The Bajan Gems put on a polished display to win the second netball “Test” against Uganda She Cranes 42-38 in an exciting battle on Saturday night at the Wildey Gymnasium.
With both teams playing mean defence in midcourt and in the shooting circles, the Gems gave their vocal supporters lots of voice and excitement as they outplayed the Africans.
Veterans Nikita Payne and Latonia Blackman set a pattern of near excellence which Shonica Wharton came off of the bench and maintained.
The Gems had started with Blackman as goal shooter; Payne, goal attack; Damisha Croney, wing attack; Sabreena Smith, centre; Teresa Howell, wing defence; and captain Rhe-Ann Niles-Mapp and Shonette Bruce in the defensive circle.
Unlike the first Test, the Gems did not show the excess liberty of giving court time to the reserves with only Wharton replacing Blackman in the second half to ensure the Bajans would enter last night’s decisive game with all to play for.
With Payne and Blackman weaving their shooting magic, thanks to midcourt artistry from Smith, Croney and a greatly improved Howell, Bruce and Niles-Mapp choked the She Cranes with a stifling defence. The Gems dazzled from 10-12 to lead 22-19 and 35-28 and hold on for the win.
Entering the second quarter down by two goals, the Gems started badly by throwing away the first pass to soon trail 10-14. However, Payne then set ablaze the shooting ring with five successive shots as the Gems locked the scores and then took the lead which was never relinquished.
Once again, the tall Stella Oyella led all scorers with 26 goals from 30 attempts but her goal attackers Hadijah Nakabuye (7-11) and replacement Racheal Nanyonga (5-7) were kept in check by the Gems’ suffocating defence.
Both teams played such stingy defence, that at times the ball was repeatedly turned over with the scoring clock slowing or stopping.
The experienced Blackman once again proved a perfect shooter scoring 11 from 11 while Payne showed some of her old form hitting 17 from 18 and Wharton added 14 from 16. The closest the She Cranes got to the Gems after losing the lead was 19-20.
Even when Blackman took a rest, Wharton entered and maintained the Bajans’ shooting edge. Wharton fired and scored six successive shots before she missed as her Blackbirds’ teammates Croney and Howell smartly employed high passes into the circle which the tall shooter snared and sank to the delight of the screaming fans.
Although Croney was sent off for successive rough contact in midcourt at a score of 41-36, the Gems were able to ride out the final two minutes with one player short by partially freezing the ball in midcourt. The final whistle released a flood of celebrations from the Gems and the fans while triggering tears from the She Cranes. (KB)
