Championship Pool

Luxol 39

Depiro 51

(6-11)(4-10)(15-19)(14-11)

Depiro came right back into serious contention for the second place in the final play-offs, beating Luxol convincingly, and more than the final score suggests. Luxol were at odds and ends for more than half of the match, and when finally they got their bearings right, it was too late, and Depiro had the match sewn up, despite a late Violets rally. Depiro are now a point above Luxol, and the latter have to do the chasing, to gain a final place.

Luxol recovered Emma Moore for this match, but Bev Zammit had to stay on the bench.

The Violets made a scrappy start, and Depiro took the opportunity to run up an opening 9-2 break, with a Sarah Pace trey. Luxol took time to settle down, but gradually they honed down their deficit. Late in the session a Joselle Cardona hoop from the zone fringes, put Depiro on a five point lead.

In the second quarter Luxol had to see their opponents increase their lead, as Greta Zarb put in her trey. The Violets pulled two hoops back, but the scoring was still at a premium.

Till the end of the session Luxol did not manage another point, but Depiro did not take any great advantage. It was only Sarah Pace, with her points, who pushed the Mtarfa side to a 21-10 halftime lead, as Luxol struggled to obtain their points.

Luxol's tale of woe continued after the break. With half the session out, Luxol still had no point in sight. By this time Depiro had built up an 8-0 run, with a second Greta Zarb trey.

When the Violets finally started to net their points, Depiro kept pace with them, and preserved their substantial lead. Emma Moore sank a Luxol trey, but Depiro still held a comfortable 40-25 advantage, after three sessions.

In the final quarter Zarb sank her third trey, and Luxol fell further back. Mandi Sciortino never gave up, and her personal points, seven in all, including a trey, gave the Violets a ray of hope. Luxol couldn't get any nearer, despite Sciortino's and Dawn Spiteri's points. Depiro could control at their leisure and, at the end, Abigail Sciberras made the necessary points to kill off the Luxol threat, which never really arrived.

Luxol: 22 Mandi Sciortino, 8 Dawn Spiteri

Depiro: 14 Greta Zarb, 9 Joselle Cardona, 9 Rachel Camilleri, 9 Abigail Sciberras

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro

* * *

Plate Pool

Kerygma 41

SN Suns JC 26

(9-7)(9-5)(11-6)(12-8)

Kerygma learned their lesson, from the last time they met Suns, when they were nearly surprised. This time Suns were kept at a distance, and Kerygma could open up their lead as time passed. They kept up a regular scoring rhythm throughout the four sessions.

Suns made a dream start, to their standards, a Diane Falzon trey and a Ruth farrugia hoop. When Kerygma settled down they could take the match in hand, and started with a Josette Calleja trey.

Then they went on till the end of the session, completing a 9-2 run, with Suns just a basket behind.

In the second quarter Suns levelled, at 9-9, but Kerygma had Calleja in good shooting form. Another 9-2 run, with a second Calleja trey, and more personal hoops, saw Suns sliding backwards.

Graziella Santillo put in two free throws, to cut down the deficit, and at the interval it was Kerygma, at a low 18-12.

After the break Kerygma made another break once more, this time a 10-2 one, which included two treys by Lara Cauchi. When Suns stopped the run it was Diane Falzon with another trey, and a free shot. Kerygma held their advantage, and after three sessions they were 29-18 in front.

In the final quarter Kerygma continued to control their lead, but Suns had a ready reply, with hoops of their own, for a 22-33 score. Kerygma made more hoops, a couple at a time, only broken by a third Falzon hoop.

The result was never in any doubt, and at the end both sides slowed down their game. This win put Kerygma nearer to the top of the standings

Kerygma: 16 Josette Calleja, 14 Lara Cauchi. 9 Nadia Cassar

Suns: 14 Diane Falzon

Referees: Gordon Barbara, Jennifer Mangani