BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN a game that Kishawn Thomas of GBN Television News described as “a fierce struggle”, St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) were last evening (July 11) crowned the Easter Caribbean Central Bank-sponsored 2012 OECS Under-23 Netball Champs.
Playing their final game of the tournament at the Tanteen Netball Court in Grenada, St. Vincent & the Grenadines defeated defending champs St. Kitts 47 goals to 42.
Prior to last evening’s game, both teams had played undefeated throughout the tournament winning all five of their games.
Information reaching this publication states that at the end of the second quarter the Sugar City Girls were leading by some five goals and had that score reduced by three at the end of the third.
And in the final quarter, team SVG employed a very good defensive strategy and staged an all-out attack to take the game away from a seemingly lack-lustre team St. Kitts.
According to Thomas, “the high-spirited SVG team commenced their celebration at the final seconds of play as they deterred the Kittitians of winning”.
In the other two games of the evening, Montserrat, the team that lost all of its previous games and had the least goal average, suffered a horrendous defeat by Dominica (15-80), while Grenada played a very impressive game against St. Lucia.
Thomas reported that both teams entered the court determined to win and to secure third or fourth place in the championship.
“The Lucians,” he said, “had the game busy in the first quarter; however, the Spice Girls were up for the challenge and made some aggressive blocks. In the second quarter, both teams were head-to-head but Grenada’s goal attack and shooters made a difference.”
He noted that a very fast play led to the Grenadians creeping up on the Lucians to end the game in a tie, 45-45.
At the Prize Giving and Closing Ceremony, St. Vincent and the Grenadines were presented the coveted first prize trophy, while St. Kitts and Grenada received the First and Second Runners-up trophies respectively.
The award for Best Shooting Average went to St. Kitts, St. Vincent and the Grenadine copped the award for Best Defending Average, the award for the Most Disciplined Team was won by Montserrat.
