Cup holder hosts champion Barna at Israeli basketball summit meeting • Amara Stodmeyer will play against his former team for the first time since signing in yellow uniform

• Brown celebrates with Paladin, tonight in the Hall

  Photo:

  Alan Shaver

• Photo:

  Alan Shaver

• Photo:

  Alan Shaver

Hapoel Jerusalem is currently hosting the Maccabi Tel Aviv Classics of Israeli Basketball. Three times the teams met all season and the balance stands at 1: 2 in favor of the Reds. Despite the Corona storm, the Ministry of Health has approved the entry of up to 9,000 spectators, which of course most will wear red.

And if that's not enough, Amara Stodmeyer will play against his former team for the first time since signing in the yellow uniform. One way or another, Hapoel Jerusalem held a ceremony honoring the naturalized.

The three games this season between the teams provided us with quality, fine basketball. The Winner Cup final ended at 83:84 for Jerusalem after close play and great drama, much like the quarterfinals from which the Reds emerged with their hands on top after a crazy 40 minutes and a memorable 90:92.

In the league game the story was slightly different. Hapoel Jerusalem provided a tremendous defensive first half, stopping Maccabi Tel Aviv on home turf by 36 points 20 minutes later.

Thomas flies in the Arena, Abadia looks on // Photo: Alan Shiber

Brown vs. Abadia and Cohen // Photo: Alan Shiber

Amara receives the flowers from Bar Timor, tonight in Arna // Photo: Alan Shaver

Brown tries to keep the ball, tonight at Arena // Photo: Alan Shaver

Hunter tries to take the middle ball // Photo: Alan Shaver

Mack and Amara, tonight at the Arena. Red control // Photo: Alan Shiber

Abadia is going through an education series at Spropoulos, tonight in Arne // Photo: Alan Shiber

Hapoel Jerusalem fans with a sharp message to Amara // Photo: Alan Shiber

Fan Hapoel Jerusalem with a sharp message to Amara // Photo: Alan Shiber

Nimrod Levy tries to keep the ball // Photo: Alan Shiber

Amara is warming up in Arena // Photo: Alan Shiber

the progress of the game

The first quarter opens at a murderous pace as both teams score all 5 first shots from the field. Hunter set 7:12 for the Yellows. Brown arranged for Thomas Dunk, Mack and Paladin continued the bombing from the outside and Thomas set a par 17:17 in the middle of the quarter.

Wilbkin broke par and Zusman scored from the outside, but Mac and Brown again scored, 22:22. Suleiman Braimo got off the bench and immediately scored from the outside, Paladin snatched another three-pointer in the pass, Brimmo with the seventh trio in red increased to 25:31. Brown scored another from the outside and Brimo from the line increased to 27:36. The Salamanson era rallied in the Reds' ninth in ten attempts and closed the quarter with a 27:39 lead. Stunning

In the second quarter, Mack scored a three-pointer and closed out a 2:16 run in the lead, 27:44. Hunter broke a seven-minute drought without a field basket at Dunk, Bryant down the line to 44:32. Brown arranged for another Thomas Dunk, Cohen responded with penetration but Brown kept the gap, 34:50. Cohen's light basket of color and Wilbkin's penalty shots once again shrunk, two of Brimo's and Leigh increased back, 38:55. Brown scored 6 straight points, Acey buried a three-pointer from the corner and closed the half in a 61:41 arr.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Depression in Arena, Tonight // Photo: Alan Shiber

Ketch and Sparopoulos say hello // Photo: Alan Shiber

Jerusalem crowd hopping in Arena // Photo: Alan Shiber

Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans // Photo: Alan Shiber

Brown vs. Cohen // Photo: Alan Shiber