SPRINGER?MEMORIAL?and Combermere will clash in the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Under-16 netball final on Monday after scoring contrasting wins in Thursday’s semi-finals at the Netball Stadium.
Whereas Combermere had to fight all the way to deny a spirited Lester Vaughan 19-17, Springer brushed aside Christ Church Foundation 40-17 to set up an intriguing battle next week.
Junior national player Sheniqua Thomas at goal attack and goal shooter Donika Payne were almost flawless in maintaining an edge over Lester Vaughan, who looked capable of scoring an upset after battling back from 3-8 in the first quarter to remain just two points off (at 9-11 and 15-17) in the second and third quarters.
Goal defence Shakila Mascoll and goalkeeper Kayla Worrell did a tremendous job in trying to limit Combermere’s shooting opportunities, but the class of Thomas shone through as she sank six goals from six attempts while Payne hit 13 goals from 14 attempts. For Lester Vaughan, shooter Sharika Bullen scored 11 of her 17 shots while goal attack Tachina Young made six of 12 attempts.
There was no such closeness in the other game, with Springer building on a first quarter score of 7-3 to end the second quarter ahead 16-9 and the third 29-13 before finishing off Foundation 40-17.
Whereas the two teams seemed equally matched in the corresponding circles, Springer’s faster and more adept mid-court made the difference.
Springer’s goal shoot Zakiya Kirton scored 17 of 19 shots and Shakeila Smith shot 17 of 20. The dominant goal attack Khadija Domingo executed six of ten.
For Foundation, shooter Sasha Bryan scored 15 of 17 while attack Shadika Phillips scored two goals from five attempts.
The final will be staged on Monday at the Netball Stadium, with Foundation meeting Lester Vaughan in the preceding third-place match at 3 p.m.
