03282017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

Regulators stay alive, Shockers take 2-1 lead

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

T

he Real Deal Shockers pulled off an 80-69 win over the Mail Boat Cybots to take a 2-1 lead in their New Providence Basketball Association men’s semi-final series, while Mr Ship It Freight Regulators stayed alive in their series against the Commonwealth Bank Giants with a 114-85 blowout victory.

The Shockers, coached by James Price, opened a 22-16 lead after the first quarter of their game last night and they extended it to 42-36 at the half. They ended the third with a 58-49 advantage and were able to hold off all challenges poised by the Cybots in the fourth quarter.

Floyd Armbrister canned 18 points with six rebounds to lead the attack for the Shockers off the bench. William Rigby had 15 points and six rebounds, Salathiel Dean had 12 points and 13 rebounds and Jackson Dalmon added 11 points and 13 rebounds.

For the Cybots, coached by

DOUBLE TEAM: Mr Ship It Freight Regulators stayed alive in their series last night against the Commonwealth Bank Giants with a 114-85 blowout win.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff Wayde Watson, Livingstone Munnings had 19 points, 16 rebounds and three blocked shots off the

bench.

Jeremy Hutchinson had 14 points and 12 rebounds and

Lerecus Armbrister added 11 points with three assists.

Game four in the series will be played at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Wednesday night.

The winner will advance to the final to play the winner of the other half of the semi-finals between the Giants and the Regulators.

The Regulators, coached by Don ‘Robo Cop’ Dorsett, staved off elimination last night as they rebounded from a 2-0 deficit to win impressively 114-85 and now trail 2-1 in their series that will also continue with game four on Wednesday night.

Eugene Bain had a huge game with 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead Mr Ship It. Gameliel Rose had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Cruz Simon had 21 and Miguel Mackey added 17. Brian Bain had seven points, 10 assists and six rebounds.

In a losing effort for the Giants, coached by Perry Thompson, Mark Hanna had 19 points, Tehran Cox 16 points and five rebounds, David Taylor 12 points and seven rebounds and Michael Bain chipped in with 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

GO TEAM BAHAMAS!

TEAM BAHAMAS: As this year’s BTC CARIFTA Swimming Championship draws near, Travano McPhee (far left) said the coaching staff is ensuring that the Bahamas is ready to face stiff competition in the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex April 15-18. The Bahamas will host the swimming competition over the Easter holiday weekend with a 36-member team that will compete against 24 visiting countries. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 8

BAHA JUNIORS

Soccer, Page 2

GARDINER ‘VERY HAPPY’ ON TRACK WITH NEW COACH AND MANAGEMENT

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net MEN’S national 400 metre record holder Steven Gardiner finds himself training in a much “better environment” as the 2017 season gets underway and he’s excited about the prospects on the horizon.

In what he called a mutual separation from former coach George Cleare, Gardiner is now in Clermont, Florida where he’s coached by Gary Evans under management of On Track Management, the same company that is responsible for 2016 Olympic gold medallist Shaunae MillerUibo and her husband Maicel Uibo, the decathlete from Estonia.

“All is going very well,” said Gardiner, who trains with such athletes as 2013 World Championships’ 400m hurdles champion Jehue Gordon, American quarter-milers Tony McQuay and Francena McCorory as well as Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills, the 2007 World Championships’ 400m bronze medallist in Osaka, Japan.

“It’s going good. I’m very happy.”

In his new environment, Gardiner said he has access to all of the amenities that is required for a professional athlete, including a weight room and gym that makes it so easy for him to train.

“I ran for the second time indoors in a 300m. I don’t like indoors, but I did it for the workout and it went very well,” Gardiner said. “I also did a 4 x 400m relay.

“I’m now getting ready for the outdoors and I hope I can get started with a 44-second opener. By the end of the season, I hope that I can run at least 43 seconds.”

On Saturday, June 26, 2015 in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Open Track and Field Championships at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Gardiner replaced Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown’s seven-yearold national record of 44.40 with 44.27.

The former 200m specialist coming out of Moore’s Island, Abaco, would go on to post some of the more consistent times than any other Bahamian over the last two seasons as he repeated as the national champion.

But after failing to advance

SEE PAGE 4

Kaleel Solomon and Titans suffer 84-58 loss in NJCAA finale

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net KALEEL Solomon and his Eastern Florida State Titans saw their cinderalla season end just short of the National Junior College Athletic Association national title.

The Titans suffered an 84-58 loss to Hutchinson in the NJCAA Division I Tournament finale at the Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Kansas, on Saturday.

The team set a school record with 31 wins and finished as national runners-up for the first time in school history.

“What a magical season for the coaching staff and the players,” said Jeff Carr, associate vice president of athletics at Eastern Florida State College. “We all thoroughly enjoyed their run and they should hold their heads high for the amazing accomplishments.

We are very proud of the team and their achievements. Well done.”

As a freshman, Solomon averaged 5.7 points per game and

shot 39 per cent from three-point range in 36 games. He reached double figures in seven games this season, including a season high 19 points in a February matchup against ASA Miami.

Solomon and his No. 6 ranked Titans received a bye into the second round in the third straight season the programme advanced to the tournament. The Titans received an at-large bid after finishing runner-up in the Region VIII Tournament.

In their tournament debut, they won 87-74 over Monroe College and in the quarter-finals they won 65-45 over Motlow State. They advanced to the championship game with a 77-65 win over South Plains.

Solomon was one of several Bahamians competing in the tournament for their respective universities.

Daejour Adderley and his San Jacinto-Central Ravens, the top overall seed in the tournament, were eliminated in the quarter-finals. As the number one seed they received an automatic bye to the

• DAEJOUR ADDERLEY AND RAVENS ELIMINATED IN QUARTER-FINALS • SEBASTIAN GRAY AND ROBERT JOSEPH OUT IN THE SECOND ROUND

KALEEL SOLOMON second round where they scored a 115-77 win over Connors State.

They followed with a 98-82 upset loss to Northwest Florida State.

It was their 21st tournament appearance in school history. San Jac earned the automatic bid to the national tournament after they won the Region XIV championship.

Sebastian Gray and Robert Joseph were the first Bahamian players to hit the court in the tournament and led the No.23 ranked Northern Oklahoma-Enid Jets to an opening round upset win.

The Jets scored a 95-90 win over No.10 Southern Idaho Golden Eagles. Gray finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots while Joseph added two points off the bench.

In the second round, they were eliminated 82-76 at the hands of the Vinciennes Trailblazers, ranked No.7 in the bracket. Gray finished with seven points and 11 rebounds.

Latrell Poitier and the No.13 St. Petersburg Titans were eliminated by the eventual national cham-

pion Hutchinson, 92-78.

In the opening round they advanced with a 70-55 win over No.20 Highland.

Each season, over 200 NJCAA Division I men’s basketball teams take aim towards the ultimate prize - a trip to Hutchinson, Kansas, for a chance to compete for a national championship. The 2017 season marks the 70th NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship - known as The Tournament.

NJCAA Division I men’s basketball is comprised of 16 districts across the country and the champion of each district receives an automatic bid to The Tournament, which is a 24-team, singleelimination championship.

PAGE 2, Tuesday, March 28, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

ASPIRING soccer stars take part in the first weekend of the Baha Juniors Football Club’s community and club-building tournament at the Winton pitch, featuring play in nine divisions in a 7-a-side format on Saturday.

Photos courtesy of Dynamos FC

Baha Juniors FC Community Shield 7-a-side tourney opens in Winton

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net OVER 150 games were played on the pitch this weekend as the Baha Juniors Football Club hosted the first weekend of its community and club-building tournament.

The Baha Juniors FC Community Shield Tournament opened on Saturday (March 25) at the Winton pitch, featuring play in nine divisions in a 7-a-side format.

Marcus Cheetham, the club’s director and tournament organiser, said the club’s first attempt at an event of this nature went off without a hitch.

“It went extremely well.

The feedback from everyone was that it was outstanding, and we could not have been happier for the kids. Everyone had a blast,

from the players, to the fans and the parents, they thought it was just amazing.

“It was a huge tournout and we got to see the game played at a fast-paced, high level for a few hours,” he said.

“With the tons of volunteers, referees, coaches and players, even with the high volume of games, logistically everything moved along great. There was a lot of good movement on and off the pitch, play was very high-paced in this version of the game so if you don’t give it all you won’t get ahead.

“The level of play was quite intriguing to watch because of the unpredictability of the game. It was chaotic but it was great and I was honoured to be a part of it.”

He added that the tournament would continue the club’s effort of adding further exposure and training opportunities at the developmental level.

The under-6, under-8 and under-10 (all coed) teams played 9am to noon while the under-12, under-14 and under-17 games were played from 2 to 5pm.

The finals will be hosted on April 1.

“Next weekend would be the final round where we determine our championship winners from the two weeks of play. We already have sponsors approaching us in regards to next year’s tournament and we are already thinking ahead for changes we can make as we expect the event to continue to grow,” Cheetham added.

Event sponsors include EFG Bank and Trust, Starbucks, Gatorade, Aquapure and others.

“We just want the parents and the kids to have an outstanding time. The kids are able to come out, be competitive and enjoy the day while getting some great games in. It’s like having a mini-fair but based around the sport,” he said.

“On a whole, the level of soccer awareness is on the rise and all these activities at different levels just raise awareness of the sport. The coaches feed off the energy of the kids and vice versa.

I have had more people reaching out to me for their kids to become involved than I’ve ever had before.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 28, 2017, PAGE 3

Dallas Cowboys going for ‘all defence’ in NFL Draft AS the NFL Draft rapidly approaches in April, finally there has been word from the Cowboys’ top brass, Stephen Jones in particular, the ‘Boys will be going all defence in this draft.

It’s time to stock up the defence like they’ve done on offence the past few drafts.

At this very moment, the Dallas Cowboys have two glaring priorities to address: Defensive back Pass-rusher The search for a passrusher is nothing new.

Loaded with defensive tackles and base ends, the Cowboys still lack that true pass-rusher who can turn the edge from the right side (RDE). Finding one in this edge-rusher-deep draft is a realistic possibility.

Despite constant need at the defensive end, the secondary has suffered the most significant losses and requires the most attention.

Last year’s starters, cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, are now gone, as is starting safety Barry Church, as well as top backup safety JJ Wilcox.

• Here are a few names Cowboys fans should get familiar with. There’s a good chance they could be wearing a star after this year’s draft: Derek Barnett, Tennessee Position: Defensive End Height: 6’3” Weight: 259lbs Key Stat: 20.5 tackles for loss Once seen as a top-10 guy, his draft stock took a

hit when his combine performance was found wanting. Slower times hurt his fit as a possible outside linebacker on 3-4 defences.

His hand work is among the best in the draft and his production as a pass-rusher and run-stopper is unparalleled. Barnett is a talented, work-hard every-down, complete player. A great match for a Rod Marinelli defence.

His 4.88 sec 40-time combined with 6.96 sec 3-cone are more than enough to thrive as a defensive end on a 4-3 defence like the Dallas Cowboys.

Teez Tabor, Florida Position: Cornerback Height: 6’0” Weight: 199lbs Key Stat: 4 interceptions and 14 breakups in 2016 Teez Tabor has red flags to go along with his fantastic play so he’s someone who has slipped in the draft.

Usually the type of player the Cowboys gamble on.

The good: Tabor is a player you have to watch on film to truly appreciate. His athleticism just looks off-the-charts.

As his 4.62 sec 40-time indicates, he’s not a burner.

But he’s ridiculously quick in movement, has tremendous burst, and has superior ball awareness. He can play zone, man-press, and off-man coverage with proficiency.

The bad: His issues include a questionable attitude, itchy twitter finger, and a failed drug test. Normally the drug test would send me running to the hills but reading into

daddy Jerry Jones hopes Derek Barnett can be, but in a rotation he appears to be an excellent piece with superb value in the fourth round.

SPORTING

MISCHIEF

& MAYHEM

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHT Y’ ZENIC

AZELAYA

DEREK BARNETT

DEMARCUS WALKER would fit in well with the Cowboys. it I learned it happened in 2015 and was technically a skipped test. The fact that he appears to have had a clean 2016 allows for hope that 2015 was an isolated incident.

Tabor looks awesome on film and how natural he is at cornerback. He’s a true ball hawk that would be a Day 1 starter on any team that drafts him.

Adam Shaheen, Ashland College Position: Tight End Height: 6’6″ Weight: 278lbs Key Stat: 857 yards receiving and 16 TDs in 2016 I don’t think Adam

JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE OF NASSAU

PLAYOFFS IN ALL DIVISIONS ALL SET FOR MAY 9-14

Shaheen gets to be called a sleeper anymore since he’s on about every team’s radar as a possible steal of the draft.

Shaheen should have no problem physically making it at the highest level. At 6’6” 278lbs, he’s a beast of a man in the mold of Jason Witten. Also like Witten, Shaheen has speed, natural ball skills, and route running ability. He’s built like a blocking tight end but runs and catches like a receiving tight end. He’s obviously going to need some grooming but given his athletic ability and physical dominance, he could be the next star tight end in Dallas, once Witten decides to hang ‘em up.

DeMarcus Walker, FSU Position: Defensive End Height: 6’4” Weight: 280lbs Key Stat: 21.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks in 2016 DeMarcus Walker was a highly productive defensive end for the Florida State Seminoles. Playing inside and out, he made sacks a variety of ways, earning the second most sacks in FBS last season.

He’s not a quick-twitch burner that you want playing the edge on the right side, but he’s well-built and capable of playing both the left end and the 3-technique DT. Despite his production, scouts are only lukewarm on Walker, experts saw a player who takes plays off.

With the Dallas Cowboys, DeMarcus Walker would be just another one of Rod Marinelli’s rotational guys.

With position versatility, he would be given chances to play inside and out and would fit in well with the rest of “the Orphans.”

He’s certainly not the war

Jadar Johnson, Clemson Position: Safety Height: 6’0” Weight: 206lbs Key Stat: 60 tackles, 5 interceptions, 7 breakups in 2016 In this deep class of safeties, it should have been easier to find one in the earlier rounds. However with the aforementioned pressing needs at DE and CB, here we are with Jadar Johnson, who seems like a fine consolation prize late in the draft. He’s well-built, athletic, and savvy. His tackling isn’t great, making him look like a natural free safety, but his size says he has the physical ability if he puts his mind (heart) to it.

Since run-stopping strong safeties virtually grow on trees, Johnson’s coverage makes him stand out, and that’s why he’s the smart pick in the later rounds.

And all of this could be a good old Texas poker bluff by the Jones’s. However if they stick to their plan, look for some of the names mentioned above to land in Big D, eventually playing like one too.

• 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

WEEKLY SCHEDULE/RESULTS

PAGE 4, Tuesday, March 28, 2017

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Ryan Reid wins the New Providence Cycling Association’s 40-mile road race RYAN Reid won the New Providence Cycling Association’s 40-mile road race on Sunday that started and finished in front of Saunders Beach.

Reid clocked one hour and 43 minutes and seven seconds to pull off the win over Chris Curry, Lee Farmer, Tracey Sweeting and Ben West, who all did 1:44.00 for second to fifth place.

The other finishers in order were Secil Williams in 1:44.08; Kelly Kemp in 1:44.09; Patrick Paul in 1:44.09; Ignacio in 1:44.10; Justin Minns in 1:44.11; Felix Neely in 1:44.13; Jay Major in 1:44.15; Giles Sawyer in 1:45.00; Samuel Robinson in 1:46.00 and Antinece Simmons in 1:46.00.

The divisional winners were as follows: Elite men – Ryan Reid, Chris Curry, Lee Farmer, Tracey Sweeting, Ben West, Kelly Kemp, Patrick Paul, Justin Minnis and Jay Major.

Elite Men II or Senior Men II Secil Williamns, Ignacio and Giles Sawyer.

Junior boys – Felix Neely, Samuel Robinson and Brian Bethel Open women – Antinece Simmons NPCA’s president Barron ‘Turbo’ Musgrove said it was a good day to get the new season started. He noted that for the most part, all of the top competitors rode together in the pack.

Although there were several break aways, no competitor was able to build any significant lead until it came right down to the sprint when Reid surged ahead for the win.

Musgrove extended congratulations to Reid for his performance. He also expressed his gratitude to all of the cyclists, including the juniors, the road marshals - Mr and Mrs Roberts, Mr Alexander Bain, Roy Colebrooke Jr and Abbie Minns for their efforts in helping to make the event a success.

If the performances in the event were any indication, Musgrove said they are looking forward to a lot more exciting races as the season progresses.

CYCLISTS compete in the New Providence Cycling Association’s 40mile road race on Sunday that started and finished in front of Saunders Beach.

Photos: Jeff Major

GARDINER ‘VERY HAPPY’ ON TRACK WITH NEW COACH AND MANAGEMENT FROM PAGE 1 out of the semi-final of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August, Gardiner said he knew a change was imminent.

“At the Olympics, I wasn’t at my best. It just made me realise that I could do so much better, so I guess I had to make a change,” he insisted. “I feel very good about it. I’m very happy and I’m very happy with the environment that I’m in.

“I guess I just needed people to motivate me, instead of training by myself.

Being in a group, it makes me more happier and I get to enjoy what I’m doing at the same time.”

After watching South African Wayde van Niekerk run away from the field that included 2011 world and 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James from Grenada and American two-time world (20087 and 2009) and 2008 Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt in the final in Rio de Janeiro to shatter American Michael Johnson’s 17-year-old world record of 43.18 by posting a stunning new mark of 43.03 out of lane eight, Gardiner said he’s even more motivated to compete this year.

“It makes me want to go out there and run faster than what they have ran,” he projected. “I want to go out there and do my thing now.

“I want to PR (run personal best) and also make the final and medal at the World Championships (in London, England, August 3-12) and lower my national record.”

As a native from Murphy Town, Gardiner said he’s even more thrilled to see the latest development that is taking place in Moore’s Island under his original coach Rev Anthony Williams and Nick Dean of Integrated Building Services, who are operating a Moore’s Island student athletes’ programme.

The Bahamas Govern-

NATIONAL 400m record holder Steven Gardiner is now in Clermont, Florida where he’s coached by Gary Evans under On Track Management. ment has announced that they intend to open the first National Sports Academy in Moore’s Island in short order.

“It’s an honour for the National Sports Academy to be held in Moore’s Island,” Gardiner said.

“Nothing much is in Abaco and based on what I’ve seen when I was last there, everything is looking good.

“I know the struggle that I went through when I was there with no facilities, no weight room, no nothing to train in. It was very hard for me and other athletes. So it will make me feel happy to see that they won’t have to go through what we went through.”

In a show of gratitude, Gardiner expressed his sincere thanks to coach Williams for the role he played in his life.

“I want to thank him for what he’s done for me. We talk on a daily basis and he always encourages me to perform at my best,” Gardiner noted. “I look up to him 100 per cent as a father figure. I’m very happy for everything that he’s done for me.”

The 21-year-old 6-foot, 2-inch son of Theresa and Steven Gardiner said he’s also thrilled to have been afforded the opportunity to get to the stage that he has reached, especially coming from a Family Island.

“Not many from Abaco have gotten the opportunity to compete on the next

level,” said Gardiner, who burst on the scene in 2014 when he got fourth in the 200m and ran on the men’s 3 x 100 silver and bronze 4 x 400m relay teams at the Carifta Games in Fort-deFrance, Martinique before getting 12th in the semifinal of the 200m at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon that same year.

“So I was very happy and very proud of myself.”

Gardiner follows in the footsteps of former national record holder Troy McIntosh and Golden Girl Savatheda Fynes, the 1997 World Championship bronze medallist in Seville, Spain and a member of the 1999 World Championships and 2000 Olympic women’s 4 x 100m relay teams, who are both from Abaco.

This weekend, Gardiner will be competing as a part of the 4 x 400m team at the Florida Relays. However, he will be making his debut in the 400m at the inaugural Grenada Invitational in Grenada on Saturday, April 8.

After that, he will make the trek home to compete in the third edition of the IAAF World Relays scheduled for April 22-23 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

“I’m excited bout the relays. I’m definitely going to be there because I want to continue to represent my country, the Bahamas,” he stated.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 28, 2017, PAGE 5

DeRozan scores 36, Raptors top Magic 131-112 for 6th in row

By DANIEL GIRARD Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 36 points and Cory Joseph had 15 points and 13 assists as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic 131-112 on Monday night for their sixth straight victory.

DeRozan, selected the Eastern Conference player of the week earlier in the day, set the pace early by scoring 18 in the first quarter. Joseph added six rebounds and Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Raptors (45-29).

Elfrid Payton had 22 points and nine assists for Orlando (27-47). Evan Fournier added 20 points, and Nikola Vucevic had 12 points and 15 assists.

It was the first game between the teams since the Raptors traded Terrence Ross to the Magic for Serge Ibaka in February. Ross finished with 17 points and two rebounds, while Ibaka had 16 points and seven rebounds.

The Raptors took a 99-89 lead into the fourth quarter.

DeRozan’s basket gave Toronto a 19-point lead

RAPTORS guard DeMar DeRozan (10) drives between Magic forward Terrence Ross (31) and Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) in the first half of last night’s game. (AP) with 8:15 to go in the third.

But the Magic, winners of seven games this season after falling behind by double digits, fought back.

Bismack Biyombo made a pair of free throws to cut

Toronto’s lead to five with 12 seconds left in the period.

But after DeRozan hit a jumper to widen the lead to seven, Delon Wright stole the inbounds pass and hit

a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Toronto its doubledigit lead back going into the fourth.

Payton paced the Magic surge, hitting all four field goals he attempted in the

quarter. He led all scorers with 10 points in the period, as Orlando outscored Toronto 32-26.

After four ties and seven lead changes in the game’s first 15 minutes, the Rap-

tors took charge over the final nine minutes of the second quarter to take a 7357 lead into halftime.

The Raptors hit all four 3s they attempted in the quarter, three by Norman Powell, who led all scorers with 11 points in the period.

Eight different Toronto players scored in the quarter as the Raptors outscored the Magic 33-17 over that nine-minute stretch and led by as many as 18 points.

The Magic cooled off from a torrid shooting pace in the first quarter to a stillrespectable 48 percent in the second. Fournier led the way with nine points in the period.

Toronto led 35-34 after a first quarter that featured terrific shooting by both teams.

The Magic led by seven points early as Ross hit four of his first five shots and Aaron Gordon poured in 10 points. Orlando shot 13 for 29 (62 percent) from the field in the period.

DeRozan was 7 for 10 from the field in the opening quarter and hit his only 3-point attempt.

Toronto shot 15 for 24 (63 percent) as each starter had at least one field goal in the first period.

KNICKS HAND PISTONS 4TH STRAIGHT LOSS, 109-95

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Derrick Rose scored 27 points, Kristaps Porzingis had 25 and the New York Knicks handed the Detroit Pistons another damaging defeat with a 109-95 victory Monday night.

Carmelo Anthony returned from a two-game absence due to a sore left knee and added 21 as the Knicks snapped a five-game losing streak and avoided playoff elimination.

Marcus Morris scored 20 points but Detroit dropped its fourth straight and fell 1½ games behind Miami for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Ish Smith had 15 points while former starting point guard Reggie Jackson didn’t play.

The Knicks shot 60 percent in the first half and turned it over to their defense to start the second, pitching a shutout for more than seven minutes to start the third quarter.

The Pistons had already lost to Brooklyn, Chicago and Orlando during what should have been a favorable portion of their schedule to mount a playoff push, and coach Stan Van Gundy said his players were frustrated because of how badly their offense was struggling.

It was downright inept in the third quarter. Van Gundy burned a timeout just 35 seconds into the period with the Knicks on their way to a 15-0 run that turned a fivepoint halftime lead into a 79-59 bulge. Detroit missed its first 10 shots before Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made a 3-pointer with 4:52 left in the third.

TIP-INS Pistons Detroit has lost seven of eight. ... Andre Drummond had 10 points and 15 rebounds.

Knicks New York avoided matching its longest skid of the season. The Knicks lost six in a row from Dec. 25 to Jan. 4. ...

The Knicks have won the last four meetings at Madison Square Garden.

NOAH NEAR? Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said Joakim Noah was meeting with team doctors Monday in hopes he could be cleared to return to practice Tuesday and potentially begin his 20-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy with Wednesday’s game. Noah is recovering from left knee surgery and on Saturday was suspended by the league for

WESTERN CONFERENCE

testing positive for a substance found in some overthe-counter supplements.

The suspension begins when Noah is healthy enough to play, so the Knicks would consult with the league to determine if he has reached that point.

THE GUY FOR GEORGETOWN? Van Gundy backed Hall of Famer and former Georgetown star Patrick Ewing for the school’s vacant head coaching job. Ewing, currently working under head coach Steve Clifford in Charlotte, was an assistant to Van Gundy in Orlando.

“Listen, I cannot imagine that you’re at Georgetown and you don’t hire Patrick Ewing. I think that they’re incredibly fortunate that he would think about leaving the NBA to take that job,” said Van Gundy, who believes Ewing should’ve had an NBA head coaching opportunity by now.

“He’s got the full package. I can’t imagine even what he’d be missing in that package.

He’s got everything. He’s got the connection to the school, he’s got the coaching ability, he’s got the name recognition that will get him in any home in America recruiting and allow him to close the deal with just about anybody.”

KNICKS forward Carmelo Anthony (7) reacts after hitting a 3-point shot against the Detroit Pistons during the second quarter of last night’s game.

(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

BUDDY AND KINGS STOP CLIPPERS

KINGS centre Willie Cauley-Stein (00) smiles with guard Buddy Hield, right, after scoring the goahead basket in the final seconds of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers in Los Angeles.

The Kings won 98-97. (AP)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

PAGE 6, Tuesday, March 28, 2017

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THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 28, 2017, PAGE 7

Federer rolls into fourth round at Miami Open JOHNSON WINS

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer KEY BISCAYNE, Florida (AP) — Roger Federer hasn’t won the Miami Open in 11 years. The way he’s playing now, that may soon change.

Federer advanced to the fourth round at the Miami Open, the No. 4 seed beating Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-4 yesterday. Federer, who was facing the 29th-seeded del Potro for the first time since 2013, never lost serve and improved to 15-1 this year.

He broke del Potro twice, once in each set, and that was all he needed. “A good match overall,” said Federer, the 2005 and 2006 champion on Key Biscayne. “I enjoyed it.”

The first break put him up 5-3 in the first set, and Federer then fought off four break points in the ensuing game before closing out the set.

Another break for a 3-2 lead in the second set, not long after del Potro got his oft-problematic left wrist taped on a changeover, put Federer in full control. Serving at 4-3, Federer faced a break point — Argentine fans serenaded del Potro beforehand with “Ole! Ole! Ole!” — but escaped when a serve

of the US. Tenth-seeded Tomas Berdych was another third-round winner, beating Gilles Muller 6-3, 6-4.

Top-seeded Angelique Kerber made the women’s quarter-finals after beating Risa Ozaki 6-2, 6-2.

Caroline Wozniacki also reached the quarters when Garbine Muguruza retired after the first set after feeling dizziness that she said was brought on by the heat.

Wozniacki, the sixth seed, took that set over the 12th-seeded Muguruza 7-6 (1).

Muguruza was tended to by doctors courtside following that tiebreaker, which wrapped up a 70-minute set, and decided she could not continue on a 77-degree, humid afternoon in South Florida. She said she began feeling a headache and stomach pain midway through the set, then experienced some dizziness. “Kind of went more and more during the match,” Muguruza said.

Wozniacki has not dropped a set during the tournament and will next face Lucie Safarova, who upset fourth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova 7-6, 6-1. Karolina Pliskova also won, topping Czech Fed Cup teammate — and occasional doubles partner — Barbora Strycova 6-1, 6-4.

ROGER FEDERER, of Switzerland, returns a shot from Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during yesterday’s match at the Miami Open.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) one.

The last seven Federer-del Potro matches coming into this meeting all went the distance, with some classics — the 4 1/2-hour, threesetter at the 2012 Olympics at Wimbledon where Federer prevailed 19-17 in the third, Federer rallying from two sets down in the French Open quarter-finals that year, and del Potro winning the 2009 US Open in five sets for his lone Grand Slam triumph.

Federer next faces 14th-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut, who needed three sets to top Sam Querrey

return sailed long.

It had the feel of a final, not a third-rounder on a Monday afternoon.

The stadium court, largely empty for the first two matches of the day, was filled — with huge roars greeting both players as they entered for warmups, many fans wearing hats or shirts with Federer’s “RF” logo, many others either donning Argentine soccer jerseys or carrying that nation’s flag in support of del Potro.

They weren’t disappointed.

They got a show, albeit a short

MATCH PLAY TO SWEEP WORLD GOLF CHAMPS AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The final day lasted longer than Dustin Johnson wanted. The outcome was what everyone expected.

Johnson, a golfing machine with no discernible weakness and hardly any pulse, won the Dell Technologies Match Play on Sunday for his third straight victory, this one making him the first person to sweep the four World Golf Championships.

He had to work the hardest for this title.

Johnson was taken to the 18th hole in the semi-final before making an 8-foot putt to beat Hideto Tanihara, and then Jon Rahm rallied from 5 down with 10 holes to play until his fearless charge fell short on the final hole.

Johnson tapped in a 30-inch putt for a 1-up victory, completing a dominant week in which he never trailed in the 112 holes he played over seven matches.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Mostly sunny

Mainly clear

Mostly sunny

Mostly sunny and pleasant

Mostly sunny and breezy

Mostly sunny and pleasant

High: 84°

Low: 66°

High: 83° Low: 66°

High: 84° Low: 66°

High: 84° Low: 68°

High: 85° Low: 68°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

95° F

66° F

95°-65° F

92°-68° F

86°-70° F

92°-69° F

ORLANDO

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 60° F/16° C

TAMPA

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 64° F/18° 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: 74° F/23° C Low: 66° F/19° C

4-8 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 81° F/27° C Low: 64° F/18° C

4-8 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 67° F/19° C

N

S

E

W

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 64° F/18° C

MIAMI

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 67° F/19° C

4-8 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 69° F/21° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/27° C Normal low ........................................ 67° F/19° C Last year’s high ................................. 86° F/30° C Last year’s low ................................... 74° F/23° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.02” Year to date ................................................. 1.93” Normal year to date ..................................... 4.29”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 66° F/19° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 69° F/21° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

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.)

8:42 a.m.

9:07 p.m.

3.1 3.2

2:38 a.m. -0.6 2:58 p.m. -0.7

Wednesday 9:28 a.m.

9:55 p.m.

3.0 3.3

3:26 a.m. -0.7 3:42 p.m. -0.8

Thursday

10:16 a.m.

10:45 p.m.

2.9 3.3

4:16 a.m. -0.7 4:28 p.m. -0.8

Friday

11:06 a.m.

11:37 p.m.

2.8 3.2

5:08 a.m. -0.6 5:18 p.m. -0.7

Saturday

12:00 p.m.

-----

2.6 -----

6:03 a.m. -0.4 6:11 p.m. -0.5

Sunday

12:34 a.m.

12:59 p.m.

3.1 2.5

7:03 a.m. -0.2 7:10 p.m. -0.3

Monday

1:36 a.m.

2:04 p.m.

3.0 2.4

8:07 a.m. 0.0 8:15 p.m. -0.1

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

7:06 a.m.

7:25 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

7:36 a.m.

8:14 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Apr. 3

Apr. 11

Apr. 19

Apr. 26

CAT ISLAND

E

W

uV inDex toDay

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 68° F/20° C

N

S

E

W

4-8 knots

S

6-12 knots

ANDROS

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

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 68° F/20° C

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 67° F/19° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 70° F/21° C

6-12 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 77° F/25° C Low: 70° F/21° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 77° F/25° C Low: 70° F/21° C

H

GREAT INAGUA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

N

L

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

7-14 knots

7-14 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 4-8 Knots NW at 3-6 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots E at 4-8 Knots NNE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots N at 7-14 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots NNE at 6-12 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots NE at 3-6 Knots SE at 3-6 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots N at 7-14 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NNE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots N at 8-16 Knots NNE at 6-12 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots ENE at 3-6 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots E at 6-12 Knots N at 6-12 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots

WAVES 5-9 Feet 3-6 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 4-8 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 5-9 Feet 3-6 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 6-10 Feet 4-7 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 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 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. 72° F 72° F 76° F 76° F 75° F 75° F 77° F 77° F 73° F 73° F 76° F 76° F 75° F 75° F 76° F 76° F 77° F 77° F 77° F 77° F 74° F 74° F 77° F 77° F 75° F 75° F

PAGE 8, Tuesday, March 28, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Training Day

TEAM BAHAMAS: As the BTC CARIFTA Swimming Championship draws near, a 36-member Team Bahamas is ready to make a splash against 24 visiting countries at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex over the Easter holiday weekend April 15-18. A few of the swimmers can be seen here during a practice session over the weekend.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

COACHES Travano McPhee (left) and Jorge Rodriguez.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff