WESTERN BUREAU:
IT TOOK Kings Netball Club a scant two seasons to rise to the top of netball in St. James as they crowned their achievements with a strong, if not impressive performance against many time champions Apparel Handlers in the Hart and Sons Senior League finals at the Montego Bay Cricket Club courts on Sunday night.
Few would have given Kings the nod to take the trophy and first prize of $25,000 going into the game against a veteran and crafty Apparel Handlers team, but the Anita Robinson coached team pulled off the upset going away to win 41-35.
After jumping out to a five point lead after the first quarter, and leading by just two goals 30-28 at the end of the third, the Kings team led by solid defending and mid court play from goal defence Latoya Clarke, held off a late surge by Apparel Handlers.
In the third place play-off played earlier in the afternoon, Bacca Stars overcame a third quarter deficit to beat Cable And Wireless 39-36. Karen Hamilton scored 29 goals for Bacca Stars who came back after trailing by six points after the third quarter to outscore a tiring Cable And Wireless 14-5 in the final quarter.
In the semi-finals, Kings had beaten Bacca Stars while Apparel got by Cable and Wireless to set up the final pairings.
LAST STRETCH
In the final, Kings trailed twice by a single goal in the pulsating final quarter before pulling away for the final margin of victory.
Clarke came up big down the stretch with a number of timely defensive stances and one big interception with the score tied at 35-all with six minutes to go to lead her team to victory.
Kings led 12-7 after the first quarter and 18-16 at half time before Apparel tied the scores at 28-all late in the third quarter but could not go ahead until the fourth quarter.
Goal shooter Leonie Lawrence led the scoring for Kings with 28 goals while Shamola Lewis had 13 while the veteran Lisa Blair was the top scorer for Apparel handlers with 21 while Patricia Scott had 14.
P.R.
