10252018 SPORTS

SPORTS SECTION E

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

Klay: ‘Deandre’s got such a bright future’

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

G

olden State Warriors All-Star guard Klay Thompson shares the lofty expectations most pundits have for Deandre Ayton.

Prior to the Warriors’ 123103 win over the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night at Oracle Arena, Thompson lauded Ayton’s future impact on Bahamian basketball and the NBA. “It’s huge,” Thompson said. “It’s been so many Bahamians come into the NBA the last few years, as well as the college ranks. So, to see Deandre as the No.1 pick, from a little small island just like my father almost 40 years later, it’s incredible. Deandre’s got such a bright future, he’s going to bring the big man back in the league and I’m so happy for him because he’s got all the skills. He’s got a 20-yearcareer ahead of him as long as he keeps his head on straight, which I know he will.”

Thompson scored 16 points but missed his initial four 3-point tries and finished 1 of 6 from deep, making him 3 for 22 through four games. He sustained what is considered a mild ankle sprain, but told head coach Steve Kerr he could have returned.

Ayton finished with his second double double of the season - 20 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.

The Suns fell to 1-3.

“Klay and I, we showed love before the game and said what’s up, but other than that we were out there battling,” Ayton said.

“My mindset was just to win.

The Warriors are a championship team, we wanted to focus on the details on the defensive end, they’re a high-paced team, and just

GOLDEN State Warriors All-Star guard Klay Thompson and No.1 NBA Draft pick Deandre Ayton face off as the Warriors won 123-103 over Ayton’s Phoenix Suns at Oracle Arena on Tuesday night.

Photo: 10thYearSeniors.com really lock in on who the hot guys are on the floor. There are a lot of great shooters and a lot of great scorers on that team and they’re great defenders as well. They made a lot of contested shots, a lot of tough shots. I found myself heavily contesting Klay a few times and he still made it. They’re so quick, and it’s a high arc. It’s a big learning experience.”

It was a bounce back game for the top overall pick who finished

with just five points and eight rebounds in a loss to Denver on Saturday night. He said he continues to consider each game a learning experience.

“It’s very early. Can’t just sit here and pout, you have to learn from it and move on. Every game I’ve played I’ve learned something from each game,” he said.

“From the Warriors I learned how fast we should move. Those guys are grown men and they were

running faster than us so we just have to keep up with the energy, not come out slow, really lock in on defence, be vocal on the defensive end and have communication.

Those guys were talking, they knew every play we were throwing at them, and we have to learn to do the same thing. I think we’ll be better off.”

The Suns hosted the Los Angeles Lakers last night at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.

Munnings: ‘Being a senior comes with a lot of responsibility’

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net TRAVIS Munnings heads into his senior season with the University of Louisiana-Monroe men’s basketball programme as its leading returning scorer, an All-Conference player and the unquestioned of the Warhawks for the 2018-19 season.

“Being a senior comes with a lot of responsibility, you’ve got to bring it each and every day. You can’t be lacking because you have guys that are following your lead,” Munnings said at Warhawks media day. “I have to come ready to compete each and every day and night and to bee a leader that I was called to be.”

They open the preseason with a home exhibition game on November 1 against Henderson State

SEE PAGE 17

and open the regular season on November 6 on the road against Jackson State.

“This group has come in everyday wanting to work and wanting to get better as a team and I feel like if we continue to do that each and every day we will be a good team. I just the team some days ‘I know you wont feel like being in practice, not wanting to do it or your body doesn’t feel right,’ but at the end of the day you just have to push through it because it will all pay off in the long run,” Munnings said.

“I see a good team. I think we’ll be very quick and very active.

We’ve got a lot of talent and guys who can play multiple positions. I feel like we won’t have situations where we go four or five minutes without scoring. We have aggressive guys who are athletic.”

After testing the market last spring and facing evaluation from scouts and coaches, Munnings withdrew from the NBA Draft and decided to return to the Warhawks.

“I’m excited to come back for my senior year,” Munnings said.

“I want to complete unfinished business and try to make it to the NCAA Tournament. I want to compete at a high level and try to push my team to be the best it can be.”

Last season, he was named a Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) Men’s College Basketball Team Third-team

TRAVIS Munnings speaks to reporters on media day. selection to add to his postseason accolades.

As a junior, he averaged 15.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He was previously honoured as Second-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection and won Sun Belt Player of the Week.

En route to winning Conference Player of the Week honours, Munnings averaged 21 points and 5.5 rebounds while helping ULM to a homecourt sweep over UT Arlington (84-71) and Texas State (79-71).

He also made 9-of-21 three pointers (41 per cent) during that two-game stretch.

Munnings led the team in both scoring and rebounding and is a member of the 1,000-point club. As a freshman, the 6’6” forward averaged 7.2 points and 5.4 rebounds

and increased those numbers to 13.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore.

“Travis is having an outstanding career. What I hope for him is that we’re really good his senior year.”

He expects those numbers to increase this season.

“I stayed in the gym. I tried to stay consistent with my work.

Working on the things I lacked, tried to get better so I can better myself and be better for my teammates,” Munnings said.

“I just want us to compete every night and whatever happens…happens. We need to leave it all on the floor every game, every practice. I just want to let them know to still have fun with it because at the end of the day, it’s basketball, so I want them to enjoy their time and give it their all.

NFL PICKS

Week 8, Page 16

NPWBA: ALL-GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL TOURNAMENT STARTS TODAY

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE New Providence Women’s Basketball Association will continue its recent tradition of hosting a preseason tournament for high school basketball players seeking for an opportunity to showcase their skills.

The NPWBA is scheduled to host its annual All-Girls High School Tournament October 25-27 at the DW Davis Gymnasium.

The event, which features six junior and senior girls teams, will honour local iconic women’s basketball pioneer, Dr Linda Davis.

Among her many accolades, Dr Davis has the distinction of serving as the first Provost of University of The Bahamas. Dr Davis has served in various senior administrative positions throughout her extensive career in higher education. She is a former Dean of International Programmes and Partnerships at Wheelock College in Boston, Massachusetts, and a former Vice President of Academic Affairs and Vice President of Research, Graduate Programmes and International Relations at the College of The Bahamas.

On the basketball court, she was inducted into the College of St Benedict’s Hall of Fame for her tenure from 1973-77. She served as a captain for both the basketball and volleyball teams

SEE PAGE 17

CITY BOWLING LEAGUE ROUND-UP

THE most valuable player (MVP) in the City Bowling League competition Monday night was Raymond Adderley of the Carib Construction, who toppled the pins for a 258 second high game and a 657 high three game series.

The runner-up was Sonith Lockhart, also of Carib Construction, with a 651 second high set. David Slatter of Telco Enterprises struck for the high game of 260.

The leader in the ladies’ category was Xynea Johnson of the Brooklyn Strikers with a 213 second high game and a 580 high three game set. Johnson was followed by Driskell Rolle of the Asurewin Pocket Pleasers with a 579 second high set.

Joy Lockhart of the Avengers downed the pins for the high game of 217.

The team scores for the evening were as follows: Clayton Gardiner & Associates 3, Checker’s Cafe 0; CDM Knights 3, Bahamasair Flyers 0; Avengers 3, Telco Enterprises 0; Ten Back Strokers 2, E&U Watercoolers 1; BEC Shockers 2, Brooklyn Strikers 1 and Carib Construction 2, Asurewin Pocket Pleasers 1.

PAGE 14, Thursday, October 25, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

SHOWN (l-r) are Gail Clarke, vice president finance candidate, Sandra Laing, second vice president candidate, Rosamunde Carey, incumbent president, Carl Oliver, first vice president candidate and Philip Gray, vice president for marketing and public relations candidate.

Carey and ‘Bonafide Innovators’ take campaign to Grand Bahama

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AFTER a successful launch at the beginning of the month, incumbent president Rosamunde Carey and her Bonafide Innovators team took their campaign to Grand Bahama over the weekend as they seek to win another four-year term in office of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations.

Carey, who became the first female president of the BAAA when she ousted Mike Sands in 2015, will be contesting her second consecutive term when she gets challenged by Drumeco Archer, her executive secretary, when the elections are held on November 24, following the annual general meeting on November 23.

Flanked by her first vice president candidate Carl Oliver, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations Philip Gray and her campaign manager Curtis Pride, Carey said her team is focused on the work at hand and has proven that they are capable of continuing to carry the mandate of the BAAA in the future.

Other members of her team not present were Sandra Laing (2nd Vice President), Gail Clarke (Vice President - Finance), Cedricka Rolle (Vice President - Business Operations) and Patrick Adderley (Vice President - Technical Operations).

“I think my three-year tenure in office, despite some setbacks with non-functioning executives, has been very productive,” Carey said on her return from Grand Bahama. “I think that we were able to accomplish a lot of the pillars that we said we were going to do during our campaign.

“One of the major things that I can think about was the introduction of the new constitution.

I would say as far back as 2009 when we were at the World Championships in Berlin, we had a conversation with the then legal adviser and he was very clear that our constitution was very weak and it needed to be restructured.”

At the time, Carey was serving as the treasurer of the BAAA. But with their term in office completed that same year, she said when she decided to come back and run for president in 2015,

she was surprised that the constitution was still a big issue and nothing had been done even after it was strongly recommended that they amend it.

As a result of their failure to make the necessary changes, the BAAA eventually was found not in compliance with the sports policies for the country and, as such, was not granted any funding by the Ministry of Finance. However, when she came into office, Carey said Oliver was able to get a stay in the Ministry of Finance as they worked on the amendments to the constitution.

With the constitution now amended, only registered and financial clubs will be allowed to vote and not any executive members for a structured board that will comprise of the president and six vice presidents with specific duties. It’s the same process at general meetings where only clubs are allowed to vote.

At present, there are about 70 clubs on record who are eligible to vote, along with Pauline Davis-Thompson, the IAAF councilwoman, the only person outside of the executive term, that has that privilege.

As another feather in her cap, Carey said her administration was able to carry all of their national teams to compete in regional and global meets without having to ask parents to pay or athletes to go and solicit sponsorship.

“What I would like to see happen, but unfortunately is not happening, is that people will look at the issues and not look at personalities, but look at the strength of the individuals, the records of the individuals and the abilities of the individuals and then make their determinations and what they are capable to accomplish.”

And even though she is being challenged by one of her executive members, Carey said she’s not concerned at all.

“His record doesn’t stand next to mine. There is no strength in his record,” she simply stated.

Should or when she is reelected, Carey said there are a couple of things they would want to concentrate on, inclusive of fund raising to ensure that their teams travel and they can carry out their administrative chores, their policies are in place to coincide with their regional partners

and they provide the incentives for their athletes and coaches.

“This team parallels our first team, United Purpose. We had a team that was skilled and had a lot of purpose,” she said. “This Bonafide Innovators team just seek to build on what United Purpose left in place. This team also has the highly skilled, committed and dedicated members. This team shows me that we have the depth and the foundation to move the federation forward.”

Carey thanked Tonique Williams, the outgoing first vice president, Norris Bain, the second vice president and Mildred Adderley, the assistant treasurer, all of whom will not be seeking re-election. Mabeline Miller, the assistant secretary, is currently

serving as the interim chief executive officer of the BAAA and will oversee the elections. She won’t be running either.

However, incumbent treasurer Sharon Gardiner will be running on Archer’s slate, along with statistician Rupert Gardiner.

Oliver as First Vice President Although he lost to Archer for the post of secretary general during the 2015 elections, Oliver said he remained committed to assisting Carey and her team, especially in the amendment of the new constitution.

“I provided the much-needed assistance to ensuring that we completed the constitution. I chaired that body and I think we did an excellent job,” Oliver said.

“Going forward, being a part of Bonafide Innovators, I will still do what is required as a senior person in the Ministry of Finance to provide whatever is required of me to move the organisation forward.

“We have a lot of work to do and as articulated in our plan, I will do whatever is required of me

to function in the capacity of first vice president.”

Having worked behind the scenes with Carey, Oliver said he feels she deserves another term to complete the job that she started in 2015.

“I was a part of the 2012-2015 administration and I would say that there was nothing that we could say we accomplished,” he staid. “So when you compare it to Mrs Carey’s tenure from 2015 to now is amazing. I don’t know why anybody wouldn’t want to be a part of her team going forward in the next four years.

“I’m sure that whatever we have encapsulated in our plans moving forward, under Mrs Carey over the next four years, we will be able to achieve them.”

Gray as Vice President of Marketing and PR Having gotten his feet wet in the public relations department over the past three years, Gray said he’s even more focused and committed to carrying out his mandate if he is re-elected.

“I’m very encouraged by the visionary leadership of Rosamunde Carey. I found her to be very industrious, hardworking at all times and there was a clear agenda at all times,” he stated. “She was very focused on the transformation of the federation and there’s always been a unique interest in our youth, our athletes and the advancement of our coaches and the federation as a whole.

“We have began the process of transformation of the federation, which the constitution of the federation is taking us to a true business model. In order for us to complete the transformation, we need this second term to transform the federation into the business model that will allow the federation to mushroom, develop and to grow into a model that can be comparable to the federations around the world.”

During his tenure, Gray said he was able to introduce a number of initiatives and he intends to continue to rebrand the BAAA once he is given the opportunity to serve again.

Pride proud to be campaign manager As the immediate past president of the Coaches Association, Pride said he was very impressed with the manner in which the

executive board performed under the tutelage of Carey.

“I sat on the past executive board and I must say the operation of that board was nowhere near or close to the high level of the current one,” he pointed out. “Mrs Carey, as president, demonstrated to me that she has the leadership skills to lead our association into a contemporary association.

“I just want to say to all of our coaches out there, we don’t need a new president at this time.

What we need is to continue in the direction that we started with the constitutional reform. We just need to hold our president accountable and give her and her team the support that they need with policies to move us forward.”

During their past three years in office, Carey and her team boast of the following achievements: 1. The ascension of the new constitution on April 1, 2017.

2. Project Hurricane Relief November 2016.

3. Gala Awards 4.

Trackside Magazine publication.

5. Production of the first AGM booklet, consistency with industry standards when convening AGM meetings.

6. 65th Anniversary Exhibition at the Mall at Marathon and newspaper supplement.

7. The institution of the Annual Executive Conclave for strategic planning for the new fiscal year.

8. The implementation of Trackside Administration, which brought the office and affiliates to the coaches and athletes.

9. The successful hosting of the IAAF/BTC World Relays 2017; the Flow CARIFTA Games Bahamas 2018, CARIFTA Congress and CARIFTA Ball.

10. Diversification and expansion of partnerships and sponsors of the federation.

11. Successful and improved medal podium standing at regional and global meets.

12. The implementation and hosting of the annual media luncheon.

13. Expansion of social media communication with federations, constituents, partners and all stakeholders.

14. Consistent and effective inclusion of athletes’ representation in executive decision making.

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 25, 2018, PAGE15

Archer, TEAM MECO launch bid for president of the BAAA

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A SECOND slate of candidates have launched their bid for next month’s Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations elections.

Under the theme “Be The Greatest of All Time...Be The G.O.A.T,” BAAA Secretary General Drumeco Archer officially launched his campaign for president of the organisation and introduced his fellow candidates at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium last night.

Ravanno Ferguson will vie for the position of 1st Vice President with Rupert Gardiner as 2nd Vice President.

The remainder of the slate includes Sharon Gardiner (VP Finance), Kermit Taylor (Marketing and Public Relations), Dawn Johnson (VP, Business Operations) and Frank “Pancho” Rahming (VP, Technical Operations).

Archer said his platform is aimed at bridging the gap between the administration and the athletes to ensure a cohesive system, integral for the development of the sport.

The first initiative of his campaign was to issue a message to all athletes under the BAAA umbrella.

“I would be the first to confess that we (both athlete and administration) have a long, long way to go before we collectively can say that we have done all that we can to make our sport the best that it can be. With the good Lord’s will, I am determined to see more of you ascend to the podium, make a living from

the sport and in exchange make you, your family and our country proud,” he said in a press relase. “There is no one who can convince me that we are not the most talented nation in the world.

And it is my conviction that today we have the largest composition of talent ever assembled at any time in

our Bahamian history. I believe, without a doubt, that if we work together we can be more powerful than we have ever imagined and more powerful than we have ever realised. This quest for greatness cannot be done in isolation. I will need you to be a part of this process. The stories that

we share will capture the lives that you live and your tireless work that goes on behind the scenes. We want the country to know you better and we want you to inspire more athletes to be just like you.”

According to Archer, his message to the athletes will be the centre of his

team’s focus from which everything that they do will revolve.

He ousted incumbent Carl Oliver 46-36 for secretary general back in 2015 and now seeks the highest office in the organisation.

The team’s campaign is aimed at speaking directly to the voting constituents

and creating public awareness to a new approach to how they intend to grow the sport of athletics in a community-driven way.

• The BAAA is scheduled to host its Electoral General Meeting at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on November 24.

PAGE 16, Thursday, October 25, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Houston was 0-3, Miami was 3-0, now both are 4-3

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer THE Houston Texans began the season 0-3 despite high expectations.

They’ve now won four in a row, and those high expectations have returned.

Miami had a good start, going 3-0, but now has faltered and stands 4-3 with an uncertain situation at quarterback.

Things are looking up for AFC South leader Houston, and aren’t nearly so bright for the Dolphins, who live in the same neighbourhood as New England, the AFC East.

Houston, No. 12 in the AP Pro32, is a 7½-point choice over No. 18 Miami.

“Nobody wants to be 0-3,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien says. “You’re not looking to be in that hole, but we were. I think it’s really — again, I can’t emphasise this enough — I think it’s all about the players. If you don’t have the right type of players, then you’re probably going to be somewhere not close to where we are now. I think it’s really about the players, their resolve, their mindset, their mentality, their belief in what we’re trying to do, their belief in each other, their belief in the coaching staff.”

No one is saying the Dolphins don’t believe, either.

“Last time I checked we’re 4-3 and there’s a lot

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer

DOLPHINS QB Brock Osweiler (8) is seen on the sidelines in the second half of a game against the Detroit Lions last Sunday.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) of teams around this league that are 4-3,” says running back Kenyan Drake.

“All we have to do is make the necessary adjustments we need to make to be 5-3 ...”

Sorry, but that will be 4-4 after ...

TEXANS, 20-16 KNOCKOUT POOL: Thanks Chargers — or Mike Vrabel and the Titans for going for 2 at the end of the game. Pro Picks keeps on keeping on with KANSAS CITY.

No. 2 (tie) New England (minus 11) at No. 28 Buffalo Unless the weather gets brutal in Buffalo — maybe even then — should be a rout.

BEST BET: PATRIOTS, 36-13 No. 9 Baltimore (minus 1 1-2) at No. 7 (tie) Carolina Tempted by Seattle as top upset, but can’t see Ravens as road favourites here.

UPSET SPECIAL: PANTHERS, 21-20

No. 14 Seattle (plus 3) at No. 17 Detroit Really impressed by coaching job Pete Carroll is doing. SEAHAWKS, 25-22 No. 10 Washington (minus 1) at No. 29 New York Giants Really impressed by coaching job Jay Gruden is doing.

REDSKINS, 24-16 No. 4 New Orleans (plus 1) at No. 5 Minnesota Hey Saints, remember not to let Stefan Diggs loose on final play.

VIKINGS, 29-26

No. 23 Denver (plus 10) at No. 2 (tie) Kansas City Until weather turns nasty in KC, Chiefs will keep scoring in bunches.

CHIEFS, 34-20 No. 23 (tie) Tampa Bay (plus 5) at No. 13 Cincinnati Bengals are looking fragile, but past two defeats were against superior talent.

BENGALS, 27-24 No. 15 (tie) Philadelphia (minus 3) vs No. 20 Jacksonville at London Both of these teams looking fragile. At least Eagles aren’t feuding.

EAGLES, 24-16 No. 11 Green Bay (plus 9) at No. 1 Los Angeles Rams Not often that rested Packers are such big underdogs. But they can’t cover wideouts, so ...

RAMS, 33-23 No. 26 Cleveland (plus 8) at No. 7 (tie) Pittsburgh Don’t smell a blowout here, just another Browns late implosion.

STEELERS, 20-17 No. 25 New York Jets (plus 7) at No. 15 (tie) Chicago Jets hope Sam Darnold 2019 is where Mitch Trubisky 2018 is at.

BEARS, 27-15 No. 27 Indianapolis (minus 3) at No. 32 Oakland How long before Jon Gruden tries to sell Golden Gate Bridge?

COLTS, 33-20 No. 30 San Francisco (minus 1) at No. 31 Arizona Don’t think many Arizonans will vacate the golf course for this.

49ERS, 13-10

NAUGHTY’S NFL PICKS - WEEK 8 NAUGHTY Texans Jags Bears Bengals Lions Chiefs Redskins Steelers Panthers Colts Rams Niners Vikings Patriots SANTXO Z Texans Eagles Bears Bengals Lions Chiefs Redskins Steelers Panthers Colts Rams Niners Vikings Patriots JOHN S Miami Philadelphia Chicago Cincinnati

MIAMI’S OSWEILER FACES TEAM THAT LET HIM GO IN TEXANS

Detroit Lions Washington Redskins Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chicago Bears Carolina Panthers Indianapolis Colts San Francisco 49ers Green Bay Packers New Orleans Saints New England Patriots Seattle Kansas City Washington Pittsburgh, Carolina Indianapolis LA Rams San Francisco New Orleans New England STEVIE J Houston Texans Philadelphia Eagles Denver Broncos Pittsburgh Steelers

LEO B Texans Jags Bears Bengals Lions Chiefs Redskins Steelers Panthers Colts Rams Niners Saints Patriot

CLINT J Texans Eagles Bengals Steelers Chiefs Redskins Bears Lions Panthers Colts 49ers Rams Saints Patriots

NEWTON AND PANTHERS WINNING WITHOUT THROWING THE DEEP BALL

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cam Newton and the Panthers are proving they can win without throwing the ball deep down the field.

The 2015 league MVP has attempted 16 passes — and completed just three — that have travelled longer than 20 yards in the air this season, according the NFL’s Next Gen stats. That’s far fewer than most other NFL quarterbacks. Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, for instance, has completed 17 of 42 passes beyond 20 yards, with eight of those going for touchdowns.

Newton said the lack of vertical passing game isn’t something he’s concerned

SEASON STANDINGS LAST WEEK Wilner (AP) - 11-3 Santxo Z - 11-3 John S - 11-3 Clint J - 10-4 Naughty - 10-4 Stevie J - 10-4

Leo B - 9-5

3. Naughty - 67-38-2

OVERALL

4. John S - 62-43-2

1. Wilner (AP) - 69-36-2

5. Santxo Z - 61-44-2 6. Stevie J - 59-46-2 7. Leo B - 56-49-2

2. Clint J - 68-37-2

HOUSTON (AP) — When the Texans host the Miami Dolphins tonight it will be a matchup of Houston’s quarterback of the future in Deshaun Watson and one of the many failed quarterbacks of the team’s past in Brock Osweiler.

It will be Osweiler’s third straight start in place of Ryan Tannehill, who is out with a shoulder injury.

Watson is healthy after dealing with lung and rib injuries and helped the team to its fourth straight win last week after an 0-3 start to leave the Texans in first place in the AFC South.

The Texans traded up to draft Watson with the 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft to take over at the position after trading Osweiler to Cleveland just one difficult season after signing him to a $72 million contract.

Osweiler spent last season with the Broncos before joining the Dolphins this year.

Osweiler was supposed to be the answer to Houston’s longtime woes at quarterback, but instead ended up being the worst free-agent signing in the franchise’s short history.

He was benched in December of his first and only season with the Texans when he’d thrown three interceptions before halftime of a game against the Jaguars.

Tom Savage started the next two games, but got a concussion early in the second one and the Texans looked to Osweiler again.

He played well to help Houston to a win in the wild-card game over Oakland.

But his three interceptions doomed the Texans in a 34-16 loss to New England in the next round and he was sent packing a couple of months after that.

Osweiler, who is 1-1 as a starter this season, knows everyone will be talking about his time in Houston this week, but insists he isn’t worried about it.

“There’s going to be a lot of outside noise trying to make a situation bigger than what it really is; but at the end of the day ... my one season I had in Houston, I look at it as a successful season,” he said.

“We won our division and we won a playoff game,” said Osweiler.

He said he hasn’t spoken to Houston coach Bill O’Brien since the trade, but that he has “great respect” for him and the Texans.

PANTHERS QB Cam Newton in action against the Philadelphia Eagles. (AP) with entering Sunday’s home game against the Ravens (4-3), especially with his team 4-2 this season. “When you are moving the ball, people say why aren’t you taking many

shots downfield?” Newton said.

“When you take too many shots downfield and it’s not there and you start forcing the ball, they say why can’t you protect the ball? So our thing is we turn our ears to mute and take what the defence is giving us. When we have opportunities to take shots down the field trust and believe nobody loves touchdowns more than I do — and if it’s there I’m going to take it.”

Added Newton: “If not, you just live to fight another day.”

Coach Ron Rivera likes that approach, saying he is just fine with how Newton is playing. Newton has completed 11 touchdown passes this season and has four interceptions and has a solid 94.7 QB rating.

“I think the quarterback is very efficient with (the ball) right now,” Rivera said. “There’s no reason to panic.”

The formula seems to be working for the Panthers, who are winning games behind Newton’s heroics.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 25, 2018, PAGE 17

Price pitches Red Sox past the Dodgers 4-2 for 2-0 Series lead

By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — From playoff flop to World Series ace in one legacychanging October, David Price earned his second postseason victory in a row last night and delivered the Boston Red Sox their second straight World Series win.

The Red Sox left-hander pitched six innings of threehit ball, and major league RBI leader J.D. Martinez broke a fifth-inning tie with a two-run single during another two-out rally to lead Boston to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers and a 2-0 lead in the World Series.

Game 3 is Friday in Los Angeles. The Dodgers need a win to avoid an 0-3 deficit that no World Series team has ever recovered from.

The Red Sox have won 14 of their last 16 World Series games, dating to a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004.

Not bad for a team that went 86 years without a championship before then.

And Price had battled a curse of his own.

Price had been 0-9 in his first 10 postseason starts and his team had never won

a playoff game he started before this year. Boston has now won his last three starts, including the ALCS Game 5 clincher against the defending champion Astros in which he pitched six shutout innings.

On a frigid night at Fenway Park, Price held the highest-scoring team in the NL hitless through three innings and retired the last seven batters he faced.

He struggled only in the fourth, loading the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk, to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead — their first of the Series.

But the 108-win Red Sox pulled ahead, and once again they waited until there were two outs to do it.

In an uncanny stretch of clutch hitting that has been their hallmark throughout the season, the Red Sox scored all four of their runs in Game 2 with two outs, including a three-run rally in the fifth that only started after Hyun-Jin Ryu set down Ian Kinsler and Jackie Bradley Jr. Christian Vazquez singled, Mookie Betts did the same and Andrew Benintendi worked the count full before walking to load the bases, chasing Ryu. Ryan Madson walked

BOSTON Red Sox starting pitcher David Price throws during the first inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers last night.

(AP Photo/Maddie Meyer) Steve Pearce to tie the game before Martinez, who had 130 RBIs in the regular season, dropped a soft line drive in front of right fielder Yasiel Puig to score two more and give Boston a 4-2 lead. Price and three relievers retired the last 16 Los Angeles batters, with Craig Kimbrel closing the Dodgers down in a perfect ninth for his sixth save this postseason.

Boston’s other run came on Kinsler’s two-out single

in the second. The Red Sox, who led the majors in two-out runs in the regular season, have scored 36 of their 68 runs this postseason — and nine of their 12 in the Series — with two outs.

And now it’s the Dodgers in a hole.

The last 10 teams to win the first two games of the World Series — and 16 of the last 17 — have gone on to win it all. And the NL West champions will need

to do it against a team that has won six straight postseason games and five in a row on the road.

UP NEXT The teams head to the West Coast for Game 3 at Dodger Stadium on Friday.

Rookie righthander Walker Buehler is scheduled to pitch for Los Angeles against likely Boston starter Rick Porcello.

JAMES HARDEN LEAVES GAME WITH APPARENT INJURY HOUSTON (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 100-89 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in a game James Harden left with an apparent injury.

Harden headed to the locker room midway through the third quarter and didn’t return. It was unclear how he was injured or what the problem was and the team didn’t immediately provide on update.

With Harden out of the game after the Rockets pulled within five, the Jazz regained control, scoring the next 10 points to make it 94-79 and cruised to the victory.

Harden scored 29 points and Carmelo Anthony had a seasonhigh 22 for the Rockets.

Chris Paul finished up a two-game suspension for his role in a fight with the Lakers last week, and fellow starter James Ennis sat out with a strained right hamstring.

NPWBA: ALL-GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL TOURNAMENT STARTS TODAY AT DW DAVIS GYMNASIUM FROM PAGE 13 during her junior and senior years. During her time in Minnesota, St Benedict competed widely throughout the state against larger colleges that are now NCAA Division I and II competitors. Dr Davis served as a national team

coach and at various posts within the Bahamas Basketball Federation and its various national team programmes. She also served as head coach of the College of the Bahamas’ women’s basketball team.

Bahamian women’s basketball has risen to national prominence in recent years

with a number of milestone achievements.

Yolett McPhee-McCuin became the first Bahamian head coach to lead a Division I college basketball programme at the University of Jacksonville and followed that post with the head coaching job for the Ole Miss Rebels last April.

She also led the Bahamas to its first Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championship.

Jonquel Jones continues to blossom into a star in the WNBA for the Connecticut Sun and in just two seasons has garnered AllStar, All-WNBA Second Team and Sixth Woman of

the Year awards. She followed Waltiea Rolle who became the first Bahamian to play in the WNBA when she was drafted by the Seattle Storm. Several collegiate basketball players, including, led by Lashann Higgs, Leashja Grant and incoming freshman with the Rebels, Valarie Nesbitt

have garnered international acclaim for their contributions with Division I programmes.

Locally, Jurelle Nairn has spearheaded the creation of the Ballin’ By Da Beach Girls Basketball Camp, which has been a mainstay on the summer sporting calendar over the past six years.

PAGE 18, Thursday, October 25, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Barcelona, Dortmund stay perfect in Champions League

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund impressed again yesterday to join Juventus as the only teams with three straight wins midway through the Champions League group stage.

In two clashes of teams with perfect records, Barcelona beat Inter Milan 2-0 and Dortmund dismantled Atletico Madrid in a 4-0 rout.

Liverpool went back on top of an eventful Group C, beating Red Star Belgrade 4-0 while Napoli twice led at Paris Saint-Germain until Angel Di Maria’s stoppagetime shot earned a 2-2 draw.

Dortmund delivered the result of the night after defending a onegoal lead from sustained pressure in the second half. The Bundesliga leader added three late goals as Atletico’s tempers and famously resolute defense frayed.

Lionel Messi was missing for Barcelona after fracturing his right arm in a Spanish league game, but his replacement Rafinha opened the scoring in what proved to be a comfortable evening at Camp Nou. Barcelona’s win at least kept Inter in range for the other Group B teams, PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham, who drew 2-2 in the Netherlands to each earn a first point.

Tottenham’s Champions League flaw of conceding late goals showed again as PSV captain Luuk de Jong scored an 87th-minute leveler.

Minutes earlier, Tottenham goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris was sent off for a foul on PSV’s Mexico winger Hirving Lozano.

Thierry Henry’s Champions League debut as a coach saw Monaco draw 1-1 at Club Brugge, leaving both teams with one point in Group A which Dortmund leads.

needing to beat PSV in the return game November 6. Lucas Moura and Harry Kane scored either side of halftime to cancel out Lozano’s 30th-minute opener for PSV.

LIONEL Messi sits in the stands prior to the Champions League, Group B soccer match between Barcelona and Inter Milan at the Nou Camp in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) • Here’s how Wednesday’s action unfolded: DORTMUND RISING Atletico coach Diego Simeone has long fashioned a team in his own tough image, and in eight years had never seen such a heavy defeat.

Dortmund deservedly led at halftime, though Axel Witsel’s 38th-minute shot took a big deflection to beat goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Witsel was targeted by forward Diego Costa in a running battle through the second half as Atletico failed to turn its chances into goals. Costa was one of five Atletico players booked, triggering a UEFA disciplinary case.

Dortmund’s three late goals came from the bench, with two from Portugal midfielder Raphael Guerreiro and one from new England international Jadon Sancho, who had replaced American Christian Pulsiic. Guerreiro’s second and Dortmund’s fourth stemmed

from a slack pass in the 89th by Atletico left-back Filipe Luis.

Atletico next hosts Dortmund in two weeks’ time.

MESSI’S NIGHT OFF Lionel Messi sat with his son Thiago to watch Barcelona ease past Inter Milan and take control of Group B. Messi had his right arm in a fabric sling knotted at his left shoulder as he watched Rafinha score in the 32nd and defender Jordi Alba seal the game in the 83rd.

Barcelona’s expected path to the round of 16 — which can be sealed in Milan November 6 — was also eased by the early kickoff draw between PSV and Tottenham.

Tottenham has now conceded four goals after the 85th minute in its three Group B games, including Messi’s second in a 4-2 win at Wembley this month.

Those goals have cost the team five points and leave Tottenham

LIVERPOOL LEADS The three forwards who each scored 10 Champions League goals for Liverpool last season all netted at Anfield against Red Star.

Roberto Firmino started the rout in the 20th and Mohamed Salah added two more, including one from the penalty spot. Salah had left the field before Sadio Mane first had a spot-kick saved, then added Liverpool’s fourth.

The return in Belgrade on Nov. 6 promises to be a hostile evening for Liverpool’s Kosovo-born winger Xherdan Shaqiri who was booed early and often by visiting Serb fans Wednesday. At the World Cup in June, Shaqiri made a provocative hand gesture when scoring a late winning goal for Switzerland against Serbia.

Liverpool leads the group with six points, one ahead of Napoli, which looked set to win in Paris after Dries Mertens made it 2-1 in the 77th. Angel Di Maria leveler lifted PSG to just a point behind Napoli before traveling there next.

SAINT IKER Veteran goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved a 10th-minute penalty from Manuel Fernandes in Porto’s 3-1 win at Lokomotiv Moscow.

Porto got its own penalty in the 26th, scored by Moussa Marega, and further goals came from Mexicans Hector Herrera and Jesus Corona. Lokomotiv’s first Champions League goal in almost 15 years saw Alexei Miranchuk assist for his twin brother Anton.

Galatasaray drew 0-0 with visiting Schalke, leaving Porto top with seven points, two clear of the Germans.

ZVEREV HITS 50 WINS BEATING HAASE AT THE SWISS INDOORS BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Alexander Zverev became the first man to reach 50 wins on the ATP Tour this season by beating Robin Haase 6-4, 7-5 yesterday in the first round of the Swiss Indoors.

The second-seeded German moved to 50-16 in a season that has brought three titles, including the Madrid Masters.

Zverev converted all four of his break points while saving eight of the 10 held by the 47th-ranked Dutchman.

Haase used a betweenthe-legs lob to force a break in the second set that Zverev retrieved with his own ‘tweener into the net.

Third-seeded Marin Cilic now has a 1-3 record in October after losing 7-5, 7-6 (2) to the 93rd-ranked Marius Copil of Romania in a second-round match.

Taylor Fritz of the United States joined Copil in the quarter-finals by beating Swiss wild-card entry Henri Laaksonen 6-2, 7-5.

Also in the first round Wednesday, fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the 40-win mark in beating Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 7-6 (3). Tsitsipas came to Basel from winning his first career title in Stockholm on Sunday.

Jack Sock, the fifthseeded American, was eliminated by Ernests Gulbis, 7-5, 6-4. Gulbis also beat Sock in the Stockholm quarterfinals last week.

Roberto Bautista Agut, the eighth-seeded Spaniard, advanced to the second round by beating Joao Sousa 6-4, 6-3.

Kerber, Stephens win in 3 sets at the WTA Finals

By SANDRA HARWITT, Associated Press SINGAPORE (AP) — Sloane Stephens and Angelique Kerber both earned three-set victories at the WTA Finals yesterday to leave their group wide open ahead of the last round.

Stephens, who is making her debut at the year-end event, beat Kiki Bertens 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3 for her second straight victory in roundrobin play. Earlier, Kerber held her nerve and her serve to beat Naomi Osaka 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 after saving 13 of the 18 break points she faced, including five in the

final game of the first set.

The results mean all four players could still advance to the semi-finals. Stephens is the only player with a 2-0 record, with Kerber and Bertens at 1-1 and Osaka dropping to 0-2.

Stephens would have secured a semi-final spot if she had won in straight sets but Bertens managed to extend the match past midnight local time. “Thank you so much for staying as I know it’s after everyone’s bedtime,” the American told the crowd.

Kerber had a chance to win straight sets, but the Wimbledon champion was broken while serving

at 5-4. In the final set, the German didn’t squander a second chance and an error from Osaka on match point ended it.

Osaka, who won this year’s US Open, finished the match with 50 unforced errors and 42 winners, while Kerber had 30 unforced errors and 24 winners.

“I feel like this match was sort of a continuation of my last match in a way that I feel like I just didn’t serve well, in either of them,” Osaka said. “I’m playing against the best players in the world, so I feel like I want to be in top form, but I’m not really there. So it’s a little bit depressing.”

SLOANE STEPHENS, of the United States plays a return shot while competing against Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands during their singles match at the WTA tennis finals in Singapore yesterday.

(AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

KOHLI REACHES 10,000 RUNS, INDIA, WEST INDIES TIE 2ND ODI VISAKHAPATNAM, India (AP) — West Indies batsman Shai Hope hit a four off the last ball to tie the second limited-overs international against India yesterday.

India skipper Virat Kohli, who won the toss and chose to bat, reached the 10,000-run mark in the 50-over format in style with 157 not out from 129 balls. India hit 321-6 and West Indies, in reply, reached 321-7 with Hope scoring an undefeated 123

from 134 deliveries. Kohli, who scored 140 in India’s series-opening eight-wicket victory at the weekend, started the game on 9,919 runs from 204 innings. He struck 13 fours and four sixes on Wednesday.

Kohli and Ambati Rayudu took India from 40-2 in the ninth over to 179-3 in the 33rd with Rayudu scoring 73 off 80 before being bowled by Ashley Nurse (2-46). Kohli also played his part in the field, catching Shimron

Hetmyer for 94 off Yuzvendra Chahal. Kuldeep Yadav was India’s most successful bowler with 3-67 off 10 overs. West Indies went into the last over — bowled

by Umesh Yadav — needing 14 to win. Both teams had made one change, with India bringing in Kuldeep Yadav to add an extra spin option at the expense of Khaleel Ahmed, and leftarm paceman Obed McCoy getting a debut for the West Indies in favor of Oshane Thomas.