Antigua and Barbuda’s poor run of form continued in the Jean Pierre Youth Netball Tournament here at the YMCA Sports Complex on Monday night, falling to a fourth successive loss to remain winless in the under-16 competition. Monday night’s loss was the host country’s largest of the tournament thus far, going under to Barbados 61- 3 in the feature match of a triple-header.
Antigua and Barbuda’s only three baskets came from goal shoot Alexia Lovelace who sank both of her attempts in the third quarter and hit herlone attempt in the fourth to end with a perfect record of three from three. Goal shoot Dalia Knight led Barbados’ charge, hitting 28 of her 36 attempts. She was ably assisted by goal attack Chiara Chase who made good on nine of her 12 attempts.
Substitute goal shoot, Sumara Benn assisted with seven of eight attempts. Coach of the Antigua and Barbuda team Lauretta Charles said earlier this week that the players are not accustomed to the level of play in the tournament. “They are kind of coward, talking about the crowd and what the crowd is saying, but I told them not to be scared and to just play the game and don’t think about anyone.
Even in our training when you push them, they end up with stomach cramp, can’t breathe, and so this is an experience for them because usually they are not accustomed to the pushing like that,” she said. According to the former player, the energy level is not where it should be for a tournament of this caliber, adding that the team tires long before the end of the contest. “The girls could have put out some more but I think they were kind of a timid in going forward, because if you check, in the last two quarters they always push and we want them to push from the beginning.
They will come out punching and afterthat they cut back in their shell,” Charles said. Meanwhile, there was victory as well for Trinidad & Tobago as they beat Dominica 30-19. Goal attack Kelicia George led T&T’s charge with 21 of her 26 attempts while goal shoot Jillisa Briggs sank nine of 15 attempts.
In a losing effort, goal shoot Treneese Hamilton picked up nine of her 15 attempts with goal attack Etheline Telemaque contributing 10 of her 16 attempts for Dominica. Also, St. Lucia defeated Bermuda 41-22 in Monday’s other contest. The winners were led by a massive effort from goal shoot Dasha Eugene who hit 37 of 46 attempts while goal attack Trenice St. Croix added four of her five attempts. For Bermuda, goal shoot A’Maiah Butterfield was best in show with 21 of 27 attempts while goal attack Selah Tuzo managed just one of her two attempts. The tournament is slated to end on Thursday.