Jamaica secured fifth place Saturday as the 18th edition of the Women’s Centrobasket Championships ended at the José “Pepe” Huyke Colosseum in Morovis, Puerto Rico.

Trailing for most of the match, the Simone Edwards-coached girls finished strong to overpower the US Virgin Islands 61-49.

Tarita Gordon had a game-high 17 points, adding six rebounds and six assists for Jamaica to win their third consecutive match.

Shenneika Smith and Angelee Latouche scored 13 points apiece and were firm off the boards with six and five rebounds, respectively.

The US Virgin Islands led 13-10 in the first quarter and maintained the edge 23-20 at half time.

In the third quarter, Jamaica closed in by only one as Akkema Richards and Natalie Day kept the Islanders ahead 39-37.

In the final quarter, Jamaica outscored the US Virgin Island 24-10 to finish just outside of the top four.

The Star Girls beat Trinidad & Tobago 65-60 Friday, after outpointing El Salvador in their last preliminary match Thursday.

Jamaica lost to eventual runners-up Puerto Rico and fourth-placed Mexico in their preliminary Group A matches.

Twenty-two-year-old centre Smith wrapped up the tournament as the best scorer for Jamaica with 72 points, averaging 14.4 over the five games. She also had the most assists (12).

Rhona McKenzie, the 35-year-old power forward based in Montreal, was Jamaica’s top rebounder with 45.

Cuba defeated Puerto Rico 78-63 in the final Saturday.

Meanwhile, the men’s Centrobasket Championships get under way today in San Juan, Puerto Rico with Jamaica playing Costa Rica at 1:00 pm.

Cuba will take on the Bahamas, Mexico play Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico meet Panama in other matches today.

Jamaica are in Group B, which also includes Dominican Republic, the US Virgin Islands, and Mexico. The top two will advance to the semi-finals.