Robertson S. Henry. Sports and Cultural Contributor
MONDAY JULY 29, 2013; KINGSTOWN, SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES – The 2013 Windward Islands Schools’ Games got off to high intensity action, packed with intensity and excitement at the Girls’ High School Hard-court with Male Volleyball matches.
In game one, Grenada defeated Dominica 3 sets to love (25-11, 25-11, 25-19), and before the rains came, St. Vincent and the Grenadines was down two sets to love against St. Lucia – 14-25, 15-25.
Heavy rains forced the organizers to call off the match, and according to Games Director Keith Joseph, “the match will be completed later in the week.”
Onto the New Montrose Basketball Facility was the next stop with Female Basketball, with Grenada defeating Dominica 32 to 11; the quarter scores -: 10-0, 12-2, 22-5, and finally 32-11.
Action in the Grenada vs Dominica game. Photo courtesy Robertson Henry
For Grenada Shernia John led the effort with 11 points, 6 Rebounds, 2 Steals and 3 Assists, while Renisha Stafford had 10 points, 13 Rebounds and 8 Steals.
Aymau George with 4 points, 3 Rebounds, 2 Steals and 1 Assist led the Dominica fight, while Shernel St. Rose had 4 points, 14 rebounds, 2 Block Shot and 8 Steals.
In the following match, St. Vincent defeated St. Lucia 53-13, with Azizah Stowe with 27 points, 1 Rebound and 6 Steals, and Diloni Sam with 14 points, 5 Rebounds and 8 Steals; the leading performers for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Grenada digs out a Dominica serve in their volleyball clash. Photo courtesy Robertson Henry
For Saint Lucia, Nadine Charlery scored 5 points, 1 Rebound and 4 Steals, Lakisha Henry with 3 points, 5 Rebounds and 1 Steal.
The night ended off with soccer action at the Victoria Park, where Grenada and Dominica drew 1-1. Shervon Brown opened the scoring for the Grenadians in the sixth minute, but Arnel Walsh equalised for the Dominicans in the 24th.
In the second game of the night, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ran rough shod over the Saint Lucians in the game’s opening minutes, as Azinho Solomon kept finding himself behind the defense but could not convert.
Gradually the Saint Lucians established themselves and took control, as they played a passing game, effectively shutting out the Vincentians hard running tactics.
Saint Lucia spikes another point. Photo courtesy Robertson Henry
However like their opponents they failed to convert their numerous chances, even when they had almost complete control of the game in the final twenty minutes; the final scores being nil-all.
On Sunday morning, with the action at the Girls’ High School with Girls Volleyball action, as the matches were moved from the Questelles Courts for reasons not disclosed.
Grenada continued their dominance over their Dominican counterparts with albeit a hard-fought 3-1 victory. Grenada won the first set 25-23, but the Dominicans fought back to equalise with a 25-20 second set win.
However, the Grenadians stormed back with wins in the third and fourth sets – 25-20 and 25-11 respectively, to register another victory.
In the second game, hosts Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lost in straight sets to their northern neighbours Saint Lucia 23-25, 23-25, 19-25; despite some long, heart-stopping rallies.
A defective rim at the Biabou courts forced the organizers to move the Boys Basketball games to the New Montrose Hard Courts, with Grenada registering an 89-50 victory over Dominica. The period scores were 19-13, 43-23, 71-35, and finally 89-50.
In game two, hosts Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia went at each other in a take-no-prisoner clash that saw each period ending with close scores.
The period scores were 19-13, 29-21, 31-29 all in favour of Saint Lucia, before the Saint Lucians took control to register a 54-45 victory.
Over the New Montrose Netball Complex, Grenada defeated Dominica 58-27; the quarter scores being 12-08, 29-12, 41-23, and finally 58-27. But no one was prepared for the nail-biter which was to follow.
St Vincent sets in their volleyball match on Sunday. Photo courtesy Robertson Henry
Hosts St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia missed opportunity after opportunity in the opening minutes of the first quarter, but the home team who drew first blood, to the delight of their supporters, and rushed to an 8-0 lead.
Saint Lucia did register a goal but ended the first quarter trailing 01-10, and the result did look bleak.
The Saint Lucians got into their groove and outscored their opponents in all of the next three quarters, but the first quarter deficit was just too much to erase.
Saint Lucia outscored St. Vincent and the Grenadines 11-8 in the second quarter, which ended at 18-12 in favour of the Vincentians.
The hosts were outscored in the third quarter 11-4, but were still able to hold on to a four point lead; the quarter ending 22-18 for the Vincentians.
The fourth quarter was even more dramatic as the Saint Lucians leveled the scores at 28-all, but St. Vincent and the Grenadines soon took a four-point lead. The tempo did not let up but the hosts held on to win 33-31; a hard fought win indeed for the girls.
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