03062017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2017

MURRAY WINS

Dubai, Pg 7

Mystic Marlins advance to final

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

T

he Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins will have an opportunity to defend their National High School Basketball Championship, but to do so they will face a challenge from the Jordan Prince William Falcons.

The all-Nassau matchup for the national championship is all set to take place 7pm tonight at the St George’s Gymnasium in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

The Mystic Marlins advanced to the final with a 27-18 win over the Tabernacle Baptist Academy Falcons in the first semi-final last night.

Tanks Bowleg finished with a team high eight points, seven rebounds and five steals while Briontae Riley added seven points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

Mya Greene led the Falcons with seven points and Antonia Duncanson finished with four points and eight rebounds.

Neither team recorded a field goal in the final quarter, but the Mystic Marlins’ defence limited the Falcons to just a single point and forced eight turnovers as they pulled away late.

Doris Johnson entered the fourth leading 20-17 and Riley made four free throws to quickly extend the lead to seven. Her trips at the line would be the only score for the first 3:30 of the quarter.

Doris Johnson clung to a 24-17 with 1:37 left to play before Diondra Nixon split a pair at the line, the only score for Tabernacle in the quarter.

Mystic Marlins head coach Kevon Spence said his team’s defensive effort was the deciding factor in the second half.

“We can score. Our offence is very good and we have players than can execute and score the ball but our defence in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter, that was excellent tonight. Offence wins

Doris Johnson earns 27-18 victory over Tabernacle Baptist Academy Falcons

A MYSTIC MARLINS player in action against the Tabernacle Baptist Academy Falcons in last night’s semi-final. The Mystic Marlins advanced to the final with a 27-18 win.

Photos: 10thYearSeniors

games but defence wins championships and if we’re going to win this championship it’ll be on the defensive end,” he said.

“It all started with Briontae in that fourth, she was the anchor on defence and really led us on the offensive end and that was important because she was in foul trouble early. We wore them down on defence and executed well enough on offence.”

The Mystic Marlins look to complete a season that included several tournament wins and a GSSSA title. “We worked all year to get to this point. Nothing satisfies them unless they win and so we are happy to get to the final but we are keeping our excitement in because we want to be national champions once more,” Spence said.

“We just have to have tunnel vision, stay focused, play every possession until the clock expires. That’s how we play basketball and that’s how we win.”

After both teams started the game with a trio of turnovers, the Falcons scored first on a runner from Green. They continued to trade scores with the game tied at time at 2,4 and 6 but Bowleg made a three pointer from the wing as time expired to take a 9-6

lead into the second.

The Mystic Marlins went ahead 11-6 but the Falcons scored four points right away and a Nixon fastbreak layup brought them within one. Green’s three pointer briefly gave Falcons their first lead of the game.

Doris Johnson tied the game on a Kristian Sands turnaround jumper and took the lead on a Bowleg free throw for a 14-13 advantage at the half.

Doris Johnson’s Thyrell Thompson made a floater and pull-up jumper to open the third. Tabernacle got scores from a four-point run of their own to cut the lead to one (18-17) with just under two minutes left to play before the Mystic Marlins regained a 20-17 lead headed into the fourth quarter.

The Jordan Prince William Falcons advanced with a 57-52 win over Tabernacle in the second semi-final.

Kristenique Moss scored a team high 15 for Jordan Prince William, Shaniqua Thompson added 13 and Terelle Cox scored eight.

Falcons head coach Terrence McSweeney said his team has arrived at this point in the postseason due to the dedication put into place in the preseason.

SEE PAGE 4

Olympian Michael Mathieu victorious in 100m UB MINGOES

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WHILE the collegiate athletes get ready for the NCAA Indoor Championships, others were making their outdoor debuts over the weekend in the United States, including Olympian Michael Mathieu.

Mathieu, the 200/400 metre specialist from Grand Bahama, dropped all the way down to the 100m at the 2017 University of Tampa’s Track Classic at the Pepin/Rood Stadium where he won the sprint race that featured a couple more Bahamians in 10.58.

Alfred Higgs followed Mathieu in second place in 10.71 and Erold Farquharson came in sixth in 11.13. Farquharson, representing Florida Tech, also competed in the 200m where he was fourth in 22.49.

TULANE EARLY BIRD In New Orleans, Louisiana, Southeastern Louisiana six-foot, three-inch graduate student Andre Colebrook raced to victory at the 2017 Tulane Twilight Invitational in a personal best of 51.76 to win the men’s 400m hurdles.

Sprinter Cliff Resais, competing unattached at the Tad Gormley Stadium, picked up one of two other victories for the Bahamas when he sped to 10.58 in the men’s 100m.

Also at the meet, quarter-miler Ashley Riley from Southeastern Louisiana clocked 33.85 to hold off fellow Bahamian and teammate Maverick Bowleg, who did 34.17 in their men’s 300m match-up.

And Kaziah Rolle, the Bahamian representative at SE Louisiana,

ROUT ISLAND GAME PROS 89-70

was fifth in the century in 12.36.

NCAA INDOOR QUALIFIERS Before they begin their outdoor season this weekend at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, five Bahamians will be closing out their indoor campaigns at the NCAA Division Indoor Championships.

Purdue senior Devynne Charlton and Illinois’ junior Pedrya Seymour will clash once again in the women’s 60m hurdles as the No. 2 and No.3 qualifiers in times of 7.87 and 7.89 respectively.

Charlton, coming off her Big Ten Conference Top Athlete performance at the Big Ten Conference two weeks ago, will have double duties as she also contests the 60m with the 11th best time of 7.26.

Also qualified to compete are Penn State’s senior Danielle Gibson, who will contest the women’s triple jump as the 12th qualifier with a leap of 13.33 metres or 43feet, -9inches, Auburn University’s senior Teray Smith with the 12th best time of 20.75 in the men’s 200m and University of Nebraska’s junior Kaiwan Culmer with the 10th best performance of 16.07m (52-8 ¾) in the men’s triple jump.

Purdue’s senior Carmiesha Cox also qualified for the championships as a member of the Boilermakers’ women’s 4 x 400m relay team. But at the Big Ten Championships she had to withdraw from further competition because of a slight hamstring injury.

The NCAA Championships, featuring the top 16 qualifiers, will be held from Friday to Saturday.

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

OLYMPIAN Michael Mathieu (file photo) won the 100m in the University of Tampa’s Track Classic at the Pepin/Rood Stadium over the weekend.

COACH Baccus Rolle said he knew sooner or later his University of the Bahamas Mingoes would explode against the Island Game Pros. He just didn’t know when.

With a large crowd of spectators on hand to cheer them on, including UB President Dr Rodney Smith, along with their cheerleading squad, the Mingoes came from behind in the fourth quarter to clobber the Pros in a successful launch of their athletic programme and their mascot.

The Mingoes came from a 56-53 deficit at the end of the third quarter as they went on to seal a 89-70 rout over the Pros in the New Providence Basketball Association’s feature contest at Kendal Isaacs Gym on Saturday night.

The game, carried live on television, was played after Breezes High Flyers routed Triple K Stampers 74-58 and Athletico Bahamas

SEE PAGE 2

PAGE 2, Monday, March 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

UB MINGOES ROUT ISLAND GAME PROS 89-70

FROM PAGE 1

Shanton Pratt was the only other player in double figures with 14 points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists.

Enrico Tinker had nine points, DeVontee Gibson had eight points and five rebounds and Travis Stuart had seven points.

held off the Bargain Wholesale Kings 66-57.

It was a switch in venue from the AF Adderley Gymnasium where a double header was played on Friday with the Commonwealth Bank Giants pounding the Rhythm Rebels 106-70 and the PJ Stingers knocked off the Double R Cleaners 84-72.

Mingoes 89, Pros 70 The University of the Bahamas used a12-3 run in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, sparked by Reuben Goodman’s spirited play on both ends of the court, including a crowd pleasing steal and onehanded slam dunk, as they took a 65-56 lead and never looked back.

“We knew we had more energy than them, so it was just a matter of us getting our legs under us,” coach Rolle said. “Reuben provided the motivational lift that we needed and after he got going, the rest of the team followed him.

“It was a good performance for us, but we knew that they didn’t have the legs to run with us. We just kept our composure and managed to wear them down by hitting the outside shots and they weren’t able to get past our full court trap defence.”

With the lead, the Mingoes continued to apply the pressure with their trap defence that forced the Pros to commit a couple of costly turnovers as the University of the Bahamas’ fans went wild when they took advantage, connecting on some big shots.

After falling behind by nine, the Pros got two consecutive three-pointers from Keithlyn Gray to trim the deficit to 65-62 with just over four minutes left.

ON THE REPLAY: The University of the Bahamas Mingoes routed the Island Game Pros 89-70 in the feature contest of the New Providence Basketball Association at Kendal Isaacs Gym on Saturday night.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff But the Mingoes went on another scoring spree as Justin Smith, Ramon Dams and Kemsy Sylvester shot the lights out down the stretch to secure the big win as they finished 11-for44 from behind the threepoint arch.

Kemsy Sylvestre, playing about 37 minutes, led the attack with a game high 23 points, shooting 10-for-27 from the field and 4-for-8 from the free throw line.

He also had nine rebounds and six steals. Jason Stubbs had 16 points with five rebounds, Justin Smith fin-

ished with 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals, Ramon Dames had 14 points, nine assists, six steals and five rebounds, Reuben Goodman had five points and Davon Adderley added one of their threepointers.

For the Pros, who worked the ball inside to control the tempo for the first half, got 23 points on 8-for-17 from the field, 3-for-8 from the three-point line and 4-for-5 from the charity stripe.

Keithlyn Gray helped out with 18 points and 14 rebounds, Judino Wilson

had 12 points and nine rebounds and Chico Francis added nine points with 14 rebounds and four assists.

Island Game led 22-16 after the first quarter and 3832 at the half.

Athetico 66, Kings 57 Cameron Adderley was unstoppable in 32 minutes as he connected on 1-for23 from the field, 2-for-5 from the three-point line and 4-for-6 from the free throw line to lead his team with a game high 26 points.

Adderley also had four re-

bounds. Gregory Seymour had 18 points and 15 rebounds and Jamaris King had 12 points and eight rebounds to help out.

Carlos Forbes had 12 points and seven rebounds and Richard Kemp also had 12 points and five rebounds in a losing effort.

High Flyers 74, Stampers 58 Jeremy Neely, playing 21 minutes, was 9-for-15 from the field for his game high 18 points with four rebounds and as many assists to lead Super Club Breezes.

Giants 106, Rebels 70 Gibran Smith came off the bench and exploded for 20 points in 29 minutes, shooting 7-for-11 from the field, 4-for-8 from the three-point line and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe and finished with nine rebounds and eight assists and six steals to lead Commonwealth Bank.

Tehran Cox had 18 points, five assists and four rebounds, David Taylor had 26 points and five rebounds, Michael Bain had 16 points, six rebounds and three steals and Karon Pratt also had 15 points with seven assists and four rebounds with two steals.

For Rhythm, who was outmanned with just six players in uniform, got 27 points from Craig Buchanan with eight rebounds, four assists and as many steals in 40 minutes as he connected on 10-for-20 from the field, 3-for-5 from the three-point line and 4-for-5 from the foul line.

Michael Cooper had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Theo Ferguson had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Mekel Rolle added 11 points and six assists.

NOTE: NPBA action will return to the AF Adderley Gym tonight with another double header.

In the opener at 7pm, the Double R Services Limited Cleaners take on Pirates and the UB Mingoes will play the Mail Boat Cybots in the feature contest at 8:30pm.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 6, 2017, PAGE 3

‘I predict a strong showing in the group stage’ by Rake ‘n’ Scrape boys IN the weeks since Team Bahamas completed a creditable sixth place finish in the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, reports abound concerning some unrest within the squad and a tricky draw for the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament.

Despite this, however, the focus should remain on the bright future ahead for the country’s beach soccer programme.

In case you spent the majority of the last two weeks under a massive rock, here is a quick update on how the Bahamas officially became “beach soccer country.”

Team Bahamas - goalkeepers Torin Ferguson and Ivan Rolle and players Alexander Thompson, Timothy Munnings Jr, Lamar Cancino, Kyle Williams, Gary Joseph, Nesly Jean, Dwayne Forbes, Daron Beneby, Lesly St Fleur and captain Gavin Christie won group A winning all three games and finished with a 4-2 win/loss record.

Despite this success however, in the days following that CONCACAF run, reports surfaced that some players left off the team took issue with the decision and called into question the team’s selection process. It

is a pity to bring it up because I believe it takes away from the tremendous story of success written by this team.

Those reports, primarily shared around social media, earned a response from team manager Jason McDowall, who insisted the selection process remained fair and transparent and that the 12 players selected represented the country to the best of their abilities.

The Tribune revealed last week that Team Bahamas had selected its roster of 12 for the tournament from a pool of 21 players. Of those left off the roster, some were due to their failing the Pre-Competition Medical Assessment (PCMA).

A report by Tribune Senior Sports Reporter Brent Stubbs on March 1 quoted McDowall as stating: “When they play for the World Cup and CONCACAF, they want to make sure that all of the players are healthy and they are not going to drop down and die,” said McDowall, who also serves as the first vice president of the BFA. “So we brought in our team doctor, who is also a member of WADA, and the Bahamas Doping Control Board. She’s our team doc-

FOURTH QUARTER PRESS

BY RICARDO WELLSedia.net rwells@tribunem

“YES, YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY. TO BUILD UPON THE SUCCESSES EXPERIENCED ON HOME SAND LAST MONTH AT THE CONCACAF CHAMPIONSHIPS, THE RAKE N’ SCRAPE BOYS WILL HAVE TO SHOW UP AGAINST THE SIXTH, 15TH AND 22ND RANKED TEAMS IN THE WORLD.” tor and we got her to clear everyone with their medical assessment.”

From my standpoint, this clarification wasn’t needed but the fact that it was given proves that the beach soccer programme in this country is in good hands moving forward.

Now, this is what the Bahamas has to look forward to after the World Cup draw, which was made last week: Switzerland, ranked sixth in the world, Senegal,the African champions ranked 15th, and Ecuador, ranked 22nd.

Yes, you read that correctly. To build upon the

successes experienced on home sand last month at the CONCACAF Championships, the Rake n’ Scrape boys will have to show up against the sixth, 15th and 22nd ranked teams in the world.

While considered a tall task for many in the game, I predict a strong showing in the group stage by team Bahamas. I am certainly preparing to see a spirited and strong run for the team because of the energy generated by our home crowd here in the Bahamas.

To be honest I, like most Bahamians, knew very little about the sport of beach soccer prior to CONCACAF and paid little to no attention to team Bahamas.

However, that lack of insight and enthusiasm quickly evaporated after the first two days of play. The energy and excitement on display night in and night out during that run was overwhelming.

Team Bahamas finished sixth out of 16 teams, a feat Bahamas Football Association President Anton Sealey credited to the Bahamian people.

In a February 28 Tribune Sports report, Mr Sealey is quoted: “We knew that we

would have attracted some fans, but the overwhelming support that we got from the Bahamian fans surpassed our imagination, so we are very pleased with that.”

He added: “Team Bahamas fed off that enthusiasm and support from the fans and gave an exceptional performance the entire week, just succumbing to fatigue having played six games in the sand in a seven-day period.”

The Bahamas, hosts of the event, are set to open the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup against Switzerland at 8pm on April 27.

• Drawn to play in the remaining groups are: Group B – Nigeria, Italy, Asia champions (to be decided by March 11) and Mexico, runners-up at the CONCACAF Championships.

Group C – Asia 2 (to be decided by March 11), Paraguay, Portugal (defending champions) and Panama (the champions of CONCACAF).

Group D – Brazil (winners of four of the eight championships played so far); Tahiti, Asia 3 (to be decided by March 11)

Barracudas champions of Atlantic Medical Invitational

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net EVEN though they got some welcomed competition from the visiting Surf Side Ocean Academy Aquatic from the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Barracuda Swim Club still emerged as the champions of their Atlantic Medical Invitational.

The two-day meet was held over the weekend at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex in the last meet before the Bahamas Swimming Federation hosts its final trials for this year’s CARIFTA Games.

At least 35 events contested saw competitors attain the qualifying standards for CARIFTA, which will be hosted at the same venue over the Easter holiday weekend.

The Barracuda, coached by veteran Sue Coleby and Travano McPhee, accumulated a total of 2,537.50 points to dominate the field of 11 teams that participated. Team Orca came in second with 628 and the Dolphins were third with 604.

Surf Side Ocean Academy brought an 11-member team as they made their maiden voyage to compete as they attempt to qualify some of their athletes for their first appearance at CARIFTA. The team, which trains out of their hotel pools, turned in a surprising fourth place finish with 546.50 with Alpha fifth with 458, Sea Waves sixth with 418, Swift Swimming sixth with 284, St Anne’s eighth with 150, Lyford Cay School ninth with 125, Mantas Water Polo Club tenth with 118 and the Grand Bahama Tritons 11th with 66.

“It was an excellent meet, ran very smoothly and on time,” said coach Travano McPhee. “We had a lot of kids who tried to qualify for Carifta with the trials set for this weekend.

“We also had a team from the Turks and Caicos Island, which sort of livened up the meet with some new faces. They are also trying to make their first Carifta.

BARRACUDA Swim Club’s high point winners.

So it was a good meet.”

With the BSF only allowed to select a 36-member team, McPhee said it’s going to be a hard choice because there are so many swimmers who are performing very well this year.

“We’re looking good at this point,” he said.

Among the list of Carifta qualifiers in their respective events were Zoe McCarroll, Tristan Russell, Anya MacPhail, Jake Thompson, DaVante Carey, Luke-Kennedy Thompson, Salena Gibson, Rachel Lundy, Shawn Neely, Liya Moncur, Ishan Roy, Brayden Dam, N’Nhyn Fernander, Joshua Murray, Noah Albury, Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson, Jolise Newbold, Serena Tynes, Ian Pinder, Virginia Stamp, Mark-Anthony Thompson and Rachel Lundy.

See the results posted in The Tribune later this week for their performances.

There were also the high point winners in the various age groups.

Jade Grandire led the

SPORTS NOTES HIGH SCHOOL ST THOMAS UNIVERSITY RECRUITMENT ST Thomas University’s track and field coach and academic recruiter will conduct sessions on March 12 at RM Bailey Secondary High School from 2-5 pm.

way, winning the lone individual title for Surf Side.

She collected 128 points to pull of the girls’ under-8 crown over Barracuda’s Rayven Ward, who won all of her events, for 97 points.

“It was good. My favourite event was the breaststroke because I had a good experience diving of the board,” Grandire said. “It was a good experience.”

Maxwell Daniels of the Dolphins took the boys’ 8-and-under title with 133.

It was 40 points better than his nearest rival and teammate Donald Saunders.

“It was good. The competition was good. I liked how I was coming second in most of my races. I won my 100 fly,” said the 8-year-old Daniels, who is in the third grade at St Francis/Joseph School.

Anajaleah Knowles won the girls’ 9-10 division with 115, holding off a close showdown with her Sea Waves’ teammate Taliyah Bowe, who had 108.

“I was scared, but I know I was going to do well,” said

St Thomas University will be offering scholarships in academics, track and field, baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, softball and cheer/dance for male and female as well as volleyball for females only.

SOFTBALL HIGH TEAMS FOR NPSA THE New Providence Softball

Knowles, a nine-year-old student of Temple Christian. “I had a lot of pressure because I want to make the Goodwill Games’ team.”

And on the boys’ side, there was a showdown between Barracuda’s teammates Amauri Bonamy, who won with 137, compared to Tristin Ferguson’s 128.

“It was good. It was a tough race, but I was pretty confident that I would get the high point trophy,” said a confident 11-year-old Bonamy, a sixth grader at Queen’s College.

Liya Moncur had 121 points to out-duel five other Barracuda’s teammates, including Devin CuffyBethel, who was second with 118 in the girls’ 11-12 division.

“It was not my best performance in the met, but I tried to improve on my times because I want to make the Carifta team,” said Moncur, 12, an eighth grader at St Andrew’s. “My 50m back is my best event.

It was my first of three

Association is hoping to submit two high school All-Star male teams in their upcoming seasons with games expected to be played on Friday and Saturday nights when the season gets underway on April 20. It is expected that Perry Seymour and Richard ‘the Lion-Heart’ Johnson will coach one of the teams and Mario Ford will coach the other.

events that I made the Carifta cut in.”

Brayden Dam took the boys’ 11-12 title to Abaco with 133 as he nipped Barracuda’s Ishan Roy, who had 132.

Anya MacPhail emerged as the girls’ 13-14 champion with 114 points over her Barracuda’s teammate Kaliyah Albury, who was second with 110.

“It was a little chilly and windy, but the competition was good,” said MacPhail, 14, ninth grader at St Andrew’s.

“I enjoyed my 400m IM and 200m. Those are my best events. I’m looking forward to making the Carifta team in them.”

Ian Pinder picked up the boys’ title with 110 points he outdistanced his Barracuda’s teammate Gadville McDonald, who had 88.

“Today I achieved some best times, so I’m proud of myself,” said Pinder, 14, a 120th grader at Queen’s College. “Hard work paid off because even though the competition was tough, I

Interested players are urged to contact their physical education teachers or the NPSA executives for more details.

BASKETBALL BSC MEETING THE Baptist Sports Council will hold a meeting 10am Saturday on the basketball courts at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex

was able to push through it and did my best. I’m getting ready for Carifta.”

Amber Pinder was the winner of the girls’ 15-andover category with 104 points. Her nearest rival was teammate Kaitlyn Slatter with 87.

“I am doing better than I did last year, so I’m very happy,” said Pinder, a 15-year-old 11th grader at Queen’s College. “I love the 50m back because my stroke felt good. It felt like it used too. I haven’t done any Carifta cut yet, but I’m working on it.”

And Joshua Murray claimed the boys’ 15-andover crown with 131 points, ahead of his Barracuda’s teammate Tenajh Gaitor, who had 119.

“It was pretty good. The wind was a factor in some of the races. It was pretty chilly too, but overall, it was a good meet,” said Murray, 15 - a 10th grader at Queen’s College. “The competition was good too.

The 100 breast and 50 free were my best events.”

for all churches interested in participating in the 2017 basketball league, which will comprise of the 15-and-under, 19-and-under and open divisions.

All churches interested in participating are urged to make sure that they are in attendance as the date for the official opening will take place. The registration fee is $200 per team in each division.

PAGE 4, Monday, March 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Gibson, Gaither get set for inaugural Grenada Invitational

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net A number of Caribbean track and field stars, including Jeffery Gibson and Tynia Gaither, will be among the field to participate in the inaugural Grenada Invitational scheduled for the National Athletic Stadium in St George's next month.

Gibson will be matched in an epic men's 400 metre hurdles against Javier Culson from Puerto Rico, Roxory Cato from Jamaica, Jehue Gordon from Trinidad & Tobago, while Gaither will contest the women's 100 metres against a field of Caribbean and American sprinters that is being finalised.

It was also confirmed that Grand Bahamian Alonzo Russell and Abaco's Steven Gardiner will compete in the men's 400m, national record holder Leevan 'Superman' Sands will be in the men's field for the triple jump and Ivanique Kemp will participate in the women's 100m hurdles.

Bahamian veteran quar-

ter-miler Chris 'Fireman' Brown, whose Invitational was scheduled to return to the local calendar but was called off due to a lack of financial commitment, has been the athletes’ liaison for the Local Organising Committee of the Grenada Invitational. He's been working diligently in getting the best talent assembled for the island known for its spices.

Brown has already been able to help lure a host of Jamaicans, including Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown, who confirmed their participation for the invitational last December.

Also expected to participate from Jamaica are Kaliese Spencer, Christine Day, Javon Francis, Andrew Riley, Roxroy Cato, Michael Frater, Remona Burchell, Novlene Williams-Mills, Yanique Haye, Jason Young, Nigel Ellis, Romel Lewis, Nickiesha Wilson, Danielle Dowie, Jura Levy, Saniel Atkinson-Grier, Dexter Lee, Jason Livermore, Fitzroy Dunkley, Natasha Morrison, Damar Forbes, and Dominique Blake.

Jamaican-born Jacques

BAHAMIAN OLYMPIAN Jeffery Gibson (centre) will be matched in an epic men’s 400 metre hurdles against Javier Culson (far left) from Puerto Rico and Roxory Cato from Jamaica and Jehue Gordon (not shown) from Trinidad & Tobago.

Harvey, who now competes for Turkey, is also confirmed for the Grenada Invitational.

Trinidad and Tobago and

Barbados also have some of their top athletes confirmed.

Jarrin Solomon, Reyare Thomas, Jehue Gordon, Sa-

mantha Shukla, Sparkle Mc Knight, Deandra Daniel, Emmanuel Callender, Keshorn Walcott, and Shakeil Waithe from Trinidad and

Tobago and Barbadians Kierre Beckles, Jade Bailey, Gregmar Swift, Levi Cadogan and Shane Brathwaite are also booked to compete.

Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis; Levern Spencer of St Lucia, Puerto Rico's Javier Culson, Great Britain's Martyn Rooney and Americans Justin Gatlin, LaShawn Merritt, Brianna Rollins, Ashley Spencer, David Oliver, Queen Harrison, Kristi Castlin are among some of the other athletes also confirmed for the one-day meet.

Nigeria's Regina George and Patience George, Phylicia George of Canada and Panama's Alonso Edward are among the confirmed athletes.

During the Grenada Invitational on April 8, journalist Michael Bascombe, one of the local organisers, have confirmed that the Grenadian government will be renaming of the Chinesebuilt national stadium in honour of the island's lone Olympic medallist Kirani James, who will also lead a contingent of local athletes in the invitational.

NO

JORDAN Prince William Lady Falcons advanced with a 57-52 win over Tabernacle Baptist Academy in the second semi-final last night.

DORIS JOHNSON MYSTIC MARLINS ADVANCE WITH 27-18 WIN OVER TABERNACLE BAPTIST ACADEMY FALCONS FROM PAGE 1 ‘The programme at Jordan Prince William, we just want to give God thanks for allowing us to be in this position. These girls put in the effort months ago and dedicated themselves with the hard work since last year. When we came together and we started our conditioning, it was to get to this point. Playing two games back-to-back was a challenge. But we were prepared. Tabernacle was one of the top teams this year so hats off to them, they were committed like us to being one of the top teams,” he said. “Playing Doris Johnson will be a challenge.

They have been a great team all year, they came here and won for the second time at the Geneva Rutherford tournament but we are ready to face that challenge.

The girls will do their best to recuperate and we will be ready to go.”

On short rest, Tabernacle got off to a quick start and Nixon dished a no look pass to Green for a layup and an early 10-8 lead in a high scoring first quarter.

The offence slowed down considerably in the second.

Thompson made a pullup three pointer to tie the game at 12 with 5:10 left to play in the second quarter. The Falcons ended the quarter on an 13-4 run, capped by a Moss three point play to take a 26-16 lead into the half. The lead extended to as much as 18 in the third quarter before the Falcons trimmed it to 11 headed into the fourth, 3827. Tabernacle reduced the lead to as little as six points but the Falcons were able to withstand the run and advance.

In Division II, the championship matchup will feature Bimini All-Age against the Abaco Central Marlins.

Bimini has gone through the tournament undefeated thus far and opened with

a 51-30 win over North Andros, followed by another dominant 52-30 win over Long Island. They advanced to the title game with a 43-30 win over Central Eleuthera.

Abaco Central advanced with a 39-34 win over the San Salvador Caciques in the semi-final.

“Our next game will be against Bimini and we know they have a team that really hustles, so we’ll have to go out there and match their intensity,” said Abaco head coach Ricardo Ferguson.

“Next game we will look to press the ball and put some pressure on them. I’m not really to worried about our offence, because we can score off of our defence.

Abaco Central’s path to the championship opened with a 57-46 win over South Andros. They lost the first matchup to San Salvador (36-28) but rebounded to defeat North Andros 48-43.

They advanced to the semifinal with 41-38 win over Central Eleuthera.

Photos: 10thYearSeniors

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 6, 2017, PAGE 5

NO. 21 WICHITA STATE BEATS ILLINOIS STATE TO WIN MVC TOURNEY ST LOUIS (AP) — No. 21 Wichita State left no doubt as to whom the top team in the Missouri Valley Conference was.

Conner Frankamp scored a career-high 19 points and Markis McDuffie added 16 as No. 21 Wichita State beat Illinois State 71-51 in the MVC Tournament championship game yesterday, earning an automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

“I thought we played very well against a very good team,” Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said.

“I thought it was a very thorough performance. We defended well. We made our free throws.

We got the ball inside. We rebounded well. We shot it well.

So that results in a 20-point win and that’s hard to do against that team.”

The teams had split their regular-season series and shared the conference championship, with Illinois State earning the top seed over Wichita State based on RPI. Edwards leads No. 16 Purdue past Northwestern, 69-65 EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Vin-

cent Edwards scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half and Caleb Swanigan added 20 points and 14 rebounds to help No. 16 Purdue beat Northwestern 69-65 on Sunday.

Purdue (25-6, 14-4 Big Ten) clinched the outright regular-season conference title earlier in the week, but had to hold on in the final seconds to fend off Northwestern (21-10, 10-8) in front of a raucous sellout crowd.

Bryant McIntosh finished with 25 points and six assists for Northwestern. The Wildcats have

lost six of nine.

Swanigan had his nation-leading 25th double-double.

Swanigan’s dunk gave Purdue a 59-50 lead with seven minutes remaining, but the Wildcats answered with a 7-0 run. Sanjay Lumpkin’s putback got Northwestern to 60-59 with 3:14 left, but the Wildcats could never get ahead in the second half.

Trailing 66-63, Nathan Taphorn airballed a 3 with 15 seconds left and Purdue closed the game by going 3 of 4 from the foul line.

Curry ends slump with 31, Warriors beat Knicks 112-105

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Curry’s shot still wasn’t falling, and that wasn’t the only strange thing.

Madison Square Garden’s decision to play no sound during warmups or stoppages in play in the first half last night created a silent setting that was more fitting for middle school than a nationally televised NBA game.

“It was weird,” Curry said.

Everything was back to normal by the end.

Curry broke out of a shooting slump with 31 points and moved into the top 10 on the NBA’s career 3-point list, and the Golden State Warriors bounced back from consecutive losses to beat the New York Knicks 112-105.

Klay Thompson added 29 points to help the Warriors end their first regular-season losing streak in nearly two years.

Curry scored 15 on 6-of-8 shooting in the third quarter, once the music came back. He noticed the lack of noise in the locker room before the game, saying the Warriors were trying to pump themselves up once they took the court.

“That was pathetic. It was ridiculous. It changed the flow of the game, it changed everything,” said Golden State’s Draymond Green, adding that it was “disrespectful” to innovators of NBA in-game entertainment.

“They need to trash that, because that’s exactly what it was.”

The Splash Brothers had dried up as Golden State dropped two in row following Kevin Durant’s knee injury, but they regained their touch Sunday. Curry hit five 3-pointers, passing Chauncey Billups for 10th place, and added eight rebounds and six assists.

Thompson had a 3-pointer and two other baskets during a late surge that allowed Golden State to pull away after leading by one midway through the fourth quarter.

“We knew we’d be fine, getting back to who we are,” Curry said.

Derrick Rose scored 28 points, and Kristaps Porzingis had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Knicks, whose fans embraced

the Warriors with their own team barely hanging on to playoff hopes.

“If we could be at their level one day in New York, I think it would be 10 times bigger than what they’re doing, just because it’s New York,” Porzingis said.

“The city is hungry for basketball, the city is hungry for success. So that’s the goal for us, to get to that level one day and be a championship contender.”

The Warriors lost to Washington in the game Durant was injured and followed that with a season-low 87 points Thursday in a loss to Chicago, ending their NBA-record streak of consecutive regular-season games without losing two in a row at 146.

“We’re surviving to this point,” coach Steve Kerr said. “We obviously lost our first two games without him, so it’s good to get a win without him tonight. This is how it’s going to be for a while, so we have to get used to it.”

Curry had been 4 for 31 from 3-point range during their threegame road trip and missed six of his eight attempts in the first half.

The Warriors led by only two in the final 90 seconds of the third, but he spun for a layup and hit more 3-pointers before the period’s end, including one with 5.4 seconds left that made it 84-76.

Golden State would build a 13-point lead that New York trimmed to 97-96 before Curry passed to Thompson for a 3-pointer that started the Warriors’ finishing kick.

TIP-INS Warriors: Matt Barnes, signed after Durant was hurt, made his first start. Kerr said it was not a permanent decision. ... The Warriors pushed their lead over San Antonio for the NBA’s best record to 2 1/2 games. ... Golden State has beaten the Knicks six straight times.

Knicks: Carmelo Anthony took just 12 shots, finishing with 15 points. ... C Willy Hernangomez returned after missing two games with a sprained left ankle.

TOP 10 Curry has 1,833 3-pointers.

Billups made 1,830.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

GOLDEN State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) takes a three-point basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, March 5, 2017. (AP Photo/ Kathy Willens) SOUND OF SILENCE A message shown on the overhead video board during most of pregame said the first half would be presented without music, vid-

eo or in-game entertainment so fans could “experience the game in its purest form.”

“It felt like open gym kind of,” Thompson said.

NBA CAPSULES JAZZ 110, KINGS 109, OT SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Rudy Gobert tipped in George Hill’s missed jumper as time expired in overtime on a play that was initially ruled goaltending and the Utah Jazz beat the Sacramento Kings 110-109 last night.

After Willie Cauley-Stein made two free throws to give the Kings a 109-108 lead with 8.9 seconds remaining, Hill took an off-balance jumper from just outside of the key.

Gobert, positioned underneath the hoop, reached up and tipped the ball in as the buzzer sounded.

One official initially called goaltending on Gobert. But after a meeting near midcourt, the referees went to the scorer’s table to review the play and counted the basket.

Gobert finished with 16 points and 24 rebounds, Rodney Hood scored a seasonhigh 28 and Gordon Hayward added 23 with five assists for Utah.

Ty Lawson scored 19 points for Sacramento, which lost its fourth straight and fell to 1-4 since trading All-Star DeMarcus Cousins.

SUNS 109, CELTICS 106 PHOENIX (AP) — Rookie Tyler Ulis threw in a 3-pointer at the buzzer after a Boston turnover and the Phoenix Suns came away with a wild victory.

The Suns’ Eric Bledsoe it at 106 with a reverse layup with four seconds to play.

Isaiah Thomas, who scored 35 points but missed a free throw with 11.9 seconds left, took the inbounds pass and the Suns’ Marquese Chriss knocked the ball away. Ulis, listed at 5-foot-10 but probably not that tall, grabbed it and tossed it up as the buzzer sounded.

Ulis scored a career-best 20 points. Bledsoe had 28 to help the Suns win three in a row for the first time this season.

SPANOVIC SOARS TO GOLD AT EUROPEAN INDOORS BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Ivana Spanovic produced the best indoor women’s long jump for 28 years as she soared to victory at the European indoor championships yesterday.

Spanovic jumped 7.24 metres to beat Lorraine Ugen by 27 centimetres. Only two women in history have gone further indoors, both in the 1980s — East German Heike Drechsler and Soviet jumper Galina Chistyakova.

The Serbian crowd was delighted as Spanovic retained her title in her home city. After her last jump she lay back in the sandpit with a broad grin before taking a lap of honor.

Ugen set a new British record of 6.97 on her way to silver, while Claudia Salman-Rath of Germany took bronze on 6.94.

The only Russian taking part at the championships, Darya Klishina, was fourth on 6.84, competing as a neutral athlete in a plain uniform. The Russian team remains banned from international competitions due to widespread doping.

Five Russian athletes, including Klishina, have been given permission to compete as neutral athletes, either because they are based outside Russia or because the IAAF is satisfied with their drug-testing history.

After winning the 1,500 on Saturday, Britain’s Laura Muir completed a golden double with victory in the 3,000 on Sunday.

The Scottish runner finished in a championship-record time of 8 minutes, 35.67 seconds, winning by almost eight seconds from Kenyan-born Turkish runner Yasemin Can. The bronze went to another British runner, Eilish McColgan.

More British success followed in the 60 sprint, with Asha Philip taking gold in 7.06 seconds, ahead of Olesya Povh of Ukraine and Poland’s Ewa Swoboda.

Poland finished with seven golds, topping the medal table after four wins Sunday. The Poles won the men’s and women’s 4x400 relays, while Sylwester Bednarek won the men’s high jump and Adam Kszczot took the 800.

Spain’s Adel Mechaal won the men’s 3,000 in 8:00.60, narrowly ahead of Norwegian Henrik Ingebrigtsen, with third place going to German runner Richard Ringer.

Nelson Evora of Portugal retained his European indoor title in the triple jump with a leap of 17.20 meters. That was 7 centimetres further than Italian Fabrizio Donato managed for silver, which was just a centimetre further than German bronze medallist Max Hess.

Swiss runner Selina Buechel won the women’s 800 in 2:00.38, needing a photo finish to beat Britain’s Shelayna Oskan-Clarke into second place.

France’s Kevin Mayer won the heptathlon with a European-record 6,479 points.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

KINGS rookie guard Buddy Hield scored 10 points with one assist, one steal and two rebounds against the Jazz last night.

PACERS 97, HAWKS 96 ATLANTA (AP) — Glenn Robinson III hit a 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left, Paul George scored 34 points and Indiana rallied to beat Atlanta.

Jeff Teague, in his first game back at Philips Arena after spending his first seven seasons with the Hawks, added 16 points and six assists.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 24 points, and Paul Millsap had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Atlanta. Millsap’s 3-point attempt fell off the rim at the buzzer.

WIZARDS 115, MAGIC 114 WASHINGTON (AP) — Bojan Bogdanovic scored 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and made a career-high eight 3-pointers as the Washington Wizards came back from 17 down to defeat the Orlando Magic.

Bradley Beal led Washington with 32 points, and John Wall had 19 points and 10 assists as the third-place Wizards moved a game ahead of Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings.

Otto Porter scored 11 points, and more importantly spotted Bogdanovic in the corner for his final 3 to give the Wizards the lead for good with 48.6 seconds left. Terrence Ross scored 20 points to lead seven players in double figures for the Magic.

PAGE 6, Monday, March 6, 2017

Spurs, Manchester City win to stay in Premier League chasing pack

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — In Chelsea’s slipstream, Tottenham and Manchester City are amassing points and hoping the Premier League leaders collapse.

Harry Kane’s double gave Tottenham a 3-2 victory over Everton to go seven points behind Chelsea yesterday, while thirdplaced Manchester City is a point further back after sweeping to a 2-0 victory at Sunderland.

City’s players, who have 12 games to overturn Chelsea’s eight-point advantage over them, know all about throwing away a lead. Pep Guardiola’s side was eight points ahead of Chelsea six games into the season before the tables were turned.

Now, according to Guardiola, Chelsea is “almost unstoppable.”

“It’s a pity that the distance between Chelsea is so big, but that’s true,” Guardiola said.

“We started the season with 10 games winning (in a row), but our game was not like today.

“I feel we are playing quite well and that’s why

we are getting results.”

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, whose side was four points behind City after four games, now has Chelsea in its sights.

“It’s up to us to be there if they fail,” Pochettino said.

TOTTENHAM 3, EVERTON 2 Kane upstaged Everton’s Romelu Lukaku to assert himself as the Premier League’s sharpest striker after the duo entered this showdown level on 17 goals.

Kane moved into top spot on England’s scoring leaderboard as Tottenham claimed a ninth successive home league win.

Despite missing 10 games of the campaign through injury, Kane has amassed 24 goals in all competitions — only four behind last season’s haul with more than two months remaining.

Kane had already sent Tottenham into a two-goal lead, including an audacious, dipping strike from 30 yards (metres), when Lukaku finally managed to score in the 80th min-

MANCHESTER City’s Leroy Sane, right, celebrates scoring his side’s second goal of the game with team mates David Silva and Gael Clichy during yesterday’s Premier League soccer match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. (AP) ute. Lukaku became the first opponent to beat goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the league at White Hart Lane since December.

Tottenham had been cruising but it was a nervy conclusion.

Even after Dele Alli clipped Harry Winks’ free kick into the net in the 90th minute, Everton immediately reduced the deficit

again at the other end from a set-piece that Enner Valencia completed.

But Tottenham held on to end a nine-game unbeaten run for seventh-placed Everton.

SUNDERLAND 0, MAN CITY 2 David Silva set up both goals as City won a fourth successive league match

since being held by Tottenham.

Silva’s 38th-minute cross was turned into the net at point-blank range by Sergio Aguero and the Spanish playmaker’s defencesplitting through-ball in the 59th released Leroy Sane to net his sixth goal in 10 games.

Sunderland remains bottom, six points from safety.

THE TRIBUNE

OLYMPIAKOS LOSES AS GREEK TITLE RACE GETS MORE COMPETITIVE ATHENS, Greece (AP) — PAOK defeated defending champion Olympiakos 2-0 yesterday to add a competitive edge to the Greek league title race.

Yevhen Shakhov scored in the 53rd and Aleksandar Prijovic added a second goal seven minutes later.

Olympiakos, which lost a third straight game, still has a seven-point cushion but second-placed Panionios can cut this to four if it beats AEK today.

Olympiakos’ defence let down the semi-permanent champion, which has 18 titles in the last 20 seasons.

Shakhov was unmarked when he got the rebound off the goalkeeper’s clearance. Prijovic was also unmarked when he latched on to Pedro Henrique’s cross.

PAOK is third, eight points behind Olympiakos.

Also Sunday, Atromitos beat Iraklis 1-0, Xanthi defeated Platanias 1-0 and Kerkyra won 2-1 at Asteras.

MONACO WITH TORRES WATCHING, ATLETICO MADRID BEATS VALENCIA 3-0 ROUTS NANTES 4-0

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer

MADRID (AP) — With veteran striker Fernando Torres watching his team play just three days after collapsing on the field, Atletico Madrid comfortably defeated Valencia 3-0 to regain fourth place in the Spanish league yesterday.

Antoine Griezmann scored a goal in each half and Kevin Gameiro added another as Atletico rebounded from two winless games and again moved into position to fight for a Champions League spot.

It was Atletico’s first game since Torres dropped to the ground unconscious after a collision with an opponent late in the match at Deportivo La Coruna on Thursday.

Torres was motionless for several moments at the Riazor Stadium in La Coruna. The 32-year-old forward was immediately hospitalised, but escaped any serious head or spine injuries and was released a day later.

“We are happy that he was here with us,” Griezmann said.

“Hopefully he will be playing again as soon as possible, because we need him.”

Torres stood up and applauded the crowd after it loudly chanted his name at the Vicente Calderon Stadium.

“Great result today,” Torres tweeted. “I’m eager to be back.”

Torres, who won two European Championships and one World Cup with Spain, is expected to be cleared to return to training this week.

Griezmann scored in the 10th and 83rd minutes, while Gamei-

ro got on the board in the 48th.

“We got off to a bad start in the first half and that cost us a goal, and then we got off to a bad start again in the second half and it cost us another goal,” Valencia defender Ezequiel Garay said. “We knew we were playing against a very difficult opponent.”

Atletico was coming off a 2-1 home loss to Barcelona and a 1-1 draw at Deportivo, results that virtually ended the team’s title chances. It trails leader Barcelona by 11 points after 26 matches, but it cut the gap to third-placed Sevilla to six points. Sevilla plays at Alaves today.

The top three teams automatically qualify for the Champions League next season, while the fourth-placed club has to go through a playoff. Diego Simeone’s team has a 4-2 first-leg lead over Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16 of this year’s Champions League.

Barcelona and second-placed Madrid won their league matches on Saturday. Madrid is one point behind the Catalan club but has a game in hand at Celta Vigo.

Valencia is 13th, safely away from the relegation zone.

ATHLETIC BILBAO 1, MALAGA 0 Midfielder Raul Garcia converted a 72nd-minute penalty kick as Athletic Bilbao defeated struggling Malaga 1-0 for its fourth straight home win in the league.

The result at San Mames Stadium left the hosts seventh in the standings. It was the third consecutive loss for Malaga, which is 15th.

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Sports Writer

ATLETICO Madrid’s Fernando Torres is helped by team mates as Deportivo La Coruna’s Alex Bergantinos, top right calls for help after they clashed with their heads during a La Liga soccer match at the Riazor stadium in La Coruna, Spain, on March 2. (AP)

JUVENTUS DRAWS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LEAGUE THIS SEASON

By DANIELLA MATAR Associated Press MILAN (AP) — There is still a glimmer of hope for Roma and Napoli.

Juventus was prevented from going 10 points clear in Serie A as a lethargic performance saw the leaders held 1-1 at Udinese yesterday. It was Juve’s first draw in the league this season.

Leonardo Bonucci was both hero and villain as he was outmuscled for Duvan Zapata’s opener but levelled on the hour.

Juventus is eight points clear of second-placed Roma and 10 ahead of Napoli with 11 rounds remaining.

“We gained a point on Roma,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said. “We were coming from a very hard period, where we played very important matches and today we faced a Udinese side which deserved to draw.

“When you can’t win certain matches, you mustn’t lose them ... it’s an important point. And even with a win, the title race wouldn’t have been over.”

After Napoli won 2-1 at Roma on Saturday, Juventus knew it could take a big step toward an un-

precedented sixth successive title.

Udinese had picked up only one point from its previous four matches, scoring just one goal. But it took the lead eight minutes from halftime as Zapata held off Bonucci and beat Gianluigi Buffon at the near post.

Juventus struggled to create real opportunities but levelled when Bonucci headed in Paulo Dybala’s free kick. Udinese coach Luigi Delneri was dismissed immediately after for dissent.

The home side almost restored its lead two minutes later but Danilo’s header came off the base of the left post, although it looked as if Buffon had it covered.

BOLOGNA 0, LAZIO 2 Ciro Immobile scored twice as Lazio maintained its late push for a Champions League spot.

Immobile had been on target in four of his last five matches and he took just nine minutes to open the scoring, heading in Senad Lulic’s cross.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic put in another impressive performance and the 22-year-old set up Lazio’s second with a delightful through ball to release Immobile for his

16th goal of the season.

Lazio moved fourth, four points behind Napoli.

ATALANTA 0, FIORENTINA 0 Atalanta failed to keep up the pressure in the race for a Champions League spot as it was kept at bay by Fiorentina goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side had emerged as surprise contenders for a top-three finish after beating Napoli last weekend but it slipped five points below the Champions League qualifying spots.

Atalanta laid siege to the goal but could not find a way through due to a combination of wayward finishing and excellent saves by Tatarusanu. He also somehow managed to claw Andrea Petagna’s effort off the line and out off the upright late on.

CAGLIARI 1, INTER MILAN 5 Ever Banega made the most of a rare start as he scored one goal and set up another to help Inter Milan comfortably beat Cagliari and remain six points behind Napoli.

Ivan Perisic scored twice as Inter bounced back from last week’s 3-1

defeat at home to Roma.

“We got what we wanted, to react at the right moment and in the best way possible after the defeat to Roma,” Perisic said. “We still believe in third place.

“Today we showed we are on the right path. We will give our utmost until the end.”

Inter broke the deadlock in the 36th when Ivan Perisic controlled Banega’s chipped pass with his right foot and hit it past Gabriel with his left.

Banega doubled Inter’s lead three minutes later with a free kick into the top left corner.

Cagliari got back into it shortly after. Samir Handanovic did well to keep out David Di Gennaro’s free kick but the ball was crossed back in for Marco Borriello to head home.

Perisic doubled his tally two minutes after the break following a lovely one-two with Mauro Icardi, who backheeled it for the Croatia forward to curl into the bottom right corner.

Icardi scored his 17th league goal of the season with a penalty in the 67th after he was tripped by Gabriel and Roberto Gagliardino netted his first for Inter two minutes from time.

PARIS (AP) — Teenage forward Kylian Mbappe further underlined his reputation yesterday as arguably the rising star of European football. He scored two more goals, helping league leader Monaco crush Nantes 4-0 to restore its three-point lead at the top of the French league.

The 18-year-old Mbappe is earning rave reviews this season. As well as drawing early comparisons with France great Thierry Henry for his speed and trickery, Mbappe has netted 15 times so far.

“Kylian is improving. He is becoming more efficient inside the penalty area, in terms of his positioning and his movement,” Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said. “He scored with a header and he made good runs. I congratulated him when he came off.”

Mbappe missed out on the chance for a third hat trick of the season when Jardim took him off midway through the second half, with the player earning a sustained ovation from the Stade Louis II crowd.

Monaco retained its three-point cushion over both defending champion Paris Saint-Germain and third-placed Nice, although Monaco’s goal difference of plus 57 is 20 better than PSG’s and effectively makes the lead four points.

Jardim’s free-scoring side has 121 goals in all competitions this season — and has scored four goals or more in a game an impressive 14 times.

In the league, Monaco has 82 goals and, with 10 games left, is well on course to smash PSG’s formidable total of 102 from last season. After Brazilian defender Fabinho’s penalty made it 4-0 in the 59th minute, Monaco eased up.

The club is competing on four fronts this season and faces a tough return leg against Manchester City in the Champions League on March 15 — having lost the first-leg Round of 16 match 5-3 in a thriller.

Monaco fans have been spoilt this season and, with just four minutes played, Mbappe struck with an athletic half-volley following good approach play from attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva. After striker Valere Germain made it 2-0 in the 43rd with his ninth league goal of the season, Mbappe nodded in his second goal just before the break thanks to a perfect cross from Silva.

Fabinho’s penalty came after midfielder Thomas Lemar was fouled.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 6, 2017, PAGE 7

ANDY MURRAY WINS HIS FIRST TITLE OF THE YEAR IN DUBAI

By SANDRA HARWITT Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Andy Murray captured his first title of the year and became the first British man to win the Dubai Tennis Championships in its 25year history when he defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday.

This was Murray’s seventh final in his last eight tournaments, and 14th in his last 16 dating to last May in Madrid.

The only two tournaments he failed to make the final in that period were the 2016 US Open and 2017 Australian Open.

“It’s been a great run.

Can’t complain about much,” Murray said.

“Giving yourself a lot of matches gives you confidence to go into those big

ENGLAND DEFEATS WEST INDIES BY FOUR WICKETS

events (Grand Slams).”

Dubai was the first tournament Murray’s played since he lost in the Australian Open fourth round.

Since that defeat he’s been recuperating from a bout with shingles.

“After the break that I have had, to get five matches in, six if you include the doubles, in six days is a really positive thing physically,” he said.

The top-ranked Murray, who was a Dubai finalist in 2012, improved his career record to 13-1 over Verdasco.

The first three games were service breaks as the players attempted to find their range in the final.

Verdasco had the service break until the Spaniard was broken by Murray in the sixth and then the eighth games to take the first set.

ENGLAND survived a mid-innings wobble to beat West Indies by four wickets in the second oneday cricket international in Antigua and win the series with a match to spare yesterday.

Liam Plunkett took three for 32 as West Indies, despite 50 from Jason Mohammed, were bowled out for 225 in 47.5 overs. Jason Roy (52) put England on top but home spinners Ashley Nurse (three for 34) and Devendra Bishoo (two for 43) hit back.

However, Joe Root (90) and Chris Woakes (68) put on an unbeaten 102 to see England home with 10 balls left.

Batsmen needed to play patiently on a slow wicket at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium - the same one used in the first match on Friday - but only new Test captain Root and all-rounder Woakes really mastered the conditions.

Root’s typically com-

ANDY MURRAY returns to Fernando Verdasco during the final match of the Dubai Tennis Championships. (AP) Murray broke Verdasco’s serve twice in the second set, in the third game with a forehand winner, and in the seventh on a third break point.

The 35th-ranked Verdasco, a former top-10 player, has never beaten a No. 1-ranked player in 12 career attempts. “He pushes you,” Verdasco said. “At the same time, I didn’t re-

ally feel, of course, as comfortable or hitting the ball as clean as days before.”

Murray became the fourth player this year to win a title having saved match points en route to the title.

He faced a career high seven match points in defeating Philipp Kohlschreiber in the quarterfinals.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 59° F/15° C

TAMPA

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Clouds and sun with a shower; windy

Partly cloudy with a shower; windy

Clouds and sun with a shower; windy

Partly sunny and pleasant

Sunshine and pleasant

Mostly sunny and nice

High: 81°

Low: 69°

High: 84° Low: 71°

High: 85° Low: 68°

High: 82° Low: 69°

High: 83° Low: 69°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

80° F

65° F

83°-69° F

87°-68° F

88°-67° F

88°-69° F

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: 72° F/22° C Low: 56° F/13° C

12-25 knots

S

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 66° F/19° C

15-25 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 68° F/20° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 61° F/16° C

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 64° F/18° C

MIAMI

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 67° F/19° C

10-20 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 81° F/27° C Low .................................................... 73° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 78° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 65° F/18° C Last year’s high ................................. 81° F/27° C Last year’s low ................................... 68° F/20° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 0.85” Normal year to date ..................................... 3.10”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 69° F/21° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 57° F/14° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C

E

W

15-25 knots

S

15-25 knots

High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

1:58 a.m.

2:21 p.m.

2.8 2.3

8:28 a.m. 0.1 8:36 p.m. -0.2

Tuesday

3:05 a.m.

3:31 p.m.

2.8 2.3

9:36 a.m. 0.1 9:43 p.m. -0.2

Wednesday 4:10 a.m.

4:35 p.m.

2.9 2.4

10:39 a.m. -0.1 10:46 p.m. -0.3

Thursday

5:08 a.m.

5:33 p.m.

2.9 2.5

11:35 a.m. -0.2 11:44 p.m. -0.4

Friday

6:01 a.m.

6:24 p.m.

3.0 2.6

12:25 p.m. -0.4 ---------

Saturday

6:49 a.m.

7:11 p.m.

3.0 2.7

12:36 a.m. -0.5 1:10 p.m. -0.5

Sunday

8:33 a.m.

8:55 p.m.

3.0 2.8

1:23 a.m. -0.5 2:52 p.m. -0.5

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:28 a.m.

6:15 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

12:48 p.m.

1:33 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Mar. 12

Mar. 20

Mar. 27

Apr. 3

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 58° F/14° C

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 69° F/21° C

N

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 61° F/16° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map H

tiDes For nassau

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 58° F/14° C

N

S

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

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

CAT ISLAND

E

W

posed innings, which featured just three boundaries in 127 deliveries, and Woakes’ more adventurous 83-ball knock guided England to an 11th win out of their last 12 completed one day internationals against West Indies.

Eoin Morgan’s team, who won the first match by 45 runs, will seek to make it 3-0 in the final match in Barbados on Thursday.

A century from Morgan set up victory over West Indies in the first one-day international in Antigua on Friday. Morgan’s 107 from 116 balls and fifties from Ben Stokes and Sam Billings took England to 296 for six from 50 overs, after Roy and Root fell early.

West Indies slipped from 36 without loss to 39 for three in their chase and came up short despite Mohammed’s 72. Liam Plunkett took four for 40, his best one day international figures, and Woakes four for 47.

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 60° F/16° C

15-25 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 75° F/24° C Low: 61° F/16° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 78° F/26° C Low: 62° F/17° C

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 60° F/16° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 77° F/25° C Low: 64° F/18° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

20-30 knots

20-30 knots

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

Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday:

WINDS E at 15-25 Knots ESE at 12-25 Knots E at 15-25 Knots E at 15-25 Knots ENE at 15-25 Knots E at 15-25 Knots ENE at 20-30 Knots E at 20-30 Knots ENE at 20-30 Knots E at 15-25 Knots E at 15-25 Knots ESE at 12-25 Knots NE at 15-25 Knots E at 15-25 Knots NE at 20-30 Knots E at 20-30 Knots ENE at 20-30 Knots E at 15-25 Knots ENE at 20-30 Knots E at 20-30 Knots E at 15-25 Knots E at 12-25 Knots NE at 20-30 Knots E at 20-30 Knots NE at 15-25 Knots E at 15-25 Knots

WAVES 8-12 Feet 6-10 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 6-10 Feet 6-10 Feet 6-10 Feet 8-12 Feet 8-12 Feet 6-10 Feet 4-8 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 8-12 Feet 8-12 Feet 4-7 Feet 4-8 Feet 10-14 Feet 10-14 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-6 Feet 5-9 Feet 5-9 Feet 4-8 Feet 4-8 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 74° F 74° F 77° F 77° F 77° F 77° F 78° F 78° F 75° F 74° F 76° F 76° F 76° F 76° F 79° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 74° F 74° F 76° F 76° F 78° F 78° F

PAGE 8, Monday, March 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE