Monday, March 2, 2020

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#JORDAN Wilson and Shamar Burrows helped the Dalhousie Tigers claim their fifth AUS Conference title in the last six years and earned a spot in the U Sports National Championship.

#In a weekend filled with Bahamian talent on the floor for three different programmes, the Tigers emerged with a 76-64 win over Azaro Roker and the St Francis Xavier X-Men last night at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

#Roker finished with 12 points and a game high 13 rebounds for the X-Men. Wilson struggled from the field for much of the night (1-9 from the field) with two points and five rebounds while Burrows finished with four points, three rebounds and two assists.

#Dalhousie took an early 13-4 lead while StFX struggled with turnovers in the first quarter.

#The Tigers maintained a 24-16 lead at the end of the first.

#The X-Men limited the Tigers to just nine points in the second and closed the deficit to just one at the break (33-33). Dalhousie closed the third quarter on a 15-8 run to enter the fourth quarter clinging to a 58-52 lead.

#Roker scored the first basket of the fourth quarter for the X-Men but they went scoreless for nearly five minutes as the Tigers built a 10 point lead. After Nava made a three, Wilson muscled in a layup over Roker to regain a nine-point lead and the margin widened in the final minutes.

#Roker was named an AUS tournament All-Star.

#The AUS conference championships had a strong Bahamian presence with local players featured on three playoff teams.

#In addition to the aforementioned players in the final, Qyemah Gibson, Sebastian Gray and assistant coach Ollen Smith’s St Mary’s Huskies were also in the field.

#The fourth seeded Huskies, who finished the regular season at 11-9, defeated fifth seeded Memorial SeaHawks (8-12) in an 81-57 rout.

#Gray finished with seven points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots while Gibson added 15 points and six rebounds. They advanced to set up a meeting with the Tigers in the semi-final.

#Dalhousie emerged with an 84-64 win to advance to the final.

#Wilson finished with 13 points while Burrows added nine points and six rebounds.

#Gibson finished with 13 point and seven rebounds.

#St FX advanced with an 84-77 win over the UNB Reds in the second semi-final.

#Roker finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds. He shot 7-10 from the field.

#The Tigers will advance to the U SPORTS championship March 5-8 in Ottawa, Canada.

#At the conclusion of the regular season, Roker was named a First Team All-Star while Gibson was named a Second Team All-Star.

#Roker, the fourth year forward, was one of only three players in the league to average a double double.

#He led the conference in rebounding at 13.2 per game and was second in scoring at 17.2 points per game. His numbers increased across the board in every statistical category from year three when he averaged 10 points per game and was a conference leader with 10 rebounds and two blocked shots per game.

#Gibson, in his second year with the Huskies, led the team in scoring and was seventh in the league in scoring at 15.4 points per game and eighth in rebounding at 6.5 rebounds per game.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#AS U Sports men’s basketball heads into the winter break, Jordan Wilson, Shamar Burrows and the Dalhousie Tigers remain the No. 2 ranked team to headline Bahamian players competing at the top level in Canada.

#The Tigers are currently 6-0 and one of three undefeated teams in the country along with No.1 Carleton (8-0) and No.3 Calgary (6-0).

#Dalhousie closed out the first portion of its schedule with a 94-75 win over the Acadia Axemen. Wilson finished with a team high six rebounds. The Tigers head to Memorial for two games beginning on January 4.

#Wilson is averaging 9.7 points and a team high 6.3 rebounds per game nearly doubling his totals from last season of 5.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. He has also been a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line this season.

#His season was highlighted in early November when he went on to earn Dalhousie’s Muscle Milk Male Athlete of the Week Award.

#In game one, the Tigers won 82-53.

#The versatile forward finished with a double double – 14 points and 10 rebounds – seven of them in the offensive and received Subway Player of the Game honours in the win.

#Burrows has thrived as a more consistent member of the Tigers’ rotation.

#This season, he is averaging seven points and four rebounds per game off the bench and has set several career highs.

#He averaged 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game last season.

#Last season, the Tigers finished the regular season 14-5, won the AUS Conference Championship (the fourth in five years) and finished fourth overall in the U Sports Final Eight.

#Azaro Roker and the St Francis Xavier X-Men headed into the break below .500 at 3-4 with a split against the Memorial Seahawks.

#In game one, the X-Men came away with a 99-91 win in overtime powered by one of Roker’s best game of the season – 23 points and 11 rebounds.

#In a back-and-forth game that saw several lead changes, the Sea Hawks were up by 16 late in the third quarter before the X-Men mounted a fourth quarter comeback for the win.

#In game two, Roker was again the star on both ends of the floor but was unable to match the Sea Hawks.

#He finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds but Memorial won 102-85.

#StFX was up by three, 69-66, headed into the fourth quarter but were outscored by 20 in the final period (36-16) in the final period.

#The fourth place X-Men will next see action on Saturday, January 4 when they travel to Fredericton for a game against the UNB Reds.

#In his final season, Roker is averaging 17.9 points and 13.1 rebounds per game to lead the X-Men.

#Last season he averaged 10 points and was a conference leader with 10 rebounds and two blocked shots per game

#The X-Men were the No.5 seed in the AUS tournament, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

#An up and down season for the St Mary’s Huskies continues as they headed into the break with a lopsided loss 91-69 at the hands of UNB.

#Qyemah Gibson finished with 17 points and six rebounds while Sebastian Gray scored eight.

#The Huskies fell to 3-5.

#In his second season with the programme, Gibson is second on the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

#Sebastian Gray is averaging 9.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in his first season as a Husky.

#The Huskies will be on the road when the season resumes January 4 to take on the Cape Breton Capers.

#Last season, St Mary’s concluded the regular season at 19-1 and finished in first place in the AUS standings.

#In the conference finals the Huskies were the subject of the biggest upset of the season when they lost to the Tigers.

#The Huskies advanced to the U Sports Men’s Basketball Final Eight last season and finished sixth overall.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE Dalhousie Tigers fell one spot in the U Sports Men’s Basketball ranking after their first loss of the season, but rebounded with a pair of wins to highlight weekend play from Bahamians in the top level of Canadian college basketball.

#Shemarr Burrows’ production of late has prompted increased minutes and Jordan Wilson returned to the starting lineup for the Tigers in their 82-61 win over the UNB Reds in their latest outing.

#The Tigers improved to 11-1, ranked No.3 in U Sports and leading the Atlantic University Sport Conference.

#In his second start of the season, Burrows finished with 12 points (5-7 from the field) and five rebounds.

#Wilson missed the last three games but returned against the Reds to finish with 10 points, four rebounds and four assists.

#Burrows scored 12 points in each of the last two games. He has also averaged 10.2 points per game over the last six, and is shooting 59 per cent from the field.

#Since the January 11 loss to Azaro Roker and the St FX X-Men, the Tigers responded with an 85-67 win over the Acadia Axemen. Burrows finished with 12 points.

#On the season, Wilson is averaging 8.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while Burrows is averaging 8.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

#The X-Men improved to third in the AUS at 6-5 with a 95-93 win over the Acadia Axemen on Sunday.

#Roker posted his ninth double double of the season with 10 points and 17 rebounds.

#The X-Men led 25-18 after the first and 51-37 at the half. They took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter before Acadia would eventually take their first lead of the game on a three.

#Roker scored a rebound and putback and created a second chance opportunity to help spark a 6-0 X-Men run to seal the win.

#Roker is currently averaging 16.2 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.

#The St. Mary’s Huskies were unable to overcome an early deficit and their comeback effort fell short against the UNB Reds 76-72.

#Qyemah Gibson finished with a double double, 14 points and 10 rebounds while Sebastian Gray finished with 12 points.

#The Reds took an 11 point lead in the first quarter (27-16) and after outscoring the Huskies by seven in the second, took a 48-30 lead into the half.

#The Huskies responded with their best quarter in the third when they posted 26 points, but still trailed 66-56 headed into the fourth.

#SMU pulled within one (71-70) with 2:31 left to play, but was unable to eventually pull ahead for the win. In his second year with the programme, Gibson is averaging 17.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while Gray in his first year is averaging 9.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#IT was an active weekend for Bahamian basketball players at Canada’s top-tiered U Sports level and in the Canadian College Athletic Association.

#Azaro Roker has thrived in a more prominent role early in the season for the St FX X-Men.

#Roker stuffed the stat sheet and finished with a near double double – 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots – in the X-Men’s 93-87 win over Cape Breton. He shot 6-11 from the field and made his first three-pointer of the season.

#The X-Men used a strong first half to build an insurmountable lead of 59-32 at halftime.

#The turning point in the game came when the X-Men broke open a close match with a 39-13 run in the second quarter that they were able to hang onto in the second half.

#Roker has averaged 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season as the X-Men got out to a 2-1 start. He opened with 12 points, nine rebounds and a season high five blocks in a loss to the UNB Reds, followed by 11 points and eight rebounds.

#Roker looks to play a prominent role in the rebuilding effort for the X-Men. After just falling short of an AUS championship last season, the X-Men lost four starters and eight players in total. This year’s squad features seven freshmen.

#In his first season out of Anatol Rodgers, Roker averaged just 2.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in 18 appearances. In year two, he got three starts in 19 appearances and averaged 4.6 and 3.5 rebounds per game.

#Trevon Grant and the Acadia Axemen split a weekend series with the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers and earned their first win of the season.

#Grant finished with seven assists and four rebounds in the Axemen’s 92-81 win in game two as they improved to 1-4. He finished with 14 points and nine rebounds in a 71-69 game two loss.

#The Axemen lost both games of their opening series to St Mary’s. Grant posted a double double in the season opener – 20 points 10 rebounds – and four steals in the 89-85 loss. In game two, he had another double double with 24 points and 12 rebounds (both season highs) but the Axemen lost 94-81.

#The senior wing is averaging 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

#His sister Leashja Grant continues to lead the Lakehead Thunderwolves to an undefeated regular season record thus far. They won Saturday over the Laurentian Voyageurs 75-51. Grant had a team high 22 points.

#Lakehead started the game slowly, losing the first quarter 13-18, but took a one-point lead into the half, and finished the game with a 17-7 final frame.

#“Super happy with our team’s performance,” Thunderwolves head coach Jon Kreiner said. “We had to battle early foul trouble with Leashja, Nikki, and Tiffany, and we found a way to come up with a lead at the half after getting down early. We played great team D in the second half, and Nikki set the tone with some deep threes.”

#In the CCAA, Roosevelt Whylly and the Holland College Hurricanes are ranked No.2 in the latest edition of the poll. Whylly finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds in the Hurricanes’ 96-80 win over the St Thomas Tommies and is averaging 16 points, 12 rebounds and two assists per game on the season.

#After missing the season opener, he finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 127-101 win over Crandall.

#Also in the CCAA, the Bahamian trio of Van Huthinson Jr, Livingston Bromwell and Kevin Cooper are pacing the Niagara Knights to a 4-1 record thus far.

#The Knights won 89-64 over Toronto-Mississsauga led by Hutchinson’s triple double. The versatile wing finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds and a career high 15 assists.

#Livingson Bromwell finished with eight points, 10 rebounds and three steals while Cooper addd seven points and four blocks.

#The Knights cruised on their way to victory, as they held the lead for the entire game, one that extended to 23 points in the third quarter as the Knights led 46-23.

#The Knights had a balanced attack in this one, as all 11 dressed players scored at least four points.

#Sampson Cleare was a force on the block for the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Ooks as they split a weekend series with the Augustana Vikings.

#Cleare finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds in 90-84 win over the Vikings in game one and added 17 points and 14 rebounds in an 82-63 loss in game one.

#Last season, he averaged 12.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

#Cleare was named team captain and entered this season ranked sixth in rebounds in NAIT history with 354. The school record is currently held by Sebastian Cava with 512.

Thursday, November 1, 2018

FROM LEFT: Kevin Cooper, Leashja Grant, Livingston Bromwell, Samson Cleare and Van Hutchinson Jr.

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#BAHAMIAN basketball players at the collegiate level in Canada began seasons in their respective conferences this month and began their trek toward a CCAA National Championship Tournament berth.

#Samson Cleare has taken on a greater role with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Ooks this season as the team looks to contend in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.

#Cleare has been named team captain in his final collegiate season and has averaged 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game on 57 per cent shooting from the field.

#He opened the season with a 24-point, 12-rebound performance against Lakeland College. In the second game of the back-to-back he finished with 13 points and four rebounds.

#In the second series of the season, Grand Prairie Regional College Wolves, Cleare posted games of nine points, 10 rebounds and 13 points, four rebounds.

#Last season, he averaged 12.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

#Cleare entered this season ranked sixth in rebounds in NAIT history with 354. The school record is currently held by Sebastian Cava with 512.

#The Ooks finished last season with a 16-8 regular season record which placed them 2nd in the ACAC North Division. After defeating the RDC Kings in the quarter-final round, the Ooks would find themselves matched up with the No.1 seed and host SAIT Trojans.

#The Ooks would fall just short in overtime.

#Leashja Grant also enters her final season with the Lakehead Thunderwolves and has dominated in her opening contests. She finished with 16 points and seven rebounds against Algoma.

#In the second game against Algoma, Grant finished with 26 points and 18 rebounds. “Leashja wasn’t her best tonight,” Thunderwolves head coach Jon Kreiner said. “But she was a force.”

#This year’s Thunderwolves squad features a number of new faces, including eight new players and seven rookies, but a number of contributors return in key roles.

#Last season, Grant earned the Female Athlete of the Year and Women’s Basketball Most Valuable Player awards when Lakehead Athletics celebrated the 2017-2018 season at their Annual Awards Gala. She averaged 22.3 points and 14.1 points per game over the course of the season and was named Ontario University Athletics Player of the Year and a U SPORTS 1st Team All-Canadian.

#Grant not only led the conference but also ranked as the second-leading scorer and top rebounder in the country. Grant also holds the U SPORTS record for most rebounds in a single season with 338 in 24 games.

#Roosevelt Whylly led the Holland Hurricanes to a dominant win in their season debut.He finished with 12 points and 13 points in a 121-95 win over St Thomas Tommies. The Hurricanes scored 63 points in the first half and 40 in the third quarter.

#Livingston Bromwell, Van Hutchinson Jr, Kevin Cooper and the Niagara Knights are 2-0 in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association West division.

#Bromwell and Hutchinson each finished with a double double in the Knights’ 91-75 win over the Conestoga Condors.

#Hutchinson had 25 points, 12 rebounds and was one assist shy of a triple double with nine assists while Bromwell had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Cooper finished with five points, four rebounds and five blocked shots.

#In the opener, they led the Knights to a 108-93 win over the Redeemer Royals.

#Bromwell led the way with 21 points and 14 rebounds – both team highs – and shot 10-12 from the field. Hutchinson finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds, four steals, and four assists while Cooper scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds and blocked two shots in just 17 minutes.

#First year forward Stephone Augustine is also with the Knights programme but has yet to see time on the floor.

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#National team standout Leashja Grant will continue her collegiate career in Ontario, Canada with the Lakehead Thunderwolves.

#After playing at the JuCo and NCAA Division I levels, US Visa issues periodically stalled her athletic and academic progression last season, but she now joins a programme looking to contend in the Ontario University Association.

#Thunder head coach Jon Kriener said it was an amazing signing for his programme, a team that reached the Ontario Universities Association Final Four last season.

#“Wow,” Kreiner said “She’s a legit NCAA Division I post.

#“She’s undersized by NCAA Division I standards, but oversized with respect to her rebounding ability. She’s a beast inside and the type of player that we’ve been looking for to complement our shooters and the talent we already have. Her strengths are going to be controlling the paint at both ends of the floor. She’s a big-time rebounder and kind of gives our shooters a little bit more leeway to let loose a little bit. Also we’ll look at getting the ball inside and playing that inside game.”

#She will have two years of eligibility remaining for the Thunderwolves

#“Canada, on the whole, was an amazing experience.

#“I really enjoyed the environment and people I met in Thunder Bay and in the Thunderdome,” she said in a release issued by the school’s athletic department.

#“The coaching staff and teammates all showed me what Lakehead was about, nothing but greatness and the chance to accomplish goals.

#“I hope to accomplish a lot both on and off the court and I have confidence that will happen at Lakehead U. I am looking forward to a great first year at Lakehead with a fresh start.”

#Grant last played collegiately for the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Big 12 at the NCAA Division I level during the 2015-16 season

#She averaged 7.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Red Raiders in her lone season in Lubbock, Texas.

#Visa issues prevented Grant from returning to the Red Raiders for a second season and forced her to sit out.

#Fellow Bahamian Donnathon Moss, currently the assistant coach for the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Ooks in Northern Alberta, Canada facilitated the networking between Grant and Lakehead. Moss has recruited several Bahamians to the programme, most notably Jackson Jacobs who led the Ooks to a national championship.

#She spent the past off-season with a noteworthy appearance on the Women’s Senior National team for the second time.

#Despite a 5th place finish at this year’s Women’s Centrobasket Championships, Grant led the Bahamas and averaged a double double with 15.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.

#Prior to her time with Texas Tech, Grant played at the junior college level with the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals.

#In her sophomore and final season with the Cardinals, Grant averaged a double double with 12.1 points and 12.9 rebounds per game.

#Her highlight of the season came when she grabbed 31 rebounds to become the school’s single game leader and broke Portia Hill’s 27-year-old record.

#Grant helped the Cardinals to claim an eighth straight Region XIV championship and national tournament berth. She posted 23 double doubles in 34 games, including six games with at least 18 rebounds or more

#She is the daughter of longtime CR Walker Knights head basketball coach Trevor Grant.

#Her brother, Trevon Grant, is also a collegiate basketball player at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada.

By Brent Stubbs

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Valicia Demeritte on the dribble.

#Regarded as one of the top young female basketball players in the country, Valicia Demeritte is holding court as a small forward for the Coker University Cobras in Hartsville, South Carolina.

#The 20-year-old former player for the Kingsway Academy Saints left the Bahamas in grade nine in 2015 to enroll at the Potters House Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, where she played for the Lion’s basketball, volleyball and track teams, earning the most improved player award and was a four-time SIAA State champion.

#After graduating in 2018, she went on to play basketball the past two seasons for the Blue Wave at Florida State Junior College in Jacksonville where she made the Mid Florida All-Conference second team.

#Having transferred this year to Coker University, Demeritte is now preparing for her final two years of eligibility with the Cobras in what has been a totally different environment due to the coronavirus pandemic.

#“From JUCO to DII, it’s different. JUCO, you’re like a sophomore when you’re a freshman, so you have to work for everything,” Demeritte said. “In DII, you only have to keep it going for two years and get your degree.

#“It’s kind of tough, but JUCO has prepared me for this moment. I think if I didn’t go to JUCO, I would not have been prepared. I think JUCO has really prepared me.”

#Although things have changed since she began her junior year at Coker University with the pandemic reshaping the landscape of sports around the world, Demeritte said the Cobras’ coaching staff is getting them prepared for the 2020/21 season.

#“The plan is for us to play in our conference from November 1,” said Demeritte, as they continue their daily practices and exhibition games before the season opener. “We haven’t heard anything about any change in the plans yet.”

#Demeritte, however, noted that the atmosphere on campus is not what she anticipated and some of her team-mates, who are returning from last year, admitted that it’s not as fun filled this year with everybody occupying their open space. “Everybody can’t be in the same place at the same time, so we can’t really interact as much as we want to,” she pointed out. “Even when we come to practice, they have cut the team in half with only about seven players at a time.

#“So we don’t get to see all of our team-mates at the same time. It’s kind of weird. This is what we have to do to get over the coronavirus to get back to normalcy.”

#Despite all that is going on, the five-foot-nine-inch Demeritte still has an obligation to fill with the team.

#“On the court, my coach expects me to be the athletic player that she recruited,” said Demeritte of coach Hash. “She said she hopes that I can defend my position and rebound the ball.

#“She said she saw my tapes from JUCO and she believes that rebounding will be my strength and so she wants me to be the defender that she saw when I played.”

#The exercise science major said her personal goal is just to enjoy the process.

#“I came a long way from when I left Nassau, so I just want to enjoy the process and get better,” she stated. “I just want to play my role on the team, don’t do too much, just play my role and live in the moment and have some fun because in a minute, it’s going to be over.”

#As a junior national team player from 2012-2016 and senior national team member in 2018, Demeritte said her goal is to once again represent the Bahamas at the international level, but she also wants to go on and play professionally, preferably in Europe.

#“I want to play overseas professionally, but it’s whatever God plans for me. Whatever happens, happens, but my plan is to play overseas,” Demeritte said. “I just saw my team-mate Briontae Riley make it in France, so that has given me some motivation.

#“Briontae has been through a lot, but she’s a fighter. All the adversities and setbacks that she experienced, she’s motivation for me. Anything is possible. I can’t wait to see what happens for me in the future.”

#For those players who have not been given the exposure to play college or even get to the pro ranks, Demeritte encouraged them to continue to press on. “You’re not going to be the basketball player that you want to be overnight. It’s a process,” she said.

#“Enjoy the process and the more you enjoy it and work on your craft, you will enjoy it more when your time comes. “Just keep pushing and your time will come. You never know who is watching you.”

#As she goes through the process, Demeritte thanked God, her parents Valerie Demeritte-Watson and Andretti Demeritte and coaches Varel Davis, Deven Johnson, Randy Cunningham and the late Sherman Smith, as well as Simone Beneby, for getting her to where she is now.

#Coach Davis is the type of coach who always has my back,” said Demeritte, who played with Davis on the junior national team since she was in grade six until last year when she made the senior team.

#“Coach Deven was there for me too, but if I pick up the phone and call coach Davis to ask her about anything, she has always been there for me. She’s like family. She watched me grow up.”

#Aside from basketball, Demeritte said she’s learning a lot about herself living in a different culture and trying to stay rooted, not trying to change the things that she was taught as a Bahamian. So far, she’s handled her situation very well.

Xavier Simpson in action for Michigan against the Iowa State Cyclones.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#The opening session of the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis produced another edition of the rivalry between two of college basketball’s most iconic programmes.

#Both the No 6 North Carolina Tar Heels and the Michigan Wolverines will put their undefeated streaks on the line today when they face off at the Atlantis resort’s Imperial Arena.

#Michigan began the tournament with an 83-76 win over the Iowa State Cyclones while the Tar Heels defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide, 76-67.

#Under first year head coach Juwan Howard, the Wolverines are off to a 5-0 start.

#Despite their 22 turnovers, including several coming down the stretch as the Cyclones (3-2) tried to claw their way back from a 15-point deficit in the final 8 minutes, Michigan held on for the win. The Cyclones pulled within six, 80-74 lae in the second half, but we unable to pull any closer.

#Isiah Livers led Michigan with 17 points.

#The Tar Heels are the top rebounding team in the nation and looked the part in their opening round win.

#Armando Bacot led the team with 12 points and a season-high 15 rebounds.

#They nearly doubled the Crimson Tide to finish with a 60-31 edge on the glass, with those 60 rebounds setting an Atlantis tournament record.

#“That’s just been his emphasis since day one,” Bacot said of coach Roy Williams. “I feel like every game we’re getting better and better at crashing the offensive glass. … I think we’re continuing to get better and you’ll see the offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds keep going up every game.”

#North Carolina and Michigan have met in each of the past two seasons. The Wolverines hosted last year’s contest in Ann Arbor, Michigan and came away with a convincing 17-point win. North Carolina won their home matchup the previous year in Chapel Hill.

#“Overall we are really excited about being here in The Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis. This is Michigan’s second time and my first and we are looking forward to the match-up. Overall this will be a great experience for our team to compete in some high-level competition. We know it’s a very high level and tough competition, but we are built for the competition. We prepared for this,” Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard said, “This is a beautiful island and the people here are so warm and inviting and they have done an excellent job of just opening up their island and just showing us how special this island is. I think it’s beautiful that the Michigan family has embraced this opportunity and we are just looking forward to each and every day and I know on Saturday there will be some sad faces, not because we are going back to a colder Michigan, but because we are leaving a beach and ocean – thank you Bahamas!”

#The 2019 B4A, which runs through November 29, will feature another outstanding field, which also includes the Gonzaga Bulldogs (WCC), the Seton Hall Pirates (Big East) and Oregon Ducks (PAC 12) and Southern Mississippi Eagles (C-USA).

#Four members of the field are currently ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press Top 25 Poll including No 6 North Carolina, No 8 Gonzaga, No 11 Oregon and No 13 Seton Hall.

Friday, November 15, 2019

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#A MAJOR Division I men’s college basketball programme will use its platform and partner with the Treasure Cay Community Foundation (TCCF) to bring awareness and aid to the Hurricane Dorian relief effort.

#The No.12 Seton Hall Pirates took on the No.3 Michigan State Spartans last night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey and hosted the TCFF on the arena’s concourse as they accepted donations.

#Each donation of at least $50 received a trucker hat detailed with the Bahamian flag in a heart-shaped logo.Lea Miller of Complete Sports Management (CSM) and Tegwen Hunt Hastedt, a board member of the TCCF, were on hand at the Prudential Center spearheading the initiative and its focus on rebuilding the Cooper’s Town Primary School.

#Seton Hall Athletics donated proceeds from the men’s basketball team’s exhibition games on October 25 vs Bloomfield and on October 29 vs Misericordia to Catholic Relief Services to aid in post-Dorian relief efforts.

#Seton Hall is one of several schools bound for CSM’s Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis, November 27-29. Simultaneously, the Pirates’ women’s team will be playing in Bimini at the Junkanoo Jam from November 28-29.

#In addition to Seton Hall, the 2019 B4A will feature another outstanding field, setting the stage for the Gonzaga Bulldogs (WCC), North Carolina Tar Heels (ACC) and Michigan Wolverines (BIG 10) to headline the 8-team group.

#The remainder of the field also includes the Oregon Ducks (PAC 12), Iowa State Cyclones (BIG 12), Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC) and Southern Mississippi Eagles (C-USA).

#Several schools are set to participate in community outreach efforts including Alabama’s visit the Ranfurly Home, North Carolina’s visit to the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel and Oregon’s visit to Sandilands Primary school.

#Tar Heels senior forward Brandon Robinson is also spearheading a communication and no-profit senior project where he is raising money and awareness for the post-Dorian relief. Four members of the field are currently ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press Top 25 Poll including No.6 North Carolina, No.8 Gonzaga, and No.12 Seton Hall and No.14 Oregon. The Tar Heels participated in the 2014 tournament where they finished 5th. Gonzaga and Michigan were both in the 2015 event where they finished third and fifth respectively. The TCCF was founded in 2004 following hurricanes that passed through Abaco. It is a Florida, not-for-profit corporation. Its mission is to assist the fundraising of entities that perform charitable services in Treasure Cay and surrounding Northern Abaco communities.

As of Friday, November 15, 2019

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#A MAJOR Division I men’s college basketball programme will use its platform and partner with the Treasure Cay Community Foundation (TCCF) to bring awareness and aid to the Hurricane Dorian relief effort.

#The No.12 Seton Hall Pirates took on the No.3 Michigan State Spartans last night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey and hosted the TCFF on the arena’s concourse as they accepted donations.

#Each donation of at least $50 received a trucker hat detailed with the Bahamian flag in a heart-shaped logo.Lea Miller of Complete Sports Management (CSM) and Tegwen Hunt Hastedt, a board member of the TCCF, were on hand at the Prudential Center spearheading the initiative and its focus on rebuilding the Cooper’s Town Primary School.

#Seton Hall Athletics donated proceeds from the men’s basketball team’s exhibition games on October 25 vs Bloomfield and on October 29 vs Misericordia to Catholic Relief Services to aid in post-Dorian relief efforts.

#Seton Hall is one of several schools bound for CSM’s Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis, November 27-29. Simultaneously, the Pirates’ women’s team will be playing in Bimini at the Junkanoo Jam from November 28-29.

#In addition to Seton Hall, the 2019 B4A will feature another outstanding field, setting the stage for the Gonzaga Bulldogs (WCC), North Carolina Tar Heels (ACC) and Michigan Wolverines (BIG 10) to headline the 8-team group.

#The remainder of the field also includes the Oregon Ducks (PAC 12), Iowa State Cyclones (BIG 12), Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC) and Southern Mississippi Eagles (C-USA).

#Several schools are set to participate in community outreach efforts including Alabama’s visit the Ranfurly Home, North Carolina’s visit to the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel and Oregon’s visit to Sandilands Primary school.

#Tar Heels senior forward Brandon Robinson is also spearheading a communication and no-profit senior project where he is raising money and awareness for the post-Dorian relief. Four members of the field are currently ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press Top 25 Poll including No.6 North Carolina, No.8 Gonzaga, and No.12 Seton Hall and No.14 Oregon. The Tar Heels participated in the 2014 tournament where they finished 5th. Gonzaga and Michigan were both in the 2015 event where they finished third and fifth respectively. The TCCF was founded in 2004 following hurricanes that passed through Abaco. It is a Florida, not-for-profit corporation. Its mission is to assist the fundraising of entities that perform charitable services in Treasure Cay and surrounding Northern Abaco communities.

Friday, November 15, 2019

#By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA

#THERE are a myriad of early-season tournaments.

#And in all honesty, the top five are the only ones that are definitely worth your time watching.

#These tournaments are ranked based on a variety of factors, including percentage of games featuring at least one projected NCAA tournament team.

#Games potentially pitting two likely dancers against one another get bonus consideration, and even more weight is given to possible matchups with one or two national championship contenders.

#One might not care about these tournaments or games right now, but you’re going to want to at least look back at these tournaments come March.

#That’s when the madness begins, and you are filling out your NCAA National Championship Tournament brackets.

#No 20 The Islands of the Bahamas Showcase @ BahaMar

#The tournament’s first-round action begins on Friday, November 22, and features Liberty vs Morgan State, Rice vs Milwaukee, UMKC vs George Washington and Evansville vs East Carolina.

#The semi-finals and consolation will follow on Saturday with the championship, third-place, fifth-place and seventh-place games on Sunday.

#No 1 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis @ Atlantis

#Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas November 27-29

#Quarter-finals: Iowa State vs Michigan; Alabama vs North Carolina, Gonzaga vs Southern Miss, Oregon vs Seton Hall.

#Likely Semi-finals: Michigan vs North Carolina, Gonzaga vs Seton Hall

#Dream Championship: North Carolina vs. Gonzaga

#To see not one but two tournaments in the Bahamas make the top 20 rankings, made me proud to be a Bahamian.

#Especially Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis, which I have covered for its entire nine-year existence.

#I’ve watched this tournament grow year after year, bigger and better each time.

#If you love basketball and have never experienced Battle 4 Atlantis, what are you waiting for, call the Atlantis box office 363-6601 and grab one of those amazing game packages they are offering.

#Meet me there, because you won’t beat me there, you can find me courtside.

#• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1.