Sports

Sheldon LongleySend an email4 days ago 692 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Not since Raymond Higgs at the 2012 Olympics in London, England, has The Bahamas had someone compete in the men’s long jump at a global meet in athletics.

That is about to change this summer as former St. John’s College standout LaQuan Nairn booked his ticket for the 18th biennial World Athletics (WA) Championships in Eugene, Oregon in the United States (US), qualifying with a massive leap of 8.22 meters (m) – 26’ 11-3/4” – in April.

The qualifying standards for the athletics world championships are a bit more stringent this year as opposed to years past, but Nairn didn’t let that stop him from going out there and doing what he needed to do to ensure he competes in Eugene. He will become the 10th athlete from The Bahamas to compete in the men’s long jump at a senior global meet this summer, joining national record holder Craig Hepburn, Moxey, Higgs, the late Joey Wells, Steve Hanna, Gerald Wisdom, Fletcher Lewis, Lyndon Sands and ‘Superman’ Leevan Sands.

Nairn won the long jump competition at the USA Track & Field (USATF) Golden Games Meet at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, California, in April, with that 8.22m effort. He obliterated his previous personal best of 8.04m (26’ 4-1/2”) and catapulted himself into the number two position on The Bahamas’ all-time list, trailing just national record holder Hepburn.

Hepburn remains the only Bahamian to ever soar over 27 feet legally, setting the national record of 8.41m (27’ 7-1/4”) at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ (BAAA) National Championships in 1993. Nairn is now just a fraction under the 27 feet mark.

Earlier in April, Nairn won the men’s long jump competition at the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, leaping a wind-aided 8.12m (26’ 7-3/4”). Indoors, he has leapt as far as 8.18m (26’ 10”).

A total of seven Bahamians have now qualified for the world championships in Eugene, Oregon, this summer. They are Shaunae Miller-Uibo in the women’s 200 and 400m, Steven Gardiner in the men’s 400m, Devynne Charlton in the women’s 100m hurdles, Anthonique Strachan in the women’s 100 and 200m, TyNia Gaither also in the women’s 100 and 200m, Samson Colebrooke in the men’s 100m and Nairn in the men’s long jump.

For the first time in 20-plus years, ever since the eighth edition of the world outdoor championships in Edmonton, Canada, that event is headed to this side of the world. Postponed for an entire year due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world championships are now set for July 15-24, in Eugene, what is known in the athletics family as Track Town, USA.

The world’s best stars in athletics will gather in Eugene for 10 days this summer to display their talents in the various disciplines at the newly renovated University of Oregon Hayward Field, which has a capacity of 30,000 and has hosted the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the 2020 US Track and Field Olympic Trials. So far, seven Bahamians will be among them. The event is being organized by USATF with technical assistance from World Athletics officials.

COVID-19 has certainly had its toll on sports in the region, but, like the Olympics of 2021, there has been no word of withdrawal of any of the major athletic powerhouses in the world from the championships.

Apart from the stringent qualifying standards, athletes can also qualify for the world championships by their WA rankings, by wildcard entry (reigning world champion or 2021 Diamond League Champion), or as the current area champion from his or her respective area championships.

The Bahamas has won at least two medals at each of the past three world championships – silver and bronze in 2015 in Beijing, China; silver and bronze again in London, England, in 2017; and gold and silver in Doha, Qatar, in 2019.

Gardiner is the reigning world champion in the men’s 400m from Doha, and Miller-Uibo is the 400m silver medalist.

As mentioned, this is the first time the world championships are being held in the western hemisphere since the 2001 edition in Edmonton, Canada. Coincidentally, that was also the year The Bahamas had its biggest medal haul – three gold and a bronze for a total of four. On two other occasions, The Bahamas won three medals at a single world championships and two medals on three other occasions.

In the history of the meet, The Bahamas has won 25 total medals – eight gold, nine silver and eight bronze.

Simba FrenchSend an email14 hours ago 189 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

After a night of torrential downpour, rowers experienced good conditions on Saturday morning as the Nassau Rowing Club (NRC) and the Windsor Rowing Club faced each other at the Lake Cunningham Classic on Lake Cunningham.

In the five-race regatta, rowers competed on a 1,500 meters (m) course. It was the first time that both clubs went head-to-head, showcasing their best athletes.

Head Coach of NRC and Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist Andrea Proske said she liked what she saw on the water form the rowers.

“I saw a lot of great intensity. A lot of these kids do not get the opportunity to do any races because we are living on a small island. To have them show up and race their hearts out has been exciting. Both Rob (Gibson) and I are from Canada and we are Olympians, so we are bringing our high performance mentality to The Bahamas and they have risen to the occasion,” Proske said.

Head Coach of Windsor Rowing, Olympic medalist Rob Gibson said that he and Proske decided to give the local rowers an opportunity to compete on the waters at home.

“I saw a lot of sportsmanlike conduct and a lot of tight racing,” Gibson said. “There was a lot of desire to win. Rowing is a very demanding sport where athletes spend hours of physical training on land and lake. It is not easy. They have been working hard all year and this was their first race on the water. This was a great step for the kids to race in front of their family and friends.”

Picking up the first win of the day at 8 a.m. was Isaiah Ellis from Windsor in the junior men’s single sculls. He clocked 6:39 to win that race. Finishing second was NRC’s Kenneth Hart who crossed the finish line in 7:02.

“It was a long race,” 14-year-old Ellis said. “I stayed with long strokes and made sure my blades were cleaning the water and I finished strong. I am happy with my progress.”

NRC’s Jessie and Poppy Proffitt, sisters, were brilliant in the junior women’s double sculls, building up a sizable lead on their competitors, and cruising to the finish. The sisters clocked 6:43 to win that race. Their closest competitor to them were Winsdor’s Anjaleah Knowles and Bianca Johnson, who clocked 8:07.

“It was a pretty good race. We went into the race very optimistic and I think that is what helped us. We have been working hard toward it. We had some very good coaches helping us over the past week. It was a great opportunity,” Jessie Proffitt said.

Poppy Proffitt said, “I felt it was quite stressful but I liked it because it was fun that both teams from NRC and Windsor came together. It feels that we are actually combining and becoming a true community. We were enthusiastic in our boats.”

Windsor crossed the finish line first in the quadruple sculls against NRC’s men. The Windsor team of Matthias Simms, Sam McCullen, Harry Winchester and Jake Young clocked 6:12. Ethan Mui coxed the team. The NRC team was represented by Kameron Taylor, Ellery Cartwright, Jamal Hanna and Harper Romer and they crossed the finish line in 6:27. The team was coxed was Tasneem Karabas.

It was Windsor’s Crachante Laing coming up big to win the junior women’s single sculls in a time of 7:09. Placing second was NRC’s Breanna Gayle, who crossed the finish line in 7:27. Gayle’s teammate Leah Bethel was third with a time of 7:39.

Laing uses the ergometers at her school, so she ended up breaking the course up in three parts.

“I’m barely on the water, so I do not get as much practice as I’d like to. At first, I said the course is long, so I broke it down into three 500m races. I was talking to myself when I crossed the first 500m, then the second one until I crossed the finish line. I just translated what I do off the water to on the water,” Laing said.

Winning the final race of the day was NRC’s Harrison Schindel and Will Watson in the junior boys double sculls. They finished the race in 6:05. Finishing second was Windsor’s Carl Van Gemerden and Sandor Bianchi, who rowed 6:30.

Both coaches are hoping to see the event on the calendar every year. They are also hoping to have some international opportunities this summer.

Bahamians take to the track in Doha; Miller-Uibo, Charlton and Strachan to compete

Simba FrenchSend an email4 days ago 570 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian track and field athletes Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Devynne Charlton and Anthonique Strachan will kick off their 2022 Wanda Diamond League competition today, taking part in the Doha Diamond League competition at the Qatar Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.

Miller-Uibo will be running in the 400 meters (m), Charlton will compete in the 100m hurdles and Strachan will run in the 200m. All three women ran in the World Athletics Indoor Championships in March with Miller-Uibo winning the gold medal in the 400m, Charlton winning silver medal in the 60m hurdles and Strachan reaching the semifinals of the 60m dash.

Strachan, who is arguably in the best shape of her career, is coming off a season’s best time of 22.55 seconds in the 200m in Kingston, Jamaica, last weekend – her best time in eight years in that event. Earlier in the season, she ran a personal best of 10.99 seconds in the 100m – becoming just the seventh Bahamian in history to ever run under 11 seconds in the women’s 100m. Strachan was a guest on Guardian Radio’s ‘Talking Heads with Naughty’ on Wednesday and spoke about her performance over the weekend.

“I feel good overall. I am extremely confident in myself, and I want to see what I would be able to do in a big field,” Strachan said.

The Maximising Velocity and Power (MVP) Track and Field Club athlete will be running in a star-studded field today that will feature 2020 Olympic bronze medalist American Gabrielle Thomas. Also in that race is Strachan’s MVP teammate Jamaican Shericka Jackson, American Tamara Clark and Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith.

The women’s 200m is scheduled for 1:36 p.m. local time today, 6:36 a.m. in The Bahamas.

Miller-Uibo, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics 400m gold medalist, will hit the track to run her second 400m outdoor race this season after running 49.91 seconds in Clermont, Florida, last month. She enters the race as the favorite to win it. She will go up against 2020 Olympic 400m silver medalist Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic. Also in the field are Jamaicans Stephenie Ann McPherson and Candice McLeod – the fourth and fifth place finishers from Tokyo, Japan, respectively.

That race is scheduled for 12:04 p.m. local time – 5:04 a.m. in The Bahamas.

Charlton ran two 100m hurdles races for the season with her season’s best of 12.89 seconds coming in April in Lexington, Kentucky. The national record holder in that event will line up against the 2020 Olympics 100m hurdles silver medalist American Kendra Harrison. Jamaicans Britany Anderson and 2020 Olympics bronze medalist Megan Tapper will also be in that race.

They will take to the track at 1:02 p.m. – 6:02 a.m. (ET) in The Bahamas.

The Wanda Diamond League is a season long competition that features the world’s top track and field athletes vying to become Diamond League Champions.

After this meet is over, athletes will head to Birmingham, England, on May 21, where the Commonwealth Games will be held, for the second meet on the Diamond League calendar. This year, athletes will compete on the Diamond League circuit in cities such as Eugene, Oregon; Rabat, Morocco; Paris, France; Lausanne, Switzerland; Brussels, Belgium; and Zurich, Switzerland just to name a few. The season wraps up September 7-8 in Zurich.

Simba FrenchSend an email3 hours ago 136 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas’ senior men’s national soccer team wrapped up a two-game friendly against the Turks and Caicos Islands with a 2-1 loss at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Saturday. In the first game on Thursday, The Bahamas won, 4-2.

The team is preparing for the upcoming CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) Nations League competition, and Head Coach Nesly Jean and his assistant Kevin Davies are making their final determinations before making a final cut.

The Bahamas is in League B Group C of the competition which gets underway on Friday, June 3 at the Thomas A. Robinson 

stadium. The Bahamas will take on St. Vincent and the Grenadines at home before taking on Trinidad and Tobago in Trinidad and Tobago on Monday, June 6. The Bahamas will then host Nicaragua on Friday, June 10 before closing this window of play with an away match against Nicaragua in Nicaragua on Monday, June 13.

Jean said that the two games on Thursday and Saturday were a good gauge for the upcoming fixtures.

“We put on the matches to see how the team would look going into the actual games. We tried new players who just came to the team and different formations. They are buying into what we are trying to do and hopefully by June 3 we will be ready to go,” Jean said.

Jean added that there are always adjustments to make, and that they are expecting those players who are off to school and overseas to fly in as early as next week. They have been giving those players instructions as to what is needed of them.

On Saturday, Peter Julmis was The Bahamas’ lone goal scorer. He scored a header in the 65th minute to give the Bahamians some life. The home team had a few chances to tie the game at two but that never materialized.

“The goal was good for me in finding my footing and finally scoring for my country,” Julmis said. “I hope that it is something that I can get used to and continue to see in the future.”

Julmis is optimistic about holding that number nine position on the team despite the pressure that comes with it of finding the back of the net.

On Saturday, Billy Forbes opened the scoring for the away team with a perfectly placed free kick to put his team up 1-0 in the 25th minute of the game. It remained 1-0 at the half. About three minutes after the break, Junior Paul put the Turks and Caicos up 2-0.

On Thursday, Julmis opened the scoring for The Bahamas in the 10th minute of the game before Cory Williams scored an equalizer for the Turks and Caicos less than a minute later. The Bahamas went up 3-1 at the half with goals from Daylan Russell and Lesly St. Fleur.

Markenley Amilcar pulled the visitors to within 3-2 in the 62nd minute. In the 64th minute, Julmis’ brother Elvelt Julmis gave The Bahamas a 4-2 lead.

“Trinidad and Tobago and the other teams in the group won’t be easy. That is why we have to be compact and ready to go,” Jean said. “We need to go back into training and try and fix our defense and midfield. We need them to understand where we need them to be and also how we need to be when we have the ball. We are looking at these games and we want to win like any other team. We are gong out there to try our best and going out there to represent our country and try to win.”

Head Coach of the Turks and Caicos Islands Keith Jeffrey has been at the helm for just three weeks. He said liked how his team played, particularly on Saturday. They get their Nations League action in League C Group A underway against Bonaire at home on June 3. Also in that group are Sint Maarten and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Sports

Miller-Uibo, Charlton and Strachan compete in Doha

Sheldon LongleySend an email12 hours ago 267 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

A pair of Bahamians has shone new light on the multi events in athletics here in The Bahamas, and this past weekend was no different as a major international title was captured.

This time, it would be former national record holder Ken Mullings rising to the forefront. Mullings won the men’s decathlon title at the NACAC (North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association) Combined Events Area Championships, scoring 7,537 combined points at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, over the weekend.

The Bahamian won easily over Canadians Shawn Beaudoin and Rostam Turner who had to settle for second and third, respectively. Beaudoin was a distant second with 6,450 points and Turner rounded out the top three with 6,344 points.

Mullings won the eight of the 10 events over the two days of competition, was second in another, and ended the multi events with a fifth-place finish in the men’s 1,500 meters (m) race.

Mullings and fellow Bahamian Kendrick Thompson have been going back and forth in the men’s decathlon over the past three years – both having their turns with the national record which now stands at 7,762 points, set by Thompson at the University of Miami Cobb Stadium in Coral Gables, Florida, in April.

The qualifying standard for the 8,350 combined points, but there is also wildcard entries for a reigning world champion, a 2021 Diamond League Champion and as the current area champion from the athlete’s respective area championships. Athletes can also qualify via their World Athletics (WA) rankings.

It remains to be seen whether or not Mullings will get the nod as the area champion, given his performance in Ottawa over the weekend. The Bahamas Association of Athletics Associations (BAAA) would have to file an official request on his behalf.

Mullings won the 100m in 10.88 seconds – just eight one hundredths of a second over his personal best; took the long jump with a leap of 6.91m (22’ 8”) – about 30 centimeters short of his personal best jump of 7.19m (23’ 7-1/4”); won the shot put with a throw of 13.88m (45’ 6-1/2”) – again about 30 centimeters short of his personal best; won the high jump with a leap of 1.96m (6’ 5”) – 14 centimeters off his personal best of 2.10m (6’ 10-1/2”); won the 400m in 49.83 seconds – a little over half of a second off his personal best run of 49.18 seconds; won the 110m hurdles in 14.31 seconds – just two tenths of a second over his personal best run of 14.13 seconds; was second in the discus with a throw of 38.58m (126’ 7”) – significantly off his personal best throw of 44.96m (147’ 6”); won the pole vault competition with a jump of 4.40m (14’ 5-1/4”) – just off his personal best jump of 4.60m (15’ 1”); won the javelin throw with a toss of 56.83m (186’ 5”) – just off his personal best throw of 57.18m (187’ 7”); and finally finished fifth in the men’s 1,500m in 5:00.76 – about 12 seconds short of his personal best run of 4:48.89.

Meanwhile, at the Qatar Sports Club in Doha, Qatar, over the weekend, a trio of Bahamian women took part in the first Wanda Diamond League competition of the season.

Olympic Champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo suffered a shocking defeat in the women’s 400m, finishing third in a modest 51.84 seconds. It was her first loss in that event since the World Athletics World Championships final in Doha in 2019. Marileidy Paulino, of the Dominican Republic, the silver medalist behind Miller-Uibo at the Tokyo Olympics last year, won in a season’s best time of 51.20 seconds. Jamaican Stephenie Ann McPherson was second in a season’s best time of 51.69 seconds.

Bahamian Devynne Charlton settled for fourth in the women’s 100m hurdles, running a wind-aided 12.61 seconds. In the blanket finish with the top three, world record holder Kendra Harrison of the United States (US) won in 12.43 seconds, and Tobi Amusan, of Nigeria, and Jamaican Britany Anderson finished tied for second in identical times of 12.44 seconds.

The women’s 200m was also a close race. American Gabrielle Thomas equaled the meet record, winning in a season’s best time of 21.98 seconds. Jamaican Shericka Jackson finished second in a season’s best time of 22.07 seconds, Dina Asher-Smith is on the comeback trail, finishing third in a season’s best time of 22.37 seconds, American Tamara Clark settled for fourth in 22.72 seconds, and Bahamian Anthonique Strachan finished fifth in 22.78 seconds.

All three women have already qualified for the 18th biennial World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in the US, this summer. That global meet is set for July 15-24.

A total of seven Bahamians have now qualified for the world championships in Eugene. They are Miller-Uibo in the women’s 200 and 400m, Charlton in the women’s 100m hurdles, Strachan in the women’s 100 and 200m, TyNia Gaither also in the women’s 100 and 200m, Samson Colebrooke in the men’s 100m, Steven Gardiner in the men’s 400m and LaQuan Nairn in the men’s long jump.

Gardiner is the reigning world champion in the men’s 400m from Doha, and Miller-Uibo is the women’s 400m silver medalist.

As of Monday, May 16, 2022

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CONNECTICUT Sun forward Jonquel Jones (35) beats Los Angeles Sparks centre Liz Cambage (1) to a rebound during a WNBA basketball game on Saturday in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photos: Sean D Elliot/The Day via AP)

SUN forward Jonquel Jones (35) fends off Sparks forward Jasmine Walker, left, and guard Jordin Canada (21) on Saturday.

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE reigning WNBA MVP posted a double double en route to a home opening win for the Connecticut Sun.

#Jonquel Jones finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals to lead the Sun to a 77-60 win over the Los Angeles Sparks Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

#Her Sun frontcourt mate Alyssa Thomas had 23 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and a steal.

#“She was the MVP for a reason,” Thomas said. “We knew she was going to have a monster night. They really had nobody that could guard her. So it just speaks volumes to the type of player she is. And when she’s playing like that, we’re just a really dominant team.”

#Jones got off to an early start with 10 points and six rebounds in the first quarter. The Sun led by as much as 24 in the first half and maintained that advantage through the second half. Jones was in foul trouble for much of the contest and fouled out with just over seven minutes left to play.

#“They were terrific in the first half, both of them, and there was intent to play through them,” said Sun head coach and general manager Curt Miller.

#Jones opened the season with 15 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, two assists and two steals but the New York Liberty upset her Sun 81-79 on May 7 in the season opener for both teams.

#The Sun looks to exact revenge on the Liberty and improve to 2-1 when the teams meet for the second time this season on May 17 at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York.

#A promising 2021 season saw the Sun franchise produce the MVP, Most Improved Player, Coach of the Year, set franchise records in wins, winning percentage, and points allowed.

#They finished the regular season 26-6 but the year ended in a disappointing fashion with a loss to the eventual champion Chicago Sky in the semifinals.

#“We’ve been talking about championship or bust, last year was a bust because we didn’t get a championship,” Jones said during training camp. “This year is the year to finish things and we feel that and we know that.”

#In addition to league MVP, she was also named to the All-WNBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, the Associated Press Player of the Year and AP First-Team Honours.

#She also won the WNBA Peak Performer Award as the league’s top rebounder for the third time in the last five seasons and was named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the months of May, August and September.

As of Monday, May 16, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#POSTSEASON basketball continues for several Bahamian senior men’s national team players in their respective leagues throughout Europe and South America.

#Travis Munnings and Sporting Lisboa Benfica have advanced to the semifinal in Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB).

#Benfica completed a two-game sweep of Povoa in the quarterfinal. In game one, Munnings had five points, four rebounds and three assists in his team’s 77-59 win.

#In game two, Munnings had a perfect shooting night from the field (5-5) and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in an 84-67 win. They will advance to face the winner of CAB Madeira and Munnings’ former club UD Oliveirense.

#In 28 games this season, Munnings averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 61 percent from the field and 34 percent from beyond the arch.

#The 6’6” wing is currently in his second season in the LPB. Last year he averaged 12.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for UD Oliveirense.

#Benfica eliminated UD Oliveirense in the quarterfinals of last season’s playoffs.

#Benfica looks to finish the local LPB on a high note and claim back-to-back titles after they were eliminated from FIBA EuroCup playoff contention in April. Munnings finished with a team high 19 points and eight rebounds, but Benfica dropped a crucial 89-72 to Sporting CP.

#In 14 EuroCup games, Munnings has averaged 8.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

#Zane Knowles and Levski Sofia find themselves in an 0-2 hole to Balkan Botevgrad in the semifinal of Bulgaria’s NBL.

#In game one, Knowles came off the bench to finish with eight points and four rebounds in an 80-74 loss.

#He moved into the starting lineup for game two, and he finished with 17 points and five rebounds in a 76-72 loss.

#Game three is set for May 17.

#Knowles finished with a dominant 28 point, eight-rebound performance in a 116-74 win over Beroe in the first game of the quarterfinals. His statline was highlighted by his first three-point field goal of his career.

#Last season while preparing for the season in Hungary with Zalakerámia ZTE KK, Knowles sought treatment for what he described as a minor hamstring injury when doctors discovered a rare Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) that required surgery.

#In seven games since he has returned to play, he has returned to form with averages of 16.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

#Tavario Miller and Minas Belo Horizonte advanced to the semifinal in Brazil’s Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB) but currently trail Flamengo in their series.

#Miller had just three points and three rebounds in the 76-67 game one loss. Minas advanced with a 3-1 series win over Unifacisa in the qaurterfinal. In game one, he finished with six points and five rebounds in an 85-65 win.

#He followed with 22 points and seven rebounds in a 90-81 game two loss before 13 points and six rebounds in a 88-85 win.

#In the closeout game of the series he finished with 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench in a 75-63 win.

#Minas finished the regular ranked third in the league at 25-7.

#The team also finished third in the FIBA Basketball Champions League of the Americas with a win over Quisima in the bronze medal game last month.

#In his first season with the club, Miller is averaging 11.5 points and seven rebounds per game on 65 percent shooting from the field.

As of Friday, May 13, 2022

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Rashawn Ferguson

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#ANOTHER Bahamian prep basketball prospect will head to Canada to begin his collegiate and academic career.

#Rashawn Ferguson was the latest signee of the Mount Allison Mounties to join its 2022-23 men’s basketball recruiting class.

#“I selected MTA because all the coaches I asked really recommended it,” he said. “Coach [Steve] Chapman really helped me gain information and understand why it would be a good fit for me as a student athlete.”

#The Mounties finished last season 7-5 in the Atlantic University Sport and Chapman said he expects Ferguson to help the team’s development toward contending in the conference.

#“Rashawn is a very athletic player with the ability to play more than one position which fits nicely with the style we wish to play. He has an incredible work ethic, always puts the work in to improve his game, and is a coachable young man,” Chapman said. “His size, length, quickness, and versatility will really be an asset for us this coming fall and we are excited and glad he has chosen our program here at Mount Allison.”

#A former St Augustine’s College student, the 6’7” Ferguson spent post grad time at Victory Rock Prep in Bradenton, Florida.

#He also participated on the AAU circuit with International Basketball Academy and Lucayans Basketball Club.

#Director of Empower Sports Network and head coach at Niagra Prep, Ollen Smith, said having another Bahamian in the pipeline is beneficial to both Canadian basketball and The Bahamas.

#“It’s wonderful to see the changes within style of play and the number of international players getting opportunities to chase their dreams of playing high quality of basketball,” Smith said.

#“Rashawn is both a great student and athlete who will contribute significant minutes for Mount Allison.

#Most importantly, Rashawn will be a good role model to the kids in his community and other Bahamians looking to study abroad.”

#Ferguson joins 6’6 Gabe Powter of Ottawa, Ontario, 6’4 Connor Briand of Kingston, Ontario, and 5’11 guard Momar Niang from British Columbia as part of its 2022-2023 recruiting class.

As of Friday, May 13, 2022

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FRANKEY Moree

MALIQUE Charlton

JOEL Miller

NORMAN Bastian

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#A GROUP of Bahamian players played a prominent role on the Tallulah Falls varsity boys’ baseball programme and were recognised with postseason awards for their outstanding 2022 season.

#Seniors on this year’s roster included Norman Bastian and Joel Miller from New Providence and Malique Charlton and Kristian Williams from Grand Bahama.

#Underclassmen included junior Frankey Moree from New Providence, sophomores Zaiden Cox from Grand Bahama and Caden Walker from New Providence, and freshman Danny Grant from Grand Bahama.

#Bastian and Charlton received Region 8-A Private First Team honours while Moree was named to the Second Team and Miller received Honourable Mention.

#Bastian, who has signed to play at Olivet Nazarene University, batted a team-high .424 with four home runs and 30 RBI. He set a new programme single season record with 36 hits. He heads to an Olivet Nazarene Tigers programme that finished 38-15 this season. They recently capped off their 2022 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference season by pairing their regular season championship with the tournament championship.

#The Tigers advance to the NAIA National Championship Opening Rounds scheduled for May 16-19.

#“In my short time at TFS, I’ve not only furthered my education but I’ve become a new baseball player as well,” states Bastian.

#“I have learned a lot from my coaches and teammates. This is a special team and no matter the outcome of the season, I will be proud to say I was a part of the Tallulah Falls varsity baseball team. I am excited for what lies ahead of me in the classroom and on the baseball field at Olivet Nazarene University.”

#Charlton registered a .354 batting average to go with 4 home runs and 20 RBI, and led the team along with Miller with a new programme record 14 stolen bases.

#Moree was a .333 hitter with a pair of round-trippers and 20 RBI, adding 24 runs.

#Miller had a .358 average, 4 homers, and 25 RBI, as well as 31 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. He also set a single-game programme record with a 7-RBI game. Miller is also the TFS all time leader in stolen bases (26) and walks (34).

#TFS had a record-setting offensive season and finished 12-13 on the season.

#The Bahamian contingent helped TFS set new school records in runs scored (217), home runs (20), 10-plus run games (11), and single-game records for home runs (7), hits (20), and runs (23), while even tying school records for win streak (4) and shutouts (2).

#The TFS JV Baseball team also featured seven Bahamians on its roster, including the aforementioned Cox, Walker and Grant along with Rohajae Pinder, Davante Brown, Ashton Roache, from New Providence, and Justin Smith out of Andros.

#The team finished 7-1-1 on the season.

#TFS, located in Tallulah, Georgia, is an independent co-ed boarding and day school serving more than 500 students from grades 5-12.

SUNS centre Deandre Ayton shoots over Mavericks forward Reggie Bullock, left, during the first half of Game 6 last night. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

As of Friday, May 13, 2022

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#By SCHUYLER DIXON

#AP Sports Writer

#DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 33 points and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Phoenix Suns 113-86 last night to force a Game 7 in the Western Conference semifinals.

#The home team has won all six games, none with a final margin closer than seven points. The deciding game is Sunday in Phoenix.

#The Mavericks won when facing elimination for the first time in three tries with Doncic, their three-time All-Star.

#The two losses came against the Clippers the past two seasons, including Game 7 in Los Angeles last year after the visitors won the first six games, a first in the playoffs.

#Dallas is playing beyond the first round for the first time since winning the title 11 years ago.

#The Suns, seeking a second consecutive trip to the West finals, are going the distance in a series for the first time in two postseasons with Chris Paul and Devin Booker.

#The previous three went six, including Phoenix’s loss to Milwaukee last year in the NBA Finals.

#Booker scored 19 points but was shut out from 3-point range (0 of 4) while going 6 of 17.

#Deandre Ayton had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Paul added 13 points.

#The top-seeded Suns were held to a season low in scoring, regular season or playoffs, for the second time in the series.

#Reggie Bullock scored 19 points and Jalen Brunson added 18 for Dallas. Spencer Dinwiddie had a series-high 15, all on 3s (5 of 7).

#Doncic played through an apparent left leg injury that sent him to the locker room when he would have been out of the game anyway in the second quarter.

#He returned to the bench and rode a stationary bike before re-entering the game.

#Soon after, the Mavericks went on a decisive 19-5 run to finish the first half, turning a two-point lead into a 60-45 halftime edge. It was a home-team replay of the third quarter from Game 5, when Phoenix went on a 17-0 run for an 18-point lead and ended up winning by 30. Doncic, who had 11 rebounds and eight assists, fought his shot while fighting the injury early, but had a 3 on the late first-half run and scored 10 in the third to help the Mavericks push their lead to 22 (94-72).

#Paul mostly avoided the problems with turnovers and fouls that cost the Suns in the first two losses in Dallas. But the 37-year-old point guard was never much of a factor, getting just seven shots. Booker was stuck on eight points while Dallas pulled away in the second and third quarters, opening the second half with a miss on an ill-advised 3 and not scoring again until the Suns were down 21 late in the third.

#TIP-INS

#Suns: Ayton got a technical for elbowing Doncic in the face when Doncic fouled him on a dunk in the third quarter. Doncic missed the technical free throw, and Ayton finished the three-point play.

#Bismack Biyombo didn’t have the same impact as the replacement for JaVale McGee, who didn’t play for the first time in the series. Biyombo had four points and three rebounds in 14 minutes.

#Mavericks: This was the 10th consecutive time this season the Mavs have answered a loss of at least 20points with a win. Dallas recovered from a slow start from 3 to finish 16 of 39 (41%) while holding the Suns to 40% overall for the game.