Arms Depiro      61     Starlites GIG     88

(14-35, 18-15, 18-15, 11-23)

Starlites followed on their initial league win, against, Luxol, to post their second victory, with decisive scores in their first and last quarters.  It was also their third season win over Depiro, this season. Having established a heavy advantage in the opening session, Starlites could administrate the remainder of the encounter, even if Depiro managed to win, the next two periods, albeit by a very smaller margin. Coach, David Baudot's rotation of players, for the champions, resulted in ten players putting down their names in the score list, whilst Depiro had their top game scorer, American, Hannah Johnson, way ahead of the others, at both ends.  Depiro had Danielle Agius back in the side, after missing two matches, Nicole Ebejer vice Nicole Hili, and Denise Said Hollier missed another week of play, with her injured thumb. Starlites recovered Christine Curmi, but Stephanie Davis was missing.

Curmi sank an early triple, as the champions forged ahead, but Shanise Farrugia also netted a Depiro trey. Starlites imposed their style of play, as they ran up a heavy 20-2 score, with Michela Zammit Cordina points, also with a triple. Play became more balanced, till the end of the session, but Starlites could still rest on their solid advantage. In the next period Spaniard, Patricia Arguello, and Mikela Riolo sank early triples, but Depiro responded well, as Nicole Agius and Danielle Agius made their points, and also netted a triple, to trim some points off their deficit. Starlites could still rest on a sound advantage, at the interval, with a 50-32 score in their favour.

After the break Depiro surprised their opponents, coming out in a determined manner, and making up a good 12-2 run, with braces from Nicole Agius and Johnson and Claire Ciantar points. The champions retaliated with their 9-0 run, as Zammit Cordina put in her second trey. Depiro again cut down on their deficit, but the rest of the session had Starlites on free throws, taking the score to 65-50. In the last period, Starlites put paid to more Depiro advances, with an initial 12-1 run, followed by a Steffi DeMartino trey. Depiro's points in this session were all obtained by Johnson, with the champion s replying to her efforts, and keeping intact their extended advantage till the end.

Depiro: No. Agius, T. Mifsud, N. Agius 9, J. Borg 2, N. Borg 2, M. Scicluna 4, C. Ciantar 8, S. Farrugia 3, N. Ebejer, H. Johnson 26,  E. Cassar

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 18, M. Riolo 5, A. Micallef 8, S. Farrugia 4, M. Bonett 6, F. Fabok 3, C. Curmi 4, S. DeMartino 21, P. Arguello 15, M. Cutajar, A. Lupo 4 

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, L. Camilleri, S. Jafilica

 

 

Luxol     46     Hibernians     55

(14-17, 8-11, 11-14, 13-13)

Hibs' victory resulted from a somewhat low scoring match, as Luxol gave the victors quite a good run for their money. The Paolites were always ahead, except for the start of the match, but they never were that far in front, and at ease, because the Violets were always threatening to make up the leeway, and it was late free throws to make the issue safe for Hibs, at the end. Luxol have still Sharon Vella out of the side, with her injury, but they had Beverlee Zammit back, and Paula Ellul made a welcome return to the side, from a brief appearance, last season. The Paolites also had their returning players, Leanne Duncan, who missed their last two encounters, and Maria Said made her return, after maternal duties, missing most of last season.

Hibs' opening points were answered back, by Luxol's Sarah Pace, with her points and triple. The Paolites then embarked on an 11-0 run, as Sam Brincat and Ashleigh Van Vliet sank treys. Pace replied with another Luxol triple, but so did Brincat, at the other end. Late points had the Violets going closer, till the end of the period. The second quarter was a slow one, with fewer points. Zammit netted an early Luxol trey, with Hibs gradually increasing their lead once more, but Kay Portelli, coming off the bench, for the Violets, netted a late trey, taking her side to a 22-28 deficit, at the halfway stage of the match.

After the break, Luxol went even closer, but they were then stopped by a Hibs 7-0 run, as Naomi Farrugia made her triple. The Violets remained thereabouts, and Spaniard, Ina Baena, put in a triple, but the Paolites were making points of their own, slightly increasing their advantage, to a 42-33 score. In the last session, Luxol made early treys, from Monique Caruana and Pace, and also replied to the Paolites' next two buckets, keeping close, and hoping. Late in the match, Hibs made telling points, from a hoop and more free throws, to secure their victory, with the Violets having Caruana nailing her second triple, for a final score.

Luxol: S. Pace 19, M. Mercieca 8, N. Vella , I. Baena 7, No. Vella, C. Sollami, K. Portelli 3, A. Borg, J. Schembri,  M. Caruana  6, P. Ellul, B. Zammit 3

Hibs: I. Agius, J. Xerri 2, A. Van Vliet 13, S. Brincat 10, L. Duncan 4, J. Abela, Y. Bonett 3, M. Said 2, N. Farrugia 7, K. Calleja, K. Caruana 10, M. Buhagiar 4  

Referees: I. Simic, L. Camilleri, S. Jafilica