Hapoel Jerusalem Dominate Bnei Herzliya 88-68 in Israel Basketball League Cup

Jerusalem, September 25, 2026 — Hapoel Jerusalem produced a commanding performance at the Pais Arena, defeating Bnei Herzliya 88-68 in the Israel Basketball League Cup. The 20-point margin reflected the hosts’ control on both ends of the floor, as they set the tone early and never allowed Bnei Herzliya to settle into a comfortable rhythm.

From the opening tip, Hapoel Jerusalem looked sharper, more physical, and more organized. The Reds moved the ball with purpose, attacked the paint, and forced Bnei Herzliya into contested shots. The win strengthens Hapoel Jerusalem’s League Cup campaign and gives the club valuable early-season momentum, while Bnei Herzliya are left to review a night that slipped away before halftime.

Match Overview

Hapoel Jerusalem opened with a 24-14 first quarter and never surrendered the lead. A balanced second period extended the advantage to 47-33 at the break, and a 20-16 third quarter pushed the game further out of reach. Bnei Herzliya showed brief resistance in the fourth, but Hapoel’s defensive discipline and bench production kept the visitors at arm’s length until the final buzzer.

Hapoel Jerusalem shot 48% from the field, connected on 10 of 24 attempts from three-point range, and converted 18 of 21 free throws. Bnei Herzliya finished at 39% from the floor, made 7 of 25 from beyond the arc, and committed 15 turnovers. The rebounding battle also favored the hosts, 39-30, while Hapoel’s 21 assists highlighted a fluid offensive performance.

Key Moments

The game’s first decisive stretch came midway through the opening quarter. With the score tied at 8-8, Hapoel Jerusalem ripped off a 12-2 run fueled by back-to-back three-pointers and a transition dunk. That burst forced Bnei Herzliya into an early timeout and established a pattern: whenever the visitors threatened, the Reds answered with a run of their own.

Bnei Herzliya cut the deficit to eight points in the second quarter, but Hapoel closed the half with a 9-2 spurt. A Jared Harper step-back three and a Levi Randolph steal that led to an easy fast-break finish sent the hosts into the locker room with a 47-33 cushion. Any realistic comeback hopes were further damaged early in the third when Hapoel opened with a 10-0 run, capped by an Oz Blayzer put-back after an offensive rebound.

Bnei Herzliya did not quit. A 7-0 run early in the fourth trimmed the margin to 14, but Hapoel’s second unit responded with disciplined half-court execution. Khadeen Carrington knocked down a mid-range jumper, and Blayzer anchored the defense with a block that triggered another transition score. The final minutes were played at a comfortable pace for the hosts, who closed out the 88-68 result without drama.

Tactical Story

Hapoel Jerusalem’s defensive game plan was clear: disrupt Bnei Herzliya’s pick-and-roll attack and force them into long, contested jump shots. The Reds switched aggressively on screens, hedged ball handlers near the top of the key, and used their length to clog passing lanes. Bnei Herzliya managed just 14 assists and looked out of sync for long stretches, often settling for early shot-clock attempts.

Offensively, Hapoel leaned on Harper’s playmaking and Blayzer’s inside-out presence. The guard-heavy lineup created mismatches through repeated drive-and-kick actions, and when Bnei Herzliya switched to a zone in the second half, Hapoel punished it with quick ball reversal and perimeter shooting. The hosts also dominated the offensive glass at key moments, generating second-chance points that sapped Bnei’s momentum.

For Bnei Herzliya, the issues were turnovers and perimeter defense. The visitors struggled to contain penetration, which collapsed their defense and opened up open looks from three. Their own offense never found a consistent rhythm, and too many possessions ended with difficult shots late in the clock.

Standout Players

• Jared Harper (Hapoel Jerusalem): 22 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 4-of-7 shooting from three. Harper controlled the tempo and consistently found seams in Bnei’s defense.
• Levi Randolph (Hapoel Jerusalem): 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. His two-way energy set the tone, especially during the decisive first-half runs.
• Oz Blayzer (Hapoel Jerusalem): 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. A physical pre