Athleta hold on to their top position
Athleta again had the better of the match against Starlites having won the Louis Boirg Cup on aggregate against them just days ago. Athleta recovered Sharon Vella who played a good part in their victory.
An Athleta 10-0 run gave them an advantage but Patricia Arguello’s two treys started a late 92 Starlites run which had both teams on level terms.
In the next session, Athleta forced the pace beginning with an 11-2 run and a Beverlee Zammit triple along with Christina Grima points. Starlites improved till the interval but Athleta’s advantage remained as Amelia Simmons made her hoops and her side were 37-27 ahead halfway through the match.
After the break, Zammit sank another Athleta trey but Starlites came back with a 7-0 run. with Arguello points and a triple. Grima netted two triples for Athleta in a 10-2 run as Joey Grima limped off the court.
In the last quarter, Athleta successfully shut out Arguello with Denise Said Hollier grabbing a triple and it was left to young Kirsty Galea to make points for Starlites mostly from free shots.
Athleta held out when Starlites threatened to get nearer and a last 7-0 run with more Said Hollier points and a second trey decided the encounter as Athleta enhanced their top position. Starlites: D. Revol, K. Galea 14, J. Doughty 4, S. Farrugia 6, D. Agius 4, K. Pirotta 9, J. Micallef, J. Grima 9, P. Arguello 15, E. Magrin, S. Davis Athleta: M. Stefanovic, C. Grima 18, B. Zammit 6, S. Pisani, L. Sciberras 2, A. Simmons 18, D. Said Hollier 18, A. Borg, J. Schembri, S. Vella 11, C. Mifsud Referees: E. Mangani, S. Micallef, J. Mangani
Hibs open up the Play Off race
Hibernians managed to emerge victors over Depiro after two defeats earlier and this win had them alongside the same Depiro and on a better basket difference as their Play Off hopes appear rosier.
There was a balanced start to the match as Gaby Mifsud sank a depiro trey with Silvia Gambino putting Hibs ahead with her triple. Depiro put in a 9-0 run with Sam Brincat and Martina Scicluna triples. Trudy Armstead pulled points back for the Paolites.
In the second period, the points became scarcer but Hibs made up a 7-0 run to forgein front. Then it was Tina DeMartino who twice had Depiro tying the score till the interval on a 23-23 score.
After the break, Brincat began with another Depiro trey and her side were infront until Gambino sank a second triple for Hibs. Mifsud’s second trey regained Depiro’s advantage the lead changed hands three more times before Depiro tied the score and late Armstead points took the Paolites to a 38-34 lead.
The last quarter had Hibs edging further in front with a couple of Emma Micallef treys as she went on court. Carlee Schumacher free throws took Depiro nearer but Gambino helped Hibs to another better advantage. Depiro ‘s efforts didn’t drag them nearer and the Paolites had the measure of their opponents to sail past the winning post with their second league victory. Depiro: A. Mifsud, G. Mifsud 8, H. Acreman, S. Brincat 8, M. Bonett 6, M. Balzaraviciute, N. Agius, M. Scicluna 3, C. Schumacher13, T. DeMartino 4, C. Ciantar 6 Hibs: E. Micallef 7, E. Cassar 2, S. Gambino 14, I. Agius 3, K. Caruana, M. Said 3, K. Portanier Mifsud, N. Farrugia, T. Armstead 23, A. Marinkovic, J. Scerri 8 Referees: B. Vassallo, B. Sly, I. Marjanovic