Starlites Sports Exp. 32

Hibs Melita Gardens 89

(2-27, 6-18, 7-20, 17-24)

Starlites always have a mountain to climb when they meet top teams and with the Paolites losing out in overtime last week, Starlites had to bear the brunt of Hibs’ justification in this encounter.

To make matters worse for Starlites, they also lost their coach Tino Riolo early on after the interval for dissent against the officials.

Starlites were missing three players - Christine Spiteri, Lindsey Pirotta and Christine Scicluna. For Hibs, Alexis Cutajar was unavailable and Maria Desira was just on the bench.

The Paolites had it all their own way at first when they ran up a 21-0 break with Nadia Arrigo Joselle Cardona and Lena Gipson points.

Starlites’ only contribution were free throws by Ariana Grixti with Hibs making up more points until the session’s end.

There were changes in the Hibs ranks in the second period but they began again with a 12-0 run with more shared points this time.

In the latter part of the period Starlites managed to make their hoops too sharing half a dozen baskets with their adversaries. At the interval buzzer Hibs were enjoyiong a 45-8 score.

After the break it was Amanda Farrugia who grabbed all of Starlites’ points whereas Hibs relied on Elena Cassar and Cardona in their match towards a high score. Hibs also managed 8-0 and 8-1 runs to go into the last session on a hefty 65-15 score.

The two teams were more evenly matched for the final quarter as a more open game ensued. At first the Paolites  continued to hike up their advantage and triples by Arrigo and Kristina Gatt made up  a higher score.

Then along with Farrugia there was Marilou Cutajar for Starlites as they ended the game on a 9-6 run and a better tally for the side.

Starlites: 15 A. Farrugia,  C. Riolo, 2 A. Grixti, 2 S. Tabone,  S. Cutajar,  S. Davis, N. Attard, 3 MC Cilia, 10 M. Cutajar

Hibs: :2  J. Xerri, 22 E. Cassar, 4 M. Zammit, 8 L. Bezzina, 5 K. Gatt, 13  N. Arrigo, K. Baldacchino, 21  J. Cardona, 11 L. Gipson

Referees: A. Carbonaro, C. Terribile

Luxol 100

Phoenix Qormi M. 31

(33-2, 20-13, 29-10, 18-6)

The champions recorded their fourth straight victory. They had no hassles from Phoenix who were suffering their fourth defeat.

A century match ensued and two Luxol players made up good personal tallies. Phoenix improved as the game wore on but they couldn’t prevent their strong opponents from registering a high score.

The Violets had captain Mandi Sciortino out injured and Lara Chetcuti was missing. Phoenix also had a couple of absent players Daniela Zammit and Maria Rita Agius along with Vanessa Mifsud Tommasi as it turned out.

Luxol had a merry time in the opening session when their tally went up to a total of 33 points with Robin Murphy pouring in her hoops and Sarah Pace and Beverlee Zammit helping out with the latter also with a triple. Phoenix managed their only hoop in the last minute of the period.

In the second session, Phoenix fared much better even though Zammit netted a second triple for the Violets. A curious incident occurred when a scorer for Phoenix was found out to be an unregistered foreign player playing under another name. After a delay she was finally benched.

Carina Gauci Meilaq made some hoops for Phoenix as they had the better of their opponents at first. Luxol then dominated once more till the interval with a 13-0 run mostly from Clementina Medina points for a 53-15 score.

After the break, Phoenix shared the play at first with Helene Potigny hoops. Luxol began to pick up again and pressed their adversaries.

An 11-0 run with Pace and Murphy points has Potigny stopping them but the champions finished off the period withy another 8-0 run for a heavy 82-25 score.

In the last session, Luxol began with another 8-0 run. Phoenix had a good spell midway through the session but Luxol then just managed the century with a Medina hoop in the last minute of play.

Luxol: 20  S. Pace,  15  C. Medina, 4 B. Naudi,  J. Busuttil Gaerty, 8 G. Zarb, 9  P. Ellul, 27 R. Murphy, 4 D. Muscat,  2 K. Portelli, 11  B. Zammit

Phoenix: 3 M. Abela, 4 V. Agius,  F. Micallef, 10 C. Gauci Meilaq,  M. Agius, 2  N. Said, 10 H. Potigny, CM Vella,  A. Camilleri, 2 L. Mifsud      

Referees: S. Gouder, C. Terribile

McDonalds Depiro 65

Alyssa Ashley Loyola 54

(14-12. 15-10, 20-18, 16-14)

Depiro kept up their unbeaten league run and held on to their top placing handing Loyola their first league defeat.

It was also Depiro’s third win in four matches against their opponents.

A solid defence brought about Depiro’s victory to boost their hopes for next Sunday’s KO final against the Paolites in the Women’s fourth honour of the season.

Depiro’s important players were both missing - injured - as Vontisha Woods and Sam Brincat had to cry off with Justine Xuereb and Martina Scicluna taking their place. Loyola recovered Kirsty Tonna to the side.

Both sides put in early triples with Francesca Bianco for Depiro and Denise Hollier for Loyola.

The latter’s later lead was neutralised with Bianco’s second triple and that began a 9-1 run when Steffi De Martino also netted a trey.

Desarae Johnson kept up her points grabbing to reduce Loyola’s deficit late in the session.

The second period had Depiro extending their advantage once again with a 7-2 run. Loyola recovered to a basket behind with more Johnson points. Depiro broke away once more with Loyola unable to make any decent penetrations. Depiro built up a 7-2 run mostly from free throws as they exploited Loyola’s hesitant play to lead 29-22 at the interval.

After the break, Depiro’s quest continued and an 11-2 run with De Martino free throws had them on a solid advantage.

Loyola tried to stage a recovery but their 8-0 run as Johnson was still holding her side in contention was stopped by a second De Martino triple.

Loyola’s next three hoops were also answered properly when Depiro came up with two more treys from Antoinette Borg and the score reached a 49-40 figure.

In the last quarter, Depiro again recorded a 7-2 run. Loyola struck back with a 7-0 run to open up possibilities but free shots gave Depiro more room to keep a hold on the match and ensure their top spot in the standings.

Depiro: 9 A. Mifsud, G, Mifsud,  J. Xuereb, T. Mifsud,  M. Scicluna, 13 F. Bianco, 1 T. De Martino,  23 A. Borg,  C. Sammut, 1 E. Vella, 1 S. Micallef, 17 S. De Martino

Loyola: 2 E. Moore, 9 C. Grima, 2 J. Doughty, 7  D. Hollier, K. Tonna,  A. Bonanno, J. Mangion,  4 A. Sciberras, S. Schembri Wismayer,  SJ Barbara, 30 D. Johnson

Referees: E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro