New York Liberty on four-game win streak

JONQUEL JONES (AP)

As of Friday, July 28, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#BAHAMIAN Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) player Jonquel Jones was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week while the New York Liberty enjoys a four-game win streak.

#The New York team reeled off three straight wins starting with the Eastern Conference’s Washington Mystics.

#The team was handed a 9-point loss by the Dallas Wings post All-Star break, but bounced back against the Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm in recent games. Throughout this winning stretch, Freeport native Jones has turned in some of her better performances with the Liberty this season.

#The Bahamian forward was given the Eastern Conference weekly honours after averaging 18.7 points-per game (ppg), 10.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. She has remained efficient on offence, shooting an impressive 63.6% on field goals, and 53.8% from behind the arc during this period. The professional player has also converted on 100% of her free throw attempts.

#The recent play of Jones post All-Star break has been a bright spot following a sluggish start to the season as she came back from a nagging foot injury.

#The New York team has been fuelled by the brilliant play of the forward. They currently sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 18-5 (win/loss) record which is their best start as a franchise.

#In their most recent drubbing, the Storm fell to the Liberty 86-82 at the Barclays Center.

#Jones had 13 points along with a game and season-high 17 boards, making it her third consecutive double-double in the last three games.

#Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu complemented the Bahamian’s efforts in the win, notching her fourth career triple double. She poured in 12 points and had identical numbers in rebounds and assists.

#The Liberty got their second win of the last three games once again at Barclays, this time against the Fever. The 6-16 Eastern Conference team were no match for the hot New York team who delivered an 18-point defeat (101-83) to their opponents.

#Jones notched a double-double once again, putting up 18 points to pair with 11 boards and one block in the bout.

#The professional player’s best game of the stretch came against the Mystics. Jones was dominant in the 96-87 win. The former WNBA MVP stuffed the stat sheet with a season-high 27 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.

#She is currently averaging her second lowest scoring average with 11.5, the lowest since her rookie season with the Connecticut Sun. However, after seemingly hitting her stride at the right time for the Liberty in recent games, Jones will look to keep the momentum going in the second half of the WNBA season.

 Home|Sports|Thompson finishes 38th overall in 100m freeSports

Action continues today and tomorrow in Fukuoka, Japan

Simba FrenchSend an emailJuly 28, 2023 18 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Action continued for The Bahamas at the World Aquatics Championships at the Marine Fukuoka Hall A in Fukuoka, Japan, on Thursday. Just one Bahamian swimmer was in action, and that swimmer, Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson, finished second in her heat of the women’s 100 meters (m) freestyle and 38th overall out of 77 swimmers.

Thompson, who swam the anchor leg in the 4x100m mixed medley on Wednesday, was in the pool swimming out of lane two in heat four of the 100m free. She was close to improving on her personal best when she stopped the clock at 58.86 seconds. That time placed her in second place in the heat. She swam 28.35 seconds in the first 50 meters and posted a time of 30.51 seconds in the final 50 meters of the race. That time from yesterday was an improvement from her time from a year ago when she touched the wall in 1:01.04. That was at last year’s world championships in Hungary, Budapest.

Thompson’s personal best time in that event is 58.78 seconds, which she did at the Bahamas Aquatics Federation’s National Swimming Championships in June.

“I’ve had a pretty successful meet and I’m proud of the progress I’ve made this season, so I’m looking forward to a great final swim. I am going to give it everything I have. I’ll have the pleasure of representing one more time for this season,” Thompson said.

Winning that heat one second ahead of her was Aruba’s Elisabeth Timmer who touched the wall in 57.86 seconds. Bolivia’s Adriana Giles swam 59.17 seconds to place third.

Thompson is done with her individual races but she will be in the pool one last time in the 4×100 mixed free relay tomorrow. It is something she is looking forward to as she is optimistic of what her and her teammates will do in the pool.

Today is a busy day for Team Bahamas. Lamar Taylor will compete in the men’s 50m free, DaVante Carey will swim in the 100m fly, and wrapping up the busy day for The Bahamas in the pool will be Gibbs in the women’s 50m fly – her first individual race of the competition.

Aside from the 4x100m mixed free relay tomorrow, The Bahamas will be represented by Gibbs in the women’s 50m free and Taylor in the men’s 50m back.

 Home|Sports|The Bahamas beats Martinique in the quartersSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJuly 28, 2023 17 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas men’s five-set loss to Jamaica on Wednesday meant they had to play in the quarterfinals on Thursday, and they responded to the pressure, by gaining a straight sets win over Martinique as the 18th Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Senior Championships continued at the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall in Parimaribo, Suriname.

Had The Bahamas beaten Jamaica, they would have obtained a direct ticket to the semis. They had to take the long route there and they got the job done with the convincing win over Martinique. The Bahamas won 27-25, 25-20 and 25-14, wasting little time with their Caribbean counterparts from down south.

The Bahamas (3-1) will now move on to play Barbados in the tournament semifinals – the winner of Pool A. Barbados is yet to drop a match while The Bahamas, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago finished with identical 2-1 win/loss records in Pool B.

The semifinal game between The Bahamas and Barbados will be played at 7:30 p.m. this evening, with the winner moving on to the gold medal match on Sunday.

The Bahamas’ women were not so fortunate as they fell to Jamaica in straight sets on Thursday, 25-16, 25-21 and 25-22. With a 1-3 record, The Bahamas will still advance to the tournament semis, where they will take on the top seeded Jamaicans again.

That match will be played at 2:30 p.m. today with the winner moving on to the gold medal match tomorrow.

In the men’s game, The Bahamas controlled the match throughout, challenged mostly in the first set only. After taking the lead early in the second set, The Bahamas never looked back. They went on to win comfortably.

The Wilsons led the charge for The Bahamas. Kyle Wilson had 21 points on 14 kills, four blocks and three service winners. Prince Wilson added 13 points on 13 kills. No other player scored in double figures for The Bahamas.

Lohan Lefaivre led Martinique with eight points on eight kills. His teammate Jordan Marie-Antoinette contributed seven points on six kills and a service winner. Overall, The Bahamas scored 77 of the 136 total points and dominated in almost every facet of a game that lasted just an hour and 13 minutes.

In the women’s affair, Bahamian Jannelle Curtis led all scorers with 16 points on 13 kills, a block and two service winners. Brittany Bonamy and Raechel Knowles contributed six points apiece for The Bahamas – Bonamy with four kills, a block and a service winner, and Knowles with all six of her points coming on kills.

Mychael Vernon and Sashalee Thomas had 14 points apiece for Jamaica – Vernon with 13 kills and a service winner, and Thomas with 12 kills, a block and a service winner.

Jamaica dominated, winning 75 of the 134 total points in a match that lasted just an hour and 10 minutes.

As mentioned, the teams will play each other again, in the tournament semifinals today.

 Home|Sports|Umpire takes legal action in local baseball incidentSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJuly 28, 2023 306 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Following up on the confrontation between a Bahamian coach and a foreign umpire during the Babe Ruth Caribbean Baseball Championship and Invitational which wrapped up on Monday, the visiting umpire has decided to pursue legal action in hopes of bringing the matter to a resolve.

It’s a situation that could have damaging effects on The Bahamas as a major sports tourism outlet, could stain relationships between local and international baseball officials, and could result in sanctions being passed down from a major international baseball organization to The Bahamas.

On the final day of the 16-and-Under (16U) invitational on Monday, in a semifinal game between The Bahamas and Puerto Rico, Team Bahamas Head Coach Greg Burrows Jr. voiced his displeasure with a decision made by home plate umpire Edaine Cannister of Curaçao which led to Burrows eventually being ejected from the game.

Cannister is saying that Burrows hurled threats and got physical afterwards while the latter is denying any wrongdoing, stating that he simply threw some water on Cannister.

The Bahamas Baseball Association (BBA), the governing body of the sport of baseball in The Bahamas, released a statement, saying that a full investigation is underway and that an external four-member panel has been formed to review all of the information that has been gathered in relation to the incident.

The 12-and-Under (12U) regional championship was held at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex and the 16U invitational took place at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium.

“The Bahamas Baseball Association has been made aware of the confrontation … the incident is being fully reviewed to confirm exactly what transpired. The BBA is gathering information from local and international persons who were present and witnessed the situation,” read the statement. “The BBA has been advised that Mr. Cannister has engaged legal council to proceed with pressing charges in the matter, and the association will provide any information gathered once requested by authorities.”

The statement continued indicating that all of the information gathered by the external panel will be reviewed, analyzed, and presented to the BBA executive committee with advice.

The panel consists of legal advisor Tony Scriven, Bahamian professional scout Brian Armbrister, former player and local league administrator Tommy Stubbs and local media personality and BBA Public Relations Officer Marcellus Hall.

“The incident has reached international levels and the federation is guided by its international baseball partners,” read the statement. “A full update will be provided to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC), the Pan American Baseball Confederation (COPABE), the Caribbean Baseball Confederation (COCABE), the Babe Ruth League and the local media once the review is completed.”

According to reports, Burrows questioned an article of clothing worn by the Puerto Rican pitcher under his hat. Cannister said he ruled that the garment was not white and not in violation of the rules of baseball for that particular tournament. He said he allowed the game to continue, and after further disruptions in relation to the same issue, he threw Burrows out of the game.

Burrows, on the other hand, said that the article of clothing was a clear violation of the rules, and initially, he said the umpire asked the pitcher to remove it but in the following inning, he said the umpire allowed the game to continue with the pitcher again wearing the garment.

Cannister went on to say that he was physically attacked by Burrows in the locker room after the game, but Burrows dispelled that notion, saying that all he did was throw some water on Cannister.

Cannister filed a report to tournament organizers, the Bahamas Baseball Association (BBA) and to the Babe Ruth League on the incident.

Men’s national volleyball team making waves in Suriname

WINNING WAYS: Bahamas men’s national volleyball team members celebrate their victory yesterday at the Senior Caribbean Volleyball Championships in Paramaribo, Suriname.

As of Wednesday, July 26, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#After a successful opener in four sets against Curacao, the Bahamas men’s team had to go the distance in their match-up yesterday against Jamaica to secure their second win at the Senior Caribbean Volleyball Championships in Paramaribo, Suriname.

#The men prevailed with a 18-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-28 and 15-11 marathon win over Trinidad & Tobago to push their record to 2-0.

GOOD EFFORT: The Bahamas women’s national volleyball team at the Senior Caribbean Volleyball Championships in Paramaribo, Suriname.

#The ladies’ team had another nail-biter, but suffered a five-set loss to Trinidad & Tobago in their second game. The final score was not available, but the fifth and deciding set ended up 15-12 in favour of Trinidad & Tobago.

#The Bahamas was coming off a 28-26, 26-24, 21-25, 22-25 and 15-12 win over host Suriname on Monday.

#“This was the first time since 2010 that the Bahamas won any sets against Trinidad & Tobago when that team also played to five sets,” said Bahamas head coach Jason Saunders on their powerhouse arch rivals in the region. “I think our girls did a wonderful job.”

#Saunders, who is assisted by Glen Rolle, said this is the first time that the majority of the women are playing together.

#“The core group of girls, particularly the starters, didn’t have sufficient practice sessions, so these early games are basically tools for improvement,” Saunders said.

#“Hopefully by the time we get to the medal round, we will be prime and ready to go.”

#Team Bahamas will play today against Barbados before they close out round robin play against Jamaica on Thursday. Their playoffs will start on Friday with the finals on Sunday.

#“I’m expecting for us to win both of these games and then we would go into the semifinal, win that game and go into the gold medal game on Sunday against whoever is there, more than likely Trinidad,” Saunders stated. “We had one of two miscues. Had it not been for those miscues, we could have won the game in four sets.”

#The women’s team consists of middle blocker/right side hitter Sari Albury, outside hitters Melinda Bastian and Brittany Bonamy, middle blocker/right side hitter La’Tavia Braynen, right side hitters Jannelle Curtis, Raechel Knowles and Venessa Sawyer, setters Laval Sands and Je’Nae Saunders (captain), middle blocker Ashley Webb and liberos Franceska McBride and Chandra Mackey.

#As for the men’s success, head coach Lloyd Davis said Team Bahamas did what they had to do.

#“The team played very well. Trinidad is a pretty good team. We went five sets and came out with the win,” said Davis, who is assisted by Tonny Simon and Augusto Sabbitini. “The tournament is wide open. There’s no dominant team here. So we’re right in the mix and have a very good chance to win it.”

#As they prepare for their final round robin game in the tournament today against Jamaica, Davis said they have to improve on their performance in the service box.

#“Our service is not consistent,” he said. “We’re probably the best serving team out here, but we are not consistent.”

#Against Jamaica, Davis said if they are success, they will win their pool and head into the playoffs with a good chance of getting into the medal round.

#The men’s team is made up of captain and middle blocker Byron Ferguson Jr, middle blockers Shonari Hepburn and Donovan Wilmott, libero Jamaal Ferguson, setters Renaldo Knowles, Je’Vaughn Saunders and Gaege Smith, right side hitter Eugene Stuart and outside hitters Jesse Delancy and Prince Wilson

#Also traveling with the teams are Lanza Miller as a referee and Kurkwood Greene, who is the head of the delegation.

As of Wednesday, July 26, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER a successful initial term in office, Mike Sands has been returned as president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean for his second four-year term.

#The election was held over the weekend during the Under-18 and Under-23 Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica.

#Sands, the former president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, said he wasn’t surprised that he was re-elected unopposed, considering what has transpired since he assumed the chair and relocated the office to the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

#“I’m very humble by the expression of confidence by the members to re-elect me unopposed,” Sands said.

#“It suggests to me that the membership has been very satisfied with what me and the executives have done. I could not have done it alone. I could not do it without their support, so I’m very humbled in the vote of confidence.”

#During his first tenure, Sands and his executives amended their constitution to keep it in line with World Athletics, the governing body for the sport.

#As a result, there will be two vice presidents instead of one and they have made it mandatory that one has to be a woman.

#Cydonie Mothersill, one of the top former sprinters from the Cayman Islands who is now general secretary of the Cayman Islands Athletic Associations, was elected as the female vice president and will serve along with Garth Gaylr, the president of the Jamaican Amateur Athletic Association . The immediate past vice president was Catherine Jordan of Barbados, who chose not to seek re-election.

#The other new addition to the returning board is Trevor Wells from Barbados as treasurer. The previous treasurer did not seek re-election. There are two females and two males elected to serve as council members, as stipulated in the ratified constitution.

#“We have a mixture of veterans and young people, who make up the executive board,” Sands pointed out. “This bodes well for the future for NACAC.”

#The new executive board will not officially take office until the completion of the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary from August 27-26 as the previous executive board will be allowed to participate in the Congress of World Athletics during the championships.

#“We have already started talking and while I may have a strategic plan for the way forward, I will share it with them,” Sands said. “We will ask for the impute of all the elected members because they were elected on the basis of their canvassing membership for their votes.

#“So there’s no longer an individual goal objective. We have to now put together a strategic plan, based on the newly elected members and what their vision for NACAC so that there is an all-inclusive plan going forth for the next four years.”

#Sands, however, said it is the intend to solidify the New Life Invitational as a staple event in the Bahamas and Grand Bahama in particular, as it becomes a part of circuit of events for the NACAC region, similar to what is being done on the European circuit that will help to continue to bring the sport in the region.

As of Wednesday, July 26, 2023

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#ROAD RACE

#RBDF FUN RUN/WALK

#THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force, through its title sponsor Fidelity Bank, will hold its annual Fun Run/Walk Race on Saturday, starting at 6am from Goodman’s Bay.

#The runners, who will complete a six-mile course, will traverse from Goodman’s Bay and head west to the round-a-bout point at the beginning of Sandy Port bridge and return east to the starting point.

#The walkers, who will complete three miles, will turn right at the round-a-bout at Melia, travel west to the loop and return to the starting point.

#Registration is $20 per person and includes a t-shirt, bag, water bottle and souse. Group rates, however, are available at $15 per person for 10 or more and $10 per person for 20 or more.

#BASKETBALL

#THE Bahamas Government Departmental Basketball Association played a double header on Monday night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium with the Police Crimestoppers and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture winning the two games played.

#The Crimestoppers arrested the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Rampage with a 93-68 rout as Michael Bain Jr led the attack with 20 points.

#Kemsey Sylvester scored 21 as the MOYSC paraded past the Airport Authority Avengers 95-78.

#The BGDBA will be back in action the rest of the week with the following games on tap:

#Wednesday night – 7:30 pm Custom Taxmen vs Beat & Treat Clinic Sharks. 8:30 pm – Police Crimestoppers vs Airport Authority Avengers.

#Friday night – 7 pm Police Enforcers vs Custom Taxmen. 8 pm Beat & Teach Clin Sharks vs RBDF Rampage. 9 pm Real Deal Rangers vs Bamboo Shark Patrollers.

#Saturday night – 7 pm RBDF Rampage vs Custom Taxmen. 8 pm Police Royals vs Police Crimestoppers. 9 pm BDOCS Challengers vs Bains & Grants Town Cybots.

As of Wednesday, July 26, 2023

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#AFTER a two-year hiatus due to the global pandemic, the Bahamas women’s national soccer team is making an exciting comeback with their eyes set on the inaugural 2023 Road to CONCACAFW Gold Cup.

#The Bahamas Football Association (BFA) has kick-started the team’s training at the Roscow AL Davies Soccer Field. Under the watchful eyes of their coaches, the players are enhancing their skills, agility and tactical understanding of the game.

#In a much-anticipated return to the football field, the women’s national team will play a series of matches against Grenada and the United States Virgin Islands (USVI). Their first match is a home game scheduled for Wednesday, September 20, against Grenada.

#This will be followed by an away match against the same team on Sunday, September 24.

#October will see the team play against USVI away on Sunday, October 29, with the final match scheduled at home on Wednesday, November 29.

#Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the women’s national team has been putting in rigorous efforts and hours of training, displaying an unwavering spirit and determination.

#The final team roster will be announced approximately a week before the competitions kick-off in September.

#The road to CONCACAFW Gold Cup serves as a qualifier for the CONCACAFW Gold Cup.

#This is a highly esteemed tournament within the world of women’s football.

#It presents teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean with the opportunity to compete for the prestigious Gold Cup title.

#The upcoming matches are seen as a significant opportunity for the women’s national team to showcase their talent and the progress they have made since their last international appearance in 2021.

#The BFA is optimistic about their performance and encourages all Bahamians to extend their support to the team.

As of Wednesday, July 26, 2023

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HEDDA SMITH

#By LEESHAN MORLEY

#Tribune Intern

#AS international sporting events are ongoing here in New Providence, SuperClubs Breezes Resort & Spa continues to be the top pick resort for athletes around the world.

#Hedda Smith, sales manager at Breezes, expressed that Breezes has unofficially become “the sports hotel due to being the choice for large sporting events over the past five years.”

#The hotel has recently accommodated teams for the Bahamas Games and just over the weekend, international teams for the Babe Ruth Caribbean Championships and Invitational.

#Smith went on to talk about how the hotel has been able to accommodate all of the teams coming in.

#“We are uniquely suited I think for sports groups because we’re all exclusive. This means that once they pay that one price everything is included, so it will be easy for the sports teams,” says Smith.

#The hotel has 400 rooms which can accommodate around 1,200 persons depending on room capacity. There is also food, recreation and entertainment provided in the price which helps to relieve some stress from the coaches.

#Smith was able to elaborate on how staff have been a great help. Due to having experience of working with teams over the past five years, the staff of 300 persons has become great assets to the hotel and have made guests feel at home by being able to accommodate them and also being flexible.

#According to Smith, the hotel is doing great, and they have hit the ground running since the start of the year. Smith also emphasied that if there is anyone looking to bring in groups, they can just contact her at any time and that they can count on her.

MEN’S CHAMPIONS – EMR Skyes, of Freeport, Grand Bahama, won the men’s national flag football title.

As of Wednesday, July 26, 2023

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#By MALIQUE WALLACE

#Tribune Intern

#THE Bahamas Flag Football Association took its national championship to Grand Bahama over the weekend and president Bianca Lee noted that she was extremely pleased with how everything turned out.

#Lee said they hadn’t had nationals since 2018 and were very excited about the event which saw teams from Grand Bahama and New Providence competing against each other.

#There were both male and female styles of play that took place during the championship.

#She said that both leagues had a regular season and the winning teams of those seasons teams battled it out for the title.

#The New Providence team in the women’s league are the Carol Contractors Avengers.

#And for the men, it was the EDLC Lions.

#Lee explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, they had two years of no play, but returning in 2022 they were blessed with 11 teams – five male teams and six female.

#After this season, there are four other teams that are interested in joining the league for the 2024 season.

#There will be a tournament called the Heroes tournament October 7-8.

#Last year, there were 21 teams, including teams from the Cayman Islands, Abaco, Freeport and New Providence.

#And finally, this year, there is the possibility of a Mexico team joining Bahamas Flag Football as well as teams from Italy and Amsterdam.