Gaters' focus needs work - Hamilton-Barnes

For Clarendon Gaters, it seems to be a story of same thing, different day as in terms of how their results are playing out in this season's Berger Elite League competition.

In losses to Kingston Hummingbirds and St James Sharpes, the Gaters had started the match well, leading against the Hummingbirds for much of the early portion and against the Sharpes, they led for a much longer period, even into the fourth quarter.

Against St Ann Orchids on Tuesday night, it was the same story, with the Gaters leading 11-9 after the first quarter and 36-33 to end the third quarter of Netball Jamaica's competition.

"It's something we've to work towards as a team, because each time we're leading and we get into the final quarter, we tend to lose the game because we're over-thinking," said Shedieky Hamilton-Barnes, the team's goal shooter.

"I think we're thinking too much and not focusing on what needs to be done by converting the shots. In the last three minutes, we started to miss the shots that really mattered and it cost us the game. We just have to learn from this," she added.

Hamilton-Barnes, Gaters' goal shooter, sunk 21, goals from 32 attempts, while Amanda Pinkney, 14 from 21 and Danielle Masters, eight from 15, scored the other goals.

Assessing her team's capabilities, Hamilton-Barnes noted that lack of training might be affecting the Gaters, as well as her own form.

The Gaters only have three points from four matches, while the Orchids moved to seven from four.

Attacking player Adean Thomas said slowing down the game contributed to the Orchids' excellent fourth quarter play, which yielded 15 points to their opponents' seven.

Orchids' scorers were Thristina Harwood, with 33 goals from 41 attempts, Simone Gordon, 12 from 13 and Tricia Brown, three from four.

In Tuesday's other game, the Kingston Hummingbirds beat the St James Sharpes 51-36 to move to nine points from four matches. They led 15-7, 25-17 and 38-26 after the first three quarters. Sabrina Spence was their main scorer, with 26 goals from 34 tries, while Hasana Williams, 19 from 24 and Shanice Beckford, who shot six of seven in the first quarter, netted the other goals.

The Sharpes, with one win and three points from four matches, got goals from Kestina Sturridge, with 22 from 37, Conique Moore, nine from 13, and Shanice Howe, five from eight.