As of Thursday, November 24, 2022

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#THE excitement is building for the upcoming launch of the 50th CARIFTA Games 2023, to be held here in the Bahamas from April 7-10, 2023.

#As the region looks to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Caricom and The Bahamas, its 50th Golden Jubilee Independence Celebrations, the 50th Anniversary of the CARIFTA Games is a welcomed addition to the planned celebrations.

#Governing organisations such as NACAC, led by Mike Sands, president, BAAA, led by Drumeco Archer, president, and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, led by the Hon. Minister Mario Bowleg, are excited with the preparations and potential of this latest rendition of the Carifta Games. The Carifta Games, since its inception from 1972, has been an incubator that has created Olympic and World Class athletes throughout the region. Many of which have taken to the world stage and awed the global family by their illustration of dedication, passion, discipline, and love for their respective events.

#The 50th Carifta Games Local Organizing Committee (LOC), led by CEO, Lynden Maycock, has designed the events leading up to next year’s occasion to highlight, present and past athletes that have contributed to the development of the Carifta Games all-encompassing history. A part these events include an International Press conference, scheduled Wednesday, November 30th, at 10:00 am with a Pre-show streaming live at 9:30 am.

#Additionally, the Official Launch will occur the following day at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium at 6pm, with a Carifta 50 Live, preshow at 4:30 pm, hosted by local media personality, Shenique Miller. The pre-show events will include entertainment that includes, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force Band, the All-Star Band, the World-Famous Bahamas Brass Band and a Junkanoo Rush Out.

#The Official Launch will include the re-launch of the Legend’s Walk, where Olympian and World Athletic champions, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Stephen Gardiner and Anthonique Strachan, will be honored and added to the Legend’s Walk.

#The event will also highlight the past athletes who have been Austin Sealy Award recipients for The Bahamas.

#The event is free to the public and will have food sold on site.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/24/excitement-building-50th-carifta-games-2023-bahama/?news

THE LW Young Golden Eagles in action against the HO Nash Lions in junior girls softball action yesterday. The Lions won 18-2.

As of Thursday, November 24, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#The CR Walker Knights, Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins, AF Adderley Fighting Tigers and HO Nash Lions all prevailed with game one victories in their respective Government Secondary Schools Sports Association best-of-three baseball and softball championship series.

#Game two in all series will continue today at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

#Senior boys baseball

#RM Bailey 1,

#CR Walker Knights 0

#In the much anticipated pitcher’s duel, Ladanian McKenzie got the win after Iverson Laguerre scored the only run of the game in the fourth inning.

#McKenzie, holding on for the win, had nine strikeouts, the same as losing pitcher Kendal Brown.

#“I’m satisfied with how they played,” said RM Bailey’s coach Clifton Carey. “We got the pitching match-up that we expected, but we were better prepared for this game than they were.”

#Carey, however, said he knows that it will not be a walk in the park as they go for the sweep today and he indicated that he expects to have his team firing on all cylinders.

#Senior girls softball

#Doris Johnson 16,

#CR Walker 2

#In the continuation of their perfect season, the Mystic Marlins didn’t hold anything back as they slaughtered the Knights, producing a pair of eight runs in the first and second innings. CR Walker could only muster two runs in the first inning. Grace Chea, who provided some of the offensive spark, was the winning pitcher.

#Vanessa Sawyer was tagged with the loss. “They did very well. In the past few weeks, our batting was a little shaky, but we worked on that and they came out and batted very well today (yesterday),” said Zania Kemp, the head coach of CV Bethel. “I expect us to continue that intensity in game two. We’re looking to bring home another win. We have the potential to win. We just have to go out there and do it.”

#Junior boys baseball

#SC McPherson 5,

#HO Nash 1

#After pulling off a 5-1 victory in the earlier game to complete the playoffs, the SC McPherson Sharks didn’t have any steam left to face the undefeated AF Adderley Fighting Tigers in game one, scoring two runs in the first, one in the third and five more in the fourth.

#Mario Dean got the win in relief for Justin Colebrooke. Michael Lopez suffered the loss.

#“I feel pretty good. I’m satisfied with how we played. We had good pitching. Our first pitcher went about couple innings and then we brought in our next pitcher and he kept up the intensity,” said Fighting Tigers’ coach Vincent Sullivan. “We have to come back for game two. Our mission is not complete. We have to finish it off.”

#Sullivan said they will come out with the same intensity and hopefully that will enable them to secure another win. But he cautioned his players, reminding them that they have to play in order to win because SC McPherson won’t just give it to them..

#Junior girls softball

#HO Nash 18,

#LW Young 2

#The Golden Eagles survived the completion of their playoff game earlier in the day with a 6-4 decision over the CH Reeves Raptors. But they were simply no match for the Lions in game one of the final.

#Jermiah Frazer came through with another big performance on the mound for the win, while Brianna Knowles was tagged with the loss. “We played very well today,” said catcher Jada Frazer. “I didn’t expect my hit because I was getting walked, so when I got the inside of the parker, I was very happy.”

#She said they are confident that they will take game two today.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/24/gsssa-finals-underway/

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 Home|Sports|Prestigious Caribbean Baseball Cup set for NassauSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailNovember 23, 2022 276 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Within days, the prestigious Caribbean Baseball Cup will stage its fourth annual competition on Bahamian soil, thanks to the Bahamas Baseball Association (BBA).

Senior league baseball action returns to Nassau in a big way on Sunday December 4 when Team Bahamas faces Caribbean powerhouse teams from Cuba, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Curacao – the tournament’s defending champions.

During the week-long competition, there will be three games per day at the new Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium in the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre. This is the fourth annual Caribbean Baseball Cup, but it’s the first time it’s being held here in The Bahamas.

After addressing the media during the Office of the Prime Minister’s weekly briefing, members of the BBA’s local organizing committee (LOC) paid a courtesy call on Governor General Sir Cornelius Smith, who expressed appreciation for their voluntary work to the success of the Caribbean Baseball Cup.

Led by BBA President Sam Rodgers and the association’s secretary general Theodore Sweeting, the LOC members included Lyrone Burrows, Jennifer Isaacs, Mario Ford, Judy Charlton, and chief umpire Martin “Pork” Burrows.

The courtesy call was organized by Tommy Stubbs, member of the Governor General Volunteer Bahamas (GGVB) Committee, who is also spearheading the promotion for the upcoming baseball tournament. GGVB members in attendance were Arthurnique Jones, Anthony “Ace” Newbold and Sandena Neely, also of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

The governor general told the group that The Bahamas can never compensate them for their contributions to this and other efforts over the years, and encouraged them to train the youth to follow in their footsteps. He said he envisions baseball returning as the No.1 sport in The Bahamas.

Making up Team Bahamas will be some of the finest Bahamian players assigned to Major League Baseball (MLB) minor system and attending US colleges. The team manager is Geron Sands.

When the tournament ends on Sunday, December 11, two teams will qualify to compete at next year’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in San Salvador, El Salvador, to which the governor general asked: “Who will be the other team”? He certainly expects Team Bahamas to qualify.

https://thenassauguardian.com/prestigious-caribbean-baseball-cup-set-for-nassau/

 Home|Sports|St. Fleur scores winning goal for The Bahamas; improves to 2-0Sports

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 23, 2022 293 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas senior men’s national beach soccer team improved to a 2-0 win/loss record in the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Sea and Beach Games on Tuesday, coming from behind to take down Mexico, 2-1, at the Beach Soccer Stadium in Santa Marta, Colombia.

This is the inaugural year for the event, and there are 650 athletes from 26 countries participating. Also being contested are beach wrestling, open water swimming, surfing, beach volleyball, beach rugby, handball, skateboarding and tennis.

Head coach for The Bahamas Nesly Jean said they had to change formation after Mexico scored to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

“We wanted to high press man-to-man and try and get the keeper to do more of the kicking. When we went down, we basically changed formation and also personnel up top. Overall, we limited our mistakes and the team is improving. The players are starting to buy into the different system that we have created,” Jean said.

The Bahamas’ captain Lesly St. Fleur was left wide open on the far post and received a pass from Jaime Thompson. He beat two Mexican defenders on that possession in the final period for the game-winning goal. It seemed as if Mexico forgot to do their scouting report as St. Fleur did what he does best – find the back of the net. The veteran beach soccer player is one of the best in the region. He flicked the ball off his right heel and sent it rolling into the back of the goal at the 4:07 mark to complete the comeback victory for the Bahamian side. It was St. Fleur’s first goal of this tournament.

St. Fleur said that his goal was a result of the hard work they put into their craft in practice. He said it was a counter-attack where he got open and was rewarded on the back post.

“I was by myself. The ball came across and the only thing I had to do was put the icing on the cake and seal the deal. Nothing was going through my head – it was just on me to finish off the game,” St. Fleur said.

Thompson scored the equalizer for The Bahamas one minute earlier at the 5:04 mark. Thompson made a good defensive play and passed the ball to goalkeeper Michael Butler. Thompson ran down the right flank and Butler rewarded that run with an on-target pass that Thompson bicycle-kicked past the Mexican goalkeeper and into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Thompson, who was injured last month and could not play in the Bahamas Beach Soccer Cup Tournament, netted his second goal of the tournament so far.

Jose Morales scored the opening goal for Mexico at the 1:12 mark of the first period.

St. Fleur said that it was good to come away with the win.

“We kept calm throughout the game, knowing that we would score so we played with confidence,” St. Fleur said. The Bahamas showed that their 3-1 win over Colombia in the Bahamas Beach Soccer Cup 2022 was not a fluke as they got a 4-3 victory over the host on Monday in their opening game. Scoring for The Bahamas in that game on Monday were Dwayne Forbes, Jean Francois, Gary Joseph and Thompson. Francois was not available for the game yesterday after picking up a red card against Colombia.

The win yesterday puts The Bahamas at the top of table with six points, having scored six goals and conceding four.

The Bahamas returns to action today when they take on El Salvador at 2:30 p.m. They are hoping to use the two victories from the first two days to give them the momentum they need against a tough El Salvador team.

The Bahamas will be going for its sixth straight win in the region, dating back to October of this year. Their last loss was May 2021 which was a 5-4 setback against Mexico.

https://thenassauguardian.com/st-fleur-scores-winning-goal-for-the-bahamas-improves-to-2-0/

 Home|Sports|Crusaders pummel SACSports

They win the BAISS senior boys title, taking the series two games to one

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 23, 2022 493 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

After dropping their first game of the season in game two, the Nassau Christian School (NCS) Crusaders senior boys team pummeled the St. Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine, 20-3, in game three to win the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) senior boys softball title yesterday. They won the best-of-three series two games to one, claiming their third softball championship in Crusaders’ history.

The Freedom Farm Baseball Fields was loud, in particular, by the 

Crusaders’ dugout for most of the night as the game was in their favor from the bottom of the first inning when they scored 12 runs to take a 12-0 lead. They never trailed. This was their most dominant performance in the series having won the first game 26-11 and losing the second one 19-18.

Coach for the Crusaders Ainsworth Beckford thanked his players and the Big Red Machine for a hard fought series.

“For us, last game we started off very poor and it was not Crusaders softball. This game we brought it back – the game we had all season. Tonight, I told them that we are going to play our game which is a patient game. The result was a championship,” Beckford said.

After the Crusaders scored 12 runs in that first inning, the Big Red Machine only managed to put two runs on the board in the top of the second and the game began to look like a runaway one in favor of the Crusaders. In the bottom of the second inning, the Crusaders added four runs to take a 16-2 lead, sending their fans into full celebration mode.

Crusaders’ pitcher and Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jahiem Davis and the Crusaders’ defense kept the Big Red Machine scoreless for four innings after they scored in the second. They gave up the other run in the seventh and final inning.

“When we lost that game last week it was our first loss of the season. That gave me the spirit to fight harder. Coach Beckford told me this is a must-win game and we responded,” Davis said.

Beckford said that Davis really wanted to win this game as his sister Apryl Davis had already won the senior girls title last week for the Crusaders.

“He came here with an intention to follow his sister’s success so he came to pitch a good game this evening. He is in grade 10 and he is going to be dangerous for the next two years. As you just saw, he is the future for us,” Beckford said.

The Crusaders scored three runs in the third inning to take a commanding 19-2 lead. They scored their final run in the bottom of the sixth.

In the junior girls division, SAC swept the Queen’s College (QC) Comets, winning 23-19 in game one and 15-9 in game two. In game two of that series, SAC scored 12 of their 15 runs in the last two innings to pull off the victory. QC could only muster three runs after the third inning.

In the junior boys division, QC swept the Temple Christian Suns two games to none, winning the first game, 11-8, and then completing the sweep with a 15-7 win in game two. The Comets lost their only game of the regular season to SAC, and went into the playoffs as the number two seed. They disposed of the Crusaders in their single elimination playoff game, and easily handled the Suns in the championship series.

In the senior girls division, the Crusaders swept QC two games to none, winning the first game, 14-10, and then completing the sweep with a 4-3 scoreline in game two. After comfortably taking the first game, the Crusaders relied on good pitching and strong defense to get the job done in game two. They finished a perfect 8-0 in the regular season and then disposed of the defending champions St. John’s College Giants in their single elimination playoff game.

It is now the end of the BAISS softball season. They will now turn their attention toward the basketball season that gets underway today.

https://thenassauguardian.com/crusaders-pummel-sac/

 Home|Sports|Providence Storm win basketball tournament on EleutheraSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailNovember 24, 2022 115 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The highlight of National Sports Month thus far has been the Hall of Fame inductions, but capping off the festivities was a basketball jamboree on the island of Eleuthera. The two-day tournament was held in Lower Bogue, North Eleuthera, November 4 and 5.

Taking part in a junior and senior boys basketball tournament, organized by the ‘Loving Basketball’ organization was a number of teams from Eleuthera as well as the Providence Storm junior and senior boys teams from New Providence.

At the end of the day, it was the Providence Storm teams, coached by Mark Hanna, that came out victorious, winning both divisions. The runner-up in the junior boys division was the Harbour Island All-Age School team, coached by Andrew “Tiny” Johnson, and in the open senior boys division, Central Eleuthera High was the runner-up.

The weekend tournament was staged by the ‘Loving Basketball’ organization in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Eleuthera Basketball Association.

Also taking part in the competition was Preston Albury High School, coached by Lucas Armbrister and North Eleuthera High School coached by former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Dexter Cambridge.

Organizers are extending special thanks to Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg and his administrative team for their assistance, particularly the Department of Sports, the Eleuthera Basketball Association and its president Dereck Smith and all partners who would have assisted in the staging of the tournament. They are also extending thanks to Member of Parliament (MP) for North Eleuthera Sylvanus Petty and Island Administrator Stephen Wilson.

Lead organizer Ian Bethel said he will be preparing teams to travel to the ‘Bringing Back the Glory’ Boys and Girls Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Basketball Tournament, set for June 2023, in Port Arthur, Texas. He said it is all about getting our young basketball players more opportunities.

https://thenassauguardian.com/providence-storm-win-basketball-tournament-on-eleuthera/

 Home|Sports|NCAA champions Jayhawks tip off Battle 4 Atlantis with a winSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 24, 2022 111 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Men’s Basketball Champions University of Kansas Jayhawks held off a pesky North Carolina State University Wolfpack team, 80-74, in their opening game of the 11th edition of the Battle 4 Atlantis Men’s Tournament yesterday. The win places the Jayhawks in the semifinals, set for today at 11 a.m. They will take on the Wisconsin Badgers.

The win push Bill Self’s squad to a perfect 5-0 record on the season. Self’s return to the bench came after being suspended for the first four games of the season. This is the second time the Jayhawks are playing in the tournament, having done so in 2013. The Wolfpack was in the tournament in 2017.

Playing inside the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, the Jayhawks’ Gradey Dick was masterful, scoring a career-high 25 points in 35 minutes on the floor. The freshman was the catalyst for the Jayhawks in the first half, going 6-for-9 from the field – all from downtown to finish with 18 points. He flirted with a school record for most made three-pointers in a half which is seven. Dick was perfect from the free throw line going 5-for-5.

Dick, who was happy to have Self on the bench, said that the win showed that they can close out teams.

“I think it really just showed what our team is about and in crunch time, we can come out with tough plays when we really need it,” Dick said.

Both teams shot the ball poorly with the Jayhawks edging out the Wolfpack 41 percent to 39 percent.

Jalen Wilson had a double-double with 19 points and 11 boards while Dajuan Harris came away with 14 points and six assists to go along with three steals for the Jayhawks. Also finishing with a double-double was Kevin McCullar who had 10 points and 11 boards.

Casey Morsell scored 21 points to lead the Wolfpack (4-1), and Terquavion Smith added 19 points.

At the end of the first half, the Jayhawks led 39-31. The game had five lead changes and five ties in the first half. The Wolfpack came out of the intermission on a strong 8-0 scoring run to tie the game at 39-39 with 18:01 left in the second half.

The Jayhawks went up 55-47 with 12:46 left in the game after Wilson sank two free shots. They looked like they might have the separation that they needed but the Wolfpack came knocking on their door once more – this time tying it at 61 points apiece on two made free shots by Jarkel Joiner at the 7:42 mark.

Like they did in the first half, the Jayhawks went on a run and led by eight. They held a 76-68 advantage. The closest the Wolfpack got to them the rest of the way was six points.

Games continue today at noon, and action wraps up on Friday night.

https://thenassauguardian.com/ncaa-champions-jayhawks-tip-off-battle-4-atlantis-with-a-win/

Golden Girls from left to right are Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, Savatheda Fynes-Coke, Chandra Sturrup, Eldece Clarke and Pauline Davis-Thompson.

As of Tuesday, November 22, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#It was a memorable night on Wednesday for the athletes, who shared centre stage with ‘Golden Girls’ Savatheda Fynes-Coke, Chandra Sturrup, Pauline Davis-Thompson, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and Eldece Clarke as they were inducted into the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s 2022 National Sports Hall of Fame.

#It was the 17th induction ceremony since the initial class was enshrined in 1989. After a break, the second induction took place in 2003 and have been held every consecutive year with this year’s ceremony staged at Baha Mar. Governor General Cornelius Smith performed the act.

#While the ‘Golden Girls’ went in as a group of five women who put the Bahamas on the map with back-to-back gold medals at the World Championships in Seville, Spain in 1999 and the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia in 2000, they were joined by 14 individual athletes, two of whom are deceased.

#Each of the inductees, including champion boxers Ray Minus Jr and Stevie ‘the Heat’ Larimore, boxer and executive extraordinaire Wellington Miller, squash player Ivern Davis, softballers Sydney ‘Bobby Baylor’ Fernander and Everette ‘Abe’ Johnson, martial artist Charles Franklyn Adderley, volleyballers Raymond ‘Rhymes’ Wilson and Dr Patricia ‘Patti’ Symonette, bodybuilder Maxine Darville, basketballers Perry Thompson, Fred ‘Slab’ Laing, the late John Terry Wildgoose and bowler Monique Leary, were introduced with an historic review of their past by Kendal Wright, the host of a sports talk show.

GOVERNOR General Cornelius Smith, right, presents Maxine Darville (Bodybuilding) with her certificate during her induction into the Class of 2022 National Sports Hall of Fame. Photos: Moises Amisial/Tribune Staff

#In his response on behalf of the entire group, Wilson took a spiritual perspective from Psalms chapter eight and verse which asked the question: What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? “What is the Bahamas that thou art so mindful of us,” Wilson countered, “and as sons and daughters of the Bahamians that thou visited us.”

#Wilson, a former outstanding basketball player who was honoured for his role as a volleyball player and as coach of the national men’s and women’s national teams that won medals at a number of international events, said their class is loaded with notable performances that included Minus Jr being crowned a champion and the ‘Golden Girls’ stopping the world with their gold medal performances. “We the class of 2022, we thank you, all of you who are here, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Minister Mario Bowleg, our Governor General Cornelius Smith, we thank you so much for what you have done,” he said. “We the class of 2022 leave this with you: ‘the journey continues. March on Bahamaland.’”

Charles Franklyn Adderley (martial arts) receives his induction certificate from Governor General Cornelius Smith. Photo: Moises Amisial/Tribune Staff

#His fellow inductees were all thrilled to have been honoured.

#While Symonette played just about every sport, like Wilson, she too went in for volleyball, but it didn’t matter. She knew she has accomplished enough to get inducted in any sport.

#“It’s humbling because I always tell people, when I was competing in sports, there was no Hall of Famer. You didn’t do it for that. You did it for the love of the game,” she said. “But you really feel good when you have contributed to something that is nation-building and you are recognised for it.”

#She thanked the sports media for providing the coverage that enabled her performance and those of the other honourees to be highlighted to the world.

#“It feels very good. I’m very honoured that the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture recognised me,” said Darville, one of the most prolific female bodybuilders who won numerous national and CAC Championship titles. “It was magical. Just to be recognised.”

#Darville, a personal trainer, said it made her want to get back on stage, but she dares not come out of retirement.

#As a bowler, Leary went around the world dropping the pins to cart off various international titles.

#“It’s a beautiful, beautiful feeling right now. It’s a humbling honour,” said the Grand Bahamian native, who served as president of the Bahamas Bowling Federation. “Sitting there with all of these great people, was just a great feeling.”

#Miller, the long-time president of the Bahamas Boxing Federation after he retired as one of the top heavyweight boxers before he ventured into the Bahamas Olympic Committee as a vice president and president, said he’s reached the pinnacle of sports in the country.

#“This is the highest that I can go into sports in the National Hall of Fame,” he said.

#“I’ve been inducted for administration so it gives other persons to work just as hard when they get involved. You never know what will happen for you.

#“It’s just great to be in this class with the Golden Girls, but especially with Ray Minus Jr and Stevie Larimore. We came up together through boxing. Now look at us. We are all inducted in the same class.”

#Minus Jr, accompanied by his long-time former sparring partner and arch-rival Quincy ‘Thrill-A-Minute’ Pratt, was unable to talk about his triumph as the WBC Continental Americas lightweight, WBA Inter-Continental super lightweight and British Commonwealth bantamweight titles as he was too overwhelmed in his physical condition.

#But Larimore, another boxer honoured, was thrilled. “It’s great to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I was praying for years that this was going to happen,” said Larimore, who won a Commonwealth Games bronzes medal and held both the WBC Continental Americas lightweight and the British Commonwealth light welterweight titles. “It’s great to be a Hall of Famer for all of my accomplishments in my boxing career. Boxing did well for me.”

#After almost 50 years when he starred as a basketball player, Laing said he never envisioned this day would come.

#“It’s great. I really appreciate this,” he said. “I’m glad that they didn’t overlook me. I’m done playing, but I’m still doing some things in the sport and I will continue to do so.”

#Thompson, a former basketball player who went on to become the head of the perennial kingpins Commonwealth Bank Giants, said he had an awesome experience as a member of the class of 2022.

#“I’m just happy and elated to be here with my family and friends,” he said. “I wish I could suit up again. But God has been good and I’m glad that I was able to make it as a player and as a coach in the sport.”

#Fernander, credited with helping to organise softball in Grand Bahama, also charted the course for both the men’s and women’s national teams, guiding the latter to a third place finish in the World Games in Seattle, Washington, in 1981.

#“I waited a long time, but the one thing, I went down with the Golden Girls. I’m happy that I caught the Golden Girls,” he said. “It was a nice ceremony and I enjoyed it.”

#Also retired from playing fastpitch where he made a name for himself as a power hitting pitcher, Aber Johnson said he’s just glad that he’s still alive to receive his roses and to do it in what he dubbed the “best class” with the ‘Golden Girls.’

#“I’m very happy that I didn’t go in posthumously,” he said. “I really appreciate the fact that I got it. I’m very happy. It’s nothing like smelling your flowers and I’m glad that I got that opportunity. So I’m really happy.”

#For the ‘Golden Girls’, it was a reunion in person, although they stay in touch on social media. “It’s always a pleasure to be appreciated by one’s country, so I would like to thank the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for this honour,” said Clarke, considered the glamour girl of the crew.

#“We can’t wait to go back out to Fish Fry and hang out and do some of the things we did before and have a girls’ time.”

#The veteran of the crew, Davis-Thompson, concurred with Clarke, but took it a bit further.

#“It feels so great to share this honour with so many other distinguished Bahamians, who did so many great things for our country,” she said. “It’s hard to describe the feeling when you put on the Bahamian uniform to represent your country and that is what each of us did. It’s the Bahamas that matters the most.”

#Sturrup, still the women’s national 100m record holder at 10.84 seconds from 2005 in Lausanne, Switzerland, was limited in her reaction as she was remembered for her fast take off as the second leg runner on the relay team.

#“It’s great. My son, Shawn Jr, is here with me, so it’s even more fabulous,” said Sturrup, who now resides in North Carolina where she’s coaching at the high school level. “It was lovely to be back here with the rest of the Golden Girls.”

#Ferguson-McKenzie, now an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky under Bahamian head coach Rolando ‘Lonnie’ Greene, said it’s an honour for her because she remembers how most people got it posthumously. “It was special for us because Chandra and Savatheda and I got a chance to spend some time together reminiscing with your days travelling together to compete and then we got reunited with Eldece and Pauline,” said Ferguson, who anchored the Olympic gold medal relay team.

#“This was so special because we got to sit around with some great people who we watched on TV like Ray Minus Jr. It was just fantastic and give God all thanks for this opportunity and this moment to learn from a lot of them who came before us and hopefully we will have something to pass down to those who come after us.”

#And Fynes, the Abaco native known as one of the fastest starters in the world, said she’s always excited to be home, even this time as she got to celebrate with her former team-mates.

#“There’s always memories. I will always have memories from the time I spent with the ladies and coming here for this event, it’s kind of emotional because it’s a while since we had something to celebrate together,” said Fynes-Coke, who resides in New Jersey with her husband and family.

#Bowleg, in thanking his staff at the Ministry and Governor General Smith for carrying out the induction, said it was a great night for sports in the country.

#“This is one of the strongest representations of athletes we have seen in any of our classes inducted recently,” Bowleg said.

#“This is just my second induction, but when you look at the others, this one was very strong with international performances from the ‘Golden Girls’, bodybuilding, bowling, softball and volleyball.”

#He said he’s just delighted to be the sitting minister to celebrate the performances of the Bahamian athletes.

#Bahamas Olympic Committee president Rommel Knowles had some words of commendation, calling the inductees some of the finest sports icons in the history of the Bahamas as he noted that they all have a story that one would appreciate.

#“Their journeys are all diverse but you would find a singular most prolific thing as an athlete, which is adorning our national uniform and the rising of our Bahamian flag and hearing our national anthem gives one a sense of pride comparable to nothing else in the world,” he summed up.

#Former football player Obie Wilchcombe, the Minister for Social Services, was also on hand to offer his own personal words of congratulations to the inductees, noting how he covered many of their historic performances when he was a reporter at ZNS.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/18/golden-girls-inducted-national-sports-hall-fame/?news

UCF wins Bahamas Championship

As of Monday, November 21, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE Central Florida Knights began 10 days of NCAA Division I basketball at the Baha Mar Convention Centre by winning the “Bahamas Championship” tournament title.

#The Knights defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 57-50 last night in the finale.

#Taylor Hendricks was the lone UCF player in double figures with 19 points.

#In a low scoring first half, the Knights’ defence forced 11 turnovers and limited Santa Clara to just 21 percent shooting from the field.

#They took a 25-16 lead at the half and never trailed.

#In game one, the Knights overcame a 17-point deficit and defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys 60-56 in overtime.

#Head coach Johnny Dawkins said it set the tone for the weekend trip.

#It was the second overtime game for UCF on the young season.

#“What a game, four games in and we have two overtime games,” Dawkins said. “Our guys really had to find a way to dig deep to find a way to win. I’m just proud of our guy’s effort.

#“I thought they played hard, it took us a while to adjust to their length and athleticism.

#“As the game wore on, I feel like we got a little more comfortable and we got back to playing UCF basketball. What a good win for our programme.”

#In the third-place game, Oklahoma State defeated DePaul 82-78 on Sunday afternoon.

#The Knights’ appearance at the Baha Mar Championship was its first time back in The Bahamas since their 2011 appearance at the Battle 4 Atlantis. The women take the floor next with the tip-off of the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship today.

#Five of the eight teams in the field were participants in last year’s NCAA Tournament, including Bahamian native Yolett McPhee-McCuin and her Ole Miss programme.

#The action concludes on Thanksgiving weekend with the eight-team Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship.

#The men’s tournament, which is designed strictly for mid-major NCAA Division I programmes, is in its fifth iteration after launching in 2017.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/21/ucf-wins-bahamas-championship/?news

As of Monday, November 21, 2022

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TO mark International Men’s Day under the theme, ‘Make Time for Mates,’ a men’s basketball game was held earlier this month.

#COMMONWEALTH Brewery Limited (CBL) joins the world in celebrating International Men’s Day under the theme, ‘Make Time for Mates.’

#To mark the occasion, a men’s basketball game was held earlier this month.

#Research shows that close friendships and social connections can promote good health.

#This theme aims to highlight the role mateship plays in helping men live longer, better, healthier lives.

#“We believe especially in these times, it is important for men to come together to connect and build each other through positive activities,” CBL said. “At present, males represent 52% of our total workforce. Inclusion, diversity and gender equality are top priorities for CBL.”

#International Men’s Day extends beyond one day. It is a movement of value that deserves celebration and honour.

#“As we forge ahead, CBL is committed to celebrating all men and boys and joining local conversations to support men’s rights, build equitable and inclusive communities and ensure that all men feel valued and respected throughout The Bahamas.”