Women League

Hibs Medsea 64 – Loyola Xuereb Installations 32
(19-9, 36-11, 48-18)

Dik li kellha tkun l-aktar loghba nteresanti tal-gimgha f’din il-kategorija ntememt b’rebha pjuttost facli ghal Hibs biex issa ghandhom hames rebhiet minn daqstant partiti fil-kampjonat. Loyola ddizappuntaw hafna, specjlament fl-ahhar tnax-il minuta ta’ l-ewwel taqsima meta sofrew run ta’ 22-2, liem arun ghamlet differenza enormi fil-loghba.
Sa tard fl-ewwel perjodu l-partita dehret lis etkun miftuha meta Hisb kienu 14-9 minn fuq wara lib dew b’zewg 3-pointers minn Beverly Zammit u tliet baskets minn Doreen Parnis waqt li Loyola (ghal darba ohra bin-nuqqas ta’ Dorianne Galea) kellhom zewg baskets minn Sandra Schembri Wismayer.
Gara li sa tmiem it-taqsima, Hibs bdew jippottjaw b’konsistenza sabiex dahlu jistriehu 36-11 minn fuq. B’distakk daqshekk kbir Hisb setghu jikkontrollaw il-loghob fit-tieni taqsima b’Loyola qatt ma dehru li setghu jheddu r-rizultat anke jekk kellhom mument pjuttost pozittiv fl-ahhar aprti tal-loghba bi break ta’ 11-0, ghalkemm sa qabel dak il-hin Hibs kienu 58-20 minn fuq.

The champions easily kept their unbeaten league record, with their fifth straight win, disposing of Loyola. They made a double over them , having already beaten them in the Shield semis. Loyola seem to have lost their early season promise, and now look to be easy fodder for the top teams.
Hibs were nearl;y at full strength for this match. They were only missing Alexis Darmanin, as Nadia Mifsud was on holidays from abroad, and turned up to play for the Paolites. Loyola were once more missing the valuable services of Dorianne Galea. After suffering the first hoop Hibs' Beverlee zammit put intwo treys of her own. Loyola still kept close, as they replied to Hibs' points. Doreen parnis was making the points for Hibs, to keep them in front, and the champions ended the quarter on a small 5-0 run, enabling them to run up a double figure lead. In the second session some good combination play by the Paolites gave them an 8-0 run, and Caroline Fenech was used more in the paint. Loyola could only obtain a single hoop, through Schembri Wismayer.
Hibs were playing intricate moves, and Parnis ended the session on a good note for the champions, as they managed a 9-0 run, for a 36-11 score at the interval. After the breakSchembri Wismayer made her usual session hoop, but Hibs, with some bench players on court, took cammand again. A 10-0 run, with Parnis concluding some Beverlee Zammit assists, saw the champions increasing their lead.
When Hibs tapered off a little. Loyola, mostly through Crina Gauci, pierced Hibs' defence, for a 48-18 score, after three sessions. In the final quarter Hibs continued to press forward at first, with all their players on court potting a hoop. The heavy lead, and the introduction once more of various bench players, gave Loyola the opportunity to come up with a good 11-0 run of their own, for a better looking scoreline.
It was still the Paolites who had the better ending on a small 6-2 run, to conclude the match. Hibs: C. Fenech 8, B. Zammit 14, F. Bianco 6, L. Bezzina 9, F. Tabone 2, M. Desira 4, D. Parnis 17, N. Mifsud, S. Debono, S. Micallef 2, M. Cutajar 2.
Loyola: E. Falzon 4, A. Azzopardi, C. Gauci 8, D. Hollier 2, F. Micallef, A. Bonanno, F. Schembri 2, A. Camilleri, S. Schembri Wismayer 11, S. Barbara 1, K. Gouder 4.
Refs: Emmanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro

Depiro 49 – Sliema Wanderers 43
(12-12, 25-25, 38-34)
Depiro kellhom jithabtu ferm sabiex jeghlbu l-grinta ta’ Sliema Wanderers b’dawn ta’ l-ahhar jersqu ferm vicin li jaghtu t-tieni telfa konsekuttiva lil Depiro wara li Kerygma kienu wettqu sorpriza gimgha ilu. L-ewwel taqsima kienet ferm ilancjata tant li ntemmet ukoll f’parita’ 25-25. Fl-ewwel ghaxar minuti z-zewg nahat wiegbu lil xulxin ghal 12-12 fejn Joselle Cardona u Rachel Camilleri qasmu 8 punti ghar-rebbieha waqt li Leanne Sciberras kisbet nofs il-punti ta’ Sliema.
Kienu Sliema lib dew it-tieni perjodu b’aktar precizjoni sabiex marru 19-15 minn fuq b’aktar punti minn Sciberras kif ukoll baskets minn Chanel Galea u Francesca Farrugia. Depiro rrispondewu sahansitra feggew fuq quddiem b’punti wkoll minn Antoinette Borg li rritornat minn Sqallija izda Sliema kisbu 3-pointer minn Michela Loporto fl-ahhar battuti tat-taqsima ghal 25-25.
Fil-ftuh tat-tielet perjodu Depiro dehru li se jiehdu l-loghba f’idejhom hekk kif fethu bi break ta’ 10-0 inkluz 3-pointer minn Greta Zarb. Gara izda li Sliema bdew gejjin f’taghhom ghal darba ohra u sa tmiem l-istess perjodu d-distakk bejn iz-zewg nahat nizel ghal 4 punti biss, 38-34.
L-ahhar perjodu fethet bi Sliema jersqu basket il-boghod wara li kisbu zewg punti minn Lonicke Calleja izda b’Cardona preciza Depiro malajr marru 44-36 minn fuq. Ir-rizultta rega sar wiehed incert hekk kif Sliema regghu ghamlu sforz u din id-darba waslu sa punt il-boghod, 43-44 izda l-ahhar hames punti tal-loghba saru fuq in-naha opposta sabiex Depiro rritornaw ghar-rebh b’din tkun ir-raba rebha taghhom minn hames partiti.

After their unexpected defeat by Kerygma, Depiro were given another torrid time by the Sliema outfit, who very nearly pulled off another, and greater, surprise win.
Depiro are passing through a difficult phase, although it could be that all they need are a couple of good wins, to build up their confidence again, for the remainder of the season. Depiro still had missing players, Roseann Falzon, sarah pace, Claire Hawkins and Rhian Spiteri. For Sliema their players donned the new, attractive outfits.
The first session was a balanced affair. the two teams were never more than a basket away from their opponents. The lead changed hands six times, and Sliema were holding their own, against more quoted opponents. Depiro found it difficult to get into their stride.
In the second quarter the pattern continued for some minutes, until Leanne Sciberras' personal points put Sliema 19-15 in front. A Depiro reaction gave them the game's first break, a 7-0 run, as they swept into the lead.
They kept this advantage till the last seconds of the session, when Michela Loporto sank a trey for Sliema, to tie the match again, on a 25-25 score at the interval. After the break Depiro started to get the upper hand. they managed to put together a 10-0 run, ending with a Greta Zarb trey. Sliema reacted at last, and led by the consistent Leanne Sciberras, they responded with a 7-0 run of theor own, to make it a closer game again. Both sides made free shots till the end of the quarter, as Depiro were 38-34 in front. In the final session Sliema advanced to within a basket again, but Depiro had Joselle Cardona with two hoops ina three basket run, to lead 44-36. Then Depiro had to suffer the young Sliema side's pressure, as they battled back to within a point. This time, however, Depiro held out, and edged away enough to make sure in the final moments. They will still be disappointed with the score, whilst Sliema will be elated with the closeness of the result. depiro go into second place, behind leaders, Hibernians.

Depiro: R. Camenzuli 5, C. riolo, G. Zarb 6, J. Cardona 16, R. Camilelri 11, A. Borg 7, A. Sciberras 4, E. Vella, M. Demarino.
Sliema: S. Tabone, A. Grixti, L. Calleja 2, L. Sciberras 18, M. Azzopardi, M. Loporto 9, D. McKeon, C. Galea 7, F. Farrugia 7, S. Vella Bonnici, J. Lentini.
Refs: Jean Paul Sammut, Jennifer Mangani.

Luxol 74 – SN Suns JC Electrical contractors 19
(22-2, 36-10, 54-12)
Luxol kisbu t-tielet rebha fil-kampjonat meta ghelbu lit-team modest ta’ Suns wara konfront fejn ir-rebbieha ddominaw sa mill-ewwel battuti meta kisbu breaks rispettivi ta’ tnax u ghaxar punti rispettivament fl-ewwel perjodu fejn f’dawn l-ewwel ghaxar minuti kienu l-aktar precizi l-koppja Emma Moore u Diane Muscat (din ta’ l-ahhar irritornat wara bosta xhur nieqsa). Suns tjiebu fil-ftuh tat-tieni perjodu meta kisbu run ta’ 8-4 izda break ahhari fl-ewwel taqsima ta’ 10-0 pogga lil Luxol 36-10 min fuq fil-mistrieh.
L-nadamnet fit-tieni taqsima ma nbidilx u Luxol komplew ikabbru l-vantagg b’aktar breaks ta’ 13 u iehor massimu ta’ 16-0 fejn Justine Mangion u Amanda Sciortino telghu wkoll fuq figura doppja fil-punti personali.

Luxol faced Suns for the first time this season, and obtained an easy win, for their third success in five games. The wooden spoonists are still without a win this season. Both sides had depleted formations. Luxol had Psaila Savona, Kirsten Micallef and Ruth Spiteri missing, although the latter was still a coach on the bench. Diane Muscat returned after a long lay off, and finished up as the game's top scorer.
Suns were without Cettina Caruana, Lilian Cremona, Jenny Mizzi and Ruth Farrugia. Luxol imposed their superiority from the start, and Suns could only muster a single hoop. On their part Luxol compiled a 12-0 and 10-0 runs, to take a substantial lead, with Emma Moore working well under the boards, and Diane Muscat with a steady hand in shooting. In the second quarter Luxol effected a couple of changes, and Suns took the opportunity to sink in a brace of hoops, as their opponents were trying to organise themselves. Mandy Sciortino stepped in with hoops of her own, for the Violets.
Suns replied again with another couple of baskets, with Luxol taking over again, till the end of the session, posting a 10-0 run, for a 36-10 halftime score. After the break Suns found difficulty once again, to obtain points. Petra Zammit turned up once again, with her hoop, but Luxol denied them any other points.
The Violets had Justine Mangion grabbing the major part of the points, as they ended the quarter on a 13-0 run, and Lara Chetcuti making a last second basket, for a 54-12 score.
In the last session Maria Busuttil sank the game's only trey, for Suns, before Luxol took over again. Their constant pressing produced a strong 16-0 run. Suns then came into the picture, in the latter part of the game, with two hoops, as Luxol were quite happy with their big win. Luxol: A. Sciortino 15, D. Muscat 16, E. Moore 11, L. Chetcuti 4, J. Mangion 14, D. Spiteri 2, J. attard 6, N.Said 6.
Suns: A. Camilleri, N. Buhagiar, P. Zammit 6, M. Agius, M. Busuttil 5, A. Battari 2, E. Granata 4, D. Falzon 2.
Refs: Stephen Micallef, Jennifer Mangani.


Men Division 2
Loyola Xuereb Installations 65 Mosta 77
((19-10)(20-21)(15-19)(11-27)19-10)(20-21)(15-19)(11-27)

Mosta survived a determined Loyola effort to avenge their Shield defeat, also in a high scoring game, and posted their second league victory, leaving their opponents with two losses. Loyola were in front for the better part of the match, but they didn't keep up their impetus, and Mosta came back, thanks to duo, Ray Muscat and Sascha Saakian, to upset Loyola, and end the year with some Christmas cheer.
Loyola had changes in their side, with the transfer period in full swing. Clint Grixti, after a brief stay at Floriana, Graham Coleiro, ex-mellieha, and Michel Farrugia, after a long lay off, all donned the Loyola colours, but Clayton Agius, Jean Falzon and Roberto Depasquale were all missing, and Clive Bonnici sat the game out, after a mix-up in suit numbers, before the match.
Mosta also had their missing personnel, Matthew Bonnici and Mark Spiteri. Loyola surprised Mosta at the start, and after personal points by Joe Vella, it was Graham Coleiro, with his new team, who helped them to a strong 17-3 lead, besides a Trevor Grech trey.
Mosta recovered through Saakian's free throws, and they managed to end the sessionon a 7-2 run, to cut down the deficit. In the second quarter an opening Ray Muscat hoop only served to start another Loyola run, this time an 11-3 one, where Muscat split the run with a trey. Loyola went into a maximum 34-17 lead, but Muscat and Saakian contrived between them, with a 10-0 run, for a closer game. New bopys, Farrugia and Grixti, put Lotola on track again, only for Mosta to end the quarter on a better note. At the interval it was still Loyola, at 39-31.
After the break it was still Muscat and Saakian, in a 9-0 run, as Mosta finally went in front. When it looked like the tide had turned, it was Coleiro who grabbed seven points, as Loyola took the lead again. Near the end of the quarterOliver Sammut put in two hoops for Mosta, and Joe Vella replied with a couple of free shots, for a 54-50 score to Loyola, after the third session.
In the final quarter Mosta had a bright patch, ending with a Muscat fourth trey, for a 57-54 lead, but Vella's prowess for Loyola, including a trey, turned the score around. Mosta were still on a high, and Saakian's activity under the boards gave his side a 68-62 advantage. Loyola were flustered, after having led for so long. Three of their players went out on fouls, and Mosta made sure in the latter stages of the match, edging away to confirm their win. LOYOLA: 16 Joe Vella, 15 Graham Coleiro, 13 Jonathan Ransley
MOSTA: 30 Ray Muscat, 25 Sascha Saakian
REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara