Loyola faltered in their match against Depiro, as the latter made sure of a place in the final, their fourth encounter in a final against Hibs this season. Lyola needed a win to keep their hopes alive, but their performance after the half time break allowed Depiro to impose their style of play, take the match in hand, and make certain in the last two sessions.

After the lead had changed hands twice, it was Loyola who went into a 6-3 advantage. Depiro retaliated with a Sarah Pace trey, but till the end of the quarter Loyola had gone back again, to hold a slim lead.

In the second session Loyola held on for some time, but when Depiro managed to sink in a trio of hoops, they went ahead, 13-11. Loyola had Schembri Wismayer in good form, and she was putting in her team’s hoops. Loyola went in front once more, only to be hauled back with a Greta Zarb trey. Loyola came right back, with a Jean Doughty trey of their own, as they added on to their lead till the interval, for a 23-18 score.

After the break the game had a significant change, in favour of Depiro. Loyola were hard pressed throughout the session, and Depiro made an opening 10-2 run, with Rachel camilleri and Abigail Sciberras the scorers. Loyola couldn’t recover, and Depiro went on to end the session with a further 9-0 run.

In the final quarter Loyola had to put in their effort, to save the match. Depiro could hold out, and replied to their adversaries’ hoops, though Loyola did reduce their deficit slightly.

LOYOLA: 17 Sandra Schembri Wismayer, 10 Jean Doughty

DEPIRO: 13 Sarah Pace

REFEREES: Stephen Micallef, Alfred Carbonaro

* * *

Men Div II Mosta 54

Loyola XI 60

(13-22)(12-12)(14-8)(15-18)

Loyola recovered from their second match defeat, and ousted Mosta from a place in the final. Loyola’s new look side this season, with a change of coaches midway in the season, are now contesting their second final this season, after their defeat in the K.O. In fact Paul Sultana, Loyola’s coach, was missing for this match, and his place was taken by the team’s ladies mentor, Sandro Farrugia. Mosta went behind in the opening session, and it took a lot out of them to gain ground. Once again they looked to Sascha Saakian for their points, and they did manage to make up the leeway, but no one can begrudge Loyola their place in the final, as they had the will to pick themselves up and force the issue in the determining last stages of the match. It was Loyola’s third win in eight games against Mosta this season.

Jonathan Ransley’s two hoops for Loyola at the start brought a 7-0 run, and an Oliver Sammut trey, for Mosta. Loyola’s reply was a sound 14-2 run, with treys by Michel Farrugia. The rest of the quarter was then shared, as Loyola held on to their lead.

In the second session Loyola’s insistence gave them a 27-17 advantage, but Mosta came back into the game with an 8-0 run. Their single basket deficit was inflated once more as Loyola ended the quarter on a 7-0 run. At the interval Mosta once again found themselves 25-34 in arrears.

After the break Loyola did not let up and they held a steady lead. Mosta bounced back, and an 8-0 run, with more treys by Mark Spiteri and Matthew Bonnici, brought the two sides closer again. The game was then shared till the end of the quarter, as Loyola went into the last session on a close 42-39 score.

Mosta tied the score soon after the start, and then went ahead on three occasions, with Loyola chasing them all the way. Clint Grixti made his mark for Loyola, with his points, including a trey, but Mosta tied again, at 52-52. Loyola forced their way in front once more, and this time they stayed there for the remainder of the match.

Mosta’s reply was only from a couple of Ray Muscat free throws, which were not enough to budge Loyola from their lead, and a place in the final, against Mellieha, in a best of three encounter.

MOSTA: 24 Sascha Saakian

LOYOLA: 16 Michel Farrugia, 15 Graham Coleiro

REFEREES: Emanuel Mangani, Stephen Micallef

* * *

Classification Pool Women

SN Suns JC 23

Luxol 71

(5-16)(6-16)(2-22)(19-17)

Luxol opened up their lead again at the top of the standings, with their expected win over bottom-club, Suns. Both teams had missing players in their team lists. Suns once again relied heavily on Diane Falzon to procure their points, whilst Luxol have up and coming Julienne Attard to make her presence felt in the zone. Psaila Savona was also prominent, with treys thrown in as well.

It was Suns, through a Falzon trey, who started the ball rolling, and they also led 5-4. From then on it was all Luxol, as they proceeded to make up a 12-0 run till the end of the session, and start to go clear of their adversaries.

In the second quarter Luxol’s treys began to find their mark. Two by Kirsten Micallef, and another by Psaila Trigona, helped in a 13-2 run, as Suns fell behind. They did manage a couple of hoops by Lilian Cremona, but Justine Mangion replied for Luxol, and at the interval the Violets could count on a good 32-11 advantage.

After the break Suns were hammered yet again, This time they could only show a lone Falzon hoop, as Luxol first opened up with a long 16-0 run, and a second Psaila Savona trey.

Falzon helped herself to more points for Suns at the start of the final quarter, but Luxol put a stop to that. Suns were hit again by a 0-11 run, with Attard and Psaila Savona the scorers. Luxol finally began to ease up and Suns took the opportunity to share the last stages of the match

SUNS: 12 Diane Falzon, 7 Lilian Cremona

LUXOL: 21 Francesca Psaila Savona, 21 Julienne Attard, 12 Kirsten Micallef

REFEREES: Jennifer Mangani, Clive Terribile