Starlites strike back to level finals’ series against Hibernians

HIBERNIANS                       75

STARLITES REVIVE           83

(17-23, 20-22, 22-24, 16-14)

After an exciting start to this season’s BOV Division One Playoff finals, Starlites Revive responded in style to level the tie, defeating Hibernians to make it 1-1 in the series at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion on Sunday.

After suffering their first loss of the season in Game 1, they returned looking fired up, using pace and pressure to swing the balance back in their favour.

Starlites’ control came in the form of balanced distribution and better defence as the Naxxar side forced various turnovers, Alec Felice Pace acting as the lead with six steals throughout the afternoon, while Musa Jallow held the fort with three blocks.

Felice Pace also led the team’s scoring with 19 points while Jallow followed with 16. Jackson Threadgill and Jayden Iturmendi added 14 and 10 respectively.

At the other end, play revolved around three main Hibernians players as the team’s top scorer Deonte Jackson topped the game’s scoring tally with 27 points.

Matthew Gouder and Ayomide Ajiboye both scored 16 points to round the double-digit scoring as the latter grabbed most air for the Paolites with one rebound short of a double-double and two blocks.

Starlites burst out with a 6-0 run, driven by Jallow and Threadgill attacking the paint through second chances and turnovers.

Hibs needed a response and found it through a Jackson layup and Ajiboye’s powerful dunk, trimming the gap quickly.

Still, Threadgill continued to find space in the paint, while Jallow added a dunk to maintain control. Gouder and Jackson then both hit three-pointers to bring the game to par midway through the quarter.

However, Iturmendi, Felice Pace and Threadgill combined to give Starlites a six-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Naxxar side pushed the lead up higher early in the second quarter, Travis Fee making it an 11-point advantage three minutes into play.

Gouder brought it back to a one-possession play with a pair of triples but it was mostly freethrows from Jackson that came next while Starlites maintained an eight-point lead to head into halftime at 45-37.

Ajiboye reopened the scoring after the change of ends, but Fee and Felice Pace brought the game back to a double-digit margin and the score hovered around this for the rest of the encounter.

Fee and Threadgill hit from deep as Gouder scored from inside and out, but Felice Pace took over with seven points to secure a 10-point gap ahead of the final rubber.

Despite the challenge, Hibernians refused to fold and mounted a late push to try and add to their aggregate score in the tie through Jackson, who dominated the closing minutes with drives and free throws.

Ajiboye added further presence inside, dunking and converting a second-chance opportunity in between further Jackson scores.

However, just as the momentum threatened to swing, Starlites delivered the decisive blows. Jallow’s dunk put Hibs into uncertainty, but Fee’s three-ball settled things with 43 seconds to go.

Jackson managed one last effort to keep it within single digits but Starlites celebrated victory at the final buzzer to push the tie further.

HIBERNIANS N. Cassar 2, E. Simmons 2, A. Ajiboye 16, L. Farrugia, P. Stelmach, M. Gouder 16, D. Jackson 27, M. Attard 3, I. Demcesen 4, S. Simic 5.

STARLITES REVIVE A. Felice Pace 19, K. Fabri 2, T. Fee 18, I. Felice Pace 2, M. Fabri, M. Scerri 2, J. Iturmendi 10, J. Threadgill 14, K. Xuereb, M. Jallow 16.

Referees N. Rincon, F. Ciurariu, M. De Flavia.

BOV DIVISION ONE PLAYOFFS

(after Game 2)

Starlites Revive vs Hibernians            1-1