As of Friday, November 18, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WITH a mandate to change the mindset of the athletes and coaches and to develop a programme to revitalise the sport of track and field, Dawn Woodside- Johnson has revealed her platform she’s campaigning on to become the new president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations.

#Woodside-Johnson, a former athlete, coach and executive, is hoping the delegates would give her a chance to take over the helm rather than returning it in the hands of incumbent president Drumeco Archer and immediate past president Rosamunde Carey.

#With her campaign now in full gear, Woodside- Johnson is confident that she secures sufficient votes during the annual general meeting and election of officers on Saturday, December 3 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

#“They’ve had two presidents who served running again, so why not give me a chance as a new candidate running to become president,” Woodside-Johnson said.

#“I’m a former athlete, who became a coach and then served as an executive and a manager. So I know what it takes to run the association.”

#Woodside-Johnson said while they saw the need for change because she felt the BAAA was not heading in the right direction, she’s pleased to see that the association is putting some emphasis on making sure that they get the job done.

#“I’ve grown up around track and I’ve seen how the BAAA is operated in the past and so I said if not me, why not me,” she said.

#“I’ve been around track for a long time and I know what the athletes need, having served in all areas of the sport. So why not run to become the president.”

#If elected, Woodside- Johnson said she intends to bring good governance, make the association more accountable and to make sure the members are all educated on the constitution.

#“At some point during the next administration, the constitution has to be revamped and revised in order to bring it in alignment with NACAC and World Athletics and to make sure that the constitution enables us to engage all of those persons living on the various islands in our archipelago.

#“We also need to rebrand the BAAA in terms of being able to finance the association by ensuring that corporate Bahamas is on board with us, so we won’t just be going on trips, but we try to bridge the gap between those athletes graduating from college and making the transition to being pro athletes.”

#This has been one of the biggest downfalls for the BAAA in recent times as Woodside-Johnson said it’s evident in the fact that the Bahamas has failed over the past few years to field relay teams in both the men and women divisions as they’ve been in the past.

#“We can’t field the teams because we lose those athletes in between college and the pro ranks,” she said. “They are making the decision between whether they will enter the job market or they continue to pursue their track careers,” Woodside-Johnson said.

#“We need to provide some type of funding to assist the athletes who are on the borderline and we have to make sure that, not only the executives, but both the athletes and the coaches are kept abreast of what’s happening in the BAAA, NACAC and World Athletics.”

#When the membership are invited in the decision making of the BAAA, Woodside-Johnson said they will feel more a part of the organisation and they will be more willing to do more, rather than always complaining.

#While she’s not proposing a slate of officers to work with her, Woodside-Johnson said she has identified some persons to assist her, including an accountant to ensure that the BAAA is operating properly and a marketing and public relations officer in Tanya Woodside.

#“We are finding out that the members don’t want to concentrate on slates during this election,” Woodside-Johnson said.

#“They want to choose the best candidates and put them in their positions so we can function the way we should.”

#With the countdown on the elections, Woodside-Johnson said her campaign is going quite well and she’s looking forward to a favourable result on election day.

#“Campaign is going pretty good. It’s going to be a tough one,” she said. “You have three persons running for president. But as the new person running for president, hopefully the membership will elect me to bring about the change. “Having served in just about every category in the organisation, I want the membership to have the confidence in me to know that I am for change and I want the BAAA to get to another level from where it is on.”

#Her aim is to enable the BAAA to develop a culture of liability and trustworthiness for their members as they put their confidence in the executive team elected to serve for the next four years.

#“We also want to safeguard the workshops that coaches should have been well engaged in the sessions by 2023.

#“The coaches need to learn about harassments, exploitations and abuse,” she said.

#“So all coaches will have to go through this safe-guarding workshop to ensure that their athletes are safe and that they provide a safe environment for them.

#“We don’t just want for our coaches, but our athletes as well on their nutrition and all these good things because coaches can’t do everything.”

#She said the athlete has to do their part in terms of eating and sleeping to secure their athletic scholarships to college.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/18/i-know-what-it-takes-run-association/?news

As of Friday, November 18, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas will be an active venue for NCAA basketball this month and that list of programmes will include Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s Ole Miss women’s programme.

#Ole Miss will participate in the eight-team field at Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship at the Baha Mar Convention Centre.

#Ole Miss is scheduled to face the Dayton Flyers at 8pm on November 21 and the Utah Utes at 7pm on November 23. “242 we are on the way! This has been a dream come true! To be able to bring my team to The Bahamas here at Ole Miss!” McPhee-McCuin posted to Instagram.

#“Come out and support your own and her Lady Rebels for two really good games! I can’t wait to be back home and show my programme what our beautiful country is about!”

#The remainder of the Pink Flamingo field includes the Kentucky Wildcats, Virginia Tech Hokies, Alabama Crimson Tide, Missouri Tigers, and Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

#Five of the eight teams in the field were participants in last year’s NCAA Tournament.

#All eight games of the Pink Flamingo Championship will be broadcast on FloHoops.

#“We are going to look at those two games as a tournament,” McPhee-McCuin said.

#“We would like to win that championship. Yes, this is a business trip, but it is a life experience, too. [It will] give our players an experience that maybe they won’t ever get again.”

#Ole Miss is off to a 4-0 start this season.

#“I think we are starting to get a bravado about ourselves,” McPhee-McCuin said following their most recent win 92-46 over Southern Mississippi.

#“I think we are extremely confident on the defensive end. We just have to mature. This group is still figuring out who they want to be.”

#The Pink Flamingo event is a part of the expansion of Baha Mar Hoops.

#In its second edition, 20 men’s and women’s teams will compete over the Thanksgiving holiday at Baha Mar.

#Between November 18-27, the schedule of events includes 24 games played across three events – the Baha Mar Hoops, Nassau and Pink Flamingo Championships.

#The Rebels have improved each year under McPhee-McCuin’s tenure and after a season that produced the programme’s first NCAA Tournament berth in 15 years.

#Ole Miss concluded the season 23-9, 10-8 in the SEC to earn an at-large bid and the no.7 seed in the Wichita Region where they lost to South Dakota.

#She led Ole Miss to its first top 25 ranking since 2007.

#The season was highlighted by a 13-game win streak, the third longest win streak in programme history.

#It also included wins over three ranked opponents in conference postseason play.

#The Rebels also found themselves slotted in the national polls with its first AP Poll appearance since 2007, when Ole Miss came in ranked at No. 24 on January 24.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/18/coach-yo-and-ole-miss-baha-mar-hoops/?news

As of Friday, November 18, 2022

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DEYTON Albury

PAUL Greene

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#DEYTON Albury and Paul Greene have led Chipola to a no.6 national ranking while the Bahamian contingent at Northeast Community College continues to put up major numbers in their sophomore campaign.

#Chipola improved to 6-0 in NJCAA Division I with an 85-57 win over South Georgia Tech Tuesday night. Albury finished with 15 points.

#Greene has moved into the starting lineup in his first year with the programme and is averaging 8.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while Albury is averaging 12 points and six rebounds per game.

#“Our fans were great and there was a lot of energy in the gym,” said Chipola head coach Donnie Tyndall. “It was a nice turnout for a midweek game.”

#Chipola will host the Milton H Johnson Classic this weekend when they will face Andrew College and Georgia Highlands over the weekend.

#Chipola advanced to the national tournament with a 73-64 win over Indian River State College Saturday night to win the FCSAA State Title.

#Chipola has captured the State Championship and advanced to the NJCAA Final Four in the last two seasons.

#Emmanuel Alexandre, Colin Storr and Jaden Strachan led Northeast to an even 2-2 record after their dominant 105-78 win over Morningside University JV.

#Alexandre was the leading scorer for the third time in four games with 25 points, seven assists and six rebounds, Colin Storr had a double double with 21 points and 11 rebounds while Jaden Strachan had 12 points and six rebounds off the bench in just 12 minutes. Bryan Rolle had a season high six rebounds off the bench and Saheed Sanusi dished three assists.

#Alexandre is averaging 22 points, 7.3 rebounds and three assists per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range.

#Tuesday night marked Storr’s second double double in three games. He is averaging 16.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game on 76 percent shooting from the field.

#Strachan has been a key contributor off the bench with 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. They look to get above .500 when they face Mount Marty University JV tonight at 7pm.

#Rolantae Knowles had his first double double of the season for the Butte Community College Roadrunners.

#The sophomore guard finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds and shot a perfect 14-14 from the free throw line in an 80-62 loss to the Yuba 49ers.

#Oswald Meadows finished with eight points, six rebounds and three assists.

#Knowles is averaging a team high 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, leading the team in both categories.

#Meadows is averaging 9.4 points and five rebounds per game.

#The Roadrunners are 1-4 on the season and will face Diablo Valley on November 22.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/18/albury-and-greene-lead-chipola-no6-ranking/?news

As of Friday, November 18, 2022

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#BOXING

#FIVE-MEMBER TEAM TRAVELLING

#THE Bahamas Boxing Federation has had to reduce its national team to a five-member squad that will travel to compete in the Sugar Bert Boxing Championship in Kissimmee, Florida, this weekend.

#Federation president Vincent Strachan confirmed that the team had to be trimmed down because of the lack of funding and the fact that there were issues with one or two of the boxers that he will address on his return home next week.

#Set to travel are Clarence Hepburn, Keano Cox, Keanu Greene, Elijah Smith, Anai Powell and Carl Hield.

#National coach Valentino Knowles will no longer travel as Jermaine Gibson will step up to take on that role, assisted by Strachan, who is a certified coach, referee and judge.

#Disappointed in the fact that they once again had to reduce the team, Strachan said “no obstacles or set back will prevent us from moving forward.

#“There are deliberate efforts to stifle me and my administration. God is with us. We will not be moved.”

#TABLE TENNIS

#CHINESE VS BAHAMAS

#The Bahamas Table Tennis Federation will help in the celebrations of the 25th Chinese Embassy in The Bahamas by hosting a Table Tennis event 9am to 4pm on Saturday.

#RUGBY

#SCRUMMAGE TIME

#THE Bahamas Rugby Union is inviting the public to come out and support the Bahamas Renegades as they play host to the Bermuda’s 15 touring side.

#The match will be played on Sunday at the Winton Rugby Pitch, starting at 11am.

#BASKETBALL

#US EMBASSY CLINIC

#The United States Embassy will facilitate two basketball clinics today and Tuesday at the Sir Kendall G.L Isaacs Gymnasium from 10am to noon.

#Today’s session will be geared for 30-40 girls (Grades 4-6 and under 12 years old) from neighbourhood public primary schools.

#Tuesday’s session is designed for 30-40 boys (Grades 4-6 and under 12 years old) from neighbourhood public primary schools.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/18/sports-notes/?news

As of Friday, November 18, 2022

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BAHAMAS Aquatics hosted its eighth annual CG Atlantic Medical Invitational, held in honour of the late swimming coach Sue Coleby, at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex on Saturday.

#MAKO Aquatics Club’s Harold Simmons broke the only record on Saturday as the Bahamas Aquatics hosted its eighth annual CG Atlantic Medical Invitational at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.

#At the one-day meet that was held in honour of the late coach Sue Coleby, Simmons clocked one minute and 17.02 seconds to establish the new record in the 100 backstroke in the boys’ 8-10 age group division.

#Simmons was also named the high point winner in his age group with 52 points, beating out Liam Lewis of the Barracuda Swim Club, who accumulated 42 for second. Mako’s Blair Thompson and Adrian Dean got third and fourth with 31 and 29 respectively. Christon Joseph of the Blue Waves rounded out the top five with 25.

#The high point winners in the other age groups are as follows:

#Girls 8-and-under

#The Barracuda Swim Club got a 1-2 punch from Emma Wallace, the winner with 41 and Delnia Hamilton, the runner-up with 37. Jaleah Knowles of the Freeport Aquatic Club was third with 30 and the Blue Waves got fourth and fifth from Kirsten Rolle with 27 and Cailyn Dean with 22.

#Boys 8-and-under

#Fraser Manzies of the Alpha Aquatics was the winner with 36. The Barracuda got second and third from Cole Albury with 33 and Stafford Sweeting with 32. Lyall Menzies of Alpha Aquatics was fourth with 28 and Dakota Bastian of the Blue Waves completed the top five with 21.

#Girls 9-10

#It was another sweep of the top two spots for the Barracuda with Alissa Ferguson taking first place with 54, followed by Noel Pratt with 38. Taylen Nicholls got third for Mako Aquatic with 31, while the Barracuda’s Veranique Strachan was fourth with 29 and Dasha Griffin got fifth with 28.

#Girls 11-12

#The Barracuda Swim Club clinched the top four spots, led by Lelah Lewis with 54. Saleste Gibson trailed with 48, Madison Gilbert had 39 and Madyson Julien had 36. Samirah Donaldson completed the top five with 27.

#Boys 11-12

#It was another 1-2 finish for the Barracuda as David Singh won with 51 and Will Farrington was second with 47. Black Marlins’ Alexander Murray was third with 46. Keron Burrows of the Barracuda was fourth with 34 and Ta-naj of the Freeport Aquatics came in fifth with 29.

#Girls 13-14

#Alanna Murray of the Black Marlins Swim Club topped the field with 50.

#She was followed by Lauren Bridgewater of the Barracuda with 41, Elina Fiaux of the Lyford Cay Club with 36 and Mako’s Taliyhah Bowe with 27 and Rayven Ward with 24.

#Boys 13-14

#Donald Saunders of the Lightning Aquatics emerged as the winner with 34.

#Orion Moss of the Black Marlins Swim Club had 29 as the runner-up.

#Michael Fox of Alpha Aquatic was third with 28, Te Moncur III of the Barracuda had 27 and team-mate Michael Miller ended up fifth with 24.

#Girls 15-and-over

#Barracuda’s Rhanishka Gibbs took the top spot with 50.

#Her nearest rival was Jade Deane of the Freeport Aquatic with 40.

#Alpha Aquatic’s Bianca Johnson had 29 for third and Leylah Knowles had 25 for fourth. Barracuda’s Grace Farrington got fifth with 24.

#Boys 15-and-over

#Back Marlins Swim Club’s Joshua Murray posted a total of 49 for the top spot.

#The Barracuda’s Hodari Prince was the runner-up with 41 and John Barr got third with 36.

#Black Marlins’ Thomas Bower was fourth with 35, one more than Tristan Ferguson of Mako Aquatic with 34.

#Next up on the federation’s calendar will be the Mako Aquatic Club’s swim meet in Grand Bahama today and Saturday before the Lightning Aquatic Club will host their swim meet on Saturday, November 26 at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/18/swim-meet-held-honour-late-coach-sue-coleby/?news

GOLDEN GIRLS, from left to right, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, Chandra Sturrup, Pauline Davis-Thompson, Eldece Clarke and Savatheda Fynes-Coke.

As of Friday, November 18, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#It was a memorable night on Wednesday for the athletes, who shared centre stage with ‘Golden Girls’ Savatheda Fynes-Coke, Chandra Sturrup, Pauline Davis- Thompson, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and Eldece Clarke as they were inducted into the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s 2022 National Sports Hall of Fame.

#It was the 17th induction ceremony since the initial class was enshrined in 1989. After a break, the second induction took place in 2003 and have been held every consecutive year with this year’s ceremony staged at Baha Mar. Governor General Cornelius Smith performed the act.

#While the ‘Golden Girls’ went in as a group of five women who put the Bahamas on the map with back-to-back gold medals at the World Championships in Seville, Spain in 1999 and the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia in 2000, they were joined by 14 individual athletes, two of whom are deceased.

#Each of the inductees, including champion boxers Ray Minus Jr and Stevie ‘the Heat’ Larimore, boxer and executive extraordinaire Wellington Miller, squash player Ivern Davis, softballers Sydney ‘Bobby Baylor’ Fernander and Everette ‘Abe’ Johnson, martial artist Charles Franklyn Adderley, volleyballers Raymond ‘Rhymes’ Wilson and Dr Patricia ‘Patti’ Symonette, bodybuilder Maxine Darville, basketballers Perry Thompson, Fred ‘Slab’ Laing, the late John Terry Wildgoose and bowler Monique Leary, were introduced with an historic review of their past by Kendal Wright, the host of a sports talk show.

GOVERNOR General Cornelius Smith, right, presents Maxine Darville (Bodybuilding) with her certificate during her induction into the Class of 2022 National Sports Hall of Fame. Photos: Moises Amisial/Tribune Staff

#In his response on behalf of the entire group, Wilson took a spiritual perspective from Psalms chapter eight and verse which asked the question: What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? “What is the Bahamas that thou art so mindful of us,” Wilson countered, “and as sons and daughters of the Bahamians that thou visited us.”

#Wilson, a former outstanding basketball player who was honoured for his role as a volleyball player and as coach of the national men’s and women’s national teams that won medals at a number of international events, said their class is loaded with notable performances that included Minus Jr being crowned a champion and the ‘Golden Girls’ stopping the world with their gold medal performances. “We the class of 2022, we thank you, all of you who are here, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Minister Mario Bowleg, our Governor General Cornelius Smith, we thank you so much for what you have done,” he said. “We the class of 2022 leave this with you: ‘the journey continues. March on Bahamaland.’”

Charles Franklyn Adderley (martial arts) receives his induction certificate from Governor General Cornelius Smith. Photo: Moises Amisial/Tribune Staff

#His fellow inductees were all thrilled to have been honoured.

#While Symonette played just about every sport, like Wilson, she too went in for volleyball, but it didn’t matter. She knew she has accomplished enough to get inducted in any sport.

#“It’s humbling because I always tell people, when I was competing in sports, there was no Hall of Famer. You didn’t do it for that. You did it for the love of the game,” she said. “But you really feel good when you have contributed to something that is nation-building and you are recognised for it.”

#She thanked the sports media for providing the coverage that enabled her performance and those of the other honourees to be highlighted to the world.

#“It feels very good. I’m very honoured that the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture recognised me,” said Darville, one of the most prolific female bodybuilders who won numerous national and CAC Championship titles. “It was magical. Just to be recognised.”

#Darville, a personal trainer, said it made her want to get back on stage, but she dares not come out of retirement.

#As a bowler, Leary went around the world dropping the pins to cart off various international titles.

#“It’s a beautiful, beautiful feeling right now. It’s a humbling honour,” said the Grand Bahamian native, who served as president of the Bahamas Bowling Federation. “Sitting there with all of these great people, was just a great feeling.”

#Miller, the long-time president of the Bahamas Boxing Federation after he retired as one of the top heavyweight boxers before he ventured into the Bahamas Olympic Committee as a vice president and president, said he’s reached the pinnacle of sports in the country.

#“This is the highest that I can go into sports in the National Hall of Fame,” he said.

#“I’ve been inducted for administration so it gives other persons to work just as hard when they get involved. You never know what will happen for you.

#“It’s just great to be in this class with the Golden Girls, but especially with Ray Minus Jr and Stevie Larimore. We came up together through boxing. Now look at us. We are all inducted in the same class.”

#Minus Jr, accompanied by his long-time former sparring partner and arch-rival Quincy ‘Thrill-A-Minute’ Pratt, was unable to talk about his triumph as the WBC Continental Americas lightweight, WBA Inter-Continental super lightweight and British Commonwealth bantamweight titles as he was too overwhelmed in his physical condition.

#But Larimore, another boxer honoured, was thrilled. “It’s great to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I was praying for years that this was going to happen,” said Larimore, who won a Commonwealth Games bronzes medal and held both the WBC Continental Americas lightweight and the British Commonwealth light welterweight titles. “It’s great to be a Hall of Famer for all of my accomplishments in my boxing career. Boxing did well for me.”

#After almost 50 years when he starred as a basketball player, Laing said he never envisioned this day would come.

#“It’s great. I really appreciate this,” he said. “I’m glad that they didn’t overlook me. I’m done playing, but I’m still doing some things in the sport and I will continue to do so.”

#Thompson, a former basketball player who went on to become the head of the perennial kingpins Commonwealth Bank Giants, said he had an awesome experience as a member of the class of 2022.

#“I’m just happy and elated to be here with my family and friends,” he said. “I wish I could suit up again. But God has been good and I’m glad that I was able to make it as a player and as a coach in the sport.”

#Fernander, credited with helping to organise softball in Grand Bahama, also charted the course for both the men’s and women’s national teams, guiding the latter to a third place finish in the World Games in Seattle, Washington, in 1981.

#“I waited a long time, but the one thing, I went down with the Golden Girls. I’m happy that I caught the Golden Girls,” he said. “It was a nice ceremony and I enjoyed it.”

#Also retired from playing fastpitch where he made a name for himself as a power hitting pitcher, Aber Johnson said he’s just glad that he’s still alive to receive his roses and to do it in what he dubbed the “best class” with the ‘Golden Girls.’

#“I’m very happy that I didn’t go in posthumously,” he said. “I really appreciate the fact that I got it. I’m very happy. It’s nothing like smelling your flowers and I’m glad that I got that opportunity. So I’m really happy.”

#For the ‘Golden Girls’, it was a reunion in person, although they stay in touch on social media. “It’s always a pleasure to be appreciated by one’s country, so I would like to thank the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for this honour,” said Clarke, considered the glamour girl of the crew.

#“We can’t wait to go back out to Fish Fry and hang out and do some of the things we did before and have a girls’ time.”

#The veteran of the crew, Davis-Thompson, concurred with Clarke, but took it a bit further.

#“It feels so great to share this honour with so many other distinguished Bahamians, who did so many great things for our country,” she said. “It’s hard to describe the feeling when you put on the Bahamian uniform to represent your country and that is what each of us did. It’s the Bahamas that matters the most.”

#Sturrup, still the women’s national 100m record holder at 10.84 seconds from 2005 in Lausanne, Switzerland, was limited in her reaction as she was remembered for her fast take off as the second leg runner on the relay team.

#“It’s great. My son, Shawn Jr, is here with me, so it’s even more fabulous,” said Sturrup, who now resides in North Carolina where she’s coaching at the high school level. “It was lovely to be back here with the rest of the Golden Girls.”

#Ferguson-McKenzie, now an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky under Bahamian head coach Rolando ‘Lonnie’ Greene, said it’s an honour for her because she remembers how most people got it posthumously. “It was special for us because Chandra and Savatheda and I got a chance to spend some time together reminiscing with your days travelling together to compete and then we got reunited with Eldece and Pauline,” said Ferguson, who anchored the Olympic gold medal relay team.

#“This was so special because we got to sit around with some great people who we watched on TV like Ray Minus Jr. It was just fantastic and give God all thanks for this opportunity and this moment to learn from a lot of them who came before us and hopefully we will have something to pass down to those who come after us.”

#And Fynes, the Abaco native known as one of the fastest starters in the world, said she’s always excited to be home, even this time as she got to celebrate with her former team-mates.

#“There’s always memories. I will always have memories from the time I spent with the ladies and coming here for this event, it’s kind of emotional because it’s a while since we had something to celebrate together,” said Fynes-Coke, who resides in New Jersey with her husband and family.

#Bowleg, in thanking his staff at the Ministry and Governor General Smith for carrying out the induction, said it was a great night for sports in the country.

#“This is one of the strongest representations of athletes we have seen in any of our classes inducted recently,” Bowleg said.

#“This is just my second induction, but when you look at the others, this one was very strong with international performances from the ‘Golden Girls’, bodybuilding, bowling, softball and volleyball.”

#He said he’s just delighted to be the sitting minister to celebrate the performances of the Bahamian athletes.

#Bahamas Olympic Committee president Rommel Knowles had some words of commendation, calling the inductees some of the finest sports icons in the history of the Bahamas as he noted that they all have a story that one would appreciate.

#“Their journeys are all diverse but you would find a singular most prolific thing as an athlete, which is adorning our national uniform and the rising of our Bahamian flag and hearing our national anthem gives one a sense of pride comparable to nothing else in the world,” he summed up.

#Former football player Obie Wilchcombe, the Minister for Social Services, was also on hand to offer his own personal words of congratulations to the inductees, noting how he covered many of their historic performances when he was a reporter at ZNS.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/18/golden-girls-inducted-national-sports-hall-fame/?news

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

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailNovember 16, 2022 227 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 16, 2022 397 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Home|Sports|Champions crowned in the NPPPSSASports

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 16, 2022 286 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Home|Sports|Johnson wins gold in back-to-back weeksSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 17, 2022 308 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

For a second consecutive weekend, budding Bahamian Judoka Xavion Johnson left a competition with a gold medal around his neck after winning one at the Ontario Open at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, last Saturday. He picked it up in the under-18 60 kilogram (kg) division.

The 16-year-old took down Phillipe Manuel with an ippon. This was the second straight week he faced Manuel.

“It feels amazing to get another gold, two times in a row, in one of Canada’s biggest tournaments in judo. My final match was against an amazing judoka, who I beat in at the Québec Open, so I knew he was going for revenge,” Johnson said.

Johnson also competed in the senior men’s 60kg category but placed fifth.

In the under-18 60kg class, Johnson said Manuel put up a fight. He said it came with the territory as his competitors were looking for revenge from a week ago. However, Johnson said that he was driven to get the victory.

“It was a difficult match. I feel like he studied me, so he knew all my moves but that didn’t stop me. A minute and a half into the match, I caught him with one of my favorite techniques for the ippon – a full score. He thought he studied me but he didn’t do it well enough. I was more driven for the win. I wanted it more than he did. All through the match, I knew I was going to beat him,” Johnson said.

Even after all those matches over the two weekends in the very physical sport, the youngster is ready to hit the mat again.

“My body feels tired but mentally I’m not done yet. This is just the beginning. I’m not going to stop until I complete all my dreams in the sport. It truly was a rigorous week, even after winning the Québec Open and the Ontario Open. I did a training camp with the Canadian national team, training with the best two times per day for four days per week,” Johnson said.

The teenager said he had a challenging year but gave credit to his support system of his family and friends. He said he is grateful that he came to Canada to train, which has helped him to improve. While in Canada, Johnson is under the tutelage of Russ Gallant and trains at the Lethbridge Kyodokan Judo Club in Lethbridge, Alberta.

“It’s amazing to train in Canada. I train three times per day, six times per week. I remember when I first started training in Canada, the first two weeks I got better and after two months I was able to compete with the best Canadians in the senior 60kg class. The training here is perfect. I have to say I am humbled and super grateful for the opportunity. Canada produces some of the best fighters in the sport,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he is finished competing for the year and vows to be back on the mat in January.

https://thenassauguardian.com/johnson-wins-gold-in-back-to-back-weeks/