Second-year team Gems stunned powerhouses Pine Hill St Barnabas 42-41 in a quarter-final of the Barbados Netball Association’s Senior Knockout Competition on Wednesday night at the Netball Stadium.
Tricia Briggs – brought on in the final quarter for goal attack Lisa Puckerin (3/10) with the teams battling tooth-and-nail in the first three quarters – netted the winning shot.
Gems led throughout, 10-8, 20-19, and 32-29, with six-foot national player Laurel Browne sinking 38 of 48, to deny St Barnabas their third successive shot at the Knockout crown.
The on-court battle between Browne and the equally tall and challenging goal keeper Shonnette Bruce was captivating and their physicality and skills thrilled the crowd.
Equally attractive was the off-court coaching from a veritable who’s who in netball who seemed equally split in their support.
St Barnabas, with a plethora of talent to choose from, ended the match with close to 50 years of experience in Jackie Browne and Marvalene Neblett battling to overturn the deficit.
At goal-shoot for St Barbabas, Shanise Banfield scored 15/24 while the fleet-footed Damisha Croney hit 4/8 at goal attack.
Neblett came on for Banfield to score 8/16, while Shakira Boxill provided a tremendous lift when she replaced Croney to hit 14 from 16 attempts.
However, Gems’ Browne was too good on the night, compensating for Lisa Puckerin’s under par 3/10 before Briggs sealed the game to set up a semi-final clash with Guardian General Pride of Villa Brittons Hill on Saturday night.
Pride of Villa cruised past Beverley Hill 59-23, with Latoya Blackman replacing her elder sibling Nadia at goal shoot and doing superbly in scoring 24/26.
Nadia had executed 12 of her 20 shots.
Goal attackers Dania Murrell scored 12/20 and Kimberley Brathwaite was better with 11/15.
Beverley Hill looked good in the “D”, with Keisha Griffith (15/24) and Carla Boyce (7/9) compensating for Allisia Charles’ 0/2 performance.
However, the swift interventions by Villa’s Makeba Clarke, who once played for St Barnabas, stifled Beverley Hill’s midcourt passes and offense.
The first semi-final – between CO Williams Rangers and Banks Spurs – will be staged tonight at 7 and should provide a keen contest for the spectators.
Tomorrow night, Gems will meet Villa.
The final is slated for next Wednesday.
