Hibs run riot with a century of points
Guzelpinar Mtarfa 27
Hibs Medsea 114
(5-28)(4-25)(4-33)(14-28)
The champions went to town against the young Mtarfa outfit. All the Hibs players put their names on the score sheet as they pressed without respite.
Mtarfa had their backs to the wall for most of the game and they could only put in a decent session score in the last one.
The Paolites managed to tot up a good number of triples in this victory.
Mtarfa had a host of players missing and with Adrian Mifusd in lieu of the regular coach Duncan Cilia. Besides their two long term injuries the champions also were without Caroline Schiavone.
Hibs opened up with a Lucienne Bezzina triple and Mtarfa were only able to reply through free throws in this session. The triples went on at the Paolites’ end with Francesca Tabone bagging two and Kirsten Baldacchino another one.
In the second session Tabone went on with another brace of treys. Mtarfa responded with a Gaby Mifsud triple but the champions closed down the period with a solid 15-0 run and Elena Cassar points for a 53-9 halftime score.
The Paolites gave no breathing space to their adversaries after the break. Mtarfa were not only unable to really enhance their tally but also had to endure Hibs’ continuous pressure with 12-0 and 21-0 runs.
Triples were not lacking either as Bezzina and three late baldacchino efforts found their mark.
The champions’ century was reached with minutes to spare as Mandy Zammit twice Emma Micallef and Cassar sank their triples. Not to be outdone Mtarfa had gaby Mifsud and Martha Abela with their treys but Tabone grabbed a final triple for the winners.
Mtarfa: 10 M. Abela, M. Agius, Y. Muscat, 6 C, Gauci Meilak, 1 M. Mifsud, R. Sammut, F. Borg, 1 M. Scicluna, 6 G. Mifsud, 3 A. Demanuele
Hibs: 3 E. Micallef, 23 E. Cassar, 6 M. Zammit, 6 L. Bezzina, 22 F. Tabone, 10 D. Micallef, 14 N. Arrigo, 18 K. Baldacchino, 12 J. Cardona,
Referees: E. Mangani, C. Terribile
Comfortable win for Athleta as they reach semifinals
St Andrews 23
Athleta 62
(5-14)(4-9)(2-18)(12-21)
The first match of the women’s KO saw Athleta making their way into the semis. The Saints’ opposition really came in the final session when the die had already been cast.
Both teams provided nearly a full set of players but it was Athleta who had the control of the match as they established a good early lead to lay claim on the encounter.
The Saints recovered Rachel Zammit Mamo and Renette Magro. Athleta were without Chanel Galea abroad but Dana McKeon was back on the island playing her first match this season.
There was a quiet start to the game although St Andrews’ Josette calleja put in a triple. Later on it was all Athleta as they went on till the end of the period with a 12-0 run and Chantelle Mifsud points to open up a good advantage.
In the second session the Saints could reply to Athleta’s first hoops but the points were scarce especially for St Andrews who fell further behind. At the interval Athleta were on a 23-9 lead.
Athleta could go on dominating the match after the break and limited their adversaries to just a single hoop when the Saints’ tally continued to diminish with each passing session.
It was Lonike Calleja who led Athleta’s charge with a hefty 41-11 advantage. The final quarter was a betetr affair. Athleta had absolutely no doubts about their victory and McKeon hoops and Raissa Sciberras with a trey hepled them to a betetr score.
For the Saints there was Renette Magro also with a trey.
St Andrews: M. Caruana, 2 N. Cassar, R. De Martino, 8 J. Calleja, N. Scicluna, I. Galea, E. Cachia, 2 J. Mangion, 2 R. Zammit Mamo, 7 R. Magro, 2 M. De Martino
Athleta: 3 R. Sciberras, D. Jager, 12 L. Calleja, 11 L. Sciberras, 4 M. Azzopardi Duca, R. Spiteri, 2 G. Muscat, 6 D. McKeon, 6 F. Farrugia, 6 K. Busuttil, 12 C. Mifsud
Referees: E. Mangani, C. Terribile
Luxol romp through to semifinals
Luxol 64
Starlites Sports Exp. 23
(24-4)(5-11)(24-4)(11-4)
Luxol could go into the semis without any hassle with a handsome victory over Starlites.
Two similar session scores were enough for the Violets to stroll through. Starlites had their moments in the second period when Luxol seemed to take a breather but they were really no match for a Luxol side intent on honours this season.
Luxol were without their Italian player Jessica Carbonell now back home. Starlites had Amanda Farrugia and Natasha Attard missing.
Luxol started on a good note with a 9-0 run before Starlites could respond. They ended the session well ahead.
In the second period the Violets changed their side took a little rest and allowed Starlites to hike up their score mainly through Lyndsey Pirotta but it was still Luxol in front on a 29-15 score at the interval.
After the break, the Violets returned to normal play and Starlites were subjected to more pressure play. This time it was De Martino and Diana Muscat and a Bev Zammit triple to steer the Violets to a repeat score of the opening session.
In the final quarter the scoring again fell away and only picked up in the last stages of the game with both sides seemingly satisfied with the result according to their different thinking.
Luxol: 12 E. Moore, 1 M. Sciortino, 3 L. Serge, 7 Becky Naudi, K. Portelli, 20 S. De Martino, T. De Martino, 4 P. Ellul, 10 D. Muscat, 4 E. Grech, 3 B. Zammit
Starlites: 3 C. Riolo, 2 A. Grixti, 2 S. Tabone, 2 L. Pisani, C. Spiteri, E. Iavarone, 5 L. Pirotta, C. Scicluna, Ch. Scicluna, 7 M. Cutajar
Referees: B. Sly, J. Mangani
Depiro also reach last four
Alyssa Ashley Loyola 59
McDonalds Depiro 75
(17-15)(8-21)(18-15)(16-24)
Depiro had a somewhat hard time against Loyola who were full of energy for most of the match but when they lost their key player on fouls it was all over for them.
Depiro thus made their way into the semi final draw along with Athleta, Hibernians and Luxol.
For a time Loyola harboured hopes of an upset but it was not to be.
Christina Grima was back for Loyola in her festive holidays but they were missing Abigail Sciberras and Adalia Bonanno. Depiro were with their standard formation.
Depiro had Antoinette Borg sinking an early triple and they held an advantage despite Jean Doughty’s trey for Loyola until late in the session when a brace of hoops pushed Loyola in front.
Depiro tied the score but again fell behind to Ruth Spiteri’s basket. Depiro replied in the second period with an 8-2 run and triples from Kaila Agius and Greta Zarb.
When Loyola tried to bounce back it was Sarah Pace with a trey in an 8-0 Depiro run. Doughty then netted a last second Loyola triple before the interval for a 36-25 Depiro lead.
After the break Loyola began their way back and it was Grima who led the way.
Depiro responded with an 8-0 run with triples from Francesca Bianco and Zarb. Then it was Loyola once more, with more Grima points, bringing them to 43-51 behind.
Depiro started the final session replying to Loyola’s efforts to draw nearer but when Grima was fouled out her side fell away. Pace saw to that with her second triple with Depiro then cantering through with points from Zarb for a better winning margin.
Loyola: 12 J. Doughty, 2 F. Schembri, E. Falzon, 4 M. Gatt, 4 D. Said Hollier, 4 R. Spiteri, 23 C. Grima, 4 K. Gouder, F. Camilleri,6 SJ Barbara
Depiro: 13 S. Pace, 18 G. Zarb, J. Xuereb, A. Mifsud, M. Bonett, 8 F. Bianco, J. Busuttil Gaerty, 11 A. Borg, C. Sammut, E. Vella, 4 S. Micallef, 21 K. Agius
Referees: A. Carbonaro, L. Camilleri