08242018 SPORTS

SPORTS SECTION E

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018

ARMBRISTER AND CLARKE ADVANCE AFTER WINS IN QUARTERS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Report rdorsett@tribunemedia.net and BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Momentum After winning the first set, Armbrister said he rode the momentum in the second set.

“I just thank God for the win and I’m just happy to be able to play my second semifinal match tomorrow (Friday) against Paul Colin from France,” Armbrister stated.

“This is the same player I played two weeks ago in St Lucia.

We had a tough match.

I lost 7-6 (3), 6-4 and I hope to take the win tomorrow.”

Clarke, also 16, said she simply did what she had to do to prevail with another victory.

“I felt I played good.

I just need to be more focused in between some points,” said Clarke, of her performance. “Sometimes I had some errors, but overall I fought to the end. I played like I wanted to win.”

Clarke, a runner-up at the last tournament in St Lucia, said her goal is to get into the final on Saturday.

Both Armbrister and Clarke and also playing doubles with their respective Barbados partners. Armbrister is teaming up with Romani Mayers, while Clarke is paired with Tangia Riley-Codrington from Barbados.

PAGE THREE

First win for Bahamas in Puerto Rico

DONTE Armbrister and Sydney Clarke share a moment together.

BAHAMIAN junior tennis players Donte Armbrister and Sydney Clarke continue their impressive run through the Tobago Junior International Tennis Federation’s Championships.

In their quarterfinal matches on Thursday, Armbrister won 6-2, 6-1 over American Ty Switzer in the boys draw, while Clarke, the top seed on the girls draw, knocked off American Sifa Butcher 6-3, 6-2.

For 16-year-old Armbrister, it was a pretty good performance.

“I was up 3-1 in the first when we had our first rain delay. It was tough with the momentum,” he said. “So I just had to stay focused and get my mind together so when we go back on the court I would be ready.

“In the first set, I played extremely well, a clean match. I was able to break him and my serve helped me through the match.”

THE FINISH LINE

TRACY Lewis drives to the basket for a lay-up.

TRACEY Lewis prepares for a jumper.

A LATE three pointer from Brea Forbes was the go ahead score for team Bahamas and led them to their first win over the 2018 FIBA Centrobasket Women’s Basketball Championships.

Forbes’ third three of the game gave the Bahamas a 58-57 lead with 51 seconds left to play and they held on with free throws down

the stretch for a 60-57 win over Costa Rica Wednesday night in Manati, Puerto Rico.

The Bahamas will now advance to play in tonight’s fifth place game against the winner of the Guatemala and Costa Rica matchup.

Tracey Lewis led three Bahamian players in double figures with 15 points and five assists. Sha-Londa Neely had 14 points and four steals, Forbes scored 13 while Leashja Grant and Britenique Harrison each finished with three blocks and Joette Fernander had a team high

eight assists.

Natalia Galvez led Costa Rica with 16 points, Sofia Jimenez scored 15 and Ana Matamoros finished with 13.

Both teams shot about 38 percent from the field but the Bahamas produced 27 points off the bench while Costa Rica managed just eight.

Costa Rica jumped out to an early 8-0 lead before Neely made the first score for team Bahamas. They would rally to tie the game at 12 with 3:51 left in the first and Lewis’ jumper gave the Bahamas their first lead of the game on the ensuing possession.

She added a three pointer just before the close of the quarter and gave the Bahamas a 17-14 lead at the end of the first.

A dominant defensive second quarter for the Bahamas propelled them to a 10 point lead. Neely and Forbes made back-to-back jumpers gave the Bahamas a 30-20 lead with 53 seconds left to play in the half. Costa Rica scored just eight points in the quarter on four field goals and the Bahamas led 32-22.

Costa Rica won the third quarter 19-12 to get back into contention. They opened with five straight points and eventually a Matamoros layup pulled Costa Rica within two, 34-32 at the 7:49 mark in the third. Jimenez made a layup just before the buzzer sounded and the Bahamas took a 44-41 lead into the fourth.

The Costa Rica run continued into the fourth and tied the game on a Natalia Galvez free throw, 44-44 SEE PAGE THREE

JONES AND SUN BEATEN IN PLAYOFFS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE rematch produced the same result for the second consecutive year as the Connecticut Sun were eliminated at home by the Phoenix Mercury in the second round of the WNBA playoffs.

Phoenix scored 10 unanswered points over the final 2:32 in the fourth quarter to score a 96-86 win over the Sun last night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Jonquel Jones finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on 6-9 shooting from the field, but was 0-2 from beyond the arch. Connecticut also got 27 points and eight rebounds from Courtney Williams, 17 points from Alyssa Thomas and 14 points from Jasmine Thomas.

Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner each finished with 27 points to lead the Mercury while Dewanna Bonner added 23 points and 18 rebounds.

Taurausi continues her historic streak with SEE PAGE TWO CONNECTICUT Sun centre Jonquel Jones in action against the Phoenix Mercury last night.

(Sean D. Elliot/The Day via AP)

PAGE 2, Friday, August 24, 2018

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JONES AND SUN BEATEN IN PLAYOFFS FROM PAGE ONE

a perfect 13-0 record in winner-take-all games.

Tied at 86, the Mercury got six points from Bonner and a pair of successful trips to the free throw line from Griner and Taurasi.

The Mercury will advance to the semifinals against either the top-seeded Seattle Storm or the second-seeded Atlanta Dream.

The Sun finished the season 1-3 in matchups against the Mercury.

Last year, the two teams met in the same round and the Mercury eliminated the Sun 88-83 on the road.

Jones concluded the season with a league-wide recognised award for the second consecutive season.

Prior to the second round matchup, she was named the 2018 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, earning the honour as the league’s top reserve for the first time in her three-year career.

Jones, who was voted last season as

CONNECTICUT Sun centre Jonquel Jones gets a hug from Phoenix Mercury centre Brittney Griner, back to camera, as the Sun players walk off the court following their loss.

(Sean D. Elliot/The Day via AP)

the 2017 WNBA Most Improved Player, becomes the first player to win both the Sixth Woman and Most Improved awards.

In honour of being named the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, Jones will receive $5,000 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany and Co. Jones received 20 votes from a national panel of 38 sportswriters and broadcasters who selected the award.

Jones averaged 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, a career-high 1.7 assists and 1.24 blocked shots per game this season. She tied for ninth in the WNBA in blocks and ranked fifth in field goal percentage (55.0) and second in three-point field goal percentage (46.7). With 50 three-pointers made, she surpassed her total from the previous two seasons combined (36). During the Sun’s 9-1 finish to the season, Jones averaged 18.5 points and 6.6 rebounds. That stretch included four games of 20 or more points for the 24-year-old Jones.

The Sun finished the regular season 21-13 for the second consecutive season

PHOENIX Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner scores over the defence of Connecticut Sun centre Jonquel Jones. (AP)

MYSTICS EASE PAST SPARKS 96-64 TO REACH SEMIFINALS WASHINGTON (AP) — Elena Delle Donne had 19 points and 12 rebounds to help the Washington Mystics rout the Los Angeles Sparks 96-64 on Thursday night in the second round of the WNBA playoffs.

Los Angeles and Minnesota — the past three WNBA champions — have both been eliminated from the postseason.

Washington (23-12) will open a best-of-five series against Atlanta on Sunday, aiming for its first WNBA Finals appearance.

LaToya Sanders and Ariel Atkins each scored 14 points for No. 3 seed Washington. The Mystics had 28 assists on 37 field goals, leading to six players in double-figure scoring.

Delle Donne made a baseline jumper to close a 15-2 run for a 21-13 lead

and the Mystics extended it to 27-16 at the end of the first quarter. It was 50-29 at halftime and 75-46 entering the fourth.

It was a tough travel stretch for Los Angeles to end the year. The Sparks closed the regular season at Connecticut, hosted defending champion Minnesota two nights later and returned to the East Coast in a four-day stretch.

Candace Parker scored 16 points for Los Angeles (19-16). Nneka Ogwumike and Chelsea Gray — part of the Sparks’ top-three scorers — combined for 0-of-9 shooting in the first half.

The game was played at George Washington University’s Charles E. Smith Center because the Mystics’ regular home, Capital One Arena, is undergoing renovations.

LOS Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker (3) dribbles against Washington Mystics forward LaToya Sanders (30) in the first half of the single elimination WNBA basketball playoff game, Thursday. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

WASHINGTON Mystics guard Elena Delle Donne (11) goes to the basket against Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, left. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

WASHINGTON Mystics guard Elena Delle Donne (11) drives to the basket as Los Angeles Sparks guard Odyssey Sims (1) defends.

(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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BAHAMIANS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IN MINOR LEAGUE FARM SYSTEM

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ANOTHER pair of Bahamian players earned playoff berths with their team in the minor league farm system.

Keithron Moss, Courtney Smith and the DSL Rangers1 (46-24) clinched the Dominican Summer League North division title. Both Rangers teams in the Dominican Republic will advance to the playoffs as DSL Rangers2 (4921) took the San Pedro division title.

The Dominican Summer League regular season ends on August 25.

Both Moss and Smith competed in their first seasons with the Rangers organisation since they signed during the last International Signing Period.

Moss, the 17-year-old shortstop appeared in 49 games and hit .199 with 11 doubles, 22 RBI, 29 runs scored and eight stolen bases.

Catcher

Friday, August 24, 2018, PAGE 3

BOXING ELECTION RESULTS KO’D THE Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation has confirmed that they have to go back to the election polls next Friday to elect a new executive team for the next three years.

Apparently, the elections held on Saturday, April 21 are null and void, which means that Vincent Strachan, who won the presidency 7-3 over Ikenna Johnson, will have to do it all over again.

And while both of them have thrown their names into the hat, Ronn Rodgers has also joined the mix, making it a three-way race as the nominations have been closed and will not be accepted from the floor.

The elections are set to start at 5pm on Friday, August 31 and will be held in the conference room at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

One of the stipulations for the elections being recalled is because the International Boxing Association (IABA) was not present.

They had indicated to outgoing president Wellington Miller that they needed to monitor what was going on.

It’s amazing that an international body would take such a stance considering that normally the elections are held and the list of officers are submitted to them.

For the most part, they accept what is presented to them.

Miller, however, has pointed out that it’s a new mandate of IABA in that they must first vet the names of those persons who are vying for office before

Smith, a 21-year-old catcher appeared in 15 games and recorded two hits and two RBI on the season. He went 1-4 and got his first stolen base of the season in a 9-3 loss to the DSL Rays2. Moss was 0-2 and scored one run.

The Dominican Summer League is a branch of affiliated minor league baseball which is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985. The 2015 72-game season starts May 30 and ending August 22 with the playoffs starting on August 24.

The league consists of 38 teams in five divisions. Each team is affiliated with a different major league franchise with eight organisations fielding two teams: the Astros, Mariners, Mets, Orioles, Rangers, Reds, Red Sox and Yankees.

Champions Six teams make the playoffs, the winners of each division plus the best runner-up. The two division champions with the best winning percentages receive byes to the semi-finals.

Other Bahamian players also advanced to the playoffs in their respective minor league systems.

Kristian Robinson, Dominique Collie and the AZL Diamondbacks clinched their first-ever playoff berth in the Arizona Rookie League earlier this month.

The duo helped the Diamondbacks to secure the playoff spot when they swept Sunday’s doubleheader with 6-4 and 8-7 wins over the AZL Rangers at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona.

They rallied from a three-run deficit in the seventh inning and improved to 31-19 overall, second in the AZL East.

In the Single A-Advanced Midwest League, Chavez Young and the Lansing Lugnuts have clinched a playoff berth with a 75-54 record in the Eastern League.

serve as a qualifier for the 2020 Olympic Games. It would be another feather in their cap to secure their berth into the biggest competition on the planet.

their nominations are accepted.

I believe that they can scrutinise the list of candidates, but to indicate that they have to have a representative present is taking it a step too far.

Let’s hope this won’t be a policy that will be adopted by all of the other international bodies because it could become an issue for other local sporting bodies.

With so much demand from IABA to oversee the electoral process, I trust that whoever is elected as the new president will lobby for some assistance in equipment and financial support to push the BABF further ahead.

JUDO ON THE MOVE The Bahamas Judo Federation, headed by D’Arcy Rahming Sr, should be commended for the progress they are making in bringing another major international event to the country.

Come October 17-21, the federation will stage the World Junior Judo Championships in the Imperial Ballroom at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island with at least 26 countries, including Russia and Japan, making the long trek here.

The Bahamas is fast becoming a destination of choice for a number of

international bodies and it only bodes well for us when we can push more international competitions to our shores.

The federation should also be commended because they have made tremendous strides in creating a national training academy, headed by Rahming Jr, which allows their professional and amateur competitors to train here at home.

The public will soon see the benefits of their labour as the championships will

NEW BASKETBALL TIP OFF The Bahamas Basketball Federation has announced plans for the introduction of a new tournament that will be coming to the Bahamas. And the focus this time will be on high school boys teams.

The Caribbean Tip Off Classic is scheduled for November 2-4 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium and will attract top tier teams from the United States, Canada and even Europe.

This will provide an opportunity for the Bahamas to find the next diamonds in the rough as

the federation looks to showcase players who have the potential to follow in the footsteps of Buddy Hield and DeAndre Ayton.

Obviously, this is huge for the country and is expected to be an annual event that could eventually rival the Battle 4 Atlantis – in which eight of the top collegiate teams have competed in every November since 2011.

The difference is that the Caribbean Tip Off is being created from within the country, which means that the majority of the benefits accrued will be more beneficial to the Bahamas.

An excellent idea and kudos to the federation’s first vice president Mario Bowleg, coordinator Steve Barnes and international representative David Maron for coming up with such a tremendous initiative.

SAMANTHA Frazier of Courtyard Hotel, David Maron, Mario Bowleg and Steve Barnes announce plans for the Caribbean Tip-Off.

FIRST VICTORY FOR THE BAHAMAS IN PUERTO RICO FROM PAGE ONE with 8:23 left to play. They took the lead on the next possession when Jimenez made two from the line for a 46-44 lead. Costa Rica led by as much

BRITENIQUE Harrison penetrates through the defence.

HEAD coach Wayde Watson gives some instructions.

as six, 55-49, with just under four minutes left to play before Forbes made three pointers on three consecutive possessions.

Her second three tied the game at 55 before Costa Rica moved back ahead on a Jennifer Sanchez jumper. Forbes’ final three gave the Bahamas the lead for good as they improved to 1-2 in the tournament. Costa Rica remains winless at 0-3.

“I feel good about where the team is sitting,” said coach Wayde Watson, who is being assisted by Varel ClarkeDavis and Anton Francis. “We play in the classification game tomorrow at 4 o’clock (Friday).

“I feel good and the girls feel good and they are in good spirits. I anticipate that we will win this game tomorrow. We will prepare for this game.”

The tournament continues through August 24 and the top four finishers will qualify for the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2019.

The Bahamas is included in Group B along with Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Group A includes Guatemala, Cuba, Virgin Islands and Dominican Republic.

They opened with a 95-50 loss to Puerto Rico, followed by a 74-52 loss to Mexico.

LEASHIA Grant goes up for an attempted block shot.

PAGE 4, Friday, August 24, 2018

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OKLAHOMA WR BROWN MORE THAN A SPEEDSTER THIS YEAR

By CLIFF BRUNT, AP Sports Writer NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Marquise “Hollywood” Brown showed up to Oklahoma with an exceptional gift that he relied on a bit too much.

Brown was used to blowing by people with his speed, so he kept doing it.

The junior college transfer finished with 1,095 yards receiving last season in his first year with the Sooners — the eighth-highest yardage total in school history.

Even with all that success, coach Lincoln Riley said, Brown was still figuring out the nuances of the game. He enters this season a more complete player.

“His speed is such a weapon,” Riley said. “Half the time (last season) it was awesome and half the time it was out of control and you were like, ‘What are you doing?’ Now it’s much more polished. It’s so much more refined. He knows when to use it. He’s gone from being a fast guy to really starting to become a good football player.”

Brown didn’t play against Ohio State last season and had just 18 catches the first six games before becoming the man announcer Gus Johnson calls “Hollywood” — a nod to Brown’s Florida hometown and his eye-catching play.

He had six catches for 126 yards against Kansas State, then scored a touchdown against Texas Tech before he truly broke out with a school-record 265 yards and two touchdowns against Oklahoma State.

He later caught eight passes for 114 yards and a touchdown in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia.

Timed He’s beyond normal fast. Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield said last season that Brown was faster than Dede Westbrook, the current Jacksonville Jaguars receiver who was timed at 4.34 seconds in the 40-yard dash at Oklahoma’s pro day in 2017.

Brown’s speed helped him catch touchdown passes of 87 yards against Tulane and 84 yards against Oklahoma State, the fifth- and ninth-longest receptions in school history.

He also had a 77-yarder against Oklahoma State.

Brown figures teams will be more prepared to deal with his speed after watching film. To counter the extra attention he expects, he took several steps this summer to make sure there’s more to his game. He spent time working out with Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, put on muscle and improved his nutrition.

“Just being fast is not going to get you to everything,” Marquise Brown said. “Being fast is going to get you by, but you’re going to come across somebody who’s just as fast as you, so you’re going to have to use other tools.”

Brown, listed at 5-foot-10 and 168 pounds, is noticeably more muscular this season. He says this is the strongest he’s ever been.

“It made me a lot more comfortable coming across the middle, going up for balls,” he said. “I feel more confident that if someone hits be good, I’m not going to get hurt.”

Riley said Brown’s mental game has improved, too.

“Just more consistent,” Riley said. “He’s a better every-down player. He understands what we’re doing. He knows how to play in control.”

Brown said he knows he’ll be on Florida Atlantic’s radar in the opener on Sept. 1, and that’s fine with him. CeeDee Lamb caught 46 passes for 807 yards last season, and tight end Grant Calcaterra is a preseason all-conference selection.

Running back Rodney Anderson also has proven to be a capable receiver.

“I mean it’s hard to be a marked man in this offence,” he said. “You mark me, then someone is going to go off.”

Friday, August 24, 2018, PAGE 5

QUIET ROOKIE WASHINGTON FINE LETTING HIS PLAY DO THE TALKING PITTSBURGH Steelers’ James Washington catches a touchdown pass over Green Bay Packers’ Demetri Goodson during the second half of the preseason NFL football game, in Green Bay, Wis. Steelers rookie wide receiver James Washington showed he can hang with the backups. Now the second-round pick in the midst of a solid training camp will find himself catching passes - he hopes - from Ben Roethlisberger this weekend when the Steelers face Tennessee. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File)

By WILL GRAVES, AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — The ball came floating down and James Washington appeared out of position. The back of the end zone was behind him. Green Bay defensive back Demetri Goodson was in front of him. The window Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Josh Dobbs had to fit the ball to the rookie wide receiver didn’t really exist.

So Washington created one.

The pass slightly underthrown, Washington reached over Goodson and plucked it out of the air for a 19-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The second-round pick did it again in the fourth period, outmuscling Packers cornerback Herb Waters for a 22-yard score to help Pittsburgh save a little bit of face in an otherwise drab preseason loss.

While some of Washington’s teammates erupted on the sideline after each acrobatic grab, one of them did not.

“It wasn’t a surprise to me at all, I had seen it for four years,” said rookie quarterback Mason Rudolph, who set records throwing the ball all over the field to Washington during their standout college careers at Oklahoma State. “All these guys kind of ‘ooohed’ and ‘ahhhed’ at it but ...

I think he’s just scratching the surface of what he can do.”

Washington hopes to take

another step forward Saturday when he is expected to get some reps with the first team as the Steelers host Tennessee. The 22-year-old understands it will take time for him to develop a rapport with Ben Roethlisberger after spending so many years catching passes from Rudolph.

Washington has tried to absorb as much as he can since the Steelers took him with the 60th overall pick in the draft. His route run-

“I was always I guess pushed to an extent where I had to go hard.”

James Washington ning remains a work in progress.

His grasp of the offence remains in its infancy. Yet the signs he’s starting to get it are there. Now it’s time to show Roethlisberger he can do it when it counts.

“With Ben, you have to know the defence,” Washington said.

“You have to be watching while running your routes. With me and Mason you know, we’re taught, ‘Ok the ball is supposed to go here, it’s supposed to go here.’

With Ben, he’s a Hall of Famer.

He knows spots where he can sneak it in and throw you a back shoulder. You have to be ready with him.”

And defences might be wise to be ready for Washington, who

figures to be in the third wide receiver slot behind All-Pro Antonio Brown and JuJu SmithSchuster when the AFC North champions open the 2018 season in Cleveland on Sept. 9.

“He’s raw, but the kid can catch,” veteran wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey said. “He has a range that only a few people I’ve seen have. You throw it up, he’s got a great vertical, but it’s his ability to go get the ball that’s amazing.”

Leap Having a frame Rudolph likened to a “bowling ball” helps.

Washington is a thick 215 pounds, making it difficult for defensive backs to nudge him off his stride.

It gets even harder when Washington unleashes his 39-inch vertical leap. The proof came during training camp at Saint Vincent College, when Washington found himself lining up across from two-time Pro Bowl defensive back Joe Haden.

Haden normally prefers to work against the starters during camp but couldn’t turn down a chance to face off against Washington.

“Once I see him making plays on other guys, it’s like ‘Let me see what you can do,’” Haden said. “In Latrobe he got me in the end zone. Jumped up and got his hands on the ball the whole time and I couldn’t get it. So he’s just

making really good plays. I was like, ‘If you can make that on me, I think you’re going to be good.’”

Asked if Washington chirped at him after the grab, Haden just laughed.

“No, he never said a thing,” Haden said. “I’ve been around a lot of rookies that don’t act like that and aren’t as good (as he is).”

Talking has never really been Washington’s thing. Consider it a byproduct of having to play with older kids while growing up in Texas. At the park across the street from his parent’s house, Washington would find himself running around with cousins five or six years his senior. The only way to gain respect was to go out and earn it.

“I was always I guess pushed to an extent where I had to go hard,” Washington said.

He plays with an intensity that helped him win the Biletnikoff Award last year as the top wide receiver in college football. His quiet demeanour fits in well in a wide receiver’s room that includes the cerebral Heyward-Bey, the relentless Brown, and the ebullient Smith-Schuster. Washington is only too happy to be a sponge, absorbing what he can while proving he belongs.

“I think they’ve accepted my role and what I do,” Washington said. “We joke around every once in a while. Like I told him: Don’t expect me to be the guy yelling, just do my job.”

TITANS FOCUS ON FINISHING GAMES, LIMITING 4TH-QUARTER POINTS

By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Pro Football Writer

about. You’re going to see all kinds of different packages.

“I’m not giving away nothing right now, but man, we’ve got a lot in store to free up a lot of guys, get some good matchups, flipflop here and there, just all kinds of different things.

I’m excited about this defence.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

(AP) — Mike Vrabel knows any improvement this year on defence for the Tennessee Titans starts with how they finish games.

Not giving up an average of 8 ½ points in the fourth quarter would be a big step forward.

“We’re going to do a better job of finishing games and understanding that’s when you have to be at your best is late in those games,” the Titans first-year coach said. “And whether it’s offensively there was a turnover or what you have you, but if you look at the numbers 8 ½ points in the fourth quarter.”

Victory The Titans finished 9-7 last season, not good enough even with a playoff victory to save Mike Mularkey’s job. Getting the most out of quarterback Marcus Mariota prompted the coaching change, but the Titans have plenty of room for improvement on defence where Vrabel’s 14 years’ experience as a linebacker and four years as an assistant coach in the NFL should pay dividends.

Vrabel looked at what Tennessee did last season and liked how the Titans ranked fourth in the NFL

Cornerback

TENNESSEE Titans defensive back Logan Ryan (26) runs a drill with defensive back Joseph Este (38) during NFL football minicamp in Nashville, Tenn. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel knows exactly what he wants his team to improve on defensively for his first season as head coach: Don’t give up an average of 8 1/2 points in the fourth quarter. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

against the run giving up just 88.8 yards per game.

Yes, that’s something where he wants them to be better too.

They also tied for fifth with 43 sacks. All-Pro safety Kevin Byard led the league with 10 total takeaways.

But the Titans finished 17th in points allowed, giving up an average of 21.7 points per game. Tennessee struggled in fourth

quarters, giving up 138 fourth-quarter points.

“Just going out there and finishing the games,” cornerback Adoree Jackson said. “Some games we start off strong, sometimes in the second half points got put on us and it was a battle going through. For us, keep pushing, fighting and everyone says, ‘Keep the pedal to the metal.’”

Vrabel lured Dean Peas out of retirement

to be his defensive coordinator, replacing Dick LeBeau. Peas quickly won over the Titans with his plans to switch up the defensive fronts with the possibility of flipping outside linebackers Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan to chase quarterbacks, and Orakpo loves what Peas wants to do.

“It’s attack-attackattack,” Orakpo said.

“That’s what it’s all

The Titans also bolstered the defence by signing cornerback Malcolm Butler, who’s been installed as a starter opposite his former Patriots’ teammate Logan Ryan, and drafting linebackers Rashaan Evans and Harold Landry. Evans has missed most of the preseason with an undisclosed injury, but Landry has taken advantage of a shoulder injury sidelining Orakpo since the second day of training camp to get plenty of work.

Two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan has been giving Landry tips throughout the preseason.

Morgan, who’s also been helping Landry, likes what he sees in how the Titans will be able to attack opponents.

“You always want to attack on defence and in an intelligent way,” Morgan said. “We have a lot of different things that we can do schematic-wise.

They do a good job of putting us in the right position to be successful.”

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Friday, August 24, 2018, PAGE 7

DESMOND HITS 2-RUN HOMER IN 9TH, ROCKIES BEAT PADRES 4-3

By PAT GRAHAM, AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — Matt Holliday wore cleats from 2007. The Coors Field mojo almost felt straight from that decade, too.

When Colorado made a charge to its only World Series appearance, it was behind late-season wins just like the dramatic one the Rockies pulled out on this throwback Thursday.

Ian Desmond hit a tworun, two-out homer in the ninth inning, and the Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 in the return of the 38-year-old outfielder Holliday.

“When something special is happening, you find ways to win games,” said Holliday, who wore a pair of black spikes that the clubhouse manager dug out of storage from ‘07 since Holliday had only a gray pair. “Those are important wins and a huge swing by Ian.” Desmond lined an 88-mph splitter from reliever Kirby Yates (4-3) over the fence in left after Trevor Story singled earlier in the ninth and stole second. It was

long drive in the fifth that he thought was gone. He even went into a little hop.

“I remembered it was a tornado blowing in from left field,” Holliday cracked. “I hit that good.”

The Rockies overcame a baserunning blunder early and a costly error late to take two of three games from the Padres and move within one game of first-place Arizona in the NL West.

Jose Pirela came through with a bases-loaded, oneout hit up the middle off reliever Bryan Shaw to give the Padres a 3-2 lead. It was just after Story misplayed a slow roller.

Chris Rusin (1-2) worked a scoreless ninth to pick up the win.

Kyle Freeland turned in a solid outing by allowing two runs over 6 1/3 innings in the no-decision. The 25-year-old Denver native was elated to take the field with Holliday.

“That’s a guy I looked up to big time, when I was in middle school and high school,” Freeland said.

On a blustery day, Joey Lucchesi kept the Rockies in check for six innings. The left-hander allowed two runs

COLORADO Rockies’ Ian Desmond celebrates with teammates after his two-run, walk off home run of San Diego Padres relief pitcher Kirby Yates in the ninth inning.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Desmond’s second career walk-off homer. His other was May 2, 2012, against Arizona.

“It felt good. It felt good to win the series,” Desmond said. “Winning a series is really important this time of

year.”

Yates said the pitch to Desmond was one that didn’t “have any bite to it.”

“I got him the other night,” Yates said. “He got me today.”

Holliday was in Colorado’s

starting lineup for the first time in a decade after having his contract selected from Triple-A Albuquerque before the game. He finished 0 for 3 — he was lifted for a defensive replacement in the seventh — but had a

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 74° F/23° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly cloudy with a thunderstorm

Some sun with a t‑storm in the area

Some sun with a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny with a shower

High: 88°

Low: 80°

High: 89° Low: 80°

High: 89° Low: 78°

High: 89° Low: 78°

High: 89° Low: 78°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

96° F

84° F

97°-86° F

99°-85° F

97°-85° F

97°-85° F

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 77° F/25° 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: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

6‑12 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 89° F/32° C Low: 78° F/26° C

6‑12 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

S

E

W

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 77° F/25° C

MIAMI

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

4‑8 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 88° F/31° C Low .................................................... 79° F/26° C Normal high ....................................... 89° F/32° C Normal low ........................................ 76° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 87° F/31° C Last year’s low ................................... 74° F/24° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday .................................. trace Year to date ............................................... 35.56” Normal year to date ................................... 23.70”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

S

E

W

6‑12 knots

S

7‑14 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

uV inDex toDay

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

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

7:12 a.m.

7:36 p.m.

2.7 3.2

1:22 a.m.

1:18 p.m.

0.8 0.6

Saturday

7:52 a.m.

8:14 p.m.

2.8 3.3

2:00 a.m.

1:58 p.m.

0.7 0.6

Sunday

8:31 a.m.

8:50 p.m.

2.9 3.3

2:36 a.m.

2:37 p.m.

0.6 0.6

Monday

9:08 a.m.

9:26 p.m.

3.0 3.3

3:11 a.m.

3:16 p.m.

0.6 0.6

Tuesday

9:45 a.m.

10:02 p.m.

3.0 3.2

3:46 a.m.

3:54 p.m.

0.6 0.6

Wednesday 10:23 a.m.

10:38 p.m.

3.1 3.1

4:20 a.m.

4:34 p.m.

0.6 0.7

Thursday

3.1 3.0

4:55 a.m.

5:16 p.m.

0.6 0.8

11:02 a.m.

11:17 p.m.

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:48 a.m.

7:37 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

6:40 p.m.

5:05 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Aug. 26

Sep. 2

Sep. 9

Sep. 16

CAT ISLAND

E

W

and struck out six. His only major mistake was allowing a solo homer to David Dahl.

Lucchesi worked his way out of a messy situation in the third courtesy of a mistake on the bases by the Rockies. With no outs and runners on first and third, Dahl broke for home on Freeland’s bunt, only to be thrown out. Charlie Blackmon then hit into a double play to end the threat.

It was an emotional day for Holliday, who returned to where his career began.

The team played the song “Holiday Road” from “National Lampoon’s Vacation” before the game. He also received a standing ovation before his first at-bat — a groundout to second.

Holliday hasn’t played in the majors since last season with the New York Yankees. He suited up the first five seasons of his career for Colorado, hitting .290 as a rookie in 2004 and helping lead the Rockies to their only World Series appearance in 2007.

“I’m grateful to be back,” said Holliday, who hit .319 with 128 homers for Colorado from 2004-08.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

7‑14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 85° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N E

W

N E

W

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 SE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots

WAVES 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 85° F 86° F 87° F 87° F 83° F 83° F 84° F 84° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 87° F 87° F 84° F 84° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 84° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 82° F 82° F

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NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

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PAGE 8, Friday, August 24, 2018

THE TRIBUNE SERENA WILLIAMS

TIGER Woods. (AP)

FOUR-WAY TIE FOR LEAD AT NORTHERN TRUST AS TIGER WOODS STALLS

By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer PARAMUS, N.J. (AP) — Tiger Woods failed to carry any momentum he had from his last tournament into the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Neither did Sean O’Hair. That was only good news for one of them.

O’Hair missed the cut last week and is No. 121 in the FedEx Cup standings, meaning he had to play well at The Northern Trust or his season is over. He made one eagle, had a good look at another and shot a 5-under 66 to join Jamie Lovemark, Vaughn Taylor and Kevin Tway atop the leaderboard.

Woods, a runner-up at the PGA Championship two weeks ago, didn’t do anything great or anything bad and shot a 71, leaving him in a tie for 60th.

Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka were among those at 67.

VENUS WILLIAMS

SERENA, VENUS WILLIAMS COULD MEET IN US OPEN 3RD ROUND

By BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Serena and Venus Williams could be headed toward their earliest Grand Slam meeting in 20 years, facing a potential third-round matchup at the U.S. Open.

If the sisters do play each other, the winner might face No. 1-ranked Simona Halep in the fourth round.

That section of the women’s bracket, and a possible Roger Federer-Novak Djokovic quarterfinal showdown in the men’s, provided the most intrigue when the brackets were revealed at Thursday’s draw for the last major of the year.

This marks Serena’s return to Flushing Meadows after missing the hard-court tournament in 2017 — she gave birth to her daughter last Sept. 1.

The 36-year-old American has won six of her 23 Grand Slam titles at the

U.S. Open and was given the No. 17 seed by the U.S. Tennis Association — nine places above her current ranking.

Venus, who won five of her seven Grand Slam singles trophies in New York, is ranked and seeded 16th. She faces a tricky first-round match against Svetlana Kuznetsova, whose two major championships include the 2004 U.S. Open.

Kuznetsova was given a wild-card entry for the tournament, where maindraw play begins Monday.

Serena’s opener comes against 60th-ranked Magda Linette of Poland.

Should the Williams siblings both make it to the third round, they would play each other at a Grand Slam tournament sooner than they have since Venus beat Serena in the second round at the 1998 Australian Open — their very first head-to-head match on tour.

They’ve gone on to play a total of 29 times — Serena leads 17-12 — and that includes nine all-in-thefamily Grand Slam finals, most recently at the 2017 Australian Open.

In the men’s field, No. 1-ranked and defending champion Rafael Nadal opens against David Ferrer in an all-Spanish rematch of their 2013 French Open final. No. 2 Federer plays Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round.

Tuneup Federer lost in the quarterfinals last year and this time in that round could face No. 6 seed Djokovic, the Wimbledon champion who beat him two weeks ago in a tuneup and is considered a tournament favourite after having to miss it last year because of injury.

Nadal, however, isn’t sure there is one.

“Of course Novak and Roger, they are doing very well and especially they like the hard courts,” he said during the draw ceremony by the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan. “Let’s see. Let’s see what’s going on.”

No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev and seventh-seeded Marin Cilic, the 2014 U.S. Open champion, are also in Federer’s half of the draw along with No. 30 seed Nick Kyrgios, the Australian whom Federer could meet in the third round.

Stan Wawrinka, the 2016 U.S. Open champion who missed last year’s tournament because of injury and was given a wild card into this year’s field, faces No. 8 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in one of the headline matches of the first round.

Wawrinka, a three-time major titlist, eliminated Dimitrov in the first round at Wimbledon in June.

Nadal’s half of the draw

includes No. 3 seed and 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro — who could face another former U.S. Open champion in Andy Murray in the third round — and fifthseeded Kevin Anderson, the Wimbledon and U.S. Open runner-up.

Besides FedererDjokovic, the other possible men’s quarterfinals are Nadal-Anderson, Del Potro-Dimitrov and Zverev-Cilic.

Women’s No. 2 seed Caroline Wozniacki faces 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur in the first round.

Sloane Stephens, the defending champion, is the No. 3 seed and could face former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the third round.

Potential women’s quarterfinals include Halep vs.

No. 8 Karolina Pliskova, Wozniacki vs. No. 5 Petra Kvitova, Stephens vs. No. 7 Elina Svitolina, and No. 4 Angelique Kerber vs. No. 6 Carolina Garcia.

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