Month: February 2023

Falcons fly past Saints, 76-49

36TH HUGH CAMPBELL BASKETBALL CLASSIC @ KENDAL ISAACS GYMNASIUM

As of Tuesday, February 21, 2023

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Jordan Prince Williams Falcons, in their first game since losing the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools’ senior boys title to the Charles W Saunders Cougars, didn’t have any mercy on the Kingsway Academy Saints.

#In a lopsided victory on day one of the 36th edition of the Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic yesterday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, the Falcons flew past the Saints 76-49.

#In the feature game of the night, the CC Sweeting Cobras doubled up the Government High Magicmen 67-31.

#The CV Bethel Stingrays stunned the Queen’s College Comets 41-36.

#Falcons 76, Saints 49: Although they only had two players in double figures, Jordan Prince Williams had a balanced scoring attack as they marched past Kingsway Academy in a lopsided affair.

#Kamari Minns led the attack with 16 and Jakayo Kemp had 13. Both Ellery Lockhart and Barkley Cadet had eight and Valentino Ferguson, Broc Glinton, Kenneth Reckley and Philip Robinson all scored six as head coach Ernest Saunders had his team clicking on all cylinders.

#Minns had 10, with a pair of three-pointers, to help the Falcons open a 19-10 first quarter lead. Kemp came up with nine in the second quarter as they extended their lead to 38-20 at the half. They were never challenged the rest of the way.

#For good measure, and Lockhart had five as they extended their lead to 64-32 at the end of the third.

#Ferguson canned a pair of three-pointers in the fourth as they stayed ahead for good.

#Evan Cartwright had a game high 21 points and Rayjin Smith added 11 in a losing cause. Kenyon Johnson had six, Cayden Cunningham five and Ethan Burrows four, but it wasn’t enough.

#Cobras 67, Magicmen 31: Jaheim Armbrister canned 13 points as he led the attack for CC Sweeting as just about every player scored.

#Jamerolston was the only other one in double figures with 11.

#Mauricio Davis had nine, Jason Williams eight, Ronald Adderley six, Emmanuel Adams five, and Calvin Thurston, Mataeo Minnis and Robert Prater all added four.

#In a losing effort, Leroy Rolle had 11 and Rasheed Brennen finished with eight.

#Stingrays 41, Comets 36: Charles Major III had 12 points, Prescott Stubbs had 11, Derrick Edgecombe eight, Marvince Dorel five and Juvenson Jilles chipped in with four in pushing CV Bethel to victory as they led from start to finish.

#The Stingrays had went up 17-7. Leonardo Burrows had a game high 19 points and Tayshawn Taylor had eight in the loss.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/feb/21/falcons-fly-past-saints-76-49/?news

36th St Valentine’s Regatta ‘a huge success’

As of Tuesday, February 21, 2023

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WINNERS of the 36th St Valentine’s Regatta over the weekend in Montagu Bay.

#THE 36th edition of the St Valentine’s Regatta turned out to be a huge success over the weekend in Montagu Bay.

#The popular sloop sailing event, the brainchild of the late Eleazor ‘the Sailing Barber’ Johnson, took place on Saturday and Sunday.

#Winning the title was Whisper with 15 points, followed by Sweet Island Gal with 13 in second and Flash placed third with 12.

#The Dream Girl was fourth with 10 points, the Cobra got fifth with seven and Unca John completed the field in sixth place with four points.

#Organisers of the event thanked the Bahamas Boat Owners and Sailors Association, along with the fans, who showed up on Montagu Bay.

#The Johnson family indicated that they will redouble their efforts to ensure that the legacy of their father continues to live on. The event was sponsored by Cuba Libre & Street Side Pizza, Goombay Punch, Bank of the Bahamas and Johnson’s Trucking and Johnson’s Barber Shops.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/feb/21/36th-st-valentines-regatta-huge-success/?news

Tour de Turquoise raises a record $165,000 for Exuma

THANKS to founder Howard Chang, a second homeowner in Exuma, with strong support from other second homeowners like Bob Coughlin, 2nd from right, founder of Friends of Exuma, the 8th Annual Tour de Turquoise cycling event hit a record high, raising $165,000 for Exuma needs, topping the 2022 raise that purchased a new bus for LN Coakley High.

THANKS to founder Howard Chang, a second homeowner in Exuma, with strong support from other second homeowners like Bob Coughlin, 2nd from right, founder of Friends of Exuma, the 8th Annual Tour de Turquoise cycling event hit a record high, raising $165,000 for Exuma needs, topping the 2022 raise that purchased a new bus for LN Coakley High.

As of Tuesday, February 21, 2023

photo

A GROUP of cyclists who completed the 2023 record-setting Tour de Turquoise event gather in front of the bus purchased for LN Coakley High with funds from last year’s race.

#FOR donors who wonder where exactly their dollars go and who they help, in Exuma they only have to look as far as the school bus that proudly bears the name LN Coakley High.

#Sponsors, supporters and riders who participated in the 2022 Tour de Turquoise raised more than $100,000 to pay for that bright blue bus that has been a student body gamechanger.

#But having wheeled in record success, when founder Howard Chang and sponsoring supporters like author Jeff Todd, Peter Nicholson, the largest shareholder at Grand Isle Resorts & Residences, and Bob Coughlin, founder of Friends of Exuma, vowed to top that figure in 2023, many held their breath, doubting they could do it.

#This week, the announcement came.

#“Tour de Turquoise 2023 raised more than $165,000, a fantastic new record, thanks to all those who support this grass roots cycling event and especially the second homeowners who have made Exuma their home and want to give back,” said Todd. And co-founder Chang, who introduced the growing cycling event after being a founding member of Canada’s Les Domestiques (‘cyclists who serve’) touches on the appeal of the local event.

#“What our donors love about this event is how the money really touches those who need it,” he said.

#“Exuma is such an impressive community with so many needs, whether it be in health, education or the environment. Our job is to identify those needs and do our best to invest in causes that have a direct impact on people’s lives.”

#Among other causes, the event has helped purchase a bus for the local hospital, revitalised a local basketball court, sent children to camp, created a cycling club for students, and most recently, bought that new bus for the high school so students can participate in extra-curricular activities after school.

#But getting to the level of donations the Tour now enjoys did not happen easily. According to Todd, the event only raised modest sums, though it brought the community together, until the big boost in 2021 when it brought in over $100,000 for the first time.

#“That’s when major donors and supporters like Bob Coughlin and Friends of Exuma (an NGO founded by Coughlin) stepped up,” said Todd.

#“We wouldn’t be where we are without people like Howard Chang and his family and Bob Coughlin, second homeowners who love the community and want to give back to Exuma.”

#Also key to Tour de Turquoise has been the Exuma Foundation of Canada, a registered charity that allows Canadians to receive a tax deduction for their donations and more recently, Friends of Exuma, which offers tax incentives for American donors.

#The event features two races for all ages and abilities, including a community ride of about 40km (25 miles), and a ‘VIP route’ of 80km (80 miles) for more experienced cyclists.

#In both, donors and locals ride side by side and socialise while taking in the island’s vistas and famously blue water. Tour De Turquoise partners with the medical and law enforcement authorities. Timing of the event is no accident. Exuma’s world-class water and beaches, not to mention the friendliness of the locals, has been a winning combination for donors seeking a fundraiser that’s off the beaten track, especially in January when temperatures in northern climates are freezing and cyclists in Exuma are pedalling along in t-shirts astride a shoreline of warm sparkling waters. “I look forward to coming here every year,” Norbert Frisckhorn says, a retired entrepreneur who has been to all eight events.

#“First off, the island is incredibly beautiful. And then there are the people who remember you year after year. It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a holiday, connect with friends, while also making a difference in a place that really benefits from it.”

#Much like Chang, Coughlin had an inherent drive and motivation to give back to an island he also calls home. As the founder of Paycor, a platform that delivers payroll and human resource services to major companies across US, he knows a thing or two about building winning teams.

#“Friends of Exuma has been leaning in and supporting many projects,” adds Coughlin, who is also the founder of the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, one of the largest running events in the US. “Tour de Turquoise is a perfect chance for us to collaborate and introduce potential new donors to the island. Chang and his team have done a wonderful job with the ride and we look forward to reaching greater heights together in the future.”

#To learn more about Tour de Turquoise in January 2024, visit its website at rideforexuma.com

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/feb/21/tour-de-turquoise-raises-record-165000-exuma/?news

Hugh Campbell classic gets underway

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Falcons dominate Saints in matchup of BAISS playoff teams; action continues today

Sheldon LongleySend an emailFebruary 21, 2023 106 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 A Temple Christian Suns player goes up for a shot during their game against the R.M. Bailey Pacers, on the first day of the 2023 Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic, at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium on Monday. The Suns defeated the Pacers, 51-49.

Day one of the 2023 Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic is in the books, and whereas there were no major upsets, a game between two playoff teams in the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) turned out to be a complete one-sided affair as the Jordan Prince William High Falcons flew away from the Kingsway Academy Saints.

A 20-1 scoring run covering the second and third quarters allowed the Falcons to pull away from the bewildered Saints last night, winning 76-49 at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium.

The Saints were competitive early, taking a 9-8 lead at the 2:57 mark of the opening quarter. However, that is when the Falcons got going defensively and offensively, and the Saints never recovered.

A couple of three-point shots from Kamari Minns highlighted the 

breakaway run for the Falcons. In total, they hit four three-point shots in the opening quarter, transforming a 9-8 deficit into a 19-10 lead after one. Much of the same continued in the second quarter, but this time, it would be the defense of the Falcons that took center stage. They forced a number of turnovers and converted them into easy transition baskets.

The stifling defense of the Falcons kept the Saints off the scoreboard altogether in the second quarter, and they stretched their lead to a commanding 38-10 cushion at the half.

Minns led the Falcons with 16 points last night. Jakayo Kemp added 13 and Ellery Lockhart and Barkley Cadet dropped in eight apiece. Evan Cartwright had a game-high 21 for the Saints. Rayjin Smith was their only other player in double figures with 11.

“I was pleased with the way we shot the ball tonight. The shooting was exceptional,” said Falcons’ Head Coach Ernest Saunders. “The guys shot the ball well and if we continue to shoot like that, we will be tough to beat. Also, the defensive intensity picked up, and that was the key for us. I knew once we play defense, the offense would feed off that and that is what happened tonight. I just believe we just need to be more disciplined in certain areas. We just need to come out and play our brand of basketball, and once we do that, we’ll be okay.”

The Falcons continued to thrive in the third quarter, pushing the lead to as much as 34 points in the third. They led 64-32 after three, and coasted the rest of the way.

The Saints gave the C.W. Saunders Cougars a push in their sudden death elimination playoff game in the BAISS while the Falcons rolled past the St. Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine in the other sudden death playoff game. The Cougars swept the Falcons in the championship series.

The game last night was billed to be a thrilling and intense competition, but the Falcons ended that notion early. They stamped their authority on the game from midway through the first quarter. They were not going to be denied, dominating and moving into the winner’s circle at the Hugh Campbell tournament. It doesn’t get any easier for them as they will face the Jack Hayward High Wildcats out of Freeport, Grand Bahama, in their next game. That game is slated for Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Kendal Isaacs gym.

“We know that we’re going to meet tougher opponents starting Wednesday, but we’re not focused on that. We’re just focused on what we need to do. I know that once we stick to our defensive strategy, we’ll be fine,” said Saunders last night.

In the opening game of the Hugh Campbell tournament, the Temple Christian Suns squeezed past the R.M. Bailey Pacers, 51-49. Also yesterday, the C.V. Bethel Stingrays held off the Queen’s College Comets, 41-36.

Action at the 2023 Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic continues today. The Grand Bahama and Family Island teams begin play on Wednesday.

https://thenassauguardian.com/hugh-campbell-classic-gets-underway/

McPhee-McCuin, Rebels lose in overtime to No. 1 ranked Gamecocks

 Home|Sports|McPhee-McCuin, Rebels lose in overtime to No. 1 ranked GamecocksSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailFebruary 21, 2023 129 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 Ole Miss Rebels Head Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin reacts during the first half of an NCAA women’s college basketball game between Ole Miss and South Carolina in Oxford, Mississippi, on Sunday. The Rebels lost, 64-57, in overtime. AP

Bahamian Yolett “Coach Yo” McPhee-McCuin and the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Lady Rebels had the number one team in the nation on the ropes on Sunday, but fell in overtime, losing a hard-fought battle.

Playing on their home court at the Sandy and John Black (SJB) Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi, the Rebels gave the University of South Carolina Gamecocks all they could handle, but couldn’t stave off a late surge by Zia Cooke and the Gamecocks on Sunday evening.

The Rebels had a lead in the final minute of the game in regulation and had a shot to win after the Gamecocks tied the game at 55, but Angel Baker missed a jumper, and a turnover with just two seconds left on the clock caused them. They failed to get off a potential go-ahead shot in the final seconds.

In the overtime session, Cooke and the Gamecocks took over, outscoring the Rebels, 9-2. Cooke scored five of her 24 points in overtime to help the No. 1 Gamecocks remain unbeaten, winning, 64-57, on the road.

In a matchup between two of the top defensive teams in the country, the defending national champion Gamecocks persevered, winning their 33rd straight game. They improved to an unblemished 27-0 win/loss record on the season, 14-0 in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Rebels dropped to 20-7 and 9-5 in the SEC.

For the Bahamian head coach of the program, it was a tough loss. They never trailed by more than six points in regulation and flirted with their first win over a nationally number one ranked team in 46 years.

“Tough one. Man, today was an incredibly emotional game for me, our players, everybody,” she said to reporters after the game. “I just grew up looking up to Dawn Staley. I just have so much respect for her as a person. She has become a mentor of mine. To be able to take them into overtime and have an opportunity to win after being in our third game of the week was incredible.”

The Rebels have lost two straight and three of their last five games, but should receive some national rankings consideration after carrying the undefeated number one team in the nation to the brink of defeat.

South Carolina Head Coach Staley gave credit to the Rebels for forcing the issue and dictating the pace of the game.

“They were locked in,” she told reporters afterward. “They played their zone and were committed to it, and we didn’t handle it well until we actually had to, so it was a good game plan.”

She called the Rebels “an NCAA Tournament team”, and added that they certainly looked the part.

McPhee-McCuin and the Rebels are looking to make their second straight trip to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament this year after missing it in the previous 14 seasons.

Cooke had six rebounds and four assists to help offset a 7-for-18 shooting performance. Aliyah Boston added 13 points and 11 rebounds on 4-for-14 shooting for the Gamecocks.

Angel Baker led Ole Miss with 17 points. Silentianna “Snudda” Collins added 11 and Marquesha Davis had nine points and seven rebounds. Rita Igbokwe blocked six shots for Ole Miss.

Prior to Sunday, the Gamecocks had been winning by an average of 33.5 points. Not only did Ole Miss remain competitive throughout, but they had a shot to win. They rallied from a six-point deficit over the final seven minutes to force overtime, but went ice cold from the field in the extra session.

South Carolina made only 23 of 61 shots in the game (37.7 percent) but outrebounded the Rebels, 49-36, and shut down the Rebels in overtime.

McPhee-McCuin and the Rebels will stay home and host the Missouri Tigers on Thursday night. That game is set to get underway at 7 o’clock.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mcphee-mccuin-rebels-lose-in-overtime-to-no-1-ranked-gamecocks/

Junior tennis players excel on Grand Bahama

 Home|Sports|Junior tennis players excel on Grand BahamaSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailFebruary 21, 2023 88 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Grand Bahama Tennis Association’s (GBTA) Bahama Pure Water & Ice Tournament, featuring some of the top players in the junior ranks in the northern Bahamas, wrapped up last week in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

According to reports, there was some good competition. Young tennis athletes competed in the under-12 (U12), under-14 (U14), under-16 (U16) and under-18 (U18) categories, looking to earn the top spots in their respective divisions.

Coming out on top in the U12 Boys Division was Chase Newbold while Kingston Rees finished as the runner-up. Patrick Mactaggart was the winner in the U14 Boys Division while Reeves Mahelis finished as the runner-up. Jerald Carroll prevailed in the U16 Boys Division while Khai Rees was the runner-up. In the U18 Boys Division, Carroll came out on top, winning his second title, and Jackson Mactaggart was the runner-up.

Danielle Saunders won the title in the U12 Girls Division and Londyn Mortimer finished as the runner-up. Kaylah Fox was the winner in the U14 Girls Division and Millie Beukes finished as the runner-up. Jalisa Clarke prevailed in the U16 Girls Division and Tatyana Madu was the runner-up. Clarke also took the title in the U18 Girls Division and Saphirre Ferguson was the runner-up.

The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) congratulates the tournament participants and organizers and extends special congratulations to the winners, particularly the double crown winners – Jerald Carroll and Jalisa Clarke.

https://thenassauguardian.com/junior-tennis-players-excel-on-grand-bahama/

Final two champions crowned in the GSSSA

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Royals junior boys hold off the Sharks; Rattlers senior girls beat the Knights

Simba FrenchSend an emailFebruary 20, 2023 238 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 The D.W. Davis Royals junior boys won the GSSSA basketball championship on Friday, defeating the S.C. McPherson Sharks in the third and decisive game. They won 47-43. photos: Simba French

The D.W. Davis Royals junior boys and the C.I. Gibson Rattlers senior girls were able to repeat as champions in their respective divisions in the Government Secondary Schools Sporting Association (GSSSA) best-of-three basketball championships on Friday.

The Rattlers senior girls witnessed their senior boys lifting the championship trophy the night before and came back to the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium looking to do the same. They took care of the C.R. Walker Knights, 45-41, to get the victory in the third and decisive game. The Royals avoided losing two straight games for the first time this season, taking down the S.C. McPherson Sharks, 47-43, in Game Three of their championship series.

Junior Boys

Royals 47, Sharks 43

After getting a wake-up call on Thursday, the Royals came back more focused but still had a tough battle against a pesky Sharks team on Friday. Led by Kami Davis, who had eight points in the second quarter, the Sharks went into halftime with a slim 24-23 lead.

Coming out of the intermission, the Royals played more aggressive on the defensive end and were able to dial-in on their shots. Led by Darius Hanna and Kamal Miller with four points each, they were able to put up 13 points in the third quarter while holding the Sharks to nine. The Royals went up 36-33 heading into the fourth.

In the fourth quarter, the Royals turned up their defense another notch, forcing Davis and the Sharks to earn their points. All four of Davis’ points in the final period came from the charity stripe.

After their Game One victory, Royals’ Head Coach Mark Hanna joked that his son, Darius Hanna, owed him a championship after he lost a championship game the day he was born. Darius scored five points in the final period including a three-point shot to lift the Royals.

The younger Hanna finished with 17 points to deliver his father a championship, and as a bonus, he won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy. Miller scored 11 points with seven coming in the second half.

Davis had a game-high 18 points for the Sharks.

For the Royals, it’s their sixth straight GSSSA junior boys basketball title.

Senior Girls

Rattlers 45, Knights 41

In this series, two evenly matched teams played their hearts out for a championship but only one could lift the trophy. That team was the Rattlers as they had a stronger second half in the third and decisive game, especially in the fourth quarter.

Rattlers’ Head Coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson was looking for his team to bring the same defense and intensity that they had in the second game on Thursday night.

However, early in the first quarter, it was the Knights who would take command. They led 13-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Knights withstood a challenge from the Rattlers in the second quarter and led 25-21 at the half.

At the end of the third quarter, the Knights held a slim 35-33 lead.

Johnson had to wait until the fourth quarter to see the defense he wanted to see from his team as they held the Knights two key players, Shenell Steward and Brianna Hanna, to just two points each in that stanza. The Rattlers scored 12 points in that final period and held the Knights to just six points.

Francis won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the Rattlers. She finished with a game-high 24 points, 10 of which came in the second quarter. Her teammate Phillpps Ferguson scored 14 points.

Stewart’s 19 points was not enough for the Knights as they fell short.

The Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic, featuring the best senior boys basketball teams in the country, gets underway today at the Kendal Isaacs gymnasium.

https://thenassauguardian.com/final-two-champions-crowned-in-the-gsssa/

Final two Final two champions crowned in the GSSSA crowned in the GSSSA

 Home|Sports|Final two champions crowned in the GSSSASports

Royals junior boys hold off the Sharks; Rattlers senior girls beat the Knights

Simba FrenchSend an emailFebruary 20, 2023 117 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 The D.W. Davis Royals junior boys won the GSSSA basketball championship on Friday, defeating the S.C. McPherson Sharks in the third and decisive game. They won 47-43. photos: Simba French

The D.W. Davis Royals junior boys and the C.I. Gibson Rattlers senior girls were able to repeat as champions in their respective divisions in the Government Secondary Schools Sporting Association (GSSSA) best-of-three basketball championships on Friday.

The Rattlers senior girls witnessed their senior boys lifting the championship trophy the night before and came back to the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium looking to do the same. They took care of the C.R. Walker Knights, 45-41, to get the victory in the third and decisive game. The Royals avoided losing two straight games for the first time this season, taking down the S.C. McPherson Sharks, 47-43, in Game Three of their championship series.

Junior Boys

Royals 47, Sharks 43

After getting a wake-up call on Thursday, the Royals came back more focused but still had a tough battle against a pesky Sharks team on Friday. Led by Kami Davis, who had eight points in the second quarter, the Sharks went into halftime with a slim 24-23 lead.

Coming out of the intermission, the Royals played more aggressive on the defensive end and were able to dial-in on their shots. Led by Darius Hanna and Kamal Miller with four points each, they were able to put up 13 points in the third quarter while holding the Sharks to nine. The Royals went up 36-33 heading into the fourth.

In the fourth quarter, the Royals turned up their defense another notch, forcing Davis and the Sharks to earn their points. All four of Davis’ points in the final period came from the charity stripe.

After their Game One victory, Royals’ Head Coach Mark Hanna joked that his son, Darius Hanna, owed him a championship after he lost a championship game the day he was born. Darius scored five points in the final period including a three-point shot to lift the Royals.

The younger Hanna finished with 17 points to deliver his father a championship, and as a bonus, he won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy. Miller scored 11 points with seven coming in the second half.

Davis had a game-high 18 points for the Sharks.

For the Royals, it’s their sixth straight GSSSA junior boys basketball title.

Senior Girls

Rattlers 45, Knights 41

In this series, two evenly matched teams played their hearts out for a championship but only one could lift the trophy. That team was the Rattlers as they had a stronger second half in the third and decisive game, especially in the fourth quarter.

Rattlers’ Head Coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson was looking for his team to bring the same defense and intensity that they had in the second game on Thursday night.

However, early in the first quarter, it was the Knights who would take command. They led 13-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Knights withstood a challenge from the Rattlers in the second quarter and led 25-21 at the half.

At the end of the third quarter, the Knights held a slim 35-33 lead.

Johnson had to wait until the fourth quarter to see the defense he wanted to see from his team as they held the Knights two key players, Shenell Steward and Brianna Hanna, to just two points each in that stanza. The Rattlers scored 12 points in that final period and held the Knights to just six points.

Francis won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the Rattlers. She finished with a game-high 24 points, 10 of which came in the second quarter. Her teammate Phillpps Ferguson scored 14 points.

Stewart’s 19 points was not enough for the Knights as they fell short.

The Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic, featuring the best senior boys basketball teams in the country, gets underway today at the Kendal Isaacs gymnasium.

https://thenassauguardian.com/final-two-champions-crowned-in-the-gsssa/

‘Buddy’ falls by one point in three-point contest

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Simba FrenchSend an emailFebruary 20, 2023 53 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 Bahamian Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield of the Indiana Pacers shoots during the three-point contest of NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday. Former champion Hield fell by one point to Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers. AP

Bahamian Chavano “Buddy” Hield fell just one point short of winning what would have been his second NBA (National Basketball Association) All-Star Three-Point Contest at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday night.

The Indiana Pacers starting two-guard finished the final round of the Starry Three-Point Contest with 25 points. He was edged by Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard who finished with 26 points. Hield’s teammate and fellow backcourt partner Tyrese Haliburton was third, finishing with 17 points.

Lillard was the second competitor and chased Hield’s 25 points down. He needed his last shot – a money ball that is worth two points to pass Hield, and he got it. Lillard made both of his shots from the “Starry” spot on the court that was worth three points while Hield missed both of those shots. That proved to be a key component in the victory.

In the final round, the Grand Bahama native got off to a hot start on the first rack, coming away with five points. As mentioned, he missed both “Starry” shots and had 13 points after the second one. He put in four of five money ball shots on his last rack which was in the corner. It was a great strategy as he had just 17 points before reaching it. He hit the first four shots in the corner but his final money ball shot clanked on the back of the rim and missed as he finished with 25 points.

Hield was going for his second three-point title after participating in the 2020 NBA All-Star edition.

The Bahamian finished the first round with 23 points to advance to be one of the three finalists. 

Haliburton had the most points with 31. Lillard scored 26 points in the first round.

Eliminated in the first round were the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, the Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen, the Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro, the New York Knicks’ Julius Randle and the Sacramento Kings’ Kevin Huerter.

Hield has made 230 made three-point shots this season and leads the league at the all-star break. His closest competitor is Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons who has 196 and he is followed by Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson with 194.

Hield is averaging 3.8 made three-pointers per game and is on pace to eclipse his own single-season record in made three-pointers which is 282. If he continues making three-pointers at a high clip, he will likely go over the 300-made three-pointers mark. If he does that, he will join only two other players in NBA history – the Warriors’ Stephen Curry and the Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden. Curry did it four times and Harden did it once.

Before the break, Hield was able to set a franchise record for made three-pointers in a season. He did that last Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls. He surpassed Pacers legend Reggie Miller who had 229 made three-point shots during the 1996-1997 season.

The Pacers (26-34) return to action on Thursday, taking on the Eastern Conference and NBA leading Celtics (42-17) at home, at Gainbridge Fiedhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

https://thenassauguardian.com/buddy-falls-by-one-point-in-three-point-contest/

Taylor puts on show at conference championships

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Simba FrenchSend an emailFebruary 20, 2023 140 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 Lamar Taylor.

Bahamian collegiate swimmer Lamar Taylor wrapped up action for the Henderson State University Red Wave at the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference (NSISC) Championships at the Ronald G. Mayers Aquatic Center in Cleveland, Mississippi, over the weekend. Taylor and the Red Wave placed second overall.

Action got underway on Wednesday and wrapped up on Saturday. The Red Wave finished with 917 points while Delta State University won with a total of 1,007.50 points.

Taylor got an automatic qualifying time for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II (DII) Championships in the 100-yard freestyle on Saturday. He finished second in the final behind his teammate, graduate student Jack Armstrong. Taylor clocked a blistering 42.81 seconds, improving on his preliminary time of 43.44 seconds. He had splits of 20.66 and 22.15 seconds. Armstrong won with a time of 42.55 seconds. Delta State’s Tucker Schroer was third after swimming a time of 43.94 seconds.

Taylor, a junior, picked up an individual victory on Friday night and also a win in a relay event. He got the victory in the 100-yard backstroke when he touched the wall in a blistering 46.88 seconds to swim a NCAA DII Invite time, improving on his preliminary time of 47.78 seconds. Taylor’s splits were 22.39 and 24.49 seconds. His closest competitor was last year’s winner, Delta State’s Berk Ozkul who clocked 48.24 seconds. Finishing third was Delta State’s Emanuel Fava who posted a time of 48.48 seconds.

Later that night, Taylor anchored the Red Wave’s 200-yard free relay team to victory in a pool and conference record time, and also a NCAA DII consideration time, of 1:18.89. The previous pool record was 1:19.52 while Taylor and the Red Wave held the previous conference record of 1:19.75. Taylor’s split on Friday night was the fastest on the team – 18.90 seconds. His teammates in that race were Armstrong, Jase Pinckney and Tim Holt.

Ouachita University was second with at time of 1:22.22 and they were followed by Delta State who were third in 1:22.98.

Taylor was also in the pool for the 100-yard fly, powering his way to an NCAA DII invite time of 47.21 seconds as he went below his heat time of 47.74 seconds. His third place finish helped complete a sweep for a Red Wave in that event. Armstrong won the race with a time of 46.39 seconds and Pinckney was second when he touched the wall in 47.21 seconds.

Taylor and the Red Wave’s 400-yard medley relay team of Mark Eberhard, Pinckney and Armstrong had no competition in the pool and so they had to chase records and the NCAA DII Championships qualifying time. In the end, they clocked 3:12.13 which was a new pool record and an NCAA DII ‘B’ consideration time. It was also a new school record as Henderson State repeated as champions in that event.

The University of Montevallo was second with a time of 3:18.18. Delta State was third as they swam 3.18.34.

Taylor started his performances at the meet, swimming in the 50-yard free. The shorter sprints in the freestyle is what he excels in the most. He did not disappoint as he powered his way to win that event in a time 19.24 seconds. He had a better swim in the preliminaries in which he swam 19.10 seconds to set a school, conference and pool record, and also went under the NCAA DII qualifying time. He lowered his own school and conference record and has the fastest time in that event in NCAA DII rankings.

Finishing second to Taylor was his teammate Armstrong who clocked 19.57 seconds. Placing third was Delta Sate’s Tucker Schroer who clocked 20.05 seconds.

Next up for Taylor and the Red Wave is the NCAA DII Championships, set for Wednesday March 8 to Saturday March 11, at Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

https://thenassauguardian.com/taylor-puts-on-show-at-conference-championships/