03282018 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

COLEBY

NIT, Page 5

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018

Swimmers ready to defend CARIFTA title in Jamaica

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

36-member team, made up of novice and seasoned swimmers, will make the trip to Kingston, Jamaica, on Thursday to defend the Bahamas’ title at the 2018 CARIFTA Swimming Championships.

Following a practice session yesterday and before they paid a courtesy call on Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling, some of the swimmers expressed their delight in making the trip to represent the island nation.

“Everybody is working hard towards the CARIFTA Games,” said 11-year-old Tristin Ferguson of Queen’s College, who is making his CARIFTA debut in the 11-12 age group. “I’m looking forward to making finals and do what I’m supposed to do. I’m really looking forward to competing in the

A

MAKING A SPLASH: A member of Team Bahamas can be seen during a practice session yesterday at the Betty Kelly Kenning National Swim Complex.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

200m breast and the 100m breast and the 200m freestyle. I think it’s going to be exciting for me to go to Jamaica.”

Amauri Bonamy, another first timer in the 11-12 age group from Summit Academy, said his goals for the games are simply to make the finals and hopefully medal.

“I just want to be able to compete to the best of my ability,” said the 12-year-old. “I have to compete in the 100m back, 200m back and 100m breast. Those are my best events.”

Davante Carey, 15, is one of the veterans on the team and he’s hoping that he can lead by example in the 15-17 age group. “The focus for me at this CARIFTA is to win medals in all of my events and to make the rookies feel right at home, giving them advice on how to cope at the games,” said Carey, a student of Queen’s College.

“I mainly want to talk to them about what we should be doing as

a team and encourage them. It’s good that we have so many young members on the team, we have some people who have been there before to motivate them.”

Luke-Kennedy Thompson, back for his second appearance after competing in his initial games in 2014, said it’s an honour for him to compete again as he contests the 15-17 age group.

“I’ve been working extremely hard, training very hard because I really want to go away and represent our country very well,” said the 16-year-old student of St Andrew’s School.

“I’m looking forward to competing in the 1,500m free, which is one of my best events. I want to see how well I do because I’ve been switching up my training a bit. I want to get some medals for the Bahamas.”

Thompson, however, pointed out that they have a very good

SEE PAGE 2

Transforming the national stadium

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

he Thomas A Robinson National Stadium is being transformed to accommodate the 26 visiting countries as they come to the Bahamas for the eighth hosting of the CARIFTA Games this weekend.

While the cosmetic work was being done on the inside, patrons were on the outside making purchases of their tickets for the four-day competition that is all set to begin at 7pm Friday with the opening ceremonies.

Competition in the region’s biggest junior track and field event will startat 9am on Saturday with the first session and wrap up on Monday with the closing ceremonies.

“We’ve been marketing and we’ve been advertising trying to get people to come out,” said Lester Cox, the acting chairman of the National Sports Authority who is in charge of the operation of the stadium.

“We have to remember that the country has its Sports in Paradise brand already, but it only works if the fans come out and support the event as participants.”

With the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ ratified 80-member team hard pressed to dethrone perennial kingpins Jamaica, Cox said it’s going to be important for Team Bahamas to feed off the support from the home crowd.

T

THE THOMAS A Robinson National Stadium is being transformed to accommodate the 26 visiting countries as they come to the Bahamas for the eighth hosting of the CARIFTA Games this weekend.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff “The Bahamas is going to be hosting the world’s premier junior track and field event,” said Cox, a former Bahamas and Caribbean squash champion. “We are going to have people coming in from all over the

world to watch these athletes perform.

“Some of these athletes you will eventually see at the Olympic level so this is an opportunity to see the next generation of athletic stars right here on our

home soil. So we need the public to come out and support the event.”

As for the ambience at the stadium, Cox assured the public that it will be a safe environment that will allow the fans to cheer on

the athletes as they vie for national supremacy.

“This is where Sports Live is our motto and so we are where sports live,” Cox stated. “Every seat in this stadium will be a VIP. There’s not going to be a

spot where you sit that you won’t be able to see and enjoy the competition.”

Among those on hand to secure their tickets was former Minister of Youth,

SEE PAGE 3

Giants stay undefeated, Bucket take upper hand in semis THE Commonwealth Bank Giants stayed undefeated and the Aliv Bucket took the upper hand in their respective best-offive semi-final playoff series as the New Providence Basketball Association played a double header on Monday night.

In the men’s division one feature contest at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, the Giants paraded

Page 5

past the PJ Stingers 116-99 to snatch a 2-0 lead in their series that will continue after the Easter holiday. And in the men’s division II opener, Aliv routed the Caro Contractors Resistance 102-82 as they surged ahead 2-1 in their series that will also continue after the break.

However, the NPBA will play a double header in the other half of the two series tonight before they shut down for Easter. In the opener at 7pm, the Breezes High Flyers are slated to take on the Triple K Stampers and the Rockets play the University of the Bahamas Mongoes in the division one feature contest.

• Here’s a summary of the two games on Monday night: Giants 116, Stingers 99 D’Shon Taylor, in 32 minutes and 11 seconds, shot 10-for-24 from the field, 3-for-10 from the three-point line and 10-for-13 from the free throw line for a

game high 33 points with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Taylor led three other players in double figures as Michael Bain had 21 points, seven steals, six rebounds and four assists with a block shot, Tehrad Rahming came off the bench with 15 points and eight rebounds, Kevin Hinsey also contributed 11 points with seven rebounds off the bench, Tehran Cox had nine points, three assists and two rebounds and Jeffrey Henfield added nine points.

In a losing effort for PJ’s, Salathiel Dean had 27 points and 16 rebounds, Randy Williams had 24 points, four rebounds and as many steals; Mark Hanna had 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists, Marc Taylor had eight points, six rebounds and three block shots off the bench and Kendrick Curry added six points with three steals, two rebounds and as many assists.

SEE PAGE 8

ABOVE THE RIM: The Commonwealth Bank Giants defeated the PJ Stingers on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in their semi-final series.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PAGE 2, Wednesday, March 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

TEAM Bahamas swimmers can be seen during a practice session yesterday - in preparation for the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Jamaica - at the Betty Kelly Kenning National Swim Complex.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

Swimmers ready to defend CARIFTA title in Jamaica FROM PAGE 1 team, although there are a lot of first time competitors, so it will be interesting to see how well they can defend the title. Lamar Taylor, a 14-year-old Bishop Michael Eldon student out of Grand Bahama, is making his fourth team, but he said the objective is still the same, and that is to win.

“I’m really looking forward to competing in the 50m free, which is my best event,” he said. “But I am looking forward to seeing how well we compete as a team. We have a really good team, so we should do very well.”

Mark-Anthony Thompson, who joins his brother Luke-Kennedy and sister Zayle-Elizabeth Thompson on the team, will be making his debut as he competes in the open water swim.

“I’m really excited and I’m also nervous, but I want to do very well,” said the 15-year-old St Andrew’s student. “I’m looking forward to experiencing CARIFTA for the first time and just to go out and have some fun.

“As a first timer, I feel pretty good about the environment that we have here in training, so I know it will be more intense when we go to Jamaica. I just want to do my best.”

Jamilah Hepburn, 14, will be entered in the girls’ 13-14 division. The Windsor Prep at Albany student will be making her third appearance and she has some lofty goals.

“I want to bring home some medals because I’ve never won any before,” she said.

“I really want to medal in the 50m breast. I’ve been training for a long time and I think I’m ready for it.

“We have a great team and so I think we will do very well.

For those competitors who will be competing for the first time, if they don’t win a medal, they should not let it get them down.

They can always work on next year.”

Erald Thompson III, 13, will be competing in the boys’ 13-14 division as he returns for his second appearance.

“I want to go for a medal in the 100m breaststroke,” he said.

“I think with the help of my teammates, I’m looking forward to having some fun in Jamaica and putting on a show for the country.”

For Devin Cuffy-Bethel, 12, this will be her debut, but she’s not going to let the trappings get the best of her performance.

“I am looking forward to competing,” said Cuffy-Bethel, a

student of Queen’s College. “I am happy to to represent the country and I hope that I can go out there and perform very well.”

And Grace Farrington, a 12-year-old student of Queen’s College, is also making her debut.

“I am excited to be able to represent the country,” Farrington said. “I think we have a very good team and I’m just happy to be a part of it. I know that I can compete to the best of my ability. I want to medal because I am ranked in my event.”

The team will be managed by Georgette Albury and coached

by Travano McPhee, Jorge Rodriguez and Andy Loveitt.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, PAGE 3

New uniforms for Bahamas Association of Certified Officials

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHEN the Flow CARIFTA Games get underway on Friday with the official opening ceremonies, the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials will be smartly dressed in their new uniform - collar shirts.

Janaees Uniform Centre owner James Wallace presented BACO’s president Ray Hepburn and member Barry Saunders with the new white polo shirts that is embroidered with the logos of Janaees and BACO. Wallace said since their mantras has been assisting schools and other organisations with uniforms, when they were contacted

by Hepburn, they gladly agreed to provide the tops for BACO. “We are indeed very pleased at Janaees to assist you and partner with you in providing uniforms for your officials for this upcoming CARIFTA Games,” Wallace said.

“We’ve got to show the world that the Bahamas is the best at everything that we do and we are proud at Janaees to offer uniforms for over 100 of your officials and we think that they will

make you proud and indeed the Bahamas.”

Hepburn said they are appreciative of the support they got from Janaees.

“When we spoke to Mr Wallace, he was very accommodating because he wanted to do everything,” Hepburn said. “We wanted to outsource some of the items, but they said no they wanted to give us the complete product.

“As you can see, we have a beautiful shirt that was donated to over 100 officials, inclusive of officials from the Caribbean as well.

We have international officials that we will give these shirts to to represent us as we perform for this upcoming CARIFTA Games.”

After the Local Organising Committee (LOC) indicated to BACO that they had a limited amount of equipment and uniforms that they got from Puma, they had to look outside of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations for their uniforms.

“We thank Janaees for their wonderful partnership. It’s a beautiful shirt. It has their name on it. So we are so happy to be receptive of this wonderful gift and this donation. We appreciate it so much.”

BRETT ARCHER, Ray Hepburn, James Wallace and Barry Saunders display the new BACO uniform collar shirts for the CARIFTA Games.

Brett ‘B-Man’ Archer, the CEO of Brearcom, an advertising firm that works with Janaees, congratulated Janaees, who has consistently assisted students, schools and other organisations with uniforms.

“Brearcom is proud to be a part of this with BACO to ensuring that another group of Bahamians and officials from other countries are going to be well represented at the upcoming CARIFTA Games.”

In their customary style from the time they were formed by the late Deacon Leviticus ‘Uncle Lou’ Adderley, Hepburn said they have agreed to stick with the white t-shirts, but they have tweaked their logo and they will also continue to wear the red pants.

Hepburn, however, advised the public that they have and will always be separate and apart from the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine, whose

traditional sporting colours are red and white.

BACO is responsible for the officiating of all track and field competition in the country that falls under the jurisdiction of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF).

There are more than 30 to 45 certified officials in the island nation. Stephanie Rahming, the international area technical officer, is responsible for the training and certification progress.

“Officiating in track and field is not something that we take lightly,” Hepburn pointed out.

“We are educated, we are trained on a regular basis and what it does is it brings the level of competition and officiating to the place where even the IAAF, because of what we had, brought the IAAF World Relays here under the former government.

“So our responsibility is to officiate track and field under the rules of the IAAF and so what you will find at CARIFTA is the same level of professionalism that you will find in any IAAF competition.”

Hepburn said the new uniforms will be an added plus for all of the officials who will be officiating at the games.

While they are not officially affiliated with the CARIFTA Games, Wallace said Janaees has helped the sport of sailing, of which he is a member, in providing uniforms for a lot of the sailors in their competition.

He said their company is open to work with any sporting body who is looking for an alternative to providing their uniforms for their teams and their competitors.

Athletes hit the track, field ahead of CARIFTA Games

TRACK AND FIELD athletes in training for the CARIFTA Games at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium yesterday. The stadium is being transformed to accommodate the 26 visiting countries.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Transforming the national stadium FROM PAGE 1 Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson, under whose administration that the Bahamas won the bid to host the games this weekend. “The CARIFTA Games is the centrepiece of track and field in the Caribbean,” Johnson said. “The great Austin Sealy really wanted us to expand it to something like the junior Olympics. “That was really my hope and I hope that we can get back to that. In hosting the Youth Commonwealth Games last year, we put ourselves in a position to do that.

“In the future, we can host the true CARIFTA Games where we have track and field, swimming, baseball/softball, basketball, boxing, cycling and judo at the same time. I hope that I’ve behind the framework for us to work towards something like that.”

But as for this year, Johnson said the public can come out and enjoy what will be one of the most

competitive CARIFTA Games because it’s being hosted in the Bahamas where all of the countries enjoy bringing their athletes to compete.

Brandon Swaby, a former coach and a die hard track fan, said he’s looking forward to watching the 400 metres and the 4 x 400m relays. “I can’t miss the big event. Those are the races I’m looking forward to watching,” he said. “I just want to encourage the public to come out and get your tickets and let’s support the youth of our nation as they go up against the competition coming in.

“I think that’s one of our shortfalls. We don’t support our young people and then we complain about all of the negative activities. But when it’s something positive, we have to support it.

Whether we love it or not, let’s come and support the youth.”

Dimarcia Bethel, the holder of five tickets for Sunday, said they’re looking forward to enjoying a family outing.

THE THOMAS A Robinson National Stadium is being transformed to accommodate the 26 visiting countries as they come to the Bahamas for the eighth hosting of the CARIFTA Games this weekend.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff “I’m not really a track have any family members Anne’s, is competing.” Fri- are free, but patrons will fan, but my family wants to competing, but my brother’s day’s opening ceremonies as have to purchase tickets for make it an outing for us to friend, Devine Parker, who well as the morning sessions the evening sessions on Satenjoy,” she said. “We don’t is in the same grade at St on Saturday and Sunday urday, Sunday and Monday.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, March 28, 2018

JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE OF NASSAU

THE TRIBUNE

Four-year partnership between BTC and BSF in its final year THE four-year partnership between BTC and the Bahamas Swim Federation is now in its final year, and both entities are looking forward to another stellar performance at the CARIFTA Swim Championships in Jamaica this week.

It all started four years ago when BTC took a dive with the BSF to provide opportunities for hundreds of Bahamian swimmers to compete fiercely throughout the region.

In the last four years, The Bahamas has won the CARIFTA games three times.

“The four-year partnership with BTC has been the foundation of our success.

During our partnership we’ve won CARIFTA three

DEXTER CARTWRIGHT out of four years and we hope to repeat as champions again this year,” said BSF president Algernon Cargill. “Our athletes have not had to worry about funding because of the kindness of BTC. We’ve used our energy to focus on representing The Bahamas at the highest level and

we are looking forward to defending our CARIFTA crown. The entire team is ready and anxious to swim in Jamaica.”

In 2017, The Bahamas was the host for the games and BTC broadcasted the games live. BTC has invested over $240,000 in the Federation during this partnership.

“We have enjoyed a great relationship with the BSF,” said BTC CEO Dexter Cartwright.

“We were proud and pleased to support the dreams of so many young Bahamian swimmers and we are looking forward to Team Bahamas keeping the crown.”

Team Bahamas leaves on Thursday to compete in Jamaica.

JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE OF NASSAU

SUPPORT THE BLOOD BANK

SAVE A LIFE GIVE THE GIFT OF

BLOOD

BECOME A REGULAR DONOR

1 PINT CAN SAVE 3 LIVES GIVE BLOOD - GIVE LIFE

SOME HELPFUL TIPS BEFORE YOU DONATE:

4 You must have eaten at least once for the day.

4 You need at least 30 minutes between your last meal and donating blood.

4 You will need at least 10 minutes rest after donating blood.

4 You can donate blood every 8 weeks.

4 The Blood Bank will do FREE Pre-screening tests to make sure you are healthy enough to donate blood.

BECOME A REGULAR DONOR

PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE BLOOD DRIVES

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, PAGE 5

Utah slips by Western Kentucky 69-64 to reach NIT title game

By DENIS P GORMAN Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Bibbins scored 19 points and Utah beat Western Kentucky 69-64 last night in the semi-finals of the National Invitation Tournament at Madison Square Garden.

Sedrick Barefield added 14 points for the Utes (2311), who advanced to the NIT championship game for the third time. They will play Thursday night against the winner of the second semi-final between Penn State and Mississippi State.

David Collette had 13 points and seven rebounds for second-seeded Utah.

Tyler Rawson scored 12, including a 3-pointer that put the Utes ahead to stay with 38.1 seconds left.

Justin Johnson had 24 points for No. 4 seed Western Kentucky (27-11).

Lamonte Bearden added 12 and Dwight Coleby scored 10.

The game went back and forth throughout and wasn’t decided until the final seconds. Utah took a 66-64 lead when Rawson hit a 3 from the right side to snap an 0-for-7 shooting slump for the Utes, who went 8:23 without a field goal.

On the ensuing possession, Bibbins drew a charge against Bearden and knocked down two free throws. Johnson missed a straightaway 3 at the other end, and Barefield’s free throw with five seconds to go made it 69-64.

Johnson’s spinning layup with 1:27 remaining put the Hilltoppers ahead 64-63.

Bibbins made all 12 free throws he attempted. He finished 3 for 8 from the field as Utah reached the NIT title game for the first time since losing to Purdue in 1974.

The teams went into halftime tied at 32 after Bearden’s buzzer-beating jam, and the score was

WESTERN Kentucky forward Dwight Coleby (22) shoots over Utah forward David Collette in the first half of the semi-finals of the NIT last night. in New York.

(AP Photos/Julie Jacobson) tied 51-all after the third quarter.

BIG PICTURE Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers went 7 of 24 from 3-point range, ending an NIT run that included wins over three teams from power conferences: Boston College, top seed Southern California, and Oklahoma State.

Utah: The Utes missed seven of their nine shots from the field in the fourth quarter but advanced because they hit 12 of 14 free throws in the period. ... It was the first meeting between the schools and Utah’s first game against a Conference USA opponent since losing 69-60 to Tulsa in the 2008 CBI quarterfinals.

UTAH forwards Donnie Tillman (3) and Tyler Rawson (21) high-five as Western Kentucky calls a timeout late in the fourth quarter.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT Instead of college basketball’s traditional format of two-20 minute halves, the postseason NIT has been played with four 10-minute quarters.

The tournament also implemented the FIBA 3-point line (22 feet, 1.75 inches), NBA-width lane of 16 inches, and a 20-second shot clock following offensive rebounds.

UP NEXT Western Kentucky: Looking ahead to next season.

Utah: A chance to win the NIT for the second time. The school’s only title came in 1947 with a 49-45 victory over Kentucky.

WESTERN Kentucky forward Dwight Coleby (22) pulls down a rebound against Utah forward David Collette (13) in the first half.

Rockets pound Bulls 11886, win 10th straight game HOUSTON (AP) — Eric Gordon scored 31 points and tied a career high with eight 3-pointers on a night James Harden sat out to rest, and the Houston Rockets got their 10th straight win with a 118-86 rout of the Chicago Bulls last night.

Trevor Ariza added 21 points and Chris Paul had 13 points and 10 assists in his return after missing the last three games with a sore hamstring.

The NBA-leading Rockets became the first team since San Antonio in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season to have three winning streaks of at least 10 games in a season. They won 14 in a row from November 16 to December 18 and 17 straight from January 28 to March 7.

Lauri Markkanen returned after missing Saturday’s game with lower back spasms and had 22 points for the Bulls, who dropped their sixth straight.

WIZARDS 116, SPURS 106 WASHINGTON (AP) — Markieff Morris shot 7 of 7 from the floor for 15 points, Otto Porter Jr added 14 and Washington beat San Antonio to snap a three-game losing streak.

San Antonio lost for just the second time in eight games but may have been dealt a more serious blow with a left knee injury to star LaMarcus Aldridge, who was the game’s leading scorer with 13 points before he limped off late in the second quarter. Aldridge is the biggest reason the Spurs have stayed afloat without Kawhi Leonard most of this season.

Washington lit up the NBA’s top scoring defense to improve to 15-11 in 26 consecutive games without five-time All-Star guard John Wall, who is close to returning from left knee surgery. The Wizards had dropped to sixth in the East by losing five of seven and could clinch a playoff spot as early as Thursday.

HOUSTON Rockets forward PJ Tucker, bottom, and Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen vie for the ball during the second half last night.

(AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) HEAT 98, CAVALIERS 79 MIAMI (AP) — Kelly Olynyk scored 19 points, Dwyane Wade blocked a pair of shots by LeBron James as part of a stifling defensive effort by Miami, and the Heat had little trouble on the way to beating Cleveland.

Josh Richardson and James Johnson each scored 15 points for Miami, which led 54-34 at halftime and has won 10 of its last 11 home games. Wade finished with 12 against the team he spent part of this season with before getting traded back to Miami.

Goran Dragic added 10 for the Heat, who could clinch an Eastern

Conference playoff spot by week’s end.

James finished with 18 points for the Cavaliers, whose previous season low for points was 88. The Cavs are 1-13 this season when held under 100; they’re 43-17 when scoring more than 100.

TRAIL BLAZERS 107, PELICANS 103 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 20 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter, and Portland beat New Orleans.

Lillard hit his first six shots of the fourth quarter, including two 3-pointers, to push Portland into its first lead since early in the first

quarter. He made two free throws with 1.3 seconds left to seal the victory.

Anthony Davis had 36 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks for the Pelicans, with 22 points coming after he rolled his right ankle and briefly came out of the game with 5:15 left in the third quarter. Jrue Holiday had 21 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds for New Orleans.

RAPTORS 114, NUGGETS 110 TORONTO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas, and Fred VanVleet each scored 15 points and Toronto beat Denver. Jakob Poeltl scored all of

his 12 points in the fourth quarter, including eight straight for Toronto at one stretch.

Serge Ibaka had 13 points, Pascal Siakam 12 and Kyle Lowry 11 as the Raptors improved to 31-7 at home.

Toronto, which lost to the Clippers on Sunday, avoided what would have been its fifth twogame losing streak. The Eastern Conference-leading Raptors have yet to lose three consecutive games this season.

Nikola Jokic had 29 points and 16 rebounds, and Paul Millsap scored 20 points for the Nuggets, who lost their second straight and fourth in six games.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, PAGE 7

AUSSIE CRICKET BOSS: THREE CHEATERS FACE ‘SIGNIFICANT SANCTIONS’

By GERALD IMRAY AP Sports Writer JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Angry and with his voice trembling at times, Australia’s cricket chief announced yesterday that team captain Steve Smith and two other players who plotted to cheat in a test in South Africa face “serious sanctions,” which could end the international career of at least one of them.

Smith, vice-captain David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft were all to be sent home from the tour of South Africa for their roles in planning and carrying out a ball tampering scheme in the third test in Cape Town over the weekend.

They will face the outrage of their nation when they get home.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland, forced to fly to South Africa to deal with one of the most embarrassing and damaging moments in the history of one of cricket’s biggest teams, said he was “angry and disappointed.”

“In regards to the three players on report, I want to stress that we are contemplating significant sanctions in each case,” Sutherland told a news conference in

Johannesburg. “These sanctions will reflect the gravity with which we view what has occurred and the damage it has done to the standing of Australian cricket.”

He stopped short of announcing any punishments for the three players, though, as an internal investigation into the cheating conspiracy that shocked a country of cricket fans is yet to be completed.

Most of the players and backroom staff had been interviewed

by Cricket Australia’s integrity chief Iain Roy, Sutherland said.

Roy still had to complete his report, but would do so with 24 hours.

Sutherland insisted that initial findings showed Smith, Warner and Bancroft were the only members of the Australian team who had “prior knowledge” of the tampering plot. Coach Darren Lehmann, a target for scrutiny for the Australian media, played no role in the cheating, Sutherland said, and would continue as coach.

Sutherland promised that the immediate cricket fates of Smith, Warner and Bancroft would be known within a day.

“It’s about the integrity and reputation of Australian cricket and Australian sport,” Sutherland

that often held itself up as the moral compass of the game.

Smith, Warner and the remainder of the squad were shadowed at airports by packs of reporters and television crews as they travelled from Cape Town to Johannesburg on Tuesday. One reporter asked Warner repeatedly if he had engaged in ball tampering during the recent Ashes series against England, the biggest contest in cricket.

That underlined Sutherland’s later comments that this Australia team’s entire reputation has been tarnished.

Warner, a pugnacious batsman who has a long lost list of disciplinary infractions in his career, was confirmed as being part of the plot for the first time officially.

Australian news outlets reported Warner had become a more central figure in the investigation, had fallen out with teammates and could face a lengthy ban.

Smith, the star of Australian cricket after leading the team to a 4-0 Ashes rout of England a few months ago, is expected to be fired as captain. All three face hefty bans considering the damage caused to reputation of Australian cricket and the humiliation.

JAMES SUTHERLAND, chief executive of Cricket Australia, speaks a during media conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) said. “Ultimately it’s about whether Australians can feel proud of their sporting teams.”

The actions of Smith and Warner, the leaders of the team, and Bancroft, a relative newcomer, have also reverberated through the cricketing world. Critics have pounced on the apparent hypocrisy of an Australian team

Smith and Bancroft confessed that, after a discussion during a break in play, they decided they would try to change the condition of the ball during the third test using a piece of yellow adhesive tape and some dirt collected from the side of the pitch. Bancroft was tasked to do the on-field tampering but botched it when he was caught by television cameras doing the tampering and then trying to hide the tape down the front of his trousers. The evidence from the TV cameras was overwhelming.

Australia also lost the test by a crushing 322 runs.

Tim Paine will take over as captain of the team for the fourth test in South Africa starting on Friday, with Smith, Warner and Bancroft on a flight home Wednesday morning.

Their places in the Australia squad will be taken by Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns, who helped their Queensland state clinch the domestic cricket title on Tuesday, and Glenn Maxwell.

Australia trails 2-1 ahead of the final test in Johannesburg.

Engulfed in a crisis, Australia faces losing a series in South Africa for the first time in nearly 50 years.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 59° F/15° C

TAMPA

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Intervals of clouds and sunshine

Patchy clouds

Intervals of clouds and sun

Nice with times of sun and clouds

Partly sunny and pleasant

Some sunshine

High: 80°

Low: 67°

High: 82° Low: 68°

High: 83° Low: 67°

High: 82° Low: 67°

High: 82° Low: 67°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

80° F

64° F

82°-65° F

84°-71° F

94°-71° F

91°-69° F

High: 82° 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: 72° F/22° C Low: 69° F/21° C

10-20 knots

S

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 65° F/18° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 69° F/21° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 63° F/17° C

MIAMI

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 69° F/21° C

12-25 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 77° F/25° C Low .................................................... 68° F/20° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/27° C Normal low ........................................ 67° F/19° C Last year’s high ................................. 82° F/28° 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 ..................................... 4.34”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 67° F/19° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C

High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

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

Tuesday

10:42 a.m.

11:06 p.m.

2.6 2.9

4:45 a.m. -0.3 4:51 p.m. -0.3

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

S

E

W

12-20 knots

S

12-20 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

tiDes For nassau

7:06 a.m.

7:24 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

4:49 p.m.

5:11 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Mar. 31

Apr. 8

Apr. 15

Apr. 22

CAT ISLAND

E

W

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

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 70° F/21° C

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 71° F/22° C

N

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 71° F/22° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 71° F/22° C

12-25 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 76° F/24° C Low: 72° F/22° 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: 73° F/23° C

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 71° F/22° C

GREAT INAGUA

H

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

15-25 knots

12-20 knots

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

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS E at 8-16 Knots SE at 10-15 Knots E at 12-20 Knots ESE at 12-20 Knots E at 12-20 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 15-20 Knots E at 12-20 Knots E at 10-20 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots ESE at 10-15 Knots SE at 10-15 Knots E at 12-20 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots NE at 12-20 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 15-20 Knots E at 12-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 10-15 Knots ESE at 10-15 Knots E at 15-25 Knots E at 12-25 Knots E at 12-25 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots

WAVES 5-9 Feet 5-9 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 6-10 Feet 6-10 Feet 6-10 Feet 5-9 Feet 4-8 Feet 4-8 Feet 4-7 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 5-9 Feet 5-9 Feet 5-9 Feet 4-8 Feet 8-12 Feet 8-12 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 4-8 Feet 4-8 Feet

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

WATER TEMPS. 73° F 73° F 77° F 77° F 75° F 74° F 77° F 77° F 73° F 73° F 74° F 75° F 76° F 75° F 78° F 78° F 77° F 77° F 77° F 77° F 74° F 74° F 77° F 77° F 75° F 75° F

Covering The Bahamas for over 40 years.

NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

HOME INSURANCE

LIFE INSURANCE

AUTO INSURANCE

MARINE INSURANCE

www.InsuranceManagementBahamas.com

PAGE 8, Wednesday, March 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Commonwealth Bank Giants stay undefeated

ON THE REPLAY: The Commonwealth Bank Giants defeated the PJ Stingers 116-99 on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in their semi-final series. After tonight’s double header at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, the NPBA will take a break and resume after the Easter holiday.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Bucket take upper hand in semi-finals

FROM PAGE 1

Aliv Bucket 102, Resistance 82 Rashad Ingraham, in 36:03 minutes, had a game high 25 points on 11-for-22 from the field, 3-for-6 from the threepoint line and 6-for-8 from the foul line, to lead their team to victory. He also had 17 rebounds and three assists.

Akeil Bullard had 21 points, 11 rebounds and a pair of steals and blocks, Dylan Musgrove came off the bench with 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and as many blocks, James Rolle had 16 points, eight assists, three rebounds and two steals and Levonne Moxey chipped in with 12 points.

For Caro Contractors, Quemah Gibson scored 23 points with 17 rebounds in 37:31 minutes. He was 10-for-21 from the field and 3-for-4 from the foul line.

Shannen Philips had 21 points, Kamal Murphy had 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists and Marcian Higgins helped out with nine points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

PLAY ACTION: In the men’s division II opener, Aliv Bucket routed the Caro Contractors Resistance 102-82 Monday night as they surged ahead 2-1 in their best-of-5 semi-final series at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff