Luxol overcame the saints for the fourth time this season, and a solid opening paved the way for their victory, and their lapses in the other sessions did not have any grave repercussions.

St. James had a good middle two sessions, but didn’t follow up, and when they fell behind for a second time, it was all over. Luxol are now only a game away from Depiro in the standings.

The Violets had Julianne Attard missing once more, along with Nicola Said. The Saints were without Ann Camilleri, and the women’s squad has now fallen under the hands of coach Joe Vella.

After an early Abigail Sciberras hoop for St. James, young Louisa Serge took over for Luxol, as she put in three baskets in a row, to start a solid 14-0 run with help from Emma Moore.

Jean Doughty stopped the long run, with her free shot, followed soon after by a Natalia Baginskaya trey.

Luxol went forward again, and built up another 8-3 run, till the end of the period, but St. James managed a second trey, through Annabel Busuttil.

In the second session it was the Violets who had the better start, as they made a 9-3 opening, ending with a Bev Zammit trey, for a 31-12 advantage. St. James picked themselves up, and proceeded to put in a gritty 10-3 run, with Luxol’s reply coming from a Psaila Savona trey.

At the interval St. James had come back to a 22-34 score.

More than seven minutes had passed after the break and it was the Saints, with a lengthy, but small 9-2 run, with Baginskaya and Denise Hollier points saw them coming closer.

Emma Moore stopped the run, and after more Baginskaya free throws, the Violets found their touch, and in the short time left, they bagged an 8-0 run, ending with treys by Psaila Savona and Moore, for a 46-33 advantage.

The last quarter was a more open affair, divided in two sections. The Violets took the first part, as Moore points helped them to a 9-4 start, although Annabel Busuttil netted a trey for the Saints.

St. James then dominated the later stages as Busuttil poured in a further two treys in an 11-1 run, ending with more Baginskaya points. It was a better score for the losers, but the Violets took the win.

Luxol: 18 Emma Moore, 10 Francesca Psaila Savona, 9 Louisa Serge, 9 Bev Zammit

St. James: 16 Annabel Busuttil, 13 Natalia Baginskaya

Referees: Stephen Micallef, Jennifer Mangani.

Emp. Cin. Stunners 46

Honey Athleta 66

(5-21)(12-13)(17-19)(12-13)

Athleta returned to winning ways, in their fourth seasonal win over Stunners. A sound opening facilitated their endeavours, as the next sessions were all close encounters, but the original lead built up kept Athleta in the clear, to mark up a comfortable win – their third league victory – and also steer clear from the bottom rung of the rankings.

Stunners were without Cynthia Saliba, Diane Falzon and Rachel Briffa, while Athleta had Gulia Muscat missing.

Athleta made a good opening, despite a Josette Calleja trey for Stunners, which had followed a similar trey by Leanne Sciberras, the team’s very first trey for the season.

Athleta then went on to a 19-3 advantage, with a good contribution from Kristina Martinelli. Stunners managed to stop the run, very late in the quarter, through Ariana Grixti, with Lonike Calleja making the last hoop of the period for Athleta.

The second session did not produce that many points at first, with a balanced start, which left athleta holding on to their same lead’ Later on Athleta managed an 8-2 run, with Lonike Calleja points. This was stopped by a Josette Calleja trey, but Stunners were still on a hefty 17-34 disadvantage at the interval.

After the break it was stunners replying to every Athleta thrust, as Josette Calleja put in her third trey.

Midway through the period Athleta made a 7-0 run, with Dorien Jager hoops.

Stunners rallied late in the session as their treys, by Lara Cauchi and Josette Calleja yet again, found their mark.

Martinelli kept on with her hoops for Athleta in the final quarter, but Stunners were still sinking their treys, and Nadia Cassar got in the act, together with a couple more from Cauchi, as Stunners made up more than a respectable score.

The game then petered slowly out, with Athleta quite content with the result.

Stunners: 14 Josette Calleja, 9 Lara Cauchi, 8 Ariana Grixti

Athleta: 18 Kristina Martinelli, 15 Leanne Sciberras, 11 Lonike Calleja, 10 Dorien Jager

Referees: Alfred Carbonaro, Clive Terribile

Standings

Medsea Hibs 22 pts; McDonald’s Depiro 19; Ergon Projects Luxol 18; St James Hospital 15; Honey Athleta 14, Empire Cinema Stunners 11