T&T’s men netballers extend unbeaten run to four
Another solid performance saw T&T seal its fourth straight win in the Americas Netball Men’s Championships at the Cicely Grell-Hull Dora Steven Netball Complex, St Kitts, on Sunday night.
Shooting from Dextroy Manswell and the defensive effort of wing-defence Shaquille Lewis, the local men defeated the team from the host country, St Kitts and Nevis, 56-27, in their second match of the day.
Earlier in the morning, T&T whipped Antigua and Barbuda (ATG), 87-16, following comfortable wins against St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) 55-37 in their opener last Tuesday and USA (84-14) on Saturday.
The national men’s players made their intention clear early, as after the first quarter they rushed into a 10-7 lead thanks to opening shooter goal-shooter Keon Russell and goal-attack captain Steve McSween.
In the second quarter, coach Pietra Gay opted to bring in Manswell in the goal-shooter position and shifted Russell to goal-attack, which helped T&T push further ahead for a 24-16 lead at halftime.
On the resumption, T&T, led by Manswell, continued to attack while applying defensive pressure spurred on by Lewis, which forced the St. Kitts and Nevis team to turn over the ball and had several interceptions to the delight of one of two unbeaten teams in the eight-team tournament.
T&T went on to score 20 goals in the period and only allowed SKN three to lead 44-19, heading into the fourth and final quarter. SKN did better offensively in the final session, scoring eight compared to T&T’s 12, and went away with the 29-goal defeat.
Manswell, with 33 goals from 39 attempts, topscored for the winner. The other goals came from McSween (13/15), Russell (7/14) and McMillan (3/5), who shared the goal-attack bib.
Lewis was later named the “Most Valuable Player” (MVP) of the T&T team for his defensive contribution in the lopsided win.
Last night, T&T was scheduled to play Grenada before taking on fellow unbeaten team Jamaica today at 5.30 pm and England tomorrow at 4.30 pm in their final match of the round-robin competition.
Sunday’s Results
T&T 56 (Keon Russell 7/14, Steve McSween 13/15, Dextroy Manswell 33/39, Kerry McMillan 3/5) vs St Kitts and Nevis 27 (T York 26/35, S Ceasar 1/2, G gaton 0/0). Quarter scores: 1st 10-7, 2nd 24-16, 3rd 44-19. (All in favour of T&T).
England 55 vs Grenada 16
USA 10 vs Jamaica 109
SVG 65 vs ATG 23
Matches
Tuesday
Court 1: T&T vs Jamaica, 5.30 pm; Grenada vs ATG, 7.30 pm
Court 2: England vs SVG, 5.40 pm; USA vs SKN, 7.40 pm
Wednesday
Court 1: T&T vs England, 4.30 pm; Jamaica vs SVG, 6.30 pm
Court 2: ATG vs USA, 4.40 pm; Grenada vs SKN, 6.40 pm
Closing and presentations, 8.15 pm.
Standing
Pl*Team*P*W*D*L*GF*GA*AVE*PTS
1* Jamaica*4*4*0*0*271*77*3.52*8
2*T&T*4*4*0*0*282*94*3.00*8
3*England*4*3*0*1*226*81*2.79*6
4*SVG*4*3*0*1*205*189*1.08*6
5*Grenada*4*1*0*3*124*187*0.66*2
6*SKN*4*1*0*3*117*209*0.56*2
7*ATG*4*0*0*4*90*260*0.35*0
8*USA*4*0*0*4*58*318*0.18*0
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