Barbados Defeats St. Lucia

Barbados easily dispatched St. Lucia 54-35 yesterday in the AFNA 2008 Championships. The Bajans led all intervals 18-6, 35-12 and 22-47.  

With Nikita Piggott on the bench reportedly for disciplinary matters, coach Harriet Waithe opted to start with Laurel Browne (GS), Lydia Bishop (GA), Don Small (WA), Sabreena Smith (C), Kizzy Marville (WD), Jeneice Clarke (GD) and Rhe Ann Niles (GK).  

The St. Lucians opted to start Shem Maxwell back at her original GA position and bring Barb Joseph-Theobalds back at (GS).  The other players were Deselva Florton (WA) Roxanne Synder (C) Sherma Benti (WD), Michelle Rogers (GD) and Judie Mathurin (GK).

Barbados dominated from start.  GA Lydia Bishop despite her heavy frame moved well and was successful feeding the ball to Browne especially in the first half of the game.  The defenses however stole the show. 

 School girl, and Barbados under 16 captain Jeneice Clarke looked larger than life on court making life difficult for the far more experience Shem  Maxwell.  

St. Lucia however was to get their pound of flesh in the second half of the game when Barbados lost three of its defenses to injury, Martindale, Lisa Puckerin who came into the game as a substitute and Clarke.  The worst was Martindale who sustain a blow to the head and had to be carried off the court on a stretcher.  She is however fine and back in camp nursing a migraine type headache.

St. Lucia also would have come off the game feeling proud of their fourth quarter performance scoring 13 goals to Barbados' 7 as the Bajans became very disorganised after their players exited with injuries.