JERUSALEM (BSL) - After no less than six overtimes, Hapoel Jerusalem emerged 151-146 victors over Elitzur Ashkelon in the longest-ever game at the top level of Israeli basketball.

League leaders Hapoel headed into the clash on the back of 10 successive wins, and would surely have expected an easy night’s work against basement boys Ashkelon.

The game was delayed from the 12th week and rescheduled between vital Euroleague quarter-finals involving European powerhouses such as Maccabi Tel Aviv and CSKA Moscow.

And although the attention of media and fans may have been elsewhere, the contest earned its place in the history books.

Six overtimes, 70 minutes net and three and a half hours gross of basketball tells only half the story.

"To be honest I don't really remember what exactly happened," said Hapoel coach Dan Shamir.

"If I start talking about the game I probably won't finish. It was an experience.

"As a coach I had to deal with many new situations, like line-ups I never planned to use."

The few hundred supporters in attendance will know exactly what Shamir means.

Four of Hapoel's guards fouled out, while four Ashkelon inside players did likewise.

Hosts Ashkelon played the last two overtimes with Or Eitan - a sharp shooter who stands at 1.96m - the tallest player on the court with none of the remaining four above 1.90m. Hapoel, in contrast, played the final seconds of the last overtime with Guy Pnini - a 2m forward -the shortest player, and the remaining four were pure power forwards and centers.

"Both teams fought here for more than 12 rounds, and we were the last ones standing!" joked Shamir.

"The journalists should be paid for covering two games, and fans need to pay for a double ticket. I didn't expect an easy game, but never six overtimes!"

Hapoel guard Meir Tapiro added: "It was insane. An amazing game. Something you don't see every day, and surely don't take part in."

Tapiro’s off-balance turnaround shot with three seconds left on the clock and his team down by three points forced the fourth overtime with the game tied at 109-109.

Only four days before the marathon, Ashkelon won a home game in double overtime, and 18 days prior played another double-overtime game - coach Khanokh Mintz’s first game in charge.
That's a total of 10 overtimes in 18 days on their home court in Ashkelon.

"This game will be written down in the history books of Israeli basketball," said Mintz. "We played a double overtime on Sunday and my players couldn't stand on their feet any more.

"I salute my players. I didn't expect them to survive six overtimes."

Hapoel had three players with more than 30 points. Mario Austin scored only six points in the first four quarters, but finished the game with 35. One of his buckets was a huge three-pointer in the last second of the fifth overtime.

Terrence Morris spent 59 minutes on court for Hapoel and had 33 points and 19 rebounds, while Horace Jenkins added 31.

Ashkelon's Marcus Hatten played the entire 50 minutes on Sunday night but still had the legs to play for 65 minutes against Hapoel. He finished the game with 43 points, grabbed 15 boards and dished out nine assists. He also forced three of the six overtimes.

"I've never played such a long game with so many overtimes," admitted Ashkelon guard Mayron Allen, who played for 53 minutes, scoring 24 points and grabbing nine boards.

"I'm not really sure exactly how many overtimes we played. I lost track at some point."

Yarone Arbel
FIBA