Recap

Hibernians clinched a strong win over Athleta in Friday’s BOV Men’s Division One fixture. Hibernians set the tone early, with Tedrick Wolfe and Matthew Attard executing quick transitions and opening up a 6-0 lead. Athleta responded, with Robert Vitale hitting back-to-back three-pointers to level the game. Derek Brown’s perimeter shooting gave Hibernians the edge again, but Athleta’s Caleb Matthews quickly replied with a three-pointer, keeping the score neck-and-neck.

Hibernians edged ahead by exploiting fast breaks and turnovers, notably with Wolfe powering through to score, bringing his tally to eight points in the first quarter. Athleta’s Kurt James made crucial layups and free throws, bringing Athleta back within three points at the end of the first quarter, which ended 28-25.

The second quarter saw intense back-and-forth action. James and Matthews stepped up for Athleta, with Matthews hitting a critical three-pointer, briefly giving Athleta a one-point lead. However, Hibernians’ Matthew Gouder and Ivan Demcesen found their rhythm inside the paint, allowing Hibernians to regain a slim advantage. Another three from Vitale saw Athleta close the gap, but Wolfe’s persistence in the paint saw Hibernians finish the half 48-46 ahead.

Entering the third quarter, Hibernians found a steady pace with Demcesen and Brown increasing the lead to seven points. Athleta’s James, relentless on the offensive end, kept Athleta close, even putting his team ahead 61-66 after a three-point surge. Gouder’s accurate shooting and Brown’s fast break kept Hibernians competitive, and a late tip-in by Juan Garcia Cefai allowed Athleta to edge into the final quarter with a narrow 76-79 lead.

In the final stretch, Hibernians launched a decisive scoring run, sparked by Brown and Demcesen’s combined shooting, which put them up by eight points. Wolfe continued his outstanding performance, adding multiple layups to extend the lead. Athleta struggled to respond under pressure, and despite James hitting the 30-point mark, Hibernians’ relentless pace saw them surge to a 21-point lead by the game’s end. Hibernians closed out a commanding 106-91 victory, with Wolfe and Brown leading the way in a dominant team effort.