SHOWN, from left to right, are head coach Valentino Knowles, boxer Milton Newbold, federation president Vincent Strachan and boxers Keano Cox and Tyrone Humes before they leave town with the rest of the national team this week.

As of Tuesday, November 15, 2022

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#WITH the 27-member team already reduced because of the lack of funding, Bahamas Boxing Federation President Vincent Strachan said he’s confident the remaining 10 boxers will get the opportunity to travel this week to Kissimmee, Florida.

#Yesterday during a press conference at the office of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, Strachan, naming the team that will participate in the annual Sugar Bert Championships this weekend, said they are still seeking the public’s assistance before they leave on Wednesday.

#This is the second tournament this year for the federation, which last took a team to compete in the High School Tournament in Georgetown, Guyana.

#Both tournaments are back after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

#The Sugar Bert Boxing Championships will take place from Friday to Sunday from the beginners to the elite level.

#While Strachan will travel as the team’s manager, Valentino Knowles is the head coach, assisted by Jermaine Gibson from Grand Bahama.

#The team will be made up of boxers from Grand Bahama, Inagua and New Providence and they will be staying at the Wyndham Orlando Resort and Convention Center.

#Introduced at the press conference were 11-year-old 85-pound Milton Newbold, 18-year-old high school silver medallist Keano Cox out of Inagua and 20-year-old heavyweight Tyrone Humes.

#The other members of the team expected to travel are Elijah Smith, a heavyweight who won a silver medal at the High School Championships and super heavyweights Clarence Hepburn and Keano Greene, both out of Grand Bahama.

#Also, Christian Thompson, a junior middleweight, Anai Powell, a welterweight, Maleko Davis, lightweight.

#And veteran Carl Hield, who will compete in the elite class.

#“We are looking for great things from these boxers,” said Strachan, who will travel as the team manager.

#“Most of them are new, but I am satisfied that they will do well, and they will medal in these championships because the coaches who have been working with them have been doing a very good job.”

#Knowles said he likes the make-up of the team, especially the three competitors who attended the press conference, and is confident that although they are all novice competitors, with the exception of Hield, they will perform at their best.

#He said after joining the After Shock Boxing Club a year ago, Newbold has demonstrated that he has the ability to make the team and should have a very good showing in Florida.

#Knowles said Humes, as a heavyweight, has also demonstrated his ability to perform and he’s looking forward to him making his presence felt.

#“I am confident with the team that we are going down with,” Knowles said.

#“We intend to bring back some gold medals and be productive.

#“But this is a novice team, and they will be getting their feet wet.

#“I’m not looking for any high expectations, but it’s a feeder system for them. We just want them to go out there and do their best at this time.”

#Newbold, a student at Palmdale Primary School, said he’s all geared up and ready to compete.

#He sent out a shoutout to his father and his family for pushing him as he works with the After Shock Boxing Club to prepare him to compete.

#“I hope to bring back a gold medal. I will try my best to bring back one,” said Newbold, who gets up at 4am to train.

#“I train every day and I train hard because I want to be one of the greatest fighters in the history of the Bahamas.”

#Cox, who moved from New Providence to Inagua where his father got him involved in boxing, said he’s enjoying the sport so far. “My preparation for this event has been going very well.

#“I’ve been training every day, running, doing my pushups, sit-ups, going to the gym,” said Cox, as he expressed his thanks to his coaches Rico Arnett and Vincent Deleveaux, who have been pushing him along with his parents and his family.

#“If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have gotten this far,” he said. “They gave me the motivation, especially my mother and father. I want to thank you all.”

#And Humes, who has also been training with After Shock Boxing Club for about a year, said he’s looking forward to bringing home a gold medal as well. “I would like to thank my coach and my parents for giving me this opportunity and believing in me that I can actually do this,” said Humes, a student at the University of the Bahamas.

#“I’ve been training every day at least two times a week, doing morning runs, sit-ups, push-ups, hitting the bags, sparring and every type of exercise. So, I’m almost like training three times a day.”

#After reducing the team, Strachan said they hope that in the future they will be able to secure the necessary funding to take the entire team selected.

#He noted that even as they prepare to travel this week, they are still asking for the public’s assistance to get the team off on Wednesday.

#Interested persons can make cheques payable to the Bahamas Boxing Federation or their Commonwealth Bank account number 11150 or contact Strachan at 426-1113 or 601-0002 at the BOC office.

#“We are looking forward to your support to ensure that these boxers have an opportunity to represent this country and indeed do this country proud.”

#Following this event, the boxers will prepare for the CARIFTA Boxing Championships from December 10-18 in Dominica.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/15/boxing-team-heading/?news

As of Tuesday, November 15, 2022

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VALENTINO KNOWLES

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER being dormant for quite a while, the New Providence Boxing Association has been re-established with national boxing coach Valentino Knowles being appointed as the new president by the Bahamas Boxing Federation.

#President Vincent Strachan revealed that Knowles will serve for an interim term of one year and he and his executive team, that will be announced shortly, will be looked at as the “flagship association” for all boxing associations in the country.

#“I’m looking forward to great things from Mr Knowles, who is very enthusiastic and energetic and ensuring that boxing moves to the next level,” Strachan said.

#“I am delighted once again to appoint him to head this organisation for the next year.”

#Knowles, one of the country’s most decorated amateur boxers turned coach of the After Shock Boxing Club, said he’s grateful for the appointment and the confidence that both former federation president Wellington Miller and Strachan has confided in him.

#“Right now, the association has been in shambles. What I intend to do is start in house,” he said. “I want to start with bringing all of the clubs together because we need to stop all of the bickering and arguing and bring all of the clubs together.”

#The last person to serve as president of the association was Lavan Hinsey, who has since moved on to become an executive of the federation. As the new president, Knowles said they are adopting a simple mission statement that will be encompassed of all involved in boxing in New Providence.

#“Our goal, as the New Providence Boxing Association, is to serve the needs of the New Providence boxing community, ensuring that they are being considered and communications between the Bahamas Boxing Federation and the association are met in conjunction with the AIBA constitution,” he summed up.

#Knowles said his executive team will be introduced to the public immediately after he returns from Florida where he will be travelling this week with the federation’s 10-member team that is participating in the Sugar Bert Boxing Championships this weekend in Kissimmee, Florida.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/15/valentino-knowles-will-serve-new-president-one-yea/?news

As of Tuesday, November 15, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE Kansas Community College Blue Devils have opened the season with one of the most difficult schedules in all of junior college basketball and got their first upset win over a ranked team led by its talented Bahamian duo.

#Bradley Lightbourne scored 24 and Joshua Dames scored 23 to lead the Blue Devils to an 87-83 win over the no.19 ranked North Central Missouri College Pirates in the KCKCC Classic.

#Lightbourne shot 9-15 from the field, 2-3 from three-point range and made an impact on both ends of the floor with six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots. The sharpshooting Dames made 5-7 from three-point range en route to his 23 points. He also added five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

#The Blue Devils split the weekend with a 93-82 loss to Metropolitan CC.

#Dames scored 21 points and was again on the mark from three-point range at 4-9. Lightbourne scored 10. The Blue Devils were selected to finish third in the KJCCC DII Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll.

#The Blue Devils were picked behind Allen at No. 1 and Johnson County at No. 2. KCKCC is also receiving votes in the first NJCAA DII Men’s Basketball Top 20 Poll.

#KCKCC is 2-4 on the season with two of those losses coming against ranked teams. In the season opener, Lightbourne finished with 19 points and four steals.

#Dames added 19 points and eight rebounds in an 86-77 loss to the no.9 ranked Des Moines Area.

#Lightbourne also scored 16 in an 80-73 loss to no.18 ranked Butler CC.

#KCKCC also split a pair with Iowa Western CC. In game one, Lightbourne posted his first double double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Dames scored 11 with four steals.

#In game two, Dames made four threes en route to a game high 19 points while Lightbourne added 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.

#Last season, both players received conference wide recognition for standout freshman seasons. Lightbourne was named to the All-Second Team and Dames to the All-Third Team respectively.

#Lightbourne averaged 12 points and five rebounds per game on the season.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/15/lightbourne-and-dames-lead-kckcc-upset-over-no19-p/?news

SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo after winning the gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon earlier this year.

As of Tuesday, November 15, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#With the voting procedure closed on October 31, Bahamian quarter-miler Shaunae Miller-Uibo fell short of making the list for the final five for the World Athletics’ Women’s Athlete of the Year.

#World Athletics revealed yesterday the names of the five finalists as the countdown to the World Athletics Awards 2022 continues.

#The winners will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms in early December.

#The five athletes remaining on the list represent five countries from three area associations and they have achieved sensational performances across a range of athletics disciplines in 2022.

#They competed at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world.

#In October, Miller-Uibo was originally placed in the top 10 after she produced a triple crown at the World Athletics’ Indoor and Outdoor Championships and the NACAC.

#For the 28-year-old Miller- Uibo, it was a culmination of events this season that she had either never competed in before or had previously fell short of winning that she is now able to post on her résumé.

#She returned to the World Indoor Championships for some unfinished business when she claimed her first gold medal in the 400m in 50.31 seconds in Belgrade, Serbia on March 19 to improve on the bronze she achieved in her initial appearance in Sopot, Poland, in 2014.

#She accomplished another first at the first World Championships to be held in the United States in Eugene, Oregon, on July 22 to snatch her first gold in 49.11 – adding to a pair of silver medals and a fourth place in the 400 and a bronze and fourth in the 200 in four previous championships from 2013. And to top off her year, Miller-Uibo came home, albeit in Grand Bahama, for her successful debut at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships (NACAC) with a meet record breaking performance of 49.40 on August 20.

#The finalists are (in alphabetical order):

• Tobi Amusan is Nigeria’s world 100m hurdles champion, Diamond League, Commonwealth and African 100m hurdles champion who broke the world record in a time of 12.12 seconds.
• Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is Jamaica’s World 100m champion, claiming a fifth gold medal in the event, Diamond League 100m champion and runner of a world-leading 10.62 among her record seven sub-10.70 100m races of the season.
• Kimberly Garcia won Peru’s first ever World Athletics Championships 20K walk medal and was the world 35km race walk champion in a South American record to complete a race walk double and World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships 20km bronze medallist.
• Sydney McLaughlin is America’s world 400m hurdles and 4x400m champion, who broke the world 400m hurdles record with 51.41 at the US Championships and further improved the world record to 50.68 to win the world title.
• Yulimar Rojas is Venezuela’s world indoor and outdoor triple jump champion and Diamond League triple jump champion, who improved her world record to 15.74m in Belgrade.

#A three-way voting process determined the finalists with the World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family casting their votes by email.

#And the fans logged their decisions online via the World Athletics social media platforms where a record 1.3 million votes were registered.

#The World Athletics Council’s vote counted for 50 percent of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes each counted for 25 percent of the final result.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/15/shaunae-doesnt-make-athlete-year-list/?news

 Home|Sports|McFall named PSAC West Athlete of the WeekSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailNovember 16, 2022 147 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian Jonathan McFall, a senior at Slippery Rock University (SRU) in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, has been named as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division Athlete of the Week in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II, the league office announced on Monday.

McFall earned the weekly honor after leading the Slippery Rock men’s basketball team to a pair of wins, taking down Alderson Broaddus University, 68-62, and Notre Dame College, 82-72, at last weekend’s Butler County Chamber of Commerce Conference Challenge.

In the two games, McFall averaged 21.5 points on 55.2 percent shooting from the field. He added 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. No other player in the PSAC West Division averaged at least 20 points and five rebounds per game last weekend.

The highlight of the performance for McFall came in Slippery Rock’s double-digit win over Notre Dame College as he scored a career-high 28 points while pulling down five rebounds, recording three steals and blocking a shot.

Now in his second season with Slippery Rock, McFall has started 25 of his 30 games played for SRU while producing per game averages of 13.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 52.6 percent from the field overall and 81.8 percent at the foul line.

Slippery Rock returns to competition at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday when it hosts Penn State Greater Allegheny at Morrow Field House in Slippery Rock. A victory would improve SRU’s win/loss record to 3-0, giving the program its first 3-0 start since the 2009-10 season.

McFall stands at 6’5” and weighs 160 pounds. He plays the guard or forward position for the Slippery Rock men’s basketball team.

SRU is a small public university in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, USA, with an enrollment of just under 9,000 students.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mcfall-named-psac-west-athlete-of-the-week/

 Home|Sports|The Bahamas’ women pull out of CentrobasketSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 16, 2022 145 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Months after qualifying for the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Centrobasket Women’s Championship Mexico 2022, The Bahamas’ senior women’s national basketball team is forced to pull out due to a lack of funds. They officially withdrew from the tournament on Monday.

The Bahamas was set to take on some of the top teams from the Caribbean and Central American region, from November 23-27, in Chihuahua, Mexico.

There was initial speculation late last week about the possibility of the team not making the trip. Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) President Eugene Horton confirmed the news on Monday. The cost of the trip was set to be in the range of $25,000, according to Horton. FIBA had extended the deadline for confirmation, but as of Monday, the federation found itself short of funds and informed FIBA that the team wasn’t going to travel.

Donillo “Donny” Culmer was the head coach of the team when they played in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships in Havana, Cuba, in July. He was set to be the head coach again, for this tournament. He said he and his staff were working diligently with the women and preparing to compete.

“I am very disappointed, very disappointed,” Culmer said. “These women worked hard. We put in the work because we knew what we needed to do after we came from Cuba. We had hit the ground running because we were going to lose some of our younger talented players to school. They would not have been able to travel with the team.”

Culmer said that some veterans who played national team basketball before decided to come out of retirement and get in shape to represent the country. The team was working out six days per week in preparation for the tournament.

Culmer said he knows the women are upset, and admitted that he doesn’t know how women basketball will rebound after this debacle.

“I do not know how things are going to be from here on in when it is time for a women’s national team to form again. The women might feel some type of way – slighted because they put in the work. We had women who came in from abroad to work out and get acclimated,” Culmer said.

Culmer, who coaches both men and women’s night league basketball, feels that the women are being put on the back burner.

“All of a sudden there is no money to send the ladies but there is always money for the men. If The Bahamas ever back their women like they back the men, the women will make it farther,” Culmer said.

At the CBC Championships, The Bahamas placed third to book the final spot to the Centrobasket Championships. The team was able to beat Jamaica 68-57 in the third place game. Overall, the team finished with a 1-2 win/loss record. The team was led in points by a high school player who recently committed to Dayton University, Denika Lightbourne with 14.2 points per game. Britenique Harrison led the team in rebounding with eight rebounds per game and Valerie Nesbitt led the team in assists with 5.6 dimes per contest.

https://thenassauguardian.com/the-bahamas-women-pull-out-of-centrobasket/

 Home|Sports|Champions crowned in the NPPPSSASports

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 16, 2022 169 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

After Tropical Storm Nicole interrupted the soccer tournament last week, Sybil Strachan Primary School and Eva Hilton Primary School emerged as the boys and girls champions respectively in the New Providence Public Primary Schools Sports Association (NPPPSSA).

Braving the hot sun at the multi-purpose fields adjacent to the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium, the youngsters brought the two-day championships to an end on Tuesday.

Hernandez Toussaint, who won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Golden Boot awards, played a huge role in helping Sybil Strachan to a 5-1 victory over Yellow Elder Primary in the boys division. The Golden Boot Award is given to the player who scores the most goals in the tournament.

Toussaint scored two brilliant goals for his school in the championship game, one was a far post header on a free kick and the other was a powerful right foot shot from about 18 yards out.

“It felt good to score those goals. My coach told me to pressure the big defender and I was able to score,” Toussaint said.

His coach Greer Thompson said it was a great win for the school as her team’s hard work paid off.

“I want to thank God for the victory. It feels good to get the victory. We’ve been through a lot but we made it to the top. The players worked hard. Coming into the game, we were a bit shy but I told them to give it their best and do what I tell them from practice,” Thompson said.

Thompson won the Shining Light Coach Award. Sybil Strachan also carted off the Golden Glove award which went to Novins Emile.

Eva Hilton came back after Claridge Primary School went up 1-0 early in the girls championship game to win 3-1. Scoring one of those goals for the champions was their captain, Aiyanna Hernandez. Like Touissant, she won the MVP and the Golden Boot awards.

“I am very happy to get the win because this means a lot to my school. It feels good to score in the championship game and to celebrate,” Hernandez said.

Eva Hilton’s coach Zindora Munnings said she is happy that her school won the title despite having to come from behind.

“The girls played well. They came together and worked as a team and we were victorious. It was a close game. The other team scored first but my girls kept their composure and now we are the champions,” Munnings said.

Winning the Golden Glove Award was Eva Hilton’s Dwanae Rahming. Cleveland Eneas Primary School’s coach Mariska Thompson won the Shining Light Coach Award.

It was a close battle for the bronze medal in the boys division as a penalty shootout was needed to decide a winner between T.G. Glover Primary School and Sadie Curtis Primary School. That game was deadlocked at 0-0 at the end of regulation time. In the end, it was T.G. Glover securing the win 1-0 in the penalty shootout. In the girls bronze medal game, Cleveland Eneas secured a close 1-0 victory over Garvin Tynes.

https://thenassauguardian.com/champions-crowned-in-the-npppssa/

 Home|Sports|Team Bahamas ready for OPTINAMsSports

Team Bahamas ready for OPTINAMs

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 14, 2022 296 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Team Bahamas is ready to defend its waters at the 2022 Optimist North American Championships (OPTINAMs) that gets underway tomorrow and wraps up on Saturday at Montagu Bay. The awards ceremony is set for Saturday at the Nassau Yacht Club.

The Bahamas last hosted the event in 2019 and some of the Bahamian sailors who sailed then are also sailing this year.

Representing The Bahamas are Craig Ferguson II, Zane Munro, Finley McKinney-Lambert, Norman Cartwright, Patrick Tomlinson, Eliza Denning, Sienna Jones, Jude McCarroll, Mary Jacqueline Nash, Joss Knowles, Emit Knowles, Erik Jensen, Johannes Maritz, Callum Pritchard, Alethea Tsoumpas, Taryn McKinney-Lambert, Johan Hauber, Conry Raine and Javien Rankine.

Coaching the team is Martin Manrique. He moved to Eleuthera in 2019 and has been working hard with the sailing program there. He’s very excited for this opportunity.

“Since we lasted hosted the event, we have improved a lot,” Manrique said. “We trained a lot and at least once a month we did high-performance clinics. We have been traveling quite a lot and the sport has grown. I am excited to see all the work we have been doing. We get a chance to compete in our home waters with more kids able to participate, so we are looking forward to that,” he added.

Looking to place in the top five is Ferguson who will be sailing in his third and final OPTINAMs. The 15-year-old, who will be over the age limit at the next OPTINAMs, said he has been training hard for this event.

“It is a fierce competition and it has gotten even more fierce and has grown. Since 2019, I have learned countless amount of things such as techniques and tactics. I hope to capitalize on what I have learned. This is my final OPTINAMs and I just want to perform good,” Ferguson said.

Also sailing in his third OPTINAMs is the current national champion, Tomlinson. He said he is looking forward to the competition.

“We are in our home waters so I am excited because we have an advantage. We know the course. There is a lot of current in the channel and you have to look out for the tide. It is very patchy and the wind is in different places so you have to get your head out the boat and look for the gust,” Tomlinson said.

Manrique said that he knows that he has a group who has OPTINAMs experience.

“Some of these sailors were young and now they are 12 or 13 years old. They finished at the back of the fleet. They have been training hard and I am confident and happy to see them. I noticed the improvement and they have high expectations for the hard work they have been doing,” he said.

Nash is looking forward to competing against persons from different countries.

“I was young the first time it was here – I was a beginner. We know how the course works. It is great that we are hosting this event in front of our family and friends,” Nash said.

Taryn McKinney-Lambert is making her debut in the OPTINAMs. She said she is happy to be representing The Bahamas at home.

“I am looking forward to taking advantage of what I know about this area with the current and wind shifts,” McKinney-Lambert said.

There are 20 countries that will be competing and 155 athletes will be on the water this week.

The opening ceremony takes place today at 5 p.m. at the Nassau Yacht Club. There will be a parade of nations from Fort Montagu to the Nassau Yacht Club. The parade will get underway at 4:15 p.m.

https://thenassauguardian.com/team-bahamas-ready-for-optinams/

 Home|Sports|The Bahamas split weekend games; eliminated from qualifiersSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 14, 2022 318 5 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas outscored Argentina 29-17 in the fourth quarter last night, but it was not enough as they fell short 80-76 to the fourth ranked team in the world in the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Americas World Cup Qualifiers at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium.

Leading the way for The Bahamas was David Nesbitt who finished with a double-double – 18 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Godfrey Rolle III chipped in with 15 points and a game-high six assists in the spirited effort for Team Bahamas.

The loss means that The Bahamas is eliminated from qualifying for the 2023 FIBA World Cup as they sport a 3-7 win/loss record and sit in fifth place in Group E. Argentina is ahead of them with a 7-3 record. The Bahamas cannot finish higher than fifth place in the group with two more games remaining. Only seven teams from the Americas will participate at the 2023 FIBA World Cup – the top three teams in each of the remaining two groups and the best fourth-place team.

Steeping in as Head Coach for The Bahamas, Moses Johnson said he was proud of the team’s resiliency in the game, particularly after Argentina took them down, 95-77, in the away game in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in August.

“Well, a few costly turnovers down the stretch cost us but I’m so proud of these guys. A lot of people counted these guys out, but we came together and we bonded and these guys put up a heck of a fight tonight. We want to thank God for keeping everybody healthy and getting us through that game. We were right there at the end. A few bounces, the ball going our way and it could have been a different result, but thank God for the result nonetheless,” Johnson said.

The Bahamas split their two weekend games. They won their first game, 83-79, over Panama on Friday night. Looking ahead to the next window in February 2023, Johnson wants the team to finish strong. They are set to play Panama and Venezuela on the road.

“We’re satisfied. I mean, I’m never satisfied losing, but we gave a good effort,” Johnson said. “We would have wanted to go 2-0 in this window, but I’m satisfied with the effort that the guys gave on the floor this weekend. It’s never easy, knowing that you’re out of the race, but it’s always good to finish strong, you know. Nonetheless, these guys are always going to come out and compete. I’m so proud of them and they’re still staying resolute. They’re happy with the result. All I asked them to do tonight was to give me all they had, and they did that.”

The Bahamas had their biggest scoring run of the game, 11-0, in the fourth quarter. Before that, Argentina had a 66-47 lead with 9:38 left in the game. Nesbitt scored eight points during that run that ended with Argentina leading 66-58 with 6:44 left in the game.

Nesbitt got The Bahamas within three points when he made two free throws with 23 seconds left in the game. With the lead trimmed to three at 74-71, Argentina called a timeout. The Bahamas took it down to two points when Rolle completed a three-point play with 13 seconds left in the game. Argentina led 76-74 at that point. Argentina made their free-throws the rest of the way to hold on for the win.

The second quarter was the turning point of the game as Argentina outscored The Bahamas 23-12 in that stanza. This came after the first quarter ended 19-18 in favor of the away team.

The Bahamas shot just 23.5 percent in the second quarter, finishing at 36.7 percent at the end of the first half. That was mainly due to The Bahamas being forced to take jump shots as they had no inside presence.

The Bahamas came out the intermission on 7-0 run to cut the lead to five points, 42-37. Argentina took that lead back to double digits, taking a 50-39 lead at the 5:39 mark in the third quarter. Argentina ended the third quarter with a 63-47 lead.

Argentina was led by Juan Vaulet with a game-high 19 points.

The Bahamas shot 44.1 percent from the field while Argentina shot 47.4 percent for the game. Both teams were sloppy with the ball with The Bahamas coming away with 18 turnovers and Argentina with 17. However, Argentina scored 23 points from The Bahamas’ turnovers while The Bahamas only had 11 points off turnovers. The home team outrebounded the visiting team, 38-36.

On Friday, The Bahamas took down Panama, 83-79. The game had 12 lead changes and seven ties but The Bahamas led for just under 30 minutes of the game. The home team held their biggest lead of 12 points in the second quarter.

Every player on the Bahamian squad scored with Nesbitt leading the way with 14 points. Jaraun “Kino” Burrows came out of retirement from national duty to score 12 points – 10 of them coming in the final quarter.

Livingston Munnings Jr. had a game-high 13 rebounds as he flirted with a double-double. He finished with nine points.

The game came down to the fourth quarter as the teams were deadlocked at 63 points at the end of the third quarter.

Burrows turned back the clock in the fourth quarter and went to work inside the paint. The Bahamas was dominant there all night, outscoring the Panamanian squad, 44-30. Burrows got an assist, passing to Munnings who converted a bucket to cut into a lead by Panama. The score at that point was 70-67 in favor of Panama with 7:44 left in the game. About a minute later, Burrows made a layup to put The Bahamas up 71-70 at the 6:25 mark. He then made another layup after Panama came up empty as The Bahamas led 73-70 with 5:57 left.

Panama kept the game close. They got within one point when Carlos Rodriguez made a three-point shot with 1:12 left in the game. The Bahamas led 79-78 at that point. With The Bahamas needing some separation, Burrows made a layup with 57 seconds left in the game to put his team up 81-78. Team Bahamas held on the rest of the way.

It was a dominant game for The Bahamas on the glass as they outrebounded Panama 59-32 which included a whopping 22 offensive boards. Those offensive boards yielded 23 second chance points for Team Bahamas.

Panama were led by Josimar Ayarza and Rodriquez with 18 points apiece.

That was Bahamas’ first win at home in the first and second round of the FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifiers.

The final window of qualifiers is set for February 24 and 27, 2023, which is during the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seasons. In that final window, The Bahamas will play Venezuela and Panama on the road.

https://thenassauguardian.com/the-bahamas-split-weekend-games-eliminated-from-qualifiers/

 Home|Sports|Bahamas Games on the way backSports

Multisport event set for the summer of 2023

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 14, 2022 398 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas Games is on the horizon.

The event was officially launched on Saturday, culminating a two-day conclave hosted by the Bahamas Games Secretariat as representatives from the Family Island Sports Council; the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and sporting federations gathered at SuperClubs Breezes on Friday and Saturday. The official launch of the event was at Baha Mar.

The multisport event, which in 2023 will be dubbed ‘The Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games’, is set for July 7-15 on the island of New Providence next year. This the first time the games will be held in over 20 years with the last one being held in 2001. This is the sixth edition of the games.

The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture was on hand to bring remarks at the launch.

“The launch of these games is very exciting not only to the ministry and myself, but also to the people of The Bahamas. The Bahamian people have been calling for these games as the last one was held some 20 years ago. I am happy and proud that as we move toward our 50th year anniversary, we are able to reintroduce these games and bring the excitement back to the Bahamian people. It is my belief that these games will once again unite us as a people and one nation coming together through the discipline of sports,” Bowleg said.

Deputy Chairman of the Bahamas Games Secretariat Sharon ‘The General’ Storr said that the planning of the games is coming along but there are a few items that need to be ironed out.

“The dialogue is healthy,” Storr said.

“There are one or two kinks that have to be worked out – in particular, the draft. New Providence wants to take a different approach to the draft and the Family Islands are contesting. We are a sporting family and tonight we have seen that. We are on the same wavelength and it is just a matter of modernizing and adapting to the young people. We have put in an age category in sports that did not have age categories like baseball and sailing.”

Storr said they realize that a lot of people do not know what the Bahamas Games is because of the 20-plus years break. Next up for the secretariat is to populate the committees. Storr said that the games is on schedule.

The islands that will be participating are Abaco, Andros, Bimini and the Berry Islands, Columbus Isles (Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador), Eleuthera, Harbor Island and Spanish Wells as one unit, Exuma and Ragged Island, Grand Bahama, New Providence, Long Island and MICAL (Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay).

Andros Sports Council Chairman Brian Cleare said he is happy to have the games back, particularly so the younger persons can be showcased.

“There are so many young athletes today who only heard about the Bahamas Games but never had the opportunity to experience it. This year, Andros is going to be participating in all of the disciplines. The majority of our athletes will be young athletes. We want them to experience what the games are all about,” Cleare said.

Cleare mentioned that athletes like national record holder in the javelin Keyshawn Strachan and basketball player Shaquille Cleare are expected to compete for Andros.

Chairman for Exuma and Ragged Islands Sports Council Kendall Feguson said that the conclave was productive. He said that one of the things that was discussed was a need for sports facilities on the Family Islands.

“Everyone including me is elated in the Exuma and Ragged Island community. The level of enthusiasm among the other Family Islands council members and the camaraderie is there. There is a need for facilities on the Family Islands. If we are going to compete as Family Islands, emphasis must be placed on facilities, so that we can offset what happens in New Providence,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson said despite a lack of facilities, they will be ready to compete.

Chairman for the Long Island Sports Council Jermaine Adderley said his island is preparing for the games, and that they will be strong in a number of disciplines, particularly sailing.

“We are getting into a groove of putting teams together,” Adderley said.

“We have already started in softball and we are about to start in basketball. We will then work our way into track and field. We are already ready in sailing.”

Adderley said he is looking to give those athletes who live on the island first preference, then look at those ones who live on other islands if they need more. Other than those sports mentioned, Long Island is also looking to do well in swimming, golf, boxing, bodybuilding and fitness, and possibly beach volleyball.

Bimini has been known to be a force to reckon with in the past in baseball. Chairman of Bimini and the Berry Island Sports Council Leonard ‘Brave’ Stuart said they are looking forward to participating in the upcoming games.

“We are going to hopefully have a strong team, not only in baseball but in track and field as well. We have some hidden gems who we do not want to discuss at this time, but we should be strong in baseball. We were great back in the day in that sport and we hope to carry on that legacy. We will have teams coming into Bimini and have teams traveling to South Florida, Freeport and Nassau to get ready for these games.”

Stephen Brown from Columbus Isles said they have something in store for New Providence.

“The trash talking coming from those other Family Islands builds our morale,” Brown said.

“New Providence feels like no one can beat them but I got something in store for them. I think we will utilize the draft with great care. We know that only 12 members can play on a basketball team. I don’t care how much New Providence try, they will miss the best set of players. We have a good contingent in Columbus Isles and we will utilize them as best as we can.”

Brown, like the other Family Island council members, highlighted that facilities is an issue they have but they are using their resources to make something happen.

Thirteen sports are expected to be in action at the games. These are softball, basketball, athletics, lawn tennis, bodybuilding and fitness, boxing, baseball, sailing, cycling, soccer, golf, swimming and volleyball.

The theme for the Bahamas Games is ‘Challenges are Chances for the Courageous’.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamas-games-on-the-way-back/