Home|Sports|Giants put Rockets on the ropesSports

They take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series over the defending champs

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailMarch 31, 2023 269 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Commonwealth Bank Giants took over in the second half on Wednesday night and won convincingly, 101-83, over the defending New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) Division I defending champions Discount Distributors Liquors Rockets. With the victory they take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five championship series.

Leading the way for them at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium was Michael ‘Furley’ Bain Jr. who poured in a game-high 19 points. The Rockets’ Able Joseph matched game-high honors with 19 points in the loss.

Head Coach for the Giants Perry Thompson said they needed to play better than they did in the first game, and they did.

“I feel like we came out from the jump and played a better and more complete game overall, so it’s a great feeling. We get to play game three with no pressure,” Thompson said.

The game was a close one at the half as the Rockets led 48-46. It looked like it was going to be another thriller like the first game that was close wire-to-wire. Instead, the Giants went into another gear in the third quarter. They went ahead early in the third and increased the lead to 63-56 with 5:20 left in the quarter after Salathiel Dean completed a three-point play. Lerecus Armbrister, who was a huge help for the Giants off the bench with 16 points, made 3-of-4 shots from the field and gave the Giants their first double-digit lead of the game when he sank two free throws. He gave them a 67-56 lead with 3:57 left in the third quarter. A 26-15 advantage in the third quarter put the Giants in the driver’s seat as they led 72-63 going into the fourth.

In the fourth quarter, the Giants took control of the game and the series. They jumped out to an 86-71 lead with 4:51 left in the fourth quarter. The Rockets didn’t have enough energy to mount a come back and tie the series. Now, they will return tonight in an attempts to avoid a sweep in game three that gets underway at 7 p.m.

Thompson said that the Rockets swept them last year and this year they are looking to return the favor.

The Rockets lost forward Livingston Munnings in the first quarter as he injured his ankle. Munnings was instrumental in the first game with 24 points and 16 rebounds. The Rockets could certainly use his services for a better chance of defending their title.

The Giants shot the ball well in the second game, making 44 percent of their shots from the field. The Rockets shot poorly from the field, hitting just 33 percent.

In the early game, the second game of the NPBA Division II championship between the Produce Express Rockets and the Your Essential Store Giants, the Rockets came back from a 10-point deficit to get a 80-76 victory to tie the series 1-1.

Assistant Coach for the Rockets Julian Colebrooke said that they needed to fix their rebounding and hustle as they needed to win and avoid going down 0-2 in the series. They did just that. They used a 30-21 fourth quarter advantage to get the victory.

With the score tied at 75, Randy Blanfort made a layup to give the Rockets their first lead of the game since the first quarter. They led 77-75 with 1:15 left in the fourth quarter and the layup helped trigger an 8-1 scoring run for the Rockets.

“In game three, we are looking to execute in a way that we know how to,” Colebrooke said. “We need to box out, play defense and force them to make turnovers.”

The Rockets got 21 points from Jefferson Oliver to help them in the victory. The Giants’ Brandon Strachan came away with a game-high 24 points in the loss.

The third game is set for tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium.

https://thenassauguardian.com/giants-put-rockets-on-the-ropes/

 Home|Sports|QC victorious at 2023 Scholastic Chess Team ChampionshipSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailApril 3, 2023 158 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Aspiring chess players from across New Providence participated in the competitive 2023 Scholastic Chess Team Championship. The event was hosted by the Bahamas Chess Federation and took place at the QCafé at Queen’s College on Saturday, March 25.

Queen’s College seized the win in both the under-16 and under-20 categories, winning the title of the strongest chess school on the island of New Providence. The second Queen’s College team was second in the under-20 division, with C.I. Gibson Senior High School finishing third.

Kingsway Academy was second place in the under-16 division, with St. Anne’s School finishing third.

The team-based event is one of the largest chess tournaments of the year, with many schools trying to defend their title as well as achieve new ones. It attracted strong students from over twelve schools and institutions, namely Queen’s College, St. Augustine’s College, Kingsway Academy, C.I. Gibson School, St. Andrew’s School, St. Anne’s, Aquinas, Lyford Cay, Windsor Academy, New Providence Classical School and other various small schools and home schools. They battled it out in the five-round competition.

The tournament consisted of three divisions: under-12, under-16 and under-20, with a new feature of the tournament this year, the addition of a combined school team section. This section was added to allow home school students and students attending schools that do not have sufficient chess players to field a team to come together to form a team.

The QCafé was filled with intense focus, as school teams faced off against each other in a bid to be crowned the scholastic team champions and best chess school on the island. As soon as a match was completed, students wasted no time and would huddle in a corner or proceed to the outside waiting area to discuss their moves and strategies in their own chess language. It was clear that chess was the common denominator, as students from different schools and backgrounds came together to share their passion for the game.

Dr. Paul Thomas, math teacher, C.I. Gibson School and coach for the C.I. Gibson Chess Club, was happy with the performance of his team in the under-20 division.

He stated: “The C.I. Gibson Chess Club has been in existence since 2012 but this academic year, post-pandemic, has been the most remarkable one. In this period, the greatest level of interest ever has been shown by our students, particularly our tenth graders. Chess at C.I. Gibson, for our 30 active members, is one way we remind students that careful thinking must always precede actions. Our chess members embrace this principle and our expectation is that they will transfer it to every facet of their lives. It is important that students play chess because the game is a useful means by which students can develop critical thinking skills, which can help them make thoughtful decisions in all areas of their lives.”

“The Scholastic Chess Team Tournament was exciting and competitive,” said first BCF Vice-President Curtis Pride. “I was impressed by the level of skills displayed from newcomers from C.I. Gibson, St. Augustine’s College, St. Anne’s, Kingsway Academy, St. Andrews and players in the under-12 division. These players give me hope for the future of chess in The Bahamas. We, as a federation, are proud to have hosted such a prestigious and successful school-based event. We know that the best way to develop our junior talent is through partnerships with school coaches. With this in mind, we are committed to providing and enhancing this tournament every year.”

https://thenassauguardian.com/qc-victorious-at-2023-scholastic-chess-team-championship/

 Home|Sports|QC victorious at 2023 Scholastic Chess Team ChampionshipSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailApril 3, 2023 158 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Aspiring chess players from across New Providence participated in the competitive 2023 Scholastic Chess Team Championship. The event was hosted by the Bahamas Chess Federation and took place at the QCafé at Queen’s College on Saturday, March 25.

Queen’s College seized the win in both the under-16 and under-20 categories, winning the title of the strongest chess school on the island of New Providence. The second Queen’s College team was second in the under-20 division, with C.I. Gibson Senior High School finishing third.

Kingsway Academy was second place in the under-16 division, with St. Anne’s School finishing third.

The team-based event is one of the largest chess tournaments of the year, with many schools trying to defend their title as well as achieve new ones. It attracted strong students from over twelve schools and institutions, namely Queen’s College, St. Augustine’s College, Kingsway Academy, C.I. Gibson School, St. Andrew’s School, St. Anne’s, Aquinas, Lyford Cay, Windsor Academy, New Providence Classical School and other various small schools and home schools. They battled it out in the five-round competition.

The tournament consisted of three divisions: under-12, under-16 and under-20, with a new feature of the tournament this year, the addition of a combined school team section. This section was added to allow home school students and students attending schools that do not have sufficient chess players to field a team to come together to form a team.

The QCafé was filled with intense focus, as school teams faced off against each other in a bid to be crowned the scholastic team champions and best chess school on the island. As soon as a match was completed, students wasted no time and would huddle in a corner or proceed to the outside waiting area to discuss their moves and strategies in their own chess language. It was clear that chess was the common denominator, as students from different schools and backgrounds came together to share their passion for the game.

Dr. Paul Thomas, math teacher, C.I. Gibson School and coach for the C.I. Gibson Chess Club, was happy with the performance of his team in the under-20 division.

He stated: “The C.I. Gibson Chess Club has been in existence since 2012 but this academic year, post-pandemic, has been the most remarkable one. In this period, the greatest level of interest ever has been shown by our students, particularly our tenth graders. Chess at C.I. Gibson, for our 30 active members, is one way we remind students that careful thinking must always precede actions. Our chess members embrace this principle and our expectation is that they will transfer it to every facet of their lives. It is important that students play chess because the game is a useful means by which students can develop critical thinking skills, which can help them make thoughtful decisions in all areas of their lives.”

“The Scholastic Chess Team Tournament was exciting and competitive,” said first BCF Vice-President Curtis Pride. “I was impressed by the level of skills displayed from newcomers from C.I. Gibson, St. Augustine’s College, St. Anne’s, Kingsway Academy, St. Andrews and players in the under-12 division. These players give me hope for the future of chess in The Bahamas. We, as a federation, are proud to have hosted such a prestigious and successful school-based event. We know that the best way to develop our junior talent is through partnerships with school coaches. With this in mind, we are committed to providing and enhancing this tournament every year.”

https://thenassauguardian.com/qc-victorious-at-2023-scholastic-chess-team-championship/

QC victorious at 2023 Scholastic Chess Team Championship

 Home|Sports|Bahamas set to host CONCACAF Beach Soccer ChampionshipSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailApril 3, 2023 148 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) has officially announced that The Bahamas will be hosting the exhilarating 2023 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, set for May 8-14, 2023. The sun-soaked BFA Beach Soccer Stadium will be the stage for this high-octane sporting event.

With a proven track record of hosting elite beach soccer events, including the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and numerous CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships, The Bahamas is poised to deliver an unparalleled experience.

The championship will feature 12 competitive nations vying for the prestigious title and an opportunity to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Participating countries include El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guadeloupe, Turks & Caicos, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, United States, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Dominican Republic.

Fred Lunn, general secretary of the Bahamas Football Association, shared his excitement about hosting the event.

“We are beyond thrilled and honored to bring the electrifying CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship back to The Bahamas,” Lunn said. “The BFA’s unwavering commitment to developing and promoting beach soccer in our region shines through in our ability to host such a prestigious event. We can’t wait to showcase our stunning country, warm hospitality, and fervor for the sport to the competing teams and fans from all corners of the globe.”

The 2023 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship is set to captivate audiences with intense competition and exceptional athletic performances from the region’s top beach soccer teams. The Bahamas’ track record for hosting successful international beach soccer events, combined with its breathtaking natural beauty and vibrant local culture, ensures that this championship will leave a lasting impression on both participants and fans.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamas-set-to-host-concacaf-beach-soccer-championship/

 Home|Sports|‘Jazz’ hits first home run of seasonSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailApril 3, 2023 177 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

It only took him two games, but Bahamian professional baseball player Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm hit his first home run of the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, to the right upper deck. He did it on Friday against the New York Mets, as his Miami Marlins won that game 2-1 at the LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.

The game on Friday was the only game the Marlins won. They lost that series 3-1 as the visitors wrapped them up 5-1 in their final game yesterday .

Chisholm was at the plate and the count was two balls and one strike in the bottom of the eighth inning on Friday. John Curtiss pitched Chisholm a 95 miles per hour fast ball to the left inside the strike zone. The Bahamian sent Curtiss’ ball to the right field, 411 feet away into the right upper deck, to give his team the insurance run they needed. They led 2-0 at that point.

It was Chisholm’s 35th career home run.

The Mets went into the top of the ninth inning down 2-0, but they found a way to put one run on the board – a home run by Pete Alonso. That closed the gap, but the Marlins were able to get two more outs. It gave the Marlins their first win of the season and gave their manager Skip Schumaker his first win as an MLB manager.

The Bahamian now plays in center field and batted at fourth on the lineup. He finished 1-for-4 at-bat.

It is very early in the season, but Chisholm is 2-for-13 at-bat in his first four games, with the hits coming from the home run and a double. He has one run batted in and six strikeouts for a batting average of .154. It is a long season and Chisholm will pick up his batting.

The Marlins lost 5-3 on Thursday. Saturday saw them losing again but this time, 6-2. They return to action today, when they host the Minnesota Twins at 6:40 p.m. They will play a three-game series that wraps up on Wednesday.

https://thenassauguardian.com/jazz-hits-first-home-run-of-season/

 Home|Sports|First Class brings boxing backSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailApril 3, 2023 181 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Professional boxing is back in The Bahamas for the first time since 2019. First Class Promotions staged a strong card that saw American Jaimie ‘The Miracle’ Mitchell lifting the World Boxing Association (WBA) International bantam world title at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium on Friday night.

Mitchell won on a split decision over Canadian Lindsay Garbatt to improve her win/loss/draw record to 9-1-2. Garbatt’s record dropped to 10-9-2. Mitchell was happy to put on a show for The Bahamas.

“The win feels great to get the win,” Mitchell said. “It feels great to get the title and it feels like it is for the black community as well. I have been boxing for quite a bit but not as much as my opponent, but I got excited to be In The Bahamas and it was great to put on for The Bahamas.”

Mitchell won 97-93, 97-93 and 95-95. The two boxers put on a show for the fans at the gym for the 10-round match. It started out evenly, but Mitchell turned it up in the last four rounds landing some combinations to the Canadian’s body. Garbatt attacked Mitchell a few times, but Mitchell was prepared for her as she defended herself. Mitchell looked like she controlled the 10th round, but Garbatt started attacking more and won that final round 30-28.

“It was a cool match. She is a good opponent. She head-butted me early in the match and it affected my view out of my dominant eye. It took me to the next level, and I had to keep my focus and get what I came here for and that is the WBA title,” Mitchell said.

She will return to the ring in the next few months to defend her title.

First Class Promotions head, Michelle Minus said that she was happy with the quality of the fights.

“It was a good night. The fights were excellent, and everyone enjoyed them. Thought the men were going to be a little hesitant to come but they were out in good numbers. The fighters came to fight and gave it their best shot,” Munnings said.

Also on the fight card was another bout that was decided by a split decision that saw O’Shea Jones taking down Simone Silva in six rounds in the welterweight division. On paper, Jones was the less experienced fighter by far, but she looked comfortable in the ring and improved her record to 3-0-0. Silva now sports a 17-23-0 record. Jones won 60-53, 65-59 and 57-57.

“She is a former two-time world champion, and this is my third professional fight. I felt like I did good, and it is amazing to come away with the result. I was trying to be careful and to sit down on my punches, but she never gave up,” Jones said.

The 25-year-old Jones was impressive as she controlled the fight all night as she put on a clinic for the fans in attendance. She had Silva right where she wanted her all night, which was on the defensive stance and she managed to get some shots in that fight to win. Jones was impressive in the final two rounds to dominate Silva.

“I was trying to get her in the corner, but she was countering me. I was hesitating to get in but when I get in, she took it lightly,” Jones said.

First Class Promotions gave Ray Minus Jr. his flowers as they honored him for his contributions to the sport of boxing in The Bahamas over the years. Minus, who suffers from ALS was in attendance and even did a shuffle for fans. The profits made from the night by Bristol Wines and Spirits who ran the bar that night were donated to Minus.

“The people came out and supported Minus despite a busy schedule tonight (Friday),” Munnings said. “We might not have had a bunch of people out but it was a good night and it shows that The Bahamas loves Ray for what he has done for boxing.”

There were two exhibition matches that saw Anthony ‘Psycho’ Woods taking on Adam Sands. The other match saw Kenrick Stuart battling Jaywon Forbes.

Munnings is wasting no time to ensure that there is another boxing event as she looks to do her part in reviving boxing in The Bahamas. She already have an event planned for October 6 that will also be an all-female event that will see a battle for the Commonwealth title.

https://thenassauguardian.com/first-class-brings-boxing-back/

 Home|Sports|Jones, Strachan post world-leading timesSports

Jones qualified for World Championship

Simba FrenchSend an emailApril 3, 2023 230 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamians Keyshawn Strachan and Terrence Jones put on a show at the 95th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, at the Texas Relays at the Mike A. Myers Stadium this past weekend. Strachan lowered his own national record to win the javelin throw to secure the world-leading distance; while Jones won the 200 meters (m) to have the world-leading time in that event and qualified for the World Championships, set for Budapest, Hungary this summer.

Jones, the reigning National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) DI 60m champion, got his outdoor season underway in the 200m race where he blazed the track to clock 20.05 seconds. That time qualified him for the World Championships, as he surpassed the qualifying time of 20.16 seconds. It was also a personal best and a meet record for the Texas Tech Raid Raider athlete, as he ran in his first 200m race since 2021. Not only did he put his competitors on the NCAA DI circuit on notice, but he also put the world on notice as he has the world leading time in that event. He replaces Bahamian Olympic gold medalist in the 400m Steven ‘Speedy” Gardiner at the top of the list.

The Grand Bahama native is at the top of the list in the NCAA DI and is the number five fastest time for a Texas Tech athlete.

Finishing second behind him in that race was Liberia’s Emmanuel Matadi, who clocked 20.07 seconds. Jones’ teammate Courtney Lindsey posted a time of 20.11 seconds to finish third.

Strachan who competes for Auburn University Tigers, was intentional with his second attempt in his collegiate debut. He threw the javelin for 84.27m (276’ 5-3/4”) which was a new Bahamian national record, a school record, world-leading throw and ranked at number one in the NCAA DI standings. Additionally, the 19-year-old has the fourth best throw in NCAA history.

He lowered his own national record of 79.89m (262’) and it was the first time he threw over the 80-meter mark. He easily broke the school record which was 76.14m (249’ 10”) and the freshman record, which was 73.03m (239’ 7”).

Placing second was Baylor University’s Chinecherem Nnamdi with a throw of 79.98m (262’ 4-3/4”). Tracksmith’s Curtis Thompson was third when he posted 79.29m (260’ 1-3/4”).

It was a good start to his collegiate career and will be looking to qualify for the World Championships. The qualifying standard for that meet is 85.20m (279’ 6-1/4”)

Also competing at the Texas Relays and seeing a busy schedule was Anthaya Charlton. She was in action for her University of Kentucky Wildcats in the 100m, the 4x100m and the long jump events.

Charlton ran a personal best in the 100m when she clocked a personal best 11.13 seconds to place second. The University of Mississippi Rebel’s McKenzie Long ran 11 seconds. Finishing behind Charlton in third place was the Red Raiders’ Rosemary Chukwuma, in 11.21 seconds.

The Wildcat got a bronze finish in the long jump event with a leap of 6.52m (21’ 4-3/4”). That leap came on her fifth jump. Bahamian Charisma Taylor was fourth in that event leaping to 6.41m (21’ 1/4”).

The University of Texas Longhorns’ Ackelia Smith won that event when she posted 6.57m (21’ 6-3/4”). Nipping Charlton for second place was the University of Louisville Cardinals’ Synclair Savage with a leap of 6.53m (21’ 5-1/4”).

Charlton ran the second leg for her 4x100m relay team that placed second with a time of 42.81. Running on the Wildcats’ team were Victoria Perrow, Masai Russell and Karimah Davis.

Winning that race was the Longhorns with a collegiate and meet record of 42 seconds flat. Louisiana State University Tigers placed third  in 43.30 seconds.

Taylor was 10th in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.16 seconds and did not qualify for the final.

Shaun Miller Jr. was first in the collegiate division in the high jump when he cleared 2.20m (7’ 2-1/2”). Auburn’s Dontavious Hill and South Plains College’s Kudakwashe Chadenga were tied for second at the same height as Miller.

The Red Raiders team also featured Antoine Andrews in the 110m hurdles. He placed 17th in the preliminaries with a time of 13.72 seconds and did not qualify for the final.

Wanya McCoy helped his Clemson University Tigers to victory in the sprint medley. He ran the third leg as they won with a time of 3:14.02. The Longhorns was second after clocking 3:14.81. Third place was secured by Arizona State University in 3:15.17.

The Clemson sophomore ran 10.21 seconds but finished seventh in the 100m final. The University of Northern Iowa’s Isaiah Trousil won with a time of 10.16 seconds.

Gardiner is ranked at number four on the 200m list this season with a time of 20.14 seconds. Gardiner did that time at the Florida Relays at the Percy Beard Track Field Stadium on Friday. The Abaco native sprinted away from the field as his only competitor was the clock.

Trevor Bassitt, who ran unattached, clocked 20.53 seconds to finish second. Crossing the finish line in a close third was Puma’s Matthew Husdon-Smith in 20.56 seconds.

https://thenassauguardian.com/jones-strachan-post-world-leading-times/

THE RELOADED Baseball invitational kicks off March 31 through Sunday at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. The general public is invited to its first ever invitational games, where the young ballers in Nassau will face off against Family Island teams in three divisions this weekend.

As of Thursday, March 30, 2023

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#By JEFFARAH GIBSON

#Tribune Writer

#jgibson@tribunemedia.net

#RELOADED Baseball, a new programme with the sole interest of developing youth in baseball fundamentals and skill set, is inviting the general public to its first ever invitational games, where the young ballers in Nassau will face off against Family Island teams in three divisions this weekend.

#The invitational kicks off tomorrow (March 31) through Sunday at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. It will feature games over the course of the weekend in Coach Pitch, 10U and 12U divisions.

#The official Reloaded Baseball teams in Nassau will engage in friendly matchups against Family Island teams, including Abaco Youth Baseball and Softball led by Tory Feaste, Twin City Baseball League (Palmetto Point, Eleuthera) led by Elline Sineus and Grand Bahama Athletics led by Oscar Greene.

#The general public is invited to attend the games which are also a fundraising initiative sanctioned by the Bahamas Baseball Association.

#Food for the event will be offered by Blue Plate Catering and will support the development of youth in baseball, a fast-growing sport in The Bahamas.

#Much more than friendly match-ups, Reloaded Invitational games were executed with the goal of creating more opportunities for local competition for youth baseball players across the islands – something the Reloaded team believes has been lacking.

#Started by a group of coaches/parents, Reloaded seeks to help develop kids with sound baseball skills and on the field intelligence.

#Peron Burnside, an executive team member of Reloaded, shared the genesis of the programme.

#“Reloaded came about after attending a PG Tournament (Orlando) in the summer of 2022 because of the noticeable disparity in skill level between us and our international counterparts. A few of us coaches made a conscious decision to chart the way forward in the fundamental development of our kids,” he said.

#And upon their return, Reloaded Baseball came into being.

#“We focus on developing the fundamentals of the game. We also wanted to have a programme that did not put any financial burden on the parents and hence we fund everything internally without any charges to the parents. We cover all the costs for our kids in the programme and our motto in Reloaded is that there is not going to be any child left behind in our programme.”

#Mr Burnside said education is also a main thrust of the programme. “We have laid out in our plans to assist kids who may fall behind academically and bring them back to where they need to be. Our ultimate goal is to, through our international connections, to walk our kids into scholarships.”

#In pursuit of development, Reloaded Baseball engaged Family Island teams to start some interactive play between the teams and it was widely welcomed. “The sentiment is that this is lacking in the country and is much needed. We then plotted out as to how to start this process and hence the first inaugural Reloaded.

#The Reloaded Team is in pursuit of helping out our family island teams and have offset some of the cost to come to the Reloaded Invitational and we aim to assist in their development moving forward.

#“We are nonprofit and fund our programme internally so hence the need for fundraisers that we hold to finance our programme,” he said.

#Moving forward, Reloaded Baseball has engaged international coaches and organisations to assist in the development of all of the kids in the programme.

#The Reloaded executive team and coaches consists of: Peron Burnside, Mandell Curry, Tarah Curry, James Clarke, Lisa Bostwick Dean, Javier Bowe, Desmond Ferguson, Barry Nairn, Kennellis Gibson, Stephen Hubert Beneby (Bishop), Thalia Culmer, Kenue Mcphee, Dcarl Rolle, Jay Seymour, Javardo Bain.

#The Reloaded programme also extends thanks to the National Sports Authority members Moses Johnson (general manager) and Martin Burrows (deputy manager of baseball Stadium) who have collaborated and been supportive in this process.

#“It takes a village to raise a child and we have fortified a strong core or personnel to assist in our development journey,” Mr Burnside said.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/30/reloaded-baseball-invitational-kicks-friday-sunday/?news

As of Thursday, March 30, 2023

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Shavaughn Blades

Linda Williams

#By Tony Longley

#BRRC Public Relations Officer

#TWO dynamic Bahamian female athletes have recently paced their way into an elite circle of international marathon runners when they completed the 16th edition of the Tokyo Marathon. Shavaughn Blades and Linda Williams, who are both members of The Bahamas Roadmasters Running Club (BRRC), were among the 38,000 marathon runners. The 26.2 miles race event was held on Sunday, March 5, in Tokyo, Japan.

#Blades and Williams were also among a total of 3,033 runners who earned the coveted “Six Star medal” by completing all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors in Tokyo.

#This being the largest number of Six Star finishers ever in a single marathon event, it was officially designated a Guinness World Record. The Abbott World Marathon Majors is a series of six of the most prestigious marathons in the world which include Tokyo (March), Boston (April), London (April), Berlin (September), Chicago (October) and New York City (November).

#According to Marathon Handbook, globally there are about 1.1 – 1.3 million marathon finishers each year, that’s roughly 0.01% of the global population.

#Mrs Blades is a veteran marathon runner – since 2007 she has completed 52 marathons and ultra races.

#“I run for overall health and fitness. It allows me to combine my two passions, the benefits of staying fit and the joy of travelling.”

#In March 2024, Mrs Blades intends to run the Tokyo Marathon again, completing another round of the Abbott World Majors and possibly becoming the first Bahamian to hold two Six Star medals.

#The other Six Star awardee is Mrs Linda Williams, who started running in 2010 and joined Bahamas Roadmasters Running Club soon after. Between September and December 2011, she ran her first three marathons in less than 12 weeks. This qualified her as a member of “Marathon Maniacs”, a club whose members have completed at least three marathons in 3 months. “I attribute my running success to the support and encouragement provided by fellow members of Bahamas Roadmasters Running Club, my friends and my immediate family,” said Williams.

#To date, she has completed 25 marathons and numerous half marathons and 10K races. Only two other Bahamians are known to have earned the Marathon Majors Six Star Medal – Doctor Kathryn D’Souza and BRRC past president, Charles Johnson have completed the Abbott Marathon World Majors.

#Bahamas Roadmasters Running Club was formed in 1990 with the objective of advancing the sport of long distance running in The Bahamas.

#Members come together for weekly group training runs. They gain additional experience by travelling regularly to compete in international marathons around the world.

#The club organises two signature road race events each year – Midnight Madness Fun Run/Walk in June and Bahamas Half Marathon, 10 & 5K Race Series in November. Persons interested in BRRC’s activities can email:

#bahamasroadmasters@gmail.com or website: www.bahamasroadmasters.com

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/30/marathon-women-conquer-six-abbott-world-marathon-m/?news

As of Thursday, March 30, 2023

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BASKETBALL standout Denika Lightbourne.

#DENIKA Lightbourne has left an indelible mark on Tallulah Falls. Since her freshman year on the basketball court, she’s been that player that has turned heads. She was always destined to shine, and she’ll be soon taking her talents to NCAA Division I Dayton University as a member of the Lady Flames women’s basketball team.

#In signing her letter of intent, Lightbourne became the first Tallulah Falls basketball player to go D-I. Her senior season was nothing short of sensational. She set a single-season scoring record of (523) points, topping the next four spots on the list set by Nyah Williams. Lightbourne finished second to Williams in career points (1,494), and became one of just two players (with Williams) to be a 1,000-point, 500-rebound member.

#Lightbourne, a 1st Team All-State selection, 3-time 1st Team All-Region honouree, and one time 2nd Team member, finished her prep career third all-time in rebounds (634), and is the all-time leader in assists (311), blocks (52), and steals (293). She tied Williams’ mark of most points in single game with 40 on a January 2023 game against Commerce.

#Lightbourne tallied six 30-point games in her final season, marking the most by any player in school history. Furthermore, she had a total of 13 career games with 25 or more points.

#Tallulah Falls has helped shape the future for Lightbourne.

#“Playing for TFS really made me grow as a player,” says Lightbourne. “I have experienced different types of teams, work ethic and chemistry and it made me realise the type of people I want to be around and the type of leader I would like to be. I am grateful for this journey because I never would’ve believed in myself as much as I do now without the help of all my coaches and teammates.”

#Lightbourne often took an active role in leadership rather than vocally early on, though she enhanced the latter part during her final season at TFS.

#“I would say I was more of a quiet leader,” adds Lightbourne. “I would rather pull you to the side and have a conversation, but now I would consider myself more vocal and outgoing. Mainly because I’m expected to come out of that comfort zone. I try to let everyone be comfortable, learn how to take criticism, and just want to get better and remain focused while having fun.”

#While Lightbourne has always been a standout since her 2019-20 freshman season, the players around her have helped her become the player she is now. “This year my teammates have really pushed me,” says Lightbourne. “Although they might not think so, I owe it all to them for helping me become the player I am today.”

#Lightbourne has her place atop almost every statistical category, but more importantly is her team’s success.

#Since her first game at Tallulah Falls, Lightbourne has been a part of four consecutive state playoff teams, including an Elite 8 run and Region Championship in 2021-22, a Sweet 16 run in ’19-20, and two other first round appearances.

#In each of her four seasons, the Lady Indians were at one point state ranked, peaking as high as #6 in 2021-22. The teams have been four of the top six scoring units in school history and have won (56) games.

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