Finals finished for Jets after over-time loss

The ECU Souwest Jets 18 and under side fell agonisingly short of defending their WA Netball League championship, losing to the West Coast Warriors by four goals in over-time at the State Netball Centre on Sunday.

Both teams were locked on 41 goals at the end of the fourth term, but the Warriors prevailed to win 54-50.

It looked as if the Warriors would out-run the Jets in the first half, leading 20-15 at the main break.

But the young Jets showed their resilience and fought back to trail by just three goals at the final break, before scoring 13 goals to just 10 to tie the game at the final whistle.

Both sides battled bravely in the extra-time, but ultimately it was the Warriors who came out on top.

Brooke Gibson was excellent in goal attack for the Jets, scoring 35 goals from 46 shots.

Warriors shooter Hana Stokes was one of the stars of the game, shooting at 79 per cent for 32 goals, while Lily Pepper came off the bench to score 12 goals at 75 per cent, including eight of the Warriors’ 13 goals in extra time.

Jets coach Myrna Carbone said it was a great game and her players did well to compete in the extra time.

“We were just unlucky to not come out on top in the end,” he said.

“The girls fought really hard right through until the end.

“Our girls are a younger bunch and the experience and physicality of the opposition got us in the end.”

Carbone said she was pleased with the Jets’ season.

“It was pretty much a brand new team and we went in not knowing what to expect,” she said.

“But they far exceeded our expectations when we chose the team at the start of this season.”