Jerusalem advances to cup final in Israel

Jared Harper led the team to its third straight final

Defending Israeli State Cup champion Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem advanced to the final for the third year running after holding off Bnei PenLink Herzliya 89-86 on Sunday night in the Israeli capital in the first semifinal. Jerusalem will face the winner of Monday’s second semifinal, pitting Maccabi Playtikas Tel Aviv against Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, in Thursday’s final.

Jared Harper scored 24 points to lead Jerusalem, Yovel Zoosman tallied 18 points and 9 rebounds, Justin Smith netted 15, Khadeen Carrington 11 and Chris Johnson paired 10 points with 9 boards. Chris Silva carried Herzliya with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists and Xavier Sneed scored 18 in defeat.

Jerusalem started strong with the game's first 7 points before Herzliya turned things around to lead 14-21 and held a 20-25 advantage after 10 minutes. The visitors held a slim lead through most of the second quarter, but Jerusalem scored the last 7 points of the half, taking the lead on Zoosman free throws, to hold a 42-39 edge at the break.

There were a handful of lead changes in the third quarter, which finished with Jerusalem ahead 65-64. Johnson scored twice in a 9-0 Jerusalem run to open the fourth quarter, but was unable to hold onto its 10-point lead as Sneed evened things at 79-79 with a triple with 3 and a half minutes to go. Silva made it 81-83 a minute later, but Harper scored the next 5 points and – after Ethan Burg tied it again – Zoosman gave Jerusalem the lead for good and Austin Wiley iced the game from the line.