Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv worked extra hard before disposing of Maccabi Bazan Haifa 90-87 after overtime at Pais Arena Jerusalem to clinch a spot in the Israeli Cup final. Brian Randle posted a double-double, including the game-tying basket with 6 seconds left in regulation, Devin Smith also had a double-double and Yogev Ohayon flirted with a triple double for Maccabi, which will face rival Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in Thursday’s final with its eyes on its 42nd Israeli Cup. Jerusalem routed Hapoel Eilat 97-65 behind 22 points from Yotam Halperin.

Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv trailed by 5 with a minute to go before coming back to force overtime and eventually beat Haifa. The game was tied 20-20 midway through the second quarter, but threes by Devin Smith and Jake Cohen helped Tel Aviv to a 42-34 halftime lead. Haifa scored the first 6 points of the second half and stayed close from that point. Rene Rougeau tied it at 52-52 and a Will Graves triple put Haifa up 1. The score was tied, 60-60, through three quarters. Dagan Vivzori’s triple helped Haifa to a 77-82 lead with a minute remaining. But Rougeau missed twice from the line with a chance to ice it, Brian Randle tied it with a tip-in with 6 seconds left in regulation and then blocked Graves on the final possession of regulation. The pressure seemed to get to Haifa in the extra session and Landesberg supplied the necessary offense as Tel Aviv took charge and hung on for the victory. Randle finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds, Smith tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds, Ohayon recorded 13 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, Landesberg also scored 13 and MarQuez Haynes added 12 points for the winners. Ike Ofoegbu led Haifa with 20 points and Graves added 19.

In the early game, Jerusalem led from tip to buzzer to reach the cup final for the first time since 2008. The hosts scored the game’s first 10 points and never looked back. Eilat did not give up easily and closed to within 31-28, but the hosts went up 43-34 by halftime and put the game away for good with a 13-0 third-quarter charge. Aside from Halperin, Joseph Jones shined for Jerusalem with 16 points and 10 rebounds, Bracey Wright and Donta Smith added 14 points apiece and Lior Eliyahu scored 12. Ex Jerusalemite Elishay Kadir paced Eilat with 18 points.