Luxol 51

Hibs Medsea 46

(10-7)(9-4)(13-7)(19-28)

Luxol were in line for an easy victory when they controlled their opponents for the major part of the match and seemingly had no hassle when they enjoyed a healthy advantage over the Paolites.

All this nearly came to naught when Hibs came storming back in the last minutes of the encounter and nearly wiped off their heavy deficit leaving just a basket difference.

Luxol then made their free throws to take the first step in winning the top major honour after having failed in the previous four others.

Luxol still had Emma Grech missing but they recovered Steffi De Martino from her injury. Hibs were without the injured Joselle Cardona and Caroline Fenech was on the bench just in case.

It was the Paolites with the opening hoop and the Violets with the first triple netted by De Martino. The champions replied with free throws but De Martino went on with a brace of hoops.

Hibs reduced the arrears only for De Martino to sink another triple to open up her side’s advantage also making all of Luxol’s points in this session.

The low score became lower in the second period with defences domination over the errant attackers. Along with De Martino there were Becky Naudi and Louisa Serge to boost the Violets’ tally as they enhanced their advantage. The Paolites put in a single hoop with a couple of free shots later on.

Luxol’s lead didn’t diminish and at the interval they were leading 19-11.

After the break, the game continued on the same lines. The champions just couldn’t get any nearer and although Luxol were not making so many points they had a suitable lead to fall back on. De Martino netted a third triple but midway through the period Hibs made a brace of hoops only to see the Violets end the session with a three basket spread the last two by Emma Moore.

That put them on a comfortable 32-18 lead. In the final session Hibs still couldn’t cope with De Martino as she made another trey along with two more hoops for good measure.

Then the game went topsy turvy and the Paolites were transformed. A 15-2 run with a host of triples three by Kirsten Baldacchino and another from Lucienne Bezzina changed the nature of the match.

Hibs followed up with another 10-2 run and only a basket separated the two teams.

Luxol were shocked but they recovered to put in the game’s last free shots and secure their victory which had become so precarious.

Luxol: 9 E. Moore, 4 M. Sciortino, 2 L. Serge, 3 B. Naudi, 28 S. De Martino, 4 P. Ellul, 1 D. Muscat, B. Zammit

Hibs: E. Micallef, E. Cassar, 11 L. Bezzina, 9 M. Desira, 7 D. Micallef, 5 A. Darmanin, N. Arrigo, 14 K. Baldacchino, C. Fenech

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani