BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Pam Tyson Netball Complex was filled with drums, whistles and loud music last night (July 6) in support of the St. Kitts team which took the 2011 OECS Under 23 Netball Championship title after winning five games and drawing one.
St. Kitts and defending champions Grenada went up head to head in the final match where both teams ended in a draw scoring 40 goals. Iana Joseph, Goal Shooter of Grenada scored 28 goals while her Goal Attacker Christa Stephen scored 12 goals.
On the St. Kitts side Goal Shooter Ronelle Morton had 36 goals while Mechelle Liburd the Attacker succeeded at all four of her attempts.
All four quarters of the game were tight as both teams kept the scores close throughout the entire night although Grenada managed to dominate the first three quarters.
The final quarter then got real intense beginning at 33 goals to Grenada and 30 to St. Kitts, but judging from their defence they were determined to take supremacy and take the championship.
The Grenada team made 62 scoring attempts overall while St. Kitts made 51 ending the game some 15 minutes after 9:00 p.m.
Speaking briefly with SKNVibes shortly after their win, Jill Archibald, Manager of the St. Kitts Netball team, told this media house that she felt great about their accomplishment.
She said this has been their second time winning that tournament as they won two years ago in Nevis.
After the game and a brief celebration there was the official closing ceremony of the tournament which saw seven countries competing. During the ceremony a number of individuals were awarded from the results gathered through the five day tournament.
St. Kitts was named Best Attacking Team with 337 goals throughout the tournament and Best Defenders while St. Lucia was selected Most Disciplined Team and Anguilla named the Most Improved Team.
Talissa Brown of St. Kitts was named Best Defensive Player, Ronelle Morton also of St. Kitts, the Most Accurate Shooter averaging 89%; and Keirish Richardson again of St. Kitts was awarded Best Centre Player.
The tournament came to a close with St. Kitts being first place with 11 points , St. Vincent and the Grenadines second - 10 points, Grenada third – nine, St. Lucia forth – five, Dominica Fifth – five, Anguilla sixth - two and Nevis in seventh place with no points.
The Most Valuable Players for the respective teams were: Anguilla - Jackeedah Bryan, Dominica - Curina John, Grenada - Shirlyn Lewis, Nevis - Sasha Liburd, St. Kitts - Talissa Brown, St. Lucia - Jarmala Augustin and St. Vincent - Delonie Sam.
Bownie Allicott of St. Vincent and the Grenadines was adjudged Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.
