02232018 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018

Bahamas 0-3 after 96-63 loss to Dominican Republic

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

T

he Dominican Republic caught fire from beyond the arch in the second half and, in particular, during a third-quarter run where they took control for good en route to a win in the latest World Cup qualifier.

The Bahamas suffered a 96-63 loss to the visiting Dominican Republic as they opened the second window of play in the FIBA World Cup 2019 Qualifiers at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium last night.

The win moved the Dominican Republic to 3-0 and atop Group D in the qualifiers while the Bahamas remains winless at 0-3.

Jaraun “Kino” Burrows and Michael Carey Jr each finished with 11 points to lead Team Bahamas. David Nesbitt finished with nine points and a team-high seven rebounds and Michael Bain Jr scored six off the bench.

Victor Liz paced four Dominican Republic players in double figures with 19 points, Rigoberto Mendoza finished with 18 points and six steals, Luis Montero added 17 points and eight rebounds and Edward Santana finished with 11.

The Bahamas trailed by just one at the half (35-34) but the DR opened the third on a 12-4 run, capped by a Liz fastbreak layup to go ahead 47-38 just three minutes into the period. They would go on to outscore the Bahamas 35-19 over the 10-minute stretch.

Montero made the first of five threes for his team in the quarter to give them their first double-digit lead (50-39) at the 6:35 mark.

Ronald Ramon made another three to put them up 13 and dished a no-look assist to Liz and gave the visitors a 60-45 lead.

Michael Bain’s three-pointer brought the Bahamas within 12 but the DR would answer once again, this time with a three-point play from Adris De Leon.

The Dominican Republic went on to lead by as much as 36 in the fourth en route to the win.

Both teams shot 51 per cent from the field in two-point range, but the difference was beyond the arch where the Bahamas shot just 21 per cent and the DR made 39 per cent.

The visitors won the battle on the boards 45-37, forced the

SEE PAGE 2

JARAUN BURROWS, of the Bahamas, tries to block a shot by a Dominican Republic player (left) last night. The Bahamas suffered a 96-63 loss to the visiting team as they opened the second window of play in the FIBA World Cup 2019 Qualifiers at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

GOLF, PAGE 8

FIVE GET SET FOR THE IAAF WORLD INDOORS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHEN the IAAF World Indoor Championships gets underway next week in Birmingham, Great Britain, the Bahamas will be represented by a five-member team.

Although only four athletes have outright qualified to compete in the championships, scheduled for March 1-4, three others have been invited by the IAAF. However, one of the qualifiers and one of the invitees opted not to travel with the team that will leave on Sunday and should arrive on Monday, even though the Games Village will not be open until Wednesday.

Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ secretary general Drumeco Archer has confirmed that women’s 60 metre hurdler Devynne Charlton, men’s 60m sprinter Warren Fraser, men’s 400m runner Alonzo Russell (all automatic qualifiers) along with men’s high jumpers Donald Thomas and Jamal Wilson, who received invitations, will all carry the flag for the island nation.

Sandra Laing will serve as the team manager with Ronald Cartwright as the head coach. BAAA president Rosamunde Carey and Archer will both accompany the team.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who tied the World indoor 300m record last month, made an application to contest the heptathlon, but the IAAF denied the request as they had already met their quota and she was invited to contest the 60m.

Miller-Uibo, according to Archer, has decided not to contest the 60m and will not be attending the championships.

Likewise, Archer said Pedrya Seymour also qualified for the women’s 60m hurdles, but she too decided to skip the trip as she has to compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships for the Texas Longhorns the

SEE PAGE 2

Hugh Campbell: More teams eliminated on day 4

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE 2018 Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic moved into day four featuring another series of eliminations and the first matchups between teams in the winner’s bracket.

In the opening session of the day at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, one of two Abaco teams in the field were eliminated.

The Patrick J Bethel Marlins advanced with a 38-19 win over the Bishop Michael Eldon Warriors. Darryl Russell led the Marlins with eight points while Lavardo Taylor and Eugene Ferguson each added six. Kadeem Russell led the Warriors with six points.

Page 5

The Marlins led 8-0 before the Warriors would score their first basket of the game. Russell grabbed a rebound off a missed three and scored on a put back as the buzzer sounded.

An undersized Warriors team fought back to cut the lead to three on Kadeem Russell’s layup.

The Marlins scored a quick four points before the half to take an 18-11 lead.

The lead reached double figures for the first time in the second quarter on a Ferguson layup.

BME went scoreless in the third while the Marlins tacked 13 points onto the lead in the quarter.

A Jouvrns Loumous jumper from the wing gave the Marlins a 33-17 lead with just under two minutes left to play.

The Agape Christian Academy Eagles did not fare as well as they opened the day with a 42-37 loss to the RM Bailey Pacers and were the second team eliminated from the field.

Just seven Pacers dressed for the contest, led by Cordero Thurston’s 18 points.

Khobe Mackey scored 11 points and Tyreke Alcime finished with six points and 11 rebounds.

Oswald Meadows led the Eagles with 10 points, Regan Roberts scored nine and Wellington Cherisme added eight points and 11 rebounds.

A back and forth contest all afternoon, the game featured just four ties and 18 lead changes before the Pacers pulled away late.

Neither team led by more than six points. The Pacers had a 10-point advantage in points in the paint and another 10 points on fast breaks.

The St George’s Jaguars used a 10-point run in the fourth to close out the opening session with a 56-42 win over the Teleos Cherubims.

Christopher Johnson scored 20 and Kingcy Thompson added 13 for the Jaguars. Daniel Adderley led Teleos with 14 points and Nathan Sullivan scored 12.

The Jaguars appeared headed toward another blowout win but the Cherubims fought back and trailed 7-6 before the Jags made a three. Teleos eventually tied the game at 12 on an Adams layup.

Johnson would stop the run with a layup and made a three at the buzzer to give St George’s a 17-13 lead after one.

A seven-point Jaguars lead was erased when Lavardo Dean made the first of his two three pointers and Teleos’ Roger Hemmings finished with a layup to come within one (24-23). Tied at 25, Johnson scored at the buzzer once again

SEE PAGE 4

GATEWAY ACADEMY EAGLES, out of Bimini, had another impressive showing with a 54-43 win over Government High School.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PAGE 2, Friday, February 23, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

THE BAHAMAS suffered a 96-63 loss to the visiting Dominican Republic last night as they opened the second window of play in the FIBA World Cup 2019 Qualifiers at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Bahamas suffers 96-63 loss to Dominican Republic FROM PAGE 1 Bahamas into 23 turnovers and scored 22 of their

35 made field goals off assists. An eager home crowd had many reasons to cheer in the first half

before the second half collapse. Carey opened the game with a runner on the very first possession and

the Bahamas took an early 6-2 lead. Eugene Bain was effective off the bench, scoring on his first two shot attempts. His baseline jumper gave the Bahamas a 13-10 lead and the Bahamas went to its depth early with 10 players seeing action in the first.

Michael Bain dished an assist to Robert Nortmann and the Bahamas took a 15-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second, the Bahamas took a 21-17 lead on Nortmann’s putback, but the DR scored five unanswered points to take the lead 22-21. Carey grabbed the lead back for the Bahamas with a corner three on the ensuing possession.

The Bahamas maintained the advantage for much of the second and Shavano Cooper’s reverse layup gave the Bahamas a 32-27 lead with 2:42 left in the half.

The DR got back-to-back three pointers from Liz and Montero to regain the lead and they took a 35-34 lead into the half.

In the first window, the Dominican Republic defeated the US Virgin Islands 99-89 and followed with an 88-76 win over Canada. The Bahamas lost 93-69 to Canada and 93-85 to the USVI. The Bahamas returns to action at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium in a rematch against Canada this Sunday at 8pm.

FIVE GET SET FOR IAAF WORLD INDOORS FROM PAGE 1 following weekend in Texas.

Despite the small size of the team, Archer said he’s confident that the Bahamas will be well represented in Birmingham.

“I think it’s a very lean team, but I think that we should reap some returns from it,” Archer said.

“It’s not the strongest team that we’ve had in the past.

“Obviously, we are missing the men’s 4 x 400m, but the reality is that our athletes, in spite of their protest, they’ve not posted any competitive times for us to believe that we will have a competitive relay and our two most outstanding athletes, Stevie Gardiner and

Shaunae are too tall and so they have decided not to compete in the 400m.”

Archer said it’s unfortunate that the men’s relay team is not a part of the field because the BAAA felt that with the exception of Russell, none of the other quarter-milers ran any times that would have allowed for the team to be included.

As for the individual competitors, Archer said Fraser got a chance to run against American Coleman when he broke the world indoor record, so they are eager to see how he matches up with the rest of the field.

He added that Charlton is having an outstanding season.

And he’s convinced that she will be able to perform

very well in the women’s 60m hurdles.

Both Thomas and Wilson will compete in a straight final in the men’s high jump on day one on Thursday, March 1.

Russell will contest the heats of the men’s 400m in the morning session of day two on Friday, March 2. Charlton will be entered in the heats of the women’s 60m hurdles in the evening session. Fraser will run the heats of the men’s 60m in the morning session of day three on Saturday, March 3 with the semi-final and final in the evening.

The final of the men’s 400m will also be contested in the evening session. With no relay team, the Bahamas will not compete on the final day on Sunday, March 4.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 23, 2018, PAGE 3

Lourawls ‘Tum Tum’ Nairn Jr ‘made us proud as a Spartan’ I REMEMBER when Lourawls ‘Tum Tum’ Nairn Jr was running cross country for Carlton Francis Primary School.

In his younger years, he had what was considered to be a promising career in track and field.

Could you imagine where he would have been had he stuck with it?

Like many of the versatile athletes who would have left the Bahamas to continue their athletic careers in high scool, Nairn decided to take his talents to the basketball court when he left at the age of 13 to attend Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas.

After averaging 17.6 points with 5.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals in his senior year, Nairn was able to secure an athletic scholarship to compete for the Michigan State Spartans in 2014.

He began his freshman year by winning the MSU’s Stephen G Scores Inspirational Player Award and was the co-recipient of the MSU’s John E Benigton Best Defensive Player and the Antonio Smith Glue and Guts Awards.

For the past three years, Nairn was awarded by the Spartans for his leadership by being named the captain, a role that he was credited as serving as a great ambassador for their athletic department and indeed the school.

Nairn, now in his senior year, was honoured on Tuesday night as he played his final home game for the Spartans on Senior Night.

Michigan State won their 11th straight game and improved their record to 27-3 overall and 15-2 in the Big Ten Conference. While Michigan State went on to

post a huge 81-61 victory over Illinois to win the Big Ten title, head coach Tom Izzo provided an opportunity for Nairn and two other seniors - Ben Carter and Gavin Schilling - to be inserted in and out of the game in the final minutes so that they could kiss the school’s logo at mid-court and get an ovation from the crowd.

Nairn, the 5-foot, 10-inch, 175-pound starting guard, played 24 minutes and although he didn’t score, he pulled down three rebounds and dished out a pair of assists.

After the game, Nairn said it was an unbelievable experience, something that he couldn’t dream or imagine.

“I am so thankful for the opportunity that God placed in front of me,” he said.

“I am so happy for the programme and our team.

We stood together and that is what Spartans always do.”

In his emotions, Nairn was as humble as any Bahamian who would have achieved such a feat.

“Having the opportunity to raise the banner, the trophy, and having my mom here, my teammates,” he stressed. “It was an unbelievable experience. I am so humbled.”

Nairn, a communication major, is the son of

Lourawls Nairn Sr and Monalisa McKinney.

His younger brother, Laquan Nairn, who also had a promising career as a basketball player with CR Walker, has made the transition to track and field where he’s a standout long-triple jumper for the Razorbacks at Arkansas.

Whether or not he goes on to get selected in the National Basketball Association (NBA) June Draft and join Buddy Hield and possibly top ranked DeAndre Ayton, Nairn has made us proud as a Spartan and we look forward to where his future takes him.

Hopefully when Michigan State is done with the NCAA Tournament, Nairn will return home to help the men’s national basketball team when the third window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifier is played in June.

CARIFTA Team THE 47th CARIFTA Games is fast approaching and so far there are not a whole lot of qualifiers, so it’s going to be interesting to see what approach the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations will take in selecting Team Bahamas.

Over the last few years, the BAAA has taken a hard stance on selecting only those athletes who

COUNTDOWN 35 DAYS TO GO...

Meagan Moss Qualifying Standard: 57 Moss ran 55.96 at Startrackers track meet. She is an athlete from SAC and a member of Club Monica.

She was also the Under-17 400m gold medallist in the 2017 CARIFTA Games.

SPORTS NOTES UNCLE LOU ROAD RACE THE St Augustine’s College Alumni Association has announced that the annual Uncle Lou Road Race is all set for Saturday, March 17. It’s a 10 kilometre run and fun walk that will start from Rawson Square.

The entry fee is $25 for adults and $15 for children under the age of 15.

The runners will travel from Rawson Square, south on Parliament Street, right on Shirley Street around Princess Street in front of Government House, right on Cumberland Street, onto Bay Street to the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge.

They will travel over the bridge to Paradise Island,

right on Paradise Island and over the old bridge, left on Bay Street, right on Village Road, left on Bernard Road and finish at St Augustine’s College.

The walkers will travel from Rawson Square on Bay Street, east to Village Road, south on Bernard Road and east to St Augustine’s College.

Pre-registration will be held on March 1 with forms available at The Sports Center’s Harbour Bay, Sandy Port or Mall at Marathon branches. Interested persons are also urged to contact 558-9582 or email TheSacAlumni@gmail.com for more information.

BASEBALL MARIO FORD CAMP THE annual Mario Ford Baseball Camp is scheduled to get underway on

Saturday at Windsor Park on Wulff Road and West Street.

The event will begin at 10am and run until noon.

During the two-hour session of the camp that will continue every Saturday until May 19, the campers will get a chance to learn the fundamentals in hitting, fielding, pitching, catching and strength agility.

Interested persons are urged to contact Mario Ford at 556-0993 for further information.

RUGBY BRU ACTION THE Bahamas Rugby Union is slated to continue its Heineken Cup with two games at the Winton rugby pitch on Saturday. At 2pm, the Buccaneers play Freeport and at 4pm, the Cuckoos face Baillou.

MICHIGAN State senior Tum Tum Nairn hugs his mother, Monalisa McKinney, as seniors are honoured in a ceremony following Tuesday night’s NCAA college game against Illinois in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won 81-61.

(AP Photo/Al Goldis) made the standard. Others, however, were added for relay duties.

A lot of that decision was based on the fact that the event was held elsewhere and, although they had a chartered flight provided by the Bahamas government,

the BAAA opted not to take a full team.

With the top regional junior track and field meet returning to the Bahamas the last since 2013 - for the eighth time over the Easter holiday weekend, will the BAAA put together a full

team to put on a show here at home?

So far, there are only about 13 athletes, some of whom have qualified in more than one event, that have surpassed the standard set by the BAAA. The standards are compiled based on a combination of the third place finishes in the past two games.

With just over a month to go, there are only three major events for athletes to qualify, including the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) Championships that will be contested from Tuesday to Wednesday for the junior high schools and Thursday to Friday for the senior high schools.

The BAAA National High School Track and Field Championships is set for March 8-10 where the bulk of the qualifiers should come as the private and public schools will be matched against each other.

Following on the heels of that will be the final CARIFTA trials set for March 16-17. Normally the numbers are down for the trials when it’s held after the nationals as athletes only feel obligated to perform for their schools.

However, it’s important that the numbers will swell when the trials take place because the games will be held at home and Team Bahamas should be at full strength for the competition that will feature at least 25 visiting countries.

When the games are held from March 30 to April 2, if the Bahamas is going to make an impact at home, our athletes will have to rise to the occasion. But before they do, they have to produce the qualifying standards.

PAGE 4, Friday, February 23, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

35TH HUGH CAMPBELL INVITATIONAL

More teams eliminated on day 4 FROM PAGE 1

GATEWAY ACADEMY EAGLES, out of Bimini, had another impressive showing with a 54-43 win over Government High School.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

THE PATRICK J Bethel Marlins advanced with a 38-19 win over the Bishop Michael Eldon Warriors.

ST George’s Jaguars used a 10-point run in the fourth to close out the opening session with a 56-42 win over the Teleos Cherubims.

to rescue the Jaguars with a 27-25 lead headed into the fourth with his layup.

The game was tied at 29 on a Hemmings layup and again at 31. Thompson scored eight of the Jaguars’ next 12 points and assisted on another to end the third and give St George’s some separation. They took a 43-36 lead into the fourth.

Nursing a six-point lead, Johnson converted a threepoint play and Theodore Grant finished a reverse layup to go ahead by nine with 1:46 left to play.

In the winner’s bracket during the second session, Gateway Academy out of Bimini had another impressive showing with a 54-43 win over Government High and CI Gibson defeated South Andros 66-28.

An additional four teams were eliminated in last night’s final session but the results were unavailable up to press time.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 23, 2018, PAGE 5

Wizards hold off LeBron, new-look Cavaliers 110-103

By TOM WITHERS Associated Press CLEVELAND (AP) — Bradley Beal scored 18 points, Kelly Oubre Jr added 17 and tried to untie the sneakers of one of Cleveland’s new players, and the Washington Wizards withstood a late assault by LeBron James to beat the new-look Cavaliers 110-103 on Thursday night.

The Wizards nearly blew a late 11-point lead as James scored 14 straight points to pull the Cavs within 106-103. But Beal hit a driving layup and James missed a free throw and committed a lane violation while intentionally missing the second one and the Wizards held on.

Washington is 8-2 since star guard John Wall went down with a knee injury.

Tomas Satoransky, who has been starting in Wall’s spot, added 17 points and eight assists.

James, back from winning MVP honors at the All-Star Game, scored 32 — 14 in the fourth — for the Cavs, who dropped to 2-1 since acquiring four new players before the trade deadline. J.R. Smith added 15 for Cleveland.

The Wizards spoiled the home debuts for Larry Nance Jr., George Hill, Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson, four new faces the Cavs are hoping can get them back to the NBA Finals.

But there are more obstacles in the Eastern Conference than ever and the Wizards could be a much tougher out in the postseason — with or without Wall.

Washington overcame an early 12-point deficit and matched Cleveland’s intensity.

Oubre tried to give the Wizards an extra advantage when he reached over during a dead-ball situation and tried to untie one of Hood’s shoes.

The four newest Cavs received warm ovations when introduced, with Nance getting the biggest roar from fans who remember his shot-blocking,

dunking dad. Larry Nance Sr. was a two-time All-Star during eight seasons with Cleveland.

Before the game, Nance Jr. announced that the NBA will allow him to wear his dad’s retired No. 22 jersey, which will remain hanging from the rafters in Quicken Loans Arena.

“I’m ecstatic about it,” said the younger Nance, who will switch from 24 to 22 next week.

After making just one 3-pointer in the first quarter, the Wizards dropped four deep shots in a span of 2:24 of the second quarter.

Oubre and Markieff Morris each made two 3s during Washington’s barrage, which enabled the Wizards to take a 57-54 lead at halftime.

By JOHN JACKSON Associated Press

TIP-INS Wizards: Coach Scott Brooks would not confirm reports Washington will sign veteran G Ramon Sessions to a 10-day contract.

He was released by New York last month. Washington has been playing without Wall, who had surgery on his left knee in late January and could be out until the playoffs. The 31-year-old Sessions served as Wall’s backup from 2014-16. ... Brooks said the All-Star break helped several players rest injuries.

G Tim Frazier returned after missing the final game before the All-Star break after sustaining a nasal fracture on Feb. 10.

Cavaliers: Smith’s recent fast starts have been a key to Cleveland’s success.

Smith is shooting 18 of 21 — 14 of 15 from the 3-point range — in the first quarter of the past six games.

“When he’s making shots,” said coach Tyronn Lue, “we’re a different team.” ... James became the seventh player with 11,000 career field goals. ... The trades brought an infusion of youth to what was the league’s oldest roster. “It’s not an old team anymore,” Lue said. “We’ve definitely gotten younger.” ... Signed G Marcus Thornton to a 10-day contract.

CLEVELAND Cavaliers’ Larry Nance Jr (24) dunks against Washington Wizards’ Ian Mahinmi (28) in the first half last night in Cleveland.

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Burke leads Knicks past Magic to end 8-game losing streak

By DICK SCANLON Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The New York Knicks got a seasonhigh 26 points from Trey Burke and put up 120 playing without their All-Star.

Yet all they talked about was defense after breaking an eightgame losing streak with a 120-113 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.

“Our defense was pretty much the reason we won,” said Burke, who came off the bench to hit 12 of 22 shots. “A lot of people look at the offensive end, but defense allowed our offense to get some good looks.”

Tim Hardaway Jr. had 23 points and six assists for the Knicks, who won for the first time since Jan. 30 and the first time since losing Kristaps Porzingis for the season to a torn ACL. Evan Fournier scored 25 points for the Magic, who lost their fourth straight.

“We finally guarded somebody,” said Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek, who gave much of the credit to Burke.

“I know Trey can put the ball in the hole and he can get hot,” Hornacek added. “He controls the pace, he’s a guy that can get things going. But defensively I thought he was the key. .. Trey was great on both sides of the court.”

The first game after the All-Star break for both teams marked the first Knicks start for guard Emmanuel Mudiay, who was acquired from Denver in a three-team trade on Feb. 8. It also marked the returns from injury for center Nikola Vucevic and forward Aaron Gordon of the Magic.

Vucevic finished with 19 points and six rebounds.

The Magic made 11 of their first 12 shots, including all five

SIMMONS’ LATE FTS GIVES 76ERS 116-115 WIN OVER BULLS

3-pointers, on their way to a 41-point first quarter and a 10-point lead. Orlando shot 61 percent in the first half.

“The first half, offensively, was as good as we’ve played all year,” said Orlando coach Frank Vogel.

The second half, not so much.

“We didn’t get the stops at all, and we just stopped executing in the fourth quarter offensive and defensively,” Fournier said.

“That’s how we lost the game.

Bad execution. No movement at all. We were all kind of watching each other, and the momentum shifted.”

Orlando led 76-65 early in the second half, a lead that disappeared quickly when Enes Kanter scored three baskets a 12-0 run that put the Knicks ahead for the first time since the middle of the first quarter.

A layup by Lance Thomas with 9:24 left put the Knicks ahead permanently and launched an 18-6 run that produced a 113-102 lead with 3:39 left.

TIP-INS Knicks: Thursday marked the seventh anniversary of the Knicks’ acquisition of F Carmelo Anthony. ... F Troy Williams, signed to a 10-day contract Wednesday, scored four points in six minutes.

Magic: Rookie F Isaac Austin, who has not played since Dec. 26 due to a sore right ankle, will play in a NBA G League game Friday night. ... Vucevic had missed 23 games with a fractured left hand. ... Gordon had missed nine games (and the All-Star Slam Dunk contest) with a strained left hip flexor.

BAD MOVIE “The defense was bad, really bad in the first quarter,” Kanter said. “Coach came into the locker room and said one thing:

KNICKS forward Tim Hardaway Jr (3) goes up for a shot in front of Orlando Magic forward Evan Fournier (10) last night.

(AP Photo/Phelan M Ebenhack) ‘We are not going to watch any film. Just go out there and get loose and start the second half with energy.’

‘We have enough guys to shoot and score the ball. The most important for us right now is defence.’

CHICAGO (AP) — Ben Simmons scored 32 points, making two free throws with 5.6 seconds left to complete Philadelphia’s rally from five points down in the final minute, and the 76ers beat the Chicago Bulls 116-115 on Thursday night.

Joel Embiid had 30 points and 13 rebounds, and Simmons added 11 assists and seven rebounds as Philadelphia won its sixth straight and snapped a four-game road losing streak.

Bobby Portis had a career-high 38 points and Zach LaVine added 23 for the Bulls, who were 18 for 34 on 3-pointers.

Chicago had a 115-114 lead and the ball with 8 seconds to go before Embiid deflected an inbounds pass to create a turnover. Simmons came up with the ball near half court and was fouled by Denzel Valentine.

He made both free throws.

Portis had a chance for a game winner, but his short attempt — with Embiid defending — just missed.

The 76ers raced to a 25-7 lead midway through the first quarter before Portis got hot and Chicago started making 3s.

Philadelphia’s lead was down to 33-29 at the end of the quarter and the Bulls busted out for 40 points in the second to take a 69-67 halftime lead. Chicago was 9 of 12 on 3-pointers in the quarter, including 4 for 5 by Portis.

The 76ers were up by five early in the fourth before Portis scored six straight points — on a 3-pointer and a three-point play — to put the Bulls on top 101-100.

A few minutes later, Portis dunked over Embiid to stretch the lead to 111-106 with just over four minutes to play.

LaVine hit a 3-pointer to make it 115-110 with 1:02 left.

PAGE 6, Friday, February 23, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

25

27

26

28

27 28 FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN £100 CASH read down letters in the highlighted squares to reveal the mystery w

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN £100 C

letters the highlighted squares rev tO eNter: call 0904 161 1603 andinleave your answer andtodeta eNter: call 0904 161 1603 andnetwor leave yo to 84010. calls cost £1.50 plustOyour telephone company’s to 84010. calls cost £1.50 your telephon at midnight tonight. or send your grid containing the plus answer in the at midnight tonight. or send your grid containin sutton coldfield B73 9Bt. Entries must be B73 postmarked octob sutton coldfield 9Bt. Entriesby must be po helpline number. helpline number. ● The winner will be the ● The winner will be the first random corre CARPE DIEM NEED HELP? 0904 161 1609 for 5 extr NEED HELP? call 0904 161 1609 for 5 call extra clues! calls cost £

JUDGE PARKER

nAmE

nAmE

aC 14 Grea PostcoDE 26 Lud 5 Ma THE DAILY EXPRESS 30-SE ADDrEss

ADDrEss PostcoDE

Today’s answers: Beginner = 81; interm

MARVIN BLONDIE

THE DAILY EXPRESS 30-SECOND CHAL CrossdoU

Today’s answers: Beginner = 81; intermediate = 268; advance Can you make two common five-letter

words from the nine letters given, using each letter only once? you can – but only if one letter features in both words in the squares on the right. at least one way to do it, and Can you make two common There’s five-letter you have to have the right letter at the words from the nine letters crossover given, – but which one is it? using each letter only once?see you can if you can find the answer within our target time. if you need help, ring – but only if one letter features in both our clue-line below to find out the words in the squares on thecrossover right. letter. solution tomorrow.

CrossdoUBT

There’s at least one way to do it, and Target times: Average: a B e e you have to have the right letter the14 mins 18 minsatGood: stucK? call FOr a c crossover – but which one isExcellent: it?

10 mins HAGAR THE HORRIBLE 0901 322 56 Friday’s solution: see if you can find the answer within Halve your target tim aLLow (across) *Calls cost 75p p our target time. if you need help, HeeLsring (down) netwo our clue-line below to find out the crossover letter. solution tomorrow.

TIGER

TarGeT a B e e f L o TP

Target times: Average: cAn y the target 18 mins Good: 14 mins Alphab uses sOlutION stucK? call FOr a clue numbe Excellent: 10 mins words in – or bl5 0901 0901 322 5601 the main 322 Friday’s solution: Alphap Both today’s words in Halve your target time! body of the alp aLLow (across) chambers you ha *Calls cost 75p plus your telephone company’ grid to HeeLs (down) 21stcharge. network access

f i n i G D r E f

CALVIN & HOBBES

TarGeT

f i n i G D r E f

DENNIS THE MENACE Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

century Dictionary (1999 edition)

letters below grid is symm words you tu down.

THe aL

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the cAn youincrack thea the target letters shown here? making satur word, each letter may be used Alphabeater?

Each grid Black uses 15, 20 once only. Each mustrepresents contain thea letter words in letter number centre there square. must beAs at in 33, 35 –and or black acro least one nine-letter word. no the main Alphapuzzle, every letter Gape of bodyplurals of or verb forms ending in “s”.

the alphabet is used. But Proxi

chambers you have to complete theWaltz Today’s TarGeT Bully, good 21; use excellent 27 too! the given 21st Good 14; verygrid down (or more). solution tomorrow. letters and black squares Inveig century Coal, below the grid to start. the saTUrday’s soLUTion Dictionary Banjo grid is celerity ‘rotationally celeb CeLeBriTy celery Statis (1999cere cert citesymmetrical’ – in other city creel crib edition) elect erect erectly recit words, lyric it looks the same if recite relic relict reticle rice

Ext

you turn the page upside 09 HOW many words of four letters ricey ricy terce tercel tiercetomorrow. down. solution (Ded tiercel trice or more can you make from the each e letters shown here? in making a saturday’s solution Black squares: 6, 7, 12, word, each letter may be used call 0907 for 30, 09 15,181 20, 2585 22, 24, 25, once only. Each must contain the Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro today’s target solution *Call 33,squares, 35, 40.1 to 9,plus *Calls cost 80p per37, minute centre letter and there must is tobe fill allat of the empty using39, numbers soyo telephone company’s the sum of plus eachyour horizontal block equals the number to across: Switch, Off, itsnet least one nine-letter word. left, noand the sumnetwork access charge. of each vertical block equals the number Gaped, Caveat, Skid, its top. block more plurals or verb forms endingonin “s”.No number may be used in the same Proximal, Hardbacks, than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday. *SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 Bars, 202 3390 Waltzing, Saliva,PLa Today’s TarGeT Bully, Gas, Sexton.

Good 14; very good 21; excellent 27 down: Squawking, Yesterday’s (or more). solution tomorrow. Yesterday’sInveigh, Limbs, Aft, Sudoku Answer Kakuro Answer Coal, Imply, Robin,

saTUrday’s soLUTion celeb CeLeBriTy celerity celery cere cert cite city creel crib elect erect erectly lyric recit recite relic relict reticle rice ricey ricy terce tercel tierce tiercel trice

call 0907 181 2585 for today’s target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Down 1 Not a stone upturned of enormous weight (7) 2 A gamble that doesn’t come off (6,3) 3 It wasn’t worn long during the Sixties (5) 4 Charge back up in time perhaps (6) 5 Tried to reform a US city (7) 6 Our first cardinal (3) 7 Stray around in the woods perhaps (5) 12 A ruling that’s not very clear (5,4) 14 His rise is postponed (3-4) 16 One drunkard turns to espy another (7) 17 It may get broken - put it down (6) 18 Fifty with a new cure make a profit (5) 20 Grasping secret societies in China? (5) 22 One about to show anger (3)

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution

Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Across: 1 Percentage, 8 Circa, 9 In trust, 10 Needled, 11 Motor, 12 Ritual, 14 Stamps, 17 Caber, 19 Fuchsia, 21 Emulate, 22 Drank, 23 Holiday pay.

Across: 1 Wet blanket, 8 Purse,

Down: 2 Earnest, 3 Crawl, 4 Naiads, 5 Attempt, 6 Erupt, 7 Starts back, 8 Contracted, 13 Air mail, 15 Mascara, 16 Offend, 18 Brush, 20 Caddy.

Down: 2 Earlier, 3 Break,

*SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390

EASY PUZZLE

Across 1 A man seen in the distance (5) 4 Having a roof over one’s head (7) 8 Talking - but it might be laughing (3) 9 I’m the one being treated and reluctant to wait (9) 10 Not a large measure of spirit, just a little one (4,3) 11 Tender proposal (5) 13 Unable to produce a group of stars (6) 15 Severe constriction at the centre (6) 18 It turns out articles in two countries (5) 19 Lands in Eastern America (7) 21 Submit to pressure and return to the base camp? (5,4) 23 A mischief-maker is simply without cunning (3) 24 Letter finished, then altered (7) 25 We set out without a trace of bitterness (5)

9 Forlorn, 10 Sticker, 11 Canal, 12 Stress, 14 Pisces, 17 Rabbi, 19 Attired, 21 Pointer, 22 Amass, 23 Fine tuning.

4 Afford, 5 Karachi, 6 Thorn, 7 On all sides, 8 Postscript, 13 Stilton, 15 Certain, 16 Garret, 18 Brief, 20 Train.

Across 1 Muslim holy war (5) 4 Glaringly obvious (7) 8 Large container for liquids (3) 9 Talk at excessive length (2,2,3,2) 10 Hasty examination (4-3) 11 Disparage (5) 13 Almost (6) 15 To no avail (2,4) 18 Tine (5) 19 Pertinent (7) 21 Extremely painful (9) 23 Two-wheeled carriage (3) 24 Surfeit (7) 25 Foe (5)

Down 1 Light throwing spear (7) 2 Tricky problem (3,6) 3 French impressionist painter (5) 4 Intermediary (6) 5 Freedom from inhibitions (7) 6 Assistance (3) 7 Having sharp flavour (5) 12 A white sparkling wine (9) 14 Brown coal (7) 16 Posy (7) 17 Conceit (6) 18 Chimes (5) 20 Scoundrel (5) 22 Make a choice (3)

Banjo, Faze, Ink, Odium, Statist, Finalises.

Extra letter clues

0907 181 2560 (Deduct three minutes for each extra clue letter heard)

full solution

0907 181 2558

1

*Calls cost 80p per minute 2 plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

●

PLay More Cro

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 23, 2018, PAGE 7

MUGURUZA BEATS GARCIA AGAIN TO ADVANCE TO DUBAI SEMI-FINALS DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Secondseeded Garbine Muguruza overcame Caroline Garcia 7-5, 6-2 yesterday to seal her place in the semi-finals of the Dubai Championships.

Muguruza defeated the fifth-seeded Frenchwoman in their second quarterfinal in two weeks, with the Spaniard also winning after being a set down in Doha.

On Thursday, she needed just two sets but they stretched over 108 minutes.

Muguruza next plays Russian Daria Kasatkina, who defeated compatriot Elena Vesnina 7-6 (5), 6-1.

Top-seeded Elina Svitolina moved to within two matches of retaining her title with a 6-2, 6-4 win over wildcard Naomi Osaka of Japan.

Waiting for Svitolina in the semi-finals is the resurgent Angelique Kerber.

The sixth-seeded German defeated third-seeded Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-3 in a 74-minute encounter.

Third-ranked Muguruza had finished her round of 16 match at 1:50am local time

but, if she was tired, she did not show any effects.

The first set was evenly contested, with games going with serve.

Muguruza then applied immense pressure and had three break points in the ninth game.

That lasted just shy of 10 minutes before Garcia held on but she was broken in the 11th game.

Garcia was making more mistakes because of her aggressive mindset and her tendency to go for the lines.

Muguruza was solid throughout, and broke her opponent twice early in the second to go 4-1 up.

“I felt much better in this match than the one we played in Doha.

“It’s always difficult because we played almost in the same week twice,” Muguruza said.

“But when you play a top-10 player, and you beat her second time in a row, it gives me a good sign that what I’m doing is right.

“I was a little bit upset because it was very late (last night). I ended up

GARBINE MUGURUZA, of Spain, returns the ball to Caroline Garcia of France yesterday during their quarter-final match of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

(AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) reached her third semi-final in four tournaments.

She broke early in both sets and lost just eight points on her first serve.

sleeping at 4 am. But there’s nothing I can do, I have to accept it.”

Kerber secured her 15th win of the season and

Winner of two Grand Slams in 2016, Kerber did not win a single title in 2017 and dropped to No. 21 in the rankings.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 63° F/17° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

Partly cloudy

Partly sunny with a stray shower

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

Partly sunny

Sunshine and some clouds

High: 84°

Low: 72°

High: 85° Low: 71°

High: 85° Low: 71°

High: 85° Low: 70°

High: 85° Low: 69°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

87° F

74° F

88°-74° F

90°-73° F

92°-75° F

95°-74° F

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 69° F/21° 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: 77° F/25° C Low: 73° F/23° C

10-20 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 83° F/28° C Low: 73° F/23° C

12-25 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

N

S

E

W

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 68° F/20° C

MIAMI

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 71° F/22° C

8-16 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 77° F/25° C Normal high ....................................... 78° F/25° C Normal low ........................................ 64° F/18° C Last year’s high ................................. 78° F/26° C Last year’s low ................................... 66° F/19° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 5.69” Normal year to date ..................................... 2.54”

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: 74° F/23° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

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

1:00 a.m.

1:17 p.m.

2.7 2.2

7:25 a.m. 0.2 7:33 p.m. -0.2

Saturday

2:04 a.m.

2:24 p.m.

2.8 2.2

8:34 a.m. 0.2 8:39 p.m. -0.2

Sunday

3:11 a.m.

3:33 p.m.

2.8 2.3

9:42 a.m. 0.1 9:46 p.m. -0.3

Monday

4:15 a.m.

4:38 p.m.

3.0 2.4

10:46 a.m. -0.1 10:50 p.m. -0.5

Tuesday

5:16 a.m.

5:39 p.m.

3.1 2.6

11:44 a.m. -0.4 11:50 p.m. -0.7

Wednesday 6:11 a.m.

6:35 p.m.

3.3 2.8

12:37 p.m. -0.6 ---------

Thursday

3.3 2.9

12:46 a.m. -0.8 1:27 p.m. -0.7

7:03 a.m.

7:27 p.m.

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C

N

S

E

W

12-25 knots

S

12-25 knots

ANDROS

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

uV inDex toDay

6:38 a.m.

6:09 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

11:59 a.m.

12:36 a.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Feb. 23

Mar. 1

Mar. 9

Mar. 17

CAT ISLAND

E

W

“I don’t know exactly what happened last year,” said Kerber.

“I was still trying my best.”

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 78° 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: 74° F/23° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

15-25 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: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

H

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

15-25 knots

12-25 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 E at 12-25 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots E at 12-25 Knots ESE at 12-25 Knots E at 15-25 Knots E at 12-25 Knots E at 15-25 Knots E at 12-25 Knots E at 12-25 Knots ESE at 12-25 Knots E at 10-20 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots E at 12-25 Knots ESE at 12-25 Knots NE at 12-25 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 15-25 Knots E at 12-25 Knots ENE at 12-25 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots E at 12-25 Knots ESE at 12-25 Knots E at 15-25 Knots E at 12-25 Knots E at 15-25 Knots E at 12-25 Knots

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

VISIBILITY 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 76° F 76° F 78° F 78° F 77° F 77° F 78° F 78° F 76° F 76° F 78° F 78° F 77° F 77° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 77° F 77° F 76° F 76° F 77° F 77° F 77° F 77° F

PAGE 8, Friday, February 23, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Woods shoots solid 70 at windy Honda, Noren has early lead

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida (AP) — On a windy day when par felt like a good score, that’s exactly what Tiger Woods got at the Honda Classic.

Alex Noren was even better.

Noren, who lost in a playoff at Torrey Pines last month, shot 31 on the front nine and finished with a 6-foot birdie on the ninth hole into a strong wind for a 4-under 66 that gave him a one-shot lead yesterday among the early starters at Palm Beach Gardens.

PGA champion Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger and Morgan Hoffmann — all living up the road in Jupiter — opened with a 67.

Thomas had a run four straight birdies around the turn, and then sandwiched a birdie around two bogeys at the end. Only nine players broke par from the early part of the draw.

Woods looked as though he might be one of them, getting off to clean start except for one visit to the concession stands. He holed a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 11 and hit a wedge over the bunker to 4 feet for birdie on No. 13.

His only wild drive was on the 12th, when he pulled it so far left that the ball came to rest next to two carts, one for frozen lemonade, the other for soft pretzel. Not a problem. The carts were moved, leaving him a good angle into the green and he came away with par.

The only blunder — outside of a bogey from a bunker on the 16th, and those were bound to happen on a day like this — was on the second-easiest hole on the course.

Woods drove into a fairway bunker on the par-5 third, laid up and put his third shot in a bunker. He barely got it out to the collar, used the edge of his

TIGER Woods tips his cap after finishing on the ninth hole.

TIGER Woods tees off yesterday during the first round of the Honda Classic golf tournament. Golfers wore a ribbon on their caps in memory of the students and faculty killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

(AP Photos/Wilfredo Lee) sand wedge to putt it down toward the hole and missed the 3-foot par putt.

TIGER Woods hits from behind a vendors stand near the 12th fairway.

He answered with a birdie, made par the rest of the way and shot 70.

“I’m trying to get better, more efficient at what I’m doing,” Woods said. “And also I’m actually doing it under the gun, under the pressure of having to hit golf shots, and this golf course is not forgiving whatsoever. I was very happy with the way I hit it today.”

This is his third PGA Tour event since returning from a fourth back surgery. Woods tied for 23rd at Torrey Pines and missed the cut at Riviera. He has never missed consecutive cuts over 36 holes in his PGA Tour career, and that could be on the line today because he faces the typically tougher afternoon conditions.

His presence remains large, with thousands of fans following him in the

morning, some waiting on the next hole for a good view.

Woods played with Patton Kizzire, who already has won twice on the PGA Tour season this year.

Kizzire had never met Woods until yesterday, and he yanked his opening tee shot into a palmetto bush.

No one could find it, so he had to return to the tee to play his third shot. Kizzire covered the 505 yards in three shots, an outstanding bogey considering the twoshot penalty.

Later, he laughed about the moment.

“I was so nervous,” Kizzire said. “I said to Tiger, ‘Why did you have to make me so nervous?’”

Noren is a nine-time winner on the European Tour who is No. 16 in the world, though he has yet to make a connection among American golf fans

— outside of Stillwater, Oklahoma, from his college days at Oklahoma State — from not having fared well at big events.

The Swede spends time in South Florida during the winter, so he’s getting used to this variety of putting surfaces. That was the whole idea of taking up PGA Tour membership.

“I came over here to try to play some more American-style courses, get firmer greens, more rough, and to improve my driving and improve my long game,” Noren said. “So it’s been great. The second place at Torrey was a highlight, even though I wanted to win it.”

Jason Day beat him in a playoff that ended the next morning on the sixth extra hole.

Noren made a 30-putt on the par-4 second hole, his 11th of the round, and then had short putts the rest of the way. One of those was at No. 6, one of the two par 5s that are converted into a par 4 for the Honda Classic.

From 186 yards away in a fairway bunker, he put it 3 feet away.

For the locals, this isn’t much of a home course advantage except for a few extra family and friends.

Hardly anyone plays PGA National the other 51 weeks of the year, mainly because the resort is busy and not in the same condition as it is for the tournament.

MOBILE

APP

Take us with you Everywhere you go!