Antigua & Barbuda kicked off their campaign in the OECS/ECCB InternationalNetball Series on a winning note, as they made light work out of the host country Dominica in the opening match of the tournament Sunday at the Windsor Park.
The Antiguans dominated from the opening whistle and took an early lead in the opening stages of the first quarter, before the home team were able to pull things back.
Antigua jumped out to the early 7-1 advantage before Kyla Winston and Lisa James found their groove to get Dominica back into the game.
Antigua held the advantage at the end of the first quarter with a lead of 12-8.
Goal Shoot Reyana Regis imposed her will on the Dominican Defenders accounting for 11 of the 12 points for Antigua. In the 2nd quarter Antigua continued to pile on the pressure and extended their
lead.
Dominica continued with their struggles to contain Regis, as she dominated again in the second period as Antigua outscored the home team 17-8. The Antiguans took a comfortable 29-15 lead into the halftime break, with Regis scoring all 17 points for Antigua in the second quarter and accounting for
28 of the team’s 29 first half points. Antigua didn’t let up in the 3rd quarter and held Dominica to just 6 points in the 3rd period and took a 40-21 lead into the 4th and final period.
The 4th quarter was more of the same, as Antigua pressed on the advantage eventually taking the match 53-24. Reyana Regis had the hot hand converting on 46 of her 57 attempts, Amey Luke added 7 from 10 attempts.While for Dominica Lisa James made 17 of her 25 shots on goal, while Kyla Winston 6 from 10 and Melissa Williams 1 from 4 attempts.
In the other game last night, St Vincent and the Grenadines crushed St Kitts and Nevis 62-33.
Mary-Ann Frederick put up a 50-point effort leading St Vincent to the easy win in their opening match.
St Vincent won every quarter as they cruised to the comfortable victory.
They took the first quarter 14-9 with Frederick converting on 13 out of her 14 attempts.
Frederick put up another double-digit quarter in the second period making 11 of her 13 attempts as she guided St Vincent to the 30-17 lead at the half time interval.
The 2nd half was more of the same for St Vincent, as they continued to build on their lead before taking the match 62-33. Mary-Ann Frederick made 52 of her 60 attempts, while Shellisa Davis added 10
from 16 attempts.
Meantime for St Kitts, Rochella Challenger shot an impressive 23 from 25 attempts and Aaliyah Gordon made 9 from 19. The other match scheduled for Sunday night between St Lucia and Barbados
was impacted by rain, and has been rescheduled to Tuesday morning at 7am. The netball action will resume on Monday 14th February at the Windsor Park.
Dominica will be looking to bounce back from their defeat on the opening night, as they face St Vincent and the Grenadines at 6: pm. At 6:30pm Antigua & Barbuda will be looking to make it two straight
wins when they battle St Lucia. While at 7:30pm Barbados will take on St Kitts and Nevis.
Results thus far
Antigua – 53
Dominica – 24
St Vincent – 62
St Kitts – 33