Phoenix Petrus Qormi 62
Alyssa Ashley Loyola 73
(13-17, 16-11, 12-20, 21-25)
After suffering two league defeats Loyola were back on the winning trail handing Phoenix their third straight league loss.
Both sides relied heavily on their American players both with a Thomas surname and nearly identical names Brittaney for Phoenix and Brietta for Loyola.
Phoenix felt the absence of Alexis Cutajar and had also Diane Pace and Arielle Abdilla missing. Loyola were still without the injured Justine Mangion.
Lyola had the better start with an 8-2 run but Qormi then raced into an 11-10 lead. Loyola reacted till the end of the period when they regained their advantage.
In the second session Phoenix were livelier and a 10-4 run had them in front once more. Loyola responded to edge in front but it was Qormi ahead at the interval on a slight 29-28 advantage.
Loyola began well after the break with an 8-2 run but Phoenix kept close all the way breathing down their opponents’ necks.
Loyola then eased away in the last stages of the period to lead 48-41. Loyola then held off Qormi’s advances in the last session as Brittaney Thomas nailed a Phoenix triple.
It was then Loyola’s turn as they opened up their lead once again with two treys from Jean Doughty and another from Brietta Thomas.
Phoenix’s Thomas kept up her probings with a second triple and more points but Loyola’s lead was established and they could control for the remainder of the encounter.
Brietta Thomas made up a 34 points haul and Loyola also had Sammy Jo Barbara with 11 points. Brittaney Thomas put in a staggering 39 points but still finished up on the losing side.
Qormi: M. Abela 5, V. Agius, MR Agius, C. Scicluna 1, Y. Agius 8, N. Said, B. Thomas 39, J. Millo, A. Demanuele 9
Loyola: P. Montanaro, L. Pace, J. Doughty 6, M. Gatt 4, D. Said Hollier, K. Tonna 6, A. Bonanno 4, B. Sultana 8, B.Thomas 34, SJ Barbara 11, F. Camilleri
Referees: E. Mangani, J. Mangani
Paolites in a stroll for their third league win
Hibernians 46
Starlites Sports Experience 26
(13-8, 11-2, 14-5, 8-11)
Hibs beat Starlites twice in the space of four days after their KO encounter.
Once more it was a comfortable victory with the Paolites setting their minds at rest from early on in the match.
Starlites stayed close in the opening period when Lindsey Pirotta netted her usual triple. But Hibs ended the session on an 8-2 run as they opened their first real advantage.
In the next session, Starlites were limited to a single hoop after the Paolites had added on more points to their lead. Two more hoops by Hibs ended the period and at the interval they were sitting pretty on a 24-10 score.
After the break Hibs added on to their growing advantage. This time it was an 8-0 run before Starlites could stop their adversaries. The Paolites kept the Starlites defence busy and after three sessions of play they were on a 38-15 lead.
In the last period all the Hibs bench players took their time on court and Starlites could come more into the picture. Lara Pisani netted a triple for them but they copuldn’t erase much of their deficit despite the Hibs youngsters facing them.
Maria Desira made up a 10 point haul for Hibs and Marilou Cutajar was Starlites’ best scorer with 9 points.
Hibernians: J. Scerri 6, E. Cassar 9, R. Scerri 3, L. Bezzina 7, F. Mifsud, M. Desira 10, L. Micallef, A. Borg 1, N. Mifsud 2, E. Micallef 1, K. Soune Sagna 7
Starlites: C. Riolo, A. Grixti , S. Tabone 4, L. Pisani 3, S. Cutajar, L. Pirotta 5, N. Attard 5, S. Davis, M. Cutajar 9
Referees: C. Terribile, J. Abeng
Luxol lasted better in exciting encounter
Depiro 69
Luxol 71
(22-15, 12-15, 19-17, 16-24)
This was a very entertaining match with the result uncertain till the end. Luxol had beaten Depiro in the Shield semis and they kept their unbeaten league record after three games but handed Depiro their first league defeat in four matches.
Depiro started well but Mollie Williams’ triple had Luxol close. An 8-2 run then had the Violets in front with a Sarah Pace trey but Depiro recovered to post a 12-1 run with a Sam Brincat trey as her side took a good advantage.
Luxol did not take long in the following period to draw closer but a three basket spread had Depiro on a better advantage.
The champions then made up a 7-0 run with another Pace triple. Luxol were close once more but Depiro held on to their lead till the interval when they were 34-30 in front.
After the break, Depiro kept their opponents at bay for some time but the champions made up an 8-0 run with Greta Zarb and Pace triples to forge ahead.
Depiro drew level but Luxol opened up another lead. This was wiped put with an 11-0 Depiro run as Beverlee Zammit nailed a brace of treys with Brincat adding another one for a 53-47 Depiro advantage.
In the last session Luxol twice were within a basket with Wiliiams’ points but Zammit extended Depiro’s lead also with another triple.
Depiro lost their American Latisha Belcher on fouls and Mandi Sciortino put Luxol just a point behind. Zammit’s further triple had Depiro on a better lead but Luxol’s late surge had them on a 9-0 run with a Becky Naudi triple. Depiro could only reduce the arrears and Luxol were safe.
Williams made up 20 points and Pace had 16 points for Luxol. Zammit had a total of 22 points for Depiro with Steffi De Martino adding 16 more.
Depiro: C. Camilleri, G. Mifsud, F. Bianco 2, S. Brincat 13, M. Bonett,
S. De Martino 16, M. Mifsud, M. Scicluna, L. Belcher 12, A. Mifsud 2, S. Micallef 2, B. Zammit 22
Luxol: S. Pace 16, M. Sciortino13, C. Medina, B. Naudi 9, J. Busuttil Gaerty G. Zarb 8, P. Ellul 5, M. Williams 20, D. Muscat, K. Portelli
Referees: C. Terribile, J. Abeng
Standings
Depiro 4 3 1 7
Hibernians 4 3 1 7
Luxol 3 3 0 6
Alyssa Ashley Loyola 4 2 2 6
Honey Athleta 3 1 2 4
Phoenix Petrus Qormi 3 0 3 3
Starlites Sports Experience 3 0 3 3