03272018 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2018

EAGLES TAKE BACK-TO-BACK NATIONAL TITLES TO BIMINI

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: The Tabernacle Baptist Falcons last night defeated the Jack Hayward Wildcats 59-44 in the National High School Basketball Championships Division I finale at the St George’s Gymnasium.

Tabernacle Baptist Falcons emerge as national champions

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A

dominant season for the Tabernacle Baptist Falcons, where they reached nearly every possible milestone, culminated with the ultimate prize - the 2018 national title.

The Falcons defeated the Jack Hayward Wildcats 59-44 in the National High School Basketball Championships Division I finale at the St George’s Gymnasium last night.

Once again, the Falcons were powered by a dominant performance from their backcourt.

Tournament MVP Desmond Butler finished with 13 points while Alfredo Brown scored 13 and shot 4-9 from beyond the arch.

Reigning Hugh Campbell MVP Joshua Dames had nine points and

eight rebounds off the bench, Seandre Todd scored nine and Shyrone Kemp grabbed 17 rebounds.

Tramaine Ferguson scored nine to lead the Wildcats while McKell Bethel finished with eight.

“What a ride. I’m just so proud of these boys. They have gone on a journey like no other team I have coached and I can go on record and say that this is the No.1 team in the Bahamas,” Falcons head coach Kevin Clarke said.

“These guys are guaranteed to fight it out every night, they are going to give you their all and that’s all we can ask for. Once they do, I just tell them to let the chips fall where they may, but I think we continued to prove all year, like we did tonight, that we are the No.1 team in the country.”

Tied at four and again tied at nine, Wildcats point guard Jalen Hall went down with an early

ankle injury and the Falcons led 10-9 at the end of the first.

“We normally start slow, but I tell my boys it’s not how you start it’s how you finish,” Clarke said.

“We just continue to play with a team effort and stay consistent throughout, eventually the system and our style of play will win out and it has throughout the year.”

The Falcons got two threes from Todd and Brown to pull ahead.

Hall recovered briefly from his earlier injury and scored on a pull up jumper and three pointer to bring the Wildcats within two (16-14).

Butler responded with the third Tabby three of the quarter and Hall’s ankle forced him out of the game again after those five points with his team trailing 20-16.

Edward Williams scored on a fastbreak dunk, but Brown answered with a three followed by a steal and dish to Dames for a

25-18 lead. The Falcons led 25-21 at the half.

Tabernacle opened the third on an 8-2 run and a Butler layup gave them a 33-23 lead. The Wildcats offence was unable to keep pace with Hall sidelined for the remainder of the game and the Falcons took a 44-30 lead into the fourth.

They opened play with a 42-18 win over Eight Mile Rock, followed by a 29-28 win over St George’s and a 60-36 blowout win over the T’Wolves to advance to the championship.

“This season was amazing, to win every tournament but the thanksgiving tournament was quite an experience,” Butler said.

“I have to give credit to my coach, my teammates, they worked hard but this was a team effort and we did it all together. I couldn’t imagine my senior year ending any other way.”

THE Gateway Academy Eagles will take back-to-back national titles to Bimini.

They took the 2018 title for the Family Island division at the National High School Basketball Championships with a 73-59 win over the Agape Christian School Eagles at the St George’s Gymnasium last night.

Bradley Lightbourne delivered another MVP performance for Gateway and led four Eagles in double figures with 22 points and 15 rebounds.

Dencil Jones Jr scored 15, Leroy Leslie and Levelli Rolle each added 11 points while Chester McPhee posted five points and 13 rebounds.

Oswald Meadows led Agape with 21 points, Regan Roberts scored 12 and Michael Adderley finished with 11.

Agape head coach Stephan Johnson said his team needed to be prepared for the Gateway defence headed into the final, but that defence was the deciding factor early in the first quarter.

Agape fell behind early after a stifling Gateway trap led to easy scores and a 8-2 lead. Their run was ended by a Meadows layup but Gateway led 24-12 after the first.

Agape trailed by as much as 12, but three consecutive three-point shots got them back into the game. Jerry Laguerre, Adderley and Roberts each connected from downtown to pull within two.

Agape trailed just 32-30 headed into the fourth.

Agape took their first lead of the game in a fourth quarter that featured several ties and lead changes before Gateway eventually pulled away.

“It feels great to do this for another year, it’s difficult for words to express what this means to the staff, the players, their friends and families,” Gateway head coach Gilbert Rolle Jr said.

“We had an incredible season in Bimini. Before the season started we wanted to dedicate the year to God and we give him thanks. We travelled to Florida to play, made a championship and we lost but we made up our minds that this season was

SEE PAGE 2

Top cyclists Major, Colebrooke ready for Commonwealth Games

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THEY are considered the top two local competitors, but cyclists Jay Major and Anthony ‘Biggie’ Colebrooke both know that it will take some international success in order to be contenders at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia.

Page 5

The duo are expected to be the flag carriers for the Bahamas at their second Commonwealth Games. This year’s games will run April 4-15, but they won’t leave until April 5 and should arrive on April 7.

Colebrooke is scheduled to compete in the time trials, while he and Major will contest the road race.

For 23-year-old Major, it’s good to get an opportunity to redeem himself from his initial appearance. “I feel a lot more confident.

The first one it was all about getting the experience,” Major said.

“This time, we are going there to perform, although I still don’t think that I’m capable where I can go there and try to win the race or make the podium.

“But I definitely feel that I’m in that kind of shape where I can finish the race and be in the top 30, maybe top 20 and if I can do that, it would be very good considering that we will have more than 160 guys in the race.”

Having competed at the last Commonwealth Games in Scotland, Major didn’t get to complete the road race as he was in the back peloton that got eliminated by the top contenders.

“It wasn’t nothing that I ever raced in. It was cold and it was an extremely hilly course,” he pointed out. “This course that we are going to compete on is not as hilly and the climate should be in our favour because it’s expected to be hot like it is here.”

In preparation for the games, Major said he’s been doing a variety of training and levels of cycling, even though he hasn’t done as much racing to test his agility.

“I’ve been training a lot harder than I’ve done in the past in this time of the year because the games are a lot earlier in the year,” Major said. “I’ve been doing a lot of speed workout and riding behind a scooter, trying to JAY Major (above) and Anthony Colebrooke are expected to represent the Bahamas at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia.

SEE PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Tuesday, March 27, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

EAGLES TAKE BACK-TO-BACK TITLES

FROM PAGE 1

about progression, getting better, and at the end of the year I think we were able to do that. We are a very small team, so we pride ourselves on tough defence and we definitely wanted to bring this win back for our island again.”

Gateway ran through the tournament field relatively untested en route to the championship, winning their three games by 30, 21 and 17 points.

They opened with a 66-36 win over Central Eleuthera, followed by a 42-21 win over San Salvador and an 81-64 win over Patrick J Bethel.

Gateway won the 2017 championship after another undefeated run through the tournament, capped by a 56-43 win over Patrick J Bethel.

THE DORIS Johnson Mystic Marlins have made history as the first team to claim two National High School Basketball Championships.

Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins claim two national basketball championships

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net AFTER a lopsided loss in last year’s national title game, the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins set their sights on a rematch with the Jordan Prince William Falcons.

They successfully avenged that loss and made history as the first team to claim two National High School Basketball Championships.

They closed out an undefeated tournament run with a 47-39 win over the Falcons at the St George’s Gymnasium last night.

Junior national team standouts Briontae Riley and Tanea Bowleg

led the Mystic Marlins on both ends of the floor.

Riley finished with eight points and 25 rebounds while Bowleg scored a team high 17 and Kovanique Rolle chipped in with eight.

Brianna Stevens and Judy Forbes each finished with seven points to lead the Falcons.

Riley said the championship was a fitting end to her high school career and to a senior season.

“This one feels good because we really wanted a win against this team after what happened last year,” she said. “We knew that it would be a tough fight against them, they came in thinking they were better than us but we knew we had a point to prove.”

Riley played all 32 minutes in the contest after she posted 23 points and 25 rebounds in the semi-finals the night before.

She averaged 10.5 points, 15.5 rebounds per game and was named the tournament MVP. “This is my last year so I had to give it my all,” Riley said. “There was no time to rest, and for us to get this win and reclaim this national championship.”

Riley scored the first five points of the game and Rolle’s three pointer gave the Mystic Marlins an early 10-1 lead. Prince William didn’t get their first field goal of the game until a Dwainique Rolle layup at the 1:32 mark and Doris Johnson led 15-4 after one.

They widened the margin in the second 23-8 after a Riley score and took a 27-13 lead into the half.

In the third quarter, Prince William turned defence into easy offence with three steals and scores for a 6-0 run but could only trim the deficit to nine at one point.

Stevens had a late steal and layup to make the score 35-26 headed into the fourth.

The Falcons came within five points, but the Mystic Marlins were in the double bonus with 4:35 minutes. “We have been developing players for quite a while, we have some talent, we were able to create a programme

with building people around them and produce championships every year. This one feels extra special because that last year caused us to refocus. From training camp we just put everything into winning this and we thought the only team that could beat us is ourselves.”

The Mystic Marlins won the inaugural national title in 2016 with a win over CR Walker and followed with last year’s loss to the Falcons.

“Moving forward we don’t have a total rebuild,” Spence said. “We have some strong players coming back, we have the formula, we have the DNA, we have the structure, we just have to keep pushing forward.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 27, 2018, PAGE 3

Cowboy Nation, here’s what to do with Dez Bryant AFTER making multiple impressive moves during the second week of the NFL free agency period, including signing two wide receivers, ex-Jaguar Allan Hurns and ex-Bear and Bill Deonte Thompson...

Both of these receivers appear to be replacements for incumbent No.2 wide receiver Terence Williams, and free agent Brice Butler.

Butler is most certainly heading to a new team, (possibly the 49ers) after these recent transactions by the Cowboys. Which brings the hot topic of the NFL offseason, especially in Cowboy Nation, what do we do with Dez? HERE’S WHAT TO DO WITH DEZ ?

The Cowboys intended to let Bryant play out the

season at $12.5 million, and revisit his spot on the roster in the offseason.

Where if they choose to cut him, would only be a $4M cap hit.

Talks about Bryant’s exit intensified after the Cowboys added another starting-caliber receiver to their roster for the 2018 NFL season, in the form of ex Jaguar Pro Bowler Allan Hurns. (From the “U.”) If the Cowboys are planning to part ways with Bryant, Jason Reed of LA Sports Hub said that the Los Angeles Rams should try to trade for the 29-yearold receiver.

Bryant’s trade value is still an unknown, however the Cowboys will gladly get as much possible for him in any trade.

THE

PRESS BOX ZELAYA

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICA

It may be because, rumours continue to swirl, the Cowboys might just cut Bryant out right, later in the offseason, for nothing.

Jean-Jacques Taylor of NBC DFW said that Dallas appears to be ready to move on from the eightyear veteran. The Cowboys signed the aforementioned WR Allen Hurns, formerly of the Jaguars, to a twoyear, $12 million contract.

Dallas signed Hurns for two reasons.

1. To make him their new No. 2 wide receiver.

2. In preparation for the eventual departure of Bryant before the start of the new season.

Regardless of how Dallas is planning to handle Bryant’s situation, the Rams should reach out to the Cowboys, and at least inquire about a

possible trade. I agree with my colleague Jason Reed of LA Sports Hub, trading for Bryant makes a lot of sense for the Rams because they need a replacement for Sammy Watkins, who inked a three-year deal worth $48 million with the Kansas City Chiefs.

And for the Cowboys who desperately want to move Bryant and his hefty contract, without having to cut him for nothing.

Cowboys’ existing 10 picks in this year’s NFL Draft.

That’s a lot of ammunition for the Cowboys to have at their disposal for Draft day trades.

Trades which could quite possibly net them them one of Calvin Ridley or DJ Moore, considered to be the top two receivers in this year’s Draft.

Both obvious replacements for Bryant, short and long term.

WHAT DO THE RAMS GIVE UP TO GET IT DONE ?

The Rams could offer their sixth-round pick, along with the picks of the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants in the same round.

Three sixth round picks to go along with the

• 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

Top cyclists Major, Colebrooke ready for Commonwealth Games FROM PAGE 1

ANTHONY Colebrooke (above) and Jay Major are expected to represent the Bahamas at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia.

turn my legs over faster because the race is going to be very fast. “We are going to be racing against guys who are doing the Tour de France, so it’s going to be a high level of competition that we are going to be faced against.”

Major, who has also been on a vigorous diet programme to maintain his weight, said it’s good to have Colebrooke travelling to compete with him. “Me and Biggie form a really good team,” Major stated.

“All two of us are well rounded cyclists, all two of us can climb and we have a pretty good finish. We work well together and we have our country in the foremost position in the race.”

Athletes burn up the track in the US

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A NUMBER of Bahamians, including members of the University of the Bahamas and a few CARIFTA Games and Commonwealth Games bound athletes, were in action in a series of meets over the weekend in the United States.

USF Bulls Invitational Michael Mathieu, getting set to represent the country at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia, next month, dropped down to the 100 metres where he was second in 10.79 behind American Walter Dix, who won in 10.45.

UB’s freshman Javaughn Culmer was 24th in 11.30; sophomore Aaron Cox was 32nd in 11.43 and freshman Melchizedek Brice got disqualified after he had a false start.

UB got a victory as sophomore Anthony Adderley took the 200m in 20.89.

Commonwealth Games’ team member Ramon Miller was 10th in 21.77 and UB senior Yurick Dean was 13th in 21.98.

Miller, however, picked up a second place finish in the 400m in 46.98 behind American Clavin Smith, the winner in 46.89. UB’s sophomore Michael Stuart was eighth in 48.45; freshman Brandon Hanna was 16th in 49.29 and freshman Donya Roberts was 25th in 50.09.

In the 800m, UB’s sophomore Tyler Gardiner was 19th in 2:00.78.

Avery Thompson, a senior at UB, got 12th in the men’s 110m hurdles in 14.99.

UB’s team of Aaron Cox, Anthony Adderley, Yurick Dean and Javaughn Culmer was third in 41.54.

And their 4 x 400m team of Donya Roberts, Michael Stuart, Brandon Hanna and Anthony Adderley came in fifth in 3:13.93, while the team of Ken Mullings, Verdell McIntosh,

Tyler Gardiner and Avery Thompson was 12th in 3:25.30.

Mullings, a UB sophomore, also contested the men’s high jump where he came in third with 2.10 metres or 6-feet, 10 3/4inches. UB’s sophomore Stony Duncanson didn’t get in a height. Mullings also failed to get a height in the pole vault.

And Bradley Cooper Jr, a junior at UB, was third in the men’s discus with a toss of 56.76m (147-04) and 12th in the shut put with 11.82m *(38-09 1/2).

On the women’s side, Quanisha Marshall, preparing for the CARIFTA Games this weekend at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, was second in the 800m in 2:13.57. She was beaten out by Ashley Brown of VCU in 2:13.22. Tavia Bullard was 30th in 2:27.48 and Geneisha Capron was 37th in 2:233.10. They are all freshman.

Alexandria Strachan, a junior at UB, was 30th in the women’s 100m in 12.53.

In the 200m, Gabrielle Shannon was 37th overall in 25.99 and Jodie Miller was 47th in 26.50. In the 400m, UB freshmen Josey Romica was 19th in 59.47 and Amber Ford got 24th in 1:00.26 UB’s team of Gabrielle Shannon, Amber Ford, Quanisha Marshall and Josey Romica ran 3:54.46 for eighth place in the women’s 4 x 400m relay.

Florida State Relays Alonzo Russell, in his preparation for the Commonwealth Games as well, won the men’s 400 metres in a time of 46.16. TJ Homles, running unattached like Russell, was second in 47.13.

And Bronson Rolle, a freshman at Liberty, pulled off a victory in the men’s 400m hurdles in 52.50. Alec Eschholz, a junior at Dartmouth, was second in 52.82.

On the women’s side, Talia Thompson, a senior at Southern Miss, was fourth

in the 400m hurdles in 1:02.88.

Her team-mate Brashe Wood was fourth in the shot put with a toss of 15.35m (50-4 1/2). Wood, also in her senior year, was seventh in the discus with 45.97 (150-10).

36th annual Victor Lopez Classic at Rice University in Houston, Texas Lanece Clarke, competing on Dtsp - Houston, won her heat of the women’s 100m for second place overall in 11.90. Aleyah Donald of McNeese State was the winner in 11.87.

She came back in the 200m and won her heat in the fastest time overall in 23.56. Her nearest rival was Hannah Jackson of rice in 23.59.

Brianne Bethel, representing the University of Houston, got third overall after placing third in her heat of the women’s 400m in 55.15. Maya Harewood of Tulane won in 54.79 with Liz Reid of Towson second in 54.92.

Bethel also started Houston’s 4 x 400m relay team that included Ariele Adams, Jazmyn TilfordRutherford and Birexus Hawkins, who was second in 3:45.88. Western Michigan won with 3:45.86.

Arkansas Spring Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas Charisma Taylor, running unattached, was eighth in her heat for 18th overall in the women’s 100 metres in 12.09 to lead the list of Bahamians in action there.

She also contested the 200m where she was 11th overall after placing third in her heat in 24.97 and was 10th in the long jump with a best leap of 5.54 metres or 17-feet, 10 3/4-inches.

Trae Carey, a senior at Arkansas, got eliminated after he had a false start in the men’s 100m.

In the women’s 400m hurdles, Kenisha Stubbs, a freshman for Cloud County Community College, was fourth in her heat and 10th overall in 1:08.64.

Colebrooke, who resides in Grand Bahama, said he’s not as prepared as he should be because he didn’t get the international training that was promised by the Bahamas Cycling Federation.

“Whatever happens happens,” he said. “My training has been off and on because I had to work.”

In Australia, Colebrooke will have double duties as he will contest the time trials and then team up with Major in the road race.

“We’re not going to be as competitive as we should be training here at home for sure,” he stated. “We should have gone off to train.

They told us from last year that we would have gone to the United States and even Colombia to train, but that never happened.”

Colebrooke, 22, said he’s just going to go to the games and do his best. “We normally race against each other, so we know each other’s strength and weakness,” Colebrooke said. “It’s no difference here, but we have to do a lot of work when we get over there to compete.”

The two cyclists, who will be managed and coached by Roshawn Jones, also from Grand Bahama. They will be a part of the 31-member team that was selected and ratified by the Bahamas Olympic Committee earlier this month.

“It’s definitely an honour.

Every time you get to represent your country, it’s a big honour,” Major said. “I’m grateful to the association for picking us both and I know I’m definitely going to do my best.”

PAGE 4, Tuesday, March 27, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Bahamas National High School Basketball Championships ON THE REPLAY: Players compete in the 2018 Bahamas National High School Basketball Championships at St George’s Gymnasium in Grand Bahama.

Photos: 10thYearSeniors.com

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 27, 2018, PAGE 5

Tatum has 23, Morris 20 to lift Celtics over Suns 102-94

ZEKE UPSHAW

NBA G LEAGUE PLAYER DIES AFTER COLLAPSING DURING GAME

By JOSE M ROMERO Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 23 points, Marcus Morris added 20 in three quarters before leaving with an injury and the Boston Celtics beat the Phoenix Suns 102-94 last night.

Tatum surpassed 1,000 points for the season, and Boston won its fourth straight to move to three games behind the Toronto Raptors for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Morris, a former Sun, re-injured a sprained right ankle that forced him out of the Celtics’ game Sunday at Sacramento. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter.

Al Horford added 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Celtics.

Josh Jackson led the Suns with 23 points. He has scored 15 or more in seven straight games, but the Suns lost their 12th consecutive game and have dropped 27 of 29.

Tyler Ulis added 19 points for Phoenix.

The Celtics were without star guard Kyrie Irving, who had knee surgery Saturday. The Suns were without their star guard, Devin Booker, who missed his fifth straight game with a hand injury.

Tatum scored nine of the Celtics’ first 11 points, while Jackson had all of the first 11 for the Suns. The Celtics made 5 of 7 3-pointers in the first quarter and led 31-15 when it ended.

Boston led 39-19 during the second quarter, but the Suns chipped away and cut the lead to 48-45 on Marquese Chriss’ rebound basket with 5.6 seconds to go until halftime.

Boston made just 7 of 21 second-quarter shots while Phoenix went from 24 percent in the first quarter to a field-goal percentage of 55 in the second. Ulis spurred the comeback with seven points, five assists and four

BOSTON Celtics guard Terry Rozier III (12) loses control of the ball as Phoenix Suns guard Elfrid Payton, left, defends during the first half last night. (AP) rebounds in the quarter.

The Suns tied at the game at 56, but Morris’ three free throws after the third quarter buzzer gave the Celtics a 77-65 lead. He aggravated his ankle injury on the foul.

The Celtics were never

seriously threatened in the fourth.

KEEPING UP WITH KYRIE Celtics coach Brad Stevens said before the game he has reached out to Irving via text message. “His

spirits are pretty good. He wants to be here,” Stevens said. “He wants to play.”

BOOKER BEING AROUND Suns coach Jay Triano was asked how Booker is

doing from a leadership standpoint while still sidelined. “He’s been active in practice and going through drills with us and just trying to keep his hand out of the mix and verbal on the bench,” Triano said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Zeke Upshaw, a swingman for the Detroit Pistons’ G League affiliate who collapsed on the court during a game over the weekend, died yesterday.

Upshaw, 26, died at a hospital, the Grand Rapids Drive said. No cause was disclosed. He collapsed Saturday night near the end of a game against the Long Island Nets.

Upshaw’s mother, Jewel Upshaw, released a statement thanking the team and fans. Team owner Steve Jbara says the Grand Rapids area was fortunate to enjoy Upshaw’s commitment to the community, especially children.

Malcolm Turner, the G League’s president, said the league is devastated by Upshaw’s death and extended the league’s condolences to Upshaw’s family and friends.

“Zeke was an outstanding young man whose powerful belief in himself and uncommon perseverance led to a successful professional basketball career.

A beloved member of the Grand Rapids Drive, Zeke’s continuous improvement and tireless work ethic were hallmarks of his career,” he said in a news release.

Upshaw had scored 11 points to help the Drive earn a playoff spot with the 101-99 victory Saturday.

He was in his second season with the Drive. The 6-foot-6 guard/forward from Chicago played three seasons at Illinois State University and finished his college career at Hofstra.

PHILADELPHIA 76ers’ Markelle Fultz, right, has water poured on him by Robert Covington after last night’s game against the Denver Nuggets.

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Fultz helps 76ers beat Nuggets 123-104 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Markelle Fultz had 10 points and eight rebounds in his first game since October, helping the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Denver Nuggets 123-104 on Monday night.

The Sixers and their fans wanted the No. 1 pick to play and — after five often-confusing months — they got him.

The first pick of the 2017 draft shot an air ball, had three shots blocked and artfully attacked the

lane, flashing glimpses of what has made him both a mystery project and prominent prospect.

With a playoff berth clinched for the first time since 2012, the 76ers and Fultz decided the time was right for the guard to return from an injured shoulder and busted confidence that had cost him all but four games of his rookie season.

Joel Embiid had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Sixers. Will Barton led Denver with 25 points.

PISTONS 112, LAKERS 106 DETROIT (AP) — Reggie Jackson scored 20 points and Reggie Bullock had 16, leading the Pistons to the victory.

Detroit (34-40) won for the fourth time in five games, but trails idle Miami by five games for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

With Blake Griffin reduced to 24 minutes due to foul trouble, reserve Anthony Tolliver added

15 points as the Pistons put six players in double figures.

Julius Randle had 22 points and 11 rebounds for Los Angeles, and Lonzo Ball finished with 15 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Kyle Kuzma had 20 points and 11 boards.

HORNETS 137, KNICKS 128, OT CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kemba Walker had 11 points of his 31 points and three assists in

overtime, and Charlotte earned its fourth straight victory.

Walker hit a late 3-pointer to help send the game into overtime and then took over. Walker was 4 for 4 in the extra period with three 3-pointers to outduel New York’s Trey Burke, who finished with a career-high 42 points on 19-of-31 shooting and 12 assists.

Dwight Howard had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Hornets.

Michael Beasley added 27 points for the Knicks.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 27, 2018, PAGE 7

Stephens beats Muguruza to reach Miami Open quarters

By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer KEY BISCAYNE, Florida (AP) — Sloane Stephens’ loudest fan kept shouting advice and encouragement from the stadium stands yesterday, perhaps providing the nudge she needed to shake a post-US Open slump.

Stephens earned her biggest victory since winning last year’s Open, beating No. 3-ranked Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 6-4 Monday to reach the quarter-finals at the Miami Open.

“Close the door, Sloane!” the spectator hollered near the end, and she did.

During a post-match on-court interview, Stephens thanked the fan, who has been to her past two matches.

“I have no idea who that is,” she said later. “Day before yesterday was the first time I’d ever seen him.

But it’s entertaining. Obviously he knows tennis — he was shouting all the right things.”

The fan might have picked a good time to jump on the Stephens bandwagon. She’ll next face Angelique Kerber with a shot at reaching the Miami Open semi-finals for the first time.

Stephens claimed her first major title in New York in September and is ranked 12th, but she arrived at Key Biscayne with a record of only 3-4 this year.

“After winning a Grand Slam, it’s not easy to come back right out and keep playing,” Stephens said.

“I was so excited after winning the US Open, I was living my life to the fullest.

Now I’m back to my day job. It’s a little bit difficult.

It takes a little bit of confidence and a lot of hard work.”

On the men’s side, qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis lost in the follow-up to his upset of Roger Federer in the second round.

Fernando Verdasco rallied from two mini-breaks down in the decisive tiebreaker and beat Kokkinakis 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

Kerber advanced by rallying past qualifier Yafan Wang 6-7 (1), 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Stephens won with typically dogged defence, and by attacking Muguruza’s weak second serve. The Spaniard has been battling a slump herself, falling to 8-6 in 2018.

“I missed too many shots, a couple of mistakes I shouldn’t have done in important moments,” said Muguruza, the 2017 Wimbledon champion.

“My serve in general could be better. It was not a big difference, but in the end a few details went to her side.”

SLOANE Stephens celebrates yesterday after defeating Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, during the Miami Open tennis tournament. Stephens won 6-3, 6-4.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 56° F/13° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Partly sunny, breezy and pleasant

Partly cloudy

Intervals of clouds and sunshine

Intervals of clouds and sun

Nice with clouds and sun

Partly sunny and pleasant

High: 79°

Low: 65°

High: 80° Low: 65°

High: 82° Low: 67°

High: 82° Low: 67°

High: 83° Low: 67°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

78° F

62° F

78°-62° F

83°-68° F

83°-70° F

93°-71° F

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 61° F/16° 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.

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almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 70° F/21° C Low: 66° F/19° C

12-25 knots

S

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 63° F/17° C

10-20 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 65° F/18° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 59° F/15° C

MIAMI

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 66° F/19° C

10-20 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 81° F/27° C Low .................................................... 60° F/16° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 66° F/19° C Last year’s high ................................. 81° F/27° C Last year’s low ................................... 69° F/20° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 6.79” Normal year to date ..................................... 4.28”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 65° F/18° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 72° F/22° C Low: 68° F/20° C

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KEY WEST

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 70° F/21° C

uV inDex toDay

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.)

5:00 a.m.

5:29 p.m.

2.9 2.5

11:30 a.m. -0.1 11:42 p.m. -0.2

Wednesday 6:00 a.m.

6:28 p.m.

3.0 2.7

12:26 p.m. -0.3 ---------

Thursday

6:54 a.m.

7:21 p.m.

3.1 2.9

12:41 a.m. -0.4 1:16 p.m. -0.4

Friday

7:44 a.m.

8:10 p.m.

3.1 3.0

1:36 a.m. -0.5 2:03 p.m. -0.6

Saturday

8:31 a.m.

8:56 p.m.

3.0 3.1

2:26 a.m. -0.6 2:47 p.m. -0.6

Sunday

9:16 a.m.

9:40 p.m.

2.9 3.1

3:14 a.m. -0.6 3:30 p.m. -0.6

Monday

9:59 a.m.

10:23 p.m.

2.8 3.0

4:00 a.m. -0.5 4:11 p.m. -0.5

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

7:07 a.m.

7:24 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

3:46 p.m.

4:22 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Mar. 31

Apr. 8

Apr. 15

Apr. 22

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 68° F/20° C

N

S

E

W

10-20 knots

S

12-25 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Stephens started the year by losing her opening match in consecutive tournaments, including the Australian Open. She then spent more than a month away from the tour, but said she was no longer celebrating her US Open title.

“After Australia I really took time to get myself together,” she said. “If you put in the work, you’re able to get results.”

More than one fan is applauding her success at the Miami Open, the hometown tournament for Stephens, a South Florida native.

Next year the event will move 18 miles north to the Miami Dolphins stadium.

Stephens, who first came to Key Biscayne for juniors matches more than a decade ago, said she is sad about the switch — and not just because of tennis memories. “I’ll miss Sir Pizza,” she said. “I’ve been going there since I was 12.

The same people still work there, and it’s such a gem.

I’m definitely going to miss that place.”

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 68° F/20° C

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 69° F/21° C

N

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 68° F/20° C

S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 69° F/21° C

H

E

W

10-20 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 75° F/24° C Low: 69° F/21° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 76° F/24° C Low: 71° F/22° C

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 69° F/21° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

10-20 knots

10-20 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 NE at 10-20 Knots E at 7-14 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots E at 8-16 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots E at 8-16 Knots NE at 12-25 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots NE at 12-25 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 12-25 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots

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

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 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. 75° F 75° F 77° F 77° F 76° F 76° F 77° F 77° F 74° F 74° F 76° F 75° F 76° F 76° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 77° F 77° F 74° F 74° F 77° F 77° F 76° F 76° F

Covering The Bahamas for over 40 years.

NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

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(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

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PAGE 8, Tuesday, March 27, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

LIKE IN BASEBALL, CRICKET PUSHES LIMITS LOOKING FOR AN EDGE LONDON Associated Press JUST like their counterparts in baseball, cricket players are capable of devising devious ways of getting some extra movement on a thrown ball.

Cutting, scratching, greasing or even biting the ball are all options that have been employed in the past to help get batters out.

In most cases, it’s called cheating, plain and simple.

But what happened over the weekend in cricket, the most gentlemanly of all sports, is much more than that. It has brought shame on Australia as a nation.

In South Africa for a series for four test matches, each lasting a maximum of five days, the Australians were caught red-handed trying to scuff the cricket ball with dirt stuck to a piece of yellow tape. The captain of the team, who happens to be the best batsman in the world, confessed to conspiring to cheat by getting a younger player to do the dirty deed.

Steve Smith, the captain, has been banned for the last test match of the series.

Cameron Bancroft, the player with the yellow tape, is still available to play.

“This is a shocking disappointment,” Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Sunday, a day after the incident. “It’s wrong.”

It’s also, as they say, just not cricket.

There have been many cases of ball tampering in the past. Like when former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi bit the ball to rough up the leather against Australia in 2010. Or when England bowler Stuart Broad stepped on the ball with his spikes against South Africa, also in 2010.

In both instances, the point was to disfigure the ball enough so the flight path becomes more erratic and more difficult to hit.

In baseball, there is an equally entertaining list of ne’er-do-wells. There’s Gaylord Perry and his vaseline, culminating with a classic ESPN commercial.

There’s Rick Honneycutt and his thumbtack. And, of course, Joe Niekro and his emery board .

That just wasn’t cricket, either.

But one of the reasons why this cricket scandal is such a big deal, or at least a bigger deal than some of the others, is because the cheating was done by Australia, the most successful team in the sport over the last 30 years, on the international sporting stage.

The Australians pride themselves on sports, and cricket is right up there near the top of the list. The importance the country puts on its national cricket team can hardly be understated, dating back to its 150-year rivalry with England and its later independence from Britain in 1901.

It is Australia and England, and only Australia and England, that play for the sport’s most coveted trophy, the Ashes.

And, as noted, the Australians have set the benchmark for success in cricket, making them a target for everyone else trying to climb up the rankings.

“You have to remember that this Australia team are so friendless in cricket because of the way they’ve carried on,” former England spin bowler Graeme Swann told BBC Radio.

“They’ve set themselves as this higher than high, this pious team who look down at everyone and set the benchmark for what is right and wrong in cricket, when everyone who’s played against them knows that’s an absolute joke.”

Swann may be right, especially if you look back at one of the most underhanded moments in cricket’s long history.

STEVEN Smith of Australia stands during play on the second day of the third cricket test against South Africa at Newlands Stadium, in Cape Town, South Africa.

MINNESOTA Twins pitcher Joe Niekro tosses his glove to home plate umpire Tim Tscida after the umpire stopped the baseball game between the Twins and Angels in Anaheim, Calif.

It happened in 1981, with Australia playing New Zealand in a one-day match.

With only one ball left to be thrown, then-Australia captain Greg Chappell instructed his younger brother, Trevor, to bowl an underarm delivery to keep New Zealand from scoring

the winning runs. Trevor Chappell rolled the ball along the wicket, a legal move at the time, giving the Kiwi batsman no chance to hit it.

Australia won that match, but didn’t win much respect in the most aristocratic team sport in the world.

PAKISTAN’s cricket team captain Shahid Afridi.

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