SPORTS SECTION E
TENNIS, Page 7
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018
Bulldogs get 90-43 win over IBA Bahamas Elite
‘IT WAS A NO BRAINER FOR ME AS THE LEADER TO REJOIN THE BBA’
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
pushed the ball in transition. They found the open men and caught us out of position. They moved the ball very well. “Hats off to the team. We did the best we could. We just have to go back to the drawing board and just continue to work hard and
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WHILE there were talks to get all of the leagues back under one umbrella, Freedom Farm founder Greg Burrows said a conscious decision was made to rejoin the Bahamas Baseball Association. The move came after the dismantling of the Bahamas Baseball Federation, an organisation that Burrows helped to form more than two decades ago to provide an alternative to the BBA. “When this move came about to bring all of the leagues back under the BBA, we were the last ones to make a decision, but it was a no brainer for me as the leader to rejoin the BBA,” Burrows told The Tribune over the weekend in Grand Bahama. “We felt that it was in the best interest of the sport to rejoin the BBA, hence Freedom Farm is here to play in the Nationals. Baseball, in my mind, is the fastest and the largest and most successful sport in the country today and so we wanted to ensure that we do our part to further push the sport along.” After skipping the trip to Grand Bahama last year to participate in the Nationals, Freedom Farm returned over the weekend and made their presence felt at the Emera Baseball Complex. They won the 14-andunder division and had teams competing in the final of the 8-and-under, 10-and-under and 12-andunder divisions. The latter three divisions, along with the 16-and-under, were not completed because of the rain. But the BBA made a decision to award Freedom
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he visiting Truman State University Bulldogs men’s basketball team out of Missouri was a little too much for the Bahamas’ International Basketball Academy (IBA) Elite to handle at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium last night. While they showed their offensive prowess in a 102-76 victory over the Star Sports Basketball team in the opener of the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s Summer of Thunder on Tuesday night, the Bulldogs turned it up a notch defensively as they stifled the Elite Basketball 90-43. Brodric Thomas, who contributed 14 points, eight steals, six rebounds and two blocked shots for the Bulldogs, said it was good to get another victory against the second straight Bahamian team they faced on their road trip. “It was a big step up from yesterday. We controlled the ball a lot more and I felt like we moved it and put a lot more pressure on them defensively,” Thomas said. “I think that was what got us going today.” Aside from enjoying some vacation in the “sun,” Thomas said they couldn’t ask for some exciting basketball games with good sportsmanship from the local teams they played so far. “The competition is real good. Coming here we didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I’m really surprised at how well the guys are playing. They have given us some really good competition.” Cade McKnight led the attack for the Bulldogs, coached by Jeff Horner, with 18 points and nine rebounds. Tanner Zeil, the top scorer in the opener, had 14, while Collin Hill finished with 10. Taurin Hughes had just two points, but dished out nine assists. The Bulldogs opened a 22-11 first-quarter lead that they extended to 21 (39-18) at the half. By the end of the third, they were in full control with a 65-31 advantage and they poured it on in the
IN THE PAINT: The visiting Truman State University Bulldogs defeated IBA Bahamas Elite 90-43 last night at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff fourth. IBA didn’t have a player in double figures as Dwight Wheatley led the way with nine points and four rebounds. Tevin Hudson, their most experienced player, helped out with six points. Jefferson Oliver had five points and both Malachi McCoy and Shontin Pratt chipped in with four points.
The IBA Elites, a mixture of high school players mainly in grade 10 and 11 and one or two in college, gave it their best shot, but coach Denykco Bowles said he couldn’t ask for anything more. “I think we played very well on defence, but that team shot the ball very well,” he stated. “They had excellent ball movement and
‘College Bound’: HO Nash summer camp in its 19th year By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net COACH Patricia ‘Pattie’ Johnson has been a household name on the local high school scene, instructing many young girls and boys the basic skills of playing sports, particularly basketball and volleyball. Today, she continues to make her contribution through the staging of the HO Nash Summer Camp where the youngsters also
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spend time in the classroom as they concentrate on their studies at the same time. Johnson said this year’s camp has taken on a new twist and has been dubbed “College Bound” as they work on developing the skills of the campers for the future. Now into its 19th consecutive year, Johnson said they have seen an influx of campers from both the public and private schools, although the emphasis was in the inner city communities. Johnson, however, stated that whoever comes out to participate, they won’t turn them away because the aim of the camp is to assist as many youngsters as possible. “Every morning after we do our devotions, we take them through the various drills of the sports,” Johnson said. “This week is ball handling as they work on their dribbling, catching and passing. “Also during the morning session, we have classes set up for them to go and do some school work because we feel it’s important for them to get as much learning as possible.” Once they are done at HO Nash, Johnson said around 4pm
YOUNGSTERS take part in HO Nash Summer Camp at the school yesterday. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff they move indoors where they work out for about two hours at the Anatol Rodgers Gymnasium. She thanked principal Harcourt McCoy for the assistance he has provided in that regard. By the time they are finished at the end of July, Johnson said she hopes that the campers will be well-rounded student-athletes. The camp will close out with the
awards presentation with the assistance from the various sponsors helping her out. For the most part, many of the campers seem to be enjoying themselves and have expressed that they attend the camp on a regular basis because of the valuable lessons that they receive from Johnson on and off the court. “It’s a good programme, I love
the sport of basketball and she’s a great coach,” said Calvanique Spence, a 15-year-old student of St John’s College who has been attending the camp since the age of five. “I’ve learnt the basic skills of basketball, shoot and dribble, just about every skill there is. It’s a great sport to play and I would prefer coach Johnson to work with than any other coach because she’s a great coach who takes her time with you.” Kylah Marshall, another 15-year-old student of St John’s College, said she too has attended the camp for at least 10 years and she has no regrets because it has helped to make her a better person. “I’ve loved how to shoot, dribble and pass the ball, everything that you should be doing with the basketball,” she said. “I think we have a very sincere coach who is willing to help you to achieve all of the goals that you desire.” Since he was five, Collin Storr has made the HO Nash Camp his destination and now at age 17, the 6-foot, 3-inch student of Bahamas
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