It was a bittersweet Saturday for young Barbados star Sheniqua Thomas who helped new knockout queens Pine Hill St Barnabas hand league champions COW Rangers their first loss of the netball season.
Thomas, who made the Barbados under-16 team as an 11-year-old, played a superb game on her 15th birthday while mourning the death of her great grandmother earlier in the day.
Following St Barnabas’ 41-36 win at the Netball Stadium, Thomas, a student of Combermere School, was handed a large strawberry-covered chocolate cake by former teacher Janelle Denny, who coached the standout player when she emerged as a primary school champion for Ellerton Primary.
St Barnabas, who dethroned Rangers in the final of this year’s knockout tournament, were also indebted to six-footer Laurel Browne who maintained her excellent form as goal shooter to knock down 30 goals from 34 attempts. Thomas scored 11 of 22 as St Barnabas remained as the only unbeaten team.
At the other pole, the experienced Olivia Walcott scored 20 of 35 with Shakeena Rock adding seven of 13.
The battles between Browne and the leaping Rhe-Ann Niles were enthralling and bruising as both six footers played a very physical and tactical game. While such close aggression on Browne kept Niles occupied, Thomas exploited the mismatch with Janelle Sealy at goal defence to sneak in some close range and outside bombs.
Walcott did not enjoy such luxury as St Barnabas goal keeper Jackie Browne-McConney and wiry Jeniece Clarke showed little fear of close marking their opponents. It paid dividends as Rock seemed hesitant to pick up the slack and take the shots, turning over many balls in trying to force the passes to Walcott.
After starting with veteran Natasha Birkett-Sealy at wing defence, Rangers coach Sandra Bruce-Small was forced to bring in replacement Ronda Harris in the first quarter which left Rangers trailing 13-9.
A Rangers surge in the next two quarters and matching midcourt battles saw St Barnabas holding on 22-21 in the second quarter and a 32-32 tie at the end of the third to set up what was expected to be a keen finish.
St Barnabas’ stifling defence allowed the Rangers a meagre four points for the critical quarter with Thomas winning the support of the previously divided spectators with a spectacular save preceding a flowing off-balanced pass to Browne, who sunk the shot for St Barnabas to start the victory cruise at 34-33.
That play and the following one left the Rangers stuttering in mid court and in the shooting circle.
St Barnabas, who were without powerful defender Shonnett Bruce because of illness, have a 4-0 record with one first round game against Spooner’s Hill still to be played. Spooner’s Hill are 2-1. Rangers ended the first round 4-1 and Guardian General Pride of Villa 1-4.
UWI Blackbirds, who leave for the Inter-Campus Games in Jamaica today, ended 1-4, and Phoenix Gems 1-3.
