In this last seasonal match for the Siggiewi side, Kerygma made it five out of five matches against the bottom side, although they still remember leaving it late, two matches ago, when Suns nearly sprung a surprise. This tiem Kerygma made certain early on, and then cruised through, as their three point queens also found their mark.
It was Suns with the opener, by Maria Agius, but Kerygma turned the score around. Suns found the means to level the score, but Nadia Cassar and Lara Cauchi put Kerygma ahead once more, keeping their advantage till the end of the quarter.
In the second session there was very much a repetition of the previous perriod, with Doris Bonello being the main scorer for Suns, and lara Cauchi sinking the first of her treys, in a 9-1 run, midway through the session. At the inetrval Kerygma were on a 21-8 leadAfter the break the two teams shared the play for some time, with Svetlana Micallef prominent for Suns. In the latter stages of the quarter Kerygma turned on the throttle, and produced a good 12-0 run, starting and ending with two more treys by Cauchi. After three sessions it was a 38-14 lead for Kerygma.
In the final session Kerygma kept up their trey sinking, and along with cauchi, there was also Josette Calleja to plant one in. Suns had Graziella Santillo with her hoops, as Lilian Cremona made a late appearance, after missing quite a number of matches. The game ended with a calleja late hoop.
Suns: 7 Maria Agius
Kerygma: 18 Lara Cauchi, 11 Josette Calleja, 10 Nadia Cassar
Referees: Alfred Carbonaro, Jennifer Mangani
* * *
St. James Hospital 59
Sliema Wanderers 75
(4-22)(15-16)(20-12)(20-25)
Sliema acquired the Plate Pool title, beating St. James by a handsome score. There was a crucial first period, as Sliema trampled over the Saints, and established a large lead, to last them for the rest of the match. There was a reaction by St. James, but when they went reasonably close, Sliema made the necessary hoops to pull away once more. and dispel any lingering Saints’ hopes for a revival.
The Saints had a horrendous start, as they were tormented by Leanne Sciberras, in an 11-0 run. Sciberras kept on, despite the first two hoops by the Saints, and then it was the turn of Chanel galea, who put in a personal 7-0 run, ending with a trey, as Sliema kept pulling away from their adversaries.
In the second quarter Sliema continued to pile in the points, as Sciberras and Dana McKeon went on to a strong 31-6 lead. The play then took a turn, as Sliema relinquished their superiority, and St. James played with more confidence. They managed a 9-0 run. which included an Annabel Busuttil trey, and the last stages of the session were then shared, as Sliema held on to a good 38-19 lead at the interval.
After the break Sliema were hit hard by a resurgent Saints side. A second Busuttil trey started off a solid 13-2 run, with Denise Hollier coming to the fore. Sliema stopped the long run with a couple of hoops, but the Saints were hungry for more, and a third Busuttil trey, ina 7-2 run, brought them closer still. Sliema recovered in the late stages, and two baskets made the score 50-39, with a quarter to go.
St. James’ efforts to cut down their deficit were thwarted by a three bashet spread, and despite Hollier’s hoops, Sliema had Sciberras to ensure their lead. St. James kept pressing and Hollier and Ann Camilleri sank more treys, but Sliema’s advantage was never in doubt. The points kept coming in at both ends, as Camilleri put in two more treys. It was a closer score, but Chanel Galea also made her second trey for Sliema, as the flurry of points continued till the end.
St. James: 24 Denise Hollier, 17 Annabel Busuttil
Sliema: 32 Leanne Sciberras, 19 Chanel Galea, 10 Dana McKeon
Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Clive Terribile
Standings 28 Sliema Wanderers, 22 St. James Hospital (-1), 22 Kerygma (-1), 12 SN Suns JC