• Simba French
• Dec 6, 2023 Updated 9 hrs ago
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Bahamian professional basketball player with the Indiana Pacers Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield has found his groove, dropping 21 points on the Boston Celtics to help his team win 122-112 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Monday, moving on to the semifinals of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) In-Season Tournament (IST).

The semis are set for Thursday against in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Most of Hield’s points came in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 in that frame. He went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field including two three-pointers.

“In all schemes of things, I do not think the league really want Indiana inside the Final Four,” Hield said about advancing to the semifinals. “Let’s keep it real, the Boston Celtics sounds a lot better. We in but it shows our hard play and how much Rick (Pacers’ Head Coach Rick Carlisle) and his coaching staff gets us ready for these games and they take these games seriously.”

Both teams shot the ball slightly above 45 percent as the Celtics were at 47 percent and the Pacers shot 46 percent from the field.

With the game being a knockout game, the atmosphere at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse was electric. The game itself had 15 ties and 16 lead changes.

The Pacers went into the final quarter up 85-78 and expected a run from the Celtics. That run came early and often in that quarter. The Celtics scored five in a row to open the fourth to pull to within 85-83 with 10:08 left in the game.

With the Pacers up 94-91, Hield was subbed into the game. The Celtics’ Jaylen Brown tied the game at 94 points apiece with a three-pointer. The Celtics took a 99-98 lead with 4:19 left in the game. Hield got some separation when he made a finger roll layup with 2:52 left to put his Pacers up 103-101. The turning point came at the 1:33 mark when Pacers’ point guard Tyrese Haliburton buried a three-point shot from the top of the key and was fouled on the play to break a 105 tie. Hield hit a three-point shot at the top of the key on the Pacers’ next offensive possession and the crowd went into a frenzy with 55 seconds left in the game. The Pacers were ahead 112-105 at that point.

The Celtics had no answer for the Pacers down the stretch.

Haliburton notched his first career triple-double with 26 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum with 32 points and 12 rebounds. Brown added 30.

The Pacers’ semifinal game is set for 5 p.m. on Thursday December 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be broadcasted on ESPN. They will take on the winner of the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks quarterfinal game that was played last night, but the result was unavailable up to press time.

• 9 hrs ago
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Dunkin’ Donuts on East Street transformed into an epicenter of baseball and Dunkin’ delights on Tuesday, as local baseball players from the highly anticipated Don’t Blink Home Run Derby took a break from knocking balls out of the park to serve customers not only coffee and donuts but lots of smiles.

In a fusion of sports, caffeine, and community, Dunkin’ Bahamas proudly announces its partnership with the 2023 Don’t Blink Home Run Derby, a dynamic event created by esteemed Bahamian international Major League Baseball (MLB) prospects Todd Isaacs Jr. and Lucius Fo

“Today, we brought the excitement of the derby right to our Dunkin’ store. We are truly grateful to our talented young Bahamian baseball stars, who will be participating in the derby for taking a break from the field, swapping bats for Dunkin’ aprons and serving our customers while promoting this weekend’s home run derby.”

Nelson added: “This week, we are also providing Dunkin’ Donuts and goodie bags for the Kids Baseball and Softball Skills Clinic and more donuts with our signature refreshers for the Future’s Showcase scheduled for Wednesday at the Andre Rodgers Stadium.”

In 2017, event co-founders Isaacs and Fox recognized the need for inclusive baseball experiences in The Bahamas, inspiring them to establish the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby. This extraordinary event provides a unique opportunity for young baseball enthusiasts to watch and play with international players at home. Now in its sixth installment of the event, it has grown to a full week of activities including the kids clinic, a celebrity game, a golf tournament and the main event, the home run derby, scheduled for Saturday December 9 at Montagu Beach.

Isaacs expressed gratitude to Dunkin’ Bahamas.

“Having Dunkin’ on board as a sponsor for this year’s event is significant and we are appreciative. Our partners allow us to bring baseball to the kids in our local communities and to bring our vision for this year’s event to life, to showcase The Bahamas while we advance the game of baseball. We are very grateful. Today was a really cool experience here at Dunkin’ and we are thrilled to have had the opportunity to interact with customers, fans and the Dunkin’ employees and to put smiles on faces as we start the week.”

About the main events, Isaacs added: “This week we will be bringing some of the best players to play the game alongside today’s top talent and the future stars of baseball in a high number of energy events. Not only is this a baseball showcase but we are opening the doors of The Bahamas to showcase the beauty of our country while highlighting the depth of our sports talent and creating opportunities for future generations.”

Lucius Fox, co-founder for the event, also expressed gratitude for the support offered over the years but noted that there is still more work to do.

“Our vision is to take the event to the Family Islands; there are so many Bahamians who have never had an opportunity to experience what we do so we want to take the show to them,” he said.

Fox, who also donned a Dunkin’ apron, added: “We are super grateful to Dunkin’ for allowing us to come into the store and help serve customers, make drinks and even learn how to frost donuts. This was a unique, fun experience for us and we look forward to building on this partnership in years to come.”

At the heart of the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby is a thrilling competition where players vie to hit the most balls the furthest into the water, scheduled for this Saturday at Montagu Beach. Aptly termed ‘The Greatest Show on Sand’, this event not only entertains but also serves as a catalyst for increased tourism, community engagement and economic opportunities.

• Sheldon Longley
• Dec 5, 2023
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Over 200 youngsters, including seven Bahamians, showcased their skills to coaches and scouts from about 100 colleges and universities, ranging from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), at all levels, down to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), in the sport of tennis in November.

The USP (University Sports Program) Showcases College Tennis 2023 event took place at the Emilio Sanchez Tennis Academy in Naples, Florida.

Rodgers, a 17-year-old 12th grader at Windsor, has garnered scholarship interest from schools in the double digits and has narrowed the list to six.

“My experience at the showcase was great,” she said. “With me being in the Class of 2024, this is a crucial time for me. I just had to go out there and show the coaches what I could do. I feel like a lot of coaches were interested in me and that was a good feeling. I put my best foot forward. I’m extremely proud of myself and I can’t wait for what’s to come in the future.”

Rodgers finished the three-day showcase a perfect 4-0 in her matches.

“I wasn’t scared or nervous at all. I was loose because this was my second showcase so I knew what to expect a bit. I tried new things and I’m just happy that I was able to play well. I’m very proud of myself. … I have no regrets,” she said.

Rodgers said ultimately, the connection between herself and the coach, along with academic opportunities, will determine which program she chooses.

“The connection is going to play a part. If I really connect with the coach, that is a major plus, but first and foremost, is academics. That comes first,” she said. “The best program for me would be the one that I would go with the most. School comes first and then tennis.”

Mortimer Jr., an 18-year-old 12th grader at SAC, said he appreciated the opportunity to be seen from the college coaches and scouts.

“I think it was good for all of us to go out there and get our names out there,” he said. “Coming from a small place like The Bahamas and being able to go out there and do well speaks wonders for us. It was good to show up and show out, showing what we could do here in The Bahamas.

“I went in there kind of relaxed because I know that there are schools that are interested in me, even before the showcase. I was a bit confident, but I could say that it definitely exceeded my expectations and I’m glad that I was able to perform well.”

Mortimer Jr. said he has a top three in mind in terms of schools he is leaning towards.

One of the local coaches of the group, former national team player Philip ‘PJ’ Major Jr., said it was definitely a pleasure taking the young Bahamian players to the showcase to display their talents. Major is one of the coaches of the Island Tennis Bahamas program that operates at the Atlantis Tennis Center on Paradise Island.

“This is their future that is at stake and all of them were able to go over there and perform well,” said Major. “It was great to see the interest that was placed in them. A lot of them were out of their comfort zones but they were able to relax and speak with the coaches and to see them do that was a great thing because this is for their future. This is the next step for their tennis careers, and for academics, so I was happy to see them take this step.”

The Island Tennis Bahamas program caters to young tennis players between the ages of 4-19. Major said he is looking forward to helping more Bahamian kids in the not too distant future.

“It takes a lot of dedication and hard work and once we have kids who are committed, we will provide the avenue for them and it’s just up to them to take the opportunity,” he said. “They have the options to pick and choose where they want to go, and hopefully, it all works out for them.

“I just want to thank Audrey Oswell (Atlantis president and managing director), Russell Miller and the Atlantis team for allowing Island Tennis Bahamas to be a part of this program – giving the kids somewhere to train and develop with a beautiful scenery and in a comfortable environment. Thanks to the parents, the Island Tennis Bahamas coaches who have dedicated their afternoons and evenings to ensure that these kids develop not only as players but also as human beings, and all of the supporters of the program. This couldn’t have been possible without the involvement of a lot of the supporters and for that we say thanks.”

Another one of the coaches at the program, Marvin Rolle Jr., The Bahamas’ longstanding Davis Cup Captain, said it is a pleasure to work with the youngsters and to see them develop into fine tennis players and even better human beings.

“A lot of schools were looking at them and we’re just happy for them. This is what it’s all about – to display their talents and get a free education while doing so. We just want to thank Atlantis and all the supporters of the program. We appreciate what they’re doing to help kids develop their talents.”

Out of the seven young tennis players, Sharano and Shavano Hanna have graduated, Rodgers and Mortimer Jr. are 12th graders and the remaining three are in grade 11.

• Sheldon Longley
• Dec 5, 2023
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The Defenders continued its upward trajectory through the 2023-2024 New Providence Volleyball Association (NPVA) season over the weekend, taking down the Intruders in four sets over at D.W. Davis Gymnasium.

In the women’s contest on Sunday, the Lady Warhawks disposed of the Set-sy Poppers in four sets.

In the women’s contest, the Lady Warhawks won 98 total points compared to 82 for the Set-sy Poppers and the match lasted for an hour and 27 minutes.

The Lady Warhawks prevailed, 23-25, 25-13, 25-21 and 25-23.

On Friday, the Lady Spikers took care of the University of the Bahamas (UB) Mingoes in straight sets in the women’s game, and in the men’s contest, the Intruders lost again, this time to the Warhawks in straight sets.

The women’s match lasted for just an hour and nine minutes. The Lady Spikers won comfortably, taking 75 of the 124 total points. They won, 25-18, 25-8 and 25-23.

In the men’s contest, the Warhawks took care of the Intruders in three sets, 25-20, 25-22 and 25-22, ending the match in just an hour and two minutes. They won 75 total points compared to 64 for the Intruders.

In the women’s division, the Lady Spikers trail just the two-time defending champions Panthers in the standings. The Panthers won in 2019 and again in 2022. There was no league play in 2020 and 2021 due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The other teams in women’s play this season are the Lady Techs, the Lady Warhawks, the UB Mingoes and the Set-sy Poppers.

The four teams in the men’s division are the Defenders, the Intruders, the Technicians and the Warhawks.

Match play continues on Wednesday. There is just one game on the schedule. The Panthers will serve as the host team, taking on the Lady Techs. That match will get underway at 8 p.m.

On Friday, two women’s games are on the schedule. The Set-sy Poppers will host the Lady Spikers and the Mingoes will host the Lady Techs. The first game will get started at 7:30 p.m. and the featured contest will begin at 9 p.m.

The league will break for the Christmas holidays following next week’s action.

• Sheldon Longley
• Dec 5, 2023
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Bahamians traveling to St. George’s, Grenada, over the Easter holiday weekend to support Team Bahamas could get an early jump on tickets for the 51st CARIFTA Games as the online portal officially opened on Friday.

The Local Organizing Committee for the Grenada CARIFTA Games, scheduled for March 30 to April 1, 2024, announced that Caribbean sports fans, and patrons in general, will have about four months to purchase tickets but encouraged all to secure their seats early.

There are usually six sessions of the annual CARIFTA Games, two on each day – Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Last year, morning sessions were free of charge at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium here in Nassau, The Bahamas.

The regional governing body for the sport of athletics, NACAC (North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association), is the owner of the event and NACAC officials are encouraging its member federations to eagerly procure tickets at an early date so as to avoid a late rush.

The 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games in The Bahamas produced a number of thrills for the home country, both on and off the track. It will be remembered as one of the most action-packed, engaging and all-inclusive editions of the junior regional sports meet in its history.

The action on the track and in the field was complemented with a lively cultural village and there was a grand opening ceremony, an upscale tea party for regional and global guests, and the ‘Let’s Move Bahamas’ CARIFTA Fun Run/Walk in which World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe served as the patron and also participated in the event.

The holiday weekend was capped off by fantastic performances on the track and in the field at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

The Bahamas finished second to Jamaica for a fourth straight time, winning eight gold, 13 silver and 20 bronze for 41 total medals. Jamaica won CARIFTA track and field for a 37 straight time, collecting 39 gold medals, 20 silver and 12 bronze for 71 total medals. Trinidad and Tobago was third behind Jamaica and The Bahamas with five gold medals, seven silver and 10 bronze for 22 total medals.

Photos by Patrick Hanna/BIS

As of Monday, December 4, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#After four days of exciting action on the seas and on land at Montagu Bay, the best of the best in sloop sailing around The Bahamas were awarded at the sixth Best-of-the-Best Regatta last night.

#Stefan Knowles, one of Long Island’s top skippers, took home two titles this time around in Class B and C.

#Class A went to Leslie “Buzzy” Rolle, hailing from Exuma. Meanwhile, Joss Knowles and Kiano Hutchinson earned bragging rights in the Class E event.

#Rolle stopped Knowles from repeating as a triple crown champion this time around when he edged out a win in Class A.

#Over the course of four days, Knowles earned back-to-back wins with the Running Tide on Thursday and Friday. However, on Saturday and Sunday, Rolle and the Silent Partner took charge to notch a victory in Class A.

#On the final day, Silent Partner led the entire way on the waters ahead of Running Tide and Ruff Justice. The former ended in second and Ruff Justice had some difficulties and dropped to third.

#“Everybody could see that it was a great competition. When you beat a guy like Stefan, who is pretty tough in racing, that is a great accomplishment for us. I just want to thank the Black Point boys for giving me a chance to really do what I wanted to do to that boat. We won yesterday [Saturday] and I told them that is only the start and we did it today. I feel proud,” he said.

#In Class C, Knowles repeated as champion with the Sassie Sue. Rolle sailed in second with the Bull Reg and third place went to Jeff Gale who skippered the It Aint Right boat. The double crowned champion collected three first place victories in Class C. However, Rolle had one strong message for Knowles.

#“We are gonna do the National Family Island Regatta in April and I expect the same thing to happen. The only difference is we are going to win the Class C,” the Exuma native said.

#In addition to Knowles’ Class C trophy, he skippered the New Susan Chase to yet another top finish in Class B.

#He only dropped one race in four days and on the final day ended in first. Jeff Gale and the Lonesome Dove trailed for second and Rolle placed third with Lady Sonia.

#Joss Knowles reeled off four consecutive wins to claim the top honours in Class E.

#Over the weekend, the Lady Kayla sailed to a first place finish ahead of Captain Peg and Papa on Friday. The following day Knowles led the way leaving One Bahamas and Mako to fend for second and third.

#On the final day, the Lady Kayla came out on top, Papa, skippered by Patrick Tomlinson, ended in second and Captain Peg settled for third.

As of Monday, December 4, 2023

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Honouree Eugene ‘Geno’ Nairn is flanked by head of athletic department Jason Edwards and vice principal Bemnedict Dorsett (right).

HONOUREE Eugene ‘Geno’ Nairn shares a moment with principal Marici Thompson.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#ALTHOUGH he walked off St Augustine’s College as a graduate in 1968, Eugene ‘Geno’ Nairn continued to come back, giving of his time, energy and resources to assist with the further development of the Big Red Machine athletic programme.

#On Saturday as SAC hosted is second Big Red Madness on its campus, the Big Red Machine Athletic Department honoured Nairn for his invaluable contribution.

#In receiving his accolades, Nairn said he was really “taken aback” because he didn’t envision it coming.

#“It all turned out well. The kids really had a good time with the competition. I was looking for more alumni to come out and support the event,” Nairn said.

#“I was looking for more graduates from the school.

#“Maybe next year, they can have some activities for the graduates to participate in. I think if they can offer them for the various classes, we can get more participation and attendance from the former students. But it all went very well and I’m really appreciative for the recognition they gave me.”

#Organiser Jason Edwards, the head of the Athletic Department at SAC, said it was an honour to recognise Nairn for his unwavering support over the years. He served as the Alumni president for about a decade, he has helped to raised funds for the construction of the softball field of dreams and he is serving as an assistant coach for the senior boys’ softball team.

#“We appreciate all of the support that he’s given in the trenches over the years and how he still continues to give back,” Edwards said. “It’s good to pause and recognise persons like Geno, who never stop giving back to the school.”

#Principal Marici Thompson commended the Athletic Department for the vision in putting on such a fun-filled activity for the school. “I would like to congratulate our athletic director coach Jason Edwards and his team on a job well done,” Thompson said. “Big Red Madness was a huge success again this year. It has grown and it will continue to be an annual one. It can only continue to grow to be bigger and better from here on.”

#At the same time, Thompson commended Nairn for the active role he continues to play in the development of the Big Red Machine’s athletic programme.

#“He has contributed so much to the college over the ways and he continues to serve the college in various capacities,” Thompson added. He was a member of the Board of Directors and one of the coaches of our senior boys’ softball team. He continues to give back anyway he can.”

#Thompson said in the future, they hope that they can continue to recognise those persons who have made significant contributions to the development of the Big Red Machine athletic prowess.

#Proceeds from Saturday’s event was earmarked for the further development of the weight room at SAC. Edwards revealed that they have been able to extend the room and they want to be able to purchase more equipment for the students to use their athletic development.

#After hosting the first event in 2019, the past two years were called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But in its return this year, organisers staged competition in a home run derby, three-point shoot out, 4 x 4 mixed relay and the DJ sound clash.

#The major sponsor for the event was Oaktree Medical Center.

BAHAMAS team members in Maples, Florida, where seven Bahamian junior tennis players participated in a college showcase last week.

As of Monday, December 4, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#COACH Philip Major Jr said he was more than impressed with the performance level of the seven Bahamian junior tennis players who participated in the college showcase held last week in Maples, Florida.

#Twin brothers Sharano and Savanno Hanna earned full athletic scholarships to attend the United International College. They are members of the Flamingo Gardens Tennis Club, but travelled as members of the Island Tennis Bahamas.

#Island Tennis Bahamas, which is based at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, took seven members to the showcase. The others were Dentry Mortimer, Saphire Ferguson, Leila O’Brien, Khai Rees and Sierra Rodgers.

#“The trip went great. The kids did their thing. Everybody showed up and showed out,” said Major r, who travelled with coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Major Jr. “Some of them went undefeated during the whole showcase. All of them went there for a goal in mind and they all executed their goals, which was to get offers and meeting with the college scouts and coaches to discuss the possibilities or enrolling in school with the possibilities of doing it through athletic scholarships.”

#While the Hanna brothers, who are trained by Michael Butler, were successful in getting scholarships to UIC, based in Miami, Florida, Major Jr said the others got a lot of interest from various schools.

#O’Brien also received offers from UIC, Emerson College, Appalachian State University, West Virginia Wesleyan, Belhaven College, Piedmont University and LeTourneau University, while Mortimer, on the other hand, got offers from Warner University, Howard, DePaul, Chicago State, McPherson, Bethel, Boston College, Frostburg State, Prairie View and Xavier.

#All of the others received a number of offers from schools and will be engaging in some more formal discussions with the schools over the next few weeks with the view of making a final selection.

#This was Island Tennis Bahamas’ first venture into attending a showcase and because of the feedback that they received from the organisers and the coaches, Major said they will continue to attend more showcases in the future with the view of getting more exposure for the Bahamian tennis players.

#“We do intend to carry more Bahamians to this type of showcase that can benefit them for their future,” Major Jr said. “So it turned out to be a great trip overall and we’re pleased with what the players were able to accomplish.

#“It’s a big deal to go to a showcase like that and show out. Just to see the kids come out of their comfort zone and to communicate with the caches and scouts and demand what they want and what they want to study and holding that whole conversation was something great to see.”

#Major Jr thanked Audrey Oswell, president/managing director and the Atlantis resort team for their commitment to the growth and the development of the players at their facilities, as well as their parents who made the investment in the coaches to help facilitate the process for their children. A number of players from Island Tennis Bahamas are now in Florida where they are participating in the 17th Lil Mo Tennis Tournament in West Palm Beach, Florida.

#Major Jr wished all of them every success as they gain some international exposure playing against some top-notch players from around the world.

As of Monday, December 4, 2023

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#THE 2023-24 Catholic Board of Education Primary Schools basketball championships will feature the Xavier’s Lower School Giants boys and girls versus the Sts Francis & Joseph School Shockers on Tuesday at the Loyola Hall.

#The Shockers remained undefeated and advanced to the finals after their boys closed out the St Thomas More Sparks 20-5.

#Meanwhile, the Shockers girls’ team dropped the Sparks 8-3 to book their spot in Tuesday’s championship game.

#For the Giants, they won against the St Cecilia’s Strikers 9-2 in the girls playoffs and 14-10 in the boys division.

#The Shockers’ boys team had a perfect season in the standings after they never lost a game.

#On Friday, Emery Sturrup led the way in scoring for the Shockers with 10 points in the playoff win.

#The primary school team got out to a 5-0 advantage to start the game which turned into an 8-0 lead and they never looked back.

#In the girls’ matchup, Grace Smith scored a team-high five points in the victory.

#Nkomo Ferguson, head coach of the Shockers, talked about how it felt to have two teams secure a spot in the respective championship games.

#“It feels great. The kids put in the work, tonight they looked pretty sloppy but they know how to recover from mistakes and our defence pulled through,” Ferguson said.

#Coach Ferguson did not mince words when it came to his expectations of the Shockers in the best-of-three championship round.

#“We are about to complete the sweep, that is my expectation,” he said.

#The Giants ousted the Strikers behind the efforts of Khaki Armbrister, who poured in 10 points in the win. The former maintained control of the game from the opening quarter and despite some last minute efforts by the Strikers, the game was never close.

#In the girls’ matchup, Lenise Leadon led the Giants with six in the game. Demarco Smith, head coach of the Giants, was pleased with the efforts of both teams.

#“I am happy for the kids, they put in the work and deserved to be here. They earned it so I am more than happy for them. We were able to come out here and show everybody the hard work we put in all season,” Smith said.

#The head coach is looking for the team to get the job done in the basketball championships.

#“My expectations is that we put our best foot forward and hopefully that is enough to win the championship. Our goal is always to win the chip,” he said.

#The Catholic Board of Education Primary Schools basketball championships game one takes place on Tuesday, December 5.

#Game two will be on Wednesday and game three will be played on Thursday if necessary at the Loyola Hall at 3:45pm.

As of Monday, December 4, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Sweeting

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE 2023 Bahamas Youth Flag Football League (BYFFL) season is now in the books after three champions were crowned over the weekend on the playing fields opposite the original Thomas A Robinson stadium.

#Team Dawkins reeled in a win in the 10-13 age group when they downed Team Kevin. Team Munroe collectively hoisted the championship trophies after defeating Team Allen in the 14-17 division.

#Additionally, Team Inne handled business against Team Dawkins in the featured game of the day in the 6-9 age group.

#Inne Marshall, head coach of Team Inne, was overjoyed to see the regular season success of the team translate to a championship victory. “We finished off the season in first place so I went into the championship game very optimistic about the win. I did not foresee a 35-13 victory. I thought it was going to be a lot tougher but we came out and pulled it out in the clutch. I am very proud of my kids. They did an excellent job this season,” Marshall said.

#Team Inne led their opponents 23-13 which blossomed into a 35-13 victory. Cha’Naldo King, who earned the league’s MVP honours in the 6-9 age group, was a dominant performer for Team Inne.

#In the game, he scored four touchdowns and evaded defenders at every opportunity he got to help his team coast to the championship win.

#Coach Marshall talked about the top performance turned in by King.

#“Cha’Naldo is very special. This is his second season working with me and he had an amazing season and has been partnered with an excellent quarterback in Shaquille Thurston who was actually a rookie. They make an amazing team,” she said.

#Next season the head coach is looking forward to being unstoppable once again but for now her sights are set on the USA Flag Youth Championships which most of her team members will play in.

#It was a low scoring affair in the Team Allen vs Munroe matchup with the latter finishing the game ahead by two points (8-6) in the 14-17 age division.

#Amari Hutchinson was named the league’s MVP in this respective division on Saturday.

#Reginald Cartwright, of Team Munroe, said the team’s perseverance helped them to emerge as BYFFL champions in the 14-17 category.

#“The win was mostly about perseverance. I think we had started the game off hot and made a few mistakes but we decided to pull together and we got it done.

#“It is an overwhelming feeling but it is all about the kids. It is good to see them take on the sport, enjoy it and actually learn and grow from year to year,” he said.

#In Saturday’s first game of the BYFFL championships, Team Dawkins handed a 23-14 loss to Team Kevin to earn the bragging rights.

#Wyatt Cartwright was awarded the MVP honours in the 10-13 age division.

#Ulan Dawkins, head coach of Team Dawkins, was grateful not only for the championship but to see the development of the youth in flag football.

#“If I talk about the game I would be doing the season injustice.

#“The season itself was definitely one of those seasons where I saw we had incremental growth and at the tail end we saw exponential growth.

#“It was a tight and emotional game. We played a great team but our team was able to rally, get through that emotional wall and get the win.

#“I am proud of them for that. It is a humbling experience but one of the biggest wins that we had was seeing the team develop chemistry throughout the season so the championship was just kind of the cherry on top of the development,” Dawkins said.

#With the 2023 BYFFL season now in the rearview, the focus will shift to the USA Flag Youth World Championships scheduled for December 29-30 in San Antonio, Texas.