Barbados have won their first two matches in convincing style at the Caribbean Netball Association Jean Pierre Under-16 Tournament, at the Pam Tyson Sports Complex in St Kitts.
Yesterday morning, Barbados defeated St Vincent and the Grenadines 40-18 while on Sunday night they hammered Dominica 29-5 in their opening match.
Shonica Wharton led the scoring on both occasions. In the match against St Vincent, she converted 32 of the 40 attempts and was even more accurate against Dominica, with 20 from 22. However, goal attack Sheniqua Thomas is yet to hit her stride with six from 11 and six from 16, respectively.
Head coach Julie Phillips told NATIONSPORT yesterday that the girls started tentatively against Dominica.
“Everyone was given court time, but they took a long time to adjust. That is much better after the first two games, but in the last quarter the scoring rate was down as a result of the adjustment,” Phillips explained.
In the game against Dominica, Vanessa Reid-Cox got some playing time and Vanessa Bobb came in against St Vincent. However, the defence was one pleasing aspect.
“The team defence in the Dominica game was very good. It is just for them to reproduce that stifling defence when we meet our next two opponents.”
Phillips also saw some improvements in other areas in the second game, mainly in the passing and in her charges’ footwork.
Last night, Barbados were set to face their toughest challenge from St Lucia who are also unbeaten. She said they needed to stay focussed, put pressure in the midcourt and limit St Lucia’s passes into their circle.
The defence, led by Shanice Wharton, will also have to come up big. This St Lucia team has been playing as a unit for the past three years and has some of the tallest players in the tournament.
There is little time for rest as Barbados will also play Trinidad and Tobago at 7:50 a.m. today.
Summarized scores:
Barbados 29 (Shonica Wharton 20/22, Sheniqua Thomas 6/16, Vanessa Reid-Cox 3/5).
Dominica 5 (Sara Baptiste 5/7, Nakima Honore 0/6, Carlea Francis 0/2).
Quarter scores: 8-0, 17-1, 26-3.
Barbados 40 (Shonica Wharton 32/40, Sheniqua Thomas 6/11, Vanessa Bobb 2/3).
St Vincent & The Grenadines 18 (Meshanda Croise 3/4, Corrine Douglas 12/19, Molissa Sandy 3/5).
Quarter scores: 12-5, 20-10, 30-13.
