Mid-season showdown - Crystal, Twelve Stars in tomorrow's final

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

The first title of the 2011 Hunger Busta/Impact Auto St James Netball Associa-tion Senior League will be decided tomorrow afternoon when reigning champions Crystal and Twelve Stars clash in the competition's mid-season finals at the Montego Bay Cricket Club Courts, starting at 4 o'clock.

Crystal, with a perfect 100 per cent win record from their four games, qualified as the top team on points in Zone A, while Twelve Stars, who are tied atop the Zone B standings with Angels 'A', qualified by virtue of their superior goal difference

In last weekend's final set of first-round games, Crystal, who have been brushing aside opponents with nonchalant ease, confirmed their dominance in Zone A, scoring an emphatic 56-25 win over Angels 'B', who were expected to give them a good run.

In what was another commanding performance, Crystal won all four quarters by 8-3, 15-4, 17-8 and 16-10 margins. Goal attack Rita Spence and her shooting partner, goal shooter Amayla Stewart, were almost flawless in scoring 28 and 24 goals, respectively.

"We are basically just enjoying ourselves and doing what we have to do to win," said Gina Haughton, the captain of Crystal. "Going into the mid-season finals, our aim is just to stay composed and get the job done as efficiently as possible."

Twelve stars defeat

In stumbling to defeat, the Angels 'B' much-respected attacking duo of Shagayle Bennett and Karen Hamilton could only manage 12 goals each.

In their game, Twelve Stars, who went into the game defending a 100 per cent win record, tasted defeated for the first time as they were edged 33-32 by former champions Angels 'A'. Angels 'A' won the first quarter 8-7 but Twelve Stars stormed back to win the second and third quarters by 10-8 and 10-5 margins. However, Angels 'A' took the final quarter 12-5 to seal victory.

"This was a game that took a lot out of us and I am just happy that we won," said Angels 'A' mid-court star Doniesha Love. "It is a pity it did not win us a place in the final (mid-season)."

Nicole Fletcher was the undisputed star for the victorious Angels 'A', scoring 30 of the team's 33 goals. Jodian McPherson and Crystalee Carter got 20 and 12 goals, respectively, for Twelve Stars.

In another thrilling game last weekend, Pacers 'B' and Blazers gave fans a treat in battling to a 33-33 tie in their Zone B game. Pacers won the first two quarters by 7-5 and 10-8 margins; the third quarter was tied 7-7 while Blazers were dominant in winning the final quarter 13-9.

The eight-team competition feature two zones of four teams each. The teams, according to their respective zones, are as follows: Zone A - Crystal, Blazers, Juveniles, Angels 'B' and Starlight Juniors. Zone B - Twelve Stars, Sting, Angels 'A', Pacers 'A' and Starlight 'A'.