T&T beat Barbados after resting players

Head coach of Trinidad and Tobago, Kemba Duncan is contending that the decision to rest players for their Americas World Cup Qualifiers match-up against Barbados last night at the National Indoor Sports Centre has worked, as they won 50-40.

“Not a hard game, but it would have been a tougher game. The strategy that we went with I think the girls were able to maintain it most of the game,” Duncan said.

She had stated on Wednesday after their 43-27 victory over the United States of America (USA) that they rested their stronger players for that match, in anticipation of the clash with world No 14-ranked Barbados a day later. Trinidad and Tobago are ranked No 11.

Duncan, however, still believes they fell short in some areas against Barbados and will have to adjust for their next match against host Jamaica tomorrow.

The region’s No 2-ranked Trinidad and Tobago were ahead of the No 3-ranked Barbados from the first quarter which ended 12-7.

However, by halftime, only one goal separated the teams as Trinidad and Tobago led with 22 goals.

The twin islands regained control in the third quarter and were up 35-30 at the end.

On the other court, the USA defeated the Cayman Islands 44-35.

At the end of the first quarter, the USA were leading 13-8 and stretched the lead at halftime with the scores being 25-16.

The Cayman Islands closed the gap in the third quarter as it ended 35-28 with the USA ahead.

Assistant coach of the USA Keithan Grayson-Superville said she is proud of their performance.

“It’s just as what we expected for today. It’s all about them (USA players,),” Grayson-Superville said.

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