Home|Sports|BAISS crowns three softball championsSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailNovember 17, 2022 491 7 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) crowned its first champions in a team sport in two years on Wednesday as the softball championships continued over at the Freedom Farm Baseball Fields in Yamacraw.

Junior Girls

SAC sweeps QC 2-0

Just two teams battled this season as the BAISS made a triumphant return to sports, and when the dust had cleared, it was the St. Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine celebrating another title.

SAC had to come from behind, taking down the Queen’s College Comets, 15-9. They scored 12 of their 15 runs in the last two innings to pull off the victory, and are now celebrating their first BAISS junior girls softball title since 2017.

“I feel ecstatic right now. We came a long way and we pulled it off,” said SAC’s Head Coach Ricka Rose, who is in her first year coaching the team. “We only had a month to get ready for this, but the girls worked hard and they cut down their errors today. That was the key in securing the victory.”

For SAC, they have become accustomed to winning softball titles, but falling short in 2018 and again 2019, plus the two years off due to the threat of COVID, made the wait extra long. Rose said they’re happy to be back on top and they’re looking to repeat as champions in 2023.

“To come back and win the title after two years off feels amazing. We’re not losing a lot of players so I expect us to be back even stronger next year, so this is just the begging of things to come,” she said.

SAC won game one of the best-of-three series, 23-19, on Tuesday and took game two, 15-9, yesterday.

SAC’s leadoff batter Malaya Pratt and Lauren Rolle scored three times apiece for them. Keila McPhee, Valiyah Farquharson and Taeja Pinder added two runs scored apiece.

After the third inning, they were down 6-3, but battled all the way back, plating seven in the top of the fourth and five more in the top of the fifth.

QC could only muster three runs after the third inning.

Tamil Strachan scored three of their nine runs, and Genesis Williams and Jaidyn Russell added two runs scored each.

Ashleigh Forbes was the winning pitcher for SAC while Rayne Duncombe suffered the loss for QC.

Junior boys

QC sweeps Temple Christian 2-0

The Comets used good pitching, strong defense and timely hits to fly past the Temple Christian Suns, 15-7, and complete a two-game sweep and repeat as BAISS junior boys champions yesterday.

After winning a close game on Tuesday, the Comets left no doubt as to who was the superior team on Wednesday. They prevailed 11-8 in game one.

“We knew that we had the talent to win,” said Comets’ Head Coach Adam Waterhouse. “We knew that we were up against a tough opponent, but once we came out and did what we needed to do, we knew we would come out on top. It feels great to win.

“There are only about four or five guys moving up so we feel about good about our chances of coming here and doing it again next year.”

The Comets won the last time the championship were held, in 2019, as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted play in 2020 and again in 2021.

Be that as it may, Waterhouse said it feels good to repeat as champions.

“We came together strongly. I’ve been telling them all season that if they come together they would win because the talent was there. They did that and we came out on top,” said Waterhouse.

The Comets lost their only game of the regular season to the St. Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine, and went into the playoffs as the number two seed.

They disposed of the Nassau Christian School Crusaders in their single elimination playoff game, and easily handled the Suns in the championship series.

The Comets jumped out front 3-0 after the first inning on Wednesday and never looked back.

Leadoff batter Liam Eneas was the spark plug for the Comets as he got on base every time he came he came to the plate and scored each time. He scored four runs in total.

Second-place batter Ajai Knowles added three runs scored for the Comets.

Sternaz Seymour was the only batter who scored multiple runs for the Suns. He scored twice.

Senior Girls

NCS sweeps QC 2-0

Nassau Christian School (NCS) Crusaders’ Head Coach Donna Brown said her team was hungry from the season started, and knowing the talent that she had, it was only a matter of them coming together and playing as a team, for them to win it all.

The Crusaders completed a sweep of the Queen’s College Comets on Wednesday, winning their first BAISS senior girls softball title in many years.

After taking game one, 14-10, the Crusaders had to rely on good pitching and strong defense to get the job done on Wednesday. They prevailed 4-3 in game two to complete the sweep.

The Crusaders finished a perfect 8-0 in the regular season, disposed of the defending champions St. John’s College Giants in the dingle elimination playoff game, and then took down the Comets in two games in the best-of-three championship series.

“Even though the hits weren’t there like that, we came out on top. We dug down deep for this one and we prevailed. The bats weren’t there but they pushed through,” said Crusaders’ Coach Brown. “This is exciting. It’s exhilarating. It feels great. We came together when we needed to and now we are champions. We had one or two errors today, but overall, we played as a team and we came out on top.”

Apryl Davis was the winning pitcher for the Crusaders while Michaela Bain suffered the loss.

The Crusaders scored three times in the top of the first inning. They were shut out in the next three innings, but got the winning run in the top of the fifth.

The Comets got one run in the second, another in the third and their third and final run in the fourth inning. They left runners stranded on second and third in the bottom of the fifth.

With the potential tying run on third, winning pitcher Davis got Comets’ hitter Shanaz Demeritte to ground out to first to end the game and the championship in their favor.

“This means a lot. It boosts their spirit to come back next year and do it again,” said Brown. “The girls were excited to play this year because of the stoppage due to COVID. They came out here and executed and got the job done. There are only two girls who are leaving so I expect another strong team next year.”

Brown said she wasn’t worried at all when they weren’t hitting the ball like she wanted them to because she knew they had the pitching and defense to pull them through.

Senior boys

Series tied 1-1

With their backs against the wall, the St. Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine senior boys responded when they needed to, taking the second game of their BAISS championship series on Wednesday.

They won a thriller, 19-18, scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh inning, to win the game and even the best-of-three championship series at a game apiece. The loss for the Nassau Christian School (NCS) Crusaders was their first of the season, and for them, they picked the wrong time to come out flat.

The Crusaders were battling from behind all night, and after finally going ahead in the top of the seventh, they watched as SAC plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh for a walk-off win.

With a runner at third and two out, it was Cedric Dualier who came through for SAC. He laced a line drive that barely got over the reach of Crusaders’ shortstop Jayden Brown to score the game-winning run from third. Game three in the series is set for Friday at 5 p.m. at the Freedom Farm Baseball Fields.

“Well, I know I needed a hit to keep our season alive. I just got good bat on the ball and put it in a good position,” said Duvalier. “We just needed a base hit and I’m thankful that I was able to get it. It feels great but the job isn’t finished yet. We have to come back and do the same thing on Friday.”

SAC had a sizable lead for much of the night, but the Crusaders kept battling back. NCS was down 5-3 after the first inning and 8-3 after being shut out in the second. SAC held a commanding 11-5 lead going into the fifth inning, NCS exploded for five runs in the fifth, but SAC responded with six in the bottom of the fifth to 17-10 lead into the sixth. Once again, NCS got back in the game. They scored six runs in the top pf the sixth and then held SAC scoreless in the bottom half of that frame to trail just 17-16 going into the seventh and final inning.

A pair off solo home runs, one inside the park and the next one out of the park game NCS an 18-17 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, setting the stage for Duvalier to be the hero.

“As you can see, our performance was off and on tonight. We made quite a few errors and allowed them to get back in the game, and we have to clean that up for Friday,” said SAC’s Assistant Coach Greg Jones. “We were able to get some timely hits when we needed to and we pulled it off, but we have to clean up the errors. We know we could play better than we did tonight, but the important thing is that we got the win and now we have to come out here and do the same thing on Friday.”

When NCS battled back and took the lead, Jones said he just told his players to relax because they were batting last and had a chance to respond which they did.

“We had the game in hand, gave it back to them and then took it again,” he said. “We have to be able to protect a lead and limit the errors. Once we get a good start on Friday and limit the errors, we should be fine. We knew if we lost, that would be it, so the guys responded when they needed two. Hopefully, we could come back on Friday and end the season on a good note.”

Leadoff batter Damani Scott scored four times for SAC. Duvalier and Leonardo Johnson added three runs scored apiece. Ormund Gibson, Nevron Harrison and Tayshawn Major each scored three runs for the Crusaders.

Joshua Burrows was the winning pitcher for SAC while Jaheim Davis suffered the loss for the Crusaders.

 The third and decisive game of the series will be played on Friday at 5 p.m.

https://thenassauguardian.com/baiss-crowns-three-softball-champions/

 Home|Sports|15 inducted into National Sports Hall of FameSports

Legends rewarded for their hard work and dedication to their sport

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 17, 2022 667 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

A total of 15 more sports icons were inducted into The Bahamas’ National Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday, as the Class of 2022, including The Bahamas’ ‘Golden Girls’. The induction was done in a ceremony held in the Andros Ballroom at Baha Mar.

They were rewarded for their hard work and dedication in their respective disciplines, giving service locally and 

nationally at a high level for decades.

Making up the Class of 2022 are Lorenzo “Ray” Minus Jr. (boxing); Stephen Larrimore (boxing); the late Ivern Davis (squash); Everette Johnson (softball); Sidney “Bobby Baylor” Fernander (softball); Charles Franklyn Adderley (martial arts); Raymond Wilson (volleyball); Perry Thompson Sr. (basketball); the late John Terry Wildgoose (basketball); Maxine Darville (bodybuilding); Frederick Laing (basketball); Dr. Patricia “Patti” Symonette (volleyball); Monique Leary (bowling); Golden Girls Pauline Davis-Thompson, Eldece Clarke-Louis, Savatheda Fynes-Coke, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and Chandra Sturrup (track and field); and Wellington Miller (sports administration).

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg spoke about the achievement of being inducted to the hall of fame.

“To be inducted into the hall of fame is to be honored as one of the greatest in sports, not only in the arena of sports, but in the development and growth of sports for all of us. As a country, we must appreciate the work that these inductees have done to bring The Bahamas to the forefront for sporting achievements regionally and globally,” Bowleg said.

Bowleg spoke about the inductees’ hard work, the effort that they put into their crafts to be what they are now – hall of famers.

“To be great at sports, one must have the necessary characteristics and be passionate about what you do; being present and consistent in the daily process. One must be optimistic, even against the greatest odds and be resolute in achieving your goals. Each person being celebrated this evening has showcased greatness in their respective discipline,” Bowleg said.

Wilson spoke on behalf of the Class of 2022.

“We, the Class of 2022, thank you for being here. We thank the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for what you have done and we, the Class of 2022, will leave you with this – the journey continues, march on Bahamland,” Wilson said.

Wilson also spoke about Minus fighting for a world championship belt three times and reminisced about where he was when the Golden Girls won the women’s 4×100 meters (m) relay gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

President of the Bahamas Olympic Committee Romell “Fish” Knowles told the inductees to wear the title hall of fame proudly.

“These are some of the finest sports icons in the history of The Bahamas. Their inclusion into the National Sports Hall of Fame is deserving. If you were to interview each inductee, you would appreciate his or her story. 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 raising of our Bahamian flag and hearing our national anthem gives one a sense of pride comparable to nothing else in the world,” Knowles said.

The Bahamas National Sports Hall of Fame came into existence in 1989 with six inductees. Those inductees were Thomas A. Robinson (track and field); Sir Durward Knowles (sailing); Cecil Cooke (sailing); Andre Rodgers (baseball); and Everette “Elisha Obed” Ferguson. Since then, the list has grown to almost 200 inductees.

https://thenassauguardian.com/15-inducted-into-national-sports-hall-of-fame/

 Home|Sports|UB Mingoes get close to first win, but come up shortSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailNovember 18, 2022 146 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes women’s volleyball team went to the Anatol Rodgers Gymnasium on Wednesday, hoping to turn their New Providence Volleyball Association (NPVA) season around. They played like everything was on the line and even though they forced a decisive fifth set for the first time this season, they fell short, losing to the Lady Technicians who prevailed 25-27, 25-22, 25-17, 13-25 and 15-8.

The Mingoes started off strong in the first set, battling to the end. They went on win their first set of the season, coming out on top, 27-25.

The Mingoes stayed strong in the second set but couldn’t close the deal as they dropped that set, 25-22.

In the third set, the Mingoes had too many errors and ended up losing that set, 25-17. That meant the team had to win the next two sets to pick up a win.

The team regrouped and in the fourth set, they held the Lady Techs to just 13 points, taking that set, 25-13, to force a decisive fifth set.

The Mingoes had two crucial service errors after a mid-set changeover that the Lady Techs capitalized off. They went on to win the last set, 15-8, and take the match three sets to two.

Shanyha Bowe led the offensive charge for the Mingoes with 13 points including 10 kills. Miracle Stubbs had eight points including five kills.

Kimberly Thurston lead the Lady Techs with 15 points.

UB Assistant Coach Sydline Justillien said the team finally showed the fire the coaching staff knew they had.

“I think the girls did a very good job but just made simple mistakes,” she said. “I think they now know they can play hard and I think we are going to get them next time.”

She added that the team members need to work on their communication on the court.

“At the beginning of the game they were communicating really good but in the middle of the game they just stopped and we went flat,” she said. “We are going to work on that for the next game.”

The next schedule game for the Mingoes is next week Thursday at 7:30 p.m. when they take on the Panthers.

https://thenassauguardian.com/ub-mingoes-get-close-to-first-win-but-come-up-short/

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailNovember 18, 2022 128 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes men’s basketball team practiced Thursday at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie, Florida, ahead of a two-game series against Atlantis University this weekend.

The Mingoes are expected to play Atlantis University at 8 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday.

UB Head Coach Bacchus Rolle, along with assistant coaches Lavar Johnson and Taige Adderley, ran the team through a series of drills along with a full court scrimmage.

The team is expected to have a shoot around session Friday morning before the night game.

The Mingoes won its season opening game at UB’s Homecoming November 4 against the Mambas, 82-65.

Coach Rolle said it’s always good to go into an international tour with a win. “That was a big win for us and we saw what some of our players could do,” he said. “I hope they come here and surprise us again.”

The team ran through some new plays in practice Thursday and hopes to impress international scouts and officials when they play Atlantis University.

“We looked good today and I think we can keep the momentum into the series,” Rolle said.

The Mingoes won their first game of the season and now, on Friday night, they will be playing in their first international game of the season.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mingoes-basketball-works-out-ahead-of-weekend-tour/

 Home|Sports|Table tennis tournament set for SaturdaySports

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 18, 2022 199 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas Table Tennis Federation and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China here in The Bahamas in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture will host a table tennis tournament this Saturday at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium.

The tournament will highlight 25 years of diplomatic relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. It is set to get underway at 9 a.m., with the junior, intermediate, adult, adult doubles and team competition categories competing.

Tournament organizer Sudan Khalfani said that everything is happening as per schedule. Khalfani said the relationship between the federation and the Chinese Embassy is new, with the two officially coming together earlier this year for the first time.

“We have mutual goals and interests, one of which is promoting and developing the sport of table tennis. So far the results have been phenomenal and with the collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, eager children and supporting parents, the sport has grown exponentially,” Khalfani said.

Interested persons can register online or register the morning of the competition. The online link is https://forms.gle/WLQiW1XL2W1jXF8Q8.

The top three positions in each category will receive a trophy, cash prize and of course bragging rights. Khalfani said he expects to see some tight competition in the different divisions as they battle for the top positions.

The federation has been holding training sessions for juniors at L.W. Young Junior High School. Khalfani said the program is coming along well. He said they are preparing two juniors for an international tournament.

This is the final table tennis tournament for the year. Next year, the federation is looking forward to starting a league for both juniors and seniors.

Persons can also call (242) 429-9881 or (242) 426-5153 for more information.

https://thenassauguardian.com/table-tennis-tournament-set-for-saturday/

 Home|Sports|Caribbean Baseball Championship on the horizonSports

Tournament will qualify two teams for next year’s CAC Games

Simba FrenchSend an emailNovember 18, 2022 155 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The plans for the 4th Annual Caribbean Baseball Championship are taking place as according to schedule as the Bahamas Baseball Association (BBA) addressed the media yesterday at the Office of the Prime Minister.

The tournament, that is set for December 4-11 at the new Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium, will pit The Bahamas against five other teams. Also competing are the defending champions Curacao, Haiti, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Cuba. This is a qualifier for the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Games in El Salvador in 2023. Those six teams will battle for two spots at the games.

BBA Secretary General Theodore Sweeting addressed the media and provided updates about the tournament.

The Bahamian team has not been named as yet, but one thing for certain is that Major League Baseball (MLB) players who are on their team’s 40-man roster cannot play in this round. That means that Miami Marlins’ infielder Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm and Washington Nationals’ infielder Lucius Fox will be unavailable to play for The Bahamas.

“The team is in Grand Bahama,” Sweeting said. “That’s the only place we have a full 94-feet diamond field for them to practice and get ready for December. A lot of our other players are still in college and they’ll be home by November 28 and then we get ready to put that team in the field so they’re just coming together. I think we can be very competitive.”

The BBA will officially name the team on November 28 and Sweeting said that the federation is using Minor League Baseball (MiLB) and collegiate players. They are waiting on the MiLB teams to release the players. That is the biggest challenge the team is facing, according to Sweeting.

The manager for the team is Geron Sands. Some of the players the country can expect to see are Tahnaj Thomas, Chavez Young, Ian Lewis, Evan Sweeting and D’Shawn Knowles.

The baseball stadium that had its completion date shifted from year to year appears to be finally be finished. It is one of the main concerns that The Bahamas had when agreeing to host this tournament – when will the stadium be finished.

“MLB is coming in after the completion and they will do their inspection. What they like to do is to make sure that the surface and everything that their professional players are playing on meets their standards. Our field is astro turf, so we know we’re going to meet the standards when they do their final inspection of the stadium, so we’re not concerned about that,” Sweeting said.

The astro turf is currently being laid out.

“The field drains extremely well. About a month ago, we had a lot of rain that came down.  Within 10 minutes, after the rain stopped, we could go right back on the field and walk up and down. There was no puddle, so it drains very well,” Sweeting said.

Sweeting is expecting to see at least 2,000 fans come out and support the host nation at the tournament on a nightly basis. The tickets purchased will be valid for an entire day’s games. The Bahamas will be playing the evening game up until the second round of the tournament.

The Bahamas opens the tournament against Haiti on Sunday December 4 at 7:30 p.m.

https://thenassauguardian.com/caribbean-baseball-championship-on-the-horizon/

As of Monday, November 14, 2022

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Tahnaj Thomas

#TAHNAJ Thomas’ Arizona Fall League season concluded with a championship title after his Surprise Saguaros rallied to win the longest postseason game in AFL history.

#A walkoff single from Houston Astros prospect Scott Schreiber gave the club a 7-6 win over the Glandale Desert Dogs. It was the first AFL win for Surprise since the 2013 season.

#The Saguaros’ roster includes prospects from the Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros.

#Thomas did not appear in the league finale, but in 8.1 AFL innings pitched, he finished with 10 strikeouts.

#In his last relief appearance on the mound, Thomas allowed a run on a hit, two walks and two strikeouts in an inning of work.

#He is one of several Pittsburgh Pirates prospects who are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft unless they are protected and named to the 40-man roster.

#Unprotected players are eligible to be taken by the other 29 teams when the draft takes place at the Winter Meetings on December 7.

#The deadline to add players to a team’s 40-man roster to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft is November 15.

#Thomas began his regular season with the Altoona Curve at the AA level.

#In 37 games this year, he finished with a 5-4 record and three saves.

#He pitched 50.2 innings, with a 3.02 ERA and 52 strikeouts.

#The 23-year-old, 6’5” right hand pitcher, is currently ranked no.29 in the Pirates organisation according to MLB Pipeline and was named to the MLB Pipeline Prospect Team of the Week for July 4-10.

#Following his minor league campaign, he helped Great Britain baseball make history at the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers.

#In an 8-1 win in the semifinal of Germany, Thomas closed out the game in the ninth inning and also recorded a strikeout.

#In the finale, Great Britain overcame a five-run deficit to defeat Spain 10-9 in extra innings. Thomas held Spain scoreless in the top half of the 10th inning on the mound.

#Locally, Thomas now shifts his attention to hosting the Elite 9 Baseball and Softball Classic in honour of his late mother, Michelle Thomas.

#The fourth edition event is scheduled to be hosted November 24-28 at the Emera Baseball Park in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/14/thomas-surprise-saguaros-win-afl-title/?news

SAC’s Big Red Machine team display their trophies won at the BAISS Cross Country Championships on Saturday. Photos: Taylor Bain

As of Monday, November 14, 2022

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SAC coach Clinton Smikle, left, and QC coach Sandra Hobbs.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WITH the return of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools’ cross country championships on Saturday at St Augustine’s College, the Big Red Machine rode around their campus with another dominating performance.

#The championships returned for the first time since 2018 because of COVID-19, but SAC’s head coach Jason Edwards said it was a total team effort that made the difference in their sweep of all of the divisions.

#“I was most impressed by the turnout and the commitment of the entire team,” Edwards said. “Cross country is an ultimate team ultimate team sport. You have nine competitors maximum in each division and five can score. “So they know it’s a team competition. The fact that they showed up, they were running for something bigger than themselves. So I was extremely impressed with that. We had our sprinters, our distance runners, our swimmers and tennis players. Everybody showed up and gave us 110 percent.”

#Despite the loss, Comets’ head coach Everette Fraser said Queen’s College gave an excellent showing in the championships.

#“I’m happy and pleased with the performances,” he said. “The kids came out and they ran at their best. That was what we expected.”

SAC Big Red Machine senior girls’ team celebrate together.

#With a lot of their new kids in the spotlight, Fraser said their coaching staff wanted to see how they would perform under pressure.

#“When you could find new talent from a lot of people who never ran cross country before, and although I didn’t know some of their names, I was happy and pleased with their performances. My expectations wasn’t as high for the kids that competed, but it showed me a lot of the kids that I can work with.”

#It was that combined effort, according to Edwards, that enabled SAC to prevail against the stiff competition that came from all of the schools, including their close archrivals, Queen’s College Comets, who came in second place.

#In the under-20 boys division, the Big Red Machine clinched the title with a sweep of the top two spots from Dentry Mortimer in 24 minutes and 07.77 seconds and Clinton Laguerre in 24:53.41. Nassau Christian Academy’s Mikail Paul was third in 25:55.69. SAC’s Alexis Brown (26:51.96) was fourth and Tenaj Glinton (28:08.57) got fifth.

#SAC’s victory in the under-20 girls division was fuelled by the winning performance from Ezthia Maycock in 12:39.22. St Andrew’s Grace Farrington was second in 13:01.55 and Lilly Comarcho of Queen’s College was third in 14:40.19. The Big Red Machine’s Antonicia Moultrie (15:02.13) was fourth and Trinity Pennerman (15:18.18) was fifth.

#While Kevannio Smith took the individual title to St Anne’s in a time of 11:27.23, the Big Red Machine kept the under- 17 boys team title at SAC with Dylan Simon leading their attack for second in 11:35.58. Temple Christian Academy’s Breck Kemp was third in 11:36.80. Quinton Rolle of SAC was fourth in 11:52.55 and Dayyan Major of St John’s College was fifth in 12:03.31.

#The under-17 girls division saw Kristr Ford of Queen’s College take the individual title in 13:36.89 with Tellica Seymour of Kingsway Academy coming in second in 13:43.29. SAC, however, won the divisional title with Taylor Adderley turning in their best performance for third in 13:50.87. Azaria Marshall of SAC was fourth in 14:06.25 and Kennedi Knowles of St John’s was fifth in 14:18.25.

#Quincy Rolle led SAC in their win in the under- 15 boys division with his top place finish in 12:26.61. Temple Christian Academy’s Daniel Dean was second in 12:27.75, Dylan Archer got third for SAC in 12:37.78. Queen’s College duo of Davon Davis (12:43.84) and Andrew Seymour (12:44.45) was fourth and fifth respectively.

#Lyford Cay International School’s Zoe McCarroll emerged as the winner of the under-15 girls race in 9:34.79, but as SAC took the overall title, Alexis Roberts got second in 9:42.57. The Kemp sisters Breyteisha (9:51.65) and Breyneice (9:56.22) were third and fourth respectively and was joined by their Temple Christian Academy’s team-mate Jasmine Thompson (9:58.55) in fifth.

#SAC got a 1-2 punch on their way to winning the under-13 boys division as Arjay Roberts won in 9:30.79 and Nathon King was second in 9:47.24. Cordell Munroe of St John’s College was third in 10:11.98. Anthony Saunders of St John’s was fourth in 10:15.19 and Tobias Saunders of SAC was fifth in 10:20.04.

#And in the under-13 girls division, Emma Johnston of Windsor School clocked 9:48.96 for the win. Cierra Delancy of Queen’s College was second in 10:06.07. Angel Culmer of the Big Red Machine was third in 10:39.25, Malaya Pratt of Queen’s College was fourth in 10:51.70 and Hailey Parker of SAC rounded out the top five in 11:19.70.

#Edwards thanked the BAISS and their sports committee chairperson Marici Thompson, the principal at SAC, for putting on what he called a “wonderful event” that lived up to its expectations.

#“This is what the children needed. I’m glad we made the decision to have the meet,” said Edwards, who also thanked David Ferguson and his Chip Elite Timing staff for managing the meet, along with Williamson ‘Knucklehead’ Johnson and his staff as well as SAC’s Athletic Department, including Clinton Smikle and Tito Moss for their assistance. “It was really needed.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/14/sac-big-red-machine-dominate-cross-country/?news

XAVION JOHNSON, second from left, is flanked by his rivals at the Ontario Open Judo Championships at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Center in Ontario.

As of Monday, November 14, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#IN his second tournament in two weeks in Canada, Bahamian rising judoka Xavion Johnson had to settle for a gold and a fifth place respectively in the Cadet and Senior divisions of the Ontario Open Judo Championships at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Center in Ontario.

#On Saturday, the 16-year-old Johnson, who attends Capstone Academy, won the Cadet division, but yesterday he had to settle for fifth place in the open division.

#“It feels pretty good. It shows that what I did the week before wasn’t a fluke,” said Johnson, who easily won his three matches on Saturday in the 50-kilogram class where he stood as the tallest competitor at 6-feet.

#“It was really good. My semi-final was my toughest match because he scored on me in the first 15 seconds and then I scored on him and I scored on him again in the one minute and 20 seconds. “So it was my hardest match.”

#After winning his opening match rather easily, Johnson had a difficult time in his semi-final match, but survived with the victory.

#After that, he got another quick decision in the final to win the title for the third time. “My techniques are better and I am much more focused,” Johnson said. “Everything went very well for me. So I’m pleased with my performance today (Saturday).

#With no time to rest, Johnson came back on Sunday and fought in the senior category where he ended up in fifth place.

#“To be host, I thought today (Sunday), I was going to go 1-2, but I actually went 3-2, so I’m really happy with that,” he said.

#Despite his loss, Johnson said he’s not disappointed at all.

#“In my opinion, I fought way better today than yesterday,” he said. “I felt like I was more hungry to win today, but it just didn’t happen.”

#While in Canada, Johnson was training with the Lethbridge Kyodokan Judo Club, coached by Russ Gallant.

#Johnson is coming off his impressive weekend last week at the Quebec Open at the Claude Robillard Sports Complex in Quebec where he clinched the victory in the under-18 boys’ division of the 60-kilogram class to qualify for the Cadet World Championships in 2023.

#Johnson, who also trains out of the Eastwood Judo Club with sensei Mackey Munnings and the Black Ice Judo in the USA with Joshua White, he will take the rest of the year off to recuperate and enjoy the Christmas holiday before he prepares for next season.

#His proud mother, Ordain Moss, said she’s grateful for the assistance from her family members, including his grand and great-grandmothers Tracey and Hazel Chea, godmother Udean Sattom and Paul Sattom.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/14/ontario-open-judo-championships-xavion-johnson-gra/?news

As of Monday, November 14, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#Team Bahamas was eliminated from FIBA World Cup ‘23 contention, but a pair of resilient efforts at home led to a two-game split in the latest window of Americas Qualifiers.

#The team opened the window with an 83-79 come from behind win over Panama on Friday, November 11, but a fourth quarter rally against Argentina came up just short last night at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

#The Bahamas is fifth in Group E at 3-7, with the sixth and final window left to play in February 2023. Canada leads the group at 10-0 and has already qualified for the World Cup. Venezuela, The Dominican Republic and Argentina are all tied at 7-3 while Panama is sixth at 2-8.

#At the end of the second round, the top three teams in each group plus the best fourth place finisher among the groups will qualify for the World Cup.

#Moses Johnson returned as the head coach for this window, assisted by John- Marc Nutt.

#“I’m so happy with the effort these guys put forth. We came out a bit sluggish and flat in the second and third quarters against Argentina, but what we showed in the fourth quarter was that if we play for 40 minutes consistently, we can match up with anybody. We went down 16 going into the fourth quarter and these guys did not give up. They were resolute, they locked in and we made a run and we were right there. A few missed free throws, a few shots fall, a few less turnovers down the stretch, and who knows the result could have been different,” Johnson said. “I’m so happy with the effort of these guys in such a short time to turn around and have an effort like this, it just shows these guys can do anything once they put their minds do it.”

#National team veteran Kadeem Coleby said this particular group came together on short notice and proved their resilience.

#“This team is different from other teams we’ve been on,” he said. “This team has less talent but more heart in my opinion. These guys fought and it’s been a blessing to see us play big games, win big games and come close in big games so it’s been a real turnaround for us and I’m really proud of it.”

#Bahamas – 83

#Panama – 79

#When Team Bahamas needed it most, Kino Burrows’ veteran leadership took command of the game down the stretch and led The Bahamas to a home win. Burrows scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter as The Bahamas overcame a fourth quarter deficit. The veteran forward shot 6-9 from the field and added five rebounds before he fouled out late in the fourth with The Bahamas leading by four.

#David Nesbitt led three Bahamians in double figures with 14 points, Godfrey Rolle scored 10, JR Cadot scored nine while Livingston Munnings had nine points and game high 11 rebounds. Carlos Rodriguez and Josimar Ayarza both scored 18 to lead Panama.

#Ernesto Oglivie scored 15, Trevor Gaskins scored 12 and Eric Romero added 10.

#Nesbit scored six of The Bahamas’ first nine points and The Bahamas led by as much as 10 in the first quarter before Panama rallied.

#A Gaskins three before the buzzer sounded trimmed the deficit to 24-23 at the end of one.

#The second quarter featured four ties and five lead changes before The Bahamas pulled away with a final run before the half.

#A Rodriguez three for Panana was answered by a Cornish runner to tie the game at 28.

#Munnings’ three-point play was answered by another Rodriguez three to tie it at 31, then Nesbitt and Rodriguez traded threes for another tie at 34. The Bahamas moved ahead for the rest of the half when Cadot’s three from the wing sparked an 11-0 run.

#Spain tied the game at 55 on a Rodriguez three and eventually took their first lead of the game since the first period on a Romero layup.

#Panama opened a five-point advantage early in the fourth and seemed poised to pull away early, 70-65.

#Burrows ignited a stagnant Bahamian offence with an alley-oop to Munnigs.

#It was the first field goal on a 10-0 run capped by Rolle’s steal in the backcourt and layup for a 75-70 Bahamas lead.

#Panama was able to pull within a single point on two occasions in the final minutes, but Burrows scored on both possessions to give The Bahamas breathing room.

#Argentina – 80

#Bahamas – 76

#Playing the role of spoiler, The Bahamas cut an 18-point fourth quarter deficit to just two, but the rally fell just short as Argentina avoided its third consecutive loss.

#David Nesbitt led The Bahamas with 18 points, 12 rebounds and four steals. He also shot 3-6 from three-point range.

#Nesbitt’s dominant performance led four Bahamian players in double figures – Godfrey Rolle finished with 15 points and a team high six assists, Kadeem Coleby scored 12 points and Kino Burrows added 11 points.

#Jaron Cornish and JR Cadot each scored seven.

#Juan Valet led Argentina with 19 points, Lucio Redivo scored 15, Jose Vildoza scored 11 and Nicholas Romano added 10.

#The Bahamas came out shooting efficiently from beyond the arc and made four three pointers in the first quarter. They trailed 19-18 after the first 10 minutes.

#Argentina surged ahead with a 23-12 second quarter, took a 42-30 lead into the half and maintained a 63-47 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

#The lead reached as much as 18 early in the fourth when Romano made a driving layup for a 65-47 lead with 9:51 left to play.

#Argentina maintained a 12 point lead, 73-61 with 4:08 left to play, but The Bahamas rallied with eight unanswered points and an 11-1 run.

#Cornish made a pair of driving layups to start the rally, Coleby made a dunk and a layup, and after Argentina ended the drought with a free throw, Rolle converted a three-point play to make the score 76-74 with 13 seconds left to play.

#Redivo made four free throws down the stretch for Argentina to put the game away.

#Argentina converted 20-26 at the free throw, while The Bahamas was just 7-8 from the line. Argentina also got out in transition and had a 25-5 advantage in fast break points.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/14/team-bahamas-eliminated/?news