JAMAICA’S junior national squash team finished second overall as the 2014 Caribbean Area Squash Association’s (CASA) Junior Championships wrapped up this weekend in Devonshire, Bermuda.

The national team took the number two spot after the boys and girls finished second and third, respectively, in their team competitions.

Tipped to finally breakthrough against perennial champions Guyana, the Jamaican boys fought valiantly but lost 2/3 in an epic showdown. The Guyanese drew first blood when All Jamaica Under-17 champion Tajhia Lumley lost 3/11, 9/11, 3/11 to Ben Mekdeci.

The Guyanese then capitalised on their advantage when Jake Mahfood pulled out all the stops but lost 9/11, 3/11, 11/9, 14/12, 14/12 to Nyron Josephs in an epic battle.

With Jamaica’s hopes hanging in the balance, All Jamaica and Caribbean Under-19 champion Julian Morrison neutralised Guyanese star Jean Claude Jeffery with an 11/6, 12/10, 11/2 win which kept the team in contention.

Then All Jamaica Under-15 champion Jonathan Walker beat Alex Cheeks 11/5, 11/3, 11/2 to even up the score. However, All Jamaica Under-13 champion Sebastian Levy then lost 11/0, 11/0, 11/1 to Shomari Wiltshire and Guyana claimed the victory.

The Jamaican girls fared better in their third place match-up against Barbados. Caribbean Under-17 champion Alyssa Mullings got the ball rolling by blasting Allyssa White 11/4, 11/1, 11/3. Then All Jamaica Under-19 champion Mary Mahfood followed on by beating Gylla Mackenzie 11/7, 11/6, 11/7.

The Barbadians managed to pull even when All Jamaica Under-15 champion Sarah Conway lost 1/11, 5/11, 3/11 to Amanda Haywood; and then All Jamaica Under-13 champion Mia Mahfood was beaten 5/11, 1/11, 2/11 by Megan Best.

However, Ashley Lynch received a walkover for her match which handed the Jamaicans the victory.

“We are very pleased with the team’s performance overall, as we had a top-two finish for the second consecutive year. However, we will not give up on our goal of being number one in the region and we’ll redouble our efforts to do even better next year,” said Gill Binnie, junior squash programme manager.

“On a whole it was a great tournament and we would like to say special thanks to our sponsors, especially Burger King, for helping to send the team to Bermuda,” she added.