U19 netball down to the last four

The highly anticipated semifinal field for the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports’ Under-19 Netball Tournament has been officially locked in, following a full slate of high-stakes knockout fixtures that unfolded across two venues in Saint Lucia on Monday: the Beausejour Gymnasium and the Micoud Multipurpose Court. Notably, three of the four top-placed teams from last year’s championship have successfully secured their spots in the final four, signaling a continuation of elite competitive pedigree in this year’s iteration of the youth sporting event.
Kicking off the day’s action at the Beausejour Gymnasium, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) delivered a dominant, one-sided performance against Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School, cruising to a commanding 46-14 final score. The side’s goal shooter Naijah Ferdinand was the undisputed offensive standout, sinking 38 of her 43 total attempts, while supporting goal attack Neanna Francois added 8 successful conversions from 9 shots. For the defeated Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School squad, Valenshia Joseph led scoring with 9 goals from 12 attempts, and Jazan Willie chipped in 5 goals off 8 shots.
Defending title holders Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School (VFCSS) also notched a decisive victory at Beausejour, eliminating Castries Comprehensive Secondary School by a 30-11 margin to keep their championship defense alive. VFCSS’s goal shooter Deriscia Mitchell anchored her team’s attacking circle with a steady 25 goals converted from 33 total shots, with goal attack Bernege Joseph contributing an additional 5 goals from 11 attempts. Castries Comprehensive’s top scorers were goal shooter Kiana Delice with 7 goals from 13 shots, and goal attack Luwander Antoine who posted a perfect 4-for-4 shooting record.
Across the southern zone at the Micoud Multipurpose Court, Soufrière Comprehensive Secondary School (SCSS) claimed a 33-18 win over St Joseph’s Convent to punch their semifinal ticket. SCSS’s top offensive contributor was goal shooter Kheryss Ferguson, who landed 24 of her 32 shot attempts, with goal attack Harriel William adding 9 goals from 19 opportunities. St Joseph’s Convent spread their scoring across three players: Xanaiia Emmanus led the side with 10 goals from 18 shots, goal shooter Iyana William added 7 goals from 13 attempts, and Layla Sylvester chipped in a single goal from 3 shots.
Tournament context adds extra narrative weight to this year’s final four lineup: last year, SALCC claimed the third-place playoff win over SCSS after both teams were knocked out in the semifinal round. The previous year’s runner-up, Micoud Secondary School, did not complete registration for the 2024 tournament, opening up a competitive spot that was filled by the Saint Lucia Sports Academy (SLSA). SLSA seized that opportunity in style on Monday, notching a 31-13 victory over Choiseul Secondary School to claim the last remaining semifinal berth. SLSA’s goal attack Isabella Emilienne led all scorers in that matchup with 22 goals from 35 attempts, while goal shooters Cathyann Lucien and Hayla Samuel added 7-for-12 and perfect 2-for-2 shooting performances respectively. For Choiseul Secondary, Malia Isidore posted 5 goals from 10 shots at the goal shooter position, and goal attack Kevlyn Fostin added 8 goals from 10 attempts.
Organizers have confirmed that the two semifinal fixtures will take place this coming Thursday at the Micoud Multipurpose Court, with an exciting pair of matchups on the docket: the Saint Lucia Sports Academy will go head-to-head with Soufrière Comprehensive Secondary School, while defending champions Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School will face off against SALCC in two contests that promise fierce, tightly contested youth netball action.