DEANDRE Ayton in action.

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#Deandre Ayton remains the biggest restricted free agent on the market and is just hours away from finding out whether he will have a new NBA home alongside “Buddy” Hield in Indiana or return to the Phoenix Suns.

#ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported that Ayton and the Indiana Pacers agreed to a four-year, $133 million offer sheet – the richest in NBA history for a restricted free agent. The Suns have 48 hours to match the offer sheet and retain Ayton as a member of the franchise or allow him to leave for Indiana.

#Once Ayton officially signs the offer sheet, the Suns will no longer be able to involve him in a sign and trade with Indiana.

#Furthermore, if the Suns decide to match the offer sheet, they will be unable to trade Ayton until January 15, 2023 and will be unable to trade him to the Pacers for a full calendar year. Ayton would also have the right to veto any trade offers for a full year.

#The Pacers, who currently have Buddy Hield on the roster, continue their attempt at a rebuild after they traded away guard Malcolm Brogdon last month and All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis last season.

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

#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.

#Tensions heightened during a surprising playoff exit at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.

#Ayton appeared in only 17 minutes of the Suns’ 123-90 elimination loss to the Mavericks in game seven of the Western Conference semifinals.

#The 24-year-old former no.1 overall pick was eligible for a five-year, $172.5 million extension that could have reached as much as $207 million if he reached benchmarks and incentives.

#During the NBA Draft Combine in May, Ayton’s agent Bill Duffy discussed his client’s future on SiriusXM’s NBA show.

#“We’re disappointed. We wanted a max contract,” Duffy said. “He went out and was a solider the whole year, played well, improved his statistics. So, we’re proud of him. A lot of guys handle things differently, but he was very mature about it. Things will work out for Deandre. He’s a valuable player. There’s other teams in the league as well. He’s a restricted free agent, so we’ll see how this process unfolds.”

#Suns general manager James Jones reiterated his organisation’s desire to keep its former no.1 overall pick under contract moving forward.

#“Nothing has changed on our end. We haven’t said anything different. DA remains a huge part of what we do and he’s a free agent. So we’ll talk about free agency when that time comes, but that hasn’t changed,” Jones said following last week’s NBA Draft.

#“I think you hear his teammates. They echo the same sentiment that we have. This team is a really good team and we’re going to keep it together.”

#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 and Michael Porter Jr of the Denver Nuggets.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/pacers-agree-sign-ayton-133m-deal/?news

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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Miami Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#JASRADO “Jazz” Chisholm Jr has been on the injured list since June 29, but the Miami Marlins’ All-Star second baseman has not ruled out a return to the field for an appearance in the midseason classic.

#The 92nd MLB All-Star Game will take place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California and Chisholm still looks to make an historic appearance for both Bahamian baseball and the Marlins franchise. “My back right now is feeling alright,” Chisholm said. “I think I might be able to get on the field by [this] week. So, I feel like I should be able to play in the game,” Chisholm told reporters in a Zoom call.

#Chisholm is the first-ever Bahamian-born All-Star of the nine to ever play in the MLB. From the Marlins perspective, he joins Hanley Ramírez, Dee Strange- Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, Gary Sheffield and Giancarlo Stanton as the only Marlins to be fan-elected starters.

#Chisholm’s last appearance on the field in a Marlins uniform was June 28. He originally injured the back early in the season on a slide and re-aggravated it in late June, which forced him out of the lineup.

#He returned to the field the following game and doubled on “Bahamian Heritage Night” but was again sidelined the following day in the series finale against the New York Mets.

#Chisholm has reportedly been rehabbing his back at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex in Jupiter, Florida. No definitive timetable has been set for his return.

#Through 60 games he has a .254 average, 14 home runs, 54 hits, 45 RBI, 12 stolen bases and scored 39 runs.

#“I feel like I can go a lot further than I am now. I always say I can be a 40/40 [home run/stolen bases] guy, if I really focus the whole year. No distractions. No anything. Just go out there and play baseball,” Chisholm said. “That was always my goal. So, I’m going to keep that as my goal and my ceiling.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/jazz-my-back-right-now-feeling-alright/?news

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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DONALD Thomas in action. (File photo)

Shaunae Miller-Uibo. (File photo)

Devynne Charlton (File photo)

Anthonique Strachan (File photo)

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunedia.net

#THE stage is set for Team Bahamas as competition gets underway today at the World Athletics’ 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, the first time the event is being staged in the United States of America for the first time since it officially got started in 1983 in Helsinki, Finland.

#Donald Thomas, the 2007 world champion from Osaka, Japan and 2010 Commonwealth Games champion from Delhi, India, will be the first to compete for the Bahamas in the 19th edition of the championships in the preliminaries of the men’s high jump at 10:10 am.

#The 39-year-old Thomas from Grand Bahama, who has produced a personal best of 7-feet, 9 ¼-inches or 2.37 metres and a season’s best of 7-4 1/2 (2.25m), will be the third of 14 competitors in group B. There are 15 competitors in group A.

#When combined, the athletes attaining the automatic standard of 7-6 ½ (2.30m) or the 12 best performances will advance to the final that will be contested on Monday at 5:45pm.

#Also, during the morning session at 11:45, the preliminaries of the mixed relays are scheduled to take place.

#In the absence of injured Steven Gardiner, the Bahamas will select from the combination of Alonzo Russell, Bradley Dormeus, Wanya McCoy, Anthonique Strachan, Megan Moss, Doneisha Anderson, Javonya Valcourt and Janae Ambrose.

#The Bahamas is slated to run out of heat six against seven other countries, including Jamaica in three and sandwiched between Brazil in five and South Africa in seven.

#A full stack of countries is entered in heat one, led by the United States in four.

#Without any day off, the first three in the two heats and the next two fastest times will advance to the final that will conclude tonight’s initial day of competition at 7:50pm.

#During the evening session, LaQuan Nairn will be the seventh of 16 competitors on the runway in Group B.

#Nairn enters the competition with a lifetime and season’s best of 26-11 ¾ (8.22m). There are 16 competitors as well in Group A. The automatic qualifying distance for the final on Saturday at 6:20pm is 26-9 (8.15m) or the 12 top performers overall.

#The heats of the men’s 100m will also take place with Grand Bahamian native Terrence Jones and Exuma native Samson Colebrooke both competing.

#Their lane assignments, however, will not be determined until the completion of the preliminary rounds during the morning session.

#The semi-finals and finals of the men’s 100m will run on Saturday at 6 and 7:50 respectively.

#Also taking place on Saturday, July 16 will be the heats of the women’s 100m featuring Anthonique Strachan and Tynia Gaither at 5:10 pm.

#On Sunday, July 17, the semi-final will be contested at 5:33 pm, followed by the final at 7:50 pm.

#The first weekend of action on Sunday, July 17 will also showcase Miller- Uibo in the heats of the women’s 400m.

#The semi-final will be staged on Wednesday, July 20 at 6:45pm and the final is set for Friday at 7:15pm.

#That would allow Miller-Uibo to once again compete in the 200m with Strachan and Gaither. The heats for the women’s 200m on Monday, July 18 at 6pm with the semi-final on Tuesday at 6:05 pm and the final on Thursday, July 21 at 7:45 pm.

#The decathlon for men with Ken Mullings as the lone competitor will be staged on Saturday and Sunday, July 23-24.

#National record holder Devynne Charlton will have to wait until Saturday, July 23 to begin competition in the heats of the women’s 100m hurdles.

#The semifinal is on Sunday, July 24 at 5:05pm with the final at 7pm.

#Team Bahamas’ final event will be the women’s 4x400m relay.

#The team, comprising of a mixture from the pool of Miller-Uibo, Strachan, Moss, Anderson, Valcourt and Ambrose will have to advance out of the heats on Saturday, July 23 at 5:10pm in order to advance to the final on Sunday, July 24 at 7:30pm.

#Following the championships, which wraps up on Sunday, July 24, some of the athletes will be heading to Birmingham, England to participate in the Commonwealth Games that will be staged from July 28 to August 8.

#Go Team Bahamas!

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/donald-thomas-first-compete-bahamas-world-champs/?news

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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TRAVIS MUNNINGS

RADSHAD DAVIS

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#A PAIR of national team members from the recent FIBA World Cup ‘23 Americas Qualifiers will head to new locations when they resume their pro careers in Europe.

#Travis Munnings and Radshad Davis recently inked new deals with their respective clubs in France for the 2022-23 season.

#Munnings is headed to Boulazac Basket Dordogne of the French ProB League for his fourth season of pro basketball.

#Boulazac finished 13th in league standings last year at 13-19.

#Munnings previously played in France when he made his pro debut with La Rochelle Stade Rochelais of France’s NM1 League. He averaged 17.5 points, eight rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in his brief stint with the club.

#The following year, he moved to Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetbol (LPB) and averaged 12.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for UD Oliveirense. He helped lead the club to a 19-7 regular season record and quarterfinal berth. The following offseason he made the move to Benfica.

#Munnings spent last season with Sporting Lisboa Benfica and helped the club complete a dominant season in Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetbol (LPB) with the 2022 championship title.

#Benfica completed the regular season as the top overall seed at 24-4 and had an 8-1 run throughout the playoffs.

#In 30 games, Munnings averaged 7.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 60 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond the arch.

#In FIBA EuroCup play, Benfica finished just short of the quarterfinals in Group K.

#In 14 EuroCup Games he averaged 8.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

#Davis will be headed to France for the first time and will join Vendee Challans Basket of the NM1 League.

#The club finished 7-5 last season in Group C.

#Davis spent his first pro season last year with Decolor Fundacion Globalcaja La Roda in the LEB Silver League.

#The LEB Silver is the third tier in the Spanish basketball league system, after the Liga ACB and LEB Gold.

#In 26 games, he averaged 13 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. La Roda finished sixth in the East Division at 14-12.

#At the national team level, both players recently helped The Bahamas advance to the second round of FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers for the first time in history. The Bahamas clinched qualification with a 97-80 win over the US Virgin Islands on July 1. Davis finished with 12 points off the bench while Munnings scored 10.

#In six games of the three qualifying windows, Munnings averaged 10 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Davis played in four games of the qualifying windows and averaged 6.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/pro-basketball-players-munnings-davis-headed-new-c/?news

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg with professional volleyball players Eugene Stuart and Shonari Hepburn, along with collegian Ras Jesse Delancy.

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#HOME on their break from playing overseas, professional volleyball players Eugene Stuart and Shonari Hepburn, along with collegian Ras Jesse Delancy, are combining their collective skills as they share their expertise to the youngsters in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Summer Camp.

#The trio are stationed at the Tom ‘The Bird’ Grant Park where they are among the lists of instructors participating in volleyball, basketball, tennis, softball and baseball on a daily basis from 9am to 1pm until the end of the month.

#“We’re teaching the basic fundamentals of volleyball because it’s not a sport that is popular like basketball here in the Bahamas,” said Stuart, a former basketball/ volleyball player during his high school at St Augustine’s College.

#“We just want to show them how to play the game and perfect their skills.”

#Stuart, who played in Romania during his last sting on the pro circuit, said it has been a rewarding experience so far.

#“Apart from the heat, it’s been great,” said Stuart, who is preparing for his fourth pro season overseas. “We haven’t had any injuries so far, so it’s been quite exciting for me.”

#Delancy, coming off the Player of the Year honours in his first season in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (SIAC) with Benedict College Tigers, said he welcomed the opportunity to assist in the camp.

#“It’s amazing because I can now tell people behind how some of these players here have helped me to get to where I’m at right now,” Delancy said.

#“It’s been great so far. Everybody has a great attitude and they are willing to learn.

#“Even when we tell them something or we try to show them how to do it, they have been very respective. It’s been a good experience so far.”

#Delancy, who at age 22 stands at six-feet, eight-inches, noted that he really enjoys spending the time with Stuart and Hepburn because they have been able to help him expand his horizons.

#“They are my role models, so it’s good for me to learn from them at the same time,” Delancy said. “I’m heading back to school for my second collegiate season and so I’m eager to see how everything goes with them.”

#And Hepburn, who last played in Frankfurt, Germany, said it’s great to be home, but while he’s just getting the chance to get back into the gym to train with his fellow local players, he’s taking advantage of the opportunity to assist in the camp in the meantime.

#“Everybody is getting back into sports because we’re now getting used to living with COVID-19, so it’s nice to see some of the young talent that we have in the country,” Hepburn said.

#“We know that volleyball is not one of our super sports in the Bahamas and that is frustrating for me because in Europe, the sport is almost as popular as soccer.

#“When you are overseas, soccer is number one and then volleyball is a close second ahead of basketball. But here at home, everyone is playing basketball, so it’s good to see that there are some camps that are actually catering to volleyball players in the country.”

#With more exposure in camps such as the Ministry of Sports, Hepburn said they can begin to change the culture and hopefully get more players exposed to playing at both the pro and collegiate level, which will inspire more youngsters to get involved in the sport.

#“When more players get involved and they improve their game, they will encourage more persons to want to get involved in the sport as well,” he said. “That’s how we improve at the club level and the night league programme and it extends to college and the pro ranks and the circuit starts all over again.”

#Stuart, a 26-year-old 6-7 player, said as long as the players who are excelling overseas get an opportunity to be exposed to the younger players, they will encourage and inspire them to improve their level of the game and allow more players to get to the next level.

#“Everything starts small. We have to build the foundation like we are doing here in the camp,” he said.

#“Then these players will get to play at the high school level and hopefully they will move on to the club system. As time goes on, they can see the necessity of them playing the sport and making a living out of it like Shonari and I are doing.”

#Delancy, who hopes to one day be the next pro player, said he’s in it for the long haul and he just wants to motivate others to get themselves prepared to follow in their footsteps as they continue to make volleyball one of the most vibrant sports in the country.

#Hepburn, who stands at 6-7, is a 29-year-old former softball and baseball player, who is enjoying his career as a pro volleyball player.

#He, along with Stuart and Delancy, are inviting as many Bahamians to join them in the camp at Tom ‘The Bird’ Grant Park before it’s finished at the end of the month.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/pro-volleyball-players-share-their-expertise-summe/?news

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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ADREIL PRATT, 14, had a strong showing at the Bahamas Aquatics Federation’s 50th National Swimming Championships – her final swimming competition before she heads off to Jacksonville, Florida, to continue her education. She won four bronze medals at the swimming nationals.

#FOURTEEN-year-old Adreil Pratt had a strong showing at the Bahamas Aquatics Federation’s 50th National Swimming Championships – her final swimming competition before she heads off to Jacksonville, Florida, to continue her education.

#Pratt snagged four bronze medals – 50-, 100- and 200- metres breaststroke and 200 medley mix relay. She also placed fourth in the 100m back stroke, fifth in the 200m back stroke and 6th in the 50m back stroke. She made finals in all of the races she competed in.

#She now prepares to attend the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida to enter the 10th-grade next month.

#The school is well known for producing some of the greatest swimming athletes in the world, including Olympians. Our very own Arianna Vanderpool Wallace attended the school.

#Pratt is a member of the Black Marlins Swim Club operated by Macfit 360, West Bay Street. Her coaches are former Olympian Allan Murray and his wife, Christine.

#Lisa Rahming, minister of state for social services and urban development and Member of Parliament for Marathon, is her biggest fan.

#She was joined by members of Pratt’s fan club who came out to support her during the races. They include her little brother, her father and his fiancé spiritual advisor Prophetess Sheena Moss, and chairman of the Marathon PLP Branch, Trevor Seifert. In addition to her athletic prowess, Pratt is known for her endearing personality and poise. She is also skilled in the sport of cycling.

#Adriel looks forward to representing her country on the world stage and excelling in the sport of swimming. Good luck on your journey.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/pratt-makes-her-presence-felt-swimming-nationals/?news

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg is flanked by instructors and campers. Photos courtesy of Eric Rose

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg speaks to the campers.

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg greets one of the campers. Instructor Randy Cunningham looks on.

CAMP instructor Randy Cunningham, background, watches as some of the campers shoot the ball.

CAMPERS in action at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Summer Camp.

APOSTLE CARLOS REID, far left, and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, far right, share a moment with one of the campers.

CAMPERS enjoy the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Summer Camp.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#JUST before he left today for the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg toured his ministry’s youth summer programmes at the Tom ‘The Bird’ Grant Park, Yellow Elder School and the Edmundo Moxey community centres.

#Based on what he’s seen during his tour on Thursday, Bowleg said he was quite impressed with what the instructors are doing with the hundreds of youngsters, ages five to 17, who are participating in the various sporting and social activities.

#At the Tom ‘The Bird’ Grant Park, Bowleg met with the instructor and campers participating in basketball, volleyball, softball and baseball.

#He provided them with some life skills advice that he hopes would enable them to become productive citizens in the future.

#“Just to know that these kids are out here involved in some positive activities is very encouraging,” he said. “I’m just happy to see the many kids out here and what the ministry is doing to ensure that over the summer months, we are doing something that would keep them active and deterred from the life of crime.

#“We’ve lost a lot of young men to the streets by being involved in gangs over the past two years because of the pandemic and now with my ministry, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Services, we’re trying to make sure that we conquer the whole island so we can win our youths back through some positive activities.”

#Bowleg said he’s pleased that there are some qualified instructors, including Mario Ford in baseball, Eugene Stuart in volleyball and Randy Cunningham in basketball, so the campers will definitely be exposed to some quality instructions.

#“I expect to see some up-and-coming future stars, whether it’s professional collegiate players coming out of these camps,” he stated.

#However, Bowleg said it’s more important for the campers to be able to receive instructions year-round as they continue to invest in their future and allow them to take advantage of every opportunity to become better in whatever sport they choose to pursue.

#Cunningham, one of the renowned basketball instructors, noted that the camp is free and although they have not been able to utilise any of the gymnasiums, they have created a fun-filled environment for the youngsters to participate in.

#“We are having a series of tournaments and we will be giving out medals and trophies and certificates to all of the campers,” Cunningham said. “So please send your boys and girls out so they can have a good time.”

#One of the campers, Anton Adderley, a 12-year-old student of Uriah McPhee, said he was delighted to be a part of the camp where his uncle Anton Sturrup is one of the instructors. He noted that he was pleased to have met Bowleg, who took a photo with him and encouraged him to do his best. “This was my first time seeing him (in person) and it was good to hear from him,” Adderley said. “He was encouraging. I really like the message he gave us today. Hopefully, I can live up to it.”

#Apostle Carlos Reid, who was on hand tp promote his annual Peace on Da Streets Basketball Tournament, commended the ministry for providing this atmosphere for the youngsters to engage in.

#“This is a powerful tool right now we have to use right now,” Reid said. “Parents are frustrated right now. We have not seen the results of COVID-19. We measure it in terms of death and how many people are affected mentally.

#“But parents need a break, knowing that their kids are learning something and are in a safe environment at the same time. This is what the country needs at this time, so kudos to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for hosting this kind of event.”

#Bowleg said it’s just so fantastic to provide activities such as this to keep everyone, including the parents and kids, so they can unwind, as they focus on their mental wellness coming out of COVID-19. The camps at the various sites run from 9am to 1 pm daily.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/minister-bowleg-tours-youth-summer-programmes/?news

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, left, and the organiser, Apostle Carlos Reid, talk about about the Pastors vs Politicians game. Photo by Eric Rose

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunedmedia.net

#WHILE Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg feels the Politicians have assembled a team that they feel can win, Apostle Carlos Reid, the organiser, is urging everybody to come out and see how the Pastors counteract with their team when they meet in the Peace On Da Streets showdown.

#The two important pillars of our society will come together in the Pastors versus the Politicians basketball game 7pm on Sunday, August 7 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium as the Peace On Da Streets Basketball Classic, held in memory of the late Michael “Scooter’ Reid, will wrap up.

#The classic, which will feature a 13-and-under, 16-and-under, 19-and-under, open men and church division, is slated to run from August 1-7.

#The Pastors vs the Politicians will be the highlight of the championship day on Sunday.

#“We are going to win this year,” Bowleg said. “I have no doubt that the great Bishop Neil Ellis will be on the other end coaching the Pastors and our Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis will be coaching the Politicians.

#“We have no doubt that when you put Leonardo Lightbourne, McKell Bonaby, Bacchus Rolle, Wayde Watson and me along with Shanendon Cartwright, once we are in shape and we can get up and down the court, we will be fine.”

#Bowleg, a former player turned coach and administrator of basketball, said Reid is looking at some young Pastors to participate, but he anticipates that it will be a fun-filled game that no Bahamian, no matter what side of the court they are rooting for, will want to miss.

#“We are all ministers in our own rights, whether it’s as spiritual ministers or ministers of government, we all must come together and share our knowledge and we want to do what is right to ensure that this country is ran right,” Bowleg said.

#Unfazed by what he heard from Bowleg, Reid said he will remain respectful, as he was taught in the church.

#“But this is not a jokey match as it was in the past,” he said.

#“This is going to be a real game,” he said. “The Politicians look good. They have a good team on paper, but we know because we understand scripture, just as David cut down Goliath, we are going to cut down their size.

#“The thing that we have going for us this year is that we’ve moved the game to Sunday for a number of reasons. We know that in the Bahamas, Sunday is a day when we worship God. This is going to be a worship experience. We are going to bring the whole church inside the gym. We will have the crowd behind us and there’s no way in the world the church is going to allow the politicians to win one.”

#Reid, however, said they are not going to “let everything out of the bag” because when he asked Bowleg for their roster, he only sent in their height, but didn’t provide any names.

#So, he’s trying to keep that under wraps until the day of competition.

#Having held their own against the politicians in the past, Reid said the church will once again prevail.

#“We just came out of elections about a year ago and so this is a time for healing,” he said. “We will see people from the PLP, the FNM and even the DNA come together. That is what this country needs during this social unrest that we are going through.”

#This year, Reid said they decided to honour his brother, Michael Reid, whom he considers to be a legend in the Bahamas.

#“We want to make sure that people will always remember who Scooter Reid was,” he stated.

#“So, we decided to name the tournament this year, the Michael ‘Scooter’ Reid Peace On Da Street Basketball Classic.”

#As the elite basketball tournament in the country, Reid said this allows the professional and collegiate players who are home on a break to participate in the event and they are even looking at having some visiting scouts in town to look at the talent on display.

#Reid said in the words of Bishop Lawrence Rolle, they want to be “loose as a goose” in getting back out in society and participating in sports again since the country was locked down as a result of COVID-19.

#“It balances us in life,” Bowleg added. “As people go back to work and school, they get caught up in activities. But at the end of the day, everybody needs some extracurricular activities to help balance them at the end of the day.”

#There is an entry fee of $10 per adult and $5 for children under 12 to view the action.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/politicians-face-pastors-peace-da-streets-showdown/?news

TEAM BAHAMAS at the Caribbean Women’s Championship last night at the Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum in Havana, Cuba.

As of Thursday, July 14, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#The Bahamas senior women’s national basketball team opened the 2022 Caribbean Women’s Championship with a lopsided loss to the host country on the first night of competition.

#Cuba took a dominant 76-44 win over The Bahamas last night at the Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum in Havana, Cuba.

#High school sensation Denika Lightbourne finished with 17 points and five rebounds – both team highs – while Valerie Nesbitt added 13 points, four assists, three steals and two blocks.

#The Bahamas shot just 25 percent from the field (11-43) and 20 percent from three-point range (2-10). Cuba also struggled from three-point range at just 9.5 percent (2-21) but dominated the interior with a nine-rebound advantage and 47 percent shooting from the field (27-57).

#Nahomis Vargas led three Cubans in double figures with 15 points, Isabella Jourdain had 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Yamara Amargo had 11 points.

#Cuba took a 20-8 lead after the opening quarter and led 38-22 at the half. The Bahamas had their best scoring quarter in the third when they edged the Cubans 16-14, but followed that with their worst quarter in the fourth when they were outscored 24-6.

#The Bahamas will face the Dominican Republic at 5pm today and Jamaica at the same time on Friday, July 15.

#The playoffs will take place on Saturday and Sunday, July 16-17.

#The CBC grants three spots in the Women’s Centrobasket Championship 2022, scheduled for the month of November.

#This marks the first time Cuba has hosted a regional senior women’s basketball event in more than 20 years.

#Recently, the Ciudad Deportiva de La Habana coliseum hosted their men’s senior team in two FIBA World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers games during the second window in February.

#Team Bahamas is coached by Donnie Culmer, who is assisted by Deven Johnson and Di’Asti Delancy.

#The roster includes Nesbitt, Lightbourne, Philicia Kelly, Britenique Harrison, Roberta Quant and Latoya Rolle, Tiffany Wildgoose, Lativia Brennen, Antonicia Moultrie, Valicia Demeritte, Denika Lightbourne, Lorraine Oliver and Karolyn Baptiste.

#The team is managed by Anastacia Sands-Moultrie with Charlis Robbins as the director of basketball operations, Latoya Silver as the head of delegation and Sasha Johnson as the trainer.

#In addition to winning the CBC Championship for Women in 2015, the Bahamas also won the 1998 Caricom Basketball Championship for Women and placed third at the CBC Women’s Championships in 2018.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/14/team-bahamas-falls-cuba-76-44-opener/?news

Sports

Thomas opens competition for Team Bahamas; Miller-Uibo still strong contender for gold

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJuly 15, 2022 461 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Team Bahamas will be missing a huge piece, but there is still ultimate optimism for the now 16-member team that will begin competition today in Eugene, Oregon, USA.

The 18th World Athletics (WA) Outdoor Championships will get underway today and run through July 24 at historic Hayward Field in Eugene. World and Olympic Champion Steven Gardiner pulled out of the men’s 400 meters (m) on Monday. He was a strong contender for the gold medal, but medal hopes remain for Team Bahamas, particularly in the women’s 400m.

Two-time Olympic Champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo will contest the women’s 400m, still looking for her first world title outdoors. By her standards, she has had a subdued 2022 season, but still won the world indoor title this year and remains the most feared runner outdoors. Miller-Uibo has a modest season’s best time of 49.91 seconds in the 400m outdoors – good enough to place her third on the World Athletics’ top performance list for 2022. However, she is the only woman in the field of competitors to run under 49 seconds and is the favorite for the gold medal. Miller-Uibo’s lifetime best of 48.36 seconds, done for the Olympic title in Tokyo, Japan, last year, is nearly a second faster than anyone else in the field of 51 athletes at the Eugene World Championships.

She suffered her first Diamond League defeat in the women’s 400m since 2015 in May of this year, fading to third in 51.84 seconds in Doha, Qatar, but bounced back a month later at the Paris Diamond League Meet, winning comfortably in 50.10 seconds.

“At this stage, I’m quite confident about my chances to succeed in Eugene,” Miller-Uibo told reporters. “I’m healthy, everything is going great at training. I’m exactly in the shape I wanted to be at this time of the season.”

Miller-Uibo could run a leg of the mixed 4x400m relay that starts today, but likely won’t step on the track until the heats of the women’s 400m at midday on Sunday.

The first athlete to see action for The Bahamas will be former World Champion Donald Thomas in the men’s high jump. He is now 15 years removed from that world title in Osaka, Japan, but is the only world outdoor champion on the team.

Thomas, who has a lifetime best of 2.37m (7’ 9-1/4”) and a modest season’s best of 2.25m (7’ 4-1/2”), will be the third jumper in Group B of the men’s high jump qualification round. He will compete at 10:10 a.m. today local time in Eugene, 1:10 p.m. here in The Bahamas.

An automatic qualifying mark of 2.30m (7’ 6-1/2”) or a spot among the 12 best jumpers will qualify Thomas for the final which is set for Monday evening at 8:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) in The Bahamas. There are 32 jumpers entered in the men’s high jump competition.

Also in action for The Bahamas today will be the mixed 4x400m relay team, LaQuan Nairn in the qualifying round of the men’s high jump and Samson Colebrooke and Terrence Jones in the first round heats of the men’s 100m.

The mixed relay team will see action at 11:56 a.m. in Eugene, 2:56 p.m. here in The Bahamas. They will run out of heat six in lane two. In the relay pool for The Bahamas are Miller-Uibo, Anthonique Strachan, Megan Moss, Doneisha Anderson, Javonya Valcourt, Jenae Ambrose, Alonzo Russell, Bradley Dormeus and Wanya McCoy.

The first three teams in each semifinal heat and the next two fastest teams will qualify for the final which is set for 10:50 p.m. EST tonight. That race will close out day one of competition.

Nairn is The Bahamas’ first competitor in the men’s long jump at a global meet in 10 years – ever since Raymond Higgs at the 2012 Olympics in London, England. He will be the seventh jumper in Group B of the men’s long jump at 9 p.m. EST this evening.

Nairn has a season’s and lifetime best of 8.22m (26’ 11-1/4”) which qualified him for the world championships. He is listed at number eight in the world on the World Athletics’ top performance list for 2022.

Nairn has high hopes of advancing to the final as an automatic qualifying leap of 8.15m (26’ 9”) or a spot among the 12 best jumpers will put him in the final which is set for Saturday evening at 9:20 p.m. EST in The Bahamas. There are 34 jumpers entered in the men’s long jump competition.

Finally on Friday, for The Bahamas, Colebrooke and Jones will compete in the first round heats of the men’s 100m. The lane assignments are yet to be released, but that event will get underway at 9:50 p.m. EST.

The heats of the women’s 100m, and the semifinals and final of the men’s 100m, along with the final of the men’s long jump, are set for Saturday. To complete the weekend for The Bahamas, Miller-Uibo will compete in the heats of the women’s 400m at midday on Sunday, and the semifinals and final of the women’s 100m will be held later on Sunday.

Competing next week for Team Bahamas will be Miller-Uibo (women’s 400m), Anthonique Strachan and TyNia Gaither (women’s 200m), Devynne Charlton (women’s 100m hurdles), Ken Mullings (men’s decathlon), and the women’s 4x400m relay team.

The Bahamas has won at least one medal at every world athletics championships since 2013, and has won 25 medals in the history of the championships –eight gold, nine silver and eight bronze.

This is the first time the world championships are being held on US soil in the 39-year history of the event. A total of 1,972 athletes from 192 countries are set to compete.

https://thenassauguardian.com/worlds-start-today-without-stevie/