Month: May 2023

May 5, 2023May 5, 2023

GSSSA soccer season begins

SOCCER IS BACK: Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves in battle against the LW Young Golden Eagles’ junior girls on CH Reeves playing field. Photo: Tenajh Sweeting

As of Thursday, May 4, 2023

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#WITH most sports returning to the track, court and soccer field after being derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) soccer season made its debut.

#The sport was shelved for three years due to the pandemic but got underway for the government junior and senior schools last week Wednesday.

#Yesterday’s games featured the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves versus the LW Young Golden Eagles.

#The HO Nash Lions also battled against the CH Reeves Raptors.

#For the seniors, the CR Walker Knights took on the CC Sweeting Cobras in both senior boys and girls competition.

#Meanwhile, RM Bailey Pacers matched up with the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins.

#The day saw eight games played across both divisions. For the juniors, the Timberwolves dominated the junior girls of LW Young. The first half of gameplay saw the team go up 2-0 despite a slow start by them overall. After coming out of the second half the Timberwolves’ Anaya Riley was determined not to let the Golden Eagles get a score on the board.

#Riley delivered a final kick to the soccer ball, scoring a powerful goal for the visiting team. The young player scored two of the three goals for the winning team.

#Cleon Carnegie, soccer coach for the Timberwolves, talked about the junior girls’ big win. “It’s a good win. It was a slow start but the girls came together and they made some adjustments after halftime and the girls went on the field and executed those plans.”

#He added that, in the second half, the team looked to increase the pace, have more awareness on defence and improve their ball-handling.

#The head coach credited Riley’s effort on offence. He said that she is an intelligent player and brings a lot of technical play to the Timberwolves team.

#The Timberwolves’ junior boys dominated in their games against the Golden Eagles. The team capped off the soccer matchup 5-0 to defeat the team. The L W Young junior boys and girls will look to avenge the ugly losses against the A F Adderley Tigers today on the D W Davis soccer field.

#In more junior action, the Lions and Raptors soccer showdown ended in a draw with the score 0-0.

#Seniors

#The Knights have been claiming their dominance in GSSSA sports all year long. The school nabbed victories at the 2023 GSSSA track and field championships and recently added volleyball championship hardware to their collection. The team will now look to make their mark in soccer as both the senior girls and boys team kept their opponents scoreless on the day.

#The Knights’ senior girls defeated the Cobras 10-0 for a comfortable win. Additionally, the seniors boys followed suit shutting out the team 7-0 to go home with a big win.

#The R M Bailey Pacers faced off against the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins at the D W Davis playing field. The Pacers’ senior girls took care of business against the Mystic Marlins after defeating them 6-1. Meanwhile, the boys dominated 4-0 to add a win to their season total.

#The GSSSA soccer season rolls on as the juniors of S C McPherson will take on the Raptors next. Also, the A F Adderely Tigers will match up against the Golden Eagles. For the seniors, the Knights will go up against the Timberwolves and the C V Bethel Stingrays will battle against Government High School Magic.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/04/gsssa-soccer-season-begins/?news

May 5, 2023May 5, 2023

Kacy Lyn Smith Leading JuniorJumper at Lexington Spring Premiere

As of Thursday, May 4, 2023

Kacy Lyn Smith and Chicago M. won 1st place in the 1.30m Junior Jumpers at the Lexington Spring Premiere.

Kacy celebrates as her young mount Costbar 2 finished with a double clear to place 4th in the 1.20m Low Juniors.

#BAHAMIAN rider Kacy Lyn Smith had a stellar showing at the Lexington Spring Premiere last weekend, riding her two horses Chicago M and Costbar 2 to multiple high placings and being named as the overall leading junior jumper of the competition.

#The Lexington Spring Premiere heralds the opening of the Virginia Horse Center’s annual Festival of Champions in Lexington, VA, and the beginning of the equestrian show season in the mid-Atlantic area.

#Riding Chicago M., Kacy Lyn won the Medium/High Junior Amateur Jumper class on the first day of competition, and after multiple high placings over the remainder of the weekend, the pair finished as Reserve Champions in the 1.30m Medium/High Junior Jumper Division.

#Kacy Lyn also had successful rounds with her young horse Costbar 2 in the 1.20m Low Juniors Division, including riding a double clear round for 4th place one class and placing 6th in the Speed Class.

#Overall, her performances with both horses earned her the title of leading junior jumper at the competition. Last year Kacy Lyn and Chicago M. made history as the first duo to represent The Bahamas at the FEI North American Youth Jumping Championships in Traverse City, Michigan. This year the pair have qualified to represent The Bahamas in Individual Jumping once again, this time at a higher level, moving up from the Pre-Juniors to the Junior Division.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/04/kacy-lyn-smith-leading-juniorjumper-lexington-spri/?news

May 5, 2023May 5, 2023

Reloaded Baseball and IElite unite for youth development

BASEBALL ALLIANCE: Reloaded Baseball and International Elite Sports Academy (IElite) have united in an effort to develop young, aspiring baseball players across The Bahamas. Here, participants enjoy the Reloaded Baseball Tournament. Photos courtesy of volunteer/parent Lorna Harvey

As of Thursday, May 4, 2023

#By JEFFARAH GIBSON

#Tribune Writer

#jgibson@tribunemedia.net

#AN exciting alliance between Reloaded Baseball and International Elite Sports Academy (IElite) has been sealed as both entities shook hands on the development of youth baseball players across the archipelago.

#Reloaded Baseball is a new development programme with the sole interest of developing youth in baseball fundamentals and skill set.

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

#As a unit, Reloaded Baseball embraces opportunities to take its non- profit programme to the next level, therefore forging an alliance with IElite was strategic according to Peron Burnside, executive team member of Reloaded.

#“We are proud to announce, as we pursue to take our kids to international standards, a strategic partnership with The IElite Baseball Academy whose qualifications and expertise in the baseball arena places them on par, and above par with some, in baseball development internationally.

#“We are excited for our kids as, with the IElite team on board, we can fine tune our programme to further enhance the development of the kids in the programme. We are confident in what the two programmes stand on and are excited to see how our children can develop and play at standards we have witnessed throughout the US and Caribbean.”

#As for Geron Sands, co-founder of IElite, he too is looking forward to what will birth from this alliance.

#“International Elite Sports Academy (IElite) is proud to support the development of baseball in the Bahamas. We are excited to work along with the Reloaded programme to build and develop as many kids as possible.

#“Our goal is to help as many Bahamian kids achieve higher education through sports. We also believe now is the time to move to the next level.

#Mr Burnside previously shared with Tribune Sports that the Reloaded programme came about after attending a PG Tournament (Orlando) in the summer of 2022 and noticing the disparity in skill level between Bahamian youth ball players and their international counterparts.

#A few coaches, he said, made a conscious decision to chart the way forward in the fundamental development of our kids.

#Since September 2022 that programme has hit the ground running, creating opportunities for local training and local competitive play.

#Just recently, Reloaded hosted its inaugural invitational tournament from March 31 to April 2 that saw teams from the Family Islands travel to Nassau for friendly match-ups. The event, Mr Burnside said, turned out to be an overwhelming success.

#“We were able to host, through a collaborative effort, Troy Feaste and team (AYBL Warriors Legends) out of Abaco, Oscar Greene and team (Grand Bahama Youth Baseball) out of Grand Bahama and Elline Sineus and team (Twin City Legends) out of Eleuthera. We were able to come together in pursuit of baseball development and were also able to have conversations as to how to chart the way forward in regards to our baseball development journey,” he said.

#Once the tournament wrapped up, the Reloaded team met with coaches from each island for feedback on the tournament experience.

#“We have also engaged each team that participated in the tournament to see how we can assist them with some of their needs whether it be equipment, and in one instance a much-needed mound, and with arranging to have training clinics on their respective islands.

#“The Reloaded development programme has only been in existence from September of 2022 and we are moving at a swift rate to develop and take our kids to international standards.”

#Reloaded has started to assist with enhancing one of the fields at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex with soil. Plans are also underway to build a batting cage and bullpen with a focus on assisting in development for all.

#Coach OJ Green, who travelled along with his team to Nassau, hailed the experience.

#“It was a pleasure to be a part of The Reloaded Baseball Tournament. The athletes were excited to travel and enjoyed the entire experience of the tournament.

#“We were happy to see that the rules of the tournament fostered development, primarily the pitchers. We look forward to future stagings of this event.”

#As for coach Troy Feaste, who led the Abaco team to Nassau, he is looking forward to engaging with like-minded entities that can help develop baseball on the island. “The interaction between coaches from the various islands was very memorable to say the least, because coaches were very helpful sharing their experience and knowledge giving out pointers to the kids from other programmes like Abaco. It was less about the competition but more about the growth and development of the kids. It gave me a sense of ‘man I want to be a part of this organisation’ so that the children in Abaco would benefit from the opportunities in baseball.

#“Since the genesis of the Abaco Youth Baseball League in 2018, our goal has always been about development of the people in particular the kids, the coaches and volunteers that contribute to the growth and development of our league, “ he said.

#Reloaded Baseball is currently planning dates for its next invitational that will feature even more Family Island teams.

#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.

#Reloaded also is grateful for the participation of umpires and scorers during the tournament, including Sherry Beneby, Bonita Romer, Alexandria Gabriell, Lorraine Fowler, Stephen Beneby, Stephen Sands, Robert Gilbert, Donald MacGregor, Trea Bain and D’carl Rolle.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/04/reloaded-baseball-and-ielite-unite-youth-developme/

May 5, 2023

Rev Thompson takes over as chairman of Bahamas Games

As of Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Rev Harrison Thompson.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#With the sixth Bahamas Games just two months away, the Games Secretariat has a switch in leadership with Rev Harrison Thompson taking over from the retired chairman Martin Lundy.

#Thompson, who served as the chairman of the 50th CARIFTA Games, replaces Lundy, who retired from the public service in April. Lundy served as chairman of the fifth games held in 2001. He was returned to that capacity in the lead-up to the return of the games this year, scheduled for July 6-14.

#In accepting his new role, Thompson said he’s delighted to have the opportunity to once again serve the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in whatever capacity he is afforded.

#“I’m working with the executive committee and we have a general government agency that we are working together with to make sure that the Bahamas Games is all inclusive for all Bahamians,” Thompson said. “We want to make this the best one ever.”

#Although he served in the capacity of an advisor, Thompson attended the previous conclaves involving the council representatives from each of the 10 islands or grouping of islands as well as the 14 core sporting disciplines, and said the Games Secretariat is ensuring that the funding is adequately distributed before the end of the week.

#“We also want to encourage the island councils to seek some additional funding to support their campaign to get their teams ready for the games,” he said. “The government has committed to providing the funding that has been allocated to the island councils.

#“We hope that they can get that funding from the government this week so that they can jump start their drive to get their teams ready. We know that the Family Islands have already submitted their team listing, but we’re still waiting on New Providence and Grand Bahama.”

#Thompson said he noted that they still have an issue with the New Providence Sports Council, headed by Roy Colebrooke, who is adamant that they still be a part of the Games Village at Breezes Resort Bahamas just like everybody else.

#“We don’t have the rooms to accommodate New Providence with the Family Island teams because their team is the largest. We just don’t have the room space to accommodate their team and I think that is creating a problem with them submitting their team.”

#At the end of the day, Thompson said they believe that “common sense” will prevail. He said while they won’t have the room capacity to accommodate New Providence, the Games Secretariat will provide them with all of the other amenities, including the meals each day.

#For the island councils coming in, Thompson said they intend to make sure that they are properly compensated during their stay in New Providence for the games. “We will serve how best we will serve them because we don’t want them to be at a disadvantage,” said Thompson, a former Family Island administrator and a former permanent secretary.

#“We will look at their needs and see how we can address them as a means of urgency. We will be working 24-7 to get everything in place because we only have about 70 days left before the games get started. We don’t have much time.”

#To assist in the workload in the Games Secretariat, Thompon said they have recruited some of the persons who worked on the Local Organising Committee for the 50th CARIFTA Games over the Easter holiday weekend to help get the job done.

#“We feel we have a great team in place that should help to push the games further,” Thompson said. “So we feel we will be ready for the start of the games in July.”

#To the spectators who are expected to come out to watch the estimated 2,500 athletes and officials from teams Abaco, Andros, Bimini and the Berry Islands, Columbus Isles, Eleuthera, Exuma and Ragged Island, Grand Bahama, Long Island, MICA and New Providence, Thompson said they can look forward to a very competitive games.

#“We will put on a show for the Bahamian public. We want the Bahamian public to buy into the vision of what we are trying to do to include all Bahamians,” Thompson said.

#“We want to ensure that the Bahamian product is shown throughout the islands and to the world and that we have raw talent here in the Bahamas. The Bahamas Games will be a place where they can spot those raw talents.”

#Competition, during the games, will be held in softball, basketball, track and field, lawn tennis, swimming, soccer, volleyball, bodybuilding and powerlifting, boxing, cycling, baseball, regatta sailing, rowing and golf in addition to beach soccer and beach volleyball.

#The games, the brainchild of the late Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Peter Bethell, was first held in 1989. It continued in 1991 and was then scheduled for every three years, but the next one took place in 1995 and then 1998 before the last one was staged in 2001.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/03/rev-thompson-takes-over-chairman-bahamas-games/?news

May 5, 2023May 5, 2023

NPA Invitational Spring Classic starts tomorrow at Kendal Isaacs Gym

SPRING INVITE: Organiser Geno Bullard anticipates that the Noble Preparatory Academy’s Invitational Spring Classic Basketball Tournament will be bigger and better this year starting Thursday to Saturday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

As of Wednesday, May 3, 2023

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Noble Preparatory Academy’s Invitational Spring Classic Basketball Tournament is back and organiser Geno Bullard anticipates that it will be bigger and better this year.

#The classic is set for Thursday to Saturday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium and, for the first time, it will feature the varsity senior and junior boys and girls teams.

#“For many years we have been trying to put together this programme where we incorporate education with basketball,” said Bullard, the president of Noble Preparatory Academy. “That is my first priority, developing student-athletes.

#“So I always wanted to build a programme where we can be sure that during the tournament, we can have educational opportunities with persons who can speak on an educational platform.”

#During the tournament, Bullard said they have put together a solid programme where they will have a number of persons who will be providing tips for students seeking to further their education in college.

#“Over the years, we at NPA, have been giving away scholarships from our tournament,” said Bullard, who also serves as the head coach of the NPA Spartans basketball teams for boys and girls. “Hopefully in the future, we will be able to put that back in place.”

#With more than 30 teams registered to participate in the tournament, Bullard said they hope to entertain the spectators with an appearance by Julian Believe and Friends.

#“So it’s going to be three days of fun, education and entertainment where family members can come out in a safe environment where they can learn some stuff from Niagara College where they offer over 100 programmes.

#“We have been working with Niagara College for over 15 years and we have been able to get a number of student-athletes off to compete in Canada and we hope that we can continue to do that this year.”

#The competition, according to Bullard, will be very intense with teams participating from both the public and private schools. “We have Charles W Saunders, the BAISS champions, CI Gibson, the GSSSA champions,” Bullard said. “We also have Teleos from the BSA and a team from the Turks and Caicos Islands also competing.

#“I know the competition is going to be great because we have a good mixture of competition from across the board. So we know that they will come out and compete and represent their schools well.”

#If there’s any concern about host NPA, Bullard said his Spartans will be just as competitive.

#“Any opportunity we get, we prepare our student-athletes,” Bullard said. “When we have opportunities arise for our students, we allow them to compete and if they are good enough, we get them to go off to the prep schools or Niagara College in Canada.”

#Bullard said they will add another dimension when they stage an alumni game that allows student-athletes who played NPA and Niagara Falls against a men’s division one team from the New Providence Basketball Association. “That’s going to be a bonus game just to highlight some of our players from Noble Preparatory Academy, who went on to play for Niagara College.”

#The action kicks off on Thursday at 4pm with games continuing on Friday at the same time.

#The tournament is slated to wrap up on Saturday, following a 10am start that day.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/03/npa-invitational-spring-classic-starts-tomorrow-ke/?news

May 5, 2023May 5, 2023

Glory Basketball Jam prize money doubles for year 2

As of Wednesday, May 3, 2023

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Glory Basketball Jamboree will make its return to the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium for year two in less than two weeks.

#The highly-anticipated basketball tournament will be a three-day event set for May 11-13 starting at 4pm.

#This year’s cash prize sits at $5,000, doubling last year’s amount of $2,500. The basketball tourney will feature 10 teams, including the event’s first ever champions the Discount Distributors Rockets.

#Also, fans of the tourney can expect appearances from an Abaco and Grand Bahama team as well as a surprise team to make things interesting.

#Ricardo Smith, commissioner and chief executive officer of Bahamas Pro Basketball Tournaments, talked about his excitement and the purpose of this year’s basketball jamboree.

#“I am very excited that this year we are going to be able to put on the second annual Glory Basketball Jam. “It is an attempt to ensure that the hope is kept alive for professional basketball in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” Smith said.

#He added that the tournament gives Bahamian players the opportunity to utilise their talent to secure an income by providing the opportunity for persons to compete for the cash prize.

#It is his hope that the tournament will be the stepping stone towards creating a league that will allow for persons to be duly compensated for their talents, efforts and time.

#Among the other teams expected to compete at the second edition of the Glory Basketball Jamboree will be the Giants, the returning Pirates basketball team, and the new-look Tucker boys.

#This year’s tournament trophy will be dedicated to Ricardo ‘Ricky’ Farquharson.

#He is hearing impaired but has seemingly beaten the odds to compete on a national and international level.

#Also, a donation will be made to the Centre for the Deaf in honour of the universal role model, according to Smith.

#Last year’s award went to Floyd “Off the Wall” Saunders, who was notorious for his infamous throwing the ball off the wall followed by a ferocious slam dunk.

#Event organisers are urging Bahamians to come out as it will be a great opportunity to witness the best basketball talent in the country.

#Additionally, basketball will not be the only way for persons to occupy their time at the tournament.

#“While the basketball tournament is going on there will be a pop-up shop happening, you’re gonna have an opportunity to socialise, and enjoy some nice snacks so it will be a treat to see the level of basketball [teams] we have in this country to vie for the prestigious $5,000 cash prize, annual trophy and individual awards,” the promoter said.

#This year’s pop-up vendors will include the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), INO Temporary Tattoo Transformations, and WL empire.

#The basketball jamboree will also feature a Sunshine Auto Sales rims competition on Friday.

#There will be cars from the auto sales company on display and persons will get the opportunity to put their own rims on display.

#The winner will receive a free set of rims courtesy of the company.

#For persons that wish to attend the tournament, the cost is $10 and they can reach out to the Glory Basketball Jam Facebook page to have tickets delivered or their email bahprobasket@gmail.com.

#With this year’s event set to have prizes ranging from flat screen televisions to stoves, persons will not want to miss the exciting three-day jamboree.

#Come out and enjoy.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/03/glory-basketball-jam-prize-money-doubles-year-2/?news

May 5, 2023May 5, 2023

Table tennis spring tourney this Saturday at LW Young Junior High

As of Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Students of various primary schools compete in table tennis.

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas Table Tennis Federation (BTTF) will host a spring table tennis tournament this Saturday at LW Young Junior High School.

#The event is scheduled for 9am to 3pm and will be their second event of the calendar year. This year’s spring tourney will include matchups between boys and girls of the 11 and under, 15 and under, as well as the 18 and under divisions.

#The tournament will also feature seniors and an open event which will allow for anybody interested in table tennis to register for the competition.

#Sudan Khalfani, youth director of the BTTF, talked about his expectations for this weekend’s tourney.

#“We expect this tournament to have a major turnout and the event will determine who are the best players and how ready we are to advance the national programme,” Khalfani said.

#With the event just a few days away, this year’s registrants will include competitors from both public and private schools, and home schools.

#The public can expect to witness some competitive table tennis action from students of Sybil Strachan, S C McPherson, C V Bethel, L W Young, Kingsway Academy, Leadership Academy, Columbus Primary, Queen’s College, St Andrew’s, and Windsor.

#The youth director said he is very impressed with the registration numbers so far and will look to introduce the sport to more schools with the help of the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg.

#The registration deadline is 8pm Friday for persons that have not signed up for this weekend’s table tennis tourney.

#The amount of rounds will vary between 3 to 5 depending on the division being played.

#In the federation’s first event of the year, Queen’s College’s Ronal Fernando secured the win for the 12 and under division.

#Courtney Rahming came in second from Claridge Primary and Sybil Strachan’s Keyonna Bain brought home third place.

#The 13-and-under division saw a pair of LW Young Golden Eagles take home first and second place finishes. Patrick Rahming placed first and fellow schoolmate Aljani Heron finished up in second. Sybil

#Strachan’s Lejon Kelly capped off the division in third.

#Mosiah Bain, of Leadership Academy, emerged victorious for the 15-and-under division. Second place finisher was Cozman Rahming of Doris Johnson and Kingsway’s Matthew Manickam finished the competition in third.

#For persons that have not registered as yet with two days remaining, they can still sign up by contacting 426-5153 or via email bahamasyouthtt@gmail.com

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/03/table-tennis-spring-tourney-saturday-lw-young-juni/?news

May 5, 2023May 5, 2023

Delancy soars to win the gold in high jump

JUMPING FOR GOLD: Ras Jesse Delancy on top of the medal dais for his high jump gold on Saturday at the SIAC Track & Field Championships at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

As of Tuesday, May 2, 2023

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Although his ultimate goal is becoming one of the premier volleyball players in the world, Ras Jesse Delancy said he didn’t mind mixing up a little bit of fun by competing in the high jump.

#Fresh off his Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Men’s Volleyball Player of the year honours for the second straight year last week, Delancy took one day again to prepare for the SIAC Track and Field Championships where he won the high jump.

#This time, on Saturday at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, Delancy improved from a third place finish to the top of the medal dais with the gold after he cleared a personal best of 6-feet, 10 3/4-inches or 2.10 metres.

#And the 23-year-old 6-foot, 6.5-inch sophomore at Benedict College said his performance in no way convinced him to change his mind from playing volleyball.

#“Just like last year, I only had one day of practice,” Delancy said.

#But it was an exciting feeling going through the process.

#“I just wanted to know how high I could jump,” Delancy pointed out. “But before we started to jump, someone asked me what my best performance was and I told him I didn’t know.

#“As the bar was raised, I kept going higher and higher.”

#After clearing 6-10 3/4 (2.10m) on his third attempt, Delancy said the bar moved to 6-11 1/2 (2.12m), but he couldn’t get over that height.

#“I think if I did it, I might have tried to go higher,” he said. “I really just wanted to see how high I could go. I didn’t know that I would clear 6-10 3/4 (2.10m). But I’m glad that I did and I won.”

#Dismissing any notion of him competing as a track athlete, Delancy said he will leave it up to the seasoned competitors like his rival, who won the title last year. “He asked me if I was training for the event,” Delancy said. “When I told him I only had one day of practice like I did last year, he couldn’t believe it.

#“He said he’s been training just abort every day because he’s a track and field athlete. He was really surprised that I didn’t have any formal training and I still won it.”

#Delancy, who has entered the transfer portal to switch schools for his junior year in August, said he’s now preparing to return home after he finishes sitting his final exams to begin training with the men’s national volleyball team for the Caribbean Volleyball Championships (CVC) in July.

#“I’m a volleyball player. That is all I want to do,” said Delancy, who has no intentions of competing in the high jump at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Nationals or the Bahamas Games this summer.

#“I just wanted to go out there and prove to myself that I could do the high jump. I wanted to prove that if I had to take this route, competing in the high jump, I know I could do it. So it was all about having fun.”

#While he’s done with the high jump, and although he has qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships, Delancy said he’s back in the gym working out in preparation for volleyball.

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http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/02/delancy-soars-win-gold-high-jump/?news

May 5, 2023May 5, 2023

Tennis ace Kevin Major Jr falls in Battle of Boca final

As of Tuesday, May 2, 2023

RISING tennis star Kevin Major Jr.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#KEVIN Major Jr, playing in his last tourney of the month in a series of “Battle of Boca” tournaments held every weekend, fell short in the final yesterday in Boca Raton, Florida.

#Playing as the number four seed in the tournament that was extended from over the weekend because of the rain delay, Major Jr lost out to Blu Baker from Great Britain in set scores of 6-3, 6-1.

#Although he played very well in the previous days of the tournament, Major Jr admitted that he didn’t have it when it counted the most in the final.

#“This was the last tournament on the schedule I made for this month, so I really wanted to do well, but I was kind of playing on flames because I had a long week with all of the rain delays,” he said.

#“This weekend, we also had a lot of rain delays so today, a match which would normally be about three hours, turned into about eight hours because of the delay.

#“The guy I played against played at a really high level and I didn’t have enough energy.”

#Despite losing in the final, Major Jr said he’s still pleased with his performance throughout the tournament.

#He noted that he beat everybody, including the number two seed, to get to the final.

#Major Jr said he will take the next three weeks off to go into the training lab and should be back in action in three weeks.

#He noted that he’s not sure where he will commence play coming out of the training lab.

#“I feel pretty close to where I need to be. This is the closest that I’ve come to the top so I’m just going to continue to listen to my team,” he pointed out. “Everything is there. I just need to play more.”

#With this being one of his best seasons on the circuit, the 28-year-old Major Jr said he is learning pretty quickly about all that he needs to know to play at a higher level. “l believe that because I’m learning that the level I’m at, I got here with far less matches,” he said. “These guys have played much more than I have. “I’m starting to see things a little different now.”

#Hopefully, by the time he gets ready to play in Davis Cup for the Bahamas, Major Jr said the Bahamian people will really get to see how much he has improved.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/02/tennis-ace-kevin-major-jr-falls-battle-boca-final/?news

May 5, 2023May 5, 2023

Basden, Saunders sign on to ‘full-ride’ basketball scholarship

SUNLAND Stingers senior boys basketball team flank Donell Basden and Jordan Saunders as they sign their letters of intent to attend Butte College.

As of Tuesday, May 2, 2023

PARENT/GUARDIAN BONNIE BASDEN, of House of Hoop and Dreams, looks on as Donell Basden and Jordan Saunders speak.

#By DENISE MAYCOCK

#Tribune Freeport Reporter

#Dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

#DONELL Basden and Jordan Saunders, of Sunland Baptist Academy, yesterday signed a letter of intent to attend Butte College in California on a full-ride basketball scholarship.

#Basden, a small forward and team captain, has won several MVP awards. He is ranked number one in basketball in The Bahamas. While Saunders, a point guard, is ranked number two.

#The signing was held at the school, with the school principal, coaches and teammates looking on.

#The Sunland Stingers have won two consecutive Hugh Campbell Basketball championships, as well as three consecutive Tip Off Classic GB Secondary Schools Association Basketball Championships.

#After a very successful season, Basden and Saunders said all the hard work has paid off. “I want to start by giving God thanks because without Him I would not be here. I also want to thank Ms (Bonnie) Basden,” said Basden.

#Saunders said it feels good to be a part of a winning team and a basketball programme.

#“Three years at Sunland and multiple championships, it feels good just coming from the small island of Abaco,” he said. “Just playing basketball for the fun, I never really thought much of going to the next level. I feel blessed to get this opportunity to go to college on a full ride.”

#Saunders was also grateful to Ms Basden, who took them into her home in Freeport so they could attend Sunland Baptist.

#“She has been there for me, and I thank her…for being a second mother to me. So, I am truly thankful and love her for that,” he said. This Fall, they will join two of their former Stingers teammates, Alontae Knowles, a 2020 graduate, and Oswald Meadows, who now attend Butte College.

#ZNS Broadcaster Jay Philippe, who is also one of their coaches, said Basden and Saunders are two of the top players in the country.

#“We had a very successful year as far as basketball is concerned, he said.

#“Donell would have had multiple offers as far as scholarship opportunities, but they selected Butte because of the friendship and relationship we had with the coaches over the past years,” he said.

#Coach Marco Cooper, a senior master at Sunland, said both young men have made an awesome contribution to the basketball programne at Sunland.

#He is proud of them and wishes them all the best.

#“They came from the islands and are now living their dream and are about to attend college. This is a big deal for their families, for the school, and for them to be role models for other student-athletes coming up.”

#Principal Devona Knowles said: “As a school, we are so happy to witness this moment. They have done extremely well, and we wish them all the best as they matriculate to California to continue their studies.”

#Parent/Guardian Bonnie Basden, of House of Hoop and Dreams, congratulated Basden and Saunders, who lived with her for the past three to four years.

#“It is truly a pleasure and blessing to watch these boys accomplish their dreams of going to play basketball at another level. I thank all the parents that have chosen SBA for their kids’ education. We are grateful to Butte for offering a full ride to these young men,” she said.

#Mr Philippe, a former Stingers player himself from 2004 to 2006 who also obtained a college scholarship, said it is a good feeling to return home and give back.

#“Helping other guys achieve their dreams is just a calling from God for me, he said. So many people would have sacrificed time for me, and I think it is my time to go and do the same thing. It is just a good feeling knowing I can give back to the community, my former school, and to the guys that have trusted me with their lives and helped them develop their skills as basketball players,” he said.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/02/basden-saunders-sign-full-ride-basketball-scholars/?news