Luxol in a single point win
Luxol had beaten Starlites on five occasions earlier on in teh season but Play Offs are Play Offs and Starlites began with an overtime win just a few days ago.
In this second encounter the champions managed to tie the series with a hard earned victory as Starlites very nearly managed to turn the score around in the last minute of the match.
Both sides had their moments but the two sides were always returning to a close macth during the encounter. Luxol held out to ensure a fourth match in the series. The champions recovered Ina Baena Medina who had lost the first match.
Starlites’ young fury Kirsty Galea opened up as she had done in teh previous game with her treys two of them with Luxol chasing from the start. Attirah Munir hoops kept them in close contact but Starlites held on to their advantage.
The second session had Luxol taking a lead helped by a Sarah pace trey. Starlites recovered and made up a 9-4 run to regain their elad. The champions responded with a 7-0 run and another Pace triple. Joey Grima and Patricia Arguello put in free throws for Starlites but in between Luxol managed a Steffi DeMartino triple as they went in to rest at the interval on a 32-28 lead.
After the break Luxol edged further in front but Starlites then came up with a good spurt and a heavy 15-2 run as Arguello and Galea twice more sank their treys. T
his gave them a good lead which was whittled down before the end of the session when Luxol came to a hoop difference at 41-43.
In the last period Luxol overturned the score but Starlites were level soon after. DeMartino netted a Luxol trey but Jean Doughty did the same for Starlites.
More DeMartino hoops had the champions ahead and Christine Curmi’s triple opened up a better Luxol lead. Samantha Farrugia netted two quick hoops in the final minute to reduce Luxol’s advantage to a minimal point.
The champions kept their noses in front till the final buzzer to tie the series. The third match is for tomorrow at 2.45pm.
Starlites: K. Galea 19, J. Doughty 3, S. Farrugia 8, D. Revol, K. Pirotta, J. Micallef, J. Grima 9, P. Arguello 11, E. Magrin, S. Davis 4, A. Lupo Luxol: S. Pace 11, M. Mercieca 6, A. Munir 10, I. Baena Medina 2, S. DeMartino, C. Sollami, P. Ellul 2, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Darmanin, C. Curmi 5 Referees: E. Mangani, I. Simic, I. Marjanovic