May 21, 2013
Israeli League, Game 10: March 29, 2007
Tim Bowers Hapoel Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem sent Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv to its second straight defeat with an 89-88 win in a thriller Thursday night in the Israeli capital. In a game originally scheduled for last month, Horace Jenkins put the reds on top with free throws with 9 seconds remaining and Yotam Halperin missed a chance to be the hero when his three-point attempt at the buzzer bounced out, setting off a sell-out crowd at Jerusalem's Malha Arena. Timmy Bowers finished with 23 points for Hapoel, Jenkins had 16, Meir Tapiro added 15 and Mario Austin contributed 13 and 9 rebounds. Halperin had a huge night with 29 points, including 6-of-8 three-pointers. Nikola Vujcic had 14 points and Tal Burstein scored 10 points.

Hapoel was limited to a short rotation as point guard Dror Hagag, who was injured in Sunday's Israeli-League game, and Matan Naor (shoulder) were both sidelined, leaving much work for Tapiro, Guy Pnini and Erez Marckovich. Since league rules maintain that two Israeli players must be on the floor at all times, Maccabi had a certain advantage. The game was close from the start, with neither team able to open a sizable advantage. Austin put Hapoel up 72-65 late in the third period only to see Halperin's fifth three-pointer make it 72-68 after 30 minutes. Vujcic opened the last quarter with a steal and 4 points to tie the game and when Austin picked up his fourth foul, it seemed like trouble for the locals. Hapoel made a 6-0 run, but Derrick Sharp beat the shot clock to keep Maccabi in the game. Jenkins missed an open three pointer that could have made it a 7-point game, and Halperin showed how it's done, 80-79 with 4 minutes to play. Sharp tied the score from the line and Vujcic with 4 big points made it 81-84, but Hapoel didn't let go. Pnini hit 2-of-3 free throw shots and Jenkins with a fast-break layup put Hapoel back on top, 85-84. Austin added another steal, and Pnini in a huge bucket over Vujcic to make it a 3-point game. Halperin stepped up once more with a three-point play, and Jenkins missed a three-pointer in the closing minutes. Halperin went to the line with 20 seconds on the clock, but connected only on the first one, before Jenkins decided the game from the line as Hapoel fans stormed the court in big celebrations.


Thursday, March 29, 2007
Yarone Arbel, Jerusalem

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