Fire Service remains in line to repeat as champion of the Premiership Division of the 30th Courts All Sectors Netball League, thanks to the shooting of Joelisa Cooper and its defensive duo goal-keeper Garbrel Selman and goal-defence Onella Jack-Hill.
Cooper, the goal-attack, whipped up another fine shooting performance netting 41 goals from 45 attempts to see Fire to a 57-42 victory over Defence Force on Saturday evening at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Tacarigua.
Down on the other end, Selman and Jack-Hill made Defence Force goal-shooter Anastascia Wilson work for each of her 41 goals from 49 tries while restricting goal-attack Crystal-Ann George to one of six as the army/coast guard combination unit trailed at the end of each quarter.
The scoreline read 14-10, 29-21 and 41-30, all in favour of Fire, who secured its fourth consecutive win. Six-footer Afeisha Noel, the goal-shooter, poured in the other 16 goals from 28 attempts for the winner.
Earlier in the clash of the Police teams, the Y team got the better of its X unit, 48-39. Tiana Dillon (20/29) and Tahirah Hollingsworth (24/38) netted the bulk of the winning team's goals in closer match-up.
The X team, which had Jillisa Allan (30/40) and Jeselle Navarro (9/14) working in the offensive circle, controlled the first quarter to take an early lead, 11-9. However, it did not last long as the Y team re-established its dominance and went ahead 24-17 at the half. It stayed in control into the third period, 34-27 heading into the fourth quarter.
The X unit did a better job in the final session, almost matching Y's scoring 12 to 14 but it was not enough to regain the lead and had to settle for the nine-goal-defeat.
In the Championship Division, Fire led by the shooting of Adasha Norton with 49 in 62 claimed a huge 33-goal (62-29) win over Police X in the opening match. Next up was the match-up between the University of T&T (UTT) and TSTT and it was the latter going away with a 41-38 win. Shooting for the winning TSTT team was goal-shooter Jocelyn Marcelle (19/28) and goal-attack Kanika Paul Payne (22/30).
In the other match in the category, the Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) Sparks dazzled Police A, 40-30, to continue its unbeaten run with four straight wins. Goal-attack Liliah Matthews was best for UTC with 35 from 52.
Today, teams in the Alternative Division will take to the court from 5.30 pm.
RESULTS
Premiership Division
Defence Force 42 (Anastascia Wilson 41/49, Crystal-Ann George 1/6) vs Fire 57 (Afeisha Noel 16/28, Joelisa Cooper 41/45). Quarter scores: 1st. 14-10, 2nd. 29-21, 3rd. 41-30 (All in favour of Fire).
Police X 39 (Jillisa Allan 30/40, Jeselle Navarro 9/14) vs Police Y 48 (Tiana Dillon 20/29, Tahirah Hollingsworth 24/38, Cheynelle Dolland 4/5). Quarter scores: 1st. 11-9 (X), 2nd. 24-17 (Y), 3rd. 34-27 (Y).
Championship Division
Police Y 25 (Cheryse Aguillera 4/5, Kaliyah Cooper 19/30, Ashley Wickham 2/8) vs Fire 62 (Adasha Norton 49/62, Pearl St John 13/19). Quarter scores: 1st. 9-8, 2nd. 29-13, 3rd. 46-20 (All in favour of Fire).
UTT 38 (Cameisha Leslie 17/21, Jillisa Biggs 11/20, Aaliyah Modeste 10/19) vs TSTT 41 (Jocelyn Marcelle 19/28, Kanika Paul Payne 22/30). Quarter scores: 1st. 12-12, 2nd. 21-20 (UTT), 3rd. 33-31 (UTT).
Police X 30 (Raquel Russell 23/35, Donessa Wickham 5/8, Lystra Solomon-Simmons 2/4) vs UTC 40 (Crystal Cockburn 4/13, Liliah Matthews 35/52, Debra Superville 1/2). Quarter scores: 1st. 12-8, 2nd. 22-14, 3rd. 29-24 (All in favour of UTC).
Today's matches
Alternative Division
MIC Tigers vs TT Post, 5.30 pm
Las Lomas vs USC, 6.20 pm
Police X vs Police Y, 7.10 pm