Jamaican staged a late, late come from behind victory, 49-46, to break the hearts of the USVI, who had bossed large parts of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Women’s Semi Final, on Friday July 11, 2014. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

After being down on the scoreboard for most of the game, Jamaica took the lead in the last minutes of the game, to take the victory, 49 -46. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson: VINO

Neither team could capture a sustainable lead on the scoreboard and at the end of the first quarter, the score was tied at 14. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

The US Virgin Islands remained on top of the scoreboard, but were never able to pull away from the Jamaicans. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

More action from the game between the USVI and Jamaica. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

More action from the game between the USVI and Jamaica. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

After being down on the scoreboard for most of the game, Jamaica took the lead in the last minutes of the game, to take the victory, 49 -46. The team coached by Simone Edwards qualified to the Finals of the CBC Championship and earned one of the three spots left in the 2014 Centrobasket Championship for Women, to be played from July 22-26 in Monterrey, Mexico.

Jamaica entered the game with one big problem; Shenneika Smith was sick and was not at 100 percent. Good defense was displayed by both teams during the first quarter and as a result it was a low-scoring affair.

Neither team could capture a sustainable lead on the scoreboard and at the end of the first quarter, the score was tied at 14.

A 7-2 run by the US Virgin Islands opened the action of the second quarter, but defense still the most important key of the game and once again the second quarter was low scoring, the USVI going into half time the happier with the score 24-19.

The top scorer of the first half was Natalie Day of the Virgin Islands with 9 points.

A triple by the US Virgin Islands player, Tanecka Carey opened the action of the second half. The theme of the game was defense and fast possessions, again the third quarter had low scoring.

The US Virgin Islands remained on top of the scoreboard, but were never able to pull away from the Jamaicans.

The score entering the fourth quarter was Virgin Islands 33 – Jamaica 27. The lead decreased to 2 points, after a basket in a drive by Shenneika Smith, 40 – 38. The game became a back and forward of responses on offense, and with 2 minutes to play the score showed a two-point lead for the Virgin Islands, 46 – 44. On the next play, Jennifer George was fouled and from the free-throw line, she left her team one point behind on the scoreboard, 45 -46.

Virgin Islands couldn’t score on their possession and Christina Mitchell scored a lay-up to give the Jamaican squad a one-point lead, 47 – 46. Again the Jamaican with good defense didn’t allow the opponent to score, and on the other side of the court Shenneika Smith was fouled and scored both free-throws to give her team a three-point lead, 49 – 46, with 14 seconds to play. US Virgin Islands couldn’t score on their last attempt, the victory belonged to the team led by Simone Edwards, 49 – 46.

Jamaica will play Dominican Republic in the Final after they blew away Trinidad and Tobago, 63-38, with Danilsa Andujar scoring 13 points and Marlem Cacares 10.

CBC Championship for Women - Final Round

7/12/2014