• Jan 3, 2024
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The Bahamas Youth Flag Football League (BYFFL) fielded three teams at the just concluded USA Flag Youth World Championships in San Antonio, Texas. They all fell short in the elimination rounds with one team making it to the semifinals.

The event began on Friday, December 29 and wrapped up on Saturday, December 30, 2023. The Bahamas’ High School team advanced to the semifinals after a strong first day.

“This is the best that we have done since coming to this competition,” Clarke said. “As usual, the competition was fierce. This is the climax of the USA Flag season where all the top teams come to compete and to be crowned as the 2023 champions. We lost two games … by two points. We were in it all the way through.”

The High School boys team finished its division in second out of six teams with a 2-1 win/loss record to advance to the semifinals. They lost 14-12 to third seeded NBT in the semifinals.

The 14-and-under team finished fourth in their division with a 1-2 record after the first day. In their only game on Saturday, they lost to Texas Lonestarz, 26-24, in a nail-biting finish.

In the 13-and-under division, the Bahamas All-Stars finished third with a 2-0-1 win/loss/draw record. They were shut out 8-0 against the Raptors on the final day of competition.

“The level of play has improved. One of our players, Christopher Munroe, who is 14 years old, is in high school in the United States and became the starting quarterback after three weeks. There is also Brian Neely who is the same age and off to school and plays. It is great to see the level of play of our players improving,” Clarke said.

Clarke is hoping to keep the teams together as they look to win at least one division in this year’s USA Flag Youth World Championships.

The BYFFL is looking to have a free camp this month. Details will follow later.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Javelin specialist Rhema Otabor has been selected as The Tribune Sports’ Female Athlete of the Year 2023.

As of Tuesday, January 2, 2024

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#With a strong showing in her first transfer collegiate season and a breakout year on the senior international scene, javelin thrower Rhema Otabor has emerged as The Tribune’s Female Athlete of the Year (2023).

#She earned the honours over a field of track and field athletes, including hurdler Devynne Charlton and sprinter Anthonique Strachan and basketball star Jonquel Jones.

ATHLETE OF 2023: Javelin specialist Rhema Otabor has been selected as The Tribune Sports’ Female Athlete of the Year.

#The 21-year-old, who is now in her senior year at the University of Nebraska after transferring from Florida International University for her junior year this season, took the spotlight, winning three major medals and being named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honour Roll in the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023.

#After winning the Michael Johnson Invitational and placing second at the Jim Click Shootout (185-10 (56.64m), Otabor won the Big Ten women’s javelin title with a heave of 189-90 (57.85m).

#She qualified for the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division One Championships in June at the Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas where she hoisted the championship trophy in the javelin with her winning toss of 195-2 (59.49), becoming just the second Bahamian to accomplish that feat, following in the footsteps of national record holder Lavern Eve, who did it for Louisiana State University in 1987.

#Otabor came home in June and won the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associationas’ National Junior and Senior Championships crown at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium with her performance of 196 (59.75m). She earned the rights to represent the Bahamas at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association’s under-18 and under-23 championships where she won the javelin title with a toss of 188-7 (57.48m). That propelled her to the World Athletics’ 19th World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August where she made her debut by falling short of advancing to the final with 15th place in her group in the qualifying round with 175-11 (53.62m).

#However, the flame continued as she went on to capture the silver medal at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in November, capping off the year with her personal best of 198-7 (60.54m). Only Eve has thrown further as a Bahamian with her national record of 209-1 (63.73m) she established in 2000 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Basketball star Jonquel Jones.

#Despite the performances of Otabor and Charlton and Strachan, Jones clinched the second spot on the Tribune’s Female Athlete of the Year list.

#The 29-year-old Grand Bahamian native, who played in her first season with the New York Liberty, earned her second Most Valuable Player honours in the Women’s National Basketball Association.

#This time, the 6-foot, 6-inch centre captured the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup with 16 points and a game high 15 rebounds as the Liberty knocked off the Las Vegas Aces 82-63 in August. For her efforts, she collected an extra $5,000 to go along with the $30,000 bonus each her teammates got for winning the first title for New York.

#Although it was an in-season incentive that didn’t count towards their regular season statistics, Jones and the Liberty did make it to the WNBA Final where it counted the most. The Aces got revenge as they captured back-to-back titles with a 3-1 best-of-five series win over the Liberty.

#Prior to falling short in the final, Jones helped the Liberty to eliminate her former team, the Connecticut Sun 3-1 in their semifinal playoffs. Jones played with the Sun from when she joined the WNBA in 2016 to 2022, including the WNBA MVP in 2021, but she’s yet to secure a league team title.

Hurdler Devynne Charlton.

#For the third spot in the Tribune’s Female Athlete of the Year honours, Charlton came through with some fantastic feats that was just shy of getting her on the podium.

#The 28-year-old national record holder came so close to getting on the medal dais at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August where she placed fourth in the women’s 100m hurdles in a time of 12.52 seconds.

#She ended the year at the Weltklasse Zurich Diamond League Meet in Zurich, Switzerland where she was eighth overall in 12.75. She had 13 races under 13 seconds, but season’s best was off her national record of 12.44 she set at the Olympic Games in 2022 in Eugene, Oregon.

#Other athletes making their presence felt this year, but falling short of the top three were Anthonique Strachan, who posted personal best times of 10.92 in the 200m and 22.15 in the 200m, while finishing sixth at the World Championships and third at the Diamond League Finals, the return of World and Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo after having a baby and the appearances of both Waltiea Rolle, the first Bahamian to compete in the WNBA, and European player Lashann Higgs, along with tennis players Sydney Clarke and Larikah Russe

CHAMPIONS: CI Gibson Rattlers senior boys celebrate their Providence Basketball Club’s 24th Yuletide Basketball Classic title on Saturday at the CI Gibson Gymnasium. Photo: Moise Amisial/Tribune Staff

As of Tuesday, January 2, 2024

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE CI Gibson Rattlers clinched another senior boys’ title in their own Providence Basketball Club’s 24th Yuletide Basketball Classic on Saturday on their home floor at the CI Gibson Gymnasium.

#But coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson said although they won 69-66 over the visiting St George’s Jaguars from Grand Bahama, it was no easy walk through their familiar territory.

#“It feels good. We played against a very good shooting St George’s team. We are not at full strength. It’s no excuse. We went out and allowed them to get back into the game,” Johnson said. “Defensively we had a lot of lapses and Deryl Williams and Kevaro Russell shot the ball very well for St George’s. But our boys shot the ball pretty well too. Down the stretch, we closed it out and pulled it off.”

#Calvin McIntosh, the assistant to head coach Darrel Sears, admitted that fatigue may have played a factor for them, having to play three games in a few hours.

#“It was a lot for the guys to take, but we grit it out,” he stated. “One of our big men got injured, so he was not that effective today, but we gritted it out.

#“We have some players back home who couldn’t make it. but we got what we wanted by coming here for this tournament. We wanted to get better. We wanted to teach them how to win games. I think we got that.”

#As they now look at returning here in February for the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic, McIntosh said they hope to be at full strength with the three key players they left at home on their roster. “This team grew up. That’s all we could ask,” he stated. “So look out for us in February.”

#Rattlers 69, Jaguars 66: Tashon Butler, who was named the Most Valuable Player, scored a side high 16 points with a solid performance in each quarter to lead CI Gibson to victory.

#Dwayne Finley had 14, Gerrad Rolle had 13, Prince Whitley had four and both Darius Hanna and Stevachko Jacques added three, while Zavian Lloyd finished with two.

#Kevaro Russell, held to just two points in the first quarter and scoreless in the second, fuelled St George’s comeback in the second half. He knocked down a pair of three-pointers and added two field goals for 10 in the third and had another pair of threes in the fourth in his eight points to finish with a game high 22 points.

#Deryl Williams, who canned the game’s final basket on a three-pointer at the buzzer, had 15. Bedner Termius had seven and Romero Adderley chipped in with four. The Rattlers led 27-18 at the end of the first quarter as Butler connected on three free throws and a field goal for five and Rolle and Finley had four each and Hanna canned a three-pointer.

#They extended their lead to 38-27 at the half with Butler duplicating his feat from the first quarter.

#Ignited by Russell’s pair of three-pointers and field goals for 10 in the third, St George’s got back into the game, trailing 52-39.

#But they couldn’t stop Butler, who added 10 more points to his ledger, including two three-pointers and as many field goals.

#In the fourth, Russell and Williams both knocked down a pair of three-pointers to keep the Jaguars in the game. However, their efforts came a little too late.

#St George’s only had one game to recuperate after they held off the Charles W Saunders Cougars 47-39 in their semifinal match-up, while CI Gibson played ahead of them, securing a 53-44 win over the CC Sweeting Cobras.

#The tournament closed out with the awards ceremony and carting off trophies as they were selected to the All-Tournament Team were the following players:

#Blazers Elite – N Gedeus. St George’s – Deryl Williams and Kevaro Russell. CI Gibson – Tashon Butler and Gerard Rolle.

#CC Sweeting – Andrew Bethel and Tavari Roker. Charles W Saunders – Raymone Woods and Nakero Brown. Queen’s College – Tashon Taylor.

#As the founder and organiser of the Providence Basketball Club, coach Johnson said he was quite concerned at the start on Wednesday after some of the teams dropped out.

#“But as we progressed, things got better and that is what the tournament is all about. The tournament is being used to keep the players active during the Christmas season, but it also allows the teams to work on a few things as they head into the second half of their season.

#“St George’s, I’m quite sure they got better. CC Sweeting, I’m sure got better.

#“They played well here. Charles W Saunders, Queen’s College, Teleos and St John’s, I saw how they all got better.”

#Johnson also gave high marks to the Agape Eagles, coached by Stephan Johnson, who took the junior boys’ title home to Abaco after they upset the Jordan Prince Williams Falcons 53-39 in their championship game.

#“Coach Johnson did an excellent job,” Johnson said. “He’s always been doing an excellent job down there. It’s just that a lot of Grand Bahama and New Providence teams take his players.

#“But he put in the hard work to prepare his teams and he’s going to continue to work hard. I’m glad to see that they finally won their first title here. If he can keep that team together, they will be hard to beat down the stretch.”

#This was the second year that the junior division was added to the tournament, which was primarily designed for senior boys. There is a possibility that the senior girls’ division could be included in the future.

FEATURED

Swimmer Lamar Taylor holds off a trio of professional basketball players for the top honor

• Sheldon Longley and Simba French
• Jan 2, 2024 Updated 1 hr ago
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It was a tough task for a three-member panel to select The Nassau Guardian’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year, but in the end, it was senior men’s national team swimmer and collegiate Lamar Taylor who came away with the honor with 44 points.

Taylor held off senior men’s national team basketball players Eric Gordon who was second with 40 points and DeAndre Ayton and Chavano “Buddy” Hield who were tied for third with 36 points. All three are in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Taylor kept lowering his 50 meters (m) free record all season and left it at 22.13 seconds going into 2024. He set the new mark at the Pan Am Games, winning a bronze medal. Only

Americans Curtiss David, who won in 21.85 seconds, and Johnathan Kulow, who was second in 21.90 seconds, finished ahead of Taylor in that race.

Taylor came away with a gold and a bronze in the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle events at the CAC Games. He won the gold medal in the 50m back with a personal best and national record time of 25.08 seconds. He swam for the bronze medal in the 50m free in a time of 22.51 seconds.

Taylor, who attends Henderson State University, won three NCAA Division II swimming titles this year, becoming the first Henderson State Reddies swimmer to win three national titles at one meet. At the NCAA Division II Swimming Championships back in March, the Bahamian was able to touch the wall first in the 50-yard free with a time of 19.24 seconds. He then won the 100-yard back with a time of 46.42 seconds. Taylor wrapped up his competition with a time of 42.30 seconds in the 100-yard free.

Apart from winning those three titles, Taylor was named the Great American Conference (GAC) Male Athlete of the Year, the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference (NSISC) Male Swimmer of the Year, the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Division II Male Swimmer of the Year and also the Henderson State Male Athlete of the Year.

Taylor is looking to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Gordon was instrumental in helping the senior men’s national basketball team advance to the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Olympic Qualifying Tournament when they won the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Americas Tournament in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, in August, 2023. Gordon was instrumental in the championship game of that tournament when he came alive in the fourth quarter to help The Bahamas take down host nation Argentina, 82-75. He scored 11 of his game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter and went 8-for-13 from the field. The Phoenix Suns’ guard went 6-for-7 from deep for the game including three in the fourth quarter. He led The Bahamas with an average of 20.3 points per game.https://dd1b891b36f03c463e8fbb252001e0ae.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

On the NBA scene, Gordon is averaging 13.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game and the Suns sport a 17-15 win/loss record.

Ayton averaged a double-double in the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Americas Tournament with 15.5 points and a team-high 13.8 rebounds per game. Hield averaged 19.8 points and 4.8 rebounds to go along with 3.3 assists per game.

The trio will look to make history again when they come together for a chance to get The Bahamas to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament is set for July 2-6, 2024, in Valencia, Spain. The Bahamas has to win that tournament in order to move on to the Olympics in men’s basketball.

• Simba French
• 1 hr ago
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1 of 2

Deyton Albury.

excerpt

• By The Nassau Guardian

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Bahamian collegiate athletes were in action over the weekend as they ended the calendar year for their respective schools with mixed results.

Deyton Albury put on an offensive show for the unranked Queens University of Charlotte Royals (6-9), but they fell to the number 16 nationally ranked Duke University Blue Devils (9-3), 106-69, on the road at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, on Saturday

The Royals finished their non-conference play with a second consecutive against a top-25 team.

Duke never trailed in the game as the Royals’ got overpowered with Duke making a blistering 58 percent of their shots. Duke’s offense and transition game punished the Royals as they scored 33 points off of the Royals’ 19 turnovers.

The only tie in the game came when Albury notched the score at 2-2 just a minute and a half into the game. The Bahamian tried to keep his team in the game as they trailed 6-4 early on after an Albury jump shot with 17:09 left in the first half.

That two-point lead quickly turned to a 15-point lead. Albury got the lead down back to single digits when he stole the ball and made a jump shot on a fast break at the 10:16 mark in the first half. Duke led 25-18 at that point. It was all Duke the rest of the way in the first half as they led 46-33 at the break. Duke outscored the Royals, 60-36, in the second half to run away with the win.

Albury and the Royals return to action on Saturday with a game against Kennesaw State University (9-5) at 5 p.m. at the KSU Convocation in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Franco Miller Jr. helped the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (6-9) take care of Florida Atlantic University Owls (10-3), 72-68, for their third consecutive win, on Saturday.

Miller scored 10 points and had five rebounds in 23 minutes on the floor on their home court at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Florida. He went 4-for-11 from the field including a made shot from three-point territory.

The Eagles shot the ball well as they shot at a 48.3 percent clip from the field and held the Owls to 41.4 percent shooting.https://b7931602969c44941dbe4b597331c6b6.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

Miller’s first points came from a three-pointer, putting his team up 14-10 at the 13:18 mark of the first half. They went into the intermission up 39-30. The Owls played them tougher in the second half, tying the score at 68 points with 1:27 left in the game. The Eagles broke the tie with a shot from deep with 1:12 left in the game to go up 71-68. Miller split a pair of free throws with 16 seconds left to seal the victory.

The Eagles will stay at home and welcome the Jacksonville University Dolphins (9-5) on Thursday for their first game of the calendar year. That game gets underway at 7 p.m.

On the coaching side, Yolet McPhee-McCuin was in action with the Ole Miss Rebels (10-3) women’s basketball team hosting the Alcorn State University Braves (2-9) at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion in Oxford, Mississippi. They won easily, 76-37. Playing for McPhee-McCuin in this game was Bahamian Rhema Collins. Collins had three points and four rebounds in six minutes.

The Rebels shot the ball at a 51.1 percent clip and held the Braves to 30.4 percent shooting from the field.

After opening the game with a 20-9 advantage in the first quarter, the Rebels did not take their foot off the gas as they went up 39-21 at the intermission.The Rebels had a dominant second half, outscoring the Braves, 37-16.

The Rebels return to action on Thursday when they kick-off conference play against the University of Alabama Crimson Tide (12-2) on the road at the Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.

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Kurtwood Greene, third vice president of the Bahamas Volleyball Federation (BVF), was elected as treasurer of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) during the electoral congress held at the BRIX Hotel on Coblentz Avenue, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in December, 2023.

The congress was attended by 12 of 14 national federation members and was held under the supervision of North, Central American and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) President Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz.

Mushtaque Mohammed, of Trinidad and Tobago, was re-elected as president and Kennedy McGowan, of the Cayman Islands, was re-elected as first vice president.

Also re-elected were Bonaire’s Gisette Emer as second vice president, Jamaica’s Jacqueline Cowan as secretary general and board member Filomena Daniel-Curiel, of Aruba. Mark Lewis, of Barbados, was elected as a board member.

Greene is the first Bahamian CAZOVA board member since former BVF President Don Cornish in 2002.

“I am truly grateful to the BVF for nominating me for this position,” said Greene. “My focus is to provide full transparency, especially with all financial matters while improving the conditions of volleyball within the region and to represent The Bahamas with pride.”

Greene, who is vying for the presidency of the BVF this month, indicated that he will do everything on his power to implement a strategic plan that includes among other things, improving good governance, building partnerships with all stakeholders, and providing a consistent development environment for athletes.

“At the end of the day, my focus is to leave volleyball in a better state and to make my beloved Bahamas the envy of the region,” said Greene.

As mentioned, Greene has offered himself for the presidency of the BVF during its election of officers that is scheduled for later this month.

As of Friday, December 29, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#As the Providence Basketball Club’s 24th Yuletide Classic continued yesterday at the CI Gibson Gymnasium, the two senior boys teams from Grand Bahama took the spotlight. The St George’s Jaguars, one of the perennial teams to watch, held off the CI Gibson Rattlers B team for a 53-49 victory and the newly formed Blazers Elite Academy outlasted the Teleos Cherubims. During the night session, the junior teams were in the spotlight, but scores were not available up to press time last night.

#Here’s a summary of the games played:

#Jaguars 53, Rattlers B 49: In scoring seven straight points down the stretch to break a 46-46 tie in the final two minutes, St George’s held off CI Gibson B team for the win. Deryl Williams erupted for a game high 17 points, Bender Terminus added nine and Lean-der Hall finished with seven as the Jaguars got the win.

#Michael Pierre had 13 and Charles Maynard added seven in a losing effort for the Rattlers’ B team.

#“It’s a game we needed. We started the season kind of rough in Grand Bahama and so this tournament is helping us out,” said Calvin McIntosh, the assis-tant to head coach Darryl Sears.

#“We are three quarters of a team right now so we needed a tight game like this. We know how to play, but we want them to learn how to win so when we get back to Freeport, we can contend for the title.”

#Blazers 48, Cherubim 28: After playing a close first half, the Blaz-ers Elite took their game into another gear and pulled away from Teleos for their second con-secutive win in the tournament.

#The Blazers Elite, who won their opener over the Nassau Christian Academy Crusaders on Wednesday night, got a game high 14 points from T’Kai Delancy. Martin Butler scored 10 points and K. Blaford added eight points in a losing effort.

#“We started off real sloppy, maybe because we had different times for the game and the guys had not eaten their lunch,” said coach Dr Ray Evans.

#“We just had to get some ener-giser in their system so that they could at least play. We could play a lot better, so hopefully you will get to see that as the tournament progresses.” Rattlers A 79, Crusaders 10: Gerard Rolle pumped in a game high 18 points, Zavion Lloyd had 13 and Dwayne Findley had 12 to lead a balanced scor-ing attack for CI Gibson A team.

#Rufus Johnson and Jahmal Johnson had five and four respectively in a losing effort.

#Cobras 50, Mystic Mar-lins 28: CC Sweeting continued to put up big numbers as Tavari Roker scored 11 points and both Donovan Samuels and Brandon Darville added four apiece.

#Klye Wilson and Shelton Nelson scored eight and seven in a losing effort for Doris Johnson.

#It was the first game played for the Mystic Mar-lins in the tournament and coach Kevon Spence said they are trying to regroup from last season.

#“This is a new unit from last year, so we are trying to pick it up and get some building blocks as we move forward,” he said. “As we play more games, the team will develop more.”

#Cougars 31, Cherubim 22: As they continued their wInning streak, Charles W. Saunders prevailed with their second win as Nakero Brown powered inside for 14 points.Trayvon Wright helped out with five.

#After winning their open-ing game, Martino Butler scored a game high 15 as Teleos suffered their first loss.

#“Our boys played tough and the e defense was pretty good,” said Cherubim’s coach Walter Charlton. “I could see fatigue getting to them as the game went on.

#“We lacked a few of our big men, but we went with what we had and we did the best we could.”

#Magicmen 37, Giants 31: In holding off St John’s down the stretch, Govern-ment High got their first win of the tournament as Jer-emiah Cadet came through with a game high 17 points. L Rolle added eight.

#In a losing effort for Giants, coached by Dwayne Smith, Makelin Dar-ling scored 11 points and Marlon Armbrister chipped in with .

#“I’m still upset with our performance. We haven’t practiced since school closed,” said GHS’s coach Elton Sherman. “The guys are still stuffed with ham and turkey.

#“We’re still in the rebuild-ing stage. This is a young team. My team is averag-ing about 16 years. We are basically getting ready for next season. We didn’t close out like we should. But I’m happy to get the win.”

#The tournament will con-tinue today at 9 am. The tournament will wrap up on Saturday when the two champions will be crowned in the junior and senior division.

As of Friday, December 29, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#IN their 23rd trip to the Arby’s Classic, head coach Kevin Clarke said his Tabernacle Baptist Academy Falcons continue to get the high level high school basketball talent to get them ready for the local competition in the Bahamas.

#The Grand Bahama Secondary Schools Athletic Association’s fourth-time defending boys champions got eliminated from competition after dropping their first two games played.

#The Falcons lost their opener 61-54 to the tournament’s host Tennessee High Vikings on Boxing Day and 63-50 to the Daniel Boone Pioneers.

#“Coming up here, there’s always going to be such great talent,” said Clarke, who was assisted by Quincy Gray and Ronald Woodside Jr.

#“We played against some nationally ranked teams in two tough games, but our guys kept her composure.”

#If there’s one major problem they encountered, Clarke said it’s making the adjustment from the traditional zone they are accustomed to playing in the Bahamas to really defending on man-to-man.

#Clarke, who took over from former mentor and now team manager Norris Bain, said he will make the recommendation that teams concentrate more on man-to-man so that they can be better prepared when they face the teams from the United States.

#• Here’s a summary of their games played in the tournament:

#Vikings 61, Falcons 54: Giano Murray Murray scored a side high 11 points with a pair of rebounds and Noah Bain had 10 points with three steals, two assists and two rebounds. Aiden Miller and Joshua Williams both contributed eight points. Miller also had seven rebounds and six assists.

#Tennessee High got a game high 23 points, four assists and three steals from Colin Brown and 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals in the win.

#“They are a well structured team. They run their offence the whole time. They are not going to stop so you really have to dig in and defend at a high level.

#“It was a tough game. We led at halftime, but we missed some simple assignments down the stretch and we ended up losing by about four points.

#“These guys can shoot the ball, so you can’t leave them open.”

#Pioneers 63, Falcons 50: Noah Bain scored 19 points with three assists, Alex Minus had nine points with two steals and Aiden Bain had six points with a pair of steals and block shots.

#Gavin Pearce led a balanced scoring attack for Daniel Boone with 15 points. Harry Hamlin had 13 points, Tim McGonigle had 11 and Clay Rowland 10.

#“We came out flat and fell behind by about 16 points in the first quarter,” Clarke said.

#“We came back in the second half to bring it back to about six. “We played so hard to dig ourselves out of the hole. It was good for us, but we should not have put ourselves in that position in the first place. We played hard, but if we did things right at the beginning, we would have been in a better position.”

#Clarke, however, said they use the tournament to get ready for the start of their season in Grand Bahama in January and for the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic in New Providence in February.

As of Friday, December 29, 2023

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Dr Kent Bazard

#IN the realm of sports, the pursuit of peak performance is a complex and nuanced journey. As a sports medicine physician and a certified sports performance coach, I have witnessed the evolution of sports performance training from traditional weightlifting to a more holistic approach.

#To our active sports enthusiasts, ranging from amateur to professional levels, understanding this evolution is key to unlocking your full potential.

#Defining Sports Performance Training: A Holistic Approach

#Sports performance training transcends traditional workouts. It is an integrated approach aimed at enhancing an athlete’s overall abilities, including strength, power, speed, agility and endurance. The purpose is not merely to excel in physical prowess but to develop a comprehensive skill set that translates directly to improved performance in specific sports.

#Strength vs. Power: Tailoring Training to Sports Needs

#A common misconception is equating strength with power. Strength is the ability to exert force, while power is about exerting that force quickly.

#A sprinter, for instance, requires explosive power to burst off the blocks, while a weightlifter needs sheer strength. Training programmes must be customised to these distinct needs. Research in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research supports the idea that different sports require different strength and power conditioning protocols.

#Biomechanics: The Science Behind Movement

#Integrating biomechanics in training programmes ensures that movements are both efficient and safe. By understanding the mechanical laws that govern movements, athletes can improve their technique to enhance performance and minimise injury risk. For example, analysing the bio-mechanics of a tennis serve can lead to adjustments that increase serve speed while reducing shoulder strain.

#Sport-Specific Training: Mimicking the Field of Play

#Key to enhancing athletic performance is sport-specific training, a method that precisely rep-licates the demands of a given sport. For instance, a basketball player’s regimen should include exercises focusing on vertical jumps and lateral movements, directly mirroring on-court actions. This approach is at the heart of successful programmes like those at Empire Sports Medicine, where training is meticu-lously tailored to the unique requirements of each athlete’s sport.

#Moreover, this specificity extends beyond physical exercises. It includes cognitive and tactical training, such as decision-making drills for soccer players, which replicate in-game scenarios. For swimmers, it might involve perfect-ing stroke techniques and turn efficiency, emphasizing movements specific to their events. At Empire Sports Medicine, we under-stand that each sport has its rhythm, pace, and unique set of demands, and our training programmes are designed to mirror these specifics as closely as possible.

#Incorporating technol-ogy, like motion analysis tools, further refines this approach by offering detailed insights into an athlete’s movement pat-terns, allowing for even more personalised train-ing strategies. This level of customisation not only enhances performance but also significantly reduces the risk of sport-specific injuries. By understanding and training the body in the context of the sport’s unique demands, athletes can achieve a level of preparedness that transcends general fitness, making them more agile, efficient, and adept in their specific sporting arena.

#Injury Prevention and Treatment: A Dual Focus in Athletic Excellence Injury prevention and treatment are essential aspects of sports performance training. This approach goes beyond just muscle strengthening, encompassing flexibility and balance exercises to lower the risk of injuries.

#When injuries do occur, it is crucial to integrate treatment with performance training for a complete recovery. This method is effectively demonstrated by professional sports teams, where sports medicine professionals and perfor-mance coaches collaborate closely to align an athlete’s rehabilitation with their performance goals.

#The strategy includes techniques like proprioceptive training, which enhances body awareness and uses stability tools to improve balance. Ensuring adequate rest, proper nutrition, and hydration are also fundamental in recovery and injury prevention. Educating athletes about the signs of over- training and the importance of reporting discomfort is key to preventing more serious injuries. This comprehensive approach not only treats but also prevents future injuries, maintaining the athlete’s long-term health and peak performance.

#Real-Life Solutions: Translating Theory into Practice

#To implement these concepts, start with a thorough assessment of your specific sport’s demands and your current abilities. Consult with a sports performance coach to develop a tailored training plan. Regularly review and adjust this plan as you progress and as your needs change.

#In Conclusion: A Comprehensive Path to Excellence Sports performance

#training is more than just lifting weights or running drills. It is a comprehensive approach that considers the unique demands of each sport and each athlete. By embracing this multifaceted training philosophy, athletes can push their boundaries and achieve new heights of performance. This article aims to shed light on the sophisticated nature of sports performance train-ing, guiding athletes in their pursuit of excellence. Remember, the journey to peak performance is not a one-size-fits- all path but a personalised and evolving process. As we strive for greatness in our respective sports, let us embrace the full spectrum of training methodologies available to us.

#• Dr Kent Bazard is a Bahamian sports medi-cine physician, sports performance coach, sports nutrition specialist and founder of Empire Sports Medicine. Our mission is to empower athletes to reach new heights while safeguarding their health and well-being. We understand the unique demands of sports activities, and we are dedicated to helping athletes prevent injuries, overcome challenges, optimise nutrition and performance.

THE PROVIDENCE Basketball Club’s Holiday Basketball Classic got underway yesterday at the CI Gibson Gymnasium. Photo: Moise Amisial

As of Thursday, December 28, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#The Providence Basketball Club’s 24th annual Yuletide Basketball Classic got off with a bang yesterday at the CI Gibson Gymnasium, despite the organisers having to juggle the line-up in the absence of a few teams.

#The tournament, which features both the junior and senior boys’ division, will continue today at 9am and will run through Saturday when the two new champions will be crowned.

#Heading into the remaining three days, the junior division has been dropped to two pools of six teams each instead of the four pools as originally planned.

#Pool one now comprises DW Davis, AF Adderley, Queen’s College, Nassau Christian Academy, TA Thompson and Agape, while pool two will include St John’s, Jordan Prince Williams, ISBET, Charles W. Saunders, Teleos and Anatol Rodgers.

#Likewise, the senior boys’ division still comprised four pools, but each has been reduced to just four teams. The makeup of the pools are as follows:

#Pool 1 – CI Gibson A, Blazer Elite, Nassau Christian Academy and Mt Carmel. Pool 2 is made up of Charles W Saunders, Government High, Teleos and St John’s. Pool 3 features CC Sweeting, Galilee, Doris Johnson and Queen’s College. And in pool four are St George’s, CI Gibson B, Jordan Prince Williams and CV Bethel.

#• Here’s a look at some of the games played on day one:

#Senior boys’ division

#Charles W Saunders 45, St John’s 19: In a match-up of two private schools that was over from the first quarter as the Cougars soared out to a 15-4 lead, the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools Sports’ champions kept the pressure on and made it look so easy.

#Treymon Wright scored a game high 13 points and Gervasia Johnson added 10 to lead a potent offensive attack for Charles W. Saunders, who also clamped down defensively to take St John’s out of their rhythm. Makelin Darling had 10 in a losing effort.

#“It was excellent. I saw growth,” said CWS’ head coach Dario Burrows, who didn’t have all of his players participate in the game. “The team came out and executed well. They played team ball. We didn’t rebound as well, but these off-season tournaments will only help us to get better.”

#CC Sweeting 46, Queen’s College 28: In another strong offensive attack, the Cobras were too much for the Comets to handle with E. Adams leading the way with a game high 16 points. Davon Davis had 11 in a losing effort.

#“I wasn’t satisfied with the effort. We had a long break and some of the players went to junkanoo,” said CC Sweeting’s coach Darshtyan Baker. “It took us a little while to get our feet under us, but once we did, we started to play a lot better.”

#CV Bethel 46, CI Gibson B: After getting out early in the first half, the Stingrays had to hold down the stretch to prevail against the late comeback surge from the Rattlers in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.

#Daniel Bodie, who scored the game’s winning basket with nine seconds left on the clock, ignited their attack with a game high 23 points. Michael Pierre had 10 in a losing effort. “It was a good win. The guys were trying to burn off some of the food they ate over Christmas,” said CV Bethel’s coach Daniel Pratt. “But overall, the guys are just trying to get ready for the second half of the GSSSA season, so it was a good win and a good start to the tournament.”

#Junior boys’ division

#ISBET 34, Teleos 31: Paidys Turnquest came through with 11 points and Zhyon Thompson chipped in with seven to spark the win for the Eagles. Raymond Lowe matched the game’s high honours with 11 for the Cherubim in the loss.

#“They performed well. This is the holiday season, so we’re just trying to get back into it,” said high jumper Kyle Alcine, who serves as the new coach of the team. “It was a good performance. We have a fairly good team. We just have to play more defence and we will be much better than we are now.”

#Jordan Prince Williams 34, Anatol Rodgers 24: Antonio Knowles and Anthony Rolle provided a 1-2 punch with nine and eight points respectively to help fuel the Falcons in their win as they cut down the Timberwolves.

#“We are out of sync. We need to get it together. We’re just not playing JPW basketball,” said Falcons’ coach Ernest Saunders. “We need to work on everything. We need to get our chemistry back, offensively and defensively. We have to get mentally prepared and physically tough.”

#In two other junior boys’ games played, St John’s stomped past Charles W Saunders 47-8 and DW Davis knocked off Nassau Christian Academy 36-21.

#• Here’s a look at the schedule for today:

#Session one (senior boys), starting at 9am – Nassau Christian Academy vs CI Gibson A; Doris Johnson vs CC Sweeting; Teleos vs Charles W. Saunders; St John’s vs Government High School; St John’s vs Government High and St George’s vs CI Gibson B.

#Session two (junior boys), starting at 4 pm – DW Davis vs Agape; AF Adderley vs TA Thompson; Queen’s College vs Nassau Christian Academy; St John’s vs Anatol Rodgers; Jordan Prince Williams vs Teleos; ISBET vs Charles W. Saunders; TA Thompson vs DW Davis; Agape vs Nassau Christian Academy; AF Adderley vs Queen’s College; Teleos vs St John’s; Anatol Rodgers vs Charles W. Saunders and Jordan Prince Williams vs ISBET.