The Garfield Sobers Gymnasium played host to another chapter of local primary school netball history on Wednesday, as Shirley Chisholm Primary cemented its status as an unstoppable dynasty by clinching its fifth straight National Sports Council-Pedialyte Sport Primary School Netball championship. The dominant side wrapped up the tournament with a convincing 12-5 victory over runner-up West Terrace Primary, capping off another stellar season of youth sports competition.
Buoyed by a raucous, drum-beating crowd of loyal supporters, the defending champions got off to a tentative start, showing early nerves that gave underdog West Terrace a opening to challenge for the crown. Shirley Chisholm managed to carve out a narrow 3-1 lead by the end of the first quarter, but West Terrace refused to back down. The challengers mounted a fierce comeback early in the second frame, cutting the gap to just one goal at 4-3 and sparking whispers of a major upset in the tournament decider.
That momentum shift proved short-lived, however, as the reigning champions quickly reasserted their control over the match. Tightening up their already solid defensive structure and converting every promising scoring chance, Shirley Chisholm extended their lead to 6-3 by halftime. After the break, the title holders ramped up the pressure even further, steadily pulling away from their opponents to hold a 10-4 advantage heading into the final quarter. By that point, Shirley Chisholm’s loyal supporters had already turned the stands into a festive, carnival-like space, dancing and singing their praises for the team that has redefined youth netball success in the region.
Speaking exclusively to Barbados TODAY immediately after the final whistle, head coach Kelicia Sobers credited the historic win to months of consistent, deliberate preparation from her young squad. “The girls worked extremely hard to get here. We run a structured extra-curricular sports program at the school, where we practice every Tuesday after school and add additional training and varied activities every Friday. That consistent work ethic is what got us this result,” Sobers explained. Notably, Shirley Chisholm never once trailed over the course of the 80-minute match, with the entire game unfolding exactly according to the team’s pre-match game plan.
Looking beyond this fifth consecutive title, Sobers revealed that the program has long-term plans to protect and extend its dynastic run, with intentional succession planning already in place for future seasons. “We build for the long term here. Most of our current squad are only in Class Three, meaning just five of our 15 team members will move on to secondary school after this year. We already have a development team lined up for next season, because we don’t just plan for one title – we plan to keep competing at the highest level for years to come,” she confirmed.
The day’s action opened with a thrilling third-place playoff, where Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary outlasted Christ Church Girls in a back-and-forth battle to claim the bronze medal with a 9-6 final score. The match was defined by constant momentum swings and aggressive defending from both sides, with multiple lead changes keeping spectators on the edge of their seats. Wilkie Cumberbatch held a narrow 3-2 lead after a tense first quarter, and the two sides were locked at 4-4 by halftime. A third quarter riddled with misplaced passes, thanks to relentless defensive pressure from both squads, left the scores tied at 5-5 heading into the final frame.
With the bronze medal hanging in the balance, Wilkie Cumberbatch found another gear in the closing minutes. The side sunk three game-changing critical shots to pull away, securing the hard-fought win. An elated head coach Marion Johnson-Hurley praised her young players for keeping their composure under intense pressure. “That was such an exciting, competitive game, and Christ Church Girls played exceptionally well. My girls stuck to our adjusted game plan focused on spacing, which has been a small struggle for us throughout this tournament. When our goal shooter came in, she followed every instruction perfectly and created the openings we needed. I couldn’t be prouder of them – this win is fully deserved,” Johnson-Hurley said.