Continuing their dominance, Shayamoya Area Secondary School defended their title for the fourth time in the KZN Southern Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge that took place at King Edward High School on Saturday, 23 August. 

Led by Captain courageous, Kwanele Lamane who was celebrating her 15th birthday, Shayamoya entertained the vibrant vocal crowds surrounding the courts in Matatiele as they took on travelling team, Mthatha High School in the regional final. Undeterred by the gusts of wind breezing across the court, Lamane was adventurous in her attacks. Filling the role of Goal Attack, together with her fellow forward, Tinomuda Mkhanya put some points on the board. 

The scoreline see-sawed up with Shayamoya opening their account 15 seconds into the game after four sure passes found Mkhanya camped under the net. Mthatha responded 30 seconds later with a determined surge into Shayamoya’s circle. Shayamoya nudged their score up by another point, with Mthatha responding down the other side. Nearing midway through the first half, Mthatha faltered missing a relatively easy shot. Pouncing on Mthatha’s loss of momentum, Shayamoya upped their tempo with their flamboyant flair being unleashed. 

Shortly after Mkhanya netted her team’s third point, Lamane floated in a bold two pointer, followed by two more long range shots that ricocheted off the rim. Both forwards pocketed 1 more goal going into half time, with the scoreline sitting on 7-2. 

In the second half, Shayamoya continued their colourful attack, only allowing Mthatha’s Goal Attack, Buhle Noto to add one point to their tally. Meanwhile their daring charges spurred on by playmaker, Zibuyile Dlembula feeding her teammates down the other end resulting in netting another 8 more points, including a couple more two pointers by Lamane. Rounding off her birthday, Lamane’s intrepid play found her outside the circle, looping in a three pointer that was slightly off target, rebounding generously for the captain who had stepped inside the circle. With the full time whistle almost blasting, she sent the ball ‘hoopwards’, successfully sinking her third two pointer of the final. 

Leading up to the final, Shayamoya met newcomer Zamokuhle Secondary School in their semifinal, while Mthatha took on hosts school, King Edward High School. Similar to their round robin game, Shayamoya controlled play with an impressive result of 15 – 1, snubbing out any of Zamokuhle’s plays with impressive intercepts and turn overs sending play down to Zamokuhle’s circle. 

In the second semifinal, the conclusion was more riveting. Having met two games prior in the round robin, in a defender-heavy, low scoring game, Mthatha edged King Edward who have played for the title in the last two years, out by a mere one point. In the semifinal, both teams dug deep to fire the ball up to the goals, with points raining down, Mthatha took the semi 10-7 and advancing to the final for the first time. 

This weekend, the challenge heads to the picturesque inner city setting of St Henry’s Marist College who welcomes Durban Central teams on Saturday 30 August. 

Results

Regional Final
Shayamoya Area Secondary School 15 vs Mthatha High School 3

Semifinal
Shayamoya Area Secondary School 15 vs Zamokuhle Secondary School 1; Mthatha High School 10 vs King Edward High School 7

Round Robin
1 Shayamoya Area Secondary School 21pts; 2 King Edward High School 18pts; 3 Mthatha High School 18pts; 4 Zamokuhle Secondary School 10pts; 5 Kokstad College 9pts; 6 St Thomas Residential School 7pts; 7 St Monica's Diocesan School 1pt; Bergview College 1pt