B'Ball: Mac. TA looking for revenge over Bnei Hasharon

On December 2, Bnei Hasharon handed Maccabi an 87-68 loss, its first league defeat of the season.

By ALLON SINAI
Blumenthal Mac TA 224. (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Blumenthal Mac TA 224.
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Exactly three months after being humbled in Ra'anana, Maccabi Tel Aviv will be looking for some payback when it hosts Bnei Hasharon at the Nokia Arena on Sunday night. On December 2, Bnei Hasharon handed Maccabi an 87-68 loss, its first league defeat of the season and what turned out to be the beginning of the end for Oded Katash. Since Tzvika Sherf took over as coach Tel Aviv has regained its former dominance over the BSL, winning six straight league games by an average of 22.7 points per game. Despite defeating Maccabi, Hapoel Jerusalem and Hapoel Holon in Ra'anana, Bnei Hasharon has struggled away from home against the top sides. The team lost to Jerusalem at the Malha Arena five weeks ago and came up short at Holon last week. Meir Tapiro has been nothing short of sensational for the team this season, averaging 15.5 point, 5.6 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game, but the difference maker on Sunday could prove to be new signing Rod Grizzard, who scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds in his debut against Holon. The surprise package of the season so far, Ironi Ramat Gan, will be looking on Sunday for its sixth win in eight games when it hosts Hapoel Galil Elyon. Ramat Gan recorded an impressive 89-82 road victory over Ironi Nahariya last week and will be coming up against a Galil team, which despite its recent improvement was thrashed 115-89 by Ironi Ashkelon last week. Ashkelon visits Hapoel Holon on Sunday, and will surely not be expecting much against one of the hottest teams in the league which has won five of its last six games by an average 14.6 points. Also Sunday, the bottom two meet, with Hapoel Afula/Gilboa hosting Maccabi Rishon Lezion. On Monday, Hapoel Jerusalem travels up north to visit Ironi Nahariya.