Wednesday’s slate of fixtures in the Saint Lucia Under-19 Secondary School Netball Tournament delivered a mix of dominant statement wins, tightly contested back-and-forth battles, and one edge-of-the-seat deadlock across two competition venues, as top-ranked sides across both groups consolidated their positions on the league table.
Action kicked off at the Beausejour Gymnasium, where undefeated Group A frontrunner St. Joseph’s Convent (SJC) maintained its perfect start to the campaign with a commanding 35-18 triumph over Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School. The closely fought first half saw SJC cling to a narrow 9-7 lead at the halftime whistle, before the group leaders ramped up their defensive pressure and offensive precision to stretch their advantage to 25-12 by the end of the third quarter, closing out the match comfortably. Standout goal shooter Iyana Williams posted an impressive 23 successful conversions from 30 attempts, while her attacking partner at goal attack Xanaiia Emmanus chipped in with 12 goals from 16 shots. For Sir Ira Simmons Secondary, Jazan Willie notched 11 goals from 14 tries, and Valensia Joseph delivered a flawless performance, converting every single one of her seven shot attempts.
The second Group A fixture of the day saw second-placed Saint Lucia Sports Academy (SLSA) cruise to a lopsided 40-4 victory over Entrepot Secondary School. Goal attack Isabella Emilienne anchored SLSA’s offensive output, racking up 33 goals from 39 attempts, with reliable support from goal shooter Cathyann Lucien who added 7 goals from 11 shots. Entrepot’s scorers were Traavia Marshall with 3 goals from 8 attempts and Jahnii Charlery who landed 1 of her 4 shots.
In a highly anticipated non-group matchup, Babonneau Secondary and Castries Comprehensive Secondary School (CCSS) played out a pulsating, end-to-end 18-18 draw that kept spectators on their feet until the final whistle. Babonneau’s Keejan Severin led all scorers in the fixture with 12 goals from 24 attempts, while teammate Samara Edward contributed 6 goals from 13 shots. For CCSS, Kiana Delice matched Severin’s 12-goal haul, converting 12 of her 20 attempts, and Luwander Antoine added 6 goals from a hard-fought 19 shot opportunities.
Over at the Micoud Multipurpose Court, Group B pace-setters Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) survived a tense, neck-and-neck battle to edge out Beanefield Comprehensive Secondary School 29-25 in a contest that remained within a handful of goals for all four quarters. Neanna Francois led SALCC’s scoring with a stellar 12 goals from 14 attempts, Naija Ferdinand added 10 goals from 12 shots, and Aungel Augustin chipped in with 7 goals from 15 tries. In a remarkable individual performance for Beanefield, Jerannie Marquis single-handedly accounted for all 25 of her team’s total goals, landing 25 of her 40 shot attempts.
Defending tournament champions Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School (VFCSS) also kept their unbeaten streak alive on Wednesday, notching a solid 27-11 win over Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School. VFCSS’s Deriscia Mitchell led her side with 17 goals from 33 attempts, while Bernege Joseph delivered an efficient 10 goals from 15 shots. Leon Hess’s scorers were Destiny Edward with 7 goals from 10 attempts and Onyeka Enebeli who landed 4 of her 6 shot opportunities.
Wrapping up the day’s action at Micoud, Soufriere Comprehensive secured a high-scoring 46-27 victory over Choiseul Secondary School, powered by a dynamic dual offensive performance: Kheryss Ferguson sunk 24 goals from 31 attempts, and Harriel William added 22 goals from 33 shots. Choiseul’s top performer was Malia Isidore with 18 goals from 26 attempts, and Kevlyn Fostin contributed 9 goals from 13 tries.