DESPITE retaining the bronze medal at the World Youth Netball Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, last Saturday, the prevailing mood in the Jamaican camp is that the young Sunshine Girls should be ranked higher, based on their outstanding and courageous performances.

The team arrived home on Monday to a relatively low-keyed reception, but nevertheless the hierarchy of the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) believes these girls are champions.

“I believe we were right up there as number one,” head coach Oberon Pitterson-Nattie told the Jamaica Observer shortly after the team’s arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport. “The record speaks for itself, but again you have to win.”

And an emotional JNA President Marva Bernard, who thanked all the sponsors that made the trip possible, also thought the girls were better than their third-placed ranking.

“No, no, no. We came third, but I believe we are nowhere third. I think we are at least second,” Bernard claimed.

Jamaica lost a heartbreaking semi-final, 44-53, to New Zealand after a superb third quarter that saw them overturn a 12-point deficit to lead 38-37 going into the fourth quarter.

This they did after star shooter Shantel Slater was injured in the second quarter and took no further part in the game.

“In 2006 the seniors came from nine down to tie the game. These juniors with two short shooters, came from 12 down to go ahead by one. That’s amazing and should count for something,” said Bernard.

Jamaica recovered to beat England easily for the bronze medal and coach Pitterson-Nattie saw them as “lionhearts”.

“When I looked at the team in the England match….we had our centre limping, our wing attack crying because she had a shin splint… everybody was in pain, but they were willing to lay it out there, and I am extremely proud of them,” said Pitterson-Nattie.

And Captain Vangelee Williams said the tournament was a great one. “We only missed the final by a [narrow margin] and the fact that we defended our bronze medal is a plus.”