Starlites keep marching on
Hibernians 46 Starlites GIG 60 (12-11, 12-16, 11-20, 11-13)
The two sides were meeting for the fifth time this season and as in the previous four encounters it was Starlites emerging victors to go sole leaders in the standings handing the champions their first league defeat.
Hibs just can’t get the hang of beating their rivals. They were close till the interval but then started to fall behind after the break and never made a telling contribution to shake off some of their deficit allowing Starlites to control the situation till the end of the match.
The Paolites had the returning Sam Brincat just fresh from her Player of the Year status from last season but Sophie Abela cried off with her elbow injury.
Starlites made two changes with Michela Zammit Cordina and Christine Curmi back in the side taking the place of the Hungarian Fanni Fabok and Adriana Lupo, the latter on walking sticks.
Starlites went ahead but saw the champions answering back to take an advantage midway through the session. Athleta were again in front but Hibs managed to end the period just in front.
Two Emma Micallef treys at the start of the next session saw Hibs edging further ahead but Kirsty galea and Joey Grima contrived to wipe off their side’s deficit and take another advantage late in the period after an 8-0 run which Hibs couldn’t stop.
At the interval Starlites enjoyed a 27-24 lead.
After the break, Hibs put in their hoops but Starlites’ replies came from triples, a brace by Spaniard Patricia Arguello who led her side’s charge and left the champions some way behind.
Zammit Cordina netted a late trey to take Starlites to a 47-35 advantage. The last quarter had the Paolites trying to make a fresh effort and a Brincat triple and Micallef fast breaks brought them somewhat nearer.
This all came to nothing as Starlites came up with a 7-0 run and another Arguello triple and the basket difference was too much for the champions.
They couldn’t get near enough with Starlites keeping a firm hold on the match.
Hibs: E. Micallef 13, E. Cassar 4, K. Calleja, K. Calleja, S. Brincat 13, I. Agius, J. Abela, B. Agius, A. Simmons 13, N. Farrugia, H. Al Tumi 3, K. Caruana, L. Duncan
Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 7, K.
Galea 9, A. Micallef 4, S. Farrugia, M. Bonett, H. Acreman 4, C. Curmi 5, J. Grima 10, P. Arguello 21, M. Cutajar, S. Davies, M. Riolo
Referees: K. Dworniczak, D. Torok, V. Nikolic
LUXOL IN 1ST LEAGUE WIN Depiro 64 Caffe Moak Luxol 81 (24-24, 18-19, 11-22, 11-16)
Both sides had lost their opening two encounters and it was Luxol claiming their first league victory leaving Depiro in the doldrums.
This was apt revenge for the Violets who had been beaten three times before by Depiro earlier on in the season.
Depiro could not stop a devastating performance by Luxol’s American Alexis Dillard who grabbed a huge tally of points evenly distributed in all four sessions of play.
Depiro still had their moments and enjoyed advantages in the second session but they were let down in the late stages of the match and the Violets made a winning contribution to allay any fears of losing the encounter.
It was Luxol with the opening lead at 7-2 with a Sarah Pace trey. Denise Said Hollier replied with a Depiro triple and her side was level on two occasions.
Luxol were again ahead with an 11-4 run and a second Pace trey and more Dillard points even if Gaby Mifsud sank a Depiro triple. But her side ended the period on a par after an 8-0 run and treys from Mifsud again and Steffi DeMartino.
The second session had Depiro in front with a third Mifsud triple but Dillard points changed the lead. Depiro’s 8-0 run saw them jumping in front once more with Luxol snapping at their heels as Dillard pumped in more points.
Mifsud’s treys went to four but Luxol overtook their opponents and at the interval the Violets were just ahead at 43-42.
After the break, Dillard kept her side ahead until Mifsud’s next triple brought both teams on level terms. This was the moment that gave Luxol a big boost as they made up a 9-0 run with an Antoinette Borg trey.
Later on it was Spaniard Ina Baena with her triple and the Violets were leading 65-53.
In the last session, Depiro tried hard and drew nearer with a Nicole Agius trey and American Ashley Gray hoops but the American didn’t stay long on court being fouled out later on.
Luxol made a winning spurt putting in a solid 13-0 run and Pace and Borg further hoops and that was that. There was no way for a Depiro recovery and Luxol went off the bottom rung of the standings.
Depiro: No. Agius, G. Mifsud 18, Ni. Agius 7, C. Camilleri, D. Agius, S. DeMartino 7, D. Said Hollier 5, M. Scicluna, N. Hili 2, C. Ciantar 8, A. Mifsud, A. Gray 17
Luxol: S. Pace 18, M. Caruana, Ni. Vella, I. Baena 8, No. Vella, K. Portelli 6, A.
Borg 8, A. Dillard 41, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Pollacco, C. Mifsud Referees: T. Mantere, D. Torok, I. Simic