02172017 sports

SECTION E

TEAM BAHAMAS, Pg 2

SPORTS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

SAC surges into lead

CRUISE CONTROL: High school students compete on day two of the BAISS Track and Field Championships at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium yesterday.

SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 4 Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

Big Red Machine dominate

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

I

t was a dominant performance from the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine on day two of the BAISS Track and Field Championships, and now sets the stage for a thrilling finish in today’s finale.

The Big Red Machine won 13 of the 26 finals yesterday at the Thomas A Robinson stadium to spark an 87.5 point turnaround and take possession of the top spot in the standings.

Heading into the final day of competition, Big Red Machine have totalled 748 points, just ahead of the two-time defending champion Queen’s College Comets in second place with 713.50 points. The Comets held a 53-point lead after day one.

The standings remained virtually unchanged for the rest of the

12-team field.

The St Anne’s Blue Waves are third with a total of 231 points, followed by the St John’s College Giants in fourth with 171.50 points.

The Nassau Christian Academy Crusaders complete the top five with 141.50 and the Temple Christian Suns round out the list of teams with three digit scores with 110.50 points.

The Jordan Prince William Falcons are seventh with 82.50 points, Kingsway Academy Saints eighth with 59.50 points, St Andrew’s School Hurricanes are ninth (68 points), Aquinas College Aces in 10th with (25 points), Westminster College Diplomats in 11th with 22 and Charles W Saunders Cougars with 19.

The 100m finals highlighted day two and produced several new meet records along with three CARIFTA qualifiers, while another qualifying standard was reached in the field.

Leading the list of performances in the 100m was reigning MYSC Junior Female Athlete of the Year and Rising Star award winner, Devine Parker of the St Anne’s Blue Waves.

Parker ran to a first place finish in the under-18 girls’ race in 11.73 seconds for a new meet record well ahead of the rest of the field and easily bypassing the CARIFTA standard of 12.15.

Second place finisher Kendesha Ingraham of St John’s also reached the standard with her time of 12.01 and SAC’s Tanae

Miller was third in 12.20.

Parker won silver at last year’s CARIFTA meet in 11.77.

D’Arjah Davis also set a new meet record in the under-14 girls’ race in a time of 12.82. SAC teammates Danielle Saunders (12.94) and Reshae Dean (13.06) finished second and third respectively.

Rashan Darling of St John’s took the under-20 girls’ event in 12.38. SAC’s Blayre Catalyn (12.46) and Kayneshia Carter (12.53) were second and third.

Big Red Machine sprinters would go on to take first place in five of the eight 100m finals.

Tavonte Mott took the under-20 boys’ event in 10.63 to top the previous meet record of 10.65. His teammate Alexander Storr was second in 11.13 and QC’s Brentan

Edwards was third in 11.23.

Adrian Curry successfully defended his title and dipped below the under-18 CARIFTA standard of 10.85 as he took first place in 10.71. In an exact finish as the 2016 final, the Comets’ Max Azor was second in 10.87 followed by the Blue Waves’ Godfrey Arthur (11.05).

Azor would go on to win the long jump in 6.26m. Lowell Bethell won the under-16 boys in 11.34, followed by the Comets’ Nathan Moss (11.39) and Ethan Hanna (11.52).

Otto Laing won the under-14 boys’ event in 11.89 ahead of the Comets’ Antonio Bethel in 12.03 and Tyler Miller of NCA was third in 12.38.

Laing also won the long jump with a leap of 1.60m.

Megan Moss took the under-18 girls’ event in 12.06 followed by teammate Jaida Knowles in 12.12

SEE PAGE 4

Sparks boys repeat as champions, Strikers girls win title

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE St Thomas More Sparks repeated as the boys’ champions, while the St Cecilia’s Strikers avenged their girls’ loss last year to the St Francis/ Joseph Shockers by clinching the title as the Catholic Diocesan Primary Schools wrapped up their best-of-3 basketball champions yesterday at Loyola Hall.

The Sparks, coached by N’Komo Ferguson, swept the Strikers, coached by Deven Johnson, winning 27-17 in the clincher after taking the opener 35-11 on Tuesday night. The performance came after Johnson’s Strikers pulled a 19-3 rout in game two of the girls’ series over the Shockers to complete their sweep after winning 18-12 on Tuesday as well.

The championships was played after the teams returned from Grand Bahama for the HOYTES/Michael Darville Basketball Tournament February 8-12 where St Francis/Joseph, coached by Donnie Culmer and Ricardo Freemantle, went undefeated at 5-0 to win the boys’ title as Michael Saunders was named the most valuable player.

St Cecilia’s was the run-

ners-up. On the girls’ side, coach Johnson and St Cecilia’s also went undefeated at 5-0 as they won the title over the Temple Christian Suns as Brianna Hanna was named the MVP. • Here’s a summary of the Catholic Primary Schools championship games played: Boys’ series Game two - Sparks 27, Strikers 17: Andru Arthur, in being named the MVP, exploded for a game high 12 points, Sha-Shawn Deveaux had seven and both Jelani Morris and Devon Davis chipped in with two points to help clinch the victory for St Thomas More.

“Back-to-back, it feels pretty good,” said Sparks’ coach Ferguson. “The first two quarters were pretty good, but in the third quarter we got a little fatigued and that was how they got back into the game. I couldn’t wait for that third quarter to finish.”

To start the fourth, St Cecilia’s came within four (17-13) but St Thomas More went on a 5-0 spurt to extend their lead to 22-15 with just about two minutes left.

They used another 7-2 span to hold on for the win.

“We’re going to go for a three-peat because my team is still here,” coach

TWO STRAIGHT: The St Thomas More Sparks boys’ basketball team celebrate yesterday after winning the Catholic Primary School Basketball Championships at Loyola Hall.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Ferguson projected.

In their effort, Cayden King and Samuel Symonette both had five, Jermaine Dawkins three and both

Benson Harris and Zakai Pinder helped out with two apiece, but it wasn’t enough to snap their losing streak.

“I’m not making any ex-

cuses for them, but most of my boys were ill after we came back from Freeport and they haven’t caught themselves since,” said St

Cecilia’s coach Johnson.

“But they fought a good fight until the end.”

SEE PAGE 8

PAGE 2, Friday, February 17, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

National beach soccer team player profiles AS part of the build-up to the Bahamas hosting the FIFA 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup in April and May, the regional championships will be held in Nassau next week featuring 16 top teams at the impressive new $2.5 million Malcolm Park West facility.

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Beach Soccer Championship will be played from February 20 to 26 with two places at the World Cup at

stake.

The Bahamas, as hosts, are already guaranteed a place in the global showpiece but will be keen to impress and prove competitive action at the regional event.

Sixteen teams will take part next week, with the Bahamas drawn in Group A with Jamaica, Belize and Guyana.

Group B contains Mexico, Barbados, Canada and Guadeloupe; Group C has United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and

Barbuda and the US Virgin Islands; and Group D El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama and Turks and Caicos Islands. There will be six matches each day, kicking off at 1.45pm with the last at 8pm. There will be free entry.

The Bahamas open against Guyana on February 20, then play Belize (February 21) and Jamaica (February). All their matches kick off at 8pm.

After the group stage there will be knockout (for the top two qualifiers in

Name - Timmothy Alexander Munnings Nickname - “Timmy” Age - 22 (2nd youngest player on team) Position - Striker Jersey number - 3 Height - 6ft 1in Profile - Timmy is the son of Tim and Ruth Munnings.

He graduated form Kingsway Academy and is now studying abroad at the University of South Wales. He is a member of the Baha Juniors FC. He played in the Under-17 national teams for the CONCACAF qualifier in 2010, men’s national team v USA in 2015 and in the men’s national Beach Soccer team CONCACAF qualifiers in El Salvador in 2015. Currently playing for the University of South Wales men’s team in the UK, Timmy travels back to the Bahamas to play for his country. He loves the piano, learning French and is a community service volunteer. Timmy is a regular in the Bahamas Beach Soccer team.

He says - “It is always an honour to be called back to play for your country. I also had the privilege to attend the BFA training camp in Switzerland for eight weeks in the summer of 2016. I am still young and never stop learning the game that I love.”

Name - Lamar Cancino Age - 29 Position - Midfield Jersey Number - 4 Height - 5ft 10in Profile - Born and raised in Nassau, football has been his passion for as long as he can remember. Attended Kingsway Academy and helped the school become a force in BAISS, reaching two finals in three years before leaving for school in America to pursue football at a higher level. Four year starter and scholarship student athlete at the University of Charleston men’s soccer programme which made it to the NCAA “Elite 8” round of the National Tournament and national ranking of 7 in Division II schools competing in the NCAA for the 20092010 season. Since then the programme has made the tournament every year, nearly winning it all in 2014. Obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry while competing for the university. Represented the Bahamas at several levels including senior. Most notable win for the country was in 2007 when the Bahamas Under-23 side beat Jamaica Under-23 fielding premiership players at the second round of Olympic qualifiers in Haiti. Also was a part of the first Bahamian club team, Lyford Cay FC, to compete in a CFU Club Championship in 2015 finishing second overall in the group. Lamar is a regular player in the Bahamas Beach Soccer team.

He says - “Practice doesn’t make perfect, practice makes permanent.”

Name - Lesly St Fleur Age - 27 Position - Striker Jersey Number - 10 Height - 5ft 6in Profile - Lesly went to Doris Johnson Senior High School and played with Bears Football Club. He represented the Bahamas in just about all youth levels and played in the men’s national team at the age of 17. He played as a professional in Jamaica with Montego Bay United FC. His club won the Jamaica Red Strip Premiership in the season 2015-16. With a number of trophies including Golden Boot, MVP, Youth Player of the Year, second most goals scored in one season (36), Lesly is a regular player in the Bahamas Beach Soccer team.

He says - “Playing in Jamaica

each group) and placement (for the rest) rounds, so all teams will end with a ranking.

The finalists will earn the World Cup places, unless hosts Bahamas or nonFIFA member Guadeloupe advance to the final, in which case the next-highest finisher would earn the spot.

The World Cup runs from April 27 to May 7.

Again 16 teams will take part with Portugal defending the title they won on home sand two years ago.

Already qualified for the World Cup are the Bahamas, Nigeria, Senegal, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Tahiti, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Switzerland.

Three qualifiers will come from Asia and two from next week’s CONCACAF championships.

The beach soccer facility, built on the site of the original complex at Malcolm Park West, will be capable of hosting over 3,000 patrons and will be equipped with a number of modern amenities.

is great, but no words can describe playing for your country.

I am looking forward to representing the Bahamas in the upcoming CONCACAF qualifiers.”

Name - Daron Livingston Beneby Nickname - Benbo Age - 32 Position - Goalkeeper Jersey Number - 9 Height - 5ft 7in Profile - Daron is the son of Dwight and Karen Beneby. He went to College of The Bahamas and the University of Science and Technology, Beijing.

He has played in the youth and men’s national teams for grass and now plays for the national beach soccer team. He also played for Bears FC and Dynamos FC men’s team. Daron likes reading, hiking and, of course, beach soccer. In 2016 Daron married his wife, Aldrinique.

Daron is still a regular player in the Bahamas national beach soccer team.

He says - “Adversity is the cornerstone of opportunity. Beach soccer provides the perfect opportunity to overcome some of the most adverse conditions in sports.The Bahamas national beach soccer team has been presented with an awesome opportunity to continue to highlight the skills and resources we have to offer the world. It is a privilege to be a part of the team representing our country in both the CONCACAF qualifiers and the Beach Soccer World Cup. We will march on to conquer the adversities before us in an effort to bring the championships home and increase the Bahamian pride.”

Name - Gavin Gladstone Christie Age - 35 Position - Midfield Jersey Number - 11 Height - 6ft 1in Profile - Gavin played for Cavalier FC. He was named captain of the Bahamas national soccer team (grass) from 1999 to 2014.

His passion for soccer moved beyond the grass and onto the beach. His career has enabled him to travel the world, spending time in Trinidad, the United States and three years in the Czech Republic playing professional grass soccer with SK Motorlet Praha. Gavin graduated form the University of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine and several NCAA soccer accolades. Gavin is now a regular player in the Bahamas beach soccer team.

He says - “Representing my country in beach soccer for the past seven years has been a huge honour. To do it at home at the biggest beach soccer event in the world takes it to a whole new level. I am looking forward to putting on a great show for Bahamian fans and visitors.”

Name - Ivan Donald Rolle Nickname - Boogie Age - 20 Position - Goalkeeper Jersey Number - 1 Height - 6ft 2in Profile - The youngest player in the team, Ivan has been part of the Bahamas beach soccer national team for over a year. He is a goalkeeper with potential “as big as the Grand Canyon” as he says. He has always liked soccer from a young age and beach soccer seemed to be more of a thrilling and exciting sport. He gravitated towards it and is keen to see where his skills can take him. A marine with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Ivan is a regular player in the Bahamas beach soccer team.

He says - “Being the youngest player and a marine I’ve mastered the art of learning things hard and fast because of great teammates.”

The Bahamas hosted the CONCACAF beach soccer qualifying tournament in 2013.

As part of the build up to the CONCACAF championships, today The Tribune wraps up our look at the players who will represent the Bahamas, featuring profiles of the team members who carry home hopes.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 17, 2017, PAGE 3

Consider Justin Roberts for next Davis Cup tie in April IT IS not how you start, nor how you get there. Most importantly, it’s how you finish.

• The Finish Line, a weekly column, seeks to comment on the state of affairs in local sports, highlighting the highs and the lows, the thrills and the spills and the successes and failures.

THE WEEK THAT WAS After the controversy with regard to not getting a chance to attempt the 200/400 metre double at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, newly wed Shaunae MillerUibo has made it clear that she will be pursuing it at the IAAF World Championships in London, England, in August.

The Olympic gold medallist made the claim clear after she went to New York City and dominated the women’s 300m at the Millrose Games, running the third fastest time in history and lowering her national record as she repeated as champion.

It’s the only indoor meet for Miller-Uibo, who the week before walked down the aisle to marry her University of Georgia college sweetheart Maicel Uibo

SPORTS NOTES BASKETBALL NPBA ACTION THE Elite Basketball Club and the Rockets won the New Providence Basketball Association’s double header at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Wednesday.

While the Elite Basketball Club knocked off the Breezes High Flyers 58-51, the Rockets held off the Island Game Pros 79-70.

Rockets 79, Pros 70: Scottie Farrington, in 26 minutes and 14 seconds, scored a side high 19 points, shooting 6-for-15 from the field and 6-for-14 from the free throw line to lead the Rockets to victory. Farrington also pulled down eight rebounds, dished out three assists and striped two passes.

Corey Williams had 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals; Henderson Curry had 13 points,

from Estonia in a lovely reception at Atlantis, Paradise Island, the week before. If Miller-Uibo’s performance is any indication, it shows that she’s fit and ready to attempt the feat this year.

She has put her honeymoon on the back burner to get ready for the feat that has rarely been accomplished by any female athlete at either the Olympics or World Championships.

So if there’s anybody capable of achieving the feat, it’s Miller-Uibo, who has youth on her side at age 22.

The only question is will the schedule of the two events work in her favour.

That was one of the vexing arguments in Rio, although there were some who felt she still should have been given the opportunity to at least pursue it.

With six months to prepare herself, I think Miller-Uibo will be in a better frame of mind to go through the vigorous experience and not having to wait until she gets to the meet and puts the added pressure on the executives and teammates to compete.

Miller-Uibo has given ample notice that she wants to attempt the double in London. It’s now up to her to make the necessary preparations to accomplish it.

six rebounds, three assists and three steals; Perez Thompson came off the bench with 12 points and Tomeko Moxey added 11 points with three assists and two steals.

In a losing effort, Judino Wilson also had 19 points in 33 minutes, shooting 8-for11 from the field and 2-for-5 from the foul line with five rebounds. Also, Chico Francis had 17 points and nine rebounds and Keithan Gray came of the bench with 13 points and four rebounds.

Elites 58, Flyers 51: Brendon Stubbs, in 13 minutes and 20 seconds, scored 12 points as he shot 3-for-8 from the field and 6-for-7 from the free throw line to lead the Elite Basketball Club to victory. Stubbs, coming off the bench, also had four rebounds and two steals.

Dario McKenzie helped out with nine points, six rebounds and three assists;

JUSTIN ROBERTS in action as he helped the University of South Florida Bulls men’s team pull off a major upset over No.16 Mississippi State University Bulldogs.

Based on how she looked in New York, she appears to be ready for the challenge ahead of her. So let’s give her the benefit of the doubt that she can go after the feat in London.

WELL DONE ROBERTS Congratulations to Justin Roberts, who helped the University of South Florida men’s tennis team pull off a 4-2 upset victory over No.16 ranked Mississippi State at home in Tampa, Florida, over the weekend.

For his efforts, in winning the key singles match as well as teaming up with his partner Peter Bertram to secure their only doubles match, Roberts was named the American Athletic Conference Men’s Tennis

Jeron Smith had eight points and seven rebounds; Rashad Stubbs had six points and four rebounds and Tario McKenzie also had six points.

Jeremy Neely, in 32:33 minutes, had a game high 18 points, shooting 5-for-11 from the field and 8-for-14 from the foul line to pace Breezes in the loss. Daltino Thurston had 11 points and nine rebounds.

• The NPBA will be back in action this weekend with the following games: Tonight 7:30pm - University of the Bahamas Mingos vs Rhythm Rebels 8:30 pm - Mr Ship It Freight Regulators vs Mailboat Cybots Saturday 6pm - Future Ballers vs Hype Basketball 7:30pm - Elite Basketball

Player of the Week.

Roberts, 20, had to come from behind to defeat Mate Cutura 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and he and Bertram won 6-3 over Nuno Boerges and Strahinhja Rakic So far, Roberts has enjoyed a successful collegiate season and should be commended for his efforts.

He’s also the only Bahamian right now with any ATP computer points.

It was disappointing that Roberts didn’t participate in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s Annual Giorgio Baldacci National Open Challenge in December, which served as the trials for the Davis Cup team.

But there’s no reason why some consideration should not be made to include him on the team, if the BLTA is

looking at assembling the best team to avoid getting relegated to zone III in the next tie in April.

The Bahamas, without the services of top seed Baker Newman and No.4 seed Kevin Major Jr because of school commitments, lost the first round of the American Zone II tie to Venezuela in a 5-0 decision two weeks ago at the Doral Perk Country Club in Miami, Florida.

The team of Spencer Newman, Philip Major Jr, Justin Lunn and player/captain Marvin Rolle played extremely well. But in order for the Bahamas to stay alive in zone II against Bolivia, it’s obvious that the BLTA will have to look at putting the best team possible together.

BLTA president Elwood Donaldson has hinted that they were looking at the possibility of adding retired veteran player Mark Knowles to the line-up for his doubles expertise. Not taking anything away from Knowles, but what’s wrong with also looking at the younger Roberts, who is making his mark on the collegiate scene.

I’m sure that there are some people who would indicate that Roberts is not the only player performing at the collegiate level who should also be considered.

I agree. But all I’m saying is that there is no reason why we can’t look at all of the resources available to ensure that we put the best team out there to represent the country.

Club vs Johnson Truckers 9pm - Double R Cleaners vs Mr Ship It Freight Regulators

discus; Aaron Cox, freshman, long jump/60m and Avery Thompson, junior, 60m hurdles/javelin.

Women – Antonishka Deveaux, freshman, 200m; Beyonce Scott, freshman, 200m/60m hurdles; Gabrielle Shannon, freshman, 400m and Alexandria Strachan, junior, 200m/60m hurdles The team will leave town today, compete on Saturday and return on Sunday.

Volleyball tonight 7:30pm - Vixens (2) vs Lady Techs (3) 9pm - Defenders (1) vs Technicians B (4)

TRACK UB TEAM OFF THE University of the Bahamas Mingos’ track and field team will head to Dayton Beach, Florida this weekend to participate in the Embry Riddle Track and Field Meet.

The team, coached by Rupert Gardiner and Ednal Rolle, will consist of seven men and five females and they will compete in the following events: Men - Bradley Cooper Jr, sophomore, shot put/ discus; Anton Lightbourne, sophomore, shot put/discus; LaQuel Harris, freshman, shot put/discus; Stony Duncanson, freshman, high jump; Leonardo Romer, senior, javelin/high jump; Ken Mullings, freshman, 60m hurdles/hiogh jump/

VOLLEYBALL NPVA PLAYOFFS THE New Providence Volleyball Association will begin its playoffs tonight at the DW Davis Gymnasium.

The four teams to make it in the ladies’ division in order are the pennant winning Truckers, Vixens, Lady Technicians and the Panthers. The four men’s teams making it in order are the pennant winning Defenders, Intruders, Technicians and Technicians B.

GOLF SKILLS COMPETITION THE Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy will host its first Skills Competition for 2017 on Saturday in the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Driving Range at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

The event, starting at 11am, will be a short game scoring operations 36 for divisions one and two. Registration is $10, which includes lunch, drinks and prizes based on performances.

Registration will begin at 10:30am.

RUGBY HEINEKEN CUP THE Bahamas Rugby Union will continue its Heineken Cup action on Saturday at the Winton Rugby Pitch.

• Here’s a look at the schedule: 2pm – Cuckoos vs Freeport 4pm – Youth 7s mini-tournament FINANCIAL BOWLING LEAGUE THE top scorer in Financial Bowling League competition last night was a red hot Greg Taylor of Strike Force who blasted the pins for a huge high game of 257 and a gigantic 687 high three game set.

The runner-up was Sonith Lockhart of Rubis Oil Stars, who also had a good night with a 244 second high game and a 664 second high set.

The MVP for the ladies was Uchenna Delva of Deloitte & Touché with a 525 high three game set. She was followed by Tara Culmer of Forsythe Communications with a 510 second high set.

Andrea Hepburn of Best Deal Kirki Bar toppled the pins for the high game of 208 with a 201 second high game coming from Xynea Johnson of Deloitte & Touché.

The team scores of the evening were as follows: Forsythe Communications def. Moonlight 2.5-0.5; Rubis Oil Stars def. Strike Force 2-1; Best Deal Kirki Bar def. Deloitte & Touche 2-1 and BTC Night Hawks def. Leno Corporate Services 2-1.

PAGE 4, Friday, February 17, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

TAKING THE LEAD: High school students compete on day two of the BAISS Track and Field Championships at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium yesterday.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

SAC BIG RED MACHINE SURGE INTO THE LEAD ON DAY 2 FROM PAGE 1 and Geordan Thurston was third in 12.72.

The Big Red Machine also took both 3,000m races as both winners defended their titles. In the under-18 boys’ event, Ryan Bethel took first in 10:28 and Gabriella Thompson won the under-20 girls’ event in 13:12.03.

In the field, SAC’s Terajh

Hudson reached the CARIFTA standard (44.30m) in the under-16 boys’ discus. His throw of 46.17m was nearly 10m ahead of second place and he set a new meet record to surpass the old mark of 41.08m.

Comets and Big Red Machine competitors swept all but two events in the field yesterday.

Ashton Knowles of St Anne’s won the under-20 boys’ high

jump at 1.90m and Jordan Lewis of Temple Christian won the under-18 boys’ shot put with a throw of 13.11m. The Comets’ Deaejha Moss set a new meet record in the under-20 girls’ long jump with a mark of 5.68m.

In the javelin, Leon Miller of SAC won the under-20 boys with a throw of 45.37m and Carmitra Mackey of QC won the under-16 girls with a throw of 31.63m.

SAC’s Ann-Marie Oriakhi won the under-14 girls’ shot put with a new meet record throw of 9.66m, her teammate Anthaya Charlton won the under-16 girls’ high jump at 1.45m, Tiffany Hanna won the under-20 shot put with a throw of 10.87m and Chima Johnson won the under-16 girls’ triple jump with a leap of 12.48m.

Other Comets winners in the field included Paige Archer in the

under-14 girls’ long jump (4.41m), Amelia Peterson in the under-18 girls’ triple jump (11.38m), Tianna Carey in the under-18 discus (28.12m) and Reagan Hidalgo in the under-14 boys’ shot put (11.16m).

Day three will be highlighted by several field events and finals in 200m, 800m, 4x100m and 4x400m. The meet continues 9am today at TAR stadium.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 17, 2017, PAGE 5

Jimmy Norius to make Mr Olympia Amateur debut

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net NATIONAL bodybuilding champion Jimmy Norius will be heading to Joe Weider’s Mr Olympia Amateur South America this weekend, but he will be testing his skills in the men’s physique.

Norius, the lone Bahamian to compete in the prestigious event, left town yesterday and will be in action on Saturday as he makes his Mr Olympia Amateur debut.

“To tone down from a bodybuilder to a men’s physique is kind of tricky because I had to downsize my muscles and taper my waist and come more conditioned,” said Norius, who has participated in bodybuilding in the Arnold Classic.

“They are not looking for bulky muscles. They are looking more for muscles with athletic synthetics. My weight is still up, but my dimension on my body had to change a little.”

After going through a hectic month of December, Norius said he spent the past month as the new year rolled in trying to focus on his conditioning for the competition.

“Mentally I feel good because some of the guys who I beat in the Arnold Classic two years ago, I will be competing against them,” Norius stated. “But I could convert between bodybuilding and men’s physique.

“I’ve been looking at the photos they posted in Facebook and Instagram and I feel like I’m right up there with them, in terms of my conditioning, but I need to just nail the last two days before the competition.

“The last two days is more consumed with water conversation, so I have to decrease my water intake and increase my food intake.

So it’s very, very sensitive because I don’t want my muscles to flatten out. I don’t want to be bulky, but I don’t want to be flat out.”

The bottom line, according to Norius, is that he needs to ensure

NATIONAL bodybuilding champion Jimmy Norius left town yesterday and will be in action on Saturday as he makes his Mr Olympia Amateur debut in Joe Weider’s Mr Olympia Amateur South America this weekend, competing in the men’s physique. that his waistline is small.

“It’s like you almost have to be a rocket scientist to deal with men’s physique,” he said.

“Bodybuilding, you just have to

be big and symmetrical. But physique, I don’t know what they are looking for, so I just have to give them the best me and hopefully my symmetry will allow the judg-

es to take another look at me.”

In preparation for the tournament, Norius said he’s been working with Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation President

Joel Stubbs and Wellington ‘Cat’ Sears.

He said he feels very good in making the transition from bodybuilding to Mr Physique.

“I feel I’ve reached my peak in bodybuilding,” said Norius, who is a five-time Central American and Caribbean Championship medallist, having won a pair of gold last year; a three-time national champion; three-time Mr Northern Bahamas champion and male bodybuilder of the year five times. “I just want to try something different to challenge myself. So it’s more of a challenge. I still like bodybuilding, but I want to see how the international judges will look at me competing in physique.”

In bodybuilding, competitors wear the very small swim trucks and they are judged based on their muscles, especially their legs and shoulders. In men’s physique, competitors wear shorts about an inch above the knee and they are not as bulky in their physique.

“I’ve been working on my midsection and my conditioning a lot, a lot of mid-section conditioning and dieting,” Norius stressed.

“Bodybuilding you have to be as full as possible, but men’s physique, if you are too full, you will lose points and if you are too flat, you will lose points as well.”

By the time he gets to Colombia, Norius said he intends to be in tip-top shape so that he can put his best foot forward when he competes on Saturday. He won’t know exactly what class he will compete in until he goes through the weigh-in where he will be placed based on his height.

As he leaves, Norius expressed his gratitude to Olympic quartermiler Andretti Bain for his assistance in providing some vitamins in preparation for the tournament from his store - ‘Da Bahamian Dream’ Sports & Lifestyle Nutrition.

When he travels, he is expected to be accompanied by Sears and three test judges from the federation.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 17, 2017, PAGE 7

IBRAHIMOVIC, DZEKO SCORE HAT TRICKS IN THE EUROPA LEAGUE

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first hat trick for Manchester United — and the 17th of his illustrious career — in a 3-0 win over Saint-Etienne in the Europa League round of 32 yesterday.

All the pre-match focus for the first leg was on the family reunion between the Pogba brothers, Paul (United) and Florentin (Saint-Etienne), but Ibrahimovic became the center of attention at Old Trafford once again by moving to 23 goals in all competitions in his impressive first season at United.

Ibrahimovic opened the scoring with a deflected free kick in the 15th, tapped in his second goal in the 75th, and completed his hat trick in the 88th by converting a penalty he won himself. The striker has scored

17 times in 14 games against Saint-Etienne, with his previous 14 goals coming for Paris Saint-Germain during his time in France.

The margin of victory may afford United manager Jose Mourinho the luxury of resting some key players for the second leg on Wednesday, with the game coming four days before United plays Southampton in the English League Cup final.

Paul Pogba won the battle of the brothers, running the game from centre midfield and almost scoring when he headed against the bar from the edge of the six-yard box.

Florentin, older by three years, ended the game early when he was taken off injured — but only after being given an embrace by his more renowned sibling.

It was a family catch-up for the Pogbas at Old Trafford, with their mother and other brother, Mathias, watching from a corporate

MANCHESTER United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Europa League round of 32 first leg soccer match against St-Etienne at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, yesterday.

(AP)

box wearing jerseys with United’s colours on one half and Saint-Etienne’s colours on the other.

The scoreline was harsh on Saint-Etienne, which created plenty of chances but was let down by poor finishing.

• A look at some other games:

team to go through qualifying with a 100 per cent record.

CELTA VIGO 0, SHAKHTAR DONETSK 1 This was Shakhtar’s first competitive outing since December 12, but even the long break couldn’t halt the Ukrainian team’s momentum in the Europa League.

Shakhtar, the winner of the UEFA Cup — the precursor to the Europa League — in 2009, earned its seventh straight win in the competition when debutant Blanco Leschuk scored at the end of a 27th-minute counterattack.

Shakhtar was the only

kick around the wall and into the top corner.

OTHER RESULTS Alexandre Lacazette enhanced his burgeoning reputation by scoring two of Lyon’s goals in a 4-1 win at AZ Alkmaar, while Rostov capitalised on the sendingoff of Tiemoko Konate at 1-0 to beat Sparta Prague 4-0.

BORUSSIA MOENCHENGLADBACH 0, FIORENTINA 1 Federico Bernardeschi celebrated his 23rd birthday with the winner for Fiorentina, leaving Moenchengladbach still without a home win in Europe after dropping down from the Champions League.

Bernardeschi got up from being fouled on the edge of the area and curled a free

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 55° F/13° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Sunny to partly cloudy

Mainly clear

Partly sunny

A t‑storm in spots in the afternoon

Mostly sunny

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

High: 80°

Low: 66°

High: 83° Low: 70°

High: 84° Low: 68°

High: 82° Low: 65°

High: 81° Low: 64°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

87° F

64° F

87°-73° F

94°-70° F

87°-63° F

81°-62° F

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 57° F/14° 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: 58° F/14° C

4‑8 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 77° F/25° C Low: 61° F/16° C

4‑8 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 67° F/19° C

N

S

E

W

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 63° F/17° C

MIAMI

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 66° F/19° C

3‑6 knots

KEY WEST

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 67° F/19° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 66° F/19° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 61° F/16° C

N

uV inDex toDay

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

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

12:02 a.m.

12:14 p.m.

2.4 2.1

6:19 a.m.

6:31 p.m.

0.3 0.1

Saturday

12:52 a.m.

1:04 p.m.

2.3 2.0

7:13 a.m.

7:20 p.m.

0.5 0.2

Sunday

1:46 a.m.

1:59 p.m.

2.3 1.9

8:11 a.m.

8:13 p.m.

0.6 0.3

Monday

2:43 a.m.

2:57 p.m.

2.3 1.8

9:11 a.m.

9:08 p.m.

0.6 0.3

Tuesday

3:39 a.m.

3:54 p.m.

2.4 1.9

10:08 a.m. 0.5 10:03 p.m. 0.2

Wednesday 4:31 a.m.

4:47 p.m.

2.5 2.0

10:59 a.m. 0.3 10:54 p.m. 0.0

Thursday

2.6 2.2

11:45 a.m. 0.1 11:42 p.m. ‑0.1

5:19 a.m.

5:35 p.m.

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:43 a.m.

6:05 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

none 10:59 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Feb. 18

Feb. 26

Mar. 5

Mar. 12

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 63° F/17° C

N

S

E

W

3‑6 knots

S

4‑8 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 79° F/26° C Low .................................................... 74° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 77° F/25° C Normal low ........................................ 64° F/18° C Last year’s high ................................. 84° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 69° F/20° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday .................................. trace Year to date ................................................. 0.79” Normal year to date ..................................... 2.20”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

GENT 1, TOTTENHAM 0 Tottenham’s attack is malfunctioning, just when the big games are piling up for the English club.

It’s now one goal in four games for Spurs after a loss at the eighth-place team in the Belgian league, with Gent’s winner coming from Jeremy Perbet in the 59th.

England striker Harry Kane hit the post for Spurs but finished the game with a knee injury.

VILLARREAL 0, ROMA 4 Roma striker Edin Dzeko became the leading scorer in this season’s competition, moving onto eight with

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

his second-half hat trick against Villarreal.

It is 28 goals in all competitions for Dzeko, who scored in the 65th, 79th and 86th minutes.

Emerson Palmieri opened the scoring for the Italians.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 63° F/17° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 69° F/21° C

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High: 81° F/27° C Low: 66° F/19° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 66° F/19° C

4‑8 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 68° F/20° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 81° F/27° C Low: 68° F/20° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 66° F/19° C

GREAT INAGUA

H

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

6‑12 knots

6‑12 knots

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

Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday:

WINDS NE at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 8‑16 Knots NW at 3‑6 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots NE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots NNW at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots N at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots NNE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots N at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots NE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots

WAVES 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑6 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet

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

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

PAGE 8, Friday, February 17, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: The St Cecilia’s Strikers girls’ basketball team celebrate yesterday after winning the Catholic Primary School Basketball Championships at Loyola Hall.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

ST CECILIA’S GIRLS AVENGE LOSS TO TAKE CATHOLIC BASKETBALL LEAGUE TITLE FROM PAGE 1 Game one - Sparks 35, Strikers 11: Andru Arthur, with an all-around game, finished with 14 points, including four in the first quarter as they opened an 8-3 lead and another four in the fourth as they used a 9-2 spurt in the fourth to seal the blowout win in game one.

Sha-Shawn Deveaux add-

ed 13 points, six of which came in the third as they out-scored St Cecilia’s 14-1.

Girls’ series Game two - Strikers 19, Shockers 3: MVP Raynell Young was unstoppable as she exploded for a game high 10 points and Brianna Hanna added six to help secure the clincher for St Cecilia’s as they celebrated another championship title

in two weeks. “The girls performed as I expected them,” coach Johnson said.

“This championship was overdue. St Francis beat me the last two years so I owe them that. I promised them that they were not going to beat me three years.”

The Strikers opened a surprising 8-0 lead in the first quarter as Young went to work, scoring six. They pushed it to 13-0 at the half

as Hanna converted four free throws in the second quarter.

It wasn’t until the third that St Francis/Joseph got on the scoreboard when Sammeka Hepburn pulled down an offensive rebound and went back up for a layup for a 15-2 deficit. The Shockers didn’t score again until the fourth when Gianna Farquharson converted a free throw to trail 17-3.

“The girls tried their best,” said coach Freemantle. “We tried our best to contain them, but they got away from us because we didn’t have any answer for their attack. I must say, most of the girls are first timers. We have one experienced girl. So I am happy with their effort. They did their best.”

Game one - Strikers 18, Shockers 12: Brianna Han-

na scored eight points, six in the second quarter as St Cecilia’s rebounded from a 3-5 deficit in the first quarter to go up for good 9-6 at the half as they held on for game one victory.

Raynell Young had seven, scoring all four points for the Strikers in the fourth.

Sammeka Hepburn scored 12, including six to get St Francis/Joseph off to a fast start in the 1st.

WIZARDS WIN 4TH STRAIGHT

By COREY ELLIOT Associated Press

RUNNERS-UP: The St Francis/Joseph Shockers girls’ basketball team celebrate yesterday.

RUNNERS-UP: The St Cecilia’s Strikers boys’ basketball team celebrate yesterday.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Otto Porter Jr made six 3-pointers, finished with 25 points and eight rebounds, and the Washington Wizards won their fourth straight, a 111-98 victory over the Indiana Pacers last night.

The Wizards made nine 3-pointers and led by as many as 19 points in the first half. The Pacers turned the ball over eight times in the first half, resulting in 15 points for the Wizards. Washington led the entire game.

Markieff Morris scored 21 points, Bradley Beal finished with 19 and John Wall added 20 points and 12 assists for the Wizards.

Washington (34-21) is 18-5 since the beginning of January.

The Wizards' starters outscored Indiana's 97-59.

Myles Turner finished with 17 points and nine rebounds for Indiana. Paul George scored 17 points, and Jeff Teague had six points, six rebounds and five assists for Indiana (29-28).

Indiana closed the deficit to single digits during the fourth quarter, but Washington pushed the lead back to 13, shutting the window of opportunity on the Pacers and sending them into the All-Star break sitting on a sixgame losing streak — the longest of the season for the Pacers.

Washington tied its season high for 3-pointers in a game with 15.

The Wizards scored 100 points for the 22nd straight game.

STREAKING: With Thursday's win, the Wizards have won four straight games as they head into the All-Star break. Indiana's longest skid of the season began with a 117-132 loss to the Cavaliers on Feb. 8 that snapped the Pacers' seven-game win streak.

TOUGH STUFF: The Pacers head into the All-Star break having finished one of the toughest stretches on their schedule. The recent stretch of games would cause fits for almost every team in the NBA. During the six-game losing streak, the Pacers played the Wizards and Cavaliers twice each, Milwaukee on the second night of a back-to-back and the Spurs.