Daraine Luton, Freelance WriterTHE SCRIPT has once again played itself out.
Yesterday, Jamaica's Sunshine Girlz, as expected, completed yet another successful Caribbean Netball Championship campaign with a 56-33 victory over Barbados in their final game in Trinidad and Tobago.
Jamaica entered last night's game locked on five wins apiece with the girls from the 'land of the flying fish' and needed to win to secure their eighth regional title. The task was not great, after all the Sunshine Girlz are ranked third on the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) list while Barbados are No. 10.
However, as captain Oberon Pitterson put it, Barbados harboured thoughts of beating Jamaica and that was reflected in the way they approached the first half which ended 22-18 in favour of Jamaica after a 12-7 first quarter scoreline.
NO PRISONERS
But Barbadian dreams of an upset were laid to rest in the third quarter when the Jamaicans decided to take no prisoners.
Coach Janet Guy shifted around her side moving Tasha Morgan to wing attack and pushing Nadine Bryan to centre at the expense of Peter-Gaye Thomas who had a good game. Defensively, Guy pulled Kadia Kentish as goal keeper and inserted the 'queen of interceptions' Kasey Eveing - changes which locked out the Bajans as Jamaica climbed to a 42-26 lead at the end of that quarter, virtually securing the Caribbean silverware.
The title was the first for Guy as coach. She was appointed to the position in January after long-standing coach Maureen Hall resigned after the World Netball Championships last year.
"I am happy for her, she seemed relieved," captain Pitterson said of her coach.
HAPPY
Pitterson was just as happy for the young Jamaican players.
"We are in a transitional phase and we really came out and did well," she said. "The younger players especially - they played superb netball from start to end and just to see the look on their faces was awesome."
Throughout the tournament, the world No. 3 ranked team was simply too good for its opponents. Nevis got stung 106-10, St. Lucia were trounced 74-20, St. Kitts got it real bad taking a 68-24 whipping, St. Vincent went down 68-28 and Trinidad and Tobago's pride was bruised after a 56-31 loss, all before the girls poured their wrath out on Barbados last evening.
TOP JAMAICAN GOALSHOOTER
Elaine Davis, who hit 31 from 35 attempts last night, emerged top Jamaican goalshooter. The veteran shooter ended with an average of 91 per cent after shooting 243 goals from 267 attempts in six games. Her young partner in crime, Simone Forbes, averaged 87 per cent after scoring 127 times from 146 tries - also in six games.
Young shooter Marvetta Murray ended with an average of 73 per cent while Tiffanie Wolfe averaged 71 per cent.
