Vincy Jewels win bronze at inaugural Netball component of CAC Games

The St Vincent and the Grenadines’ (SVG) Senior National Netball team Vincy Jewels edged out Barbados by a single goal to take the third place position at the 24th Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador.

“I am super proud of my team’s performance in El Salvador. We entered the competition with a quote that the president always said to us ‘before any competition let the teams know that you are not there to participate, but rather you are there to compete‘, and I think that is what we went out there to do, team captain Kaywanna Charles, told SEARCHLIGHT following the team’s return home last Saturday, July 8.

It was the first time that Netball was being included as a component of the Central American and Caribbean Games, and the Vincentian contingent had indicated prior to departure that they were looking to place in the top three.

A proud Charles admitted that there were some matches in which the team fell short of expectations, but they ensured that at the end of every game “we held our heads high.”

The game against Barbados, which Vincy Heat won 51-50 is one Charles said she will remember for a long time, not only because of the defeat of Barbados but because of the fighting spirit which her team displayed.

She credited coach, Vasha Adams, with helping the players to improve their mental strength “for there were times when we did not believe in ourselves, she kept us together.”

In the historic staging of Netball at the Games, St. Vincent and the Grenadines won the bronze medal, behind Trinidad and Tobago who won the silver, and Jamaica who copped the gold.

Vincy Jewels began their quest by defeating Cayman Island 78-21; the Dominican Republic 94-12; but lost to Trinidad and Tobago 30-60; and Jamaica 40-65.

Despite having a great showing in these games, Vincy Jewels fell short and had to wait until the fifth and final match of the competition against the Bajan Gems as their last chance of securing a podium finish.

In that crucial match Vincy Jewels lost the first quarter 7-16, scored the same number of goals in the second quarter as their opponents- 12- but still trailed 19-28 at half-time.

The Vincentians came back with greater determination, outscoring the Barbadians in the third quarter 17-9, but still trailing their opponents by a single goal at the end of the third quarter- 36-37.

In the crucial fourth quarter Vincy Jewels outscored the Barbadians- 15-13 to win the quarter and the game 51-50, sending the other members of the Vincentian CAC contingent into spontaneous dancing with screams of joy as the team secured the bronze medal.

It was Mary-Ann Frederick who sank an all important penalty seconds before the final whistle ensuring that Vincy Jewels claimed the third place position ahead of the Bajan Gems who are heading to the Netball World Cup in a few weeks time.

Frederick scored 40 goals from 44 attempts, and Shellisa Davis scored 11 from 16 attempts.

For Barbados, Jada Smith scored 26 goals from 39 attempts, and Latonia Blackman netted 24 from her 29 attempts.

The win by Vincy Jewels added to the overall medal count of SVG at the Games.

“It was an honour, and the ladies have been my motivation for the whole tournament,” coach Adams told SEARCHLIGHT upon her return with the team.

It was her first time as head coach, and Adams expressed gratitude to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association for placing the confidence in her to take on this important role.

The next outing for the St Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association will be the junior Vincy Jewels team’s participation at the inaugural netball competition of the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago next month.