SPORTS SECTION E
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017
Waltiea Rolle on the rebound By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
W
altiea Rolle has been the pioneer, breaking the barrier as the first Bahamian female basketball player to play in the Women’s National Basketball Association. But although Rolle’s sting was shortlived with the Seattle Storm in 2014, she’s hoping that she will eventually work her way back into the league where she can either team up or play against Grand Bahamian Jonquel Jones, who is having a sensational season with the Connecticut Sun. When she left the WNBA, she has posted an average of 2.7 points per game with 3.2 rebounds per game in a total of six games played. She attempted to make another comeback, but was cut the day before the new season got underway in 2015. “Right now, I’m trying to get back overseas,” said Rolle, who returned home in May after playing last season in Bulgaria. “Me and my agent are trying right now to get a deal somewhere in Turkey where the contract is a lot better than where I was before.” In the meantime, Rolle said she decided not to reach out to any WNBA teams because she wanted to make sure that her body was in the best physical condition to take on the vigorous routine of playing at the highest standard in the sport. “I could have been doing now, but with two young children to take care of right now, I have to devote my time with them and working out with my brother, Walter Rolle, and the teams he plays with. “I just have to work on my speed. I need to get a lot faster,” Rolle said. “My post game wasn’t the best, but I hope that between October and November, I will be in shape to go overseas to play again.”
FRANK RUTHERFORD: ‘NOW I SEE WHY NOAH HAD TO BUILD THE ARK’
of us can play together or against each other. I am just glad that I was able to pave the way.” Although she’s trying to work her way back into the WNBA, the 6-6 Rolle, who will celebrate her 27th birthday on September 11, said she will be prepared to go along with the flow.
AS a Bahamian who has experienced the devastation of hurricanes before, Olympic triple jump bronze medallist Frank Rutherford said he has been able to cope with the catastrophe that they are now dealing with in the state of Texas from Tropical Storm Harvey over the weekend. Rutherford, one of the many Bahamians living in the fourth largest state in America, said it’s something that he has gotten used to. “You’re coping with it, but it’s an unprecedented event,” Rutherford told The Tribune. “It’s more of a flooding episode than the media originally let it be known. The media in the United States, even though they documented it, didn’t properly tell the people about the aftermath of Harvey with the rain that has made it so incredible. “Now I see why Noah had to build the ark. We really need one now.” Although an order for a voluntary evacuation has been issued for Fort Bend County in Richmond where he resides with his wife Milessa and children, Jazmyn and Alexis, Rutherford said the water has risen to
SEE PAGE 2
SEE PAGE 2
WALTIEA ROLLE in action for University of North Carolina in January, 2012. (AP) In the meantime, Rolle said she’s been watching the WNBA and Jones, the Grand Bahamian native, who has been in the conversation as one of the most improved players in the league this year. Jones, a 6-foot, 6-inch forwardcentre for the playoff-bound Sun, is averaging 15.9 points, a leagueleading 11.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 block shots, while playing
about 28.5 minutes per game, in her second season. She also came up with her first dunk on a break away one-hander with about 22 seconds left during the Verizon WNBA All-Star game for the East team that eventually lost to the west. “I am happy for her. She’s really doing her thing,” Rolle said of Jones. “It would be good if the two
In his first game last weekend, the Chargers scored a 27-6 win over Howard in the season’s home opener. Roberts played basketball locally and during his first year at CCS, but coaches saw his size and potential for the gridiron. Chargers Coach Mark Mariakis has experimented with Roberts on both the defensive and offensive sides of the line of scrimmage as he learns more about the game. “It’s tough for that big body to stay low,” Mariakis said to the FTP. “You have to understand leverage and how to get into people’s hips. But from where he was in May when he touched a football helmet for the first time, he’s come a long way.” In the classroom, Roberts boasts a 3.37 grade-point average. “With three years in the weight room, the kid could be a monster,” Mariakis said. “One of the most exciting things we get to see as coaches in this game is when a young kid develops. I know one thing: he’s not going to be limited by his stature.”
KEANO ROBERTS
Axemen hope to rebound after 64-23 loss to Mounties
SHELTON WILLIAMS
Sharapova, Page 5
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
Keano making a name for himself on the gridiron By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net A NEWCOMER to American football, one Bahamian high school student is garnering media attention for his size and natural ability to adapt quickly to the game. Keano Roberts of the Chattanooga Christian Chargers was featured in the Free Time New Press out of Chattanooga, Tennessee for the potential he can bring to the programme. Roberts, a 6’5” 280-pound sophomore, received the opportunity at the school through an exchange programme for international students and played football for the first time. “I’ve always watched football on TV. Actually, when I came here I started getting into it. I watched it a lot more closely, just being a student of the game,” he told Kelley Smiddie. “This is one of the most encouraging teams I’ve ever been a part of. They encourage me and have made me better each and every day.”
US OPEN
By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE Acadia Axemen, and the strong Bahamian roster on its 2017 roster hope to rebound quickly from a lopsided opening week loss in Atlantic University Sport football. The Axemen suffered a 64-23 loss to the Mount Allison Mounties on the road last weekend in Sackville, Nova Scotia. The Axemen include junior wide receiver Eugene McMinns, junior offensive linemen Shelton Williams, and sophomore defensive back Arrien McDonald. McMinns picked up where he left off in exhibition play and continues to establish himself as one of the leading receivers on the team in his return to the programme. In the team’s only preseason game he had two receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns. In the sea-
son opener against Mount Allison, McMinns finished tied for the team lead with five receptions for 62 yards and one touchdown His afternoon was highlighted when he caught a 24 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cody Cluett to cap a four play 90 yard drive. The score brought the Axemen’s deficit to 21-10 with 12:16 left to play in the first half. Three of his receptions in the game were for 10 yards or more. Acadia struck first with a 26yard field goal for the game’s first score, but it would be their only lead of the game. Mount Allison scored two touchdowns before the end of the quarter and took a 14-3 lead into the second. The also scored the first touchdown of the second quarter before Acadia answered with McMinns’ score. Mount Allison would go on to outscore Acadia by 16 in the quarter and took a 35-16 lead into the half. The Mounties won the third
quarter 14-7 and tacked on another another touchdown in the fourth for the game’s final margin. Williams saw time as a reserve while McDonald did not make an appearance. The Axemen will search for their first win of the season on September 2 when they face Bishop’s Gaiters in their first regular season game since joining the AUS last winter. “We’re excited to get another season of Acadia Football underway! If we stay healthy and continue to improve throughout the season we will put ourselves in position for good things to happen. With a strong returning group and some talented rookies we feel like we will be an exciting team to watch in 2017,” said Axemen coach Jeff Cummins. All of the Bahamian players on the Axemen roster spent two years
SEE PAGE 2
DAVIS SIGNS TO BUDAPEST IN HUNGARIAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE latest stop on the pro basketball circuit for Bennet Davis will feature his return to a familiar stop and his second stint in Hungary. Davis has signed to MAFC Budapest of the Hungarian Basketball League, the highest level league of basketball in the country. The league comprises 14 teams, the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs. Teams at the bottom of the league play in a contrasting bracket and are relegated to a lower tier. MAFC has been an active member of the Hungarian Basketball League since 1934 and has participated continuously in all leagues since then. As a result is the third most successful club in the Hungarian league with seven national championships, 23 silver medals and 10 bronze medals. The 33-year-old veteran forward most recently played for a pair of French clubs. His latest stop was as a member of SAP Vaucluse in the French NM1 league. In 17 games for the team, he averaged 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game last season. Earlier in the season, he also played for Saint Chamond in French Pro B league where in 11 games he had 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. He was selected to Eurobasket.com’s AllFrench NM1 Honourable Mention. In the season prior, his first season in France, Davis helped his Union Basket
SEE PAGE 2