HIBERNIANS 93
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES 83
(30-19, 19-15, 20-23, 24-26; Hibernians win series 3-1)
Hibernians sealed the BOV Division One championship in commanding style on Sunday, defeating Luxol at the Ta’ Qali Pavilions in Game 4 of a pulsating Finals series.
The Paolites, who had already triumphed in Games 1 and 3, completed their march to the title with a deserved win that capped a season of dominance.
The early exchanges suggested a close contest. Finals Most Valuable Player Tedrick Wolfe opened the scoring with a jumper and a free throw, and although Nathan Xuereb responded quickly for Luxol with a driving layup, Matthew Gouder put Hibernians back in front.
Xuereb, however, continued to threaten, notching seven of the Violets’ first 12 points as they carved out a brief lead.
The first major shift came midway through the opening quarter.
Wolfe sparked Hibernians with a three-pointer before converting a pair of free throws. He soon followed that up with another deep shot to hand his side the lead.
A well-rounded team effort followed, with contributions from James Agyemang and Ivan Demcesen proving crucial.
The Serbian centre scored three baskets in quick succession – including a fast-break layup and a jumper off a turnover – extending the Paolites’ advantage.
Wolfe then buried his third triple of the quarter, helping Hibernians to a commanding 30-19 lead at the buzzer.
Luxol attempted to regroup in the second period, with Caleb Jones-McCrary and Adam Azzopardi cutting into the deficit, but Neil Cassar and Agyemang quickly re-established control, with Miguel Mallia scoring from the line and Demcesen continuing his influential display.
Wolfe added a soaring dunk off a turnover, and Stefan Simic joined the scoring with a three-pointer that pushed the margin to 17.
Despite scattered replies from Luxol’s Nenad Bukva and Jones-McCrary, Wolfe and Agyemang kept the scoreboard ticking. Hibernians entered half-time leading 49-34.
After the break, Matthew Attard delivered a pair of sharp three-pointers to extend the Paolites’ cushion to 21.
Luxol’s best stretch of the game followed, led once again by the ever-reliable Jones-McCrary. He scored eight consecutive points, including a fast-break dunk off a turnover, trimming the lead to 15.
But Agyemang proved relentless under the rim, scoring off a put-back and drawing fouls to halt Luxol’s momentum.
Wolfe added two from the stripe, and though Xuereb fired back with a triple, Agyemang and Demcesen were there to respond. Luxol again attempted to rally through Jones-McCrary and Azzopardi, but Wolfe’s late free throw made it 69-57 heading into the final frame.
Jones-McCrary tried to pull Luxol back into contention in the fourth, scoring from mid-range and the paint, while Azzopardi buried a triple that brought the margin down to a single point.
Vukasin Jandric then tied the game from the line after a strong layup. With the title momentarily hanging in the balance, Agyemang nudged Hibernians ahead with a free throw, before Wolfe came alive once more.
The American hit a smooth floater, threw down a dunk in transition, and followed it with a clutch three-pointer and a driving layup to reopen a six-point lead.
Hibernians never looked back from there. Gouder converted an and-one to make it a seven-point game, and though Luxol added late points through Jones-McCrary and Darron Howard, Wolfe fittingly closed the scoring with an emphatic alley-oop dunk to finish with 35 points.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Paolites’ bench erupted in celebration. It was a fitting end to a brilliant campaign.
Luxol fought valiantly, with Jones-McCrary’s 29-point outing and Xuereb’s scoring bursts keeping them in contention, but they could not match the balance and composure of a Hibernians side who proved worthy champions.
HIBERNIANS: N. Cassar 4, T. Wolfe 35, P. Attard, L. Farrugia, A. Axiaq 1, M. Gouder 9, M. Attard 6, M. Mallia 4, J. Agyeman 18, I. Demcesen 13, S. Simic 3.
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES: D. Howard 9, A. Azzopardi 12, V. Jandric 6, J. Schembri 3, N. Xuereb 18, N. Bukva 3, C. Jones Mccrary 29, S. Cappello 3, N. Djakovic.
Referees: G. Barbara, F. Ciurariu, N. Rincon.
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