Daejha Moss, the versatile field competitor at North Dakota State University, has officially retired from competing, but will be taking on a new role as an elementary physical education teacher at Deer Creek Elementary in West Fargo, North Dakota.

As of Wednesday, August 9, 2023

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Daejha Moss

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#SHE’S walking away from the sport that she loves, but is now venturing into an area where she feels her participation in track and field has groomed her for the aftermath of her competitive days.

#Daejha Moss, the versatile field competitor at North Dakota State University, has officially retired from competing, but will be taking on a new role as an elementary physical education teacher at Deer Creek Elementary in West Fargo, North Dakota.

#“I’m excited to be able to use my studies for the past few years to good use,” Moss said. “I am a huge fan of sports, and look forward to cultivating lifelong movers through physical education.”

#No doubt, Moss is just getting her feet wet, but she said she has an appetite to get to the next level in coaching and she will be using this introduction to the profession as a learning experience.

#“This is definitely just a start,” she pointed out. “My dream job is to coach track and field, specifically jumps, for a Division I programme. No dream school in mind yet.”

#And just how did it all get started for Moss.

#“I applied for jobs in the Fargo area. I interviewed at three different schools, was offered the position to all three and made my decision based on several personal factors,” she admitted without getting into the full details.

#She will officially start her new vocation on August 25, but as she looks back at her tenure as a track and field athlete, coming from Queen’s College too, she admitted that it was a roller coaster ride.

#“I definitely expected more but some things just happened that were out of my control,” she pointed out. “Overall though, I am so grateful for my experience and have absolutely no regrets. It is hard saying goodbye to track and field though.” So is she really done with competing? “I am 100% done with competing in track and field,” she declared. “My last year in athletics solidified this decision. My body has completely rejected this sport now. It was a harsh reality I had to face, but we moved on.

#“My goals are now to gain experience with teaching, lesson planning and instruction. So that eventually I can transfer those skills to a coaching job”

#As she ventures into coaching, are there any regrets for the former outstanding junior CARIFTA medalist, who didn’t get the opportunity to display her skills as a senior athlete?

#“I honestly have no regrets when it comes to track and field,” she stated. “I’ve done track and only track since the age of seven. It has taken me to so many different countries, made me lifelong friends,awarded me a full ride through a division one program where I obtained a Master’s degree in Education, and now a profession as a teacher. I can only look back on my years of track and field and be grateful for all it has afforded me.

#If there were any low points in her career, Moss said it would have been her final year competing, which encouraged her to lean more towards her retirement.

#“I just battled so much mentally and physically. I had to juggle graduate school, athletics and annoying injuries that came along the way,” she said. “It was the hardest year of my life. But, throughout this difficult time I’d reflect on some of my highs.”

#But despite the way she ended it, Moss said there were many positive aspects that she will take away from competing, including winning the silver and bronze medals at the 2017 CARIFTA Games in the high and long jump respectively

#If that’s not enough, she will cherish her performances at the 2019 NACAC U23 Championships where she produced a leap of 1.75m in the high jump for a fourth place finish, despite competing with a torn hamstring.

#Moss, however, said her time spent in North Dakota will be highlighted on her resume because she was able to produce a lifetime best of 1.78m in her signature event, which has placed her as the third best high jumper in NDSU history.

#The 24-year-old Moss also competed on NDSU’s 2023 victorious outdoor conference team after recovering from their heart shattering losses the previous two seasons.

#Moss is the daughter of Raquel and Delvin Moss and she has five siblings – Prince and Petra Ferguson, Danielle Moss-Whymms and Diamond and Demi Moss.

Pan American U20 team wins gold, silver and bronze

Bahamas men’s team, from left to right, of Adam Musgrove, Carlos Brown, Jeremiah Adderley and Zion Campbell proudly hold up their gold medals. Photo: Daron Lightbourne

As of Tuesday, August 8, 2023

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The Bahamas’ 19-member team to the XXI Pan American Under-20 Track and Field Championships as they returned home over the weekend. Photos: Daron Lightbourne

Kaden Cartwright

Brenden Vanderpool

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#The Bahamas’ 19-member team to the XXI Pan American Under-20 Track and Field Championships at the Jose A. Figueroa Freyre Stadium in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico over the weekend returned home with a medal of each colour.

#The team, managed by Dionne Britton and coached by Daron Lightbourne, brought home a gold, silver and bronze, a performance that left assistant coach Jamieson Pratt singing the praises of everybody. “I would say that the competition was surprisingly challenging but we went in with a small team and performed to the best of our abilities,” said Pratt, who is following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Peter Pratt, a former highly acclaimed Bahamian triple jumper turned coach.

#“Normally a smaller team would have a less chance of getting medals but this team was able to get three medals. We had some circumstances that happened with the team but we collectively worked together to perform this well.”

#With the United States being qualified, the Bahamas moved up to the gold in the men’s 4 x 100m relay with the team of Zion Campbell, Carlos Brown, Jeremiah Adderley and Adam Musgrove winning the protest race in 39.75.

#Jamaica also got disqualified, which enabled Puerto Rico to get the silver in 40.15 and Argentina took the bronze in 40.26.

#Kaden Cartwright secured the silver in the men’s javelin with his heave of 214-feet, 80-inches or 65.43 metres behind American Mike Stain, the gold medalist wirth 234-2 (71.38m). American Blake Orr got the bronze with 213-7 (65.12m).

#And Brenden Vanderpool got on the podium with the bronze in the men’s pole vault with his best height of 15-7 (4.75m). Tyler Cahs got fifth with 14-7 1/4 (4.45m). American Jack Mann took the gold with 5.00m (16-4 3/4) and Brazil’s Aurelio Leite for the silver with 16-0 3/4 (4.90m).

#There were a few final appearances and some close chances to advance out of the preliminary rounds for a couple other athletes during the meet that ran from August 4-6.

#Shimar Bain ended up fifth in the men’s 400m hurdles in 53.55. American Bryce Tucker took the gold in 51.36 with Yan Vazquez of Puerto Rico got the silver in 52.57 and American Damon Frabott goetting the bronze in 52.19.

#In the men’s 200m final, Adam Musgrove clocked 20.94 for fifth. Brazil’s Renan de Lima Gallina took the gold in 2,044, American Garrett Kallaud (20.57) got the silver and Jose Figuerora Acevado (20.63) of Puerto Rico got the bronze,

#Musgrove had the fifth fastest qualifying time of 20.94.

#Lacarthea Cooper had the sixth fastest qualifying time of 24.89 in the preliminaries of the women’s 200m, but she didn’t contest the final that had an American sweep with Shawnti Jackson (22.35) and Elise Cooper (22.80) with the gold and silver over Canadian Emily Martin (23.75) for the bronze.

#Carlos Brown, who had only arrived at the meet the night before, just missed out on a lane in the final of the men’s 100m after he placed ninth in the preliminaries in 10.77. Zion Campbell was 14th in 10.91.

#Mateo Smith had to settle for fifth in the men’s long jump with 23-11 1/2 (7.30m) with Stephan Farquharson eighth with 22-7 1/4 (6.89m). American Juriad Hughes won the gold with 24-11 3/4 (7.61m), Jamaican Royan Walters got the silver with 24-6 1/2 *(7.48m) and American Ashton Torns got the bronze with 24-3 (7.39m).

#Calea Jackson picked up seventh in the women’s discus with her heave of 147-11 (45.10m). Canadian Julia Tunks got the gold with 186-11 (56.98m), Jamaican Abigail Martin got the silver with 182-0 (55.47m) and American Maddie Fey got the bronze with 172-10 (52.70m).

#Also taking seventh was Grand Bahamian Erin Barr in the women’s 1,500m in 5:16.18. American Ellie Shea won the gold in 4:16.61 over Anita Poma Mendoza of Peru in 4:18.28 with Kyla Martin of Canada getting the =bronze in 4:25.95.

#Otto Laing came up with seventh as well in the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.91. American Blaise Atkinson won the gold with 13.46, Jamaican Daniel Beckford got the silver with 13.52 and Brazilian Jose Mendes da Silva got the bronze with 13.55. Laing had the seventh fastest qualifying time of 13.88, while Tayshaiun Robinson was 10th in 14.52.

#Lanaisha Lubin had a best of 39-1 3/4 (11.93m) for seventh in the women’s triple jump. Canada took gold and silver with Asia Philips clearing 43-0 1/2 (13.12m) and Tolu Akinduro 452-9 (13.03m) respectively American Agur Dwol got the bronze with 41-10 (12.75m).

#Shaunece Miller finished seventh in the women’s heptathlon with 4,074 points. The United States got gold and silver from Jaicieonna Gero-Holt (5,463) and Abby Elmore (5,186) with Julia Leite of Brazil taking the bronze (5,067).

#Anaiah Rolle, making history as the first Bahamian female to compete in the pole vault, ended up seventh with her best leap of 9-4 1/4. Americans Kenna Stimmel (14-1 1/4) 4.30m and Ella McRitchie 13-11 1/4 (4.25m) got gold and silver and Alyssa Quinones Mixon of Puerto Rico got the bronze with 13-5 1/4 (4.29m).

#Also traveling with the team were Myriam Stapleton, an assistant coach; Dr Kent Bazard as the physician and Lisa Armbrister as the chaperone.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner.

As of Tuesday, August 8, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#RETURNING from a brief break to have a baby, Shaunae Miller-Uibo along with Steven Gardiner, back after an injured season, will lead an 11-member Bahamian team to the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

#The duo, who have been the anchor of the Bahamas teams for the past decade, will both compete in the 400 metres at the championships, scheduled for August 16-27. They were named to the team, released by the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, over the weekend, that included five females and six male competitors.

#In addition to Miller-Uibo, the other female competitors are sprinter Anthonique Strachan, high hurdler Devynne Charlton, versatile Charisma Taylor and javelin thrower Rhema Otabor.

#Gardiner heads the men’s team that include fellow quarter-miler Alonzo Russell, sprinter Terrence Jones, veteran high jumper Donald Thomas, long jumper LaQuan Nairn and hurdler Shakeem Hall-Smith. Leading the Bahamian delegation will be Laketah Charlton, who will be assisted by Tito Moss, the track coach. Corrington Maycock will be the throws coach; Keir Miller will travel as the Team Doctor and Pharez Cooper will be the Physio/Therapist.

#While there will be no head coach selected to the team, Moss said the management will combine to carry out the duties collectively for Team Bahamas.

#“I think we have a very talented team, obviously led by Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardinwer and also anchored by Devynne and Anthonique,” Moss said.

#“We a;so have some talented up and coming athletes like Terrenced Jones and Charisma Taylor, Shakeem Smith and NCAA javelin champion Rhema Otabor and the ageless wonder in Donald Thomas “

#:Looking at the make-up of Team Bahamas, Moss said it’s a good balance with a mixture of youth and veterans, which should translate into a number of finalists and possibly the best showing with a couple of medals.

#“We just hope that our athletes remain healthy and be ready to compete,” said as they BAAA continue to prepare for the team’s travel on Monday, May 14th for their arrival in the Games Village in Budapest on Tuesday, May 15th.

#“This is the World Championships where you will see the best of the best. It’s a year before the Olympics and judging from the performances we’ve seen internationally to date, it’s going to be a hotly contested meet in all of the events.”

#In her return since the birth of her son, Maicel Uibo Jr on April 30, Miller-Uibo has only competed in the BAAA’s Nationals in July where she contested the heptathlon.

#She’s been given an invite to compete as the defending champion of the 400m from the last championship held in 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. The two-time Olympic gold medalist looks to be in good shape from the gruelling multiple events for the one-lap race heading into Budapest.

#In her absence, Strachan has been the sprinter to watch for the Bahamas on the international scene where she ran a personal best of 10.92 in the 100m in the Oslo Diamond League on June 15th and 22.15 at the Rabat Diamond League on May 28th in her marquee event. Both times have her pegged just outside of the top 10.

#Charlton, a seventh-place finisher at the Eugene World Championships and a silver medalist at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England last year, has a season’s best of 12.64 from the Jones Memorial from April 15 in the women’s 100m hurdles, placing her in the top 15 in the world this year.

#Taylor, coming off her NCAA collegiate season that featured the 100/100mhurdles and the triple jump, will be contesting the latter event where she soared a personal best of 48-10 (14.88m) at the indoor nationals on March 11 for the fourth best mark in the world.

#Otabor threw a personal best of 195-2 (59.49m) on June 8 when she became the second Bahamian to win the NCAA Outdoor Championship title in the women’s javelin behind national record holder Lavern Eve. She is not=w listed in the top 40 in the world.

#As expected for the men, Gardiner, who didn’t compete in Oregon because of an injury, qualified for the championships where he posted the world’s leading time of 43.74 in Gyulai Memorial on July 18.

#The Abaco native, who holds the Bahamas national record in the 200 and 400m, will be joined by Grand Bahamian Russell, who is tied with Brazil’s 400m ghurles specialist Allison dos Santos with identical times of 44.73 in July and April respectively.

#Jones, a fellow Grand Bahamian who was named in a proposed suspension from the BAAA after the NACAC Under-28 and Under-23 Championships, has a double top ranking in both the 100m and 200m after he equaled the Bahamas national record of 9.91 on April 15 and clocked 19.87 at the NCAA Championships in June.

#It’s not known which of the two he will contestor if he will run the double at the championships.

#Thomas, another Grand Bahamian who ascended the top of the medal podium with his gold in the men’s high jump in Osaka, Japan in 2007, will be back for another appearance in his signature event.

#Thomas, the elder statesman of Team Bahamas at 39, has yet to hit peak form, soaring a season’s best of 7-5 1/4 (2.27m) at the New York Grand Prix on June 24 that has placed him just outside of the top 20 performance list.

#But the Bahamian multiple national record champion always finds a way to be a contender when the showdown begins at the global competition.

#With his breakout year last year at the Commonwealth Games gold medalist in Birmingham, Egland, Nairn has cleared a season’s best of 26-7 1/4 (8.11m) at the Lausanne Diamond League on June 30 that has him outside of the top 20.

#A newcomer to the international ranks, Smith has been making waves throughout Canada as a double hurdler this year. He did 49.25 in the 400m hurdles, the event he would more likely contest in Budapest and has a wind-aided time of 13.71 in the 110m hurdles.

#Keyshawn Strachan, the national record holder, got off to a blistering start to his collegiate freshman year at Auburn with a 276-5 (84.27m) at the Texas Relays on March 31, but an injury prevented him from competing in his first World Championships.

#Kendirck Thompson and Ken Mullings, the dynamic decathlon duo, were hoping for at least one invite this year, but they both fell short of making the cut. Last year, Mullingsd made it to Eugene, while Thompson went to the Commonwealth Games.

#And with the Bahamas preparing to host the return of the World Relays next year, the women’s women’s 4 x 100m relay team qualified for the championships at the NACAC Championships in Grand Bahama.

#But Moss said although the Bahamas was sitting in the 15th spot, the BAAA opted not to take the team because “a number of persons who would have been able to be used on that team, would have had conflicts competing.

#“As you know, Tynia (Giather) was not able to compete this season and Anthaya (Chalrton) shut down her season, so when we looked at who and what was left in terms of fielding a team, it was determined that it would be best if we did not contest the 4 x 100m for women.”

#The men’s 4 x 100 nor the 4 x 400m teams qualified and neither got an invite to be one of the top 16 teams to compete in the championships, which does not bode well going into the World Relays here next year.

As of Tuesday, August 8, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#TEAM Bahamas, with the newest addition of Phoenix Suns guard Eric Gordon, split games 1-1 against the University of Kansas (KU) Jayhawks this past weekend in Puerto Rico.

#The national team got their feet wet in exhibition games against the collegiate team ahead of the start of FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifier in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, August 14-20.

#Team Bahamas initially came up short in a head-to-head matchup with the younger team on Saturday, narrowly losing 92-87.

#However, in their final game against the Jayhawks, they edged out a 87-81 win.

#In game two against the Jayhawks, the national team saw National Basketball Association (NBA) player Gordon take the floor at the Rubèn Rodríguez Coliseum.

#The shooting guard was not initially listed on the national team’s roster, but following his release granted by USA Basketball, he suited up for Team Bahamas on Monday. Gordon and Indiana Pacers’ Chavano “Buddy” Hield totaled 16 points together in the first half of basketball and finished the game with 31 points combined.

#Despite a strong opening quarter by the Jayhawks leading the national team 24-17, Team Bahamas regained control in the second quarter. In the second period of play The Bahamas outscored Kansas’ squad 29-16 quieting the efforts of KU point guard Dajuan Harris Jr who ended the first half with a team-leading 14 points. Hield upped the ante for the national team in the third quarter, splashing four of his five three-pointers in the period. The shooting guard finished the game with a team-high 19 points after ending his stint in three quarters of play.

#The Bahamas’ NBA professional players watched the fourth quarter from the bench including Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton who did not play all weekend. The final minutes of play in the fourth saw KU trailing 82-80 with less than 90 seconds remaining in the contest. The Jayhawks’ Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar Jr both missed critical opportunities down the stretch to tie the ball game. The Bahamas’ Travis Munnings iced a go-ahead three-pointer in front of Jayhawks forward KJ Adams Jr to wrap up their rematch.

#The national team ended their win shooting 31/69 on field goals and went 11/35 from behind the arc. Gordon finished his first game with the team with 12 points and shot 45%. Franco Miller, who led the team in scoring in Saturday’s loss, wrapped up with 12 in the game. Team Bahamas had five players score in double digits.

#The Jayhawks finished their Puerto Rico trip 2-1 after earning wins against The Bahamas and Puerto Rico in their three games played.

#The Bahamas’ national team will now prepare to suit up against Pool A teams starting with Cuba on August 14 as they look to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

As of Tuesday, August 8, 2023

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TANISHA Seymour, signing her letter of intent.

TANISHA Seymour is preparing to make her mark on the ladies’ NCAA Division 11 basketball circuit at Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia.

#By MALIQUE WALLACE

#Tribune Intern

#TANISHA Seymour is the next Bahamian coming out of the Tallulah Falls High School and is now preparing to make her mark on the women’s collegiate basketball circuit.

#Seymour is an 18-year-old 6-foot, 3-inch small/power forward graduate honour student, who is now making her way to Davis and Elkin College in West Virginia where she intends to study nursing.

#Seymour and her dad Leealdo Seymour have been working on her conditioning, speed, strength, mental toughness, game situations and agility.

#During her tenure at Tallulah High, she has averaged 10 points per game, with 12 rebounds, six assists and three blocks.

#Seymour has improved her scoring and rebounding each year as a high school basketball player.

#She is unique in length and can alter shots defensively. Her shot is quick, high and soft on the release, which can make it tough to block and defend.

#She has the athletic ability to serve as a solid college basketball player as she continues to work to reach her full potential.

#Before she went to Tallulah High, her coach Oswaldo Taylor had some things to say about her.

#“Tanisha has great shooting ability and great handles,” he said. “She’s a very high percentage shooter and scorer. Good knowledge of the game and could shoot the three balls.

#“She’s long and has a great wing span, which gives her the advantage to defend small forwards and power forwards.”

#Seymour’s ability has earned her a scholarship to Davis and Elkins College where she will play NCAA division II. She credits a lot of her success to God and her parents Leealdo and Christine Seymour, who made the sacrifices to send her to Tallulah School to fulfil her dream of playing basketball.

As of Tuesday, August 8, 2023

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JONQUEL Jones

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#JONQUEL Jones and the New York Liberty routed the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, in a 38-point blowout win.

#The second overall New York team stepped on the hardwood at the Barclays Center in front of a historically packed crowd against the number one team in the league and wrapped them up 99-61.

#It was the team’s second win of the weekend and fourth consecutive win in the last few games.

#Jones’ squad got the upperhand over the Minnesota Lynx 76-66 this past Friday to return the favour after the team had previously snapped their four-game winning streak one week prior.

#After being down 0-1 in the season series against the Commissioner’s Cup winners, the New York Liberty made a statement against the first-seeded Western Conference Aces.

#The latter had been riding an eight-game win streak and came into the match with 24-2 (win/loss record). However, Jones and her teammates halted the team’s momentum.

#Sabrina Ionescu led the charge for the Liberty after dropping a jaw-dropping 23 points, five rebounds and three assists to pair with 5 three-pointers in the first half. Bahamian forward Jones also put on a show, for the biggest crowd ever for women’s basketball at the Barclays Center, reeling in her second straight double double of the weekend. The former WNBA MVP poured in 12 points and was a force to be reckoned with on the boards, amassing 14 rebounds in the win. Her performance against the Lynx was even more impressive where she turned in 15 points and 17 rebounds and two blocks on 64 per cent shooting.

#Despite the flurry of offensive prowess coming from Jones, Ionescu, and forward Breanna Stewart, who came away with 23 points, the game highlighted the Liberty’s lockdown defence. The Liberty led by five points (49-44) going into halftime.

#However, the momentum shifted greatly for New York as the team blew the game wide open, dropping 30 points on offence in the third period while holding the defending champions to nine points.

#Jones’ team never looked back after running out to a 26-point lead in the third quarter and once again held the Aces to single digits, ending the final period 20-8.

#The season series is now tied 1-1 between the two powerhouse teams. The ongoing rivalry will continue at next week’s WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase.

#It will be the third edition of the competition in the women’s league with the Aces having home court advantage due to a 9-1 record in the in-season tournament. The game will commence on August 15 at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas as the Aces look to defend last year’s title and avenge their most recent loss.

#The 22-6 Liberty will next suit up against the Chicago Sky at 8pm on Friday.

Bahamas Centre For Martial Arts athletes and coaches display their medals and trophies won at the US Open Martial Arts Championship.

As of Tuesday, August 8, 2023

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#THE Bahamas Centre For Martial Arts (BCMA) achieved an extraordinary feat at the highly-anticipated US Open Martial Arts Championship, bringing home an astonishing 12 trophies and a multitude of medals.

#The momentous victory showcased the exceptional talents and unwavering commitment of sensei Simone Francis and her team of outstanding athletes.

#The US Open, renowned as one of the most prestigious martial arts competitions worldwide, witnessed the BCMA athletes’ breathtaking displays of skill and discipline, capturing the hearts of spectators and judges alike.

#Competing against top contenders from around the globe, the Bahamian team proved their prowess and left an indelible mark on the tournament.

#Sensei Simone Francis, a trailblazing martial arts instructor and mentor, played a pivotal role in leading her students to this resounding success.

#With years of dedicated training, Simone instilled in her athletes the importance of discipline, perseverance and respect, values that were on full display throughout the tournament. “This victory is a testament to the hard work and determination of our athletes,” said sensei Simone.

#“We emphasized not only on refining their martial arts techniques but also on developing their character. I am immensely proud of each and every one of them.”

#The BCMA team participated in various disciplines, including karate, judo, taekwondo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and kung fu, showcasing the diversity and versatility of their martial arts expertise.

#Their performances left spectators in awe, earning admiration and applause from fellow competitors and judges.

#Among the star performers were young martial artists who defied expectations, demonstrating incredible talent and maturity beyond their years.

#Their achievements showcased the future of martial arts in The Bahamas, promising an even brighter path ahead for the nation in the world of competitive martial arts.

#As the celebrations continue in Nassau, the achievements of these talented athletes serve as a powerful reminder that passion, perseverance and determination can conquer any challenge.

#The Bahamas celebrates the triumph of its martial arts community and eagerly anticipates the future successes that lie ahead for these exceptional athletes.

#Congratulations once again to sensei Simone Francis and the entire Bahamas Centre For Martial Arts on their incredible achievements at the US Open.

#The world watches in awe as this dynamic team continues to make waves and raise the flag of The Bahamas higher in the global martial arts arena.

Home|Sports|King, Bluejays end Bahamas trip perfectSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 9, 2023 30 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian collegiate player Fredrick King and his Creighton University Bluejays wrapped up their summer tour when they took care of Club Obras out of Argentina 111-89 at the Imperial Arena at Atlantis resort yesterday. The three-game exhibition series was a part of the Bahamas Basketball Federation Summer of Thunder.

King finished with eight points on three-for-five shooting in just over 10 minutes of play. The Bahamian also added three rebounds and made both of his free-throw attempts.

He had a highlight reel in the fourth quarter when he slammed home an alley-oop slam dunk over two defenders on a Stephen Ashworth perfect pass at the 7:49 mark in that quarter. He put them up 93-62 at that point.

The Andros native said it was great to come back home and see his family, friends and old teammates.

“It was great to come home and compete. Coming off last year, it shows me where I need to be going into season in terms of what I am doing good and what I am doing bad. I hope to play more this season compared to last year. I want to be more comfortable and confident and just ball out,” King said.

King mentioned that he was able to get some conch salad while at home.

In the first game on Friday, the Bluejays easily took care of Raw Talent Elite with a 108-55 victory. King finished with a double-double scoring 12 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the free-throw line and pulling in 13 rebounds. The second game on Sunday saw them getting the 76-62 victory against BC Kauna Zalgiris out of Lithuania. King scored 10 points and two rebounds in 16 minutes of play.

After the Argentinian club led 14-13 midway through the first quarter, the Bluejays took over and ended that quarter on an 18-4 run. They never looked back and went into the half up comfortably with a 59-43 lead. They went up 86-67 heading into the final quarter and kept the lead at the end of the final buzzer.

Yesterday’s game saw the Bluejays finishing with 16 made three-pointers and 21 second chance points. Every player from Creighton scored in that game.

In his freshman year, King said he was trying to acclimate himself to the United States of America as he was around new people and a new playing style.

“I worked on being faster and comfortable in sets. I expect to see great things from this team after these three games and to keep growing as we get comfortable with each other,” King said.

King averaged 3.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 8.4 minutes per game in his freshman season. He made 60.9 percent of his shots from the field and 62.5 percent from the charity stripe.

 Home|Sports|‘EJ’ brings veteran leadership to Team BahamasSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 9, 2023 31 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas woke up to some good news over the weekend as it revealed that National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran guard Eric ‘EJ’ Gordon, currently teammates with DeAndre Ayton on the Phoenix Suns, was released by USA Basketball and became eligible to play for The Bahamas at the upcoming FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournaments.

The tournaments will be held from August 12-20 for 40 teams from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. They will all battle for spots for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

The Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) finally got word that USA Basketball released Gordon on Monday which FIBA approved. Gordon was allowed to change his country of representation based on Article 22 of the FIBA Internal Regulations. USA Basketball had to release Gordon because he represented them at the 2010 FIBA World Cup.

The team already features three other NBA players – forward/center Ayton, Indiana Pacers’ guard Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield and the Charlotte Hornets’ Kai Jones.

The news comes just in time as the deadline for the 24-man roster for the tournaments was Monday. President of the BBF Eugene Horton said he is elated to have Gordon on the national team, a move the BBF was trying to accommodate from as early as 2006.

“It feels great to finally welcome Eric (Gordon). It has been years in the making and to see it come to fruition, [it] takes Bahamas Basketball to a whole other level,” Horton said.

Horton added that Gordon brings veteran depth and leadership to the team.

“I think the addition of Gordon, along with Buddy and Ayton as well as the supporting members of the team – the other players, coaches, trainers and admin staff – we have the best chance we’ve had in years to make a great impact and qualify,” Horton said.

Gordon, who was drafted seventh overall in the NBA Draft in 2008, split his season a year ago with the Los Angeles Clippers who drafted him and the Houston Rockets. He averaged 12.4 points, 2.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game. He averaged 1.9 three-pointers per game and shot 44.6 percent from the field. Over 15 years in the league, he is averaging 16 points, 2.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game, and is shooting at a 37.1 percent clip from deep.

The tournaments will feature 28 nations that competed in the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers but failed to qualify for this year’s world cup, as well as the highest-ranked national teams that did not qualify for the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers.

For this region, The Bahamas will battle against seven other nations, with just the winner of the tournament joining 19 FIBA Basketball World Cup teams to compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments that will take place from July 2-7, 2024. The others from this region are Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Uruguay and the US Virgin Islands. Argentina is the cream of the crop, ranked number two in the Americas behind the United States and number four in the world according to the latest FIBA World Rankings presented by Nike.

The Bahamas is in Group A with Argentina, Cuba and Panama, and they will play at the Ciudad de Santiago del Estero Stadium in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. The Bahamas’ first game will be against Cuba on Monday, August 14 at 6:10 p.m. On Wednesday, August 16 at 8:10 p.m., they will face Argentina.

In preparation for the tournament, The Bahamas played two scrimmage games against the University of Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team. They lost the first game, 92-87, on Saturday and won the second, 87-81, on Monday.

Chile, Colombia, the US Virgin Islands and Uruguay will compete in Group B at the Vicente Rosales de La Banda Stadium in La Banda, Argentina. The top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals and the winners of the semifinal games will advance to the final, set for Sunday, August 20 at 8:10 p.m. at the Ciudad de Santiago del Estero Stadium.

The other players in the training camp in Puerto Rico for The Bahamas ahead of the Olympic pre-qualifying tournament are Dominick Bridgewater, Jaraun ‘Kino’ Burrows, Garvin Clarke, Kadeem Coleby, Radshad Davis, Sammy Hunter, Danrad Knowles, Lourawls ‘Tum Tum’ Nairn, Willis Mackey Jr., Franco Miller, Travis Munnings, Kentwan Smith, David Nesbitt, AJ Storr and Mychel Thompson.

 Home|Sports|Taylor remains optimistic; looking forward to next seasonSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 9, 2023 26 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

This past season has been nothing short of remarkable for Bahamian swimmer Lamar Taylor. Looking ahead to next season in collegiate and international action, especially with the 2024 Paris Olympics looming, the Bahamian is looking to surpass what he did this season and put on a show in the pool.

The Henderson State University swimmer enters his fourth season with that school and prepares for an Olympic year. He will look to defend his three National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II swimming titles and will look to make his debut at the Olympic level after swimming in two World Aquatics Swimming Championships.

At the 2023 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships back in March, the Bahamian was able to touch the wall first in the 50-yard free with a time of 19.24 seconds. He then won the 100-yard back with a time of 46.42 seconds. Taylor wrapped up his individual competition with a time of 42.30 seconds in the 100-yard free, winning that event. He knows that he has put a target on his back and he, along with his coach Scott Serio, has begun looking at ways to improve.

“I feel like endurance is one of the big things that I need to fix just because I can go out with them. I just need to be able to bring it back with them after the turn, so endurance is one thing and one of the major things. I also need to be stronger. I just feel like I need to put on at least five to six pounds of muscles and be a little bit stronger. I feel like once I’m able to do that and stay healthy, I should be competing with the top 16 guys in the world and be able to throw down some impressive times,” Taylor said.

Going to the Olympics has been a dream for him since he was a preteen. Now at 20 years of age, he cannot believe how close he is to being an Olympian. It was something he did not see happening when he was thinking about the Olympics at 12.

“I feel like every kid has that dream to be in the Olympics. I want to be the best in the world. I want to break world records and so on. Everyone has that dream, and when I was younger, I wanted to be on the Olympic team and be able the represent The Bahamas. I never actually thought it would be a reality or be this close. I never thought I would even fathom at a young age how far I would come and how close I would be,” he said.

Taylor gained some experience and knowledge at the just completed worlds. He said he learned a lot and knows what to focus on, especially after coming close to qualifying for the semifinals in the 50 meters (m) back. In that race, he missed out on the top 16 when he finished 17th overall in a time of 25.12 seconds. The 16th spot swimmer clocked 25.11 seconds, just a hundredth of a second faster.

“I was hoping that meet was going to give me my Olympic cut but, unfortunately, I just fell a little bit short,” Taylor said. “It did open up a lot of other events for me. I can notice that the 100m back is an event that I should start training a little bit more for because I just dropped a second and I’m only a second off the ‘B’ cut.”

He added: “I’ve talked to my coach and we have a game plan where I’m going to train, and then there’s some big meets that I could go to and try get my cuts then, so I won’t have to worry at nationals. I don’t want to go to the Olympics and just swim and come in the 40s or 50s. I want to be able to go there and try and make it something fun and make a final and be in contention and up there with the big names.”

Taylor, who attended Bishop Michael Eldon School in Freeport, Grand Bahama, and graduated from St. John’s College in New Providence, is hoping to change his race strategy. At worlds and the Olympics, the morning sessions are the heats and the evening sessions are for the semifinals and finals.

“One big thing that I’m going to have to change and work on is just being able to get up in the morning and drop extremely fast times where I can come back comfortably in the semifinals. I don’t swim that well in the mornings. I always have a better night swimming and a better final swim,” Taylor said.

At most of his meets, Taylor has his parents – Lester and Gena Taylor – are there supporting him. The younger Taylor doesn’t take the parental support for granted, as they would be proud of him even if he wasn’t this good at swimming.

“They always support me and they always push me,” Taylor said. “Once I knew that, I give it all I got. I’m happy with that. As for pressure, my mom and dad never put any pressure on me to be the best. They are happy and content with almost whatever level I am at, but me personally, I want to keep pushing.”

Taylor is looking to take up the sport professionally after he finishes Henderson State. It is one of the goals that he wants to pursue.