Depiro keep on chasing the front two teams and piling up good scores in the process. All in all, Starlites also played their part but Depiro were on a different level of play showing the threat they can pose to the sides above them in the standings.

Starlites fielded the same formation as in their victory over Mtarfa. Depiro had Greta Zarb back for the first time this season.

After an early Starlites triple by Lara Pisani Depiro took over with other treys by Sarah Pace and Francesca Bianco in a 12-0 run. The match then evened out though Justine Busuttil Gaerty sank a third Depiro triple.

Busuttil Gaerty started another 10-2 run in the second period taking Depiro further ahead but Starlites had Marilou Cutajar making all their hoops for the session. For Depiro there was Antoinette Borg with yet another triple as they went in at the interval on a sound 40-20 advantage. 

After the break Starlites were hit by a further 15-2 Depiro run and a Zarb triple and though they replied late in the quarter so did Depiro who were 58-26 in front with a session to go.

More treys for Depiro in the final period by Kaila Agius who had already banged in a good number of hoops before. There were also Justine Xuereb and three more from Zarb along with more points from Borg until Starlites managed to sneak in a game ending 9-1 run for a crumb of comfort.

Starlites: 4 A. Farrugia, 4 C. Riolo, 2 A. Grixti, 6 S. Tabone,  L. Pisani, 1 C. Spiteri, 2 S. Davis, L. Pirotta, N. Attard, 4 C. Scicluna, 12 M. Cutajar

Depiro:  9 S. Pace, 12 G. Zarb, 4 J. Xuereb, 2 A. Mifsud, 3 M. Bonett, 5 F. Bianco, 6 J. Busuttil Gaerty, 10 A. Borg, 3 C. Sammut, E. Vella, S. Micallef, 32 K. Agius

Referees: E. Mangani, J. Mangani

Luxol     70

Guzelpinar Mtarfa     34

(18-11)(16-5)(14-8)(22-10) 

It was Luxol’s fourth straight victory, which leaves them at the top of the standings, but their tougher matches are still to come, in the next two games.

Mtarfa tried to offer decent opposition, but they were up against a stronger outfit, and succumbed to superior opposition, in their fourth defeat.

Luxol had Tina De Martino in lieu of Julianne Attard once more, but her sister, Steffi, was just a spectator on the bench.

Mtarfa were without Francesca Borg and Charmaine Tanti, and with Nikola Said also unavailable on the bench.

Luxol’s first two hoops had Mtarfa overhauling them in the next minutes, until Bev Zammit took over, with a personal 10-0 run, and two triples. Mtarfa replied again, as Gaby Mifsud struck a trey, but the Violets were still in front.

In the second period Luxol opened up with an 8-0 run, to break clear, and this time Mtarfa found the road to the basket more difficult.

The Violets had more to come, till the end of the session, as Becky Naudi and Zammit’s third triple, put Luxol on a comfortable 34-16 advantage, at the interval.

Mtarfa opened and closed down the next session, after the break. with their points, but in between the Violets built up a 14-0 run, thanks to their bench players, who had a piece of the action, with regular players having a rest on the sideline.

With a period to go Luxol had doubled their lead over their opponents with a 48-24 score. Mtarfa’s efforts for a better scoreline had Luxol opposing them through Louisa Serge and Emma Moore. Midway through this last session the league leaders also made up a 12-2 run, but Mtarfa could come more into the picture in the latter stages, with a second Gaby Mifsud triple, with Luxol’s response being a couple of hoops.

Luxol: 8 E. Moore, 12 M. Sciortino, 6 L. Serge, 11 Becky Naudi, K. Portelli, 2 T. De Martino, 4 P. Ellul, D. Muscat, L. Chetcuti, 8 E. Grech, 19 B. Zammit

Mtarfa: 4 M. Abela, R. Sammut, Y. Muscat, 10 C. Gauci Meilak, 6 M. Mifsud, M. Agius, 2 G. Santillo, 2 M. Scicluna, 10 G. Mifsud

Referees: A. Carbonaro, C. Terribile

Athleta     47

Alyssa Ashley Loyola     55

(13-18)(10-18)(10-13)(14-6)

Loyola overtook Athleta in the standings with their second victory in four matches leaving their opponents with just a sole win. Loyola bounced back after their two defeats winning their first three sessions to get a good grip on the game.

Athleta’s efforts in the last period were not enough to get them back into the reckoning.

Athleta had Naomi Borg instead of Lisa Pace.

Loyola had a bonus in Christina Grima back on the island from Italy and Abigail Sciberras back from injury. Adalia Bonanno was still missing.

Leanne Sciberras began with a triple for Athleta and her side went into a 6-3 lead.

Grima’s personal points helped Loyola to put in a 10-0 run also with a Jean Doughty trey as Loyola held on to their advantage despite a last gasp second triple from Sciberras at the other end.

In the second session Loyola had Doughty with a second trey and a 7-0 run before Athleta could reply with a Lonike Calleja triple.

For some time Athleta were gaining ground and cutting down on their deficit.

Late in the quarter Loyola picked up once more and a 7-0 run extended their advantage to a 36-23 score at the interval.

Sciberras sank her third triple as Athleta tried to make up the leeway but Loyola stood firm and when Doughty also put in her third trey their lead didn’t decrease as the two sides then traded the last points in the session for a healthy 49-33 Loyola lead.

Athleta put in a final spurt as they started the final quarter with a good 11-1 run.

They came in sight of their opponents but they couldn’t last the pace. Loyola weathered their adversaries’ attacks with hoops by Kathleen Gouder to assure themselves of victory.

Athleta: R. Sciberras, N. Barry, 10 D. Jager, 7 L. Calleja, 20 L. Sciberras, M. Azzopardi Duca, M. Azzopardi, G. Muscat, C. Galea, 2 F. Farrugia, 6 K. Busuttil, 2 C. Mifsud

Loyola: 9 J. Doughty, 2 F. Schembri, E. Falzon, 6 M. Gatt, K. Borg Alden, 2 R. Spiteri, 24 C. Grima, G. Torpiano, 6 A. Sciberras,. Camilleri, 2 SJ Barbara, 4 K. Gouder

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani