12022016 sport

SPORTS SECTION E

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2016

Best-of-the-Best make splash in Montagu Bay

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

D

ay one of the Best-of -the-Best Regatta in the beautifully transformed Montagu Bay saw Tida Wave, Susan Chase and Sacrifice take the early lead in the A, B and C classes.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Local Government’s four-day regatta features all of the local sloops that won their respective divisions of the various regattas held during the course of the year.

It’s the first time that such an event is being held and it got off to a fantastic start with fans on shore getting to watch the action live and up close on two huge televisions.

In the opening race for the A Class, Tida Wave, which dominated the Long Island Regatta in Salt Pond, led from start to finish as they did a number on the other four boats entered.

The Lady Muriel, winner of the prestigious National Family Island Regatta in Georgetown, Exuma, came in second while Red Stripe, winner of the Cat Island Regatta, came in third. The Running Tide, winner of the Andros Regatta, was fourth and the Original Courageous, winner of the Acklins Regatta, brought up the rear.

“It was pretty good. We had some good sailing today,” said Tida Wave’s skipper Brooks Miller. “The crew did what we do best and that is sail. We did pretty good today pulling off the first race.

“There’s a lot of good competition out there but once we took the lead, we just held on at the end. But it’s not over yet. I think there will be some pretty good sailing over the next three days.”

If they can continue to make the right tacks and the right moves, Miller said there’s no reason why they should not prevail in the second race that is slated to begin at 9am today.

Steve Smith, owner of the Lady

Tida Wave, Susan Chase and Sacrifice out in front on day 1

are all top notch and even though the Original Courageous didn’t get off to a good start, the other four boats are all sailing very well.

Like the A class, the Susan Chase surged out to a quick lead and maintained her position to hold off the rest of the field in the B class.

And just as she did in dominating all of the races at both the National Family Island Regatta and the Long Island Regatta, skipper Stefon Knowles said they are looking to take the Best-of-the-

Cowboys win, Pg 5

AMERICANS TAKE THE LEAD IN QUALIFYING ROUNDS OF SSL FINALS

Best title back to Long Island.

“The wind was fluctuating and we ended up with a smaller sail and once we opened up the gap at the beginning, we knew that they were not going to catch us,” Knowles said. “We’re here to win and I don’t see why we can’t do it.”

She left the Queen Drucilla in second with the Barbarian coming in third and Ants Nest rounding out the field in fourth place.

And in the C class, which

THREE light air races were held for the penultimate day of the qualifying rounds of the Star Sailors League Finals in Montagu Bay, Nassau, yesterday.

“Getting a good start and having the boat speed to hold a lane was paramount today.

The quality of the fleet is such that the vast majority of the international teams arrive at the first mark together. The top mark was like a messy crime scene on numerous occasions.

With qualifying races running out, the scramble for room at the top mark is epic,” according to a press release.

Mark Mendleblatt and Brian Fatih, of USA, stayed out of trouble yesterday, racing fast and clean to post a 4-5-1, taking the lead in the qualifying rounds.

Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi, of Italy, started the day on the back foot, scoring a lowly 19th. However, the Italians came back posting two podium finishes to retain second place.

Robert Scheidt and Henry Boening, of Brazil, led the regatta Thursday morning but could not repeat their outstanding performance on Wednesday, scoring a lowly 1611, but came back with a fifth in the last race, claiming third in the ranking.

Xavier Rohart and PierreAlexis Ponsot had a great day on the water, scoring a 2-6-2 to climb three places to fourth in the rankings.

Sime Fantela and Antonio Arapovic, of Crotia, are now the top VIP team. The Croatians took a superb win in the first race of the day and a fourth in the last race of the day to climb from 11th to fifth in the rankings.

“A perfect day for me,” Fan-

SEE PAGE 4

SEE PAGE 4

EARLY LEADER: Class A winner Tida Wave on the high seas in Montagu Bay yesterday.

Photo: Patrick Hanna/BIS Muriel skippered by Clyde Rolle, said when they started out they were in fifth place, so it was good to see them come back for second.

“In the middle of the race, we ended up third and just before the end, we got into second as Tida Wave edged out for first,” Smith said. “In wind conditions of 10 knots or lower, the Tida Wave will always be the boat to beat.

So we’re looking forward to being right in the thick of things this weekend.”

Smith said the boats competing

NFL THURSDAY

JB Holmes atop leaderboard, Tiger returns with a 73

BOXING TEAM CUT TO TWO MEMBERS

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ALL focus was fixated on the return of Tiger Woods, but it was JB Holmes who stole the show against a stacked field on day one of the 2016 Hero World Challenge at the Albany Golf Course.

Holmes, ranked No.27 on the official World Golf Ranking, currently sits alone atop the leaderboard with an opening round 64 (-8).

The University of Kentucky graduate followed up the Wildcats appearance at the Atlantis Showcase earlier this week with a stellar opening round - despite playing on a course that he deemed not ideal for his skill set.

“It’s great to be able to come down here in the Bahamas. Albany’s awesome. Just the way this tournament’s run, it’s a good golf course. It’s just a good time of year to have some fun and be competitive but not beat yourself up too bad,” he said.

“Well, I don’t necessarily think the course is made for me. A lot of people shot some good scores. A lot of the par 5s are reachable for a lot of people. But yeah, anytime you can get five par 5s and put up some good scores, played well today.”

He began the round with a bogey but recovered to eventually shoot -5 on the par 5 holes. “Yeah, it was a great day for me. Putted well, hit my irons well

SEE PAGE 2

TIGER WOODS stretches before teeing off on the first hole during the first round at the Hero World Challenge golf tournament at the Albany resort in Nassau yesterday.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

THEY were supposed to take a full team, but the Amateur Boxing Federation of the Bahamas has reduced it to two members as they head to the Caribbean Development Tournament in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The tournament, which replaced the CARIFTA Games that was stopped in 2007 when it was last held in St Maartin, will feature veteran Rashield Williams

SEE PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Friday, December 2, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

JB HOLMES ATOP LEADERBOARD, TIGER RETURNS WITH A 73 FROM PAGE 1 and my driver well. Pret‑ ty much all around solid day. Also got a good score out of it, so it was a lot of fun. Missed a couple putts I felt like I could have made, but I also made a couple putts of some length, so it was just a really good, solid day,” Holmes said.

“Not a whole lot of ‑‑ first hole made a bogey and other than that I was pretty much tap‑in with pars or close in for birdies. So it was not necessarily an easy 64, but it was stress free because I hit a lot of good shots.”

Woods finished day one at 73 (+1). He hit 11 greens and six fairways and was briefly tied for the lead at -2 under on the 8th hole.

He entered the back nine at -3, but struggled down the stretch with a bogey on 11 and double bogies on 16 and 18.

“This golf course, if you’re driving it great here, you can take advantage of this golf course, you can tear it apart. But if you’re not, you get up in some bushes and some rods, you can go sideways. But all in all, I feel pretty good. I’m looking forward to another three more days.”

TIGER WOODS hits from a bunker onto the 14th green during the first round. Woods is one-over-par for the round.

In his return to competi‑ tive golf for the first time in 15 months, the former world No.1 said he was able to adjust quickly to the flow of the game but still needs to return to basic funda‑ mentals to elevate his game. “[I was surprised] I think how quickly I fell into the competitive mode and I felt the feel of the round. By the time I hit the second, my tee shot on the second hole, I had already gotten into the flow of the round. That’s something that for me when I’ve taken layoffs and taken breaks, it’s quickly can I find the feel of the round.

It’s good to be able to play in, what, 15, 16 months and get it on the second hole is nice,” he said.

“Right now it’s just more natural now than anything else. I’ve gone back to a lot of my old stuff that I used to do when I was a kid. Some of the feels that I have have

JORDAN SPIETH hits from the tenth fairway. Spieth is four-under-par for the round. come back. I just need to keep playing. My feels need to keep coming back, seeing the shots, feeling the shots, hitting my numbers and the shapes and getting all that.”

Patrick Reed, who was paired with Woods for the round, shot an even 72, tied for 12th overall and assessed the day for both players.

“I mean, it was nice play‑ ing with him. You know, un‑ fortunately it wasn’t quite the way we both wanted to play, but it was awesome to get him back out here and play golf with him. The first eight holes he played he played really well. I was

EARLY LEADER: J.B. Holmes watches his tee shot on the first hole yesterday during the first round at the Hero World Challenge golf tournament at the Albany resort. Holmes has the lead with eight-under-par for the round.

(AP Photos/Lynne Sladky) like wow, he seemed like he had complete control of what he was trying to do with the golf ball. There’s just a couple loose swings here and there, but it was kind of hard to see really a lot of his shots because I was too busy going in the bushes, going in bunkers. I was all over the place.

“I need to tighten up my own game and he needs to tighten some things up too, but it’s awesome to have him back,” he said.

“His swing looked good.

When he hit it well, it was really, really good, and when you mis‑hit it, it was kind of, you know, they weren’t very good misses.

But at the end of the day, to take off as much time as he had and come back and be his first competitive round and to have the kind of spurts that he had through‑ out the round, it was good to see because there’s noth‑ ing like hitting balls on the range and practicing and going out and playing some holes, but getting under the gun like that, it was cool to see.”

Hideki Matsuyama of Ja‑ pan is currently second at 65 (-7). “Front nine I didn’t play real well, but back nine I started making some

putts and I’m happy with the round,” he said. “The wind wasn’t as strong as it was yesterday so the course did play a little bit easier to‑ day. Last week in Australia at the World Cup the wind blew hard too and so maybe I’m just getting used to it.”

American Dustin John‑ son, the highest ranked player in the field at No.3, is also currently third among the field at 66 (-6) Following him, the group tied for 4th at 67 (-5) in‑ cludes Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Matt Kuchar of the United States and Louis Oosthuizen of South Af‑ rica.

Americans Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth are tied for 7th at 68 (-4).

Defending champion Bubba Watson is tied among a group of five play‑ ers at an even 72.

Justin Rose, Britain’s Olympic gold medallist who has taken up residency in the Bahamas, rounded out the field at No.18 with a 74 (+2).

Play continues today at the Albany Golf Course with the first group, Woods and Rose set to tee off at 11:12am. Holmes and Mat‑ suyama will tee off in the final pairing at 12:40pm.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 2, 2016, PAGE 3

Bahamas ‘sporting destination’ of the Caribbean IT IS not how you start, nor how you get there. Most importantly, it’s how you finish.

• The Finish Line, a weekly column, seeks to comment on the state of affairs in local sports, highlighting the highs and the lows, the thrills and the spills and the successes and failures.

THE WEEK THAT WAS Welcome the world to what is fast becoming the “Sporting Destination” of the Caribbean - the Bahamas.

From the east where the Star Sailors League Finals is being held on Montagu Bay to Albany Golf Course out west where the Hero World Classic is being staged, there’s a whole heap of international athletes in town this week.

They’re here on the heels of a couple of major collegiate and high school basketball games played at both the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium and in the makeshift gymnasium in the Atlantis ballroom where some of our rising national players were featured.

In addition to the international events, we pause to take a look at the Best of the Best Regatta that is being staged in Montagu Bay this week.

It’s the first venture of its kind by the Ministry

of Agriculture and Local Government, under whose jurisdiction regattas fall under. The ministry must be commended for first hosting the event which has given all of the local sloops that won the various regattas this year to compete against each other in the A, B and C classes.

If you traverse the popular eastern foreshore, you would feel as if you are in a regatta site at one of the Family Islands as they have transformed the area in a festive setting.

Not only have they provided more space for tents and for spectators to move around onshore, which maybe due to some of the destruction left behind by Hurricane Matthew, but they have also provided some bleacher seats on the beach to enable persons to comfortably sit down and enjoy the action.

If that’s not enough, there’s two large television screens mounted overlooking the sea where the competition is shown up close and live by drones operated by a local Bahamian com-

pany.

It’s another first that has pushed the Best of the Best Regatta off to an impressive start to the long weekend.

If you haven’t had a chance to go to a Family Island for a regatta or a homecoming where the sailing boats compete, this is a prime opportunity for you to check out Montagu Bay. There’s also a lot of good food to satisfy those who are hungry.

At the same time in Montagu, even though they are quite a distance away, you can get a glimpse of the final of the Star Sailors League.

It’s a similar format as the Best of the Best Regatta where 50 of the world’s top sailors, representing 17 different countries, battle it out in a knock-out series where the winner will take away the lion-share of the $200,000 prize pot.

Sailors such as Diego Negri, Robert Scheidt, Mateusz, Augie Diaz, Eric Monnin, Jochen Schuemann and Tom Burton are just some that come to mind to think about when watch-

ROBERT SCHEIDT and Henry Boening, of Brazil, in action on Wednesday in the qualifying rounds of the Star Sailors League Finals in Montagu Bay, Nassau. ing the action.

It’s a field of the best of the best Olympic and world champions competing until Saturday where they will join the local sailors on Sunday in a classic showdown as they combine to compete in the local sloops.

If the waters are not your fancy, Tiger Woods has assembled some of the top golfers in the world to join in his Hero World Challenge as he makes his return to professional golf after a 15-month hiatus because of an injury.

The journey to Albany Resort might be a little far fetched, but it’s worth the trip if you know or want to

see players like Bubba Watson, Zack Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson or Hideki Matsuyama - just to name a few - compete.

It’s a rare occasion that you will get to see so much talent in one place at the same time.

The Bahamas has certainly put itself in a brand of its own, similar to when we used the “sun, sand and sea” logo to attract tourists to our shores.

And with the new Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium coming on stream next year along with the construction of the new beach facility at the foot of the Sidney Poitier Bridge on East Bay

Street, there will be even more exciting things to come in the line of sports in the future.

Don’t forget to mark the date down - Friday, December 23 when the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl returns for another high-powered collegiate football game.

A press conference is being held today at Atlantis to introduce the visiting coaches from Eastern Michigan – Chris Creighton and Old Dominion – Bobby Wilder, who have been afforded the trip here to compete.

What a way to kick off the long Christmas holiday weekend.

No Ceilings: Yolett and Dolphins off to best start in six years

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

YOLETT McPhee-McCuin and her Jacksonville Dolphins have adopted the phrase “No Ceilings” and have certainly played true to that motto this season.

The Grand Bahama native has led her team to the best start of the last six years for the Dolphins’ women’s basketball.

A 55-40 win over Savannah State Tuesday night lifted the Dolphins to a 6-2 record on the season.

“We’re just trying to get better every day,” said McPhee-McCuin.

“I’m looking for efficiency and for our players to know and understand their roles. It’s going to be a process, but that is what nonconference is for. “Defence is our identity. We want to rebound, run and share the ball. I was definitely pleased with our efforts on the defensive end.”

MCPHEE-MCCUIN Jacksonville returns to action 2pm Saturday against Florida International University.

McPhee-McCuin and her Jacksonville University Dolphins are currently on a conference title repeat chase and hope to make an even deeper run in the NCAA tournament in the 2016-17 campaign.

Last season, her third

year at the helm, she led the Dolphins to a 22-11 record, the A-Sun tournament title and their first NCAA Tournament championship berth in school history.

This year will be all about the team building on that success.

“I don’t want you to be concerned, I’m not still caught up in the past. The goal this year is to pursue an A-Sun Championship, it will never change,” she said.

“We’re not trying to repeat and I don’t think you can repeat when you have new members, it’s a new team.

So we just want to pursue another championship.

That’s what we’re about.”

The Dolphins have garnered national attention with a No. 22 ranking in the CollegeInsider.com MidMajor Top 25 preseason poll.

This offseason, McPheeMcCuin sought to create further ties between her at Jacksonville University Dolphins and the Bahamas

BOXERS Damian Smith (left) and Rashield Williams (right) with coach Valentino Knowles.

BOXING, from page 1 in the open 69 kiloclass and Damian Smith, a newcomer competing in the novice light heavyweight 81 kiloclass in just his second international fight.

Coached by former national amateur boxer Valentino Knowles, the team is scheduled to leave town today and return home on December 11.

“Once we dominate our fighters in the Caribbean, we know that we are ready for the Spanish fighters,” said Knowles, who has been working with both competitors in the National Boxing Gym at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

“We had a lot of success in the CARIFTA Games, including myself, Tureano ‘Reno’ Johnson and Carl Hield. So we are hoping that these two boxers will start the trend all over again.

“The Olympics just gone and we are making a transition with our team, trying

to get them ready to compete at the next Olympics.

We still have Carl Hield, who is planning on going on for another four years to pursue his Olympic dream.”

Knowles said he was hoping that the boxing association, headed by Wellington Miller, would have carried a larger team but they had to cut it down at the last minute.

“For us in the Bahamas, we have always been dominant in the Caribbean,” Knowles said. “So I look forward to us bringing back two gold medals. My expectations are very high for these two guys. I know we can do it.”

Both boxers indicated that they are looking forward to the challenge.

“I feel good. I always keep myself in shape and I’m always ready to compete,” Williams stated.

“You could expect a gold.

I’m looking forward to winning the gold.”

Williams, 27, said he has

stayed in the gym and he’s hoping that his persistence will pay off in the long run.

“This is just something I love. I just keep pushing,” Williams stressed. “I never give up.”

Although he has only been competing in the sport for 11 years, Smith said he feels he’s ready to take on the world.

“I’m going down there to bring back the gold medal,” he said. “I want to go there and make our country look good. I’m going to put on a great show. I’ve been training hard every day. I’m probably in the best shape of my life right now.”

Smith, 19, said he feels he’s in the right atmosphere with Knowles as his coach.

“I think Valentino Knowles is probably the best coach in the Bahamas right now,” he said. “I’m glad that I’ve been training under him. I’m surprised at where I’m at, but it’s all because of coach Valentino Knowles.”

with her “JU in the 242” programme.

Beyond the lines of the basketball court, Jacksonville also participated in several community service events, including a visit to the Children’s Emergency Hostel.

When she was announced as the Dolphins head coach in April 2013, McPhee-

McCuin became the first Bahamian head coach in an NCAA Division I basketball programme.

The daughter of legendary Bahamian coach Gladstone “Moon” McPhee and educator Daisy McPhee, she became the third head coach in the 14-year history of Jacksonville women’s basketball.

McPhee-McCuin took on the role of head coach for the Dolphins after a threeyear run at Clemson University, where the National Women’s Basketball Insider named her one of the top assistants in the nation.

Last offseason, she signed her first Bahamian to the Dolphins’ programme, Shalonda Neely.

PAGE 4, Friday, December 2, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

QUEEN DRUCILLA ended up in second place in Class B yesterday.

BEST-OF-THEBEST REGATTA: TIDA WAVE, SUSAN CHASE AND SACRIFICE OUT IN FRONT FROM PAGE 1 brought the curtain down on day one, there was some drama as Knowles was the only man left on his Whitty K after his three crew members fell overboard after they passed the buoy on the first of two laps.

At the time, the highly favoured Whitty K was sitting in fourth place. Knowles and crew managed to regain their composure and stayed in fourth place the rest of the way.

Sacrifice, owned by Colin Cartwright, surged out front and was able to put about a minute and-a-half ahead of a close battle between the second place King & Knights and third place Aliv Thunderbird.

The rest of the field, following the Whitty K, were the Sweet Island Gal, H2O,

Crazy Partner and Legal Weapon in a race of their own.

“We did good as usual when I sail her,” said David Knowles, the skipper of Sacrifice. “When I sail her, she normally wins. That’s not the boat I normally sail.

I normally sail the Lady Dianne, my brother’s boat in Long Island. I was just helping out my brother-in-law.”

Knowles said although they were ahead, they heard about the problems that the Whitty K experienced, but he pointed out that it’s not a big issue because they will be back.

After Saturday’s third races in the regatta, the top three boats in both the A and B classes and the top four in the C class will advance to the final on Sunday where they will compete for the top prizes.

EARLY LEADER: Class B winner Susan Chase on the high seas in Montagu Bay yesterday.

Photos: Patrick Hanna/BIS

AMERICANS TAKE LEAD IN QUALIFYING ROUNDS OF STAR SAILORS LEAGUE FINALS FROM PAGE 1 tela said. “The light wind was a big advantage for us because we are a very light crew. This first regatta is awesome. We had good tactics, good speed and we controlled others. A space in final?

Maybe. The fleet is strong and in two races everything is possible.”

Paul Cayard and Joshua Revkin, of USA, had three top 10 finishes yesterday, as did Augie Diaz and Arnie Baltins and there was a win for Robert Stanjeck and Frithjof Kleen, of Germany.

“We sailed the boat quite well today, but what happened today, with lighter wind when you have a good start it’s easier to keep the lead if you keep on going on a perfect lane you continue to gain lengths over the other boats,” Stanjek said. “But we can sail in any conditions.

Noted Kleen: “Today it also helped the fact that we didn’t touch any mark…like it happened to us at the start, and so we didn’t have to do any penalties. To be honest we have some issues with the boat that it’s delaminating, so sometimes we feel that we are slower.”

Rio Laser bronze medallist Sam Meech, racing with fellow Kiwi Craig Monk have not had

LEADING THE QUALIFYING ROUNDS: Mark Mendleblatt and Brian Fatih, of USA, stayed out of trouble yesterday, racing fast and clean to post a 4-5-1, taking the lead in the qualifying rounds.

the best of luck in the SSL Finals.

Sail and rig problems have added to their woes but America’s Cup winner and Star sailor Craig Monk was still able to raise a smile and the Kiwis scored an 8th in the last race today to raise their spirits.

“We haven’t had the best of luck and it would have been better to have the lighter weather at the start to get Sam used to the boat,” Monk said. “However, this is a fantastic event with some great sailors in an outstanding setting with superb sailing conditions.

We will go out tomorrow and do our best, as will everyone else and we will see how it goes, but we are both delighted to be here.”

Two more races are scheduled for today to complete the qualifying rounds. Only the top 10 teams will progress to the SSL Finals on Saturday.

Full coverage of all five days of action will be streamed live on the Internet with expert commentary from special studio guests, including America’s Cup four time winner Dennis Conner and Olympic silver medalist in London 2012 Luke Patience.

On the water, the latest in hitech camera technology, as well as Virtual Eye 3D Graphics, will provide thrilling viewing.

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Friday, December 2, 2016, PAGE 5

Mavin Saunders and Seminoles in contention for a major bowl bid

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net AFTER an up and down year, Mavin Saunders and the Florida State Seminoles finished the regular season on a strong note and are now in contention for a major bowl bid.

The Seminoles were ranked at No.12 in the latest edition of the College Football Playoff rankings, aligning them with an opportunity for a New Year’s Six Bowl.

If the penultimate rankings hold true to form for another week, the Semi-

noles will be the second ranked team in the Atlantic Coast Conference behind No.2 overall Clemson Tigers.

The second ranked team in the ACC traditionally gets a berth to the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.

The Seminoles have won four consecutive games including a regular season ending 31-13 win over instate rival, the No.15 Florida Gators. They finished the regular season at 9-3.

Saunders, the redshirt sophomore tight end who appeared in eight games, had his best statistical finish of his career with 10 re-

MAVIN SAUNDERS

ceptions for 182 yards.

His numbers increased from his freshman season when he finished with six catches for 52 yards. This season he had several career high outings as he became a greater part of the offence in two tight end sets alongside fellow sophomore Ryan Izzo.

Saunders finished with three catches for 74 yards - both career highs - in the Seminoles’ 37-35 loss to the unranked North Carolina Tar Heels on October 1 in Doak Campball Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

He also finished with two catches for 44 yards in a 45-

14 win over the Syracuse Orange November 19 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York.

Earlier this season, Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher said he expects the redshirt sophomore and Bimini native to become an even greater part of the game plan as FSU implements more double tight end sets.

“Mavin is getting better and better. He’s really grinding, he’s getting better and better and doing better. He has a chance to be a really good player, he just needs to keep working,” he said.

Cowboys stop Vikings for 11th straight win

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI AP Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dez Bryant caught four passes for 84 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, helping the Dallas Cowboys win their 11th straight game with a 17-15 victory over the Minnesota Vikings last night.

Bryant’s 56-yard catch in the first half set up Ezekiel Elliott’s 1-yard plunge. The receiver caught an 8-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter after a fumbled punt by Minnesota’s Adam Thielen.

Elliott rushed for 86 yards on 20 carries for the Cowboys (11-1). They have the longest single-season winning streak in franchise history.

Sam Bradford threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jerick McKinnon with 25 seconds to play, but the 2-point conversion failed for the Vikings (6-6), who found out earlier on Thursday that coach Mike Zimmer would not be able to attend the game after having emergency eye surgery on Wednesday night.

Dak Prescott was 12 for 18 for 139 yards passing for Dallas.

Bradford completed 32 of 45 passes for 247 yards, Danielle Hunter had two sacks and Kai Forbath kicked three field goals for Minnesota, which has last six of the last seven games after a 5-0 start.

Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer was elevated to head coach for the game and it remains unclear how long Zimmer will be out.

Minnesota’s thirdranked defence did their fiery leader proud, holding the explosive Cowboys offence to season lows in points, yards (264) and first downs (13).

The Vikings forced two turnovers from a team that had not coughed one up in the previous four games,

including a strip sack by Brian Robison that set up Forbath’s 33-yard field goal for a 9-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.

KEY PLAY With Dallas’ offence doing nothing, Kyle Wilber made the play of the game when he punched the ball out of Thielen’s hand, then pulled the ball away as the two rolled to the turf.

Officials initially did not catch the fumble, but a heads-up challenge by Jason Garrett got the call overturned and Prescott found Bryant on the next play.

A TD TO TIE TD Elliott’s 1-yard plunge in the second quarter gave Dallas a 7-3 lead. It was his 12th touchdown rushing this season, tying him with Tony Dorsett for most by a rookie in Cowboys history.

BRADFORD UNDER SEIGE Playing behind a patchwork offensive line that included centre Nick Easton making his first career start in place of the injured Joe Berger (concussion),

CLIPPERS 113, CAVALIERS 94 CLEVELAND (AP) — J.J. Redick scored 23 points, Blake Griffin matched a career high with 11 assists and the Los Angeles Clippers bounced back from a brutal loss with a 113-94 victory on Thursday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have lost two straight for the first time as defending NBA champions.

Chris Paul scored 16 and DeAndre Jordan had 15 rebounds for the Clippers, who blew an 18-point lead and fell in double overtime at Brooklyn on Tuesday.

GRIZZLIES 95 MAGIC 94 MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Marc Gasol scored 25 points, including a pair of free throws with 12.2 seconds remaining to give the Memphis Grizzlies a 95-94 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.

Gasol’s free throws completed a 14-point comeback in the fourth quarter as Memphis snapped a two-game losing streak.

Troy Daniels finished with 19 points for the short-handed Grizzlies, who dressed nine players due to injuries. Andrew Harrison had 11 points and eight assists.

Evan Fournier scored 28 points for the Magic, while Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Jeff Green scored 12 of his 14 points early in the fourth as Orlando built a double-digit lead.

BUCKS 111, NETS 93 NEW YORK (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, Jabari Parker scored 22 points and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Brooklyn Nets 111-93 last night.

Malcolm Brogdon and Tony Snell each added 13 points for the Bucks, who followed their impressive victory over Cleveland with their third straight win.

Brook Lopez scored 15 points, Sean Kilpatrick had 14 and Bojan Bogdanovic added 13 for the Nets, who outlasted the Los Angeles Clippers in overtime on Tuesday and were trying to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

CATCHLESS IN MINNEAPOLIS Cowboys tight end Jason Witten did not catch a pass, snapping a team-record streak of 130 straight games with a reception dating to 2008.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY On a night when offence was hard to come by, Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph let a big-time opportunity slip through his fingers in the third quarter.

Bradford squeezed a throw to Rudolph between two defenders, but the big tight end dropped what would have been a go-ahead 18yard touchdown.

The Vikings settled for a field goal, cutting the Cowboys’ lead to 7-6.

NBA CAPSULES

COWBOYS middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens, right, celebrates with Damien Wilson during the first half of last night’s game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. (AP) Bradford was under pressure all night long from a Cowboys defence that has often struggled in that area this season.

Bradford was sacked three times and had to leave the game on the final drive of the second quarter after taking a helmet from Maliek Collins to his rib cage.

After getting some medical attention during halftime, Bradford was able to remain in the game.

ZIMMER TRIBUTE Before the game, the Vikings played a short video of Zimmer addressing the team during a practice.

Zimmer’s primary message: “Do your job.”

That has been a common theme during his three seasons in Minnesota, and the organisation likely wanted the players to hear it one more time before taking the field. After the video, a picture of Zimmer was put on the big screen with a

“Get Well Soon” message attached.

UP NEXT Cowboys: Dallas heads to New York on December 11 to face the Giants, the only team to have beaten the Cowboys this season.

Vikings: Minnesota will travel to Jacksonville on December 11 to face the Jaguars, hoping the extra time off will be enough for Zimmer to recover and return to the sideline.

HORNETS 97, MAVERICKS 87 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kemba Walker scored 18 points and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Dallas Mavericks 9787 last night for their third win in the last four games.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist added 14 points and Jeremy Lamb had 12 off the bench for the Hornets, who remained in first place in the Southeast Division.

Harrison Barnes scored 17 points and Justin Anderson added 15 for the Mavericks, who have lost 10 of their last 11 games.

Under pressure: Pardew’s position looking fragile at Palace

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — It took Swansea’s new American owners less than three months to make their first managerial change, installing Bob Bradley in a bid to steer the club to Premier League safety.

The US businessmen in part-control of Crystal Palace have been in situ for nearly a year and now have their own coaching decision to take.

Is it time to get rid of Alan Pardew?

Pardew’s position as Palace manager looks increasingly fragile, with the team losing its last six league games and conceding goals at an alarming rate. The chaotic 5-4 loss at Bradley’s Swansea last weekend saw Palace at its infuriating worst, unable to defend set pieces or a lead going into injury time.

Pardew has reportedly held talks with Palace chairman Steve Parish, who along with American co-

owners David Blitzer and Josh Harris will decide on the manager’s future. A home loss to Southampton on Saturday could drop Palace, which is currently fourth-to-last in the standings, into the relegation zone.

“They are very patient and loyal,” Pardew said two weeks ago of his American bosses, adding: “They’re not looking for a short-term fix or a quick profit margin.”

Yet, the statistics don’t make good reading for Pardew: Palace has the worst points-per-game record of all teams in England’s four leagues in 2016, has the second-worst defensive record in the Premier League (26 goals against in 13 games), and has conceded 13 goals from set pieces this season.

Pardew joined Palace in January 2015 after quitting Newcastle, where he made headlines because of his frequent flare-ups in the coaches’ technical area - including head-butting an opposing player as they jos-

ALAN PARDEW tled for a ball at a throw-in.

He is calmer on the touchline now, while much of the arrogance some accused Pardew of having appears to have gone.

Palace finished in a clubrecord 10th place in the Premier League in Pardew’s first season in charge, then started last season well before a drastic dip in form saw it narrowly avoid relegation. A run to the FA Cup final, where Palace lost to Manchester United, spared Pardew from more scrutiny.

Palace broke its transfer

record twice in the offseason to sign England winger Andros Townsend and then Belgium striker Christian Benteke. Scoring hasn’t been a problem for the team nicknamed “The Eagles,” who are the fifth-highest scorers in the league, but they can’t keep the goals out at the other end.

The loss of Pape Souare, who broke his leg in a car crash in September, has deprived Pardew of his starting left back and the coach has been unable to improve Palace’s defending at set pieces even though the team is spending more time on that area on the training ground. Three of Swansea’s goals came via that route last weekend.

Southampton, meanwhile, is buoyant after beating Arsenal 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the English League Cup. Also, second-place Liverpool begins a five-week spell without playmaker Philippe Coutinho in a match at Bournemouth on Saturday, when fourthplace Arsenal visits West

Ham and Tottenham hosts Swansea.

Defending champion Leicester is two points above the bottom three going into a match at lastplace Sunderland.

• Here are some other things to know about this weekend’s games in the 14th round of the Premier League: MANCHESTER CITYCHELSEA There was no hiding Pep Guardiola’s appreciation of Antonio Conte when the Manchester City manager was asked who his major coaching rivals might be in his first season in English soccer.

“Conte is a master tactician,” Guardiola said at his presentation news conference in July. “A great signing for Chelsea.”

Guardiola has been proved correct. Chelsea arrives at Etihad Stadium on Saturday of the standout game of the round in first place, and on a seven-game winning run since switching

to a three-man defence.

Guardiola cannot seem to settle on his best formation, regularly switching from a four-man defence to three at the back — even during games. City is third in the standings.

It should be an intriguing battle between two of the most respected tacticians in soccer.

EVERTONMANCHESTER UNITED United captain Wayne Rooney will miss the game against his former club because of suspension after collecting his fifth booking of the season in the 4-1 win over West Ham in the League Cup on Wednesday.

Paul Pogba returns from suspension for United, however.

There could be some spikiness on the touchline, with United manager Jose Mourinho unhappy that his Everton counterpart, Ronald Koeman, has publicly said he would like to sign Rooney and fellow United player Memphis Depay.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 2, 2016, PAGE 7

FAB SEASON 13

BASKETBALL enthusiasts take part in The Filipino Association of the Bahamas’ Sports Festival Season 13 at the CI Gibson Gymnasium on Sunday, November 27.

Photos: Derek Smith

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 53° F/12° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Partial sunshine

Partly cloudy with a shower

Partly sunny with a brief shower

Sunshine and breezy

Partly sunny and breezy

Breezy in the morning; partly sunny

High: 82°

Low: 69°

High: 81° Low: 69°

High: 81° Low: 70°

High: 82° Low: 71°

High: 83° Low: 70°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

100° F

80° F

92°-72° F

87°-70° F

85°-72° F

90°-77° F

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 56° F/13° 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: 78° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C

6-12 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 81° F/27° C Low: 69° F/21° C

4-8 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 71° F/22° C

N

S

E

W

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 67° F/19° C

MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 72° F/22° C

7-14 knots

KEY WEST

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 69° F/21° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2016

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

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

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

9:18 a.m.

9:37 p.m.

2.9 2.3

2:58 a.m.

3:47 p.m.

0.1 0.2

Saturday

9:57 a.m.

10:20 p.m.

2.9 2.3

3:37 a.m.

4:28 p.m.

0.2 0.2

Sunday

10:39 a.m.

11:07 p.m.

2.8 2.3

4:20 a.m.

5:11 p.m.

0.3 0.3

Monday

11:25 a.m.

11:59 p.m.

2.8 2.3

5:08 a.m.

5:57 p.m.

0.4 0.3

Tuesday

12:16 p.m.

-----

2.7 -----

6:02 a.m.

6:47 p.m.

0.5 0.2

Wednesday 12:56 a.m.

1:12 p.m.

2.4 2.6

7:04 a.m.

7:41 p.m.

0.5 0.1

Thursday

2.6 2.6

8:10 a.m. 0.4 8:37 p.m. -0.1

1:56 a.m.

2:12 p.m.

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:39 a.m.

5:20 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

9:01 a.m.

8:11 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Dec. 7

Dec. 13

Dec. 20

Dec. 29

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

S

E

W

4-8 knots

S

6-12 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 74° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/27° C Normal low ........................................ 68° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 86° F/30° C Last year’s low ................................... 73° F/23° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 48.94” Normal year to date ................................... 38.65”

uV inDex toDay

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

6-12 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 76° F/24° 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: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday:

WINDS SW at 4-8 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots E at 6-12 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots E at 4-8 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots E at 3-6 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots

WAVES 3-6 Feet 4-7 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-5 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet

VISIBILITY 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 77° F 79° F 80° F 78° F 81° F 82° F 80° F 80° F 78° F 79° F 80° F 80° F 78° F 78° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 79° F 79° F 80° F 79° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 80° F