Jamaica's Marvadean Anderson (centre) shoots over Barbados' Shanice Wharton (left), while her teammate Shanice Rock (partly hidden) looks on during their Jean Pierre Caribbean Under-16 Netball Championships match at the Leila Robinson Courts yesterday evening. Jamaica won 54-19. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Jamaica's Under-16 netballers registered their fourth consecutive victory in the Jean Pierre Caribbean Championships, hammering Barbados 54-19 at the Leila Robinson Courts late yesterday evening.
In the evening's other games, Trinidad and Tobago defeated St Lucia 40-26 and Dominica stopped Guyana 38-11.
The Jamaica-Barbados contest was expected to be much more competitive as both teams had won their three opening matches convincingly.
"I think that our girls stuck to our game plan and they worked very hard and they achieved the desired result," said Joan Cargill, Jamaica's coach.
This was a very important game for us especially at this stage of the competition and this performance goes to show that the girls have grown from strength to strength with the hard work that we have put in and now it is paying off for us," added Cargill.
Playing in front of packed house, the Jamaicans began the match superbly as goal shooter Marvadean Anderson, who was voted the top shooter at last year's tournament in Antigua and Barbuda, was in fine form, converting 19 of her game-high 49 goals in the first period, to give the hosts a 22-11 lead at half-time.
The junior Sunshine Girls then mesmerised the Bajans in the third quarter with their quick, stylish play and off the ball movements, which led to them outscoring their opponents 16-3 for a 38-14 lead at the end of the period.
Tight defence
In the fourth quarter, the Barbadians proved no match for the Jamaicans, who crippled their opponents with tight defence and their aggressiveness, in the process holding them to just five goals in the quarter as they eased to a comfortable win.
While Anderson, who made 60 attempts, dominated the scoring, Deneen Taylor played a role, despite netting only five goals from 12 attempts.
Tanisha Rock-Yaw, with 13 goals from 16 attempts, and Shannon Hackett, six from seven, were Barbados' scorers.
Barbados coach Julie Phillips said: "I think we fought to the end and we are satisfied with how they played. We made some crucial mistakes along the way, which would have cost us a better score line.
"All credit to the Jamaican team because I think they passed well and moved the ball into space and they were very hungry for the ball" she added.
The junior Sunshine Girls, who are down to face Guyana today, are now two wins away from securing their third straight hold on the title and their eighth overall.
Today's games
Jamaica vs Guyana at 6:45 p.m.
Trinidad and Tobago vs Barbados at 6:15 p.m.
Dominica vs the Cayman Islands at 6 p.m.