Luxol 71

Athleta 49

(19-10, 30-11, 13-3, 4-25)

Luxol obtained their second victory over Athleta in three games and also their second league win.

They dominated until the interval and also in the third session but then had a breather allowing Athleta to make up some well needed points for a more respectable score but nothing more as the Violets had already put in a heavy advantage to secure the game.

Luxol had Amelie Paul back home for her exams but will return. Lara Chetcuti was also missing with Leanne Vella taking her place. Athleta were without Giulia Muscat and Marouska Azzopardi Duca but recovered Kelly Busuttil.

Luxol found Athleta replying to their opening points but then the Violets made up an 8-2 run with Becky Naudi and Mandi Sciortino points.

There were triples at both ends as Sciortino continued with her tally and Leanne Sciberras for Athleta. Luxol ended the session with a couple of hoops.

A three basket spread opened Luxol’s account in the second period with Athleta reacting with a 7-2 run and an Aleksandra Ratomska triple. From then on, the Violets overran their opponents when they made up a solid 22-2 run with triples from Sciortino again and Sarah Pace along with more points from Robin Murphy. At the interval Luxol were leading 49-21.

After the break, Athleta were in dire need of points only once piercing Luxol’s defence with a second Sciberras triple.

In the meantime Luxol had ran up a steady 14-0 score ending with Murphy and Beverlee Zammit triples. Late in the period Luxol put in a couple of hoops more and their score went up to 67-24 when the final session began.

Luxol made a thorough overhaul in their ranks when all five players were changed on court and Athleta took the opportunity to really hike up their tally especially from Ratomska with help from Sciberras and Madeleine De Martino.

An 18-0 run made up a respectable score until Luxol finally answered with Clementina Medina hoops, but the losers still managed to put in more points in between.

Luxol: 5  S. Pace, 18 M. Sciortino, 4 C. Medina, 8  B. Naudi,  J. Busuttil Gaerty, 10 G. Zarb,  P. Ellul, 18 R. Murphy, 3 D. Muscat,  L. Vella,  5B. Zammit

Athleta: 7 M. De Martino, 18 A. Ratomska, 2 C. Ciantar,  L. Calleja, 20 L. Sciberras, R. Sciberras, F. Farrugia, 2  K. Busuttil, C. Mifsud

Referees: C. Terribile, L. Camilleri

Alyssa Ashley Loyola 101

Phoenix  Qormi Mendoza 14

(16-4, 29-7, 23-1, 33-2)

Loyola already had two good wins over Phoenix in two other competitions.

This time there was a century score as the Qormi lasses bore the full brunt of Loyola’s attacking force and succumbed in all four sessions of play also with heavy scores against in each one.

Some solid runs of points were registered in Loyola’s third straight league victory.

Loyola had Abigail Sciberras unavailable along with Kirsty Tonna. Phoenix were without Vanessa Mifsud Tommasi but Helene Potigny was back.

Loyola went right out and planted in a 12-0 run beginning with Desarae Johnson hoops. Late in the period Phoenix managed a couple of baskets but in between Loyola also made up a brace of hoops to hold on to a good advantage.

In the second session, Qormi added another hoop but then they had to suffer a heavy barrage as Loyola built up a solid 23-0 run with Johnson continuing with her points along with contributions from Christina Grima, Jean Doughty and Sandra Schembri Wismayer.

Phoenix had a good spell late in the period but it was Loyola who finished off with a couple of baskets for a 45-11 lead at the interval.

After the break, there was no let up for Phoenix. Schembri Wismayer began for Loyola as her side made up another 13-0 run. Carla Marie Vella stopped her opponents with free throws but Loyola were back, this time with a further 10-0 run with Denise Hollier and Schembri Wismayer marking up their tally for a 68-12 score.

The last session was a stereotype of the other three with Loyola having the time of their lives piling up the points. A 19-0 run hiked the score up and nearer to the century.

Fiona Micallef grabbed a rare Qormi hoop, but Loyola went on and managed the three figure score in the last seconds through Grima.

Loyola: 6  E. Moore, 17 C. Grima, 6 J. Doughty, 16  D. Hollier, 5 A. Bonanno,  4 J. Mangion,  15 S. Schembri Wismayer, 4 SJ Barbara, 28 D. Johnson

Phoenix:  M. Abela, 2 V. Agius, 2 F. Micallef, 4 C. Gauci Meilaq, MR Agius, M. Agius, 1 N. Said, D. Zammit, 4 H. Potigny, 1 CM Vella, A. Camilleri, L. Mifsud

Referees:  J. Mangani, R. Darmanin

McDonalds Depiro 66

Hibs Melita Gardens 63

(16-14, 21-19, 17-10, 12-20)

Depiro surmounted the Hibs obstacle in a match which had Depiro dominant in phases but then they had to pull out all the stops to prevent the Paolites from overtaking them - a situation that Hibs didn’t manage throughout the whole match.

Depiro couldn’t have hoped for a better start as they built up a 12-0 advantage along with two triples from Sam Brincat. The Paolites finally stopped them and although Depiro had free throws Hibs reacted well and went on till the end of the session to make up a good 12-2 run, mostly from Lena Gipson as Depiro’s lead dwindled down to a mere basket.

In the second session the game was balanced as Depiro hung on to their advantage and Antoinette Borg netted a triple. The Paolites returned to a point in arrears on several occasions but never made the breakthrough.

Late in the session Depiro managed an 8-2 run to open up the lead but Kirsten Baldacchino nailed a triple for Hibs. At the intercval Depiro were 37-33 ahead.

After the break, the Paolites were back at a basket behind but Depiro extended their lead once more.

Although Hibs crept nearer it was Depiro with the better finish to the period with a 7-0 run for a 54-43 advantage with a session to be played.

Depiro were in command at first and their lead kept on to a 62-48 score. Hibs suddenly began to click and a Lucienne Bezzina triple started them off to a good 11-0 run and Depiro’s lead vanished to a single point.

The Paolites still couldn’t overtake their adversaries and Depiro held out with Brincat delivering the finishing touch with her free throws in the last seconds of the encounter as her side is now on top of the table.

Depiro: A. Mifsud,  G. Mifsud,  M. Mifsud, 18 S. Brincat, 17 V. Woods, 6  F. Bianco,  2 T. De Martino, 13 A. Borg,  C. Sammut,  E. Vella, S. Micallef, 10  S. De Martino

Hibs: J. Xerri, 3 E. Cassar,  F. Mifsud, 6 L. Bezzina, 9 M. Desira, K. Gatt, 5 N. Arrigo,  9 K. Baldacchino, 2 J. Cardona, 29 L. Gipson

Referees: G. Barbara, S. Gouder