‘Coach Yo’ makes stance in the US

Yolett ‘Coach Yo’ McPhee-McCuin.

June 30, 2020

Sheldon Longley

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Over the weekend, Bahamian collegiate coach Yolett “Coach Yo” McPhee-McCuin was a part of a movement in the United States that will forever be etched in the annals of American history.

The Confederate flag is coming down in the state of Mississippi. The Bahamian women’s basketball head coach at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) was among 46 other coaches and administrators from around the state in the capital city of Jackson, to offer their support to the extinguishment and removal of the flag. Mississippi is the final state in America to have the flag, which has been termed abusive and divisive, taken down as a symbol of national recognition.

McPhee-McCuin said she by no means takes credit for any action to have the flag officially removed, but she is proud and privileged to be a part of the process.

“Collectively, state legislators from the House and the Senate came to the agreement that the state flag needs to be abolished. It’s no longer going to represent the state of Mississippi and that’s a step in the right direction,” said McPhee-McCuin. “This has been a fight that has been ongoing for a number of years and we were just privileged to come in at the back end and offer our support. Through sports, and college basketball, we’re able to help catapult the movement to finish it off. People have been working tirelessly at trying to get this flag down. It is divisive and a symbol of hate, so I feel really blessed to be a part of this. This is something that I could tell my daughters about in the future – that I was a part of this movement. This is a historic moment – the day that Mississippi decided to get rid of the Confederate flag.”

Legislators voted on Sunday to have the flag, which has been condemned as racist, removed. The House passed the bill to change the flag by almost a 4:1 count. The Senate followed with almost a 3:1 count. The current flag must be removed within the next 15 days, and a vote on the new flag, which cannot include the Confederate symbol and that must have the words “In God We Trust” on it, will be taken in November. If the majority accept the new design, it will become the state flag. If it is rejected, a new flag will be designed using the same guidelines.

McPhee-McCuin said the coaches and administrators were all on one accord, and were a part of a much larger gathering of groups inclusive of business, community and religious leaders, who stood against racism in the United States. She said legislators’ hands were forced after Southeastern Conference (SEC) Commissioner Greg Sankey made a bold stance that no postseason games, or any type of tournament play, would take place in the state of Mississippi until the flag was taken down.

“That right there is millions and millions of dollars and opportunities being affected. That was a big deal for us, and kind of pushed things forward,” said McPhee-McCuin. “Various chancellors from schools in the state of Mississippi got involved and the flag came down. We can’t take much credit, but we could say that we were a part of that last 50 meters in a long marathon and I’m grateful to be a part of that.”

The issue of the flag being taken down was on the table for decades, but recent protests of systemic racism in the United States following the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of police, sparked a revisitation on the status of the 126-year-old banner. White supremacists in the Mississippi legislature set the state flag design in 1894, during backlash to the political power that African Americans gained after the civil war. Legislators set a flag election in 2001, and voters kept the rebel-themed design.

This past weekend, a historic move was taken and McPhee-McCuin was a part of a process that brought about an accomplishment that had been debated and fought for, for decades.

As far as her team is concerned, third-year Ole Miss Rebels Women’s Basketball Head Coach McPhee-McCuin said that they are involved in voluntary workouts, but the status and format of the season remains up in the air given the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. They’re not allowed to have team meetings and practices until July 20, but according to her, everything appears to be moving in the right direction and she remains optimistic. Just recently, they were a part of peaceful protests against systemic racism and social injustice in the Unit

Updated: Shaunae Finishes Second In 150m

Shaunae Miller-Uibo at the Weltklasse Zurich Virtual Inspirational Games on Thursday.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo at the Weltklasse Zurich Virtual Inspirational Games on Thursday.

Monday, July 13, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#In what could become a norm for some future track and field meets, Shaunae Miller-Uibo lost out to Allyson Felix in their first rematch at the Weltklasse Zurich Virtual Inspirational Games on Thursday.

#The dup hooked up in a 150 metre race that was held simultaneously in three different locations with Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji as a part of the new format that saw six other events contested.

#Felix, the 34-year-old mother, competing against Miller-Uibo, 26, for the first time since they clashed at the 2017 World Championships in London, England, posted the fastest time of the trio in 16.81 seconds in Walnut, California.

#Miller-Uibo, competing out of Bradenton, Florida, was second in 17.15 as she contested her second race for the year since her defeat at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, while Kambundji, the 28-year-old World Championships’ 200m bronze medallist, was third in 17.38 as she competed in Zurich.

#“I’m very happy with it (results),” Miller-Uibo said. “I will give God thanks for me coming here and competing again.

#“It was a fun race. The 150m is obviously not as taxing as the 400, but it was really fun.”

#Miller-Uibo and Felix last competed head-to-head at the 2017 World Championships in London, England, where Miller-Uibo faded down the stretch for fourth place as her legs buckled in a bizarre finish.

#Felix went on to secure the bronze medal behind American gold medallist Phyllis Francis and Bahrain’s silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser. In the meeting before that, Miller-Uibo won the gold at the 2018 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

#This year, Miller-Uibo and Felix were hoping for another clash at the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, but the games were postponed until July, 2021 because of the spread of the coronavirus.

#Coming off her defeat to Naser at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Miller-Uibo said she just wanted to get a chance to compete before she prepares for next year.

#“It’s good just to get some meets and get to compete, but the main focus is going to be next year,” she said. “I’m using (this year) as a building year.”

#Felix, the most decorated American female athlete of all time, said the race was a strange one, considering that she didn’t have any teammates as she normally does in practice.

#“It’s hard to challenge yourself, so I think the big thing was just running solo,” she said.

#But Felix said she was just glad that she was able to inspire people through her performance. “It was really important (to inspire people through the Inspiration Games),” she said.

#“I think we see the hardship everyone is going through and we just wanted to bring a little bit of joy, pause a moment and appreciate the support.”

#In competing in her first race of the year, Kambundji said her start was okay, but at the end it got a little harder.

#“Maybe later in the season, I could do better,” she stated

#The Virtual Inspiration Games were streamed live where 30 athletes competed simultaneously at seven different venues as the Diamond League International circuit took social distancing to another level.

#With the 2020 Olympic Games postponed until 2021 in Tokyo, Japan due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus, World Athletics used the meet as a way of getting in some competition under the health restrictions imposed for sporting activities that are still trying to find a way to exist under the new measures.

#Competition was held between athletes from Team North America, Team Europe and Team World in the women’s 300m hurdles, women’s 3 x 100m, women’s pole vault and men’s 100 yards, men’s 200m, men’s triple jump and men’s pole vault.

#“This is fun. I can’t wait to see when we do it in person,” Felix said.

#Miller-Uibo, the reigning 400m champion from the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. said she was looking forward to competing against her rivals in Japan. But after she found out that no one was going to the Olympics, she was devastated.

#“It was something that is a lot bigger than sports and we understand why they had to postpone it,” she stated.

#As she prepares for the delayed games, Miller-Uibo said she’s still not certain which event she will compete in, although, according to a report, she is leaning more toward the 200m so that she can add to her Olympic 400m title.

#“It’s good to get some meets in and compete,” said Miller-Uibo, who had to settle for the bronze in the 200m in Brazil after her disappointment in the 400m where she led going down the home stretch, only to buckle her legs and slipped all the way to fourth.

#“The main focus is going to be next year,” Miller-Uibo said. “I’m using this year as a building year.”

#Last year, she requested that World Athletics modify the Olympic track and field schedule to better accommodate a 200m-400m double.

#However, a World Athletics spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that it reviewed the request, could not change the schedule and that decision was final.

#Olympic schedules have been changed in the past for 200m-400m double attempts, including for Felix and Michael Johnson. But the debut of the mixed-gender 4x400m relay to the Olympic program in Tokyo “added to the complexities of developing the timetable,” World Athletics said in a statement it said it first released last September.

#The revised Olympic schedule for 2021 has not been announced, but a change in the lineup of track and field events would be a surprise, especially given World Athletics’ statement on Miller-Uibo’s request.

New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA)

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July 17, 2020

The Nassau Guardian

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After months of inactivity, the New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) and the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association (NPWBA) are both closer to resuming play, although no definitive restart date has been set as yet.

The announcement was made during a press conference held by the Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium.

The NPBA will continue play from the semifinal round and then head into the championship. Both rounds will veer away from the traditional format of best-of-five in the semifinals and best-of-seven in the championship. Instead, the semifinals will be in a best-of-three format and the championship round will be held in a best-of-five format.

“We have looked at all the protocols under FIBA (International Basketball Federation) and The Bahamas guidelines in terms of medical. We have all that in place. We are just waiting on them to set a date that we can get to use the gym,” said NPBA President James Price.

They will be engaging in games at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium.

The NPWBA is already into its championship phase.

A major change to finish the season will be a change of venue. They normally play at the D.W. Davis Gymnasium but they will now be playing their games at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium when the season resumes.

President of the NPWBA Devon Johnson hopes they can resume action in another two weeks.

In the NPWBA Finals, Johnson and his Discount Distributors Rockets were set to go up against Coach Donillo “Donnie” Culmer and the defending champions, the Destroyers. Johnson joked that he “got something for Culmer”.

Over on the men’s side, in Division I, the Discount Distributors Rockets will go up against the University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes in one half of the semifinals. In the other semifinal series, the defending champions Commonwealth Bank Giants will play the Breezes High Flyers.

In Division II play, the Leno Eagles Nest will go up against the Sun Oil Rockets in one side of the semifinals. The other semifinal series will see the Asphalt Maintenance Pirates taking on the Your Essential Store Giants for the right to go to the championship.

President of the BBF Mario Bowleg said that the federation has drafted a letter to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture on the restart of basketball in the country.

“The ministry will receive authorization from the higher powers, the government, and they will ensure that we have all the protocols in place and meet the standard before we commence play of these leagues,” said Bowleg. “We have met the standard that was set by FIBA which is the same standard that the NBA (National Basketball Association) has to follow at the month when they restart their season. We do believe that if we decide to allow fans, once approval is given by the government and the authorities, it will be a limited amount and the spacing with how they are seated will be adhered to.”

Bowleg said that they do have a start date in mind and do not think that it will be much of a difficulty getting that approved once personnel see the equipment that they have in place. He said they will have temperature checks and other equipment will be in place, and feels that they should have the green light to proceed with the start of basketball.

Both leagues had their season stopped back in March.

Chavez Young And Cavalry Two Weeks From Opening Day

As of Friday, December 4, 2020

photo

CHAVEZ YOUNG

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#CHAVEZ Young and his Canberra Cavalry are two weeks away from opening day and will have a busy two months of gameplay after the Australian Baseball League released its revised schedule.

#The Toronto Blue Jays minor league prospect and his club will open the season December 18 for a four-game series on the road against Perth. They follow with a two-game series at home against Melbourne and conclude in December with a three-game series against Sydney.

#The ABL will see games played on 26 out of 31 days in January. Each team will play 24 regular-season games.

#Young is ranked No. 30 on the Blue Jays’ prospect list, and joins a Cavalry club that has advanced to one championship series and three semifinal appearances in the last four seasons.

#Baseball Australia chief executive Cam Vale said the schedule set the stage for an exciting season and thanked fans for their patience.

#“The six teams and their key stakeholders have in the past week, despite the challenges thrown at us, shown why we are putting in the work to play – for the fans and for the future of the ABL, capitalising on the opportunities in front of us,” Vale said.

#“The ABL teams have worked hard with us over the past week to ensure as minimal impact as possible on the previously released schedule and we appreciate the patience and understanding of both our teams and fans during the process. We’ve faced some hurdles along the way but we now have an exciting schedule which will deliver an action-packed January and thrilling race to the playoffs.”

#The ABL is one of baseball’s recognised winter leagues where minor league prospects are assigned as an English-speaking alternative to the primary Spanish-speaking Latin America-based winter leagues. This season for the ABL features two conferences (Australian and International) with the traditional 40 games condensed to a 24 game regular season.

#Seven former Cavalry players were members of MLB 60-person Taxi-squads last season. The club has active strategic partnerships with two MLB teams, the San Diego Padres and the Houston Astros. Partner teams have also included the Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves.

Blue Chips Athletics Throwers Meet Saturday

Blue Chips Athletics Throwers Meet Saturday

As of Friday, December 18, 2020

#BLUE Chips Athletics is scheduled to hold a throwers meet Saturday at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium 8-10 am.

#The meet will feature events such as the shot put, javelin and discus with each athlete allowed just four throws in each discipline.

#The entry fee is $10 per athlete whether they are affiliated with a club or competing unattached. Athletes are reminded to bring along a mask, towel and hand sanitiser. Social distancing, as outlined by the coronavirus pandemic, will be fully enforced throughout the day.

#Results of the meet will count towards the upcoming 2021 season, which means that athletes will have a chance to qualify for the various international meets on the schedule.

Church And Me

COLIN Thompson and Godfrey Eneas pictured third and fourth from left respectively.

COLIN Thompson and Godfrey Eneas pictured third and fourth from left respectively.

As of Tuesday, May 17, 2022

#Colin ‘Church’ Thompson, the brother of former NBA two-time Los Angeles Lakers’ center Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson, passed away last week. Today, former baseball player GODFREY ENEAS gives a special tribute to his former baseball/ softball team-mate.

#IN the 1950s when Andre Rodgers signed a professional baseball contract with the New York Giants, this changed the sporting landscape for many youngsters in Nassau at the time.

#Every youngster who played softball switched to baseball because they wanted to be the next Andre Rodgers.Colin “Church” Thompson and I were no exceptions.

#The 50s were a time when sporting facilities were lacking and sporting organisations made do with what was available. For baseball, Clifford Park or some would call the Western Fort for us, was our Yankee Stadium, Ebbets Field or even the Polo Grounds.

#Sunday was baseball as the games started at 10 am and three games were played.

#Because Church and I lived out East, our practice field was the Eastern Parade.

#It was on the Parade that we developed our skills under the watchful eyes of his uncle Phillip “Box” Fountain and older players like Willis Ferguson, Freddie Higgs, Robbie Elliot and others.Church came from a very religious family, so he had to engage in some shenanigans to play on Sundays.

#Church was a pretty good softball and baseball player as a catcher/ first baseman. He was in the lineup not because of his glove but for his bat.

#In the Schlitz lineup, he hit cleanup or fourth behind Lorenzo “Donie” Lockhart,probably one of the best hitters in the history of Bahamian baseball. In softball, Church had the distinction of facing the US softball traveling legend,the King and his Court which was a four-man team: pitcher, catcher, first baseman, and shortstop.

#The King, Eddie Feigner, was probably the best softball pitcher in the world. They were the Harlem Globetrotters of softball. However, that Sunday on Garfunkle Field, Church put him over the left field fence.It was a sensational moment just to watch trot around the bases with a big smile.

#Church had another big baseball moment when he homered to clinch the Championship for Schlitz that was fifty plus years ago.

#Winning the Championship enabled our sponsor, the late Audley Kemp, to arrange with Schlitz in Milwaukee an all expense paid visit to that City.

#Schlitz treated us royally as we played a number of teams around the City as well as given VIP treatment with the Milwaukee Brewers, the major league team.

#I just highlighted two unforgettable softball and baseball events in the sporting life of a guy who I knew as a playmate, schoolmate and teammate.

#May you rest in peace, Church; we will miss you.

Edric Poitier has been named the head coach of the Bowie State women’s volleyball program,


BOWIE, Md. – 
Edric Poitier has been named the head coach of the Bowie State women’s volleyball program, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Clyde Doughty, Jr. announced Thursday morning. Poitier comes to Bowie State after spending the past season as the head coach at a private high school in Jacksonville, Fla., where he guided the program to a 19-7 overall record and a quarterfinal appearance in the Florida State District Championship.

“After an intensive search it is with great excitement that Coach Edric Poitier has accepted the position as the next head volleyball coach for Bowie State University,” said Doughty, Jr. “Coach Poitier brings a wealth of experience in the field of volleyball.  He is a CIAA veteran and wholly understands what it takes to manage a quality program that will be competitive in the CIAA and NCAA.”

Prior to his high school tenure, Poitier did a one-year stint at Florida State College at Jacksonville in 2019, before serving as the head coach at Savannah State from 2016-2018; Bluefield State College (2013-2016) and Winston-Salem State (2010-2012).

“I would like to express sincere gratitude to VP for Athletics, Mr. Doughty, Jr. and President Dr. Breaux for the opportunity to lead the program at this time in its development,” said Poitier. “I look forward to trying to make the program a viable one within the conference.”

With over 23 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level, one of the most appealing factors about Poitier was that he is no stranger to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Conference. Poitier’s record of accomplishments emphasized on rebuilding programs as he started his head-coaching career with St. Augustine’s College (now St. Augustine University), posting a 113-34 record in five seasons at the helm.  In his first year, he went 14-13 overall, including a 14-6 mark in conference play.  The next four seasons (2000-2003), Poitier recorded 20-plus wins and a conference championship in each season. Poitier went 23-6, including a 19-2 mark in conference play, a conference title and CIAA Coach of the Year in 2000, followed up with a 22-7 overall record, including a perfect 21-0 conference record and CIAA Championship, first round appearance in the NCAA Regionals in 2001.

Poitier guided the Lady Falcons to a 29-3 overall record and 21-0 mark in CIAA action to go along with the program’s third-straight CIAA title while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Regionals in 2002. In his last season at the helm, St. Augustine’s posted a 25-5 overall record extending its win-streak to 63-straight wins over CIAA opponents (21-0), a CIAA championship and the 2003 CIAA Coach of the Year award. Overall,his five-year stint with the Lady Falcons, he compiled a 115-35 overall record and a 99-8 record. He is a three-time CIAA Coach of the Year and is still the only CIAA coach to ever win an NCAA Tournament First Round match.

The Nassau, Bahamas native coached the Bahamas National Women’s Team for nine years from 1992-99 and led the team to two gold medals and three silver medals at the Regional Caribbean Volleyball Championships and was the assistant coach from 1989-92.  Poitier played on the Bahamas Men’s National Team as a setter for 13 years from 1979-92 and won the bronze medal at Commonwealth Volleyball Championship in London in 1981.

Poitier is a 2003 graduate of Saint Augustine’s College with a degree in Criminal Justice. He is married and the father of three children.

The Bowie State women’s volleyball program is slated to begin the 2022 campaign on Sept. 6 at Delaware State.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.Print Friendly Version

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Kai Jones returns home

Kai Jones
(AP Photo)

Kai Jones (AP Photo)

As of Tuesday, June 21, 2022

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#KAI Jones returned home for the first time since he completed his rookie season in the NBA and already has his sights set on the offseason and improvement headed into year two.

#“It was a season of growth, I learned so much about myself and about the game of basketball. So much about my soul,” Jones said. “I grew so much as a person and a player and I made some great relationships.”

#At the NBA level with the Hornets, Jones appeared in 21 NBA games this past season but played sparingly in few moments off the bench. He excelled at the G-League level on assignment with the Greensboro Swarm, averaging 16.5 points on 61.4 percent shooting from the field – 32 percent from three-point range – 9.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.1 blocks in 32 total G League games. He also posted 15 total double-doubles.

#“I bought in out of the gate. I love basketball, so once I was told about the opportunity to play 30 minutes (in Greensboro) because I wasn’t playing up here (in the NBA), I was jumping. I was so excited and ready to go. It gives me extreme confidence. Coming in, I believed I could have an impact on this team on both ends.

#“Now, it’s just that I think I can have a greater impact. I know there’s no ceiling for me. Just continue to work,” Jones said in his postseason exit interview.

#“Coming into the season, I didn’t think I was going to be down there, but God had a plan and I’m glad that I did go. I learned so much about myself and grew so much.

#“It’s a blessing. The biggest thing for me was walking in gratitude. I think that’s huge. Learning how to be so grateful for playing the game every day and with the opportunity you have in front of you, making the most out of it.”

#The no.19 pick in last year’s draft, Jones and the other members of the Hornets’ rookie class have played sparingly as the Hornets have chased a spot in the NBA playoffs.

#Jones highlighted the season with a career high 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 139-119 win over the Long Island Nets on March 27 at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina.

#“I got so much better just with my efficiency there, especially from 3-point range because I was taking the right shots and finding the balance. “Defensively, playing in the post, my positioning, being able to absorb contact and understanding it’s a battle, really. I just got so much stronger throughout the season, so I became more comfortable with boxing guys out, hitting guys and imposing my will on people. I got a lot stronger really, mentally and physically,” he said.

#“I think I’ve improved in every aspect of the game. From my overall feel for the game, my knowledge, my patience, my pace, my physicality and on the defensive end, learning how to play in coverages and in the post. I’ve just improved so much, just continuing to take steps in the right direction and build championship habits.”

The Bahamas bounces back to beat Costa Rica

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJune 22, 2022 239 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 Team Bahamas player Michael Munnings goes up for a layup during The Bahamas’ game against Costa Rica at the FIBA Americas Under-15 Centrobasket Championships in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, yesterday. The Bahamas won easily, 94-57. FIBA AMERICAS

The Bahamas’ under-15 (U15) boys national basketball team has rebounded from three tough losses at the FIBA Americas Under-15 (U15) Centrobasket Championships inside the Coliseo Fernando ‘Rube’ Hernandez in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, winning emphatically yesterday, but they are still out of contention for a spot in the 2023 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship.

On the heels of three double-digit losses, The Bahamas slammed Costa Rica, 94-57, in a wire-to-wire performance yesterday.

 However, just the top three nations will qualify for next year’s FIBA Americas Championship, and by means of losing their first three games, The Bahamas is now out of contention. They will play their final single round robin game at 3 p.m. today, taking on the Turks and Caicos Islands in a game for placement.

In yesterday’s encounter, The Bahamas raced out to an early lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Two minutes into the game, The Bahamas was already ahead 10-2. They led 18-11 after one.

The Bahamas quickly extended the lead to double digits in the second quarter and stretched it to 17, 44-27 at the half. They went on to lead by as much as 37 points in the second half, coasting to the easy win.

Joshua Williams was strong for The Bahamas, scoring a game-high 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Desmond Hall added 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting and Trevon Clarke gave the country three players in double figures with 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting.

Josafat Cedeño led Costa Rica with 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting. He was their only player in double figures.

As a team, The Bahamas forced 29 turnovers, out-rebounded their opponent, 53-46, shared the ball better with 23 assists compared to just 15 for the Costa Ricans, outscored them 56-32 in the paint and 24-13 in fast break points. In bench points, The Bahamas outscored the Costa Ricans, 40-21.

Team Bahamas had its best shooting performance of the tournament thus far, connecting on 48.1 percent of its shots (37-for-77) while holding Costa Rica to 31 percent (22-for-71). Costa Rica was just 2-for-17 from three-point range while The Bahamas shot 4-for-19 from distance.

The Bahamas’ team, which is coached by former national team player Quentin ‘Three Ounce’ Hall, wraps up competition in the five-day tournament against the Turks and Caicos Islands today. As mentioned, the tournament is a qualifier for the 2023 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship. FIBA Americas is one of five regional bodies under FIBA (International Basketball Federation) – the world’s governing body for basketball.

The Bahamas’ under-15 (U15) boys national basketball team has rebounded from three tough losses at the FIBA Americas Under-15 (U15) Centrobasket Championships inside the Coliseo Fernando ‘Rube’ Hernandez in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, winning emphatically yesterday, but they are still out of contention for a spot in the 2023 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship.

On the heels of three double-digit losses, The Bahamas slammed Costa Rica, 94-57, in a wire-to-wire performance yesterday

Josafat Cedeño led Costa Rica with 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting. He was their only player in double figures.

As a team, The Bahamas forced 29 turnovers, out-rebounded their opponent, 53-46, shared the ball better with 23 assists compared to just 15 for the Costa Ricans, outscored them 56-32 in the paint and 24-13 in fast break points. In bench points, The Bahamas outscored the Costa Ricans, 40-21.

Team Bahamas had its best shooting performance of the tournament thus far, connecting on 48.1 percent of its shots (37-for-77) while holding Costa Rica to 31 percent (22-for-71). Costa Rica was just 2-for-17 from three-point range while The Bahamas shot 4-for-19 from distance.

The Bahamas’ team, which is coached by former national team player Quentin ‘Three Ounce’ Hall, wraps up competition in the five-day tournament against the Turks and Caicos Islands today. As mentioned, the tournament is a qualifier for the 2023 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship. FIBA Americas is one of five regional bodies under FIBA (International Basketball Federation) – the world’s governing body for basketball.

Dream Again Basketball Camp was ‘extraordinary’

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/05/dream-again-basketball-camp-was-extraordinary/?news#:~:text=Dream%20Again%20Basketball,for%20a%20lifetime.%E2%80%9D

DREAM Again Basketball Camp instructors and campers pose above. Photos by Alecia Thompson

DREAM Again Basketball Camp instructors and campers pose above. Photos by Alecia Thompson

As of Tuesday, July 5, 2022

photo

CAMP director JR Cadot, left, reunites with American Randy Shepherd at the Dream Again Basketball Camp.

photo

AMERICAN Randy Shepherd addresses campers at the Dream Again Basketball Camp.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#CAMP director JR Cadot said when his NEXT Basketball organisation decided to put on their inaugural Dream Again Basketball Camp, he knew it would be an extraordinary camp.

#The camp, which got started on June 27 at the Remnant Tabernacle of Praise auditorium, shifted into another gear with the participation of American Randy Shepherd yesterday.

#Shepherd, a former professional travelling team-mate of Cadot on the international basketball circuit, took the opportunity to address the campers on the importance of putting their faith and trust in God.

#Shepherd, a founder of CrossFire, an organisation known for sharing Jesus through different ministries, was invited by Cadot to be a part of the camp.

#“I’m just so blessed to be here and I’m so proud of JR for putting on his first camp,” Shepherd said.

#“We’ve had the chance to travel around the world, but I’m getting older, so it’s so good to be able to sow into young men like him and they can carry on the Gospel of Jesus through this silly game of basketball.”

#Although he has benefitted tremendously from the game, Shepherd said to him, it’s a “silly game” compared to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that is why he is so devoted to the cause.

#“I told them basketball will fail them one day,” he said.

#“There are 500,000 high school basketball players in the United States of American, but only 42,000 will get a basketball scholarship. “So, we want to incorporate the importance of knowing the word of God because they will have something to fall back on when basketball has failed them because one day, they won’t get to play this game again.”

#For its initial year, Cadot said he’s been pleased with the turnout.

#“We thank God for the campers who have showed up,” Cadot said.

#“We intend to give them the opportunity to listen to some professionals in all aspects of life, but especially from the Christian perspective because we believe that there is more to life than playing basketball.

#“We want to teach them about life skills,” Cadot said.

#“So, we will be focusing on their fundamentals and teaching them the important aspects of life.”

#Having reunited with Shepherd, who hails out of North Carolina, Cadot said he remembers how they travelled through Asia sharing the gospel.

#While Shepherd arrived here on Saturday, Cadot said he was glad to get him in before he moves around to the other camps before he departs on Friday.

#Since the camp got started, Grand Bahamian pro basketball player Willis Mackey Jr has been assisting Cadot and he said he has been impressed by what he’s seen.

#“I’m just glad to be able to come in here and help Cadot to guide these youngsters because I’ve learned a lot from playing overseas and this is a good opportunity to share my experience,” Mackey Jr said.

#“I have had a chance to see Randy Shepherd in action and I’m so glad that he came here to impart some of his knowledge to the campers.

#“I’m also learning as he goes along because there is some stuff that I could use in teaching the youngsters not just in this camp, but any other that I get the opportunity to participate in.”

#At least three of the campers interviewed were thrilled by what they got out of the camp so far.

#Delmaro Deal, a 14-year-old student at St Augustine’s College, said Cadot is a very good coach and he’s willing to get some experience from him. “I’ve learned how to play defence and work on my ball-handling and shooting the basketball,” Deal said.

#“I also thought the presentation today was very good. It’s something that I can add to when I’m playing basketball.”

#Achim Colebrooke, a 12-year-old student of Kingsway Academy who will be transferring to St Andrew’s School, said the camp has been very educational for him.

#“I want to choose basketball as my sport (to participate in) and try to become good at it,” said Colebrooke, who also plays soccer and tennis. “It’s fun and I am learning a lot of things about basketball.

#“Plus, the gentleman (Shepherd) told us that if we believe in God, we can do anything.”

#Ian Mills, a nine-year-old student of St Andrew’s School, said he decided to join the camp to better his basketball skills.

#“I’ve learned dribbling and exercise techniques,” Mills said. “I also liked how the gentleman told the student about God. It was very good.”

#Cadot, the camp administrator, said the numbers have been quite impressive so far for the camp.

#“A lot of parents come here and say they can’t afford to have their son sitting home playing video games, so they register them,” said Thompson, a student at Velencia College in Orlando, Florida where she is studying bio-medical science.

#“So, this is a good location for the camp.”

#Cadot said at the end of the camp on July 15, they hope that they can continue the process of developing the “future leaders” of the country.

#“We wanted to put this camp on to inspire, encourage and to build the self-esteem and a strong faith in God in these youngers,” he said.

#“We had one of our sponsors come in earlier and said that if we are not investing in our kids, we are not investing in our future, and this is our future. If you give a child a fish, he will eat today, but if you teach a child to fish, he will eat for a lifetime.”