Luxol enhance top position

Hibernians 50 Caffe Moak Luxol 66 (12-16, 15-25, 13-9, 12-16)

Hibs are in dire straits as regards their Play Off hopes.

This defeat really limits their options as they now have to win their remaining two encounters to nudge themselves in the top four placings.

There were absent players all around with Depiro without Maria Said Kim Portanier Mifsud and Alex Marinkovic and the champions having to make do without the reliable Steffi DeMartino and Noelene Vella.

Luxol started with a brace of hoops with the Paolites netting six points in a row. Ina Baena medina sank a trey for the champions with Hibs grabbing another lead which proved to be their last. Luxol were back ahead as Paula Ellul netted a trey and Elena Cassar keeping Hibs close to their opponents.

In the second session, Luxol forced their way to a better advantage with an 11-2 start and two more Ellul triples. The Paolites bounced back with consecutive treys by Emma Micallef and Cassar. The Violets held on to their remaining lead managed a late 8-2 run with Christine Curmi making her points to help the champions to a 41-27 halftime advantage.

After the break, Sarah Pace sank a Luxol triple but Trudy Armstead came right into the picture with a personal 7-0 run. Hibs were still trailing and Attirah Munir hoops for Luxol kept them on a useful advantge on a 50-40 score.

In the last quarter Hibs began to draw nearer but they were halted abruptly as Luxol put in a heavy 14-0 run and a second Pace triple to kill off any hopes of a Hibs revival. The Paolites managed a game ending 7-0 run which still left them on a heavy deficit.

Hibs: E. Micallef 3, E. Cassar 17, S. Gambino 5, I. Agius 2, K. Caruana, N. Vella, N. Farrugia, T. Armstead 21, J. Scerri 4

Luxol: S. Pace 15, M. Mercieca 7, A. Munir 10, I. Baena Medina 7, K. Portelli, C. Sollami 2, P. Ellul 11, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Darmanin, C. Curmi 14

Referees: S. Micallef, C. Farrugia, M. Rajczi