SPORTS SECTION E
Wimbledon, Page 7
THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018
Jaida advances to 100m semis at World Juniors
GOT SKILLS? 3-ON-3 IS THE NAME OF THE GAME
By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
eam Bahamas continued competition on day two of the World Junior Championships in Tampere, Finland. Jaida Knowles advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s 100m. She finished third in heat five in 11.71 seconds and advanced as an automatic qualifier. Daija Lampkin of the United States was first in 11.44 and Gina Akpe-Moses of Ireland was second in 11.58. The heat produced five qualifiers including Margherita Zuecco of Italy in 11.75 and Denise Uphoff of Germany advanced as one of the next fastest qualifiers in 11.77. Knowles will run in lane eight of the second semi-final. The 110mH hurdles featured the first Bahamian competitors to take to the track on day two and produced one qualifier to the semi-final. Oscar Smith reached the semi-final, but finished seventh in 15.31 and was unable to advance to the final. He advanced as the No.17 among the 24 qualifiers in the semi-final. Smith finished second in heat five and advanced as an automatic qualifier in a time of 13.79. Luis Salort of Spain was first in 13.66 and Filip Jakob Desmar of Slovenia was third in 13.82 as the qualifiers from that heat.
A LOCAL organisation is seeking to develop the game of 3-on-3 basketball in the country and offer a forum for an exciting new brand of the sport. Battlegrounds Bahamas looks to launch this summer with its premier showcase, the first of many events as they look to garner interest in the game. Jordan Coakley, a member of the Battlegrounds Bahamas organising team, said 3-on-3 basketball can provide a new slate of opportunities at every level, ranging from the elite to the casual players. “What we are trying to do is solidify the game of 3 on 3 in the Bahamas, so when we start speaking hoops and we think 5 on 5 we want 3 on 3 to be right there in the conversation,” he said. “The pace of the game is different – it’s only 10 minutes, and at no point do you stop unless the ball goes out of bounds or there’s a foul. They call it a 10-minute sprint. We’re not just looking for the elite ballers to come out, we want to make it a family-filled community event. What makes it appealing is its simplicity, it’s not intimidating like a full 5-on-5 event. And it’s for everyone, no matter the age. Each team has four players, all it takes is to register and come out to play.” FIBA has undergone a campaign in recent years for more countries under its umbrella to adapt the 3-on-3 version of the game. Played in a halfcourt setting, each game is 10 minutes or the first team to score 21. The game is played with a smaller, colourful ball, but the weight of a regulation FIBA ball. The pace is quickened with a 12-second shot clock and points are scored by ones and twos (beyond the threepoint line). According to FIBA: 3-on-3 is considered the No.1 urban team sport. From the first official event at the 2010 Youth Olympics Games to the Olympic inclusion starting from the Tokyo 2020 Games, FIBA has had an ambitious vision for the game. The rules are very simple and designed to make it a fast, spectacular and exciting game. The non-stop music
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TEAM Bahamas at the World Junior Championships in Tampere, Finland. Denvaughn Whymns ran a personal best time of 13.91 but finished fifth in heat two and did not advance. The heat produced three qualifiers, Orlando Bennett of Jamaica (13.65), Stefan Volzer of Germany (13.74) and Raheem Brown of the Cayman Islands (13.83). Corey Sherrod also contested the men’s 400m. He finished just outside a qualifying spot and finished fourth in heat one in 48.22. Khamal Stewart-Baynes of Canada was first in 47.10, Musa Isah of Bahrain was
second in 47.50 and Antoio Grant of Panama was third in 47.64. Joel Johnson was unable to recover from an injury issue in the heats to take his place in the 100m semi-finals. On day one, Johnson was second in heat two in 10.34 but was slowed by the aforementioned injury. Adrian Curry finished sixth in heat one in 10.70 and did not advance. Team Bahamas returns to the track today with Branson Rolle in heat one of the 400mH. Johnson is
on the start list in heat two of the 200m but it remains to be seen if he will be able to compete or forced to withdraw. In the field, Jyles Etienne and Kyle Alcine will contest the qualification round of the men’s high jump. Margo Major is the team manager and the head coach is James Rolle. He is assisted by Rashad Patton (sprints) and Ednol Rolle (hurdles). The team physician is Nadia Gilbert. Also still to compete is Kayvon Stubbs alongside
Knowles in the 200m, Sasha Wells in the girls’ 100mH and Charisma Taylor in the triple jump. Said BAAA President Rosamunde Carey prior to the team’s departure: “We’re trying to be very efficient in that once we get our athletes into the final, our quota will increase for more athletes to compete in the next World Juniors. We are also taking a 4 x 400m relay team and we feel that they can produce a very good time and, if not medal, finish within the top five.”
Chavez Young rising Blue Jays prospect By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net CHAVEZ Young’s play this season has prompted his consistent rise up the prospect ranks in the Toronto Blue Jays organisation. In a year when he was named a Midwest League All-Star and has helped to propel his Lansing Lugnuts to clinch a playoff spot, pundits around the organisation continue to rave. Prospect analysis website FutureBlueJays.com ranked Young at No.8 among the Blue Jays prospects while the Lansing State Journal profiled the 21-yearold outfielder for his impact on the Lugnuts. “You wouldn’t ordinarily expect much from a 39th round pick, but Young is truly proving to
be a diamond in the OPS, slugging .444 rough. The Bahamian with 20 stolen bases, may have been behind 51 runs scored, 134 his peers in terms of total bases, 23 doudevelopment when he bles, six triples and made his pro debut four home runs. two years ago, but Young is tied for he’s more than made the Midwest league up for that. Young lead in doubles, tied has been a fixture for third in triples and atop Lansing’s order,” tied for sixth in stolen Future Blue Jays said. bases. “Young has a simple The Lugnuts are set up at the plate, gets second in the league’s good plate coverage, Eastern division with CHAVEZ YOUNG and seldom chases. He a record of 54-35, 6.5 can play all three outgames behind the field spots, and has been set loose Bowling Green Hot Rod (60-28). on the basepaths this year, stealing In the Midwest League’s All13 in 19 attempts.” Star game, Young’s Eastern team Through 77 games this season, got a 3-2 victory over the Western Young is hitting .288 with 87 hits team at Cooley Law School Staand 35 RBI. He also has an .791 dium in Lansing, Michigan.
“Coming from a late-round draft guy, I’ve just had to work for everything,” Young told the Lansing State Journal. “I never forget that this is my dream job. I always have got to have fun doing it, no matter where I’m at. I’ve got to be evenkeeled through the bad days and the good days. I’ve got to stay on that even plane always and keep having fun. The hard work will pay off.” He spent last season with the Bluefield Blue Jays of the Appalachian League. Yong led the Appalachian League with eight triples, was second in runs scored with 55, and seventh in total bases with 118. In 67 games, he hit .283 with, four stolen bases, slugging .445, an on-base percentage of .336, an OPS of .781 and four home runs.
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ESN to establish Bahamas-Canada exchange programme By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net EMPOWER Sports Network (ESN) continues to expand its organisation with its next milestone, the establishment of an exchange programme between the Bahamas and Canada.
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ESN hosted tryouts for its boys’ Under-18 and U-16 teams to participate in the Halifax, Nova Scotia Exchange at the AF Adderley Gymnasium last weekend. Dozens of aspiring student athletes participated in the tryouts aimed at creating a sporting and cultural exchange in both locations. “We had a good group that came out, a good group of kids to select from as we figure out how they would fit into what we want and for us to figure out how we can use them for this first exchange programme. You saw that athleticism that Bahamian players are known for, and already you could see certain players began to gel with one another as the day went on,” ESN Director Ollen Smith said. “We want to make every year bigger and better and we eventually want ESN to have its own AAU team, showcase females through the exchange programme, develop
actual leagues and utilise the brand that can be a connection for culture and sports because it’s a new avenue, not just for school but it’s also a way for a better life.” Smith’s coaching staff also includes women’s national team standout Ashley Moss, who played at the collegiate level in Canada at Holland College and Concordia University. “We really wanted to focus on defence. Coaches in Canada, they know we’re athletic but we want to put structure to the athleticism and make them organised. We want to get them into that prep school organisational play early. The earlier they can do that the better,” Moss said. “I’ve been to Canada in school for five years and I didn’t pay anything, it was all opportunities through basketball. We want more people to consider Canada because it’s a different route you can take. You have people coming out of
Canada making it to the NBA if that’s your dream, but it’s a vehicle to get an education and this can be the first step in that direction for a lot of them.” Teams from the Halifax area will live and train in the Bahamas for an extended period of time, while the teams from ESN will do the same in Canada. “It will be a focal point for sports tourism, help transition with cultural differences and give these kids an idea of what to expect before you actually come to school in Canada. So the plan is to have about 30 kids come to Halifax, meet the coaches, see the schools, be immersed in the culture. We
want the same for Canadians to have them here, working out on the beach and also being a part of our culture.” ESN plans to teach the importance of youth development through sports and education. The brand also hosts sporting events to showcase top talent. Smith, a former junior national team standout, made the transition to coaching and training to impact a future generation of student athletes. The organisation plans to focus on the development of youth basketball throughout the country. “We have a few things to focus on multi-tasking - hand-eye coordination, foot placement, balance learning to pick your spots and get your shot off the way you want to because that’s what great offensive players do,” Smith said. “We have to target the youth before they can develop egos, bad habits, they would know the basic fundamentals and terminology.”