Recap

Starlites JSD surged to a commanding victory over Valletta Lions in a midweek BOV Division One fixture, demonstrating their dominance from the opening quarter while capitalising on the absence of Valletta’s US import, Eric Terry.

The game began evenly, with Piotr Stelmach providing Valletta an early 5-point lead through a floating jumper and a successful free throw. However, Starlites responded quickly, with Joe Davis spearheading their efforts. Davis’ relentless drives into the paint, supported by Max Curran’s free-throw efficiency, flipped the script, giving Starlites an 8-5 advantage. Curran, later showcasing his range, nailed a three-pointer to extend their lead.

Although Nikola Vasovic briefly reduced the deficit with a jumper, Davis and Trevon Reddish-Rhone ignited Starlites’ tempo with a sequence of fast-break points, including a dunk by Reddish-Rhone. By the close of the first quarter, Starlites had established a 10-point lead, 27-17.

The second quarter belonged entirely to Starlites, as they clamped down defensively and converted turnovers into points. Kai Fabri and Kolten Mortensen capitalised on Valletta’s mistakes, adding to a relentless 12-0 scoring run that widened the gap to 29 points midway through the period. Curran continued his stellar play, combining deft shooting inside the paint with long-range accuracy. Vasovic attempted to stem the tide for Valletta with a few well-taken jump shots, but Starlites’ relentless pace was unyielding. Mortensen’s three-pointer capped off a dominant half, leaving Starlites ahead 55-24.

In the third quarter, Valletta showed flashes of resistance, with Vasovic leading their charge. He connected on a crucial three-pointer and followed it with a well-executed layup. However, Starlites, propelled by Reddish-Rhone and Davis, quickly regained momentum. Highlights included Reddish-Rhone’s fadeaway jumper and dunk from Davis. Mortensen’s second-chance points and Fabri’s transition layups underscored Starlites’ continued dominance. By the end of the third quarter, the score was a daunting 82-37.

The final quarter saw Starlites comfortably maintain their advantage, with Reddish-Rhone delivering several crowd-pleasing plays, including a tip-in layup and a driving basket in the paint. Vasovic refused to let Valletta go quietly, producing an impressive sequence of three-pointers and mid-range jumpers to finish with a game-high 27 points. Nonetheless, Davis and Curran sealed the deal for Starlites with their consistent scoring, ensuring no late comeback was on the horizon.