Daring manoeuvres in the shooting circle by Carol-Ann Nurse, supported by goal attack Chiara Chase and the efforts of mid-court players, gave Christ Church Foundation the Barbados Secondary Schools Netball League’s Under-15 title with a 28-24 win over Queen’s College at the Netball Stadium on Tuesday evening.
They were joined by the young track stars, who put away their track shoes to lead The St Michael School to a 6-4 victory over Springer Memorial to capture the Under-13 crown after a 14-year dry spell.
These victories came on the heels of the two schools recently becoming joint champions in the prestigious Barbados Secondary Schools Athletics Championships.
It was just a year ago that Foundation bent their heads in disbelief after losing the Under-15 title to Lester Vaughan by a single goal28-29.
“I had to win this game I wanted it so bad. I feel great, awesome. Last year, we lost it by one goal to Lester Vaughan so that is why I wanted it so badly,” an ecstatic coach Sandrene Jordan told NATION SPORT.
Nurse, who was named Most Valuable Player, was just shy of 100 percent accuracy with 18 of 19 shooting. National Under-16 player Chase supported with 11 of 17 attempts.
St Michael celebrating their Under-13 title with coach Desiree Crichlow (standing left). (Picture by Kenmore Bynoe.)
Queen’s College could have outshot their opponents and won the title if they had maximised on the massive 44 attempts to Foundation’s 32 between national Under-15 captain Janine Forde (13 of 24) and Kaelyn Shockness (11 of 20).
The pair established an 8-5 first quarter lead for QC, which was fuelled by some smooth passes from their mid-court, which Foundation could not intercept.
However, centre Kimani Archer wasn’t her usual self on court, resulting in wing attack Alysha Mascoll having to work extra hard before Anise Alleyne took her bibin the third quarter.
Finishing the first quarter down by three goals, Jordan made some switches with wing defence Dassani Waithe taking the goalkeeper’s bib from Britni Garnes, while goal defence Tiarra Graham was replaced by Serena Edwards.
“We got the team defence today. I also changed the Under-15 defence and brought in the Under-13 defence because the Under-15 defences were not giving me what I wanted. I brought in the Under-13 defences where I got more height and better jumps so they could rebound in case Queen’s College missed and it worked,” said Jordan.
Nurse’s decision to leave the shooter’s circle early in the second quarter led to Foundation taking the lead for the first time in the game 10/9 when they shot five goals to QC’s one.
Good seeing, speed and structure allowed them to lead 16-14 at the end of the third quarter after they netted 11 goals to QC’s six.
Queen’s College levelled the scores at 16-16 and the teams traded goals up to 20-20 before Nurse ended the deadlock as Foundation eventually won by four goals.
In the Under-13 final, multi-sport athlete and MVP Jahzara Holford transferred her determination from track and road tennis to the netball court where she ran a decent centre operation. She was assisted by sprint queen Skye Spencer-Layne, wearing the goal attack bib and Tiana Morris at goal shooter.
Scores were even 2-2 in the first half before St Michael outshot Springer with the help of Spencer-Layne, who scored three of four shots and Morris, who netted her three attempts. Springer’s Tionce Walrond netted three of six attempts.
Coach Desiree Crichlow said the SMS team played hard and with the help of Harriett Waithe they achieved the team effort.
Former champions Lester Vaughan beat Graydon Sealy 20-14 in the Under-15 third-place play-off while Combermere defeated Foundation 9-2 in the Under-13 match. (RG)
