A rampant Hibs outfit came out firing on all cylinders to sweep aside Starlites who did not know what hit them in the opening stages of the game.

It was the champions’ third comfortable victory over their opponents as four of their players finished up on double figure scores. The only time that Starlites could make a sequence of points was at the start of the final session before they were hit for the last time.

Starlites had Amanda Farrugia and Christine Spiteri unavailable. The Paolites were without Lucienne Bezzina Elena Cassar and Caroline Schiavone but welcomed back Alexis Darmanin who finally returned from a long term injury.

Hibs’ initial baskets had Starlites with free throws as a reply but then it was the champions all the way as Joselle cardona and Doreen Micallef kept up their shooting form and their side built up a heavy 18-1 run till the end of the period. In the second session Starlites were still on the receiving end.

A Marilou Cutajar hoop was scant reply as the Paolites with Darmanin in particular rammed in a 20-2 strong run including an Emma Micallef triple. At the halfway stage the champions were on a 47-7 advantage.

After the break the same story ensued and Starlites couldn’t get a breather although the Hibs scoring rate was not so healthy as before. Darmanin went back on court to put in a trio of hoops and Francesca Tabone nailed a late triple as the Paolites were 60-9 in front.

The last quarter presented a different picture as Starlites had a suitable reply before Hibs could could turn on the throttle once more. They finished off the encounter with another solid 14-0 run.

Starlites: 3 C. Riolo, A. Grixti, 4 S. Tabone, L. Pisani, C. Scicluna, 2 L. Pirotta, 2 N. Attard, MC Cilia, 2 C. Scicluna, 4 M. Cutajar

Hibs: 15 E. Micallef, 1 M. Zammit, 4 F. Tabone, 8 M. Desira, 14 D. Micallef, 21 A. Darmanin, 4 N. Arrigo, K. Baldacchino, 13 J. Cardona

Referees: E. Mangani, C. Terribile

Luxol 50

McDonalds Depiro 64

(2-17)(13-12)(20-12)(15-23)

Depiro are the team to beat nowadays. They made it four wins out of four against Luxol and displayed their authority for most of the match.

Luxol came back after the break and were very near but another Depiro spurt in the final session wrapped things up and they now lord it over the other teams. A slight but expensive hiccup is now behind them as they face the rest of the season with confidence.

Both sides presented their best formations for the game with Greta Zarb returning to the Depiro outfit.

Depiro’s stifling defence was very much in evidence in the opening period. Luxol replied to Antoinette Borg’s opening points but that was their only contribution as Depiro held sway for the rest of the session as they made up a solid 14-0 run with Sarah Pace points which included a triple.

In the second period the Violets began their way back and they put in a good 10-2 run starting and ending with Beverlee Zammit triples. Depiro settled down and proceeded to put together a 10-2 run of their own where Kaila Agius nailed a trey. Zammit netted more points for Luxol but at the interval Depiro were still holding a comfortable 29-15 advantage.

After the break the Violets came storming out through Bev Zammit with a personal 8-0 run and two more triples. Depiro reacted with treys of their own from Zarb and Edwina Vella but in between Zammit netted another triple.

Luxol went to within a point but Borg extended Depiro’s lead once more. After three sessions Depiro were 41-35 in front.

The last session was a let down for the Violets as their efforts were continually thwarted and Depiro broke completely clear. A solid 14-2 run with triples by Borg and Pace left Luxol stranded at 61-40.

Zammit still made another trey but the die had already been cast and Depiro could keep control till the end despite Luxol’s late flurry which had Zammit yet again and Steffi De Martino also netting a triple.

Luxol: 1 E. Moore, 2 M. Sciortino, L. Serge, B. Naudi, 15 S. De Martino, P. Ellul, D. Muscat, E. Grech, 32 B. Zammit

Depiro: 16 S. Pace, 5 G. Zarb, J. Xuereb, A. MIfsud, M. Bonett, 5 F. Bianco, J. Busuttil Gaerty, 19 A. Borg, C. Sammut, 5 E. Vella, S. Micallef, 14 K. Agius

Referees: JP Sammut, C. Terribile

Standings

McDonalds Depiro lead on 23 points followed by Luxol and Hibs Medsea on 22 points. Alyssa Ashley Loyola are on 18, Athleta 16, St Andrews 15, Starlites Sports Experience 14 and Guzelpinar Mtarfa 11.

All teams have played 12 matches with the exception of Athleta and Mtarfa, who have played 11 games.