03202018 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2018

Gibson and Gardiner pull off victories in Orlando

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JEFFREY Gibson and Steven Gardiner, in their tune-ups for the 2018 Commonwealth Games next month, pulled off victories in different events they normally compete in at the University of Central Florida’s Black & Gold Challenge in Orlando, Florida, over the weekend.

Both competitors, named to the 31-member team heading to the Gold Coast, Australia, for the big event April 4-15, also teamed up on the third and anchor legs respectively with fellow Bahamian training partners Teray Smith and Blake Bartlett to win the men’s 4 x 400m relay.

The quartet, running under the banner Empire Athletics, clocked

three minutes and 06.48 seconds to beat out the rest of the field that saw Ohio State finish second in 3:06.72. “We are all training partners, so it felt pretty easy running with them. We just wanted to have some fun,” said Gardiner, a room-mate of Bartlett. “It was good to put the team together.”

Gibson, named to compete in his specialty in the men’s 400m hurdles, opened his season by returning to the 400m where he won the one-lap race in 47.21 ahead of Calvin Smith, unattached, who got second in 47.47.

“I’m just progressively working on techniques and getting much stronger in the hurdles,” Gibson pointed out. “I’m not really focusing too much on the event itself. I just want to be ready to compete.”

This weekend in Jacksonville, Florida, Gibson will make his

season debut in the 400m hurdles before he competes in the Florida Relays (March 29-31 in Gainesville, Florida) in the lead up to his trip ‘Down Under’ for the Commonwealth Games.

“I know on this Gold Coast trip, I’m looking forward to doing much better,” said Gibson, the reigning bronze medallist in the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2014.

“At the last one, I was so very young and inexperienced in running in a major final, but I was happy that I rose to the occasion and won a medal. So with me being more experienced as an athlete for this one, I want to win the gold medal.”

Gibson, 27, said he hopes to redeem himself after Glasgow.

“I know that with the pool of competitors that I competed

against, I should have won the gold, but that didn’t work out,” he said. “So going back and being much stronger mentally and physically, I think my chances are much better to achieve that goal.”

In preparation for this season, Gibson moved from Raleigh, North Carolina, and is now training with the Bahamian connection in Clermont, Florida, under coach Gary Evans.

“It’s been going very well,” said Gibson, who has been there since October. “I felt what I was lacking in personal training in Raleigh, I’m getting it here with coach Evans and I noticed the difference and I’m taking advantage of it. I’m pleased with the results I’m seeing.”

Adidas representative Gardiner, selected to run the men’s 400m and on the 4 x 400m relay

at the Commonwealth Games, dropped down to the 200m where he took the half-lap race in 20.35 well ahead of his nearest rival, Kentucky freshman Jalani Walker, who was second in 21.00.

Also during the UCF meet in other individual events, Teray Smith, representing Puma, was fourth in the men’s 100m in 10.49 with Blake Bartlett, unattached, 13th overall in 10.82. Smith is also heading to the Commonwealth Games to compete in the men’s 200m and 4 x 400m relay.

Another Bahamian, Tavonte Mott, ran the lead off leg for Ohio State’s B team that finished 11th overall in 3:22.84. Mott, in his freshman year, was also ninth in the men’s 110m hurdles in 14.82.

He also ran on their A team in the 4 x 100m relay, but they were disqualified.

‘Buddy Buckets’ on fire

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

B

uddy Hield is playing the most efficient basketball of his young career and despite the small sample size, his recent play suggests an upward trend in his numbers across the board.

Through his last three games, Sacramento Kings guard is averaging 23 points 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists in 30 minutes per game. He’s also shooting 57 per cent from field and 48 per cent from three-point range.

In his most recent performance, Hield finished with 23 points, six rebounds and six assists in a 103-97 loss on the road to the Utah Jazz. He shot 9-15 from the field and 5-8 from beyond the arch.

Hield is a high-volume scorer but for the last two games he has led the Kings in assists. The previous night, he posted 22 points, seven rebounds and a team high seven assists in a 98-93 win over the Golden State Warriors. His scoring streak began on March 14 with 24 points and six rebounds in a 123-119 win over the Miami Heat.

Hield told Jason Bee of the Sacramento Bee that his focus was now on ball movement and being viewed as a playmaker, rather than a volume shooter.

“Just making plays for my teammates and don’t think selfishly, about myself. That’s going to open more doors and that’s helped me the last five or six games, and I’m going to keep building on that,” Hield said. “You watch guys like Bogi and then finish the game with 15 points and have eight assists. They make plays for teammates and still have a great game and I think that frees you up, that makes you feel better as a player, that you’re making plays.”

He has scored at least 18 points in five of his last seven games. He has upped his scoring average to 13 points per game but looks to expand on his role as a distributor.

“Teams are going to play me regardless because of how I shoot the ball,” Hield said. “Just making the right play, don’t make the tough play, make the right play, the easy play and just go out there and execute everything. I know teams are going to play me hard, I’ve just got to make the easy play and the right play. Don’t worry about Buddy trying to get points or trying to score, but make plays for my teammates and then other things will open up for me.”

TRAINING partners Suzanna Eneas and Ryan Bethell are preparing to take part in the Boston Marathon.

BAHAMIANS TRAINING FOR BOSTON MARATHON

said BBF President Charles Robins. “This is the best senior national tournament because of the champions. Everybody is after Tabernacle, so anything can happen this weekend.”

Gia Walker, president of the Grand Bahama Principles and Vice Principles Association, welcomed the field to the nation’s second city.

“As the parent body for the School Athletic Association in Grand Bahama, it is certainly our pleasure to stand behind our Grand Bahama teams but we are so happy to have all of these teams travel here to compete,” she said.

“We are looking forward to a competitive series but we are looking

TRAINING partners Suzanna Eneas and Ryan Bethell will get the rare opportunity to carry the Bahamian flag at the prestigious Boston Marathon.

The duo will compete in the 122nd running of the annual 26.2 mile event in Boston on Monday, April 16.

In preparation for the event, the pair participated in the 11th Annual Uncle Lou 10K Fun Run/Walk Race on Saturday where they were first overall in the women’s division and third in the men’s respectively.

“It’s a sign that my training is coming along and I’m where I’m supposed to be,” said Eneas, who turned in a personal best time of 44 minutes and 19 seconds to repeat as champion of the early riser.

“I ran six miles to get to the start of the race and I ran the race and I will be running six miles to get back to where we started this morning.”

The 39-year-old back-toback champion of the 10K race that was organised by the Alumni Association of St Augustine’s College will be leaving on April 13 with Bethell to compete in her first international marathon.

“This will be my third marathon,” said Eneas, who qualified during her inaugural running of a marathon, “would you believe it,” at the Marathon Bahamas in January, 2016 when she came in third behind two Americans as the first Bahamian female finisher.

“I just want to finish because everybody there will be faster than me. So I just hope to do a personal best time. If I don’t, I will be grateful just to be there and to enjoy the experience.”

Bethell, who also qualified at Marathon Bahamas, will be making his debut in Boston, although he has competed in five other marathons. He actually qualified for Boston two

SEE PAGE 3

SEE PAGE 3

SACRAMENTO Kings guard Buddy Hield flashes three fingers after scoring a three-point basket during the second half against the Miami Heat. Last night against the Detroit Pistons, he scored 20 points, including three three pointers, grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists and had two steals in 33 minutes on the floor. However, the Pistons won 106-90. SEE PAGE 5 (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

3RD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS SET

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CHAMPIONSHIP week was officially launched in Grand Bahama as the best high school basketball players in the island nation are set to showcase their skills at the third edition of the National High School Basketball Championships.

The Bahamas Basketball Federation along with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will again host the event in Grand Bahama March 22-26 and will feature the top senior boys and girls and Family Island divisions.

“Everything is in place,” said Evon Wisdom of the Ministry of Education’s Sports Unit. “We

wanted to report to the BBF and we are ready to welcome over 400 athletes to Freeport, Grand Bahama. It is a championship for the senior boys, senior girls and the Family Islands. It was something we know the BBF wanted for a number of years and we are proud that this dream has come true with a small school division.”

The Nationals will be presented by the IL Cares Foundation which made a donation of $10,000 to facilitate the hosting of the event.

“The IL Cares Foundation will present a special award to a courageous student athlete, in this case, Garith Kirkby. His story will be told this week and in the upcoming days as we present him with the courage award as a former student of the Bishop Michael

Eldon School,” Wisdom said. “We hope the athletes have a wonderful stay and the general public will be pleased with this event. We are thankful to the people of Grand Bahama. Your hotels have been very good to us and we foresee this tournament being able to remain in Grand Bahama.”

This year’s tournament will also recognise several basketball icons - Vogel Williams, Wayne Smith, Gary “Rangoon” McIntosh, Jimmy Clarke and Rueben Mounts.

“We will be honouring four individuals that have really and truly given their life to the sport of basketball and to education. Those young men continue to work hard, we have been honoured to have their services over the years,”

PAGE 2, Tuesday, March 20, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Annual Uncle Lou 10K run/walk race a morning of fun

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE numbers may have dwindled, but the competition was still intense as the Alumni Association of St Augustine’s College held its Annual Uncle Lou 10K Fun Run/Walk Race.

The Saturday morning early riser began in front of the Straw Market on Bay Street and ended up in front of the St Augustine’s College administration office where the late Adderley, a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church, served as the first Bahamian principal and the athletic director.

It came down to a sprint for the first place finisher overall as Ramon Williams beat out the younger Glenroy McKenzie to win the men’s title in the run, while Suzanna Eneas tried to keep

up with the pacesetters as she easily took the women’s crown.

Williams, competing in the event for the first time, stopped the clock in 39.49 seconds to edge out McKenzie, who trailed in 49.5.

“It was very taxing on my body, but I pulled through,” said the 27-year-old Williams, who improved on his second place finish in his previous two races he had this year. “It was good.

Glenroy pushed me the whole way. We were supposed to win together, but I pulled through somehow.”

McKenzie, 19, was making his second appearance in the race and he was pleased with his performance despite getting edged out at the end.

“He pushed me. I hung on and tried to finish as hard as I could,” said McKenzie, who got lost when he competed in the race for the first

THE RESULTS Men’s Run Overall winner - Ramon Williams, 39.49 15-and-under - Pherron Charlton, 50.52 16-19 - Glenroy McKenzie, 39.50 20-29 - Ramon Williams, 39.49; Jude Vilma, 46.23; Alvin Cargill, 54.49 30-39 - Andrew Dean, 1:02.50 40-49 - Jason Maynard, 42.49; Dan Weightman, 48.11; Kimwood Mott, 48.49 50-59 - Ryan Bethell, 42.02; Randy Thurston, 46.36; Merrel Major, 47.00.

60-plus - Gary Brathwaite, 53.34 Women’s Run Overall winner - Suzanna Eneas, 44.19 20-29 - Michelle Hunt, 51.15 30-39 - Suzanna Eneas, 44.19 40-49 - Shavon Lightbourne, 54.34; Anastacia Turnquest, 54.57; Melissa Darville, 1:00.52 50-59 - Kelly Roker, no time Women’s Walk Overall winner - Yunelis Lightbourne 20-29 - Amanda Neely 30-39 - Daria Adderley, Juanita Kelly, Agnessa Lundy 40-49 - Yunelis Lightbourne, Cherelle Cartwright, Micah Hepburn 50-59 - Eve Maycock-Dorsett Men’s Walk Overall winner - Mackey Williams 40-49 - Mackey Williams, Tyrone Brown, Alan Bates 50-59 - Darin Woods, Trevor Brice, Daniel Knowles 60-plus - Michael Dilett, Leslie Miller, Kenneth Hart

MACKEY Williams receives his award from Cherelle Cartwright, vice president of the SAC Alumni Association.

Photos: Benson Russell

RAMON Williams (right) is presented with his trophy.

SUZANNA Eneas (right) gets her award.

YUNELIS Lightbourne (right) receives her award.

time. “I did the best that I could. He was good. It was good competition from start to finish.”

For Eneas, who won the ladies’ title for the first time last year after losing to Yunelis Lightbourne in her debut two years ago, had a personal best of 44.19 as she used the event as a tune up for her participation along with her training partner Ryan Bethell for the Boston Marathon next month.

“It was a tough course.

Village Road is actually a hill. When you drive it, you don’t realise it, but when you run it, you feel it,” she said.

“Plus we had the two bridges on Paradise Island so it was truly a tough 10K to run. It was exciting and I enjoyed it.”

Instead of running, former champion Mackey Williams decided to walk to preserve his energy for his participation in a half marathon this weekend at Taino Beach in Grand Bahama.

“The walk was good,” said Mackey, who turns 49 on April 9. “There wasn’t any competition for me as such, so I just tried to stay

ahead of the field and cruise along the course.”

While she also opted not to run, Yunelis Lightbourne had a tough race on her hand as she held off former champion Eve MaycockDorsett for the women’s title in the walk.

“It was an excellent walk, the weather was pretty good.

It was very favourable for runners mostly, but this year I decided to walk because I’m nursing an injury,” said the 42-year-old Lightbourne.

“It’s always nice and always good to come out and support events like this in the community, which brings us together in the sport and for healthy lifestyle.”

Uncle Lou, as he was affectionately called, was represented by his daughter Daria Adderley, a physical education teacher and coach at SAC, who also participated in the walk. She expressed their gratitude on behalf of her mother and sister for the familiar faces who returned to compete in the event for another year as they keep her father’s memory alive.

However, Godfrey ‘Steven’ Robinson, SAC’s Alumni

Association president, said it was disheartening to see the numbers in terms of the participants continue to drop year after year for a man who has done so much, not just at SAC, but in society and the Catholic Church.

“I was disappointed in the very low turnout, but I don’t think it’s because of a lack of promotions,” said Robinson, a member of SAC’s Class of 1985.

“Regardless of how many people show up, we still put all of our efforts into putting on a first-class event.

“We had Aliv sponsor four cell phones, we had gift certificates from John Bull sponsored by the Class of 2001, Bahamas Wholesale was back with their products, Aquapure water, Vitamalt, Desani water and alumni Pete Rolle from the Class of 1984 got his companies Wicom Bahamas Limited and Networkaz Solutions Limited to support the event.”

Robinson, however, said they are hoping that they can get the base of the classes from 1986 and beyond to come out and support the event in the

future because that was when Adderley made his contribution to SAC and the Big Red Machine’s sporting programme. He said they even contacted the Catholic Church for their support, but it was minimal.

Chad Rutherford, a member of the 1986 graduating class, only arrived in town last week from his residence in Houston, Texas, but when he heard about the race, he decided to come out, even if it was just to show his support for Adderley and to renew some of the friendships he developed as a student at SAC. “It is a pleasure to see the legacy being continued. It’s a joy. I feel it in my soul and I want to be a part of this in the future,” he said. “I will come out every year and support it. I was involved in pushing out an album for a group that I’m involved in as a part of a concert. Hopefully next year, I can line up some music around this.”

As usual, the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials, which was formed by the late Adderley in 1976, was out in full force to officiate the event.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 20, 2018, PAGE 3

5 ‘bargain basement specials’ still left in NFL free agency THE Cowboys have made it crystal clear when it comes to free agency over the last few seasons. They will play the role of cheap, skin flint, comfortably.

Cowboys fans have every right to argue that this philosophy needs to change.

One only needs to look at last year’s pathetic free agency debacle.

Garbage truck juice, the entire lot!!!

Darren McFadden, Stephen Paea, Nolan Carroll, and Damontre Moore.

That’s what Cowboys Nation had to be excited about a year ago, and none of them even lasted the season.

It is worth noting that the Cowboys did re-sign a few of their own players a year ago, namely wide receiver Terrence Williams, (more garbage truck juice, in my opinion) and a year later, he still SUCKS!!

More wasted money and cap space.

So this offseason Cowboys Nation, especially here in the 242, please exercise patience and trust in the process.

The Cowboys philosophy on free agents is not going to change this offseason, so why fight it.

Instead, let’s hope Jerry Jones and Company, after a week and-a-half of vacationing in the Bahamas, make prudent decisions in free agency.

With what little salary cap room the Cowboys have left, after placing the ‘franchise tag’ on DE DeMarcus Lawrence, at $17.1 million for 2018, they can only expect to be ‘bargain hunters’ and ‘dumpster divers’ the rest of the way in free agency.

The Cowboys were unable to put together a quality contingent of backup linemen in 2017.

It cost them dearly as left tackle Tyron Smith missed a handful of late-season games and the blocking fell apart.

The club thought they had solutions available to them in house but, in the end, those options failed miserably.

In the next wave of free agency, it appears they will try to right that ship.

THE

PRESS BOX ZELAYA

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICA

• Here are 5 ‘bargain basement specials’ still left in NFL free agency that are expected to visit the Cowboys and potentially sign as free agents.

CAMERON FLEMING OL, PATRIOTS Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Fleming will be in Dallas to meet with Cowboys brass on Monday and Tuesday.

The 2014 fourth-round pick played in 47 games and made 20 starts for the Patriots over the last four seasons.

The Cowboys didn’t get good play from their backup tackles in 2017 and could see Fleming as a way to upgrade that spot.

LaADRIAN WADDELL OL, PATRIOTS Waddle joined Fleming as a reserve up front for the Patriots last season.

He made four starts and 12 appearances overall for New England last season and also saw regular season time with them in 2015 and 2016.

The Cowboys have four of their 2017 starters on the offensive line under contract for 2018.

Left guard Jonathan Cooper is a free agent and adding more help at tackle could open up the possibility of moving La’el Collins back to guard after he spent last season as the right tackle.

MARCUS MARTIN OL, 49ers/BROWNS Martin spent the first three seasons of his career in San Francisco, after being drafted in the third round of the 2015 draft out of USC. He was with the Cleveland Browns last season but did not appear in a game.

He has 24 NFL starts under his belt.

NAVARRO BOWMAN LB, RAIDERS The Cowboys need help at linebacker. We all know the story.

Anthony Hitchens left in free agency, and the Cowboys have Jaylon Smith trying to become a full-time starter, but no one is sure if he can get there.

Then there is the Sean Lee injury situation that is always a worry.

A veteran linebacker who can still produce on the field would be an ideal pickup for the Cowboys.

Bowman may not be the star he once was, but he certainly put together a good season for the Raiders last year.

CARIFTA swimmers worship together ahead of their trip to Jamaica MEMBERS of Team Bahamas, preparing to head to Kingston, Jamaica to defend their title at the CARIFTA Swimming Championships, worshipped together at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Sunday.

In attendance was Bahamas Swimming Federation president Algernon Cargill, head coach Travano McPhee, assistant coach Jorge Rodriquez, team manager Georgette Albury and BSF’s executives William Russell and Erald Thompson II.

The 36-member team is scheduled to leave town on Thursday, March 29 and will be in competition from Saturday, March 31 to Wednesday, April 4.

They are slated to return home on Thursday, April 5.

Maybe the Cowboys are just biding their time, waiting for prices to fall, before they circle back to Bowman. They tried to sign him mid-season last year after the 49ers released him.

This offseason it could actually happen.

DONTRELLE IMAN WR, CHARGERS/ BEARS Dontrelle Iman has had one pretty big season in 2016 with the Chargers - 58 catches for 810 yards. He’s also bounced around for a few teams and has the physical profile the Cowboys like in a receiver (over 6 feet tall).

Until next week, especially Cowboys Nation, patience, patience, patience.

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1.

Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net

SPORTS NOTE BASKETBALL NPWBA MAKE-UP GAMES THE New Providence Women’s Basketball Association will play a double header tonight at the DW Davis Gymnasium as they make up a couple of games before they take a break for the Ministry of Education’s National High School Basketball Tournament in Grand Bahama this weekend.

In the opener at 7 =pm, the Lady Cheetahs will take on the Foxxy Lady Angels and in the feature contest at 8 =pm, the Lady Connectors will meet the Bommer G Lady Operators.

The NPWBA will resume play after the Easter holiday weekend.

3RD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FROM PAGE 1 forward to the camaraderie that will take place during these games.” The association champions earn automatic bids into the 12-team field which includes seven teams from New Providence and five teams from Grand Bahama.

The St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine and Jordan Prince William Falcons will represent the BAISS while GSSSA representatives include the CC Sweeting Cobras, CI Gibson

Rattlers, Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves and Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins.

The Teleos Cherubims will be the lone school from the BSA. Teams out of Grand Bahama will include the Eight Mile Rock BlueJays, Tabernacle Baptist Academy Falcons, Sunland Baptist Academy Stingers, St Georges Jaguars and Jack Hayward Wildcats.

The Family Island division features the top 11 senior boys teams from the Family Island and others with a limited population.

The field includes Agape Christian School and Patrick J Bethel High School out of Abaco, San Salvador Central High School, Cat Island High School, NGM Major High School from Long Island, South Andros High School, Central Eleuthera High, Gateway Academy and Louise McDonald High School out of Bimini and BSA schools out of the capital - Mt Carmel Preparatory Academy and Akhepran International Academy. The senior girls will feature 10 teams from New Providence, Grand

Bahama and Abaco. New Providence schools will once again include SAC and Jordan Prince William from the BAISS, Teleos Christian from the BSA, Doris Johnson and CV Bethel from the GSSSA, Eight Mile Rock, Tabernacle, Bishop Michael Eldon and St Georges High School out of Grand Bahama and Abaco’s Agape Christian Academy.

In 2017, the St George’s Jaguars emerged as the story as they protected home court in their gymnasium by claiming the Division I title in a 61-53 win over

the Tabernacle Baptist Falcons.

The Jaguars’ Howard Hinzey was named the MVP. In the Family Island division, the Gateway Eagles won the national title led by Bradley Lightbourne - he was named the MVP. In the Senior Girls division, the Jordan Prince William Falcons won the national title but the Rattlers’ Latavia Brennen was heralded as the top individual performer. Games will be played at the St George’s and Jack Hayward gymnasiums.

Bahamians in training for the Boston Marathon FROM PAGE 1 years ago when he participated in Atlantic City. Bethell, a 50-year-old who only started running about three years ago, also participated in a marathon in Toronto, Canada, but he’s eager to see how well he will fear in Boston.

“It’s one of the six world majors, so I really surprised myself when I

qualified for it,” he pointed out.

“It’s the hardest one to get in, so I was very proud of myself when I qualified for it.

“I am looking forward to it because it’s a very hilly course and we have been doing a lot of hill training. That is why we decided to run in this road race this morning. So we are looking forward to doing very well in it.”

As a part of their training, Bethell said he and Eneas have

been on a 16-week programme where they were running almost 700 miles and with a month left, they will taper off with two weeks so they can be properly prepared for race day.

“To know that we are going to represent our country and be the only two Bahamians there making it happen is really exciting,” Bethell stated.

“We’re training partners and so to know that we are going

out there after doing everything together, we just need to stay healthy. For both of us to be going to Boston to represent the country is the icing on the cake.”

To qualify for Boston, Bethell, an electronic system contractor and an ordained minister of the gospel, had to run under three hours and 30 minutes and he did it in 3:25.

Eneas, an office administrator at My Ocean Limited and the wife

of 1992 Olympic swimmer and attorney Timmy Eneas, did 3:36 as she went under the qualifying time of 3:40.

They both hope to improve on their times as the Bahamian flag bearers in Boston, which is a part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series of six of the largest and most renowned marathons, joining the list that includes Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, March 20, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

THE Royal Bahamas Police Force Enforcers volleyball team.

The Steelers upset Enforcers in Mayaguana RBPF volleyball competition THE Royal Bahamas Police Force celebrated their anniversary month in Mayaguana as the community team called The Steelers pulled off the upset against the Enforcers in their volleyball competition at the Pirates Wells Primary School on Saturday.

The Steelers, captained

by Edvardo Charlton and featuring Troy Gibson,

Edvardo Charlton Jr, Terry Brooks, Shazard Charlton, Merrisha Burrows and Sharona Moss, prevailed with a 25-18, 25-19 sweep over the Police Enforcers, captained by Sergeant 3127 Terrell Stubbs and comprising of Inspector Leonardo Burrows, Corporal 3694 S Rolle, Delano Ferguson, Devon Hall, Earl Campbell and Marcus Sands.

EDVARDO Charlton receives the first place trophy for the Steelers.

THE RBPF Steelers volleyball team.

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Tuesday, March 20, 2018, PAGE 5

MIAMI Heat guard Wayne Ellington (2), forward Kelly Olynyk, centre, and guard Josh Richardson (0) celebrate after they defeated the Denver Nuggets in double overtime last night in Miami. (AP)

Wild night in Miami: Heat top Nuggets 149-141 in two OTs MIAMI (AP) — James Johnson scored a careerhigh 31 points, Kelly Olynyk added 30 off the bench and the Miami Heat set a franchise single-game scoring record by beating the Denver Nuggets 149141 in double overtime Monday night.

Miami’s total was also an NBA season-high and helped the Heat get back to the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

Houston and Oklahoma City each scored 148 in games earlier this season.

Wayne Ellington scored 23 points for the Heat.

Nikola Jokic had 34 for

Denver, while Wilson Chandler added 26 for the Nuggets.

Neither team was at full strength. For Miami, Dwyane Wade (left hamstring strain) missed his fourth consecutive game, and Hassan Whiteside (left hip pain) sat out his fifth straight contest. Denver

MVP Altuve, Astros finalise $163.5M, 7-year contract WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — Jose Altuve sat behind a table set up on the field at the Houston Astros’ spring training complex, and his teammates looked on as the World Series champions announced his $163.5 million, seven-year contract, the longest in team history.

“You made me more nervous, because I don’t like talking in front of a lot of people.

You know that,” he said.

Houston finalised a deal yesterday that guaranteed the AL MVP an additional $151 million over five seasons.

“Certainly a fan favourite. Our fans love Jose,” owner Jim Crane said. “Winner, MVP — what else can you say? He always leads by example. When I talk to the guys in the locker room, everybody is better because of Jose, and he’s a great leader. So, Jose, you’re the heart of the team. We’re happy to have you for the long-term.”

The 27-year-old second baseman had been among baseball’s best bargains. He agreed in 2013 to a deal that originally guaranteed $12.5 million from 2014-17 and included club options for 2018 at $6 million and 2019 at $6.5 million.

His new deal keeps those salaries and adds a $21 million signing bonus, of which $1 million is payable upon the deal’s approval by the commissioner’s office and $10 million each on July 1 in 2018 and 2019.

He gets annual salaries of $26 million from 2020-24.

Altuve all gets a no-trade provision, a hotel suite on road trips and premium stadium seats. From 2021-24, his salaries in the remainder of the contract would increase by $3 million if he is voted MVP, $2 million if he finishes second and $1 million if he finishes third.

“This a very important day for me,” he said. “It was a priority, because that way it doesn’t take attention from the season.”

Altuve would have been eligible for free agency after the 2019 season. The 5-foot-6 Altuve hit .346 last season to win his second straight AL batting title and third in four seasons. He had 24 homers, 82 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.

“There’s some stability that comes with writing Jose’s name in the lineup every single day,” manager A.J. Hinch said, “and to think that he’s going to be the franchise player for years to come is good for him, it’s good for the organisation, it’s obviously

THIS photo shows Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros baseball team. A person familiar with the negotiations says AL MVP Altuve and the World Series champion Astros have agreed to a contract that guarantees him an additional $151 million over five seasons from 2020-24. (AP) good for me as a manager and most importantly is good for his teammates because he’s the most reliable player I’ve ever been around.”

After winning its first World Series title, Houston also hopes to reach more longterm deals. Pitcher Dallas Keuchel and designatted hitter Evan Gattis are eligible for free agency after this season.

Houston added pitcher Justin Verlander for its stretch run last fall and Gerrit Cole in a trade during the offseason.

“We’d love to keep all the guys I’m looking at here for their entire careers,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said.

“Jim is committed to keeping the best team on the field for as long as possible and giving us a chance to win multiple championships, and part of that is developing our own players and keeping our own players and bringing in the right types of players.

And we’ve done that. We’ll see what the future holds but we certainly have a desire and an intention to keep our core together as long as possible.”

was without leading scorer Gary Harris, sidelined again by a strained right knee that could keep him out several more days.

Denver led 16-5 after 3 1/2 minutes, and that was the only double-digit lead by either side for about the next three hours. It was airtight until the very final moments.

CAVALIERS 124, BUCKS 117 CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James scored 40 points as part of his third triple-double in four games and Cleveland beat Milwaukee as coach Tyronn Lue began his leave of absence to address health issues.

Lue said Monday in a statement he been dealing with chest pains and loss of sleep, and that tests have offered no conclusion about what the issue is. Associate head coach Larry Drew will run the team in Lue’s absence.

James scored 17 points in the third quarter and finished with 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his 16th tripledouble this season and 71st of his career.

The four-time MVP took over in the third beginning with back-to-back 3-pointers. After not getting a foul called on a third attempt, he finished Cleveland’s next possession with a massive dunk. He was fouled attempting another dunk and made both free throws the following time down.

SPURS 89, WARRIORS 75 SAN ANTONIO (AP) — LaMarcus Aldridge had 33 points and 12 rebounds, and San Antonio blew a 16-point lead to injury-ravaged Golden State before pulling away for a victory.

The Spurs beat Golden State for the first time in four tries this season and won their fourth straight overall to move into fifth place in the Western Conference, one-half game ahead of idle Utah and New Orleans.

Already without injured All-Stars Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, the Warriors lost Draymond Green in the second quarter to a bruise in the pelvic area.

Green took a knee to the groin while defending a drive to the basket by Danny Green.

The Warriors weren’t getting any sympathy from a Spurs team that has played

without Kawhi Leonard for much of the season.

76ERS 108, HORNETS 104 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid had 25 points and 19 rebounds and Ben Simmons had a tripledouble to lead Philadelphia over Charlotte.

Simmons had 11 points, 12 rebounds and 15 assists to help the Sixers keep alive their shot at finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference and earning home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The 76ers have one of the easiest schedules of any team the rest of the season.

The Sixers would have to pass Washington and Indiana to grab the No. 4 seed and stave off a potential Toronto or Boston matchup for at least a round.

The Hornets missed 17 of 21 shots in the third (1 of 5 on 3s) to crush their chances of stretching a seven-point halftime lead.

PACERS 110, LAKERS 100 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Victor Oladipo sparked a decisive run and finished with 20 points, Myles Turner had 21 points and Indiana recovered from a poor start for a victory over Los Angeles.

The victory snapped Indiana’s two-game losing streak.

Los Angeles was led by Kyle Kuzma with 27 points and Brook Lopez with 23, but the Lakers still lost their third straight.

Oladipo and Darren Collison got Indiana going with back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the third quarter for a 77-70 lead.

PISTONS 106, KINGS 90 SACRAMENTO, Calif.

(AP) — Blake Griffin had 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and Detroit pulled away in the third quarter to beat Sacramento.

Ish Smith had 18 points, Reggie Bullock added 17 and Anthony Tolliver scored 12 points behind three 3-pointers — one of three Pistons with a trio of 3s. Andre Drummond had just four points but pulled down 16 rebounds to help Detroit end its three-game losing streak.

KNICKS 110, BULLS 92 NEW YORK (AP) — Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22

points and Michael Beasley added 17 as New York beat Chicago.

Enes Kanter had 10 points and 13 rebounds, while Troy Williams added 11 for the Knicks.

Cristiano Felicio scored a career-high 17 points for the Bulls, who were missing their top three scorers and went 3-for-30 from 3-point range.

Bobby Portis and Antonio Blakeney scored 16 points apiece.

NETS 118, GRIZZLIES 115 NEW YORK (AP) — Allen Crabbe and Caris LeVert each scored 22 points and Brooklyn beat Memphis.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and DeMarre Carroll scored 18 points for the Nets, who have two straight wins for the first time since Jan. 19-21.

Andrew Harrison, who missed Memphis’ last nine games due to a right wrist injury, scored 19 points, and Brionte Webber had a career-high 15.

The Grizzlies have lost 20 of 21.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 20, 2018, PAGE 7

RONALDO VERSUS MESSI: SCORING RACE HEATS UP IN SPAIN

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer

REAL Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his third goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Girona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Paul White)

in every training session and in everything he does on the field,” Zidane said. “If he has a penalty in training, he will take it with the maximum concentration. It’s what makes him different from the rest.”

Ronaldo is trying to keep Messi from winning the top-scorer’s “Pichichi” trophy for the second consecutive year. The Argentina forward scored 37 league goals last season, 12 more than Ronaldo.

Ronaldo hasn’t won the award since 2015, when he had 48. That was still shy of Messi’s record of 50 in 2011-12.

Despite’s Ronaldo’s impressive run, Madrid trails Barcelona by 15 points after 29 matches. The teams meet again in May at Camp Nou. They could also meet in the Champions League semi-finals or the final.

Messi scored twice against Madrid this season — in a 3-1 loss in the Spanish Super Cup at the beginning of the season and in a 3-0 win at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in a league match late last year. Ronaldo scored in that Spanish Super Cup game.

Messi has scored at least once in his last six matches in all

MADRID (AP) — Regardless of who wins the Spanish league, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be battling to the end.

Real Madrid doesn’t have much chance of keeping Barcelona from winning the league, but Ronaldo is making a strong run to snag the scoring title from Messi with nine matches remaining.

Ronaldo added another four goals as Madrid beat Girona 6-3 on Sunday, giving him 22 for the season. That is only three behind Messi, who scored his 25th as Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0.

“Hopefully he can catch him,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said of Ronaldo. “It’s important for him and for us, too. When he’s playing well, the team plays well.

He transmits an important and positive energy to the group.

“He’s always in very good form come the end of the season. He’s got an eye for goal and he’ll never lose that.”

Ronaldo has scored at least one goal in his last eight matches in all competitions. He has 21 in his last 11 games. “He’s unbelievably ambitious and that comes across

competitions. He has at least 25 league goals in nine consecutive seasons with Barcelona.

“Messi is the best player in the world and he shows it game after game,” Athletic defender Unai Nunez said after their match on Sunday.

Ronaldo has at least 25 league goals in the last eight seasons.

He has 50 career hat tricks, and scored four or more goals in a match with Madrid eight times.

“He’s on unbelievable form at the moment,” Madrid forward Lucas Vazquez said of Ronaldo.

“He helps the team with his work, goals, and assists. Everyone benefits from it.”

There were some reports in Spanish media on Monday saying Ronaldo tried to make a deal with tax authorities in a fraud case against him, and that his proposal was reportedly rejected.

“Don’t try to erase the beautiful moment I’m going through with fake news,” he wrote on Instagram. “Life is good. Blessed.”

Last year, a state prosecutor accused Ronaldo of four counts of tax fraud from 2011-14 worth 14.7 million euros ($18 million).

Ronaldo denies any wrongdoing.

FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the Spanish La Liga soccer match against Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 55° F/13° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Partly sunny and breezy

Patchy clouds with a shower late

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

Mostly sunny and breezy

Mostly sunny and breezy

Sunshine and pleasant

High: 85°

Low: 70°

High: 83° Low: 65°

High: 78° Low: 61°

High: 77° Low: 62°

High: 78° Low: 62°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

89° F

72° F

87°-65° F

80°-62° F

77°-63° F

81°-65° F

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 58° F/14° C

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

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 70° F/21° C

12-25 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 89° F/32° C Low: 60° F/16° C

10-20 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 66° F/19° C

N

S

E

W

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 66° F/19° C

MIAMI

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 67° F/19° C

12-25 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 81° F/27° C Low .................................................... 63° F/17° C Normal high ....................................... 79° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 66° F/19° C Last year’s high ................................. 79° F/26° C Last year’s low ................................... 58° F/15° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 6.79” Normal year to date ..................................... 3.89”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 70° F/21° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 71° F/22° C

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

S

E

W

8-16 knots

S

8-16 knots 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.

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

10:34 a.m.

11:00 p.m.

2.7 3.0

4:34 a.m. -0.3 4:46 p.m. -0.4

Wednesday 11:18 a.m.

11:48 p.m.

2.6 2.9

5:21 a.m. -0.2 5:30 p.m. -0.3

Thursday

12:07 p.m.

-----

2.5 -----

6:12 a.m. -0.1 6:19 p.m. -0.2

Friday

12:42 a.m.

1:02 p.m.

2.9 2.3

7:09 a.m. 0.0 7:14 p.m. -0.1

Saturday

1:42 a.m.

2:06 p.m.

2.9 2.3

8:12 a.m.

8:18 p.m.

0.1 0.0

Sunday

2:47 a.m.

3:15 p.m.

2.8 2.3

9:20 a.m.

9:27 p.m.

0.2 0.0

Monday

3:55 a.m.

4:24 p.m.

2.9 2.4

10:27 a.m. 0.1 10:36 p.m. -0.1

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

7:14 a.m.

7:21 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

9:27 a.m.

10:31 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Mar. 24

Mar. 31

Apr. 8

Apr. 15

CAT ISLAND

E

W

uV inDex toDay

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

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

L

E

W

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 79° F/26° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 76° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° 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 SW at 10-20 Knots W at 20-30 Knots S at 8-16 Knots NW at 10-20 Knots S at 8-16 Knots W at 10-20 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots SSW at 8-16 Knots S at 8-16 Knots WNW at 10-20 Knots SSW at 12-25 Knots WNW at 15-25 Knots S at 8-16 Knots WNW at 8-16 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots SW at 8-16 Knots SSE at 7-14 Knots W at 7-14 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots SSW at 8-16 Knots S at 8-16 Knots WNW at 6-12 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots W at 7-14 Knots S at 8-16 Knots W at 10-20 Knots

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

VISIBILITY 5 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 74° F 74° F 77° F 77° F 76° F 76° F 79° F 79° F 77° F 77° F 75° F 75° F 77° F 77° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 75° F 75° F 78° F 79° F 76° F 76° F

Covering The Bahamas for over 40 years.

NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

HOME INSURANCE

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www.InsuranceManagementBahamas.com

PAGE 8, Tuesday, March 20, 2018

THE TRIBUNE