Overtime victory for Starlites
Caffe Moak Luxol 64 Starlites Naxxar 68 (after overtime)
(11-13, 15-13, 18-15, 17-20) - (3-7)
The scenario! Luxol struggled all through the game having to alternate leads with their vivacious opponents. The game’s end saw them with their noses in front.
Starlites desperately tried to stop the clock and with just over a second away from the end, Sarah Pace netted her free shots pushing Luxol three points ahead.
It looked over and done with. The ball was transferred to young Kirsty Galea fully five metres away from the triple arc. She sent a hopeful ball towards the opposing ring and it nestled in sending the Starlites clan in delirious rapture as the match was sent into overtime.
As if this wasn’t enough Luxol twice went in minimal leads but up popped Jean Doughty for Starlites as she netted all of her side’s points in these extra minutes including a game sealing triple while the Luxol girls looked on in disbelief.
Starliets opened the scoring then Sarah Pace for Luxol and Galea for Starlites put in their treys. Luxol went in front.
Starlites held on to their small advantage and they increased their lead in the second period with a three hoop spread.
Late in the session. Grima sank her trey as Starlites tied the score at 26-26 going into the interval.
After the break, Luxol’s opening hoop was replied to as Starlites made up a 9-0 run. Luxol’s answer was a good one with a long 12-2 run which overturned the score. Starlites regained their lead with two hoops but late DeMartino personal points gave Luxol a 44-41 advantage.
In the last quarter, it was Starlites pushing forward and making up a good 12-4 run with Steph Davis and Arguello hoops, the latter also with a trey, as Galea also sank her second.
Luxol jumped back in front with a 9-0 run and another Pace trey. Grima netted her second triple as Starlites went ahead only for Luxol to make what seemed to be the winning points. Then came the drama. Starlites saved the match and the overtime went also Starlites’ way having them make a good start to this Play Off semi final.
Luxol: S. Pace 15, M. Mercieca 3, A. Munir 11, S. DeMartino 28, K. Portelli, C. Sollami, P. Ellul 3, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Darmanin, C. Curmi 4
Starlites: K. Galea 11, J. Doughty 9, S. Farrugia 4, D. Revol, K. Pirotta 2, J. Micallef, J. Grima 17, P. Arguello 17, E. Magrin, S. Davis 6, A. Lupo 2
Referees: B. Vassallo, I. Marjanovic, M. Rajczi