Thursday, April 18, 20

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#JONQUEL Jones had another successful WNBA offseason as her team captured the EuroLeague women’s championship.

#Jones’ UMMC Ekaterinburg, of the Russian Premier League, won their second consecutive and fifth EuroLeague title with a 91-67 win over Dynamo Kursk in Sopron, Hungary.

#Jones appeared in eight games with 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. She shot 60 per cent from the field, 52 per cent from three-point range and 80 per cent from the free throw line.

#A stacked UMMC Ekaterinburg roster also included WNBA stars Brittney Griner and Courtney Vandersloot.

#Jones joined the defending Euroleague champions in the offseason following her third year with the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun.

#Back in the WNBA the Sun have also reportedly exercised 4th year team options on Jones in September.

#Jones was named the 2018 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, earning the honour as the league’s top reserve for the first time in her three-year career.

#She averaged 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, a career-high 1.7 assists and 1.24 blocked shots per game last season.

#She tied for ninth in the WNBA in blocks and ranked fifth in field goal percentage (55.0) and second in three-point field goal percentage (46.7). With 50 three-pointers made, she surpassed her total from the previous two seasons combined (36).

#During the Sun’s 9-1 finish to the season, Jones averaged 18.5 points and 6.6 rebounds. That stretch included four games of 20 or more points.

#In the season prior, she was voted as the 2017 WNBA Most Improved Player, becomes the first player to win both the Sixth Woman and Most Improved awards.

#In honour of being named the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, Jones will receive $5,000 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany and Co.

#Last offseason in China, Jones became one of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association’s most dominant players and led her Shanxi Xing Rui Flames to a runners-up finish in the final.

#The star forward averaged a team-high 29.3 points, 18.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 31 games for Shanxi Xing Rui.

#In the 2016 offseason, Jones was selected No. 5 overall by Woori Bank in the Korean Basketball League and led the team to a championship title.

#On the season she averaged 15.8 points, 14.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks – all team leads – in 24 minutes per game for Woori Bank in 38 games.

#At the league’s award ceremony, Jones earned the Foreign Most Valuable Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year award and was named “Best Five” in the league.

#UMMC Ekanterinburg has won four Euroleague, 12 Russian titles and eight Russian Cups in team history. In addition to Jones, UMMC Ekanterinburg includes Brittney Griner and Kayla McBride.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Jonquel Jones in action. (AP)

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE country’s pair of women’s pro basketball players are both thriving with their respective clubs early in 2019.

#Jonquel Jones returned to the floor for UMMC Ekaterinburg in the Russian Premier League while Waltiea Rolle continues to settle in as a key contributor off the bench for the Xianjiang Magic Deer of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association.

#Jones finished with 25 points, five rebounds and shot 10-12 from the field in yesterday’s 118-49 win over Dynamo M. The WNBA’s Connecticut Sun star forward missed several games since she finished with 19 points in the season opener on a perfect day from the field. UMMC Ekaterinburg remains undefeated on the season.

#Jones joined the defending Euroleague Champions UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian Premier League and FIBA Europe’s Euroleague during the WNBA offseason.

#Last offseason in China, Jones became one of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association’s most dominant players and led her Shanxi Xing Rui Flames to a runners-up finish in the final.

#The star forward averaged a team-high 29.3 points, 18.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 31 games for Shanxi Xing Rui.

#In the 2016 offseason, Jones was selected No. 5 overall by Woori Bank in the Korean Basketball League and led the team to a championship title.

#On the season she averaged 15.8 points, 14.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks – all team leads – in 24 minutes per game for Woori Bank in 38 games.

#At the league’s award ceremony, Jones earned the Foreign Most Valuable Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year award and was named “Best Five” in the league.

#UMMC Ekanterinburg has won four Euroleague, 12 Russian titles and eight Russian Cups in team history. In addition to Jones, UMMC Ekanterinburg includes Brittney Griner and Kayla McBride.

#Rolle finished with 12 points and six rebounds in 11 minutes as her third ranked Xinjiang Magic Deer (25-6) defeated the 12th ranked Hebei (12-19).

#In the previous game, she finished with eight points and four rebounds in 12 minutes of a 92-69 win over Tianjin (2-28).

#Rolle announced her signing with the club and subsequent return to professional basketball via social media on December 24.

#Through five games, she is averaging 10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 blocks on restricted minutes each night.

Jonquel Jones in action. (AP)

Thursday, September 6, 2018

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#DESPITE a disappointing conclusion to the WNBA season, Jonquel Jones has a star-studded Euroleague roster to look forward to this offseason.

#Jones will join defending Euroleague Champions UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian premier League and FIBA Europe’s Euroleague during the WNBA offseason.

#Back in the WNBA the Sun have also reportedly exercised 4th year team options on Jones, Courtney Williams, Rachel Banham, Morgan Tuck and Bria Holmes. With those options exercised, the Sun will have 11 players under contract through at least the 2019 season.

#Last offseason in China, Jones became one of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association’s most dominant players and led her Shanxi Xing Rui Flames to a runner-up finish in the final.

#The star forward averaged a team-high 29.3 points, 18.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 31 games for Shanxi Xing Rui.

#In the 2016 offseason, Jones was selected No. 5 overall by Woori Bank in the Korean Basketball League and led the team to a championship title.

#On the season she averaged 15.8 points, 14.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks – all team leads – in 24 minutes per game for Woori Bank in 38 games.

#At the league’s award ceremony, Jones earned the Foreign Most Valuable Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year award and was named “Best Five” in the league.

#She finished the year averaging 15.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game – a dramatic increase from her rookie season when she averaged 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds a game.

#UMMC Ekanterinburg has won four Euroleague, 12 Russian titles and eight Russian Cups in team history.

#In addition to Jones, UMMC Ekanterinburg will include Courtney Vandersloot and Kayla McBride.

#For the second consecutive year, Jones and the Sun were eliminated by the Phoenix Mercury in the second round of the WNBA playoffs.

#Phoenix scored 10 unanswered points over the final 2:32 in the fourth quarter to score a 96-86 win over the Sun.

#Jones finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on 6-9 shooting from the field.

#The Sun finished the season 1-3 in matchups against the Mercury.

#Last year, the two teams met in the same round and the Mercury eliminated the Sun 88-83 on the road.

#Jones was named the 2018 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, earning the honour as the league’s top reserve for the first time in her three-year career.

#Jones, who was voted last season as the 2017 WNBA Most Improved Player, becomes the first player to win both the Sixth Woman and Most Improved awards.

#In honour of being named the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, Jones will receive $5,000 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany and Co.

#Jones averaged 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, a career-high 1.7 assists and 1.24 blocked shots per game this season. She tied for ninth in the WNBA in blocks and ranked fifth in field goal percentage (55.0) and second in three-point field goal percentage (46.7).

#With 50 three-pointers made, she surpassed her total from the previous two seasons combined (36). During the Sun’s 9-1 finish to the season, Jones averaged 18.5 points and 6.6 rebounds. That stretch included four games of 20 or more points.

Jonquel Jones

f Thursday, October 8, 2020

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#After she opted out of the 2020 WNBA season, Jonquel Jones made her official return to the basketball court this week in the Russian Women’s Basketball Premier League.

#Jones led UMMC Ekaterinburg Foxes with 35 points and 13 rebounds in an 84-72 win over Nika Syktykar in their season debut.

#The veteran forward had a dominant shooting performance, 13-19 from the field (1-2 from three point range) and 6-7 from the free throw line. She also had two blocked shots on the defensive end of the floor.

#Jones’ strong play early led the Foxes to a 58-48 lead at the half and a 62-48 lead headed into the fourth quarter. They eventually led by as much as 17 points in the final period.

#UMMC will play their next Premier league game and make their home debut on October 19 in Ekaterinburg when they face Spartak.

#Jones is in her third season with UMMC Ekaterinburg.

#Last season, the team captured Russian Premier League and the EuroLeague women’s championship. They won their second consecutive and fifth EuroLeague title with a 91-67 win over Dynamo Kursk in Sopron, Hungary in April.

#Jones appeared in eight games and averaged 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. She shot 60 percent from the field, 52 percent from three point range and 80 percent from the free throw line.

#A stacked UMMC Ekaterinburg roster also included WNBA stars Brittney Griner and Cortney Vandersloot. The team recently added current WNBA Finals MVP Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm.

#Jones, the Connecticut Sun star, opted out of the shortened WNBA season amid COVID-19 pandemic concerns.

#In the 2019 WNBA season, she was named to the All-WNBA Second Team, the All-Defensive Team and an All-Star for the second time, cited personal reasons and uncertainty around the pandemic.

#The Sun advanced to the Eastern Conference final before they were eliminated by the Las Vegas Aces.

#Jones signed a multi-year contract with the Sun in February as the league’s free agency period commenced.

#The Sun fell one game short in their historic run toward a WNBA Championship in 2019, but Jones established herself as one of the premier players in the league with her standout season.

#In addition to her aforementioned accolades, she finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week four times.

#Jones finished the regular season with starts in all 34 appearances, averaged 14.6 points, and posted career highs in steals (1.5 per game) and minutes played (28.8 per game). She also won her second rebounding title in four seasons. Jones led the league in rebounds with 9.7 boards and blocked shots at a career-high 2.0 per game. She also finished fourth in defensive rebounds with 6.4 per game. She grabbed 10 or more rebounds 16 times, including a season-high 22 rebounds on May 31.

As of Tuesday, March 3, 2020

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#THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s “Play Tennis” developmental programme started indoors with drills and fitness conducted by coaches Marion Bain and Corey Francis, and players Donte Armbrister and Sydney Clarke.

#Later in the day the session progressed outdoors as the weather improved.

#The kids had the opportunity to perform basic tactics and techniques as demonstrated and instructed by the coaches.

#Coaches Francis and Clarke were able to benefit from the coaches course recently organised by The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association.

#This Play Tennis course focused on introducing beginners to the sport. “It is good when the training gained by coaches can be called upon in these complimentary sessions offered to the children of the nation. We welcome other coaches to offer their service to this developmental programme,” said a press release.

#“The programme continues to see novice players who are open and eager to the skills presented. Making tennis accessible to all aids in the development of tennis, removing the barrier of cost and allowing the children ages 5 -17 to come into contact each Saturday with trained coaches and their assistants in a fun-filled environment is proving to be successful.

#“The goal is to grow the pool of available players across the country and to foster new tennis seeds, forming the foundation of growth and development. Today a tennis seed, tomorrow a fruitful tennis

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

#THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) “Play Tennis” programme is reporting a steady stream of young children between the ages of four and 16 at its free tennis clinics on Saturdays.

#On this past Saturday, the rain did not deter the crowd of children and the fun activities moved indoors at The National Tennis Centre.

#The coaches focused the kids on footwork and fitness, recognising the importance of both in the sport of tennis.

#“The tennis clinics are reaching a new cross-section of beginner players, fostering growth and development,” said Perry Newton, head of the junior development of the BLTA.

#“The average age of the kids is around nine years old but our youngest is four and the oldest is 16.

#“We are tapping into a gold mine of talent and possibilities.”

#The BLTA invites kids aged 5-17 to its “Play Tennis” Programme 10:30am next Saturday ‘rain or shine’ at the National Tennis Centre.

#Take advantage of this opportunity to learn how to play tennis. Registration is only $1 and all equipment is provided.

#The programme is making a positive impact as it seeks to provide an easily accessible avenue of learning, development and growth, shaping and searching for the next generation of tennis players.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

#ON Saturday, The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) held a Junior Tennis Clinic at the National Tennis Centre, Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre. 

#The $1-Day Clinic was a success as kids ranging from four to 14 years were introduced and, in some cases, reintroduced to the rudiments of tennis.

#Supervisor of the clinic, Barbara Carey organised the play and stay session.

#Coach Kevin Major led the children in various drills. Also on hand were some of the country’s top juniors – Afrika Smith, Donte Armbrister and Sierra Donaldson. These youngsters who are returning from an International Tennis Federation (ITF) tour this summer were able to assist coach Major in instructing the kids on their forehands and backhands.  Kristen Major and Dentry Mortimer also took the time to assist with the younger kids.

#“Some of the children at the clinic never held a tennis racquet before so this initiative by the BLTA will surely produce some new talent to the sport. 

#“Many of the kids expressed the sentiment that they always wanted to play tennis.  The sport is seen as very exciting. The young  boys and girls at the clinic took great delight when they had an opportunity to play ‘one on one’ with their junior instructors,” said a press release.

#The $1-Day Jr Tennis Clinic will continue 9am to 10:30am this Saturday at the NTC. 

#Kids aged five to 14 years old are invited. All kids who are interested in tennis and want to get a start are kindly invited to come and be a part of this clinic.

#The BLTA continues its efforts to grow tennis in The Bahamas. The future looks bright for this vibrant sport.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#IN October, the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association launched its version of the ITF’s “Play and Stay” programme in the capital. Now, the organisation will formally expand to the family islands.

#The BLTA will team up with Friends of Tennis for Harbour Island, Bahamas to host a highly anticipated weekend of tennis events, July 19-21, highlighted by the aforementioned programme.

#Play and Stay co-ordinator Bradley Bain said the goal is to “promote the game of tennis and expose more youngsters to the game of tennis.”

#A Play and Stay workshop set for July 19 will be conducted for parents, coaches and volunteers to introduce them to the format of the programme, creating a new group of teachers for beginners.

#Wesley Rolle seeks to develop local coaches in Harbour Island to assume control of the “Play and Stay” programme.

#Rolle, a former president of the BLTA, has been making major strides in the programme by tutoring beginners in the game for the past year.

#June 20 will feature a Tennis Fun Day fundraiser to assist the Harbour Island Tennis Programme in a myriad of ways, including facilities and equipment upgrades.

#Bahamian Davis Cup player Marvin Rolle and touring player and collegiate player Dirnage Saunders will make an appearance with an exhibition at the Pink Sands tennis courts at 11am.

#The “Play and Stay” workshop will continue for the remainder of the weekend conducted by Bain.

#Scores of young tennis enthusiasts turned Rawson Square into a temporary court in October for the programme’s launch.

#The programme represents a global shift in the rules governing youth tennis and is expected to have a direct impact on the development of the game locally, bringing a wider cross section of newcomers to the sport.

#Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association president Derron Donaldson also saw to it that the new facilities constructed to house the programme will be named in honour of Bahamian tennis great Mark Knowles.

#The new initiative features smaller rackets, smaller courts, and slower balls tailored to the skills of beginning tennis players.

#It is now mandatory for competition for players aged 10-and-under to be played with slower red, orange and green balls on the appropriate sized courts, while the traditional yellow ball will no longer be permitted for 10-and-under competition.

#According to Donaldson, the programme will strengthen the feeder system of the Bahamas’ junior development programme.

#“This will be the ticket to strengthening and developing an already strong junior development programme. In this format, tennis is at its easiest to learn, it’s inexpensive, can be played on a wide variety of surfaces so we can target an even greater number of kids and get them into the sport as fast as possible,” he said.

#“The goal is to bring them into the sport, have them experience relative success rather quickly and make the game as interesting and attractive as possible to them at a young age. If we can bring about 50 kids to each free outing of mini tennis we host, there may be about 10-15 natural talents in that crowd that will stick with the game, hence the ‘Play and Stay’ theme coined by the ITF.”

#The ITF’s Tennis Play and Stay campaign centers around the slogan “serve, rally and score” and the recommendation that starter players play the game outright from their first lesson.

#The campaign is supported by the top ITF nations and professional players, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Justine Henin, as well as the equipment manufacturers.

#The campaign aims to retain more starter children and adults in the sport by improving the way in which coaches worldwide introduce tennis to starter players, ensuring their first experience is both positive and enjoyable.

#“This is our first major event and of course the goal is for massive support and attention as the first step, and eventually getting the mini tennis programme in schools.

#“The BLTA hosted a ‘Play and Stay’ course for 25 teachers last November as the first step toward the inter-school competitions,” Donaldson said.

Executives and players at the BLTA ‘Play Tennis’ programme.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

#THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association held another successful session of its “Play Tennis” programme.

#The sessions are fun and interactive and provide a pathway for new beginners in the sport.

#Today, Brajaxba Club joined in the training as some junior tennis players, including Jacobi Bain, BreAnn Ferguson, Brianna Houlgrave, Virgil Homere participated in the session.

#The BLTA thanks veteran coach Mr Bradley Bain in lending a hand to assist this developing programme.

#Young kids and newly PTC certified coaches alike had an opportunity to glean from his wealth of knowledge and experience.

#As young persons come to learn the sport there are many opportunities to give back to the young people.

#Perry Newton, head of junior development, stated that it is important to collaborate within the tennis community and the “Play Tennis” programme can only grow from those who share their talents.

#“The children continue to be excited and eager about tennis,” he added.

#Darnette Weir, president of the BLTA, expressed pleasure in the “Play Tennis” programme and hopes that interested persons will take full advantage of the opportunities to come together in the growth and development of tennis.

#The programme resumes on Saturday, June 15 at The National Tennis Centre and is free to children aged 5-17. Registration is $1.

.

Monday, May 28, 2018

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association has expressed its condolences to the family of the late Robert Smith, a former player who was killed in his home on Lobster Avenue off Blue Hill Road last Thursday.

#While BLTA president Darnette Weir said his passing has hit hard within their sport fraternity, Davis Cup captain Marvin Rolle said there’s so much he can say about his former friend off the court and rival on the court.

#“He was a hard worker, a go getter. There was never nothing he felt he couldn’t do in his eyes,” said Rolle, who is currently in Costa Rica leading the Bahamas’ team of Baker Newman, Philip Major Jr and Jody Turnquest in action this week in the first round of the Davis Cup tie.

#“He always had the talent to do anything and he always had your back. If you needed help with anything, any hour of the day, any hour of the night, he was there. He might have been late, but he was there.”

#Rolle said a lot of people may have known him from playing tennis, but he admitted that Smith was very versatile.

#“He was talented in tennis, very talented in cycling, very talented in track and field. It’s sad to see him go, but he will never be forgotten. Robert Smith. I know a lot of people are saddened by his tragic death, but he didn’t deserve that. Robert. He was special to a lot of people. He will be missed. Rest in peace.”

#Smith, 31, was shot at his home on Lobster Street. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

#Weir said Thursday was a sad day for the BLTA.

#“I extend our deepest condolences on the death of Robert. We are deeply saddened by his death,” Weir said. “Robert played as a junior for many years and for the past several years, he participated in the Giorgio Baldacci for the past three years. He has made his contribution as a player, even in the Gym Tennis Club Tournament.

#“We extend our deepest sympathy to the Smith family on his passing.”

#Smith is the son of Robert ‘Bob’ Smith, a well-known basketball referee.