Month: May 2022

May 19, 2022May 19, 2022

What Future For Little-Used Ayton?

PHOENIX Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) looks away after being fouled during the first half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball Western Conference playoff semifinal against the Dallas Mavericks. The Suns were eliminated. (AP Photo/Matt York)

As of Tuesday, May 17, 2022

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#DEANDRE Ayton played sparingly in his Phoenix Suns’ worst playoff loss in franchise history which prompted many to revisit a lingering and unresolved contract negotiation between the team and its former no.1 overall pick.

#Ayton appeared in only 17 minutes of the Suns’ 123-90 elimination loss to the Dallas Mavericks in game seven of the Western Conference semifinals Sunday night at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

#He finished with just five points, four rebounds and two assists. Suns’ head coach Monty Williams told reporters postgame that Ayton’s limited playing time was the result of an “internal” decision and did not expand on the matter.

#Ayton declined postgame media availability.

#He had just one shot attempt in the first quarter (2-5 for the game) and exited the game after he was called his third foul near the four minute mark in the second quarter. The Suns trailed by 18 when Ayton left the floor and was replaced by Bismack Biyombo.

#Over the first six games of the series, Ayton averaged 17.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while shooting 60 percent from the field.

#In his fourth season, the 23-year-old centre averaged 17.2 points on a career high 63 percent from the field and 10.2 rebounds per game in 58 appearances.

#Attention this offseason will return to Ayton’s contract situation with the Suns as he enters restricted free agency (RFA). As an RFA, Ayton is free to sign an offer sheet with another franchise but the Suns would still have the ability to match the deal and retain his rights if they choose to do so.

#Ayton also has the option of playing next season under a one year qualifier and become an unrestricted free agent the following season in 2022-23.

#Contract negotiations between Ayton and the Suns reached an impasse last April after both sides failed to reach an agreement on a rookie contract extension. He was eligible for a five-year, $172.5m extension that could have reached as much as $207m if he reached benchmarks and incentives.

#Last offseason, the Suns reached extensions with veteran point guard Chris Paul – a four year deal worth up to $120m; Ayton’s fellow 2018 draftee Mikal Bridges – a four year deal worth up to $90m and newly acquired guard Landry Shamet – a four year deal worth $43m.

#Several players in Ayton’s 2018 NBA draft class have received max contract extensions including Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jaren Jackson Jr of the Memphis Grizzlies, Kevin Huerter of the Atlanta Hawks, Michael Porter Jr of the Denver Nuggets.

#“We were two wins away from a championship,” Ayton said following a preseason practice session, “And I just really want to be respected to be honest, like my peers are being respected by their teams.”

#TMZ Sports first reported that Ayton and Suns owner Robert Sarver met at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort in Phoenix prior to the extension deadline as negotiation talks ramped up but that meeting failed to produce a deal.

#Ayton has career averages of 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in 236 games as a Sun. He is the fastest player in franchise history to reach 100 double doubles and was also the fastest player in franchise history to collect 1000 rebounds for his career (94 games).

#According to StatMuse, Ayton was the first player in NBA history to average at least 15 points and 10 rebounds per game on 65 percent field goal shooting in a single playoff run (10 games minimum).

May 19, 2022May 19, 2022

Back With A Win As Isaacs Jr Rejoins New Jersey Jackals

As of Tuesday, May 17, 2022

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#TODD Isaacs Jr returned to the New Jersey Jackals for his second season with the club in the Frontier League and helped the team to a series opening win to begin their 25th campaign as a franchise.

#Isaacs finished with three hits, one home run and four RBI as the Jackals took 2-3 games over the Evansville Otters in Evansville, Indiana over the weekend.

#In game one, he finished 1-5 with a two-RBI single in the Jackals’ 9-5 win.

#In a game two that began Saturday afternoon before inclement weather forced its postponement and completion on Sunday – Isaacs hit his first home run of the season in a 10-9 Jackals win.

#He finished 2-4 with two RBI, two runs scored and one stolen base.

#New Jersey trailed 8-4 when play was halted Saturday night and returned Sunday to take the come from behind win. They dropped the second game of the impromptu double header 4-0.

#The Jackals continue their season tonight when they begin a six game road trip in Florence, Kentucky against the Florence Y’alls.

#The Frontier League is the largest league in all of independent professional baseball. It includes teams in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Eastern Canada. Last year it merged with the American Association and the Atlantic League to become an official MLB Partner League.

#The Jackals compete in the Northeast Division with a 96 game regular season schedule. This will be the first season that the Jackals will be facing off against the majority of the teams in the West Division – Evansville, Florence, Lake Erie, and Schaumburg for the first time, Within their own conference, the Ottawa Titans and Empire State Greys will grace the team’s calendar for the first time.

#In order to make the playoffs, the Jackals need a top three finish in the eight team East Division.

#In just 53 games last season, Isaacs’ 11 home runs ranked second on the team behind Justin Wylie’s 15, achieved in 80 games.

#For the season, Isaacs hit .304 with 63 hits, including nine doubles, three triples, 32 RBI, scored 44 runs, nine stolen bases, slugging .536 with an .889 .OPS

#At the minor league level, Isaacs last played for the Colorado Rockies organisation with their Triple A affiliate (Albuquerque Isotopes) in 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

#He spent the bulk of the season in Grand Junction at the Rookie Level but also received the highest call up of his career when he was called up to the Isotopes of the Pacific Coast League.

#He was released by the Rockies in April, following the cancellation of the minor league baseball season.

#After spending nearly four years with the Cleveland Indians organisation, Isaacs signed with the Rockies and spent approximately a year with the organisation.

May 19, 2022May 19, 2022

Bahamians In Action Over The Weekend

As of Tuesday, May 17, 2022

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#HURDLERS Jahmaal Wilson and Denisha Cartwright took the spotlight s they led an array of Bahamians in action over the weekend in their various season-ending championship or conference championships collegiate track and field meets over the weekend throughout the United States of America.

#Wilson record-breaking performance in Texas

#At the West Texas Last Chance Meet in Canyon, Texas, West Texas A&M’s freshman Jahmaal Wilson broke a 28-year-old NCAA Division II record and a 13-year-old Bahamian national record on Sunday at the WT Last Chance meet in Canyon.

#The RM Bailey graduate majoring in marketing is now the NCAA DII record holder in the 110-meter hurdles as the freshman ran a wind-legal (1.7) 13.35 to break Brian Amos’ record of 13.37 set back on May 12, 1994, the Lone Star Conference record and school record, tying him 25th among all collegiate levels.

#In the process, Wilson also shattered Shamar Sands’ Bahamian national record of 13.38 that he posted on June 17, 2009 at the Golden Spike in Ostrava, Czech Republic. But he just missed the qualifying standard of 13.32 for the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in July.

#Finishing second in the race in 13.55 was fellow Bahamian Tyrin Lewis, who competed unattached.

#Cartwright starred for Minnesota

#At the NSIC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Northern State University, Denisha Cartwright had an impressive showing for Minnesota State as they easily won the women’s team title with 191 points.

#The sophomore did her team in their success as she established a meet record of 13.28 seconds in winning the women’s 100-meter hurdles to erase the old mark of 13.40 that was set by Danielle Kohley of Minnesota-Din 2019. She led the preliminaries with the fastest qualifying time of 13.75.

#Cartwright was also the runner-up in the women’s 100m in 11.68 behind teammate Makayla Jackson, who won in a meet record of 11.43. Cartwright had the second-fastest time in the qualifying rounds of 11.69 with Jackson taking the top spot in 11.57.

#Cartwright (23.80) again trailed Jackson (meet record of 23.56) in the 200m, only this time, Cartwright had the fastest qualifying time of 23.70, which would have matched her previous meet record, while Jackson did 23.96 for the second-fastest.

#Before she was done, Cartwright ran the pop-off leg for Minnesota State’s 4 x 100m relay team that included Ja’Cey Simmons, Rose Cramer and Makayla Jackson tat won in 45.48.

#Gibson paced Oral Roberts University

#At the Summit League Outdoor Championships, hosted by the Oral Roberts University at their Sports Complex in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gabrielle Gibson led the way with her victory in the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.57, the only event title won by the Golden Eagles. India Cartwright, a sophomore, came in second in 13.59 to complete a 1-2 sweep.

#Gibson, now in her senior year, was also the runner-up in the 200m, while Lakelle Kinteh, a junior, was fifth in the 100m in 12.17.

#In relay action, Gibson ran the second leg of ORU’s 4 x 100m team of Lakelle Kinteh, Judith Bediako and India Cartwright, which placed second in 45.09. And in the 4 x 400m relay, Chanice Forbes, Gibson, Nikki Victorious and Adrene Mazzei were fifth in 3:52.83.

#Also at the meet, Bradley Dormeus picked up a second-place finish in the men’s 400m in 46.20.

#Both of ORU men’s and women’s teams finished fifth.

#Miller Jr soared for Ohio State

#Ohio State track and field team won both the men’s (124 points) and women’s (185.5 points) titles at the 2022 Big Ten Outdoor Championships in Minneapolis on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio where Shaun Miller Jr was one of the top performers.

#Sophomore Miller Jr was the runner-up in the men’s high jump with a leap of 7-feet, 1 1/2-inches or 2.17m. Fellow Bahamian Jules Etienne, a senior at Indiana, got fourth with a leap of 7-0 1/4 (2.14m). The winning height was 7-2 1/2 (2.20m) by Mayson Conner, a junior at Nebraska.

#Also in the 110m hurdles, sophomore Oscar Smith finished fourth to rank third in program history with his time of 13.59. Joshua Zeller, a junior at Michigan, set a meet record of 13.19 to win the race.

#Wells topped the list for Florida

#At the Southeastern Conference Championships, Sasha Wells, a senior who transferred from Oral Roberts to the University of Florida, was seventh in the final of the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.75. The first three finishers in the race all surpassed the World Championship qualifying time of 12.84.

#Olympian Megan Moss just missed out on a spot in the final of the women’s 400m for the University of Kentucky with hr 10th place in the preliminaries in 52.70. Fellow Bahamian Doneisha Anderson, a junior at Florida, was 189th overall in 53.66.

#While Moss didn’t run on the Wildcats’ winning 4 x 400m relay team that established the facility, meet and collegiate records, Anderson ran the third leg for Florida as they finished fifth in 3:26.85.

May 19, 2022May 19, 2022

Title Win For Mullings

KEN Mullings and team coach Kenny Moxey Sr in front of the scoreboard.

As of Tuesday, May 17, 2022

KEN Mullings on the podium receiving his gold medal sandwiched between Canadians Shawn Beaudoin and Rostam Turner.

KEN Mullings clearing the pole vault.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#EVEN though it was a last-minute decision to make the trip to Ottawa, Canada, Ken Mullings is delighted that he went to the North American, Central American and Caribbean’s 2022 Combined Events Championships.

#Not only did Mullinfgs end up winning the grueling two-day decathlon ten-event competition, but he was pleased to hear that he could also get an invitation to the World Athletics’ 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in July.

#The 25-year-old Mullings, a graduate of the University of the Bahamas and a member of Power Athletics Track Club, compiled a total of 7,537 points at the end of the competition on Sunday.

#Canada got second and third with Shawn Beaudoin with 6,450 and Rostam Turner with 6,344.

#Looking back at his performance, Mullings said it was what he anticipated, but he expected a little more competition to help push him over the 8,000- point barrier.

#“I felt really good about my performance. I was really happy with my 400 meters and my improvement in the javelin and the 1,500m especially,” said Mullings, who was accompanied by coach Kenny Moxey Sr.

#“I was trying not to focus too much on the competition because I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself. I was trying to focus on one event at a time and get as many points as I could out of each event.”

#If selected to compete at the World Championships, Mullings said it would be a blessing in disguise for him.

#“Although I got a short notice, it’s good to know that I could be able to go to the World Championships,” he said. “I consider that to be a blessing.”

#As he waits for confirmation on his entry, Mullings said he and his personal coach Ednal Rolle will now have to go back to the drawing board and try to find a way to secure the points needed across the board in order for him to be able to excel in the vent.

#“We have to get the points in the decathlon. We can’t score big in the 100m and then take away points in the long jump,” he insisted. “We have to be consistent in the whole ten events.”

#Mullings started off the competition on Saturday. winning all five events. He did the 100m in 10.88 seconds for 888 points; leaped 22-feet, 8-inches or 6.91 meters in the long jump for 792 points, threw the shot put 45-6 1/2 (13.88m) for 721 points; cleared 6-5 (1.96m) in the high jump for 767 points and ran the 400m in 49.83 for 822 points.

#On Sunday’s final day, he took a total of 3,990 points into the competition and finished by winning three of the five remaining events to stay on top of his rivals.

#In the 110m hurdles, he won in 14.31 for 935 points; got second in the discus with a heave of 126-7 (38.58m) for 636 points; posted 14-5 1/4 (4.40m) to win the pole vault for 731 points’ tossed the javelin 186-5 (56.83m) for 690 points, but ended up fifth in the 1,500m in 5:00.76 for 555 points.

#Moxey Sr, a former decathlon, said Mullings’ performance was on par, even though they had anticipated a lot more competition from their rivals.

#“He executed his events and he won all of his events with the exception of the discus and the 1,500m,” Moxey Sr said. “The competition wasn’t quite there to push him as hard as he needed to go.”

#Moxey Sr said at the end of the competition, the meet organisers indicated to him that as a result of winning the title, he would be considered for an entry spot at the World Championships, but he said that has to be ratified by the Bahamas Associations of Athletic Association.

#“He definitely has the potential to qualify,” said Moxey Sr, of Mullings, who need to score at least 8,350 points to make the official qualifying standard. “He just needs to put it all together.”

#In critiquing his performance, Moxey Sr said there are some gray areas that Mullings can improve. He noted that all of his throws could be improved upon, but all of the other events are right on par.

#Mullings thanked his entire coaching staff, es[ecially Ednal Rolle and Aymara Albury, for getting him prepared on such short notice for the trip and Kenny Moxey for his assistance in Ottawa.

#He said he will continue to build on what he’s achieved so far and hopefully, he can get the results he’s looking for.

#Hopefully, he will also have his training partner and national record holder, Kendrick Thompson, back in action pretty soon as they continue their assault on providing a 1-2 punch for The Bahamas on the international scene in the decathlon.

May 19, 2022May 19, 2022

Blta Congratulates Tennis Players On Their Graduation

As of Wednesday, May 18, 2022

#THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) is congratulating Joshua Turnquest, Hannah-Joy Simms, Sierra Donaldson and Afrika Smith on graduating from university this month.

#Turnquest graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University(IWU). He obtained a Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies. He also holds a Bachelor of Art in Accounting from Asbury University.

#He played exceptionally for the IWU Wildcats and Asbury Eagles, who recognised him on Senior’s Day when he went four for four in his tennis matches winning two singles and two doubles.

#The coach stated, “We were able to honour our seniors today, we are going to miss Karl and Josh. Their leadership and talent have been so valuable for our team. The last four years, the men’s record is 121-18 for a .870 winning percentage. Their highest ranking is the current ranking of No. 2 in the nation. This year our record is 39-4. They have literally set every school record.”

#Simms obtained a double major with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Psychology.

#She started playing tennis at the age of 10 and represented the Brescia Bearcats tennis team well. She was awarded All-Conference 1st Team for the River State Conference recently. Hannah-Joy closed out her senior year at the Conference Quarterfinals.

#Donaldson obtained her Bachelor of Science in sports management from Lee University. She graduated with honours.

#She was also recognised on Senior’s Day by her tennis team, Lee Flames, as they closed out the season at the Conference Quarterfinals.

#Her college tennis career included conference quarterfinal appearances and being named conference player of the week.

#Smith graduated from Bethune-Cookman University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

#Smith represented Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on their Women’s Tennis team playing in the #1 position for both singles and doubles. She represented her team well.

#“We know you all will continue to soar,” the BLTA said.

May 19, 2022May 19, 2022

Canadian Olympic Champions Bring Expertise To Lake Cunningham Classic

NASSAU Rowing Club hosted its first Lake Cunningham Classic with Canadian Olympic champions Rob Gibson and Andrea Proske at the weekend. Photo: Racardo Thomas

As of Wednesday, May 18, 2022

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#CANADIAN Olympic champions Rob Gibson and Andrea Proske have decided to bring their coaching expertise to the Bahamas at the Windsor High School and the Nassau Rowing Club.

#The duo had their competitiveness on display on Saturday as the Nassau RC hosted its first Lake Cunningham Classic, a dual meet between the Windsor High School and the Nassau RC.

#When it was all done, Gibson and his Windsor High rowing team emerged victorious over Proske and the Nassau RC. But for both of them, it wasn’t so much about who won or lost, but rather the camaraderie that developed between the two teams.

#Gibson, a 13-year member of rhe Canadian national team who won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games, said in the half of the school year that he’s been at Windsor High, he’s been impressed with the performances from his competitors.

#“It was above expectations,” said Gibson, who also participated in both the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “I didn’t know what I was getting into when I first came here.

#“Things are looking good. Things are going in the right direction right now.

#“There was a lot of happy faces on the water after not competing for the past two years because of COVID-19.”

#Proske, who decided to spend her retirement years in the Bahamas after she won a gold medal at the 2020 Olympics in Toyko, Japan for Canada, said she was pleased with the way the competitors performed on Saturday.

#“It’s so easy to see how well they can compete when they bring their A-game,” Proske said. “For a lot of them, this was more than just rowing a straight line to and fro.

#“It was about developing a friendship and hopefully that will springboard to them competing in some international events in the future.”

#Based on what she’s seen from the competition, Proske said she’s convinced that the Nassau RC has a bright future ahead of them with the competitors involved, which she said was why they hosted the regatta in the first place.

#“The Nassau RC competitors sailed as best as they could,” she said.

#“A lot of the kids came out out and did what they had to do. They stuck to their game plan and we came out with some victories as well.”

#Calling it competition cooperation, Proske said as a former training partner of Gibson, it’s easy for them to work together and they simply want to see the kids perform.

#She noted, however, that the Nassau RC will be back next year bigger and better and hopefully they can take the title from the Windsor High School.

#Gibson said the course on Lake Cunningham is a hidden gem and he’s looking forward to continuing the partnership with the Nassau RC to make the sport a vibrant one in the Bahamas.

#“I’m just happy with what I’ve seen today,” he said.

#“I think we have forged a good working relationship with Windsor School and the Nassau RC, so we will see how we can continue to develop that.”

#Gibson and Proske will again collaborate this summer when they are expected to take a team from the Nassau RC, including competitors from Windsor High, to the CanAmMex in Canada in July.

#It will be the first of many events that the Canadian Olympians hope to get local rowers involved in as they seek to eventully get a team to compete at the Olympics in the future.

May 19, 2022May 19, 2022

Sands Celebrates Seminoles Title Win

LEEVAN Sands with the trophy won by the Florida Seminoles.

As of Wednesday, May 18, 2022

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#NOT many Bahamian athletes get to enjoy being champions from the other side of the field of play when they make the transition to coaching. But national triple jump record holder Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands is one of those rare individuals.

#In just his first year as an assistant coach, Sands got a chance to celebrate with the Florida Seminoles as they won the Atlantic Coast Conference ACC Outdoor Track and Field Conference championship title over the weekend in Durham, North Carolina.

#“It’s been a great eight months so far here. My athletes are doing great. I am proud of them, The team is doing very well,” said Sands after he joined in the celebrations over the weekend by hoisting their trophy.

#“I am grateful for the opportunity from the head coach Bob Braman, who is an amazing head coach. I am learning a lot. It’s just an amazing feeling to come out on top and be the best in the conference. I feel good. I feel great.”

#Although he starred for Auburn University Tigers during his collegiate tenure, Sands said he always admired the legacy that the Seminoles achieved with the many Olympians who passed through the programme. He hopes that he can contribute to the continuation of their success.

#“I’m just hoping my jumpers, who work hard, will continue to do well,” he said. “The hard work is definitely showing off right now. I think right now, we should be the number one or two jump squad in the country. So I’m excited about that.”

#Before being an assistant at Florida, he served as an assistant track and field coach st the University of Northern Colorado for the past two years as he transitioned from a long and illustrious 13-year career as a professional athlete, highlighted by his bronze medal in the triple jump at the 2008 Olympic Games.

#Sands, who has also been the CEO of Sands Pro Apparel for four years and co-owner of Sno Bix and Sand Pit Snacks, is a four-time Olympian and 12-time Bahamas national champion and holder of the Bahamian national outdoor triple jump record of 17.59m and indoor long jump of 8.10m.

#The former outstanding basketball player with the Temple Christian Suns also won a silver medal at the 2015 Pan American Games and bronze medals from the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the 2003 World Championships, and the 2015 North American, Central, American and Caribbean Championships.

#Sands, who graduated from Auburn University in 2005 with a degree in adult education, was the 2003 NCAA long jump champion and the NCAA triple jump champion in 2004. In 2004, Sands was named the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year.

#As a 40-year-old husband (wife Danielle) and father (children Leevan III, Lion and Legend), Sands is preparing for his official retirement from the sport so that he can concentrate fully on his new role as a coach.

#He has certainly gotten off to a great start at the division one collegiate track and field level. Hopefully the success will continue as they head into Bloomington, Indiana for the NCAA East Preliminaries, scheduled for May 25-28 and in Eugene, Oregon for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, June 8-11th.

#“I’m excited about being a part of such a great team of athletes and coaches,” Sands quipped. “It’s great to be a Seminole. So go Noles.”

May 19, 2022May 19, 2022

Junior National Basketball Team Prepares For Puerto Rico

PLAYERS practicing in AF Adderley Gymnasium over the weekend. Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune staff

As of Wednesday, May 18, 2022

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas Basketball Federation’s junior national basketball team is preparing to travel to Puerto Rico next month for the Centro Basket Under-15 Girls Tournament and according to coach Varel Davis, they will ensure that they have the best players selected.

#The team began practicing about a month ago at the AF Adderley Gymnasium in preparation for the tournament, scheduled for June 24 to July 1. When they return, Davis said they will take the under-16 team to a similar tournament, but they are waiting on a date and venue to be confirmed.

#Her management team, consisting of assistant coaches Taronya Wildgoose from Grand Bahama, Anton Francis and Shakira Farrington, has already made a cut of players from the team and they are now trimming it down to the actual size to get everybody in tip-top shape to compete.

#“So far, we’ve had about 30 girls who came out every Saturday, and now we are narrowing it down because we want to get the team ready,” Davis said.

#During the recent Noble Preparatory Academy Tournament a couple of weeks ago, Davis said they put in a team to allow the coaches to assess the skills of the players during a game situation and she was quite impressed with what she saw.

#“We have some good bigs, who could play in the paint and we have some excellent ball handlers,” Davis said. “We just need to sharpen their skills because most of them haven’t played any basketball since the pandemic. So it’s going to take some time to get them where we want them to be.”

#Francis said things are looking pretty good and he’s confident that they will perform very well.

#“The fact that Covid-19 kept the girls inactive, they look pretty good in practice,” he said. “We have some very good girls and there are some girls who need a little more work. But we hope to take the best talent available in the country.”

#On hand to lend his experitse during Saturday’s practice was coach James ‘Jimmy’ Clarke, now a consultant with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, headed by Minister Mario Bowleg, who was also in the AF Adderley Gym watching.

#“I just tried to discuss with them a little bit of ball handling and shooting skills, defensive skills and their footwork,” said Clarke, one of the winningest high school coaches in the prestious Huge Campbell Basketball Classic.

#“That’s the most important thing for them because in order to be a good ball player, you need footwork. If they can do that, it will add to their defence and enable them to be more porductive offensively.”

#From what he’s seen, Clarke said the team looks good with some height on it and he encouraged the coaches to continue to get the players ready for the tournament.

#He said he looks forward to coming back and assist the team before they head off. He said he’s confident that wheverer they go “they will produce some fireworks. They look that good.”

May 19, 2022May 19, 2022

New Appointment For Bca President Greg Taylor

As of Wednesday, May 18, 2022

BAHAMAS Cricket Association president Greg Taylor.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#OVER the weekend, Bahamas Cricket Association president Greg Taylor was elected to serve on another regional body.

#For the next two years, he will serve as the Non Voting Associates Representative for the America’s Region to the International Cricket Club.

#His appointment will place him in charge of 11 Associates in the region.

#Taylor, who previously served from 2002-2009 in the same capacity when all of the region were just known as Affiliates before the ICC changed it to Non- Voting Associates, said it’s a prestigious post for him to represent the region in this fashion.

#He’s expected to work directly with Fara Gorsi, the ICC Americas Regional Development Manager out of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Imran Khwaja, who is an associate member director, who was first elected to the ICC board in 2008 and has served as deputy chairman since 2017.

#“We have a lot of work to do in terms of getting cricket up and running,” said Taylor, who will get the opportunity to travel to various meetings to discuss the way forward for the sport to continue to grow in the region.

#“I would like to see the Non-Voting Associates set up their game and have more involvement in the game and participation in the ICC, including us.

#“We need to see the sport developed more from the grassroot area up.”

#As it pertains to the Bahamas, Taylor said his position will open the door for the Bahamas to become stronger in the region.

#“The Bahamas now have somebody who can lobby for us. We just have to get our act together and put certain things in place like the Youth Development Program,” said Taylor, of the High School sessions held on the weekends at Haynes Oval, conducted by the BBC

#Taylor noted that during the week, the BCA has also instituted a women’s program with the first six participants, but he said they anticipate that the numbers will swell this week to over 20 as there has been some keen interest from a lot of persons.

#Taylor has served as the president of the BCA since 2013 and is expected to contest another three-year term in office whenever the elections are held. He noted that no date or venue has been confirmed for the elections as yet.

May 19, 2022May 19, 2022

Krystal Evans Runs The Line As Assistant Referee

KRYSTAL Evans officiates as an assistant referee in The Bahamas’ match against the Turks and Caicos Islands at the weekend. PHOTOS: Racardo Thomas/Tribune staff

As of Wednesday, May 18, 2022

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#KRYSTAL Evans, following in the footsteps of Grand Bahamian Vanette Laing, is the latest Bahamian to serve as an International Federation of Association Football (FIBA) official and she’s loving it.

#Since 2019, Evans has been the only Bahamian to be included on FIFA’s list of officials, serving as a FIFA Assistant Referee, a position that operates from the sidelines.

#Laing, who formally served as the first Bahamian official, was a FIFA Referee, which enabled her to control the game from the middle of the field.

#Although she’s not there yet, Evans said she’s striving to reach that in the near future.

#“I always wanted to be on the national team and eventually play in the Olympics,” said Evans, one of the country’s talented versatile athletes. “I never really thought about becoming an official of any sport until I actually started doing it.

#“It wasn’t something that I was inspired to do, but now that I’m in it, I enjoy it and I like it, despite the constant criticism that referees encounter. It offers a lot of opportunities, once you discipline yourself and get the proper training.”

#Evans, who got started in officiating through the insistence of her then boyfriend, now husband, Meko Evans, said at present she’s ranked at the tier two level, but she aspires to move up to tier one where she can officiate at the Olympics and the World Cup.

#“It’s a tedious job because you have to remain healthy and fit,” she said. “One of the main things you have to avoid in being an official is sickness because you never know when they will call you to go and officiate somewhere and you can’t tell them that you can’t go because you are ill.”

#Although it’s not a full-time job, Evans, a mother of one to her daughter, Emeka Evans, said she enjoys the peaks that come along with it.

#She’s been given airfare and accommodations with a per diem in every tournament she has attended so far, including World Cup Qualifiers and Championships for Under-17 and Women’s Divisions.

#But it’s not a job that she can give up her full time commitment as a physical education teacher at Gerald Cash Primary School because she still has a lifestyle to maintain.

#Having officiated at a number of international events, including the Women’s Elite Referee Course last year, Evans said she just wants to see how far she can go in the sport.

#“If I can make it to the Olympics, that would be fine for me,” she said. “But it requires a lot of discipline and time. It’s a lot of work, but if you can put in the effort, you can make it to that level.”

#However, she has withdrawn from participating in any team sport at this time because she has to avoid getting any injuries. She also encourages more Bahamians to get involved in officiating because it’s a rewarding job outside of playing the game.