As of Friday, September 22, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THIRD baseman BJ Murray Jr, one of the few Bahamians left in minor league baseball action, and the Tennessee Smokies are one game from advancing to the Double-A championship series.

#Murray Jr and the Smokies, an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, took game one of their best-of-three playoff series against the Cincinnati Reds’ af liate Chattanooga Lookouts on Tuesday at the AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with a 3-1 victory.

#In that game, Murray Jr, batting second in the line-up, went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run batted in (RBI) and a run scored for a .667 average.

#Game two of the series was scheduled for last night. If necessary, the third and deciding game will be played tonight.

#“We are trying to win. We are trying to nish this series off as quickly as possible,” said Murray Jr as he geared up for last night’s game. “We are trying to finish this team off as quickly as possible. We definitely have the team to do it.”

#The 23-year-old Murray Jr, who was drafted in round 15 with the 454th pick overall by the Cubs in the 2021 Major League Draft, said they are a position to clinch a berth into the league final.

#“The team is looking good, and we are very confident that we can win this series,” said Murray Jr, who switch hits as a batter, but throws with his right hand.

#The 5-foot, 10-inch Murray Jr, who in 452 at-bats has produced 119 hits with 16 home runs, 14 stolen bases, 74 RBI and 71 runs for an .263 average, admitted that he could perform a whole lot better.

#“Baseball is a hard game, so I could improve in every aspect,” he stated. “There’s no one specific area that I want to get better at. I want to get better at everything.”

Youngsters taking part in the training camp

As of Friday, September 22, 2023

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#By Brent Stubbs

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Here to celebrate the 60th birthday of her mother Laura Charlton this weekend, Bahamian national women’s 100 metres hurdles record holder Devynne Charlton and her American training partner Masai Russell hosted a free, one-day camp for girls.

#More than 20 young girls participated in the event yesterday at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The idea wasn’t conceived until Charlton and Russell both arrived in town on Wednesday and their father David Charlton suggested they host the camp.

#The wheels started spinning in motion.

#“It’s been on my mind for a while to do something like this and so it was a no brainer,” Charlton said. “I was kind of overwhelmed by the amount of young ladies who showed up in such a short notice.”

#Once her schedule permits, Charlton said she would de nitely like to be back to put on a camp on a bigger scale and hopefully with more promotion and even extending it to the sprints so they can draw a larger crowd.

#Russell, who came to town to support the Charltons in the birthday celebrations, said she jumped at the idea of assisting the hurdlers in the camp because it showed the impact that they have had on their lives.

#“These girls are taking in all of the information. They are great athletes. We’re doing it for free. We’re not doing it for anything else. We are doing it for the love of the sport. So whatever we can do for the kids is just great.”

#From what she’s seen, Russell said she was more than impressed because the girls possessed more skills than she did when she was their age.

#Charlton said from the athleticism that they showed, she too was rather impressed. “When I was their age, we had maybe two or three of us consistently training for the hurdles, but now I’m coming out and I’m seeing hurdlers at just about every track meet with three or four heats,” she reflected.

#“It speaks to what me and the other ladies have done for the sport because more young ladies are coming out to participate.”

#Dave Charlton, a former 400 metre hurdler, said it was something that came in the spur of the moment when the two athletes arrived in town.

#He noted that they are excited about sharing with some of the future hurdlers for the Bahamas. “It’s rare that you have two world-class athletes, who are top 10 in the world, to be able to share with these youngsters,” said Charlton, the founder and head coach of Star Trackers Track Club. “I’m very proud of my daughter Devynne and her friend Masai, who are two very talented ladies.”

#Laura Charlton said it was “good to see the professional athletes come back and give back and touch and feel and be among the younger athletes to inspire them and encourage them.”

#She said this only reminds the younger girls that these athletes were once where they are and they can only inspire them to become as great or even greater than they are.

#As she celebrates her 60 years or six perfect 10 birthdays this weekend, she said she was elated that

#they got a chance to host the clinic and she could only wish them all the best.

#She noted that her younger daughter Anthaya and her oldest daughter Lauren will also be in town for the celebrations.

#Darvinique Dean, one of the rising talented hurdlers who is coming off a great season, said it was an honour to be a part of the camp because it provided her with an opportunity to work on her technique going into next season.

#“They are great role models for me. I watched them a lot and I’m glad that Devynne came back and showed us how she does it so we can be great too,” said the 15-year-old 10th grader at St Augustine’s College and a member of Red-Line Athletics Track Club.

#One of the coaches on hand was former hurdler Neketa Sears Knowles, who just formed the Speed Capacity Maximised Track Club last year. She brought along two of her members to gain some of the knowledge being passed on.

#“This is excellent. I was not going to allow them to miss this opportunity,” she said. “To have two world- class athletes here doing a free clinic, you couldn’t beat that. The exposure is important and to have this opportunity to learn from them, I wasn’t going to let them miss this.”

#As training partners in Kentucky at the University of Kentucky under the supervision of Bahamian head coach ‘Rolando ‘Lonnie’ Greene, it was more like a match made in heaven. “We’ve been training together for four years now and I couldn’t ask for no better training partner,” Charlton said. “We came here on vacation and decided to do this at the last minute. But I think it’s very signi cant to have two world class hurdlers come here and have a clinic at the same time is pretty cool.”

#To be her training partner is something that Russell said she cherishes just as much.

#“We’ve been training together for four years, but it really took off last year and now we are seeing the great things we are doing together,” Russell pointed out.

#“To see someone who you work closely with doing some amazing things and then to do some funs things like this is just amazing.”

#Both competitors are eager to see how well they can progress up the ladder on the global stage after the season they enjoyed this year.

#“I’m trending upwards. I was fourth at the World Championships this year so the only place left is to get a medal,” Charlton said. “We talked about it, Our goal is to be on the podium.”

#After she made her first World Championship after she completed her tenure at Kentucky, Russell said she’s following in the footsteps of Charlton.

#“I saw her do the Olympics. I saw her do the World Championships for the past two years, so it’s just good to have a mentor like this to look up to and to talk to. We’re both going to get a medal next year. I’m not even going to doubt that.”

#Charlton, 27, is a silver medallist at the World Indoor Championships and the Commonwealth Games last year. She has produced a lifetime best of 12.44, the Bahamian national record. She also ran 23.61 in the 200m (2305 wind-aided).

#Russell, 23, was the NCAA Indoor Championship runner-up and the NCAA Outdoor Championship champion. She has a personal best of 12.36 (12.32 wind-aided) and she has also ran 54.66 in the 400m hurdles, in addi- tion to 11.54 in the 100m, 23.26 in the 200m and 56.26 in the 400m.

#They both competed together on the global stage this year in Budapest, Hungary, where Charlton got fourth in the final, while Russell advanced to the semi final but didn’t get to complete her race.

#Russell was also in the relay pool for the United States team at the championships.

PLAY ACTION: The Bahamas women’s national soccer team lost 6-1 to Grenada last night in their opening game of the Concacaf Gold Cup at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. Photo: Moise Amisial/Tribune Staff

As of Thursday, September 21, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas’ senior women’s national football team went down 6-1 to Grenada in game one of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Women’s Road to Gold Cup.

#Team Bahamas got their feet wet for the first time in three decades on home soil at the Thomas A Robinson stadium last night against the away team, who returned to the international level for their second consecutive year.

#The home team’s relatively young club applied strong defensive pressure in the first half but the experience of Grenada trumped them in the second period, leading to their first loss of the competition.

#Ricqea Bain, head coach of the senior women’s national team, talked about the way they played in their first time back on the soccer scene after 30 years.

#“We started the game a little nervous. This is our first international match as a senior team, we began the knock the ball around, [and] knock the nerves off. Unfortunately, the other team was able to secure the match but we were able to score our first international goal,” she said.

#The head coach added that despite the loss the team made some strides in executing passes through the midfield, finishing a goal and are looking not only to score more goals in Grenada but also work on development.

#Team Grenada has been preparing for their second appearance in the Concacaf competition since February and they showcased their experience in the opening game.

#The now 1-0 team was the first to strike in the initial half. Within the first 12 minutes of game one, Grenada’s Nia Thompson launched the ball to the back of the net to connect on her first of two goals in the game.

#Shortly before the culmination of the first half, Demitra Mcclure of Team Bahamas retaliated at the 44:00 segment of the game. She got the step on her defender and darted the ball past Grenada’s goalkeeper Keoana Salandy to follow up a goal scored by Grenada’s forward Roneisha Frank. Mcclure scored the lone goal for the home team and made the score 2-1 going into the break.

#Jake Rennie, head coach of Grenada, talked about the difference in gameplay between the two teams in the first and second half.

#“I think we could have done much better but then again it is our first game in a long time. It was okay we were able to come out 2-1 in the first half and the second half was much better, we changed the pace of the game, moved the ball around a little, got chances we scored and took it away from The Bahamas,” Rennie said.

#Although the coach was happy with the win he felt his team came out a bit flat to start the game, but they picked it up in the second half.

#In the second half, the visiting Group C team scored the majority of their goals toward the tail end of the game.

#Thompson collected her second goal of the game at the 74:00 juncture to push the Grenada lead to 3-1. A mere two minutes later, Brianna Capron was issued a red card for a hard foul to a Grenada player at the 76:00 mark.

#The away team remained unphased and midfielder Malia Ramdhanny got in on the scoring action three minutes later and advanced the score to 4-1. With the clock winding down, Team Bahamas’ chances to score dwindled while Grenada kept the momentum going.

#Game one wrapped up with the latter earning two more goals from midfielder Ronniellia Bubb and forward Abigail Williams in the game’s final moments.

#Despite the tough opening game loss, Team Bahamas will have the chance to redeem themselves in their away match against Grenada 4pm this Sunday, September 24.

#The senior women’s team is playing out of League C and Group C along with Grenada and the US Virgin Islands.

#The group’s winner will advance to play the victor of Group B to determine which lone team will advance to the Gold Cup.

GO TEAM BAHAMAS: The Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation team commuted to Aruba yesterday for the 50th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding Championships set for September 21-25.

As of Thursday, September 21, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#DESPITE some challenges ahead of their travels, the Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation’s (BBWFF) 14-member team has now journeyed to Aruba to compete at the 50th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding Championships.

#With some fresh faces in the contingent, Team Bahamas is hoping to bring home some hardware after competing against 40 other countries at the championships from September 21-25.

#Leonardo “Nardo” Dean, the team manager, is confident in Team Bahamas’ ability to perform this time around after they withdrew from the competition in 2022 due to lack of funding.

#“I am here along with pretty much a new team and new athletes.

#“But we have veteran Stephen Robinson leading the athletes.

#“Whenever they hear The Bahamas is coming to the CACs they know it is going to be problems because we have been regional leaders for years and we continue to do so,” Dean said.

#Team Bahamas features members, including veteran Godfrey Stephen Robinson, Reginald Delancy and Orick Nesbitt for men’s bodybuilding. Briceton Anderson will compete in men’s fitness and Kareem Brancaccio in men’s fit model, Ricardo Gibson in men’s physique (Class C), Judah Forbes in men’s physique (Class D), Brandon Bastian in men’s physique (Class F), Anthon Moxey in men’s classic physique (Class B), and Andrew Gibson in men’s classic physique (Class C). Anderson will also get into competition in men’s physique Class B.

#For the women, veteran Dorcas Cox will compete in the women’s body fitness (figure). Additionally, Denica Thompson and Andrecka Dames in Class B for women’s wellness and Ivanique Kemp in the same category for Class D.

#With the majority of the national bodybuilding team being first-timers they are excited to compete for The Bahamas at the bodybuilding championships.

#Anderson, who is competing in men’s fitness and physique, talked about his expectations.

#“I am really excited and privileged. First of all I must thank the executive team for giving me the privilege to be here and I am honoured to represent the country and I am looking for no less than two medals,” he said.

#Among the veterans are Robinson, Nesbitt, Forbes, and Cox.

#Nesbitt said he is simply excited to represent the country.

#“I am excited to go to Aruba and represent The Bahamas and do bodybuilding and heavyweight and hopefully bring back the gold,” he said.

#National bodybuilding champion Robinson has made his return to the sport following his last stint in 2016 and he is ready for the 50th Bodybuilding championships.

#“This is a pleasure being back on the team since 2016… last time I made the top six this time I am in a heavier division but I am hoping to get back in the top six once I get to the top six then I will take it from there in trying to secure gold, silver, or bronze,” he said.

#The Bahamas’ return to the CAC Bodybuilding Championships will commence tomorrow at the Aruba Marriott Resort Stellaris Casino at Palm Beach, Aruba. The competition will end for the fourteen athletes next week Monday.

 Home|Sports|Grenada blasts The BahamasSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailSeptember 21, 2023 33 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas senior women’s national football team was in action last night after a long hiatus, but fell 6-1 to Grenada in the opening of the ‘Road to the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Women’s Gold Cup’ at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

It was a close game in the first half, as Grenada led 2-1 in the CONCACAF Nations League match going into the break, but a four-goal haul in the second half was the difference in the game. Head Coach for The Bahamas Ricqea Bain was happy to see the women show flashes of what they could do.

“We got to pass the ball around to get the nerves off. Unfortunately, the other team was able to secure the match. We were able to find the back of the net. We have been working for four months and was able to build out of the back, pass to the midfield and finish for a goal,” Bain said.

The Bahamas started the game off looking strong as they got the jitters out of their system. After having possession in the 12th minute, The Bahamas gave the ball away in the midfield and Nia Thompson got the ball for Grenada and got past the last Bahamian defender. Thompson was one-on-one against the Bahamian goalkeeper Melina McClure and found the back of the net to put the visitors up 1-0.

Grenada’s captain Roneisha Frank got past McClure in the 35th minute and got a wide open goal as she tapped the ball in with her left foot to put Grenada up 2-0.

Just before halftime, Bahamian Demitra McClure saw an opening in Grenada’s goal and exploited it with a well-placed shot that went over Grenada’s goalkeeper Keona Salandy and into the back of the net to cut into Grenada’s lead, 2-1, in the 44th minute. 

After a scoreless 29 minutes to start the second half that saw The Bahamas trying to tie the game and Grenada looking to shake off a pesky Bahamian side, Thompson scored her second goal of the game in the 74th minute to put Grenada up 3-1. Two minutes later, Thompson was going for her hat trick but Brianna Capron brought her down at the top of the 18-yard box. Capron was whistled for a foul and given a red card to set up a free kick in dangerous territory. Grenada’s defender Malia Ramdhanny said she came into the game wanting to get on the scoresheet. She took the free kick and scored to put Grenada up 4-1.

Forced to play with 10 players on the field after the red card, Grenada took advantage and scored two more goals to win 6-1 to take the full three points after the first game.

Grenada’s Head Coach Jake Rennie said he was not surprised that they won but he was expecting a 4-0 margin.

“We are happy for the win but we started off slow. The Bahamas played well in the first half and put pressure on us. I was not satisfied with the way we started the game. We could have done much better. Not knowing what we were up against had an effect on the way we started. We were able to play much better in the second half. We changed the pace of the game and moved the ball around, got chances to score and took it away from The Bahamas,” Rennie said.

The two teams face each other again on Sunday at the Kirani James Stadium in St. George’s, Grenada. That match will start at 4 p.m.

Home|Sports|Team Bahamas off to CAC ChampionshipsSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailSeptember 21, 2023 20 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation (BBWFF) has sent a 14-member team to Aruba to participate at the Golden Anniversary 50th International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness’ (IFBB) Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships. The event gets underway today and wraps up on Sunday.

Competition is set to be held at Aruba Marriott Resort in Palm Beach, Aruba. The team left yesterday and was expected to arrive in Aruba last evening.

Making up the team are men’s national overall champion Godfrey Robinson, Reginald Delancy and Orick Nesbitt in men’s bodybuilding, Briceton Anderson in men’s fitness, Kareem Brancaccio in men’s fit model, Ricardo Gibson in men’s physique Class C, Judah Forbes in men’s physique Class D, Brandon Bastian in men’s physique Class F, Anthon Moxey in men’s classic physique Class B and Andrew Gibson in men’s classic physique Class C. Anderson will also compete in men’s physique Class B.

The women’s side will be represented by Dorcas Cox who will compete in women’s body fitness (figure), Denica Thompson and Andrecka Dames in women’s wellness Class B and Ivanique Kemp in women’s wellness Class D.

The head coach of the team is Raymond Tucker and he will be assisted by Jason Johnson. The team manager is Leonardo Dean.

“We viewed these athletes’ bodies from week to week and I believe we did an awesome job in critiquing them. I am expecting great results, no less than third in most categories. We are looking for some gold and silver medals,” Tucker said.

Robinson, who is one of four members on the team making a return to the CAC Championships, is competing internationally for the first time since 2016. The other three members who have experience are Nesbitt, Forbes and Cox.

“It is a pleasure being back on the team,” Robinson said. “It’s good to be reunited with Coach Tucker who brought me back into the sport. The last time I competed, I made top six. This time I am in a heavier division, but I am hoping to get back into the top six. Once I get into the top six, I will take it from there and hope. It is great to put these colors on again.”

Nesbitt, who hails from Freeport, Grand Bahama, expressed how good it is to go to Aruba to represent The Bahamas.

“It was a bit challenging getting ready for this competition because of the heavy weight training and then cut down, but I’m ready. I’m looking to bring back the gold in the heavyweight division,” Nesbitt said.

Kemp, who is an Olympian from athletics back in 2012, has made the transition to bodybuilding and fitness.

“I’m very excited to be on the team. I intend on going out there and doing my very best,” she said.

The Bahamas did not compete at the CAC Championships in Bridgetown, Barbados, last year, and is making a return this year.

In 2021, an eight-member team from The Bahamas returned home from the CAC Championships with eight medals – two gold, three silver and three bronze.

 Home|Sports|ITF official meets with sports ministry and BLTASports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailSeptember 21, 2023 17 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) President Perry Newton and International Tennis Federation (ITF) representative Gustavo Grannito paid a courtesy call on Director of Sports in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Kelsie Johnson-Sills and Sports Officer Adam Miller.

Newton said the meeting focused on the work of the BLTA and the collaboration of the ITF to help build tennis in The Bahamas. Newton said the meeting also highlighted the role of the ministry in helping in the development of the sport and working alongside the national association. He said the meeting was very productive.

Grannito also toured the BLTA’s National Tennis Centre and had an opportunity to meet with some of the facility’s coaches and directors. The center, which is privately funded and operated, is yet to be recognized by the ITF under the updated ITF recognition program which assesses facilities and its programs.

President Newton said, “This is a very important step for tennis in The Bahamas. The ITF recognition means that the national tennis center has met the administrative and operational requirements set forth by the recognition criteria. The national tennis center directors have been diligent in defining the administrative structure and program offerings of the facility and will continue to seek to evolve and improve and incorporate the guidance by the ITF.”

The ITF is vital in the support of the growth of tennis through its guidance and encouragement principles.

“We are truly appreciative of the support from the international governing body,” said Newton. “We thank Mr. Grannito for taking the time out to visit the national tennis center and to impart his knowledge and experience with us.”

Newton fully expects the national tennis center to receive ITF recognition.

Miami Marlins’ Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr reacts after hitting a grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, September 17, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

As of Thursday, September 21, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#BAHAMIAN Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr and the Miami Marlins celebrated his latest historic feat, being the team’s first player to notch grand slams in back-to-back games.

#The franchise gifted the 25-year-old with a surprise side-by-side commemorative card photograph of the big moments that were framed together and presented to him.

#Additionally, his celebration extended to the first 8,000 fans that attended the Marlins’ game against the New York Mets at the Marlins Park last night.

#The team’s promotion allowed the supporters to receive the iconic Jazz Double Grand Slam Commemorative card to mark the historic moment in Marlins history.

#The Bahamian baseball star was grateful as he talked about how it felt to be on the right side of Marlins team history. “Thank you guys, without you guys we would not be here. Thank you guys for the opportunity for letting me play in Miami. It has always been a dream since I was a kid [and] to actually make history in Miami is actually one of the coolest things I have ever done,” he said.

#Chisholm Jr has been having quite the September locally and internationally. The face of the Major League Baseball The Show video game had a big showing on the weekend in the team’s three-game sweep of the league-leading Atlanta Braves.

#The first grand slam of the weekend and season came against the Braves on Saturday. The Marlins won the game 11-5. In the win he came away with one run scored and four runs batted in (RBIs).

#The centre fielder was the second player since 1900 to pull off a grand slam and steal three bases in the team’s win. Just one night later, Chisholm Jr did it again, this time to beat the Braves comfortably 16-2.

#In the victory he amassed four runs scored along with four RBIs. His latest accomplishment came in the bottom of the third inning where he sent a ball from Braves’ Charlie Morton over the wall of the right centre field to extend the lead to 5-0 for the Marlins.

#On the season, he has amassed a career-high 18 home runs, 45 runs and an on base plus slugging percentage of 0.759.

#Collectively, the Marlins are trying to make it back to the playoffs for the fourth time in their 31 years of existence.

#The team’s last playoff appearance was in 2020 in the bubble.

#Chisholm Jr seems to be poised to make it happen for his team as they vie for the last two wild card spots to book their ticket to the MLB National League playoffs.

#Up to press time, the Marlins sat one spot outside of the top three wild card teams with a 79-73 (win/loss record).

#The team will play their next trio of games against the 85-66 Milwaukee Brewers Friday night at 6:40pm.

: Women’s national soccer teams in Concacaf Gold Cup opener

Grenada’s head coach Jake Rennie and team captain Roneisha Frank can be seen at a press conference ahead of their Concacaf Gold Cup soccer match against the Bahamas women’s national soccer team at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium tonight.

As of Wednesday, September 20, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Although they were unsuccessful in their debut at the international level last year, Grenada women’s national soccer team is confident that the experience gained will help them prevail against the Bahamas in their opening match of the Concacaf Gold Cup.

#The team, comprising of a mixture of youth and experience, the majority of whom are under the age of 25, will face the Bahamas tonight at 7pm at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

#This will be the Bahamas’ first international game for its senior women’s team in more than three decades.

#Head coach Jake Rennie said the team has been preparing for their second consecutive appearance in the Concacaf Gold Cup since February and they are ready.

#“Our preparation is good and I’m satisfied with the players and the level where the players are at now,” said Rennie of the team’s final preparation for the game.

#Last year, Rennie said they were excited to have played in the tournament, but in making their debut in The Bahamas, he said they have all enjoyed the weather and the hospitality shown by the Bahamian people, but they are motivated and anxious to play.

#“Our expectations for this game is to do our best and hopefully we will come out victorious,” Rennie said. “Mentally and physically, I think we are there, knowing what we had gone through in this hard training.

#“At this moment, the players are excited, they are happy and so that brings joy to me. Mentally and physically, we are ready.”

#Frank, a left wing and striker who can play multiple positions, said it’s key for them to win the game to give them the motivation for their next game.

#“My expectations coming into this game is very high because we have been training very hard over the couple of weeks and months and I think the team is ready to go out there and execute everything the coaches have been teaching us so far.”

#Looking at the makeup of their team, Frank said they have a very strong team offensively and defensively but they just need to do what the coaches have instilled in them and they will be in a position to win.

#“I am confident in all of my players. We play as a team and not only one player, so I’m very confident in all of my players,” Rennie summed up.

#Having played against teams like the Dominican Republic and Jamaica was able to give the team the exposure that they needed to get them ready for the Gold Cup journey this year. But he said they only have one goal in mind and that is to win. “My main personal goal is to go our there and win the game for my country, for my coaches and my team-mates and rejoice,” Frank said.

#They will have to do it against a Bahamian team, coached by Ricqea Bain, who will be loaded with collegiate and locally based players, who too are looking forward to winning their first match in the Gold Cup home and away tour before they head to Grenada to play on Sunday at 4pm.

#Tickets for tonight’s game are priced at $20 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 12.

As of Wednesday, September 20, 2023

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JONQUEL Jones

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#WOMEN’S National Basketball Association (WNBA) player Jonquel Jones posted her second straight double double to complete the 2-0 sweep against the Washington Mystics last night.

#The seventh-seeded Eastern Conference team showed why they evened the season series 2-2 as they forced the Liberty to work for the feat in overtime.

#The 90-85 win makes it the first time since 2015 the league’s second best team have advanced out of the first round en route to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs.

#The Liberty were in control of game two in the opening period after their team ran out to a 21-18 lead at the Barclays Centre.

#After having an off night in their opening playoff game, Associated Player of the Year Breanna Stewart got back into her groove last night.

#At the end of the first period, the league’s second highest scorer was up to 11 points in the game. She ended the night with a dominant double double, posting a team-high 27 points along with 10 rebounds in the narrow win.

#In the second quarter, New York’s formidable women’s team had their highest scoring segment of the game.

#The team outscored the Mystics 25-17 and closed out the period with an 11-point cushion to break for the second half.

#Grand Bahamian Jones was a force to be reckoned with inside the paint once again. She notched her second consecutive double double of the series with 19 points alongside 14 boards and three blocks.

#The former WNBA MVP also shot 6-for-9 from the field and was instrumental down the stretch for the Liberty. The pesky Mystics seemed determined not to go home after the break. Mystics guard Natasha Cloud was valiant in her efforts to thwart the Liberty’s chances of advancing to the semifinals. The floor general poured in a career and game-high of 33 points, 9 dimes, six rebounds and also connected on five shots from behind the arc.

#The seventh-seed outscored the Liberty 21-13 in the third period. In the final quarter of regulation, Washington charged ahead at the 4:55 mark 67-63 in their quest to upset the Liberty’s chances of executing the sweep. With 33 seconds remaining in the win-or-go home elimination game Mystics small forward Brittney Sykes nailed a timely three-point shot to tie the score 74 apiece.

#Cloud iced two free throws with under 30 seconds remaining to put the Mystics up by 2. Ultimately, in true playoff fashion Jones returned the favor, canning her own pair of free throws to give her newest team a chance at the sweep in OT.

#The extra period play saw the Liberty strike first after being on the ropes at the end of regulation. Jones’ team went up 84-79 in Brooklyn, New York. However, the Mystics remained hungry and got the score within one (86-85) following some big free throws from Ariel Atkins. Washington’s team was unable to steal the win after Stewart made the two separate pairs of clutch free throws to help the Liberty to advance to the semifinals.

#The Liberty collected 41 rebounds and shot 85.7 per cent from the charity stripe in the big win.

#The team will now await the winner of the Connecticut Sun versus Minnesota Lynx series tonight at 8pm. The semifinals will get underway for Jones and the Liberty on Sunday.