SPORTS
THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2025
High jumper Hanna climbing the ladder
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor
Alan Hanna could be the next Bahamian male high jumper to watch as he prepares for his collegiate career on a division-one scholarship at Kansas State.
Over the weekend at the KSHSAA State Championship at the Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas, the graduating student at Maize High School soared a lifetime best of 7-feet, 3 1/2-inches or 2.22 metres to win the boys’ 6A high jump.
In the process, Hanna broke the 30-year-old state meet record of 7-3 1/4 (2.21m) that was set by Garden City’s Jason Archibald. It is the second-best mark in Kansas history and second-best mark in the United States this season.
“I just had the feeling that I’ve really got to be number one,” Hanna told The Wichita Eagle after his performance. “Anything lower than that is not really that good.”
With his performance, Hanna improved on his previous personal best of 7-2 (2.18m) and he posted the second best feat by a Bahamian this year, trailing only Donald Thomas, who cleared 7-5 3/4 (2.28m) on April 27 at the Jagar Track in Mobile, Alabama. Hanna’s father, Jason Hanna, who was on the sideline to watch his son close out his high school campaign, was just as impressed as everybody else with his accomplishment.
“We started putting the bar up that high, just so he could see it,” proud father Jason Hanna said. “And then he went to work.”
After starting the competition clearing 6-10 (2.08m) to secure the title, the bar moved up to 7-0 (2.13m) as Hanna easily cleared it.
From there, he matched his PR of 7-2 (2.18m) to continue a clean slate.
But as he soared over the bar at 7-3 1/2 (2.22m), Hanna said he knew he did something special.
It propelled him to one of the top 10 performances ever by a Bahamian.
“That one felt crazy. When I was over the bar and I didn’t feel anything, I started celebrating a little early,” Hanna said.
“I looked up at the bar and I said, ‘I got you. I’m going higher than you.’”
His coach at Maize, McKenna Pontius, knew that he had a phenomenal athlete on his hand.
“He is an elite athlete, and it’s just been amazing to have a front-row seat to
ALAN Hanna soared a lifetime best of 7-feet, 3 1/2-inches or 2.22 metres to win the boys’ 6A high jump. He could be the next Bahamian male high
to watch as he prepares for his collegiate career on a division-one scholarship at Kansas State.
his gift,” Pontius said. “For him, every competition is between him and the bar.”
His father said it will be an achievement that he won’t forget.
“It was just unbelievable,” father Hanna said. “I still can’t believe it. It was just breathtaking.
“It’s just awesome, and I’m so proud of him that he was able to say that he wanted to break a record
and he put in the hard work and did it.”
The 18-year-old Hanna has earned a scholarship at Kansas State where he expects the sky to be the limit as he begins his collegiate career in August.
He follows in the footsteps of his older brother Jacob Hanna, who completed his senior year as a basketball player for the Washburn Ichabods.
Twin sister sprinter Joanna making her presence felt
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor
bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
TWIN sister Joanna Miller, with aspirations to one day represent The Bahamas at the Olympic Games, had another phenomenal year as a sprinter at Tallulah Falls. In concluding her season at the GIAA State Track and Field Championships - Class AA, AAA at the Strong Rock Christian School in Locust, Grove, Georgia last month, she ran a personal best of 26.10 seconds to win the 200m with Hadley Stewart of Stratford Academy in 26.14. It was a contrasting difference for Miller, who ended up seventh in the 100m PR of 12.68 as she watched Morgan Davis of George win her PR of 12.68. The 15-year-old Miller also ran the 400m where she placed fourth in 1:01.91 with Makayla Richardson of Westfield taking the tape in 1:00.26. Miller ended the meet by anchoring Tallulah Falls’ girls 4 x 100m relay team of Carlota Martinez, Jace Ibermere and Sophia Williams-Angmor to victory in 51.02, just ahead of Stratford Academy, who did 51.04. Prior to that, Miller also participated in the regional championships where she won the 100, 200 and 400m, while running on their winning 4 x 100m relay team and third on the 4 x 400m relay.
Home for the summer, Miller said she was thrilled about her performances, especially in the 200m which she considers to be her specialty over the 400m. “I think it was a good season for me, mostly at the end, but
not the beginning,” Miller said. “I had some good performances at the regional and state championships.”
She competes along with her twin brother, Jordan, who also competes in track as a 400m specialist and will be playing baseball.
“It’s a lot of fun. He was on the track team my first year and we had a lot of fun competing together,” said Miller of her twin. “They treat us the same.”
With the season behind her, Miller, one of several Bahamians attending Tallulah Falls, said that when she returns to enter grade 11 in August, she’s expected to start playing softball.
“I’m trying for first base, but I haven’t played yet,” she said. I will have to wait until I go back to school to see how it will work out. It’s going to be interesting because I will be competing against players who are older than me.
“It could be intimidating, but when I get to that point, I take the time to pray and ask God to take that fear away from me. I hope to do that when I go to try out for the team.”
Miller, as a former student of South Haven Christian Academy on Gladstone Road, said she’s also looking forward to the continuation of her track career.
“I’m hoping that I can break some more school records and I get to compete at a higher level,” said Miller, who is aiming to secure an athletic scholarship to a prominent college or university when she’s done in two years.
Since she returned home, Miller has been working with her aunt
Cherly at Beyond Flags for a summer gig, but she intends to start training for her return to competition.
Miller, whose ultimate goal is to compete at the Olympics, is the daughter of Rickcardo and Dan Miller and she has an older brother, Joel, who plays baseball in college in Georgia as well.
Wichita Eagle
Jacob Hanna was named the most outstanding player in the NCAA Central Regional Tournament where the Ichabods made it to the Final Four this season.
Jacob Hanna was also named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and the Newcomer of the Year after he transferred from the University of Illinois-Springfield.
By Dr Kent L Bazard
AS Game 1 of the NBA Finals tips off tonight, fans around the globe will tune in to watch elite athletes perform at the highest level. But while the game itself lasts just four quarters, the preparation behind those performances spans days, months - even years. What happens the day before a championship showdown? And what can our Bahamian athletes take away
THE Bahamas Baseball Association is gearing up for its Brice Newball Foundation 2025 Andre Rodgers Senior National Baseball Championships at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium..
The championships will comprise of six teams competing in the under-16 division and four teams in the under-23 division with games played from Friday to Sunday.
However, BBA secretary general Theodore Sweeting said there are a few games that will be played at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex as they try to get all of the games completed in the three-day window.
The tournament, which is being held this year in honour of legendary former player turned coach Fred “Papa” Smith, will feature teams from the Commonwealth Baseball League (CBL), Freedom Farm Baseball League (FFBL), Ed Armbrister Baseball League (EABL), Grand Bahama Little League (GBLL), Legacy Baseball League (Legacy), Abco Youth Baseball League (AYBSL) and the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN).
“The Commonwealth Baseball League are the defending champions from the under-23 division and they will be back to try to see if they can repeat,” Sweeting said.
“And you have the return of JBLN in the under-16. I think that’s their strongest division. But we also have Freedom Farm, who
BASKETBALL
SMILES
IT’S that time again as Basketball Smiles returns to The Bahamas. Scheduled for June 16-18 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, the basketball clinic conducted by veteran American basketball coach Sam Nicholls is designed for boys and girls between the ages of seven and 17 years old. The girls’ clinic is slated to run from 9am to noon and the boys will follow from 1-4pm. Interested persons are urged to contact coach Patricia “Pattie” Johnson at HO Nash Junior High School or call 5653675 for more details. BASKETBALL MHB CAMP THE Marvin Henfield Basketball Summer Basketball Camp is scheduled to run from
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jumper
Photo: Travis Heying/The
JOANNA Miller on the podium.
RF SPONSORS BLACK MARLINS
RF Bank & Trust proudly served as a silver sponsor of the 2025 Black Marlins Swim Meet, held May 24 at the Betty Kelly-Kenning Aquatic Centre. This initiative reinforces RF’s commitment to empowering Bahamian youth through sports, a key pillar in its corporate philanthropy strategy.
The Black Marlins Swim Club, known for cultivating athletic discipline and character in young swimmers, welcomed over 400 athletes from 10 clubs across The Bahamas. Swimmers competed in a range of events,
striving for personal bests and national qualifying times.
The event was sanctioned by Bahamas Aquatics, the governing body for competitive swimming in the country.
RF Bank & Trust’s contribution helped support event logistics, facility rentals, and athlete amenities, ensuring a seamless experience for the swimmers, coaches, and spectators. More than a financial endorsement, RF’s presence at the meet signalled a deeper investment in the future of Bahamian sports
and the development of the next generation of national talent.
“Our support of the Black Marlins Invitational is part of our long-term commitment to youth development,” said Rachael Allahar, AVP of Marketing at RF Bank & Trust. “We see sport as a powerful tool for building discipline, confidence, and resilience - traits that align with our values at RF. By investing in young athletes, we are investing in the future of The Bahamas.” For RF, the connection between sport and personal
development goes beyond competition.
The discipline required in training, the persistence in overcoming setbacks, and the grace to win or lose are qualities that transcend the pool and contribute to lifelong success. RF believes that these lessons, instilled at a young age through organized sport, help shape responsible citizens and future leaders.
The Bahamas has a proud history in swimming. From multi-time Olympians to the rising stars training today in local clubs, swimming has become one of the
TOP TENNIS TALENT DYLAN CAREY RECEIVES A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
MORE great news from the world of tennis as another young Bahamian tennis player has received a tennis scholarship and signed to play collegiate tennis.
Dylan Carey will be studying at the University of Tennessee Southern in the field of cybersecurity while playing collegiate tennis. Head Coach Riddle, of UTS men’s team, stated: “I’m really excited to have Dylan join our team and tennis family at The University of Tennessee
Southern. Dylan’s passion for tennis and education are the perfect mix for the values of our programme.”
The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association congratulates Carey on receiving a tennis scholarship to join University of Tennessee Southern Men’s Tennis. Carey, who is graduating from The Webb High School this summer, will join the team in September 2025. University of Tennessee Southern Firehawks tennis teams have a rich history, with a strong presence
in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC).
This year the team made their first NAIA Championship appearance since 2010.
The BLTA congratulates Carey, who we saw last at the Open Giorgio competition in 2023 at the BLTA’s National Tennis Centre.
“It feels great to add to the legacy of my high school coach by making the transition to the next level at the school she played at and graduated from,” Carey said.
This tennis scholarship comes on the heel of another top junior Saphirre Ferguson announcing her move to the next level at Coppin State University. Carey has now also accepted a great opportunity as tennis continues to pave a path for the young athletes.
“We know Dylan will do well and wish him well in the classroom and on the courts,” the BLTA wrote. “Congratulations and continue to soar Dylan, we are rooting for you.”
country’s most promising sporting disciplines on the global stage. Yet, behind every elite swimmer is a support system - coaches, parents, and sponsors - who help make dreams possible.
Allan Murray, aquatic director of the Black Marlins and a former Olympian himself, emphasised the importance of these partnerships.
“Having a trusted partner like RF involved in the Black Marlins meet allows us to provide an elevated experience for our swimmers and visiting clubs. It’s not just about medals; it’s
about creating the right environment for growth, sportsmanship, and excellence. We are grateful for their support and what it signals to our athletes - that they are seen, valued, and worth the investment.”
By anchoring their community engagement in purpose and action, RF Bank & Trust aims to be more than a financial institution. The bank wants to be seen as a partner in national development - helping to close opportunity gaps, amplify talent, and celebrate excellence wherever it is found.
to hold the 12th annual Denykco Bowles Elite Skills Basketball Camp at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium from June 23 to July 18.
June 23 to July 11 for players aged 6-17 years old. The camp will be held in the gym in the back of the old Coca-Cola headquarters, now Love 97, on Thompson Boulevard.
There is limited space with spots booked at $300 per athlete.
To register, persons can visit www/marvinJHenfield. com or contact Henfield at 828-2353.
SOFTBALL
NPSA OPENING
THE New Providence Softball Association, under new management, opened its 2025 season on Saturday in the Bankers Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.
Thursday
7:30pm - Bowe Team vs Cyber Tech Lady Marlins
9pm - Gremlins vs Chances Mighty Mitts
Saturday
6pm - Cyber Tech Ladies vs Reloaded Players
7:30pm - Platinum Pool Sharks vs Black Scorpions
9pm - Sunshine Auto Wildcats vs Ballers
CYCLING
NATIONALS
THE Bahamas Cycling Federation has announced that its 51st national road championships is all set to take place from June 6-7 in Mount Thompson, Exuma. The registration closes at 12am on June 2, 2025.
BASKETBALL
BOWLES ELITE
SKILLS CAMP
THE International Basketball Association is set
The camp, held under the theme “Developing Champions on all levels,” is designed for boys and girls between the ages of four and 18 and will be held from 8am to 2pm. Interested persons can call 466-0049 for more details.
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
GOLF CHARITY GOLF INVITATIONAL
THE Pilot Club International is scheduled to hold a XCharity Golf INvitational Fundraiser on Friday, June 20 at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island.
The event will get started with a shotgun start at 8am, followed by the awards luncheon. The donation is
$1,000 per foursome. For more information. interested persons can call 557-9049.
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.
BASEBALL ANDRE
RODGERS
SENIOR NATIONALS THE Bahamas Baseball Association is set to hold its Andre Rodgers Senior National Baseball Championships June 6-9 at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. During the championship, the BBA will honour Feed ‘Papa’ Smith for his contribution to the sport as a player/coach and administrator over a number of years.
DYLAN Carey has achieved a tennis scholarship.
‘Jazz’ Chisholm Jr on a roll
By
BBA’S SENIOR BASEBALL NATIONALS TO ‘PITCH OFF’ THIS FRIDAY
is upset that they didn’t win. So they will be the ones to challenge to take back their drowns in both divisions.”
With the GBLL and Legacy both coming in from Grand Bahama and the ABYSSAL adding to the mix from Abaco, Sweeting said it should be a very interesting weekend for baseball. All of the divisions will be played in a round robin format, which will enable all of the teams to participate. Additionally, Sweeting said
there will also be a college showcase on Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30am where the eligible college players will get a chance to display their skills in front of the visiting scouts.
“We are delighted to afford all of these young men, whether they are in high school or college, the opportunity to play baseball,” Sweeting said. “A lot of the players are a part of the national programme and they play in the varuous leagues, so the nationals gives them an opportunity to compete against each other for the
bragging rights. So we are looking forward to having a very successful event.”
Sweeting said they are delighted to have Island Luck as their major sponsors and they have provided an atmosphere for the players and the fans that will be second to none.
Of course, he noted that the BBA is extremely pleased to be able to stage this year’s nationals in honour of Smith, who continues to make his contribution to the game of baseball.
Smith is expected to be honored during the official
opening ceremonies on Friday at 7 pm at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. Here’s a look at the schedule of games: Friday’s schedule
8am - FFBL vs CBL (U-23).
9:45am - EABL vs JBLN (U-16).
11am - FFBL vs GBLL (U-16 at BH).
11:30am - EABL vs JBLN (U-23). 1:15pm - JBLN vs GBLL (U-16 BH).
3pm - EABL vs CBL (U-23).
3pm - EABL vs FFBL (U-16 BH).
4:45pm - AYBSL vs GBLL U-16). 5pm - EABL vds Legacy (U-16 BH). 7pm - Opening Ceremonies. 7:30pm - FFBL vs JBLN (U-16). 9:!5pm - FFBL vs JBLN (U-23).
Saturday 8:30-11:30am - College showcase. Noon - JBLN vs AYBSL (U-16). 1:45 pm GBLL vs Legacy (U-16). 3:30pm - AYBSL vs EABL (U-16).
5:15 pm CBL vs JBLN (U-23). 7:15 pm FFBL vs EABL (U-23).
Sunday 8:30am - FF BL vs AYBSL (U-16). 10:15am - GBLL vs EABL (U-16). Noon - Legacy vs JBLN (U-16). 1:45pm - Bronze medal game (U-16). 3:30pm - Bronze medal game (U-23). 5:15pm - Gold medal game (U-16). 7:15pm - Gold medal game (U-23).
CARTWRIGHT, THOMPSON FINISH THIRD IN FLAMINGOS TOURNAMENT
Head coach Fredrick Taylor also competed. Thompson, who is coming off a win at the inaugural Mingoes Golf Invitational, was pleased with their score. “We were tied with the second-best score and that was good because we haven’t practiced since the UB Invitational,” Thompson said. Cartwright liked the way Thompson and him played on the day. “We made some good putts today. We could have gotten off the tee
better and we could have done a little better. We did well today (Saturday),” Cartwright said.
Quant teamed up with Crystal Roberts to finish with a score of 34 to finish fifth. Marshall and Major teamed up for a score of 40 finish ninth.
Coach Taylor and his partner Sarah Sychedecker finished with a score of 28 to win the tournament. They got a birdie on hole seven. Taylor said he and his team wanted to support
the tournament again after supporting the inaugural edition last year.
“One thing about the golf community is that we like to support each other,” Taylor said. “They supported our tournament, so it was only right to continue the trend. Our ladies will grow up to be successful like these women so why not lay the foundation now?”
UB golfers will take a break and return to action in the fall semester. Stay tuned.
NEW York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Pacers, Thunder got to the NBA Finals fuelled by doubters. A title will give 1 team the last laugh
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY
(AP) — In these NBA Finals, a team is four wins away from getting the last laugh.
Ask anyone on the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers if they’re still fuelled by doubters, and the answer is probably going to be an immediate “yes.” Thunder star and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went 11th in his draft. Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton went 12th in his. Both sides have undrafted players in their rotation.
Here they are: The NBA Finals, which start tonight in Oklahoma City. The Thunder have, by far, the NBA’s best record this season. The Pacers have the league’s second-best record since Jan. 1, including playoffs. And both teams have rolled through the postseason, going 12-4 in the first three rounds.
“I’ll continue to tell you guys in certain moments that it doesn’t matter what people say, but it matters — and I enjoy it,” Haliburton said. “I think the greats try to find external motivation as much as they can and that’s something that’s always worked for me.”
It’s not like more motivation is needed. Not for the next couple of weeks, anyway. Indiana is chasing its first NBA title. Oklahoma City — technically — is also seeking its first; the franchise won a championship when it played in Seattle in 1979. These are teams that combined to win 49 games just three seasons ago, and now they’re the last two standing.
“Staying true to who we are is the reason why we’re here,” GilgeousAlexander said. “We’d be doing ourselves a disservice if we changed or tried to be something we’re not once we got here. We’ve had success doing so. If we want to keep having success, we have to be who we are. It’s organic. It’s nothing we have to think about or
force. It’s just who we are, no matter the moment.”
The Thunder are enormous favorites in the series, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, and understandably so. They’re 80-18 including the regular season and postseason, plus went 29-1 in the regular season against the Eastern Conference and have more double-digit wins — 61 and counting — than any team in any season in NBA history.
“We’ve got a lot of work cut out for us,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “A lot of our guys have been through a lot of situations where they’ve been underdogs in the past. It’s simply going to come down to us being able to play our game at the best
possible level. We’re going to need to take care of the ball because these guys turn people over at an historic rate, and we’re going to have to make some shots.”
The Thunder want no part of hearing this series will be easy. The way Indiana — a No. 4 seed in the East — got through Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee in Round 1, a top-seeded Cleveland team in Round 2 and New York in Round 3 and never faced an elimination game has captured Oklahoma City’s full attention.
“Their attack is very simple. The theoretical way to stop it is simple,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “In reality it’s very difficult to do, as you can see
from the way that they’ve really had their way with everybody. ... They pump a 99 mph fastball at you. You can prepare all you want for that. “When you’re in the batter’s box, it’s different when it’s time to hit it.”
Young Thunder The Thunder are the youngest team to make the NBA Finals in 48 years, according to data provided by the league. With an average age of about 25 years and seven months, they’re the youngest finalist since Portland in 1977.
That said, hearing about it is getting, well, old.
“Young or not, when you can learn from whatever situation you’re thrown in, that makes you better,” Thunder guard Jalen
Williams said. “I think that’s why we’re here in this moment.”
Busy OKC There will be a Game 1 in Oklahoma City on Thursday night — and a Game 2 on Thursday night as well. At Paycom Center, there’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals. And Devon Park, about a 15-minute drive away from the Thunder home floor, will play host to Game 2 of the Women’s College World Series between Texas and Texas Tech that same night.
Past finals
There are four players on these teams with previous NBA Finals experience.
Indiana’s Pascal Siakam averaged 19.8 points in six games with Toronto, helping the Raptors win the title in 2019.
Oklahoma City’s Alex Caruso averaged 6.3 points in six games with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping them past Miami in the bubble finals of 2020.
Indiana’s Thomas Bryant got in one game of Denver’s 2023 finals win over Miami, and the Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith played for Boston in the Celtics’ loss to Golden State in the 2022 finals.
If the softball facility — which will be the site of games at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics — is filled, that means about 32,000 people will be watching championship games in Oklahoma City on Thursday.
WHY BETTORS ARE AVOIDING THE FAVOURED THUNDER IN NBA FINALS
By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP)
— The Oklahoma City Thunder are such heavy favourites to win the NBA title that many bettors are looking for other wagers instead.
Professional bettors, in particular, have searched out player propositions and hit the under on the totals rather than take the Thunder at -700 at BetMGM Sportsbook or -650 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Indiana is listed at +500 at BetMGM and +475 at DraftKings for the NBA Finals that open tonight.
“It’s just not enticing to bet a money line or spread,” BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini said. “That number kind of
scares you off even if you do like the Pacers. You’re like, ‘They’re +500 for a reason.’”
The Thunder have won seven games this postseason by double digits, four by at least 30 points.
Oklahoma City is the biggest favourite since Golden State in 2018, according to sportsoddshistory.com.
That Warriors team, led by Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, was listed at -1075 and swept Cleveland and LeBron James.
The Thunder franchise won its only previous title in 1979, when it was in Seattle and known as the SuperSonics. The team relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008.
CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall said he thinks the Thunder will be pushed much harder by
the Pacers, saying he could see the series going seven games.
“I think they’re probably going to win the series, but I don’t see any value with that sort of price for them,” Marshall said. “I think there’s enough here that Indiana can make it interesting.”
Maybe give SGA a look
For those who don’t want to bet $700 at BetMGM or $650 on Oklahoma City to win $100 at DraftKings, they could consider laying money on Shai GilgeousAlexander for finals MVP.
This year’s league MVP is the -600 favourite at DraftKings, the largest favourite since the sportsbook began posting odds in 2019, but a little bit of a discount compared to betting on the team.
Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 29.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists in the playoffs. “We know he’s going to score 30 points at least every game,” said Johnny Avello, DraftKings race and sports operations director. “There’s one (game) where he might be off a little bit. They still have to win because they’re not going to give it to him if they lose the series.”
Pacers’ dynanic duo Pascal Siakam edged teammate Tyrese Haliburton to win the Eastern Conference Finals MVP when Indiana beat New York, which caused some debate about whether it went to the right player.
Haliburton is listed behind Gilgeous-Alexander at DraftKings at +750 for
finals MVP and Siakam is next at +1600. “You could pick either guy here,” Avello said. “Siakam is just playing really well right now. Not that Haliburton’s not.”
Hitting the road
One reason Marshall believed the Pacers can make this a competitive series is that they play so well away from home — and how poorly the Thunder can play outside their comfort zone.
Indiana is 6-2 on the road, winning all three games in the Eastern Conference semifinals at top-seeded Cleveland and taking two at Madison Square Garden to eliminate the Knicks.
The Thunder are 0-7 against the point spread in road playoff games, but have the home-court
advantage. Oklahoma City is favoured at BetMGM by 9 1/2 points in Game 1. “It’s two different teams at home and on the road,” Marshall said. “It’s pretty stark.” Hoping for the Thunder Given that most of the futures money and series betting have been on Oklahoma City, it would seem counterintuitive for a sportsbook to want the Thunder to win the championship.
But that’s exactly the situation at BetMGM, which has priced the Thunder in a way throughout the season and playoffs to make it worthwhile. “I don’t think they ever got worse than maybe +400 to win it all,” Cipollini said. “It still has been our best outcome basically from the beginning of the season.”
OKLAHOMA City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dunks during the second half of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Oklahoma City.
(AP Photo/Nate Billings)
In clash of offensive firepower, defence may determine who wins NBA crown, Pacers or Thunder
By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)
— The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder have two of the NBA’s best offenCes.
But this year’s title hopes may swing on the other facet: Who has the better defence?
While both teams made major improvements from last season’s respective rosters in the conference finals and conference semifinals, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who led Dallas on its only title run in 2010-11 knows just how difficult the challenge can be, especially against Oklahoma City.
“Their depth of great defenders is staggering,” he said before listing names.
“Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) is a great scorer, but he’s also a great competitor. You’ve got Jalen Williams, you’ve got (Lu) Dort, you’ve got (Alex) Caruso, and a bunch of other guys. People talk about (Aaron) Wiggins, Cason Wallace and all these guys are great competitors.
“And then they’ve got the rim protection to go along with it.”
That combination helped the Thunder win a leaguehigh 68 regular-season games while earning the top seed in the Western Conference for the second straight year.
Apparently, it was just a warmup. During the franchise’s first Finals run since 2012, the Thunder’s scoring defence has been even stingier — allowing just 106.3 points per game compared with 107.6 over the first 82 games — while yielding fewer than 100 points in half of their 12 postseason wins.
While Indiana has not matched those numbers, they eliminated three teams — New York, Cleveland and Milwaukee — that each averaged more than 115 points during the regular season.
In 16 playoff games, they held those three teams below their averages 11 times.
Naturally, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault has been taking notes.
“If you look at this playoff run, you’ll see how challenging they are for their opponents, and the way they defend
contributes to their team identity. It’s not just offence,” he said. “Their defensive philosophy is very much aligned with their offensive philosophy, so it creates a certain air to the game when you play against them. It is difficult to play against, as you can see from the way that they’ve really run through the Eastern Conference to get here.”
Their rosters were constructed in similar fashions, too.
Both teams are young, rely on deep benches to wear down opponents late and feast on turnovers. The Thunder average a postseason best 21.3 points per game off turnovers while the Pacers are second at 18.5.
But with so much focus on the high-scoring, uptempo offences, it’s easy to overlook their defences or worse — see it as a glaring weakness.
A year ago, Indiana gave up 120.2 points per game in the regular season. This year that number dropped to 115.1, and in the postseason it’s down to 113.3. What changed?
Indiana’s top three defenders — Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard and Myles Turner — are all relatively healthy now.
Nesmith missed 2 1/2 months with a sprained left ankle before returning in January and working his way back into game shape. He sprained his right ankle in Game 3 of the conference finals against the New York Knicks but played in each of the final three games.
Nembhard also missed nearly a month early this season with tendinitis in his left knee, and Turner, Indiana’s rim protector, has overcome an assortment of nagging injuries.
But Indiana also changed its forcus after getting swept by Boston in 2024.
“Last year, all that was being said was we couldn’t win because we didn’t guard anybody and all we do is try to outscore people,” two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton said.
“We’ve taken such a big step on the defensive end as a group, and I think the step we made on that end of the floor is why we’re here. We’ve got our work cut out for us (in this series).”
Neither Carlisle nor Daigneault would disclose their defensive assignments entering Game 1 though there’s a good chance Nembhard and Nesmith will somehow find themselves pitted against Gilgeous-Alexander, the league MVP, and Williams. On the flip side, Oklahoma City may deploy its two all-NBA defenders, Williams and Dort, against the combination of Haliburton and Nembhard.
But regardless of the assignments, this is a matchup of wills most believe will determine the next NBA champion.
“All tests are fun, and we get to do it on the biggest stage any of us have ever played on,” Williams said.
“So it’ll be a very fun challenge. Like I said, that’s a really good team.
“Obviously, they’re in the finals for a reason. Nobody just waltzes into the finals. So it’ll be our ultimate test.”
INDIANA Pacers center Myles Turner (33) defends against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the second half of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
MINNESOTA Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) looks to pass as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) and centre Isaiah Hartenstein (55) defend during the first half of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Oklahoma City.
(AP Photo/ Nate Billings)
NBA Finals Eve: How the pros prepare - and what our athletes can learn
FROM PAGE E1
was the common thread.
Jordan’s Mental Rehearsal
Michael Jordan was famous not just for his scoring ability, but for the clarity and confidence with which he played.
That wasn’t by accident.
Jordan believed in visualising success. In interviews, he often spoke about practicing his shot mechanics in his mind - even while lying in bed. His preparation wasn’t just about muscle memory; it was about mental wiring.
He entered each game having already seen himself win.
Iverson’s Fire and Focus Allen Iverson approached the game differently. While he’s remembered for his raw passion and spontaneous play style, the day before a big game for Iverson was all about emotional alignment. He thrived on confidence and rhythm. His preparation involved connecting with the moment, getting mentally charged, and visualising dominating his opponent. Iverson once said, “When you’re at peace with your craft, your game speaks for you.”
Kobe Bryant: Discipline in Motion Kobe Bryant took preparation to a different level
entirely. Known for the “Mamba Mentality,” Bryant’s pre-game ritual the day before included making up to 250 shots in a short but intense solo session. It wasn’t a warm-up - it was a sharpening of steel.
In his words, preparation created confidence. He didn’t rely on luck or hype;
he relied on relentless reps and ritual. What Young Athletes Can Take Away Here in The Bahamas, many young athletes are preparing for their own big moments - local finals, regional tournaments, and international showcases like the CARIFTA Games. While our playing fields may differ, the blueprint for greatness remains the same. Athletes should understand that the night before game day is not a time for guesswork - it’s a time for intention. Meals should be balanced and familiar. Hydration should be consistent, not reactive.
A short activation workout or stretch session can help settle nerves and promote recovery. Mental preparation is just as vital: visualise, focus, and align with your purpose. Sleep should be protected. And screen time? Limited. Your body needs rest, not blue light. Whether you’re on the road in Trinidad or heading to a local championship here at home, the principle is clear: preparation breeds performance. And while not every athlete will make it to the NBA Finals, every athlete can prepare like they do. sports medicine physician at Empire Sports Medicine, specialises in ensuring athletes reach their peak performance safely. With extensive experience and a passion for sports health, insights and guidance for athletes of all ages - men and women.
MICHAEL Jordan was famous not just for his scoring ability, but for the clarity and confidence with which he played.
KNOWN for the “Mamba Mentality,” Bryant’s pre-game ritual the day before included making up to 250 shots in a short but intense solo session.
Gauff digs deep to beat Keys and will face 361st-ranked Boisson in the semifinals
By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer
PARIS (AP) — Coco Gauff kept double-faulting. She kept missing plenty of other strokes. She kept losing games in bunches. And all the while, she would let out a sigh or bow her head or look generally uncomfortable.
What the 21-year-old Gauff never did yesterday during a tense and topsyturvy French Open quarterfinal against another American woman with a Grand Slam title, Madison Keys, was give up hope or go away. And, in a contest filled with plenty of mistakes, it was Gauff who emerged to grab eight of the last nine games for a 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1 victory over Keys and a third trip to the semifinals at Roland-Garros.
“I have had that in me from a young age,” said the No. 2-seeded Gauff, who won the 2023 U.S. Open as a teenager and was the French Open runner-up the year before. “When times become more difficult,
knowing that I can dig deep in those tough moments.”
Where did that come from?
“Just a love to win, the will to win. It’s not something that’s taught or anything. It’s just I have always had that in me, and not just in tennis but in everything. I’m a very competitive person,” she said. “My philosophy is if I can just leave it all out there, then the loss will hurt a lot less than regrets of maybe not giving it your all.” Gauff needed to overcome 10 double-faults — three in the opening tiebreaker alone — and the first set she’s dropped in the tournament, as well as deal with the big-hitting Keys, the No. 7 seed, who entered with an 11-match Grand Slam winning streak after her title at the Australian Open in January. They combined for 101 unforced errors and just 40 winners across more than two hours under a closed roof at Court PhilippeChatrier on a drizzly, chilly day.
Nearly half of the games — 14 of 29 — featured breaks of serve. But from 4-all in the second set, Gauff held four times in a row while pulling away. She made two unforced errors in the last set, including just one double-fault.
After falling behind 4-1 at the start, and twice being a single point from trailing 5-1, Gauff switched to a racket with a different tension in the strings to see if that would help.
“Maybe it did, and maybe it didn’t. I’d like to think that it helped a little bit,” she said. “Sometimes that stuff could just be mental. Maybe you’re thinking, ‘Oh, I changed my racket, I’m going to play better, and you start doing it. I don’t know.”
She’ll play today for a berth in another major final, facing 361st-ranked French wild-card entry Loïs Boisson, who is on one of the most stunning runs in tennis history. Boisson beat No. 6 Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (6), 6-3 in the quarterfinals to follow up her upset of No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the fourth round.
“Just a love to win, the will to win. It’s not something that’s taught or anything. It’s just I have always had that in me, and not just in tennis but in everything. I’m a very competitive person.” – Coco Gauff
Boisson, 22, is the first woman to reach the semifinals in her Grand Slam debut since 1989, when Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati both did it at the French Open. A crowd that offered support to Gauff against Keys via shouts of “Allez, Coco!” was raucous as can be behind Boisson, rattling the 18-year-old Andreeva. The other women’s semifinal is quite a matchup: three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek vs. No.
1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. They advanced with quarterfinal victories Tuesday. It was Swiatek who stopped Gauff at RolandGarros in the semifinals last year and in the final three years ago.
“I have a lot more work left to do,” said Gauff, who raised her arms overhead then spread them wide apart after the last point against Keys, “but I’m going to savour this one today.”
Repeatedly, Gauff scrambled this way or that to get her racquet on a shot from Keys and send it back, often leading to a miss.
“The court being a little bit slower, coupled with the fact that she covers the court so well, just put a little bit of pressure on me to go a little bit more for my shots and maybe press a little bit too much, too soon,” said Keys, who occasionally admonished herself with a slap on her right leg.
“There were a lot of points where I felt like, playing someone else,” Keys said.
“I would have won the point.”
COCO GAUFF, of the United States, celebrates as she won the quarterfinal match of the French Open against Madison Keys of the U.S. at the Roland-Garros stadium. (AP Photos/Christophe Ena)
COCO GAUFF, of the U.S., plays a shot against Madison Keys of the U.S. during their quarterfinal match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris yesterday.