St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) entered a new phase in regional netball when the national female team, Vincy Jewels, scored 101 goals against Montserrat in the 2024 ECCB International Netball Series in St. Lucia on Thursday.
Vincy Jewels tore into the opposition, taking a 31–4 first-quarter lead. There was no letting up as Vincy Jewels continued their rampage in the second quarter, ending 53-8, the third, 74–10, and the final score of 101–16.
Juana Osborne scored 12 of 19 attempts for Montserrat, with help coming from Twila Fenton who scored 3 of her 5 attempts, and Norissa Farrell-Bramble 1 of 1.
For SVG, Maryann Frederick netted 75 from 80 attempts, Kristiana Christopher 23 from 28 attempts, and Jamarah Coombs 3 from 3.
It has been a while since any team have scored 100 goals in a regional netball tournament.
“Not because we were playing against Montserrat that means we had to lower our standards to meet Montserrat standard,” SVG goal-keep Kaywanna Charles said.
“We had a game plan and we went out to play our game… We went out and we played and it just happened we scored 101. We need to set a trend and send a word out there to the other teams.”
Vincy Jewels win battle of the Saints
On Wednesday, despite a tough first half, SVG defeated hosts St. Lucia 56–45.
St. Lucia took a ding-dong first quarter 9–8, but Vincy Jewels responded like champions to take a slim one goal, second-quarter lead — 22–21.
A tactical change saw coach Natasha Baptiste introducing captain Kemisha Antoine in the second half, which was the impetus to the Vincentian game plan.
Despite making a few errors, Vincy Jewels took the third quarter 41–31.
The hosts did not let up in the final quarter, throwing everything — tactically — at the Vincentians, who held on to their lead, winning 56–45, to go top of the series table.
Frederick continued to lead the Vincentian quest to regain the title with 47 goals scored from 49 attempts, and Christopher netted 9 from her 9 attempts.
For St. Lucia, Merlessa Alfred scored 20 from 29 attempts, Deaha Eugene, 22 from 27, and Shem Maxwell, 3 from 10.
Christopher, who played in the goal-attack position and had a profound impact on the game, credited the prayers the team had had at the end of the first half in helping them to refocus and to execute their game plan.
She said that in the first two quarters the team “had a lot of bad passes”.
Both Christopher and Frederick play for the same club X-Ceed in the SVG national club competitions, and as a result, have developed a very good understanding.
Another player who created an impact on the game was skipper Kemisha Antoine, who was introduced in the second half. Christopher said Antoine “made my job a lot easier”.
Antigua go under as SVG makes it 3 of 3
On Tuesday, SVG made it three wins out of three matches with a 68–37 defeat of Antigua and Barbuda.
Frederick lived up to her name as one of the best goal-shoots in the Caribbean, netting 55 goals from 60 attempts, while goal-attack Christopher had an all-round outstanding game, scoring 13 from 20 attempts.
Reyana Regis scored 34 from her 37 attempts, and Amey Lake scored 3 from 7, as the Antiguans had their second successive loss — last night they lost to St. Lucia.
Frederick, who sustained a finger injury, pointed out that the team played as they had trained “by making the passes into the circle and converting our shots”.
She said that the Antiguans tried, but the consistency of the Vincentians in executing their game plan made the difference between the two teams.
She also spoke glowingly of Christopher who, realising that Frederick was being double-teamed by the Antiguans “would come into the circle and pull one defender, which made it easier for the wing-attack and centre to pass the ball”.
Frederick said that she is satisfied with the level of fitness and communications on the court, “but we can do way better than we are doing but we have to take it step by step and take it home”.
