Loyola came a cropper agianst a Depiro side intent on erasing their opening league loss against the champions.

Depiro ran up a high score and their press denied their adversaries time and again until they eased off in the last stages of the match allowing Loyola to hike up a more respectable scoreline. The two sides are now on a win and defeat each.

Loyola were a different side from the one that beat Mtarfa. Abigail Sciberras was injured and Adalia Bonanno was missing. In came Giuliana Torpiano. Depiro fielded the same formation as in their other match against Hibs.

Depiro eked out a lead at the start despite opposition from Loyola. Francesca Bianco then sank a triple as Depiro extended their advantage.

Loyola managed some more points but Depiro combined well towards the end of the period as they made up a 9-2 run mostly from Kaila agius points.

Loyola tried to make amends at the start of the second session but were hit by a Justine Busuttil Gaerty triple. Depiro kept on with three hoops in a row before Loyola could reply with some points. Depiro struck again till the interval and triples by Bianco her second and  Sarah Pace made up an 8-0 run for a good 34-14 advantage.

Loyola fell apart after the break. All they could manage was a paltry hoop earlier on but by then Depiro had built up a hefty 19-2 run with an Andrea Mifsud trey and more points from Antoinette Borg and Agius.

Loyola made some free shots but Depiro were still intent on pressing and increasing their score which had gone up to 61-19 after three sessions. Loyola were still being pressed in the first part of the final period as Christine Sammut obtained a number of points in a 12-4 run.

Depiro then seemed to be satisfied and lose interest and Loyola’s pride took over. they collected a solid 17-1 run with Ruth Spiteri and Jean Doughty in the forefront. The game evened out once more at the end with both sides seemingly content with the outcome.

Loyola

7 J. Doughty, M. Gatt, 7 E. Falzon, 4 F. Schembri, 16 R. Spiteri, 4 P. Montanaro, 3 F. Camilleri, 3 SJ Barbara, 2 K. Gouder

Depiro

9 S. Pace, 2 J. Xuereb, 4 A. Mifsud, 1 M. Bonett, 6 F. Bianco, 3 J. Busuttil Gaerty, 17 A. Borg, 5 C. Sammut, E. Vella, 9 S. Micallef, 22 K. Agius

Referees

JP Sammut, S. Micallef

Second high score victory

for Luxol

Starlites Sports Exp     27

Luxol     76

(4-22)(13-11)(4-18)(6-25)

Luxol recorded another high score win to add to their opening one against St Andrews. Starlites had to bow to superior opponents although they had their positive moments in the second session which they actually won.

When Luxol turned on the screw after the interval the points tally escalated quickly leaving their adversaries lagging behind with difficulty in obtaining points.

Starlites had Marie Claire missing from the action injured just before start of the match. Stephanie Davis was included for the first time and Lara Pisani also played. Luxol were without Julianne Attard and Diana Muscat with Tina De Martino filling one of the places.

Luxol came out with guns blazing as they pounded Starlites into a 0-18 deficit with Emma Moore having a good time. Late in the session Starlites managed to net their first points as Luxol slowed down and grew a little careless. They were still out in front after the opening period.

The second session was of a different nature. Luxol’s bench players began to make their way on court and their rythym began to falter. Starlites grew in stature and an 8-2 run gave them more confidence. they were stopped by a Bev Zammit triple as Luxol sought to put more urgency in their play.

At the interval they held a 33-17 advantage.

After the break the Violets turned on the pressure once more. Starlites had to withstand some heavy Luxol forays and could only reply with a brace of hoops from Marilou Cutajar.

On Luxol’s part after an initial two baskets it was Zammit with two more treys her second one starting a long 11-0 run which took the Violets to a 51-21 advantage with a period to go.

Starlites began the last quarter well enough with two hoops but when Luxol let loose there followed a strong 18-0 run with two triples by Steffi De Martino and two more from Zammit. Luxol kept on pressing till the end running up a high scoring win.

Starlites

A. Farrugia, C. Riolo, 2 A. Grixti, 2 S. Tabone, L. Pisani, 7 C. Spiteri, S. Davis, 6 L. Pirotta, 2 N. Attard, C. Scicluna, 8 M. Cutajar

Luxol

8 E. Moore, 12 M. Sciortino, 2 L. Serge, 7 B. Naudi, 2 K. Portelli, 14 S. De Martino, 2 P. Ellul, 2 T. De Martino, L. Chetcuti, 6 E. Grech, 21 B. Zammit

Referees

B. Sly, J. Mangani

St Andrews recover

from opening defeat

St Andrews     42

Guzelpinar Mtarfa     22

(14-2)(7-12)(10-5)(11-3)

St Andrews made up for their opening league defeat by Luxol as they had the better of Mtarfa who were suffering another loss to their initial one.

The Saints had the measure of their opponents from the start and were always in command throughout the match. Mtarfa had their best moments in the second quarter but they could never get really close.

St Andrews made one change with Nadia Cassar’s place taken by the returning Elaine Cachia for her first seasonal match.

Also missing for the Saints was Tamsyn Pace Decesare. Mtarfa had Martina Scicluna in lieu of Graziella Santillo.

Mtarfa found difficulty at the start of the encounter as the saints ran up a 10-0 break. Mtarfa then netted their only hoop for this period before St Andrews ended the session with a couple of baskets for a comfortable advantage.

In the second period and a dressing down from their coach Mtarfa began to combine better after suffering an early hoop. A Gaby Mifsud triple began a long 10-0 run as they came back into contention.

Josette Calleja halted their run with a triple for the Saints. The two sides then shared four baskets till the interval with a low 21-14 score in favour of the Saints.

St Andrews’ first hoop after the break found a reply as mtarfa drew marginally nearer but the Saints then became more cautious as they responded with an 8-0 run with Madeleine De Martino working well under the board.

St Andrews broke clear once more and with a session remaining they were 31-19 in front. Diane Falzon put in an early triple for Mtarfa but then her side dried up again and the saints without any great effort began to edge away further as they managed to build up an 11-0 run which took them to the end of the match as Calleja sank her second triple.

St Andrews

4 M. Caruana, R. De Martino, 10 J. Calleja, 2 N. Scicluna, I. Galea, 6 E. Cachia, 7 J. Mangion, 7 R. Magro, 8 M. De Martino

Mtarfa

M. Abela, 7 D. Falzon, Y. Muscat, 9 C. Gauci Meilak, M. Mifsud, M. Agius, 3 N. Said, R. Sammut, F. Borg, M. Scicluna, 3 G. Mifsud, C. Tanti

Referees

E. Mangani, B. Sly 

Champions in good early

season form

Athleta     35

Hibs Medsea     74

(14-17)(9-20)(6-16)(6-21)

Hibs followed to their win over Depiro with another solid victory over Athleta handing them their first defeat in two games.

The champions had Kirsten Micallef in devastating shooting form nailing no less than seven triples and with the other members of the team combining well to produce a stirring performance.

Athleta had no answer to Hibs’ straightforward play and were only able to keep pace in the opening session. 

Athleta had Dorien jager missing with naomi Barry taking her place in her first match. Giulia Muscat was also missing. Hibs played the same side as in their opening game with Maria Desira only a spectator in her long term injury.

The champions started off with a couple of quick baskets but then had the Athleta duo Leanne Sciberras and Lonike Calleja making up a 7-0 run as they swept in front. Hibs reacted well with an 11-2 run as Kirsten Micallef netted her first trey.

Calleja brought Athleta back to within a point but the champions were three ahead at the end of the session. Athleta were hit by Hibs’ triples in the second period. Micallef added two more early on as Hibs went into a double figure lead. Sciberras netted some more points for Athleta but at the other end it was Elena Cassar with three hoops and more triples by Francesca Tabone and Micallef once more. At the interval Hibs were on a solid 37-23 advantage.

The champions began with a 7-0 run after the break as Joselle Cardona made her first points. Sciberras replied for Athleta but the champions despite changes on court made up another 9-2 run with Cardona sinking more points.

Hibs held a good lead which had grown to a 53-29 score at the start of the last session.

The champions were not done yet with their triples as Micallef let loose. there was also Emma Micallef with her trey as they combined in a 10-2 run. Kirsten Micallef had more in reserve as she nailed two more treys late in the encounter. Hibs made up a last 11-0 run ending with Lucienne Bezzina’s triple.

Athleta

R. Sciberras, L. Pace, N. Barry, 10 L. Calleja, 15 L. Sciberras, M. Azzopardi Duca, M. Azzopardi, 2 C. Galea, 2 F. Farrugia, 2 K. Busuttil, 4 C. Mifsud

Hibs

5 E. Micallef, 6 E. Cassar, M. Zammit, 10 L. Bezzina, 3 F. Tabone, 4 D. Micallef, 6 A. Darmanin, 10 N. Arrigo, 21 K. Micallef, J. Cardona

Referees

C. Terribile, B. Sly