Queen’s, Holmwood rule in all-island netball

URBAN JUNIOR champions, The Queen’s School, and rural senior winners Holmwood Technical, were crowned all-island champions of the ISSA schoolgirls’ netball competition at the National Indoor Sports Centre yesterday.

Both matches were close. Queen’s clipped Manchester High 21-18 while Holmwood defeated St Catherine High 45-42.

In the opening game, Manchester led 4-3 after the first quarter before both teams went into the half-time break locked at 8-8.

Led by brilliant defensive work from MVP, goalkeeper De-eziah Martin, along with goal defence Gerlin Barnes, goal attack Mikala Morrison and goal shooter Brianne Daley, Queen’s took control to race into a 16-12 lead after the third quarter.

Morrison top scored for the winners with 11 goals from 19 attempts, with goal shooter Brianne Daley getting seven from 10 as Queen’s remained in control in the fourth quarter. Goal attack Britanique Daley led the way for Manchester with 16 from 28.

Winning coach Marvette Anderson was overjoyed with her team’s seventh title.

“This win is special, based on where the team is coming from. I think the ladies played hard and they stuck to the game plan and that made the difference as they controlled centre court. My goalkeeper Martin was brilliant,” said Anderson whose team just barely qualified from the first round after advancing as the second best third-place finisher.

Losing coach Simone Smith said they had too many turnovers.

“The team came out very flat and turnovers killed us,” she said.

Led by a brilliant display from wing attack Jada Ricketts, who was voted MVP, Holmwood turned back a strong challenge from St Catherine in the senior final.

DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

With both teams having several members of the national Under-21 development squad, an epic battle was expected and the fans were not disappointed.

Goal attack Jaden Swaby was on target very early and Holmwood raced into a 10-5 lead. However, St Catherine hit back with lanky goal shooter Kellion Hunter and the first quarter ended with Holmwood in front 12-9.

It was a close affair in the second quarter. Centre Jessica Chaplain, wing attack Ricketts, goal shooter Rasheda Brown and goal attack Swaby all played well for Holmwood, but St Catherine countered well with centre Tereice Green and goal shooter Hunter. The St Catherine team stayed in touch and both teams went into the half-time break tied at 19-19.

The close battle continued for the next two quarters with Holmwood having a 32-30 lead after the third quarter. The winners seized the initiative midway the fourth quarter to lead 40-36 but, once again, St Catherine High rallied to come within one goal, 43-42, before Holmwood scored two late goals to seal the win.

Swaby top scored for Holmwood with 33 goals from 35 attempts, with Brown chipping in with 12 from 16. Hunter led the way for St Catherine with 25 from 31, while goal attack Kayla Wright scored 17 from 21.

Holmwood’s coach Carline Graham-Powell said it was a tough final.

“This one was very tough. The girls really worked hard and I am happy for them. St Catherine are a very good team but my girls are very fit and I knew they would have prevailed, as they had enough legs to take them through,” the Holmwood coach said.

St Catherine’s coach Phyllis Thompson praised her team for putting up a good fight. “It was a very competitive game and my girls fought hard and I am proud of them,” said Thompson, who stated that the game got away late when she had to replace her goal defence Asharie Thomas who was injured.