Maccabi Tel Aviv retains Israel Cup

Despite a terrible Euroleague campaign, Maccabi Tel Aviv is reasserting its dominance over Israeli Basketball and won the State Cup on Thursday. The most decorated club in Israel has not won the league for two seasons, but during that time the State Cup has kept Maccabi Tel Aviv amongst the trophies.

This is the eighth consecutive season that the club has emerged victorious in the domestic cup, while Maccabi Tel Aviv is also leading the Winner League this season. In the cup final, the club downed Hapoel Jerusalem 82-68 in a comfortable contest.

The game started frenetically, but through the first quarter the champs carved out a 24-20 advantage. In the second quarter, Hapoel started to bank points and swept past Tel Aviv to a 47-42 lead through the long break. The hosts lost the momentum in the third act and Maccabi Tel Aviv pounced, holding Jerusalem to 11 points for a four-point lead, 58-62. The visitors wrapped it up in the fourth quarter and extended to an easy win down the straight.

Andrew Goudelock topped the win with 15 points, Gal Mekel 15 added points, and Devin Smith scored 13.

Amare Stoudemire matched Goudelock with 15 points in the losing effort, followed by Lior Eliyahu with 13.