Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
JAMAICA'S JUNIOR Sunshine Girlz will face off with Barbados in what could be the deciding game of the Caribbean Netball Association's Jean Pierre Under-16 tournament in St. Kitts today at 5:45 p.m. (Jamaica time).
The Jamaicans kept abreast of Barbados as the only unbeaten teams yesterday when they thrashed St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) 42-11.
In a good day in the shooting circle, Danielle Ellis led the way with 13 goals from 17 attempts while Vanessa Walker had 12 from 15. Christian Salmon also chipped in with nine from 10, while Kerisa Kessna bagged eight goals from her nine attempts.
The Jamaicans led SVG from start to finish, ending the quarters at 13-3, 23-6 and 32-7.
Now the Jamaicans will have to worry about the dangerous Barbados team with a wing attack that passes the ball well and experienced goal shooter Van Shields, who could provide some trouble for the defence.
DECIDING MATCH
After defeating SVG yesterday, Jamaica's team manager, Arlene Findlay, pointed to the importance of the team's next game.
"Hopefully, Jamaica will peak tomorrow. It will be the deciding match as both teams are unbeaten," Findlay said.
"We should be able to get by them though," she said.
One of the biggest obstacles facing the Jamaican team is, oddly enough, the huge success they have had in the Caribbean at this level.
With Jamaica having won the competition on each of the five occasions that they have played it, an inexperienced team now has a tradition that can be difficult to live up to.
"There would be some pressure on the girls to perform, but we have also tried to encourage them to relax.
If they execute what they have gone through in training then they should be fine and the hope is that they do that," explained Findlay ahead of the crucial match-up.
