Perfect Sunshine
Girls blank South Africa to claim Margaret Beckford Trophy
Published:Thursday | January 23, 2025 | 12:15 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
JAMAICA’S SUNSHINE Girls, on the back of a dominant showing, completed a series victory over South Africa in the Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series with a 59-47 win in Game Two at the National Indoor Sports Centre yesterday.
The series win was Jamaica’s second on the trot following their Vitality Horizon victory against England late last year.
The SPAR Proteas began aggressively, but Jamaica withstood the pressure and kept their composure to end the first quarter with an 18-13 lead.
At half-time, the Sasher-Gaye Henry-coached team had extended their lead to nine, the scores showing 34-25.
A wave of pressure and precise shooting left the Jamaicans with a massive 50-36 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Though the visitors outscored the Jamaicans 12-9 in the fourth quarter, the game was, for all intents, done.
Big accomplishment
The Sunshine Girls were led by Shimona Jok, who shot 35 goals from 37 attempts. She was ably supported by Shanice Beckford with 14 goals from 17 attempts, while Rhea Dixon shot six from six, and Mishca Creary had four goals from five shots.
South Africa’s Elmere van Berg was perfect from the circle, hitting 16 from 16. Kamegelo Maseko registered 19 goals from 20 attempts, and Rolene Streutker had 12 from 14.
Henry was pleased with the display.
“This is a very big accomplishment in our journey. We know it was going to be a hard-fought match, and the girls fought well,” she said.
Jennifer van Dyk, head coach of the South African team, praised the Sunshine Girls but said her girls could have done better.
“This was a great performance by the Sunshine Girls. For us, we need to do better and we’re disappointed in ourselves,” she said.
The final game of the series will be played on Saturday at the same venue with match time set for 6 p.m.
Earlier, South Africa’s under-21s, the SPAR Baby Proteas, turned the tables against the hosts, winning their three-game 2-0. The SPAR Baby Proteas followed up their 61-31 blowout in the first game on Saturday, with a more sedate, but no less impressive, 49-32 win.
The under-21s will play in their final game on Saturday at 3 p.m.