12142016 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

UB, Giants NPBA division leaders

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

D

ivision leaders in the New Providence Basketball Association maintained their leads with dominant wins Monday night to stake their claim as contenders early in the season.

The newly minted University of the Bahamas remained undefeated in the Vince Ferguson Division while the Commonwealth Bank Giants moved a half game ahead in the John Archer Division.

Justin Smith scored a game

high 30 points to lead UB to a 90-52 win over the Double R Services Limited Cleaners and a 5-0 record to start the season.

Smith, the league’s second leading scorer at 28.4 points per game, shot 10-14 from the field and bolstered his lead as the league’s top three-point shooter, making 7-10 from beyond the arch.

He also added three rebounds and three assists.

Ramon Dames finished with a double double - 18 points and 13 assists. The league assist leader, he now averages eight per game.

Kemsey Sylvestre finished with another double double - 14 points

and 14 rebounds - Rashad Sturrup added six points and 11 rebounds, while Davon Adderley and Franklyn McKenzie each scored seven.

Romell Johnson led the Cleaners with 11 points and Rashad Woodside added eight.

The Cleaners had no answer for UB’s hot shooting, 52 per cent from the field and 50 per cent from three. UB also outrebounded the Cleaners 50-26, outscored them in the paint 40-28 and had eight more assists.

The Cleaners offensive struggles featured 33 per cent shooting from the field, 20 per cent from

three and just 28 per cent at the free throw line.

In a wire-to-wire win, UB began the game on a 9-2 run and took a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter on a Smith three to make it 24-14. They outscored the Cleaners by eight in the second quarter and took a 43-25 lead into the half.

The lead reached over 20 for the first time when Dames made a runner with 5:53 left in the third quarter to give UB a 53-32 lead.

They took a 67-40 lead into the fourth and the lead eventually

SEE PAGE 4

Lashann and Longhorns break 2-game losing streak

FR MARCIAN

Day Four, Pg 2

WALTIEA ROLLE POSTING MAJOR NUMBERS

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net WALTIEA Rolle is back on the pro circuit in Bulgaria and posting major numbers for her Haskovo 2012 club.

In her season debut, Rolle finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds in her team’s 84-62 win over Neftochimic in Bulgaria’s NBL League.

After dropping the season opener, Haskovo has reeled off three consecutive wins for a 3-1 record and remain in second position in the standings, one point behind league leader Montana 2003. Neftochemic fell to third place.

The 6’6” centre and University of North Carolina producct last played with Nymburk, of the Czech Republic’s ZBL League in 2015, where she averaged 16.3 points and 10.4 rebounds in 31 games.

This is her second stint with Haskovo 2012 in the NBL after playing with the team in 2014 when she led the club in several statistical categories.

Through 20 games and 27.3 minutes per game on the court, she shot .504 from the field and .783 from the three throw line

SEE PAGE 4

KATO FAWKES REACHES CAREER MILESTONES

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

season schedule has included four losses against ranked teams including No.11 Stanford, No.10 Mississippi State, No.3 South Carolina and No.2 UConn.

Texas will continue its homestand against UT Rio Grande Valley tomorrow at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.

The Longhorns are coming off a 31-5 record and an NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2015-16.

Munnings has been the driving

IT WAS a week of highlights for Bahamian football player Kato Fawkes, who achieved a pair of career milestones in the classroom and on the field.

Fawkes graduated from the University of Idaho with his BS in Sociology after previously completing his BS in Organisational Sciences last fall.

The Grand Bahama native also learned that his Idaho Vandals accepted a berth to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where they will face the Colorado State Rams at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho, on December 22.

It will be the third bowl appearance in Vandals history.

They finished 8-4 this season, which is one more win than they had in their previous four seasons combined.

The Rams finished 7-5 in the Mountain West Conference.

Fawkes, in the final season of his career - his post graduate season - appeared in nine games this season in a reserve role for the Vandals behind starting guards Noah Johnson

SEE PAGE 4

SEE PAGE 3

LASHANN HIGGS, of the Bahamas, goes up for a basket against Connecticut’s Natalie Butler, left, in the first half of an NCAA game on December 4. (AP)

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BOTH Lashann Higgs and Travis Munnings showed positive signs moving forward as their individual performances improved and their teams got back in the win column.

After a slow start to the season for Higgs and her Texas Longhorns, they broke a two game losing streak and cling to a spot in both polls at No.17.

The sophomore guard finished with 12 points and four rebounds in her Longhorns’ 72-67 win over the Tennessee Volunteers.

The win brought the Longhorns record to 3-4.

“I think that this win is, first of all, much needed for our team,” said Texas head coach Karen Aston. “This was just a little bit of a preview of what our games might be like for a while, and that’s not a bad thing. It was a good learning experience for our young players.”

Higgs has averaged 10.5 points per game in her last four games, including her only double figures scoring games of the year.

Following a season low eight minutes and one point at Mississippi Baptist on November 20, Higgs responded with 14 points and five assists the next game against Northwestern State.

On the season she is averaging 7.4 points on 49 per cent shooting from the field in just over 18 minutes per game.

The Longhorns’ brutal early

PAGE 2, Wednesday, December 14, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

31ST FATHER MARCIAN PETERS BASKETBALL CLASSIC

The action heats up on day 4

PLAY ACTION: Aspiring basketball stars compete yesterday on day 4 of the 31st Father Marcian Peters Basketball Classic at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/The Tribune

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 14, 2016, PAGE 3

Popeyes Bahamas Bowl Youth Football Clinic on December 21

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE Popeyes Bahamas Bowl continues to bridge the gap between its participating teams and the local community through various initiatives, highlighted by its Youth Football Clinic.

This year’s edition of the clinic is all set to be hosted December 21 at the Roscow AL Davies soccer field and plans to host over 200 aspiring football players between the ages of seven and 13.

Registration begins at 2pm and the clinic runs from 3pm to 4:30pm.

A combination of coaches from USA Football, Commonwealth American Football League participants, and players from both teams – the Old Dominion Monarchs and Eastern Michigan Eagles, will facilitate the event.

The Popeyes Bahamas Bowl Committee has partnered with the local governing body for football, the CAFL, as the clinic looks to expand its reach and de-

THE 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl will add another chapter to the budding rivalry between the Old Dominion Monarchs and the Eastern Michigan Eagles. When the teams meet at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium at 1pm on December 23, it will be their third meeting in three years. Old Dominion has the edge in the head-to-head matchup thus far. In 2014 they scored a 17-3 victory, followed by a 38-34 win last season. velop simultaneously with the game.

Richard Giannini, executive director of the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, said his committee considered the clinic its “number one priority” when it came to fostering a relationship with the local community.

“Our number one priority is our Youth Football Clinic. That is our most important outreach at this time. The CAFL is going to help facilitate youth at that event as will continue to try to make that bigger and better and get many more involved in that clinic,” he

said.

“Secondly with the exposure that we bring with major American college football, it will provide the interest for these young potential football players and make the most of whatever opportunities they have on the island. Interacting with

the youth is very important to us. Our primary goal is to establish that clinic and we will do some things moving forward as it grows in the future.”

While both participating teams in this year’s bowl look to make history for their respective schools on the field, it also presents an opportunity for them to take advantage of valuable life experiences within the Bahamian community.

Eagles head coach Chris Creighton said he looks forward to the off field initiatives like the clinic to positively impact his team.

“My vision for our football programme has always been to make playing at EMU one of the most incredible experiences of our guys’ lives. Winning and winning championships is a part of that but at the very core I think it is about two things – life long relationships and new experiences,” he said.

“So to be able to bring all of Eagle Nation football out of the country to the Bahamas, I can’t tell you how

much that means for our guys to be able to experience to meet such an incredible country and the people who inhabit it. We are going to come to visit paradise but I’ll tell you we’re also going to do everything we can to spend time with people and build relationships.”

Virginia Kelly, sports tourism marketing director, said many of the aspiring student athletes long for such opportunities.

“It presents a great opportunity for our young people to learn more about American football, and many of them I imagine will be participating in the sport for the first time,” Kelly said.

“They will also have an opportunity to see and hear first-hand how sports can play a major role in learning self-discipline and put them on the path to receiving a college education.”

The clinic is in conjunction with the participating teams’ annual visit to the Ranfurly Home for Children.

KATO REACHES CAREER MILESTONES FROM PAGE 1 and Mason Woods.

Fawkes and the current Vandals roster look to make history as the football programme prepares for play in a lower division next fall.

The Vandals currently play in the Sun Belt Conference of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to be relegated to the Football Championship Series and play in the Big Sky Conference in 2018.

The Vandals will be-

come the first programme to make the move to drop down from the FBS to FCS since 1982, and the only one to do so without the NCAA forcing a decision.

The 6’4”, 303-pound guard, a native of Freeport, Grand Bahama, graduated in May while he saw his first official gametime as a member of the Vandals.

In the 2014 season, he was sidelined with an injury and redshirted.

Prior to his transfer to Idaho, Fawkes spent two seasons at the JUCO level at Western Iowa where his

stellar play garnered attention from Division I programmes. Fawkes started every game for 11-1 Western Iowa and was a secondteam Iowa Community College Athletic Conference selection.

Iowa Western was the league leader in total offence (522.5 yards per game), passing offence (257.5 yards per game), completions (274), pass attempts (441) and touchdowns (28).

The 23-year-old lineman is the son of Anthony and Bianca Fawkes.

KATO FAWKES with Idaho Vandals offensive coordinator Khris Cinkovich at graduation.

(Twitter @CoachCink)

MOBILE

APP

Take us with you Everywhere you go!

PAGE 4, Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Longhorns break 2-game losing streak FROM PAGE 1 force behind the resurgence of his University of Louisiana Monroe Warhawks who have won three of their last four games.

The sophomore forward put up his third double-double of the season and seventh of his career with 13 points and 10 rebounds in a 72-41 win over Blue Mountain College.

The Warhawks shot a season-best from the floor for a half with the 73 per cent in the second half to outscore the Toppers 43-15 in the final 20 minutes.

“I am very pleased with the second half effort and our team learned a valuable lesson about playing insideout,” Warhawks head coach Keith Richards said. “We didn’t take bad shots early on, we just didn’t produce anything in the interior and we discussed ways to improve that because it was all about our offence and we came out in the second half and pushed the ball inside.”

Munnings’ performance follows his best all around game of the season when he posted 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals in an 88-83 overtime win over Jacksonville State.

The team’s leading scorer and rebounder, Munnings is currently averaging 13.2 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game while shooting 43 per cent from the field.

At 4-5 and first place in the Sun Belt Conference, The Warhawks will face Northwestern State on Saturday December 17.

Thrust into a leadership role, Munnings is one of only two returning players to start at least one game last season for the Warhawks when

UNIVERSITY OF THE BAHAMAS AND GIANTS NPBA DIVISION LEADERS FROM PAGE 1

TEXAS guard Lashann Higgs, of the Bahamas, right, drives past South Carolina guard Allisha Gray (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on December 1. (AP) they finished just one game shy of an automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

Fellow Bahamian Prince Cooper

is also a member of the Warhawks roster.

The senior guard has appeared in four games this season.

THE TRIBUNE

grew to the final margin of 38.

The Cleaners fell to 1-4.

The Giants improved to 6-1 with a 94-72 win over the Island Game Pros.

National team member Tehran Cox led four Giants in double figures with 26 points and five rebounds.

Cox was on fire from deep and shot 8-12 from threepoint range.

Jeffrey Henfield had 14 points, six rebounds and five assists while Quentin Demeritte and Michael Bain Jr each finished with 12 points.

Gibran Smith nearly got a triple double with nine points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Trent Cox finished with nine points and 15 rebounds.

Patrick Leadon led the Pros with 22 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, Derrick Ferguson scored 17 and Elkino Issacs scored 11.

Cox started his hot shooting early and made a three on the opening possession for the Giants. They opened the game on a 10-2 run and Cox’s second three made the score 18-9 at the 4:44 mark.

Smith’s jumper gave the Giants an early 10-point lead and they dominated

the first en route to a 27-12 lead.

Henfield would score nine of his 12 in the second and the lead grew to as much as 17 at one point in the period.

The Giants took a 45-30 lead into the half and took a 23-point lead on a late Bain free throw to make the score 70-47. Ferguson made a three for the Pros on their final possession of the quarter but they trailed 70-50 headed into the fourth. The Pros would never get within 18 in the fourth and fell to 1-4 on the year.

The Giants (6-1) currently maintain a slight edge over Mr Ship It Freight Regulators (5-1) and PJ Stingers (4-1) in the John Archer division. The Pirates (2-5), Cleaners and Rhythm Rebels (0-6) round out the bottom half of the division.

The Shockers (5-2) lead the Vince Ferguson Division, followed by UB and the Mailboat Cybots (3-4), Rockets (2-4), Pros and Legends (1-3).

League play continues 7pm tonight at the AF Adderley Gymnasium with the Triple K Stampers taking on the Johnson Trucking Panchos followed by the Cybots and the Rebels at 8:30pm.

WALTIEA ROLLE POSTING MAJOR NUMBERS IN BULGARIAN LEAGUE FROM PAGE 1 for an average of 14.1 points per game. Rolle also averaged 9.2 rebounds and 1.95 blocks.

Rolle, the first Bahamian to be drafted into the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), was a third-round pick (36th overall) by the Minnesota

Lynx in the 2013 WNBA Draft and appeared in all three pre-season games with the team, averaging 7.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.

After the draft, Rolle then elected to forego the entire 2013 WNBA season in favour of completing her degree in sports administration and exercise sports science at the University of North Carolina, and playing overseas.

Ater completing training camp and the preseason with Minnesota, Rolle was waived last May just prior to the tip-off of the 2014 WNBA season.

Her WNBA journey ended in May 2015 when she was waived by the Seattle Storm.

In six games with the Storm in 2014, Rolle averaged 3.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.

Late in the season, the

Storm re-signed Rolle for what was expected to be her second season with the franchise. She signed a series of seven-day contracts late in August 2014.

They signed Rolle for the remainder of the 2014 season after she completed three 10-day contracts with the club.

She made further Bahamian basketball history by becoming the first Bahamian to play in the WNBA

when she appeared in the Storm’s 80-74 loss to the Tulsa Shock on July 29, 2014.

She signed her first sevenday contract with the Storm on July 21, dressing for all three of Seattle’s games from July 22-26, but did not receive playing time during the three games in that time span.

During the second contract, she received spot duty in three consecutive con-

tests when she scored two points in each outing. She ended the season with five rebounds in a 78-65 loss to the Phoenix Mercury.

A 2013 graduate of North Carolina, Rolle owns two of the top 10 best shot-blocking seasons in school history. Her 89 blocks during the 2013 campaign stand are the sixth best of all-time and her 82 blocks in the 2011 season eighth in North Carolina history.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 14, 2016, PAGE 5

Ryan Tannehill’s knee injury less serious than first feared

By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Tannehill was back at the Miami Dolphins’ complex Monday, his left knee injury less serious than first feared.

The injury was diagnosed as a sprained ACL and MCL, coach Adam Gase said, meaning Tannehill will avoid surgery.

It remains unlikely he’ll play again this season, and Matt Moore will make his first start since 2011 on Saturday against the New York Jets.

When Tannehill was hurt Sunday against Arizona, the Dolphins (8-5) feared a torn ACL that would require surgery and a long, arduous rehabilitation. The Dolphins learned the final diagnosis late Sunday.

“Better than what we thought,” Gase said. “I was happy for him. That’s a hard injury to come back from and rehab. It’s a long, long process.”

ACL surgery generally requires at least a ninemonth recovery.

Gase said the Dolphins don’t know how long Tanne-

hill will be sidelined by the sprained knee, but it’s questionable whether he would be available even deep into the postseason.

“It’s not going to be one game,” Gase said. “It will be longer than that.”

Tannehill should be available to take part in the Dolphins’ offseason programme, however.

In Arizona, Campbell said he spoke with Tannehill by phone on Monday.

“I reached out and I apologised to him,” Campbell said. “It definitely wasn’t on purpose. I wasn’t trying to hurt the guy. That’s not who I am. I’ve never been that kind of guy. I never will be that kind of guy. I know how hard people work to play this game.”

While Tannehill was at the team complex Monday, Moore was absent — his wife was having their third child. But he’ll soon be cramming as the new No. 1 quarterback.

“Matt is going to go hard,” teammate Byron Maxwell said. “He’s going to go down fighting. He’s not afraid of the moment.

He’s ready for it.”

Tannehill limped out of

Sunday’s win in the third quarter after being hit by defensive tackle Calais Campbell as he released a completion. Miami led 21-9 when Tannehill was hurt and won 26-23 on a last-second field goal.

The victory didn’t lighten the Dolphins’ glum mood.

Tannehill was red-eyed on the sideline as the game ended and left the stadium on crutches.

“We’ve got to rally and try to finish this thing for him,” safety Michael Thomas said. “He was having a great season. Everybody was rallying behind him. So it’s tough.

“Everybody is emotional about it. But it’s a next-manup mentality, and we’ve just got to find a way to keep this thing rolling.”

After a slow start when he came off the bench against Arizona, Moore led a late drive that ended with the game-winning field goal.

The Dolphins won for the seventh time in the past eight games and forged a tie with Denver in the race for the final AFC wild-card berth.

Only two Dolphins on the active roster have been

with the team longer than Moore, a 10-year veteran who joined Miami in 2011.

He has 25 starts but none since the Dolphins drafted the durable Tannehill, who started 77 consecutive games in his first five NFL seasons despite taking 213 sacks.

Moore has thrown 16 passes in the past four seasons, including five Sunday.

He has a 13-12 record as a starter — giving him a career winning percentage better than Tannehill — but this week will be the first time Moore has started for a team with a winning record.

Moore has 33 touchdown passes, 28 interceptions and a reputation for being an aggressive risk-taker.

The new backup quarterback is expected to be rookie Brandon Doughty, a seventh-round draft pick from Western Kentucky who grew up near the Dolphins’ complex.

Tannehill likely finishes 2016 with career highs in passer rating (93.5), completion rate (67.1 per cent) and yards per attempt (7.7).

It has been his first year working with Gase, a quarterback expert who fre-

CARDINALS defensive end Calais Campbell (93) tackles Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill. He was injured on the play.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) quently praised Tannehill for his improvement — and resilience.

“I don’t know if I’ve been around anybody tougher,” Gase said. “The guy has taken a lot shots since I’ve been here, unfortunately.

He just keeps bouncing back.”

On Saturday the Dolphins will also be without centre Mike Pouncey, who won’t practice this week, Gase said.

It will be the fifth game in a row Pouncey has missed because of a hip injury that has limited him to five games this season.

THE STANDINGS

PATRIOTS QB Tom Brady (12) throws a touchdown pass to Chris Hogan under pressure from Baltimore Ravens linebacker Elvis Dumervil (58) during the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game in Foxborough, Mass.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Patriots get big win, continue to inch toward playoffs

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer FOXBOROUGH, Mass.

(AP) — By the time the Patriots took the field Monday night against the Ravens, they knew they’d have to wait at least another week to wrap up their eighth consecutive playoff berth.

It didn’t stop New England from producing a postseason-quality effort.

The Patriots overcame a pair of miscues on special teams and provided some timely offence late to beat the Baltimore Ravens 30-23 on Monday night .

New England enters its final three regular season games in great position for an eighth straight AFC East crown.

“We just gotta keep it rolling,” Patriots safety Devin McCourty said.

“That’s whether you want to call it a playoff game, must-win, or any of that stuff. Once you get into December and toward the end of December, every game is important. There’s really no rebounding and trying to fix things. You want to try and play your best ball every time you go out there and play.”

Of course, that kind of consistency is common practice for New England’s 39-year-old quarterback.

Tom Brady carved up the NFL’s top-ranked defence for 406 yards passing and three touchdowns, saving his best for last with a 79yard strike to Chris Hogan in the fourth quarter.

He became just fourth NFL quarterback with at least 450 career touchdown passes.

“We weren’t clicking early, but that happens in football,” Brady said. “I’m glad we found a way to make some plays. A lot of guys contributed. ... It was a big win for us.”

For the Ravens, it will be a short turnaround as they try to salvage their playoff hopes over the final three weeks. It begins with their final regular season home game against the Eagles on Sunday, followed by road tests at Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

Baltimore is currently one game behind the Steelers in the AFC North.

“It doesn’t really matter what our record is,” quarterback Joe Flacco said.

“We’ve just got to win our games.”

hunt. That begins, he said, with putting all their focus into the matchup with Philadelphia.

“We know where we stand and the situation we are in. And that we basically have to win three games, you know, and (we are) certainly fully capable of doing that. That’s what we intend to do, but all the focus goes to the next game,” Harbaugh said.

FOCUSED ON PHILLY Coach John Harbaugh said coming up short against the Patriots won’t deter the Ravens from doing all they can to stay in the division

SAYONARA, CYRUS Cyrus Jones continues to have problems returning kicks.

After dancing away from the football in the first half to avoid a fumble, he

BLOUNT FORCE Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount picked up a pair of milestones in the game, topping 1,000 yards for the season and collecting his 14th touchdown. A 1-yard TD run in the first quarter gave the Patriots a 9-0 lead and tied the franchise record set by Curtis Martin in 1995 (and matched by Martin in ‘96).

Blount ended the game with 1,029 yards this season, topping the 1,007 from his rookie season with Tampa Bay in 2010. He’s the first 1,000-yard rusher for the team since Stevan Ridley had 1,263 in 2012.

touched a bouncing punt with his foot in the second and allowed the Ravens to recover at the New England 3. Two plays later, the Ravens scored to make it 23-10.

It was the fifth fumble of the season for Jones, who sat out four times in six weeks as a healthy scratch because of his earlier struggles to hold onto the ball.

“We turned the ball over three times tonight. Three situations that I would say were pretty preventable,” Belichick said. “We’ll work on it with everybody. It’s everybody’s job to protect the ball who handles it.”

SCORING DEFENCE New England’s defence was the first unit to get on the scoreboard Monday night. Patriots punter Ryan Allen pinned the Ravens at their own 1, and on the next play, Kenneth Dixon was swarmed in the end zone and brought down by Malcolm Butler for a safety.

It was the Patriots’ third safety of the season — a franchise record. They also had one October 9 against Cleveland when Browns quarterback Cody Kessler fumbled the ball out of the end zone, and the following week when Dont’a Hightower sacked Andy Dalton in the end zone.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 14, 2016, PAGE 7

Defensive concerns mounting for Guardiola at Man City YAYA TOURE GETS

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — During Manchester City’s offseason of heavy spending, Pep Guardiola prioritised improving his midfield and wide areas rather than upgrading the team’s defensive unit.

John Stones, an upcoming centre back with lots of potential but still much to learn, was the only defender to arrive at Etihad Stadium ahead of the new season despite City’s aging collection of full backs and the worrying state of his central defence.

Guardiola might be regretting it now.

Undermined by a porous back line that has kept only two clean sheets in 15 games, City is stuttering as it tries to keep pace with Chelsea near the halfway stage of the Premier League campaign.

City is in fourth place — seven points behind Chelsea — after winning three of its last nine league games, and four of its last 14 games in all competitions. On Saturday, Guardiola’s team conceded two goals in the first four minutes and was beaten 4-2 by previously out-of-form Leicester.

The 10-match winning run to open the season seems a distant

memory now for City. and City is conceding But even during that sloppy goals that are period, when Guardiovershadowing the ola was being widely team’s attractive passhailed for his apparing game. Guardiola ently seamless tranfrequently changes sition to the English from a four-man degame, concerns were fence to three at the being raised about back, which doesn’t the team’s defence appear to be helping, and what the coach either.

GUARDIOLA (AP) was asking of it.

After the loss to Bacary Sagna, Pablo Zabale- Leicester, Guardiola appeared to ta, Gael Clichy and Aleksandar dismiss the importance of tackKolarov are City’s full backs. ling — “What’s tackles?” he said, They are all in their 30s and have “... we are not going to win or lose been given new tasks under Guar- for the tackles” — and suggested diola, such as playing as centre he would continue playing the backs in a back three or tucking same style. into central midfield when City “Of course here in the Premier attacks to free up space for wing- League, there are some special ers and be in good positions for an things but the pitch is the same, opposition counterattack. it’s 11 vs 11, so I have to control Meanwhile, centre backs the little differences between the Stones, Nicolas Otamendi and — other leagues. But (my) idea, I when fit — Vincent Kompany are think, is good; it will be good.” being asked to bring the ball out Not helping City’s defence is from the back and start attacks. the fact that when it’s breached, They are playing in front of a ball- Bravo isn’t proving as able a shotplaying goalkeeper, Claudio Bra- stopper as the goalkeeper he revo, who rarely kicks it long and placed, Joe Hart. Bravo doesn’t often takes risks with his passing have an imposing presence when and build-up play. strikers bear down on goal and It seems like Guardiola hasn’t was easily beaten by low shots in got the defenders to carry out the 3-1 loss to Chelsea and the what he wants. The defence is loss to Leicester. looking exposed and error-prone, Next up for City is Watford at

home today, part of a full round of midweek matches in the Premier League. Who knows what the make-up of City’s defence will be, and whether Guardiola will play with three defenders or four? At least he has Otamendi back from suspension.

SUNDERLAND vs CHELSEA Protecting a three-point lead, Chelsea will be looking for a 10th straight win in the match between first and last in the league.

It’s the fifth time that Chelsea has won at least nine straight Premier League games. Five more wins and the leaders will match the Premier League record of consecutive wins, held by Arsenal from 2002.

CRYSTAL PALACE vs MANCHESTER UNITED Just when Henrikh Mkhitaryan was looking like a sure starter at United after a slow start at Old Trafford, the playmaker got injured and will have to fight for his place again.

Mkhitaryan scored in United’s 1-0 win at Tottenham, but hurt his ankle late in the match and was carried off on a stretcher. He is expected to be out for about two weeks.

18-MONTH BAN FOR DRUNKDRIVING

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has been banned from driving for 18 months after admitting to drunk-driving, despite saying he hadn’t “intentionally consumed alcohol.”

Toure, who was arrested in east London on November 28, appeared in court on Monday. He was also fined 54,000 pounds ($70,000).

The 33-year-old Toure is a Muslim and said yesterday in a statement on his Facebook page that he has “always refused alcohol.”

The former Ivory Coast international said “as I was above the permitted limit when tested on the night, I decided not to challenge the charge. However, it was important to me that I told the court that I had not intentionally consumed alcohol.”

Toure added that “the judge in his sentencing remarks accepted that I had not been intentionally drinking.”

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Mostly sunny

Mainly clear

Partly sunny

Partly sunny with a shower; breezy

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

Partly sunny and breezy

High: 83°

Low: 70°

High: 82° Low: 69°

High: 81° Low: 71°

High: 83° Low: 73°

High: 84° Low: 74°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

101° F

82° F

97°-74° F

83°-72° F

89°-73° F

92°-78° F

ORLANDO

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 61° F/16° C

TAMPA

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 64° F/18° 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: 76° F/24° C Low: 72° F/22° C

4-8 knots

S

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 65° F/18° C

4-8 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 67° F/19° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 68° F/20° C

MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 67° F/19° C

3-6 knots

KEY WEST

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 72° F/22° C

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2016

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

N

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

7:35 a.m.

7:56 p.m.

3.6 2.8

1:11 a.m. -1.0 2:03 p.m. -0.8

Thursday

8:26 a.m.

8:49 p.m.

3.6 2.8

2:04 a.m. -1.0 2:55 p.m. -0.8

Friday

9:18 a.m.

9:43 p.m.

3.5 2.7

2:57 a.m. -0.8 3:47 p.m. -0.7

Saturday

10:09 a.m.

10:38 p.m.

3.3 2.6

3:50 a.m. -0.6 4:39 p.m. -0.5

Sunday

11:01 a.m.

11:35 p.m.

3.0 2.5

4:45 a.m. -0.3 5:31 p.m. -0.3

Monday

11:54 a.m.

-----

2.8 -----

5:41 a.m. 0.0 6:24 p.m. -0.2

Tuesday

12:32 a.m.

12:48 p.m.

2.4 2.5

6:41 a.m.

7:17 p.m.

0.3 0.0

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:47 a.m.

5:23 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

6:27 p.m.

7:11 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Dec. 20

Dec. 29

Jan. 5

Jan. 12

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

N

S

E

W

4-8 knots

S

4-8 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 ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 73° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 79° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 67° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 82° F/28° C Last year’s low ................................... 70° F/21° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 49.61” Normal year to date ................................... 39.05”

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

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 73° F/23° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

4-8 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 84° F/29° 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: 82° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

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

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

7-14 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: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS SW at 4-8 Knots WNW at 6-12 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots N at 4-8 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots E at 3-6 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots W at 4-8 Knots SSW at 4-8 Knots NW at 7-14 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots SE at 3-6 Knots WNW at 3-6 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots ENE at 3-6 Knots

WAVES 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 4-8 Feet 3-6 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet

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

WATER TEMPS. 78° F 78° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 83° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 80° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 81° F