Hibs just barely recovered from their Super Cup loss to Depiro last month. They posted their third consecutive league victory, and handed Luxol their first defeat in four matches.
The Paolites trailed for most of the match, sometimes heavily, but pulled it off at the end, thanks to Kirsten Micallef’s prowess in her treys, and Doreen Micallef’s leadership qualities on court.
Hibs, who will be awaiting the return of Lucienne Bezzina, after the birth of her son, Jake, were also without Nadia Mifsud, on a long work phase abroad again.
A quiet start to the match saw the champions reply to Luxol’s first points, and Doreen Micallef’s hoops put her side 8-4 in front. Luxol rallied, to overturn the score, but Francesca Bianco sank a trey for the Paolites. The end of the session was Luxol’s, and Psaila Savona’s late hoop put the Violets on a single point advantage.
The second quarter was short on points. Both sides were guilty of hurried, faulty shooting. Luxol increased their lead, to a 21-16 score. Hibs were uncertain in their play, and they were further hit by a Psaila Savona trey. In the last two seconds of the session Kirsten Micallef’s desperate effort from near the
halfway line produced a glorious trey, to pull Hibs back, to a 22-26 deficit, at the interval.
After the break Luxol were still holding sway over their adversaries. A 9-0 run, with a second Psaila Savona trey, saw Hibs falling into a double figure deficit. Midway through the quarter the Violets were still 39-26 in front, but the Paolites staged a revival, to pull back, till the end of the session, but Luxol held on to a 40-34 lead.
In the last quarter Luxol were pointless till midway through the period, but the champions could only reply with a paltry five points.
A little later Doreen Micallef gave them a slim lead. Psaila Savona potted Luxol’s only hoop in this session, but ex-team mate, Kirsten Micallef popped up once more, to sink two treys in a row. Hibs added on a couple of hoops, for good measure, to finish up on the winning end, and leaving a disappointed Luxol to rue their their disastrous last session.
Hibs: 19 Doreen Micallef, 13 Kirsten Micallef
Luxol: 13 Francesca Psaila Savona, 10 Emma Moore
Referees: Jean Paul Sammut, Clive Terribile
Kerygma 52
St. James Hospital 45
(13-11)(15-8)(11-7)(13-19)
Kerygma avenged their Shield defeat at the hands of St. James, and now both teams are on an equal footing in the league, with two wins from four matches. Once St. James lost their initial lead, they were always chasing the result, and Kerygma had enough experience to keep in front, at a distance.
Kerygma had Christine Scicluna missing, and the Saints were depleted by the absence of Jean Doughty, Beverie Sultana and Ann Camilleri.
St. James had a good 6-2 beginning, but Kerygma settled down to take the game in hand. They went into a 10-8 lead, and in the last seconds Josette Calleja increased their advantage with her first trey, but moments later Denise Hollier put in her trey for St. James.
In the second quarter Kerygma were still in command, and a 10-0 run, starting and ending with further Calleja treys, put her side into a sound 23-11 lead. The Saints rattled their adversaries with a trio of hoops in less than a minute, but it was Kerygma with the better ending, and their free shots put the side on a 28-19 advantage at the interval.
After the break it was a tale of Kerygma getting points, from hoops and free shots, and St. James replying in a like manner, and the difference in points remained constant.
In the later stages Nadia Cassar grabbed a couple of baskets, to extend Kerygma’s lead, after three sessions, for a 39-26 scoreline.
In the last quarter Kerygma could hold on to their lead, despite the Saints’ efforts to get within the distance.
Treys by Annabel Busuttil and Sammy Jo Barbara weren’t enough to pull their team closer, even though Kerygma were failing their shots. Martha Abela sank another trey for the Saints, but Kerygma grabbed more hoops to ward off St. James’ challenge, despite a second Busuttil trey.
A flurry of points at the end brought the two teams somewhat closer, but Kerygma were already sure of the result.
Kerygma: 20 Josette Calleja, 15 Nadia Cassar, 9 Elaine Cutajar
St. James: 14 Sammy Jo Barbara, 9 Denise Hollier
Referees: Alfred Carbonaro, Jennifer Mangani
Sliema Wanderers 48
Depiro 72
(12-17)(17-8)(8-20)(11-27)
Depiro overcame an indifferent first part of the match, but then came to life after the interval, and their stifling pressure unsettled the Sliema side, who had some fluid play in the opening sessions.
There were some good personal scores on both sides, but Depiro will bemoan the fact that two of their players suffered ankle injuries, and took no further part in the game.
Sliema started the new year still without Leanne Sciberras.
Depiro made a confident start, grabbing the first three hoops, but Sliema recovered to go to within a basket, with Chanel Galea points.
Depiro opened up a lead again, but Sliema came back once more. Late in the session Rachel Camilleri gave Depiro a better lead, operating on some fast breaks.
In the second quarter Sliema didn’t take long to get within reach, as Samantha Tabone and Dana McKeon helped their side to recover a 17-23 deficit, midway through the session, with a 10-0 run. Sliema held on to their advantage, as Depiro lost Sarah Pace with an ankle sprain. At the halfway mark Depiro went 25-29 in arrears.
After the break Depiro suffered another hoop, but then Joselle Cardona pulled them back with a couple of baskets. Depiro pressed their opponents, and Sliema were in difficulties.
A long 14-2 run, with Greta Zarb sinking a trey, saw Depiro take a good lead. Sliema then shared the rest of the quarter, and Depiro lost another player injured, with Zarb limping off.
After three sessions Depiro were 45-37 ahead.
The last quarter was still a trial for Sliema. They had a good start, with hoops by Galea and McKeon, but Renette Debono was on hand for Depiro, to pull them completely away from their adversaries.
A 12-0 run sealed the match, midway through the quarter, and Joselle Cardona then closed down the game, as Depiro ambled through to their third league win in four matches.
Sliema: 17 Chanel Galea
Depiro: 20 Rachel Camilleri, 18 Joselle Cardona, 12 Renette Debono
Referees: Stephen Micallef, Jennifer Mangani
Standings
7 Depiro (3-1); 7 Luxol (3-1); 6 Hibs Medsea (3-0); 6 Kerygma (2-2); 4 St. James Hospital (1-2); 3 Sliema Wanderers (0-3); 3 SN Suns JC (0-3).