05042017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2017

Jones returns to the Sun in WNBA

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

fter a successful off-season spent in Korea, Jonquel Jones is back in the Women’s National Basketball Association with the Connecticut Sun as the preseason gets underway.

Jones finished with eight points on an efficient 4-6 shooting night from the field and also added seven rebounds in the Sun’s 81-72 win over the Chicago Sky at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncansville, Connecticut, on Tuesday.

“I thought we accomplished what we wanted to,” Sun head coach and general manager Curt Miller said. “Every single player out of the 14 played double-figure minutes. Nobody played more than 17 minutes, so we got to look at a lot of combinations, a lot of different patterns.

“Now, the film won’t lie. There will be good things that we learn from the film, there will be disappointing things that we need to grow and get better on. But ultimately, we came in looking to play a lot of people and look at a lot of combinations and rotations and we got that accomplished.”

The Suns returned to the floor last night to face the defending champion and the team that originally drafted Jones, the Los Angeles Sparks. However, results were unavailable up to press time. The Sun will open the season on May 13, hosting the Atlanta Dream.

Earlier this week at Sun media day, she shared her optimism on the team’s foundation headed into the season. “I think the way players are approaching training camp is really unique,” Jones said.

“It’s such a positive environment and there is nothing bringing us down. If there is a word I’d use to describe the team, it would be

A

CONNECTICUT Sun’s Jonquel Jones defends Chicago Sky’s Courtney Vandersloot, bottom, as she looks to the basket during a WNBA game on September 11, 2016. After a stint in Korea, Jones is back in the WNBA as the preseason gets underway.

(AP Photo/Jessica Hill) named “Best Five” in the league. ‘genuine.’ There is a genuine, spe- secutive for the club.

Jones was particularly dominant Jones finished her rookie camcial relationship this team has. It’s rare for that to happen so quickly, in the finals where she averaged paign for the Connecticut Sun but it’s so important consider- 15.3 points and 23 rebounds per averaging 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds ing we are a young team and still game. She averaged 15.8 points, and 1.1 blocked shot in just over 14 14.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks – minutes per game. She shot 53 per learning.”

In March, Jones ended her time all team leads - in 24 minutes per cent from the field and 33 per cent in the Korean Basketball League game for Woori Bank in 38 games from three-point range.

She received one vote in the with one of her best games of the this season. She also shot 55 per season and a championship title cent from the field, 39 per cent 2016 WNBA Sixth Woman of the for her club. She posted 27 points, from three. They finished the year Year tally to finish in a 5-way tie for fifth behind winner Jantel Lav25 rebounds and three blocks in 36-2 and undefeated on the road.

At the league’s award ceremony, ender. The Sun finished last season a 83-72 win for Woori Bank over the Samsung Life Blue Minx to Jones earned the Foreign Most 14-20, 5th in Eastern Conference, complete a three-game sweep and Valuable Player award, Defensive just missing the postseason after a claim the 2017 title, the fifth con- Player of the Year award and was dramatic midseason turnaround.

TOREE BOYD GETS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE NFL ROSTER

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net TOREE Boyd didn’t hear his name called during the three days of the NFL Draft, but the Bahamian native didn’t have to wait very long after to learn of his new opportunity to make an NFL roster.

Boyd was one of 21 players who agreed to terms as an undrafted college free agent by the defending NFC Champions Atlanta Falcons following last week’s draft.

Undrafted players made up approximately 30 per cent of NFL rosters last season.

The Falcons roster now stands at the 90 needed headed into training camp.

Following his stellar senior season with the Howard Bison, Cooper garnered the attention

of several NFL teams following his standout collegiate career and his performance at the Tropical Bowl.

Boyd was born in Nassau, but was raised in Miami where he began playing football at the age of five and eventually played collegiately with the Bison.

The 6-4, 315-pound senior has been the mainstay on the Bison’s offensive line for the past four years and started a school record 46 straight games, eclipsing the old mark of 44 held by former Howard standout, Tracy White.

He was a second team All-Mid Eastern Athletic Conference selection for two consecutive seasons and was the team captain for three years.

“My strengths are my pass blocking, aggressiveness to finish blocks and athleticism to play all five positions. I’m trying

to improve on my run blocking and sustaining blocks downfield more,” he said in a pre-draft interview with NFL Draft Blitz.

“An organisation that gives me a shot, they will not regret it.”

As a junior, he was Howard’s offensive player of the year and received the MEAC weekly honour three times.

According to Boyd, fans should expect an exciting and bright year for the Bison.

Prior to his senior season, Boyd said his motivation behind his path to the NFL is fulfilling a dream to take care of his mother, Enid Boyd.

“My motivation or, as I can say, the reason why I do it is because I want better for my mom and siblings,” Boyd said. “I want to make sure my mom never has to work again, so I stay motivated everyday to achieve my dream goal.”

TOREE BOYD

NBA

Playoffs, Pg 18

TUREANO JOHNSON FACED WITH MANDATORY FIGHT AGAINST UKRAINIAN

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net TUREANO Johnson finds himself faced with the perspective of another mandatory elimination match if he is to remain the No.1 contender for the IBF middleweight title and continue his chase of Gennady Golovkin.

According to Boxing Scene, the International Boxing Federation has mandated that Johnson must square off with Sergiy Derevyanchenko of Ukraine to determine the challenger for Golovkin’s IBF middleweight title.

Johnson has until Friday (May 5) to accept the fight or risk losing his current spot atop the IBF rankings and could be dropped as far as out of the top 10.

Derevyanchenko, 31, and ranked second on the IBF challenger list, is undefeated in his young professional career thus far at 10-0, with 8 KOs. His last fight was a fifth round stoppage of Kemahl Russell in March.

Johnson, 31, returned to the ring last month after being sidelined for nearly a year-and-a-half with a second round knockout over Fabiano Pena. He improved to 20-1, 14 knockouts.

Both fighters represented their respective countries at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The winner will then attempt to outbox the dominant Golovkin and blemish his spotless 37-0, 33KOs record.

Johnson was originally intended to face Golovkin last April. However, the fight never took place for a myriad of reasons.

The Pena fight was Johnson’s first fight under Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions stable since making the switch in September 2015, a move that was expected to send him on the fast track to an eventual title shot and prominence in the division.

He injured his shoulder in a unanimous decision win over Irishman Eamonn O’Kane on October 17, 2015. With the win, he became the mandatory No.1 contender. He further damaged the rotator cuff just ahead of his scheduled fight with Golovkin.

Johnson was granted a medical extension by the IBF but exceeded the permitted time for a mandatory challenger to remain inactive.

In January, Johnson was initially set to make his return to the ring. However, he failed to make the weight for his scheduled 10-round

SEE PAGE 16

TEAM BAHAMAS AFFECTED BY FIBA TOURNAMENT’S CANCELLATION

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas’ bid toward FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualification will now follow a new path after the international governing body made adjustments to its tournament structure.

FIBA’s Sub-Zone CONCENCABA (Central American and the Caribbean) voted and approved the cancellation of the Pre-Qualifier tournament that was set to be played this July in Bolivia and the Bahamas will be one of three teams affected.

The sixth and seventh place

teams from both Centrobasket (Bahamas, Cuba) and South American Championships (Chile and Paraguay) will now complete the 16-team field for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers set to tip-off in November 2017.

The Bahamas closed out last June’s Centrobasket tournament in Panama with a 120-77 win over Nicaragua.

The team was forced to play for seventh place after finishing fourth in Group B with a 1-3 win-loss record.

After opening up with an 82-74 loss to the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas blew out Costa Rico 82-58, only to come

back to suffer an 87-80 defeat at the hands of the Dominican Republic and an 84-81 loss to Mexico.

In February, some of the top brass from FIBA Americas were in town to advise the Bahamas Basketball Federation, the government and corporate Bahamas on how they can maximise on their effort to get through a new qualifying format that will benefit smaller nations like the Bahamas.

At the end of their trip, the FIBA representatives held a press conference with the BBF and the Bahamas Olympic Committee to outline just how the Bahamas can get in a posi-

tion to secure their spot over the next two years.

“Over the last two years, we have been making assessment visits to our member federations to find out their weaknesses and strengths that they have in order to prepare them for the new competition that will start in November,” said Anibal Garcia, FIFA Americas’ national federation and sport manager. “We have a new competition system that will change all aspects for basketball and we have some new benefits for our federations. It will affect the competition and the teams

SEE PAGE 16

PAGE 16, Thursday, May 4, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Cleveland Eneas coach Mariska Stubbs-Thompson (centre) celebrates with her championship team.

Cleveland Eneas’ track and field title victory ‘was bitter sweet’ CLEVELAND Eneas successfully defended their title, winning their 5th New Providence Primary Schools Sports Association Track and Field Championships by a landslide.

Leading from day 1 of the 3-day meet at the original Thomas A Robinson stadium last week, Cleveland Eneas compiled a total of 338.50 points to out-distance their nearest ri-

THE RESULTS RESULTS of the 5th New Providence Primary Schools Sports Association Track and Field Championships, are as follows: Girls 100M Dash A+ Finals - 1, #1969 Whylly, Ashley, Yellow Elder, 13.63. 2, #546 Elliott, Terranique, Columbus Primary, 13.87. 3, #1739 Nelson, Mikayla, Sybil Strachan, 13.96. 4, #797 Bethel, Geranique, Eva Hilton, 14.19. 5, #510 Gray, Anthia, Albury Sayles, 14.41. 6, #595 Ferguson, Tibena, Cleveland Eneas, 14.69. 7, #560 Sands, Tianisea, Columbus Primary, 15.10. 8, #598 Joseph, Moniesha, Cleveland Eneas, 15.36.

Girls 400M Dash A+ - 1, #510 Gray, Anthia, Albury Sayles, 1:12.94. 2, #595 Ferguson, Tibena, Cleveland Eneas, 1:14.06. 3, #607 Sands, Devondra, Cleveland Eneas, 1:14.59. 4, #1969 Whylly, Ashley, Yellow Elder, 1:14.94. 5, #546 Elliott, Terranique, Columbus Primary, 1:17.12. 6, #948 Clarke, Cearia, Garvin Tynes, 1:18.94. 7, #1556 Pierre, Marland, Ridgeland Primar, 1:21.31. 8, #1956 George, Kenicha, Yellow Elder, 1:32.97.

Girls Long Jump A+ - 1, #510 Gray, Anthia, Albury Sayles, 3.57m. 2, #607 Sands, Devondra, Cleveland Eneas, 3.33m. 3, #1721 Bowleg, Nakeia, Sybil Strachan, 3.02m. 4, #961 Spence, Kaira, Garvin Tynes, 3.01m. 5, #1772 Evans, Akarra, Thelma Gibson, 2.90m. 6, #1557 Pierre, Va-

vals Yellow Elder, who got 202.

Sadie Curtis held on for 3rd place with 197, Sybil Strachan got 4th with 161.50 and Columbus Primary rounded out the top five in the 23-school field

nessa, Ridgeland Primar, 2.87m. 7, #1947 Appoleon, Alexis, Yellow Elder, 2.73m. 8, #1835 Price, Shaquita, T. G. Glover, 2.66m.

Girls Shot Put A+ - 1, #594 Ferguson, Tiana, Cleveland Eneas, 6.31m. 2, #693 Williams, Clinique, Centerville Prim, 5.54m. 3, #505 Dean, Kusum, Albury Sayles, 5.20m.

4, #1835 Price, Shaquita, T. G. Glover, 4.83m. 5, #1733 Forbes-Rolle, Raneisha, Sybil Strachan, 4.69m. 6, #558 Poitier, Wynnisha, Columbus Primary, 4.59m. 7, #1968 Sturrup, Rachel, Yellow Elder, 3.85m. 8, #1631 Pettihomme, Walanska, Stephen Dillet, 3.78m.

Girls 100M Dash A - 1, #1585 Knowles, Sheka, Sadie Curtis, 12.79. 2, #610 Williams, Shorneka, Cleveland Eneas, 13.12.

3, #815 Pratt, Amari, Eva Hilton, 13.41. 4, #959 Rahming, Ariel, Garvin Tynes, 13.79.

5, #635 Charlton, Ivaneice, Carlton Francis, 14.03. 6, #555 Minot, MACARA, Columbus Primary, 16.20.

Girls 400M Run A - 1, #596 Florent, Shawnette, Cleveland Eneas, 1:07.97. 2, #610 Williams, Shorneka, Cleveland Eneas, 1:09.85. 3, #1958 Green, Jamoria, Yellow Elder, 1:10.38. 4, #758 Evans, Tianna, C. W. Sawyer, 1:10.88. 5, #1838 Skippings, Chamija, T. G. Glover, 1:12.19. 6, #1583 Gibson, Melvinique, Sadie Curtis, 1:12.66. 7, #715 Cartwright, Angela, Claridge Primary, 1:22.03.

Girls 800M Run A - 1, #633 Armaly, Lauren, Carlton Francis, 2:49.16. 2, #589

with 156. “This one was bitter sweet,” said Cleveland Eneas’ head coach Mariska StubbsThompson. “I really went through a lot this year, so it was crucial that we won.

Armbrister, Carylissa, Cleveland Eneas, 2:51.00. 3, #596 Florent, Shawnette, Cleveland Eneas, 2:53.94. 4, #1583 Gibson, Melvinique, Sadie Curtis, 2:58.10. 5, #715 Cartwright, Angela, Claridge Primary, 3:06.10.

6, #1737 Joseph, Jenise, Sybil Strachan, 3:08.85. 7, #886 Smith, Dominique, E. P. Roberts, 3:25.12.

Girls Long Jump A - 1, #753 Black, Kennice, C. W. Sawyer, 3.68m. 2, #1877 Brown, Aliyah, Uriah McPhee, 3.48m. 3, #596 Florent, Shawnette, Cleveland Eneas, 3.41m.

4, #1786 Rolle, Patecia, Thelma Gibson, 3.36m. 5, #633 Armaly, Lauren, Carlton Francis, 3.21m. 6, #1734 Jean, Jessica, Sybil Strachan, 3.20m. 7, #959 Rahming, Ariel, Garvin Tynes, 2.86m. 8, #1583 Gibson, Melvinique, Sadie Curtis, 2.84m.

Girls Shot Put A - 1, #1742 Samson, Dieulia, Sybil Strachan, 6.30m. 2, #679 Henry, Allyanna, Centerville Prim, 6.10m.

3, #610 Williams, Shorneka, Cleveland Eneas, 5.74m. 4, #1784 Newton, Michaela, Thelma Gibson, 5.67m. 5, #543 Ambroise, Samiesha, Columbus Primary, 5.45m. 6, #501 Burrows, Daeante, Albury Sayles, 5.37m. 7, #1966 Roberts, Janae, Yellow Elder, 4.88m. 8, #878 Jones, Veronique, E. P. Roberts, 4.63m.

Girls 100M Dash B - 1, #1641 Thompson, Tyneisha, Stephen Dillet, 13.53. 2, #1587 Major, Kennise, Sadie Curtis, 13.78. 3, #597 Fowler, Zaria, Cleveland Eneas, 14.00. 4, #1783 McDonald, Taniya, Thelma Gibson,

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS THE final team standings for the 5th New Providence Primary Schools Sports Association Track and Field Championships, held last week at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, are as follows: SCHOOL Cleveland Eneas Yellow Elder Sadie Curtis Sybil Strachan Columbus Primary Charles W Sawyer Claridge Primary Uriah McPhee Albury Sayles Garvin Tynes Thelma Gibson Carlton Francis Centerville Primary TG Glover Eva Hilton Ridgeland Primary Gerald Cash Palmdale Primary Sandilands Primary EP Roberts Gambier Primary Woodcock Primary

POINTS 338.50 202 197 161.50 156 129 115 102 94 83 79.50 76 49 46 33 31 30 18 10 7 6 2

14.22. 5, #556 Pedican, Pateisha, Columbus Primary, 14.44. 6, #925 Johnson, Pasha, Gerald Cash, 14.66. 7, #953 Johnson, Kaisesa, Garvin Tynes, 14.91. 8, #645 MACKEY, Erizona, Carlton Francis, 15.12.

Girls 200M Run B - 1, #1641 Thompson, Tyneisha, Stephen Dillet, 28.23. 2, #1965 Pierre, Shaneka, Yellow Elder, 28.28. 3, #952 Etienne, Shanyah, Garvin Tynes, 28.76. 4, #1589 Newbold, Marquell, Sadie Curtis, 29.02. 5, #556 Pedican, Pateisha, Columbus Primary, 29.18. 6, #1741 RolleForbes, Ryniquica, Sybil Strachan, 29.50. 7, #1590 Nixon, Ianna, Sadie Curtis, 31.52. 8, #606 Rolle, Paris, Cleveland Eneas, 32.32.

• SEE MORE RESULTS IN FRIDAY SPORTS

TUREANO JOHNSON FACED WITH MANDATORY FIGHT AGAINST UKRAINIAN FROM PAGE 1 middleweight bout against Antonio Gutierrez of Mexico and the fight was scratched from the undercard of Francisco Vargas-Miguel Borchelt.

He came in at 161.5 pounds, just over the maximum middleweight range of 154-160 pounds. Gutierrez and his camp then decided to call off the fight.

TUREANO JOHNSON

TEAM BAHAMAS AFFECTED BY FIBA TOURNAMENT’S CANCELLATION FROM PAGE 1 financially and the development of basketball.”

The November qualifier will feature play in a home -and-away series, ensuring the Bahamian public will have a rare opportunity to see their best players play together at home.

“FIBA is changing its structure, FIBA is changing its competition system,” said Victor Mansure, the executive director assistant to Garcia. “They realise that they have home games in order for somebody here to see Buddy Hield hit five three-pointers in a half, see a dunk from DeAndre Ayton and to see a steal for them to be like their idols.”

The cycle calls for a day of travel, another day of practice and then the game is played. The following day, the teams will travel to the opposing country, get in a day of practice and then they play before they complete the first series of games.

Mansure said that FIBA will provide the television coverage and with local deals being struck. From the deal, the profits will be distributed to the federations.

FIBA will also cover the players’ insurance, which will provide expenses for all injuries and, in the event that a player can’t play for three months, they will be compensated for that period. The referees travel and

per diem will also be taken care of by FIBA. The federations, in turn, will be able to secure their own sponsorship through advertising on the two free throw circles, the two baselines and they will also receive 80 per cent of all advertising around the court and any other sponsorship in and outside of the arena.

The Bahamas may be forced to field a team without its top player, Buddy Hield of the Sacramento Kings. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, “the NBA does not intend to release its players - of any nationality - for the in-season World Cup qualifying windows that begin later this year.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 4, 2017, PAGE 17

Beach Soccer World Cup resumes today

FANS get to meet Bahamas’ players in the fan zone.

LESLY St Fleur with a young fan.

POSTER signing in the fan zone.

Photos by Lea Weil

TEAM Bahamas members autograph posters.

AFTER six days of competition, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 is down to the final eight teams - Portugal, Tahiti, Paraguay, Brazil, Senegal, Iran, Italy and Switzerland.

Paraguay and Tahiti will kick things off today in the first quarter-final at 3.30pm followed by Brazil v Portugal at 5pm. At 6.30pm, Switzerland will meet Iran and in the last tie at 8pm, it will be Senegal v Italy.

Yesterday was an off day as teams regrouped and prepared for the knockout stages with another rest day on Friday before the semifinals on Saturday and final on Sunday.

Sixteen teams started the tournament last Thursday, including the Bahamas, who made their debut as hosts of the first World Cup to be staged in the Caribbean.

After losing their first two games to Switzerland and Senegal, the Bahamas rocked the stadium on Monday night with their 4-1 win over Ecuador.

Unfortunately, it was not enough as the Bahamas joined Ecuador, Japan, Nigeria, Mexico, Poland, Panama and UAE on the sidelines.

BAHAMIAN dancers perform with visiting cheerleaders.

BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP AT A GLANCE Thursday May 4 Quarter-finals 3.30pm: Paraguay v Tahiti 5pm: Brazil v Portugal 6.30pm: Switzerland v Iran 8pm: Italy v Senegal Saturday May 6 Semi-finals 3pm: Paraguay or Tahiti v Switzerland or Iran 4.30pm: Brazil or Portugal v Italy or Senegal

SWITZERLAND fans in full force.

SCOTIABANK SUPPORTS WORLD CUP SCOTIABANK (Bahamas) Limited is a proud national supporter of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017.

“Our customers and employees are becoming passionate beach soccer fans as the sport quickly grows in popularity within our community,” said Maxine Seymour, Scotiabank’s manager of sponsorships and philanthropy.

“Scotiabank is a strong supporter of sports here in The Bahamas and across our global footprint and is the official bank of CONCACAF,” Seymour said.

“With the construction of a new, worldclass beach soccer stadium here in our country and hosting of this distinguished international event, we look forward to deepening our soccer involvement.”

The 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup is the ninth edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the premier international beach soccer championship contested by the men’s national teams of the member associations of FIFA. This is the first time the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup has been hosted in the Caribbean.

PICTURED with the official trophy at The Bahamas National Beach Soccer Arena at Malcolm Park (l-r): Bruce LaFleur, Director of Venue Development; Maxine Seymour, Manager, Public & Corporate Affairs, Sponsorships & Philanthropy, Scotiabank; Anton Sealey, President, Bahamas Football Association; and Jeffrey Beckles, Chairman, Local Organising Committee. The trophy will leave The Bahamas with the winning team.

HOSTESS for the VIP section.

Photo: Manuel Queimadelos

Sunday May 7 3pm: Third place match 4.30pm: Final

PAGE 18, Thursday, May 4, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

James, Cavs take 2-0 lead

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James scored 39 points, hopped Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the career playoff scoring list and pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 125-103 blowout over the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semi-final series last night.

Just like a year ago in the conference finals, the Cavs are up 2-0 on the Raptors, who had better figure some things out or this series will be over quickly. Toronto was blown out for the fifth straight time in Cleveland in the playoffs, losing each by an average of 24.2 points.

Game 3 is Friday night at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, where the Raptors will have the crowd on their side.

However, they won’t have James, who has won a road game

in 27 consecutive series and appears determined to toss Toronto aside. He finished 10 of 14 from the field.

Kyrie Irving had 22 points and 11 assists and Channing Frye scored 18 points for the reigning champions, who are 6-0 so far defending their title. Cleveland is 9-0 since losing Game 4 of last year’s NBA Finals.

The Raptors didn’t start Jonas Valanciunas, but he led them with 23 points. Toronto only got five points from All-Star DeMar DeRozan, who didn’t make his first field goal until the first minute of the fourth quarter.

Of bigger concern might be the status of guard Kyle Lowry, who sprained his left ankle in the third quarter. Lowry spent the fourth quarter in the locker room icing his ankle.

James came in needing 25 points to pass Abdul-Jabbar, and he overtook the Hall of Fame

RAPTORS’ JONAS VALANCIUNAS, left, defends Cavaliers’ LeBron James during Game 2 of their second-round playoff series last night in Cleveland. The Cavaliers won 125-103.

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak) centre with a 3-pointer in the third quarter, when he scored 17 points and helped the Cavs open a 26-point lead. James now only trails Michael Jordan (5,987), the player to whom he has been compared since he was a teenager, for the most points in postseason history. James is also trying to match Jordan’s six titles. He’s halfway

there, and the way the Cavs are playing, he could have No. 4 before long.

Raptors coach Dwane Casey promised the Raptors “would be a different team tonight coming out.” He meant in terms of energy, but Casey also started a smaller lineup, benching the 7-foot Valanciunas and forward DeMarre

Carroll in favour of guard Norman Powell and forward Patrick Patterson. He also moved Serge Ibaka from power forward to centre. The moves were intended to give Toronto more ball handlers and open the floor on offence.

They didn’t work simply because the Raptors couldn’t contain James.

Spurs rebound to tie series 1-1, but lose Tony Parker

By RAUL DOMINGUEZ Associated Press SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Kawhi Leonard had 34 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs overcame the loss of Tony Parker to beat the Houston Rockets 121-96 last night and even the Western Conference semi-finals at one game apiece.

Parker did not return after hurting his left leg with 8:43 remaining in the game.

Spurs officials said Parker will undergo an MRI this morning and update his status after, but Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said following that game that “it’s not good.”

Parker fell to the court after missing an uncontested short jumper. He grabbed his left knee immediately upon landing and remained on the court for a few minutes. He attempted to walk, but had to be carried by teammates to the back. Spurs owner Julianna

Hawn Holt rose from her courtside seat to point and scream at an official after Parker exited the game.

Parker finished with 18 points and four assists in 26 minutes. Houston point guard James Harden was limited to 13 points on 3-for-17 shooting.

The Rockets shot 11 for 34 on 3-pointers after going 22 for 50 in their 126-99 victory in Game 1 on Monday night. They host Game 3 on Friday.

The start was as frenetic

JUVENTUS WINS 2-0 AT MONACO IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Sports Writer MONACO (AP) — Record signing Gonzalo Higuain scored two opportunist goals and veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made some crucial saves as Juventus won 2-0 at Monaco to take a commanding lead from the first leg of their Champions League semi-final yesterday.

Monaco had scored 146 goals before this game, including three times home and away in the previous two knockout rounds. But Juventus gave a masterclass in how to withstand pressure and then punish on the counter attack, with both of Higuain’s goals coming after good Monaco spells.

“The job is not complete,” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, whose side remains on course for a domestic and European treble. “But this could become an extraordinary season for us.”

Higuain pounced in the 29th minute, side-footing home after Dani Alves had latched onto his pass down the right before back-heeling the ball back to the Argentina striker as he sprinted into the area.

Higuain hadn’t scored against Barcelona in the quarter-finals, leading some to question his 90 million euros ($98 million) transfer from Napoli — an Italian record. This goal clearly meant a lot as he bounded over the advertising boards to emphatically milk the applause from the travelling fans.

The Juventus bench rose as one after Higuain slid in to turn home a deep cross in the 59th, with the irrepressible Alves again the provider.

Before this game, Higuain had only scored two goals in 24 games in the knockout stages of the competition. A strangely poor return for such a prolific striker. “Goals were not coming for me in this competition,” Higuain said. “I

JUVENTUS’ Gonzalo Higuain celebrates after scoring during the Champions League semi-final first leg soccer match against Monaco yesterday. (AP) knew I just had to stay calm and keep working hard.”

Prior to his opener, Monaco’s 18-year-old striker Kylian Mbappe had forced two smart saves from the 39-year-old Buffon on his 100th Champions League appearance for the club.

Then, moments after the restart, Buffon showed great composure to read Radamel Falcao’s shot and smother it, rather than committing too early and giving Monaco’s top scorer an opening to wrong-foot him.

Buffon saved his best for the last minute, showing remarkable athleticism to tip over substitute Valere Germain’s point-blank header.

“He’s still No. 1 in the world,” Allegri said. “He is always decisive in the big games.”

No wonder centre half Giorgio Chiellini rushed over to hug Buffon at the final whistle. “Gigi was perfect,” Chiellini said.

The winner plays either Real Madrid or city rival Atletico, with Real heading into the return leg at Atletico 3-0 up thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat trick on Tuesday.

Monaco’s vaunted attack was blunted by a rock-solid defence that has now conceded only two goals in 11 Champions League games.

The sheer speed of Juventus’ approach play took Monaco by surprise, prompting coach Leonardo Jardim to frantically gesticulate to his players early to close down

their opponents higher up the pitch.

Forward Paulo Dybala’s ability to roam between the lines baffled Monaco, opening up space for Alves playing as a marauding right winger.

Mbappe had Monaco’s first effort on target, heading straight at Buffon from Nabil Dirar’s cross. The two combined again moments later, with Buffon making a smart stop to deny Mbappe as he latched onto a low cross.

The first goal came just moments after Glik went down holding his face, urging his teammates to kick the ball out despite a promising attack building down the left. It took the momentum away and moments later Glik was no longer rubbing his sore face, but panting for breath as he chased the galloping Alves down the right.

Monaco tore into Juventus after the break, with Buffon diving at the feet of Mbappe minutes after his save from Falcao.

“In every game I want to show that I deserve to play at this level, despite my age,” Buffon said. “The day I quit, I want people to be sad about it.”

Monaco found little joy through the middle and so opted for speed down the flanks. But the wily Juventus defence often had every angle covered, and Buffon was there when they didn’t.

It was a brutal lesson for a young Monaco team rich that is on flair, but was found out by two-time champion Juventus, which lost the 2015 final to Barcelona.

The difference in composure was emphatically highlighted on the second goal.

After defensive midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko gave possession away carelessly down the right. Alves patiently waited for Higuain to change his initial run to the penalty spot, and lofted over a precise pass that fell perfectly into his path at the back post.

as Game 1, but the Spurs kept pace this time. The teams shot a combined 15 for 25 in the opening six minutes, including 5 for 9 on 3-pointers.

Popovich started Pau Gasol in place of David Lee to give the Spurs another outside shooter in the starting lineup and it paid off early. San Antonio shot 62 per cent in the opening quarter.

The Spurs finished at 54 per cent.

LaMarcus Aldridge had

15 points after being limited to four in the opener, and Danny Green added 12.

Leonard tied his postseason high with 20 points in the first half as the Spurs opened up a 65-55 lead entering the third quarter.

Harden led a charge in the second half, but not with his offence. He swiped the ball away, leapt out of bounds and tossed it backward to save it and then stripped Green on the following possession to set a

strong defensive tone. The Rockets would force five turnovers in the third quarter to cut their deficit to 8883 entering the fourth.

Spurs reserve Jonathon Simmons provided a lift, scoring consecutive baskets at the close of the third quarter and then opening the fourth by diving into the front row of seats to save a loose ball that led to Manu Ginobili’s layup. On the ensuing possession, Simmons completed a three-point play off a dunk.

Calling All High

SCHOOL STUDENTS

Every year in August THE TRIBUNE publishes a popular Back to School supplement as a guide to the following academic year.

In the supplement we feature the profiles of high school students across the Bahamas and Family Islands.

We want profiles from as many schools and students as possible to make this guide essential and informative.

Profiles must include 1. Name 2. Age 3. School 4. Grade 5. Parent name or names 6. Goals and aspirations, prizes won and honours awarded

7. Name of college they will be attending (if attending) Plus a suitable photograph in .jpeg format (graduation or any other image).

How to submit profiles Email to back2school@ tribunemedia.net with ‘Back To School’ in the subject field and photos in .jpeg format.

By post to Back To School, The Tribune, Shirley Street & Deveaux Streets, PO Box N-3207, Nassau.

By hand to The Tribune office The deadline for the profiles is June 30, 2017 and there is no cost involved. For any questions please contact Tribune Features at 5022380 or 502-2391.