PHILIPSBURG--Gaynstead High School of Jamaica was crowned Champion of Champions of the Inter-Secondary School U19 Netball tournament which ended at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium last night.
The tournament fielded six high schools from around the Caribbean: Central Leewards from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Christ Church Foundation from Barbados, Gaynstead High, Micoud Secondary School from St. Lucia, St Joseph Convent Egrets and St. Maarten Combined Secondary Schools.
In the end, Gaynstead High with a high degree of skill and enduring determination withstood a stern test from Christ Church Foundation. Both teams were unbeaten going into the final match because of the superior level of netball skills they had displayed against the other teams.
Last night, the opening 12 minutes of the first quarter ended at 7-6 in favour of Gaynstead High as the players fought intensely for position and possession.
Thereafter, Gaynstead High kept the lead in every quarter, but was forced to use all their experience and smarts to combat a very able opponent. The second quarter read 17-13, third quarter 29-21 and the final score was 37-27.
For the winners, Goal Attack Kelsey Jones scored 28 goals from 31 attempts and Goal Shooter Britney Logan hit nine scores from 18 attempts.
For the Bajans, Goal Attack Brianna Holder scored 17 goals out of 23 attempts and Goal Shooter Chiara Chase supported with 10 points out of 11 attempts.
The St. Maarten Combined Secondary Schools lost to St. Joseph Convent Egrets by 21 to 35 in another learning experience for the local girls, the youngest team in the tournament.
Goal Shooter Melanie Antoine was the leading scorer for her team with 25 points out of 32 attempts. Goal Attack Melika Destang scored 10 points from 13 points.
For St. Maarten, Goal Shooter Jeanice Landefort led the way with 18 points from 32 attempts and Goal Attack Leann Ford scored 50 per cent of her points from six attempts.
In the first match yesterday, Micoud Secondary School defeated Central Leewards 29 to 18.
For the winners, Goal Attack Jermia Martiah hit 19 out of 25 attempts, Goal Attack Chrisie Evans scored eight points out of 14 attempts and Goal Shooter Simaj Marguerite with two points out of three attempts. For Central Leewards Goal Shooter Zanique Vincent was 13 from 20 and Goal Attack Chante Williams was five from 11.
At the presentation, MVP of the tournament was Latanya Wilson of Gaynstead High.
The positions of the six teams after the tournament were Gaynstead High in first place, Christ Church Foundation in second place, Micoud Secondary in third place, Central Leewards in fourth place, St. Joseph Convent Egret in fifth place and St. Maarten Combined Secondary Schools in sixth place.
