Five-in-a-row for Jamaica

ROSEAU, Dominica

WINNING has become a routine for Jamaica's Sunshine Girls as they gained two additional victories after the fourth round of the Americas Federation of Netball Associations tournament here.

The defending champions' win tally now stands at five after they downed St Kitts/Nevis 80-26 and humiliated Canada 88-21 in two games at the Stockfarm Sports Complex yesterday. They had recorded previous wins over Antigua and Barbuda (61-31) and Grenada (97-31).

Jamaica took a strong lead at the beginning of both games, giving their opponents no chance to get past scoring 30 baskets.

In the Canada game, they were up 25-6 at the end of the first quarter, 45-11 at half time and 68-16 at the end of the third period.

The Jamaicans, like world champions Australia, used hard, flat passes and skillfully carried the ball through the mid-court past the determined Canadians.

So tight was the defence of the world's fourth ranked team that Canada got numerous calls for held ball (holding the ball longer than the requisite five seconds), particularly in the last quarter.

"We are doing exactly what we came here to do, which is win," said Jamaica's coach Janet Guy.

"The other teams will try. They have no choice. But although we are winning, there is still room for improvement in each game," she said.

In other results yesterday, St Lucia defeated Dominica 65-46, Barbados beat Antigua and Barbuda 58-47 while Trinidad and Tobago hammered Bermuda 97-31.

The Sunshine Girls have a rest day today, but resume against St Vincent and the Grenadines tomorrow at 6:15 p.m. (Jamaica time).

Today's matches: 4:30 p.m.: Antigua and Barbuda vs Dominica, Canada vs St Lucia. 5:30 p.m: Barbados vs Grenada, 6:15 p.m: Bermuda vs St Kitts/Nevis,

Guy

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