Netball
29 July, 2024
Jones-Story's sixty minutes of brilliance
Laharum's goal shooter and league-leading scorer, Caitlin Jones-Story, had a massive day on Saturday against Taylors Lake at Dock Lake Recreation Reserve. In a sensational display of skill, Jones-Story scored 83 goals in Laharum's 96-35 win.
The Demons scored 24 goals each quarter, leading by 16 at quarter-time, 19 at half-time, and 45 at three-quarter time before winning by 61 goals.
The league's leading goal shooter was on fire, with Emalie Iredell massive at goal defence.
Lilly Weir led the Lakers up front with 20 goals, and Zoey Gray was their best in defence.
Jones-Story was shocked when she heard she had scored 83 goals.
"It honestly didn't feel like that many goals; it just crept up. I thought it was in the '60s, or low 70s," Jones-Story said.
"My previous record was 71, and now it's 83; I don't think I'll ever beat that again."
Jones-Story said it was a fast-paced game.
"The ball got up and down the court freely and cleanly, and as a team, to nearly score 100 goals came up fast, and I have to give credit to the players around me for getting me the ball, especially Maddi [Iredell] in goal attack, who didn't shoot many and gave me a lot of options," Jones-Story said.
When asked how this season compares to previous ones, having scored 599 goals in 14 matches, Jones-Story pointed out that whilst it's been good, she started the season slowly and is starting to hit her straps.
"Living in Ballarat and not being able to shoot with the team, I didn't start as well as I would have liked," Jones-Story said.
"Now, coming into the finals, I like where the team and myself are, especially as I feel we are starting to play some great netball.
"We had a couple of players still out on the weekend, but we were able to give our B-grade squad a go. Everyone is playing well, and it makes us less predictable than we were, knowing our midcourt can change around, which I think is a good thing."
"Getting a high score in a free-flowing game is what we want to achieve, and I think our fitness and fast pace will put us in good stead come finals."