04062017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

Truckers even series 1-1

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A

fter dropping game one of the series, Johnson’s Trucking sidestepped a possible deficit and tied their NPBA Division II series 1-1.

Johnson’s withstood a late fourth quarter rally to escape with a 104-100 win over the Breezes High Flyers in game two at the AF Adderley Gymnasium last night.

Breezes nearly erased an 18point deficit in a high scoring fourth quarter where both teams combined for a total of 81 points.

Clinging to a two-point lead with seven seconds left to play, Cordero Coakley made a clutch pair of free throws to secure the win and tie the series.

Christorr Stuart had a game high 30 points, 12 rebounds and four asssits to lead five players in double figures. Henry Rolle finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, four asssists and four steals, Coakley scored 15, Tyrell Griffin added 12, Horris McKenzie chipped in with 11 and Michael Davis grabbed a game high 14 rebounds.

Travis Stuart and Jeremy Neely each had 23 points to lead the High Flyers. Shanton Pratt added 19 points and six steals, Devontee Gibson finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Delano Forbes scored 10.

The High Flyers opened with a quick 6-0 run in the first two minutes of the game before the Truckers responded with six of their own to tie the score. The High Flyers led by as much as sev-

en points in the quarter on Enrico Bethel’s layup for a 14-7 lead with 43 seconds left to play. Stuart converted a three-point play on his tip-in but Shanton Pratt made a pair at the line to give Breezes a 16-10 lead at the end of the first.

The Flyers struck first in the second with a Devonte Gibson free three throw to regain the seven-point lead but the Truckers answered with another run.

Horris McKenzie added a layup and free throw, Stuart converted two free throws and McKenzie made another layup to tie the game at 17. Henry Rolle gave Johnson’s their first lead on the next possession with his layup (19-17) with just over eight minutes left to play. They would go on to build a 40-31 lead with 42 seconds left when Stuart added a jump hook in the lane. Johnson’s

led 40-35 at the half. The game broke open for the Truckers in the third when they won the quarter by 10 points. A Franz Smith tip-in gave Johnson’s a 47-35 lead at the eight-minute mark before Breezes trimmed the lead to just two.

Forbes’ layup brought Breezes within two (54-52) but Johnson’s closed the remainder of the quarter on a 15-2 run. Rolle made a layup with seven seconds left in the period and Johnson’s took a 69-54 lead into the fourth.

Coakley opened the fourth with a three-pointer to give the Truckers their biggest lead of the game (72-54) before the Breezes fourth quarter comeback.

The Truckers shot 47 per cent from the field. They held an 11rebound advantage on the boards and outscored the High Flyers by 18 in the paint.

JOHNSON’s Trucking withstood a late fourth quarter rally to escape with a 104-100 win over the Breezes High Flyers in game two of the NPBA Division II championship series at the AF Adderley Gymnasium last night.

SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 4 Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

BEACH SOCCER

World Cup, Pages 2 & 8

EQUESTRIAN DEBUT, HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER NATIONALS ON TAP

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE final sporting events of the scholastic calendar look to conclude the Ministry of Education’s national championship initiative on a high note.

The National Soccer Championships and debut of the National Interschool Equestrian Championships are on tap to take place over the course of the next two months.

The second edition of the National Soccer Championships is scheduled for May 20-June 7. The tournament’s format will begin with the first round games played in New Providence and Grand Bahama on May 20.

The Preliminary Final will take place in New Providence May 27 with the official draw two days later on May 29.

Evon Wisdom, the sports unit director in the Ministry of Education, said the logistics of the event are still in the works as the fallout from Hurricane Matthew compressed the athletic seasons.

“We are having some challenges as the soccer season has been displaced. We are attempting to see how best we can get through the regular seasons and the school bodies have been cooperating with us.

We want them to have a selfsufficient season where they can play enough games and be ready for nationals. We want to fit into the plans that the Bahamas Football Association has for their series of events,” he said.

The tournament is expected to include schools from the BAISS, GSSSA, Grand Bahama and other Family Islands.

“This is a true national championship event because of the high volume of travel.

We have attempted to broaden the scope of the championships. That is something that we are looking at very close.

What the BFA has done is assisted us in finding play that it as an equitable level.

“The play has been fairly strong in Abaco. There may be one or two other islands we are looking at but we are proud of the fact that island schools will be invited based on their level of play and not a thing where you are automatically invited,” Wisdom said.

“While we clearly understand that there are lots of

SEE PAGE 3

Champ Stuart and Ponies open play tonight against Cats

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net WHILE opening day in Major League Baseball took place last Sunday, minor league play also begins this week and several Bahamian players will be featured in their 2017 debut for their respective franchises.

Champ Stuart will compete in Double A while another four Bahamian players – Anfernee Seymour, Todd Isaacs, Lucius Fox and Jazz Chisholm - will start the season out in Single A ball.

Stuart and the newly named Binghamton Rumble Ponies open play 7pm tonight against the New Hampton Fisher Cats.

The Rumble Ponies compete in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League as an affiliate of the New York Mets.

The club shifted its name this offseason from the Mets and held a name-the-team contest on its website from May 17-June 1. The mascot pays homage to the city’s reputation as the carousel capitol of the world.

“All off-season we’ve been working really hard for the fans to build a season full of nothing but fun, so that’s our mindset for the season,” Binghamton Rumble Ponies owner John Hughes said at a meet and greet session for fans. “It’s an exciting time for us because we get to unveil it and let everyone see all the hard work that’s been done.”

Stuart, 24, looks to continue his progression in the Mets organisation after being one of the final cuts in Major League spring training, his second spring training appearance with the club.

In 2016 he had a season of several milestones, including an appearance as a pinch runner in the final Grapefruit League game for the Mets in spring training and a stellar season with the Port St Lucie Mets in Single-A Advanced, which led to a Double-A call up with Binghamton.

Through 114 games in both leagues, Stuart hit .240 with 34 RBI and eight home runs.

He has also totalled an OBP of .319, slugging percentage of .349 an OPS of .663 and 40 stolen bases

ANFERNEE SEYMOUR, TODD ISAACS, LUCIUS FOX AND JAZZ CHISHOLM IN MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DEBUTS

CHAMP STUART The quartet in Single A will also play tonight with a heavy presence in the Midwest League.

Seymour, 22, will return to the Rome Braves in the Single A South Atlantic League’s Southern Division.

They open a three-game series against the West Virginia Power tonight at 7:05pm.

“We are excited to welcome this group of players to Rome for the

2017 season. They not only represent the Atlanta Braves and the Rome Braves but all of Braves Nation, specifically NW Georgia,” says Rome general manager Michael Dunn. “We look forward to more championship baseball and playing into September.”

Last August, Seymour began the season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers in the Miami Marlins organisation but was traded to the Atlanta Braves in a threeplayer deal, which also saw the Braves acquire pitcher Michael Mader in exchange for relief pitcher Hunter Cervenka.

Seymour came on board for a torrid second half of the season as the Braves went 43-27 the rest of the way and won the divisional title.

In 125 games last year, Seymour hit .257 with 72 runs scored, 43

stolen bases and 31 RBI. He has recorded a slugging percentage of .303, an OBP of .296 and an OPS of .599 and 149 total bases.

Chisholm, 19, continues to make an early a faster than projected impact with the Arizona Diamondbacks organisation and progresses to Single A with the Kane County Cougars in the Midwestern League’s Western Division.

He makes his debut when the Cougars take on the Clinton Lumberkings 7pm tonight.

The Diamondbacks currently list Chisholm as the No.3 prospect in the minor league pipeline headed into the 2016-17 campaign.

According to AZcentralsports. com, Chisholm has drawn comparisons to former infielder Or-

SEE PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Thursday, April 6, 2017

21 DAYS

THE TRIBUNE

The countdown is on BAHAMAS World ranking: 48 Group A: with Ecuador (21), Senegal (17) and Switzerland (6) The road to Nassau As hosts of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017, the Bahamas were not required to qualify for the April/May showpiece event. In spite of that, they opted to stage and take part in the 2017 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, in which they finished sixth.

The hosts began the tournament in exemplary fashion winning their opening three group games against Guyana (4-1), Belize (3-0) and Jamaica (3-2). However, that run ended in the quarter-finals with a 5-3 defeat by Guadeloupe (3-5).

In the end, they had to settle for sixth place after going down 4-2 to the United States.

Player to Watch LESLY ST FLEUR (10) - one of the players to watch.

Strengths and style The Bahamas’ standout

TEAM BAHAMAS will be competing in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup for the first time.

player is talented forward Lesly St Fleur, who carried his side’s hopes at the qualifying event by scoring nine of their 12 goals.

The team’s well-drilled defence also caught the eye, particularly in the first phase when it was breached only three times. Playing a big part in that was their dependable goalkeeper Ivan Rolle, whose fine reflexes were in evidence throughout.

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup record This will be the Bahamas’ first participation at a Beach Soccer World Cup. At 48, they are the lowest ranked team in the world standings at the finals.

• The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 will be held in Nassau from April 27 to May 7.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, April 6, 2017, PAGE 3

THE BASKETBALL Without Borders programme is all set to be hosted in the Bahamas July 5-8.

‘Bahamas is a great market that we can look to explore’

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE announcement was made Tuesday as stakeholders provided an official date for the Basketball Without Borders programme to be hosted in the Bahamas.

However, the NBA has targeted the Bahamas as a destination for quite some time.

The NBA’s most noteworthy global initiative will be hosted in the Bahamas July 5-8 and Mark Tatum, chief operating officer and deputy commissioner of the NBA, said that the league has explored the possibility of having a league prescence in the Bahamas.

Speaking to a group of international reporters during an online teleconference during NBA AllStar Weekend, powered by Cisco, Tatum foreshadowed how the league planned to have an impact on the country.

“The Bahamas is a great market that we can look to explore. We know there is a great market there and a great heritage with players like Buddy Hield and Klay Thompson in the league right now. We also know it’s one of those places where we are experiencing a rise in popularity,” he said.

“Basketball Without Borders is a great programme that gives us tremendous reach internationally and has been going really well.

We have done the pro-

MEMBERS of the Basketball Without Borders coaching staff. gramme in other Caribbean locations and the Bahamas is definitely a destination we have considered.”

Basketball Without Borders is an instructional camp organised by the NBA in conjunction with FIBA. It presents itself as a “basketball development

EQUESTRIAN FROM PAGE 1

teams that want to participate, at the nationals a level of play must set the standard. We want to create a level of excitement throughout the family island for the sport. We believe as a ministry we have to do

and community outreach programme that unites young basketball players to promote the sport and encourage positive social change in the areas of education, health, and wellness”.

Organised annually since 2001, 41 BWB camps have

a better job of helping the BFA to help the sport to grow at the school level, which can be a building block for the future.”

The Queen’s College Comets and St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine are the defending champions in the senior boys’ and girls’ divisions respectively.

The first National Interschool Equestrian Championships is all set for April 29 at the Camperdown Equestrian Centre.

been held across 23 cities in 20 countries with in excess of 2,300 participants from more than 120 countries and territories, 33 of whom were later drafted into the NBA. Around 150 different current and former NBA/ WNBA players have joined nearly 140 NBA team per-

Originally encompassing a series of interschool competitions beginning in December, and culminating in a National Championship event, the competition format was changed for this school year to a single interschool championship event.

Participating schools include Queen’s College, St Augustine’s.

St Andrew’s, Lyford Cay, Windsor and Tambearly.

The National Sports Secretari-

sonnel as staff.

The country has hosted elite level NCAA basketball and an NBA training camp with the Miami Heat.

However, Tatum said there are no immediate plans to host exhibition or regular season games.

“Bringing NBA games

at, which is jointly headed by the Ministers of Education, Science and Technology and Youth, Sports and Culture, made a commitment to broaden our base and include more National Sports Championships this year for High School Sports,” Wisdom said. “We stand by this commitment 100 per cent.

And thus, despite the funding challenges presented by the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, we will be funding these events.”

CHAMP STUART AND PONIES OPEN PLAY TONIGHT AGAINST CATS FROM PAGE 1 lando Hudson – now a minor league instructor for the Diamondbacks – both for his play and personality. Hudson said he can see it but only to an extent.

“That kid has tremendous tools – tools out of tools,” Hudson said.

“I see so much of me in him, but I didn’t have the tools he had. Definitely not. He’s a joy to watch, a joy to coach, but he’s definitely got a lot to learn still.”

Last season, Chisholm’s entrance to the Major Leagues was with the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League.

He excelled in Rookie League play and showed flashes of the po-

tential the Diamondbacks looked forward to when they signed him as a free agent and was named to the annual Pioneer League vs.

Northwest League All Star Game.

He appeared in 62 games for the Ospreys. and in 249 at bats, he hit .281 with nine home runs, 37 RBI and 13 stolen bases. He finished with an on base percentage of .333, slugging percentage of .446 and OPS of .779.

Isaacs will also compete in the Single A Full Season for the first time, the next step in his journey with the Cleveland Indians.

The 20-year-old outfielder was named to the roster for the Lake County Captains in the Eastern Division of the Midwest League.

The Captains will face the Day-

ton Dragons 7pm tonight.

In 2016, Isaacs was selected to the All-Star roster in the New York Penn League where he hit .333 with 20 RBI, six home runs, 14 stolen bases and an .898 OPS for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the Class A Short Season.

Lucius Fox will play Single A ball for the second consecutive season, this time as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays organisation.

Fox will suit up for the Bowling Green Hot Rods, also in the Midwest League’s Eastern Division.

The Hot Rods face the Fort Wayne Tin Caps at 7:35 tonight.

The 19-year-old shortstop made his much-anticipated pro debut last season for the Giants with the Augusta GreenJackets of the South

Atlantic Class A League.

In 75 games, Fox hit .207 with 46 runs scored, 25 stolen bases, slugging .277, an on-base percentage of .305, an OPS of .582, two home runs, four triples and six doubles.

Fox was traded to the Rays along with Matt Duffy and Michael Santos in the deal which sent left-handed pitcher Matt Moore to the San Francisco Giants. He was limited to just a single game in the Instructional League with the Rays before he was sidelined with a foot injury.

The Class-A leagues, the South Atlantic and Midwest, feature a cross section of players moving up from the Short Season and Rookie leagues, as well as the occasional experienced first-year player

there is a huge undertaking, It requires a tremendous amount of resources, so we can’t do them everywhere.

So while we have no immediate plans to host games or exhibitions in the future, we have had franchises like the Miami Heat who have hosted training camp there and they have enjoyed that experience. That is something that may be explored in the future.

“There’s an incredible demand for NBA games and NBA content around the world, and as we look at where we go, there are a lot of great markets out there that we would love to bring games to,” he said.

“The Bahamas has done a great job with a wonderful NCAA event every year with the Battle 4 Atlantis so they have shown the ability to host the sport at a high level and we hope that continues.”

Tatum was appointed NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer on February 1, 2014, following unanimous approval by the NBA Board of Governors.

Tatum, a 17-year veteran of the league office, is responsible for the NBA’s business operations, including leading the NBA’s international efforts. He also oversees the global partnerships, marketing, communications and team marketing and business operations departments in addition to the NBA Development League.

SPORTS NOTE BASKETBALL BSC CLASSIC THE Baptist Sports Council began its 2017 Basketball Classic at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex on Saturday.

In games played, Eagles Nest blasted Macedonia 38-25 in the 15-and-under opener; Blessed Hope held off Macedonia 50-42 in a 19-and-under game; Independence Church of God held off the Eagles Nest 3533 in another 19-and-under game; Macedonia routed New Lively Hope 46-26 in a men’s encounter and the Eagles Nest knocked off Golden Eagles 47-30 in the men’s feature contest.

The league will continue on Saturday with the following games on tap: 10am - Macedonia vs Eagles Nest (15-and-under); 11 am Blessed Hope vs Eagles Nest (19-and-under); Noon Macedonia vs Independence Church of God (19-and-under); 1 pm Evangelistic Center vs Eagles Nest (M); 2 pm New Bethlehem vs New Lively Hope (M) and 3 pm Macedonia vs Golden Gates (M).

PAGE 4, Thursday, April 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

NEW PROVIDENCE BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

JOHNSON’s Trucking withstood a late fourth quarter rally to escape with a 104-100 win over the Breezes High Flyers in game two of the NPBA Division II championship series at the AF Adderley Gymnasium last night.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, April 6, 2017, PAGE 5

McLemore’s big second half, Buddy’s 16 lift Kings past Mavericks, 98-87

By MICHAEL WAGAMAN Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif.

(AP) — With the Kings’ bench depleted by injuries and coach Dave Joerger’s decision to rest most of his starters, Ben McLemore thought his team might have a tough time finding a good rhythm.

After his own slow start, McLemore made it a nonissue for himself and Sacramento.

McLemore scored 21 of his 22 points in the second half to lead six players in double figures, and the Kings beat the Dallas Mavericks 98-87 on Tuesday night.

“Playing with eight guys, it’s tough,” said McLemore, who shot 8 of 13. “Before we went out there Garrett (Temple) made the emphasis that, ‘Hey, we’re all we got. We just have to go out there, play hard, play together and get the results.’

Tonight we got the results and we came out with a win.”

Limited to one free throw

in the first half, McLemore scored 11 straight points to end the third quarter, then helped the Kings pull away in the fourth. McLemore made a pair of driving layups as part of a 13-4 run and hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the final two minutes to help Sacramento win the season series between the teams.

“I just stayed with it, stayed aggressive,” McLemore said. “My teammates kept looking for me and I started making shots.

I got a real good easy one to the basket when I got a dunk (in the third) and that’s when my rhythm started coming along.”

Willie Cauley-Stein added 12 points and 16 rebounds, while Buddy Hield scored 16 points and Georgios Papagiannis had 13.

Nicolas Brussino had a season-high 13 points along with seven rebounds and five assists for Dallas, which played without Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavericks have lost five straight.

The 38-year-old Nowitzki has been nursing a sore

Achilles tendon and sat out with the Mavericks playing the front end of a back-toback. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle is hopeful Nowitzki will play Wednesday in Los Angeles.

“He is feeling better,” Carlisle said. “Could be most likely a game-time decision. The signs are good at this point.”

Nowitzki wasn’t the only one getting the night off.

Both teams rested many of their starters, giving the game the feel — and sometimes look — of the preseason.

Sacramento started two backups and three players who weren’t even with the team at the beginning of the season. Dallas was also missing regulars Wes Matthews and Seth Curry.

Predictably, it wasn’t pretty at times.

The Kings shot 39 percent in the first quarter while the Mavericks were only slightly worse and went just 2 of 10 beyond the arc to open the game.

Dallas broke out of its shooting slump in the third

KINGS guard Buddy Hield raises his fist in celebration after scoring a three-point shot during the second half of Tuesday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks. The Kings won 98-87.

(AP Photos/Rich Pedroncelli) quarter with seven 3-pointers but faded late in the fourth and was held to six points over the final 3:40, when McLemore scored six points and Cauley-Stein had four.

“I thought our guys played with their whole heart as they have done most of the season,” Joerger said. “We’re playing really young guys. It’s a great experience for them. To play to win, compete . that’s what it’s about.”

KINGS guard Buddy Hield, left, and Mavericks forward Nicolas Brussino scramble for the ball.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

TIP-INS Mavericks: Curry missed his second straight game

because of a left shoulder strain. Matthews was rested.

Kings: Aaron Afflalo (lower back strain) and Anthony Tolliver (hip strain) were held out while Collison, Lawson and Kosta Koufos were rested.

BACKCOURT SHUFFLE With guards Darren Collison and Ty Lawson sitting out, the Kings went with a starting backcourt of Hield and Langston Galloway.

Predictably, Sacramento had problems taking care of the ball. Joerger’s club

KLAY SCORES 41, WARRIORS ROLL TO 12TH STRAIGHT WIN

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer OAKLAND, California (AP) — After months of rain, Klay Thompson credits the much-improved weather this spring to finding his shooting touch. And he’s dead serious.

Dead on, too. No chance of April doldrums around here, especially with Kevin Durant on the mend.

Thompson scored 41 points for his 10th career 40-point game while Stephen Curry had 19 points and nine assists as the playoff-ready Golden State Warriors ran their winning streak to 12 straight by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-107 on Tuesday night.

“I’d probably say the weather’s gotten better. This sunshine’s been so good to me, been able to get outside,” said Thompson, who saw his share of precipitation growing up in Portland. “It just puts me in a great mood to come to the gym every day, get my work in, go home, enjoy the outdoors. The Bay Area is beautiful.”

So is the basketball being played lately by Thompson’s team.

Matt Barnes contributed 12 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Golden State could wrap up the West’s No. 1 seed as soon as Wednesday night with a win at Phoenix and a Spurs’ loss at home to the Lakers.

Now, it seems, the Warriors just need one key reinforcement: Durant. And KD could be back by week’s end with his team on quite a roll to finish the regular season atop the NBA again.

The Warriors can’t wait to have him — and be that much more dominant.

Curry doesn’t need to see Thompson hit

WARRIORS guard Klay Thompson (11) takes a 3-point shot over Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) Tuesday night. (AP) a shot to know he’s on. Just clear skies.

“That definitely helps,” Curry said. “He’s got an adventurous personality so when he gets to go out and explore in his downtime, I’m sure that gets the adrenalin flowing.”

In his highest-scoring performance since getting 60 on Dec. 5, Thompson hit 7 of 14 3-pointers — giving him at least four 3s in a career-best six consecutive games. His 262 3s rank as eighth most ever for a single season after he had 276 last season.

committed 18 turnovers, including 11 in the first half when it made only 13 shots.

“We knew tonight we were going to make some turnovers, not having DC and Ty out there on the floor,” McLemore said. “We just had to continue going onto the next play and continue to be aggressive, and that’s what we did.”

UP NEXT Kings: Travel south to face the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday and can take the season series with a win.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

PAGE 6, Thursday, April 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, April 6, 2017, PAGE 7

CHELSEA BACK ON TRACK FOR PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer CHELSEA re-established its position as hot favourite to win the Premier League trophy yesterday, virtually eliminating Manchester City from the title race and leaving Tottenham as the only realistic challenger to the long-time leader.

On a night when the title race could have been thrown open, Chelsea pulled off one of its most significant results of the season by beating City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge to cement its seven-point lead with eight games remaining.

Tottenham is the only team inside 12 points of Chelsea — but only remained in sight of the leaders after a late comeback in a 3-1 win at Swansea. Down 1-0 going into the 88th minute, Spurs turned things around to keep alive their faint hopes of a first Premier League title.

Whether it turns into a two-team race depends on

Chelsea holding its nerve, like it did against a City side that made the match tense right through to the final whistle. But with only one game left against a topsix team — at Manchester United on April 16 — there seems to be little chance of Chelsea throwing away enough points to give Tottenham an opening.

The surprise 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday might have been the wakeup call Chelsea needed.

Thibaut Courtois let City back into the game, sending a clearance straight to David Silva. The Spain playmaker ran through and his shot was parried by Courtois straight into the path of Sergio Aguero, who tapped home in the 26th.

In the 35th, Fernandinho brought down Pedro Rodriguez and although Caballero saved Hazard’s penalty, the winger slotted in the rebound.

Chelsea completed the double this season over City, which is fourth — four points above both Arsenal and Manchester United having played a game more.

• Here’s a look at Wednesday’s games: CHELSEA 2, MAN CITY 1 Eden Hazard has spearheaded Chelsea’s revival under Antonio Conte and the Belgium winger scored both goals to see off City.

On a night to forget for goalkeepers. Hazard put Chelsea ahead in the 10th minute when his deflected shot somehow evaded the grasp of City keeper Willy Caballero, who appeared to sink to his knees too early.

Chelsea goalkeeper

time at Liberty Stadium.

Tottenham moved five points ahead of third-place Liverpool and has a game in hand. Swansea dropped into the relegation zone in place of Hull.

ARSENAL 3, WEST HAM 0 Arsenal’s challenge for a Champions League qualification place is back on after just a second win in seven leagues games.

Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud scored second-half goals to give temporary respite to long-serving Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who has been the subject of criticism from some fans as the team goes through a poor run of form and he weighs up whether to extend his contract.

Arsenal climbed into fifth place, above Manchester United on goal difference, and within four points of fourth-place Manchester City. Arsenal has a game in hand over City.

It was a fifth straight loss for West Ham, which is five

SWANSEA 1, TOTTENHAM 3 Tottenham has won its last five games to stay in title contention — just about.

Former Spurs player Wayne Routledge put Swansea ahead in the 11th minute and the Welsh team held on until the 88th, when Dele Alli tapped in an equaliser. Son Heung-min and Christian Eriksen added further goals in stoppage

CHELSEA players celebrate their opening goal yesterday. (AP)

LIVERPOOL 2, BOURNEMOUTH 2 Liverpool conceded an 87th-minute equaliser as its problems against the league’s supposedly weaker sides resurfaced.

Liverpool remained in third place, and is now two points ahead of fourthplace Manchester City, but it has played more games than all of its rivals in the top six.

Bournemouth went ahead early through Benik Afobe and equalised late through Josh King, with Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi scoring in between for Liverpool.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 53° F/12° C

TAMPA

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots

A t‑storm in spots in the evening

Mostly sunny and pleasant

Pleasant with brilliant sunshine

Partly sunny and pleasant

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

High: 89°

Low: 72°

High: 85° Low: 65°

High: 83° Low: 66°

High: 83° Low: 67°

High: 84° Low: 68°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

94° F

73° F

90°-69° F

95°-64° F

86°-65° F

86°-65° F

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

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almanac

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High: 81° F/27° C Low: 70° F/21° C

8‑16 knots

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WEST PALM BEACH High: 87° F/31° C Low: 57° F/14° C

8‑16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

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FREEPORT

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 61° F/16° C

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High: 86° F/30° C Low: 64° F/18° C

MIAMI

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 63° F/17° C

8‑16 knots

KEY WEST

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 72° F/22° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

4:52 a.m.

5:24 p.m.

2.8 2.5

11:21 a.m. 0.0 11:36 p.m. 0.0

Friday

5:50 a.m.

6:19 p.m.

2.8 2.6

12:14 p.m. ‑0.1 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Saturday

6:41 a.m.

7:07 p.m.

2.8 2.7

12:32 a.m. ‑0.1 1:01 p.m. ‑0.2

Sunday

7:26 a.m.

7:50 p.m.

2.8 2.8

1:21 a.m. ‑0.2 1:43 p.m. ‑0.3

Monday

8:08 a.m.

8:31 p.m.

2.7 2.9

2:06 a.m. ‑0.2 2:22 p.m. ‑0.3

Tuesday

8:47 a.m.

9:09 p.m.

2.7 2.9

2:48 a.m. ‑0.3 2:58 p.m. ‑0.3

Wednesday 9:25 a.m.

9:46 p.m.

2.6 2.8

3:28 a.m. ‑0.2 3:34 p.m. ‑0.3

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:56 a.m.

7:28 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

3:35 p.m.

4:01 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Apr. 11

Apr. 19

Apr. 26

May 2

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

S

E

W

6‑12 knots

S

6‑12 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 88° F/31° C Low .................................................... 70° F/21° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/27° C Normal low ........................................ 68° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 81° F/27° C Last year’s low ................................... 69° F/21° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 1.93” Normal year to date ..................................... 4.70”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

OTHER RESULTS Hull took full advantage of Swansea’s loss, beating Middlesbrough 4-2 to move out of the relegation zone and maintain its improvement under Marco Silva since his arrival in January.

Hull has won five of its six home games under Silva, drawing the other.

In the other game, Crystal Palace’s four-game winning run ended with a 3-1 loss at Southampton, plunging the team to within three points of the bottom three.

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 60° F/16° C

Liverpool didn’t lose any of its 10 games against rivals in the current top six this season, but continues to struggle to put away other teams in the league.

points above the relegation zone.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 75° F/24° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

7‑14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 84° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

N E

W

E

W

H

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

S

S

6‑12 knots

4‑8 knots

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

Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday:

WINDS S at 8‑16 Knots NW at 8‑16 Knots SW at 6‑12 Knots NNW at 8‑16 Knots SSE at 7‑14 Knots W at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots SSW at 4‑8 Knots S at 7‑14 Knots NW at 7‑14 Knots SSW at 8‑16 Knots NW at 8‑16 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots NW at 7‑14 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots NNW at 4‑8 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots WSW at 4‑8 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots NW at 6‑12 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots NW at 4‑8 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots NW at 7‑14 Knots

WAVES 3‑5 Feet 4‑7 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 4‑7 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet

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

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

PAGE 8, Thursday, April 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

SHOWN (l-r) are Karla Wells-Lisgaris, CBC brand manager, Lesly St Fleur, national beach soccer team member, Cara Douglas, CBC marketing manager and Jason McDowell, vice president of Bahamas Football Association and national team manager.

Lesly St Fleur powered by Powerade for FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup WITH the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup mere weeks away, the Bahamas is getting excited to host this global event.

This past week, the local organising committee started the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Trophy Tour in Grand Bahama, visiting Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School, and Sir Jack Hayward Senior High School.

During this visit, Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producer and distributor of Coca-Cola products, including Powerade and Dasani water, highlighted their sponsorship of Lesly St Fleur, a key player on our national beach soccer team, and formally became an endorsed Powerade athlete for the Bahamas on March 20.

“We (BFA) are proud of the sponsorship that Powerade has given Lesly,” said Jason McDowall, Team Bahamas manager and vice president of the Bahamas Football Association.

“Beach soccer is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and local support to our team and the players is key to the success of our programme. We are also thankful for Powerade in supplying us with Powerade and Dasani water for national team training as well.”

“In preparation for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer

LESLY ST FLEUR FIRST MEMBER OF BAHAMAS BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAM TO BE ENDORSED

BY CORPORATE BAHAMAS

LESLY ST FLEUR, a member of our national beach soccer team.

World Cup we (Team Bahamas) are practicing nonstop. We practice seven days a week, and most days twice a day,” said St Fleur, a Powerade endorsed athlete.

“For this reason I was excited to endorse Powerade as it is a product that I drink to help me power through my workouts, and to hydrate myself after a long day.

“I would like to thank Caribbean Bottling Company and Powerade for allowing me the opportunity

to represent their brand here in the Bahamas.”

“Lesly is a wonderful example of hard work and dedication paying off,” said Cara Douglas, CBC marketing manager.

“He is a great example to young athletes, and we are hopeful that in some small way our support of Lesly will encourage others to follow his great example.”

CBC has also proudly sponsored the beach soccer national team - for the FIFA World Cup and ear-

lier in February for the CONCACAF Championships - as the official beverage provider with Powerade and Dasani water.

The 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas is all slated to begin on April 27 and will run for 11 days, making it the longest running event to ever be hosted in the Bahamas.

Team Bahamas is scheduled to take to the sand on April 27, 29 and May 1.Come out and support our Team Bahamas.

The Coca-Cola Company is one of the longest-standing corporate partners of FIFA, with a formal association since 1974 and an official sponsorship of FIFA World Cup™ that began in 1978.

Coca-Cola has had stadium advertising at every FIFA World Cup since 1950.

FIFA and The CocaCola Company extended their long-time partnership to until 2030. The renewed commitment by Coca-Cola

in the non-alcoholic beverages category includes cash and in-kind products and services in support of the broad spectrum of FIFAorganised events around the globe, including the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA U-17 World Cup, FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA Interactive World Cup, FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, FIFA Futsal World Cup, and the FIFA Confederations Cup. For more information about the 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas visit http://www.fifa.com/ beachsoccerworldcup/ or the Bahamas Football Association http://www.bahamasfa.com/.