Garrison still queens of netball

Article by KENMORE BYNOE

Rallying behind a better team effort and superb shooting from Shonica Wharton, Garrison Secondary repeated as the Under-19 netball queens and claimed their third senior crown with a 27-22 victory over The Alleyne School at the Netball Stadium yesterday.
The Garrison led in every quarter, 9-3, 15-12, 21-17, before holding on to take the match with their fleet footed captain Tyneisha Rowe and Makela Rudder covering plenty of real estate to offset the high jumping Alleyne girls.
However, Alleyne put on a gutsy display even when their goalkeeper Adrianne Bynoe collided with Rowe and fell striking her head on the court.
A traumatized Bynoe, who suffered a previous head injury in a football match, had to be lifted from the court.
Bynoe previously had the inevitable task of double teaming with Sadé Sargeant in a futile attempt to neutralize Wharton. But the speed, jump and acrobatics of Wharton saw her beating the double team to sink shot after shot.
The court craft of both teams suggested that the Garrison was better drilled with their fluent passes and ball handling giving them the edge, even when it looked like Alleyne would rally. Unfortunately, numerous interceptions and steals by Alleyne saw too many hesitant moves in midcourt which allowed the Garrison to set up their defense.
Wharton scored a remarkable 21 goals from 24 attempts while Nikita President added six from nine. For Alleyne, Nekela Jordan sank 18 from 32 tries and aggressive defender Ashley Marshall was switched to goal shooter to score four of eight after Tia Jones failed to score from four tries.
Pre-tournament favourites The Lodge School took the third spot with a 33-18 win over Combermere School. Rieah Holder led the victory with 29 goals for Lodge.
Former Barbados junior captain Dalia Scantlebury scored a perfect five from five after she replaced Sheniqua Thomas at goal attack. Thomas had scored 11 from 24 tries while Scantlebury was battling her former Barbados Under-16 teammate Chemyne Alleyne as goalkeeper for The Lodge School.