SPORTS SECTION E
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016
NAUGHTY
My Cowboys, Page 3
Girls take centre court on Father Marcian day 3 DON’T MISS By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
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he 31st Father Marcian Peters Basketball Classic moved into day three at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium yesterday as the girls’ division took centre stage. Scooter Reid, the tournament director, said showcasing the young aspiring female players is one of the major benefits of the tournament and one of the reasons why its reinstatement is vital to the growth of girls’ basketball. “This was a day dominated by the girls except for a few primary boys’ games we were slightly behind on, but we like for day three to showcase everything there is to show from the girls,” he said. “The girls are progressing and you see some amazing talent. We had one game in the Primary Girls division where one girl scored all
of her team’s 22 points. Tournaments like this, giving them this stage, this is the way to improve the ladies’ basketball programme from the ground up. The ladies’ programme is very lacking but providing the opportunities for the girls is a great thing and a step in the right direction.” The tournament traditionally features scores of teams from the primary girls and boys, junior girls and boys, intermediate boys and senior girls. The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s staff facilitates the event. After a year off in 2015, the tournament returned this winter with some welcomed changes, most notably to its efficiency and scheduling. “Having the tournament back has been an extremely exciting experience. You can see it by the amount of people we have had every night and the amount of teams participating,” Reid said
“We have adjusted ourselves well and changed some things. One of the complaints we have had with scheduling, everything has been running smooth, the coaches can have their teams prepared and we are running on time and on schedule. We have been having quick turnaround and many teams have been eliminated so far. We have better communication with the coaches and administrators and that has made things better in terms of being able to communicate.” Play continues 4pm today at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium and continues everyday through Saturday, December 17. Many of the schools that have stood out thus far have been ones that play regularly throughout their respective seasons and have come into the tournament with an elevated level of preparation. “The talent level has been impressive, especially with the Cath-
olic schools who have their league and also with the Bahamas Scholastic Association leagues who are proficient playing in the primary schools,” Reid said. “As far as the GSSSA and BAISS schools they are lacking in the primary school divisions for the most part, but hats off to the coaches who have been practicing hard to prepare these teams.” • Scores from yesterday’s session: Primary Girls St Francis and Joseph – 21 def. Carlton Francis – 0 Woodcock Primary – 8 def. Temple Christian – 7 St Cecilia’s – 24 def. Kingsway – 22 Freedom Academy - 20 def. St Thomas Moore – 0
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Vilmar to give Eagles ‘big boost’ By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net BASKETBALL prep superstar D’Andre Vilmar is expected to have an immediate impact with his new programme this fall as he heads into his senior year and final year of NCAA recruitment. The Philadephia Inquirer named Vilmar to the preseason All-South Jersey Second Team. The 6’4” senior guard is considered one of the top two-way players in the division and his Paul VI Eagles squad has also been ranked No.4 in the South Jersey Preseason top 25. “The Eagles will look to build on a strong finish to last season with a big boost from senior D’Andre Vilmar, a transfer from Roman Catholic,” the Inquirer said. “Sophomore El Khana Hidalgo, a transfer from Life Center who will sit 30 days. Senior guards Justin Ryder and Keenan Wise are experienced perimeter players and senior forward John Calvello is an active presence in the paint.” Last season, the Eagles finished 14-13 and lost in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament. With major Division I offers in his sights, Vilmar decided to relocate for the final season of his high school career and transfer to Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, New Jersey for the upcoming fall semester. He joined the Eagles programme after spending the last two seasons with the Roman Catholic High School Cahillites in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “At Roman, our head coach retired, a lot of players left and it just wasn’t going to feel the same,” Vilmar said. “My host family I live with, their son is going to Paul VI with me, my parents think it’s a good move, my aunt and I have been talking about it a whole lot, my AAU coach thinks it’s a good fit so I’m ready. I feel like going to come there and with some new scenery. “I’m going to get to play my game and be more free to do the things I know I can do and the things everybody else in my circle knows I can do. It’s going to be a great year and I feel like we can make a ‘cinderella’ run. We can really make some noise in south Jersey.” With the Cahillites, the 6’4”
ELITE Bahamian basketball prospect D’Andre Vilmar is expected to transfer to Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, New Jersey, for the upcoming fall semester. guard and Abaco native helped his team capture their second consecutive PIAA Class 4A title. “I love Roman, I love the fans, I had great years there but I felt it was time for a change. I felt like this was something different and this was the right thing to do at this point,” he said. “I don’t feel like God would’ve opened this door if this wasn’t where he wanted me to go. This really came out of nowhere. This wasn’t something planned, he just
opened this door and I feel like this is the right thing. I’ve been praying a lot about it and I just feel like this is what he wanted me to do.” Earlier this month, Vilmar announced via Twitter that he has recently received offers from the Oklahoma, Long Beach State and Buffalo. In the offseason he participated with coach Darrell Sears’ Jaguars at various tournaments, including the the Big Foot Hoops Las Vegas Classic presented by Hal Pastner in
Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Texas Hoops Great American Shootout in Duncanville, Texas. Prior to the summer circuit, Vilmar received one Division I scholarship offer from the Colorado St Rams while other schools such as La Salle, Penn and Iona have all showed considerable interest. Vilmar left Abaco in the sixth grade when he moved to live with his family in Delaware for a better opportunity at excelling in the sport.
THE BIGGEST ATLANTIS CROWN TO DATE JUST days ahead of the biggest Atlantis Crown competition to date, meet organiser Cindy Scharns forecasts that the weekend will be dominated by high level gymnastics and encouraged fans to come out. The annual gymnastics competition, set for December 15-18 at the Atlantis resort, will feature 910 athletes from The Bahamas, United States, Canada, Panama and Suriname. Additionally, the Region 5 Elite Ambassador Team, made up of the United States’ two top senior elite and two top junior elite gymnasts from the World Championships, will be in action. Team members Aria Brusch, Shania Adams, Shilese Jones and Gabby Perea are also seeking to bring more awareness to gymnastics in The Bahamas. “We are excited to be returning to what we consider our second home to host the sixth annual Atlantis Crown,” Schrans said. “This year’s event has continued to grow and will boast 910 athletes representing 63 gymnastics clubs and five countries. In addition, we will feature over 78 Bahamian athletes - male and female - competing from level one thru level nine. “A special thank you goes to the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture, Gymnastics Federation of the Bahamas and the Atlantis Resort for their continued support. We encourage you to join us for a weekend of fun and high level gymnastics competition.” This year, organisers will introduce the trampoline and tumbling competition to the line-up which also includes the beam, uneven bars and the floor routine. As a result, club participation has increased by 26 per cent. The Bahamas will be represented by three clubs Bahamas Star Gymnastics, Nassau Nastics and Grand Bahama Gymnastics. Virginia Kelly, marketing director of sports tourism, said this year’s competition will go to a “whole new level”. “The Atlantis Crown has proven to be a great addition to our annual sports tourism calendar,” she said. “Over the past five years we have seen the number of athletes almost tripled and this year, with the addition of a men’s trampoline and tumbling component, this takes the event to a new level, not to mention the growth impact on the number of room nights and the overall revenue boost. This year we could potentially see 3,000 plus athletes and visitors.” The special guests include Svetlana Boginskay, three-time Olympic champion and Sam Mikulak, 2012 US Olympian.