Home|Sports|Junior tennis tournament in full swingSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 9, 2023 113 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) got its first competition for new calendar year underway on Saturday. The second day of the BLTA’s New Year’s Tournament for the under-14 and under-16 divisions wrapped up on Sunday at the BLTA’s National Tennis Centre inside the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre.

Youth national team players Tatyana Madu and Briana Houlgrave are playing in both divisions and punched their tickets to the final in both divisions.

Madu is the number one seed in the under-14 girls division and received a bye in the opening round of that division. In the second round, she took care of the unranked Aryauna-Skye Davis in straight sets, 6-2 and 6-1.

The Grand Bahamian then played in the under-16 division where she is the number two seeded player. She was in action against Claudia Drgon in the semifinals. Madu won a tough first set 7-5 and then won the second set 6-2. In the opening round on Saturday, Madu shut out Jasleen Salkey, 6-0 and 6-0.

Houlgrave, the second seed, powered her way to the finals in the under-14 division when she took care of Millie Beukes, 7-5 and 6-2. On Saturday, she defeated Drgon, 6-2 and 6-4.

After taking down Beukes, Houlgrave had a tough game ahead of her against the number one seed in the under-16 division, Saphirre Ferguson. Houlgrave was able to pull off the upset, winning 6-4 and 6-2.

Houlgrave and Madu will play in the under-14 final today at 3:30 p.m. They will play the under-16 final tomorrow.

On the boys side, the semifinals for the under-14 and under-16 divisions are set. The under-14 boys semifinals will pit number one seed Patrick Mactaggart against Synaj Watkins and Chase Newbold against Panagiotis Mousis.

Mousis will play in the under-16 boys division semifinals when he takes on the number two seed Jackson Mactaggart. In the other semifinal, William McCartney will play Reeves Mahelis.

Jackson Mactaggart took care of his younger sibling Patrick in straight sets, winning 6-2 and 6-3, to advance to the under-16 semifinals. Mousis fell 3-6 in the first set against Ayai Bethel, but stormed back to win the second set 6-4 before winning 10-7 in the third set tiebreak.

McCartney easily took care of his opponent Watkins. He shut him out, 6-0 and 6-0. Mahelis, like Mousis, lost the opening set before rebounding in the quarterfinals. He fell 3-6 to Miguel Smith in that 

opening set, but then battled back to win the match, 3-6, 7-5 and 10-6.

In the under-14 boys division, Newbold had a tough time against Atharva Hombal as he dropped the first set 6-7(1). He managed to regroup and won the next two sets, 6-0 and 10-5. Mousis upset the number two seed Mahelis in two straight sets, coming out on top 6-4 and 6-4. Patrick Mactaggart easily took care of Cohen Knowles in straight sets, 6-1 and 6-1. The diminutive Watkins won over Bethel, 6-3 and 6-3, to reach the semis.

The under-14 boys semifinals are set for today at 2 p.m. The under-16 boys semifinals will be played any time after 3:30 p.m. today.

https://thenassauguardian.com/junior-tennis-tournament-in-full-swing/

 Home|Sports|Mario Ford program supported by CWCOSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailJanuary 9, 2023 135 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Inner city children as young as four and up to 15 years old continue to use baseball as a tool for sport, physical fitness and character development, thanks to the Mario Ford Baseball Program and financial support from sponsors such as Consolidated Water (Bahamas) Ltd. (CWCO).

Now in its 37th year, the program is celebrated for the ongoing mentorship and multi-level real-world readiness learned along with baseball skills.

Founder of the program, Mario Ford, underscored that baseball teaches life lessons.

“A lot of the kids who came through my program have gone on to play professionally after going off to school. During the Mario Ford program, participants not only learn baseball skills but gain an understanding of the importance of education, discipline, sportsmanship, and the benefits of good character.”

CWCO’s donation this year afforded 30 Mario Ford program participants an opportunity to attend the recent ‘Don’t Blink Home Run Derby’ baseball clinic hosted on Paradise Island. The event highlighted current Bahamian professional baseball players along with some of baseball’s top major and minor league players from around the world. During the clinic, participants were drilled at various skill positions, including hitting, fielding, pitching and base running.

“With help from 

Consolidated Water, we were able to outfit our kids with shirts and rent a bus to the event,” said Coach Ford. He added that financial support is crucial for the program and goes a long way to ensure every child has equipment like proper shoes and a glove.

CWCO General Manager Henderson Cash said he was happy to hear about the youngsters’ excitement during the clinic and applauded Coach Ford for maximizing the benefits of playing baseball.

“We recognize that baseball is more than swinging a bat and hitting home runs. Through programs like the one headed by Mario Ford, education and good character are just as important as game wins. CWCO is proud to support initiatives that develop youth and will continue to support the vision of the Mario Ford program,” Cash said.

CWCO operates water production and distribution facilities and provides water-related products and services to customers in the Cayman Islands, Belize, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), The Bahamas, Indonesia and the United States.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mario-ford-program-supported-by-cwco/

 Home|Sports|Robinson is on the way backSports

Former top prospect eager to continue baseball career

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJanuary 6, 2023 683 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Kristian Robinson, once listed as one of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) top prospects, has been on a hiatus from the sport of baseball, but he is on the way back and is looking for a steady progression into the majors.

The Bahamian turned heads during the 2019 season in particular, hitting a combined .282 for two teams in Single A baseball with 14 home runs, 51 RBIs (runs batted in) and 43 runs scored, showing that he could hit for power and average. He showed his speed as well with 17 stolen bases and had a slash line of .282/.368/.514.

Robinson last played with the Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League – the Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks – in 2019. Since then, he has been assigned to the Visalia Rawhide of the California League and is currently on the restricted list with the Diamondbacks. Robinson is anticipating a strong bounce back performance this year.

In 2020, Robinson was named to the Diamondbacks’ 60-man player pool and was assigned to their alternative training site at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Arizona. That year, he also reached as high as number one on the Diamondbacks prospects chart and number three on MLB’s Top 100 Prospects List.

“Well, I’m looking to get back on the field as soon as possible. I believe that the sky is the limit for me and that I will eventually get to the majors, but more than anything, the goal is to stay healthy and stay on the field,” said Robinson. “More than anything, I have progressed mentally. I want to see where this season leads me. Of course, I will go out there and perform at my best but there aren’t any lofty goals in terms of numbers. I just want to go out there and perform at my best.”

Robinson, an outfielder, came up through the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN), signing as an international free agent with the Diamondbacks as a 16-year-old in 2017. He received a $2.5 million signing bonus that year and immediately paid dividends for that organization.

“I was with JBLN for about 10 years and I would say that three things that JBLN taught me was consistency, commitment and community. It was real important for my development,” he said. “You had to show up and commit, you had to exhibit consistency and the community that you build would last a lifetime. Some of the guys who I met through playing at JBLN, I still have ties to, to this day. JBLN facilitated me playing in tournaments as a teenager against some of the best talent in the United States and that helped me to grow as a player. I really appreciate that. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that development.

“I have to say a special thank you to JBLN and the people who have been behind me since day one. There are many out there with faith in me now and I won’t let them down. I’m just eager to get back to work and will continue to push forward.”

Robinson earned mid-season all-star honors in the Class A Short Season Northwest League in 2019 before advancing to the Class A Midwest League, where he was more than three years younger than the circuit’s average player.

Now, at 22, the towering 6’3” Bahamian is eager to continue his career. In two years in the minors, he has produced 21 home runs, 92 RBIs and 91 runs scored. He has shown triple-digit exit velocities.

“I’m eager to put in the work, stay healthy and play a full season,” said Robinson. “The main goal is to make it to the majors and stay there and be impactful on a major league team. Next year might be a little more realistic in terms of being called up to the majors but I’m very optimistic. I want to believe that this year will be the year and I am going to push as hard as I can to make that a reality. If it doesn’t happen, I will be content knowing that I gave it my all, and I’ll just look forward to it the following year. I have to go out there and do well – that’s all I could control.”

Former Bahamian professional baseball player Antoan Richardson, now a first base coach with the San Francisco Giants, has partnered with Robinson’s agent Mike Nickeas of Creative Artists Agency (CAA). He has been a mentor to Robinson over the past two years.

“The first time we really clicked, he called me and he wanted to check in. He has been there for me ever since.” said Robinson. “If I have any problems and need someone to talk to, I go to him because he has been through the process. He’s been an aid in getting me back to where I need to be mentally and physically. I have trust in him, and I could only see our relationship growing.”

After the hiatus away from the game, Robinson is back in the swing of things. He has been an active participant at extended spring training where he was able to have at-bats and innings in the field. He was added to the Diamondbacks’ 40-man roster in November and was then placed on the restricted list.

So far, eight Bahamians have played in Major League Baseball. Robinson is hoping to be the ninth.

https://thenassauguardian.com/robinson-is-on-the-way-back/

 Home|Sports|Hield remains hot with torrid shooting performanceSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJanuary 6, 2023 339 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian professional basketball player with the Indiana Pacers Chavano “Buddy” Hield is picking up where he left off from 2022, turning in two efficient performances in the Pacers’ two games so far in 2023.

The sharpshooting guard of the Pacers was named as The Nassau Guardian’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year for 2022, and already this year, he is making a case for that honor for 2023. In two games in 2023, Hield is averaging 21.5 points per game on 48.5 percent shooting from the field. The National Basketball Association (NBA) leader in made three-pointers this season has sunk 10 three-pointers in two games for the Pacers in 2023, and is shooting a blistering 47.6 percent from three-point range.

For the season, going into last night’s games, Hield had 152 made three-pointers, 18 more than the next person on the list – Donavan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was against the Cavs at the end of 22, when Hield broke a record for fastest three-point shot in the play-by-play era of the NBA. He secured the opening tip and quickly spun and launched a shot from distance that hit nothing but net. The shot occurred in just three seconds, breaking the record of four seconds that stood for 22 years. The Pacers won that game, 135-126, with Hield scoring 25 points on 10-for-14 shooting from the field.

Coincidentally, it was Pacers’ legend Reggie Miller who held the old record, launching a three-point shot four seconds into a game against the Golden State Warriors on March 5, 2000. Play-by-play has been recorded in the NBA since the 1996-97 season.

Hield finished a torrid 5-for-6 from distance in that game, and hasn’t cooled down since. In fact, Hield is shooting a ridiculous 54.33 percent (69-for-127) from distance in his last 15 games, the top percentage in the league during that span for that volume of shots.

In short, Hield is on fire. He is having one of the best shooting spurts of his career. For the season Hield’s average is up to 18.1 points per game on 46 percent shooting from the field. His recent tear has improved his three-point shooting percentage to 42.9 percent which is a career-best for him. Among the league leaders, he is third among those with at least 200 attempts. Just Stephen Curry of the Warriors and Jerami Grant of the Portland Trail Blazers are ahead of him. Seven-year player Hield, now 30, is also averaging 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

In his most recent performance, against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, Hield played 41 minutes and finished with a side-high 24 points on 9-for-22 shooting. He was 6-for-14 from distance and added nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block. The Pacers lost that game, 129-126, in overtime and are tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference of the NBA with a 21-18 win/loss record. They are one of the surprise teams in the league this year, just five and a half games behind the league-leading Boston Celtics (26-12).

Hield and the Pacers will host the Blazers at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, this evening.

https://thenassauguardian.com/hield-remains-hot-with-torrid-shooting-performance/

 Home|Sports|Coello posts top score in regional challengeSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailJanuary 6, 2023 293 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Caribbean Equestrian Association (CEA) recently announced the results of the 2022 CEA Mini Jumping Challenge, with Bahamian rider Katerina Coello obtaining the top overall individual score.

Over 40 riders across the Caribbean competed in the event. Each leg of the challenge was held in a different country, allowing athletes to compete on their own horses over a pre-set jump course built to international specifications and contested at three different heights. Those heights were Class A (0.50 meters), Class B (0.60 meters) and Class C (0.70 meters).

The Bahamas joined the CEA in February 2022 and held its first mini jumping challenge event in October 2022. The jumping rounds were judged on the concept of ‘optimum time’, designed to give riders an understanding of the correct speed at which a show jumping course should be ridden under international rules. The order of finish in each class was dictated by how closely the rider’s time matched the optimum time of the course.

Under these conditions, The Bahamas’ Coello who rode TGIF of Mariposa Stables here in New Providence, was near perfect. She finished just 0.02 seconds off the optimum time which was enough to edge Barbados’ Kai Cook-Johnson by three-hundredths of a second, to earn the top scorer award.

Besides posting the top individual score overall, Coello, age 14, was also named the individual winner of the Class C height. Bahamian teammates Storm D’Arville and Ella Saidi were also named as finalists in that height class, finishing fourth and sixth, respectively.

Equestrian Bahamas President Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre praised all the riders, and Coello in particular, for their excellent performances.

“Katerina was fantastic, and Storm and Ella also had very strong rides,” she said. “They have shown that we can hold our own with the rest of the region in equestrian sport. We congratulate Katerina and commend all our riders for representing The Bahamas so superbly in our very first mini jumping challenge.”

While dominating the top of Class C, Team Bahamas fared not as well in the lower height Classes A and B. Overall in the team competition, The Bahamas placed third behind Bermuda and Barbados.

https://thenassauguardian.com/coello-posts-top-score-in-regional-challenge/

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As of Friday, April 22, 2022

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RAS Jesse Delancy

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#IN what has been an impressive debut season with the Benedict College Tigers men’s volleyball team, Bahamian Ras Jesse Delancy was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Player of the Year.

#The announcement on Tuesday as the SIAC unveiled the Inaugural 2022 Men’s Volleyball All-Conference Teams, featuring 14 first and second-team representatives from the league’s top players.

#The all-conference team was voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors and will be recognised at the Inaugural 2022 Men’s Volleyball Championship Tournament. Rookies dominated the list with 12 of the 14 honourees in their first seasons.

#“Honestly, I feel accomplished because it was a goal that I had set before the season,” said Delancy, a 22-year-old graduate of CV Bethel. “Every game, even though I may not have had a good game, I did my best to help my team win.

#“I know I’m relatively new to volleyball, but I tried my best to brush off the bad games and in my head, I kept in mind the fact that I wanted to be the Player of the Game or the MVP. That is what kept me going. So I feel accomplished because I achieved a goal I had set for myself.”

#After playing the sport for about a year and a half, Delancy, who was voted on the All-American first team, became the first player from Benedict to achieve the Player of the Year award after he racked up a number of Player of the Week and Month honours during the season.

#“I caught on rather quickly just playing the game and watching as much volleyball as I could,” said Delancy, who surprised a lot of people with his performances. “I just excelled from there.

#“But I owe a lot of my success to my coach and my teammates because they put a lot of trust in me and I put a lot of trust in them. They know that I will be the player to lead them and I have the trust in them that they will be there to back me up.”

#The sophomore outside hitter delivered for the Tigers as he led the league in kills per set (3.24), points per set (3.89), and attacks per set (7.04). He is ranked nationally in all three categories.

#Delancy also ranked second in hitting percentage (.269) and fifth in aces per set (.345/set) for the league; had a season-high 23 kills against Central State; recorded 15 solo blocks and 12 block assists and he posted 67 digs this season, including season-high 9 digs versus Kentucky State.

#His Bahamian Benedict teammates Donovan Wilmott and Cint Forbes also earned all-conference accolades for their regular season performance.

#“It feels amazing to have the Bahamians on the team because I never played with them at home, only in pick up volleyball games,” he said. “It was good that if I used Bahamian slang, they understood what I was saying,” he said.

#“We have about five Bahamians on the team and we all performed very well. So I’m proud of our achievements, especially for all of us coming from the Bahamas.”

#In its inaugural season, the Elite 14 award recognised the student-athlete who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the SIAC championship level in his or her sport while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers, including Clint Forbes, who was the first recipient of this award in his respective sport.

#“I knew what our guys are capable of doing and so I tried to push them to reach that standard,” he said. “Whenever they played below that standard, I would get on them.”

#Benedict’s Head Coach Gwendolyn Rouse, who recruited the Bahamian players when she was given the new men’s program to go along with her chores as the women’s head coach, was selected as the inaugural SIAC Coach of the Year in her first season leading the men’s team.

#“I think her recognition gave us the extra boost that we didn’t have,” Delancy pointed out. “Whenever we lost, she was right there to lift our spirits up.

#“She lived up to the award she got. She really helped the team to get to where we are today.”

#Rouse has led Benedict’s women’s volleyball for 35 years and has recently taken the lead over the men’s programme as well. In her first year with the men’s programme, she led them to a 4-6 conference record and a 6-13 overall record.

#The Tigers’ roster includes Bahamians freshman Terran Walkin, a 6-0 setter from St Augustine’s College; junior Donovan Wilmott, a 6-2 middle blocker/outside hitter from Doris Johnson High School’; freshman Zion Beckford, a 6-4 right side/outside hitter and freshman Clint Forbes, a 5- defensive specialist who also play as the libero.

#On Thursday, the Tigers completed their historic season at the SIAC Championships that were played at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

#The Tigers however, fell short of advancing to the final on Thursday when they lost 3-0 to Edge Water College 25-19, 25-19, 25 as Delancy led Benedict College with 12 kills. (See story this page)

#Benedict wraps up the season at 9-15 and finishes in third place at the championship.

#Off the court, Delancy has been just as exceptional in the classroom. He’s trying to improve on the one B on his report card to enable him to achieve a 4.0 or at least a 3.8 before his final grades for this semester are posted.

#“It’s quite easy because I’ve matured a lot in the past two years,” he pointed out. “Volleyball is my passion. That is my love and for me to continue doing what I love, to get to the next level, I have to improve my grades.”

#Delancy is the son of Eugene Delancy and Felicity Darville. His grandmother is National Hall of Fame golfer Agatha Delancy and his grandfather is National Hall of Fame football player Allan Ingraham.

#“Jesse made history in the United States in Intercollegiate volleyball within three months of playing at the college level,” his proud mom said. “I think he’s in the right place at the right time as the sport of volleyball continues to grow to higher levels in America.

#“This was the first Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Conference in volleyball for men in its history, and Jesse won player of the year. In this way, he also made Benedict College history.”

#According to Darville, a journalist, Delancy is a young man who has matured into a determined and focused individual, who always had that star quality and has used his manners and respect to take him around the world.

#“He has five siblings in his clan of support, including his eldest brother Ras Elijah Delancy, who is an avid golfer who has played at collegiate and national levels,” Darville said.

#“Jesse left Nassau with goals as he headed for Benedict College at the start of this year. The fact that he has achieved them means he has found the right formula that will propel him to success. I love my son and I am proud of him. Go, Jesse and go, Tigers.”

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As of Wednesday, January 4, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Coming out of the COVID- 19 pandemic, sports took off and many of the sporting bodies were thrilled to be back in action. And as they transition to the new year, there are even more exciting expectations for the new year.

#The Bahamas will play host to the CARIFTA Games for the ninth time over the Easter holiday weekend and the Bahamas Games will be back for the seventh time as a part of the country’s 50th Golden anniversary celebrations.

#• Here’s what some of the sporting bodies have on their agendas for the new year.

#Bahamas Aquatics Federation

#Look for another busy year from the federation, according to president Algernon Cargill, from going for another historic milestone of five straight at CARIFTA to the 19th FINA World Championships in July.

#“We will open the year with the defence of our CARIFTA Aquatics title in Curacao over the Easter weekend,” Cargill said.

#“The Bahamas will be taking a full team to Curacao. We want to go on record as being the first country to five-peat. We’ve already won four straight, so we want to go for five straight.”

#From CARIFTA, Cargill said they will launch a competitive summer that will include the Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador, the Bahamas National Championships in Nassau and the CCCAN Championships, also to be staged in El Salvador. These meets will serve as precursors to the FINA World Championships in Japan.

#Bahamas Softball Federation

#Jennifer Isaacs-Dotson, the first female elected last year as the president of the BSF, said there are plans to put in a number of programmes in place.

#“We will implement a fitness programme, develop a junior national programme, appoint national team coaches and players to start preparing for international tournaments, secure fundraising, certification of officials and coaches inclusive of primary and high school teachers and coaches,” Isaacs-Dotson said.

#“We also want the development of and preparation for associations to start playing fastpitch softball instead of slowpitch because too many young players are playing slow pitch and we want to continue working closely with the associations, the BBA, MOYSC, BOC, ECASC and WBSC.”

#Bahamas Baseball Association

#With the fourth Caribbean Cup in December as the springboard for their international competition at the newly constructed Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium, BBA president Sam Rodgers said there’s a lot more excitement to look forward to.

#“We in the Bahamas Baseball Association are gearing up for an exciting 2023 as we gear up for our Bahamas Games in July and we are expecting to take two or three national teams to international tournaments as we are also planning to host some international tournaments along with our national championships to be held in Nassau this year,” Rodgers said. “We are still awaiting the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium to be fully completed and then we would release our full baseball calendar for 2023. With God’s help the baseball community should have an exciting year in baseball for 2023.”

#Bahamas Judo Federation

#The BJF has at least five athletes in the pipeline preparing for the 2024 Olympics and nobody is more eager about their future than president D’Arcy Rahming.

#“This year judo intends to participate in many major tournaments and games with a mind to qualifying for the Olympics,” Rahming said. “We have on the circuit: Cynthia Rahming, Andrew Munnings, Alexander Strachan, Daniel Strachan and Xavion Johnson.”

#Boxing Federation of the Bahamas

#President Vincent Strachan said with renewed courage and strength from the challenges and successes during 2022, he anticipates greater success in 2023. “The last half of 2022 was a period of success for our boxers, who participated in the school boys and girls championship in Georgetown, Guyana and the Bert Championship in Kissimmee, Florida,” Strachan said.

#“We are looking for growth in our national teams with the addition of boxers in the USA, hosting regular boxing events in Grand Bahama, Inagua and other family Islands and hosting international events, including professional boxing.”

#Strachan said the IBA introduced professional boxing during its Congress in Abu Dhabi in November, amending its constitution at that congress to pave the way for professional boxing by the International Boxing Federation (IBA) and its members.

#IBA president Umar Cremlev, according to Strachan, declared that there is no amateur boxing but boxing from top to bottom and he intends to host similar events in the Bahamas at the professional level.

#“I will also host boxing events for peewee and elite boxers including international and regional boxers,” Strachan said. “We will embark on vigorous fund raising events to ensure regular participation outside of the country by all of our boxers, coaches and officials.”

#Training of boxers, coaches and officials in the rules and regulations of boxing throughout the country will also be conducted and Strachan said they will conduct a search for suitable buildings for gyms and an office for the federation as they also seek to find ways to develop boxing in the schools and prison and host educational forums for the media, public and others to help promote boxing throughout the country.

#“We want to invite former and current professional boxers to speak at such forums and prepare our boxers for junior world, junior Pan American, Central American Games, Pan American Games, Elite World Games and the Olympic Games,” Strachan said.

#“We also want to establish regional regular boxing competitions with the Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica and others at all levels including professional boxing,” Strachan said. “We will also continue the organisation of associations throughout the country and amend the constitution and hold election of officers.”

#Bahamas Cricket Association

#BCA president Greg Taylor Sr said the Bahamas will focus immediately on international competition.

#“We are preparing our national team to travel to Argentina to compete in the ICC 2024 World Cup in Argentina in February,” Taylor Sr said.

#“The first three teams from this tournament will go on to Bermuda in August to play for the one spot to be in the World Cup. Andy Moulds from South Africa, who took us to the qualifier last year in Antigua, will be coaching the team.

#“In March, the BCA leagues and the Nations Cup, which is also a T-20 Tournament, will be played.

#“In July, we will have our AGM of our youth camp. At the end of January, our new youth camp of development will be coming in from South Africa to take over the programme.

#He will be concentrating on women’s cricket and the under-19 and so we’re looking to get that started.”

#And after playing in the Cayman Islands last year, Taylor Sr said they will have a returned T-20 international match here to play in a series of matches.

#After losing all of their matches played in the Cayman Islands, Taylor Sr said the BCA is looking to return the favour at home.

#Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association

#Despite the problems they experienced off the court, BLTA president Perry Newton said they are still pressing forward for an exciting 2023 season.

#“We expect to see growth this year fuelled by our Play Tennis Programme on the island of New Providence as well as the growth of tennis on the Island of Grand Bahama, Abaco, and Eleuthera,” he said.

#“The BLTA will have its full complement of tournaments being kicked off this month with our U14 and U16 New Year tournament. This is the first year that this tournament is being held this early but it allows us flexibility with our tournament going forward.”

#Next the action will move to Grand Bahama for the GBTA hosted junior tournament.

#“As I stated earlier growth has always been a focus of the BLTA and this will be displayed by the introduction of a High School Tennis Championship and the hosting of a sanctioned tournament on the island of Abaco,” Newton said.

#“It will definitely be a busy summer with the Bahamas Games being hosted this summer as well as the return of our two international tournaments which we intend on hosting this year.

#“Notwithstanding the many obstacles, the BLTA was able to meet all of our obligations and send off eight teams in 2022 that represented the Bahamas. We are looking forward to another year of success with our national teams this year.”

#Newton said they expect to see a continued growth in their tournaments at both the junior and adult levels.

#“All our success can only be attributed to God as he has touched our sponsors to support our cause to provide a safe, affordable environment for our new students both young and old,” he said.

#“We continue to invite persons to take advantage of our Play Tennis Programme where we now offer introduction lessons for kids between the ages of 5-17 for a registration of $1 and persons over the age of 18 for $5.”

#At the end of the year, Newton said the BLTA will host their awards banquet where they highlight the success of their athletes and honour those persons who made contributions to the development of tennis throughout the Bahamas.

#Bahamas Bodybuilding Federation

#Federation president Joel Stubbs said they are prepared to embrace 2023 as they give thanks to God for allowing us to behold another year of new beginnings with renewed energy.

#“2022 has ended with a bang for many of our athletes as they were granted opportunities to compete on the international stage accomplishing their professional pro card status,” said Stubbs, one of the first Bahamians to achieve the feat.

#“Many others were intrigued by such performances and started the 2023 journey “quest to be the best” immediately thereafter.

#“We are very excited and hopeful that we will see stellar performances once again.

#“There is an elite group of athletes that appears to be very hungry and ready for whatever challenge lies ahead.”

#As they launch their 2023 calendar, Stubbs revealed that the focus will be placed on the return of their Novice Championships on May 20 at a venue to be announced at a later date followed by the spectacular Northern Bahamas show in Grand Bahama.

#From July 8-13, the federation will be back in New Providence for the return of the Bahamas Games and the National Championships.

#“An explosion of events that will bring all fitness athletic individuals together to compete for their native island,” Stubbs said.

#“From this event, our national team will be selected to represent the Bahamas at this year’s CAC games to be staged in August in Oranjestad, Aruba.

#“Our sport is a vibrant one, attracting many fitness individuals with opportunities to compete in 18 different events, ranging from a fit model to all the physique makeup categories to hardcore bodybuilding,” Stubbs revealed.

#“We encourage and invite you, our fit viewing audience who have been training but curious and tempted to compete, to get on board, find a trainer, a knowledgeable friend who knows the sport that will assist you in making this 2023 year a next level fitness reality.”

#Stubbs summed up that they are looking forward to once again getting the support from the corporate partnership and sponsorship along with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s support, in making this fitness year a success.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/04/new-year-expectations/?news

As of Wednesday, January 4, 2023

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COACH ANASTACIA MOULTRIE, far right, gives her daughter Antonicia Moultrie a big kiss as coach Kevin Johnson looks on.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#VERY few parents get the opportunity to watch their children follow in their footsteps and coach them at the same time in the process. Anastacia Sands-Moultrie is one of these individuals as her daughter Antonicia Moultrie is picking up where her mother left off.

#The two are currently holding court for the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine.

#On Friday at the CI Gibson Gymnasium, Sands-Moultrie, one of the country’s most versatile players, coached the Big Red Machine as Moultrie paved the way as SAC rolled past the CV Bethel Stingrays 46-41 to cart off the Providence Basketball Club’s 2022 Holiday Classic senior girls’ championship title. It was the first time that the senior girls and junior boys division was added to the tournament, which normally features the senior boys’ division.

#In rallying from a 19-17 deficit at the half, Moultrie took over the show for the Big Red Machine, leading on both ends of the court with 13 of her game high 27 points.

#At the end of the tournament, not only did Moultrie, the 5-foot, 9-inch guard/forward earn the game’s most valuable player award, but she was also awarded the most rebounds, most blocks, defensive player, All- Tournament Team and the tournament’s MVP honours.

#“I got all of my team-mates involved and they relied on me to carry them,” Moultrie said. “So it was a good feeling to know that I was able to accomplish what I did with the support of my team-mate and our coach.”

#Against the Stingrays, who countered with a big line-up from the McCoy sisters, Terrell and Danielle, and a potent offensive attack led by Trinity Bodie and Geraniqua Bethel, Moultrie said with players such as Dior-Rae Scott, Arianna Gomez and Teanna Gibson, she knew they had what it took to win it all.

#“I told them we had to dig down deep, we pushed and we have to do what we have to do to win,” Moultrie said. “We did that and we got the job done.”

#In addition to God, Moultrie said she owes a great deal of her success to her mother and coach, Sands-Moultrie.

#“She’s always on me and she always wants the best out of me, so it ain’t that bad,” Moultrie said. “There’s a lot of pressure, but I try to live up to her expectations.”

#And one of those expectations, according to Sands-Moultrie, is to see her daughter have success beyond what she did.

#“I told her she’s a senior in grade 12, so she has to lead by example and take control of the game,” Moultrie said. “I know she said she was tired, but I told her I couldn’t take her out of the game. She has to fight until the end.”

#Those words of encouragement enabled Moultrie to produce one of the most outstanding performances in the tournament, including from the boys’ side.

#It’s the same type of hard nose effort that Sands- Moultrie was known by when she played for the HO Nash Lions under coach Patricia ‘Pattie’ Johnson before she left to attend St Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, from 1994- 2000. Looking at her mother’s accomplishments, Moultrie, who turned 17 on November 22, said it’s not a hard act to follow.

#“She went on to college, her ball and she got her degree,” Moultrie said. “So I hope to do the same thing.”

#With aspirations to become a pilot, Moultrie said she hopes to secure a scholarship to pursue a degree in aviation and play basketball, either at Middle Tennessee State University, Ohio State, Florida Memorial University, University of North Dakota or Western Michigan, but no decision has been made as yet.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/04/basketball-standout-antonicia-moultrie-following-h/?news

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: The CI Gibson Rattlers senior boys with their championship trophy and medals.

As of Tuesday, January 3, 2023

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COACH Kevin Johnson shares a moment with MVP Gerrard Rolle.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#It went right down to the wire as the CI Gibson Rattlers prevailed with the senior boys’ title over the Jordan Prince Williams Falcons in a nail-biting championship game that brought the curtain down on the Providence Storm Basketball Club’s 2022 Holiday Classic at the CI Gibson Gymnasium.

#The Rattlers, who led 33-25 at the half, withstood every challenge that the Falcons mounted as most valuable player Gerrard Rolle led the attack with 15 points. Dwayne Finley had 13 and Tayshon Butler, James Delia and Steven Joseph all came up with nine points.

#“Prince Will played a very good game, more so on their defensive sets.

#Hats off to them,” said CI Gibson’s coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson, who also heads the Providence Storm Basketball Club. “On the flip side, my boys never got into the flow of the game.

JORDAN Prince Williams Falcons with their runners-up awards in the senior boys’ division of the Providence Storm Basketball Club Holiday Classic on Friday night.

#“Not taking anything away from Prince Will, but we missed far too many free throws and far too many lay-ups and we had no energy on the defensive end, but we were able to win a grind out game that the fans enjoyed. So we will take the win.”

#Johnson said they will go back to the drawing board and get ready for the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association season in January. Hopefully, they can correct the mistakes they made and be in contention to have a successful season.

#For Jordan Prince Williams, Jakavo Kemp scored 15, 14 of which came in the second half; Trevon Clarke had 14; Kamari Minns 13, including 11, three of which were three-pointers, in the first half and Backley Cadet helped out with 12, including 10 in the second half.

#Despite the loss, Falcons’ coach Ernest Saunders said they provided the excitement for the fans to enjoy.

#“We did a great job. At the end of the day, we played a great team with a great coach, so we have to tip our hats off to them,” he stated. “As time goes on, we will get better. I’m looking forward to playing them again. I wish we could play them every day because they will only make us better.”

#As Jordan Prince Williams gears up for their participation in the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) season, Saunders said they will review the video recording of the game and develop a sense of patience when executing their plays on the court.

#The Falcons didn’t execute enough patience to get the right shot off twice in the winding seconds of the game that prevented them from pulling off the victory.

#With 20.5 seconds left on the clock, Delia drove to the baseline for an easy lay-up for a 60-59 lead for CI Gibson.

#Jordan Prince Williams came back at the other end and turned the ball over.

#With 4.3 seconds, Rolle converted just one of three free throws for the Rattlers, but the Falcons couldn’t hit their final shot as time expired.

#Semifinal action

#CI Gibson A 34, CC Sweeting 26:

#Tayshon Butler and James Delia provided a 2-2 punch for the Rattlers with 15 and 12 points respectively as they held onto their 18-17 halftime lead to advance to the championship.

#Jamerolston Vil scored nine, Jason Williams had six, Tavari Roker five and Mateo Minnis four in a losing effort for the Cobras.

#Jordan Prince Williams 41, Doris Johnson 38: The Falcons led 26-19 at the half, thanks to Backley Cadet’s 12 points and they held on in the second half for the win. Kamari Minns scored 10; Keino Stuart added nine and Jakano Kemp chipped in with six.

#Laterrio Young scored a game high 20, Torrien Marshall had nine and Khyze Smith five in the loss for the Mystic Marlins.

#• Here’s how they got out of the pool championships

#Pool D championship

#Doris Johnson A 35, Charles W. Saunders 34: Ryan Lewis hit a three-pointer to seal the win for the Mystic Marlins. He finished with six. Laterrio Young had nine, Torrien Marshall eight and Jay- Onn Joseph chipped in with seven. Doris Johnson led 20-9 at the half.

#Romial Lightbourne scored nine, Tenaj Strachan had seven and both Raymon Woodside and Traymon Pickstock had six in the loss.

#Pool C championship

#CC Sweeting 32, Queen’s College 7: Mateo Minnis scored a game high 15 points to pace the Cobras, who led 22-6 at the half.

#The Comets, with only five players in uniform, scored just one point in the second half. Daniel Rolle led their attack with five.

#Pool B championship

#Jordan Prince Williams 27, CI Gibson B 17: Kamari Minns scored 10 points and both Devon Ferguson and Keino Stuart both had six in the win for the Falcons, who came from a 13-9 deficit at the half.

#Prince Wheatley had 11 points in a losing effort.

#Pool A championship

#CI Gibson A def. 66, Doris Johnson B 21: James Delia scored 19 points, including eight in the second half, along with Gerard Rolle had eight of his 15 in the second half for the Rattlers. Tayshon Butler added 11 points.

#Brendon Williams had 15 and Timothy Adderley six in the loss.

#Named to the All-Tournament team for senior boys are the following players:

#CC Sweeting – Jamerolston Vil; Queen’s College – Leo Burrows; Jordan Prince Williams – Kamari Minns and Jakavo Kemp; Doris Johnson A – Laterrio Young and Torrien Marshall; CV Bethel – Derick Edgecombe; Agape – Jason Williams and CI Gibson A – James Delia and Gerrard Rolle.

#Winning the individual awards were the following players:

#Most rebounds – Leo Burrows – Queen’s College; most assists – Laterrio Young – Doris Johnson; most blocks – Kaman Minns – Jordan Prince Williams; defensive player – Laterrio Young – Doris Johnson; most offensive player – James Delia and tournament MVP – Gerrard Rolle – CI Gibson.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/03/c-i-gibson-rattlers-win-senior-boys-title/?news

CHAMPIONS: St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine senior girls with their hardware.

As of Tuesday, January 3, 2023

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ST Augustine’s College Big Red Machine senior girls with their championship awards.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#IN an epic battle right to the end, the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine rolled past the CV Bethel Stingrays 46-41 behind the stellar leadership of Antonia Moultrie to win the senior girls’ title of the Providence Basketball Club’s Holiday Classic.

#Moultrie, the game’s most valuable player, finished with a game high 27 points, including 13 in the second half, while Dior- Rae Scott and Arianna Gomez both provided all of their seven and six points respectively in the second half. Teanna Gibson contributed four.

#“Most of these girls are just juniors and so I’ve been teaching and coaching the game at the same time,” said SAC’s coach Anastacia Moultrie. “So it’s always back to fundamentals when it comes to these players, that’s why it’s so good to be able to play in tournaments like this so they can get better at it.”

#Moultrie, however, was particularly impressed with the way her daughter stepped up and controlled the tempo for the Big Red Machine. She said she advised her that as a 12th grader, she has to perform at her best because she will have to do the same thing when she heads off to college.

#The Stingrays, coached by Shantelle Rolle, got a solid game from Trinity Bodie with 17, including 12 in the second half. Danielle McCoy had 10, but her older sister Terrell McCoy got in foul trouble and didn’t score. Geraniqua Bethel added eight and Maquell Hall chipped in with four. In what started out as a real defensive battle, SAC ran into a problem after Scott picked up her third foul in the first quarter and had to sit down the rest of the period. Gibson also picked up her third foul, but she stayed in.

#For CV Bethel, Terrell McCoy got her fourth foul and Crishae Kemp had to help off the court with a slight left ankle injury before she would return, but only for a brief period. McCoy also came back, but she didn’t last long before she fouled out.

#In what turned out to be a real defensive battle, most of the points for both teams in the period were generated in the paint and from the foul line until Bethel hit a three-pointer for a 15-11 lead for the Stingrays, who went on to post a 19-17 margin at the half.

#With McCoy on the bench, SAC picked up their intensity as they ran the ball and went up 23-19. A pair of three-pointers from Sands and Scott extended their lead to 30-25. Up 32-27, McCoy fouled out.

#Down the stretch, Moultrie took over on both ends of the court, but Bodie hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to three, 38-35. From there, Moultrie directed the show, either getting a block or rebound to start the offensive fast break.

#• Here’s how they got out of the semifinals:

#CV Bethel 15, Freedom Baptist 12: Danielle McCoy scored 13 points and Geranque Bethel had 10 as the Stingrays pulled away from a 17-10 first quarter lead to win their senior girls semi-final match-up.

#Shanika Darins had six in the loss.

#St Augustine’s College 37, CI Gibson 30: Antonicia Moultrie drove in for a game high 17 points, including 13 in the second half for the Big Red Machine, who rolled out to a 18-10 lead at the half. Teanna Gibson had 11 and Ananna Gomez five and Dior-Ray Scott chipped in with four.

#Jada Francis had 16, including 14 in the second half and Trenea Greene and Philippa Ferguson helped out with six and four respectively in the loss for the Rattlers.

#Named to the All-Tournament team for the senior girls are the following players:

#Freedom Baptist – Weddslinnesi Alexis and Shanika Darins; CV Bethel – Geraniqua Bethel, Trinity Bodie and Danielle McCoy; St Augustine’s College – Teanna Gibson, Antonicia Moultrie and Dior-Rae Scott and CI Gibson – Jada Wilson and Trenae Greene.

#Winning the individual awards were the following players:

#Most rebounds- Antonicia Moultrie – St Augustine’s College; most assists – Dior-Rae Scott – St Augustine’s College; most blocks – Antonicia Moultrie – St Augustine’s College; defensive player – Antonicia Moultrie; offensive player – Danielle McCoy – CV Bethel and tournament MVP – Antonicia Moultrie.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/03/big-red-machine-take-senior-girls-crown/?news