Home|Sports|‘This is for the people with a dollar and a dream’Sports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailMarch 21, 2023 377 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian head coach of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Lady Rebels women’s basketball program Yolett McPhee-McCuin is realizing dreams that the rest of the college basketball landscape could certainly appreciate and marvel about.

The former high school and junior national team player from The Bahamas is not only coaching at the highest level of collegiate basketball in the United States, but is accomplishing milestones and turning heads while doing so. On Sunday night, she led the Lady Rebels past the number one seeded team in the Seattle 4 Region, and three-time national champion, the Stanford Cardinal, and she did it on their home court – inside the Maples Pavilion in Stanford, California.

In a wire-to-wire victory, the region’s eighth seeded Lady Rebels outlasted the top seeded Cardinal, 54-49, on Sunday night, reaching the Sweet 16 of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I (DI) Women’s Basketball Tournament for the first time in 16 years.

“I have just an incredible amount of gratitude. I would like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and thank my family, this team, we just love each other so much,” said McPhee-McCuin to ESPN Sunday night. “We’ve been waiting for a big one. I’m on social media and everyone said Yo can’t win the big one. For the team to be able to do this, I’m just full of gratitude. We make a lot of sacrifices and I’m so proud of our team. For us to be rewarded in this way, in this fashion, it means the world to me.”

McPhee-McCuin has come a long way since starting her professional career at Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas, in 2004. Her first head coaching responsibility was at Jacksonville University in 2013, and she spent five years there before moving on to Ole Miss in 2018. She’s now in her fifth season at Ole Miss and is currently experiencing her best season. Now, the Bahamian sports legend is just a couple wins away from advancing to the NCAA Final Four and just four wins away from winning it all.

“This is for the people with a dollar and dream,” she said. “I’m a little girl from The Bahamas that was given an opportunity. I wasn’t Ole Miss’ first choice but I was the right one and I was naive enough to think that I could do it and that’s what ‘No Ceilings’ mean. There’s no limit. I’m just really proud to be the head coach here and we’re going to Seattle. I love Seattle. Let’s go.”

The term ‘No Ceilings’ has been their driving force for the past three seasons. Competing in their second straight NCAA DI women’s tournament, the Ole Miss Rebels are building on the experience of a year ago when they were knocked out in the first round. This year, in the first round, they easily took out the ninth seeded Gonzaga University Bulldogs, 71-48. The Lady Rebels relied heavily on defense, leading by as much as 28 points in the game against Gonzaga.

Sunday night’s game was more of a challenge as they were up against the top seeded team in the region and three-time national champion. Not deterred, the Lady Rebels came out aggressively. They took control of the game early and led throughout the first half. They were up 18-13 after one and 29-20 at the half. The Rebels led by as much as 13 points in the third quarter before the Cardinal battles back, pulling to within 42-35 at the end of three. The Cardinal continued to come back, pulling even at 49 with 1:16 remaining in the fourth, but the Rebels scored the final five points of the game for the dramatic win.

Junior forward Madison Scott and senior guard Marquesha Davis made two free shots each and senior guard Myah Taylor added another to complete the scoring. The Rebels forced three turnovers in the final minute of the game. It was that kind of stellar defense that allowed them to overcome not making a field goal over the final 5:47 of the game, going 0-for-8.

The Cardinal had 14 straight Sweet 16 appearances and hadn’t lost in the first or second rounds since 2007, which was exactly 16 years ago to the day on Sunday – March 19, 2007. Prior to the loss, Stanford had won 21 consecutive NCAA games on its home floor and have a 41-5 win/loss record all-time inside the Maples Pavilion during March Madness – the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Meanwhile, the upstart Rebels (25-8, 11-5 Southeastern Conference) will now move on to play another Cardinal, the fifth seeded Louisville Cardinals, in their NCAA Sweet 16 game, inside the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, on Friday.

Bahamian Bryan Clarke, a sports performance assistant coach with the Houston Cougars, will be on the bench again when the region’s top seeded team faces the region’s fifth seeded Miami Hurricanes in their NCAA Sweet 16 game inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday. That game will be played at 7:15 p.m.

Also in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, Bahamian Fredrick King and the South Region’s sixth seeded Creighton University Bluejays will face the ‘Cinderella’ team of the tournament so far, the 15th seeded Princeton Tigers, in their Sweet 16 game on Friday. That game will be played at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and will get underway at 9 p.m.

https://thenassauguardian.com/this-is-for-the-people-with-a-dollar-and-a-dream/

 Home|Sports|School golf nationals set for AprilSports

About 30 schools have registered for the event

Sheldon LongleySend an emailMarch 21, 2023 297 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

With nearly a full complement of players and schools registered, the 3rd Annual Interschool Golf Championships is in its final stages of preparation, set for April 17-21 at nine-hole golf course at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

There are eight divisions being contested – lower primary boys and girls, upper primary boys and girls, junior boys and girls and senior boys and girls. About 30 teams are registered so far, and each team could consist of three to five players, but just the three lowest scorers will count toward the team’s total. Last year, a total of 282 players took part in the school golf nationals – 15 schools fielded full teams.

“Over the past few years, we have seen so many lives changed, so many dreams become a reality, and this is just the beginning,” said Gina Gonzalez-Rolle, chairperson of the Bahamas Golf Federation’s (BGF) Junior

Division. “We cater to the whole child. The Bahamas has been put on the map through track and field, swimming, baseball and basketball, but give us three years. Through hard work and dedication we will continue to make golf our national sport. We turn dreams into reality. Come and watch our students play.”

Hundreds of school children are expected to take part in the championships and will compete in the individual and team competitions. Tournament organizers have set a maximum capacity of 144 players per day, or 576 over the course of the four days of competition.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training are partnering with the BGF Junior Division and Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy in the staging of the school golf nationals.

“The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is indeed happy to partner with the Ministry of Education. We want to congratulate the Bahamas Golf Federation as well as Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy for hosting such a prestigious event where our young kids can be exposed to another sport,” said Kelsie Johnson-Sills, director of sports in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. “The sport of golf teaches discipline and how to be truthful and honest as a player. Every shot counts. I want to congratulate all of our junior players and also the organizers for making sure that the sport continues to grow. We want to introduce more sports into the schools and we want to see more professionals in golf so I implore you young golfers to not give up on your dreams.”

The Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training is introducing the sport of golf into the school curriculum in The Bahamas. It allows all school students to be introduced to golf in Physical Education (PE) classes, and gives them the opportunity to represent their schools in the national school golf championships.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training Zane Lightbourne said they realize that there are many opportunities available in the sport of golf and it is their duty to develop the whole child.

“We know that golf is identified as an individual sport but it teaches a person so much,” said Lightbourne. “We know that our country is filled with young talented people in so many different areas. On the world stage, in almost every international competition, in all sports, a Bahamian is representing this beautiful country. There is amazing talent that is in the bodies and minds of young Bahamian children. I commend the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for driving this event forward and getting it done, and for partnering with the Ministry of Education in bringing golf in as a part of the curriculum in schools. Our PE teachers now have to learn golf so that they could teach it as a part of the curriculum.

“The championships are here, they are well watched and they are competitive. We have this on the calendar now as something to look forward to. The sport of golf teaches you discipline, how to be self driven and how to compete against others. I encourage our children to continue to get involved and take it as far as it could take you and I encourage Corporate Bahamas to continue to partner with the Government of The Bahamas in staging events such as this in bringing children together. We could show that we have much to be proud of than some of the negative aspects that you see in the news. This is more than just sports. To all the organizers, parents and the children themselves, I am so proud of what you are doing, and you have a partner always in the Ministry of Education.” 

The school golf program has four main goals – to deliver the instructions where the children are – at school; provide a high quality, consistent program led by Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy; transition the children from the school to the golf facility based on competency with the curriculum; and give students an opportunity to represent their schools in the primary school league, high school league, and the Bahamas National Primary and High School Golf Championships.

The objective is to deliver a consistent golf learning experience where they will learn the game through a series of group lessons and transition to the BGF’s junior program administered by Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy.

The program started in 2020 with its addition to the school curriculum.

At the school golf nationals, the lower and upper primary school children compete from 50 yards, the juniors compete from 100 yards and the seniors compete from 150 yards.

At last year’s school golf nationals, Windsor School won five of the eight divisions – lower primary girls, upper primary boys, junior boys and girls and senior boys. Lyford Cay International School won the lower primary boys division, Eva Hilton Primary School won the upper primary girls division and Queen’s College prevailed in the senior girls division.

https://thenassauguardian.com/school-golf-nationals-set-for-april/

Emily Darville (sister of Andrea Darville) at last year’s Get Your Rear in Gear event.

As of Friday, March 10, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Colon Cancer Coalition will host the annual Get Your Rear in Gear (GYRIG) 5k fun run walk race 6:30am on March 11 at Goodman’s Bay Park.

#The GYRIG’s inaugural event started last year in memory of the late Andrea Darville who was an originator and local director of the event as well as a big advocate for colon cancer awareness before her passing early last year.

#The former UB Mingo and member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority touched the lives of many that watched her ongoing battle with stage 3 colon cancer.

#With March being colon cancer awareness month and colon cancer being the second most common cancer in The Bahamas, event organisers Jackie Evans and sister of the deceased Emily Darville seek to not only carry out Andrea’s vision and final wish but also spread awareness about the cancer.

#In a cause that is very personal to Darville, she talked about how great support for the 5k fun run walk event has been. “I have received an overwhelming [amount] of support from the public, local and international sponsors alike, last year we borrowed a giant inflatable colon as an educational piece on site for the race,” Darville said.

#However, Darville added that for this year’s awareness event the organisers were sponsored one that is now a keepsake at the Cancer Society for educational purposes.

#This year’s GYRIG event was sponsored by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Genesis Community Loan Fund, Gastrocare Bahamas, Pfizer, Bahamas Orthodontic Center, and Taiho Oncology, CFAL, and Heineken.

#Those who wish to participate in support of the late Andrea Darville or to simply help in raising awareness for colon cancer can register online at https://donate.coloncancercoalition.org/ bahamas/?rbref=local.

#For persons that wish to register in person they can go to the Cancer Society located on East Terrace Centerville and sign up between 12pm and 6pm today. Also, if potential participants miss today’s in-person registration they will have another chance on the morning of the 5k fun run walk event on Goodman’s Bay Park.

#The registration fees for GYRIG are $25 for adults and $12 for kids. Registrants will receive a registration package which will include a GYRIG t-shirt and backpack, colon cancer information pamphlets, water and a Gatorade, as well as fruits and energy bars. Persons that complete the race will receive a medal upon completion.

#The route for Saturday’s early morning event will begin with participants leaving Goodman’s Bay to travel west towards Baha Mar onto Cable Beach then participants will make a left before the Swiss Pastry bakery to travel back to the start of the route.

#Darville had final words of encouragement for those who are still considering registering for the event.

#“I’d like to encourage you all to come out and participate in this good cause as we raise funds and awareness assisting those who are fighting to beat this horrible disease,” Darville said.

#The event organiser and sister of the beloved Andrea Darville hope to see the general public in attendance at the 2023’s GYRiG 5k Fun Run Walk.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/10/get-your-rear-gear-5k-fun-runwalk-saturday/?news

COACH Dario Saunders and his Charles W Saunders Cougars senior boys’ basketball team.

As of Friday, March 10, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Charles W Saunders School rolled out the red carpet on their school grounds yesterday as they celebrated the historic Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools’ basketball championship feat by their Cougars senior boys’ basketball team.

#The team, coached by Dario Saunders, clinched the title last month over their Baptist rivals Jordan Prince Williams Falcons before they went to the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic, only to fall short in the pool championships to Grand Bahama’s St George’s Jaguars.

#The ceremony, presided by Rev Stephen Duncombe, the senior master of the high school, saw entertainment by the primary school, the cheerleaders and the band and there were speeches from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Bahamas Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention. But the most profound speech came from principal Anadell Thompson, who noted that Charles W Saunders has won numerous titles in softball, but they are now spreading their wings and expanding their territories. She noted that four weeks away in the battle of the Baptist schools, the Cougars finally did it as champions. But for her, it was four years of watching the team emerge from cellar dwellers to the top of the mountain.

#“Four years ago, I came to Charles W Saunders as the principal, our school was among the top in softball, but we were almost at the bottom in basketball at the BAISS level,” she recalled. “When I saw the boys’ basketball team, I was convinced that I should become a member of that team. “This was perhaps the worst team that I’ve ever seen. I remember during our first game against Prince Williams in 2019, our team was beaten by almost 100 points. Despite that, the boys continued to play. I realised then that they were courageous.”

#What was even more settling was the fact that Thompson said coach Saunders asked her to allow the team to play in the Hugh Campbell Tournament that year. She felt the coaches were on a path to cause her to lose her job.

#But to her surprise, Thompson said the boys played with heart and the rest was history. Over the past two years, she said she watched as the team grew tremendously, overcoming many obstacles, pain, hardships and distress to get to where they are now called champions. “This group started out as a team, but today, I can say they are now a family,” Thompson stated. “They not only won the BAISS championship, but went back in the Hugh Campbell Tournament and it to the final eight teams out of 26 teams,” she said. “I am a proud principal and I congratulate them.”

#Also present was Rev Dr Perry Cunningham, the president of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools, who said he was delighted to celebrate with the champions.

#“I have been privileged to be a part of this association for a number of years,” he said, noting that he started in 1987. “So I’ve seen quite a bit happen during the time. The premier sporting event that we have in our association is not just the junior boys or senior girls or softball. “In this country, it’s always been basketball. And a school of this size with 15 private schools in our association and 11 of them dear to participate this year, for CW Saunders, among schools that are 100 years old, to be on top this year is a mark of distinction and achievement.”

#Cunningham, who went to eight schools before he graduated and served as an administrator in six schools, said he hopes to take away what he’s seen at Charles W Saunders and he hopes that he could implement some of that winning tradition when he goes back to the Nassau Christian Academy.

#Rev. Dr. Diana Francis, the chairman of the Baptist Board of Education, said she commends the Cougars, based on their history, to come from being slaughtered to be in a place to be the people who slaughtered is something to salute.

#“Quitters never win, but you showed us that you have the ability to never quit. Even though you lost many games, you showed them that inside of you is a Cougar mentality and that you were hungry for the victory and you didn’t back down,” said Francis, the pastor of First Baptist Church.

#“You didn’t sit back, but you showed us centres, you showed us forwards, you showed us guards that hard work, sacrifice, team work, excellence, athletic prowess, determination, discipline and endurance when you hold on and give it 100 percent, you will come out with the trophy. You will arise and emerge as a victor.”

#Bishop Carrington Pinder, the vice president at large of the Baptist Convention, speaking on behalf of national president Lloyd Smith in his absence, said he’s pleased to recognise the superstars who roared out of the Cougars’ den and left their mark not only in the Baptist community, but in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and beyond.

#“We are proud of you. We are proud of your achievements,” he said. “As I listened to principal Thompson’s report of how God has raised you from being the underdogs, the Bible says he that overcometh should inherit, not just some, but all things.

#Assistant director of sports Kerry Baker, a former basketball player, represented Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg. He attended the event along with sports officer Mario Ford. In his speech, he noted the importance of the student-athletes balancing their time with athletics and academics.

#“While you achieve your accomplishments in sports, academics must be paramount. There must be a balance,” said Baker, who noted that too many athletes are denied the opportunity to go on and further their education in college because they lack the medium between the two.

#Saunders, who was assisted by Edward Dean, said they appreciate all that was bestowed upon them for their accomplishments as they were presented with their trophies and they also received some special gifts from the National Baptist Convention before they were feted to lunch.

#“It’s humbling. As a small school, we’re not big in numbers, but there’s strength in our numbers,” he said. “We came together and with God along with us throughout the journey, who got the job done. This is only a team of grade 10 and 11 students, so the sky is still the limit for us.

#“We are not the hunted, so our focus has to be greater, but with God with us, we will persevere.”

#Nakero Brown, the most valuable player for the Cougars, said they were hoping to make it a double delight in winning the Hugh Campbell title as well, but despite falling short, he was still pleased with their overall effort. “We’re a family and we do everything together,” said the 6-foot, 6-inch, 18-year-old 11th grader. “We will be back. Hopefully we can do it all over again and win the two titles next year.”

#The other team members were Nathaniel Darling, Leroy Gray, John Joseph, Marcian Pickstock, Seth Rolle, Kyandre Sands, Emmanuel Smith, Dequan Strachan, Romiel Strachan, Treymon Wright, Raymone Woods and Omarlon Woodside.

#Former basketball player Mario Pickstock, the father of Marcian Pickstock, said he was so proud of the performance of the team.

#“They did well,” he insisted. “They did a good job this year, but they know they have to put in the work to do it again next year.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/10/cougars-get-red-carpet/?news

WINNING WAYS: The C.H. Reeves Raptors celebrate yesterday after winning the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) junior track and field championships. Photo: Tenajh Sweeting

As of Friday, March 10, 2023

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DENIM Stuart won the under 15 boys’ 200 metres finals.

CH Reeves head coach Varel Davis with GSSSA championship trophy. Photos: Tenajh Sweeting

SHOWN, left to right, Neveah Stuart, Fredricka Auguste, Whitney Guerrier and Rayniece Gibson.

CH Reeves Raptors juniors celebrate their GSSSA title win.

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#The C.H. Reeves Raptors destroyed the competition in convincing fashion to win the 2023 Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) junior championships.

#The Raptors, who are no strangers to the first place position, remained atop team rankings for two consecutive days with a final score of 533. The S.C. McPherson Sharks tried to keep up with the defending champions but came in 186 points behind the winners for a score of 347. The H.O. Nash Lions finished the GSSSA junior division championships in third place with a team score of 229.33, barely holding off the Tigers of A.F. Adderley. The Tigers finished in fourth with 228.50.

#As day two of the GSSSA championships wrapped up, there was lots of action for the juniors on both the track and field.

#The Raptors set the standard for the junior division as they were able to defeat their competitors in the under 15 boys’ 200m dash.

#Denim Stuart, who emerged victorious in numerous races at yesterday’s meet, came out on top with a time of 24.47. Second place finish belonged to D.W. Davis’ Delvon Barton who clocked 24.92.

#In third was the H.O. Nash Lions’ Johnathon Higgs who ran a time of 25.03.

#De’Ante Joseph, winner of the under 13 boys’ 800m finals, bested the competition with a time of 2:43.29.

#Joseph was followed by Kaiden Newbold of the L.W. Young Eagles who notched 2:43.58. Joseph of the Raptors was joined by fellow teammate Jermaine Moxey for third who ran 2:49.48.

#Joseph was one of the GSSSA’s highest male individual scorers for the under 13 division. He ended the track and field championships with an individual score of 38 points which was a big help to the reigning champions.

#Varel Davis, GSSSA president and head coach of the Raptors, talked about how impressed she was with the way the young Raptors competed at this year’s meet.

#“I am very impressed when you look at C.H. Reeves children, at the end of every race we are the only team probably standing up tall. I taught them that you gotta finish and you gotta finish strong and go hard,” Davis said.

#The athletes seemingly followed their coach’s advice as they dominated in both the under 13 girls and boys 4x400m relays.

#For the under 13 girls the relay team of Neveah Stuart, Rayniece Gibson, Whitney Guerrier, and Fredricka Auguste blitzed the competition with a time of 5:00.86. The Raptors were followed behind by the Lions relay team who clocked 5:31.68. The T.A. Thompson Scorpions finished the relay in third place.

#Fredericka Auguste, the fourth leg runner of the under 13 girls’ relay team, talked about how it felt to come out on top.

#“I feel so excited, thank you for all my coaches for supporting me and all my teammates,” Auguste said.

#For the boys’ relay team Travon Moncur, Kevin Sinsurin, Jermaine Moxey, and De’Ante Joseph gave it their all in the finals. The boys’ team ran a scorching time of 4:43.59, leaving the competition to fend for first and second place. The Sharks relay team came second with a time of 5:05.11 and the Scorpions placed third with 5:07.96.

#With her young athletes solidifying the victory in the relay finals, Davis talked about how happy she was with this year’s GSSSA title defence. She said she was worried about how the athletes would compete after the pandemic but she credited hard work and practice for why they are the champs once again.

#The Raptors not only took care of business on the track but they emerged as winners in field events also. In the under 13 boys’ high jump, Kevin Sinsurin came first after jumping 1.27m. Also, in the under 15 girls javelin throw, Rania Douglas notched a throwing distance of 16.57m in the event’s finals. The junior school will now go into celebration mode after this GSSSA victory.

#Despite a strong showing from the reigning champions the Sharks took a bite out of the competition to secure second place overall.

#Alliyah Coleby, winner of the under 13 girls 200m dash, secured the victory for the Sharks. She ran a time of 29.34 to edge out the rest of the competitors. Cashanique Rolle of the Royals placed second and the Sharks’ Devonique Pratt placed third.

#Coleby was thankful for the 200m win. She said it felt good to win and for the hard work she put into her race to finally pay off.

#In the under 13 boys 200m finals, Gilberto Bain emerged on top after running a time of 28.11. Bain was joined by the Lions’ Dylan Delahey and Johnathon Linton who placed second and third respectively.

#The Sharks once again brought home a win in the under 13 girls 800m finals as Trenae Scavella clocked 2:52.50 in the race.

#Sharks’ head coach Neketa Sears-Knowles talked about how it felt to place second at the GSSSA meet.

#“C.H. Reeves is hard to beat no doubt [but] I am extremely proud of the performances that the kids have done over the past two days in fact they even surprised me so I am very pleased with the performances so we’ll take that,” Knowles said.

#Knowles had a lot to be proud of as the Sharks’ young athletes came in first and second in the under 15 girls 75m hurdles. Kelisha Tanelus and Jamya Satchel placed first and second respectively.

#In more action from the Sharks, Emmit Smith emerged victorious in the under 15 boys 800m finals.

#With CH Reeves comfortably defending their reigning GSSSA title for the junior division, the C.R. Walker Knights will look to do the same on the final day of the meet.

#The Knights remain atop team rankings with a team score of 300 followed by the C.V. Bethel Stingrays with 235. The R.M. Bailey Pacers are right behind the fold with 187.50 and will look to edge out the C.I. Gibson Rattlers who trail closely behind for 4th place.

#The final day of the GSSSA track and field championships will start at 9:30am this morning as the senior schools will look to crown a champion.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/10/ch-reeves-raptors-win/?news

As of Monday, March 13, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) playoffs is set to commence 7pm tonight at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium between the division one and two teams.

#The first game to get the NPBA playoffs underway will feature the RC Liquors Eagles versus the D2 Rebels. For division one, the first seed of the Vince Ferguson Division the Discount Distributors Liquors Rockets will look to make a statement against the fourth seed TMT Giants.

#The last time the two teams faced off, the Rockets defeated the TMT Giants 87-73 in a 14-point beat down. The TMT Giants will look to pull off an upset against the undefeated Rockets. These games will kick start a long week of playoff games within the respective divisions.

#James Price, president of the New Providence Basketball Association, talked about his expectations of this year’s playoff matchups.

#“I expect it to be some good series, especially the two and three [seeds] in division one with the Shockers and the University of The Bahamas and the Leno Regulators and Sand Dollar they should be some good series,” Price said.

#This year’s division one playoff matchups will include the D1 Rebels vs the Commonwealth Bank Giants, the University of The Bahamas Mingoes vs Caro Contractors Shockers, Leno Regulators vs Sand Dollar, and the TMT Giants vs D1 Discount Distributor Liquors Rockets.

#The Commonwealth Bank Giants, first seed in the John Archer Division, will look to take home a championship in this year’s playoffs.

#Giants head coach Perry Thompson Jr talked about the team’s mindset heading into the matchups. “As a programme our expectations are always high. Our goals are always to win a championship, we are not worried about any team outside of our own,” Thompson said.

#He added that the main priority of the powerhouse team is to simply remain as healthy as possible going into the NPBA playoffs.

#For the division two playoffs, match ups will include Cyber Tech Blue Marlins vs D2 Discount Distributor Liquors Rockets, and the R C Liquors Eagles vs D2 Rebels.

#Despite a decline in the amount of fans in attendance at the games, Price said the NPBA will have some incentives for the playoffs so that fans can have some enjoyment.

#The games are scheduled to take place March 13-18.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/13/npba-playoffs-start-today/

As of Monday, March 13, 2023

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#THE University of The Bahamas men’s basketball team dropped to the Leno Regulators 76-63 in an inconsequential New Providence Basketball Association game Saturday night at The A.F. Adderley Gym.

#Erquantae Edgecombe led The Mingoes with 18 points and 10 rebounds while Gabriel Styles scored 11 points in the game that didn’t have any impact on either team’s position in the standings.

#Zachery Pennerman scored 24 points for The Regulators and Kemsey Sylvestre scored 23 for The Regulators.

#The Mingoes started the game off strong going up 6-0 early in the first quarter capped by a Justin Burrows layup assisted by Delano Armbrister. The Regulators cut the lead and tied the game at 6-6 and ended the quarter up 18-14.

#The Regulators held the lead for the rest of the game even though The Mingoes cut the lead to three points with 5:02 left in the fourth quarter. Off a defensive rebound, Delano Armbrister had the brilliant pass to Erquantae Edgecombe to pick up the easy lay-up to put the score at 62-59. The Regulator then went on a 9-0 run and ended the game 76-63.

#“We were right there with five minutes to go but we couldn’t seem to string together enough buckets in order to take the lead,” head coach Bacchus Rolle said. “We also didn’t get the defensive stops that we wanted to either. The Regulators are a tough team and played really good out there tonight. We just didn’t make the stops when we needed it.”

#Despite winning the rebounding battle – 58 compared to The Regulators’ 51 – The Mingoes couldn’t convert the rebounds into points.

#The Mingoes now move on to play The Caro Contractors Shockers in the first round of the playoffs. The first game is set for 8:30pm Wednesday March 15 and game two is set for 7pm on Saturday, March 18. Both games will be played at the A.F. Adderley Gym.

#The Shockers beat the Mingoes in both meetings this season. The Shockers won 76-56 November 26, 2022 and 67-58 on January 13, 2023.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/13/mingoes-regulators-advance-npba-playoffs/?news

GREAT Britain’s Harry Ford, centre, celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run against Canada in the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic game yesterday. (AP Photo/Godofredo A Vásquez)

As of Monday, March 13, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#GREAT Britain, stacked with a group of Bahamian coaches and players, suffered their first two losses over the weekend in Pool C of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s 2023 World Baseball Classic at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.

#After losing a 6-2 decision to the defending champions United States of America on Saturday, Great Britain came back yesterday for game two, but this time Canada went on a offensive tear in a 18-8 slug-fest for their first game played.

#Great Britain, with Antoan Richardson serving as a bench coach and Albert Cartwright on first base, juggled its batting order after the loss to the Americans, but they didn’t have enough fire power to pull off their first win against Canada. “The team had some good moments and some bad moments,” Cartwright said. “Tournament play is tough because we don’t know what you are going to get from your players and you only have a few games to adjust to be able to compete.”

#Despite the two losses, Cartwright said the players are having good at-bats and they are grinding it out to keep Great Britain in the games.

#On Sunday, right fielder Chavez Young moved up to lead off, went 1-for-2 with two base on balls (walk) and three runs scored, centre fielder Trayce Thompson, who had a big outing against the USA, was 1-for-1 with a walk, a strike out, a RBI, a run scored and was even left on base once.

#Third baseman BJ Murray was 1-for-2 with two walks, a strike out and a run scored.

#D’Shawn Knowles had one of the key moments of the game against Canada when in the top of the third with one out, he came in to pinch hit with a RBI double that plate Murray for a 6-5 deficit for Great Britain.

#In the fourth with one-out as well, Harry ford hit a three-run homer, sending both Young and Thompson for a 10-8 deficit.

#Canada came back in the bottom to produce six runs and they went on to hold Great Britain scoreless the rest of the game, while they added a run in the fifth and sixth to preserve the big win.

#In their match-up against the USA, Great Britain trailed 5-1 and the Bahamian connection came through as D’Shawn Knowles, pinch hitting for Jaden Rudd, tripled and scored on Seymour’s RBI ground out.

#Great Britain got on the scoreboard in the first inning after third baseman BJ Murray struck out, leading off the game and centrefielder Trayce Thompson cracked a flyball to left centre field for a solo homer for a 1-0 lead.

#After fielding a grounder for the third out on the USA to keep them scoreless in the bottom of the first, second baseman Anfernee Seymour singled on a ground ball to shortstop Trea Turner, deflected by pitcher Adam Wainwright.

#That put Jaden Rudd to second as Great Britain threatened again to score, but Murray was called out on strikes.

#Thompson, who passed up an opportunity to play professional basketball like his father Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson and brothers Klay and Michael Thompson, came back to lead off the third with a double to left field.

#Matt Koperniak flied out to right field that sent Thompson to third, but catcher Harry Ford grounded out and right fielder Chavez Young field out to Mike Trout to leave Thompson stranded on base.

#After scoring a pair of runs in the third to go ahead 2-1, the USA added three more in the fourth and one in the eighth before Great Britain added their final run in the seventh.

#Thompson led Great Britain’s attack by going 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored, while Seymour was 1-for-3 with a RBI.

#Knowles, who stayed in the game to play left field on the defensive end, was 1-for-2 with a run scored.

#Great Britain will be back in action today at 12:30pm against Colombia and against Mexico on Tuesday at 7pm.

#“We need to throw strikes and play defence,” was what Cartwright prescribed for Great Britain.

#“We have the offence to put up a cricket number every once in a while, but being able to play defence and throw strikes will give us the opportunity to win some games.”

#The Bahamians are playing for Great Britain because the Bahamas was unable to field a team to go through the qualifying process. However, the Bahamas Baseball Association is currently trying to rectify the situation.

#With the amount of professional players now in the pipeline in the Major League Baseball, the BBA will begin its trek to qualifying the Bahamas for a spot in the World Baseball Classic by participating in its first WBSC’s tournament later this year.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/13/bahamian-players-suit-great-britain-suffer-two-los/?news

As of Monday, March 13, 2023

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Photo Gallery

Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon

#BAARK! – Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness – completed its 10th Annual Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon on March 5 and it was a resounding success.

#Launy Duncombe of Freeport, Grand Bahama, a CARIFTA triathlon team member, emerged as the overall male winner with a time of 1:04:38, followed closely by Jorge Marcos with a time of 1:04:57, and rounding out the top three finish was Simone Bertoldo, last year’s winner, with a time of 1:06:44.

#In the female category, the overall winner was Kami Roach, also a CARIFTA triathlon team member, clocked in the winning time of 1:12:30. Sylvia Bateman of Freeport, Grand Bahama, and the assistant coach for the last CARIFTA triathlon team finished second with 1:13:25 and Suzy Eneas, last year’s winner, rounded off the top three finish with a time of 1:13:39.

#The sprint relays, which are always a crowd favourite, did not disappoint this year. The overall winners of the Male Sprint Relay were the “East Side Eagles” consisting of Justin Higgs, Giles Sawyer and Geren Albury with a time of 1:07:24. “Tri’ing Hard” with Ragh and Ragil Cordova, clocked in a second-place finish with 1:11:08.

#In the Mixed Sprint Relays, “St. Andrew’s School” with Giada Bertoldo, Gordon McKenzie and Robert Holcombe, were victorious with a time of 1:03:15.

#“Slow Down for What,” Cameron Roach, Felix Neely and LeiLei Lightbourne took second place with a time of 1:05:42.

#Rounding off the third-place finish was “Session Box” with Maggie Shehan, John Mollen and Amanda Darville with a time of 1:12:48.

#SunCash, a bronze sponsor, provided gift cards to the overall winners.

#• Below are the top three winners of the various age groups:

#Male 16 – 19 Female 16 – 19

#1st Enea Gervasini – 1:09:17 1st Erin Pritchard – 1:14:44

#2nd Barron Musgrove – 1:12:49

#3rd Jason Cates – 1:13:24

#Male 20 – 29 Female 20 – 29

#1st Justin Higgs – 1:13:27 1st Arianne Evans – 1:32:30

#2nd Michael Holowesko – 1:16:23

#3rd Kohen Kerr – 1:29:01

#Male 30 – 39 Female 30 – 39

#1st Daniel Freire – 1:13:31 1st Wima Stefanutti – 1:23:57

#2nd Peter Wagner – 1:15:31 2nd Britt Christensen – 1:29:31

#3rd Ferhat Sen – 1:29:11

#Male 40 – 49 Female 40 – 49

#1st Cameron Roach – 1:07:52 1st Ilaria Gervasini – 1:21:16

#2nd Andrew Ratcliffe – 1:10:17 2nd Samantha Cartwright – 1:35:57

#3rd Daniel Belton – 1:11:41

#Male 50 – 59 Female 50 – 59

#1st Simon Townend – 1:11:15 1st Sarah Farrington – 1:33:55

#2nd Sean Farrington – 1:11:35

#3rd Edward Bethel – 1:15:51

#Male 60 – 69 Male 70+

#1st Gerald Wathen – 1:24:02 1st Ulrich Filser – 1:32:36

#Winners of the Puppy Category:

#Boys 8 & Under Boys 9 – 10 Girls 9 – 10

#1st Caiden Bain – 6:48 1st Stafford Sweeting – 6:46 1st Hailey Cunningham – 10:19

#2nd Alan Gervasini – 8:04 2nd Fraser Menzies – 6:55

#3rd Kai Weightman – 8:37 3rd Lyall Menzies – 7:39

#Winners of the Junior Category:

#Boys 11 – 12 Girls 11 – 12

#1st Sibby Fynn Potter – 22:56 1st Nai’a Belton – 25:26

#2nd Lauchlan Menzies – 22:59 2nd Veranique Strachan – 27:37

#3rd Kendrick Cargill – 34:48

#Boys 13 – 15 Girls 13 – 15

#1st Malcolm Menzies – 34:12 1st Taylor Knowles – 50:14

#2nd Ayden Bain – 37:06 2nd Chelsea Smith – 59:34

#3rd Jayden Smith – 42:47

#Official times for all participants can be found on https://www.raceprompt. com/the-potcakeman-triathlon-2023/. The event is sanctioned by the Bahamas Triathlon Association and is a qualifier for the CARIFTA Triathlon in August.

#The triathlon features a 750m swim, 12-mile bike and 5K run. There are also two junior categories (ages 11-12 and 13-15) and two puppy categories (ages 8 and under and 9 – 10). The triathlon is a family-fun event that has grown over the last 10 years, attracting participants from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Panama, and the UK. This year’s race attracted a participant from Finland.

#The triathlon was brought to you by the generosity of its sponsors. Title Sponsor: Powerade, Gold Sponsors: JS Johnson, Purina, FX Pro, Think Simple, Dunkin’ Donuts; Silver Sponsors: Albany, Modernistic Garden and Pet Supplies, Freak Show, and Tito’s Vodka/Jimmy’s Wine and Spirits; Bronze Sponsors: Panama Jack, Odyssey Aviation, FYP, Ports International, Callendars & Co, Caves Village Vet, Terrain Landscape Architects and SunCash. Special thanks to our Race Crew, Swim Cap and Race Bag sponsors: Damianos Sotheby’s, The Shoe Village, Think Simple; Junior/ Puppy Aquathon sponsor: Dunkin’ Donuts; Event Providers: Bahamas Waste, BASRA, Dasani, Nassau Rowing Club, Polar Ice, Bahamas Red Cross, Rotary Club of East Nassau, Graham Real Estate, Windermere Salon and Spa, The Pets Kitchen, Lyford Cay International School and Raffle Donors: Custom Computers, Cycles Unlimited, Powerboat Adventures, SunBum, The Ocean Club, The Shoe Village, Bon Vivants, Windermere Salon and Spa, Panama Jack, and Baha Mar Resort Foundation. Funds raised from the Potcakeman Triathlon will go to support the operational costs of Baark!

#In 2022, Baark! completed approximately 4,500 spay and neuters, its goal is to perform between 5,000- 7,000 spay and neuter surgeries annually. The five-year goal is a minimal number of unwanted dogs and cats, resulting in safer and cleaner communities.

#Baark! was founded in 2009 with the mission to carry out spay/neuter and education projects to reduce the homeless dog and cat population and end the unnecessary suffering of dogs and cats in The Bahamas.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/13/baark-10th-annual-powerade-potcakeman-triathlon/?news

As of Monday, March 13, 2023

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CHARISMA Taylor with the awards she won.

TERRANCE JONES

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE National Collegiate Athletic Association’s 2023 Indoor Track and Field Championship in Albuquerque, Minnesota over the weekend turned out to be a specular show for Grand Bahamian sprinter Terrance Jones and versatile Charisma Taylor from New Providence.

#The NCAA Division II Championships at the Virginia Beach Sports Center saw Minnesota State’s junior Denisha Cartwright come through with some spectacular performances as well.

#Jones, a sophomore at Texas Tech, became the first Bahamian to win the NCAA Indoor titles in the men’s 60m, while Taylor, a senior at Tennessee, came through with a couple of personal best performances with a national record in her triple dose of action.

#In his only appearance, Jones clocked 6.46 seconds in the men’s 60 metres in a season’s best and a collegiate leading time of 6.46, which was just shy of his Bahamian national and collegiate records of 6.45 that he posted last year.

#Jones, 20, led from start to finish as he ran away from his nearest rival Jordan Anthony, a freshman from Kentucky, who did 6.55.

#It was redemption for Jones, who in his debut in last year’s final got a false start. He now holds three of the top-five marks of all-time collectively.

#“It’s a big accomplishment,” Jones said in a post-race interview. “I had a lot to do last year, but this year I came back with a vengeance. I’m happy to be here.”

#Jones raced to the third fastest qualifying time of 6.54 in the preliminaries.

#For Taylor, she soared a national record and personal best of 48-feet, 10-inches or 14.88m on her second attempt in the women’s triple jump for second place with her best showing in her three events. She opened with 47-111/4 (14.61m). After scratching her next two attempts to compete in the hurdles final, Taylor came back and fouled her fifth, but finished with 45-61/2 (13.88m).

#Jasmine Moore, a junior at Florida, won with 49-7 ¼ (15.12m) for a PR, faculty and meet record as well as the world and collegiate leading times on her sixth and final attempt. She had the title wrapped up from her second attempt with 49-513/4 (15.08m). Without much time to recuperate, Taylor had to step onto the track and surged to a third place finish in the 60m hurdles in a time of 7.98. Arkansas’ sophomore Ackera Nugent won in 7.73 and Kentucky’s senior Massi Russell got the silver in a PR of 7.75.

#Taylor, 22, advanced out of the preliminary rounds on Friday with a PR of 7.91 for the third fastest qualifying time. She trailed Nugent, who posted her previous leading time of 7.72 with Russell coming in second in 7.78i.

#“I feel really good about my performance. I’m just really thankful to God and my coaches for believing in me and getting me this far,” Taylor said. “I had a rough couple of years in college, so for it to come together in my last indoor championships, just means the world to me.

#“I’ve been praying and having faith that everything would come together and that’s what happened. God’s timing is always perfect so there’s nothing that I can complain about. My performances were good. I came into the meet ready to dominate in all three events because I knew this was my last chance in college to show everyone who I am.”

#Before her double duties on Saturday, Taylor had a showdown with Kentucky’s sophomore Anthaya Charlton in the long jump on Friday.

#Popping off her best in her first attempt, Taylor ended up fifth with a PR of 21-91/2 (6.64m) and Charlton was 10th with 20-71/4 (6.28m).

#Moore’s impressive winning leap of 23-3/4 (7.02m) turned out to be the longest collegiate mark ever recorded as she broke every record for a world-leading mark.

#Taylor said her coaches told her she only had two jumps before she had to switch gears for the preliminaries of the hurdles and so she made it count. She got a PR in her hurdles, which set the stage for her for the final day of competition on Saturday.

#“The triple jump was my baby, so I knew I had to go out there and pop a big one,” Taylor said. “The first jump I knew was a big one, but when I saw 14.61, I literally could not believe it and that put my fuel under me.

#“It was the same situation as Friday where I only had two jumps, so I went out and on my second jump and did much better than the first and that got me set up for the hurdles where I got third. My coaches told me to go back to the triple jump and try to go for the collegiate record, but it wasn’t in God’s plan, so I’m happy with what I did.”

#Competing against Charlton, whom she considers to be a little sister, Taylor said she knows she didn’t get the type of performance she anticipated in the long jump, but she said she made it as one of the top 16 to make it to the nationals.

#“She has great things ahead of her, so I’m just looking forward to great things for her,” said Taylor of Charlton.

#Also on Saturday, Antoine Andrews, a junior at Texas Tech, also earned All-American honours as he had to settle for sixth place in his NCAA indoor debut in 7.73. Winning the race was Giano Roberts, a senior at Clemson, in a PB of 7.55. Andrews got in with the eighth and final spot in the preliminaries in 7.67.

#And Shaun Miller Jr, competing for Ohio State in the men’s high jump, cleared 7-1/2 (2.15m) to end up tied with Slavko Stevic of Southeastern Louisiana. The winning leap was 7-41/4 (2.24m) by Romaine Beckford, a junior at South Florida.

#Wanya McCoy, a freshman at Clemson, clocked 46.07 in the preliminaries of the men’s 400m on Friday, but it was only 14th overall, leaving him short of the top eight to get into the final that took place on Saturday.

#Cartwright shines

#In her three events, Cartwright had her performance in the women’s 60m hurdles as she crossed the finish line in 8.11 for a new facility record, replacing the previous time of 8.22 that was held by Darci Khan. Coming in second was Kiara Smith in 8.21.

#“I’m happy that I still have my title in the hurdles,” said Cartwright, in repeating as champion. “The time I was looking to run didn’t happen, so with me getting better with my technique at practice, it will become much better.”

#The diminutive Cartwright also got third in the 60m in 7.31 to trail Minnesota State’s junior Mikayla Jackson, the winner in 7.20 for a meet record, while Diovonne Franklin, a senior of California, was second in 7.27.

#Cartwright won her heat in 7.29 for the second fastest time in the preliminaries.

#And in the 200, Cartwright ended up second in her heat in 23.38 for another third place finish. Alexis Brown beat her out at the tape in a meet record time of 23.26. Ayana Fields, a junior at Cal Poly Pomona, won the other heat in 23.36 for the second fastest qualifying time.

#“The 60 dash didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but that’s where my training and focus is going to be as well,” Cartwright added.

#“In the 200m, I was impressed to run a PR in the heats and in the final. I see where improvements can be made in each event and it is going to be better this outdoors.”

#The focus now switches on the outdoor season.

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