McDonalds Depiro 45

Luxol 61

(11-22, 8-10, 14-17, 12-12)

The champions made sure of a top placing at the end of these group games beating Depiro for the fourth time in five outings. Depiro looked a restrained lot and after falling behind early on in the match they never really troubled their adversaries.

The Violets acquired a handsome lead which they kept hold of till the end of the match. Depiro replied in bursts but the points gained didn’t bring them close enough and Luxol could administer the game to their liking.

Depiro had Justine Xuereb back taking the place of Maria Bonett. Luxol had two missing players - Clementina Medina and Kay Portelli.

It was Depiro with the opening hoop but the champions went 9-2 in front with points from Robin Murphy and Beverlee Zammit the latter with a triple.

Depiro’s answer didn’t bring them any nearer with Luxol having a reaction through Murphy. Late in the period the Violets put in three more treys from Greta Zarb and Zammit again and Murphy. Depiro cut down on their deficit before the session’s end.

Luxol began the next period with a three basket spread but the scoring was low at both ends. Depiro pulled points back in an 8-2 run which took the match to the end of the period with Murphy still getting points for the champions who were leading 32-19 at the interval.

After the break, Luxol were moving away once more from their opponents with a further Zarb triple and one from Sarah Pace in an 8-2 opening run. Depiro’s response brought about a 7-1 run but the Violets still had enough of a lead which grew bigger with more treys by Zammit and Pace once more. Depiro made up their share till the end of the period but Luxol were on a 49-33 advantage.

The last session saw Depiro beginning with Steffi De Martino and Sam Brincat triples but they were stopped when the Violets put in a 10-0 run of their own with Zammit and Pace triples once again. The match lost much of its importance though Depiro replied with a three basket spread mostly from Vontisha Woods. The game had a tame ending with Luxol comfortable winners.

Depiro: 3 A. Mifsud,3  G. Mifsud,  J. Xuereb, 7 S. Brincat, 14 V. Woods,  F. Bianco, T. De Martino, 4 A. Borg,  C. Sammut,  M. Mifsud, 5 S. Micallef, 9 S. De Martino

Luxol: 11 S. Pace, 6 M. Sciortino,   B. Naudi,  J. Busuttil Gaerty, 5 G. Zarb, 2 P. Ellul, 20 R. Murphy,  D. Muscat,  A. Paul, 17 B. Zammit

Referees: A. Carbonaro, S. Gouder

Alyssa Ashley Loyola 64

Starlites Sports Experience 31

(21-8, 18-6, 8-7, 17-10)

Loyola were meeting Starlites for the second time this season as they beat them once more.

Loyola’s victory puts them back into contention for a second spot in the standings depending on Luxol’s result against Depiro.

Loyola’s strong start had Starlites with their backs to the wall. The latter played better after the break when Loyola began to loosen their grip with a steady scoreline in their favour.

Loyola once more had Martha Gatt missing but Christina Grima was back from her injury and took part in the match. Starlites were with Stephanie Davis just on the bench.

With Grima in from the start Loyola pummelled their adversaries and began with a 15-2 run nearly all from Grima and Desarae Johnson.

Starlites then managed to share the points till the end of the period with Denise Hollier also getting in among the scorers for Loyola along with Marilou Cutajar for Starlites.

In the second session Loyola started strongly once more and another 16-2 run with Johnson relishing her work in the paint. Starlites put in a brace of hoops late in the session for a slightly better score on their side but they were still on a heavy deficit at the interval on a 14-39 score.

After the break, the scoring at Loyola’s end took a downward plunge and after Jean Doughty’s couple of early hoops Loyola could only manage two more baskets throughout the rest of the period.

Not that Starlites were setting any houses on fire but their quota for each session was overhauled. With a last period to be played the score stood at 47-21.

The game became a more open one with the result in no doubt. Loyola were lax in defence at first with Starlites taking advantage through Samantha Tabone and Natasha Attard hoops. The last stages of the match had Loyola on a game ending 9-0 run with Grima closing down with her personal points.

Loyola: 2 E. Moore, 18 C. Grima, 6 J. Doughty, 9  D. Hollier, 5 K. Tonna, A. Bonanno,  J. Mangion, 3 A. Sciberras,  F. Camilleri, 2 SJ Barbara, 17 D. Johnson

Starlites: A. Farrugia, C. Riolo, 2 A. Grixti, 8 S. Tabone,  S. Cutajar, L. Pisani, 7 L. Pirotta, 4 N. Attard, 2 MC Cilia, C. Scicluna, 6 M. Cutajar

Referees: A. Carbonaro, B. Sly

Phoenix Qormi Mendoza 33

Honey Athleta 76

(11-23, 8-14, 6-16, 8-23)

Athleta honed up for their important encounter against Hibs regarding the final playoff place with a solid victory over Phoenix - their second of the season.

Athleta were in no mood to make concessions and subjected their adversaries to pressure from the start led by a vivacious Aleksandra Ratomska, who tallied up a good haul of points.

Phoenix were missing some players Carina Gauci, Meilaq Maria, Rita Agius, Carla Marie Vella and Daniela Scicluna. Athleta gave a debut to young Rachel Galea and Raissa Sciberras was declared fit for playing.

Athleta put in an early 10-1 run with Ratomska hoops before Martha Abela netting a brace of baskets.

Athleta reacted well with a solid 13-4 run ending with a personal Ratomska three basket spread. Helene Potigny replied for Phoenix but her side were 11-23 behind.

In the next period Athleta increased their advantage with a couple of hoops but Ann Camilleri came up with a triple for Phoenix. Athleta built up a good 10-0 run with Ratomska being aided by Kelly Busuttil in the points making. Fiona Micallef sank another triple for Phoenix as her side were in arrears on a 19-37 score at the interval.

After the break, it was Athleta once again starting with a 7-2 run. Phoenix had Potigny with a reply but till the end of the period Athleta came back this time with a 9-2 run which ended with a Raissa Sciberras triple taking her side to a 53-35 advantage after three sessions of play.

The last period was no different with Athleta making another positive start and a 10-0 run with Kelly Busuttil points including a trey. Phoenix managed to stop the run but Athleta were not done yet and a 9-0 run mostly from Ratomska hiked up a much better score. The last points came from Micallef with a second triple for Phoenix.

Phoenix: 5 M. Abela, 4 V. Agius, 6 F. Micallef, V. Mifsud Tommasi, M. Agius, 2 N. Said, 8 H. Potigny, 8 A. Camilleri, 

Athleta: 6 M. De Martino, 32 A. Ratomska, 4 C. Ciantar, 2 L. Calleja, 9 L. Sciberras, 4 M. Azzopardi Duca, 4 G. Muscat, R. Galea, 3 R. Sciberras, 2  F. Farrugia, 8 K. Busuttil, 2 C. Mifsud

Referees: E. Mangani, B. Sly