Delirious Hapoel J'lem fans await Cup winners' return   
 
By Haaretz Service 
April 14, 2004 
 
Delighted fans of the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team awaited 
their return home Wednesday morning, after the squad powered 
its way into Israeli sporting history Tuesday night with a 
sublime 83-72 victory over Real Madrid to take the ULEB Cup. 
 
The team thus became only the second Israeli team after Maccabi 
Tel Aviv to win a European trophy and earn the right to participate 
in the lucrative Euroleague next season.

Some 2,000 Hapoel fans who made the trip to Charelroi in Belgium 
and thousands more packed in to watch the game on big screen at 
Hapoel's home arena errupted into ecstacy when Elmer Bennet 
missed a lay-up with 30 seconds on the clock and Kelly McCarty, 
the game's MVP grabbed a rebound and drew a foul to put the 
game beyond doubt.

After the win, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called Channel One 
television from the United States to congratulate the team, 
which he said represents the capital of the Jewish people.

The game got off to a nervous start and Dorron Sheffer and 
Will Solomon both picked up early fouls in the first quarter, 
which ended level at 15-15. Solomon picked up his third foul 
in the opening play of the second quarter and Jerusalem looked 
to be in trouble, but the inspirational point guard still found 
time to drill his third three-pointer from downtown before 
returning to the bench.

But even without Solomon, Jerusalem ran 9-0 to take a 24-15. 
Bennett came to the rescue for Madrid with a three-pointer 
and two foul shots in the final minute to bring Real Madrid 
within 33-37 at the half.

Madrid brought on big men Pat Burke and Antonio Bueno after 
halftime, but Hapoel was on fire with McCarty netting eight 
straight points to extend Jerusalem's lead to double digits at 
35-45. Solomon picked up a fourth foul and Madrid pulled back 
to a five-point game at 40-45.

But McCarty and Sheffer rained in from the three-point range 
to combine for 24 out of 31 points in the third quarter as 
Hapoel went to 68-53.

Madrid pulled back to 75-70 with two minutes to go. Solomon missed 
a three-point shot, but Tunji Awojobi grabbed another key offensive 
board, allowing Sheffer to drill a mid-range jumper. Fotsis matched 
on the other end with two free throws, but when Bennett missed a 
driving layup, McCarty grabbed the rebound, drew a foul with 
38.3 seconds to go and sealed the win from the foul line. 

Kelly McCarty led Hapoel with 22 points, Will Solomon and Doron 
Sheffer added 15 each, and Awojobi had 12 points and 10 rebounds. 
Elmer Bennett led Madrid with 22 points.