05042018 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2018

FINISH LINE, Page 3

Major Pain: ‘My last fight will be at my old school’ PANTHERS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net ONE of the most decorated fighters in recent Bahamian boxing history, Meacher “Major Pain” Major, looks to bring his career to a close with one final fight on the horizon.

Via social media, Major announced his intentions to officially bring his career in the ring to a close with one last bout.

“It’s been a long tough battle for me to accept the reality whether or not I will be stepping into the ring one last time. The sport that I had got into from the age of 12, the sport I was prepared to die doing, for the love and passion I have for boxing - that day has finally come,” Major said. “My mind is made up and it will be my

“TO ALL THE YOUTH COMING UP, NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND ABILITY. KEEP GOD FIRST AS THE PRIORITY. I AM ONE OF THE MALES FROM THE GHETTO THAT WAS TOLD WON’T MAKE IT.” — Meacher Major

MEACHER MAJOR last showdown which will be in the coming months. I feel I owe it all to my fight fans, to see me in action again at home.

“The journey to get to the level I am at in the sport of boxing was

never an easy one, being against all odds, having injuries, going into training camp, having a curfew, refrain from sexual activity for months, fight dates cancel etc. It was not an easy road. I am forever grateful for the opportunities given to me. I have no regrets.”

An official date and opponent for the last dance have yet to be named, however Major does have a venue in place.

“My last fight will be at my old school, CI Gibson gymnasium.

It’s where I had 98 per cent of my amateur boxing matches, it’s where

I won the Bahamas Lightweight Title 2005.”

In his last bout, Major remained undefeated at home with a second-round stoppage over Roberto Acevedo of Puerto Rico in December 2016. Major improved to 23-6-1 with 18 Kos. In his time away from the ring, Major established his Major Pain Boxing Club in an effort to develop a new generation of young fighters and give back to the community. Major turned pro in 2000

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Thompson earns MVP honours

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

till celebrating her recognition as the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year, Danielle ‘Danie’ Thompson closed out her senior year at Morgan State by earning both the Most Valuable Player and the Co-Female Athlete of the Year.

The honours were bestowed upon Thompson at Morgan State’s 32nd annual Athletic Banquet on Tuesday night. While she was thrilled to have been selected by the Lady Bears’ athletic programme, Thompson said the double honour caught her by surprise.

“I’m very proud of myself,” she told The Tribune. “It’s my last year, so it means a whole lot that this is the way that I am ending it here.

It gives me a lot of confidence and motivation of what is next for me.

So I’m super excited to see where this takes me.”

Coaxed on by her teammates, who predicted that she would receive the honours, Thompson said even if she was not selected, she could still walk away from Morgan State knowing that she did all she could to help the Lady Bears women’s tennis team to succeed.

“I am the co-athlete of the year so it’s just amazing to know that they have recognised me in this manner,” she stated.

“So it’s something that I will cherish along with being the MVP for women’s tennis and of course being the MEAC Athlete of the Year.”

Thompson, 23, helped the Lady Bears claim the MEAC Tournament title, which was Morgan State’s second and the first since 1994. For her effort, she was named to the MEAC All-Tournament team and Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

She is currently on a 10-match winning streak in singles play to improve to 17-7 as the Lady Bears’ No.1 player. Her 17 wins leads the

S

SEE PAGE 8

BAHAMIAN professional basketball players in leagues around

Playoffs, Page 5

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ALTHOUGH they were one of the two new teams in the New Providence Softball Association, the Hennessy Panthers made an initial statement with a 20-0 whitewashing of the Aliv Strykers.

The Panthers, made up of a number of seasoned players in the league, got a one-hit, two strike out performance from southpaw Nacara Gilbert and their bats erupted for 14 hits off loser Twyla Turnquest en route to their impressive start in last night’s opening match in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

The men’s feature game was played between BTC and the Commando Security Truckers, but no score was available up to press time.

Panthers 20, Strykers 0 After opening the game with a 10-0 onslaught in the top of the first inning, it was just a matter of how many runs Hennessy would score and if the game would go past the third inning as a result of the mercy rule. It turned out that they put up seven more in the second

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ABIGAIL FERGUSON INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

DANIELLE Thompson has closed out her senior year at Morgan State by earning both the Most Valuable Player and CoFemale Athlete of the Year honours at the university’s 32nd annual Athletic Banquet. She is still celebrating her recognition as the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year.

Professional basketball players making moves

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DESTROY STRYKERS 20-0

the globe continue to progress in their respective seasons while others have made the transition to new leagues.

Kadeem Coleby continues to perform at an All-Star level for his first place Akita Northern Happinets in the Japanese B2 League.

Just two games remain in the regular season, this weekend’s series against Shinshu BW, and the Happinets maintain first place with a 51-6 record on the season.

In their latest outing, Coleby was named the game’s MVP with 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 83-73 win over third seeded Yamagata for their seventh consecutive win. Coleby has posted averages of 11.9 points, 6.9 rebounds per game on 58 per cent shooting from the field and 1.6 blocks per game.

Also in Japan, but in the Japanese B League D3, Gijo Bain posted 18 points and 11 rebounds

for Kagoshima in their 89-76 loss to Aisin AW. On the season he has posted 9.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

In Brazil, David Nesbitt continues to help Paulistano Sao Paolo in the NBB League as they opened their semi-final series. He contributed nine points and nine rebounds in their 78-72 win over Bauru in game one. In his first year with the club, Nesbitt is averaging 9.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Tavario Miller has made the transition to Mexico after a successful stint in Norway. Miller currently plays for Pioneros Los Mochis and has posted 16.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game through six contests. He posted 24 points and 13 rebounds in his team’s 105-95 loss to Rayos de

SEE PAGE 8

KADEEM COLEBY dunks.

FORMER long and triple jumper Abigail Ferguson returned to Boise, Idaho, last month where she was one of seven persons inducted into Boise State’s first Hall of Fame class in more than a decade.

Ferguson, selected for women’s track and field, was among the 2018 Hall of Fame inductees that included Graham DeLaet (men’s golf), Eleni Kafourou (women’s track and field), Kellen Moore (football), Nate Potter (football), Paul J Schneider (radio play-by-play) and Gabe Wallin (men’s track and field).

The induction ceremony was held on Friday, April 13.

Previously selected for the Hall of Fame, but to be inducted as part of this year’s class, Ferguson was a 10-time Big Sky Conference champion, including titles in the indoor long jump (1996); indoor triple jump (1994, 1995 and 1996); outdoor 4 x 100m relay (1997); outdoor long jump (1997); outdoor triple jump (1997) and outdoor triple jump (1994, 1995 and 1996).

She was also named Big Sky Conference Indoor Female Athlete of the Meet in 1994, and in 1997

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PAGE 2, Friday, May 4, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

JUNIOR GOLFERS COMPETE IN 11TH REPUBLIC BANK OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR THE FIRST TIME THANKS to EFG Bank and other local sponsors, nine junior golfers from the Bahamas competed for the first time in the 11th Republic Bank Junior Open Championships that was held recently in Trinidad & Tobago.

The event was one of the largest in the Caribbean and fielded 93 players from various Caribbean countries. EFG Bank largely funded the trip, and has been a supporter of junior golf through Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy and The Front 9 Junior Golf Tour. The team competed at the hilly, but scenic St Andrews Course.

Representing the Bahamas were: Girls 14-15 - Ashley Michel (3rd place), A’Marie

Smith (4th place), Riya Miller (6th place), Tia Singh (8th place) and Nyah Singh (9th place) Girls 11-13 - Kyndall Campbell (2nd place) Girls 10 & Under - Chemari Pratt (1st place in two contests and 2nd in one contest) Boys 11-13 - Zion Taylor (8th place) and Rhan Miller (9th place).

Check out the full results on the Trinidad & Tobago Golf Association website.

For Fourteen Clubs and The Front 9, the event was one for their players to get a taste of international competition. “Some of the juniors have been

SHOWN (l-r) are junior golfers Ashley, Tia, Riya, Zion, Rhan, A’marie and Nyah. playing for a few years and are now beginning to compete in numerous events during the year,” said coach Georgette Rolle. “Out of the nine players, only two had played internationally before - Ashley Michel (15) and Kyndall Campbell (13).”

The tournament was played just before the Bahamas Junior Nationals and according to

Rolle, was a great warm-up event. “The Front 9 is dedicated to ensuring that our junior golfers have a full tournament schedule and other opportunities to succeed in the first half of their golf lives,” Rolle said.

“The tour has secured 20 plus events being played at all courses in the Bahamas including Abaco, Grand Bahama, Exuma and New Providence.”

ASHLEY MICHEL

CHEMARI PRATT

Fourteen Clubs Golf looking ‘to find the diamonds in the rough’

SADIE Curtis students watch as coach Ahmal Henfield gives them some golfing instructions.

STUDENTS at the Sadie Curtis Primary School received some golfing lessons from Ahmal Henfield, a Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy instructor and coach, on their campus yesterday.

Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy, headed by Georgette Rolle, partnered with WASP (We Are Sports Programme) to teach golf to the students. The event will be held every Thursday until the end of the school year.

“This was the third day of the programme conducted at Sadie Curtis,”

Rolle said. “We decided to adopt a school and after we met with Paul Cleare, the founder of WASP and they already have a relationship with Sadie Curtis, so we decided to work with them.

“This is all about the youth development. That is what the Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy is all about.

Although it rained, coach Ahmal said the students still came out and they had a good time. So he intends to continue to work with them.”

Scotiabank and McDonald’s are also involved in the Fourteen Clubs Golf

Academy and Rolle said they will continue to reach out to other schools, including Palmdale Primary.

“We want to find some more diamond in the rough like we did at Palmdale Primary where one of their students, Tamara Burnside, who won their 8-and-under division, which was very huge for the school,” she summed up.

“We will continue to reach out to other schools because we want to work with as many of them as possible so that we can continue to find the diamonds in the rough.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 4, 2018, PAGE 3

‘Pro boxing needs an infusion and Grand Bahama is an ideal location’ SHERMAN ‘The Tank’ Williams is now feeling what other promoters have experienced in the past in trying to stage professional boxing matches here in the Bahamas.

Williams, turning to the promotional side of the sport as he continues his campaign as a heavyweight contender, will be fighting as a pro for the first time at home in Grand Bahama on Saturday, May 26.

He is headlining a card, featuring three heavyweight bouts and three debuts of Bahamians on the undercard, at the Social Affair and Convention Center in Freeport.

As an independent venture, Williams said now he’s faced with a huge expense added to his small budget in taking at least 10 officials to Grand Bahama in addition to financing all of the boxers on the card.

For years, promoters have been saddled with exorbitant expenses that before they can look at making a profit, they find themselves facing a deficit and are not able to sustain the programme.

No problem why promoters like Michelle Minus, Terry Demeritte and even Tommy Stubbs of Buttons Formal Wear have not been consistent in promoting as much shows as they would like to.

Williams, who would have worked with some international promoters in the past to bring shows to New Providence, is following in the footsteps of boxers Meacher ‘Pain’ Major and Renaldo ‘the Terminator’ Minus, who

have also ventured into promoting shows.

But with the price of putting on the shows so costly, neither of them have been able to do it on a consistent basis.

Obviously there is a need for more pro fights to be staged in the island nation.

Michelle Minus said she declined to pursue the presidency of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Association because she still wants to promote pro boxing.

She indicated that she’s working on launching a come-back show sometime this year. She is adamant that she can pull off another successful show as it’s badly needed here.

I commend 46-year-old Williams for taking on this task. He no doubt will have his hands full, not just in the ring competing in the main event against Epifanio Mendoza, a 42-year-old Colombian, but pulling off the show dubbed “Backyard Rumble.”

The success of any pro card depends on the support the promoter gets from corporate sponsors in the country and so Williams said he’s relying on Grand Bahamians to rally behind him in ensuring that this comes off.

No doubt if this one is successful, he will be able to continue pushing the sport forward and providing the opportunity for some of the young aspiring pros like Rashield Williams, Tyrone Oliver and Deangelo Swaby to fulfil their dreams.

Pro boxing needs an infusion and Grand Bahama is an ideal location to provide that opportunity. Williams

SHERMAN ‘The Tank’ Williams can be seen during a sparring session with Joe ‘Assasin’ Miller, of Georgia, at the Palm Beach Boxing Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. could certainly provide the shot in the arm for the sport.

Let’s hope that he doesn’t fall short of his financial obligations and the show is a successful one.

Warriors in the Baptist Sports Council. I wish to take this opportunity to extend condolences to his mother Amanda Newbold

and his siblings on behalf of both the NPVA and the BSC as well as The Tribune Sports Department. Newbold was a quiet storm who

Condolences to Newbold family The New Providence Volleyball Association family is mourning the loss of one of its male players Marco Newbold, 39, who died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Sunday.

The banker by profession played for a number of teams in the NPVA, including the Intruders, BTVI and Synergy, coached by Peter Ferguson. Newbold also played with the Macedonia

St Thomas More Sparks take commanding lead after day 1 AFTER the first day of competition in the Catholic Diocesan Primary Schools Track and Field Championships, the St Thomas More Sparks have taken a commanding lead over the five-time defending champions St Francis & Joseph Shockers.

The meet, being held at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, is all set to wrap up after today’s session, which

begins at 9am with all track finals. Yesterday’s competition featured the field events.

The scores, however, don’t include the results from the tug-o-war.

The Sparks surged to the front with a total of 200 points, ahead of the Shockers, who have 184.

St Cecilia’s Strikers are in third with 130 and the Xavier’s Giants fourth (last place) with 111.

DEIRDRE CLARKE

In the primary division, St Thomas More is out front with 125 points, followed

by St Francis & Joseph with 107. St Cecilia’s is third with 88 and Xavier’s 71.

And in the junior division, St Francis & Joseph leads the way with 77 points.

St Thomas More is in second with 75, St Cecilia’s third with 42 and Xavier’s once again at the bottom with 40.

DEIRDRE CLARKE

DEIRDRE CLARKE

allowed his performance on the court to speak for him.

He was a talented player who had an impact on all of the teams he performed on.

PAGE 4, Friday, May 4, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Yankees rally past Astros for wild 6-5 win HOUSTON (AP) — Aroldis Chapman struck out AL MVP Jose Altuve on three straight 101 mph fastballs with two on to end the game, and the New York Yankees got a key hit from rookie Gleyber Torres during a three-run rally in the ninth inning to seesaw past the Houston Astros 6-5 yesterday.

The Yankees won a wild one to take three of four from the team that beat them in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series last October.

New York took a 3-0 lead into the seventh, trailed 5-3 going into the ninth and let a bounced third strike give the Astros their final chance.

Pinch hitter Evan Gattis fanned but reached on Chapman’s two-out wild pitch, and George Springer followed with a single.

Altuve went down swinging, giving Chapman his seventh save.

Chasen Shreve (1-0) got the last two outs of the eighth for the win. Will Harris (1-2) got the loss.

NATIONALS 3, PIRATES 1 WASHINGTON (AP) — Trea Turner and Ryan Zimmerman homered in the sixth inning, helping Washington complete a four-game series sweep.

Jeremy Hellickson and four relievers combined on a five-hitter for Washington, which has won a season-high five in a row.

Sammy Solis (1-1) retired the only batter he faced, ending the sixth to keep the game scoreless.

Sean Doolittle recorded the last five outs for his sixth save.

Pittsburgh’s Trevor Williams (4-2) allowed only two runners over the first five innings.

Wilmer Difo led off with a single, and after Bryce Harper flied out, Turner hit his second home run of the season.

YANKEES’ relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman throws against Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve during the ninth inning yesterday. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Two batters later, Zimmerman connected for his fifth homer.

ROYALS 10, TIGERS 6 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lucas Duda had three hits and drove in four runs, leading Kansas City to the victory. Salvador Perez, Jorge Soler and Alex

Gordon homered for the Royals, who have quietly gotten on track offensively after a miserable start.

Kansas City pounded out 13 hits in all against Mike Fiers and the Tigers’ bullpen.

Reliever Chad Bell (0-1) allowed five runs and five hits in 1 2/3 innings. Eric Skoglund wasn’t much better on the mound for

Kansas City, but Kyle McCarthy (3-0) wiggled out of a key sixth-inning jam before pitching a clean seventh to earn the victory in relief.

Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera left with a strained hamstring in the sixth inning.

The severity of the injury was not known.

BRAVES 11, METS 0 NEW YORK (AP) — Julio Teheran took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning, 20-year-old Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his second big league home run and Atlanta finished a threegame sweep that vaulted the young Braves into the NL East lead. Kurt Suzuki,

Acuna and Nick Markakis homered as Atlanta built a 6-0 lead against Jason Vargas (0-2), and 21-yearold Ozzie Albies went deep off an equally shaky Matt Harvey.

The Braves opened a 1 1/2-game division lead, the latest in a season they have been in first place since July 20, 2014.

ASBEL KIPROP CONFIRMS FAILED DOPING TEST, ALLEGES EXTORTION

By MUTWIRI MUTUOTA Associated Press NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Former Olympic 1500metre champion Asbel Kiprop says he has tested positive for doping and is alleging officials gave prior warning of the supposedly unannounced out-of-competition test before extorting money from him.

Kiprop wired funds to one of the doping control officers while they were at his house in Iten, Kenya, collecting his urine sample last November, he said in a statement issued via his lawyer yesterday.

The 2008 Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion said he learned in February the sample tested positive and was “extremely shocked.”

“I vehemently deny any doping,” he said.

News of the failed test was first reported on Wednesday by the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper. The IAAF anti-doping unit would not comment on the report on Thursday.

Out-of-competition tests are meant to be a surprise for athletes, to maximise the chances of catching cheats and to leave them no time to flush any banned substances out of their system.

Kiprop, however, said one of the testers told him the day before to be ready for the November 27 test and then, after collecting his sample, asked for money.

The athlete said he wired funds via mobile phone but did not say how much.

“At that time I did not see the money as inducement or bribe for anything,” Kiprop said. “In retrospect I now clearly see the money as having a relation with the sample collected on that date, and even the irregular advance notice I was given.

“I remain perplexed on how my innocent sample could turn positive the only time when money was extorted from me. It is not

IN this file photo dated Sunday, August 30, 2015, Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop celebrates winning the gold medal in the men’s 1,500m final at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. The agent for Kenya middle-distance running star Asbel Kiprop, Federico Rosa said yesterday he is shocked by a newspaper report that the former 1,500 metre Olympic champion failed a drug test.

(AP Photo/David J Phillip) beyond my suspicion that my sample turned positive because I might have remitted less money than I was expected to remit.”

Kiprop’s statement did not specify what substance he tested positive for.

However, he appeared to suggest it might be the banned blood-boosting hormone EPO, saying: “I am told EPO is put into the body using injection.

The last time I had an injection was in 2014 when I was given a yellow fever vaccination before travelling to the Bahamas for a competition.”

Kiprop’s failed test deals another damaging blow to Kenya’s reputation as a middle and long-distance running superpower.

Dozens of Kenyans have tested positive for an array of doping substances in recent years.

They include big-name athletes, among them Olympic

marathon champion Jemima Sumgong.

Like four other elite Kenyan runners who also failed doping tests, Kiprop worked with Italian agent Federico Rosa. The others are Sumgong, Rita Jeptoo, Matthew Kisorio and Agatha Jeruto.

Sumgong and Jeptoo tested positive for EPO and were banned for four years. Kisorio and Jeruto tested positive for traces of steroids and were banned for two and four years respectively.

Rosa said he was “shocked” by the news of Kiprop’s failed test.

“It is very, very strange to me after so many years of such an incredible career,” Rosa told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

Rosa said he was travelling when the story broke and that he has since been trying unsuccessfully to speak to his athlete.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 4, 2018, PAGE 5

James scores 43 as Cavs beat Raptors 128-110 in Game 2

By IAN HARRISON Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — LeBron James had 43 points and 14 assists, Kevin Love added 31 points and 11 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors 128-110 last night to take a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series.

J.R. Smith scored 15 points, Jeff Green had 14 and George Hill 13 as the Cavaliers posted their eighth consecutive postseason victory over the Raptors and halted Toronto’s four-game winning streak in Game 2s.

The Raptors entered 6-1 all-time when playing Game 2 at home.

James had eight rebounds, narrowly missing his second straight triple-double.

He connected on 19 of 28 attempts, while Love shot 11 for 21.

DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and Kyle Lowry had 21 for the Raptors.

Toronto won a team-record 59 games and finished as the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference this season, but was easily shoved one step closer to a third straight postseason exit at the hands of James and the Cavs.

Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and 12 rebounds and Fred VanVleet scored 14 points, but the Raptors lost back-to-back home games for the first time all season.

Toronto matched Houston by going 34-7 at home in the regular season, and went 3-0 at home against Washington in round one.

The Raptors had not lost consecutive home games since dropping Games 3 and 4 of the second round to Cleveland last May. The series shifts to Ohio for Game 3 on Saturday night. Toronto has gone 0-5 at Cleveland over the past two postseasons, losing by an average margin of 24.2 points per game.

The Cavaliers are 21-3 at home against Eastern Conference opponents in the playoffs over the past four years.

James was on target in Cleveland’s gamechanging third quarter, connecting on seven of 10 attempts and scoring 15 points. Love added nine as the Cavs took a 98-87 lead to the fourth.

TIP-INS Cavaliers: The 24 combined points by James and Love in the third matched Toronto’s total for the quarter. ... The Cavaliers are 18-1 in playoff series when they win Game 1.

Raptors: Lowry made his first six shot attempts. ... Serge Ibaka shot 0 for 5 and scored just two points in 12 minutes. He has nine total points in the series so far. ...

Toronto made 11 turnovers and has 25 in the series, compared to nine by the Cavs. ...

Lowry led Toronto with eight assists.

UP NEXT Game 3 is Saturday night at 8:30 pm.

CAVALIERS forward LeBron James (23) shoots over Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) during the second half of Game 2 of their second-round series last night.

(Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Raptors, who let a 10-point lead slip away in a 113-112 overtime loss in Game 1, were up 54-45 midway through the second quarter but saw their lead dwindle to 63-61 at halftime.

Cleveland took control as Smith scored six points in an 18-5 spurt to begin the third quarter. The Cavs outscored the Raptors 37-24 in the third to take an 11-point edge into the fourth, and Toronto didn’t challenge again.

Lowry made all four of his field goal attempts in the first and scored 10 points as

Toronto led 29-26. Love scored 10 points for Cleveland in the first, while James had just four points and two shots in the opening quarter.

The Raptors connected on 13 of 18 attempts in the second quarter, overcoming 12 points by James.

Toronto coach Dwane Casey was called for a technical foul for arguing after Lowry was called for a foul on a driving James late in the second. Love made the technical free throw but James missed both of his attempts.

CELTICS BEAT 76ERS 108-103, TAKE 2-0 LEAD

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — Rookie Jayson Tatum scored 21 points and hit a pair of free throws in the closing second, and the Boston Celtics rallied from a 22-point deficit to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108103 last night and take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Terry Rozier added 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Marcus Smart finished with 19 points and five rebounds as the Celtics improved to 6-0 at TD Garden this postseason. They have never blown a 2-0 lead.

Game 3 is Saturday in Philadelphia.

J.J. Redick had 23 points for the 76ers, making five 3-pointers. Robert Covington added 22 points and nine rebounds. Joel Embiid finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.

Philadelphia recovered after squandering its big lead to nudge back in front 93-88 midway through the fourth quarter.

But an 11-4 run put Boston back in the lead

99-95 with less than four minutes to play.

It was 101-97 when a missed Philadelphia jumper led to a 2-on-1 fast break and alley-oop dunk from Rozier to Tatum with 2:23 left.

A layup by Dario Saric cut it to 104-101. But Al Horford was able to drive past Embiid for a layup with 8.3 seconds left.

Saric scored out of a timeout to make it 106-103.

The Sixers quickly fouled Tatum, who calmly hit a pair of free throws.

Following an anemic offensive effort in Game 1, the Sixers looked rejuvenated early in Game 2, using a 14-2 run to begin the second quarter on their way to building a 48-26 lead.

It didn’t last.

The Celtics responded by ending the half on a 25-8 run. It included three straight 3-pointers and a tip-dunk by Jaylen Brown, who returned to action after sitting out the series opener with a strained right hamstring.

He came off the bench and played 25 minutes, scoring 13 points and grabbing four rebounds.

DEIRDRE CLARKE

The Sixers’ lead was completely erased midway through the third quarter, when Aron Baynes got a 3-pointer to bounce in and put Boston in front for the first time.

The lead grew to 76-68 on a baseline dunk by Tatum that capped a 50-20 Celtics run.

Brown entered the game for the first time at the 7:14 mark of first quarter. It took less than a minute to make an impact.

He missed his first shot attempt before chasing down a loose ball and sprinting ahead for a onehanded dunk .

Prior to Thursday, Brown had started every game he’d appeared in this season.

It was his first time off the bench since Game 5 of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals.

TIP-INS 76ers: Outrebounded the Celtics 49-41. ... Went 13 of 33 from the 3-point line.

Celtics: Went 15 of 36 from the 3-point line. ...

Held a 19-13 edge in fastbreak points and 30-23 in bench scoring.

DEIRDRE CLARKE

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 4, 2018, PAGE 7

Costa helps Atletico sink Arsenal to reach Europa final

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Arsenal’s hopes of winning one last trophy under Arsene Wenger ended at the hands of Diego Costa and Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid yesterday.

Costa scored the only goal late in the first half to give Atletico a 1-0 second-leg victory over Arsenal in the Europa League semi-finals, advancing 2-1 on aggregate to its fifth European final in nine seasons.

The result also meant Arsenal will not qualify for the Champions League for a second straight season.

“I’m very disappointed,” Wenger said. “I’m frustrated as well because when you go out of the competition like we did, it’s very difficult to take. I’m very, very sad to leave the club with this exit.”

Wenger, in his 250th UEFA game as a club coach, announced two weeks ago he was standing down after nearly 22 years with the London team.

Atletico will meet Marseille in the final in Lyon on May 16 after the French team lost 2-1 to Salzburg following extra-time in

Austria but went through 3-2 on aggregate.

Amadou Haidara and an own goal from Bouna Sarr put Salzburg 2-0 up on the night before Portuguese substitute Rolando struck in the 116th minute to send Marseille through.

Simeone’s Atletico is already certain of a Champions League place next season because it is second in the Spanish League.

Atletico was demoted to the Europa League after failing to get past the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in five seasons.

“It was important to make it to the final,” Costa said. “Atletico needed it, we are a great team.”

Atletico will be playing its fourth European final under Simeone. It lost twice to city rival Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2014 and 2016 but won the Europa League in 2010 and 2012, the last time soon after Simeone had taken over.

“It’s not easy to do what we’re doing,” Atletico midfielder Saul Niguez said. “We want to add the cherry on the cake at the end of the season.”

Arsenal is sixth in the Premier League and needed to win the Europa League to

ARSENAL’s Laurent Koscielny receives medical help during the Europa League semi-final, second leg soccer match against Atletico Madrid at Metropolitano stadium yesterday.

(AP Photo/Francisco Seco) qualify for Europe’s leading club competition.

“We wanted to do it for the boss, he’s had an amazing career,” Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin said.

“We wanted to try our best to finish at the top and that adds a little bit more disappointment for us.”

Costa, the scourge of Arsenal several times during his three seasons with Chelsea, picked up a perfect pass by Antoine Griezmann and strode into the area before fending off a defender and lifting the ball over goalkeeper David Ospina.

Arsenal tried to rally but struggled to break through Atletico’s

stout defence, creating few scoring opportunities.

The hosts continued to threaten with Costa and Griezmann up front and had a few good chances to make it 2-0.

Both teams started cautiously at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, with Arsenal trying to control possession and Atletico playing typically tight at the back.

Arsenal lost captain Laurent Koscielny with a suspected Achilles injury less than 10 minutes into the match, putting in doubt his World Cup participation with France next month. “It looks like an Achilles rupture,” Wenger said. “But we have to be cautious.

We will know more after a scan.”

It was Atletico’s 32nd game with a clean sheet in all competitions this season, the most of any team in the top five European leagues.

Atletico didn’t have Simeone on the bench yesterday because he was sent off in the first leg.

“History is made in these kind of games,” said Simeone, who watched from the stands.

“Tonight I felt the atmosphere in this stadium like a fan. “They were with us every step of the way, they knew the side needed them.”

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 64° F/18° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

A couple of showers and a t‑storm

Rather cloudy, a t‑storm; breezy

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm; breezy

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm; breezy

Some sun with a t‑storm; breezy

High: 85°

Low: 76°

High: 87° Low: 77°

High: 87° Low: 75°

High: 87° Low: 74°

High: 86° Low: 73°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

91° F

77° F

96°-76° F

96°-78° F

96°-75° F

95°-72° F

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 66° 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: 75° F/24° C

10‑20 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 82° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

10‑20 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

S

E

W

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 72° F/22° C

MIAMI

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 73° F/23° C

7‑14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 71° F/22° C Normal high ....................................... 83° F/28° C Normal low ........................................ 70° F/21° C Last year’s high ................................. 85° F/30° C Last year’s low ................................... 71° F/22° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.33” Year to date ............................................... 11.37” Normal year to date ..................................... 6.34”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 74° F/23° C

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

11:38 a.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

2.1 ‑‑‑‑‑

5:47 a.m.

5:39 p.m.

0.1 0.2

Saturday

12:00 a.m.

12:24 p.m.

2.6 2.0

6:32 a.m.

6:24 p.m.

0.3 0.4

Sunday

12:46 a.m.

1:14 p.m.

2.5 2.0

7:20 a.m.

7:14 p.m.

0.4 0.6

Monday

1:36 a.m.

2:09 p.m.

2.4 2.0

8:12 a.m.

8:10 p.m.

0.5 0.7

Tuesday

2:30 a.m.

3:06 p.m.

2.4 2.0

9:04 a.m.

9:10 p.m.

0.5 0.7

Wednesday 3:25 a.m.

4:01 p.m.

2.4 2.2

9:55 a.m. 0.5 10:09 p.m. 0.6

Thursday

2.4 2.4

10:43 a.m. 0.3 11:05 p.m. 0.4

4:18 a.m.

4:53 p.m.

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

S

E

W

10‑20 knots

S

10‑20 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

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

6:32 a.m.

7:41 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

11:54 p.m.

10:06 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

May 7

May 15

May 21

May 29

CAT ISLAND

E

W

uV inDex toDay

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 76° F/24° C

H

E

W

10‑20 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 78° F/26° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 78° F/26° C Low: 76° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

N

N E

W

E

W

L

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

S

S

7‑14 knots

8‑16 knots

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

Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday:

WINDS NE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 12‑25 Knots S at 8‑16 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 12‑25 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots NW at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots N at 7‑14 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots SSE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots

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

VISIBILITY 8 Miles 5 Miles 3 Miles 8 Miles 3 Miles 5 Miles 3 Miles 3 Miles 3 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 7 Miles 3 Miles 5 Miles 3 Miles 3 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 3 Miles 3 Miles 3 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 3 Miles 5 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 76° F 76° F 81° F 81° F 77° F 77° F 80° F 80° F 76° F 76° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 79° F 81° F 81° F 78° F 77° F

Covering The Bahamas for over 40 years.

NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

HOME INSURANCE

LIFE INSURANCE

AUTO INSURANCE

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www.InsuranceManagementBahamas.com

PAGE 8, Friday, May 4, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

OKAPI under-16 team members pose under the field goal with Freeport Rugby Football Club under-16 and under-12 teams on the right.

‘It was rewarding to watch our kids capitalise on months of hard work’ WITH the 8th Annual International Junior Rugby Festival approaching, the talented youth from Freeport Rugby Football Club (FRFC) travelled to Florida to gain some much-needed experience against quality competition in the inaugural Weston Rugby Challenge Cup. Hosted by Okapi Wanderers Rugby Football Club, the one-day tournament was a tremendous opportunity for Freeport’s Under-12, U-14 and U-16 teams to showcase their skills and build chemistry just weeks before the festival.

“We really appreciated Okapi hosting this event for not only our players but all the participants,” said Stephen Sheehan, FRFC’s youth development officer.

“It was rewarding to watch our kids capitalise on months of hard work and play in front of family and friends who made the trip,” he said.

CLUB MEMBERS GAIN EXPERIENCE AT INAUGURAL WESTON CHALLENGE CUP

UNDER-12 player Jake Edey tackles an Okapi youth player.

BERNARDO RUSSELL, under-16 Freeport Rugby club player, gets the ball in the line out.

The Florida trip was the culmination of months of hard work and dedication from players, coaches and parents. The U-16 team put in extra work in the weeks

leading up to the trip, including training with the senior team on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“The games showed me how dedicated you

have to be to play rugby,” said Edward Walkin, who attends Jack Hayward High. “We as a team have to work together on improving our skills and try

harder in practice and our future games.”

For many of the youth rugby players, the trip represented the first chance to ever travel to the US. Beyond competing on the field, the players also built off-field chemistry that is invaluable in building the club culture. “The trip was,

Major Pain: FERGUSON INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME ‘My last fight will be at my old school’ FROM PAGE 1

earned All-America status by finishing eighth at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in the triple jump.

FROM PAGE 1 after a successful amateur career under the tutelage of Ray Minus Jr. His last loss came in 2012 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

“I don’t think of what I could have done, what I should have done to make it better than it was. It’s all God’s plan for me to be able to stand firm, make the decisions I’ve made without looking back, or with the approval of anyone else. I believe in destiny, I have no fear, only ambition,” Major said.

“I would like to thank all my fans that have supported me throughout my career. You all have motivated me to go harder each time I step in the ring. I will continue to help those I can, mainly the youth from who are my priority to help first. To all the youth coming up, never give up on your dreams, no matter what it is. Believe in yourself and ability. Keep God first as the priority. I am one of the males from the ghetto that was told won’t make it.”

THOMPSON EARNS MVP HONOURS from PAGE 1 Lady Bears and are the most wins in the MEAC in singles. Thompson has recorded a career of 55 singles victories, the most by a Lady Bear player in nearly 20 years. She has also recorded a 12-9 doubles record, including 11-4 pairing up with Peggy Rooke.

She is also a three-time MEAC Player of the Week, earning the selection awards on January 24, April 11 and April 18.

With one more order of business to deal with at Morgan State before she’s finally done, Thompson said she would like nothing better than to take the Lady Bears through the NCAA Tournament that starts next week in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Coming off their MEAC conference title last week, thanks to Thompson’s clinching victory in the singles, Morgan State (12-12) will take on Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champions and No.2 seed North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center on Friday.

Their match at 1pm will follow the first round meeting between

Ferguson, now a sales associate at Bahama Islands Realty, was scheduled to be inducted with the 2007 class - the last group of inductees but the school was unable to locate her at the time. She returned to Boise State on her own to visit in

2014 and was able to connect with the athletic department to make sure she could attend the next ceremony.

“This is just a great opportunity and honour to be here,” Ferguson said at the time.

Mississippi State and William & Mary at 10am. The two first-round winners will meet on Saturday at 3pm to determine who will advance to the NCAA Championships finals, hosted by Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

“UNC is a pretty big school so I’m just really excited to go there and play with my teammates,” Thompson said. “I have nothing to lose. The exposure and the experience will be really good. It’s funny because one of my former teammates at the academy that I went to in Tampa (Florida) messaged me and told me that she’s looking forward to seeing me. She plays on the team we will play. So I’m just super excited to play Cassandra Vazquez and to see how they play.”

In leading the Lady Bears once again, Thompson said she’s not concerned because she has done what she had to do and that was to get Morgan State into the NCAA Tournament.

“The pressure was on when we played Conference and now that we did what we had to do, this is just going to be a lot of fun as we look forward to the experience,” she pointed out.

“We’re just going to go out there and play tennis at a high level.

We’ve had a couple of days off and we’re back on the grind preparing

to leave on Wednesday and so we will be practicing until then.”

And if there is any more gratification for Thompson, it’s the fact that she’s done with her academics at Morgan State and is just waiting to graduate on May 19 with her degree in hospitality management.

The 5-foot, 2-inch daughter of Gail and Stephen Thompson said once she’s done at Morgan State she will be looking forward to returning home to train with the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s team selected for the Fed Cup. “I’m looking forward to seeing what doors open for me and what’s going to happen, so I’m happy for that,” she stated. “I can’t wait to come home and start training with the team again.”

The Bahamas will play out of the Americas Zone II tie June 18-23 in Metepec, Mexico. The Bahamas will be matched against Bermuda, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras and Trinidad & Tobago in Zone B. In Zone A are Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Uruguay.

The winners of each pool will go into a playoff to determine which nation from Metepec will advance to the Americas Zone Group I in 2019.

in its own way, a learning experience altogether,” said U-16 player Quinton Sands.

“I learned what it is like to spend time with teammates and I gained some new friends.”

Freeport’s youth teams, which included several standout female players, showed tremendous heart against Key Biscayne, Wellington and Okapi.

Jake Edey and Andrew Lane stood out with brilliant tries for the U-12 team. Titus Lockhart and Michael Sanchez displayed their brute force and power in a highly entertaining U-16 match against Okapi.

Though the trip ended without any hardware, the diligent work, fundraising, organising and training resulted in a resoundingly successful trip for Freeport RFC.

Professional basketball players making moves FROM PAGE 1 Hermosillo. Prior to Mexico, Miller competed in Aguilas UNES in Venezuela and with Fyllingen BBK of Norway’s BLNO. BLNO is Norway’s premier league, which was established in 2000 and features 11 teams. Miller is averaging 20.2 points and 15.4 rebounds per game and posted two consecutive “20point, 20-rebound” games.

He made his debut with 12 points and 10 rebounds in a 74-70 win over Gimie BBK, followed by a season-high 29 points and 16 rebounds in a 98-90 loss to Kongsberg and 17 points and eight rebounds in an 89-88 loss to Asker Aliens.

The last two games have been standout performances with 21 points and 20 rebounds in a 98-79 win over Froya Basket and Saturday’s 22 points and 23 rebounds in a 101-72 win over Nidaros Jets.

PANTHERS DESTROY STRYKERS 20-0 IN NEW PROVIDENCE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION FROM PAGE 1 and three in the third to stop the massacre after Aliv couldn’t get on the scoreboard. Aliv did manage to get a 1-out onehit single from catcher Yasmin Knowles, but that was all the Panthers could come up with as Gilbert got the job done.

“I came out here to win and I had a good defence behind me,” said Gilbert of her performance.

“We played good. They backed me up well and we came out here to win.”

Gilbert said their goal is to win the title this year and even though this was just their first game, they are looking forward to having a great season.

While Gilbert did her job, third sacker Amarige Taylor led their offensive attack with a 3-for-4 night with five runs batted in and scored three times.

Catcher Sheena Taylor helped out by going 3-for-4 with two runs

scored, second sacker Rhyissa Smith was 1-for-2 with four runs scored, left fielder Shaquel Smith was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored and centre fielder Latoya Johnson was 2-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored.

Maria Pelacanos, the manager of the Panthers, said this is just a taste of what to expect from Hennessy. “I think the girls did well for a new team that just came into the league,” she said. “So I’m looking for them to improve as we go along. I think our pitcher did

an excellent job and I can only see her improving as time goes by. As for our team, we just need to work on hitting. We have to get the ball past the infield a little more and we will be okay.”

The Panthers will get their first real test when they take on the defending champions Sunshine Auto Wildcats at 6:45pm on Tuesday. The Strykers, made up of players from Long Island residing in New Providence, are hoping to make the adjustment and be ready for their next game against

BTC at the same latter time on Thursday.

Note: The NPSA will be back in action on Saturday night with another double header rather than take a break because of the Carnival.

Saturday’s schedule 6:45pm - Platinum Pool Lady Sharks vs Johnson Lady Truckers (L) 8:15pm - C&S Hitmen vs Chances mighty Mitts (M)