Starlites recover from double defeat Athleta on top, with basket difference
Hibernians Starlites Naxxar (9-11, 6-12, 6-17, 13-16) 34 56
Starlites had started the league campaign well winning three matches but then lost two in a row. They returned to winning ways against Hibs as they did three times before during the season.
The Paolites had Emma Micallef back on court from the start of the season when she was injured after a very long layoff but Kirsty Caruana is still unavailable. Starlites were without Danielle Agius once again.
Patricia Arguello started Starlites off with her trey. Hibs replied with a couple of hoops as Starlites held their advantage and Kirsty Galea netted another triple for them. The Paolites had free throws till the end of the session to draw nearer.
In the second period, Arguello obliged with another triple for Starlites with Hibs coming up with a three hoop spread mainly from Trudy Armstead. Starlites then opened up their advantage as Arguello sank a thrid trey and her side went on with a 9-0 run with a brace of Samantha Farrugia hoops.
At the interval, Starlites were 2315 to the good.
After the break, Starlites went further in front before the Paolites put in another three basket spread but the rest of the session belonged to Starlites as they subjected their adversaries to a long 12-0 run with a fourth Arguello trey and free shots nearly all from the same Arguello making up the rest of the score as Starlites went into the last session on a 40-21 lead.
In the last quarter, another 10-3 run sealed the match in favour of Starlites as Arguello and Galea nailed two more triples and Armstead made a three point play for Hibs. The Paolites made an effort with Silvia Gambino making her free shots.
The last part of the game had Josephine Grima making more points for the winners and Gambino netting Hibs’ last points.
Hibs: E. Micallef 2, E. Cassar 4, S. Gambino 11, I. Agius 2, M. Said 1, K. Portanier Mifsud, N. Farrugia, T. Armstead 13, A. Marinkovic, J. Scerri 1
Starlites: K. Galea 6, J. Doughty 2, S. Farrugia 4, D. Revol, K. Pirotta, J. Micallef, J. Grima 13, P. Arguello 29,E. Magrin, S. Davis 2, A. Lupo
Referees: B. Vassallo, C. Farrugia, I. Marjanovic
Gzira Athleta 66 Caffe Moak Luxol 53 (18-9, 8-15, 22-17, 18-12)
Athleta managed to climb back into the top position in the standings on a better basket difference than the same Luxol as the sides are now equal on points.
It was Santino Coppa’s first defeat since he took over the Luxol reins but the champions are still trying to cope with Steffi DeMartino’s absence from the court after her injury two matches ago.
The onus fell on Attirah Munir and Sarah Pace with Ina Baena Medina now also a mainstay. On the other hand Athleta can bank on Christina Grima and Amelia Simmons for their points tally and they did not disappoint. Athleta were missing Milica Stefanovic and Julia Schembri.
It was a wary game at the start with Simmons netting a triple only for Luxol to tie the score. Athleta then began to take control of the proceedings and they managed to make up a long 112 run till the end of the period as Grima also sank a triple.
In the second session, Athleta slightly went further ahead but the champions made a good recovery as they put in a 12-0 run with Pace twice and Baena Medina netting triples to overturn the score. Athleta regained their lead Luxol tied the score and Grima gave Athleta a small 2624 advantage till the interval.
After the break, the game opened up well and the points began to go in at both ends. Luxol went ahead with Athleta pulling back and taking a lead.
Luxol were keeping close but Beverlee Zammit and Grima made more Athleta treys. Luxol tried to keep up the pace but till the end of the period Athleta managed to open up a better 4841 advantage.
The last session had Grima nailing another trey. The champions pulled two hoops back but Athleta made a 7-0 run and they had more of a cushion to rest on.
Free throws brought Luxol closer but Athleta still had enough of a lead. Mandi Mercieca netted Luxol’s last points with her triple but Athleta were high and dry and Simmons sank an Athleta triple in the last seconds of the match.
Athleta: C. Grima 25, B. Zammit 3, S. Pisani, L. Sciberras 6, A. Simmons 20, D. Said Hollier 4, A. Borg 4, S. Vella 4, C. Mifsud
Luxol: S. Pace 14, M. Mercieca 8, A. Munir 17, I. Baena Medina 13, N. Vella, K. Calleja, P. Ellul, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Darmanin, C. Curmi.
Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, I. Marjanovic