Athleta 58

Starlites Sports Exp. 27

(11-10, 18-5, 22-3, 7-9)

Athleta marked up their first league win this season after three defeats leaving the Starlites outfit still winless after three matches.

Athleta couldn’t shake off their opponents at first but then after the interval it was easier for the winners as they broke completely clear for a very comfortable win their second over their adversaries after a shield victory.

Athleta did not include Stephanie Pisani. Starlites were missing Christine Spiteri.

The game took time to get going and then it was Athleta with their points and Starlites with their replies which then took them in front.

Athleta overturned the score with Aleksandra Ratomska points with Starlites coming back to a point behind before the end of the period. Ariana Grixti put Starlites ahead in the second session but Kelly Busuttil nailed a triple for Athleta who then held on to their advantage although Starlites managed to keep in touch.

Late in the quarter Athleta had a positive spell and put in a 9-0 run with more Ratomska hoops and a Leanne Sciberras triple. At the interval Athleta were on a 29-16 lead.

After the break Athleta took a firm hold on the proceedings and Starlites were denied time and time again. In fact their sum total for the period were two free shots.

Athleta went happily sailing on to a 20-0 run as again Sciberras and Kelly made their triples. With a session to go Athleta had gone on to a 51-18 advantage. As more Athleta bench players went on court they still increased their side’s lead at first.

Then it was Grixti and Marilou Cutajar in an 8-3 run for Starlites with Athleta netting a Giulia Muscat triple as the match came to a close.

Athleta: 6 M. De Martino, 22 A. Ratomska,  C. Ciantar, 5 L. Calleja, 6 L. Sciberras,  M. Azzopardi Duca, 3 G. Muscat, 2 R. Sciberras, 9 F. Farrugia, 10  K. Busuttil, C. Mifsud

Starlites:  A. Farrugia,3  C. Riolo, 9 A. Grixti,  S. Tabone,  S. Cutajar,  1 L. Pirotta, N. Attard,  MC Cilia,  3 C. Scicluna, 11 M. Cutajar

Referees: C. Terribile, S. Gouder

Phoenix Qormi Mendoza     27

McDonalds Depiro     80

(8-15, 7-19, 10-23, 2-23)

Depiro kept their place at the top of the standings with a routine victory over the bottom side as the Depiro bench players had more playing time on court. The win had its dark side with the injury suffered by Sam Brincat.

Phoenix took it on the chin for most of the match but then the last session proved too much as they faded away.

Phoenix were without Fiona Micallef and Daniela Zammit and Depiro played their full squad.

Qormi sneaked in a couple of hoops before Depiro began their hunt for a high score match.

An 11-2 run started them off and late in the period more Vontisha Woods points had the Depiro side on a better footing.

In the second session Woods kept up her scoring touch but Phoenix managed some more points. Depiro took over once more with a solid 14-0 run from seven different players and Phoenix then ended the period with more points which only took them to a 15-34 tally at the interval.

After the break Qormi shared the scoring at the start but Depiro gradually made up an 8-0 run with a Steffi De Martino triple. When they were stopped it was de Martino once more with personal points and a second trey in an 11-0 run. As her side had a 57-25 advantage after three sessions.

The last quarter was heavy for Phoenix. Their only contribution was a lone hoop but Depiro were still points hungry and they finished off the match with a 13-0 run and a third De Martino trey to round off a high score.

Phoenix: M. Abela, 3 V. Agius, 7 H. Potigny, 5  C. Gauci Meilaq,. Mifsud Tommasi, 6  M. Agius, 4  N. Said, MR Agius, 2 A.2 Camilleri, L. Mifsud

Depiro: 2 A. Mifsud, 4 G, Mifsud,9 T. Mifsud,  S. Brincat, 20 V. Woods, F. Bianco, 4 T. De Martino, 2  A. Borg, 6 C. Sammut, 2 E. Vella, 5 S. Micallef, 17 S. De Martino

Referees: A. Carbonaro, J. Mangani

Hibs Melita Gardens 54

Luxol 57

(after overtime)    

(18-12, 5-16, 8-8, 15-10) – (8-11)

Just a week after suffering two losses to Hibs in the Louis Borg Cup finals Luxol turned the tables to record their third successive league victory and their first win in four matches over Hibs.

The latter could have won in normal time when two free shots in the last second of play were missed with Luxol emerging winners in overtime.

Hibs were at full strength with the return of Alexis Cutajar and Mandy Zammit. Luxol beside the missing Amelie Paul also had Becky Naudi unavailable.

The Violets’ first two baskets were triples from Greta Zarb and Sarah Pace but the Paolites were making points in between.

Later on it was Hibs, with a 9-2 run, and a Kirsten Baldacchino triple to take a lead which they held till the end of the period thanks also to more Lena Gipson points.

Luxol were the better side in the second session when they made up a long 8-0 run to go ahead with Hibs unable to make any progress. The lead then changed hands twice and the Violets had a good ending to the interval as Beverlee Zammit netted a brace of triples to push her side into a 28-23 lead halfway through the encounter.

After the break the Paolites were still in dire need of points not that Luxol were grabbing so many baskets. Hibs relied on Lucienne Bezzina and Baldacchino and at the other end it was Robin Murphy to net the points and to keep her side at the same advantage as before. Luxol were quite happy to keep their status quo and with a period to go they were still on a 36-31 advantage.

Early on it was Luxol in the same position but Hibs were gradually applying the pressure and this resulted in a 10-2 run which pushed them ahead with a second Baldacchino trey. Luxol regained the lead but Hibs drew level and could have taken the match had they converted just on of two free throws they had in the last second of play.

The game went into overtime where the Violets dominated the first part with a 10-2 run only for Hibs to make a good recovery which left them just short of Luxol’s tally which was enough for Luxol to take both points from the match and a third successive victory.

Hibs: J. Xerri,  E. Cassar,  F. Mifsud, 10 L. Bezzina, M. Zammit, 7 M. Desira, Gatt, A. Cutajar, 1 N. Arrigo, 16 K. Baldacchino, 2  J. Cardona, 18 L. Gipson

Luxol: 17  S. Pace, 6 M. Sciortino,  C. Medina,  J. Busuttil Gaerty, 5 G. Zarb, P. Ellul, 21 R. Murphy,  D. Muscat,  L. Chetcuti, K. Portelli, 8  B. Zammit

Referees: A. Carbonaro, C. Terribile