04252017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2017

A GOLDEN MOMENT

NBA ACTION

Playoffs, Pg 8

MILLER-UIBO GOING FOR THE DOUBLE BAAA President satisfied with Bahamas’ AT LONDON performance at 3rd 1AAF World Relays WORLDS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ne gold medal and two qualifications for the IAAF World Championships was what Team Bahamas mustered at the 3rd IAAF/BTC World Relays at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium over the weekend.

For Rosamunde Carey, the president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, the performances were not what she expected, but she was still satisfied.

“I thought that Team Bahamas had some misses, but I was really pleased with what we accomplished,” said Carey, who also serves as the chief executive officer of the Local Organising Committee for the World Relays.

At the end of the two-day championships, the Bahamas picked up a gold medal from the mixed gender 4 x 400 metre team of Steven Gardiner, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Anthonique Strachan and Michael Mathieu.

The women’s 4 x 100m relay teams of Devine Parker, Brianne Bethel, Tyler Carter and Tynia Gaither and the men’s team of Warren Fraser, Shavez Hart, Cliff Resias and Adrian Griffith also booked their tickets to London, England, for the IAAF World Championships in August. However, the men and women 4 x 400m teams both fell short.

“We were pleased that the men’s 4 x 1 got in, but we knew that the women’s 4 x 1 had a very good chance of qualifying,” she said.

“We were really pleased that we now have two of our relay teams qualified. So that takes the pressure off our athletes in those events. We now have to focus on

always have.

“These kids are full of energy and they actually have a purpose in life, so I’m glad to know that. It looks like they are going to have some bright futures. I’m just excited to come back and give back to the children.”

The visit comes on the heels of Miller-Uibo’s visit to the Children’s Ward at the Princess Margaret Hospital last year after she won the gold medal in the women’s 400m at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“I’m trying to step it up a little bit. That kind of inspired my foundation,” said Miller-Uibo, who thanked attorney Sean McSweeney for setting up the foundation. “Little kids are my passion.

“Once we started this, I expect things to continue for a few more years.”

AFTER coming out as the crown of the jewels of the women’s 400 metres at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Shaunae Miller-Uibo said she’s even more committed to doubling up in the 200 and 400m in August at the IAAF World Championships in London, England.

Freshly minted mixed gender 4 x 400m gold medallist Miller-Uibo is looking to go for the double at the Worlds after her request to have the schedule altered in her bid to attempt the feat.

With her next meet in two weeks in Shanghai, China, Miller-Uibo is returning to Florida today to resume her training in pursuit of her goal.

“We’re setting up for the double. We’re going at it this year,” said Miller-Uibo, who wanted to attempt it in Rio but was denied the opportunity after it was not properly communicated with the Bahamian coaching staff.

“I’m happy that they made the change in the schedule. My training is going very well. I’m excited. I wanted to go for the two gold and represent my country very well.”

With the change, MillerUibo said she would have a day off to recuperate from one event to the next, which poses an excellent opportunity to go for the unprecedented double.

“A lot of hard work and training,” she said about the possibility of achieving the goal. “We are doing a lot of training, working on our strength and endurance.

We’re looking extremely well in practice.”

At the beginning of the season, Miller-Uibo said her management team and coaching staff have indicated that she will be running more 200 metres to develop her speed, but she won’t rule out the idea of contesting the 400m.

“I still enjoy the 400m.

It’s still my baby,” said Miller-Uibo about which is her best event. “I also still like the 200 because it’s a fun event.”

And going into the season, Miller-Uibo said she expects that the 200m will produce the biggest challenge for her in competition, but her focus will be on the 400m.

“It means a lot,” said Miller-Uibo about the

SEE PAGE 4

SEE PAGE 4

O

JOB WELL DONE: Prime Minister Perry Christie (3rd from left) and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson (3rd from right) share a special moment with the gold-medal winning mixed relay team of Steven Gardiner (far left), Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Anthonique Strachan and Michael Mathieu (far right).

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff the 4 x 400m teams.

They will be going to the Penn Relays next week and, with the men sitting in the ninth spot and the women in 11th, we’re hoping that they can produce the times so that they can get to compete.”

Carey said that while they had the athletes at home in the training camp to qualify in all four relays, things didn’t pan out as expected for the 4 x 4 teams.

“We know we can field a full slate of relays in London,” she said.

“So that is what we are working to-

wards right now.”

While both the men and women 4 x 4 teams didn’t make it to the A final, which would have given them automatic berths into the World Championships, the ladies’ team withdrew from the B final after Miller and Strachan concentrated on competing in the mixed relay.

“We also had some problems with one of our reserves, Wendira Moss, who had to be pulled from the team at the last minute to go back to school, which was very disappointing,” Carey said.

“And Rashan Brown said she felt a slight injury right after she ran in the heat. She did not run at her full potential because she felt that she had a slight strain and we were not able to field a 4 x 4 team.”

With the team not able to run, Carey said the focus switched to the mixed gender relay where Team Bahamas got the first victory to ascend the medal podium and have the national anthem played in the stadium during the award ceremony.

“She was a great team player,” Carey said. “She ran a great first leg and put the team in contention in the 4 x 4. We just fell short in the

SEE PAGE 5

Shaunae donates PS4 to Ranfurly residents

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo, still celebrating her triumph as a member of the mixed gender 4 x 400 metre relays team, made a special visit to the Ranfurly Homes for Children to award the residents who came out to watch her perform in the3rd IAAF/BTC World Relays over the weekend.

Through her recently formed Shaunae Miller Care Foundation, Miller-Uibo donated a PS4 set with a number of video games as her way of bringing some smiles to the faces on the 24 youngsters between the ages of 12 and 18.

“I just wanted them to know that they are important and people have not forgotten them,” said Miller-Uibo as she toured the facilities. “Just seeing the smiles on their faces was great. I love kids. I

SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO yesterday presents residents of Ranfurly Homes for Children with a Playstation 4 and games.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

SHAQUILLO COMMITS TO ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net DECISION day came for Bahamian basketball player Shaquillo Fritz as he prepares to make the transition to the NCAA Division I level.

Fritz announced via Twitter that he has committed to the Arkansas State Red Wolves and is expected to join the programme for the upcoming Fall 2017 season.

Fritz, a 6’8’’, 220-pound power forward, played locally for the St George’s Jaguars before a number of stops on his high school and collegiate career.

Fritz completed high school at IMG Academy in Florida, committed to Stetson University but eventually would play his freshman season at Miami Dade College.

With the Sharks, Fritz played in 26 games and averaged 2.8 points

and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 60 per cent from the field.

He scored in double figures twice with 11 points against Harcum and 14 points against Barry JV. He had a season high of 14 rebounds against USC Salkehatchie.

After a transfer, Fritz spent this past season with Paris Junior College. In 27 games he averaged 4.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, shooting 57 per cent from the field.

He scored in double figures three times - twice against Jarvis Christian JV (13,11) and 11 against Cedar Valley College.

Fritz joined Grantham Gillard and Tristin Walley as a trio of players to commit to Arkansas State yesterday following their official campus visit last week.

The Red Wolves compete in the Sun Belt Conference which means Fritz will immediately become an

SEE PAGE 8

SHAQUILLO FRITZ is expected to join the Arkansas State Red Wolves for the upcoming Fall 2017 season.

PAGE 2, Tuesday, April 25, 2017

2 DAYS

THE TRIBUNE

The countdown is on POLAND World ranking: 15 Group D: with Brazil (3), Tahiti (7) and Japan (8) The road to Nassau Poland kicked off their campaign in the European qualifying tournament with a creditable second-place finish in Group E, in which they registered two victories - beating Estonia 5-3 and Denmark 5-1 - and a 4-2 loss to table-topping Spain.

However, it was from the second stage onwards that they really came into their own. They overcame Ukraine 4-3, Moldova 3-1 and two-time world champions Russia 5-3 to progress to the semi-finals.

Then, with their ticket

Player to Watch

BOGUSLAW SAGANOWSKI (#8) is one of the players to watch on Team Poland.

to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 already in the bag, they outlasted Italy to prevail 3-2 after extra time and reach the final, in which they upset Switzerland to win the competition for the first time.

Strengths and style Experience is the word that best sums up the Polish, starting between the goalposts with the talents of Szymon Gasinski, who is enjoying a high point of a career that began in 2002.

Not for nothing did he pick up the Best Goalkeeper accolade in qualifying.

Similarly, in attack they have the magic of another veteran, Boguslaw Saganowski, who was named the outstanding performer (MVP) of the preliminary tournament in Jesolo, Italy.

With the vast mileage they have under their belts, this battle-hardened duo set the tone for a group that is characterised by a strong mentality and a refusal to be daunted by opposing teams with more history or pedigree.

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup record Poland will be returning to the Beach Soccer World Cup for the second time at Bahamas 2017. Their previous appearance came 11 years ago, at Rio de Janeiro, where they exited in the group stage following respective 4-2 and 9-2 reverses against United States and hosts Brazil, although they did at least earn some consolation by defeating Japan 8-5.

EXPERIENCE is the word that best sums up Team Poland.

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

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 25, 2017, PAGE 3

The NFL DRAFT 2017 is finally upon us, and the Cowboys select...

PRIDE RESTORED I must admit, despite it being the height of silly season and my intelligence being insulted daily by all the political minutia, that Team Bahamas’ goldmedal performance in the mixed 4x400m relay to close out the IAAF World Relays on Sunday night was a welcome break from the norm and the grim reality of where we are truly as a nation.

It even restored some national pride I thought I’d lost somewhere along the way, thank you Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Anthonique Strachan, Steven Gardiner and Michael Mathieu.

Very impressive 3:14.02 performance, and probably the only ‘gold rush’ most sensible Bahamians will endorse.

Hats off to the organisers, and sponsors as well, for a job well done once again. It’s always impressive to see the national stadium maximise its potential.

Now between the MOYSC and the MOT Sports Tourism units, the stadium schedule of events needs to be expanded with more sporting events added.

We’ve proven as a nation we have the facilities and hotel properties, along with experienced personnel in the respective departments in place, to produce a myriad of successful sporting events.

NFL DRAFT - THE DALLAS COWBOYS SELECT: Well it’s finally here, after weeks of measurements, jumps, lifts, squats and times.

Not to mention a boat load of false rumours and innuendos, the NFL DRAFT 2017 is upon us

THE

PRESS BOX

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHT Y’ ZENIC

AZELAYA

this Thursday (FYI I will be incommunicado) and despite going back and forth like a tennis match for about a month or so, here’s who I think the Cowboys will select with the 28th pick of the first round.

Defence it is, but it’s a cornerback and not a defensive lineman.

Yes this year’s draft is loaded with both, so the most pressing need defensively wins out, Cowboys Nation let’s meet our first round pick: Kevin King – Senior – CB – Washington – 6’3” 200 lbs.

– Oakland, CA Career Stats: 164 Tackles, 9.5 Tackles for Loss, 6 Interceptions, and 22 Passes Defended As the saying goes, you can never have enough cornerbacks.

For the Cowboys, this could not be more true.

The Cowboys lost their two starting outside cornerbacks from last season when Morris Claiborne signed with the New York Jets and Brandon Carr signed with the Baltimore Ravens.

Dallas must now fill that glaring void through the draft.

Orlando Scandrick and Anthony Brown are the Cowboys best two cornerbacks on the roster at the moment.

Both are solid but also come under six-feet tall.

In a league that is increasingly getting taller on the outside, the Cowboys could use some length.

With that in mind, Dallas will be eyeing long, athletic outside cornerbacks who can cover the bigger receivers that the other corners on the roster cannot.

Meet Kevin King CB Washington Cowboy fans have been craving a cornerback with the ability to make gamechanging plays on the outside.

As with any corner worth his salt, Kevin King also has enough speed to turn and run with a receiver down the field on deep pass plays as well as underneath routes.

As an outside cornerback in the NFL, you have to be physical and up for the challenge. King is famed for using his physicality and length to disrupt the receiver and quarterback’s timing. Although angular, King is a willing tackler.

He will stick his nose in run support which isn’t the case for all cornerbacks.

Playing safety early in his college career helped his overall willingness and ability as a tackler.

Despite some questions about his closing speed, and his physical play may draw a few penalties early on in his career, the overall package can’t be denied.

Sterling Pratt’s Eagle’s Nest Youth Development Programme has ‘each one, teach one’ motto

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net ONE local non-profit organisation is aimed at providing an additional outlet for young student athletes to hone their skills and learn valuable life lessons.

Sterling Pratt and his Eagle’s Nest Youth Development Programme continue its community outreach efforts and are constantly on the look out for an opportunity to bring more young men into the fold.

“It’s all about saving the youth and we use basketball as the vehicle to teach them about life, teach them the importance of working together as one to accomplish one common goal.”

Eagles Nest is based out of the Baillou Sporting Complex as a weekly afterschool programme hosted Wednesday and Friday with

SPORTS NOTES BASKETBALL NPWBA FINALS THE New Providence Women’s Basketball Association is scheduled to continue its best-of-5 championship tonight at the DW Davis Gymnasium with game four between Career Builders Lady Cheetahs and Bommer G Lady Operators.

The Lady Operators avoided a sweep as they pulled off a 77-61 victory on Saturday night at the DW Davis Gymnasium to cut the deficit to 2-1. Philicia Kelly led the way with a game high 24 points. Shantelle Rolle had 14 points in a losing effort.

Game four is slated to begin at 8pm.

The Lady Cheetahs won game one 71-62 as Leashja Grant pumped in a game high 31 points. Kelly had 22

increased activity nearer to events or league.

“As a non-profit organisation we first started out as a church and I decided to take it beyond those four walls and spread it to different communities.

Some of the guys that don’t make their school basketball team, they still get the opportunity to be a part of something, to learn the game, to play and to get better while having that camaraderie and learning life lessons.”

Eagles Nest had participated in the Baptist Sports League, The Nelson Cooper Peace on da Streets Tournament, the Urban Legends Summer Series and a number of events. He has hopes of expansion as the number of participants continues to increase and include more communities.

“We play in a lot of tournaments but off the court

we fellowship, we pray, we have discussions on the importance of peer pressure and placing an importance on your academic life. We sit down and talk, then we go through our workouts to prepare ourselves for various tournaments. As we do that we attract other young men who want to be a part of something positive. Our motto is ‘each one, teach one,’ he said.

“We started with just eight guys but now we have over 100 young men. Some are off to school in universities, some have turned things around and now have stability with employment. We want the benefits to be cyclical so it can keep repeating itself. Each one of them can reach another person.”

Interested persons can contact Pratt at 804-1397, 433-0297 or email at sterlingandrew@hotmail.com

in the loss.

And in game two, Grant came up with 24 points in the Lady Cheetahs’ 87-81 victory. Kelly once again sparked their attack in the loss with 20 points.

hold their annual track and field championships from Wednesday to Friday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. The event will get started at 9am each day.

The Cleveland Eneas Primary School, coached by Mariska Stubbs-Thompson, are the defending champions.

BASEBALL RICHARDSON TO BE HONOURED THE Bahamas Baseball Federation has announced that retired Major League baseball player Antoan Richardson will be honoured when they host their 2017 Andre Rodgers National Baseball Championships in Grand Bahama next month. The championships run from June 22-25 at the EMERA Baseball Complex.

TRACK NATIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS THE New Providence Primary Schools Sports Association is all set to

SOFTBALL AUSTIN KNOWLES HIGH SCHOOL TOURNEY The Bahamas Softball Federation is slated to hold the 2017 Austin ‘King Snake’ Knowles Softball Championships for high school boys and girls teams throughout the country at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex April 28-30.

Teams from Andros, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Long Island and New Providence will all be participating.

KEVIN KING (20) also has enough speed to turn and run with a receiver down the field on deep pass plays as well as underneath routes. Overall, King checks all the boxes for what the Cowboys need early in this year’s draft.

Photo: Jennifer Buchanan/USA TODAY Sports Overall, Kevin King checks all the boxes for what the Cowboys need early in this draft. Not only does he fill a positional need, but drafting him late in the 1st round is great value even in a draft stacked with defensive backs.

Now if Ruben Foster,

linebacker from Alabama, falls to the bottom of the first round, then all bets are off, he will be the pick.

(Yes, I just hedged my prediction).

Now with that out of the way, I can get to my ‘libations practice’ for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

• 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

PAGE 4, Tuesday, April 25, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

SHAUNAE GOING FOR THE DOUBLE AT THE LONDON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM PAGE 1 possibility of becoming a double champion at the Worlds. “Being able to take that double is a hard feat, but I want to try it.”

And with American Allyson Felix expected to return to redeem herself after she was beaten out at the line when Miller-Uibo fell to pull off the win, Miller-Uibo said she knows that the rematch is imminent.

“A lot of things motivate me in the sport and that is one of them,” Miller-Uibo stressed. “I’m working hard towards it and I’m looking forward to it.”

And if she gets the opportunity, Miller-Uibo said she would be available to run in the women’s 4 x 400m relay, if the team qualifies. At the IAAF/BTC World Relays, Miller-Uibo ran the opening leg, but the remaining trio of Strachan, Christine Amertil and Rashan Brown slowly relinquished the lead as they fell behind and dropped all the way to fourth in their heat and 11th overall, failing to get into the final.

Miller-Uibo, however, said she’s still beaming with a lot of excitement from the World Relays and their triumph in the mixed relay that brought the curtain

down on the two days of competition.

“We all knew we had great talent going into it, so once we saw the set up, we were happy with it,” MillerUibo said. “We just went out there and told each other that we were going out there to do our best and have some fun.”

Miller-Uibo, 23, said after she got the baton from 21-year-old Steven Gardiner, she passed it to 23-yearold Anthonique Strachan and although there was some concern, she knew the team was in good hands with Michael Mathieu, 32, on anchor.

“We wanted to put on a show,” said Miller-Uibo, who watched as Strachan lost the lead to an American male and Mathieu regained it over an American female. “I’m just happy that we won it.”

The quartet secured the gold in a winning time to pull off the historic victory in the event that was contested for the first time at a major senior international event.

In the process, it turned out to be a national and championship record.

There were also some considerations to whether or not it will be listed as a world record.

SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO yesterday visited The Ranfurly Homes for Children where she donated a Playstation 4 and games to the residents.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

Miller-Uibo donates PS4 to Ranfurly Homes residents FROM PAGE 1 The Ranfurly Homes for Children, which gave birth in February 3, 1953 with about 13 boys and 11 girls making up the residence, administrator Abraham Roberts said the donation of the Playstation will only enhance the recent-

ly renovated game room by CIBC First Caribbean, but he insisted that they will only be allowed to play it as much as he allows them to, so as not to disturb their studies.

“So I would like to thank Shaunae for making the donation to the home,” said Roberts, noting that almost all of the residents were at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on Sunday

night when she ran the second leg on the winning relay team.

“I’m sure they were cheering her on and the team and I know it’s good for them to see her up close as a Bahamian star.”

The children remain at the home until they are at the age of 19. The home is just one of five for children on the island, but this is designed for those who have been removed from their families for

various reasons.

There are three dormitories for boys and two for girls.

The cost to run the home is over half-a-million a year, but Roberts said while the government provides a little over $100,000, they are always in need from the general public. The majority of their support has come in from corporate Bahamas.

Roberts, who is assisted by

Princess Burrows, said their staff ensures that the children perform in an environment that is similar to what they would experience in their regular home setting.

While the Ranfurly Homes for Children is their first stop, MillerUibo’s father Shaun Miller said they intend to make a contribution to children’s homes in Cat Island, Grand Bahama and another island to be selected.

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APP

Take us with you Everywhere you go!

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 25, 2017, PAGE 5

BAAA PRESIDENT SATISFIED WITH BAHAMAS’ PERFORMANCE AT 3RD 1AAF WORLD RELAYS FROM PAGE 1 end. But we got redemption in the mixed relay.”

With the Penn Relays, scheduled for this weekend in Philadelphia, Carey said they will be sending the two 4 x 4 teams to ensure that they put in a time that will keep them within the top 16 to be able to compete in London.

She noted that while Ramon Miller is scheduled to compete, they will be without the services of MillerUibo, Gardiner and Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown, who are all sponsored by Adidas and are committed to competing in the Drake Relays at the same time.

“The Bahamas has had some great relationships with Penn’s and we were invited back to compete.

We know that the women’s team will struggle, but we are confident that they will give it their best shot.

“Once that’s done, we expect that we will have our collegiate athletes who will be available to compete in meets after the NCAA Championships in June and so we still have some time to qualify.”

The Bahamas is now preparing to host the 2019 edition of the World Relays, just after they stage the 2018 Carifta Games. So there’s still a lot of work to be done on both the administrative and athletic side of the event.

“The planning has just begun with Keith Parker, Lionel Haven and myself,” she pointed out. “We are going to have a meeting to sit down and determine what went wrong and what areas we need to improve on.

“I know one of the things that we had some issues with were the accreditation.

We had some people in some areas who should not have been given accreditation. So that is something the international body responsible was concerned about.”

Originally, Carey said they had pegged about 4,000 to be accredited, but once the process began, it swelled to more than 6,900.

“A lot of persons got in, who should not have been accredited,” she pointed out. “But overall, I would say that the reports coming back to us are that all of the teams and the athletes enjoyed themselves and they are committed to coming back.”

Carey thanked all of those persons who served as volunteers in making sure that the event was a success, despite any hiccups that they might have experienced.

PRIME Minister Perry Christie and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson congratulate Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner (left) after they won gold in the mixed relay with Anthonique Strachan (far right) and Michael Mathieu.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo and Michael Mathieu after they won the mixed relay with Steven Gardiner and Anthonique Strachan in the final race Sunday night.

OFFICIAL RESULTS: 3RD IAAF/BTC WORLD RELAYS BAHAMAS • THE official results of the 3rd edition of the IAAF World Relays, held over the weekend at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, are as follows: WOMEN’S DIVISION 4 x 100m heat one – 1. United States, 42.96; People’s Republic of China, 43.90; 3. Netherlands, 43.98; 4. Bahamas (Devine Parker, Brianne Bethel, Tyler Carter and Tynia Gaither), 44.11; 5. British Virgin Islands, 44.78; 6. Canada, 44.98. Trinidad & Tobago, DNF.

1:33.08; 6. France, 1:35.11; 7. British Virgin Islands, 1:35.35; 8. People’s Republic of China, 1:37.60.

4 x 400m heat one – 1. United States, 3:29.27; 2. Australia, 3:30.31; 3. France, 3:33.41; 4. Brazil, 3:34.72; Trinidad & Tobago, DQ. 4 x 400m heat two – 1. Nigeria, 3:31.97; 2.

Great Britain, 3:33.00; 3. Canada, 3:33.54; 4. Bahamas (Shaunae Miller, Anthonique Strachan, Christine Amertil and Rashan Brown), 3:34.40; 5. Colombia, 3:40.19; 6.

Venezuela, 3:44.80.

4 x 100m heat two – 1. Germany, 43.04; 2.

Jamaica, 43.22; 3. France, 44.14; 4. Brazil, 44.20; 5. Ecuador, 44.54; 6. Nigeria, 44.95.

4 x 400m heat three – 1. Poland, 3:29.42; 2. Jamaica, 3:29.93; 3. Botswana, 3:31.61; 4.

Germany, 3:33.34; 5. Kenya, 3:41.11.

4 x 100m B final – 1. Ecuador, 44.26.

British Virgin Islands, DNF. Canada, DQ; Nigeria, DNS.

4 x 400m B final – 1. Brazil, 3:34.68; 2.

Canada, 3:35.07; 3. Colombia, 3:38.02; 4.

Kenya, 3:40.98; Bahamas, DNS; Venezuela, DNS.

4 x 100m A final - 1. Germany, 42.84; 2.

Jamaica, 42.95; 3. People’s Republic of China, 43.11; 4. Netherlands, 43.17; 5. France, 43.90; 6. Bahamas (Devine Parker, Brianne Bethel, Tylar Carter and Tynia Gaither), 44.01. Brzil, DNF. United States, DNF. 4 x 200m heat one – 1. Jamaica, 1:31.29; 2. Nigeria, 1:33.78; 3. People’s Republic of China, 1:33.99; 4. British Virgin Islands, 1:34.92.

4 x200m heat two – 1. United States, 1:31.06; 2. Germany, 1:31.16; 3. Trinidad & Tobago, 1:32.62; 4. France, 1:34.18; 5. Kenya, 1:40.65.

4 x 200m final – 1. Jamaica, 1:29.04 CR; 2. Germany, 1:30.68; 3. USA, 1:30.87; 4.

Trinidad & Tobago, 1:32.63; 5. Nigeria,

4 x 400m A final – United States, 3:24.36; 2. Poland, 3:28.28; 3. Jamaica, 3:28.49; 4. Great Britain, 3:28.72; 5. Ausutralia, 3:28.80; 6. Botswana, 3:30.13; 7. Nigeria, 3:32.94and8. France, 3:35.03.

4 x 800m – 1. United States, 8:16.36; 2.

Belarus, 8:20.07; 3. Australia, 8:21.08; 4.

Poland, 8:24.71; 5. Kenya, 8:31.05.

MEN’S DIVISION 4 x 100m heat one – 1. Netherlands, 38.71, Q; 2. People’s Republic of China, 38.97, Q; 3. Australia, 39.09; 4. Bahamas (Warren Fraser, Shavez Hart, Cliff Resias, Adrian Griffith), 39.36; 5. Trinidad & Tobago, 39.44; Antigua & Barbuda, DNF; Jamaica, DNF.

4 x 100m heat two – 1. Canada, 38.21; 2. United States, 38.22; 3. France, 39.10; 4.

Germany, 39.11; 5. Mexico, 39.71; 6. Poland, 39.84; Italy, DQ. 4 x100m heat three – 1. Great Britain 38.32, Q; 2. Barbados, 39.26, SB; 3. Japan, 39.52; 4. Dominican Republic, 39.56; 5.

Cuba, 39.67; 6. St Kitts & Nevis, 3.81; Brazil, DQ. 4 x 100 A final – 1. United States, 38.43; 2. Barbados, 39.18; 3. People’s Republic of China, 39.22; 4. Australia, 39.73; 5. France, 39.83; Canada, DNF; Great Britain, DNF; Netherlands, DNF. 4 x 100m B final – Trinidad & Tobago, 39.04; 2. Germany, 39.15; 3. Bahamas (Warren Fraser, Shavez Hart, Cliff Resias and Adrian Griffith), 39.18; 4. Dominican Republic, 39.57; 5. Cuba, 39.90; 6. Mexico, 39.98; 7. Japan, 40.31; 8. St Kitts & Nevis, 41.07.

4 x 200m heat one – 1.Canada, 1:21.11; 2. Jamaica, 1:22.01; 3. Trinidad & Tobago, 1:22.79; 4. Kenya, 1:23.04; 5. Oland, 1:24.78; Germany, DNF; Great Britain, DNS. 4 x 200m heat two – 1.United States, 1:21.47; Bahamas (Adrian Griffith, Samson Colebrooke, Ian Kerr and Shavez Hart), 1:23.71; 3. People’s Republic of China, 1:24.01; 4. Antigua& Barbuda, 1:24.33; 5.

St Kitts, 1:24.89; 6. Venezuela, 1:25.69; 7.

Turks & Caicos, 1:26.22; France, DQ. 4 x 200m final – 1.Canada, 1:19.42; 2.

United States, 1:19.88; 3. Jamaica, 1:21.09; 4. Trinidad & Tobago, 1:21.39; 5. Bahamas (Blake Bartlett, Samson Colebrooke, Ian Kerr and Shavez Hart), 1:22.36; 6. People’s Republic of China, 1:22.91; 7. Kenya,

1:23.72; 8. Antigua & Barbuda, 1:25.11.

4 x 400m heat one – 1. France, 3:04.74; 2. Great Britain, 3:05.19; 3. Bahamas (Michael Mathieu, Demetrius Pinder, Andretti Bain and Steven Gardiner), 3:05.37; 4. Belgium, 3:05.45; 5. Germany, 3:07.80; 6. Canada, 3:08.05.

4 x 400m heat two – 1. Trinidad & Tobago, 3:02.51; 2. United States, 3:02.62; 3.

Cuba, 3:04.97; 4. Poland, 3:08.42; Japan, DNF; Dominican Republic, DQ. 4 x 400m heat three – 1. Botswana, 3:03.09; 2. Jamaica, 3:03.52; 3. Brazil, 3:05.05; 4. Kenya, 3:05.93; 5. Czech Republic, 3:07.58; Venezuela, DNS. 4 x 400m B final - 1. Kenya, 3:06.36; 2.

Belgium, 3:07.14; 3. Poland, 3:07.89; 4.

Czech Republic, 3:08.17; 5. Bahamas (Andretti Bain, Demetrius Pinder, Elroy McBride and Andre Colebrook), 3:08.29; 6.

Germany, 3:09.53; 7. Canada, 3:12.52.

4 x 400m A final – 1. United States, 3:02.13; 2. Botswana, 3:02.28; 3. Jamaica, 3:02.86; 4. Trinidad & Tobago, 3:03.17; 5.

Cuba, 3:03.84; 6. Great Britain, 3:05.63; 7.

Brazil, 3:05.96; 8. France, 3:06.33.

4 x 800m final – 1. United States, 7:13.16; 2. Kenya, 7:13.70; 3. Poland,7:18.74; 4. Australia, 7:20.10; 5. Mexico, 7:20.92; Qatar, 7:28.25; Athlete RefugeTeam, DQ. Mixed 4 x 400m final – Bahamas, 3:14.42; 2. United States, 3:17.29; 3. Jamaica, 3:20.26; 4. Poland, 3:22.14; 5. Australia, 3:23.14; 6. Kenya, 3:23.79; 7. Trinidad & Tobago, 3:25.49. Botswana, DNF. - DQ – disqualified; DNF – did not finish; DNS – did not start

off (7) 14 Bad ruleTRIBUNE serving m THE badly (13) 26 27 17 Music of soldiers ta 17 18 19 time (8,5) 20 21WIN Cyril£100 managed to fir FOR YOUR CHANCE TO CASH another chap letters in the highlighted squares to reveal the 21 23 22 enthusiastic (7) TO ENTER: Call 0904 161 1606 andact, leaverewriting your ans 22 Ruin to 84010. Calls cost £1.50 plus your telephone comp start (7) at midnight tonight. Or send your grid containing the a 24 Roast tuna delivere 24 25 Sutton Coldfield B73 9BT. Entries must be postmark distant traveller (9 helpline number. ● The winner will beseafood the firstar 25 Demand NEED HELP? Call 0904 161 1609 for(5) 5 extra clues island 26 27 26 The bird in the othe NAME 27 Musical duke gets n FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN £100 CASH read down the off (9)

PAGE 6, Tuesday, April 25, 2017

16

letters in the highlighted squares to reveal the mystery word.

ADDRESS

TO ENTER: Call 0904 161 1606 and leave your answer and details, or text DXTHU followed by POSTCODE to 84010. Calls cost £1.50 plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Texts cost £1 at midnight tonight. Or send your grid containing the answer in the shaded squares by posting it to Sutton Coldfield B73 9BT. Entries must be postmarked by January 27 at the latest. SP: Spoke DAILY EXPRESS 30-SECON helpline number. ● The winner will beTHE the first random correct entry drawn from all entry TODAY’S ANSWERS: = 14; INTERMEDIATE = NEED HELP? Call 0904 161 1609 for 5 extra clues! Calls cost £1.50BEGINNER plus your telephone comp

TUESDA CROSSDOUB ACROSS: 1 Pact, 3 Psychopath

NAME

15 Reimburse, 17 Reach, 18 Exact, 19 Can you make two common five-letter 25 Rapt, 26 Malingerer, 27 Eden. D words from the nine letters given, 5 Countless, 6 Overcorrect, 7A using each letter only once? You can POSTCODE 14 Charleston, 21 U – but only if one letter features16inRepechage, both words in the squares on the right.

There’s at least one way to do it, and THE DAILY EXPRESS 30-SECOND CHALLENGE you have to have the right letter at the TODAY’S ANSWERS: BEGINNER = 14; INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED crossover= 111; – but which= 430. one is it?

See if you can find the answer within our target time. If you need help, ring our clue-line below to find out the mensatease Can you make two common five-lettercrossover letter. Solution tomorrow.

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The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition)

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. No plurals or verb forms ending in “s”.

TODAY’S TARGET Good 13; very good 19; excellent 25 (or more). Solution tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION airy angry arty fairy fray fraying frying gantry grainy gratify gray nary nifty nitrify rainy rangy ratify RATIFYING raying tangy tiny tray trying tying yang yarn

Call 0907 181 2585 for today’s Target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

*SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390

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YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

K 39

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27 Solution 16

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2 22

3

4

5

6

23

24

25

26

■

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8 28

● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to you

PLAY MORE CROSSWORDS AND GAME

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 25, 2017, PAGE 7

SERENA WILLIAMS AT NO. 1, DESPITE NOT PLAYING SINCE JANUARY

SHARAPOVA’S 1ST OPPONENT OPPOSES WILD CARDS AFTER DOPING BAN

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

By ERIC WILLEMSEN Associated Press

SERENA Williams is briefly back at No. 1 in the WTA rankings, despite not playing a match since January — and with plans to take the rest of 2017 off because she is expecting a baby.

Thanks to a calendar quirk, Williams moved up one spot yesterday from No. 2, swapping places with Angelique Kerber.

The return to No. 1, which gives the 35-year-old American her 317th week there, comes less than a week after Williams let the world know via Snapchat that she is pregnant. The baby is due in the fall, and spokeswoman Kelly Bush Novak said Williams will take off the rest of this season and intends to return to the tour next year.

Williams confirmed that timetable on Instagram yesterday, when she posted a photo of herself and a note addressed to “My Dearest Baby.”

“You gave me the strength I didn’t know I had. You taught me the true meaning of serenity and peace. I can’t wait to meet you. I can’t wait for you to join the players box next year. But most importantly, I am so happy to share being number one in the world with you.... once again today,” the post reads.

Williams closed it with: “from the world’s oldest number one to the world’s youngest

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Maria Sharapova’s first opponent after her 15-month doping suspension says the Russian should not have been granted a wild card for the Porsche Grand Prix or upcoming tournaments.

Roberta Vinci, who will face Sharapova in a highly anticipated first-round match late Wednesday, does “not agree” with organisers giving Sharapova a free passage into the main draw of their events.

“She is a great player and I have nothing against her. She paid for her mistakes,” Vinci said yesterday. “She can return to play but without any wild cards, without any help.”

Sharapova’s suspension for using heart drug meldonium after it was banned at the beginning of 2016, ends on Wednesday, just in time to enter the

SERENA WILLIAMS with her trophy after defeating her sister Venus at the Australian Open in January. (AP) number one. -Your Mommy” The reason Williams was able to supplant Kerber for at least a week — and possibly more — is that the women’s clay-court tournament that is being played this week in Stuttgart, Germany, was played a week earlier a year ago. So Kerber, a two-time defending champion at that event, lost the rankings points she earned there and can’t replace them until the end of this year’s tournament.

Kerber can reclaim the top ranking by winning two matches in Stuttgart.

Williams hasn’t competed since winning her Open era-record 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open at the end of January. She was pregnant at the time.

opening round of the indoor clay tournament she won three times in a row from 2012-14.

Vinci joined the likes of Caroline Wozniacki, Dominika Cibulkova, Agnieszka Radwanska, and Angelique Kerber in speaking out against wild cards for players who return from a doping suspension. “I know (Sharapova) is important for the tennis, for the WTA, for everything,” Vinci said. “She is a great person, a great player, a great champion, but this is my opinion.”

The 36th-ranked Vinci, who reached a career high 10th a year ago, would try to forget about the wildcard debate when stepping on court on Wednesday.

“It’s an interesting match for sure, a difficult match, a tricky match but I am happy. I am excited to play against Maria,” the 2015 US Open finalist said.

“For me it’s a normal

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 61° F/16° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Sunny and pleasant

Mainly clear

Mostly sunny

Partly sunny with a stray shower

Nice with sun and some clouds

Mostly sunny, breezy and pleasant

High: 85°

Low: 70°

High: 86° Low: 73°

High: 87° Low: 73°

High: 87° Low: 74°

High: 86° Low: 73°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

93° F

73° F

98°-77° F

96°-75° F

94°-75° F

90°-72° F

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 67° F/19° 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: 77° F/25° C Low: 73° F/23° C

8-16 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 82° F/28° C Low: 64° F/18° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 66° F/19° C

N

S

E

W

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 69° F/21° C

MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 66° F/19° C

7-14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 90° F/32° C Low .................................................... 75° F/24° C Normal high ....................................... 82° F/28° C Normal low ........................................ 70° F/21° C Last year’s high ................................. 85° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 71° F/22° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.44” Year to date ................................................. 2.68” Normal year to date ..................................... 5.92”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 70° F/21° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

E

W

6-12 knots

S

4-8 knots

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

7:27 a.m.

7:56 p.m.

2.9 3.3

1:27 a.m. -0.5 1:41 p.m. -0.7

Wednesday 8:17 a.m.

8:45 p.m.

3.0 3.5

2:18 a.m. -0.7 2:28 p.m. -0.9

Thursday

9:06 a.m.

9:35 p.m.

2.9 3.5

3:09 a.m. -0.8 3:17 p.m. -1.0

Friday

9:57 a.m.

10:27 p.m.

2.9 3.5

4:01 a.m. -0.8 4:07 p.m. -0.9

Saturday

10:50 a.m.

11:21 p.m.

2.8 3.4

4:55 a.m. -0.7 4:59 p.m. -0.8

Sunday

11:47 a.m.

-----

2.6 -----

5:51 a.m. -0.5 5:55 p.m. -0.5

Monday

12:18 a.m.

12:48 p.m.

3.2 2.5

6:50 a.m. -0.3 6:56 p.m. -0.3

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:39 a.m.

7:37 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

6:09 a.m.

6:58 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Apr. 26

May 2

May 10

May 18

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

N

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map L

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

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

N

S

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

uV inDex toDay

CAT ISLAND

E

W

tournament. I am preparing all in the same way as (for) other tournaments.

I will just play my game, stay focused.”

Vinci expected “a lot of the crowd on Wednesday to be (cheering) for her.

But I don’t know about the players. A lot of players will agree with me on the wild card.”

Vinci lost all four sets and scored only four games in total during her two previous matches against Sharapova, but those were played on hard-court, 10 and five years ago, respectively.

On a different surface and against an opponent who is lacking match play, the Italian fancied her chances.

“I know it’s tough to return after a long time,” Vinci said. “She is probably happy about her comeback ... but practice is a little bit different from a match. You have to be focused every single point.”

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

6-12 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

4-8 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: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS SW at 8-16 Knots SSW at 4-8 Knots NW at 6-12 Knots E at 4-8 Knots WSW at 4-8 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots SW at 4-8 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots WSW at 6-12 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots WSW at 8-16 Knots S at 6-12 Knots SW at 4-8 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots W at 4-8 Knots E at 6-12 Knots W at 4-8 Knots E at 6-12 Knots SSW at 4-8 Knots E at 6-12 Knots W at 4-8 Knots ESE at 3-6 Knots W at 4-8 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots SW at 6-12 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots

WAVES 4-7 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet

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

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

PAGE 8, Tuesday, April 25, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Hawks top the Wizards 111-101, even series 2-2

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Paul Millsap bounced back from a sluggish start to score 19 points, Dwight Howard had his best game of the postseason and the Atlanta Hawks pulled away from the Washington Wizards 111-101 last night to even the opening-round playoff series at 2-all.

Howard, who was a non-factor through the first three games, had a double-double by halftime and finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

The Hawks got double-figure scoring from seven players, including huge contributions off the bench from Kent Bazemore and Jose Calderon.

Bradley Beal scored 32 points, bouncing back from a dismal performance in Game 3, and John Wall had another stellar performance with 22 points and 10 assists.

But those two, as good as they were, couldn’t match a more balanced approach by the Hawks.

Now, a series marked by ill feelings that went so far as Markieff Morris calling Millsap “a crybaby” is down to a best-of-three.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Washington.

Bazemore scored 16 points and

doled out seven assists, while the 35-year-old Calderon, picked up on waivers late in the regular season, chipped in with 10 points and five assists.

Calderon came up with a huge play as the Hawks began to stretch their lead.

Leading a fast break after a Wizards turnover, he passed off to Tim Hardaway Jr on the wing for a drive to the hoop.

Hardaway’s shot spun out, but the 6-foot-3 Calderon tipped it in for an 89-81 lead. The Spaniard pumped his fist and took off back the other way, screaming in delight.

Millsap and Dennis Schroder stretched the margin on backto-back possessions. Millsap grabbed an offensive rebound and managed to get the shot off while falling on his backside. The ball dropped in and he added the free throw for a 3-point play.

Schroder followed with a 3-pointer, giving the Hawks a 10393 lead with 4½ minutes to go.

Schroder ended up with 18 points after going scoreless in the first half, spending most of it on the bench after picking up three quick fouls.

The Wizards avoided the dismal start that essentially ruined their hopes in Game 3 before the first quarter was done.

HAWKS centre Dwight Howard (8) scores against the Wizards last night in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series.

(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

RAPTORS BEAT BUCKS 118-93 TO TAKE 3-2 LEAD

SHAQUILLO FRITZ

By IAN HARRISON Associated Press

inter-conference rival with former St George’s teammate Travis Munnings and the ULM Warhawks.

The Red Wolves have not made the NCAA Tournament team since 1999 and recently hired Mike Balando in March.

Fritz, Gillard and Walley represent Balando’s first recruiting class.

“My plan for this programme is very simple. The only word I want to hear out of my player’s mouth is a championship. That’s what we want to do here. When you sit in the home and are recruiting a young man not one time, maybe not yet, but in the next year or next month, there hasn’t been one young man that I’m going to recruit that grew up wanting to come to Arkansas State. But, after I get done talking to them and they meet everyone that surrounds the programme and see the university and fanbase, we’re going to get young men to say, ‘coach, I’ve always wanted to play at Arkansas State.’ That’s the kind of players we want,” he said at his introduction to the Red Wolves.

“The vision of this programme is going to be very simple and I’m glad they gave me a jersey with my name on it. That is very important as I go into what I’m going to tell these guys every single day. If you play for the name on the front, the name on the back will prosper. You can’t come in and want to play for the name on the back, because if you do that it’s going to crumble. You play for Arkansas State first. You play for the Red Wolf family first and then the name on the back will prosper.”

TORONTO (AP) — Norm Powell scored a career playoffhigh 25 points, Kyle Lowry had 16 points and 10 assists and the Toronto Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks 118-93 in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series last night.

Serge Ibaka scored 19 points and DeMar DeRozan had 18 for the Raptors, who can advance to face defending champion Cleveland in the second round with a victory in Game 6 at Milwaukee on Thursday night.

Many in the sellout crowd of 20,251 rose to their feet and chanted ‘Raps in six’ in the final minute of the game.

Toronto lost Game 6 on the road at Indiana in the first round and at Miami in the second round last year, rebounding to win Game 7 at home each time. They were eliminated in six games in the Eastern Conference Final against the Cavs, losing at home in the clincher.

DeMarre Carroll scored 12 points as all five Raptors starters reached double figures.

Cory Joseph had 10 points off the bench for Toronto.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 30 points and nine rebounds while Malcolm Brogdon scored 19 points and Greg Monroe had 11. Mil-

waukee has lost back-to-back games after routing Toronto 104-77 in Game 3.

Making his second straight start, Powell connected on all four of his 3-point attempts and went 5 for 5 at the freethrow line. He brought the crowd to its feet with a baseline dunk over Antetokounmpo and Thon Maker in the fourth quarter.

Ibaka and Powell each scored nine points in the first and the Raptors used a 17-0 run to open a 31-20 lead after the opening quarter. Milwaukee committed five turnovers in the first, leading to 10 points for Toronto.

After shooting 1 for 6 in the first, Antetokounmpo was a perfect 6 for 6 in the second, scoring 13 points to help the Bucks close the gap. Lowry had 12 for Toronto, which led 57-48 at halftime.

Powell scored 12 points in the third as the Raptors widened their lead again, taking a 90-73 edge into the final quarter.

Monroe and Jonas Valanciunas were called for double technicals after a minor shoving match under the Milwaukee basket in the third.

After Valanciunas took exception to a hard foul from Khris Middleton, Monroe pushed his own teammate out of the way so he could shove Valanciunas.

RAPTORS guard Norman Powell (24) reacts last night after dunking against the Bucks during game five of their first-round playoff series. (AP)

FROM PAGE 1

JOE JOHNSON SCORES 28, JAZZ BEAT CLIPPERS 105-98 TO EVEN SERIES 2-ALL

By KAREEM COPELAND AP Sports Writer SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Joe Johnson saved the Utah Jazz — again.

“Iso Joe” has become a major problem for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Johnson scored 28 points, and the Jazz beat the Clippers 105-98 on Sunday night to tie their firstround playoff series at 2-all. It was Utah’s first home playoff win since 2010.

“He’s so sure with the ball,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “It’s not often you find a guy that has that combination of skill, as far as his ability to handle the ball and make plays. And the strength to get to spots on the floor.

“The thing that really takes us to a unique place is he’s such a willing passer. He basically either scored or assisted on every basket (down the stretch). ... We knew this is who he is and he knows it’s

playoff time.”

Johnson, who hit the winning shot in Game 1, scored 11 straight Jazz points during a crucial stretch in the fourth quarter, including a pull-up jumper for a 91-90 lead with 3:55 remaining after Utah trailed by seven with 7:37 left. The Clippers never led again after controlling the game for most of the night.

“Just trying to be aggressive and make plays,” Johnson said.

“We had to get stops, which kind of fuelled our offence. ... We were getting into the teeth of the defence, whether we had layups, dunks or kick-outs for 3s, thought we did a good job of making the right decision.”

Rodney Hood and Joe Ingles, who had a career-high 11 assists, also hit huge baskets for Utah down the stretch. The Jazz needed all the help they could get after Gordon Hayward left with food poisoning.

The series returns to Los Ange-

les for Game 5 tonight.

Chris Paul had 27 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for Los Angeles, which played without Blake Griffin after he suffered a toe injury in Game 3. Griffin has been ruled out for the rest of the postseason, increasing the pressure on the rest of the Clippers.

“We let that one slip away,” Paul said. “It was 87-80, and that’s on me. Being the point guard, I have to manage the game better and make sure we get good shots.

“We came here to get back home court. Had an opportunity to get two, but it is what it is.”

Jamal Crawford scored 25 points, and DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and 10 rebounds. But Los Angeles shot 44 per cent from the field, compared to 54.1 per cent for Utah.

The Jazz got Rudy Gobert back from a knee injury, and the centre finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds. But Hayward departed in the first half. “We really couldn’t

score down the stretch,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “Joe Johnson and Joe Ingles, those two in particular were phenomenal tonight. (Johnson) made tough shots on our best defender. We should have given him more help.

“He’s a tough shot-maker.”

UNDER THE WEATHER Hayward played just nine minutes. He spent much of the second quarter in the locker room and was ruled out at halftime. Snyder said Hayward was on his back before the game and received IV fluids. He scored just three points and looked physically sapped.

The first-time All-Star was coming off a career-high 40-point effort in Game 3.

BACK IN THE MIDDLE Gobert returned to the starting lineup after missing the last two games with a left knee hyperextension and bone contusion suffered 17 seconds into Game 1. There

was concern he was done for the season when he went down. The crowd roared with his announcement in the starting lineup and he moved well throughout, throwing down dunks and affecting shots on defence.

GRIFFIN GONE The Clippers are without Griffin for the rest of the playoffs after suffering a plantar plate injury to his right big toe in Game 3. Utah guard George Hill understands after missing 16 games with a big toe injury this season.

“You’ve got to think, your big toes are the main part of your body to help with balance and explosion and things like that,” Hill said. “Just like if you didn’t have thumbs, it’d be hard to do a lot of things in your daily life. Just think about your thumbs and big toes are your main points of your body. I’m sure it’s something that’s excruciating pain for him because I’ve been in that situation.”