SPORTS
Pickleball champions
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamian duo of Justyn Thompson and Brezile Hamilton prevailed as champions of the Riverland Pro Pickleball Invitational held over the weekend in Port St Lucie, Florida.
In a dominating fashion, the duo clinched the title with a 15-1 triumph over the team of Domenic Balzano and Mike Frazier after breezing through the semifinal with a 15-7 decision over Chris Erickson and Josh Baldridge.
In round robin play, the Bahamian pair knocked off Jeffery Rowe and Jason Gillespie 15-5 in round one, Jesse Malkin and Chris Clark15-7 in round two, David Mui and Anthony Paolucci 15-8 in round three and Cameron Marchese and Jonathan Arias 15-8 in round four.
The duo got an invitation from one of the sponsors that took notice of their performances a year ago and was supportive of their development. Thompson said once they were able to find the time from work, they began making travel arrangements and they made good use of their return trip to Florida.
"We play with each other all the time so we already have chemistry," Thompson said. "We knew walking into this tournament what to expect due to competing a year ago. "We didn’t even make it past the qualifying rounds. However, we were more than equipped this year to go even further and possibly medal."
Justyn Thompson and Brezile Hamilton win title at Riverland Pro Pickleball Invitational in Port St Lucie
This was the third tournament victory for Thompson and Hamilton. They won their first tournament in the Cayman Islands in February and in Naples, Florida, in April. But they both admitted that this was just as big a victory in Port St Lucie. "We were pretty much the team to watch and everyone was talking about," Thompson said. "The competition was intense as this was a prize money tournament, but we knew the amount of work we put in while practicing so being pushed over easily was definitely not an option."
Hamilton said the performance on Sunday in the final was superb. "Several of our matches challenged us at key moments, but we were able to stay composed and come out on top," Hamilton said. "Winning a gold medal at Riverland this year was especially meaningful after not securing one last year."
Hamilton said he couldn't ask for a better partner to team up with. "Justyn and I have developed exceptional on-court chemistry, and our playing styles complement each other very well," Hamilton said. "I’m extremely proud of our teamwork and grateful to be bringing another gold medal back home." As a result of our performance, Thompson said they received an offer to be signed by two major
pickleball companies, Engage & Gearbox, which would make them the first and only Bahamian players to achieve that feat.
Thompson noted that next year, he plans on hosting clinics and events through his own club Tropical Smash Pickleball, which
has been up and running for several months now and not associated with any association or federation within The Bahamas.
Tropical Smash is in the process of having its very first open tournament. Updates will be posted on online platforms for those who are interested.
"The aim is solely developing pickleball through the Bahamian community the right way," Thompson said. "This club was established due to issues several players and coaches were experiencing from certain members of the federation which were unheard and unnoticed. "This resulted in non-involvement from top ranked Bahamian players in this year’s Pickleball World Cup hosted in Fort Lauderdale, USA."
Additionally, Thompson said there was a lack of Bahamian presence in general at the event due to a team selection of 25 players, only 4-5 were actually born and raised Bahamians, which was a serious concern that should not be overlooked as there was an attempt to keep this information undisclosed.
"This course of action was unfortunate due to this potentially being The Bahamas strongest male and female team being carried to an international competition by far," he stated.
"The players and coaches are hoping for an immediate change in leadership so that this same approach does not take place in any other international competition in the future."
Bahamas teams all set for 3x3 Caribbean Cup
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Basketball Federation's Under-23 ladies and men’s teams are all set for the 3x3 Caribbean Cup, scheduled from scheduled from Thursday through Sunday.
The tournament is scheduled for the Bahamas Football Association's Beach Soccer Stadium at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge and is expected to feature teams from St Lucia, Trinidad and Tabago, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti and The Bahamas. Admission is free. The tournament is a developmental one with the teams participating in two days of competitions and two days of practical and theoretical basketball where they’ll be in the classroom. The classroom will include coaches’ training, referee training and players’ training and will all end in certifications. Named to Team Bahamas are the following: Women - Michelle Butler (captain), Jada Francis, Mya Henfield and Grace Smith. The alternates are Kayla Bien and Deshantae Sears. Diasti Delancy is the women's head coach.The men's
team members are Leo Johnson, Davito McIntosh (captain), Stevachko Jacques and Keithwood Stubbs. The alternates are Jahleel Williams and Qui’Aundre Robinson. Marvin J. Henfield is the men's head coach.
Henfield said it's going to be an eye opener for The Bahamas, considering that this is the first team to compete in a 3 on 3 tournament.
"I feel very good about our team. According to what I was told about other teams coming in, we might be undersized, but I tell people when you are undersized,you have to be overskilled," Henfield said.
"So our team has decent size, but teams might be bigger supposedly. We will be prepared to compete. When I go into these stuff, I go in to win. So I expect us to go in there and win this."
Size, according to Henfield, will always be a factor for The Bahamas because "we manufacture players with height. We have about three guys here who are about 6-feet, 4-inches, but other countries could be bringing guys 6-10 or 7-feet.
"So relative to Bahamians, we have a big team. Relative to the world, we could be very small. I've never been concerned
about the size of the dog. I'm more concerned about the size of the fight. So they can bring big bodies. I am ready for them." Whatever comes their way, Henfield said Team Bahamas will play to their strengths, which is to utilise its speed, move the ball and play with a lot of rotation and make the defence work.
Henfield said he just wants the teams, in this first scenario, to go out there this weekend and just put on a good show because it's a much faster game than the 5 on 5.
"What makes this game fun is when we can add the element of shooting," he said. "We have players on this team who can shoot, but we don't have any shooters on this team.
"When we build this team out with more development, as with all of my other teams, then we can put shooters on the team and that will make it more exciting for us to win in the future."
Henfield, however, said he's been impressed with the IQ of the players selected to Team Bahamas and he's confident that they can and will be able to play at this level.
To the Bahamian public, Henfield is asking for them to come out with an open mind because this is a pilot tournament for the federation and so there's no blueprint to work from.
"This is the first for the country, the first that I am involved in, so we won't know what to expect until after we go through this experience," Henfield pointed out.
"For what we have now at the table, I think this team can win it. If I go in and win, then I would say we have the formula. If we don't win it, then it's a position where we have to look at getting bigger teams or more skilled teams or better shooters."
"I don't have a benchmark. This will be our benchmark to determine how we build our programme from here. I'm looking for a blueprint that can transform this game."
After the tournament, Henfield said he will be prepared to lay out a comprehensive plan to help the federation in all aspects of 3 on 3 basketball, which is now becoming just as popular as 5 on 5.
SOME members of Team Bahamas. In the front row, from left to right, are Grace Smith, Mya Henfield and Jada Francis. Back row, from left to right, are Keithwood Stubbs, Leo Johnson, coach Marvin J. Henfield, Stevachko Jacques and Davito McIntosh. Missing are Michelle Butler and women’s head coach Diasti Delancy.
CHAMPIONS: Justyn Thompson and Brezile Hamilton on top of the podium at Riverland Pro Pickleball Invitational in Port St Lucie, Florida.
TOURNEY
THE 37th Father Marcian Peters Basketball Invitational is scheduled to get underway with the opening ceremonies at 4pm on Friday, December 12, at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.
The tournament, hosted by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, will feature the primary boys and girls, junior boys and girls, intermediate boys and senior girls. The teams expected to participate are:
Primary Boys A - Xavier's Lower School, Freedom Baptist, Kingsway Academy, Temple Christian Academy and Thelma Gibson.
Primary Boys B - Prince Williams, Harbour Island, Temple Christian and Thelma Gibson.
Primary girls - Xavier's Lower School, Freedom Baptist, Kingsway Academy, Temple Christian and Thelma Gibson.
Junior Girls A - HO Nash, Jordan Prince Williams, AF Adderley, Queen's College and SC McPherson.
Junior Girls B - DW Davis, Kingsway Academy, CH Reeves and Anatol Rodgers.
Junior Boys B - Patrick J Bethel, Jordan Prince Williams, Harbour Island, CH Reeves and SC McPherson.
Junior Boys B - HO Nash, DW Davis, Anatol Rodgers, AF Adderley and Queen's College.
Intermediate Boys APatrick J Bethel, RM Bailey, Anatol Rodgers, Government High and Jordan Prince Williams.
Intermediate Boys B - CV Bethel, CI Gibson, Teleos, Harbour Island and Queen's College
Senior Girls A - CR Walker, Harbour Island, Freedom Baptist, Teleos and Kingsway Academy Senior Girls B - Queen's College, Anatol Rogers, CI Gibson, Government High, Jordan Prince Williams and RM Bailey.
CARIFTA CHARTER
WITH the 2026 CARIFTA Games all set for Grenada over the Easter holiday weekend, persons are being encouraged to secure their seats on the
Bahamasair-chartered flight. The charter will depart Nassau on Thursday, April 2 and return on Tuesday, April 7. The airfare is $1,099 per passenger. A non-refundable deposit of $200 per passenger is required. However, it can be transferred. Cash or direct deposits can be made at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) under the account name: Bah Association of (business checking account). Transit No.95165/ Account No.1011089.
Interested persons can contact Laura Pratt-Charlton at 357-3109 or Laketah Charlton at 468-5592 or email baaafriendsandfamily@gmail.com for more information.
BASEBALL
HOME RUN DERBY
CLINIC
THE organisers of the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby 2025 will host youth baseball and softball camp on Saturday, December 13, at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. The camp is designed for boys and girls
THE Legends Track Invite will be held in honour of Devynne Charlton. Her younger sister, Anthaya, is expected to be one of the special guests.
between the ages of seven and 18 years. Check-in will begin at 3pm and the camp will run from 4-6 pm.
Interested persons can sign up at dbhrderby.com
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.
Powered by Speed Capital, it will feature athletes competing from the ages of seven to the open categories for boys and girls.
TRACK ALL-BAHAMIAN
AWARDS THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations is scheduled to hold its 2025 All Bahamian Awards ceremony on Sunday, December 14, starting at 6pm at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium.
Under the theme: “Honouring the Spirit of The Bahamas: Every Athlete, Every Victory,” the BAAA will use the opportunity to
recognise all 2024-2025 national team members. A reception and dance will follow the presentations.
STAR PERFORMERS
MEET THE Star Trackers Track
Club is scheduled to hold its 23rd edition of the Star Performers Track and Field Classic on Saturday, January 24, from 9am to 6pm at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
The event, sponsored Baker Concrete International Division Greyco Limited, will be open to competitors in all age groups to the open divisions for boys and girls and men and women. Interested persons can contact Laura Pratt-Charlton at 357-3109 for more information.
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. Interested persons are urged to contact club founder and head coach Tito Moss at 425-4262 for more information.
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.
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 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.
FLYERS TRACK CLASSIC
THE 2026 Flyers Track Classic is scheduled for the weekend of January 9-10. The event is being held in memory of the late Gregory Clarke. The meet will run from 6pm on January 9 and close out on January 10 from noon. The registration fee is $22 per athlete. Trophies will be presented to the winners for all firstplace finishers. Medals will go to second and third place. There will also be divisional team winners and the male and female MVP winners.
Glenn Pratt: Rolle-Harris is more than qualified for her new position
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Professional Golfers Federation
president Glenn Pratt said Baha Mar found the perfect match in Georgette Rolle-Harris as the new director of golf for the Royal Blue Golf Club.
Rolle-Harris, who served previously as the head golf professional, assumed her new role last month.
Pratt, who has been agitating for more Bahamians to assume the role of directors at the various local golf properties,
said Rolle-Harris is more than qualified for her new position. "I want to congratulate Georgette in her position as the first female director of golf and the only Bahamian right now serving as a director of golf," Pratt said. "We know that she will do extremely well because she has been prepared for it. I don't know why when the position was opened up, why she wasn't just given it because she has been prepared for it." Pratt said while the BPGF does not take any credit, he felt the mandate coming from Prime
GEORGETTE Rolle-Harris
Minister Philip 'Brave' Davis that where there are positions to be filled that Bahamians get the first option, may have had a lot to do with it.
"The federation is holding the administration to their word," he stressed. "We don't get any credit for that, but the fact that they mandated it, they are taking it very seriously. So we're very pleased for that reason."
Pratt said after a meeting at Baker's Bay in Abaco, they made the recommendation that supervisor Temar Kellman be promoted to the position of head pro.
"He is also very qualified and so we hope that they can take up our recommendation and give him the promotion," Pratt said.
"We hope that all of the other properties will look at the other Bahamians who have the qualification to be promoted as well."
Pratt, however, said this is a red-letter day for golf in The Bahamas.
And he said they are excited about the historic promotion for Rolle-Harris at the Royal Blue Golf Club.
He said his association will be working closely with Rolle-Harris to ensure that Bahamians will continue to get the special discounted rates that they have been afforded as they move forward.
Katerina leads FEI Jumping World Challenge
JUNIOR show jumping
star Katerina Coello made history for Bahamas equestrian sport this weekend as the first equestrian athlete to compete in the FEI Jumping World Challenge.
The FEI Jumping World Challenge is a multi-stage event contested at three height categories. It takes place over three competitions, each consisting of two jumping rounds, and is designed to allow riders from developing nations to compete internationally without having to leave their own country.
Riders compete over identical jumping courses and, at the end of the year, the results from competitors all over the world are tallied and ranked.
HOME RUN DERBY IN PARADISE YOUTH BASEBALL & SOFTBALL CAMP TODAY
By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter
jburrows@tribunemedia.net
THE Home Run Derby in Paradise 2025 Youth Baseball & Softball Camp takes place today at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium, bringing young athletes from across the island together for an afternoon focused on fundamentals and to gain excitement leading into this week’s slate of events.
Registration begins at 3pm with the camp running from 4 to 6pm. Boys and girls ages seven to 18 will participate in drills led by coaches and derby participants are preparing for the main activities still to come.
The camp serves as the official start to a full four-day schedule surrounding this year’s Home Run Derby in Paradise. The momentum continues tomorrow, December 11, with the annual celebrity golf tournament at the Baha Mar Royal Blue Golf Course. Tee-off is set for 8 am and the event is expected to feature local sporting figures and entertainers.
On December 12, attention shifts back to the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium for the Celebrity Softball Game. This showcase features local personalities, athletes, entertainers and local figures for a light-hearted but competitive event that has grown into one of the fan favourites of the schedule.
The game traditionally draws a strong crowd and sets the stage for derby day by giving spectators a fun, relaxed experience before the main competition.
The highlight arrives on December 13 with the official Home Run Derby in Paradise. The event will bring top hitters to the plate as they compete for the titles of Home Run King and Home Run Queen taking place at Montagu Beach. This year’s derby is expected to be one of the biggest yet.
A team of high-ranking FEI officials were on hand to validate Coello’s performance, including FEI Level 4 judge David Distler (USA), FEI Level 3 judge Colleen Hoffman (CAN), FEI Level 3 steward Heidi
Riding the 10-year old Irish sport horse gelding Whiterock Duggie, Coello carried a clean sheet through three competitions and six gruelling rounds of jumping. She navigated the courses designed by FEI course designers Marina Azevedo, of Brazil, Cristina Larangeiro of Portugal, and Erica Sportiello of Brazil, with ease. In the final competition at Moonstone Stables last weekend, the pair rode the first round in 62.22 seconds and then returned to complete the speed round in 58.79 seconds, shaving valuable fractions off their previous time of 59.18 seconds achieved in Competition 2 back in October.
Mello (BER) and FEI Level 4 veterinarian Dr. Kimberly Snyder (USA). Before the competition, Coello was required to present Whiterock Duggie to the panel in a mandatory horse inspection, for which she was awarded a sparkling 99 per cent score for overall presentation.
As a result of her performance, Coello is currently ranked in first place in the FEI Zone 10 Category C standings, and near the top worldwide. With just a few competitions remaining on the international Challenge 2025 calendar, she stands poised for a spectacular international finish.
The sponsors, including Aliv, Dunkin’, Global Sun, NSA, Super Value, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, ProScape, Bruce’s Bolt and Bahamas Waste continue to support each event, helping ensure a smooth and professional experience throughout the week.
Today’s youth camp sets the tone as the first major activity, kicking off what promises to be an actionpacked stretch of baseball.
Nembhard’s big night helps Pacers pull away from Kings 116-105
By The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)
— Andrew Nembhard had 28 points and a season-high 12 assists, and helped Indiana regain control in the fourth quarter as the Pacers beat the Sacramento Kings 116-105 on Monday night.
Bennedict Mathurin added 25 points and Pascal Siakam scored 23 for the Pacers, who matched a season best with their second straight win and improved to 6-18 overall. Indiana has won four of six after starting 2-16.
Russell Westbrook finished with 24 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds for the Kings in his fourth triple-double this season and the 207th of his career.
DeMar DeRozan added 20 points and Zach LaVine had 16. Indiana was in control much of the way, extending a 66-51 halftime lead to 77-58 on Nembhard’s layup with 8 1/2 minutes remaining in the third quarter. But the Kings used a 37-point
quarter to trim it to 92-88 going into the fourth, then reeled off an 11-0 run to open a 101-97 lead on Westbrook’s basket midway through the period.
Nembhard made a 3-pointer to stem the tide and Mathurin followed with one of his own to put Indiana back on top at 103-101. Nembhard followed with another 3 and a layup to extend the Pacers’ lead to 108-101.
SUNS 108, TIMBERWOLVES 105
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)
— Mark Williams had 22 points and seven rebounds, and Phoenix overcame Anthony Edwards’ 40 points to snap Minnesota’s five-game winning streak. Collin Gillespie added 19 points and Dillon Brooks had 18 for the Suns, who stunned Minnesota with a late rally in their previous meeting but had an easier time Monday. Phoenix never trailed by more than two points in its final tuneup before traveling to league-leading Oklahoma
City on Wednesday for an NBA Cup quarterfinal game. Edwards shot 15 for 21 and Julius Randle had
21 points, but the rest of Minnesota’s top players struggled. Naz Reid was 2 for 12 off the bench
for a flagrant foul. He finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.
SPURS 135, PELICANS
KINGS centre Maxime Raynaud shoots while being defended by Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, left, and centre Jay Huff, right, during the first half on Monday, December 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: Katerina Coello and Whiterock Duggie surrounded by Equestrian Bahamas Federation officials and volunteers (at left) and FEI Officials at right (L-R: Foreign Judge Colleen Hoffman, President of the Ground Jury David Distler, Chief Steward Heidi Mello, FEI Veterinary Delegate Dr. Kimberly Snyder, Course Builder Nick Granat).
KATERINA Coello and Whiterock Duggie compete in the 2025 Jumping World Challenge Bahamas, Competition 3, Category C. Photos: Linda Clewes Photography
Chargers’ Dicker kicks winning
field
goal, Jefferson’s interception seals 22-19 overtime win over Eagles
By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer
INGLEWOOD, California (AP) — Justin Herbert stiff-armed the opposition with his broken left hand, the defence forced big plays and the Los Angeles Chargers eked out a victory to move within two games of first place in the AFC West.
Cameron Dicker kicked a go-ahead 54-yard field goal — one of his five in the game — and Tony Jefferson intercepted Jalen Hurts at the 1-yard line in overtime of a messy 22-19 victory over the slumping Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.
"What a team we have, they refuse to lose,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh effused, putting the win “in the discussion of the birth of my seven children, my marriage.”
The Chargers (9-4) overcame Odafe Oweh's penalty on a neutral zone infraction that gave the Eagles a first down on 4th and 4. Two plays later, Hurts threw deep to Jahan Dotson in double-coverage only to have Jefferson keep his feet in bounds on the game-ending play.
“Last night, we were talking, me and the corners, and you can ask Cam (Hart), I literally spoke this one into existence,” Jefferson said. “I told him, ‘Tip me the ball, I’ll be there.' The football gods are looking out for me.” Hurts threw four interceptions and the defending Super Bowl champions lost their season-worst third in a row and fell to 8-5.
Dicker's 46-yard field goal with 12 seconds
left sent the game to the 10-minute extra session tied 19-19 after Jake Elliott's 44-yarder minutes earlier had put the Eagles ahead 19-16. Dicker was 5 for 5.
Elliott also kicked field goals of 54, 30 and 41 yards at SoFi Stadium, where the Eagles' green-and-white jerseys dotted the crowd.
Saquon Barkley gave the Eagles their first lead with a 52-yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter that made it 16-13. He ran for a combined 78 yards in the Eagles’ losses to the Cowboys and Bears before notching 122 on 20 carries for just the second time this season.
He had 150 yards against the New York Giants on October 26.
Herbert was 12 of 26 for 138 yards, one touchdown and one interception with a career-worst seven sacks. He also ran for 66 yards on 10 carries.
“He’s a superhero. He’s a competitive maniac,” Harbaugh said. “It felt like we were in a movie and you get to the point where you go, ‘OK, this is getting a little unrealistic.’”
Herbert said he knew he was going to play against the Eagles as early as last Sunday, even before his surgery.
“The first couple days were kind of tough, getting the swelling down and be able to grip,” he said. “I did everything I could to hold onto the ball.”
Jefferson said, “He's just a warrior.”
Hurts was 21 of 40 for 240 yards and four interceptions. In the first quarter, he had two turnovers on the same play as part of a
quarterback
throws as he is tackled by Chargers linebacker
during the first half on Monday, December 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
chaotic sequence in which he was intercepted and he fumbled.
Da’Shawn Hand picked off Hurts and then fumbled the ball before Hurts recovered and the quarterback fumbled and Troy Dye recovered to give the Chargers possession.
“We lost the game," Hurts said, "and I didn’t play well enough to help us to win the game."
The Eagles had five turnovers and six penalties for 53 yards.
“I thought the defence did a lot of good things and the offence moved the ball against a really good defense, but we didn’t finish,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “We kicked a lot of field goals and had some turnovers. It’s hard to beat a team on the road when you’re not finishing
drives and getting three points. I have to put that on myself.”
The Chargers tied the score 16-16 on Dicker's 31-yard field goal with 7:26 remaining in the fourth.
Injuries Eagles: LG Landon Dickerson left with a calf injury in the third quarter.
Chargers: WR Derius Davis sustained an ankle injury, and RT Trey Pipkins
III (ankle) left in the second quarter. ... S Derwin James Jr. was evaluated for a head injury, but returned soon after in the second. ... S Elijah Molden (hamstring) left the game in the third. Up next Eagles: Host Las Vegas on Sunday.
Chargers: Visit Kansas City on Sunday. The Chiefs lost 27-21 in the teams' season opener in Brazil.
EAGLES
Jalen Hurts (1)
Daiyan Henley (0)
The Dolphins’ defence has looked like an entirely different unit during its four-game win streak
By ALANIS THAMES AP Sports Writer
MIAMI
GARDENS,
Florida (AP) — By linebacker Jordyn Brooks' estimation, the Miami Dolphins' defensive improvement was only a matter of time.
That unit had a terrible start to the season, giving up 32.3 points and 145 yards rushing per game entering Week 4. There were several reasons for that: Miami was playing with a couple of rookie defensive tackles and several late offseason additions who were still adjusting to a new system.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stressed the need for patience as that unit worked on building cohesion, and the result has been evident over the past several weeks.
Since Week 10, the Dolphins’ defence has looked like an entirely different group and has powered Miami (6-7) to a four-game winning streak that has helped keep its playoff hopes alive.
In Sunday’s 34-10 win over the New York Jets, the Dolphins gave up just 65 yards rushing, had a season-high six sacks, three takeaways and allowed just one third-down conversion in 12 attempts.
“Belief,” said Brooks, who leads the NFL with 142 tackles. “You can say we practice harder, but we always practice hard. We practiced hard when
we were losing. I think the guys work hard, so I don’t think any of it is the work, the main focus is belief. Me, myself, it’s something that I pride myself on. It’s belief.”
The Dolphins have allowed just 13.3 points per game during their fourgame winning streak, which is the first time in the last 15 seasons that Miami has not surrendered more than 17 points in four straight games. They also have 10 takeaways and a plus-7 turnover margin since Week 10, the best mark in the NFL during that span.
“I think that ratio is so defined by team effort, strain — the simplest things, but the hardest things,” McDaniel said.
“And it’s really a collective effort ... I think our play style is leading to the takeaway margin, and we’ll need to continue that to hope to have the same success.”
That has carried the Dolphins even when their passing game has faltered over the past few weeks.
After scoring touchdowns on the first three drives Sunday, the Dolphins punted on six of their next seven possessions, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for under 200 yards for the second straight week.
“I’m not surprised with how we’re gelling,” said linebacker Tyrel Dodson, who had an interception on Sunday. “Going to dinner together, carpooling to the team hotel, eating lunch in
the cafeteria together. It’s just that camaraderie that makes championship teams. If we continue to do what we’re doing, positive stuff will come to us.”
McDaniel pointed to those player-led team bonding methods as things that have translated to the recent results on the field, especially after bad plays.
“The emotional regulation of the unit,” McDaniel said, “and the ability to handle all the ebbs and flows that come in a football game, I think that’s where you see all the investment from the defensive players really show its face.”
What's working
There has been a dramatic improvement in Miami's offensive line play over the course of this season, especially in run blocking. That has contributed to the success in the Dolphins' run-first approach. The Dolphins rushed for 239 yards against the Jets, marking the most since the team ran for 350 yards against Denver on Sept. 24, 2023.
What needs help Special teams. The Dolphins allowed Jets receiver Isaiah Williams to return a punt 78 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Sunday's game was the second straight week that Miami's special teams unit gave up a pivotal play — they also allowed the Saints to recover an onside kick in Week 13, which nearly
allowed New Orleans to come back and win.
Stock up
RB Jaylen Wright. After De'Von Achane left with a rib injury in the second quarter on Sunday, Wright stepped in and finished with a career-high 107 yards on 24 carries and his first NFL touchdown.
Stock down
TE Darren Waller. After recording 10 catches for 117 yards and four touchdowns in his first three games of the season, Waller has been limited to three catches for 60 yards and no scores over the past two games.
held out as a precaution. McDaniel said the running back will receive treatment this week.
Key number
Injuries Achane's rib injury likely won't cause him to miss time, McDaniel said Monday. Achane was available to return to Sunday's game in an emergency but was
192.3 — Miami's rushing average over the past four games, which is the most in the league since Week 10.
Next steps
The Dolphins travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.
Stefanski and Reid both make head-scratching fourth-quarter decisions that lead to losses
By ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer
KEVIN Stefanski has seen enough of Shedeur Sanders to make the fifthround rookie the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback over the final month of another lost season.
The question is whether Sanders will be under centre for the biggest moments down the stretch.
He was on the sideline Sunday when the Browns were going for a 2-point conversion to tie their game against Tennessee with a minute remaining after Sanders had just engineered his fourth touchdown drive and thrown for nearly 400 yards.
Sanders rallied the Browns (3-10) from a 31-17 deficit with two late touchdowns, but after running it in for a 7-yard touchdown, he fumbled the exchange from backup center Luke Wypler, who had replaced starter Ethan Pocic (Achilles) in the third quarter.
Sanders didn't even get the chance to atone for that after throwing a 7-yard touchdown pass to Harold Fannin Jr. with just over a minute remaining to pull the Browns to 31-29 as Stefanski decided on a Wildcat formation for the potential tying 2-point conversion.
Running back Quinshon Judkins took the direct snap
but mishandled the ball and failed to pitch it to wide receiver Gage Larvadain on an end around. Judkins ran backward and launched a pass across the field to Larvadain that was batted away as the Titans held on for their second win of the season.
Stefanski, the Browns' sixth-year head coach, took responsibility for the failed 2-point play at the end but he didn't explain why he chose to run the Wildcat with the game on the line rather than leaving in Sanders, who threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in his best game of the three he's started.. Sanders, who fell to the
fifth round in the draft after being projected as a top Day 1 pick, threw for 364 yards, the second-most by a rookie quarterback picked 144th overall or later since 1966. Jacksonville’s Gardner Minshew, the 178th pick in 2019, passed for 374 yards against Carolina.
Sanders also joined Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow as the only rookie QBs with at least 350 passing yards, three touchdown passes and a rushing score in a game. But with the game on the line, Sanders was on the sideline. “I would wish I would always have the ball in my hand, but that’s not what football is,” Sanders said. “I know we practiced
something, and we executed it in practice, and we just didn’t seem to this day. So, I would never go against, you know, kind of like what the call was or anything.”
Stefanski's two-point decisions weren't the only head-scratchers in Week 14.
One of the biggest blunders came from the league's winningest active head coach, Kansas City's Andy Reid, who went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Chiefs' 31 in a game that was tied at 10 with just under 11 minutes remaining.
the last to do it in the 2023 opener against the Vikings with a conversion that led to a game-winning field goal.
Their 10 points marked the Chiefs' lowest output at Arrowhead Stadium with Mahomes under centre.
So, the Chiefs (6-7) will not win a 10th straight AFC West title. After reaching the Super Bowl five times in the last six years, winning three times, they’ll need to win out and get a lot of help just to reach the playoffs. The Denver Broncos (112), winners of 10 straight, weren't in a celebratory mood — at least not publicly — after the Chiefs were eliminated from AFC West contention.
“I was confident we could” convert, Reid said. “I thought it was an opportunity. I was wrong in hindsight. It was wrong. We’ve been pretty good on fourth downs. I messed that one up.” Reid was actually playing the odds.
The Chiefs were the 13th team since 2000 to go for it on fourth down inside their own 35 in the fourth quarter of a tied game. Others were 8 for 12, with the Bucs
Patrick Mahomes’ pass to Rashee Rice was incomplete and the Houston Texans got the ball already in field-goal range. They scored a go-ahead TD and the Chiefs couldn’t recover in a 20-10 loss that dethroned the reigning nine-time champs in the AFC West.
“Everything right now has that ‘ work in progress sign,’” Broncos coach Sean Payton said Monday. “I recognise the question in that the Chiefs’ loss last night eliminated them from winning the division, and yet we have a stretch here with some real good football teams coming in and focusing on what we can do to win the division. The Chargers are very much alive in that battle.” The Chargers beat the slumping Philadelphia Eagles 22-19 Monday night to stay two games behind the Broncos, whom they play in their regular season finale in Denver next month.
DOLPHINS cornerback Rasul Douglas (26) intercepts a pass intended for New York Jets
wide receiver John Metchie III (3) at the goal line during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, December 7, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
CHIEFS head coach Andy Reid watches from the sidelines during the first half against the Texans on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
TITANS interim head coach Mike McCoy, left, and Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, right, greet each other after Sunday’s game. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
UB Mingoes drop Ballers
3-1 for third straight win
THE University of the Bahamas women’s volleyball team took care of the Ballers 3-1 for their third straight win in the New Providence Volleyball Association at the D.W. Davis Gymnasium on Sunday.
They won the four-setter 25-18, 19-25, 26-24 and 25-20. UB’s captain, Anjeniker Joseph, felt the team did an amazing job on the match. “We became more consistent with our serving,” Joseph said. “Our passing was way better than the rest of our games and our hitting has definitely improved. We had little hitting error but that is something that we can easily work on.”
It was a slow start for UB as they got into a 9-4 hole in the first set. They battled back and got the 11-10 lead. That lead went to 20-14 before they won the set 25-18 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The second set saw UB get off to a slower start when they trailed 10-6. They lost that set 25-19 as the match was tied at one set apiece. Like the first two sets, UB also had a slow start to the third set as they went down 14-11. That changed in UB’s favour when they took the 19-15 lead before winning the set 26-24 to take a decisive 2-1 lead in the match. It was all UB in the fourth set as they went up 12-8 before winning the set 25-20 to win the match 3-1.
UB women’s volleyball players in action against the Ballers in the New Providence Volleyball Association at the D.W. Davis Gymnasium on Sunday.
Liverpool beats Inter without Salah, Barcelona and Bayern win in the Champions League
By JAMES ELLINGWORTH AP Sports Writer
AFTER leaving Mohamed Salah in England, Liverpool got a much-needed boost with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League yesterday, while Barcelona and Bayern Munich celebrated comeback wins and Chelsea lost. With Salah out of the squad following his public criticism of the club last week, Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up instead to score the 88th-minute penalty which earned a 1-0 win over one of the competition's best-performing teams.
It was all the more valuable for coming after a run of one win in six games in all competitions for Arne Slot's under-pressure team, which moved up to eighth. Liverpool's players thought they had taken the lead with Ibrahima Konate's header in the 31st minute but, after a video review that lasted more than four minutes, it was ruled out for handball as Virgil van Dijk had earlier nodded the ball on to the arm of Hugo Ekitike.
Having taken away a goal from Liverpool, VAR came to the visitors' aid when it spotted that Alessandro Bastoni had tugged Florian Wirtz’s shirt in the area, with the midfielder flailing to the ground. Szoboszlai converted the penalty.
Bayern’s new star shines Bayern's 17-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl produced an audacious bit of skill to continue his high-scoring start to life
in the Champions League in a 3-1 win over Sporting Lisbon earlier Tuesday. Karl scored his third goal in four career Champions League games, controlling a pass from Konrad Laimer in mid-air before volleying a shot from a tight angle over two onrushing defenders and past the goalkeeper.
It was part of a 12-minute, three-goal turnaround for Bayern after Joshua Kimmich’s own-goal handed Sporting the lead after João Simões put Bayern under pressure on the counter. Serge Gnabry levelled for Bayern when he was left unmarked at a corner in the 65th, before Karl scored Bayern’s second in the 69th and defender Jonathan Tah made it 3-1 in the 77th.
Widely viewed as German soccer’s best young talent this season, Karl became Bayern’s youngest-ever Champions League scorer in October on his first start in the competitions.
Late on, Alphonso Davies came off the bench for the Canadian left back’s first game since March after a serious knee injury.
Chelsea loses Chelsea was beaten in the Champions League for the first time in nearly three months as Belgium forward Charles De Ketelaere set up the equaliser and scored an 83rd-minute winner as Atalanta came from behind to win 2-1.
Chelsea, which went ahead through Joao Pedro, dropped out of the top eight automatic qualifying spots with its second loss. It was a fourth win for Atalanta, which climbed to third and is the highest-placed Italian
BAYERN’S Lennart Karl, left, scores his side’s second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Sporting CP in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, December 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
team.Gianluca Scamacca made it 1-1 by heading home a cross from De Ketelaere, who then drove in a shot that Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.
Koundé drives Barcelona comeback Headers by Jules Koundé three minutes apart gave Barcelona a 2-1 comeback victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. Marcus Rashford assisted in the first goal in
the 50th and Lamine Yamal in the second in the 53rd.
The visitors had taken the lead with a goal by Ansgar Knauff in a 21st-minute breakaway at the renovated Camp Nou stadium, which still can’t hold full capacity.
Son watches Spurs win
Son Heung-min said a belated goodbye to Tottenham as his former club moved up to ninth after beating Slavia Prague 3-0 on an own goal and two penalties in a game
overshadowed by a dispute over moving a rainbow flag showing support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Julián Alvarez scored for the ninth time in his last nine league-phase appearances to lead Atletico Madrid to a 3-2 come-from-behind win at PSV Eindhoven.
Marseille held on for a 3-2 win over Union Saint-Gilloise, whose players and fans twice celebrated what they thought were goals to
level the score late on, only for both to be ruled out for narrow offsides on video review.
Folarin Balogun bundled the ball over the line from close range to give Monaco a 1-0 win over Galatasaray. Olympiakos broke through a determined Kairat Almaty defense to take a 1-0 win in Kazakhstan and boost its hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages. Gelson Martins scored for the Greek side in the 73rd.
