There is a lot of work to be done where raising the standard of netball in the island is concerned, says the president of the Barbados Netball Association, Nisha Craigwell. She made those comments following her re-election to the Caribbean Netball Association (CNA) executive board this past Saturday for the third consecutive term as vice-president. […]
The post Craigwell outlines plans for netball appeared first on Barbados Today.
The Barbados Netball Association (BNA) is not ruling out playing competitively later this year but as it stands president Nisha Craigwell said they are currently taking no chances despite Government giving the all-clear for sports to resume. Following last Friday’s meeting at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium where several associations met to discuss the return […]
The post Netball association not taking chances appeared first on Barbados Today.
The recent rise of Coronavirus (COVID-19) positive results has placed the Barbados Football Association, Barbados Netball Association and Barbados Amateur Basketball Association in a no-win situation, says veteran administrator Adrian Donovan. During an interview with Barbados TODAY, Donovan said as it is right now, the COVID-19 monitoring unit has made the right decision not to […]
The post Covid-19 humbug appeared first on Barbados Today.
The desire to compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham may not be realised by the Barbados senior women’s netball team who must raise their ranking to qualify by the end of this year. President of the Barbados Netball Association Nisha Craigwell said this would be the first time since netball was introduced to […]
The post Netballers could miss Commonwealth Games appeared first on Barbados Today.
The Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA), is embarking on a coaching initiative this month that will see participants particularly those from the Caribbean region being awarded the Level One Coaching certificates. Chair of the AFNA Coaching Committee and member of the International Netball Federation (INF) Coaching Advisory Panel Bridget Adams said the level of […]
The post Coaching initiative coming appeared first on Barbados Today.
The Barbados Netball Association has planned a series of webinars which will be held during the months of April and May. This is the Association’s way of remaining in contact with its stakeholders during the COVID -19 period, while at the same time providing informative, educational, fun and physical activity to keep players engaged. All the sessions will be held virtually, via Zoom.
This series will carry the title “On The Ball – Off The Court” with the theme, “Rebuilding Mental and Physical Health”, and will kick off with a launch on Wednesday, April 7, at 6 p.m. The launch will serve as what would have been the opening ceremony of the 2021 League Season. The BNA president will welcome the netball fraternity, netball stakeholders and the media, and introduce the presenters of the ten webinars.
On Friday, April 12, the series will continue with a netball forum which will take the form of a panel discussion. During this session participants will be advised of the contents of the entire series and given the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts on related aspects of the sport and of the association’s management and programmes. The way forward for the sport, in addition to any and everything else about the sport of netball, will be up for discussion.
All players, umpires, coaches, managers, games and court officials, and administrators are the targeted participants for this interactive event. All affiliates of the association were informed of the event way in advance and several clubs have fulfilled the registration process.
However, registration is still open to clubs that have not yet registered and to schools, and other entities which offer netball as one of their options.
Leading up to these webinars the netball association initiated an on-line survey giving its members the opportunity to answer some very important netball-related questions as well as to share their thoughts, opinions and wishes with respect to the organisation of the sport in Barbados.
The other (webinars) sessions will cover Maintaining Physical Health; Mental Health (COVID-19 related); Personal Development; Injury Prevention; Rules of the Game; Court Management and Procedures; Club Management; Responsible Sexuality – S.W.E.E.T (Self-worth Exceeds Temptation); and Safe Guarding (protection of players); A physical challenge will also be included in the activities.
Presenters have been drawn from the membership of the association assisted by professionals from other sporting disciplines where necessary.
On Saturday May 22, after the completion of all the other sessions, an exciting Netball Watch Party will be held. This activity will consist of the watching and critical analysis of the game of netball, after which the final whistle will be blown by the president of the association, Nisha Craigwell and the chairman of the organising committee, Annette Beckett.
Questions and or queries may be directed to BNA president – Nisha Craigwell; BNA secretary – Alicia Jemmott; planning committee chairman – Annette Beckett; and vice chairman – Alwyn Babb.
The post Netball webinars start April 7 appeared first on Barbados Today.
The Barbados Netball Association (BNA) is constantly working on ways to ensure that its member clubs understand the meaning of how strong leadership contributes to their sustainability.
Marlene Hall, a longstanding netball administrator and umpire with a strong background in strategic management, said when individuals seek to start a club, there are certain factors they must give consideration to if they want to remain relevant. During one of the BNA’s ongoing Zoom series “On the Ball – Off the Court” which continued last Saturday, Hall presented on the topic Managing A Club Successfully.
She insisted that individuals who seek to form clubs and sustain them must understand their roles as leaders. Using community netball as an example, Hall explained: “The focus tends to be on netball and the practice sessions as opposed to creating a unit or an organisation or a club that is about something, that has a future, a purpose and then you fit people on to that purpose.”
Hall has worked with sporting organisations such as netball, badminton, football and also the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme in creating a road map for success. Besides speaking on the main topic, Hall touched on topics like setting the stage for a successful club and having a game plan. She spoke about the importance of having a vision, a mission and a set of values that drive the behaviour and decision-making of the clubs. Delving further into the area of setting the stage for success, Hall touched on the importance of governance within clubs and having constitutions, policies and procedures in place.
“A lot of members don’t seem to think that they have the same rights and obligations as the leaders. So, whatever the leaders say they either object or don’t object as opposed to participating,” Hall explained as she shared the obligation of members in ensuring that their clubs remain strong.
Hall indicated that designing and documenting programs were parts of the process that clubs should try to pay attention to.
“Your main program would be your netball program. But along with that, you would want to have a strong membership program that would allow your people to bond and engage and get involved other than just netball.
“Once they are no longer playing netball they intend to leave. So, if you don’t have other programs in your club that are also attractive and useful then the longevity of your club is in jeopardy,” Hall explained.
Based on her years of experience in netball, Hall noted that the BNA has a steady involvement of clubs.
“It has been steady. There are clubs you are sure of or that you know will be there next year even if they only have one team. There is also a profile of persons who just want to get together and play netball. And because the association says you need to have a constitution and structure, they hurriedly put something together so that they can meet the requirements. But then they don’t function as a club.
“What I think is happening is that the ones that have very good netball programs, that is what keeps them together. They may not necessarily have a strong club but they have a strong netball program. So, that is working for some of them in that sense,” she said.
Using United Athletics Club which will turn 52-years old this year as a reference, Hall who is one of the leaders, noted that when the club first started, they catered solely to track and field.
But after the club threatened to fall apart when some of its members left, those that remained decided to incorporate sports like netball and basketball. This she said boiled down to the leadership of the club at that time.
“The leadership of the club at that time was able to make that decision and turned the club around. So, the persons who decide they want to put a group together to play netball or any sports should at the same time look at how this group is going to be led. How it is going to be organised and what it is going to stand for so you have a foundation to keep going from year to year.
“One of the other things they should try to do is attract persons who are not players because you struggle when the leadership is also solely persons who are playing or only involved in the sport. Then you can’t find a team manager who can command the respect of the players or have time to do it properly. If you are a player, coach, captain or manager, you can’t do all of those jobs properly. So, having that support team is also important,” Hall stated.
morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb
The post On the ball appeared first on Barbados Today.
Members of the national netball team were on Saturday given words of encouragement by Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Dwight Sutherland, as they prepared for their test series against Scotland and the Isle of Man.
Minister Sutherland, who joined the team at their first official practice session at the National Netball Stadium, Waterford, St. Michael, told them that he was pleased to see them back on the court, as they were also preparing for the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Birmingham, England, next year.
He lamented the fact that the team had not been able to train enough, and said: “It has been challenging, for each and every one of you. I know COVID has preventing you from getting on the court, and [is] presenting some stress, but God has been good and the fact is, you’re here.”
The Minister sought to encourage the squad by highlighting that Barbados is known for punching above its weight. “I often say Barbadians per capita have done better than any other nation in the world in the sport of cricket, and I’ve added netball to that, when you look at your success over the years. You have something to be proud of and boast about. Geographic and population size is not an impediment to global excellence for you all, and I want you to know that the Government is watching you, in terms of what you have done for this country, and as women, especially, as sports is an enfranchisement and an economic tool in order to bring people out of poverty.”
Sutherland also urged the young ladies to use this opportunity to raise their socio-economic status within their communities and families. “I want you not only to use sport to get on the court and exercise, but to see it as an opportunity for you to move from strength to strength and enhance your status within your domain … and also to help your families,” he said.
Meanwhile, President of the Barbados Netball Association, Nisha Craigwell, disclosed that Barbados is currently ranked 13th in the world, and has to participate in this international meet to preserve its qualification for the Commonwealth Games next year, but it has a winning history against Scotland, which is ranked eighth in the world. She added that “the Isle of Man is ranked 23rd, and Barbados is looking forward to winning that game”.
The squad is led by the most capped player Latonia Blackman, with over 150 caps for the “Bajan Gems”; Shonette Azore-Bruce, who has been the best defensive player for the last two Commonwealth Games, and Sheniqua Thomas, who has been in the squad from age 16, and has played in the World Youth Team.
The full team comprises: Akeena Stoute, Brianna Holder, Chiara Chase, Dei Padmore, Faye Agard, Jada Smith, Jalisa Austin, Kerri King, Latonia Blackman, Leanne Greenidge, Mia Butcher, Rashida Chase, Sabreena Smith, Samatha Browne, Shaquilla Davis, Sheniqua Thomas, Shonette Azore-Bruce, Shonica Wharton, Stephian Shepherd, Tonisha Rock-Yaw, Trishan Deane, Vanessa Bobb, Vivica Addison and Zakiya Kirton.
The management team consists of Margaret Cutting – Coach; Adrian Craigwell – Assistant Coach; Lucille Atkinson Reeves – Manager; Desmond Grant – Trainer, and Armand Harper – Doctor.
The national team leaves the island on November 24.
The post Netballers preparing for upcoming test appeared first on Barbados Today.
Guardian Group has once again reaffirmed its commitment to the Pride of Villa netball team by sponsoring it for the 26th consecutive year.
This year marks a significant milestone demonstrating the company’s continued support of the team since 1997.
Guardian Group Pride of Villa has grown from a grassroots club to a highly skilled team that has produced talented players who have excelled at the national and international levels.
Pride of Villa’s senior team kicked off this year’s netball competition with their first win, showcasing their impressive skill and form on the court.
At a recent presentation, the junior team was provided with newly branded uniforms and netballs in preparation for their upcoming games.
Spokesperson and secretary for the team, Faye Agard thanked Guardian General for having confidence in the team’s ability, and its constant financial support over the years.
“It feels good to know that the team is a brand ambassador, as it gives us a sense of pride and provides additional motivation to perform at our best to strengthen the brand awareness,” Agard said.
Guardian General’s Operations lead (Barbados and the OECS) Nigel Adams, commended Pride of Villa for its consistent performance throughout the years and for its vision in building a junior team to continue its legacy.
“We are absolutely excited about this ongoing partnership. Pride of Villa is a community success story and Guardian General is happy to be a part of this journey. Our company remains passionate about making a meaningful impact by supporting local sports development and endorsing initiatives which promote healthy lifestyle practices, social inclusion and inspire team spirit,” Adams said.
(PR)
The post Guardian General committed to Villa appeared first on Barbados Today.
Barbados lost their third straight game at the Netball World Cup being played in South Africa.
Playing against Malawi in their Group D encounter, the Bajan Gems were thrashed 84-48, with Australia-based Mwai Kumwenda pouring in 42 goals from 47 attempts, and Joyce Mvula assisting with 37 from 38 attempts.
The Gems also lost to England and Scotland.
Malawi led 20-10 at the end of the first quarter, an advantage which they converted into a 43-22 half-time lead. The African side out-scored Barbados 21-13 and 20-13 over the next two quarters to be out of sight.
For Barbados, former England star Kadeen Corbin led with 32 goals from 33 attempts.
“There were some things that were good, but we needed to capitalise and focus a lot more,” said Barbados’ vice-captain Tonisha Rock-Yaw.
“We needed to try and limit the mistakes and turnovers. There were too many today. For the rest of the tournament, we are taking it day by day and just making sure we stay in it.”
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls thrashed hosts South Africa 67-49 to remain unbeaten, top Group C and surge into the next round.
Jamaica will now line up in Group G of the second stage alongside the likes of New Zealand, Uganda, Wales, Trinidad and Tobago and the hosts. (RB/CMC)
PHOTO : AP
The post Bajan Gems lose third game in a row appeared first on Barbados Today.
The 20th Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball Tournament and the Caribbean Netball Jubilee Observance kicked off on April 2 in St Lucia. Hosted at the Bausejour Indoor Facility, this year’s tournament saw teams from five Caribbean nations — Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the host country, St Lucia — vying for netball supremacy.
Premiumly sponsored by InterCaribbean Airlines, the tournament has already witnessed exhilarating matches that have kept spectators on the edge of their seats. As of Saturday, Barbados has emerged as the frontrunner, showcasing unparalleled skill and determination.
With three games under their belt, Barbados has maintained an unblemished record, securing three victories and accumulating an impressive 15 points. Following closely behind, Dominica stands strong with 12 points, having won two matches and suffered two defeats in their four games. Grenada trails closely in third place with 11 points, winning two out of their three games. St Vincent and the Grenadines hold onto the fourth spot with 7 points, while St Lucia, the host nation, is still seeking their first victory, having lost all three of their matches.
In the morning clashes on Saturday, two matches unfolded, further igniting the tournament’s fervour. St Vincent and St Lucia locked horns in a spirited battle, with St Vincent emerging triumphant with a final score of 24-14. Meanwhile, Dominica clashed with Grenada in a closely contested match, ultimately seeing Grenada clinching victory with a scoreline of 25-22.
As the tournament progresses, anticipation mounts for more thrilling encounters and remarkable displays of athleticism.
The final match will take place on Tuesday with a match between winners from the preliminary rounds. (KS)
The post Barbados leading in 20th Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball Tournament appeared first on Barbados Today.
The Baby Gems are definitely shining bright like a diamond.
For the third year running, Barbados’ Under-16 netballers are the champions of the Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball
Championships, after defeating Grenada 27-19 in the finals at the Beausejour Indoor Facility in St Lucia.
They were led to the title by an impressive shooting performance by tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP), goal shoot Keanna Harte who netted 19 of her 21 attempts.
Goal attack Tyesha Trotman scored seven of her 10 attempts, while Tyra Griffith connected on one of her three shots.
Grenada was led by goal shoot Keisha Mathurine who converted 17 of 22 attempts and goal attack Reshonna Francis, who scored two of her three shots.
The victory was Barbados’ sixth on the trot in the tournament and is the third successive time they have played unbeaten to lift the trophy.
Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and hosts St Lucia were the other participating countries.
To stamp their dominance, the Baby Gems also took home the majority of awards on offer.
They won prizes for best uniform, most disciplined team, best spirited team, best goal average and best defending team, and placed second in the shooting competition.
Harte along with Deeya Forde-Haynes, Chelsea Best, Tyesha Trotman and Tyra Griffith were also named in the top 16 players of the tournament.
President of the Barbados Netball Association, Dr Carmeta Douglin was full of praise for the team.
In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Dr Douglin said the impressive showing was as a result of hard work and dedication by the juniors.
“A big congratulations to our Baby Bajan Gems who have done extremely well once again at the Jean Pierre Caribbean Netball tournament. They have dominated this tournament for the last three years winning every game that they played and this year in St Lucia they were victorious in every game in the preliminary round, in the knockout and now they are the champions once again, so congratulations to the entire team.
“They usually start very slow in the first and second quarters, but they built the momentum and by the third quarter they really outplayed everyone,” Dr Douglin said.
“They also captured a number of different awards and we would like to congratulate every player.
The president also praised the efforts of the management team led by head coach Cameron Greenidge, assistant coach Jacqueline Browne- McConney, manager Gillian Sealy, trainer Dennis Callender and physiotherapist Chantelle
The post Barbados’ Junior netballers defend title, grab lion’s share of awards appeared first on Barbados Today.
The Caribbean Netball Association (CAN) recently celebrated its golden jubilee with a gala to mark 50 years of fostering netball excellence throughout the region.
The event, which took place at the Sandals Grande Ballroom in Saint Lucia over the weekend, was sponsored by interCaribbean Airlines. The gala was a grand affair that attracted netball enthusiasts, sports personalities, and dignitaries alike.
Rufina Paul, president of both the CNA and the Saint Lucia Netball Association, shed light on the foundation and evolution of the CNA, tracing its origins to 1954 when the West Indies Netball Board of Control was established with the primary objective of nurturing and advancing netball across the West Indies.
The highlight of the night was the tribute paid to four stalwarts whose unwavering dedication and pivotal contributions played a great role in shaping the CNA into a powerhouse of netball excellence.
Their tireless efforts, strategic vision and passion for the sport have not only elevated netball to unprecedented heights, but also inspired countless generations of netball enthusiasts across the Caribbean.
One of the awardees, longstanding Barbadian sports administrator Kathy Harper-Hall underscored the essence of giving selflessly without expecting reciprocity.
“I see my life as a life of giving to others without receiving, but it is amazing to see what I have received unexpectedly – including tonight,” said Harper-Hall, who served as CNA president for 20 years and has also held the position of president of the Barbados Netball Association.
The gala, a harmonious blend of celebration, reflection, and camaraderie, not only honoured the rich legacy of netball in the Caribbean but also heralded a promising future filled with continued excellence, inclusivity, and sportsmanship across the region.
The post Caribbean Netball Association honours rich legacy of the sport at golden jubilee gala appeared first on Barbados Today.
C.O Williams Rangers made sure there would be no upset on the cards as they handed out a 59-32 whipping to newcomers Police Boys & Girls Club when the Barbados Netball Association’s Premier League continued on Wednesday night.
Rangers asserted their dominance from early on and after holding a 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, took complete control by the half with a commanding 26-12 advantage.
And despite a spirited effort by Police in the third quarter that helped to reduce the deficit to 12 (37-25), Rangers stepped on the gas in the final quarter by outscoring their opponents 22-7 to wrap up the contest.
Rangers were led by national and Under- 21 goal shoot Damia Walrond who scored 25 of her 28 attempts. She was well supported by Charlene Jordan who netted 18 of her 20 shots, while goal attack Nikita Payne connected on 17 of 22 attempts.
For Police, goal shoot Ginae Austin (21 of 28) and goal attack Shanice Austin, who scored 8 of 11 attempts, led the way. Monica Waithe (2 of 5) and Carol-Ann Nurse (1 of 2) also got on the scoresheet.
The post Rangers make light work of Police appeared first on Barbados Today.
Barbados have qualified for the Netball World Youth Cup 2025, after defeating Grenada in the qualifiers at the weekend.
The Young Gems would go on to lose their first game of the competition, 54-29 to Jamaica. Trinidad & Tobago took the third qualifying spot, beating Grenada in the third-place playoff.
Having beaten arch-nemeses Trinidad & Tobago to top their preliminary pool, Barbados avoided meeting Jamaica in the semifinals. They then defeated the young ladies from the Spice Isle 63-45 to book their spot in next year’s world championships in Gibraltar. The loss in the final was the only blemish for the Young Gems.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY on Sunday evening from the Paul Chonchon Hall in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, president of the Barbados Netball Association, Dr. Carmeta Douglin struck a positive tone. She admits that closing the gap with worldclass teams like Jamaica is no easy task. But she insists that improvement is possible with the right structures.
“What we’re planning is a development programme, where we’re working on our Under-14’s,” Douglin said. “We actually invited Under-14’s to take part in our league this year for the very first time. In netball, normally you have the primary school, you have the secondary school, but in our open league, we actually had 10 Under-14 teams competing.
“So what we’ve done is we got a grant from the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and we’re going to be going into five different parishes with our Under-14 programme. And we’re going to be having a pathway, where we select the best Under-14 players to come together and to receive training. Then we have a very good Under-16 team. We’ve won the [Jean Pierre Caribbean] Under- 16 competition three years straight. And we’re looking to build.
“So our Under-21 is not a bad team, but they still need a lot of work to get to the world-class level, as you can see. So we are looking to build on Under-14’s, to move to Under-16’s, to move to Under-21’s, to move to seniors. So we are looking at anAcademy, where we have players in training all year round, and moving up through the age groups. So this is something we are planning.
“Jamaica has been there, they have done that, and they are getting a lot more practice, a lot more exposure, because this Jamaica Under-21 team would obviously be playing in their Super League and playing with their seniors, who already have a really good start. So we need to get there, and it’s a building process, and we are working towards it.”
In the final, the Jamaicans outshot Barbados, but also controlled the midcourt. Their 54 goals came on 77 attempts, whereas Barbados were only able to put up 43 shots in total.
Damia Walrond was adjudged the tournament’s best shooter, despite having an off night against Jamaica, shooting 25 of 35.
Barbados were within touching distance until halftime, their defensive schemes keeping the Sunshine Girls at bay to the tune of a seven-goal deficit, 21-14. After the first quarter, the score was 11-7. Barbados head coach Pamela Hesson was pleased with the way her charges came out of the gate.
“I didn’t think we started too badly at all,” she said. “I thought we did pretty well. We kept up with them in the first couple of minutes so it wasn’t too bad. But what you’ve got to remember is this team here have been together probably about five, six weeks, so they haven’t been together very long and I’m so proud of this team because they put every single effort into it””
Hesson took the opportunity to blood a number of young players against less experienced opposition. She feels that going forward that exposure will play dividends. And with a much longer preparation period ahead for the trip to Gibraltar, she is upbeat about the journey ahead. For her, it’s mission accomplished.
“It was a good feeling to be the first team confirmed for the World Youth Netball Championships,” she told Barbados TODAY. “The hard work paid off… Now that we are qualified for Gibraltar, we have longer to prepare, 11-12 months.
“We will lose some older players due to their ages next birthday, as they will be too old, but we have others that didn’t make it this time but will make it for next year. We will continue with our training programme and look at new players coming through our netball pathway.” (TF)
The post Despite finals loss, Barbados secure spot at NWYC appeared first on Barbados Today.
The Combermere School, The St Michael School, and Queen’s College were on the winning side on Thursday afternoon when the Under-19 Division of the 2024 Dasani Powerade Barbados Secondary Schools’ Netball League competition got underway.
At their home court in Waterford, the netballers of Combermere made a strong statement with a 24-6 victory over The Lodge School. From the first whistle, Combermere dominated the match. They finished the first quarter 5-1, and hardly allowed the Lodge team room to free their arms inside the shooting circle.
Zakaiya Hunte, playing goal-shooter for Combermere, netted six goals from 14 attempts. Goal-attack Nayeli Yearwood led her team’s charge with an impressive 10 goals from 13 attempts.
Hunte and Yearwood’s dynamic partnership in the shooting circle was key to building Combermere’s lead. Kassidy Layne, who came on later as goal-attack, contributed significantly with seven goals from 11 attempts, while Hailey Roach added one goal to the tally. By halftime, Combermere had surged ahead to 12-2, leaving The Lodge School struggling to catch up.
The Lodge School’s shooters, Samiah Harewood and Caitlyn Boyce, faced a tough time, with Harewood managing just two goals from two attempts, and Boyce adding four goals from four attempts.
Despite their accuracy, The Lodge School found themselves outclassed, trailing 18-4 at the end of the third quarter before Combermere sealed the win.
In Zone Two, The St Michael School sent a clear message with a resounding 37-8 victory against St George Secondary. The game was effectively decided from early, with The St Michael School led 12-1, 20-4 at halftime, and then 25-6 at the end of the third quarter.
SMS goal shooter gets another one over St George’s defence. Photo Credit: Zahir Motara
The girls from Martindales Road showed their superiority in every department. Makel Alleyne was the star of the show, delivering a remarkable 32 goals from 39 attempts in her role as goal-shooter.
Alleyne’s dominant presence in the shooting circle left St George’s defenders with few answers. Supporting her was goal-attack Mahela Blake, who added five goals from eight attempts. Together, Alleyne and Blake orchestrated a smooth attacking flow, keeping St George’s defenders on their heels throughout the match.
St George Secondary’s goal-attack Chelsea Best, put in a good effort, scoring eight goals from 15 attempts, but it wasn’t enough to challenge The St Michael School.
In another exciting Zone Two matchup, Queen’s College claimed a 20-13 victory over The Alleyne School. Leading 5-1 by the end of the first quarter, Queen’s College maintained control 10-1 and 15-4 in the second and third quarters.
Queen’s College goal-shooter Alyssa Davidson scored 11 goals from 18 attempts. Davidson was ably assisted by goal-attack Sienna Boyce, who was perfect on the day, sinking five goals from five attempts.
The Alleyne School mounted a late comeback in the final quarter, narrowing the deficit thanks to some sharp shooting from goal-shooter Nataliyah Bridgemena-Smart, who scored five goals from nine attempts, and goal-attack Jakaira Jones-Smith, added seven goals from nine attempts.
However, Queen’s College’s early lead proved too much to overcome, and they secured a hard-fought win. (AS)
The post Combermere, QC, SMS win netball openers appeared first on Barbados Today.
The St Michael School (SMS) got their first win in the Co-Operators General Insurance National Sports Council U19 Basketball Competition when they defeated Harrison College B (Kolij) 78-50 on their home court in Martindales Road.
Trailing by one point at the end of the first quarter, 15-16, forward Jaden Melville scored nine points as SMS used a 20-8 second quarter rally to lead 35-24 at halftime.
During the second half of play, the home team dominated with their full court pressure, creating turnovers, which led to easy transition baskets, outscoring the Kolij boys 43-26 during the final 20 minutes of play.
National triple and high jumper, Aaron Massiah, led the way for SMS with 18 points while Ari Mottley-Squires scored 17 and Melville 13. Point guard Naeem Thomas scored 17 for HCB with Kaiden Alexander chipping in with 12 points.
National athlete Aaron Massiah led SMS with 18 points. Photo Credit: Zahir Motara
At St George:
Defending champions Harrison College A (HCA) began their title defence with an easy 83-8 route of St George Secondary.
Leading the way was Zane Cox who scored a game high 22, which included 10 first quarter points, as HCA blew the game open with a 26-0 first quarter score. Also reaching double digits were Walton Yarborough (12), Issac Griffith (11) and Tristan Catlyn (10).
At Graydon Sealy:
Favoured to win their zone and reach the finals, Queens College (QC) demolished Graydon Sealy 119-13 in a lopsided affair as seven players reached double figures in scoring for the QC boys.
Star guard Zane Gaskin top scored with 24 points while his backcourt partner, Derreon Griffin, assisted with 14, Tyler Forde scored 13, Ahren Francis 12, while three players contributed with 10 points each, Nathan Scott, Alex Marshall and Lebron Alcise.
(ZM)
The post Easy wins for SMS, HC, and QC in schools basketball appeared first on Barbados Today.
Shirley Chisholm Primary rose from the depths of despair to defeat Gordon Walters Primary and claim a fourth consecutive netball title in an exhilarating final of the Pedialyte 2025 National Sports Council (NSC) Schools’ Netball Competition on Tuesday at the Wildey Gymnasium.
Trailing 3-0 at the close of the first quarter, Shirley Chisholm changed their orange bibs to pink and changed their luck to emerge 9-7 champions in front of an exuberant crowd.
Goal shooter Lashanae Passley and goal attack Zaryha Ramsay scored four unanswered goals in the final quarter, thanks to the work of goal defence Cemone Edwards and goal keeper Arin Ocean-Eastmond.
Down five goals to one at half-time, Shirley Chisholm fans cheered their primary school netball giants to an 8-2 run over the last two quarters to retain their title.
Passley’s shooting stats read five from seven (5/7), while Ramsey hit four of five (4/5) shots.
Gordon Walters goal shooter Chaia Chase scored four of her five (4/5) attempts, while goal attack Fernancia Drakes-Small made three of six (3/6) attempts.
Shirley Chisholm Primary players
GS Lashanae Passley
GA Zaryha Ramsay
WA Nevaeh Remise
C Lathalia Holder
WD Rebekah Carrington
GD Cemone Edwards
GK Arin Ocean-Eastmond
Gordon Walters Primary players
GS Chaia Chase
GA Fernancia Draes-Small
WA Rajaida Layne
C Jaya Harewood
WD Sariah Yarde
GD Milan Williams
GK Brianca Forde
(RW)
The post Shirley Chisholm Primary netballers win fourth straight title appeared first on Barbados Today.
