Kerygma keep striding on, pushing hard at Loyola, for the prestigious third place in the standings. They recorded their fifth win in nine games, and for many a year there are more positive results than otherwise.
Suns gave their all, even though once more they were missing some players, but their work rate cannot be faulted.
Kerygma sought and made an early lead, with an 8-0 run, with Josette Calleja in the forefront.
Suns replied midway through the quarter, but Kerygma had command of the match, and finished the session on an 8-0 run, this time it was Annabel Busuttil making points, including a trey.
In the second session Suns surprised Kerygma with a brace of hoops. Busuttil was still making points for Kerygma, but Diane Falzon was on target for Suns again in mid-session.
Kerygma didn’t dominate as before, but their lead was still intact, and at the interval they were 26-11 in front.
After the break Suns shared the play for some time with their opponents, but as time wore on it was Kerygma who came up with their treys, Josette Calleja bagging a couple and Moira Caruana the other one. The score, at 42-18, was decisively in favour of Kerygma, after three sessions.
In the final quarter, Suns had a harder time to obtain points in their favour. Calleja and Caruana alternated in hoops for Kerygma, and Lara Cauchi sank a trey, in an 11-2 opening.
In the time remaining Diane Falzon went into double figure scoring for Suns, as Kerygma were quite happy with their win, back to back with their success over Luxol.
KERYGMA: 20 Josette Calleja, 11 Annabel Busuttil, 9 Lara Cauchi
SUNS: 12 Diane Falzon, 8 Petra Zammit
REFEREES: Anthony Micallef, Jennifer Mangani
Sliema Wanderers 31
Luxol 69
(11-15)(8-17)(3-17)(9-20)
Luxol ended a three-game losing streak, and in turn beat Sliema for the third time this season.
Despite the win, with Kerygma registering more victories, the Violets’ slim hopes of making the championship pool are now fading away. Leanne Sciberras was ineffective for Sliema, and it was left to Michela Loporto to provide the main threat, but Luxol were never in any danger of losing the match.
Luxol had Psaila Savona missing. They started well enough, although suffering a Loporto trey, for a 9-3 lead. The rest of the session was shared between the two teams, as Luxol held on to their lead, with Mandy Sciortino their principal scorer.
In the second quarter Sliema were hit again at the start. A 9-0 run, this time with Justine Mangion the chief markswoman, pushed Luxol further away from their opponents.
Sliema managed a reply, but they could only prevent Luxol from increasing their lead. At the halfway stage Luxol were comfortably 32-19 ahead.
After the break Sliema fared even worse. It was Mandy Sciortino again who did the main damage to the opposing defence. Luxol began with an 8-2 run, and then ended the quarter with another 9-0 break, which started with Luxol’s only trey, by Sciortino. After three sessions the game was already decided, with a 49-22 score.
In the final session Luxol did not let up, and this time operated on fast breaks, where Emma Moore had a field day, notching up her personal tally, and ending up as the game’s top scorer.
At the other end Michela Loporto sank her second trey, and Ariana grixti managed to pierce Luxol’s rearguard twice. Moore totted up Luxol’s last five hoops, to end a satisfying game’s work, as Luxol tasted victory again, their fourth in the league.
SLIEMA: 11 Michela Loproto
LUXOL: 22 Emma Moore, 21 Amanda Sciortino, 12 Justine Mangion
REFEREES: Jean Paul Sammut, Jennifer Mangani
Depiro 72
Loyola Xuereb Ins. 49
(21-8)(17-10)(11-17)(23-14)
Depiro registered their third win in four games against Loyola, and now are clearly in second place, leaving the third and final spot still open for the championshipo pool.
Loyola now fall into the fourth position, although they have played a game less than Kerygma.
Depiro had Joselle Cardona injured again, and Loyola introduced Jean Doughty, in lieu of Denelza Bayliss. It was Depiro who had the better start, with Greta Zarb and Sarah Pace treys in an 8-0 run. Loyola settled down and reduced the arrears, but Depiro took up the reins again, and a session ending 10-2 run, starting with another Pace trey, saw Depiro easing away from their opponents.
In the second quarter Lyola were on the receiving end again. An 11-2 run, with points shared by Rachel Camilleri and Greta Zarb, left loyola behind. The latter did recover, but their eight-point run was blemished by a second Zarb trey. Depiro were in command at the end of the session, and at the interval they were leading 38-18.
After the break Depiro were in control of the situation, as they held on to their lead. Further on in the session Loyola began to take the upper hand, and Denisa Hollier was prominent with her hoops. A 10-3 run brought them closer, but not enough. In the closing stages Depiro’s free throws were replied to by an Ann Camilleri trey for Loyola. After three sessions it was a 49 35 game.
The final session was scrappy at first, as Loyola tried to get close, with Ann Camilleri putting in her second trey. Abigail Sciberras made enough points for Depiro, to keep their opponents at bay, before being fouled out, along with Rhian Spiteri.
Loyola’s reply did not bear fruit, and Depiro strolled through, to consolidate their second spot in the table, also sinking in a couple of treys, for a handsome win.
DEPIRO: 22 Rachel Camilleri, 19 Sarah Pace, 17 Greta Zarb, 12 Abigail Sciberras
LOYOLA: 12 Sandra Schembri Wismayer, 9 Denise Hollier
REFEREES: Alfred Carbonaro, Anthony Micallef