Rams host primary school clinic
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
BEFORE they got started in the 2025 Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, the Colorado State University Rams men’s basketball team shared some time with some of the country’s future basketball players.
A one-day clinic was held yesterday at the TG Glover Primary School where students from the school as well as Judith P. Thompson Primary School participated.
The clinic was designed to inspire the next generation of young athletes by providing them with hands-on basketball instruction, encouragement and a memorable chance to learn directly from the college players.
While the students were in awe to see the height of the towering players as they stepped off the buses, the visiting players were just thrilled to be able to interact with the enthusiastic youngsters.
Guard Jevin Muniz, a 6-foot, 6-inch senior, said although it's his first trip here, he has enjoyed every moment of it so far, especially the weather and the atmosphere at the Atlantis resort.
"We do a lot of clinics where we're from, but to come out here and to show them what we can do means a lot to us as players and our programme," he said.
Having watched the tournament in the past few years on television, Muniz said he's just thrilled to be here with his team-mates, who all seemed to have been enjoying themselves as they interacted with the local players.
"We're all focused, trying to do whatever we have to do to win," he said. "We just have to stay locked in. It's a really nice place to play, but we know what our main goal is."
Chris Howell, director of player development,
comes to The Bahamas for his second stint after he moved from Marquette as an assistant coach to Colorado State as the director of player development.
With a little more responsibility this time around, Howell said he loves it.
"It's just fun to see the kids growing up," he said. "But being on the beach is obviously the most fun, but playing in the Battle 4 Atlantis is what everybody dreams of in the United States. So we are really enjoying it."
The Rams, coached by Ali Farokhmanesh, arrived here with a 40-1 win-loss record and will play their first game at 5pm on Wednesday against Virginia Tech.
But when the tournament ends on Black Friday, November 28, Howell said he expects the Rams to be carrying the title back to Colorado State.
"Our offence is well put together, but when we play well on defence, it's hard to beat us," he stated. "So we're just hoping that we can put our defence together just as we know we will do offensively."
Local basketball standout Michael 'Ferley' Bain, one of the representatives for Atlantis at the clinic, said he's rooting for the Rams to win it all. "I expect for them to come out on top and to leave here with the winning trophy," said Bain,
THE Colorado State University Rams men’s basketball team with some of the country’s future basketball players during the one-day clinic yesterday at TG Glover Primary School.
who has hoisted a number of trophies himself as a member of the Commonwealth Bank Giants in the NPBA. "But I know it's going to be very competitive. There's a lot of great men's division one schools here with programs that have been doing extremely well. So it's going to be a tough tournament."
On behalf of Atlantis, Bain thanked Colorado State for coming out and giving back to the local community. He said it was a good way for both entities to partner together.
"The kids are really enjoying themselves and having a lot of fun," he insisted. "I've learnt some fundamentals of the game of basketball at the same time because it's never too old or too young to learn."
Two of the primary school players expressed their thoughts on having the experience with the collegiate players.
Kevonique Deveaux, a 12-year-old sixth grader from Judith P. Thompson Primary School, said as a player on their team, she thought they were going to play in a tournament, but they were even more pleased to get to work out with the college players.
"They taught us how to shoot the ball in the hoop and then we had to run a couple of drills from one white line to the next. We also have to dribble the ball."
If there was one that amazed Deveauxx and her female friends, it was the fact that the players were "so tall."
And Franton Colebrooke, a 10-year-old fifth grader at TG Glover, said they got to play basketball and he loved it because it's his favorite sport. "The players are good. They are tall too. They could just stand up and touch the rim," Deveaux said. "But they taught us how to dribble and shoot the ball at the rim."
Brad Wood Jr, one of the physical education teachers at TG Glover, said it was good to have the Rams show up because their presence will help to prepare his team for the local primary school basketball tournament.
"I think this gave the kids a great incentive on what they could be and what they could aspire to," he insisted. "I love it. THese
young guys adapted so well to the young players.
"The kids are loving it, the players seem to be enjoying themselves and the noise speaks for itself. But the children are very focused on what the players are teaching, so that is what has impressed me the most."
And Rashad Cunnibgham, the head of the physical education department at the Judith P. Thompson Primary School, formerly Centreville Primary, said the experience will have a long lasting impact on the students.
"The inner city-ghetto kids, as they are called, don't always get opportunities like this, so to have this one to see college players who do this for a living is going to impact them for the rest of their lives.
"I'm very grateful to the team that organized this and to the children and the principal of TG Glover for allowing us to come and be a part of this."
Before they left, members of the Rams signed autographs on Battle 4 Atlantis t-shirts that the young participants received, along with some refreshments, all courtesy of Atlantis. Atlantis, Colorado State and both TG Glover and Judith P. Thompson Primary Schools all went away happy.
Giants girls and Shockers boys to defend basketball titles
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
THE Xavier's Lower School Giants girls and St Francis/Joseph Shockers boys will be back to defend their respective titles when the Catholic Diocesan Primary Schools' best-of-three championship series gets started on Friday. Last Friday at Loyola Hall on Gladstone Road when the sudden death playoffs took place, Xavier's
Lower School booked their ticket to the girls' final with a 28-0 win over St Thomas More Sparks. They will meet St Francis/Joseph, who shocked St Cecilia's Strikers 22-9. On the boys' side, St Francis/Joseph doubled up Xavier's Lower School 20-10 to clinch their berth into the final. They will defend their title against St Thomas More, who nipped St Cecilia's 15-14. The losers in both divisions will play for third
place on Friday when the action gets started at 4pm at Loyola Hall before the championship games are played.
Giants 28, Sparks 0
D'Antia Rose exploded for a game high 15 points and J'Lynn Bain had six for Xavier's Lower School in their win. Payton McKenzie helped out with four and Kaelin Hudson had two.
"I expected the shutout, but I actually thought we would have scored more points," said Xaiver's coach
Raygail Smith. "Our girls played awful in the first three quarters. They didn't execute any plays, a lot of turnovers. "Maybe they were a little too afraid today or they were just too cocky. But you can't be cocky like this. I've been in a situation like this where we were 6-0 and we lost to a 0-6 team in the playoffs and didn't go to the championship. We can't take any team for granted."
The Giants got started with a 9-0 run in the first
quarter, then took it to 12-0 at the half. They only had two in the third, but it turned up with their defence in the fourth with 14 more. Smith said she would like to go through the season undefeated for the first time, so they are going for all of the marbles in the championship. She wants to win it in two straight. "We lost two games last season, the first game of the season and our first game in the championship," she recalled. "But we
hope to be undefeated this year for the first time."
• Games on tap for Friday at Loyola Hall, starting at 4pm:
Girls third-fourth place
- St Cecilia's vs St Thomas More.
Girls championship - St Francis/Joseph vs Xavier's Lower School.
Boys third place - Xavier's Lower School vs St Cecilia's.
Boys championship - St Franci/Joseph vs St Thomas More.
Battle 4 Atlantis ladies: Penn State closes out
final day with 83-67
By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net
PENN State closed out the final day of the 2025
Battle 4 Atlantis women’s tournament with an 83-67 win over San Diego State yesterday at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.
The Lady Lions finished the tournament on a strong note, improving to 5-1 on the season, while the Aztecs fell to 4-3.
The opening quarter was competitive, with Penn State holding a narrow 22-21 lead. But the game shifted sharply in the second period, where the
win over San Diego State
Lady Lions delivered a dominant 21-7 run. That surge established a comfortable halftime advantage that Penn State carried the rest of the way.
Penn State shot just under 49 per cent from the field, compared to San Diego State’s 40 per cent.
The Lady Lions also controlled the boards with a decisive 45–32 rebounding advantage, repeatedly creating second-chance opportunities thanks to centre Gracie Merkle.
Turnovers were high on both sides - 16 for Penn State and 18 for SDSUbut Penn State’s efficiency allowed them to stay comfortably ahead.
Coming off a 39-point and seven rebound performance in the loss against Princeton, Merkle, the 6’6 junior, led all scorers with 26 points on 12-of-15 shooting while adding eight rebounds, giving Penn State a steady interior presence throughout the game.
San Diego State’s Nat Martinez kept her team competitive with 24 points, going 7-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-6 at the line, but the Aztecs struggled to generate consistent scoring behind her.
Penn State maintained control with disciplined defence, steady rebounding and a balanced shot selection.
Penn State leaves Paradise Island with momentum after a convincing finalday performance, while San Diego State will look to regroup after the decisive mid-game swing that shaped the result. The men’s tournament is slated to begin on November 26 and features Colorado State, Saint Mary's, South Florida, Vanderbilt, VCU, Virginia Tech, Western Kentucky, and Wichita State.
San Diego State made a late push in the fourth quarter, scoring 19 points, yet the hole created by their second-quarter drought proved too deep to climb out of.
WNBA star Jonquel Jones hosts first-ever girls’ basketball skills clinic in Grand Bahama
WOMEN’S National Basketball Association (WNBA) All-Star and New York Liberty centre Jonquel Jones returned home on November 14 to host her
first-ever one-day basketball skills clinic, designed to inspire the next generation of female athletes across the island. The Grand Bahama native welcomed dozens
of primary, junior and senior high school girls to the Eight Mile Rock High School Gymnasium for a day of hands-on training, mentorship, and motivation.
The clinic featured four fundamental stationsdribbling, ball-handling, passing and shooting along with friendly competitions, including a spirited game of
“knockout.”The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOYSC) supported the event by providing lunch for all participants.
Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey and Kingsley Smith, parliamentary secretary and MP for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, were also on hand to cheer on the young athletes and celebrate Jones’ continued investment in her community.
Minister Moxey praised Jones for her ongoing commitment to Grand Bahama.
“Jonquel Jones is a hero to this community, to Grand Bahama, and to The Bahamas,” Moxey said.
“We’re thrilled to see her pouring into our young future WNBA stars. She has dreamed about launching this clinic for a long time, and we’re delighted to see it become a reality.”
She added that Jones’ work aligns with the government’s broader vision for youth and sports development.
“The government is committed to advancing sports and youth development, and this initiative fits perfectly within that mission,” Moxey said. “It’s amazing to watch these girls learn, grow, and enjoy every moment.”
MP Kingsley Smith also commended Jones’ leadership and used the opportunity to highlight recent upgrades to the EMR gymnasium.
“I’m proud to support Jonquel Jones as she gives back,” Smith said. “This also showcases the government’s investment in this newly renovated gymnasium. I want to again thank Skye’s Construction for a job well done. I’m proud to say we now have the best gym on Grand Bahama and having a WNBA star use it to inspire our youth is truly amazing.”
The pro-basketball star said the clinic represents the beginning of a longterm commitment to sports development in Grand Bahama. “We just wanted to come back and give back to the community,” Jones said. “This is our first clinic
this year, but we want to continue growing more clinics, more camps, more opportunities for girls. This is where I started, this is where my roots are, and I want to grow this sport on this island as a whole.” Jones noted that the girls quickly embraced the training. “They’re learning a lot of dribbling, ball-handling, passing and shooting," she said. "The skill set will grow over time, but we’ve got to start somewhere. I’m grateful MOYSC partnered with us to provide lunch, because it takes a village to do this.” She added that returning to the same gym where she spent many of her youth summers made the moment especially meaningful.
“It’s been great. The kids are ecstatic. Some even came up to me saying they’re fans. To hear that here, in the community where I grew up and where I spent so much time in this gym, it means a lot,” she said.
Jones hopes to expand the clinic into an annual programme with broader reach and deeper community partnerships.
JONQUEL Jones hosted a youth basketball skills clinic on November 14. Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey and MP for West End and Bimini, Kingsley Smith were on hand to show their support.
Photos: Andrew Miller and Jamika Culmer/BIS
THE one-day basketball skills clinic is designed to inspire the next generation of female athletes across The Bahamas.
Lakers outlast Jazz 108-106 as Deandre Ayton leaves game with knee bruise
By MATTHEW COLES Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY
(AP) — Luka Doncic had 33 points and 11 rebounds and LeBron James scored 17 points in his first road game of the season as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 108-106 on Sunday night. James, who scored most of his points on fast breaks and strong drives to the hoop, added eight assists and six rebounds in 34 minutes. He had 11 points and 12 assists in a win against the Jazz on Tuesday, in the first game of his 23rd NBA season. James missed training camp and the Lakers' first 14 games due to sciatica.
Doncic scores 33 and Lebron James 17 in his 1st road test of season
Deandre Ayton scored two points in 13 minutes before leaving midway through the second quarter with a knee bruise. Lauri Markkanen scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and keyed a Jazz comeback. His
3-pointer was the last of a 17-5 run that brought Utah within 107-106. After Doncic made one of two free throws, Keyonte George's contested jumper from the corner glanced off the rim just before the final horn.
Ten-man Everton beat Man
United 1-0 despite Gueye’s red card for striking a teammate
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Everton beat Manchester United 1-0 yesterday to slow the home team's recent revival in a Premier League game that will be remembered for an early red card shown to Everton's Idrissa Gueye for striking teammate Michael Keane.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored with a superb strike in the 29th minute, after which Everton was forced to defend its lead. United dominated the visiting 10 men in a onesided second half but failed to equalise.
It was United’s first defeat since losing 3-1 at Brentford almost two months ago and the first time in 47 Premier League
games that a visiting team has won at Old Trafford with 10 men. However, the night’s unforgettable talking point came after 13 minutes.
Gueye was furious at what appeared to be Keane’s failure to pick up his pass inside the Everton penalty box. Bruno Fernandes stepped in and fired wide but an angry Gueye confronted Keane. Keane shoved Gueye, who responded with a slap to Keane's face. Referee Tony Harrington displayed the red card for “violent conduct.”
“The referee’s call of red card to Gueye for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR — with the action deemed to be a
clear strike to the face of Keane,” the league said in a social media post. The Senegalese was the first player to be sent off in the Premier League for fighting with a teammate since Stoke City’s Ricardo Fuller saw red after clashing with Andy Griffin in 2008. Despite the setback, David Moyes’ team silenced the home crowd by taking the lead 16 minutes later when Dewsbury-Hall curled a stunning 18-metre strike into the far corner of the net.
After that it was all United. The home side had 25 shots on Jordan Pickford’s goal, compared to Everton’s three at the other end, but one goal was enough.
George had 27 points and eight assists for the Jazz (5-11), who led Wednesday's game at halftime before falling 140-126. This one was more competitive from tipoff to buzzer. Austin Reaves scored 22 points and Rui Hachimura added 13 for the Lakers (12-4), who have won four in a row.
Neither team led by more than nine points until the Lakers went on a 13-0 run that was punctuated by Doncic’s 3-pointer with 6:06 remaining to give Los Angeles a 98-85 lead.
The largest advantage before that was when Lakers were up 67-58. The Jazz went on a 16-2 run for a 74-69 lead midway through the third. Maxi Kleber made his 1,000th career field goal, his only basket of the game. It was a crucial dunk and the Lakers' last field goal to make it 107-101 with 1:21 to play.
Up Next Lakers: Host the Los Angeles Clippers tonight.
UTAH Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) lays the ball off the glass defended by Los Angeles Lakers centre Deandre Ayton (5) on Sunday night in Salt Lake City. (AP Photos/Tyler Tate)
LAKERS forward LeBron James dunks the ball during the first half.
LAKERS guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots the ball guarded by Jazz forward Kevin Love, left, and Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) during the first half.
Local Sports Calendar
BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS
THE Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis Men’s Tournament will run from November 27-29 at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. Teams competing are Louisville, Indiana, West Virginia, Gonzanga, Oklahoma, Providence, Davidson and Arizona.
BASKETBALL
BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS
THE Battle 4 Atlantis is scheduled to take place from November 26-28 at
the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island. Teams participating are Western Kentucky, Vandebilt, VCU, South Florida, Colorado State, Virginia Tech, Wichita State and St Mary’s.
ANDROS HEATS ROAD RACE
THE Andros Heats sixth annual road race will be held on Saturday, December 6 at the Regatta Site in Morgans Bluff, starting at 8am. Competition will take place in all age group
GOLOVKIN TO HEAD UP NEW OLYMPIC BOXING BODY AHEAD OF LA GAMES
By JAMES ELLINGWORTH AP Sports Writer
FORMER world cham-
pion Gennadiy Golovkin is set to take over as president of the boxing organisation aiming to run the Olympic tournaments at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Golovkin expected to run against Greek official Harilaos Mariolis for the presidency of World Boxing but the organisation has said he'd become the only eligible candidate following a vetting process.
“I have been informed that the only other candidate for the position of president ... has been declared ineligible,” Golovkin said in a statement issued via a representative.
“I would like to acknowledge the work of the independent vetting panel of World Boxing in helping to ensure that all elections take place in a fair and transparent manner, according to the highest standards of governance in Olympic sport.”
The ex-middleweight champion from Kazakhstan was widely considered the frontrunner after he headed a World Boxing delegation to rebuild ties with the International Olympic
Committee, which hinted at removing boxing from the 2028 Olympic programme before putting it back in the Games in March.
Golovkin won an Olympic silver medal in 2004 and, after turning pro, was a long-time world champion who finished with a 42-2-1 record when he retired in 2022.
World Boxing, which launched in 2023 amid a rift between the IOC and the International Boxing Association, didn't clarify why Mariolis was no longer a candidate.
World Boxing is due to be involved with an Olympic tournament for the first time in 2028. The IOC took the unusual step of organising the last two boxing tournaments itself at the Tokyo and Paris Games following its split with the IBA, which it expelled from the Olympic movement in 2023. That followed years of concerns by the IOC over IBA governance, financial transparency and the fairness of judging in Olympic bouts. IBA still runs its own competitions outside of the Olympic qualification system. That all leaves World Boxing's new president with work to do on rebuilding confidence in amateur boxing.
divisions with trophies presented to the top three finishers and medals to the fourth place finishers. The registration fee is $6 per athlete.
TRACK CLASSIC
THE Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture will hold the Abaco National Sports Month’s Track and Field Classic on Saturday, November 29, starting at 9am at the Murphy Town Sporting Complex. Competition will take place in the under-11, under-13, under-15, under17 and under-20 age groups with the various track and field events taking place. For more information, persons can call 458-5977 for more information.
BASKETBALL
MEN’S WORLDS
QUALIFIER AS the Bahamas Basketball Federation finalises the team to represent The Bahamas at the FIBA World Cup Qualifier against Canada on Friday, November 28 at 8pm at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, tickets are now on sale.
Early bird tickets are priced at $25, while tickets at the door will be priced at $30. Courtside tickets are priced at $!00.
Interested persons can purchase tickets online at www.nsa-bahamas. com/events-tickets/
Following the game, The Bahamas will travel to Canada to complete the home-and-away series on Monday, December 1.
BASKETBALL
GOOMBAY DIVISION
THE Goombay Division of the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo is slated to run from November 24-28 at the Convention Center at Baha Mar. It will feature teams from Ohio State, Belmont, West Virginia and McNeese.
BASKETBALL JUNKANOO DIVISION
THE Junkanoo Division of the Baha Mar Hoops
Pink Flamingo Championships will run from November 24-26 at the Convention Center at Baha Mar. Teams from Minnesota, University of South Florida, Alabama and Harvard will be competing.
NASSAU CHAMPIONSHIPS
THE Goombay Division of the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship will take place at the Convention Center at Baha Mar from November 28-30. Teams from Kent State, Tulsa, Houston and Arkansas State will be participating.
ROAD RACE
MACEDONIA
AS a part of its 60th anniversary, Macedonia Baptist Church will hold a Family Fun Run/Walk race that is open to the general public on January 24.
The dual event is scheduled to start at 6am at the church on Bernard Road, Fox Hill.
The registration fee is $10 per athlete and the categories include male and female 15-and-under, 20-and-under, 40-and-under, 60-and-under and over-60 with awards presented to the first three finishers.
The walk will leave the church and head west on Bernard Road to the junction at Wulff and Soldier Roads.
The competitors will turn around and head east back to the church. The run will also leave the church and head west on Bernard Road onto Soldier Road, head south to Prince Charles Drive, head east to Fox Hill Road, head north to Bernard Road and head west back to the church. Interested persons can call 426-7265 or 324-1583 for more details.
RED-LINE SONJA KNOWLES TRACK CLASSIC RED-LINE Athletics, “Where Champions
are Made,” will hold its sixth annual Sonja Knowles Track Classic over the weekend of January 31 and February 1.
The event will take place at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium on January 31 from 11am to 6pm and Sunday, March 1 from 1-6 pm.
Competition will be held in the various age groups from under-7 to masters. Medals and trophies will be presented to the various winners.
Interested persons are urged to contact club founder and head coach Tito Moss at 425-4262 for more information.
LEGENDS TRACK
THE Legends Track and Field’s Devynne Charlton Invitational is scheduled for Saturday, February 7 at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
The meet, to be held in honour of world indoor 60m hurdles record holder and two-time champion Devynne Charlton, will have her younger sister Anthaya Charlton as one of the special guests.
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ital, it will feature athletes competing from the ages of seven to the open categories for boys and girls.
T-BIRD
FLYERS
THE T-Bird Flyers will hold its 2026 Track Classic, held in memory of the late Gregory Clarke, on Friday, January 9, starting at 6pm and Saturday, January 10 at noon at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
Interested persons are urged to contact Foster Dorsett at 427-3883 for more details.
BAHAMAS AQUATICS
SWIM MEETS
BAHAMAS Aquatics has a pair of swim meets on its calendar for the rest of the year in New Providence and Grand Bahama.
• Nassau at Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex December 5-6 - BEAST Aquatics Meet
• Grand Bahama December 6 - Freeport Aquatics Club Meet
Cap-
SWIMMERS compete in the Lightning Aquatics Thanksgiving Invite at the Betty Kelly-Kenning Swimming Complex on Saturday.
Photo: Nikia Charlton
ITF World Junior Tennis Tour moves into round two at the National Tennis Centre
By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) is serving up another week of high-level junior competition as the ITF World Junior Tennis Tour moves into round two at the National Tennis Centre after a successful round one showcase yesterday. The qualifiers for the main draw rounds were held over the weekend. This tournament, which includes players
Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association serving up another week of high-level junior competition
from around the world, is designed as one of the key entry points for young athletes stepping onto the global ITF stage.
Players earn their first international ranking points here, making the stakes especially meaningful for competitors hoping to launch their junior careers.
This year marks only the second time this specific segment of the World Junior Tour has been held in Nassau, a positive sign of
the BLTA’s growing presence on the junior tennis circuit. “Everything has been running smoothly so far, the weather has been very good to us and seems like it’s going to be good all week. Competition has been fierce as usual and we expect it to become more fierce as we go deeper into the tournament,” said ITF supervisor George Baxtor. Players from across the world have travelled to compete in the tour.
“The tournament has been pretty good, it was hot, hotter than Canada, but my first match was pretty good.
“I didn’t have much difficulty and played pretty great and was focused from start to finish and it just went my way,” said Benjamin Curles, a 16-year-old French player from Montreal, Canada.
“I wanted to get my first points and now I’ve got them so now I want to get as further as I can whether
it be semi-finals or finals,” said Curles. In the ladies’ division, Elise Sloan,16, spoke about her first match of the day saying:
“It was a great match, she played great and it was fun. It’s going to be a tough tournament, there are a lot of great players here so sticking to my game and staying confident, calm, and hoping to continue to play well throughout the matches.”
Third-seeded Nassau native Brianna Holder, 16, expects to play today. “I’m hoping to get another doubles title but hopefully win my first singles.” Holder has hopes of playing tennis professionally in the future.
The tournament continues today as round two gets underway and anticipation remains high for more breakthrough performances on Bahamian soil.
Stafford and Adams connect for two more TDs while NFC-leading Rams roll to 34-7 win over Buccaneers
By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer
INGLEWOOD, California (AP) — Although
Matthew Stafford threw touchdown passes on the Los Angeles Rams' first three drives against Tampa Bay, he was even more excited by teammate Cobie Durant's electrifying interception return for a TD, raising his hand atop his head as a makeshift fin to salute the cornerback who calls himself the Land Shark.
By the time Stafford's third TD pass hit Davante Adams' hands, he was hearing loud “M-V-P! M-V-P!” chants from the biggest crowd in SoFi Stadium history.
The Rams were on top of the world Sunday night, and their 34-7 victory put them on top of the NFC.
Adams caught two TD passes during the Rams' 31-point first half, and Los Angeles coasted into sole possession of the conference lead with a blowout victory while the Buccaneers lost Baker Mayfield to a shoulder injury.
Durant returned his interception 50 yards to kick-start a dominant performance in the sixth consecutive victory for the Rams (9-2), who haven’t lost since October 2 and haven’t trailed since the second quarter of a win over Baltimore in Week 6.
Colby Parkinson also caught a TD pass from Stafford, who went 25 of 35 for 273 yards in his eighth consecutive interception-free game.
“It was a great atmosphere out there today,”
Stafford said. “Our fans did a great job showing up. Obviously both sides of the ball gave them something to cheer about early and often, which was really cool.”
Jared Verse and Kobie Turner had two sacks apiece for a defence that allowed just 193 yards while the Rams jumped over defending champion Philadelphia (8-3) for the first overall seed with six games to play.
“The only (way) that would matter is if the season ended right now,” coach Sean McVay said. “Do you remember who was in first place with six weeks left last year? Me neither. ... But this team has fun, and good football is fun, and when you're doing it with good people that you don't want to let down, that's really fun.”
Mayfield had 60 total yards and threw two interceptions before sitting out the second half with a sprained left shoulder for the Buccaneers (6-5), who have allowed 106 points while losing three straight.
Mayfield will have an MRI on Monday.
Tampa Bay’s fourth loss in five games overall allowed Carolina (6-5) to pull even atop the NFC South before the Panthers faced San Francisco last night.
“They just executed," Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. "And they executed, I mean, from the play-calling to the quarterback to the receivers to the offensive line to the defensive front and the secondary, they out-executed us and they outplayed us.”
Tez Johnson caught a TD pass from Mayfield, who
winced in pain after the throw. Mayfield played on until apparently aggravating that injury while throwing a Hail Mary intercepted by Emmanuel Forbes at halftime, and Teddy Bridgewater took over for the second half. Tampa Bay managed just 70 net yards passing.
“You never want to see guys injured, especially your leader,” Bridgewater said. “But Baker’s a tough guy, man. He tried to come back out there and tough it out for the guys. That says a lot about him.”
Stafford polished his MVP credentials with another stellar performance in McVay's offence while
extending his streak to 308 straight pass attempts without an interception — only the NFL's eighth such streak with at least 300 attempts in the 21st century.
Puka Nacua had seven catches for 97 yards, while Adams boosted his NFL lead to 12 touchdown receptions, including nine in the Rams' last five games. New kicker Harrison Mevis also made his first two NFL field goal attempts.
The Rams' defence also shined, allowing just 123 yards in the first three quarters on the night when the team honoured Aaron Donald, who retired in March 2024 after 10 superb seasons on the team's
defensive line. Los Angeles has noticed that the Rams are on a roll, packing the biggest crowds in arena history into SoFi in each of the past two weeks.
“I don’t feel like we have a ceiling,” Verse said.
“We’re just going to keep pushing and being a better version of ourselves.”
Adams capped the Rams' 80-yard opening drive with a 1-yard catch, his eighth straight scoring grab that covered fewer than 5 yards over the last five games.
Less than three minutes later, Durant ripped the ball away from a juggling Cade Otton and returned it for his second career TD, with Kam Kinchens blocking
Mayfield near the goal line to finish it.
Stafford completed his first 12 passes into the second quarter before hitting Parkinson for a 5-yard TD.
Down 21-0, Mayfield and the Bucs finally answered with a drive ending in Johnson's 14-yard TD catch. Los Angeles needed just four plays to score again, with Adams getting loose for a 24-yard TD. “He's playing like the most valuable player in the league,” Adams said of Stafford.
Up next Buccaneers: Host Arizona on November 30. Rams: At Carolina on November 30.
LOS Angeles Rams defensive end Kobie Turner (91) reacts during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night.
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Miami Dolphins embrace
‘delusional’ postseason hope despite long playoff odds
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer
MIAMI GARDENS,
Florida (AP) — The Miami Dolphins are delusional. And that's by their own definition.
They're entering their bye week at 4-7, five losses behind AFC East leader New England in the division race, 2 1/2 games behind Jacksonville for what would be the final wild-card spot in the conference, and as a 50-1 long shot just to make the playoffs, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
In other words, they're not exactly in a great spot. One would have to be, well, delusional, to think that playoff hopes are realistic.
But that's exactly the word that Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb used a couple of weeks ago, and it has stuck.
“If I had a dime for every time I was called ‘delusional’ ... it's right down my alley,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said.
It's not like the reasons for at least some hope aren't there. They've won
back-to-back games for the first time all season.
The schedule isn't exactly daunting over the next few weeks. They've dealt with a slew of injuries, including Tyreek Hill's dislocated knee. They've heard boos from fans. They've seen top pass rusher Jaelan Phillips get traded away. They've seen banner planes circling the stadium calling for drastic change; one such move ended up happening when the team parted ways with general manager Chris Grier.
A lot has happened. Much of it has been bad.
The Dolphins still believe anyway. “We just stayed together in the hard times,” Chubb said this week before the team scattered for a few bye-week days off. “We made it — what’s the word I’m looking for? — we made it a thing to get together, to make sure we stuck together, eat together, whatever we can do to bond. I feel like that’s been the biggest thing, guys trusting in one another."
History says they could have packed it in without
much in the way of repercussions. Teams that get off to the sort of starts that Miami did this season almost always wind up missing the playoffs, and the odds are still overwhelming that this Dolphins team will do the same.
— The Dolphins were 1-6. Only two teams in NFL history have started 1-6 or worse and made the playoffs, and the last time it happened was 1970.
— The Dolphins were 2-7. The only team that made the playoffs after such a start was Washington in 2020, a season when its 7-9 record was good enough to win the NFC East.
— The Dolphins are 4-7. Those playoff odds are a tiny bit better now, given than 10 teams that started 4-7 or worse have made the postseason and three of them (Washington 2020, Jacksonville 2022 and Tampa Bay 2023) have gotten there in the five seasons preceding this one. But here's where the hope comes into play. Running back De’Von Achane enters this week third in
rushing yards and fourth in scrimmage yards across the NFL. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks leads the NFL in tackles. The defence has picked up considerably over the last four games.
“We just want to hold onto that, hold onto that and continue to get better,” Brooks said.
“See where we as players can get better individually and see if we can’t keep it rolling.”
After beating Washington this past weekend in Madrid, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa — in a sentiment echoed by others — said he doesn't think the bye week will disrupt how the Dolphins seem to have figured out what works best for them. “I think a lot of the guys on the team would
love to continue playing given the momentum that we have, the momentum that we’ve built collectively in all three phases, but it is what it is,” Tagovailoa said.
“We’re going to go through our bye week, but that’s not without talking about how we can continue to stay on that momentum train following the next game week.”
The Dolphins will almost certainly be the favourite when they return to game again on November 30 at home against New Orleans. After that, Miami heads on the road to open December at the New York Jets — another game in which the Dolphins should be favoured. Win both of those, and that would mean the record is 6-7. It guarantees
THE WEATHER REPORT
nothing and is hardly aspirational — no team comes into a season hoping to be 6-7 after 13 games — but it would surely mean that the delusions might not seem so delusional anymore.
“I’m just very impressed, but not surprised,” McDaniel said. “It matches a belief that I’ve had the entire time with these guys that they are made of the right material that it takes to succeed in this league. A lot more often than not, you have to succeed on the heels of failure. That’s just the way that this league is. "The opportunity that is a down moment in your season or a down period, that is a supreme opportunity to show people who you really are and I think our guys have responded in kind.”
DOLPHINS cornerback Jack Jones (23) celebrates after making an interception during overtime against the Commanders in Madrid, Spain, on November 16. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Inaugural pickleball tournament at Abaco beach resort showcases ‘the spirit of sportsmanship’
THE Bahamas Pickleball Federation’s inaugural pickleball tournament showcased the spirit of sportsmanship, community and fun at the Abaco Beach Resort and Marina this past weekend.
Kelly Ann Meade, president of the federation, returned from the tournament with an exciting response from Manny Alexiou, the owner of the Abaco Beach Resort.
"We are thrilled to announce the immense success of the inaugural pickleball tournament held this past weekend at the Abaco Beach Resort and Marina. In collaboration with the Bahamas Pickleball Federation, we welcomed participants and fans from across the region for a vibrant and engaging event. The tournament showcased the spirit of sportsmanship, community and fun. We are proud to have provided a venue that brought everyone together and we hope to have started
an annual tradition with this event.
“We look forward to many more successful tournaments in the future and continuing our partnership with the Bahamas Pickleball Federation," said Alexiou.
The Bahamas Pickleball Federation would like to thank their incredible sponsors - Sports Center, LOM Financial, Scales Gear, High Noon, Habour Island Canvas,HIP club Romora bay, and Pizza Lab.
PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT 2025 WINNERS
1st PLACEKIM HALEY BRENNAN HALEY
2nd PLACECOCHISE BURROWS LAUREN RIVIERE
3rd PLACELEA CHARLES ANDREW CHARLES
WINNING TEAMS, shown from left to right, Lea and Andrew, Kim and Brennan, Cochise and Lauren.
PARTICIPANTS enjoy the Bahamas Pickleball Federation’s inaugural pickleball tournament at the Abaco Beach Resort and Marina.