Pine Hill Dairy St Barnabas continued to impress in the Little League Gym Knockout Netball Tournament last night when they held on to a hard-fought 33-30 victory over CO Williams Rangers at the Netball Stadium.
There were several national players who featured in last night’s game and goal-attack Sheniqua Thomas was among them. She scored 17 goals from 28 attempts for St Barnabas with assistance from goal-shoot Shakeira Boxill who netted 14 from 21. Rangers on the other hand had a good game from their goal-shoot Shannon Hackett who had the distinction of scoring 13 goals from 13 attempts along with fellow goal-shoot Shaquille Davis who netted six from 12 and goal-attack Nikita Piggott 11 from 16 in what was an intense showdown. The scores at the intervals were 7-4, 16-12 and 23-22.
Former national Captain and Spooners Hill goal-shooter Lydia Bishop showed that still have skills when her team played Bico Delight.
St Barnabas took the early lead in the first quarter at 7-4 and continued the second quarter in the same vein. Rangers upped their game in the second quarter and were made to work hard on the offensive side of play. They made a few steals to score goals and keep themselves in the game but St Barnabas still managed to maintain their lead and extended that by four goals,16-12, heading into the third period.
In the penultimate quarter Rangers started a bit shakily and failed to capitalize on a few steals. This caused their coach Sandra Bruce-Small to have a serious talk with her ladies and whatever she said to them had an impact.
St Barnabas who were at one point leading by a five-goal margin at 20-15 were stifled by Rangers’ defense who did well to put themselves back in the game at 22-20. Boxill scored which allowed St Barnabas to stretch the lead at 23-20 but Hackett used her experience and scored two back to back goals which put the scores at 23-22.
Rangers then started the decisive quarter with a bang with Hackett scoring to lock the scorers at 23 all. St Barnabas then took control of the game once more at 27-25 and Thomas who had a good game in her role as goal-attack was definitely the match-winner for St Barnabas when she scored six goals from seven attempts in that quarter to seal the game.
Sheniqua Thomas (with ball) top-scored for St Barnabas in a keenly contested game against CO Williams Rangers.
In other games played at the same venue in the intermediate, Spooners Hill thrashed Bico Delight 36-12. Spooners Hill were led by the efforts of goal-shooters Deborah Kellman with 17 goals from 23 attempts, Lydia Bishop, 13 from 17, along with goal-attacks Marceline Cyrus and Renee Rudder three goals from four attempts respectively. Bico’s Malia Hinds scored 10 goals out of 14 attempts and goal-attack Carolyn Holloway two from five.
Police Girls Club defeated BDF 24-18. Police took the lead 5-4, BDF then managed to lock the game 9-9 but Police regained the lead at 15-13 and eventually went on to victory. Police’s goal-shoot Karen Alleyne netted 13 goals from 24 attempts and goal-attack Tiffany Lovell had nine out of 14 attempts.
Also in winners’ circle were Aleen Blazers who edged out University of the West Indies Blackbirds 19-14 in a keenly contested game. Scoring for Aleen Blazers was goal-shoot Keryn Clarke with 10 goals from 16 attempts and goal-attack Samantha Small nine goals from 17 attempts while for Blackbirds goal-attack Penny Greene top-scored with nine from 19, goal-shoot Melanie Griffith three from 14 and goal-attack Makeba Boxill one from five.
Princess Margaret got the better of Springer Achievers 20-9 in the junior knockout. Goal-attack Latricia Sealy top scored with 11 goals from 20 attempts and goal-shoot Marissa Wickham nine from 19. Meanwhile for Springer goal-attack Dishonna Howell managed four from seven along with two from two which came from Arell Cook and goal-attack Narcissa Mason three from nine.