The race for a place in the final is still wide open. Hibs are assured of one of the places, but Loyola’s win has now brought the other two teams on level terms.
It was Loyola’s second win over Depiro this season, though the Mtarfa side won four games against Loyola.
Depiro were never comfortable in the match, and the exhortations of their coach, Charles Bonnici, didn’t have the desired effect, as Loyola, came from behind in the last quarter to clinch victory.
Rachel Camilleri sank a trey for Depiro straight from the start. Loyola’s reply was through Schembri Wismayer, as her points put her side in the lead. Near the end of the session Camilleri made a second trey, to put both sides on level terms, after the first quarter.
Depiro were missing the presence of Abigail Sciberras, as Schembri Wismayer pushed Loyola back in the lead in the second session, and this time it was Joselle Cardona’s points that tied the score again, at 13-13.
Some co-ordinated play put Depiro in front, but Denise Hollier’s free throws reduced the arrears.
At the break Depiro held a low-score 19-16 lead.
After the interval Depiro held on to their lead, at first. A Greta Zarb trey gave them a 26-20 advantage. Jean Doughty came off the bench for Loyola, and she proved beneficial as her points tied the match, at 28-28. Another Greta Zarb trey put Depiro back in front, and they were 34-30 ahead, after three sessions.
Loyola had Schembri Wismayer to help them out in the final quarter. After falling further behind, her points tied the score, at 39-39, and the game remained a low-score one.
Sammy Jo Barbara’s trey put Loyola in front. Depiro tied the score again, but Doughty’s close range hoop gave Loyola the lead. Depiro’s efforts proved futile, and Ann Camilleri’s free shot closed down the match, with little more than two seconds till full time.
DEPIRO: 15 Joselle Cardona, 12 Greta Zarb
LOYOLA: 20 Sandra Schembri Wismayer, 8 Jean Doughty
REFEREES: Emanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro
Standings: 26 Hibs Medsea, 21 Loyola Xuereb Installations (+1), 21 Depiro
Sliema Wanderers 39
Luxol 69
(13-13)(11-13)(5-24)(10-19)
Luxol jumped again to the top of the standings, with a handsome win over Sliema, their fourth in the season.
Luxol found some good opposition in the first two sessions, but after the break Luxol’s dominance made the match an easy one for themselves, as Sliema faded away, to suffer their second defeat in this category.
After a quiet start it was Luxol with a 6-2 run, to go 8-6 in front. Sliema were basing on the shooting of Francesca Farrugia and Leanne Sciberras, and overhauled Luxol, to gain a minimal lead.
A Psaila Savona trey for the Violets was replied to by Sciberras, as the teams were on equal terms after the first session.
Sliema went in front at the start of the second quarter, and they managed to hold on to their advantage till midway through the session.
Luxol rallied with an 8-0 run, started off with Mandy Sciortina, and finished by Emma Moore. Chanel Galea’s free thROws reduced Sliema’s deficit, and at the interval it was Luxol, at 26-24.
After the break, Psaila Savona had a happy time, sinking a trio of hoops, before Sliema could reply, through a brace of baskets. From then on it was Luxol all the way, to the end of the quarter, as they built up a long and strong 18-0 run, broken only by a lone Galea free shot, less than a second from the end of the third quarter, as the Violets were holding a good 50-29 advantage.
In the last quarter Luxol kept on, and it was the turn of Kirsten Micallef, as her points, including two treys in an 8-2 run, enhanced her side’s lead.
Sliema couldn’t quite get back into the game, although they managed to limit their opponents. Psaila Savona found space to put in another trey, as Luxol cruised through to a comfortable win.
SLIEMA: 13 Francesca Farrugia, 11 Chanel Galea
LUXOL: 18 Emma Moore, 15 Francesca Psaila Savona, 14 Kirsten Micallef
REFEREES: Anthony Micallef, Clive Terribile
Standings: 22 Luxol, 21 Kerygma, 15 Sliema Wanderers, 12 SN Suns JC