‘A’ Team take cup

BRAGGING RIGHTS and the sparkling new President’s Cup netball award go to Barbados “A” who defeated Barbados Alpha 42-38 at the Netball Stadium on Thursday night.Captain Latonya Blackman led by example and collected her third Player Of The Match award in as many games, marshalling the defence like a general leading troops to war. Barbados “A” took an early 6-1 lead, seeming to be more alert and ready to play. Shooter Lydia Bishop and goal attack Nadia Blackman, who carried the attack, saw the hoop like a breadfruit in the bright lights, and couldn’t miss.EverywhereThen Latonya Blackman seemed to be everywhere at once – in the circle marking Nikita Piggott or Laurel Browne, pulling down rebounds, and making interceptions in the mid-court. She forced Alpha to rethink each time they thought about passing the ball, and frustrated the Alpha attack each time she stepped in to send the ball in the opposite direction.Latonya Blackman, Tonisha Rock-Yaw, and Jeneice Clarke kept Alpha out of the game in the early running, as Sabrina Smith and Sabrina Browne found Bishop and Nadia Blackman with precision passing.Barbados “A” were also helped by Alpha’s slow start. Laurel Browne lacked her usual accuracy and although Piggott was a perfect five-from-five to start, she was unable to dominate, kept in check by Latonya Blackman, and had only eight attempts in two quarters.BypassingAt times, Piggott, Shekira Boxill and Samantha Browne were guilty of bypassing Laurel Browne when she was wide open, only to see Latonya step in and pick the ball. Laurel was limited to a mere 26 attempts in three quarters, scoring 17.But Barbados “A” couldn’t sustain that pace. After they switched ends, Bishop and Nadia Blackman couldn’t buy a shot, and with Damisha Croney in at centre for Alpha, the latter began to fight back.By that time, Alpha’s defensive unit of Lisa Puckerin, Chekirah Shepherd, and Kizzy Marville had settled down and it was a battle of the defences. Balls were being intercepted in each shooting third, although Alpha did a better job of capitalising on the mistakes. They tied the game at 18 before Barbados “A” went ahead 23-21.More changes were made by both coaches Alwyn Babb and Marcia Oxley and all of the players got some time on court to impress the selectors.Barbados “A” briefly fell behind when Latonya Blackman went to the goalkeeper position and the general standard fell in the third quarter, evidenced by sloppy passing and lots of footwork calls by the umpires.The game remained close and each time Alpha pulled within two or three goals, Barbados “A” responded to preserve the lead and ensure the win.In the other match, youth triumphed over experience.Barbados Select defeated the President’s Select 35-33, holding off a surge. Barbados Select made the most of the unforced errors by the President’s Select, with Cheryl Piggott and Andrea Puckerin unable to connect early, coupled with Piggott having an off night shooting. Wanda Agard-Belgrave and Astrid Alleyne were also absent from their defence.Despite outscoring the younger girls 20-15 to tie the game 25-25 at the end of the third quarter, the President’s Select fell off the pace and juniors took a four-goal lead (31-27) in the fourth.Wing attack Shannya Wiggins was named Player Of The Match.Summarised scoresBarbados ‘A’ 52 (Lydia Bishop 26/38, Nadia Blackman 8/13, Shanise Banfield 5/7, Tricia Briggs 3/6). Barbados Alpha 38 (Laurel Browne 17/26, Nikita Piggott 7/8, Shekira Boxill 8/13, Kimberley Maynard 6/8). Quarter scores: 14-10, 23-21, 33-26.Barbados Select 35 (Chemyne Alleyne 25/33, Shannon Hackett 10/14). President’s Select 33 (Andrea Puckerin 23/29, Cheryl Piggott 10/20). Quarter scores: 10-5, 19-16, 25-25.