as the Purples’ home away from home due to the security situation in Israel.
Predrag Krunic’s side opened strongly, as Adama Sanogo paced the hosts to a 23-19 lead after the opening quarter.
However, Cholet scored at will, as Malcolm Calazon, Digue Diwara and Mohamed Diarra all put points on the board to give the French side a 52-32 advantage at halftime.
Diarra kept pouring in the points in the second half, while Amadou Fall and Noah Locke also scored to notch the 20-point win. Sanogo scored 22 points and Lester Medford added 15 points in the loss, while Diarra scored 23 points and Fall put in 15 points in the victory.
Krunic discussed the loss.
“The French team deserved the win. We started the game well on both sides of the ball, but we lost control and the game in the second quarter. We had too many turnovers and we didn’t have enough patience, and they scored easy points, which decided the game.”
Holon’s Sanogo also spoke about the loss.
“We could have done better defensively. We started well and I don’t know what happened in the second half. I hope we can figure it out as we have another game Sunday.”
Bnei Herzliya lose to Joevntut Badalona
Elsewhere, Bnei Herzliya suffered an 86-75 road loss to Spanish side Joventut Badalona in the opening game of Group H in the Basketball Champions League.
Amit Gershon came out firing with eight points in the first quarter, which Herzliya finished trailing 18-16. Yehu Orland’s team battled throughout but could not overcome Badalona, as they left 11 points at the free-throw line, shooting just 11-of-22 (50%), and were outrebounded 43-33.
DJ Bruton led Herzliya with 20 points, Zach Bryant added 13 points and DJ Burns scored 12 points in the loss, while Amir Suleimanovic scored 20 points, Simon Birgander put in 14 points and Kwan Cheatham added 12 points in the win.
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