Loyola returned to winning ways, after their defeat by Depiro, and now have two wins from three games in the league, as to Kerygma’s single win and two losses. A good start to the match ensured Loyola’s victory, as they relied on their lead throughout the match.
Loyola were already 10-0 ahead, at the beginning of the encounter, before Kerygma could notch up their first hoop, through Agnetha Agius. Till the end of the session Renette Debono, who had missed her side’s last match, had brought Kerygma nearer, but Loyola had their good opening to fall back on.
In the second quarter points were harder to come by. Loyola started by increasing their advantage, but midway through the session Kerygma recovered with three successive baskets, going on to their smallest deficit, at 12-15.
Loyola then regained composure, and a good ending enabled them to hold a handy lead at the interval, on a 20-12 score.
After the break it was Loyola again who had the better start, and a 9-3 run, as Dorianne Galea recovered her shooting touch for Loyola, while Josette Calleja sank her first trey for Kerygma.
Then it was Kerygma’s turn to shine, and further treys, two by Calleja and another by Annabel Busuttil, brought them nearer. Loyola still found their way to the basket, and after three sessions they were 36-26 in front.
The final quarter found Loyola suffering the first hoop, but responding well with four of their own. Josette Calleja managed to put in her fourth trey, but Loyola had enough of a lead to hold Kerygma off comfortably. They then finished off in style with their only trey of the match, by Marta Abela.
KERYGMA: 14 Josette Calleja, 10 Renette Debono
LOYOLA: 17 Dorianne Galea, 9 Sandra Schembri Wismayer
REFEREES: Alfred Carbonaro, Jennifer Mangani
Sliema Wanderers 55
SN Suns JC 21
(16-4)(14-5)(12-10)(13-2)
Sliema obtained their first seasonal win, and the first under their new name, leaving Suns the only team without a win. Sliema’s task became easier after their opening session lead, and the second quarter sealed the game up.
Suns improved at the change of ends, but Sliema again took control, to breeze through the rest of the match.
Suns were hit straight from the start, as Sliema ran up a 12-0 score, with Michela Loporto getting most of the points.
A brief Suns revival gave them the first points, but Sliema soon regained dominance, and finished off the quarter with a mixture of hoops and free throws, for a sound lead.
In the second session Sliema pressed home their superiority, after Suns’ opening hoop. Francesca Farrugia and Michela Loporto, the latter also sinking a trey, combined in an 11-0 run, to steer clear completely, at 25-6.
Play then was shared points-wise, with Leanne Sciberras getting Sliema’s last points. At the interval it was 30-9.
After the break Loporto made another trey for Sliema, but Suns had a good run of play, and an 8-2 break, with Lilian Calleja very much involved, made the game more interesting. Sliema recovered, to finish off the session, and once more it was Leanne Sciberras who closed down the scoring, after three sessions, for a 42-19 lead.
In the final quarter, Suns were again on the receiving end. They managed to reply to Sliema’s hoop at the start, but then it was Sliema who were making the points, though not so frequent. In fact an 11-0 run went on till the end of the match.
SLIEMA: 16 Michela Loporto, 12 Leanne Sciberras, 9 Francesca Farrugia
SUNS: 8 Lilian Cremona, 8 Diane Falzon
REFEREES: Alfred Carbonaro, Anthony Micallef
Hibs Medsea 57
Luxol 47
(20-7)(14-17)(10-19)(13-4)
Hibs made heavy weather to beat off Luxol’s stiff challenge. The Paolites threw away a good lead in the second session, only to recover in the last session. They went on to post another victory, which takes them level on points with Depiro at the top of the table.
Hibs thus won two out of three games against Luxol, but they don’t relish meeting them.
The two sides were a bit wary of each other at the start, with Luxol in their not-so-common red outfit.
Little by little the champions began to get the upper hand, and a long sequence of play resulted in a 16-1 run, as Hibs found the way to basket with facility. Luxol could’t respond, and only had a single hoop to show till the end of the session.
In the second quarter Luxol put in a quick hoop, but Hibs took over once more, and the duo, Beverlee Zammit and Lucienne Bezzina, combined for a 10-0 run, as they broke clear of their opponents.
All of a sudden the tide turned, and it was the Paolites on the receiving end, and missing the injured Alexis Darmanin. Luxol compiled a strong 15-3 run, only spoilt by a Beverlee Zammit trey. Once more it became a competitive match, and at the interval Hibs were 34-24 in the lead.
After the break, Hibs seemed to have gotten over the bad patch, as they kept their opponents at bay, but a Mandy Sciortino trey for Luxol brought back the apprehension. A 9-0 Luxol run, with a Kirsten Micallef trey, made it just 39-38 for Hibs. Shortly after another Micallef trey gave Luxol the lead. Hibs reacted at last, and a couple of hoops gave them a 44-43 advantage after three sessions.
In the final quarter, Hibs had their work cut out as Luxol were grittily chasing them. However a 7-0 run, with another Zammit trey, gave the champions some breathing space, on a 51-45 score.
Luxol were still full of hope, but near the end they lost two players, Sciortino and Micallef, fouled out. The free throws for Hibs mounted up, and these enabled them to edge away enough, and ease their minds, for their third league win on the trot.
HIBS: 21 Beverlee Zammit, 16 Lucienne Bezzina
LUXOL: 14 Amanda Sciortino, 10 Kirsten Micallef
REFEREES: Gordon Barbara, Emanuel Mangani
Standings: 6 Hibs Medsea (3-0); 6 Depiro (3-0); 6 Luxol (2-2); 5 Loyola Xuereb Inst. (2-1); 5 Kerygma (1-3); Sliema Wanderers (1-2); 4 SN Suns JC (0-4)