Saint Lucia Secures Third Place in Regional Netball Tournament

Saint Lucia claimed second runners-up honours at the Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball Tournament over the weekend, finishing with three wins and two losses. Competing in the under-16 tournament at Barbados’ Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, the Saint Lucians defeated Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica and Grenada but fell to champions Trinidad & Tobago and runners-up Barbados. They finished with 17 points from their five matches, converting 140 of 184 shots (76.1%). Their plus-25 goal difference and 1.22 goal average marked an improvement from last year’s fourth-place finish on home soil. Captain Naija Ferdinand led the squad to bronze medals and a trophy, donated by former Caribbean Netball Association president Yvette Francis. Head coach Shem Maxwell expressed pride in the team’s placing. “To be honest, I am happy, although I think we could have done better,” he said. “But I am indeed happy we made the podium finish. It’s a process, and it’s a work in progress.” Ferdinand, the sole Saint Lucian named among the tournament’s top 16 players, also earned MVP honours for her team, receiving a trophy and gift basket from Bryden Stokes brand manager Shernell Actie. As a versatile goal attack and defence, she contributed to Saint Lucia’s third-place finish...