Hap TA targeting seventh straight win in Herzliya

Hapoel struggled for consistency at the start of the season, dropping to a 3-4 record following a home defeat to Hapoel Jerusalem last month.

By ALLON SINAI
Erez Edelstein (photo credit: Adi Avishai)
Erez Edelstein
(photo credit: Adi Avishai)
Hapoel Tel Aviv will look to cap a perfect December when it visits Bnei Herzliya in BSL action on Sunday night.
Hapoel struggled for consistency at the start of the season, dropping to a 3-4 record following a home defeat to Hapoel Jerusalem last month.
However, after winning four straight league games to move to 7-4 on the season, it improved to 6-0 in all competitions this month on Thursday, beating the same Jerusalem roster 83-71 to advance to the State Cup semifinals with its second cup victory of the week.
“We are gelling as a team,” said Hapoel captain Matan Naor. “We are on a run, but we won’t be blinded by it and we will continue to work hard and improve.”
Coach Erez Edelstein’s team has not only won all its games this month, but it has done so in impressive fashion, triumphing in all six contests by at least nine points, scoring no fewer than 82 points in its victories.
Herzliya (5-6) has won just two of its past six league games and was knocked out of the cup on Thursday, losing 76-58 to Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Jerusalem has won eight of its past nine league games to take sole possession of first place with an 8-3 record, but will be aiming to bounce back from its disappointing cup exit when it visits Maccabi Ashdod on Sunday.
Ashdod (2-9) has lost eight of its last nine games and will be guided by new coach Eric Alfasi for the first time in league action on Sunday.
After a promising start to the campaign, Maccabi Haifa (6-5) has lost its way in the past month, losing three straight BSL games and its last two Eurocup contests, as well as being knocked out in the last 16 of the cup at the hands of Hapoel Eilat last week.
Haifa will look to get back on track when it hosts Barak Netanya (4-7) on Sunday.
Also Sunday, Eilat (6-5) welcomes Hapoel Gilboa/Galil (5-6).
On Monday, Maccabi Tel Aviv (7-4) faces Hapoel Holon (6-5) at Nokia Arena, with Ironi Ness Ziona (7-4) visiting Maccabi Rishon Lezion (3-8).