Luxol 55

McDonalds Depiro 47

(17-9)(19-4)(5-18)(14-16)

This game simply had no bearing on the outcome of the second team to progress to the Play Off final. It just served to help the Violets to keep their unbeaten record in their last match of the second phase.

Everything now depends on who wins the last game to accompany Luxol in the best of three games final. Depiro can still make it if they can deny Hibs from defending their five year success in the league.

Luxol had Emma Grech just on the bench with her season over on a long term injury. Depiro also had their missing player Maria Bonett.

Depiro made a suitable reply to Luxol’s opening hoop as they twice went in front. The Violets reacted well as they swept into a lead with a brace of hoops. When Antoinette Borg kept on with her points for Depiro it was still Luxol to call the play when they ended the session with a 9-2 run and further Steffi De Martino baskets including a triple as their advantage increased.

The second period was still going against Depiro as the duo De Martino and Becky Naudi with constant feeding from the other players made up a solid 14-0 run to spring well clear. When de Martino limped off to the bench Borg made a series of free throws for Depiro but was stopped by a Mandi Sciortino triple and a couple of Diana Muscat free shots as Luxol ran up a hefty 36-13 lead at the interval.

After the break the Violets somewhat lethargic were subjected to strong Depiro forays which produced a good 12-0 run and a Francesca Bianco triple to harbour better hopes in the match. Luxol stopped them with a second Sciortino trey but Depiro went on with their points to go nearer on a 31-41 deficit.

In the final quarter Depiro’s first attempts to get right back in the match received a setback as Sciortino nailed another triple. Depiro began once more and they built up a 9-2 run ending with a Sarah Pace triple and there was still time left on the clock.

The Violets relied once more on Sciortino and she obliged with her fourth triple to snuff out any hopes that Depiro had of saving the encounter.

Luxol: 2 E. Moore, 14 M. Sciortino, 2 L. Serge, 8 B. Naudi, 19 S. De Martino, P. Ellul, 6 D. Muscat, 4 B. Zammit

Depiro: 9 S. Pace, 5 G. Zarb, J. Xuereb, A. MIfsud, 8 F. Bianco, J. Busuttil Gaeerty, 18 A. Borg, C. Sammut, E. Vella, 7 S. Micallef

Referees: E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro

Championship Pool standings

Luxol are on top with 34 points from 18 matches, while Hibs Medsea and McDonalds Depiro have 27 points from 17 matches.