11052018 SPORTS

SPORTS SECTION E

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018

Wildcats win in grand style

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

he New Providence Softball Association champions Sunshine Auto Wildcats capped off a perfect run over the weekend to win the Bahamas Softball Federation’s 2018 Eddie Ford ladies’ national title.

They did it in grand style last night in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, stopping the Grand Bahama Elite 9 Katz 11-1 in five innings.

In the grand finale on Sunday night, the Wildcats got a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs batted in and three scored from most valuable player Daria Cambridge in the lopsided win.

“I think I performed very well tonight, beside from one little error,” said Cambridge, the second sacker. “The game is made up of hits, runs and errors, so I think I performed very well.”

Cambridge got the team off to a flying start, scoring three runs, including a two-out in-the-park home run in the second inning and she felt as the “fire starter,” it was just a domino effect the rest of the game.

“It feels awesome. This is my first championship ever, so I’m really excited,” Cambridge said.

She was assisted by left fielder Tyrice Davis with a 1-for-3 outing with two RBI and two runs scored, shortstop Larikah Russell was

T

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: The Sunshine Auto Wildcats celebrate winning their national softball title last night.

1-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored, third sacker Ruthann Simms was 2-for-3 with a run scored and first sacker Chryshann Percentie was also 1-for-3 with two RBI. It was a bitter-sweet performance for Russell, who played against her former teammates from Grand Bahama. But she admitted that it was all about the Wildcats.

“Hats off to my team for coming out and just being focused the whole game,” stated Russell, who sparked their attack with a threerun single in the first to plate Cambridge, Davis and Lashonda Bethel.

“Winning a national championship is always a great feeling and so I just want to thank our staff for staying with us and believing in us the whole way.”

Besides the three runs they scored in the first, the Wildcats added one more in the second and seven in the fourth as they stopped the Katz in five innings.

Before they did, Sunshine Auto put up four more runs in the third as Cambridge had a one-out RBI double and Davis raced around for a three-run in-the-parker.

SEE PAGE 3

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SEE PAGE 5

CARIBBEAN TIP-OFF CLASSIC SOAKS UP SPOTLIGHT

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Panthers stop Truckers for men’s crown THE Palmetto Point Panthers were not supposed to be here, but they will take the Bahamas Softball Federation’s 2018 Men’s National Softball Championship title back to Eleuthera.

The Panthers, embroiled in a dispute over their representation of the Eleuthera Softball Association, knocked off the New Providence Softball Association champions Commando Security Truckers 8-2 last night to claim the title.

It was their second victory over the Truckers after beating them 5-0 in the final game of the round robin on Saturday night in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

“I want to thank God. It was all God. We came out here with one intention to prove to the people, especially the people of Eleuthera, that we could win the title,” said

PARIS MASTERS, Page 7

NEW CHAMPIONS: The Palmetto Point Panthers celebrate winning their men’s national softball title last night.

Adney ‘the Heat’ Bethel, the Panthers’ ace pitcher.

“I thank God. I was able to keep my team in the game. Coming around the second, third inning, I started to lose focus. I started to ease up a bit. I regained focus and I had to keep pushing.”

In recording 10 strike outs with five hits, Bethel was named the most valuable player.

Palmetto Point didn’t score until the third when they came through with three runs. They added another in the fourth and fifth.

They put the icing on the cake in the sixth, highlighted by a threerun home run by catcher Justin

Pinder. It was Pinder’s only hit in four plate appearances. Shortstop Shaquille Delancy was 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs, right fielder Kenneth Davis was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

“This was awesome,” said Panthers manager Mike Dorsett. “This is the climax of a long season. A lot of people thought that we would not have made it. A lot of people thought that we should not be here, but we persevered.”

Dorsett credited their sponsor Sonia Sands for her stickability and Bethel leading a group of young players, mixed with a few veterans, they played their butts off and they

deserved to be champions. “We went to church in Eleuthera before we came here and the preacher spoke about putting your all in everything you do,” Dorsett said.

“These players did that every night and it paid off.

“Despite all of the nonsense that was going on, I told the guys to just be still and let God work it out for us. We did that. We focused on softball. This is a result of that.

Thanks be to God.” Bethel was working on a shutout against the Truckers until pitcher Thomas Davis broke it up with

SEE PAGE 3

THE first Caribbean TipOff Classic gave some of the country’s top basketball players at the prep level an opportunity to return home and showcase their skills against some of the best in international and local talent.

Three days of nearly nonstop play between 15 teams concluded last night at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Brewster Academy (New Hampsire, USA) featured Kai Jones, BC Christian Academy (British Colombia, Canada) featured Sammy Hunter, Leroy Adderley and Deante Dean, while Redemption Christian Academy(New York, USA) was led by Bahamian head coach Tristian Wilchcombe and featured Makarious Russell.

Other visiting teams include defending national champions Putnam Science Academy (Connecticut,

SEE PAGE 3

ALBURY AND NIXON TAKE HOME SPOKESMODEL TITLES

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahamian private school principal Rickelle Albury and local businessman Christopher Nixon carted off the two new titles as sports women and men spokesmodels.

The categories were introduced on Saturday night by the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation in the Faye Rolle Classic at the University of the Bahamas auditorium.

The new categories called for competitors to introduce themselves in the first segment and in the second, they had to provide some information about the sport and answer a random question from one of the judges.

Albury, a married mother of three, beat out a strong field of three that included 52-year-old Daphne Fox, who inspired those older women to “look and feel good” about themselves.

Fox was the runner-up,

SEE PAGE 2

PAGE 2, Monday, November 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

MAKO AQUATIC CLUB WINS THE BLUE WAVES INVITATIONAL

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net MAKO Aquatic Club continues its impressive showing so far this season, winning the Blue Waves Swim Club Invitational at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex on Saturday.

Coming off two consecutive victories, including their own meet last weekend, Mako captured the title at the end of the one day meet with 624 points.

Their nearest rivals were the host Blue Waves Swim Club with 609. The Dolphins Swim Club got third with 203. Team Orca got fourth with 159 and the Lyford Cay Club rounded out the top five with 118.

The three other clubs that participated saw the Barracuda Swim Club finish sixth with 117, Sea Waves seventh with 107 and Alpha Aquatics eighth with just 25 points.

“We had a good performance today, especially coming off a long meet last week,” Mako’s head coach Travano McPhee stated.

“We had a short week of practice, but the kids look good for so early in the season.

“We have the CARIFTA trials coming up in a couple of months, so the goal is to get through the winter, get through January and

February and be ready for Barbados in April.”

Dillon Brown, the head coach of the Blue Waves, said they were pleased with the overall results of the meet, especially corporate Bahamas with their sponsorship.

“To the clubs that supported, I must say thank you to them as well,” Brown said. “To the swimmers, we are absolutely lost for words with what has happened, being a club that has just been around for about two years.”

Based on their performances, Brown said his Blue Waves are slowly progressing with about 60 per cent of their team already qualified for the Bahamas Swimming Federation’s National Championships in June.

“We just want to make our mark at Nationals,” said Brown of his club that will celebrate their third anniversary in January. “We started off with some difficulties, but we have ironed them out.

“We have better support from the parents now and the swimmers understand the whole concept of swimming and what is expected of them. With each meet, we have new improvements, so I’m really pleased with our progress.”

The meet saw Trinity George from the Blue Waves winning the high point trophy in the girls’ 8-and-under 40-30 over Mako’s Gianna Sands.

A SWIMMER competes in the Blue Waves Spring Invitational.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Blue Waves’ Dijon Simmons and Christon Joseph went headto-head in the boys’ 8-and-under as they finished 1-1 with 39 and 34 points respectively.

Sea Waves also got a 1-2 punch in the 9-10 girls’ division as Anjaleah Knowles won with 43, compared to teammate Taliyah Bowe’s 38.

Aiden Rollins got the win in the boys’ 9-10 division with 30 points, six more than Mako’s Anish Roy with 24.

Dreamma Rahming got another victory for the Blue Waves in the 11-12 girls’ division with 39, well ahead of Mako’s Mia Sastre with 27.

It was also a showdown for the two clubs in the 11-12 boys’ division as Blue Waves’ Arrieon Johnson edged out Mako’s Tristin Ferguson 32-27.

Mako, however, dominated the 13-14 girls as Rachel Lundy nipped teammate Jamilah Hepburn 25-23. They did the same in the 13-14 boys with Joshua Dean winning 40-34 over team-mate Anwar Tucker.

And in the 15-and-over division, it was a reverse of fortune for the two clubs.

Anya MacPhail of Mako won the girls’ title with a 43-37 decision over Alexa Dean of the Blue Waves. In the boys’ division, Blue Waves’ Shawn Ferguson was the winner with 35 points and Davente Carey of Mako was second with 27.

“I could have done a little better, but overall it was a good meet,” said Joshua Dean, a 14-year-old 10th grader at St Augustine’s College. “I enjoyed the freestyle events. I feel by April, I should be going much faster.”

MacPhail, a student at St Andrew’s School, said it was a good performance for her.

“Today, I swum all of the 100ms, fly, back, breast and free and 50 free,” she pointed out. “I was a little off my times in all of the events, but I still felt pretty good about my performance.”

MacPhail, 16, said she was very pleased with Mako’s performance as well.

Shawn Ferguson said he couldn’t ask for a better performance than what he produced.

“It was pretty good until I reached the 200m fly where I sort of lost it, but I managed to get it back,” said Ferguson, a 16-year-old grade 11 student at St Augustine’s College. “I’m looking good so far. I’m improving on all my times. I’m trying to make the national team for the first time.”

Carey, one of the most outstanding male swimmers here at home, said although it’s just his second meet in the season, he’s not too concerned about the overall results.

“I just have some things to work on for next year,” said Carey, the 16-year-old 12th grader at Queen’s College, who lost his only race in the meet in the 50m breast to teammate Kierro Stubbs.

“Hopefully at the next meet I could get better. I didn’t have much rest in between the last two meets. The competition is getting stiff now because more guys are coming up.”

Raptors, Knights victorious in GSSSA cross country

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE CH Reeves Raptors and the CR Walker Knights, two powerhouses in track and field, continued their successes by winning the junior and senior divisions of the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s cross country.

The one-day event was held at the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Driving Range and was termed a success by GSSSA president Varel Davis with 15 schools participating.

“With this being the second year, this one was better than last year,” Davis said. The numbers increased and the participation was excellent from the schools.

“It was really good. The children enjoyed themselves. If you see the fight between the schools, it was very tight right to the end.

We had to double check the scores to determine the overall champions.”

Tascaneke Hanna, winner of the under-15 girls’ division, said it was a very good race.

“I paced myself. I wanted to win for my school,” said Hanna, a 13-year-old ninth grader at CH Reeves. “I think we did good. We came back strong.”

Kevin Barr, the under-15 boys’ winner, was just as impressed.

“It was good. It was a long race, but I paced myself,” Barr said. “It feels good to win. Our team did good too. It feels good to be a winner again.”

CH Reeves’ track coach Rashad said it was expected.

“They came out and did what they had to do, so I’m happy,” he stated. “I think all of the strategies they learned, they went out there and put it to work.

We just wanted to repeat as champions and we did.”.

Although they didn’t win the overall title, the RM Bailey Pacers carted off the four individual crowns in the senior division.

In the under-17 girls’ division, Catherine Thurston got the chain reaction rolling for the Pacers as she emerged as the champion.

“I felt like I did very good. I trained a lot and I put out a lot,” said Thurston, 16-year-old 11th grader. “It was better than last year. The competition was good.”

And Brynae Bastian, another winner from RM Bailey, said she did what she had to do to win.

“We ran through the mud, got wet and it was slippery. Girls was pushing each other down and falling, but I had to put that behind me and keep going,” said Bastian, a 15-year-old 11th grader.

Jason Symonette won the under-20 boys’ division for RM Bailey. “It was a lot challenging. The last time I ran it, I came second, but this time I challenged myself and I was going to make sure that I came first this time,” said Symonette, a 17-year-old 12th grader.

“My daddy always taught me that you have to be the best to succeed. He always told me that it’s not about coming first, second or third, but beating your time.

So I beat my time. That was the challenging part of it for me.”

Jackson Ozias, the under17 boys’ winner for RM Bailey as well, said it was a fairly good showing for him.

“I had to work really hard,” said Ozias, a 16-yearold 12th grader. “My side was hurting a little bit, but I managed to win. It was a little slippery out there. It was a little challenging and the competition was very good.”

BODYBUILDING from PAGE 1

while Sanadia Smith, who dropped her weight from 230 pounds to 170, was an inspiration to all the full-figured women.

“This is my first time performing in this arena, so I’m very excited,” said Albury, who thanked her trainers Mr and Mrs Bain, (Chanice, one of the newest Bahamian pro bodybuilders) at Body Forever in Grand Bahama for encouraging her to enter.

“I was pleased that they chose me and I am even more excited that I went on to win the category.

I’m hoping that I can inspire and encourage other women to get fit and stay fit and to understand that being fit and healthy is a lifestyle.”

She noted that it may not happen overnight, but with their dedication and commitment, they can achieve it. That is the message that she hopes to betray on behalf of the federation whenever called upon.

TOP - The CR Walker Knights celebrate as the overall senior divisional winners at the GSSSA cross country championships. ABOVE - The CH Reeves Raptors display the awards they won in the junior catergory.

Ednal Rolle, the head coach for CR Walker, said it was good for the Knights to win the title.

“Middle distance and long-distance running is our weakness in the high school, but the cross country is a good way for us to develop our middle and long-distance programme,” he stated. “A lot of the kids don’t like to run long, so we have to implement into our training and to motivate them to do the longer distances. I think the cross country will help to motivate them. So I feel good about this victory.”

Defying the myth that all bodybuilders are just “a meathead, all body and no brain,” Nixon said he hopes to change that stigma in the future as the new male spokesmodel.

“I believe that it’s very important to bring diversity to everything,” said Nixon. “The more categories they bring, they get more people. I probably might not have competed if they had brought straight up bodybuilding because that really isn’t my thing.

Bodybuilding isn’t my thing, but I do like speaking. I do like representing fitness.

“To me, that’s something that I am all about. So I am really glad they did that.”

Nixon, a 29-year-old owner of Nixon Auto Services and a certified fitness trainer and a professor in psychology at Southern College, said he will continue to hone his craft and wherever he is required to speak, he will be willing and ready to do so.

One of the toughest categories came in the men’s open

With 48 athletes entered, Rolle said their aim was to repeat as champions.

“RM Bailey is always a force to reckon with. They have David Ferguson down there, so I know he will bring that heat,” Rolle said.

“I told them that RM Bailey and CI Gibson were going to be a force, but hats off to them for really working us hard today.”

• The divisional winners are as follows: Under-13 girls - 1. DW Davis; 2. LW Young; 3. SC McPherson.

1. Desha Pierre, TA Thompson; 2.

China

physique where CAC gold medallist Wellington Wallace repeated as champion.

“It was good. I prepared months ago for this competition because I wanted to defend my title,” he said. “The guy that I competed against gave a good game to the stage.

“But at the end of the day, everybody has to bring their best. I guess my best was good enough to win.”

After winning the initial title last year, Wallace went on to win the CAC title and he said he wanted to limit the amount of competitions he participated in so he could be well rested for this show.

“I felt very good and to actually come back and win the title again for her was a honour for me,” stated Wallace, who trains at Empire Gym. “I feel good to win the title again.”

He beat out a strong field that saw Bertram Miller pick up second, David Dormaival third and Donovan McKenzie fourth

Camille, DW Davis; 3. Stacyann Humes, DW Davis; 4. Glenda Goodridge, DW Davis; 5. Akann Robert, LW Young; 6. Aunae Sadi, LW Young.

Under-15 girls - 1. CH Reeves; 2. AF Adderley; 3.

Anatol Rodgers.

1. Tescaneke Hanna, CH Reeves; 2. Latavia Tynes, CH Reeves; 3. Mia Rolle, LW Young; 4. Kavonna Whymns, AF Adderley; 5. Juvanne Edwards, CH Reeves; 6. Marquell Newbold, CH Reeves.

Under-17 girls - 1. CR Walker; 2. RM Bailey; 3. CI Gibson.

in the final posedown before the judges.

The other competitors were Garcia Martin (fifth) and Gary Martin (sixth).

The men’s most muscular physique saw Jaye Darling Jr pull off the victory over Cornielius Knowles and Andrew Brennan.

But Darling Jr quickly pointed out that he was out to niche his own name in the sport.

“I was on stage last year, but I took a few months off. I’m always in shape and always ready. It’s just putting in more work in the gym coming closer to the competition,” he pointed out.

“I just went out there and did my thing. Hard work pays off,” he added.

But he noted that while his father James Darling has captured his pro card in bodybuilding, he’s doing his own thing.

“He set the standard and I’m setting a different standard for myself,” insisted the 28-year-old Darling Jr, who competed in his first competition for the year.

1. Catherine Thurston, RM Bailey; 2. Ayesha Sylvester, CR Walker; 3.

Renae Verneus, RM Bailey; 4. Martine Louissaint, RM Bailey; 5. Jeannie Stpruex, CI Gibson; 6. Jade Tholpmpur, CR Walker.

Under-20 girls - 1. CR Walker; 2. CV Bethel; 3. CI Gibson.

1. Brynae Bastian, RM Bailey; 2. Kia Brice, CI Gibson; Rowlia Joseph, CV Bethel; 4. Chassica Taris, CV Bethel; 5. Angel Williams, CR Walker; 6.

Amir Thompson, Anatol Rodgers.

Under-13 boys - 1. CH Reeves; 2. DW Davis; 3. AF Adderley.

1. Bryson Rolle, CH Reeves; 2. Dwayne Finley, CH Reeves; 3. Prince Johnson, DW Davis; 4. Aran Ojias, CH Reeves; 5. Ariste Samuel, DW Davis; 6. Fernaldo Lubin, CH Reeves.

Under-15 boys - 1. CH Reeves; 2. TA Thompson; 3. SC McPherson.

1. Kevin Barr, CH Reeves; 2.

Kevinson Kelly, Anatol Rodgers; 3.

Devaughn Fleurme, CR Walker; 4. Rayhem Robinson, TA Thompson; 5.

Joyann Joseh, CH Reeves; 6. Jawayne Smith, TA Thompson.

Under-17 boys - 1. RM Bailey; 2. CC Sweeting; 3.

CR Walker.

1. Jackson Ozias, RM Bailey; 2. Denzel Sawyer, CI Gibson; 3. Kevin Neymour, CC Sweeting; 4.

Nathan Duncan, CV Bethel; 5. Shamar, CC Sweeting; 6. Felix Neely, CR Walker.

Under-20 boys - 1. RM Bailey; 2. CR Walker; 3. CI Gibson.

1. Jason Symonette, RM Bailey; 2. Denventa Newbold, CI Gibson; 3. Terry St Louis, CR Walker; 4. Lauren Jenfield, CV Bethel; 5. Kendrick Kemp, CR Walker; 6. Robert Pennerman, RM Bailey.

“I learn from the best. Definitely I thank God for his genes,” he said.

Charles Reckley, the Bahamas national champion, captured the men’s open bodybuilding title over Grand Bahamian Andrew Sweeting and veteran 74-year-old Sidney ‘Butts’ Outten.

In the women’s Wellness category, Sarah Pierre emerged as the champion over Nadia Vanderpool and Sanadia Smith, who were second and third respectively.

And Shakeria Ferguson was the lone competitor entered in the women’s open bikini. She also defended her title.

“It was an awesome feeling I wanted to do it to support Faye,” Rolle said.

“I really wanted some competitors because I really like to compete against others.

“But it was an awesome feeling.

I will do it again with or without any competitors.”

Phyllice Janeen was also the only competitor entered in the women’s open figure.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 5, 2018, PAGE 3

Hield scores 19 in loss to Bucks

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BOTH the Sacramento Kings’ five-game win streak and Buddy Hield’s run of consecutive 20-point games came to an end at the hands of one of the leading teams in the Eastern Conference.

Hield finished with 19 points in the Kings’ 144109 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks yesterday at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He shot 8-15 from the floor, 2-5 from three, and added four rebounds in just 24 minutes in the lopsided loss and fell just short of his sixth consecutive game reaching the 20-point mark. Hield got out to a quick start in the first quarter with 12 points on 5-7 shooting, 2-3 from three, but the Kings still trailed 39-30. The Bucks opened the second quarter on an 11-0 run and took a 72-50 lead into the half.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had his second tripledouble this season with 26

points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the Bucks.

The Kings fell to 6-4 while the Bucks improved to 8-1. It represents the best nine-game start in franchise history.

Milwaukee also set a season high for points in a game and also set the franchise record for threepointers made with 22.

Over the past six games, Hield has been one of the league’s hottest players, averaging 23.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, shooting 55 per cent from the field and 48 per cent from beyond the arc.

During the winning streak, the Kings’ new fast-paced offence was averaging approximately 111 points per game.

They surrendered a season-high 144 points just days after scoring 146 in a lopsided win over the Atlanta Hawks last Thursday.

The Kings return home to the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, to host the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.

BUCKS’ Tony Snell (21) and Donte DiVincenzo (9) battle for a loose ball with Sacramento Kings’ Buddy Hield in the first half yesterday in Milwaukee.

(AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Caribbean Tip-Off Classic soaks up spotlight FROM PAGE 1 USA), St Thomas Moore (Connecticut, USA), Ridley College Prep (Ontario, Canada), Rise Prep (Ontario, Canada), Crestwood College Prep (Ontario, Canada) and Helsinki Basketball Academy (Finland).

Local Bahamian teams included St George’s and Tabernacle Baptist out of Grand Bahama along with Anatol Rodgers, St Augustine’s and CI Gibson.

Jones, a consensus fourstar recruit and Texas Longhorns commit, averaged 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game over the course of the event.

“It feels good to be back, the past three days have been sensational, I love playing with these guys and I’m glad we got all of our

wins” he said. “It’s always great to play here and have this reminder. This is where I’m from, where I’m born and raised, this is where I put in so much work in the gym and just being able to come here and show what I’ve been working on has been awesome.”

Hunter, who recently committed to the Ole Miss Rebels, averaged 33 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

“It was good just to be able to get to play in front of family and friends. Everybody knows I’m an Ole Miss recruit so they try to go at me every time, but I don’t have a problem with that it makes me go harder, it brings out the fire in me,” he said.

“I’m still working on rebounding both sides of the ball, tightening up my handle and my jump shot, but this was just another great experience to set up

the rest of the year. This showcase, it’s good because it shows that Bahamian basketball players can play with anyone. Basketball is universal, all we need is an opportunity.”

Wilchcombe, a former student at St John’s College, has used his platform as the head coach at Redemption to establish a pipeline for Bahamian students with the skillset to compete at an elite level.

“This weekend was a great experience, great opportunity, leaving when I was 16 I didn’t have this exposure and to be able to bring this type of event back to the Bahamas and for me to come back here was a blessing,” he said.

“I think basketball in the Bahamas is at an all-time high. At this event there were multiple NBA teams, multiple college coaches and they’re talking about

this event being bigger next year. To have guys like Kai and Sammy come back here and play at home at this level is amazing and I hope we continue to take advantage of that.”

The Caribbean Tip-Off Classic was presented by the Bahamas Basketball Federation, Caribbean Sports Travel and the Courtyard Marriott Hotel.

Steve Barnes, who has served as technical director of the BBF for six years, heads Caribbean Sports Travel.

“There’s a lot of work to be done. It’s still in the early stages but we’re also gaining ground. There’s a huge opportunity right now to brand Bahamas basketball and put it in the world stage. This concept came from just coming down and speaking to the people on the ground. People come in from the outside, make

their money and leave but I never saw any local development being done. We thought there really was a place for us here and we could do a lot of different things. Our relationships were built with the people here and we wanted to be able to give back to the community. With everything we do, start with a Bahamian base and stay with that philosophy.

“We have several events planned and it was really important for us to do this first class and do this right,” Barnes said. “I want it to become tied in with education and balance what these guys do on the court, with being able to qualify off the court. We can provide the exposure and opportunities bringing the coaches and scouts down, but you have to do your job in the classroom in preparing.”

WILDCATS WIN TITLE from PAGE 1

“I really wanted this one because we had a few girls played for a good number of years and they are planning on hanging it up, so I was glad to get this one for them so they can go out in style like Mary (Cruise) Edgecombe did,” said Wildcats’ manager Anthony Bullard.

Bullard said they knew once they got their players in the park early and they concentrated on the game, he knew they had the title in the bag. After the game, sponsor Deanza ‘Sonny’ Cox brought over a birthday cake for veteran pitcher Linda Knowles as they sang happy birthday.

As usual, they celebrated with a lavish feast in the parking lot.

The Elite 9 managed only to get one run off winning pitcher Thela Johnson and that came in the fourth, thanks to third sacker Tara Evans.

Manager Sidney Thomas admitted that it wasn’t the type of performance that he expected from his Katz, who didn’t claw at all.

“We didn’t hit,” he stated. “My team is a hitting team, but unfortunately this trip, the whole tournament, some of my key batters only had one hit the whole tournament.

“The pitching wasn’t off the wall because we could hit. Somehow, we couldn’t get a handle off the ball and ended up coming out on the bad end of the stick.”

PANTHERS WIN TITLE from PAGE 1

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: After the game, sponsor Deanza ‘Sonny’ Cox brought over a birthday cake for veteran pitcher Linda Knowles as they sang happy birthday. As usual, they celebrated with a lavish feast in the parking lot.

two-out solo homer in the fourth. The next inning, they got their final run on Winston Seymour’s RBI single to score Angelo Watson. “The team was a little flat tonight,” said

Truckers’ manager Olando McPhee. “We didn’t come out the way I expected us to, hitting the ball. We had a lot of pop flies. We didn’t hit the ball the way I expected.”

Thomas said they were just not as hungry as the Panthers.

We put the bat on the ball, but we just didn’t come out with the win,” said Davis, who suffered

the loss. “We made a few mistakes and I think that cost us too.”

In the end, the Panthers denied the Truckers another national chmpionship title.

PATRIOTS TOP THE PACKERS 31-17 FOXBOROUGH, Mass.

(AP) — Tom Brady threw for 294 yards and a touchdown, and James White ran for two scores to lead the New England Patriots to a 31-17 victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers last night.

It was the sixth straight victory for the Patriots (7-2).

Rodgers completed 24 of 43 passes and two touchdowns in his second career matchup with Brady.

It was 17-all late in the third quarter when Aaron Jones fumbled for Green Bay (3-4-1).

New England receiver Julian Edelman hit White on a 37-yard catch-and-run to set up White’s second score, a 1-yard run. On the Patriots next possession, Brady connected with Josh Gordon for a 55-yard TD. Gordon caught four passes for 115 yards.

SPORTS NOTES THE Government Secondary Schools Sports Association is slated to begin its best-of-three volleyball championships 4pm today at the AF Adderley Gymnasium. The matchups are as follows: Junior Girls HO Nash Lions versus AF Adderley Fighting Tigers.

Junior Boys SC McPherson Sharks vs CH Reeves Raptors, Senior girls Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves vs CV Bethel Stingrays.

Senior boys Government High Magics vs Dame Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins.

Game two in all series will be played on Tuesday. If necessary, the third and deciding games will be played on Wednesday.

BASEBALL JBLN PRE-SEASON THE Junior Baseball League of Nassau will open its 2018 pre-season 6:30pm Wednesday at the St Andrew’s College Field of Dreams.

Five weeks of pre-season games will be played through December 9 leading up to the 2019 season opening on January 12.

The league announces that the 30th season of organised baseball and softball will feature 35 teams in seven divisions with 450 boys and girls competing.

Tee Ball 6-under 5 teams Coach Pitch 8-under 4 teams Minor 10-under 4 teams Major 12-under 6 teams Junior 14-under 5 teams Senior 15-over 5 teams Girls softball 12-over 6 teams Pre-season schedule – Week # 1 Day Date Time Division Wednesday 11/07 6:30 Minor Astros Diamondbacks Friday 11/09 6:30 Major Athletics Red Sox Saturday 11/10 10:00 Tee Ball Hot Fries Bears 10:00 Minor Royals Angels 10:00 Junior Dodgers Phillies 10:00 Softball Spartans Knights 12:00 Tee Ball Thunder Cats Blue Claws 12:00 Major Marlins Yankees 12:00 Junior Mariners Orioles 12:00 Softball Spice Girls Crushers 12:30 Coach Pitch Tigers Cubs 2:00 Major Giants Mets 2:00 Senior Rangers Blue Jays 2:00 Soft Ball Players Distributors 3:00 Coach Pitch Pirates Rays Sunday 11/11 12:30 Major Athletics Marlins 12:30 Junior Orioles Phillies 2:30 Senior Braves Brewers 3:00 Softball Spartans Spice Girls

PAGE 4, Monday, November 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

College football: No. 1 Alabama beats No. 4 LSU 29-0 BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdown passes and ran 44 yards for a score in his toughest test this season, Alabama’s defense stifled No. 4 LSU, and the top-ranked Crimson Tide remained unbeaten with a 29-0 victory Saturday night.

Tagovailoa took the field wearing a brace on right knee, threw his first interception of the season late in the first half and also played into the fourth quarter for the first time this season. None of those developments proved consequential. He was 25-of-42 passing for 295 yards and moved as well as well as he needed to, particularly when he sprinted up the middle of the field or his long TD run in the third quarter to give Alabama (9-0, 6-0 SEC, No. 1 CFP) a 22-0 lead.

Tagovailoa limped off the field after that play, went into the medical tent for some treatment and rode a stationary bike on the sideline, but returned for the next series.

LSU (7-2, 4-2, No. 3 CFP) entered a chance to control of the SEC Western Division with a victory, but that began to decreasingly realistic with every possession.

Alabama led 16-0 by halftime and forced LSU punts on the Tigers’ first nine possessions. LSU drove to the Alabama 15 on its 10th series early in the fourth quarter, only to miss a field goal with 10:45 to go.

Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow completed 18 of 35 passes for 184 yards. He was sacked five times and had a pass intercepted.

NO. 2 CLEMSON 77, LOUISVILLE 16 CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Travis Etienne ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns and 350-pound defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence added a 2-yard scoring burst for Clemson.

The Tigers (6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 2 CFP) improved to 9-0 for the third time in four seasons and can wrap up their fourth ACC Atlantic Division title next week at Boston College.

Trevor Lawrence threw a pair of early touchdown passes. Etienne went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark and scored his ACC-leading 15th touchdown. Tavien Feaster added 101 yards rushing. Freshman Lyn-J Dixon ran for 116 yards, the second time this season Clemson has had three runners with 100 or more yards.

They finished with a season high 492 yards rushing.

Linebacker Isaiah Simmons had a pick-six, the Tigers collected five sacks, coach Dabo Swinney’s eldest son Will caught a TD pass and even “Big Dex,” a junior defensive tackle projected as a can’t-miss, NFL first-rounder got in on the fun in the Tigers’ “Fridge Package” against overmatched Louisville (2-7, 0-6).

NO. 3 NOTRE DAME 31, NORTHWESTERN 21 EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Ian Book threw for threw two touchdown passes and ran 23 yards for a score in the closing minutes to lead Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish (9-0, No. 4 CFP) remained in line for a playoff spot and continued to build on their best start since the 2012 team went undefeated before losing to Alabama in the BCS championship game.

The Wildcats (5-4) had won four in a row to grab the Big Ten West lead and they stayed in this one when it looked like Notre Dame was ready to pull away.

Book threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to a leaping Miles Boykin in the corner of the end zone and a 47-yarder to Michael Young in the third to give the Irish a 21-7 lead. He sealed it in the closing minutes when he turned up the left side for that 23-yard run.

NO. 5 MICHIGAN 42, NO. 14 PENN STATE 7 ANN ARBOR, Mich.

(AP) — Shea Patterson accounted for three touchdowns and Michigan put together a dominant performance on defence.

The Wolverines (8-1, 6-0 Big Ten, No. 5 CFP) moved a step closer toward their goals of winning a conference championship for the first time since 2004 and earning their first spot in the College Football Playoff. The Nittany Lions (6-3, 3-3, No. 14 CFP) scored with 1:59 left, avoiding getting shut out for the first time since 2001 against Michigan.

Karan Higdon ran for 132 yards and a score that put the Wolverines up 35-0 early in the fourth quarter.

Michigan held Penn State to 186 yards and forced three turnovers, including Tommy Stevens’ interception that was returned 62 yards by Brandon Watson for a touchdown.

NO. 6 GEORGIA 34, NO. 11 KENTUCKY 17 LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — D’Andre Swift ran for a career-high 156 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries against Kentucky’s vaunted defence and Georgia wrapped up its second straight Southeastern Conference Eastern Division title.

Swift had an 83-yard breakaway in the third quarter that gave Georgia (8-1, 6-1, No. 6 College Football Playoff) a 28-3 lead. He also had a nifty 20-yard scoring run in the second period when the game was close. Elijah Holyfield ran for a careerhigh 115 yards on 18 carries, scoring on a 4-yarder in the third quarter.

Georgia rushed for a season-high 331 yards to earn a spot in the SEC championship game Dec. 1 in Atlanta. Kentucky (7-2, 5-2, No. 9 CFP) has never reached the SEC championship game, which has been played every year since 1992.

NO. 7 OKLAHOMA 51, TEXAS TECH 46 LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Kyler Murray recovered from a pair of early interceptions that led to a two-touchdown deficit, throwing for 360 yards and three touchdowns and running for 100 yards and another score to rally Oklahoma.

Trey Sermon set career highs with 206 yards rushing and three TDs as the Sooners (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) stayed in the hunt for a return to the College Football Playoff with their 19th straight win in a true road game and 14th consecutive November victory.

Oklahoma was seventh in the first playoff rankings released this past week.

The Red Raiders (5-4, 3-3) led 31-28 at halftime, but freshman quarterback Alan Bowman didn’t return in the second half of their eighth straight loss against a Top 10 team going back to 2012. Texas Tech officials didn’t immediately say why Bowman left the game.

Texas Tech punted three straight times without getting a first down after Jett Duffey replaced Bowman again, just as he did five weeks ago when Bowman sustained a partially collapsed lung against West Virginia. Bowman returned two weeks ago against Kansas.

Duffey then started moving the Red Raiders, and they pulled within two on his 4-yard scoring pass to Zach Austin on fourth down midway through the fourth quarter. But Robert Barnes intercepted the 2-point conversion pass and returned it 98 yards for two points and a 44-40 OU lead.

NO. 8 OHIO STATE 36, NEBRASKA 31 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — J.K. Dobbins ran for three touchdowns and Dwayne Haskins Jr. passed for two more scores to help Ohio State beat Nebraska.

After Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to JD Spielman to pull within five with 3 minutes left, Dobbins pounded away for two first downs to run out the clock.

Before the late Nebraska score, Dobbins broke through the right side and romped for a 42-yard touchdown with 5 minutes left to give Ohio State (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten, No. 10 CFP) breathing room.

13-play drive that ended with Ke’Mon Freeman’s second touchdown run, an 8-yarder with 2:43 left. That drive was interrupted for about 90 minutes because of lightning and heavy rain.

Freeman ran 20 times for 107 yards.

ALABAMA quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) warms up before an NCAA college game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday.

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Dobbins rushed for a season-high 163 yards — only his second 100-yard game this season. Running back Mike Weber added 91 yards on the ground.

Martinez threw for 266 yards and touchdown and rushed for two scores for Nebraska (2-7, 1-5).

NO. 10 WASHINGTON STATE 19, CALIFORNIA 13 PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Gardner Minshew threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Easop Winston Jr. with 32 seconds left to lift Washington State past California, extending WSU’s long-shot quest to crash the College Football Playoff.

Minshew threw for 334 yards for Washington State (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12, No. 8 CFP), which is also seeking its first Pac-12 North title. The Cougars have a 12-game home winning streak, fourth-longest in the nation.

Chase Garbers threw for 127 yards and ran for 67 for Cal (5-4, 2-4).

This is Washington State’s first 8-1 start since 2002.

NO. 12 WEST VIRGINIA 42, NO. 15 TEXAS 41 AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Will Grier threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Gary Jennings with 16 seconds

Fortunately for the Gators (6-3, 4-3 Southeastern Conference), they won’t have to face the senior and possible first-round draft pick again.

They might have seen the last of Feleipe Franks, too.

Coach Dan Mullen benched Franks late in the third quarter — the home crowd cheered wildly — and backup Kyle Trask promptly directed a 75-yard touchdown drive in which he converted two fourth downs. Trask found Josh Hammond in the end zone on the second one for a 7-yard score that made it 35-17.

ARIZONA STATE 38, NO. 16 UTAH 20 TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Manny Wilkins threw three touchdown passes to N’Keal Harry and Arizona State beat Utah, knocking the No. 16 Utes out of sole possession of first place in Pac-12 South.

The Utes (6-3, 4-3 Pac12) lost quarterback Tyler Huntley to a broken collarbone in the third quarter.

The loss snapped Utah’s four-game winning streak.

Huntley was injured when he was hit while forcing a throw with 5:33 left in the third quarter. Freshman Jason Shelly replaced him and the offence struggled after that.

Harry caught nine passes

NO. 18 UTAH STATE 56, HAWAII 17 HONOLULU (AP) — Darwin Thompson and Gerold Bright each ran for three touchdowns as Utah State extended its winning streak to eight games.

The Aggies (8-1, 5-0 Mountain West) amassed 601 yards of total offense, including 426 rushing, and had a pair of 28-point quarters to pull away from the Rainbow Warriors (6-5, 3-3).

Thompson rushed 13 times for a career-best 141 yards and scored on a pair of 1-yard runs, as well as a 26-yard sprint. Bright carried a career-high 16 times for 121 yards and found the end zone on runs of 18, 47 and 9 yards.

Jordan Love threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Ron’quavion Tarver and ran in a 1-yard score on the final play of the first quarter.

Cole McDonald threw a pair of touchdown passes for Hawaii, which finished with 390 yards of total offense.

PURDUE 38, NO. 19 IOWA 36 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Spencer Evans made a 25-yard field goal with 8 seconds left, lifting Purdue past Iowa and back in the Big Ten’s West Division title hunt.

David Blough threw three touchdown passes to Terry Wright and topped the 300-yard mark for the fifth time this season. The Boilermakers (5-4, 4-2 Big

AUBURN wide receiver Darius Slayton (81) leaps for a catch as Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Charles Oliver (21) defends on Saturday.

(AP Photo/Todd Kirkland) left, and then ran in the for 161 yards, including TD Ten) have won five of their 2-point conversion to lift catches of three, 23 and 61 last six and beat their third yards. His three TD catches ranked team this season West Virginia past Texas.

Grier broke his finger were a career high. Wilkins — the first time they’ve on a run to the pylon in completed 19 of 24 for 285 achieved that feat since the first quarter of a loss to yards and three scores with 2003 — to move within one Texas last year, and his win- one interception. Eno Ben- game of division leader ning run came on a similar jamin rushed for 175 yards, Northwestern.

The Hawkeyes (6-3, 3-3) scramble. But there was including a 44-yard TD run no defender near him this that sealed the victory with lost their second straight time as he held the ball up 4:12 to play. Arizona State road game despite Nate while crossing the goal line (5-4, 3-3) gained 536 yards Stanley’s big day. The junior against a Utah defense that quarterback threw for 275 untouched.

The 2-point conversion had been ranked No. 1 in yards with one TD and ran for another but the confercame moments after Grier the Pac-12. ence’s No. 2 scoring defence connected with David Sills.

SMU 45, NO. 17 allowed a season-high Texas had called timeout HOUSTON 31 point total.And when the just before the ball was DALLAS (AP) — Ben Hawkeyes needed one last snapped so the Mountaineers had to line up again. Hicks threw for 318 yards stop, Blough drove Purdue Grier dropped back, took and four touchdowns and 43 yards to set up Evans for a step into the pocket, and SMU beat Houston, the the winning kick. then swung out to his left to second time in three years NO. 20 FRESNO break for the corner of the the Mustangs upset a ranked Cougars team.

STATE 48, end zone.

The Mustangs (4-5, 3-2 UNLV 3 Grier drove the MounLAS VEGAS (AP) — taineers (7-1, 5-1 Big 12, American) never trailed, No. 13 CFP) to the win jumping out to a 17-0 Marcus McMaryion threw after Texas grabbed a 41-34 lead after Hicks threw his for two touchdowns and 274 lead on Sam Ehlinger’s second TD, a 17-yarder yards and Fresno State’s touchdown throw to Devin to Tyler Page less than a defence had a near-perfect minute into the second game.

Duvernay with 2:34 to play.

Fresno State (8-1, 5-0 Grier finished with 346 quarter. Houston played its yards passing and three first game as a ranked team Mountain West) won its under second-year coach seventh straight and ended touchdowns, two to Sills.

Major Applewhite. its two-game losing streak Hicks threw three to the Rebels. The Bulldogs MISSOURI 38, touchdowns as a redshirt kept their one-game lead in NO. 13 FLORIDA 17 GAINESVILLE, Fla. freshman in the shocker the West Division over San (AP) — Drew Lock picked two years ago, when SMU Diego State, which won at apart Florida’s defence for beat the then-No. 11 Cou- New Mexico 31-23 Saturthe second straight year, gars 38-16 and knocked day night.

McMaryion completed 26 throwing three touchdown them all of the way out of the poll. of 35 passes and rushed for passes to lead Missouri.

After Houston (7-2, 4-1, 39 yards as his defence held Lock completed 24 of 32 passes for 250 yards, with No. 17 CFP) got to 38-31 on UNLV to 175 total yards scoring throws to Albert quarterback D’Eriq King’s of offence through three Okwuegbunam, Kam 3-yard touchdown run with quarters.

KeeSean Johnson had Scott and Emanuel Hall 9:34 left, the Mustangs that stunned the Swamp. went on a time-consuming eight receptions for 97

yards to move his streak to 45 consecutive games with a catch. Coming into Saturday, Johnson led the nation in active career receptions at 234.

Fresno State’s defence only allowed the Rebels over midfield twice in the first three quarters.

Charles Williams, a Fresno native, was the lone bright spot for UNLV (2-7, 0-5) as he rushed for 121 yards on 16 carries. UNLV’s Max Gilliam was 14 of 30 for 98 yards for the Rebels, who will not be bowl eligible due to the loss.

NO. 22 SYRACUSE 41, WAKE FOREST 24 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Eric Dungey rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown, Jarveon Howard ran for two scores and Syracuse beat Wake Forest.

Dungey — whose average of 294.1 total yards per game ranks second in the ACC — was 23 of 35 for 157 yards and also ran for a 26-yard score to help the Orange (7-2, 4-2, No. 19 CFP) win their first game as a Top 25 team since the Dwight Freeney days in 2001.

Moe Neal added an 8-yard score, Chris Elmore had a 5-yard TD run and Andre Szmyt kicked two field goals for Syracuse, which earned its first conference road victory in more than two years.

NO. 21 MISSISSIPPI STATE 45, LOUISIANA TECH 3 STARKVILLE, Miss.

(AP) — Nick Fitzgerald threw for 243 yards and four touchdowns and Mississippi State beat Louisiana Tech.

Mississippi State (6-3, No. 18 CFP) didn’t have much trouble, scoring 21 points in the first quarter of what quickly turned into a lopsided game. Fitzgerald completed 17 of 28 passes and threw his touchdowns to Stephen Guidry, Deddrick Thomas, Kylin Hill and Jesse Jackson.

Fitzgerald also ran for 107 yards. Mississippi State has a 16-3 record during Fitzgerald’s career when he breaks the 100-yard mark.

Louisiana Tech (6-3) was competitive in a loss to LSU this season, but its second game against a Southeastern Conference opponent didn’t go well. J’Mar Smith completed 14 of 30 passes for 98 yards.

NO. 24 BOSTON COLLEGE 31, VIRGINIA TECH 21 BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Travis Levy ran for two touchdowns and Boston College beat Virginia Tech to set up a huge home game against Clemson next week.

BC (7-2, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 22 CFP) limited the Hokies to 32 yards in the third quarter and erased a 14-7 deficit with 21 unanswered points after halftime. First-place in the ACC Atlantic Division will be on the line when the second-ranked Tigers visit Boston College.

Ryan Willis threw for 281 yards with three touchdown passes for Virginia Tech (4-4, 3-2), but the Hokies lost their third straight at home for the first time since 1992. It came on a day when they could have moved into a share of first place in the Coastal Division with a victory.

AUBURN 28, NO. 25 TEXAS A&M 24 AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Seth Williams caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jarrett Stidham with 1:41 left and Auburn rallied to beat Texas A&M. The Tigers (6-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) had a 14-point outburst over the final 5:14 and the defence came up with big stops. Stidham delivered big on both final drives.

Kellen Mond and the Aggies (5-4, 3-3) pushed the ball into Auburn territory on their final drive, converting a fourth-and-5.

Then a holding call pushed them back across midfield and Mond’s desperation pass into the end zone was incomplete.

Officials put a second back on the clock, and Mond was sacked by Nick Coe on the final play.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 5, 2018, PAGE 5

PITTSBURGH Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger looks for a receiver in the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens last night in Baltimore.

(AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Brees, Saints hand Rams their 1st loss of the season NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Michael Thomas caught a late 72-yard touchdown reception and then celebrated with a cellphone in a throwback to another famous New Orleans play, and the streaking Saints handed the Los Angeles Rams their first loss of the season with a 45-35 win last night.

Drew Brees passed for 346 yards and four touchdowns in New Orleans’ seventh straight win, and Thomas finished with a club-record 211 yards receiving. But what happened after their last connection of the day really stole the show in a wild shootout between two of the NFL’s best offences.

Thomas’ long TD came on a pivotal third-down play with about four minutes to go, when the Rams seemed to expect the Saints to run a play closer to the first-down marker. Thomas ran free behind Marcus Peters, caught Brees’ long throw virtually in stride and ran straight to the goal post, where he got out an old-school flip phone — reminiscent of Joe Horn’s Sunday night TD celebration in 2003.

Thomas, who caught 12 passes, eclipsed Wes Chandler’s club record of 205 yards receiving against Atlanta in 1979.

New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara scored three times, twice on runs and once on a 16-yard catch-and-run — all in the first half.

The Rams (8-1) very nearly pulled off an extraordinary comeback in the Superdome, where the crowd was revved up after New Orleans (7-1) raced to a three-touchdown lead late in the first half.

TEXANS 19, BRONCOS 17 DENVER (AP) — Brandon McManus missed a 51-yard field goal as time expired, leaving Demaryius Thomas a winner in his homecoming and Houston escaped Denver with a win.

The Texans (6-3) won their sixth straight and the Broncos (3-6) lost for the sixth time in seven games.

Thomas finished with three receptions for 61 yards, but two of them were back-to-back for 31 and 18 yards on the Texans’ opening touchdown drive.

McManus’ second miss of the game came after Case Keenum completed an 18-yard pass between two defenders to Emmanuel Sanders on fourth-and-8 from the Denver 45-yard line.

Keenum threw a 5-yard pass to tight end Jeff Heuerman, who had a career-best 10 catches for 83 yards and then running back Phillip Lindsay lost a yard.

After Denver called a timeout with 3 seconds left, the Texans did the same, then rushed the field in relief after McManus’ kick drifted wide right.

CHARGERS 25, SEAHAWKS 17 SEATTLE (AP) — Philip Rivers made his 200th consecutive start and kept Los Angeles surging at the midpoint of the season, surviving a late rally by Seattle’s Russell Wilson.

Rivers threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns, Melvin Gordon added 113 yards rushing and the Chargers won their fifth straight with a 25-17 win over the Seahawks on Sunday.

Rivers threw touchdown passes of 12 yards to Tyrell Williams and 30 yards to Mike Williams, and let the Chargers defence stymie Russell Wilson until the final minutes. Seattle had won four of five following a 0-2 start.

Desmond King provided the deciding points for Los Angeles (6-2) by stepping in front of Wilson’s pass for David Moore and returning it 42 yards for a touchdown with 6:44 remaining to give the Chargers a 25-10 lead.

Wilson managed to make the final minutes nervous for Los Angeles.

Wilson hit Nick Vannett on a 6-yard TD with 1:50 remaining to cut the Chargers’ lead to one score.

Seattle got the ball back with 1:24 left at its own 22 and after two completions and a roughing the passer penalty on Melvin Ingram, the Seahawks were at the Chargers 44 with 50 seconds left. Wilson scrambled for 16 yards to the Chargers 28 and, after a spike, Seattle had 30 seconds left.

Seattle (4-4) got a break when Michael Davis was called for pass interference in the end zone on the final play of regulation against Tyler Lockett, putting the ball at the 1 for an untimed down. Seattle’s J.R. Sweezy was called for false start backing the play up to the 6, and Wilson’s final attempt for David Moore in the back of the end zone was partially tipped by Jahleel Addae and fell incomplete.

STEELERS 23, RAVENS 16 BALTIMORE (AP) — James Conner rushed for 107 yards and caught a TD pass for the Steelers (5-2-1), who have won four straight since falling to the Ravens at home on September 30.

Roethlisberger went 28 for 47 for 270 yards. His 1-yard run put Pittsburgh up 20-6 in the third quarter, and the 36-year-old showed his grit by missing only one play after being flattened during a sprint from the pocket with just over 13 minutes left.

The Ravens (4-5) scored only one touchdown in their third straight defeat.

Joe Flacco was limited to 209 yards passing and sacked twice.

Pittsburgh opened the second half with a drive that lasted nearly seven minutes and ended with a 1-yard plunge by Roethlisberger.

The conversion sailed wide

to 2-7. It’s Buffalo’s worst start since winning one of its first nine games in 2010.

T.J. McDonald and Walt Aikens made interceptions to end the Jets’ final two possessions.

The Jets (3-6) lost their third in a row and have scored 33 points during the skid. They’ve dropped nine of their past 10 road games dating to 2017.

FALCONS 38, REDSKINS 14 LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Julio Jones ended his 12-game touchdown drought, Matt Ryan threw for 350 yards and four scores and the Atlanta Falcons flexed their offensive muscles with a blowout of the Redskins that extended their winning streak to three games.

Jones caught seven passes for 121 yards with the biggest coming on a 35-yard screen pass with just under four minutes left that sealed the victory.

After Jones twisted away from newest Washington defender Ha Ha ClintonDix and into the end zone, a swarm of teammates rushed over from the sideline to celebrate Jones’ first touchdown catch since November 26, 2017.

Ryan completed 26 of his 38 passes, including touchdown passes of 39 and 10 yards to running back Tevin Coleman and 40 to rookie receiver Calvin Ridley.

Coleman ran for 80 yards and Ito Smith had 66 yards and a rushing touchdown to give the Falcons (4-4) the balanced attack they’ve lacked in an injury-marred season that so far has failed to live up to expectations.

The NFC East-leading Redskins (5-3) could blame poor tackling, ill-timed penalties and a series of injuries along the offensive line for the end of their three-game winning streak.

BEARS 41, BILLS 9 ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Jordan Howard scored two touchdowns and the Bears’ defence had two others in a win over the Bills in what proved to be another comedy of errors for Buffalo and its anemic offense.

Eddie Jackson scored on a 65-yard fumble return and Leonard Floyd returned a tipped pass 19 yards for another score some 3 1/2 minutes apart in the second quarter.

Howard, set up by Tarik Cohen’s 38-yard punt return, then scored on an 18-yard scamper to cap a run in which the Bears scored four touchdowns over a span of 12 minutes, 20 seconds in the second quarter.

The Bears won their second in a row and improved to 5-3 to match their best start to a season through eight games since 2013.

Chicago also matched its win total from last year.

Chicago’s defence forced four takeaways, and limited the Bills to 264 yards offence despite missing star linebacker Khalil Mack, who missed his second straight game with an injury to his right ankle.

The Bills continued their bumbling ways in dropping

PANTHERS 42, BUCCANEERS 28 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cam Newton completed 19 of 25 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, Christian McCaffrey racked up 157 yards from scrimmage and scored twice and the Panthers built an early lead and held on to beat the Buccaneers for their 10th straight home win.

Newton threw TD passes of 19 yards to Curtis Samuel and 17 yards to Greg Olsen, the seventh straight game he has thrown for at least two touchdowns.

McCaffrey had 17 carries for 79 yards and five catches for 78 yards and turned in the play of the game when he leaped over a defender after a reception in the flat and kept going, turning it into a 32-yard gain.

The Panthers (6-2) scored touchdowns on five straight possessions during the first half to build a commanding 35-7 lead before the Buccaneers battled back to within a touchdown early in the fourth quarter behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick, who started in place of the turnoverprone Jameis Winston for Tampa Bay (3-5), finished with 243 yards passing and four touchdowns — two each to Adam Humphries and O.J. Howard.

NEW Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) leaps over Los Angeles Rams free safety Lamarcus Joyner (20) on a rushing play in the second half last night.

(AP Photo/Bill Feig) to the right, keeping the score at 20-6.

CHIEFS 37, BROWNS 21 CLEVELAND (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 375 yards, threw three touchdown passes — two to Travis Kelce — and continued the best start by an NFL quarterback in 68 years as Kansas City’s impossible-to-handle offence kept rolling with a win over the Browns, who played their first game since coach Hue Jackson’s firing.

Kareem Hunt had two scoring runs and one receiving for the Chiefs (8-1), who came in averaging 36.3 points per game with an offence overloaded with weapons for Mahomes.

The 23-year-old used all of them in winning his first pro matchup against Baker Mayfield and the Browns (2-6-1).

Mahomes and Mayfield didn’t match their epic college meeting in 2016, when they combined for more than 1,700 yards in offence.

But the Chiefs put on another impressive offensive show with 499 total yards, averaging 8.6 per snap.

In his second season, Mahomes, who made just one start as a rookie, already has 29 TD passes and 3,185 yards, the most by any QB through 10 games since 1950. He has passed for at least 300 yards in eight straight games.

VIKINGS 24, LIONS 9 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Danielle Hunter had 3½ of Minnesota’s franchise-record 10 sacks and

a fourth-quarter fumble return for a touchdown, making for a miserable afternoon for Matthew Stafford and the Lions.

Hunter, the fourth-year defensive end, also was credited with nine tackles and four quarterback hits as the Vikings (5-3-1) limited the Lions to 214 total yards.

The Lions had a streak of 25 consecutive games with at least 14 points stopped in humbling fashion.

Starting a stretch of three straight NFC North games with a badly needed win before their bye, the Vikings beat the Lions (3-5) at home for the first time in three matchups at U.S. Bank Stadium.

DOLPHINS 13, JETS 6 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Rookie linebacker Jerome Baker intercepted Sam Darnold and scored the only touchdown on a 25-yard return with 11 minutes left, and a resilient defence helped the Dolphins beat the Jets.

Darnold threw four interceptions and took four sacks, and the Jets went 2 for 13 on third down.

The hobbled Dolphins (5-4) endured another wave of injuries, but their defence was much improved after three consecutive poor games, with the quality of the opposition certainly a factor.

Darnold tried to rally his sputtering team from a 6-3 deficit, but following a punt he took a high snap and made an ill-advised throw to tight end Eric Tomlinson.

Baker stepped in front for his first career interception and scored untouched.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 5, 2018, PAGE 7

Khachanov stuns Djokovic to win his 1st Paris Masters title JUSTIN ROSE WINS THE

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Sports Writer PARIS (AP) — Karen Khachanov upset a tiredlooking Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-4 to win the Paris Masters title and deprive Djokovic of the chance yesterday to match Rafael Nadal’s record of 33 Masters titles.

Djokovic, a record fourtime champion at the indoor event, looked out of energy after an epic three-hour semi-final win against Roger Federer on Saturday.

After also being taken to three sets by Marin Cilic in Friday’s quarter-finals, Djokovic’s semi-final finished at around 8pm local time and he felt he was unable to recover sufficiently from that draining encounter.

“I didn’t unfortunately. But I don’t want to talk about that,” Djokovic said. “I want to talk about how well (Khachanov) played all week and absolutely deserved to win today.”

Asked again whether it was a case of emotional fatigue, after such an intense tussle with Federer, Djokovic repeated his praise for

Khachanov. “Karen played really well and he deserved to win,” Djokovic said. “All the credit to him.”

Although Djokovic broke in the fourth game to move 3-1 up and then led 30-0 on serve, the unseeded Khachanov broke him straight back and the momentum abruptly shifted away from Djokovic.

Djokovic seemed agitated at times and twice turned to his box to remonstrate about an unspecified issue during the first set.

Khachanov broke for 6-5 when he hit a powerful shot down the line that Djokovic could only scoop back into the net. The Russian won the first set with a big first serve that Djokovic could not return, stretching out his racket in vain as the fizzing ball clipped the frame.

Djokovic struggled to handle Khachanov’s brutal two-handed, cross-court backhands from the baseline, which often landed near his ankles, and dropped his serve again to trail 2-1 in the second set. He had to save three more break points in the seventh game to hold for 4-3 down.

TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN, RETAKES NO. 1 RANKING

but the Serb will be disappointed at missing out on a 73rd career title, having withstood the best of Federer on Saturday.

Still, the Wimbledon and US Open champion has plenty to feel good about after a 22-match winning streak, and he remains favourite for the season-ending ATP Finals in London, beginning November 11. “I’m satisfied of course and I’m going to be No. 1 tomorrow. What more can I ask for? I mean, I won 20-plus matches in a row and had a most amazing last five months,” he said. “I’m getting into (the) season finale feeling good about my game.”

The 22-year-old Khachanov, ranked 18th, is the first Russian to win here since Nikolay Davydenko in 2006.

Marat Safin won it three times before that.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Safin won the last of his Paris Masters titles in 2004, when Khachanov was a young boy.

Khachanov added this title to the Kremlin Cup in Moscow last month for his third title of the year and fourth overall.

KHACHANOV (AP) “He was playing big from the back of the court, flat backhands and forehand. He can really hurt you,” Djokovic said. “His serve is really, really strong and precise.”

After both players held to love, Khachanov showed no nerves — even though he was in his first Masters final — and served out the match.

He secured victory on his first match point when Djokovic chopped a backhand return wide. The imposing Khachanov thrust both his arms in the air and, moments later, knelt down to kiss the court.

Djokovic will return to No. 1 in the rankings for the first time in two years today,

ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) — Justin Rose is No. 1 in the world again, and this time it feels even more special.

More than having the top ranking, he goes home with a trophy.

Rose rallied from a three-shot deficit yesterday with a 3-under 68, and then defeated Li Haotong of China on the first playoff hole with a par to win the Turkish Airlines Open for the second straight year.

The first time Rose reached No. 1 in the world was two months ago, a bittersweet moment because he lost the BMW Championship outside Philadelphia in a playoff against Keegan Bradley.

“This time I’ve got some silverware,” Rose said. “Last time it was muted because I was still so mad at not winning the tournament at the BMW. But this time I’ve got the double kind of winning feeling, so it might be a bit more fun to celebrate it at this time.”

Rose was headed home to the Bahamas instead of playing the next Rolex Series event in South Africa, and he was not planning to be at the Race to Dubai finale at the DP World Championship. He would have to win to overtake British Open champion Francesco Molinari.

Rose kept the No. 1 ranking for two weeks the first time he reached the top. Brooks Koepka will have a chance to take it back in two weeks when he defends his title at the Dunlop Phoenix Open on the Japan Golf Tour.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Partly sunny

Partly cloudy

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny with a stray shower

Partly sunny and nice

Mostly sunny and nice

High: 86°

Low: 75°

High: 86° Low: 75°

High: 85° Low: 75°

High: 85° Low: 74°

High: 85° Low: 74°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

92° F

77° F

94°-79° F

93°-79° F

92°-79° F

93°-81° F

ORLANDO

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 69° F/21° C

TAMPA

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 71° F/22° 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: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

8‑16 knots

S

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 72° F/22° C

8‑16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 74° F/23° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 74° F/23° C

MIAMI

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 75° F/24° C

8‑16 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 86° F/30° C Low .................................................... 78° F/26° C Normal high ....................................... 82° F/28° C Normal low ........................................ 71° F/22° C Last year’s high ................................. 85° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 74° F/23° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 43.82” Normal year to date ................................... 36.10”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 75° F/23° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

S

E

W

7‑14 knots

S

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

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

5:36 a.m.

5:54 p.m.

3.3 3.1

11:55 a.m. 0.1 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Tuesday

6:24 a.m.

6:42 p.m.

3.5 3.0

12:09 a.m. ‑0.1 12:46 p.m. 0.0

Wednesday 7:10 a.m.

7:28 p.m.

3.5 3.0

12:53 a.m. ‑0.2 1:34 p.m. 0.0

Thursday

7:54 a.m.

8:12 p.m.

3.5 2.8

1:36 a.m. ‑0.2 2:19 p.m. 0.0

Friday

8:36 a.m.

8:55 p.m.

3.4 2.7

2:18 a.m. ‑0.1 3:04 p.m. 0.1

Saturday

9:19 a.m.

9:39 p.m.

3.3 2.5

2:59 a.m.

3:48 p.m.

0.1 0.2

Sunday

10:02 a.m.

10:23 p.m.

3.1 2.4

3:41 a.m.

4:32 p.m.

0.3 0.4

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:20 a.m.

5:27 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

4:12 a.m.

4:27 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Nov. 7

Nov. 15

Nov. 23

Nov. 29

CAT ISLAND

E

W

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

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

N

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

H

E

W

7‑14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

8‑16 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: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday:

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

WAVES 4‑7 Feet 4‑7 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 4‑7 Feet 4‑7 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 4‑8 Feet 4‑8 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 80° F 81° F 81° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 83° F 84° F 80° F 81° F 80° F 81° F 82° F 83° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 83° F 83° F 82° F

Covering The Bahamas for over 40 years.

NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

HOME INSURANCE

LIFE INSURANCE

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www.InsuranceManagementBahamas.com

PAGE 8, Monday, November 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

REAL MADRID NEEDS LATE GOAL BY VINICIUS TO END LEAGUE SLUMP

IN this file photo Usain Bolt trains with the Central Coast Mariners soccer team in Gosford, Australia. Bolt’s bid to become a professional soccer player in Australia has ended with the Olympic sprinting great failing to agree on a contract with the Mariners.

Bolt’s bid for pro contract in Australia ends without a deal

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer GOSFORD, Australia (AP) — Usain Bolt’s bid to become a professional soccer player in Australia has ended with the Olympic sprinting great failing to agree on a contract with the Central Coast Mariners.

The Mariners announced that Bolt’s indefinite training period with the club “has drawn to an end, effective immediately.”

Central Coast reportedly offered Bolt a contract worth 150,000 Australian dollars ($110,000) and hoped to get a third-party endorsement to increase the salary package into the millions, but management for the eight-time Olympic gold medallist rejected the offer. “It has been a pleasure to work with Usain as he pursued his desire to become a professional football player,” Mariners owner Mike Charlesworth said in a statement.

“This has been a mutually beneficial partnership that brought an increased level of excitement and

attention to both the Mariners and the A-League.”

Bolt, who has never played soccer at an elite level, practiced with the Mariners squad in September and October but only played in some low-level, non-league matches.

He stopped practicing with the club’s top team when contract negotiations intensified immediately before the A-League season started. “I would like to thank the Central Coast Mariners’ owners, management, staff, players and fans for making me feel so welcome during my time there,” Bolt said in a statement released by the club. “I wish the club success for the season ahead.”

Bolt scored two goals in a trial game but wasn’t included in the squad for the A-League season opener on October 21, when Central Coast had a 1-1 draw in Brisbane.

Mariners coach Mike Mulvey said after that match that he wasn’t aware the club had made an offer to Bolt. The 32-year-old Bolt retired

IN this file photo, Usain Bolt lies on the pitch after taking a shot at goal during a friendly trial soccer match between the Central Coast Mariners and Central Coast Select in Gosford, Australia.

(AP Photos/Steve Christo) from competitive track and field last year and has since explored options in Germany, South Africa, Norway, and Australia to gain a professional soccer

contract. His first game for the Mariners, an exhibition against a selection of amateur players, attracted a much larger than average crowd, and Bolt’s bid to

join the A-League has generated plenty of headlines.

But critics questioned Bolt’s ability to play at an elite level and others wrote it off a publicity stunt.

CORMIER CHOKES OUT LEWIS, DEFENDS 2ND TITLE AT UFC 230 NEW YORK (AP) — The “DC” initials that flashed on the Madison Square Garden marquee have a deeper meaning for Daniel Cormier.

Dual Champ.

Cormier draped himself in two title belts, history-making bling that cemented the 39-year-old as one of the greats in the mixed martial arts game.

“Two belts for each shoulder! I get to look at this again,” Cormier said. “It’s history and Daniel Cormier is one of the best of all-time.”

He backed up his boast with authority in New York.

Cormier choked out Derrick Lewis in the middle of the second round to retain his heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 230, becoming the first fighter to defend titles in two weight classes.

Cormier, who also holds the light heavyweight crown, made quick work of an overmatched Lewis with a rear naked choke. He celebrated with his family in the cage as Lewis trudged out, still in his trunks unlike the last fight that made him a quick star.

Cormier (22-1, 1 no-contest) had a quick takedown in the first and turned in a dominant yet dull effort to easily take the round.

He didn’t waste much time in the second and left MSG with a little slice of history.

He was still ready to rumble.

With trash talk worthy of WrestleMania hype, Cormier called out former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE star Brock Lesnar for a match in 2019.

Cormier had an itch to add a third (yet faux) title. “Bring that belt with you when you come to

my house,” said Cormier, who has vowed to retire at age 40.

Cormier won the heavyweight crown when he flattened Stipe Miocic, a bout that ended with theatrics after he called Lesnar into the cage. Lesnar shoved Cormier in the chest while the fighters traded insults to hype a potential future bout.

UFC President Dana White has said he wanted a Lesnar-Cormier bout signed for next year, a showcase that would surely be the biggest ever for heavyweights.

Lesnar is still with WWE and left the promotion’s controversial Crown Jewel event on Friday in Saudi Arabia as the Universal champion. His status remains as murky as ever — he still has to serve out the remainder of a USADA suspension — and was not spotted at MSG. Cormier beat Anthony Johnson in 2015 to win the light heavyweight title and defended it against the likes of Alexander Gustafsson and Volkan Oezdemir.

Cormier has never lost to anyone except Jon Jones, the starcrossed former light heavyweight champion who beat him twice. The second bout last year was changed to a no-contest when Jones failed a doping test that kept him out of the sport for 15 months. Cormier will be stripped of his light heavyweight title and the 205-pound crown will go to the winner of the Jones-Gustafsson bout at UFC 232 on Dec. 29 in Las Vegas.

Jones has ruled out a trilogy, and Cormier’s next challenger will surely give him a better fight than Lewis.

Lewis (21-6) served 3½ years in prison in his early 20s stemming from a parole violation when

DANIEL CORMIER, centre, lets his kids, Daniel, left, and Marquita, hold his championship belts after he defeated Derrick Lewis by submission in the second round of a heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 230, early yesterday at Madison Square Garden in New York.

(AP Photo/Julio Cortez) he was charged with aggravated assault shortly after high school.

Lewis took up mixed martial arts shortly after his release and used his big right hand to ascend to a title shot. He had won nine of his last 10 fights and his self-deprecating humor — including a randy answer as to why he stripped off his shorts inside the cage after his last win — earned him a sponsorship deal with Popeyes Chicken.

The main event had history, if not the thrills of the earlier bouts.

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza connected on a flush right hand to the temple to knock out Chris Weidman in the third round in a battle of two fighters who both badly needed a victory.

Souza and Weidman were engaged in a brutal slugfest that kept both fighters on their feet for most of the first 2½ rounds.

Weidman finally got caught and clung to Souza’s leg as he tried to find his bearings.

Souza got a couple of punches in for good measure until referee Dan Miragliotta mercifully stopped the fight.

Souza rebounded from a loss to Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 224 and did it with a busted nose.

Weidman stunned Souza with a right that smashed the Brazilian’s nose, making it spew blood for the remainder of the first round.

Israel Adesanya had a breakout performance with a dominant destruction of veteran Derek Brunson than ran his record to 15-0 and launched him as serious contender in the middleweight division.

“They say this is a walk in the park? Nah, it’s a walk in the Garden,” Adesanya said.

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid needed a late goal by Brazilian teenager Vinicius Junior to beat Valladolid 2-0 and end its slump in the Spanish league as interim coach Santiago Solari made his home debut on Saturday.

A shot by substitute Vinicius took a deflection off defender Kiko Olivas in the 83rd minute and caught goalkeeper Jordi Masip out of position. Masip touched the ball but couldn’t keep it from going in. The league credited the 18-year-old Vinicius with the goal.

Sergio Ramos added a second goal from the penalty spot in the 88th after Karim Benzema was fouled

by Fernando Calero.

Until then, Valladolid threatened to extend Madrid’s winless run.

Ruben Alcaraz and Toni Villa hit the woodwork for the visitors with long strikes in the second half.

Madrid’s first win in six rounds lifted it from ninth to sixth place.

SUB-PAR JUVENTUS STILL BEATS CAGLIARI 3-1 IN SERIE A MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan and Napoli are blasting opponents while Juventus seems content to grind out results in Serie A. Juventus barely stepped out of first gear to beat Cagliari 3-1 on Saturday ahead of its Champions League meeting with Manchester United on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Inter and Napoli both scored five goals in their wins against Genoa and Napoli but they remain six points behind Juventus, which faces Milan next Sunday in a tricky week for the defending Italian champion.

“We struggled to score the second goal and we drifted out of the game a bit,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said. “We need to improve in defending in our half of the pitch: We think we can always score two or three goals but it’s not always like that.”

SUAREZ SCORES 2 AS BARCA RALLIES LATE TO BEAT RAYO 3-2 MADRID (AP) — Luis Suarez netted his second goal of a 3-2 comeback win at Rayo Vallecano in the 90th minute on Saturday, extending his scoring run with Lionel Messi injured.

Rayo was winning the Spanish league match 2-1 until the 87th when substitute Ousmane Dembele drilled in a headed back pass by defender Gerard Pique, who joined the attack.

Suarez then scored his second goal to complete the fightback when he was left unmarked to stab in Sergi Roberto’s cross at the far post.

“The game was very difficult for us, but we knew how to turn it around,” Suarez said. “You can lose leagues at grounds like this one.”

Barcelona increased its league lead to four points over Atletico Madrid, which drew at Leganes 1-1, and Alaves. Alaves visits Eibar on Sunday.

Suarez opened the scoring at Vallecas Stadium when he tapped in a back pass from Jordi Alba, who was played clear by a long ball from Ivan Rakitic.