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 play in the paint, despite a poor shooting performance from beyond the three-point line. Luvell Callwell's 25 points, 6 assists, and 5 steals were not enough for Be'er Sheva.

Jerusalem established an early double-digit lead, fueled by easy baskets. However, Callwell sparked a comeback for Be'er Sheva, scoring 13 points in the first quarter, including three three-pointers. Kenny Lofton and Devontee Kakok also contributed for Be'er Sheva.

Be'er Sheva's numerous turnovers, particularly in the second quarter, allowed Jerusalem to regain and extend its lead to as many as 11 points. Despite shooting just 1-of-20 from three-point range, Jerusalem capitalized on Be'er Sheva's mistakes, scoring on fast breaks. The home team maintained its advantage through the final minutes, with 4,672 spectators in attendance.

Be'er Sheva, which will compete in a play-in round for a chance to advance, showed resilience and received a strong performance from new acquisition Callwell and Noam Avivi. Jerusalem will face Herzliya in the next round.