Hapoel Jerusalem Advances to Winner Cup Quarterfinals

Hapoel Jerusalem secured a spot in the Winner Cup quarterfinals on Friday, defeating Hapoel Be'er Sheva/Dimona 83-69. The Jerusalem team dominated the paint throughout the game, despite a poor shooting performance from beyond the arc. Be'er Sheva/Dimona's efforts, led by Luvell Callwell's 25 points, 6 assists, and 5 steals, were not enough to overcome Jerusalem's consistent scoring.

Jerusalem established an early double-digit lead, capitalizing on easy baskets in the paint. Callwell sparked a comeback for Be'er Sheva/Dimona in the first quarter, scoring 13 points, including three three-pointers. Hapoel Jerusalem extended their lead again in the second quarter, reaching a maximum of 11 points, largely due to Be'er Sheva/Dimona's 20 turnovers. Despite a poor shooting night from three-point range (1-of-20), Jerusalem converted these turnovers into fast-break points.

Jerusalem maintained their advantage through the final minutes, fending off Be'er Sheva/Dimona's attempts to rally. The victory, witnessed by 4,672 spectators at the arena, sets up a quarterfinal clash against Herzliya. Be'er Sheva, who will compete in a play-in round for a chance to advance, showed resilience and a strong performance from new acquisition Callwell and Noam Avivi.