Luxol faced Suns for the first time this season, and obtained an easy win, for their third success in five games. The wooden spoonists are still without a win this season.
Both sides had depleted formations. Luxol had Psaila Savona, Kirsten Micallef and Ruth Spiteri missing, although the latter was still a coach on the bench. Diane Muscat returned after a long lay off, and finished up as the game’s top scorer. Suns were without Cettina Caruana, Lilian Cremona, Jenny Mizzi and Ruth Farrugia.
Luxol imposed their superiority from the start, and Suns could only muster a single hoop. On their part Luxol compileda 12-0 and 10-0 runs, to take a substantial lead, with Emma Moore working well under the boards, and Diane Muscat with a steady hand in shooting.
In the second quarter Luxol effected a couple of changes, and Suns took the opportunity to sink in a brace of hoops, as their opponents were trying to organise themselves. Mandy Sciortino stepped in with hoops of her own, for the Violets. Suns replied again with another couple of baskets, with Luxol taking over again, till the end of the session, posting a 10-0 run, for a 36-10 halftime score.
After the break Suns found difficulty once again, to obtain points. Petra Zammit turned up once again, with her hoop, but Luxol denied them any other points.
The Violets had Justine Mangion grabbing the major part of the points, as they ended the quarter on a 13-0 run, and Lara Chetcuti making a last second basket, for a 54-12 score.
In the last session Maria Busuttil sank the game's only trey, for Suns, before Luxol took over again. Their constant pressing produced a strong 16-0 run.
Suns then came into the picture, in the latter part of the game, with two hoops, as Luxol were quite happy with their big win.
LUXOL: 16 Diane Muscat, 15 Amanda Sciortino, 14 Justine Mangion
SUNS: 6 Petra Zammit
REFEREES: Stephen Micallef, Jennifer Mangani
Hibs Medsea 64
Loyola XI 32
(19-9)(17-2)(12-7)(16-14)
The champions easily kept their unbeaten league record, with their fifth straight win, disposing of Loyola. They made a double over them , having already beaten them in the Shield semis. Loyola seem to have lost their early season promise, and now look to be easy fodder for the top teams.
Hibs were nearl;y at full strength for this match. They were only missing Alexis Darmanin, as Nadia Mifsud was on holidays from abroad, and turned up to play for the Paolites. Loyola were once more missing the valuable services of Dorianne Galea.
After suffering the first hoop Hibs’ Beverlee zammit put intwo treys of her own. Loyola still kept close, as they replied to Hibs’ points. Doreen parnis was making the points for Hibs, to keep them in front, and the champions ended the quarter on a small 5-0 run, enabling them to run up a double figure lead.
In the second session some good combination play by the Paolites gave them an 8-0 run, and Caroline Fenech was used more in the paint. Loyola could only obtain a single hoop, through Schembri Wismayer. Hibs were playing intricate moves, and Parnis ended the session on a good note for the champions, as they managed a 9-0 run, for a 36-11 score at the interval.
After the break Schembri Wismayer made her usual session hoop, but Hibs, with some bench players on court, took cammand again. A 10-0 run, with Parnis concluding some Beverlee Zammit assists, saw the champions increasing their lead. When Hibs tapered off a little. Loyola, mostly through Crina Gauci, pierced Hibs' defence, for a 48-18 score, after three sessions.
In the final quarter Hibs continued to press forward at first, with all their players on court potting a hoop. The heavy lead, and the introduction once more of various bench players, gave Loyola the opportunity to come up with a good 11-0 run of their own, for a better looking scoreline. It was still the Paolites who had the better ending on a small 6-2 run, to conclude the match.
HIBS: 17 Doreen Parnis, 14 Beverlee Zammit, 9 Lucienne Bezzina
LOYOLA: 11 Sandra Schembri Wismayer, 8 Carina Gauci
REFEREES: Emanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro