DEENDING champions Jamalco staved off a late surge from Tivoli ‘A’ to win the Berger Paints/Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) Super League netball competition at the Leila Robinson Courts last Saturday.

The Clarendon-based green-and-black-clad aggregation, by virtue of winning the second game, 44-43, took the best-of-three play-off series 2-0 after winning the first match, 42-32, last Thursday.

It was also the ninth consecutive years the Winston Nevers-coached girls were lifting the title. In one of the most exciting final seen for a long time, both teams gave netball supporters a match they will long remember.

The first quarter was touch-and-go between the teams, but it was the Sylvester “Chris” Campbell-coached West Kingston-based Tivoli who scored twice before Jamalco hit back to score two straight buckets to draw level at 2-2.

With the game being played at a brisk pace, causing several turnovers due to defensive tactics, Tivoli ‘A’ capitalised on missed shots by Jamalco and, with Oberon Pitterson-Nattie, along with PeterGaye Thomas and Kimesha Sterling, putting their passes together nicely, began outscoring the champions through shooters Sabrina Spence and Jodi-Ann Ffrench-Kentish for a 6-2 lead.

The lead was, however, short-lived as Jamalco rallied to score three buckets, but still trailed 6-5 before a ding-dong battle ensued for the rest of the quarter, with the scored being tied at 9-9.

Jamalco then went ahead, 10-9, but Tivoli hit back to even things and closed the quarter with a slim 12-11 lead.

Second-quarter action saw Jamalco scoring at the first centre pass at 12-12 before Tivoli took the lead once more, but again, the defending champions levelled at 15-15.

At one stage, it seemed as if Tivoli were going away as they led 20-16, but the Clarendon girls fought back strongly with Naudia Brown, Samantha Mundle and Kerry-Ann Brown in centre court for shooter Elaine Davis to net shots and tie the game at 22-22 at half-time.

Jamalco went ahead at the start of the third quarter, but the game was tied again before Jamalco went into a three-goal lead for the first time, 27-24.

There were good defensive work being produced by both sides that included steals and intercepted passes to shooters Althea Byfield and Niocle Aiken-Pinnock for Jamalco, while Kasey Irving and Georgia Gordon held strongly for their team.

The game was locked at 27-27, 29-29 and 31-31 until the closing minutes of the quarter when Jamalco went up, 34-32, at the final break. Keisha Cohen replaced Sterling at wing defence during the third quarter.

The fourth quarter provided much exciting play as Jamalco quickly went up 37-33 after the early exchanges and seemed headed for a runaway win. But Tivoli did not allow them as they closed the gap at 39-38. The champions went ahead, 41-38, before a time-out was taken by Tivoli ‘A’.

With less than three minutes remaining, Jamalco led, 43-40, and the tension was evident among the players. Tivoli rallied to close to within 44-43, but it was too late as the final whistle sounded.

Elaine Davis scored 37 goals from 43 attempts and Marsha Murphy seven from 12 for Jamalco, while Sabrina Spence netted 30 from 33 and Jodi-Ann Ffrench-Kentish 13 from 20 for Tivoi ‘A’.

Wing defending Kerry-Ann Brown of Jamalco was voted the most valuable player (MVP) of the match.

Jamalco pocketed $200,000 and the Berger Super League Champions Trophy, along with trophies for the players, while Tivoli took home $140,000, a second-place trophy and trophies for the players./

Mico University College ‘A’ picked up $80,000 and medals for third place and Windalco $50,000 for finishing fourth.

Mico ‘A’ was voted the most disciplined team and walked away with $10,000, while Jamalco was the most offensive team and received $10,500.

Tivoli ‘A’ picked up $10,500 for being the best defensive team. Both Jamalco and Tivoli ‘A’ registered a best of 76 goals in a match.