SPORTS
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2025
SAC honours athletes
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
It was a red letter day as St Augustine’s College yesterday honoured its athletes and swimmers for their stellar performances at its annual Bahamian Day celebrations on its campus of Bernard Road and Prince Charles Drive.
Principal Marici Thompson said it was important for the student body to share in the excitement that the 24 members from the Big Red Machine’s track team and two swimmers did as members of Team Bahamas in Trinidad & Tobago over the Easter holiday weekend.
The event capped off a week of activities that included Bahamian games in Red Square, Bahamian pastries were sold and a Bahamian tuck shop day.
“Today is our annual Bahamian Day and so we choose to celebrate all things Bahamian,” she
said. “We have a culture show, Timico ‘Sawyer Boy’ Sawyer is our guest speaker and Preston ‘Puzzle’ Wallace is our entertainer.
“We also use this opportunity to celebrate our track and field athletes,” she said.
“We wanted to honour all of those athletes and swimmers who won medals at BAISS meets and we also wanted to celebrate our CARIFTA athletes and swimmers before their peers.
“We wanted the students to show their appreciation to them and or those who are aspiring to become athletes or are athletes and didn’t make it, they can get a chance to see what it’s like to be one of our athletes we celebrate.”
Each member on the CARIFTA team received personal portraits of themselves in red frames designed and created by SAC’s public relations officer Asheka Culmer, who noted they will be placed on SAC’s Wall of Fame in Red Square.
Jason Edwards, head of the Physical Education Department, said all of the athletes, including those honoured for their participation in the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools’ track and field championships, deserve the recognition they got.
“They put in some hard work this year within the coaches,” Edwards said. “But there’s some more big things to come in the future from these athletes.”
He noted that the world got to see the resilience of the Big Red Machine after Jachario Wilson dropped the baton on the first leg, but regained it, got back into the race and Neely was able to cap it off with a tremendous come-frombehind on the anchor leg.
The other two members on the team were Jireh Woodside and Dylan Simon.
Wilson and Neely also highlighted Team Bahamas’ second place finish with 37 medals, including 16 gold, 13 silver and eight bronze. Wilson picked up a pair of gold in the under-17 boys’ 110 and 400m hurdles and Neely struck for a double in the 200 and 400m. They both also ran on the winning 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m relays for four gold each.
Neely, a 16-year-old 10th grader, said seeing everybody cheering for them when their names were called was very heartwarming.
“To bring back all those gold medals from
CARIFTA was very exciting,” he said. “I’m so glad that we were able to have this celebration to share the experience with our friends at school.”
On his performance at Penn, Neely said it was his “confidence in my hard work” that enabled him to go out there and do his best.
But if he had to choose one over the other, he said it would have been the trip to Trinidad.
“I must admit that after I watched Jahcario fall on the first leg, I was ‘oh boy,’ how are we going to get back in this race,” he said.
“But after watching Jireh
and Dylan do their thing, I just knew I had to bring it home.”
Wilson, a 15-year-old 10th grader, said it felt good that he went over there and did his best.
He thanked the principal and the school for recognising him and his team-mates for their accomplishments.
“The crowd was live and my team-mates gave me a lot of support, especially Eagan Neely,” Wilson said. As for Penn, Wilson said he was proud of his teammates for their best and picking up the slack after he had his misfortune at the beginning.
Darvinique Dean, representing the female competitors, noted that she and her team-mates were just as elated as Neely and Wilson for the gesture shown by the school.
“I’m happy that we are being saluted by our SAC family. This is the best school and came out to support us,” she stated. “So I’m very happy for all of us on the team.”
On a personal note, it wasn’t the type of performance that Dean anticipated in Trinidad. She didn’t get a medal in
By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — With his team trailing by 27 points to the red-hot Houston Rockets at halftime, coach Steve Kerr pulled Golden State emotional leader Draymond Green aside for a quick chat and to ask his opinion. Should the Warriors plan to save their starters for what looked like an inevitable Game 6 in two days if things became any more out of hand after intermission? Green suggested Kerr
SOFTBALL MASTERS
POSTSEASON
THE Masters Softball Association’s best-of-three championship series and Dudley ‘Bones’ Moxey Memorial Challenge is scheduled to take place this weekend at the Archdeacon William Thompson Softball Park at the Southern Recreation Grounds. The action is slated to start
at 1pm on Saturday with the Drifters facing the Scorpions in the Dudley ‘Bones’ Moxey Memorial Challenge. Then game one of the championship series will be played at 3pm between the KC Royals and the Corner Boyz. They will return on Sunday at 2pm with game two of the championship between the
GOLDEN State Warriors guard Chavano “Buddy” Hield. (AP)
EAGAN Neely looks at his portrait on the Wall of Fame at St Augustine’s College.
St Augustine’s College honours its athletes during their annual Bahamian Day celebrations
IT was a red letter day as St Augustine’s College yesterday honoured its athletes and swimmers for their stellar performances at its annual Bahamian Day celebrations on its campus of Bernard Road and Prince Charles Drive. Principal Marici Thompson said it was important for the student body to share in
the excitement that the 24 members from the Big Red Machine’s track team and two swimmers did as members of Team Bahamas in Trinidad & Tobago over the Easter holiday weekend. The event
week of
and
capped off a
activities that included Bahamian games in Red Square, Bahamian pastries were sold
a Bahamian tuck shop day.
Time to reset: Why athletes must eat differently in the off-season
By Dr Kent L Bazard
AS the competitive season winds down and athletes across The Bahamas shift into off- season mode, one crucial piece of the performance puzzle is often overlooked: nutrition. The off-season isn’t just a break from competition — it’s an opportunity to rebuild, recover, and recalibrate. But to truly capitalise on this window, athletes must match their nutrition to their training cycle. This strategy, known as periodised nutrition, can be the difference between arriving next season stronger — or stuck in the same spot.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Just as training varies across the season — from intense pre-competition phases to lighter recovery periods — so too should eating habits. Unfortunately, many athletes continue to eat like they’re
mid-season: high calories, frequent carb-loading, and limited attention to recovery. During the off-season, most athletes reduce their training volume and intensity. This means energy demands decrease — and continuing to eat as if you’re in full competition mode can lead to unwanted weight gain, poor body composition, and sluggish returns to training. On the flip side, not eating enough — or ignoring key recovery nutrients — can impair tissue repair, immunity, and performance progression.
The goal of off-season nutrition is twofold:
1. Supportmusclerepairan drecovery,and 2. Setthestageforstrengthandperformancegainsinthenextphase.
Macronutrient Adjustments: Less Carbs, More Protein
With lower training demands, athletes should
slightly reduce their carbohydrate intake — especially from refined or processed sources.
Carbs are still important, but they should come primarily from whole foods: sweet potatoes, brown rice, quinoa, oats, fruits, and vegetables.
Meanwhile, protein becomes king in the off-season. This is the window for muscle growth and repair, so athletes should aim for consistent high-quality protein intake (1.6 to 2.2 grams per kilogram of body weight).
Good sources include eggs, chicken, fish, turkey, lean beef, and plant-based options like lentils and tofu.
Healthy fats — such as those from avocados, nuts, olive oil, and fatty fish — should also be included to support hormone production and joint health.
Hydration and Micro Nutrients Still Matter
Just because you’re training less doesn’t mean hydration takes a back seat. Water supports muscle repair, nutrient transport, and recovery — and in our warm climate, dehydration can still sneak up fast.
Athletes should also continue to eat a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables to maintain adequate levels of vitamins and minerals essential for recovery and immune health.
Recovery Is Active, Not Passive
The off-season isn’t just about physical rest. It’s about active recovery — rebuilding what the season wore down.
Proper sleep, stress management, soft tissue work,
and yes, nutrition, all play a role. This is also a key time to correct imbalances — whether that’s muscle symmetry, injury recovery, or nutrition gaps. A customized meal plan can help athletes return to sport stronger and more resilient.
Athletes Need Guidance, Not Guesswork
This transition period is where young Bahamian athletes — especially those with elite potential — need structured guidance. Parents, coaches, and athletes should understand that training and nutrition go hand in hand. A dedicated offseason nutrition strategy is just as important as a training program.
At the national level, now is the time for sports programs to integrate certified sports nutritionists into athlete development pipelines. Imagine a system where every Carifta or national team athlete leaves
their season with a personalized offseason training and eating guide — built by experts and backed by data.
The Bottom Line: Eat for the Phase You’re In Off-season isn’t a freefor-all — it’s the foundation for what’s to come. Athletes who train and eat with purpose during this phase will not only show up fitter next season, but will also be more injury-resistant, more explosive, and mentally refreshed.
The athletes who understand this — and apply it — are the ones who go the distance.
• Dr Kent Bazard, sports medicine physician at Empire Sports Medicine, specializes in ensuring athletes reach their peak performance safely. With extensive experience and a passion for sports health, Dr. Bazard provides insights and guidance for athletes of all ages - men and women.
ST AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE HONOURS ITS ATHLETES
A LOOK at some of the photos of this year’s CARIFTA standouts placed on the Wall of Fame at SAC.
FROM PAGE E1
Boyz and the Raiders. SOFTBALL THOMPSON/ WILLIAMS MEMORIAL SLOW PITCH
TOURNAMENT
THE Friends for Life
Committee will host a joint Paul ‘Dingus’ Thompson and Cornelius ‘Money’ Williams Men and co-ed slow pitch invitational tournament over the Labour Day and Whit Monday holiday weekend, June 5-9.
The event will be staged at the Grand Bahama Sporting Complex softball field in Freeport, Grand Bahama and is expected to feature teams from Eleuthera, New Providence, Grand Bahama and the United States of America. For more details, interested persons can
email friendsforlife242@ gmail.com
BASKETBALL
NPA TOURNAMENT
THE Noble Preparatory Academy will stage its Invitational Spring Classic Basketball Tournament this weekend at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. The event got underway last night and is open only to high school teams. The tournament will continue today at 3pm and wrap up on Saturday, starting at 9am, culminating with the championship.
ROAD TO TOKYO
THE Silver Lightning Track Club is scheduled to hold its annual Track and Field Classic on Saturday, May 10, at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, starting at 9am.
The event, dubbed the “Road to Tokyo,” will be used as a qualifier for athletes wishing to make Team
“It didn’t go as planned for me in my individual event, but I knew I had to bring home a medal for my country in the relay,” she stated. “We got the bronze, so I’m very happy.” And at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, the 17-year-old Dean, now in grade 11, said an injury prevented her from competing in the final after she helped the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays.
Bahamas that will compete at the World Championships from September 13-21 in Tokyo, Japan. Interested athletes can contact coach Rupert Gardiner at 821-2836 for more information.
BOCCE SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
SPECIAL Olympics
Bahamas has announced that its National Bocce Championships is scheduled for this weekend at Stapledon School. The championships is slated to get started 2:30pm Friday until 5:30pm and continue 9:15am Saturday to 3pm. The official opening ceremonies is set for 11am Saturday. Teams from Abaco, Grand Bahama and Nassau will be battling it out for supremacy. It’s free entry for all spectators. For more information, contact 359-3558 or 422-3184.
RED-LINE YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
THE Red-Line Athletics
Track Club has announced that there has been a slight change in the events and schedule for its fourth annual Youth Track Classic.
The classic, open to competitors from ages under-seven to under16, is scheduled for Saturday, starting at 10am and Sunday, starting at 1pm, at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The registration deadline is set for 5pm today. Athletes still interested in participating are urged to register at redlineathletics242@gmail and smnbutler@yahoo.com
PEACE ON DA STREET FAMILY NIGHT
PLANS are underway for the staging of the Peace on Da Streets’ Basketball Classics’ Road to 30 years of
existence. The event, being organised by the Hope Center under the theme “Shooting hoops instead of guns,” will be held from July 14-19 at the Michael ‘Scooter’ Reid Basketball Center. The highlight of the event will be the Family Night, scheduled for Sunday, July 20 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium when the finals in all of the divisions will take place, starting at 3pm.
There will also be the Mr Ship It Three-point shootout and the Joe’s Slam Dunk Contest. The night will conclude with the exciting Clergy versus Politicians match-up. Lots of prizes, including round trip tickets, will be up for grabs.
SPRING FLING INVITATIONAL THE Fast Track Athletics Club is scheduled to hold its 4th annual Spring Fling at
the Grand Bahama Sports Complex May 16-17. The event is open to competitors from throughout The Bahamas. The action is slated to begin at 5pm on Friday, May 16 and at 10am on Saturday, May 16. It promises to provide fast competition, perfect prep for championship season and an unmatched island atmosphere in Grand Bahama. For more information on the meet, persons can email fasttrackmanagement00@ gmail.com
BAZARD
DR KENT
her individual event in the under-20 girls’ 400m hurdles, but
she did as she anchored the 4 x 400m relay team of Kei-Mahri Hanna, Makaiah Hiutchman and A’Karee Roberts to the bronze.
Intriguing Colorado Duo
Ayear a er quarterbacks dominated the top dozen picks, Miami s Cam Ward is the only sure re high pick among premier passers this year Bringing the intrigue into the dra are Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter who aims to play both cornerback and wide receiver in the NFL like he did in B oulder
By LARRY LAGE Sports Writer
Where will Shedeur Sanders land when teams gather in the land of Vin to restock their rosters? at’s t stor yline of the NFL dra in Gr Wisconsin, with mocks all over
DETROIT (AP) — Jalen
Brunson’s crossover dribble between his legs created space for a game-winning 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds left and he blew a kiss to a quiet crowd that relentlessly taunted him for three games.
Bypassing Colorado s precisi could lead to deep regrets amo evaluators, suggested longtime analyst Mel Kiper Jr Sanders overcame a substand game and at times poor pass pr throw for 37 touchdowns and m 4,000 yards last season while co more than 74% of his throws.
Brunson finished with 40 points to lead the New York Knicks to a 116-113 win over the Detroit Pistons last night and into the second round of the NBA playoffs.
A week after the point guard won the NBA’s clutch player of the year award, he lived up to the billing.
“He’s at his best when his best is needed and he’s done it all year,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.
“That’s what makes him special.” Detroit didn’t get a shot off to potentially tie the game and send it to overtime because Malik Beasley fumbled a pass with fourtenths of a second left.
“This is tough,” said Beasley, who had 16 points in the second quarter and finished with 20.
Bypassing on-the- eld work the NFL Scouting Combine an Big 12 pro day only added to th that suddenly swirled around t Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, w wondered how his son s stock c slipped when he hasn t thrown interception since the Alamo B At the conclusion of the yea a er 4,000-some yards, all of a sudden his arm is weak ” Deion Sanders cracked “I don’t know when his arm got weak. But he protects the ball He had the highest completion percentage in college football this past year He’s the pillar of consistency “But you ’ ve got to understand when that last name is on your back, you re going to be attacked and ridiculed But we re built for that. He was raised for this moment
“I had a chance to make a three and tie the game. I’m mad about that.”
The third-seeded Knicks will face secondseeded Boston, shooting to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000.
Kiper concurred, saying Shedeur Sanders is “accurate he’s precise –everything ever ybody wants. Decisionmaking accuracy toughness he has Now he s 6-foot-and-a-half can t change that right? But six-foot-and-a-half is more than good enough now in this day and age Although Cam Ward, the consensus pick to go No 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, arguably brings more electricity to the position, Sanders’ skillset merits no sco ng “He’s not creative like Cam He doesn’t have the mobility of Cam He doesn t have the rocket arm of Cam Ward, Kiper said But certainly Shedeur, in the right o ense, with the right personnel
By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP)
— The Minnesota Timberwolves spent Game 5 in a dismal shooting funk, providing the Los Angeles Lakers with ample opportunity to stave off playoff elimination.
While his teammates struggled, Rudy Gobert stepped up against the small-ball Lakers — and on their big man’s shoulders, the Wolves are going all the way back to the second round.
Gobert had playoff career highs with 27 points and 24 rebounds, Julius Randle added 23 points and Minnesota advanced in the NBA playoffs with a clinching 103-96 victory in their first-round series Wednesday night.
Gobert stepped up when the Lakers deployed a centreless lineup, scoring more points than he managed in the series’ first four games combined.
The Lakers also struggled defensively against Gobert, who dominated stretches on both ends.
“Feels great, but not vindication,” Gobert said.
“It’s not about beating a specific person. It’s about
a championship, and we’ve got a little bit more work to do before that.”
With Gobert running amok in the paint, Minnesota won Game 5 despite going 7 for 47 on 3-point attempts, including 17 consecutive misses between the middle of the second quarter and Mike Conley’s dagger 3 with 1:22 to play.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well, but I thought we were the tougher team mentally and physically,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said.
“That’s when it showed itself. We knew we’d been good in fourth quarters against this team all series. We just needed to see a couple of shots go down opportunistically.
“Guys did a great job surviving the emotions of the game, which was always going to be a tough game,” said Finch.
Anthony Edwards had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the sixth-seeded Wolves, who won three straight games to eliminate LeBron James and Luka Doncic from their first postseason together. After winning a playoff round in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history, Minnesota next faces the winner
It was so vulgar that Warriors coach Steve Kerr came to Brunson’s defence. Thibodeau, though, said no one can rattle Brunson.
“His focus is terrific,” Thibodeau said. “He doesn’t get sidetracked with anything but the game. He’s not thinking about what people say, or fans.”
to put Detroit ahead 112105 with 2:35 left and Brunson responded by scoring the next five points. Cunningham missed a contested layup with 22 seconds left that when the score was 113-all and Brunson took advantage of the opportunity to win it on the next possession. Brunson was booed almost every time he touched the ball in the series and heard much worse than that in Game 3.
of Houston’s series with Golden State.
The Rockets avoided elimination Wednesday, and Game 6 is set for tonight with the Warriors leading 3-2.
Doncic had 28 points and nine assists, while James added 22 points for the Lakers, who lost in the first round for the second straight postseason despite reconfiguring their roster at midseason with their seismic trade for Doncic.
Rui Hachimura scored 23 points for the Lakers, who have advanced from the opening round just once in five seasons since their 2020 championship in the Florida bubble.
“There’s always a mix of disappointment and gratitude,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
“Certainly disappointed (because this result is) not something that I ever envisioned with this team, having to go in and talk to them after losing in the first round, but give Minnesota a lot of credit. They’re a really good basketball team, and I think our guys played hard enough and did all the right things.
“We tried to make it work with what we had, and came up a little short.”
UB Mingoes fall to Titans in 1st leg of Knockout Cup semis
IT was the tale of two halves as the University of The Bahamas men’s soccer team fell 5-1 to the Western Warriors Titans in the first leg of the Bahamas Men’s Soccer League’s Knockout Cup Wednesday at the Roscow A.L. Davies Soccer Fields.
UB will be looking to bounce back on Sunday, May 4, in the second leg clash between these two teams. UB’s head coach Alex Thompson said his side played a great first half.
“It was a terrible second half, the last time we played them it was very similar with a great first half and the first 20 minutes of the second half was good. Today (Wednesday), we were poor from the start of the second half and we were missing some personnel, and we ran out of steam,” Thompson said.
The last time these two teams faced each other on Sunday, March 30, UB won 5-4. The first half on Wednesday saw UB going toe-to-toe with the Titans even getting several chances on goal but none were successful.
UB’s midfielder Ronaldo Green, who has been on a tear for the past two games with a hat-trick in each of them, got his name on the scoresheet once again.
That goal came in the 37th minute when he took on two defenders to dribble inside Titans’ 18-yard box and sent a well-placed shot past the goalkeeper.
It put the Mingoes up 1-0 and in control. The score remained the same as the first half ended. The second half saw UB starting out flat and the Titans punished them in the 51st minute with a goal.
The Titans kept the pressure up on UB for the rest of the second half to score four more goals to take the 5-1 victory.
The second leg clash is set for 7:15pm on Sunday, May 4.
by UB Athletics
UB Mingoes centre back Joshua Johnson (Blue #14) wins the header on a corner kick.
MINGOES midfielder Ronaldo Green (Blue #21) celebrates his goal with captain Marlon Barnes.
UB Mingoes forward Alix St. Hilaire moves the ball forward.
UB Mingoes midfielder Kevin Thomas (Blue #17) controls the ball.
Photos
UB Mingoes captain Marlon Barnes (Blue #7) staves off a defender against Western Warriors Titans.
UB Mingoes left back Nathan Wells (Blue #19) passes the ball against Western Warriors Titans.
UB Mingoes winger Andreas Cochinamogulos (Blue #8) battles against a defender for the ball against Western Warriors Titans Wednesday, April 30, at the Roscow Davies Soccer Fields. Mingoes lost 5-1.
UB Mingoes captain Marlon Barnes (Blue #7) clears the ball.
Shedeur Sanders
Travis Hunter
‘Buddy’ and Warriors return home with another chance to close out series with Rockets
sent in the backups with 5:50 left in the third quarter of an embarrassing 131-116 loss Wednesday night so his Warriors can turn their attention at trying again to close out the first-round series back home tonight.
“I wasn’t going to chase this game obviously with Game 6 coming up in 48 hours,” Kerr said.
“So I talked to Draymond. I said, ‘What do you think?’ He said five minutes, so we gave the starting group the first five or six minutes and unless we had made a huge run kind of had it in mind that we would pull the plug.”
The Warriors missed a chance to clinch the bestof-seven series on the road, and they gave some momentum right back to the Rockets. Golden State leads 3-2.
Jimmy Butler, Stephen Curry and Green will need to forget their Game 5 blowout fast and now count on their experience in big games as they return to Chase Center to get past second-seeded Houston,
nation with a dominant performance.
“We’re fine. Our confidence isn’t going to waiver,” Butler said. “We’re going to start out better and play a better overall game.”
The Minnesota Timberwolves are waiting for the winner to begin the Western Conference semifinals.
While the Warriors couldn’t close their series on the road with a 3-1 lead, Rudy Gobert led the way as Minneapolis ended the season for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 103-96. And given the blowout, the Golden State starters should be plenty fresh — Rockets coach Ime Udoka re-inserted his core group with the lead dwindling. Curry played 23 minutes, Butler 25 and Green nearly 18. Fred VanVleet scored 26 points on 8-for-13 shooting with four 3-pointers playing 33 minutes to lead Houston as all five starters reached double figures.
The Rockets jumped to a big lead from the opening tip for a runaway win. Their 131 points were their most ever in a playoff game against Golden State.
Houston had averaged 98 points per game through
the first four of the series, then went off in the win that included an early 18-0 run and a 31-point lead in the second half before the Warriors’ second unit chipped away.
“Loved our bench group, they came in and they forced Houston to bring their starters back in. They set a tone that we’re going to need for Game 6,” Kerr said. “Even though we lost the game I thought it was crucial that we fought the way we did in the fourth quarter.”
The past two games became testy, with Golden State’s reserves getting involved during Game 5 when Pat Spencer got ejected for head-butting Alperen Sengun before Trace Jackson-Davis shoved the Rockets big man. It was Curry, Green and Dillon Brooks in Game 4, yet Brooks believes Houston’s youngsters are learning with each experience on the big NBA stage.
“They’re sticking to the details of the playoffs,” Brooks said. “Every possession matters, every loose ball, rebound, shot we take, it matters. And there’s
CHAVANO “Buddy” Hield (7) sits on the