Hibs Go Mobile 60

Depiro Still 71

(15-20)(19-11)(13-24)(13-16)

Another good game was guaranteed between these two rivals, and it went right down to the last moments of the game.

Once more the Sicily-based players came over for Depiro, and they had their revenge after two defeats this season. They went ahead at the start, with the Paolites chasing all the way.

Hibs managed to overturn the result in the second session, with a 13-2 run but Depiro came back again, although suffering two consecutive treys. Free shots at the end of the session helped Depiro to go near again, and at the interval it was a 34-31 match for Hibs.

In the third session Depiro started to take over, and once they went in front Hibs had their work cut out to stay in the hunt. With a session to go Depiro led 55-47.

The last quarter saw Hibs clawing back to get within distance but the loss of the tall players from both sides saw mistakes on both sides. When Hibs lost a couple more players the writing was on the wall and Depiro finished off the game with a flourish, handing Hibs their first league defeat.

Hibs: 19 Lucienne Bezzina, 19 Alexis Darmanin

Depiro: 23 Dorianne Galea, 18 Josephine Grima.

Referees: Stephen Micallef, Gordon Barbara

Kerygma 54

Qormi Seiko 48

(13-10)(20-14)(15-12)(6-12)

Kerygma claimed yet another win over Qormi, their fourth this season, as they left their opponents in the bottom rung of the league standings.

The game had a balanced, as both sides exchanged leads but Kerygma broke ahead just before the end of the session. The second quarter produced a lot of points, as Kerygma kept their lead and a couple of Josette Calleja treys opened up their advantage. At the halfway mark it was a 33-24 match.

After the break Kerygma continued to dictate, and a 12-3 run gave them a good lead. Qormi recovered at last and reduced their deficit a little.

They kept on in the last session, going to just a basket down, at 46-48, Kerygma stopped the slide and Elaine Cutajar’s points turned the game in their favour again. Qormi couldn’t react again and Kerygma went on for their second league victory.

Kerygma: 17 Renette Debono, 16 Josette Calleja

Qormi: 22 Carina Gauci

Referee: Alfred Carbonaro, Jennifer Mangion.

Luxol Vodafone 36

Naxxar Danone 54

(11-8)(6-7)(13-20)(6-19)

Naxxar kept their third spot in the standings with a win, which was only emphasised in the last session. In fact it was Luxol who did the early running, as Naxxar struggled and only reduced the arrears at the end of the quarter.

The second session was barren of points. Naxxar could only manage to score their free shots, also going briefly ahead, but Luxol put in two late hoops, to lead on a low 17-15 score at the interval.

After the break the tide started to turn, and after holding out some more Luxol began to wane, and a 13-2 run by Danone gave them the boost they needed.

Luxol recovered at the end of the session, to make it a closer game, at 30-35 down. The last quarter saw Naxxar control the game and two separate brakes by Charlotte Riolo and Annie Jetcheva put the finishing touches to the game, as they easily controlled Luxol’s efforts till the end.

Luxol: 10 Ruth Spiteri

Naxxar: 18 Annie Jetcheva, 15 Irene Farrugia

Referees: Alfred Carbonaro, Jennifer Mangani

League standings

8-1 Hibs Go Mobile 17pts; 7-2 Depiro Still 16pts; 6-3 Naxxar Danone 15pts; 4-5 Luxol Vodafone 13pts; 2-7 Kerygma 11pts; 0-9 Qormi Seiko 9 pts