12202016 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

CARIBBEAN

Showdown, Page 4

Players vow to keep their spots on Davis Cup team

IESHA, OFF TO WINNING START, LOOKS TO REPEAT AS CHAMPION

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

W

ith the Bahamas back in the American Zone II, the interest has increased for the men’s Davis Cup team, but brothers Baker and Spencer Newman, along with teammates Kevin Major Jr and captain Marvin Rolle, have served noticed that they intend to retain their spots.

During the first day of competition in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s Giorgio Baldacci Open National Challenge yesterday at the National Tennis Centre, the quartet were all successful in winning their opening matches and were joined by a number of challengers, including Philip Major Jr, Justin Lunn and collegian Joshua Turnquest.

Baker Newman, the defending champion, made it look so easy as he blanked Jody Turnquest 6-0, 6-0. “It was fun,” said Newman about his return to the tournament. “I’m here to defend the title. So I didn’t want to let up at all. I will compete for every point.

I don’t disrespect anybody, but if they want it, they are going to have to come for it because I’m not just going to give it up.”

The 21-year-old junior at Vanderbilt said he’s coming off a great semester and he’s looking forward to an even greater season in 2017.

His 23-year-old brother Spencer Newman didn’t waste too much time on the court either as he duplicated the 6-0, 6-0 score.

“I came out and got a quick start on him and I just kind of rode on that,” said Newman, who spent a lot of time training both in the morning and night to stay fit. “I

LAST YEAR’S Davis Cup team (l-r) Kevin Major Jr, Spencer Newman, Baker Newman and Marvin Rolle.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/The Tribune made it tough for him and that is what I want to do in the tournament, just leave it all on the court.

I’m coming for it.”

As a captain of the team, Marvin Rolle said since they got promoted from zone III to II, the interest has increased and it showed in the number of entries in the tournament.

But like all the other players, Rolle said his main objective is to secure his spot on the team. He made a strong case by winning his first two matches, the first 6-2, 6-2 over William ‘JJ’ Fountain and the second 6-0, 6-0 over Perry Newton Jr. “The guys (Newton) started playing tennis pretty late, but he enjoys it and that’s the main

thing,” Rolle said. “But I know that as the tournament progresses, I will get to face some tougher opponents. We have a good turnout.

We’re in zone II and I guess a lot of players want to play. It’s good for the Bahamas. So it’s not going to be easy making the team this

SEE PAGE 2

IESHA Shepherd said she would like nothing better than to repeat as the champion in the ladies’ division of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s annual Giorgio Baldaccci Open National Challenge.

But there’s a field of six younger challengers, including Sydney Clarke and Elana Mackey, who are looking to dethrone her when the weeklong tournament comes to a close Friday at the National Tennis Centre and earn their berth on the Bahamas’ Fed Cup team that will travel to Uruguay in July.

Shepherd, the reigning national champion, pulled off a double dose of victory, knocking off Sydni Kerr 6-2, 6-0 and then holding off Sierra Donaldson 6-4, 6-0 to set the pace for the field of competitors on the first day of competition on Monday.

“I came out of the blocks early with a 2-0 lead, but I sort of lost my momentum,” said Shepherd of her challenge from Donaldson in her second match. “I regrouped as always and won it, but she played very well. I can’t take that away from her. She improved a lot since we last played, but I had to take my game to a higher level in the second set to win.”

Getting started with two victories on the first day of competition, Shepherd said she’s ready to defend her title.

SEE PAGE 2

With more playing time, Buddy ‘starting to figure it out’ CLEARE HAS

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net WITH an increase in playing time, Buddy Hield has increased his productivity and is beginning to find consistency and establish his role with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Hield has scored in double figures for three consecutive games and in four of his last six. During the three-game stretch, the rookie guard has averaged 15.3 points on 47 per cent shooting from the field and 63 per cent from three-point range in 28 minutes per game.

He also experienced a career night in a 102-95 win over the Indiana Pacers when he scored 21 points on 8-17 shooting and 5-8 shooting from three.

Hield said the improvements in his game can be contributed to encouragement from his teammates and more appearances in the starting lineup.

“You get to set the tone for the team. You know you have to go out there and play hard and the team feeds off that energy. If I set the tone by making shots, or getting steals or a couple of rebounds or box outs, I can help the team get going,” he said.

“It feels good. My teammates give me confidence and find me

in good spots and it really lifts me up. I’m beginning to get very aggressive, made some shots, but got to keep on building confidence and just be able to help lift the team in a positive way. I feel like it’s always good to bring that positive energy for your teammates.”

Hield’s opportunities to score have increased playing alongside All Stars Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday who recently returned to the starting lineup. On the night of Hield’s career high, Holiday dished 14 assists, nine of which went to Davis or Hield.

“I’m playing around great players,” Hield said. “AD, Jrue, Solomon and all those guys help me.

They find me in good spots...They do the little things to get me up and get me going. They’ve been really good to me, ” he said.

“It’s a great feeling. This is what I’m supposed to do, it’s why they drafted me here. I just have to keep focused, there’s always a next game tomorrow so I have to do it again. I just want to stay locked in and focused.”

Hield made just 18 three pointers during the first two months of the season but in December alone he has already made 23.

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry has been encouraged by Hield’s effort on both ends of the floor and that defensive adjust-

BUDDY HIELD (AP) ment is something Hield has focused on improving since training camp began.

“If you can guard somebody and you can score the ball that makes you a triple threat. That’s what they’ve been on me about from the time I first got here. I’ve heard ‘you’ve got to pick up your defence.’ I’m always locked in and focused.

“Defence comes down to effort,

as long as you can guard somebody and have fun doing it you can make the game fun for you.”

The adjustment to the professional game has been a series of fluctuating results for Hield who, at one point, struggled to find his shot and playing time in the rotation.

That stretch of games included an eight-game stretch in November where he played approximately less than 10 minutes, including just one minute in a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was also shooting just 24 per cent from beyond the arch.

On the season, Hield is averaging 8.4 points on 39 per cent shooting and 34 per cent from three on just over 18 minutes per game and nine starts in 29 games.

Following his career high game, Hield scored 11 and 14 in backto-back losses to the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs respectively.

“He made some big shots for us,” said Davis. “I think he’s just playing more relaxed and he’s starting to figure it out. He’s starting to calm down. He’s been working very hard and now it’s starting to pay off.”

The Pelicans will face the Philadelphia 76ers 7pm tonight at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

BIG GAME, MUNNINGS POSTS HIS 4TH DOUBLE DOUBLE A PAIR of standout individual performances for Bahamian NCAA Division I basketball players at holiday tournaments over the weekend, however it failed to translate to wins for their teams.

Travis Munnings and Shaquille Cleare had two of their better games of the season but their teams still struggle in the win-loss column on the season.

Munnings posted his fourth double double of the season - 12 points and 12 rebounds - in his Louisiana Munroe Warhawks’ 68-84 loss to the Northwestern State Demons in the Shreveport Bossier Holiday Classic tournament at the CenturyLink Center.

The sophomore forward shot 5-9 from the field and was

SEE PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Tuesday, December 20, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

IESHA LOOKS TO REPEAT AS CHAMPION FROM PAGE 1

KEVIN Major Jr (left) called it “pretty routine” after he won 6-2, 6-0 over Robert Smith (right).

Photos: Shawn Hanna/The Tribune

TOP PLAYERS VOW TO KEEP THEIR SPOTS ON DAVIS CUP TEAM FROM PAGE 1 year.”

Kevin Major Jr called it “pretty routine” after he won 6-2, 6-0 over Robert Smith.

“Tomorrow (today) is going to be more tricky because I’m going to play Joshua Turnquest, who is just coming back from school, along with O’Neil Mortimer, who are two good players,” Major Jr said. “My performance today (yesterday) was good. I didn’t do anything special. It was just a routine day for me.”

For Major Jr, there’s still a lot more tennis to go and he wants to ensure that he’s right in the thick of things.

“My expectations is to win the whole tournament, so we will see how it goes,” said Major Jr about the rest of the competition.

Having been on the Davis Cup team before, 20-year-old Philip Major Jr is looking forward to getting back in the limelight. He started the quest by winning 6-0, 6-0 over Ceron Rolle.

“It was good, not too stressful.

I’m playing at a really high level and so I expected to come out with a dominant win,” said Major Jr, who is at a tennis academy in

DAY 1 RESULTS • Here’s a look at day one of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s annual Giorgio Baldacci Open National Challenge at the National Tennis Centre yesterday.

DAVIS CUP Marvin Rolle def. William Fountain 6-2, 6-2; Joshua Turnquest def. O’Neil Mortimer 6-4, 6-1; Justin Lunn def. Donte Armbrister 6-1, 6-4; Dylan Walker def. Anthony Burrows6-1,, 6-0; Archie Burrows def. Perry Newton Jr 6-1, 6-0; Calum Moodie def. Kyle Rolle 6-3, 1-6, 10-8; Trenton Smith def. Rodney Carey W/O; Kevin Major Jr def. Ceron Rolle 6-0, 6-0; Jody Turnquest def. Michael Butler 6-0, 6-0; Michael Cooper def. Wayne Russll W/O; Jack Kelly def.

Lee Sweeting 6-0; 6-0; Ceron Rolle deef, Kyle Rolle 6-0; 6-1; Marvin Rolle def. Perry Newton Jr 6-0, 6-0; Joshua Turnquest def. Robert Smith 6-1, 6-2; Donte Armbrister def. Lee Sweeting W/O; Baker Newman def. Jody Turnquest 6-0, 6-0; Trenton Smith def. Anthony Burrows 6-0, 6-1 and Spencer Newman def. Michael Cooper 6-0, 6-0.

FED CUP Elana Mackey def. Afrika Smith 6-2, 6-1; Iesha Shepherd def.

Sydni Kerr 6-2, 6-0; Iesha Shepherd def. Sierra Donaldson 6-4, 6-0; Elana Mackey def. Gabriela Donaldson 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5) and Sydney Clarke def. Afrika Smith 6-1, 6-4.

North Carolina. “I just did what I had to do and I came out the way that I should have. It’s always a pleasure to represent my country, so it’s an honour for me to be here to try and represent my country

again.”

Turnquest, 17, seems to be one of the dark horses in the tournament. He had two victories, the first over O’Neal Mortimer, 6-4, 6-1 and the other over Robert

Smith, 6-1, 6-2.

“In the beginning I was a little nervous because I haven’t played home in a while, so the expectations was high,” said Turnquest, now in his freshman year at Asbury University in Kentucky. “I was able to settle down and ended up playing some real good tennis in the end. This is something that I always wanted to do, wearing the Bahamian colours on a bigger stage, so I’m hoping that I can make the team this year.”

Before he lost to Baker Newman, Jody Turnquest pulled off a 6-0, 6-0 win over Michael Butler.

“The first one very well. I liked my performance. The guy (Butler) was playing really good, but for me, it’s a good time for me to come back after playing in Barcelona, Spain to show what I’ve been doing when I travelled with Justin Lunn. So I know it’s going to be tough, but I’m ready.”

Lunn won his first match 6-1, 6-4 over Donte Armbrister.

The tournament will continue at 9am today.

The top two players in each pool will advance to the playoffs on Wednesday and Thursday to determine who will qualify to compete in the final on Friday.

“I just want to play everybody and see exactly where I’m at in the Bahamas and go forward from there,” said Shepherd, who is back home after a sting overseas playing in a few tournaments.

In her first appearance in the tournament, Sydney Clarke is coming in with a lot of anticipation. She prevailed with a 6-1, 6-4 decision over Afrika Smith. Clarke held a 4-0 lead before Smith got on the scoreboard in the first set. Then in the second set, she held for a 1-0 lead, but after falling behind as Smith held and broke to go up 2-1, Clarke returned the favour when she broke and held to go up 4-3 to eventually secure the match.

“The match was great. I made a lot of unforced errors, but overall, I played okay,” said Clarke, a 10th grader at CR Walker. “You can expect a lot of things from me in this tournament. Once I can cut down on my errors, I will be okay. This is my first time trying out for the Fed Cup team, so I’m hoping that I can make the team.”

Mackey, 15, also pulled off a pair of victories, beating Afrika Smith 6-2, 6-1 and outlasting Gabriela Donaldson in a keenly contested match 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5).

“I felt good. I played very good and was hitting a lot of balls very hard and deep and I kept moving the ball around,” said Mackey, one of the youngest players in the tournament at age 14. “I didn’t give anybody a break. I felt being offensive and attacking.”

Mackey, a 10th grader at Nassau Christian Academy, said as the tournament progresses, she’s hoping that she can win it, but she knows that she can’t let the victories get to her head.

The tournament continues at 9am this morning.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 20, 2016,. PAGE 3

Naughty’s Top 5 great sports moments on Christmas Day AS we get even closer to Christmas, and the veritable ‘sports feast’ that awaits us over the next few days on television, I decided to go with a Top 5 list of great sports moments that occurred on Christmas Day. In some cases, depending on who you root for, these past great moments in sports history may bring a smile to your face, or a tear to your eye. That’s sports I guess!

1. The Soviet Union Falls The only non-sporting event on this list occurred in 1991, and it deserves to be here because it unleashed a slew of Eastern Europe athletes who would have only been allowed past the Iron Curtain to compete in amateur events.

After the ‘Russian Sports Floodgates’ opened it allowed premier Russian athletes to take their place in major professional sports leagues. The NBA, WNBA, NFL and NHL just to name a few.

The Detroit Red Wings’ “Russian Five,” which won the 1997 Stanley Cup, and boxing’s Klitschko brothers are the most notable examples.

2. Don Shula Breaks NFL Regular-Season Victory Record This game between the Miami Dolphins and the Detroit Lions in 1994 already had a lot going for it.

Both teams were 9-6 and battling for a playoff spot and Barry Sanders entered the game with 1,831 rushing yards and a shot at 2,000.

The Dolphins took control early, holding Sanders to only 52 yards, and scoring on five of their first seven possessions to take a 27-10 halftime lead and held on for a 27-20 win.

The victory was head coach

SPORTING

MISCHIEF

& MAYHEM

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHT Y’ ZENIC

AZELAYA

Don Shula’s 319th regularseason victory, putting him ahead of George Halas (Shula had broken the overall wins record in 1993.).

(See ‘Dolfans’ I give credit where and when it’s due) 3. Bernard King Scores 60 Points In front of a Madison Square Garden crowd, on Christmas Day in 1984, King torched the New Jersey Nets for a Christmas Day-record 60 points.

His New York Knicks still lost 120-114, but the only memory from that game was his performance.

King won the scoring title that season and this Christmas Day milestone was his highest point total of the season.

My friends and I, especially the ones who love basketball and played with me through the ranks, to this day still talk about King’s performance and his surgical precision on that day. He was ‘Money.’

4. Kobe and Shaq Face Off for First Time Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal three-peated as world champions when they played on the Lakers together… and they also hated each other’s guts.

In July of 2004, the Lakers traded O’Neal to the Miami Heat and the NBA scheduled their first meeting for Christmas night.

The game lived up to its hype as Bryant scored 42

points and drew O’Neal’s fifth and sixth fouls, sending Shaq to the bench with the two teams tied 91-91.

The game went into overtime where Dwayne Wade led the Heat to a 104-102 win. Bryant missed a threepointer as time expired.

I must admit, I’m nauseous after typing that, and reliving painful Laker memories.

Definitely a ghost from Christmas past for me!

5. Hawaii Beats Houston in Triple Overtime in the Hawaii Bowl Those who tuned into ESPN on Christmas night in 2003 like I did got a glimpse at the future of Big 12 football, and one heck of an exciting, nailbiting thriller. If you love high scoring NCAA college football games, this was the ‘jackpot.’

The Cougars were led by future Baylor head coach Art Briles and the Warriors had Timmy Chang, one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NCAA history.

The two engaged in a good, old-fashioned offensive shootout and were tied 3434 at the end of regulation.

Each team scored a touchdown on the first two overtime possessions. Hawaii got the ball first in the third overtime and Michael Brewster ran eight yards into the end zone, but the Warriors failed on the twopoint conversion.

However, Houston’s overtime possession ended

THE Miami Dolphins’ 27-20 win over the Detroit Lions in 1994 was head coach Don Shula’s 319th regular-season victory, putting him ahead of George Halas.

on downs and Hawaii came away with a 54-48 victory.

• Until next week, may you all have a safe, blessed Christmas with your families and remember the reason for the season!

May God Bless and keep you all over the holidays and, from my family to yours, have a very merry Christmas.

SPORTS NOTE TENNIS JACOBI BAIN ended the year on a high note by advancing to the quarter-finals of the main draw in the boys’ 14 singles of the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.

On Monday, Bain lost 6-1, 4-6, 14-12 to Xaiofel Wang from China. Wang went on to win the title. Bain will be home for a few weeks to rest and relax before heading to Europe to play Cat.1 Tennis Europe Events.

CLEARE HAS BIG GAME, MUNNINGS POSTS HIS 4TH DOUBLE DOUBLE FROM PAGE 1 perfect from three at 2-2.

Northwestern State shot 61.5 per cent in the first half to jump out to an 18-point halftime lead after the Warhawks shot just 33.3 per cent in the opening 20 minutes, which turned out to be the difference in the game.

Munnings has scored at least 10 points in eight straight games (including three double-doubles). “I don’t understand why we struggled early,” Warhawks head coach Keith Richard said. “We looked shellshocked early and we were able to play better in the second half, however, we were too far behind to make up the margin in the game. It seemed like a little bit of everything is why we struggled early but credit to Northwestern as they played extremely well early and were able to put us in that hole.”

At 4-6 and first place in the Sun Belt Conference, The Warhawks will play two more games before the Christmas holiday.

They travel to Baltimore, Maryland, to face Coppin State at 2pm local time and Thursday night at 7pm against VCU. Munnings remains the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, currently averaging 13.2 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game while shooting 43 per cent from the field.

His rebound totals rank second in the Conference.

Munnings is one of only two returning players to start at least one game last season for the Warhawks when 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.

Over in the Big 12, Shaquille Cleare and the Texas Longhorns suffered another hard-fought loss (77-74) to the Arkansas Razorbacks

HAWKS forward Paul Millsap (4) celebrates with teammate Kyle Korver, centre, in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) after last night’s game in Oklahoma City. (AP)

ARKANSAS’ Moses Kingsley (33) looks to shoot as Texas’ Shaquille Cleare, of the Bahamas, defends during the second half of Saturday’s game in Houston. Arkansas won 77-74. (AP) in the Lone Star Shootout in Houston, Texas.

Cleare finished with 10 points and seven rebounds and the Longhorns, who began the season ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation, fell to 5-5 on the season.

For Cleare, he reached double figures in scoring for the second time this year and the fourth time in his Longhorns career.

His seven rebounds were one shy of his Texas career high which he reached on two other occasions.

The Longhorns return home to face UAB at 8pm on Wednesday, December 21.

In the Big 10, Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr and the Michigan State Spartans lost their first game of the season to an unranked opponent when they fell 81-73 to the Northeastern Huskies in the Winter

Shootout.

Nairn went scoreless in 21 minutes.

“We didn’t play very good, but give them all the credit. They played better than us in just about every fashion. They hit some shots just before halftime and a couple of those were threes. Give them credit, they made them. We didn’t defend them very well, but the game, as average as we played, I thought we had a chance,” Spartans head coach Tom Izzo said. “We can’t take anything away from the effort that Northeastern gave, they played harder. They outrebounded us most of the night. In the second half we picked it up a bit. It was a tough matchup. All in all we just didn’t play well enough.”

The Spartans will look to rebound in the win column when they host Oakland at 7pm December 21.

NBA CAPSULES

loss on Friday, the Bulls busted out for 69 points in the first two quarters, their best for any half this season.

HAWKS 110, THUNDER 108 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Paul Millsap hit the go-ahead 10-footer with 12.7 seconds left, and the Atlanta Hawks overcame Russell Westbrook’s 46 points to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 110108 last night.

After Millsap’s shot, Thunder centre Steven Adams rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Westbrook and dunked it, but a review determined that the basket came just after time expired.

Westbrook, the NBA’s leading scorer with more than 30 points per game, also had 11 rebounds and seven assists.

Dennis Schroder scored 31 points and Millsap added a season-high 30 for the Hawks, who won despite centre Dwight Howard missing the game with tightness in his lower back.

Jerami Grant scored a season-high 15 points, and Andre Roberson matched a season high with 14 points for the Thunder.

PACERS 107, WIZARDS 105 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Thaddeus Young made a runner with 0.9 seconds left to give Indiana a victory over Washington.

Paul George scored 27 points and Jeff Teague had 23, but the Pacers needed the last of Young’s 12 points after the Wizards scored seven straight to tie it.

With 4.6 seconds remaining, Young took the inbound pass at the top of the key, squared up his defender, Markieff Morris, then drove and put up his runner from the left side.

Bradley Beal missed a potential winning 3-pointer at the buzzer and scored 22 points.

Marcin Gortat finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, John Wall added 19 points and 10 assists, and Otto Porter Jr. scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

BULLS 113, PISTONS 82 CHICAGO (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 19 points, Rajon Rondo had 10 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds, and Chicago beat Detroit to snap a threegame losing streak.

Taj Gibson added 16 points, Robin Lopez had 14 and Dwyane Wade, Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic had 13 apiece for Chicago, which had lost six of eight.

Jon Leuer scored 16 points for the Pistons, who have dropped three straight and four of five.

After scoring just 69 points in a 26-point

TIMBERWOLVES 115, SUNS 108 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 15 rebounds, and Minnesota beat Phoenix.

Andrew Wiggins scored 26 points and Zach LaVine added 23 for the Timberwolves.

Ricky Rubio had 12 assists and Minnesota picked up its first win at home since November 17.

Eric Bledsoe scored 27 points for the Suns, who have lost three straight and four out of five. Brandon Knight had 21 points off the bench and Devin Booker scored 18 on 6-for-15 shooting for Phoenix.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, December 20, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Caribbean Showdown II A showcase for our Bahamian boxers

MEACHER ‘Major Pain’ Major (left) won the main event to remain undefeated at home with a second round stoppage over Roberto Acevedo of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Showdown boxing event at Kendal Isaacs Gym on Saturday night.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/The Tribune

THE HIGHLIGHT of the night came in the co-main event matchup where the prefight prediction of Bahamian heavyweight Bernard Rolle proved to be true. Rolle won via first round knockout over Decius Delan of Haiti.

BIG BRAWL: In the most competitive bout of the evening, Lester Brown (on the right) won by majority decision over Haiti’s Pierre Enabe.

REMY FELISIER, of Haiti, won by unanimous decision over Bahamian Ivan Moxey.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2016,. PAGE 5

BAPTIST SPORTS COUNCIL’S ANNUAL FAMILY FUN RUN/WALK ROAD RACE SET FOR JANUARY 28 AFTER shutting down the remainder of its sporting activities this year due to the passing of Hurricane Matthew, the Baptist Sports Council has announced that it will kick off its 2017 calendar year on January 28 with its annual Family Fun Run/Walk Road Race.

The event, sponsored by BTC, is scheduled to begin at 6 am from Charles W Saunders High School, Jean Street.

This year’s honourees are Rev Stephen Thompson of Transformation Baptist, Sister Helen Fer-

guson of Salem Union, Bishop Gloria Ferguson from Mt Ararat Baptist, Rev Ivan F Butler from Kemp Road Union Baptist Church and Rev Alfred Stuart of New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

Registration is $15 which includes a t-shirt, souse and a certificate, or $10 without the souse.

Awards will be presented to the first three finishers in all categories, including the 10-and-under, 20-and-under, 30-and-under, 40-and-under.

50-and-under, 60-and-under and over 60 in both

male and female in walk and run.

Registration forms will be available at the Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention as of the first week in January, or interested persons can contact BSC chairman Brent Stubbs at 502-2363 or email stubbobs@gmail.com or secretary Jonique Webb at joniquewebb@hotmail.com.

The BSC has also announced that its 2017 Basketball Classic will begin on February 11 on the outdoor courts at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

This year’s classic is being held in honour of Bishop Carrington Pinder of the St Mark’s Native Baptist Church.

The registration fee is $200 per team. The divisions are men, 19-and-under and 15-and-under.

Provision is being made to include a ladies’ division if there are three or more teams entered.

The registration deadline for entry into the tournament is February 4 on the outdoor courts at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

All teams interested in participating, whether Baptist or not, are

requested to have two representatives present for the meeting.

The BSC has also released the dates for their other events, including the Volleyball Classic, set for June 11 at the DW Davis Gymnasium, the Cycling Classic, scheduled for Saturday, June 25 at the RM Bailey playing field, the annual Track and Field Classic on Saturday, October 14 at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium and the Softball Classic that will wrap up the year in October at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

Manta Rays youth soccer club ‘paying it forward’ THIS holiday season, players on the Manta Rays youth soccer club are learning the true meaning of paying it forward.

Thanks to a recent donation of 100 soccer balls from sponsor Domino’s Pizza, team officials along with their players have decided to give a portion of their gift to two youth soccer programmes in need of additional equipment.

The Gambier Primary School Soccer Club and the Future AllStars soccer programme help to introduce kids from underprivileged backgrounds to the sport.

They will both receive new soccer balls for use in the upcoming season.

“For the past two seasons we have partnered with the Manta Rays to ensure that the 125 club members have all of the necessary equipment needed to perform during the season,” said Shirlen Godet, brand manager, Domino’s Pizza. “When they advised us of their desire to use our donation to help other programmes, we were thrilled that they wanted to share with others in the soccer community. It’s a powerful lesson for the young players and one that we can all learn from.”

Greg Walker, club coach and sponsorship director, says the idea to pay it forward will teach their members a lesson that goes beyond the soccer field.

“Our players are dedicated to this game. They show heart on the field and give it their all each season,” he said. “In addition to good sportsmanship, we also want

ALL THE WAY UP: Manta Rays youth soccer club raise the bar by paying it forward with recent Domino’s Pizza soccer ball donation.

Photo: Kovah Duncombe/AML Foods Limited them to understand the value of giving back. It’s a lesson that can take them throughout their lives.

We would like to thank Domino’s

for their continued support and for allowing us the opportunity to help some amazing kids at Gambier (Primary School) and the Fu-

Russia accused of doping cover-up in national soccer teams

By JAMES ELLINGWORTH AP Sports Writer MOSCOW (AP) — Players from Russia’s under-21 national soccer team had suspicious drug-test samples covered up, emails released by a World AntiDoping Agency investigation show.

The emails, released this month as part of WADA investigator Richard McLaren’s report on Russian doping, state that there were five suspicious samples in the Russian men’s under-17 and under-21 national teams in 2013 and 2014.

Another case in the Russian league was allegedly covered up by then-Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who is also in charge of the country’s World Cup preparations.

The FIFA ethics committee said yesterday it will “examine the report thoroughly” in response to the allegations about soccer and the role of Mutko, who sits on the FIFA Council.

The allegations follow a tough year for Russian soccer, which is trying to prepare to host the 2018 World Cup but has faced criticism over hooliganism involving fans at the European Championship and racism in the domestic game.

The doping cases in the Russian national teams were all recorded as clean

by Moscow lab director Grigory Rodchenkov after instructions from Sports Ministry employee Alexei Velikodny to “save” the players, McLaren’s investigation found.

The records show that three members of the Russian under-21 team gave suspicious samples at the national training base shortly before travelling to the 2013 European cham-

VITALY MUTKO gestures during a news conference in Moscow, Russia, on December 25, 2015. (AP) pionship, with two showing elevated testosterone levels — a key indicator of doping — and another testing positive for cannabis.

A fourth player’s sample contained high traces of alcohol, which isn’t banned but seems to have been included in the documents as a warning.

Rodchenkov and Velikodny discussed the players by name in emails, in breach of confidentiality rules, and Velikodny instructed the lab director to take no further action.

It is not clear which players gave the suspicious samples, since their names have been redacted. The Russian squad at the tournament included some players who have gone on to play for Russia’s national team.

At least two other international tournaments were affected in 2014. A player from a leading Russian club gave a sample with a “huge” cannabis reading ahead of Russia’s European under-21 qualifier against Estonia, prompting Rodchenkov to comment that “he needs to be chased out of the team,” though no positive was recorded. A player from Russia’s under-17 team tested positive for arimistane ahead of qualifiers against Spain and Switzerland.

There are also two recorded cases in the Russian league. In one case, an unknown player tested positive for dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory steroid with various uses including legitimate medical purposes. In the other, a player from another former Soviet country tested positive for the banned peptide hormone hexarelin.

McLaren said the hexarelin case was covered up on the order of Mutko, who is now deputy prime minister.

That allegation rests on a comment by Rodchenkov that it was “the decision of VL,” the initials of Mutko’s first two names. Other people in the emails are referred to using initials in a similar way. “FIFA is now reviewing the evidence provided by WADA after the final McLaren report, and based on this information FIFA will take the appropriate next steps in accordance with the anti-doping regulations,” the governing body said. “The result of the investigation will be communicated in due course. Please understand we cannot comment further at this stage.”

Both UEFA and the Russian Football Union, of which Mutko is president, declined to comment.

ture All Stars programme.”

To celebrate the efforts of the young athletes, Domino’s will sponsor pizza parties when the

gifts are presented.

For the latest on the Domino’s Manta Rays Soccer Club, visit http://mantarayssoccerclub.com

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 20, 2016, PAGE 7

SADIO MANE SCORES IN INJURY TIME, LIVERPOOL BEATS EVERTON 1-0

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Sadio Mane grabbed the winner in the fourth minute of injury time as Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 yesterday to head into Christmas in second place in the Premier League and extend its recent dominance of Merseyside derbies.

Substitute Daniel Sturridge’s low long-range shot dribbled against the post and Mane tapped in the rebound, sparking wild celebrations among Liverpool supporters that saw two red flares thrown onto the playing surface.

After a 227th derby match that was bereft of quality and scoring chances, Liverpool moved above Manchester City and back to within six points of Chelsea, which has won its last 11 matches.

Everton’s struggles in this local rivalry continued — the blue half of Merseyside has been victorious only once in the past 20 meetings — but Liverpool didn’t look like a side on top of the league’s scoring

charts with 40 goals until Mane came to the rescue.

It won’t be a match that lingers long in the memory, except for the dramatic late goal and a shocking challenge by Everton’s Ross Barkley on England teammate Jordan Henderson that could easily have earned him a red card. Instead, it was one of four bookings in a fixture that has produced more red cards — 21 — than any other in the 24-year history of the Premier League.

Continuing their momentum from the 2-1 win over Arsenal at Goodison Park on Tuesday, Everton’s players tore into Liverpool in the frantic opening minutes that were marked by high energy and misplaced passes. Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori set the tone with a powerful early header and the hosts were both stronger in the tackle and first to the ball in a febrile atmosphere.

They didn’t look like scoring, though, and Liverpool had established an element of control by the half-hour mark. Divock Origi

EVERTON’s Gareth Barry leaps over Liverpool’s Sadio Mane after they challenge for the ball yesterday during their English Premier League match at Goodison Park stadium in Liverpool, England. (AP) snatched at a low cross by Nathaniel Clyne in the 37th, screwing his effort wide, and the first half ended with neither side having a shot on target. Liverpool stayed on top after halftime, with Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelen-

burg blocking Roberto Firmino’s attempted lob before hobbling off injured after clashing with teammate Leighton Baines.

An ugly lunge by Barkley on Henderson’s right ankle angered Liverpool’s players and coach-

ing staff, sparking a melee on the field involving most of the players. Finally there was some spice to the match. Sturridge came on for Origi and with one of his first touches, he sent in the shot that led to the winning goal.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Partly sunny

Mainly clear

Partly sunny

Times of clouds and sun

Mostly sunny with a shower in spots

Sunshine and beautiful

High: 83°

Low: 70°

High: 82° Low: 72°

High: 82° Low: 71°

High: 82° Low: 72°

High: 83° Low: 72°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

89° F

70° F

88°-73° F

90°-73° F

87°-73° F

89°-73° F

ORLANDO

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 59° F/15° C

TAMPA

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 62° F/17° 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: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C

6-12 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 82° F/28° C Low: 68° F/20° C

6-12 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 71° F/22° C

N

S

E

W

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 67° F/19° C

MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

7-14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 74° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 79° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 67° F/19° C Last year’s high ................................. 82° F/28° C Last year’s low ................................... 72° F/22° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 49.61” Normal year to date ................................... 39.25”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2016

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

12:32 a.m.

12:48 p.m.

2.4 2.5

6:41 a.m.

7:17 p.m.

0.3 0.0

Wednesday 1:31 a.m.

1:43 p.m.

2.4 2.3

7:42 a.m.

8:10 p.m.

0.4 0.1

Thursday

2:29 a.m.

2:39 p.m.

2.4 2.2

8:43 a.m.

9:01 p.m.

0.5 0.1

Friday

3:23 a.m.

3:32 p.m.

2.4 2.1

9:42 a.m.

9:49 p.m.

0.5 0.1

Saturday

4:13 a.m.

4:23 p.m.

2.5 2.1

10:35 a.m. 0.4 10:34 p.m. 0.0

Sunday

4:59 a.m.

5:09 p.m.

2.6 2.1

11:23 a.m. 0.3 11:18 p.m. -0.1

Monday

5:42 a.m.

5:53 p.m.

2.7 2.1

12:08 p.m. 0.2 11:59 p.m. -0.1

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

N

S

E

W

8-16 knots

S

10-20 knots

ANDROS

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

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

6:50 a.m.

5:25 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

none 12:02 p.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Dec. 20

Dec. 29

Jan. 5

Jan. 12

CAT ISLAND

E

W

uV inDex toDay

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° 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: 77° F/25° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

GREAT INAGUA

L

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

10-20 knots

10-20 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots

WAVES 4-7 Feet 4-8 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 4-7 Feet 4-7 Feet 5-9 Feet 4-7 Feet 4-8 Feet 4-8 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 5-9 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 6-10 Feet 6-10 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles 7 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 76° F 76° F 80° F 80° F 78° F 78° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 83° F 78° F 79° F 79° F 81° F 82° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 77° F 77° F 80° F 80° F 82° F 82° F

PAGE 8, Tuesday, December 20, 2016

THE TRIBUNE