02142018 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

NBA, PAGE 5

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018

Royals, Cobras are champions

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

W

hile the senior and junior boys’ championships have been decided, the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s senior and junior girls’ title will go to a third and deciding game on Thursday.

On Tuesday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, the CC Sweeting Cobras completed a sweep of the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves with a 62-61 thriller that was decided on the free throw line with just one second left in the game.

The defending champions Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins stayed alive, forcing a third and deciding game in the senior girls’ series with a 37-24 decision over the CV Bethel Stingrays to set the stage for the finale on Thursday.

It was a three-peat perfect season for the DW Davis Royals as they powered their way to a 44-36 triumph over the CH Reeves Raptors to complete a sweep of the junior boys’ crown as they celebrated again.

The TA Thompson Scorpions avoided elimination by stopping the HO Nash Lions’ bid for a sweep of another junior girls’ title with a stunning 29-22 victory and will now prepare for Thursday.

• Here’s a summary: Cobras 62, Timberwolves 61 After Anthony Williams put CC Sweeting up 62-60 with 15 seconds remaining in the game, Kevin Thompson had a chance to at least force overtime.

But he hit the first charity shot, missed the second and the Cobras deflected the ball out of bounds and time expired and their fans rushed on the court to celebrate. “This is a never say die team,” said Cobras’ head coach Mario Bowleg.

“I told them that if they stay focused, we could win the game.

SEE PAGE 8

THREE-PEAT PERFECT SEASON: It was a three-peat perfect season for the DW Davis Royals as they powered their way to a 44-36 triumph over CH Reeves Raptors to complete a sweep of the junior boys’ crown.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

HIGH JUMPER WILSON WINS TITLE, READY FOR WORLD INDOORS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JAMAL Wilson feels his consistency in the men’s high jump this year will enable him to go to the IAAF World Indoor Championships and compete very well against the rest of the top-notch competitors next month.

Over the weekend at the 2018 Samford Invite at the Birmingham Metro CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama, Wilson matched his personal best of 2.31 metres or 7-feet, 7-inches to clinch the title.

The performance came after Wilson was also hampered by the flu in the week leading up to his trip to Alabama. Despite the challenge he was faced with, Wilson said he’s pleased with his progress.

“It was just a good time.

I went there knowing that I had a job to do,” said Wilson of his feat that placed him tied with fellow Bahamian Donald Thomas, American Erik Kynard and China’s Yu Wang for seventh place on the 2018 indoor performance list that is led by world and Olympic champion Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar with 2.38m (7-9 3/4), done on February 1 in Tehran, Iran.

“I feel like I executed everything correctly in terms of travel. My training was a little rough that week because of the flu, so I kind of lost a little bit of strength, so I was re-strengthening myself going into the meet.

“My legs were a little tired at the meet, but I felt good and I felt confident that I knew exactly what I had to do in the competition and when the gun started and the competition began, I just felt like everything was clicking and the jumps felt easy.”

Although it’s not official, Wilson is confident that he will make the top 12 spots that will earn him the trip to Birmingham, England for the IAAF World Indoor Championships, scheduled for April 2-4.

“I feel great. I feel really confident, not overly confident. I feel prepared. I just feel like I just kind of show off what I got going on here,” Wilson said.

SEE PAGE 2

Bahamian connection and Golden Eagles off to good start

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamian connection of Eugene Stuart and Rajahl Moxey have helped the University of Charleston Golden Eagles men’s volleyball team to an impressive start to their 2018 season.

The Golden Eagles pushed their front-running overall win/ loss record to 6-1 while posting their first two victories ever in the EIVA conference play with a 3-2 win over Princeton as Stuart recorded six total blocks and they swept the Tigers 3-0, thanks to five blocks from Stuart.

“Overall, it was 100 per cent high average, high energy, nobody gave up,” Stuart said of the team’s performance.

“I think everyone did what they had to do, everyone chipped in and got the job done. It was just a fun time.”

Stuart, 21, also led the offensive attack for the University of Charleston, contributing 20 kills while hitting .500 to earn his first

EIVA Defensive Player of the Week honours.

Stuart, a junior, was selected as the EIVA Defensive Player of the Week after recording 11 total blocks in a 2-0 week and he was named Charleston’s Athlete of the Week.

“I am still in shock that I won the awards,” said the 6-6 middle blocker. “I worked hard, putting in the work in practice and putting in a high level of energy in the games, so I guess it all paid off.”

In the 21 sets they’ve played so far, Stuart is averaging 1.71 kills, 0.19 service aces, 0.33 digs and 0.86 blocks. Moxey, in 11 sets played, is averaging 1.09 kills, 0.36 assists, 0.36 service aces, 1.64 digs and 0.27 blocks.

Stuart said Moxey, a 21-yearold senior, has a lot to do with his accomplishments as they provide the Bahamian connection at Charleston.

“That’s like my brother on the court,” Stuart pointed out of Moxey. “The whole game he’s been a mentor to me, telling me

VOLLEYBALL players Eugene Stuart (left) and Rajahl Moxey have helped the University of Charleston Golden Eagles men’s team to an impressive start to their 2018 season. that I could do it. We push each other to make sure that we play better.

The Golden Eagles will be back in action on Thursday when they host Alderson Broaddus University at 7pm in the Wehrle

Innovation Center before they take on St Francis next week in their next set of conference games.

“Right now, I feel we are just getting into the swing of things,” Stuart stressed. “We can’t get

complacent, but I think everything will be just upswing for us.

Our coaches bring out the best in us and I also believe that the players get a lot of energy from our fans.”

Stuart, a graduate of St Augustine’s College where he starred for the Big Red Machine, attributed a lot of his success so far to his parents, Fabian and Enid Stuart, the New Providence Volleyball Association, pro players Byron Ferguson and Shemari Hepburn and JeVaughn Saunders.

However, Stuart said he has to give a shout out to the late DeVince Smith, whom he credited for getting him started on his collegiate journey. “I know if he was alive, he would be very proud of our accomplishments,” Stuart summed up.

Moxey, a 6-3 opposite player, was the focal point of the Hurricanes’ team when he attended St Andrew’s High School.

Both Stuart and Moxey were members of both the junior and senior men’s national volleyball teams.

PAGE 2, Wednesday, February 14, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

High jumper Jamal Wilson FROM PAGE 1 “I have three weeks to prepare to give myself a great opportunity to compete at the Worlds.”

The good thing is 29-year-old Wilson is currently sitting tied for the top spot on the world standings for the outdoor season with his 2.28m (7-5 3/4) that he cleared here at home on January 27 with Hup Wei Lee of Malaysia, duplicating the feat on the same day in Canberra, Australia.

“Even though I did the world-leading mark, at no point and time the weather was good, at no point and time the meets were organised, the timing was always off and sometimes you had to wait a whole day,” Wilson pointed out.

“It could get rough at times, but I’m thankful for those meets because I didn’t get to go to the European meets like I wanted to because of an error on our side. But I feel grateful that I got to compete at home and I was able to post the best jump in the world outdoors this year.”

With this being what athletes are calling an offyear without the Olympic Games or the IAAF World Championships on the agenda, Wilson said whatever is there to be taken as a title or to compete for the country, he wants to be there.

The biggest meet of the year is the Commonwealth Games, slated for April 4-15 in the Carrara Stadium, Carrara, Gold Coast, Australia. Later in the summer, the Central American and Caribbean Games will be held in Barranquilla, Colombia, from July 19 to August 3.

“Commonwealth is a definite and whatever there is down the road,” Wilson

SEE NEXT PAGE

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 14, 2018, PAGE 3

ready for World Indoors FROM PAGE 2

HIGH JUMPER Jamal Wilson reflects on coach Ronald Cartwright’s advice.

NPWBA: Consolidated Water sponsors junior programme THE New Providence Women’s Basketball Association (NPWBA) is the only remaining female league, formed out of the New Providence Basketball Association in 2003 when Mynez Cargill-Sherman spearheaded a breakaway when she found the women leagues lacked support and took a backseat to those of the men.

“Right now women’s basketball is still struggling,” said Cargill-Sherman, the current president of NPWBA. “However, with sponsorship from Consolidated Water Corporation (CWCO) we’ve developed a promising junior programme which will eventually feed into the women’s league.

“There are still only one or two gyms in the country where we can play, and there are so many men teams involved that women get squeezed out. It’s the reason we initially formed the NPWBA – they found very little time to accommodate us, and we got side-lined, and nothing’s changed.”

She recalls various islands having women’s leagues of their own when she played in her younger years. But now, it has “practically died out as people got up in age and retired from the game.” As part of the solution, the NPWBA decided to revive participation in a younger demographic.

“That’s why two years ago we established the junior programme, sponsored by CWCO,” Cargill-Sherman said. “The raw talent we see just needs to be developed.

The year before last was the first time in a while The Bahamas was able to send off a junior national team, and we won that tournament, and I think that was a direct result of the junior development programme.”

The junior programme trains athletes from primary school age up to 18-yearsold. Students are recruited to form the programme’s usual seven teams of 13 players each, who compete in an average of 30 tournaments per year.

The season was scheduled to run from November but has been postponed until next month because of the lack of interest by the women who make up the teams. At least four teams are registered to compete in the league this year.

However, this weekend, the NPWBA will host a developmental programme for primary school teams at the CI Gibson Gymnasium. The competition will start at noon on Saturday and wrap up on Sunday, with a 3pm start.

St Francis/St Joseph, Xavier Lower School, Gavin Tynes, Temple Christian, Kingsway Academy, Teleos and possibly Carlton Francis are in the field.

CWCO is eager to assist the NPWBA again this year.

“We were proud to be an initial sponsor for the NPWBA’s junior programme, and to keep that sponsorship going for three years,” said Welliya Cargill, CWCO’s accounts manager. “It’s an incredible thing for women’s basketball and young females

JEFFREY BURROWS, CWCO Operations manager, Mynez Cargill-Sherman, NPWBA president and Welliya Cargill, CWCO accounts manager at a cheque presentation. in general because it creates an avenue for them to feel empowered in what usually tends to be a male-centric sport.”

Cargill-Sherman welcomed the return of CWCO as they continue their mandate to provide an avenue for the women to be exposed when they start the regular season on March 1 and run for about two months.

Each of the four teams - Bommer G Operators, Career Builders Tigers, Angels and the Elites - will play a three-round format.

“I think the women have been on their own for a long time and that’s why they continue to struggle. We’re practically holding on by a thread,” Cargill-Sherman said. “The lack of support is why we’re at the point where New Providence is the only women’s basketball association left while the men have leagues in Bimini, Eleuthera, and Andros.

“I’m highly appreciative of CWCO. Without them, I don’t think the junior programme would have even been established.

There is a lot of work to take on, but I feel like our biggest challenge is getting the federation to support it. There are those corporate sponsors out there, like CWCO, that are willing to put into the programme, and that was the point I wanted to make to the federation: that a junior programme could be viable, and it is supported. What I really wanted to do was show them that it’s all possible, and I think I’ve done that.”

Cargill-Sherman said it’s anticipated that the NPWBA will forge a relationship with the Grand Bahama Amateur Basketball Association, headed by Quinton ‘Three-Ounce’ Hall, in staging some home-and-away games to gain some interest among the women without a formal national championship for the women by the Bahamas Basketball Federation.

said. “So I’m looking to have a really exciting year and winning as much hardware as I can.”

Wison said he’s been blessed with an amazing talent and he’s not going to overtrain or anything, but he will just allow God to take control of his future.

“I don’t have too many people in my corner, who I call my friends, other than my family and I don’t really go outside like that for entertainment or to have fun,” he stressed. “So I’ve been preparing myself to have a really good season.”

As he prepares for the future, Wilson said he will be walking by faith and “whatever God decides to give him on that day of competition, I will just take it.”

With a personal best of 2.30m (7-6 1/2) outdoors that he accomplished last year, Wilson said he felt that with the assistance of his long-time coach Ronald Cartwright, the sky is the limit.

Wilson said Cartwright is considered a close friend and mentor because they do so many things together off the field and that has been the key to their success together as a team.

Although they have a vast difference in age with Cartwright at 80 his senior, Wilson said they don’t allow it to get to them because, at the end of the day, they still have a job to do.

“He’s performing at the level that he should be,” Cartwright said.

“He’s been working very hard and so he’s jumping at the level that he should be jumping.

“I expect that he will only have great success this year because he’s well prepared and he wants to perform at his best.

I know that if he goes to Worlds, he will definitely make the finals and once he does, he could be on the podium (as a medallist).”

And once Worlds is over with, Cartwright said the focus will be on the Commonwealth Games where Wilson could go head-tohead with Thomas for the title.

“That’s just how confident I feel about his potential this year,” Cartwright said.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, February 14, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Students Run Marathon Bahamas shool relay winners are rewarded Scotiabank – title sponsor of the Students Run Marathon Bahamas – recognised and rewarded the stellar performances of the winning school relay teams who participated in Marathon Bahamas last month.

Students from schools who placed in the Straight and Mixed relay categories, and their coaches, were presented with trophies and gifts at ceremonies at the Bank’s Rawson Square Corporate Offices in Nassau and Scotiabank’s Branch in Marsh Harbour.

“Running a marathon is a life altering experience.

These exceptional student athletes not only completed the 26.2 mile course but outpaced all the other student runners who participated in this year’s Scotiabank Students Run Marathon Bahamas. They deserve every commendation,” said Nakera Symonette, Senior Manager, Marketing & Public Relations, Scotiabank Caribbean North.

“These young athletes are a reflection of the bright future The Bahamas has ahead. A future led by persons who already know the value of hard work and endurance,” Symonette continued. “People who know that you have to train for success and that preparation pays off.

These are the positive traits in our youth that we have gathered to highlight and celebrate.”

1ST place Mixed Relay C.R. Walker Senior High School Seated (l to r) Nakera Symonette, Senior Manager, Marketing & Public Relations, Scotiabank Caribbean North; Ednal Rolle, Head Coach, C.R. Walker Secondary School; and Paul J.I. McWeeney, President, Sunshine Insurance (Agents & Brokers) Ltd. Standing Trevor H. Strachan, Race Coordinator, Students Run; and Maxine V. Seymour, Manager, Public & Corporate Affairs, Sponsorships & Philanthropy, Scotiabank with mixed relay team members Clemeka Gibson, Tamia Mackey and Lhevinne Joseph Missing from photo Fedline Louis, Runner Scotiabank has supported Race Weekend, inclusive of Marathon Bahamas and the Susan G. Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure since inception nine years ago.

In 2013, the bank became the lead partner for the Scotiabank Students Run Marathon Bahamas initiative which provides an opportunity for distance

running student athletes to participate in the relay component of Marathon Bahamas.

The Bank’s global social responsibility platform focuses on Young People in the Community. “Hats off to Sunshine Insurance for organising Race Weekend each year. We are proud to be associated with this

distinguished event which raises funds for local nonprofit organisations; boosts tourism and the local economy; and provides an avenue for the display of young athletic talent right here in The Bahamas,” said Maxine V. Seymour, Manager, Public & Corporate Affairs, Sponsorships & Philanthropy, Scotiabank.

“Congratulations to each of the winners, coaches and schools C. R. Walker Senior High, Forest Heights Academy and St. John’s College,” she said.

A special thank you to Trevor Strachan for the remarkable job he does coordinating the student teams,” Seymour concluded.

JOEL STUBBS RE-ELECTED AS BBF BOSS THE Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation held its election of officers on Saturday when Joel Stubbs was returned as president.

Stubbs, in his second twoyear term, will serve with Kenny Green, who was returned as vice president, Lillian Moncur, back as secretary general and Brittany Hamilton, who will continue as the treasurer.

The executive team announced that they will start the new year with two tournaments coming up this month.

The first one will take place on Sunday when competitors line up in the Miss & Mr America’s Ben Weider Cup in Bogota, Colombia. Then they will participate in the IFBB Diamond Caribe in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic from February 23-25.

The following athletes will be competing in the shows - Jimmy Norius and Joey Rolle in bodybuilding, Endierich Rahming and Terran Knowles in men’s physique, Lorraine LaFleur and Tanya Moxey-Cleare in women’s physique and Angelika Wallace-Whitfield in bikini wellness.

The federation also released its schedule for the 2018 season. They include the following: Novice Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships, April 21, Northern Bahamas Championships, May 12, National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, May 26, Central American and Caribbean Championships, July 27-29 and the Faye Rolle Classic, October 27.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 14, 2018, PAGE 5

James’ 37 lead Cavaliers past Thunder 120-112

By CLIFF BRUNT Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — LeBron James and his new teammates are playing like old buddies.

James scored 37 points, and the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers got a much different result this time against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 120-112 victory on Tuesday night.

Cleveland claimed its second straight win since adding George Hill, Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. in trades, and their fourth straight victory overall. The Cavaliers lost to the Thunder 148-124 on Jan. 20 with a very different roster.

“It’s a change of scenery and they’re just trying to take advantage of it,” James said. “For the guys that were here, we’re just trying to make them as comfortable as possible.

Make the transition as seamless as possible.”

Thunder coach Billy Donovan said the changes create a lot of problems.

“I think their ability to space it, drive it, kick it, their skill level, I think — not that it was bad before, but I think the speed, probably the tempo and the pace they are playing at is a little bit faster,” he said.

Each of Cleveland’s additions made solid contributions against Oklahoma City. Hill started at point guard and went 24 minutes without a turnover. Hood and Clarkson each scored 14 points and Nance had 13 points and nine rebounds, including eight offensive boards.

James praised Cleveland general manager Koby Altman for getting what the team needed at the trade deadline.

“It just wasn’t working out for us. He made the changes he felt best fit our team,” James said. “Then,

DEROZAN SCORES 27, RAPTORS HOLD OFF THE HEAT 115-112

By IAN HARRISON Associated Press

CLEVELAND Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with teammate Jordan Clarkson during the second half last night against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City.

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) it’s on me to make sure the new guys that come in, that they fit in and make it as seamless as possible. That’s my job. This is the third game in a row my voice is gone. So I am just trying to have communication at an all-time high for us.”

Holdover guard J.R. Smith added 18 points for the Cavaliers. It was Cleveland’s second straight road win against top competition — the Cavaliers rolled past Boston 121-99 on Sunday. “We’ve got to keep working,” Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said.

“It’s a process. You’ve got to keep playing well, keep getting better and hit that stride late.”

Paul George scored 25 points and Carmelo

Anthony 24 for the Thunder. Steven Adams added 22 points and 17 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook scored 21 points. Westbrook and Anthony had missed the past two games with sprained ankles.

Westbrook had 12 assists and seven rebounds, but he made just 7 of 19 shots.

“This guy has been an ironman for so long, but when you miss two games and practices and you have one day to get back, there could have been, for him, trying to work his way back in to where he was,’” Donovan said. “He’s never going to make an excuse about his ankle or how he feels or anything else.

He gave everything, as he always does, to try to win.”

James scored 14 points in the first five minutes of the third quarter, including two 3-pointers, to give Cleveland a 78-68 lead. He was 6 for 6 from the field during that stretch. The Thunder responded with an 8-0 run to get back into the game. Cleveland took a 91-87 edge into the fourth quarter.

The Cavaliers took control in the fourth, and a layup by James after driving on George pushed the Cavaliers ahead 115-106 with 49 seconds to play.

The Thunder trimmed their deficit to five in the final minute and could have come closer, but Alex Abrines missed a 3-pointer, and Nance got free for a dunk to seal the win for

Cleveland. The Cavaliers led 62-57 at halftime.

James had 16 points, four rebounds and five assists, and Smith had 15 points on five 3-pointers.

Adams scored 15 points before the break for Oklahoma City.

QUOTABLE James on Cleveland’s defense against the Thunder.

“I don’t know if we contained them. PG (George) was shooting the heck out of the ball. Melo hit some tough shots in my face. Russ was I think three rebounds away from another triple-double.

Adams is a beast. We just tried to contain the rest of them.”

MINNESOTA Timberwolves’ Jimmy Butler (23) drives on Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) last night in the 2nd quarter in Minneapolis.

(AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)

NBA CAPSULES ROCKETS 126, TIMBERWOLVES 108 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — James Harden had 34 points, 12 assists and six rebounds, and Houston beat Minnesota for its ninth straight victory.

Ryan Anderson scored 21 points off the bench as the Rockets (43-13) snapped Minnesota’s 13-game home winning streak and pulled within a half-game of the Golden State Warriors for the best record in the NBA. Houston has won for the 16 of its last 18 games.

The Rockets made 10 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, when they scored 42 points.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 35 points and 12 rebounds in Minnesota’s first home loss since Dec. 16 against Phoenix. Jeff Teague added 25 points and eight assists, and Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score 11 points after starting 0 for 6 from the floor.

BUCKS 97, HAWKS 92 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Khris Middleton had 21 points to lead a balanced attack for Milwaukee, and All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo

hit two key buckets in the final three-plus minutes.

Tyler Zeller added 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting in his first game in Milwaukee since joining the team on the road before the trade deadline last week.

The Bucks improved to 9-2 since Joe Prunty took over as interim coach following the firing of Jason Kidd, getting back in the race for a top-four playoff seed in the East.

Dennis Schroder scored 18 points for the Hawks, and Ersan Ilyasova had nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter.

Ilyasova spearheaded a late rally in which Atlanta erased a 12-point deficit and tied it at 84

on Kent Bazemore’s 3-pointer with 3:30 left.

KINGS 114, MAVERICKS 109 DALLAS (AP) — Zach Randolph scored 22 points, and Sacramento used a big first half to beat Dallas.

Bogdan Bogdanovich added 19 points for the Kings, who have won four of five in Dallas after losing 22 in a row here from 2003 to 2016.

Seven Kings scored in double figures.

J.J. Barea led the Mavericks with 19 points, and Harrison Barnes and Dwight Powell each scored 18.

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Raptors were too disappointed with their performance to celebrate a win that guaranteed them the best record in the Eastern Conference at the All-Star break.

DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points, Kyle Lowry had 22 and Toronto beat the Miami Heat 115-112 last night for its sixth straight victory.

The Raptors improved their NBA-best home record to 24-4 despite being outscored 31-17 in the fourth quarter and missing their final eight field-goal attempts.

“It was terrible,” DeRozan said. “It was a terrible win. We can’t close out games like that.”

Toronto (40-16) plays its final game before the break on Wednesday night.

Serge Ibaka had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who also won six straight between Nov. 25 and Dec. 10 and again between Dec. 13 and 23.

C.J. Miles added 11 points, but the Raptors failed to extend its franchise-record five-game streak of winning by 15 or more points.

“I think we all were displeased,” Lowry said of the finish. “We could have closed it out better.”

Goran Dragic scored 28 points and James Johnson had 16 for the Heat, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.

“We feel we’re a good team but we have some work to do,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Miami fell a half-game behind idle Philadelphia for seventh in the East.

The Heat visit the 76ers on Wednesday.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 14, 2018, PAGE 7

KANE LEADS SPURS’ RECOVERY IN 2-2 DRAW AT JUVENTUS

By DANIELLA MATAR Associated Press TURIN, Italy (AP) — At a crucial moment in its Champions League last-16 match yesterday, Tottenham survived against Juventus simply by standing still.

Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris chose not to dive in either direction as Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain approached to strike his second penalty of the game.

With no big gaps appearing, Higuain smashed the ball straight down the middle and saw it cannon off the crossbar.

A goal would have given Juventus a commanding 3-1 lead at halftime.

Instead, Spurs managed to recover from a terrible start and level in the second period to finish at 2-2, ahead of the second leg at Wembley on March 7.

Lloris had dived low to his right against Higuain’s successful first spot kick, getting a hand to the wellplaced penalty.

Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen scored in each half after Higuain had netted twice inside the opening nine minutes Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri reacted strongly afterward when it was suggested his team, which is going for a seventh successive Serie A title, should have beaten Spurs, which is fifth in the Premier League.

“I think people have lost a bit of objectivity,” said a clearly annoyed Allegri.

“Juve plays to win but it’s not favourite. You can’t go to the final every year. I think the lads are having a great season, but it’s a long leap from there to think they’re going to win a last16 match 3-0.

“That drives me nuts, because people don’t have an idea about the other teams. I can’t accept that people are getting depressed over a 2-2 draw, it seems like we lost 8-0.”

It was also an exciting first half in Basel, with Manchester City scoring three goals before going on to win 4-0 to leave

JUVENTUS’ Gonzalo Higuain celebrates his side’s opening goal yesterday. (AP) it with one foot in the quarter-finals.

Allegri went for an attacking lineup, with Federico Bernardeschi, Douglas Costa and Mario Mandzukic supporting Higuain.

And that paid off right from the start in a terrible opening 10 minutes for Spurs.

Mousa Dembele fouled Miralem Pjanic, 30 yards (metres) from goal, inside the first minute. Pjanic

himself took the free kick and picked out Higuain, who beat the offside trap to volley into the far corner.

Matters swiftly went from bad to worse for Spurs as Ben Davies tripped Bernardeschi inside the area and referee Felix Brych pointed instantly to the spot.

Higuain stepped up and placed a precise penalty into the bottom left corner for his second goal of the match and his eighth in his last five matches.

Tottenham had a mountain to climb against a side which had reached the Champions League final in two of the past three seasons. Juventus had not let in a goal in 2018 and had only conceded one in its past 16 matches.

However, with Juventus content to sit back, Spurs began to dominate possession and almost got one back in the 26th but goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon pulled off a great save to keep out Kane’s header from point-blank range.

Higuain almost got his hat trick after a swift

MAN CITY NETS 4-0 WIN AT BASEL

counterattack and some lovely interplay with Pjanic, but he fired narrowly wide of the left upright.

Buffon did well to tip another Kane effort round the post but Spurs were getting closer and did get back into the match 10 minutes from halftime.

Kane ran onto Dele Alli’s through ball, took it round the onrushing Buffon and calmly deposited into an empty net.

It was the first goal Juventus had conceded in 696 minutes.

Spurs pushed for the equaliser but Juventus almost extended its lead on the stroke of halftime when Serge Aurier brought down Douglas Costa in the area. Higuain stepped up again but failed to complete his hat trick, firing onto the crossbar.

He had another good chance to grab a third, shortly before the hour, but he headed a corner straight at Lloris, who had done well to tip Bernardeschi’s effort round his post moments earlier.

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Manchester City sent out another statement to the rest of Europe by thrashing Basel 4-0 away in the first leg of their Champions League last16 match on Tuesday, with Ilkay Gundogan scoring two of the goals.

The Premier League’s runaway leaders scored three times between the 14th and 23 minutes — through Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero — before Gundogan added a fourth goal from long range in the 53rd minute.

City, which enjoyed 74 percent possession, scored four goals away from home for the third time in this season’s Champions League and has only lost two games in all competitions, one of them against Shakhtar Donetsk when qualification for the last 16 was already guaranteed.

This is the best chance City has had to win Europe’s biggest prize, especially with one of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain sure to be eliminated this round.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 62° F/17° C

TAMPA

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Some sun with a shower; breezy

Partly cloudy

Partly sunny

Mostly sunny and delightful

Partly sunny

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

High: 84°

Low: 72°

High: 84° Low: 72°

High: 83° Low: 71°

High: 84° Low: 71°

High: 84° Low: 72°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

86° F

74° F

88°-75° F

92°-73° F

89°-71° F

86°-71° F

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 67° F/19° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C

7-14 knots

S

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 68° F/20° C

6-12 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 69° F/21° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 67° F/19° C

MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

6-12 knots

KEY WEST

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 72° F/22° C Normal high ....................................... 77° F/25° C Normal low ........................................ 64° F/18° C Last year’s high ................................. 80° F/27° C Last year’s low ................................... 58° F/15° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 5.69” Normal year to date ..................................... 2.09”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 72° F/22° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C

N

High

E

W

10-20 knots

S

10-20 knots

Low

Ht.(ft.)

6:51 a.m.

7:07 p.m.

2.7 2.3

12:31 a.m. -0.1 1:16 p.m. 0.0

Thursday

7:29 a.m.

7:45 p.m.

2.8 2.3

1:12 a.m. -0.2 1:53 p.m. -0.1

Friday

8:06 a.m.

8:23 p.m.

2.8 2.4

1:51 a.m. -0.2 2:28 p.m. -0.2

Saturday

8:42 a.m.

9:02 p.m.

2.8 2.5

2:30 a.m. -0.2 3:03 p.m. -0.2

Sunday

9:18 a.m.

9:41 p.m.

2.8 2.6

3:10 a.m. -0.2 3:38 p.m. -0.2

Monday

9:57 a.m.

10:23 p.m.

2.7 2.6

3:51 a.m. -0.1 4:16 p.m. -0.2

Tuesday

10:38 a.m.

11:09 p.m.

2.6 2.6

4:36 a.m. 0.0 4:56 p.m. -0.2

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:45 a.m.

6:03 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

5:55 a.m.

5:11 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Feb. 15

Feb. 23

Mar. 1

Mar. 9

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C

N

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

L

Ht.(ft.)

Today

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C

N

S

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

tiDes For nassau

CAT ISLAND

E

W

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

10-20 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 78° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 78° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

12-25 knots

10-20 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS E at 6-12 Knots E at 4-8 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 10-20 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots E at 10-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 4-8 Knots E at 12-25 Knots ENE at 12-25 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 8-16 Knots

WAVES 3-6 Feet 3-6 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 5-9 Feet 4-8 Feet 4-8 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 5-9 Feet 4-7 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-6 Feet 6-10 Feet 5-9 Feet 4-8 Feet 3-5 Feet 8-12 Feet 6-10 Feet 5-9 Feet 3-6 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 74° F 74° F 77° F 77° F 75° F 75° F 79° F 79° F 73° F 73° F 74° F 75° F 77° F 77° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 75° F 75° F 78° F 78° F 75° F 75° F

PAGE 8, Wednesday, February 14, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

DW Davis Royals, CC Sweeting Cobras crowned GSSSA basketball champions FROM PAGE 1 “I told them that I was thinking about retirement after this season and I guess they wanted to make sure that we did it. I’m pleased with their effort.”

Most valuable player Brandon Strachan pumped in 17 points, Marco Beckford and Cassius Turnquest both had nine, Anthon Williams seven and Christian Manace six.

Kirklyn Farrington paced Anatol Rodgers with 16, Devon Bonamy had 12 and Jason McHardy chipped in with nine.

“I could live with a performance like that,” Anatol Rodgers’ head coach Harcourt McCoy said. “Mario is a hell of a coach. We gave them everything and lost it on the line. But we still have Hugh Campbell and I am sure my players will remember this loss. We left it all out there on the court.”

The Cobras took a slim 45-44 lead to start the fourth quarter. With three minutes and 10 seconds left, Brandon Strachan canned a three-peat and a jumper to extend the Cobras’ lead to 50-46.

Every run the Timberwolves made to come within one, the Cobras found a way to extend their margin as they held on for the win.

Anatol Rodgers went on an offensive tear for a 44-36 lead to force CC Sweeting to call a time out with about four minutes left in the third quarter. The Cobras managed to trim the deficit to 44-41 at the end of the period.

The Cobras opened up a 30-23 lead at the half as they controlled the play in the paint.

With 1:40 left in the first quarter and the score tied 12-12,, Anatol Rodgers’ Kirklyn Farrington was injured and had to be helped off the court, but he came back into the game.

The Cobras went on to take a 16-12 advantage at the end of the period. CC Sweeting won game one on Monday 70-54 as Brandon Strachan came up with 22 points.

Mystic Marlins 37, Stingrays 24 Kovanique Rolle came through with 11 points, Tanea Bowleg had none and both Kristian Sands and Briontae Riley added six.

Doris Johnson got off to a slow start, going scoreless before they got on board for a 6-2 deficit and trailed 8-4 at the end of the first break. However, they turned it around to surge to a 16-8 halftime lead and pushed their margin to 26-18 at the end of the third and stayed in control in the fourth. “We have the heart of a champion,” said Mystic Marlin’s coach Kavon Spence. “This team has been through the ropes.

We had a long season, but we knew we had to go out there and leave it all on the line. CV Bethel, coached

by Glenda Gilcud, got 11 points from Adiyah Johnson and five from Shanyhah Bowe in the loss. CV Bethel won Monday’s opener 36-27 as Shante Cooper scored a game high 12. Kovanique Rolle had 10 in a losing effort.

Royals 44, Raptors 36 MVP Kenvon Farrington exploded for a game high 22 points, including nine points on 2-of-2 from the three-point line as they pulled away in the fourth quarter.

THREE-PEAT PERFECT SEASON: It was a three-peat perfect season for the DW Davis Royals as they powered their way to a 44-36 triumph over CH Reeves Raptors to complete a sweep of the junior boys’ crown.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff DeAngelo Faulkes added 22, including nine in the fourth as well as the Royals came from from a 24-22 deficit at the end of the third. The game was tied 10-10 after the first quarter, but the Raptors held a slim 19-18 advantage at the half.

DW Davis went to their potent full court trap defence in the fourth and they opened a 10-point lead and never looked back.

“It’s been a long season.

We went to Andros, won Father Marcian (Peters Invitational), we got the

pennant and now the championship,” said Royals’ coach Mark Hanna. “I want to thank God for allowing us to be so successful again.”

Hanna said he will have his Royals back in practice as of Saturday at DW Davis

as they look to go for a fourth straight next year.

For CH Reeves, coached by Rashad McKenzie, Marley Major scored eight and Lavardo Kemp, Glenroy Howard and Charlotte St Just all chipped in with six. DW Davis won game one 49-40 as Faulkes led the way with 18 and Farrington had 22. Major scored nine to lead CH Reeves.

Scorpions 29, Lions 22 Coach Donovette Scavalla got a 1-2 punch from centre Shaqvonia Daxon and point guard Adina Webster as TA Thompson held off HO Nash junior girls.

Before fouling out with about one minute left in the game and her team up 29-21, Daxon had a game high 12 points, including 3-of-6 free throws in the fourth quarter as the Scorpions pulled away from a 22-18 lead for the win.

Webster added 11 points, including six in the third as they broke up a 12-12 halftime margin.

The other four points for HO Nash came from Samara Achille and Nathayla Lightbourne with two each. “I just told the girls to play TA Thompson basketball, they went out and made the adjustment and we came out with the win,” Scavalla said.

She said Daxon and Webster, who is only in grade four, had an impressive performance, but that was what they did all season long. She expects the trend to continue in game three.

HO Nash, coached by Pattie Johnson, got eight from Glennia Sands and four from E Pierre.

The Lions won the opener 42-38 on Monday as Sands scored a game high 28 points.