Defending?champions Garrison Secondary and The Alleyne School will clash today for the Barbados Secondary School’s Netball League title at the Netball Stadium at 3:30 p.m.
Garrison reached the finals with a gritty 32-39 win over Lodge School on Tuesday, while Alleyne were equally determined in stopping Combermere 27-21.
A superb team performance handed Garrison the victory after the game ended 25-25 in regular time.
Goal shoot Shonica Wharton sank 25 of 32 attempts, supported by Vanessa Reid-Cox (10/12) and Nikita President (4/6) who shared the goal attack position.
Captain Tyneisha Rowe, Makela Rudder and Sherifa Belgrave also displayed tremendous speed and skill mid-court.
The highly touted Lodge boasted a bigger line-up, including the tall and imposing shooter Chemyne Alleyne. Unfortunately, a sub-par performance saw the former Barbados junior, who scored six of ten shots, being substituted after the second quarter.
The Lodge led only in the first quarter (9-7). Sscores were locked at 13 at the end of the second quarter, and Garrison edged ahead 20-18 at the end of the third.
This was despite a superlative performance from Lodge’s goal attack Rieah Holder, who netted 20 of her 23 shots. Alleyne’s replacement Jalicia Bascombe sank six of nine attempts.
In overtime, Garrison displayed the greater thirst for victory. Rowe showed remarkable fighting spirit when, with two minutes left, she landed face down on the court with a frightful smack but played on.
Alleyne’s triumph was set up by junior national netballer and volleyballer Ashley Marshall who scored 18 of her 23 attempts as goal shooter. Nekela Jordan supported with nine of 17.
The Combermere scoring was led by former Barbados junior captain Dalia Scantlebury, who scored 15 of 27. Another national representative, Sheniqua Thomas, contributed six goals from 19 attempts.
