CHAMPIONS: St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine senior girls with their hardware.

As of Tuesday, January 3, 2023

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ST Augustine’s College Big Red Machine senior girls with their championship awards.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#IN an epic battle right to the end, the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine rolled past the CV Bethel Stingrays 46-41 behind the stellar leadership of Antonia Moultrie to win the senior girls’ title of the Providence Basketball Club’s Holiday Classic.

#Moultrie, the game’s most valuable player, finished with a game high 27 points, including 13 in the second half, while Dior- Rae Scott and Arianna Gomez both provided all of their seven and six points respectively in the second half. Teanna Gibson contributed four.

#“Most of these girls are just juniors and so I’ve been teaching and coaching the game at the same time,” said SAC’s coach Anastacia Moultrie. “So it’s always back to fundamentals when it comes to these players, that’s why it’s so good to be able to play in tournaments like this so they can get better at it.”

#Moultrie, however, was particularly impressed with the way her daughter stepped up and controlled the tempo for the Big Red Machine. She said she advised her that as a 12th grader, she has to perform at her best because she will have to do the same thing when she heads off to college.

#The Stingrays, coached by Shantelle Rolle, got a solid game from Trinity Bodie with 17, including 12 in the second half. Danielle McCoy had 10, but her older sister Terrell McCoy got in foul trouble and didn’t score. Geraniqua Bethel added eight and Maquell Hall chipped in with four. In what started out as a real defensive battle, SAC ran into a problem after Scott picked up her third foul in the first quarter and had to sit down the rest of the period. Gibson also picked up her third foul, but she stayed in.

#For CV Bethel, Terrell McCoy got her fourth foul and Crishae Kemp had to help off the court with a slight left ankle injury before she would return, but only for a brief period. McCoy also came back, but she didn’t last long before she fouled out.

#In what turned out to be a real defensive battle, most of the points for both teams in the period were generated in the paint and from the foul line until Bethel hit a three-pointer for a 15-11 lead for the Stingrays, who went on to post a 19-17 margin at the half.

#With McCoy on the bench, SAC picked up their intensity as they ran the ball and went up 23-19. A pair of three-pointers from Sands and Scott extended their lead to 30-25. Up 32-27, McCoy fouled out.

#Down the stretch, Moultrie took over on both ends of the court, but Bodie hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to three, 38-35. From there, Moultrie directed the show, either getting a block or rebound to start the offensive fast break.

#• Here’s how they got out of the semifinals:

#CV Bethel 15, Freedom Baptist 12: Danielle McCoy scored 13 points and Geranque Bethel had 10 as the Stingrays pulled away from a 17-10 first quarter lead to win their senior girls semi-final match-up.

#Shanika Darins had six in the loss.

#St Augustine’s College 37, CI Gibson 30: Antonicia Moultrie drove in for a game high 17 points, including 13 in the second half for the Big Red Machine, who rolled out to a 18-10 lead at the half. Teanna Gibson had 11 and Ananna Gomez five and Dior-Ray Scott chipped in with four.

#Jada Francis had 16, including 14 in the second half and Trenea Greene and Philippa Ferguson helped out with six and four respectively in the loss for the Rattlers.

#Named to the All-Tournament team for the senior girls are the following players:

#Freedom Baptist – Weddslinnesi Alexis and Shanika Darins; CV Bethel – Geraniqua Bethel, Trinity Bodie and Danielle McCoy; St Augustine’s College – Teanna Gibson, Antonicia Moultrie and Dior-Rae Scott and CI Gibson – Jada Wilson and Trenae Greene.

#Winning the individual awards were the following players:

#Most rebounds- Antonicia Moultrie – St Augustine’s College; most assists – Dior-Rae Scott – St Augustine’s College; most blocks – Antonicia Moultrie – St Augustine’s College; defensive player – Antonicia Moultrie; offensive player – Danielle McCoy – CV Bethel and tournament MVP – Antonicia Moultrie.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/03/big-red-machine-take-senior-girls-crown/?news

Jordan Prince Williams Falcons Jr Boys’ champions

As of Tuesday, January 3, 2023http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/03/jordan-prince-williams-falcons-jr-boys-champions/?news

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JUNIOR boys MVP Broc Glinton, of Jordan Prince Williams, gets his award.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#JORDAN Prince Williams Falcons pulled off an impressive 54-19 victory over St John’s Giants to win the junior boys’ title in the Providence Storm Holiday Classic at the CI Gibson Gymnasium on Friday.

#The Falcons opened a huge 31-10 advantage at the half behind 15 points from Broc Glinton and seven apiece from Condae Smith and Akeem Major. They were never challenged as they built on their lead in the second half.

#Glinton, the most valuable player, finished with a game high 17 points. Major contributed 10, Michael Munnings had eight and Smith ended up with seven.

#Philip Hanna, who coached the team from the sidelines while Ernest Saunders worked the bench, gave God all the glory for a total team effort that enabled them to achieve their accomplishments.

#“It was a good game. The boys competed. It could have gone either way, but thank the Lord. We give God all the glory for this victory,” Hanna said. “It was up and down, but the guys locked on the defensive end in the second half and we got the job done.”

#Even when Jordan Prince Williams went to their bench, St John’s College didn’t have the defence to contain their offensive flow.

#Leonardo Rolle had seven and Christopher Francis five for the Falcons, coached by Darshtyn Baker.

#• Here’s how they advanced out of the semi-finals earlier in the day:

#Jordan Prince Williams 22, Agape 20: Akeem Major scored a pair of free throws to seal the game in the final seconds. He finished with three points.

#Broc Glinton, however, led with seven points for the Falcons, who posted a 12-6 half-time advantage.

#Joshua Cornish scored a game high 10 and Tayshawn Clarke added eight in the loss for the Eagles.

#St John’s College 28, DW Davis 12: Leonardo Rolle scored a game high 10 points and Christopher Francis added six in the win for the Giants, who led 16-3 at the half.

#Windisky Paul had six in the loss.

#Named the All-Tournament team for the junior boys were the following players:

#St John’s College – Leonardo Rolle, Ranault Lewis and Jamal Gibson; Jordan Prince Williams – Broc Glinton, Michael Munnings and Condae Smith; Apage – Tayshawn Clarke and Joshua Cornish and DW Davis – Darius Hanna.

#Winning the individual awards were the following:

#Most rebounds – Michael Munnings (Jordan Prince Williams); most assists – Akeem Major (Jordan Prince Williams); most block shots – Ranault Lewis (St John’s College); defensive player – Ranault Lewis (St John’s College); offensive player – Leonardo Rolle (St John’s College); Tournament MVP – Broc Glinton (Jordan Prince Williams).

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/03/jordan-prince-williams-falcons-jr-boys-champions/?news

 Home|Sports|

The Nassau Guardian’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year

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Simba FrenchSend an email

January 3, 2023 101 3 minute read

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Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield had a great year playing for the Sacramento Kings and the Indiana Pacers – especially the Pacers where he had some breakthrough performances and some milestones under his belt. He received 43 points out of a possible 45 for the Nassau Guardian’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year honor.

Hield and the Pacers closed off 2022 on a three-game winning streak and as winners of five of their last six games, and ended the year with a 20-17 win/loss record. In their last three games, prior to last night’s encounter against the Toronto Raptors, Hield scored 28, 25 and 18 points in 30 or more minutes on the floor each night. The Pacers are on path to advance to the playoffs this season, sitting in the sixth position in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA) standings.

On the season, Hield is averaging 17.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 31.7 minutes per game. His sharpshooting skills have been on full display this season as he leads the league in three-pointers made with 142 made three-pointers. He is making 3.8 three-pointers per game.

On Thursday, Hield landed in the NBA history book when he made the fastest three-pointer in league history, sinking a three-pointer three seconds into their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He broke a 22-year-old record that was held by Pacers’ legend Reggie Miller who accomplished the feat in four seconds.

The Grand Bahama native became the second-fastest player to reach 1,500 made three-pointers, accomplishing the feat when they took down the Golden State Warriors. Only Stephen Curry of the Warriors reached the milestone faster than the Bahamian. Hield did it in 492 games.

During the offseason this summer, the 30-year-old didn’t have to think twice before letting Bahamians know he would be suiting up for The Bahamas in the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers. In the first round, Hield was instrumental in helping The Bahamas make history by advancing to the second round with an 97-80 win over the U.S. Virgin Islands. Hield played 38 minutes in that game and he finished with 24 points and made five three-pointers. In the four games he played for The Bahamas in the summer, he averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.

Jasrado ‘Jazz’ Chisholm Jr. was on his way to having a great season before he suffered a back injury in late June that eventually kept him out for the rest of the season. The Miami Marlins’ second baseman became the first Bahamian to be selected to the all-star game in Major League Baseball (MLB). It was the fifth time in Marlins history that the club had a player voted in to start the all-star game, but Chisholm didn’t play due to the injury.

Chisholm was having a phenomenal year for the Marlins, batting .254 with 14 home runs, 45 RBIs (runs batted in) and 39 runs scored. At the time, he was among the league leaders among second basemen in a number of offensive categories and had been a pillar of stability defensively for the Marlins.

Chisholm also had 12 stolen bases. He finished with an on-base percentage (OBP) of .325 and an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of .860.

Defensively, Chisholm had 93 putouts and 123 assists in 220 total chances this past season. He had helped turn 21 double plays and had a fielding percentage of .982.

DeAndre Ayton’s 2021-2022 season was highlighted by contract negotiations and an abrupt end to the Phoenix Suns’ playoff run. In the summer, Ayton was a restricted free agent and he received a four-year $133 million offer from the Indiana Pacers. The Suns matched it a few days later.

Last season, Ayton helped the Suns reach the Western Conference semifinals. However, the Suns fell 4-3 to the Dallas Mavericks in the best-of-seven series.

Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season while shooting 63.4 percent from the field and 36.8 percent on shots from deep. The Suns finished with a league best 64-18 win/loss record.

This season, the big man is averaging 17.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. The Suns currently sport a 20-18 record, having lost their last three games. They sit in seventh position in the Western Conference of the NBA.

Long jumper LaQuan Nairn, who won a gold medal in the men’s long jump at the Commonwealth Games, was fourth in the voting for the Nassau Guardian’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year honor with 38 points and professional baseball player with the Washington Nationals Lucius Fox Jr., who became the eighth Bahamian to be called up to the majors, accomplishing the feat this season, finished fifth with 32 points.

https://thenassauguardian.com/the-nassau-guardians-senior-male-athlete-of-the-year-4/

 Home|Sports|‘Coach Yo’, Lady Rebels win two games to start SEC playSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 3, 2023 92 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

After an eight-day rest, Bahamian Yolet ‘Coach Yo’ McPhee-McCuin and the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Lady Rebels got conference play underway with two wins in four days. Their latest win was on the road against the Mississippi State University Bulldogs, 61-50, at Humphrey Coliseum in Starksville, Mississippi, on New Year’s Day.

The win has the Lady Rebels sporting a 13-2 overall win/loss record and a 2-0 record in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play. The Bulldogs dropped to a 12-3 record and a 1-1 SEC record.

The first win in conference play for the Lady Rebels came against the Auburn University Tigers last Thursday, 79-47, in a home game at the Sandy and John Black (SJB) Pavilion in Oxford, Mississippi.

McPhee-McCuin gave credit to the Bulldogs for a competitive game, but added that her team is on a mission, continuing a five-year journey.

“I’m extremely proud of our team,” McPhee-McCuin said. “I’m extremely, extremely proud of everyone who has gotten us to this point. It’s only game two (conference play this season), but this is year five and year five should feel like this. I thought both teams did justice to the fans. It was an incredible game. We felt like we didn’t have a good first half and so we tried to get a momentum in the second half. We were fortunate to come out of a raucous environment like this with a win.”

There was a strong defensive effort from McPhee-McCuin’s squad as they held the Bulldogs to 34.5 percent shooting from the field. The Bulldogs only made 19 of their 55 shot attempts.

For a second straight game, senior guard Angel Baker led the Lady Rebels in scoring, dropping in 22 points. She had a double-double as she added 10 points. She was one of two Lady Rebels to score in double figures. The other was junior forward Madison Scott who had 15 points. The duo helped the Lady Rebels overcome junior forward ‘Snudda’ Collins’ poor shooting night as she had just five points on 2-for-10 shooting from the field.

At the end of the third quarter, Baker connected on a jump shot to give the Lady Rebels a slim 47-44 lead going into the final quarter. Baker accounted for 12 of the Rebels’ 21 points in that third quarter.

McPhee-McCuin, known for her steady preaching of defense, pushed her team to victory in the fourth quarter. As a team, they held the Bulldogs to only six points in the fourth. They outscored the Bulldogs, 14-6, in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs went 2-for-12 from the field in that quarter, shooting just 16.7 percent from the field.

“Holding a team like Mississippi State to six points in the fourth quarter, it’s incredible. It just shows the character of our team,” said McPhee-McCuin. “We believe in defense and we believe in it so much that it’s what is the engine to our offense. We feel like when we get stops, good things happen. I was incredibly proud of our group with the way we locked down. I think our defense is strong because we’re versatile. So, sometimes if we know we need to go big, we’ll go big, but if we need to go small, we’ll go small.”

Last Thursday, the Lady Rebels dominated the Tigers in all four quarters, finishing the game shooting 45.6 percent from the field. They held the Bulldogs to 25 percent shooting from the field. The Bulldogs never led in this game.

Baker led the Rebels in scoring with 18 points. Collins and Scott had 15 and 13 points respectively.

Ole Miss outrebounded their opponent, 53-37, and forced 18 turnovers in the 32-point blowout.

The Rebels return to the court on Thursday, hosting the Vanderbilt University Commodores (9-7, 0-2 SEC) in a game that starts at 7 p.m.

https://thenassauguardian.com/coach-yo-lady-rebels-win-two-games-to-start-sec-play/

As of Wednesday, December 28, 2022

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CAMERON RILEY

DEVAUGHN ROBINSON

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#IN his second appearance on the Bahamas Professional Golf Association fresh from his initial season on the professional circuit, Grand Bahamian Cameron Riley emerged as the champion of the Korn Kerry qualifier for the Great Abaco Classic.

#Riley won the rights to represent the Bahamas in the Classic at the Abaco Club January 22-29 after he beat out Devaughn Robinson in a playoff during the trials that was held at the Royal Blue Club at Baha Mar on December 20.

#After the duo completed the one-day trial with a one-under-par 143, Riley clinched the title on the fourth hole after they started the sudden death showdown on the first hole.

#It was an improvement for Riley, who finished third as Robinson captured the qualifier in November at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island.

#BPGA president Raquel Riley said it was a good competition between Riley and Robinson, who won the first trials and earned the rights to participate in the Exuma Classic that will be played a week earlier.

#“They played two rounds of stroke play and Devaughn and Cameron were tied after regulation and went into a sudden death playoff,” she said. “We used number one as the playoff hole. They played it even three times and on the fourth and final playoff, Devaughn bogied the fourth hole and Cameron birdied to win the qualifier.”

#Three other players completed the trials with Keathan Stuart coming in third with 158 (77-81), Marcus Pratt was fourth with (81-82) 163 and Matthew Cox was fifth with (79-86) 165.

#Fresh out of college at Florida A&M University where he graduated in 2021 with his degree in mechanical engineering, the 23-year-old Riley said it was a fitting tribute for him to top the field for his first representation for the Bahamas at the professional level.

#“I just feel overjoyed about competing in the trials and being able to battle it out with my fellow Bahamian professional players,” Riley said.

#“Being able to display the grit and determination to win makes it so much sweeter.

#“To win my first professional win at home, it was just very fulfilling for me. I do think that as a kid I would be in the position that I would be in, so I’m truly blessed to be in this position.”

#In pulling off the victory, Riley said he was certainly on his game and his grit, determination and grind enabled him to persevere when it counted the most, considering that he fell short in his initial bid against Robinson.

#Now that he has secured his berth for the Great Abaco Classic, Riley said there’s some fine tuning he needs to do to get ready for January. He will continue to train at his home base in Orlando, Florida where he currently resides with his parents over the past three years.

#“I definitely need to clean up my short game and also my iron game,” he said. “I need to get that a little sharper to get ready to compete with everybody out there,” he said. “I have the distance to hit the ball off the tee. I have a very sharp mental game.

#“I just need to get a little sharper on certain things to make sure that I give myself an opportunity to go out there and win it. That’s the goal. “I just want to go out there to show the world that the Bahamas has some good golf talent, and we have what it takes to play at the next level.”

#In preparation for the Classic, Riley will continue to compete on the Advocates Pro Golf Association (APGA) Tour, a minority-based tour that travels all through the United States at venues from California to New York to Florida, ensuring that all of America is covered.

#After winning the initial trials for Exuma, scheduled for January 15-19, Robinson was hoping for an encore, but he congratulated Riley for pulling through for Abaco.

#“To be honest, I expected to win. I didn’t perform the way I had hoped, especially in the first round and I knew that if I wasn’t, Cameron would have been tough to beat,” Robinson pointed out.

#“He’s a good young player that has improved every time I see him. I’m happy for him and excited to see how far he can take this opportunity.”

#Although he fell short in the trials, Robinson said not being at his best , he still managed to post some decent scores and it gives him a ton of confidence for January. “It cements the point that I don’t need my best in order to compete,” he summed up.

#Both Robinson and Riley, however, contend that for them to be able to compete against the world when they come to the pair of classics, they will have to produce their A-game in order to be in contention for the respective titles.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/28/cameron-riley-qualifies-great-abaco-classic/?news

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

As of Wednesday, December 28, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#With another triple crown to her ledger, Bahamian quarter-miler Shaunae Miller-Uibo emerged as The Tribune’s 2022 Female Athlete of the Year.

#As sports returned to full strength on the international scene after the two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 28-year-old Miller- Uibo produced three major championship feats that enabled her 6-foot, 1-inch frame to stand out among the rest of the Bahamian female athletes.

#Another dominating figure, Jonquel Jones would have emerged at number two on the top five list, but she had to follow the trend in track and field that saw some defining moments from the diminutive hurdler Devynne Charlton and sprinter Tynia Gaither.

#Sprinter Anthonique Strachan, regaining glimpses of her younger self on the world stage, capped off the year, controlled by track and field athletes with the fifth spot and some added recognition off the track as a spokesperson.

#Champion – Shaunae Miller-Uibo

#After bringing her team-mates to a training camp in January, Miller-Uibo returned to the World Indoor Championships for some unfinished business.

#Miller-Uibo snatched her first gold medal in the 400 metres in 50.31 seconds in Belgrade, Serbia on March 19 to improve on the bronze she achieved in her initial appearance in 2014 in Sopot, Poland.

#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.

#She was named as one of the 10 nominees by the international panel of athletics experts for World Athletics’ 2022 Women’s Athlete of the Year.

#She fell short in the voting process but was one of three athletes added to the recreation of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Legends Walk of Fame outside the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. The other two were Strachan and men’s quarter-miler Steven Gardiner.

NATIONAL record holder Devynne Charlton proudly holds the Bahamian flag after placing fifth in the 110 metre hurdles at the Wanda Diamond League Final.

#Runner-up – Devynne Charlton

#Back at full strength in her first full season on the international scene, Devynne Charlton emerged during the spotlight that was placed on the women’s 100m hurdles with Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan leading the way with a quadruple feat at the World, Diamond League, Commonwealth Games and African Championships, while establishing a world record of 12.12 seconds in the semi-finals at the World Championships.

#The 27-year-old Charlton had a record-breaking performance of her own when she lowered the Bahamian women’s national 100m hurdles mark to 12.60 with her victory at the BAAA Nationals in June at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

#The performance came after Charlton earned her first World Athletics’ Indoor Championships with her silver in March.

#Following her trip home, Charlton had to settle for seventh at the World Championships in July where she dropped her previous national record to 12.53.

#From there, Charlton went on to ascend the podium again at the Commonwealth Games with another silver in her specialty. And to top it off, Charlton headed to Grand Bahama where she was a double medallist at the NACAC Championships, claiming a bronze in the 100m hurdles and ran the opening leg on the 4 x 100m relay team that picked up the silver.

#After getting the baton from Strachan on the second leg, Charlton got to display her versatility on the final bend to help ignite Gaither in her brilliant come-from-behind performance on the home stretch where the celebrations began. Not to be left out, although she didn’t make the top list, was Printassia Johnson, who got the team off on the first leg in the revival of the women’s relay on the international scene.

TYNIA GAITHER

#Third place finisher – Tynia Gaither

#The 29-year-old Grand Bahamian made a strong push for one of the top spots when she emerged as one of the international medal winners during what has been a banner year for female track and field athletes.

#After earning the century title at the BAAA National Championships in June, Gaither made it to the semi-finals of the World Championships in Eugene in July where she ran her lifetime best of 22.41.

#That seemed to have sparked her interest and rejuvenated her commitment to shine, finishing seventh in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games in August in Birmingham.

#But the dual sprinter didn’t rest on her laurels as she went back home and landed, not just one, but a pair of silver medals at the NACAC Championships.

#Before the home crowd at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex, Gaither didn’t disappoint the fans as she surged to her first medal with the silver in the 200m. On that same day, she had a sensational anchor leg on the aforementioned 4 x 100m relay that brought the Bahamas from fourth to silver.

Jonquel Jones

#Fourth place finisher – Jonquel Jones

#Jones, the 28-year-old Grand Bahamian 6-6 power forward, continued to shine in the Women’s National Basketball Association with the Connecticut Sun where she posted an average of 14.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in the 33 games she played in.

#In what turned out to be another stellar individual performance in her sixth year in the league as the number six pick, Jones made her fourth WNBA All-Star game (2017, 2019 and 2021), her third All- WNBA second team (2017 and 2019) and her first WNBA All-Defensive second team.

#After the season was completed, Jones left the United States to reunite with her teammates with UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian League.

#Jones ended up joining the Turkish team Cukurova Basketbol, which participates in the Women’s Basketball Super League and she’s a member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team that she participated for in the EuroBasket Women’s Tournament.

Anthonique Strachan

#Fifth place finisher – Anthonique Strachan

#Her decision to remain in Jamaica to train with the MVP Track Club has paid off for the 29-year-old Strachan, who showed flashes of her old self when she was named the IAAF’s Rising Star in 2012.

#Shaking off a series of injuries that hindered her progress in between those years, Strachan became the seventh Bahamian female to dip under the 11-second barrier in the 100m when she clocked 10.98 in the semi-finals at the World Championships in Eugene in July.

#Although she didn’t complete the year as she did in her most impressive year in 2012 when she earned the sweep of the Under- 20 World Championships’ 100m and 200m, Strachan closed out the year on the podium with her fellow members of the 4 x 100m team at the NACAC Championships in Grand Bahama in August.

#Strachan, who already serves as the athletes’ representative for the BAAA, was elected to serve as one of the Members-At-Large for the NACAC Athletes’ Commission during the NACAC Championships.

#Joining Strachan on the board are O’Dayne Richards of Jamaica, who was elected to serve as the chairperson, along with Jehue Gordon from Trinidad & Tobago, Ayanna Morgan from Barbados, William Leer from the United States of America and Kurt Felix of Grenada.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/28/triple-crown-shaunae-miller-uibo-tribunes-female-a/?news

As of Thursday, December 29, 2022

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DENIKA LIGHTBOURNE

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#POINT guard Denika Lightbourne has had a promising career since she left the Queen’s College Comets in grade nine to continue playing for the Lady Indians at Tallulah Falls School in Tallulah Falls, Georgia.

#Now in her senior year where she’s teaming up with two other Bahamians, Tanisha Seymour, another senior from Nassau and Tahj Charlton, a junior from Grand Bahama, the 18-year-old Lightbourne has secured a scholarship to compete for the University of Dayton Ohio where she will pursue a degree in computer science.

#Home for the holidays, Lightbourne spent some time working out in the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium with veteran women’s coach Anthony Swaby.

#He took the time out to make sure that she stays fit and ready to compete when she returns to school in January.

#“My dream is to play professional basketball,” said Lightbourne, who has already projected herself as one of the top female players to watch from the time she started playing under coach Kino Demeritte at Temple Christian Primary School.

#In making the transition from the Bahamas to the United States, Lightbourne said she’s been able to improve her game and she’s now content with her ability to play at the next level when she heads to university in August.

#“At first it was pretty hard, but because of the players around me, I was able to make the adjustments,” Lightbourne said.

#“I think the team we have this year will be able to do some good things, but it’s still a learning process for us.”

#The Lady Indians, coached by Lowell Hamilton, emerged as the region champions last year when they finished in the elite eight.

#This year, they are currently 4-8 so far, but Lightbourne said they have the potential to be a whole lot better.

#“We started off with a rough start, but we are starting to come together,” said Lightbourne, as she looks ahead to their return to competition against Lake Oconee Academy on January 7.

#“The most important games are the region games, so we just want to prepare ourselves for those games next year.”

#The 5-foot, 8 1.2-inch Lightbourne said the goal is to finish better than they did last year.

#She said as she looks to solidifying her position in the backcourt, she hopes that she can play at a higher level when it counts the most.

#Lightbourne, the daughter of La-Shanda and Deniko Lighbourne and siblings to La-Shae and Deniko Jr, said she got an opportunity to play with the women’s national team, which has helped her game tremendously.

#She said she’s even more excited abut being home and getting in the workout sessions with Swaby. “Mr Swaby has always been there for me and I appreciate the fact that he got me to come in the gym and get in this workout,” Lightbourne said. “I think it’s so important for me to be able to get in some workouts while I am at home.”

#Swaby, who continues to assist the women playing in college or the pro ranks, said he has been pleased with the progress that Lightbourne has made and he insists that she will definitely be a force to reckon with in the future.

#“Anytime I get the opportunity to help any of the players, I make myself available for them,” Swaby said.

#“I believe that if you show them some interest whenever they are invited to try out for the national team, they will be willing to come out because they see that there are some people who are interested in them.”

#In Lightbourne, Swaby said he and current women’s national team coach Donilo ‘Donnie’ Culmer are convinced that Lightbourne could end up being one of the best point guards to ever come out of the Bahamas.

#He said he believes that a number of the division one colleges that passed up on the opportunity to recruit Lightbourne will regret their decision when they see how well she will soar when she settles in at Daytona, Ohio.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/29/denika-lightbourne-looking-ahead-daytona/?news

As of Thursday, December 29, 2022

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Agape coach Stephan Johnson having a chat with chief statistician Rochelle Kemp.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#ALTHOUGH they are still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Dorian, the Agape Academy Eagles are eager about the full return of sporting activities whether on the island of Abaco or here in the capital.

#Not only are they bringing in teams to participate in basketball and volleyball tournaments, but Agape is also making the trip to New Providence to compete whenever the opportunity presents itself.

#This week, the Eagles, under coach Stephan Johnson, are back in town for another appearance in the Providence Storm Basketball Club’s 2022 Holiday Classic at the CI Gibson Gymnasium.

#While the Eagles’ senior boys dropped their second consecutive game, losing 25-21 to the undefeated Jordan Prince Williams Falcons, Johnson said he was encouraged by what he saw from his team.

#“A lot of my kids have not had an opportunity to play in a tournament of this calibre, so shout out to coach Kevin Johnson and Providence Basketball Club for affording us the opportunity to come here and compete.

#“We just try to practice as best as we can and to work on whatever we need to do whenever we get into a game situation. So we’re glad that both our junior boys and our senior boys get to compete.

#“Our junior boys are looking very good, but our senior boys have lost two close games. I think we still have a chance to make the playoffs, but we have to win our next games we play.”

#In their last game against the Falcons, coached by Ernest Saunders, Johnson said they showed a vast improvement since losing to Jordan Prince Williams by 15 points in a tournament they hosted in Abaco in October.

#• Here’s a summary of some of the games played:

#Jordan Prince Williams 25, Agape 21: Kamari Minns scored 12 points and Ellery Lockhart added eight as the Falcons flew past the Eagles. Anthony Mertil had 10 and DeShawn Smith five in the loss. Jordan Prince Williams led 12-7 at the half.

#Queen’s College 32, Government High 16: Leo Burrows scored a game high 20 points to pace the Comets senior boys, who came from a 114-10 deficit at the half. Rasheed Brennen had five in the loss.

#CC Sweeting 43, Teleos 35: Jamerolston Vil scored 14 points in the Cobras’ senior boys win.

#Cedric Farrington had a game high 14 in the loss. CC Sweeting came from a 23-16 deficit at the half for the win.

#CI Gibson B 31, St George’s 27: Prince Wheatley scored all of his 10 points in the second half and Carson Rolle, who had six in the period, finished with 10 as well as the Rattlers senior boys won.

#DeVorne Rigby and Kevaro Russell both had six in the loss after they trailed 15-12 at the half.

#Doris Johnson 41, St John’s College 29: Brendon Williams scored 15 points and Stephen Robinson came up with nine in the Mystic Marlin’s senior boys win after leading 16-12 at the half. Tallen Porter had 13 in a losing effort.

#CV Bethel 26, Teleos 4: Terrell McCoy came up with 13 and Trinity Bodie added 11 as the Stingrays’ senior girls won. Keziah Butler and A’Zariah Anderson both had two in the loss.

#CH Reeves 21, Nassau Christian Academy 3: Stanley Pratt scored six points and Kavashti Rahming added five for the Raptors as they both scored more than the Crusaders, who trailed 10-1 at the half. Rufus Johnson had a pair of points in the loss.

#St John’s 31, DW Davis 27: Leonardo Rolle and Kymani Bowe had 12 and seven points respectively to lead a 1-2 punch for the Giants junior boys as they out-lasted the Royals, who trailed 19-13 at the half.

#Darius Hanna had a game high 13 and Windisky Paul added six in the loss.

#Jordan Prince Williams 20, Freedom Baptist 6: Antonio Knowles and Broc Glinton scored eight and seven points respectively for the Falcons in the junior boys division after they opened a 15-3 lead at the half.

#Caleb Russell scored three points in the loss.

#Agape 20, SC McPherson 16: Tayshawn Clarke scored 20 points, including seven in the second half as they rallied from a 9-5 deficit. Judah McIntosh added seven.

#Tieano Ferguson had eight in a losing effort.

#St Augustine’s College 27, Teleos 5: Antonicia Moultrie canned nine and Dior-Rae Scott chipped in with eight as the Big Red Machine senior girls rolled past the Cherubim in a late game on Wednesday.

#Keziah Butler had five in the loss.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/29/providence-storm-basketball-holiday-classic-heats/?news

As of Thursday, December 29, 2022

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BAHAMAS Softball Federation president Jenny Isaacs-Dotson, umpire-in-chief Martin Burrows, sponsor Deanza ‘Sunny’ Cox and pitchers Mary ‘Cruise’ Sweeting and Ernestine.

PITCHER Greg Mortimer holding his candle as husband Ken Symonette is in the background with his cap on at the candle light vigil last night.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#TRIBUTES poured in from softball players, the media and family and friends last night as a candle light vigil was held in memory of the late Zella Brown-Symonette, the veteran national team softball player who was considered one of the best female shortstops that ever played the game.

#Brown-Symonette, 59, died on Tuesday, December 13, leaving behind her husband Kenneth Symonette Sr, daughter Kenise (Jerad) Darville, son Kenneth (Qutel) Symonette Jr, grandchildren Anthony Deane, Colman and Chozen Darville and Hannah and Kai Symonette, sisters Ruthmae Williams, Maxine Newton and Patricia Brown and brothers Ralph, Ullis and Dexter Brown.

#Yasmin Newbold serenaded the crowd with a number of selections, Bishop Denczil Rolle delivered a short exaltation and prayer and Pastor Stephanie Chisholm closed out the candle light vigil at the Symonette’s home on Avocado Street in Pinewood Gardens.

Kenice Darville and Ken Symonette participate in the candle light vigil for their mother, Zella Symonette.

#But throughout the night, tributes poured in about the life on and off the softball field of Symonette and a special video presentation documented some of the funloving experiences shared by family members.

Some of the softball players who showed up to remember Zella Symonette.

#Ernestine Butler-Stubbs, a veteran pitcher, said she and Symonette were inseparable and would always room together whenever they travelled on the national team. She noted that on one trip, the management team attempted to split them up, but she insisted that if they did, they were both going to head home.

#They stayed together.

#Even after playing on several teams apart from each other in the New Providence Softball Association, Butler-Stubbs recalled how they came together and played for the Spotless, the Brackettes and the Johnson Lady Truckers, the last team that Symonette played on.

#“With me and Zella on the same team, nothing could go wrong on the pitcher’s mound or in shortstop or anywhere on the field because if Zella saw someone make a mistake, Zella would say ‘Nay, get that ball,’” Butler said.

#Hyacinth Farrington, representing the Invaders Softball Team in the Bahamas Government Departmental Softball Association, said her days with Symonette extended to the Wildcats where they provided the best shortstop-second sacker combo.

#“We had so many double plays together,” said Farrington, who called Symonette a beautiful person. “Thanks for the memories you left behind. You will be missed.”

#Alvin Knowles, the senior deacon at Mt Tabor, talked about their connection from the Five-Pound Yard in Kemp and their relationship that blossomed when they became members of Mt Tabor Full Gospel Church and eventually serving on the Deaconate Board.

#“Zella had an infectious smile,” he said. “Even when Zella was mad, she would do a little pout with her mouth, but all of a sudden you saw a smile break off.”

#Greg ‘Motts’ Mortimer, another softball pitcher, said his days with Symonette also extended back to Kemp Road where they grew up. He noted that while they played in the NPSA, their paths were interrupted until he visited Mt Tabor with his daughter, who was a member and he got to rekindle his relationship with Symonette.

#“I know one thing for sure, she’s a child of the kind and she’s resting in the arms of the Lord,” Mortimer said.

#For umpire-in-chief Martin ‘Pork’ Burrows, he first got to know Symonette back in 1991 when he played with her husband Ken in the Hotel League. He said he always wondered why Symonette would take her lunch hour to sit in the back in right field, but he realised that it was because of the position Ken played.

#“Zella was a champion, but Ken was a champion from that time as we won a number of championships in the hotel league before it became the Atlantis League,” Burrows said. “We won about eight or nine championships and I remember Symonette coming out to watch us play in all of them.”

#When he ventured into umpiring, Martin said he noticed how Symonette would always take the time to encourage him during or after the game about the manner in which he officiated the game.

#Deanza ‘Sonny’ Cox, the new sponsor of the Sunshine Auto Wildcats, said when he came on board, Symonette had already left for the Truckers.

#“The Wildcats that I joined, never forgot Zella, so when you talked about greatness, Zella’s name always came up. So hats off to Zella,” Cox said. “That’s why I am here tonight. I’m here to represent Zella, who was one of the original Wildcats, who made a difference in fastpitch softball.”

#Jenny Isaacs-Dotson, the first female to serve as president of the BSF, expressed her condolences on behalf of the entire softball community.

#“It touches home for me particularly as the president of the BSF because I not only played against Zella in slowpitch and fastpitch, but we travelled on the national team as well,” Isaacs-Dotson said. “She was a remarkable person, who I never saw angry, I never saw upset. She was always smiling and always encouraging.

#“When I saw the notice coming around about her death, I had to call Mary (Edgecombe-Sweeting) to confirm. But she will be sorely missed. Hopefully we will be able to do something for her on the park at a later date.”

#In conclusion, Brent Stubbs, senior reporter at The Tribune, noted that Symonette was a “gem,” who played like “poetry in motion,” similar to the late Kith Butler. He also called for Symonette to be memorialised posthumously in the National Hall of Fame. May her soul rest in peace.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/29/candle-light-vigil-held-memory-shortstop-zella-bro/?news

CHAVANO “Buddy” Hield has been named as The Tribune’s Male Athlete of the Year 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

As of Thursday, December 29, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#In what was an unusual year for Bahamas sports, for the first time there were no nominees for the top five spots from track and field.

#Instead, those spots were filled by the three Bahamians now playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and two, who made history as they competed in the Major League Baseball.

#What a year again to review without a top male track and field athlete.

#Champion – Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield

#After so many rumours swirling that also included the Los Angeles Lakers, Hield was finally traded from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Indiana Pacers on February 8 in a six-player deal and a 2023 second-round pick.

#On February 11, the 30-year-old Grand Bahamian made his debut for the Pacers in a 120-113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, recording a near triple double with 16 points, eight assists and nine rebounds.

#The shooting guard came back on February 15 and scored a season-high 36 points while dishing out four assists in a 128–119 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and on December 5, he became the second-fastest player in NBA history to reach 1,500 career three-pointers, only behind Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry.

#Hield, selected by the Pelicans with the sixth overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft out of Oklahoma, is averaging 17.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game for the Pacers, who are in contention for a playoff run this season.

#The 6-foot, 4-inch, 220-pound guard came home and played once again for the Bahamas in the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s bid to put together the best team possible to qualify for the FIBA World Cup.

#Unfortunately, his best efforts in leading the Bahamas in a pair of games was not enough to get the Bahamas over the hump.

PHOENIX Suns’ Deandre Ayton, of The Bahamas, poses for a photo during an NBA basketball media day in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

#Runner-up – DeAndre Ayton

#While the federation was looking forward to him coming home to team up with Hield and Kai Jones in the FIBA World Cup qualifier, Ayton opted not to play as he was dealing with negotiations for a new contract with the Phoenix Suns.

#After he didn’t agree on a contract extension with the Suns, Ayton became a restricted free agent during the offseason and on July 14, 2022, he signed a four-year, $133 million offer sheet with the Pacers, amounting to the largest in league history.

#Eventually, the Suns matched the Pacers offer and on July 18, Ayton signed the Suns’ multi-year contract.

#Playing for the Arizona Wildcats in the Pac-12 Conference in the 2017-18 season, Ayton was selected as the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft by the Suns. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2019.

#In 2021, he helped Phoenix to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.

#Ayton, 24, is now a formidable force to reckon with in the middle as a 7-0 centre for the Suns, averaging 17.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game for Phoenix, who is sitting among the top echelon of the Western Conference in the NBA.

Miami Marlins’ Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr. (AP File photo)

#Third place finisher – Jasrado ‘Jazz’ Chisholm

#Had it not been for a season-ending injury, Chisholm could have easily surged to the front of the pack.

#The 24-year-old second baseman, Chisholm was hitting for a .254 batting average, alongside 14 home runs, 45 runs batted in, 39 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, and an on base plus slugging percentage of .860/

#He was the National League leader at his position in OPS, home runs and RBI, as well as slugging percentage (.535) and triples (4) and made the All-Star game for the first time in his career, being named the starting second baseman for the National League.

#Although he became the first Bahamian-born player to make the All-Star Game roster, Chisholm did not play in the game as he was placed on the injured list on June 29, due to what was then diagnosed as right lower back strain.

#On July 22, Chisholm was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his lower back, and missed six weeks of the season. But on September 10, the Marlins confirmed that Chisholm would be out for the rest of the season.

#Before he left, in 60 games played, Chisholm hit .254/.325/.535 with 14 home runs, 10 doubles, 4 triples, 45 RBI and 12 stolen bases

Kai Jones (AP Photo)

#Fourth place finish – Kai Jones

#After being drafted in the first round with the sixth pick in 2019 by the New York Knicks, the 21-year-old Jones, who was then traded to the Charlotte Hornets, is now coming into his own after spending a brief stint in the D-League.

#The 6-11 forward, who was the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year for the University of Texas in 2021, is averaging 3.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.4 turnovers, 0.2 steals, 05 blocks and 1.4 personal fouls per game with his flashy aqua coloured hairdo.

LUCIUS FOX

#Fifth place finisher – Lucius Fox

#History was made again on April 10 when Fox was called up to play in the Majors for the Washington Nationals, becoming the eighth Bahamian to reach that lofty plateau, joining the two previous members in the league at the same time.

#In his debut game, the shortstop laid down a safety squeeze bunt to tie the game in the eighth inning as the Nationals came from behind for a 4-2 win over the New York Mets.

#Also playing in the league was Chisholm and Antoan Richardson, who is now the first base coach for the San Francisco Giants.

#The other Bahamians to play in the Majors are Andre Rodgers, Tony Curry, Ed Armbrister, Wenty Ford and Wilfred Culmer, all of whom are deceased.

#The 25-year-old Fox recorded his first MLB hit on May 1 in an 11-5 win over Richardson and the Giants, but was sent back to the Triple- A Rochester Red Wings on May 3.

#On December 13, Fox was designated for assignment by the Nationals where he is awaiting his new assignment for 2023.

#At the end of 2022, on December 4 to be exact, Fox teamed up with Todd Isaacs Jr to host the fifth edition of their fast growing Don’t Blink Home Run Derby that returned to its original site at Montagu shore after being staged on Paradise Island.

#When it was all said and done, it came down to the first All Bahamian showdown in the final with BJ Murray out-slugging Trent Deveaux to cart off the crown, adding his name to the list of champions that included Bo Bichette, the back-to-back winner in 2018 and 2019, Lewis Brinson in 2020 and MJ Melendez last year.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/29/buddy-top-chavano-hield-tribunes-male-athlete-year/?news