By L. K. Hewlett
In what was supposed to be a ‘Clash of the Titans,’ the ladies of S. L. Horsford Basseterre High School virtually left St. Pauls in their dust, in the Junior Division of the National Bank Netball League.
Coming into the game on Tuesday both teams had yet to be beaten since the start of the league.
As the two top teams met on the court that evening, BHS took charge of the game from the first blow of the referee’s whistle. Sports Zone St. Paul’s Netball Club defence was unseen as BHS scored goal after goal in the first quarter, ending with BHS in the lead 8-0.
The second quarter followed much the same as Talissa Browne, goal defence for BHS kept St. Pauls scorers at bay.
St. Pauls managed to score a goal to close the first half of the game 9-1 in favour of BHS.
The second half saw St. Pauls rallying back, scoring eight goals in the third quarter. Roles were reversed as BHS lost control of the ball in numerous turnovers. Tensions ran high as the referee blew many calls for ‘contact’ on the part of both teams.
BHS defensive tactics won out in the last quarter of the game as they shut out St. Pauls goal attack and goal shoot to win the game 29-14.
BHS is the current junior league champion and have been so for the past three years. They are currently under the expert supervision of their coach Charmine Nicholls-Knight.
“The team put out their best from the very start and that made it hard for St. Pauls to catch up,” Knight said after the game. “Most of the girls are on both division teams so they get plenty of practise. At the start of the second half they began to relax their efforts, but they quickly realised that St. Pauls was using that to their advantage and they got their heads back into the game.”
Talissa Browne, goal defence for BHS is considered one of the leagues top defensive players. She has made the West Indies Under 16 team twice and she is only 15-years-old.
She said she thought the game would be ‘more of a ‘challenge.’
Last Friday
Cayon High School beat Verchild High School 24-14
Basseterre High School 1 overwhelmed Washington Archibald High School 2, 31-5
Basseterre High School 2 trampled Saddlers Ball Stars 44-4
Washington Archibald High School 1 beat Sports Zone St. Paul’s Netball Club 19-9
Tuesday
Junior Division games
Verchild High School trampled Basseterre High School 2, 23-8
Basseterre High School 1 walloped Sports Zone St. Paul’s Netball Club 30-11
Saddlers Ball Stars beat Washington Archibald High School 1, 17-11
