SPORTS SECTION E
French Open
Latest, Page 4
THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2017
Jonquel Jones posts another double double By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
J
onquel Jones followed this weekend’s historic performance with another double-double, however, her Connecticut Sun continue to fall short in close games. Yesterday, Jones finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and a season-high four blocked shots in the Sun’s 78-76 loss to the Washington Mystics at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. It was her third double-double of the season and the fourth game with either double-figure points or rebounds. It was also her first game this season with multiple three-point field goals made. She shot 5-15 from the field, 2-4 from three-point range and 2-2 from the free throw line. The Sun squandered a ninepoint fourth quarter deficit and the Mystics’ Elena Delle Donne delivered the game-winning three-point play with 44 seconds left. With the score tied at 75, Delle Donne’s three-point play put Washington (4-2) ahead with the 78-75 lead. The Sun (1-5) had a final chance to tie it when Della Donne fouled Alex Bentley while
attempting the game-tying 3, but she missed the first free throw. Two weeks into the season, she is averaging 14.5 points and leading the WNBA with 12.3 rebounds per game. Thanks in large part to Jones, Connecticut owns the third-highest rebounding percentage in the league and has scored the most second-chance points. Three of the Sun’s five losses have been in close games, by just two points. In a WNBA.com article by Justin Lester, Jones said her teammates’ confidence in her has been vital in her improvement this season. “I think I just have a better understanding of the game and what to expect. I feel like my teammates are trusting me more and we’re trusting each other. Even though it’s not showing up in the win column, we’re playing together and we’ll get over the hump,” Jones said. “Anytime an organisation believes in you like that, you want to play well for them. Especially coming out of college, and I wasn’t in one of the power conferences. I’m still trying to prove them right every time I step on the court.” Sun head coach and general manager Curt Miller said his
CONNECTICUT Suns’ Jonquel Jones, centre, is fouled by Minnesota Lynx’s Lindsay Whalen, right, as Sylvia Fowles, left, helps on defence in the first half of a WNBA game on May 26. Photo: Sean D Elliot/The Day via AP)
second-year forward was sought after by several other teams. “Everybody was reaching out and asking if there was any way they could acquire her. Obviously, she was off limits, a big piece of the puzzle for our future. But everyone sees the potential, her versatility. She has a really special future ahead of her.” Jones took on a bigger role with the Sun after their second leading scorer, Chiney Ogwumike, suffered an Achilles tendon injury during the offseason playing in China. “It has opened the door for Jonquel to not only play a lot of minutes but to be able to play through mistakes without looking over her shoulder,” Miller said after Sunday’s game. “Tonight was a perfect example of that. She did not have a particularly good first quarter. She missed some assignments and was off to a start where our coaching staff and veteran players challenged her to get into the game. If we had Chiney, if we had more depth in the post, it could mean she may not have the opportunity to get herself out of it.” The Sun continue their road trip when they travel to face the San Antonio Stars on Saturday, June 3, in San Antonio, Texas.
Brandon Meadows signs letter of intent to join the Lancers this fall By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net ANOTHER member of the Sunland Baptist Stingers basketball programme will be afforded an opportunity to continue his career at the collegiate level. Brandon Meadows officially signed his letter of intent to join the Eastern Wyoming Community College Lancers this fall. Meadows has been one of the driving forces in the last two seasons for the Stingers as he became one of the top senior players in the country. The versatile 6’3” guard increased his scoring numbers as a senior last season after many of the Stingers departed for several programmes in the United States. At Eastern Wyoming, Meadows joins a programme which includes
BRANDON MEADOWS has officially signed his letter of intent to join Eastern Wyoming Community College Lancers this fall. three of those former high school teammates. Tyler Davis, Romero Cornish and Daniel Wright each signed with Lancers in 2016 following their senior season with the Stingers. Ahmad Pratt was the
fourth Bahamian player on the Lancers roster last season. Wright appeared in 23 games, while Cornish appeared in 20, with one start and averaged 2.4 points per game. Pratt appeared in just
11 games late in the season but had a dynamic finish. In 11 games, with eight starts, he averaged 17.4 points per game The Lancers, located in Torrington, Wyoming, compete in the NJCAA,
Region IX which consists of 22 colleges from Colorado, Montana, Nebraska and Wyoming. Coaches Jay Philippe and Marco Cooper, both former students of Sunland Baptist School who received col-
lege basketball scholarships, have coached the team to successful seasons which includes the aforementioned league titles in Grand Bahama and a runner-up finish at the 2016 Hugh Campbell. In 2016, along with the Davis, Cornish, Wright trio, guard Kaleel Solomon signed his letter of intent to attend Eastern Florida State College. They followed former teammate Andrew Roker who received a scholarship to Walters State following the 2015 season. The Stingers are preparing to host their second annual Stingers Basketball Camp in a few weeks, June 19-30 in Grand Bahama. Week one will be conducted on the Sunland campus while week two will be hosted in the St George’s Gymnasium. The camp will be hosted at a cost of $50 per week.
Ballin’ By Da Beach Basketball Camp returns this summer By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net BALLIN’ By Da Beach Basketball Camp returns to the courts this summer with several new initiatives in place for the
2017 edition. This year’s weeklong event is all set to be hosted June 26-30 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. The programme was created by Jurelle Nairn in 2010 when she saw a need to place a greater focus on the development of women’s basketball at the youth level. Previously a camp exclusively for girls, this year’s event will also be open to boys as well, facilitating players ages 5-18, with packages ranging from $50 to $125. The two camps will be held at the same time but will remain separate. SJ Lennon, game operations coordinator for the Toronto Raptors and founder of BallUp Academy, alongside Tim Lewis of Montreat College, Assistant Coach (Ashville, North Carolina) and Crossover Athletics, will conduct the boys’ segment of the camp. Familiar camp conductor, Charisse Mapp, will again host the girls’ segment for the eighth time. She is currently the head coach at Charlotte Latin High School (Charlotte, North Carolina) and Founder
of Queen City Athletics. Mapp, a former player for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was coaching at Salisbury University where she first met Nairn, who served as her assistant coach. When Nairn decided to start theBallin’ By Da Beach Camp, the first person she turned to for assistance was Mapp. The 2016 camp was cancelled because of issues with the facilities but Mapp still made the trip to the Bahamas and assisted with summer programmes hosted by Sherelle Cash and Pattie Johnson. Camp organisers are expecting both local and international attendees. A press release issued by the organisation said: “Our mission is to take a personal interest in every basketball player and coach to help them become game changers on and off the court. Our vision is to build a movement of passionate basketball players by delivering excellence through the game. Our vision inspires us in our daily work. We create a diverse, collaborative, encouraging environment where teamwork and
openness are the cornerstones.” Since 2010, the camp has featured hundreds of underserved, aspiring student athletes. In addition to serving as an assistant at Salisbury University, Nairn has coached the Queen’s College Comets and was an assistant on the women’s national basketball team. “This movement was birthed from my passion to serve and inspire change in the Bahamas through basketball. Since I started playing basketball, God has just graced me with His favour over and over again,” she said during previous editions of the camp. “I can truly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for basketball,” she said. “It has opened doors that would have never been opened had I not played for the right people, in the right place, at the right time.” Interested persons can register at www. BBDBCamps.com., with further information via Twitter - @BBDBCamps, Facebook - www.facebook.com/bbdbcamps or E-mail - hello@bbdbcamps.com