03032017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

Hugh Campbell, Pg 8

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

Bahamas tops Guyana, 4-1

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

he Bahamas men’s national team gave the home crowd of eager spectators the opener they were hoping for and set the tone for the remainder of Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Beach Soccer Championship.

Lesly St Fleur recorded a hat trick and Kyle Williams answered Guyana’s only goal of the game as the Bahamas earned a 4-1 win over Guyana in the day one finale last night at the national beach soccer facility.

St Fleur, who scored two of his goals in the first period, said the team was inspired by the home crowd but is mindful that a good showing at CONCACAF is key for the ultimate goal of performing well at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017.

“We played well but there are always improvements in getting ready for the World Cup. Coming out and putting on a good performance in game one was key for us.

We have to come back out

T

Belize defeats Jamaica 2-0 on penalties TEAM BAHAMAS got a 4-1 victory over Guyana (above) yesterday while Belize beat Jamaica 2-0 on penalties after a 5-5 tie in regulation in the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship at The Malcolm Park West beach soccer facility.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

and play the same type of game we played to keep this going,” he said. “I’m the team’s leading scorer, there’s a lot of pressure on me but I’m ready for that.

As a team leader you have to go out there, play with heart and lead with example.”

In the first period, The Bahamas’ Gary Joseph drew an interference call when he attempted an overhead kick for the side’s first real scoring opportunity, but Guyana’s Ethan Sparman was able to come up with the save.

The Bahamas was the aggressor early on with three shots on goal within the

SEE PAGE 2

Rookie guard Buddy Hield traded to Sacramento Kings

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net JUST about halfway through his rookie season, Buddy Hield is on the move to a new franchise following a blockbuster trade during the late hours of NBA AllStar Weekend.

Hield was one of the principals in a trade that will see the Bahamian guard packaged along with Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, a future 2017 first-round and second-round pick to Sacramento in exchange for All-Star centre DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi.

The first-round pick en route to the Kings will be top-three protected, which means that the Kings would receive the pick once it lands at No.4 and below. Sacramento has an opportunity to have two lottery picks in what many consider a loaded NBA Draft Class. However, if the Kings’ pick falls beyond the No. 10 spot it will go to the Chicago Bulls.

Vlade Divac, Kings’ vice president of basketball operations and general manager, said he expects

Hield to have an impact with the franchise.

“He [Buddy] is a talented guy.

His work ethic is exactly what we want here. He brings energy. He will try to improve his game and our team, and that it is something we are looking forward to,” he said speaking to reporters at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. “Buddy was a firstround pick last year. We added another pick and we feel very strong about this draft this year.

We have the ability to start fresh.”

A press release issued by the team said the trade represented a shift in culture for the franchise.

“It was time for a change and I decided this was the best direction for the organisation, said Divac. “Winning begins with culture and character matters. With the upcoming draft class set to be one of the strongest in a decade, this trade will allow us to build the depth needed for a talented and developing roster moving forward. We thank DeMarcus for his contributions and wish him all the best in New Orleans. The fans in Sacramento are the best in the world and we are all committed to

WORLD guard Buddy Hield in action during Rising Stars Challenge. (AP) building a team that will continue to make Sacramento proud.”

Just two weeks ago, Divac announced that the Kings would no longer seek trade partners for the mercurial Cousins, who leads the

league in technical fouls.

Hield will be expected to be a major component of a rebuilding young core for the Kings which will include 2015 lottery pick Willie Cauley-Stein, last year’s first round draft pick Skal Labissiere and the future picks in 2017.

The trade came near the conclusion of All-Star Weekend when Hield had his final performance in New Orleans as a member of the Pelicans.

Hield finished with 28 points and six rebounds and just 27 minutes to help Team World to a 150-141 win over team USA in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night.

He shot 11-22 from the field and took more shots than he has in any regular season game thus far in his rookie season.

Hield is averaging 8.6 points, 1.4 assist and 2.9 rebounds during the 57 game stretch for the Pelicans this season. He’s shooting 39.2 per cent from the field overall but is hitting from three at a decent rate - 37 per cent.

Hield’s productive month of December was recognised by the NBA when he was named the

Western Conference Rookie of the Month after he led the conference’s rookies in scoring (10.6 points), three-point field goal percentage (48 per cent) and threepointers made (33).

Cousins leaves the Kings as one of the top players of the Sacramento-era of the franchise. He has posted three straight seasons averaging more than 22 points and 11 rebounds per game.

This season he was selected to his third All-Star game and is posting career highs in points (27.8 per game), assists (4.9), 3-point field goal percentage (.356) and player efficiency rating (26.6).

In New Orleans, he will be paired in the frontcourt alongside recent All-Star Game MVP and fellow Kentucky Wildcat, Anthony Davis.

The first opportunity to see Hield in a Kings uniform will be Thursday (February 23) when the team hosts the Denver Nuggets at 10:30pm local time.

Hield also made his NBA debut against the Nuggets and Murray, who was picked one spot behind Hield at No.7 in last year’s draft.

PAGE 2, Tuesday, February 21, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

PROUD BAHAMIANS SHOW SUPPORT AT THE CONCACAF BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

MAKING THE BAHAMAS PROUD: Bahamians showed up to cheer for Team Bahamas yesterday as the men’s national team faced Guyana in the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship at The Malcolm Park West beach soccer facility.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Bahamas tops Guyana, Belize THE SCHEDULE defeats Jamaica 2-0 on penalties YESTERDAY Canada 6 Barbados 4

FROM PAGE 1

United States 8 US Virgin Islands 1

first three minutes of play.

St Fleur would score the first goal with a bicycle kick that found the back of the net at the 7:39 mark in the first third. He would score on another penalty kick about a minute later at the 6:37 mark to take a quick 2-0 lead. St Fleur nearly pulled off the entire hat trick in the first third, but was just saved by Sparman.

Nursing a 2-0 advantage, the Bahamas controlled the pace of the game and escaped several near scoring opportunities from Guyana Jashuan Moore’s strike just missed left, Jamal Haynes’ free kick ricocheted off the crossbar, and Bahamas goalkeeper Ivan Rolle kept the opponents scoreless with an incredible save on another free kick from Deshawn Joseph.

Rolle, the youngest player on the team at 20, delivered an impressive performance protecting the goal.

“I think the jitterbugs are out for me. It was my first tournament but after this game now I’m ready to move forward and continue playing my role in helping this team win,” he said. “We want to show the world that we deserve to

Mexico 9 Guadeloupe 2 Trinidad and Tobago 8 Antigua and Barbuda 1 Jamaica 5 Belize 5 (Belize win 2-0 on penalties) Bahamas 4 Guyana 1 TODAY 1:45pm – Guadeloupe v Barbados 3pm - Costa Rica v Panama 4:15pm - El Salvador v Turks & Caicos Islands 5:30pm - Canada v Mexico 6:45pm - Guyana v Jamaica 8pm -Belize v Bahamas

TEAM BAHAMAS got a 4-1 victory over Guyana yesterday while Jamaica beat Belize 2-0 on penalties after a 5-5 tie in regulation in the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship at The Malcolm Park West beach soccer facility. be in the World Cup, not just have the easy path so it is major for us to gain everyone’s confidence moving forward. It was a great turnout, thanks to everyone at home for making this atmosphere possible.”

In the third period, Rolle delivered a perfect throw in to St Fleur, who

was unpressured and made another bicycle kick for a 3-0 lead with 10:08 left to play. Guyana scored on a great individual breakaway effort from Joseph.

But the Bahamas would expand on the 3-1 lead and put the game away when St Fleur delivered a cross and Williams finished with a header at the 4:41 mark.

The Bahamas will face Belize 8pm tonight as Group Stage play continues. (SEE TABLE) Other scores from day one included: Canada def.

Barbados (6-4), USA def. the US Virgin Islands (81), Mexico def. Guadeloupe (9-2) and Trinidad and Tobago def. Antigua and Barbuda (8-1)

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 1:45pm - US Virgin Islands v Trinidad & Tobago 3pm - Antigua & Barbuda v United States 4:15pm - Panama v El Salvador 5:30pm - Belize v Guyana 6:45pm - Turks & Caicos Islands v Costa Rica 8pm - Bahamas v Jamaica Thursday, February 23, 2017 1:45pm - Canada v Guadeloupe 3pm - Antigua & Barbuda v US Virgin Islands 4:15pm - Mexico v Barbados 5:30pm - El Salvador v Costa Rica 6:45pm - Panama v Turks & Caicos Islands 8pm - United States v Trinidad & Tobago Friday, February 24 – Sunday, February 26 Quaterfinals, Semi-finals and Finals Games start at 11:15am Teams TBD

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 21, 2017, PAGE 3

‘I believe the Kings actually got the better of’ Buddy deal HOW sad that, for the first time since the glory days of Mychal Thompson and Rick Fox winning championships with the Lakers, the latest chance for Bahamians to root for a native son and his team in unison has temporarily been derailed!

WHAT GOES UP Yes, 300K plus Bahamians purchased New Orleans Pelicans jerseys and hats and other paraphernalia en mass, as soon as ‘Buddy’ Hield was drafted No.6 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in last year’s NBA Draft.

It was a win-win situation. Hometown boy is the missing piece at ‘shooting guard’ for the young, up and coming Pelicans, with rising stars like All-Star centre Anthony Davis and point guard Jrue Holiday already in the fold.

‘Buddy Buckets’ was supposed to step right in and light it up right away.

After early struggles Hield put a nice stretch together, winning NBA Rookie of the month for December 2016.

Then the roller coaster ride took another dip and at the All-Star break - at the mid-season point - Hield was averaging 8.6 points per game and 2.9 rebounds, paltry to say the least.

But just as the coaster appeared to be dipping, here comes ‘Buddy Buckets’ at NBA All-Star weekend in

in front of his home crowd in New Orleans, soaring upward again in the USA vs the World game between rookies and second-year players.

Hield’s World squad beat the US 150-141 on Friday night. A New Orleans Pelicans rookie, he added 28 points to the delight of the locals.

And then plummeting downward out of nowhere, TRADED to the Sacramento Kings along with two other players and a first and second round draft pick, for All Star centre DeMarcus ‘Boogie’ Cousins.

MUST COME DOWN Collectively, we Bahamians uttered a big ‘Awe No’ along with the accompanying sucking of teeth.

Honestly, it was easier to pull for the ascending, young, talented Pelicans squad than the perennially lousy, always in rebuilding mode Sacramento Kings.

That organisation is ‘snake bitten’ period.

Here we are now faced as a nation with pulling for ‘Buddy’ to do well individually, because we all pretty much know the Kings will suck.

Sorry to say, ‘Buddy’ you are the new Mitch Richmond, a perennial All-Star on a ‘loser.’

MY ‘BUDDY’ Now that ‘you’ve’ finished burning your Pelicans jerseys, you can order

NBA draft.

The Oklahoma product’s NBA career hasn’t gotten off to a Curry-esque start, however, as he averaged just 8.6 points on 39.2 per cent shooting and 2.9 rebounds per game with the Pelicans.

Contrary to popular opinion, I believe the Kings actually got the better of this deal - ‘Buddy’ Hield, Tyreke Evans, a first round pick this year and a second round pick next year.

Gold for a team that’s rebuilding.

SPORTING

MISCHIEF

& MAYHEM

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHT Y’ ZENIC

AZELAYA

BUDDY HIELD has been traded to Sacramento Kings. (AP) your ‘Buddy Hield’ Sacramento Kings jersey on line and wear it with pride. I don’t think he’ll be going anywhere soon and here’s why.

Part of the reason the Sacramento Kings received an underwhelming haul from the New Orleans Pelicans for DeMarcus Cous-

ins was, apparently, owner Vivek Ranadivé’s belief in guard Buddy Hield.

“Vivek thinks Buddy [Hield] has Steph Curry potential,” a source told Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com.

Holmes reported the Kings have a “fixation” on Hield, who was the No. 6 overall pick in last June’s

WHICH SIDE CUZ? The Pelicans, on the other hand, have a luxury rental in Cousins that should help them contend for the final Western Conference playoff spot - the eighth seed - and that’s about it.

Then post playoffs, I think Cousins walks and hits the free agent market to cash in on the potential $200 million dollar payday that awaits him on the free agent market, despite the optimism of the Pelicans front office, who think they can resign him and not let him bolt in free agency.

However, that theory isn’t looking good for the Pelicans right now.

Earlier Sunday night, before both teams committed to the deal, Cousins’ agent Jarinn Akana told ESPN that Cousins would likely pass on an extension with any team that traded for him before Thursday’s deadline.

Iesha Shepherd picks up big victory at Level 6 USTA Junior Tennis tourney

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net IESHA Shepherd picked up a big victory at the Extreme Tennis Academy Level 6 USTA Junior Tennis Tournament in Miami, Florida, over the weekend.

“It was a tough one,” Shepherd told The Tribune. “I haven’t played in a tournament in a while and I had to play two matches in one day, so it was tough on the body.”

In her first match in the round of 16, Shepherd admitted that it was breezy but she managed to secure a 6-0, 6-0 win over Alejandra Coronel.

Shepherd, 17, went on to the quarterfinals where she upset No.3 seed Catilyn Khan. Then in the semi-final, she pulled off a 6-3, 6-2 win over top seed Camilia Ordonez and in the final she finished with a 6-0, 6-2 win over No.2 seed Katty Friedland.

“I really had to play my game because the competition was really tough,” Shepherd said. “I knew that if I wanted to win, I had to be at my best.”

It was Shepherd’s first tournament for the year and she noted that to come out with victories over two of the top three seeds gives her a lot of incentive

as she looks ahead to the rest of the season.

“It’s a great feeling to win it,” Shepherd said. “It feels good.

I’m ecstatic because it gives me a boost for the future. It just feels good to know that I can compete against different players and come out on top.”

She’s not sure when and where she will play her next tournament, but Shepherd said she’s going to try to stay focused because her ultimate goal this year is to be ready for entry into college in August and hopefully take her game to another level.

Last year, Shepherd attempted to compete on the professional level, but she felt it would be best for her to work out here at home and she’s now making the best of it under the coaching of Marvin Rolle and Kyazi Smith.

“I’m getting a little older so I have to work a little harder on my game,” said Shepherd, who has served as the most outstanding junior female player in the country for quite a while. “So I’m looking forward to getting the best out of any exposure I can get, here and abroad.”

Around April, Shepherd said she should have an idea exactly where she intends to enrol in college. But for now, she said she’s just going to enjoy her success over the weekend.

IN an already packed week of sports, the Bahamas Olympic Committee is gearing up to host a major meeting with INTERPOL on Thursday in the Paul Farquharson Auditorium at the Royal Bahamas Police Force headquarters.

BOC president Wellington Miller said Interpol, in conjunction with the International Olympic Committee, would hold a meeting on the integrity of sport through education and awareness starting at 9am on Thursday.

“The meeting is for the IOC and Interpol to support national efforts to combat competition manipulation,” Miller said.

Two representatives from the IOC will be in town to conduct the all-day meeting that will take place with the stakeholders of all of the sporting bodies in the country. “All of the sporting executives, coaches and anybody who is involved in sports, is invited to

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SOLOMON SCORES CAREER HIGH 19 TO LEAD TITANS TO 82-73 WIN

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WINNING WAYS: Champion Iesha Shepherd (right), of the Bahamas, and runnerup Kathy Friedland with their trophies.

BOC to host meeting on integrity of sport

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SO WHO’S THE WINNER? ....

THE LAKERS Now with that being said, the next likely stop for Cousins is that huge aforementioned payday with the Los Angeles Lakers, continuing the long standing Laker tradition of having the best big man in the NBA wearing purple and gold.

The Lakers have the cap room to offer Cousins the ‘max money’ all while keeping their young, highly talented core together.

Factor in Klay Thompson. (Hats off to you Klay for remembering your roots and choosing the Ranfurly Home for Children as your charity.)

He is also a free agent and attainable with another portion of the Lakers’ free agent cash stash. The Lakers will once again be dominant for years to come, especially with Luke Walton as head coach.

And we Bahamians will have two native sons to cheer for in the NBA. Hopefully, they will both be on winning teams at the same time we are rooting them on.

attend,” Miller said. “We have already contacted just about everybody with their invitations, but we are asking anybody who has an interest in sports to attend.”

This is the first time that the IOC has held such a meeting in the Bahamas and indeed in the Caribbean. “They want us to host it so our sporting personnel and our sporting bodies can have an idea of how to deal with sports manipulation,” Miller stated. “That seemed to be the main thrust because we have to face it, there are manipulation in competition in our sports.

“I hope that as a result of the meeting being held here, all of us in sports will be able to detect the competition manipulation in our sports. We want to encourage our sporting leaders not to get involved in it because it could be embarrassing to our country.”

Miller said they are appreciative of the IOC and Interpol bringing the meeting to the Bahamas. The last meeting was held in Colombia. Prior to that, a similar meeting was held in Switzerland.

The IOC and Interpol collabo-

rated to stage the Partnership Development Meeting that was first held in Oslo, Norway in 2015. It’s a part of the IOC’s bid to provide a clean and healthy forum for athletes to compete in.

“This meeting is another tangible result from Olympic Agenda 2020, which is all about protecting the clean athletes from doping, match-fixing, the manipulation of competitions and related corruption,” said IOC President Thomas Bach at the time. “Together, the IOC and INTERPOL are developing robust education and awareness programmes that are already having a positive impact in the fight to protect the integrity of sport. INTERPOL’s know-how and educational expertise is crucial in this regard.”

As part of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, a USD 20 million fund is being leveraged to protect the clean athletes. USD 10 million has been earmarked to prevent match-fixing, manipulation and related corruption; the other USD

10 million is being used to support projects offering a new scientific approach to anti-doping.

The IOC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with INTERPOL in January 2014. Since then, the two organisations have widened the scope of previous activities and drafted a strategy for concrete action over the 20152017 period.

The IOC and INTERPOL will continue to provide Partnership Development Meetings tailored to the unique circumstances of governments, law enforcement agencies and betting operators around the world.

The two organisations are working together to deliver workshops with National Olympic Committees and an annual seminar with International Federations (IFs) on the risk of match-fixing, manipulation of competitions and related corruption. An e-learning platform targeting all the participants at the Olympic Games – athletes, their entourage as well as NOC and IF officials – is also being developed.

KALEEL Solomon has carved out a niche in the rotation for his Eastern Florida State College Titans and his production over the course of the last month has helped the team close in on a record setting milestone.

The freshman guard posted a career high 19 points this weekend to lead the Titans to an 82-73 win over ASA Miami.

With the win, the Titans improved to 25-4 on the season, 11-3 in conference play and are one win away from their fifth consecutive Southern Conference title.

The Titans are also ranked No.15 in the latest men’s basketball national rankings for Division I of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Following his career high performance, Titans head coach Jeremy Shulman applauded Solomon’s effort.

“So proud of Kaleel tonight.

He is such a hard worker and so coachable, he just keeps getting better and better,” he said. “He is maturing right before our eyes.”

The former Sunland Baptist Academy product has paid immediate dividends for the Titans in his freshman season.

Through 29 games, he has averaged 6.6 points per game while shooting 42 per cent from the field and 42 per cent from three-point range.

It was the seventh double figures scoring game for Solomon this season, five of which came in his last eight outings.

After he scored 10 against Red Devil Academy on November 12 and 11 points against Atlanta Metro College on November 5, Solomon didn’t reach double figures again until late January.

On January 24, he started his current run with an 11-point outing in the first matchup against ASA Miami.

He followed with 12 points against Broward College and two games later recorded his previous career high of 18 points against Miami Dade.

The Titans will close out the regular season tonight on the road against Miami Dade.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, February 21, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

SMALL SQUAD’S BIG BITE IN THE ‘BIG APPLE’ THE “Big Apple” felt a big bite from a small squad of gymnasts who recently competed in the 2017 Manhattan Classic.

The team, sponsored by Bahamas Star Gymnastics and Bahamas Gymnastics Parents Booster Club, filled a tall order to test out a competitive meet for the first time and left proof of their participation in the score books.

Level 1s Krismerlyn Nixon and Malia Strachan teamed up with Level 2s Aemerie Curry and Level 3s Rhianna Smith and Taevia Wright to endure the nipping winds of Manhattan in exchange for clipping other competitors on the medal podium.

The Level 1 team duo of Nixon and Strachan tied for first place All Around with a score of 37.025 (of 40) and medalled on all four apparatus. Nixon secured first place finishes on uneven bars and balance beam with Strachan taking the lead for first place on vault and floor exercise. Nixon and Strachan along with other Level 1 teammates wrapped up Atlantis Crown in December in first place in the team standings.

Aemerie Curry, in her second season of competition, rallied to first place All Around for Level 2. After an impressive Level 1 season and posting national records last year, Curry repeated her high bid for national ranking on balance beam (9.650) and floor exercise (9.60).

“Curry is a cerebral competitor who is improving her understanding of body movement. After a disappointing start on vault, she mustered the courage to

fight back on uneven bars with a second place finish and posted scores more typical of her routines in beam and floor”.

Rhianna Smith and Taevia Wright, who have enjoyed multiple successes in the sport, added their medals to the 19 which the team brought home.

Smith’s performance ranked her in third place on vault and uneven bars.

Wright, who is the shortest of her club’s competitive squad, muscled out second place on uneven bars and third place on balance beam.

“From time to time, we test out competitive meets outside the Sunshine State of Florida so that our gymnasts are competing against different pools of competitors and assessed by different judges. Our girls settled their nerves and gave Manhattan a taste of the Bahamas’ hard work in the sport,” said coach Tenille Thompson, who co-chaperoned the team with coach Makiya Cargill.

Bahamas Star Gymnastics opened its doors in 2010 and will host its annual “Invitational” renamed Sun TwiSTARS in April for the sixth consecutive year.

The only local club to currently host a meet and offer training clinics to local coaches, BSG remains committed to improvement in the sport of gymnastics.

BAHAMAS STAR GYMNASTICS’ Award Winning Team at the 2017 Manhattan Classic in New York. Shown (l-r) are Rhianna Smith (L3), Malia Strachan (L1), Taevia Wright (L3), Krismerlyn Nixon (L1) and Aemerie Curry (L3).

Photo courtesy of Bahamas Star Gymnastics

Students inspired by Tour de Turquoise IN the hot blazing sun, 15-year-old Cameron Williams peddled and peddled in his flip-flops up the spine of Exuma.

His old, rickety BMX scraped the edge of the road where pavement met ash fault. He teetered, but never fell. Older boys in the back of a support vehicle shouted and encouraged the younger boy. Cameron hit another edge, and one of his shoes fell off.

The support vehicle car stopped. But he kept going.

One of the boys picked the shoe up off the road, throwing it in the back of the truck.

Cameron was the last to finish the Tour de Turquoise, but finish he did, despite the loss of a shoe.

The event last weekend, now in its third year, featured dozens of cyclists of all skill levels and abilities, with more than $20,000 going towards a Children’s Shelter for the island. Last year, Tour de Turquoise raised a similar amount and purchased a new hospital bus.

Howard Chang, the event’s founder, credits the people of Exuma for embracing Tour de Turquoise and helping to make it such a success.

“I have been a homeowner on Exuma now for sev-

Annual cycling event in Exuma raises more than $20,000 for new children’s shelter and donates bikes to high school

JEFF TODD, left, director of communications at GIV Bahamas Inc, with Cameron Williams after he finished the gruelling Tour de Turquiose 50km race. eral years, and one of the reasons we chose Exuma is because of the people,” Chang said, who owns an advertising firm in Toronto and helped bring a large group of philanthropists to the island. “ The most rewarding part has been the enthusiasm we’ve received from the community, particularly the students.”

With a special focus on youth, Tour de Turquoise, using a portion of its sponsorship funds, has been

introducing bikes onto the island of Exuma. Students are given access to the bikes through a newly established club at L N Coakley High School.

This year, eight students got the chance to use the new bikes in last Saturday’s race, while others, like Cameron, were also encouraged to participate in the event. The goal, Chang said, is to gradually introduce more bikes onto the island and allow students

to use them in a monitored and safe environment.

“Bikes capture the imagination and we were overwhelmed by the support we’ve received from the high school,” Chang added.

Tour de Turquoise features three events: a community ride involving a few laps of George Town, a 50km ride to Turquoise Cay and back, and the main ride, over 70km, taking riders to Santana’s Restaurant and back.

In addition to a crop of highly skilled cyclists, all of whom made substantial donations to the cause, there were two VIPs in the mix.

Christian Van Velde, the US cycling star, is best known for his many wins on the professional circuit, including a 4th place finish at the Tour de France.

Curt Harnett, a Canadian, has won multiple medals at the Olympics and held the world record for the 200 metre time trial for 11 years.

Overall, Tour de Turquoise was a community effort, with a long term vision to give back to the island. Among many others, Chang was assisted by John Nixon, the Airport Manager on Exuma, the Exuma Foundation of Canada, the Exuma Foundation (US), and GIV Bahamas Inc., one of the leading developers and philanthropic organizations on Exuma.

Tour de Turquoise was

sponsored by Grand Isle Resort, Dilly Crab Ranch, Sun-Fun Tours and GIV Bahamas Inc. In addition to the cycling, the philanthropists enjoyed a boat excursion up the Exuma Cays, courtesy of Sun-Fun Tours, and visited the areas many attractions, including the now world famous swimming pigs.

“Giving back to the island is a huge part of what we do,” said Tyrone Munroe, Director and Head of Operations at GIV Bahamas Inc. “We thank Howard for his continuous efforts to give back to the island. I think this event in particular has tremendous potential for the future.”

If the determination of Cameron Williams is any window into the future, the youth of Exuma seem to agree wholeheartedly.

For more information on the event, you can visit its website at www.rideforexuma.com

Percy and Andy Knowles bring home the hardware AT the 2017 Auburn Masters Invitational swim meet earlier this month, the father and son team of Percy and Andy Knowles continued their representation for masters swimming in the country and for SWIFT Swimming as they won a total of nine races between them.

The invitational masters swim meet was held at the James E Martin Aquatics Centre on the campus of Auburn University, which is an indoor 25-yard, eightlane competition pool.

It was home for several top Bahamian Olympic swimmers, including Jere-

my Knowles, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace and Alana Dillette, who swam for Auburn and helped them win several national titles.

Percy Knowles, swimming in the 85-89 age group, won the 100-yard breaststroke in 2:16.94, the 200yard breaststroke in 5:01.15, the 50-yard free in 54.59, the 100-yard free in 1:57.73 and the 200-yard free in 4:26.88. He also won the high point trophy for his age group.

Andy Knowles, in a similar fashion swimming in the 60-64 age group, won the 100-yard free in 56.42, the 200-yard free in 2:07.15,

the 200-yard butterfly in 2:40.61 and the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:48.85.

The masters meet has been hosted for many years at the Auburn site and saw some 205 swimmers from around the country participating.

Masters swimming is a great way to fellowship with old friends and to stay in shape and have fun. The meet ran for two days with the events lasting about five hours each day. The meet provided a good opportunity for father and son to enjoy spending some time together around the great sport of swimming.

THE father and son team of Percy and Andy Knowles won a total of nine races between them at the 2017 Auburn Masters Invitational swim meet earlier this month.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 21, 2017, PAGE 5

NEW PLAQUE: Stakeholders applaud yesterday after a commemorative plaque is unveiled for the Bahamas Football Association beach soccer stadium at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge.

Commemorative plaque for new beach soccer stadium unveiled

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

J

ust before the first ball was kicked off on Monday to begin the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, the Bahamas Government unveiled the commemorative plaque at the new national beach soccer facility at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge.

Unveiling the plaque was Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis, who headed the delegation that included Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson, Bahamas Football Association President Anton Sealey, Sergio Garcia, representing CONCACAF and Josep Ponset of Beach Soccer Worldwide.

Also on hand for the brief ceremony were Wellington Miller, president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, Captain Tellis Bethel, acting commodore of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Additionally, Virginia Kelly and ‘Golden Girl’ Eldece Clarke represented the Ministry of Tourism, while Jeff Beckles, head of the Local Organising Committee and Lynden Maycock, chairman of the National Sports Authority, were also present.

“Let the games begin and let the Bahamas shine,” said Davis just before he unveiled the new plaque for the new facility that will host the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, which will serve as the qualifier for three more teams for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup at the same venue in April.

Davis, known as the ‘Godfather’ of beach soccer and indeed soccer in the Bahamas, praised CONCANCAF and FIFA for the initiative to bring the two tournaments to the Bahamas. He expressed his delight to the BFA and Sealey, the Local Organising Committee and all those persons who in any way played a role in the construction of the facility.

DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip Davis, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson (far right), Sergio Garcia (far left) of CONCACAF and Josep Ponset of Beach Soccer World Wide with the game ball for the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship.

Photos: Lea Weil/Beach Soccer Worldwide As they engage the new stadium, Minister Johnson said the Bahamas has moved into ‘Sports in Paradise’ and he said they advised their partners around the world that the Bahamas would become the number one tourism destination on the planet.

“To that extent, we have engaged the world three times for this year,” he said.

“We’re hosting the World Relays for the third consecutive time, we’re hosting the Commonwealth Youth Games for the first time ever in this entire region and we welcome here today,

the CONCACAF brand of FIFA, the largest sports organisation in the world, who will later this spring see the FIFA World Cup of beach soccer held on the best beaches in the world.”

Johnson said they are providing world-class facilities, world-class academies and

world-class management.

“We’re here to demonstrate today by a commemorative plaque for the new stadium,” he said. “I think we will have a grand new opening for the World Cup with the Bahamas Football Association.”

With the National Sports Authority on hand, Johnson said the government is committed to ensuring that the facility will be properly managed as is done with the facilities at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre.

Sealey said there are many thanks to go around for the construction of the new facility, starting with the Bahamas Government, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Local Organising Committee.

He also commended Cavalier Construction and their team of over 100 young Bahamian men who worked diligently on the facility since November and it’s a testament to their dedication, their tenacity and their commitment to get the job done.

STAKEHOLDERS at the unveiling of a commemorative plaque for the BFA beach soccer stadium yesterday.

Spotlight shifts to teams with less Champions League pedigree

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — After the Champions League knockout phase was opened by teams with a combined 24 European titles, the spotlight shifts to those with far less of a continental pedigree.

Just one of this week’s four Round of 16 matches features former European champions, with FC Porto and Juventus — both two-time winners — meeting in Portugal on Wednesday.

Atletico Madrid, which has the undesired record of being a threetime losing finalist, plays its first leg away at Bayer Leverkusen the previous night. A return to European action should provide some respite from domestic struggles for Leverkusen, which is mid-table in Germany.

Leicester’s plight at home in England is far more perilous. The ailing Premier League champions are only one point above the relegation zone as they resume their first Champions League campaign with a trip to Sevilla, which is flying high in third place in Spain.

There’s a first-leg meeting between the Premier League’s second-place team and France’s top team today when Manchester City

hosts Monaco. Although City has been one of world soccer’s biggest spenders over the last decade, it has yet to progress beyond the semi-finals in the Champions League as it seeks European silverware to firmly establish itself in the elite.

• Here’s a closer look at the games: PORTO vs. JUVENTUS The Serie A standings suggest all is smooth for Juventus, with its seven-point lead. But below the surface, there are cracks in the camp. Defender Leonardo Bonucci became embroiled in a heated argument over substitutions with coach Massimiliano Allegri after a 4-1 win over Palermo on Friday. It was the third time in three weeks that players had questioned Allegri’s decisions. Paulo Dybala and Stephan Liechtsteiner also openly displayed their displeasure.

“There has always got to be respect and there’s a way to say things that’s part of being polite,” Allegri said. “But when there are moments of tension, there’s always a chance that someone will make a mistake.”

Porto certainly hasn’t been

making many. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team has won six Portuguese league matches in a row to cut Benfica’s lead to one point, fuelled

by January signing Tiquinho’s four goals.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs.

ATLETICO MADRID Leverkusen’s inconsistent season — the team is 20 points behind Bayern Munich after 21 Bundesliga games — has led to persistent speculation on the future of coach Roger Schmidt, now in his third season at the club.

Two victories have eased the pressure on Schmidt somewhat, while the emergence of 17-year-old Kai Havertz has also provided a welcome distraction.

Leverkusen’s youngest ever player in the Bundesliga, Havertz provided three assists in the last two games and displayed technical ability and maturity.

Regardless of Havertz’s presence, Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling sees Atletico, which lost to Real Madrid in last season’s final, as the favourite today.

“Atletico has strengthened further since our duel two years ago,” Kiessling said, referring to the 2015 shootout loss in the same Round of 16.

SEVILLA vs.

LEICESTER It’s been a miserable two months since Leicester was last in Champions League action. The team that captivated the sporting world by winning the Premier League last season after starting out as 5,000-1 outsiders is sliding toward relegation. To make matters worse for manager Claudio Ranieri, Leicester was humiliated in the FA Cup by third-tier Millwall on Saturday.

Sevilla, by contrast, is on a high in Jorge Sampaoli’s first season in charge. The team is on course to match its third-place finish in 2009 but is only three points behind leader Real Madrid, which does have two games in hand.

Sevilla striker Stevan Jovetic will be a familiar face to some Leicester players, having spent two years at Manchester City between 2013 and 2015. But the Montenegrin is unrecognisable from the striker who managed only 11 goals in 44 appearances in England.

Since signing on loan from Inter Milan last month, Jovetic has netted three goals for Sevilla, including two in two games against Real Madrid. He also set up both goals in a 2-0 victory over Eibar on Saturday.

MANCHESTER CITY vs.

MONACO City’s top priority will be to keep attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva quiet. Diminutive in stature, but extremely quick, the skillful Silva also has an eye for goal, a lethally accurate shot from outside the penalty area and makes great runs into the box to score with his head.

Silva has already scored against Premier League opposition this season, when Monaco won 2-1 against Tottenham during the group stage at Wembley Stadium.

“He’s our little phenomenon,” Monaco fullback Djibril Sidibe said. “He can dribble past two or three players and he’s unpredictable.”

City, in Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge, is equally unpredictable. Having established a four-point lead early in the season, it is now eight points behind leader Chelsea.

City also experienced a setback in the FA Cup on Saturday, when it was held by second-tier Huddersfield, although Guardiola made eight changes for the game as he rested players. Guardiola has won all seven previous Round of 16 matches in charge of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

THE TRIUNE

Tuesday, February 21, 2017, PAGE 7

Dustin Johnson wins at Riviera, goes to No. 1 in world ARSENAL

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The only question about Dustin Johnson going to No. 1 in the world is: What took so long?

The talent was never an issue.

Jordan Spieth once referred to Johnson as “a freak athlete,” a term rarely heard in golf. Pat Perez was partly in awe and partly exasperated Sunday as he stood behind the 10th green during the final round at Riviera and said, “The guy hits it 40 yards by me, hits his short irons great and makes 30-foot putts. What do you do?”

Crown him.

Finally.

Johnson looked like a world-beater against the strongest field of the year at the Genesis Open. He went 49 consecutive holes without a bogey. During the third round Sunday morning, when he shot a 7-under 64 and built a fiveshot lead, his two longest par putts were from 4 feet.

On the 606-yard 17th hole in the second round, on a day when no one could get it back to the flag, Johnson went over the green.

With his five-shot victory, he became the 20th player since the world ranking began in 1986 to reach No. 1.

And it never crossed his mind.

Neither did the 72-hole scoring record at Riviera, set in 1985 by Lanny Wadkins at 20-under 264, making it the oldest such record on the PGA Tour schedule.

Johnson didn’t even know what the record was, nor did he care. He was at 20 under after making his 21st birdie of the week at the par-3 sixth, played it safe from there with a big lead and closed with three meaningless bogeys for a 71.

“Winning the golf tournament ... that’s what I was here to do,” Johnson said.

That’s what he’s been doing ever since his rookie season. Johnson has won every year on the PGA Tour except for 2014, which was cut short when he stepped away for six months to seek pro-

and it’s been a slow rise ever since. He won his first major in the US Open at Oakmont the following year, added his third World Golf Championships title, a FedEx Cup playoff event and swept all the big awards, starting with PGA Tour player of the year.

And now he’s No. 1.

Dating to that US Open victory, Johnson has won four times in the last eight months against the strongest fields in golf. In 16 tournaments since, he has finished no worse than third place in eight of them.

He could hear chants of “No. 1” when he walked up to the 18th green at Riviera, with fans crammed onto the hillside below the storied clubhouse. When he tapped in for par, he headed for the side of the green toward his fiancé to pick up their young son.

“Little man” is what Johnson calls him, and there already are tales that he’s a lot like his father. Gretzky told of the time Tatum was going through the house and banged his head on a

DUSTIN JOHNSON (AP) fessional help for personal challenges amid a published report he had tested positive twice for drugs.

He found guidance from hockey great Wayne Gretzky — Johnson is engaged to the Great One’s daughter, they have a 2-year-old son and Paulina Gretzky announced this week on Instagram that another one is on the way. Gretzky’s words carry a lot of weight on and off the golf course.

“When an athlete of his stature ... thinks very highly of you, it definitely gives you a lot of confidence and gives you more belief,” Johnson said.

Johnson won in his fifth tournament back from that six-month break to get back into the top 10 in the world,

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Partly sunny

Patchy clouds

Clouds and sun with a shower or two

Breezy with rain and a thunderstorm

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

Mostly sunny

High: 81°

Low: 69°

High: 82° Low: 68°

High: 81° Low: 65°

High: 82° Low: 68°

High: 84° Low: 68°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

84° F

67° F

83°-61° F

81°-62° F

89°-71° F

94°-72° F

ORLANDO

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 63° F/17° C

TAMPA

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 65° F/18° C

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 59° F/15° C

7-14 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 80° F/27° C Low: 66° F/19° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 68° F/20° C

N

S

E

W

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 65° F/18° C

MIAMI

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 67° F/19° C

6-12 knots

KEY WEST

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 69° F/21° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 69° F/21° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 62° F/17° C

N

uV inDex toDay

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

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

5:19 a.m.

5:35 p.m.

2.6 2.2

11:45 a.m. 0.1 11:42 p.m. -0.1

Friday

6:03 a.m.

6:20 p.m.

2.8 2.4

12:28 p.m. -0.1 ---------

Saturday

6:45 a.m.

7:04 p.m.

2.9 2.6

12:28 a.m. -0.3 1:08 p.m. -0.3

Sunday

7:27 a.m.

7:47 p.m.

3.0 2.7

1:13 a.m. -0.5 1:48 p.m. -0.5

Monday

8:09 a.m.

8:31 p.m.

3.0 2.9

1:58 a.m. -0.6 2:28 p.m. -0.6

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:40 a.m.

6:08 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

2:43 a.m.

1:51 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Feb. 26

Mar. 5

Mar. 12

Mar. 20

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 63° F/17° C

N

S

E

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7-14 knots

S

8-16 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 ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 71° F/22° C Normal high ....................................... 77° F/25° C Normal low ........................................ 64° F/18° C Last year’s high ................................. 80° F/27° C Last year’s low ................................... 68° F/20° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday .................................. trace Year to date ................................................. 0.80” Normal year to date ..................................... 2.44”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

SUTTON, England (AP) — Arsenal took 26 minutes to break through fifth-tier Sutton United’s resistance and the 12-time FA Cup winner was made to toil for a 2-0 victory over the tenacious non-league side to reach the quarterfinals yesterday.

On the plastic patch at tiny Gander Green Lane stadium, the gulf in class between sides separated by 105 places in the English soccer pyramid was not always apparent in the biggest game in Sutton’s 118-year history.

“It was not an easy game at all,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

“Every little mistake we made, technically they took advantage of.”

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

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

BEATS 5THTIER SUTTON IN FA CUP

table. The boy rubbed it for a second and kept right on running. Nothing fazed him, and the same is true of Johnson.

Major setbacks? Johnson might be the leader in the clubhouse. He lost one major with an 82 in the final round, another when he grounded his club in sand without realising it was a bunker. The most crushing was the US Open at Chambers Bay, when Johnson had a 12-foot eagle putt to win and three-putted to lose.

And he rubbed his head and kept right on going.

This was his largest margin of victory, and it could have been worse. Johnson arrived at Riviera on Sunday morning with a oneshot lead to play 36 holes — the tournament was delayed all week by fog and rain — and one burst was all it took. He closed out the third round with three straight birdies, had 14 minutes before starting the final round and started with two birdies. At one point, his lead was up to nine before he coasted in.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 63° F/17° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

N

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 64° F/18° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 65° F/18° C

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 67° F/19° 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: 65° F/18° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 65° F/18° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 67° F/19° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

7-14 knots

8-16 knots

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

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS E at 8-16 Knots SE at 12-25 Knots E at 7-14 Knots SSE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots SE at 12-25 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots SE at 12-25 Knots E at 8-16 Knots SE at 12-25 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots SE at 12-25 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots SE at 10-20 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ESE at 12-25 Knots E at 8-16 Knots SE at 12-25 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots SE at 10-20 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots SE at 12-25 Knots

WAVES 3-6 Feet 3-6 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 4-8 Feet 4-7 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 73° F 70° F 77° F 79° F 76° F 79° F 79° F 78° F 75° F 78° F 76° F 77° F 76° F 77° F 76° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 78° F 76° F 76° F 78° F 78° F 75° F 79° F

PAGE 8, Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Stingrays stop the Blue Waves, 52-50

THE TRIBUNE

ON THE REPLAY: The CV Bethel Stingrays nipped the St Anne’s Blue Waves 52-50 at the AF Adderley Gymnasium yesterday.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Magicmen stun Giants 57-55 in OT, Suns beat Scarabs 55-53

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

M

ario Nairn scored 14 points, but none was bigger than the lay-up with 1.8 seconds left to help lift the Government High Magicmen to a stunning 57-55 overtime victory over the St John’s Giants on day one of the 34th Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic.

It was the third game played yesterday at the AF Adderley Gymnasium with all going right down to the wire as the CV Bethel Stingrays nipped the St Anne’s Blue Waves 52-50 and the Temple Christian Suns prevailed with a 55-53 decision over the Akapheran Scarabs.

• Here’s a summary of the games played: Stingrays 52 Blue Waves 50 In another match-up of the government and private schools, CV Bethel managed to hold off St Anne’s as Ray McDonald singlehandedly did the damage, scoring a game high 25 points. He also had five rebounds, a pair of assists and as many steals.

No other Stingrays was in double figures, but Donte Sturrup ended up with seven points and four assists and Jesse Delancy chipped in with six points and three rebounds.

“The fellows are playing better, but they are still a little inconsistent,” said CV Bethel’s coach Kevin Edgecombe. “We have some good spurts and then we have some bad spurts and it appeared as if when they listen, we make progress, but when they don’t listen, we have problems. So as long as the fellows continue to listen, we will win.”

Edgecombe said they are hoping to put their dismal showing in the GSSSA behind them after they failed to make the playoffs and hopefully they can put it together and improve in this tournament.

St Anne’s, who also just missed making the BAISS playoffs, got a game high 18

points with four rebounds from Aaron Jordan. Ashton Knowles had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, Duran Marshall had eight points and 11 rebounds and Deryn Johnson, Clayton Miller and Malik Newbold all had four points.

Suns 55 Scarabs 53 In a game that saw the lead switch hands from one half to the next, Temple Christian rallied from a 14-8 deficit at the end of the first quarter and 30-15 at the half to pull off the comeback win.

The Suns did it by outscoring the Scarabs 9-0 to start the third. Although they trailed 39-37 at the end of the period, they were able to stay in striking range and were one basket better down the stretch for the win.

“I told them they have to go out there and play with heart,” said Nigel Smith, head coach for the Suns, of their comeback in the second half. “I switched the defence from zone to manto-man and they competed in the second half.”

Smith said they added some of the boys from their BAISS junior boys championship team and he’s hoping that as they jell together, they will improve as the tournament progresses.

Garreth Edgecombe and Andre Calvert led the Suns with 12 points apiece and eight and and seven rebounds respectively. Dyton Albury had nine points and eight assists, Christian Sturrup had eight points and both Joshua Burrows and Cohen Miller got six each.

The tournament will continue 4pm today with the highlight being the feature game at 9pm when the Queen’s College Comets face the two-time BAISS champions Jordan Prince William Falcons.

Then on Wednesday, the teams from Grand Bahama will be in town, led by this year’s favourite Tabernacle Falcons from Grand Bahama, who will play the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins at 8pm. The feature contest at 9pm will showcase the defending tournament cham-

GOIN’ HARD: Temple Christian Suns prevailed with a 55-53 decision over the Akapheran Scarabs at the AF Adderley Gymnasium yesterday. pions CC Sweeting Cobras against the winner of the late game Monday night that pitted the CI Gibson Rattlers against the Teleos Cherubims. No score was available up to press time last night.

Magicmen 57 Giants 55 In what started out as a real surprise in a match-up of the government versus private schools, Government High went on a 14-0 run in the first quarter before St John’s finally got on

the scoreboard, thanks to a free throw from Tristan Isaacs.

However, the Magicmen were able to pull ahead 16-5 at the first break. They extended it to 32-19 at the half.

But in the third quarter, the Giants slowly got back into the game. With 1:20 left in the period, the Magicmen’s coach Theodore Hanna got ejected with his team leading 36-25 and assistant Sammy Symonette took over.

But the Giants took advantage as they cut the

deficit to 40-34 at the final break.

Late in the fourth, St John’s trailed by just one, 41-40. But with 1:51, Justin Larose got a steal and break away dunk for a 44-41 GHS lead. St John’s got back-toback lay-ups from Kyden Cash and Enrique Forbes to go up by two, 47-45.

With 20.8 seconds left, Nairn drove in for a lay-up and pushed the Magicmen ahead 48-47. Then with 9.0 on the clock, Ahmad Williams got the offensive rebound and putback for a

49-48 Giants’ lead.

Not done yet, Government High got 1-of-2 free throws from Nairn to tie the game. They got the rebound on the missed charity shot, but they dribbled the ball as the clock expired for the first overtime of this year’s week-long tournament.

In the three extra minutes, neither team was able to mount any sizeable lead.

So it came down to the winding seconds as Nairn came through with his big putback to seal the deal as the Magicmen celebrated.

“I tried to give it to my teammate to hit the winning shot, but he missed, so I just grabbed the rebound and put it back up,” said Nairn after the victory. “I wasn’t letting our team lose.

That’s all. I just thank God that we got the win.”

Nairn finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Larose, however, led the attack for GHS with 17 points and seven rebounds. Pedro Knowles had 16 points, six steals five rebounds and four assists.

For St John’s, Ahmad Williams and Kyden Cash both had 14 points. Williams also had eight rebounds and four steals, while Cash added eight rebounds as well.

Enrique Forbes contributed 11 points before he fouled out.