Last weekend’s BOV Division One basketball action featured three captivating fixtures, highlighted by Luxol Sherries Estates’ dramatic one-point victory over Valletta.
Elsewhere, Hibernians made it a five-game unbeaten streak with a commanding win against Starlites JSD, and AtoZ Athleta celebrated their first league victory of the season by overpowering Tigers BT.
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES 90
VALLETTA LIONS 89
(21-21, 22-24, 22-21, 25-23)
Luxol and Valletta produced a game for the ages, with Luxol prevailing thanks to Caleb Jones McCrary’s last-second heroics.
Luxol’s Darron Howard, who was awarded the October BOV Player of the Month right after the game, started the game with confidence, hitting a series of key shots early on. Supported by Nathan Xuereb’s perimeter accuracy, Luxol built a slim lead. However, Valletta’s Nikola Vasovic and Piotr Stelmach responded with their own scoring runs, tying the game 21-21 by the end of the first quarter.
Valletta surged ahead in the second quarter behind Vasovic’s sharp shooting and contributions from Nicholas Grech and Francesco Mifsud Bonnici. Despite Valletta’s dominance, Howard and Jones McCrary kept Luxol in the contest, with Howard’s late jumper narrowing the gap to 43-45 at halftime.
The third quarter was evenly matched, with Jones McCrary showcasing his athleticism and Howard continuing his scoring spree. Eric Terry and Stelmach were crucial for Valletta, but Howard’s last-second three-pointer brought Luxol within one point heading into the final quarter.
In a tense fourth quarter, Howard and Vasovic traded three-pointers, with Xuereb and Marko Matijevic chipping in to keep Luxol close. Vasovic, Terry and Grech kept Valletta’s hopes alive, but Jones McCrary’s clutch layup and free throw with 10 seconds remaining sealed the dramatic victory.
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES D. Howard 28, A. Azzopardi, V. Jandric 2, JP Schembri, N. Xuereb 17, N. Bukva 6, C. Jones McCrary 33, M. Matijevic 4, S. Cappello.
VALLETTA LIONS N. Grech 19, F. Mifsud Bonnici 10, P. Stelmach 16, D. Schembri 1, J. Camilleri, N. Vasovic 20, S. Vincic, E. Terry 23.
Referees F. Ciurariu, N. Rincon, N. Azzopardi.
HIBERNIANS 100
STARLITES JSD 84
(23-14, 23-16, 23-29, 31-25)
Hibernians made a statement victory over Starlites, showcasing their offensive depth and defensive resilience.
The first quarter saw Hibernians race to a commanding lead, with Ivan Demcesen and Tedrick Wolfe setting the tone. Matthew Gouder added crucial baskets as Hibernians built a 23-14 advantage by the end of the rubber. Starlites struggled to find their rhythm, relying on Max Curran and Trevon Reddish-Rhone for occasional scoring bursts.
In the second quarter, Miguel Mallia and Gouder extended Hibernians’ lead with efficient shooting from beyond the arc. Starlites’ Curran and Kolten Mortensen contributed offensively, but Hibernians’ tempo proved too much. By halftime, Hibernians were firmly in control at 46-30.
The second half saw Starlites attempt a comeback, with Curran and Ian Felice Pace finding their range. However, Brown’s offensive onslaught, coupled with Demcesen’s dominance inside, kept Hibernians well ahead. Wolfe’s emphatic dunk in the closing moments underscored Hibernians’ superiority as they cruised to victory.
HIBERNIANS N. Cassar 2, T. Wolfe 21, D. Brown 25, P. Attard, V. Kustudja, A. Axiaq, M. Gouder 22, M. Mallia 5, I. Demcesen 20, S. Simic 5.
STARLITES JSD M. Curran 21, J. Davis 3, A. Aquilina 6, K. Fabri, I. Felice Pace 9, M. Fabri, M. Scerri 16, L. Farrugia 4, K. Mortensen 4, T. Reddish-Rhone 21.
Referees B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, M. De Flavia.
ATOZ ATHLETA 115
TIGERS BT 62
(28-8, 36-24, 30-13, 21-17)
Athleta celebrated their first win of the season with an emphatic triumph over Tigers BT, who now remain the only side without a win in all competitions. After four consecutive losses, Athleta finally found their form, delivering a complete performance on both ends of the court.
Athleta dominated from the outset, with Maxwell Amoato and Kurt James leading the charge. James scored consistently in the paint, while Caleb Matthews added points in transition. Athleta’s defence stifled Tigers BT, holding them to single digits in the opening quarter to establish a 28-8 lead.
The second quarter saw Athleta extend their lead further, with Amoato and James continuing to wreak havoc on Tigers BT’s defence. Serge Hamparsoumian was Tigers BT’s lone bright spot, scoring from inside and at the free-throw line. Athleta entered halftime with a commanding 64-32 advantage.
In the third quarter, Amoato and Matthews continued to pile on the points, with Amoato finishing with 26. Athleta’s balanced scoring, including contributions from Luca Borg and Mirco Azzopardi, kept Tigers BT at bay. The final quarter saw James cap his outstanding game with 30 points, while Athleta’s bench added late contributions to seal the resounding victory.
ATOZ ATHLETA B. Zammit 3, R. Vitale 5, M. Amoato 26, A. Garcia, C. Matthews 26, M. Azzopardi 4, K. James 30, M. Farrugia 2, A. Bozanic 4, L. Borg 5, J. Garcia Cefai 9, G. Cassar 1.
TIGERS BT E. Masilungan 3, S. Hamparsoumian 24, K. Micaller 11, M. Jalkh 2, J. Lisondra 16, S. Saakian 4, D. Militello 2.
Referees Z. Dobrosaviljevic, N. Azzopardi, W. Lim.
STANDINGS
Hibernians 10; Luxol Sherries Estates, Valletta Lions, AtoZ Athleta 6; Starlites JSD 5; SiGMA Depiro, Tigers BT 4.
