Upsets in Digicel/ ISSA schoolgirls netball semi-finals

Raymond Graham, Sunday Gleaner Writer

THERE were three major upsets in last Friday's semi-finals of the Corporate Area Digicel/ISSA schoolgirls netball competition.

St Catherine High School led the way ousting defending junior champions, The Queen's School, and defending senior champions, St Hugh's High. St Andrew High were also in the spotlight after surprising Queen's senior team in one semi-final.

St Catherine brought Queen's brilliant three-year run to an end at the junior level with a 30-28 win. Their senior team returned minutes later to edge St Hugh's 26-24.

The red-hot Queen's, big favourites to win the senior title after impressive wins in the second round, failed to fire in the last quarter of their match. The Jennifer Brown-coached St Andrew High, playing without their best player, Danielle Johnson, who is on duty with the national senior team at the World FastNet tournament in Liverpool, England, silenced the Queen's fans with a come-from-behind 39-37 win and will meet St Catherine in the senior final.

St Hugh's juniors kept their unbeaten record intact as despite a good effort from Vauxhall, they led from start to finish to pull off a 38-35 win to set up a clash with St Catherine in Wednesday's final.

While all four matches were close affairs on Friday, most attention was centred on the junior clash between all-island champions Queen's and St Catherine High. The Marvette Anderson-coached Queen's were hoping to continue their impressive run at this level after dominating for the past three years.

The defending champions started well, racing to a 11-6 lead after the first quarter. However, St Catherine gained the upper hand in the second quarter. Led by some great defending from wing defence Sanya Butler and goal defence Rochelle Barnaby, with brilliant attacking plays from centre Deidre Ann Fennell along with goal attack Alexis Francis and goal shooter Jamila Tulloch, they took control to lead 17-14 at half-time.

St Catherine continued to play well in the third top to lead 25-23 at the break. The final quarter was very competitive and defending champions, determined not to give up their title, took a 27-26 lead with less than four minutes to go.

They had two glorious opportunities to extend that lead but were let down by silly turnovers and St Catherine took advantage of the situation to pull off a fine two-point victory.

Coaches overjoyed

Coaches of St Catherine High, Joan Walker and Phyllis Thompson, were overjoyed.

"We are extremely excited and we were very confident that the girls would have won because they have been playing great all season," they said.

A disappointed losing coach Anderson said: "Turnovers hurt us in the final quarter."

It was not a good day for Anderson as after seeing her senior team holding a 32-26 third-quarter lead over underdogs St Andrew High, they failed to fire in the final quarter. Outstanding goal attack Khadijah Williams and goal shooter Sade Ffrench could hardly get balls in the circle due to brilliant defending from St Andrew High.

"This is for Danielle who is away on national duties and I am very proud of my girls because they came out today and played brilliantly," said a very excited Brown.