12242018 SPORT

SPORTS SECTION E

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018

NFL

Page 5

Armbrister emerges victorious

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

D

onte Armbrister will cherish his first appearance in the main draw of the Giorgio Baldacci National Open Tennis Tournament.

Despite the controversy surrounding his seeding, he was unfazed as he emerged with his first senior title.

In Saturday’s final at the National Tennis Centre, Armbrister knocked off former Davis Cupper Justin Lunn for a stunning 7-5, 6-7, 6-3 victory.

The 17-year-old Temple Christian Academy head boy joined top junior Sydney Clarke, who clinched the girls’ title over collegian Sierra Donaldson.

“It was a tough match, physically. I know Justin is a tough competitor. He comes out and grinds it out, so I knew I had to come out and be prepared to wait for my opportunities,” Armbrister said.

It didn’t take him long to establish himself in the first set as he broke and held for a 2-0 lead. But Lunn, displaying the grit and tenacity that he’s known for albeit using one hand, went up two breaks and held for a 5-2 lead.

But in the battle of the lefties, Armbrister regained his composure and he rallied back with two breaks of his own and held to serve for the initial lead.

Lunn, a handicapped player born with his right hand shorter than his

DONTE Armbrister (left) and Justin Lunn with their trophies. left, surged ahead on two breaks and held for a 4-1 lead in the second. But

Armbrister dug down deep and got a break for a 4-3 deficit before he held for

a 4-4 tie. They both held serve the rest of the match to force the tiebreaker.

That’s when Lunn pulled through for the equaliser to take the tiebreaker 9-7.

It came down to the critical third and deciding set as both players held serve until Armbrister got the first break to go up 4-2.

They both held serve and then Armbrister got the final break to clinch the game, set and match.

Armbrister, who was originally seeded No.2 in the main draw but gave up his spot after the BLTA changed the draw at the last minute to accommodate some of the players, even though they still didn’t play, said his victory was a bitter-sweet one.

SEE PAGE 4

Sydney Clarke takes home ladies’ title

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net FROM completing the junior ranks as the top player in the country to emerging as the Giorgio Baldacci National open champion, Sydney Clarke could ask for no better way to end 2018.

Having added the International Tennis Federation’s Goombay Splash title in between her local triumphs, Clarke sent a message to her local rivals that she’s going to be a force to reckon with in 2019.

In the final of the Giorgio Baldacci National Open on Saturday at the National Tennis Centre, Clarke easily disposed of collegian Sierra Donaldson

to snatch the ladies’ crown with an emphatic 6-2, 6-3 win. “This one feels better than the last one actually,” Clarke stressed. “This is the end of the year, I closed out strong by winning the title. It’s just a great feeling.”

Clarke, an 18-year-old student at the Albany Academy, played for this one too. She fell behind 2-0 to Donaldson, who got the initial break in the first game.

But Clarke, who advanced to the final with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Perjae Major in the semi-final, kept her composure as she broke Donaldson for a 2-2 tie and did it again to go up 4-2 and to win the first set 6-2.

In the second set, Clarke reversed the start by going

SYDNEY Clarke (left) and Sierra Donaldson with their trophies. up a break 2-0. Donaldson, who earned her berth in the final with her 6-3, 6-1

win over Afrika Smith, got her big break to take a 3-2 deficit.

From there, Clarke managed to step it up with another break for a 4-2 lead and they held serve the rest of the match.

Clarke’s big serve enabled her to close out the game, set and match.

“I played very lacklustre in the match. At times, I was up and down,” Clarke reflected. “I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself because I felt fairly confident. I wasn’t too overconfident, but I was able to be patient, positive and just take my time with my shot.”

Clarke said she felt the intensity coming from Donaldson so she tried to take care of business as quickly as she could.

Her only regret in the

SEE PAGE 4

BAHAMAS BOWL: FIU DEFEATS TOLEDO 35-32 NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — FIU fumbled away the opening kickoff, gave up a touchdown 23 seconds into the game and found itself trailing by double digits by the end of the first quarter.

They needed a comeback.

And Anthony Jones might know more about comebacks than anyone on the FIU roster.

Jones — one of two FIU players who were victims of a drive-by shooting in September — rushed for three touchdowns, including the clincher with 41 seconds remaining as the Panthers topped Toledo 35-32 on Friday in the Bahamas Bowl.

Jones tied a school record with the three scores, and FIU (9-4) set a school record with its ninth win of the season.

“I’m extremely happy for my teammates, these seniors, all my coaches, the support staff at FIU, they were all behind me the whole time,” Jones said.

“I’ve been extremely blessed by the man above.”

Jones and offensive lineman Mershawn Miller were shot in the city of Opalocka, Florida — just north of downtown Miami — on the afternoon of September 6.

The alleged gunman is in custody and is facing two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Miller was hit in the arm; Jones was shot in the back and the bullet exited just under his eye. He lost about 20 pounds in the days

SEE PAGE 4

Buddy and Kings rally to beat the Pelicans 122-117

By MICHAEL WAGAMAN Associated Press SACRAMENTO, California (AP) — Dave Joerger is pretty proud of the way his Kings have been able to generate a few big comeback wins this season.

It’s the early double-digit deficits the Sacramento coach could do without.

Willie Cauley-Stein had 22 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, Buddy Hield scored 28 and the Kings overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the reeling New Orleans Pelicans 122-117 yesterday.

“The identity that we’re never out of a game, we love,” Joerger said. “The identity of starting slow because we’re going to catch you later is not what I’m looking for.

“We’ve got some young bodies, some young minds, and the best is in front of us. But there’s some tired guys in there.”

Sacramento fell behind by 19 in the first half Friday before rallying to beat the Memphis Grizzlies.

By doing the same thing against New Orleans, the Kings became the first team since the 2010 Indiana Pacers to trail by 19 and win in consecutive games.

“We’ve just been fortunate to get stops late,” Cauley-Stein said. “We don’t want to have to battle down 20. We just have to get stops earlier. In the first half of the last couple of games, they get a lot of layups.”

Bogdan Bogdanovic added 24 points, De’Aaron Fox had 19 points and 11 assists, and Iman Shumpert scored 10.

PELICANS guard Frank Jackson (15) passes the ball around Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) in the first half last night.

(AP Photo/Steve Yeater) Anthony Davis had 26 points and 17 rebounds for the Pelicans. Jrue Holiday added 27 points, six assists and seven rebounds.

New Orleans has lost four straight and 12 of 17.

“It’s kind of the same story for us,” Holiday said.

“Between the coaches and the players, we have to get on the same page when it comes down to the last four minutes. In the second half they started making shots.”

Down 105-94 with 7 1/2 minutes left, the Kings scored 14 consecutive points as part of a 19-5 run to take control.

Hield fuelled the comeback with a pair of 3-pointers and a fast-break layup, and Fox made a free throw to put the Kings up 113-110 with 2:03 remaining.

Sacramento pushed its lead to 121-114 before Davis made a 3. After Fox made one of two free throws, Julius Randle scored and appeared to get fouled but the play was overturned on replay.

The Pelicans, who scored a franchise-record 149 points against the Kings when the teams met in the second game of the season in October, got off to another fast start. New Orleans led 32-13 in the first quarter, then withstood a surge by Sacramento in the second to go up 69-58 at halftime.

“We played well over stretches and then we go away from what we’re doing,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. “We stopped moving the basketball and tried to do it ourselves. We’re not capable of doing that.”

NEW YEAR, NEW KINGS With two games left in 2018, the Kings (18-15) are guaranteed of heading into the new year with a winning record for the first time since 2004-05.

“It’s fantastic,” Joerger said. “Guys have put in a lot of work. It’s also a feather in the hat of our organisation and the direction that we’re going.”

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, December 24, 2018, PAGE 3

BLTA’s Giorgio Baldacci National Open Tournament was a success

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net DESPITE the controversy that dampened the integrity of the Giorgio Baldacci National Open Tournament, Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association president Darnette Weir was pleased that they got it completed.

The week-long tournament came to a close on Saturday at the National Tennis Centre with rising junior players Donte Armbrister winning the men’s title over touring pro Justin Lunn and Sydney Clarke securing the ladies’ crown over collegian Sierra Donaldson.

During the presentation ceremony, the BLTA selected Shannon Francis and Perjae Major as the winners of the Giorgio Baldacci male and female sportsmanship awards.

Weir, who came under the attack by some of the players as they took a stance and decided not to play the opening day of the main draw on Wednesday over a dispute in the seeding of the players, said notwithstanding what transpired, the tournament was a success.

The BLTA, however, is left with a dark cloud hanging over its head as the tournament served as a qualifier for the Davis and Fed Cup teams for 2019.

As a result of the dispute, top male players Philip Major Jr, Kevin Major Jr, brothers Baker and Spencer Newman, Kerrie Cartwright and Danielle Thompson didn’t compete in the main draw.

“The board would meet and see how best we can come up with a team for Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams next year,” said Weir

CHAIR umpire Bradley Bain and the ball boys and girls pose above with the winners of the various awards at the Giorgio Baldacci National Open Tournament. INSETS - BLTA first vice president Ceron Rolle presents Shannon Francis’ mom, Barbara, and Perjae Major with their Giorgio Baldacci male and female sportsmanship awards respectively. about the tournament,. which served as the team trials.

“Going forward, we might have to have an invitational or another trials to select the Davis Cup and the Fed Cup teams. We will have to do what is best in the interest of the association and the best interest for the country and all stakeholders, who are the players.”

During a meeting that was held last Wednesday to deal with the dispute and subsequently amend the

draw, Weir said she heard the concerns from the players and assured them the BLTA will make an improvement in the tournament and the selection of the teams. “We will make an official statement on the team selection after the yuletide season,” she said.

“We want everybody to enjoy the season because the true meaning is celebrating Jesus’ birth.

“And so we want to take that time to do just that and then we will come back with a resolution.”

NPBA: Giants close out the regular season undefeated THE Commonwealth Bank Giants closed out the New Providence Basketball Association regular season play for the year as the only undefeated team remaining in the team standings.

As the NPBA played its final games on Friday night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium before they took a break for the Christmas holiday, the Giants knocked off the University of the Bahamas Mingoes 71-68 to remain unblemished on top of the men’s division one play.

Commonwealth Bank’s junior team, the Essential Store Giants, also remained on top of the men’s division II play with their 86-93 triumph over the Basden Elevator Elite and the Triple K Stampers won the other division II game 82-73 over the Caro Contractors Resistance.

Giants 71, Mingoes 68 In what turned out to be a real defensive battle, Michael Bain led two other players in double figures as Commonwealth Bank ended the year with a perfect 6-0 win-loss record.

Bain, in 35 minutes and 18 seconds, lit up the nets for a game high 27 points, connecting on 10-for-12 from the field and 7-for-10 from the three throw line. He also pulled down five rebounds with three assists and two steals.

Jeffrey Henfield came off the bench and contributed 13 points with seven rebounds, two assists and a steal and Jackson Jacob chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Trent Cox helped out with six points and 16 rebounds and D’Shon Taylor added six points, four rebounds and as many steals.

The Mingoes, suffering their second straight loss in as many games on their return from a trip to Florida to compete, got 21 points from Kemsy Sylvester to go along with nine rebounds, eight steals and two assists.

Justin Smith had 18 points and Antwan Bevans finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

Giants 86, Elite 83 Adrian Thompson canned a game high 23 points with 13 rebounds and four assists to keep Your Essential Store tied at 5-1 with the idled Aliv Bucket in the men’s division II play.

Cormardo Seymour helped out with 20 points, 17 rebounds, three assists and a pair of blocked shots.

Cameron Strachan had 12 points and eight rebounds and Herbert Knowles added 11 points and three rebounds.

In a losing effort for the Basden Elevator, who dropped to 3-4, Simar Rolle matched the game high honours with 23 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and as many steals.

Tario McKenzie had 21 points, five assists, three rebounds and two blocked shots and Brandon Ingraham had nine points and five rebounds, while both Glen Wilson Jr and Livigi Forbes

contributed apiece.

seven

Stampers 82, Resistance 73 As Triple K improved to 3-4, Troy Trembly paced four other players in double figures with a game high 21 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks.

Johnley Noel had 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, Michael Turnquest had 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals, Nathaniel Jean came off the bench with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists and Teashon Gibson added nine points, four steals and two rebounds. Caro Contractors, who slipped to 1-6 with the loss, got 18 points and eight rebounds and two steals from Jayson McHardy off the bench. Also coming off the bench was Kamal Murphy with 11 points and five rebounds and Marcian Higgins with 10 points, two rebounds and two blocks.

Anton Hanna, another player off the bench, helped out with nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

TEAM STANDINGS Men’s Division Teams W CB Giants 6 PJ Stingers 6 DD Rockets 6 UB Mingoes 5 JD’s Shockers 3 CC Pirates 2 L Regulators 1 FC Defenders 1 Pros 0

L 0 1 2 2 4 4 5 5 7

Pct 1,000 .857 .750 .714 .428 .333 .166 .166 000

GB – 1/2 1 11/2 31/2 4 5 5 61/2

1 1 2 2 3 4 4 6 6

.833 .833 .666 .666 .571 .428 .428 .142 000

1 1 11/2 21/2 21/2 41/2 5

Men’s Division II YES Giants 5 Aliv Bucket 5 BH Flyers 4 LE Nest 4 SO Rockets 4 BE Elite 3 TK Stampers 3 CC Resistance 1 CC Titans 0

points

Weir said the BLTA has the right to hold another trial if they so desire before the team is selected.

So she said there is the possibility that they would go that route.

But that is a decision that has to be made by the board. In the meantime, Weir said they don’t want to take anything away from the celebrations by Armbrister and Clarke as the new male and female champions.

“It’s a great accomplishment and it teaches all the

players not to discount anybody,” Weir said.

“You don’t know what the player would have been doing since you last played that player.

“Everybody is training and trying to do their best, so it’s rewarding that we have two upcoming juniors and basically we had good quality matches, despite the fact that we didn’t have our top players.”

On a personal note, Weir said she will also bask in the success of her son, Donte, the new men’s champion.

“It’s rewarding after the match is finished and the handshake is done,” said Weir.

She noted that it’s not as nerve wrecking now when she’s watching her play as to when he was a year or two ago.

She noted that she’s matured to handle his success or failure. She added that in this year’s tournament, she has had to endure a lot of ridicule and criticism over his participation, but she didn’t allow it to get to her.

PAGE 4, Monday, December 24, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Nets bounce back, get 111-103 victory over Ayton and Suns

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Deandre Ayton was eating breakfast after a short, sleepless night when the reality of NBA life hit the rookie.

In college, he’d have had a break Sunday.

This is the pros.

“I was talking to the coach, I was like, ‘Yo, we’ve got to do this again,’” he said.

He and the Suns found out just how tough that is with weary legs after playing three overtimes a night earlier.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 24 points, D’Angelo Russell had 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Suns 111-103 on Sunday night.

The Suns, who fell 149146 in Washington a night earlier, dropped their second straight after a fourgame winning streak.

Rookie Rodions Kurucs from Latvia added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets. They bounced back from a loss to Indiana on Friday to win for the eighth time in nine games.

“I still think the defenCe could be better. I think we’re in an OK place, not a great place,” coach Kenny Atkinson said.

Ayton had 26 points and 18 rebounds, shooting 13 of 16 from the field. Devin Booker — who yawned a couple times in the locker room before the game — had 25 points and nine assists a night after playing 55 minutes.

The Suns arrived at their New York hotel after 1:30am and had a short turnaround with the game in Brooklyn tipping at the earlier-than-usual time of 6pm, and knew they faced a tough game.

“It’s the NBA. We understand that,” Booker said. “I’d say a late game going into an early game I don’t quite understand. I think the other way around would make more sense, but I don’t make the schedule. They say computers do, so we’ll just go with that.”

They had a brunch meeting Sunday but coach Igor Kokoskov said they didn’t talk much basketball, feeling the players weren’t ready to think about that.

He said even the players who said they were tired and sore wanted to play. They were a step slow in the first quarter,

giving up 38 points, but steadied themselves in the second and trailed 63-56 at halftime.

It wasn’t close much longer, thanks to Brooklyn making five 3-pointers in the third quarter while Phoenix went 0 for 5.

Ayton’s basket had cut it to two with 8:26 left in the period before Joe Harris and Russell made consecutive 3-pointers, Kurucs made the next two baskets and Jared Dudley made another 3 to cap a 13-0 spurt and give the Nets a 79-64 lead. Russell hit another 3 for the final points of the period, making it 91-74.

“Man, we started making winning plays,” Russell said. “To get separation we had to get stops. It took a lot.”

Phoenix made it look closer by intentionally fouling Ed Davis, who finished with 15 points and nine rebounds but was just 1 for 7 from the line.

FROM PAGE 1

TIP-INS Suns: Phoenix fell to 2-2 on its season-high, five-game trip that ends Wednesday in Orlando. ...

T.J. Warren was just 2 for 11 for four points.

Nets: Harris made three 3-pointers, making him the first player in franchise history to make three or more in 6 straight games. He scored 13 points. ... Atkinson said he expects G Allen Crabbe (sore right knee) back soon after Christmas.

NO SLEEP IN BROOKLYN Kokoskov downplayed the impact the Suns’ late bedtime would have.

“Well, I’ve been up for the wrong reasons so many times,” he joked.

As for the players?

“No, it doesn’t affect,” the native of Serbia said.

“It’s a new generation, they’re good. They play video stations all night long.”

ALL’S FINE Atkinson said he preferred to move forward rather than say much about the $25,000 fine he was given by the NBA on Saturday for verbally abusing game officials and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection late in Friday’s game.

He had he had spoken with Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations, and understood the explanation.

PHOENIX Suns’ Deandre Ayton (22) shoots over Brooklyn Nets’ Jarrett Allen during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in New York.

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) “The referees, and I really mean this, I think they do a fantastic job and that’s throughout the league,” Atkinson said. “And I think I make

mistakes, they make mistakes, and my focus needs to be on our players and making the adjustments that’s going to help us pull out a game.”

UP NEXT Suns: Visit Orlando on Wednesday.

Nets: Host Charlotte on Wednesday.

Sydney Clarke takes home ladies’ title FROM PAGE 1 tournament was that she didn’t get to face either Kerrie Cartwright or Danielle Gibson, both of whom pulled out of the main draw over a dispute in the seeding of players.

“It was kind of sad that I didn’t get to play them, but hopefully next year I will because my goal was to beat one of the top players to really prove where my game is right now,” Clarke said.

“Not playing any of them kind of brought my game down a little.

I knew if they were there, they would have pushed me and made me work that much harder.”

Clarke said she is going to enjoy this moment and celebrate it with her parents, Bernard and Shavonne Clarke, who have been there pushing her along every step of the way.

As for Donaldson, the 18-yearold freshman at Lee University, she felt she gave it her best shot, but it wasn’t enough to enable

her to get past the best Bahamian female player right now.

“I felt it was a good match. I felt I competed very well,” Donaldson said.

“Sydney played much better, but I thank her because she is making my game that much better.

“I still have some more things to improve, but overall it was a great match. I just need to work more on my forehand and my movement to get in certain places so that I can be able to hit the

ball. She took advantage of those weaknesses that I had.”

Like everybody else, Donaldson said the withdrawal of some of the top players from the main draw had an effect on the rest of the tournament.

“There were some issues with the tournament and it did affect me mentally, but I had to put it aside and focus on myself as I continued on,” she pointed out.

“I just want to go back to school and improve on my game,” added Donaldson.

BLTA Nationals: Donte Armbrister wins FROM PAGE 1 “Being a junior player, I was a bit disappointed in the senior players because they were acting a bit childish. They had a problem with the draw and me and Sydney Clarke gave up our number two spots so that they can play,” he said.

“But that wasn’t enough because they still didn’t play. So when I went on the court, I really didn’t think about it. I just went out there to win and to prove a point. It feels good to win the tournament.”

He thanked God for the opportunity to play, his

mother, BLTA president Darnette Weir, his aunt Esther Newton, coach Ceron Rolle and his father, Trevor Armbrister for spotting him.

The day before, Armbrister advanced to the final with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Jacobi Bain, one of his long-time rivals in the junior ranks.

“That’s the second time I played him for the year. We haven’t played that much until they met in June, so I knew it was going to be a tough match,” Armbrister said.

“He (Bain) had a lot of momentum coming into the match.

BAHAMAS BOWL: FIU DEFEATS TOLEDO 35-32

“He won an international tournament and got to the final of Eddie Herr tournament in Florida and he beat Marvin (Rolle) and Jodi (Turnquest), so I just had to go into the match and follow my plans to come out with the win.”

For Lunn, who advanced during the controversial draw with a 6-2, 7-6 (4) win over Shannon Francis in the semi-final, admitted that he didn’t play his best tennis and Armbrister capitalised on it.

“It was kind of rough for me. At the beginning, I started to play good and then my focus started to drop off,” he pointed out.

“That’s when he started to take advantage of it.

“He played good. He did what he came to do. I should have done what I came to do, but he gave me a wake up call to do what I have to or else he is going to beat me.”

Despite some of the top players like Kevin Major Jr, Philip Major Jr and Baker and Spencer Newman all not completing the tournament over the dispute with the seeding, Lunn said he decided to play on because he needed to get in the local matches.

“As the tournament went on, I started to play better. I started to

improve,” Lunn said. “I think in the final, I went for a little too much. He made me hit an extra ball, which tennis is all about and he did it.

“Today was his day. Everybody has to have their day some time,” Lunn added.

After spending Christmas day with his family, Lunn said he will return to Florida to continue his training and will wait to hear about the BLTA’s decision on who will be playing Davis Cup net year.

Both he and Armbrister are hoping that their names are called as a result of reaching the final.

afterward, during which he was fed by tube. “This is a gift from God,” FIU coach Butch Davis said.

Eli Peters had three touchdown passes and threw for 264 yards for Toledo (7-6), which fell in a bowl game for the third consecutive year. Jon’Vea Johnson had two of those TD grabs, and Diontae Johnson had six catches for 98 yards and a score for the Rockets.

It was FIU’s second bowl victory. The other came in 2010 — also against Toledo.

“It’s been an up and down year,” Toledo coach Jason Candle said. “It has had its highlights, and its moments where we weren’t so good. Consistency is everything in college football. ... You have to be really consistent, really good at what you do for the long haul and there were times this year that we didn’t handle that so well.”

Jones scored on runs of 6, 30 and 18 yards for the Panthers. Sterling Palmer caught a touchdown pass and Maurice Alexander rushed for another score for FIU. Christian Alexander completed 17 of 26 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown for FIU. The Panthers got a huge fourthdown conversion on a pass hauled in by Tony Gaiter IV with 2:40 remaining, the biggest play in a drive where Jones capped the win with his final TD run — the 18-yarder that sealed the win.

FIU played without starting quarterback James Morgan, who has an arm injury. Morgan completed 65 per cent of his passes for 2,727 yards and 26 touchdowns in the regular season. FIU also didn’t have running back Shawndarrius Phillips, who was left home after a domestic battery charge stemming from a June case became known this month.

And yet, the Panthers had more than enough.

They got on the board when Jones got his first rushing score of the day early in the second quarter, took a 14-10 lead into the half and grabbed the lead for good on Jones’ 30-yard run with 3:47 left in the third quarter.

“We just played as a team today, man,” Jones said. “Our coaches did a great job preparing us for this bowl game. Hats off to Toledo, but we did a great job today. We made history today.”

BIG PICTURE Toledo: The Rockets scored with two seconds remaining in the game on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Peters to Jon’Vea Johnson, a play where the clock originally ran down to zero before some time was added. The Rockets then tried an onside kick, which FIU linebacker Sage Lewis recovered.

FIU: Jones became the sixth player to rush for three touchdowns in a game for FIU, and the first since Kedrick Rhodes did it in a loss to Louisiana in 2011.

ROCKET OFFENCE Toledo finished the year with 525 points, the second most in school history. The Rockets scored 549 points in 2011, and this season’s total was 16 better than the 509 they posted last season.

UP NEXT Toledo: Opens next season on August 31, 2019 at Kentucky.

FIU: Opens next season on August 31, 2019 at Tulane.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, December 24, 2018, PAGE 5

SEAHAWKS OUTLAST CHIEFS 38-31, CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH

PHILADELPHIA Eagles’ Nick Foles celebrates as he runs off the field after Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans in Philadelphia.

SEATTLE (AP) — Russell Wilson threw a 2-yard pass to Ed Dickson with 7:31 left for his third touchdown strike, Chris Carson rushed for two scores, and the Seattle Seahawks clinched an NFC wild-card berth with a 38-31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last night.

Wilson got the better of Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and helped lead Seattle back to the postseason after missing the playoffs a year ago. Seattle’s now made the playoffs in seven of the nine seasons with Pete Carroll in charge, and six of seven with Wilson at quarterback.

The Seahawks (9-6) can wrap up the No. 5 seed and a matchup with Dallas by beating Arizona in Week 17.

Wilson was 18 of 29 for 271 yards, and the No. 1 running team in the NFL put the game on the arm of its quarterback in the fourth quarter. Leading 31-28, Wilson hit David

Moore for 7 yards to convert a key third-down and after Kansas City used its first timeout with 3:04 left.

He followed with a 45-yard strike to Tyler Lockett, and Doug Baldwin added a onehanded catch for 29 yards to the Chiefs 1. Carson capped the decisive drive with his second TD run with 2:29 left gave Seattle a 38-28 lead.

Carson rushed for 116 yards, while Baldwin had seven catches for 126 yards and an acrobatic 27-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.

Mahomes had a few of his own magical moments that will enhance his MVP candidacy.

But for the second straight week the Chiefs (11-4) were unable to come through with a victory that would have wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC and will go into Week 17 with the chance of being division champs for find themselves on the road for the opening weekend of the postseason.

Eagles, behind Foles, stay alive in NFC playoff race PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jake Elliott kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Houston Texans 32-30 yesterday to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (8-7) need a win at Washington (7-8) next week and for Minnesota (8-6-1) to lose or tie or Seattle (8-6) to lose twice or lose once and tie to get a wild-card berth.

The Texans (10-5) missed an opportunity to clinch the AFC South and also allowed New England (10-5) to take control of the No. 2 seed in the conference. The Texans would secure the division title with a victory against Jacksonville next week. They’d get a first-round bye with a win and if the Patriots lose or tie.

Filling in for the injured Carson Wentz for the second straight week, Nick Foles again played like the Super Bowl MVP who led Philadelphia to a victory over New England.

Foles threw for a franchiserecord 471 yards and four touchdowns.

Deshaun Watson had two TD passes and ran for two scores.

Watson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Vyncint Smith with 2:04 remaining as Houston rallied from a 13-point deficit.

But Foles brought Philadelphia back into position for the win.

Foles was injured on a late hit by Jadeveon Clowney while completing a 19-yard pass to Alshon Jeffery to the Texans 30 on third-and-10. Nate Sudfeld came in and threw an incomplete pass, but Foles returned on the next play.

His 20-yard pass to Zach Ertz on third-and-10 put Philadelphia at the Houston 35.

The Eagles ran the clock down and Elliott made the kick to make up for missing an extra point earlier in the quarter.

PATRIOTS 24, BILLS 12 FOXBOROUGH, Mass.

(AP) — The Patriots earned their 10th straight AFC East title with Sony Michel running for 116 yards and a touchdown.

With the Eagles win over the Texans, the Patriots are back in the No. 2 spot in the AFC. A Patriots win over the Jets next week would give New England a firstround bye in the playoffs.

New England (10-5) improved to 7-0 at home this season and became the first franchise in NFL history to earn playoff berths in 10 straight seasons. It also marked the Patriots’

fifth straight win over the Bills and their 26th series sweep of Buffalo (5-10).

Brady went 13 of 24 for 126 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions — his lowest output since he passed for 123 yards in a 2003 loss to the Bills. But with the touchdown he joined Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers with at least 10 seasons of 4,000-plus passing yards. Manning has 14 such seasons, Brees entered the day with 12 and Rivers has 10.

It was Michel’s fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season.

COWBOYS 27, BUCCANEERES 20 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Cowboys wrapped up the NFC East title when Dak Prescott accounted for two touchdowns and Jaylon Smith returned a fumble 69 yards for a score.

Smith’s long return came after a scrambling Jameis Winston lost the ball on a blind-side sack by Randy Gregory, who also recovered a fumble to set up a touchdown for a 14-point lead late in the third quarter.

The Cowboys (9-6) clinched the division title and their second trip to the playoffs in three years with Prescott and star running back Ezekiel Elliott a week after failing in their first chance with their first shutout loss in 15 years, 23-0 at Indianapolis.

Winston threw for 336 yards in another prolific passing game for the Buccaneers (5-10), who outgained the Cowboys 383-232 but hurt themselves with turnovers and holding penalties.

Tampa Bay’s third straight loss clinched the franchise’s fifth season of at least 10 losses in the past six years, a week after the Bucs were eliminated from postseason contention.

COLTS 28, GIANTS 27 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Luck hooked up with Chester Rogers for a 1-yard TD pass with 55 seconds left to give the Colts their only lead of the game.

Indy (9-6) has won eight of nine to keep itself in the playoff hunt heading into the regular-season finale at Tennessee.

The Colts, who won their last six home games after starting 0-2, would win the AFC South with a victory over the Titans and a loss by the Houston Texans.

Indianapolis would also earn a wild card if it beats Tennessee and Baltimore loses.

The Giants (5-10) lost their second straight — on

PHILADELPHIA Eagles’ Jake Elliott, left, and Golden Tate celebrate after Elliott kicked the gamewinning field goal against the Houston Texans yesterday in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 32-30.

(AP Photos/Matt Rourke) a day they committed too many late miscues.

After driving to the Colts’ 7-yard line early in the fourth quarter, New York wound up settling for a 27-yard field goal that kept it a one-possession game at 27-21.

On the final drive, linebacker Tae Davis was called for pass interference on third-and-3 and cornerback B.W. Webb was called for it in the end zone. Eventually, Luck made the Giants pay with the easy score to Rogers.

VIKINGS 27, LIONS 9 DETROIT (AP) — Kirk Cousins threw a 44-yard Hail Mary to Kyle Rudolph as time expired in the first half to put the Vikings ahead, moving a step closer to playing in the postseason.

The Vikings could have clinched a spot in the playoffs with a win and losses

by Washington and Philadelphia this weekend. The Redskins lost to Tennessee on Saturday, and shortly after Minnesota walked into its locker room at Ford Field, the Eagles beat Houston on a game-ending field goal.

Minnesota (8-6-1) can still earn a spot in the postseason by closing the regular season with a win against NFC North winner Chicago at home, or by having wild-card hopefuls lose in Week 17.

The Vikings overcame an awful start offensively, scoring two touchdowns on Cousins’ passes over the last 1:32 of the second quarter, and relied on

their defence all afternoon against Detroit (5-10).

JAGUARS 17, DOLPHINS 7 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Blake Bortles came off the bench late in the third quarter with the score tied and provided a spark, helping the Jaguars eliminate the Dolphins from the AFC playoff race.

Bortles took the Jaguars 51 yards for a short field goal and 10-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. On the next series, Telvin Smith Sr. intercepted Ryan Tannehill’s pass and scored on a 33-yard return.

The Dolphins (7-8) will sit out the playoffs for the 15th time in the past 17 years, and they’ll finish at .500 or worse for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons.

The Jaguars (5-10) won for only the second time in the past 11 games.

Kessler bruised his throwing shoulder when hit as he threw a pass and left the game late in the first half. He returned to start the third quarter, but after being sacked for a fifth time was replaced again late in the period by Bortles.

Bortles finished 5 of 6 for 39 yards. The third overall pick in the 2014 draft, he lost the starting job to Kessler in Week 13.

BROWNS 26, BENGALS 18 CLEVELAND (AP) — Baker Mayfield threw three touchdown passes to thrill a sellout, holiday-spirited crowd that came out to boo former Cleveland coach Hue Jackson.

Mayfield continued his stellar rookie season, one that took off after Jackson was fired by the Browns on October 29. Mayfield’s 24 TD passes are the third most in NFL history by a rookie, trailing only Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson, who both had 26.

With their fifth win in six games, the Browns (7-71) improved to 5-2 under interim coach Gregg Williams, who has gone from long shot to legitimate candidate to become Cleveland’s next coach. It’s only the second time since 2007 the Browns have won at least seven games.

The Bengals (6-9), on the other hand, are disintegrating under coach Marvin Lewis. They lost for the sixth time in seven games and are assured of finishing last in the AFC North, a spot the Browns have occupied every season since 2011.

Cincinnati made it interesting as Jeff Driskel threw two TD passes in a twominute stretch to get the Bengals close.

However, Mayfield connected with tight end David Njoku for 66 yards and the Browns ran out the clock.

Following the long play, Mayfield jogged backward and stared in the direction of Cincinnati’s bench and presumably at Jackson, whom he called “fake” following their matchup last month in Cincinnati.

PACKERS 44, JETS 38, OT EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers threw a 16-yard

touchdown pass to Davante Adams with 6:23 left in overtime. The victory was the Packers’ first on the road this season — snapping a nine-game skid away from Lambeau Field dating to last season — and it prevented them from becoming the first Green Bay squad since 1958 to go an entire season without a win away from home.

And this one was all on Rodgers, who was masterful in the fourth quarter and the overtime period for the Packers (6-8-1). He threw for 442 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for two scores.

The loss for the Jets (4-11) overshadowed a dazzling performance by rookie quarterback Sam Darnold, who threw for a career-high 341 yards with three touchdowns — but never got a chance with the ball in overtime. It was likely the final home game for coach Todd Bowles, who is expected to be fired after next week’s game at New England.

The Jets were done in by penalties, getting called for a whopping 16 that cost them 172 yards. Bowles was critical of the officiating crew, saying some of the calls against New York shouldn’t have happened.

FALCONS 24, PANTHERS 10 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Matt Ryan threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns, and the Falcons handed the Panthers their seventh straight loss.

Ryan found Calvin Ridley for a 75-yard touchdown strike on the first play of the second half for the go-ahead score. He also connected with Mohamed Sanu on a crossing route for a 44-yard score and threw a 1-yard TD pass to Julio Jones in the back of the end zone.

Ridley had three catches for 90 yards and Sanu had five grabs for 81 yards for the Falcons (6-9). Brian Hill had 115 yards on eight carries.

The Falcons intercepted Taylor Heinicke three times and forced four turnovers after allowing a touchdown on the game’s opening possession. Heinicke, making his first NFL start for the injured Cam Newton, left briefly in the second quarter with a left elbow injury, but returned and was hit repeatedly by the Falcons.

He finished 33 of 53 for 274 yards with one touchdown.

Christian McCaffrey had 21 rushes for 101 yards and 12 receptions for 77 yards for Carolina (6-9) and set an NFL record for receptions in a season (106) by a running back.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, December 24, 2018, PAGE 7

7TH ANNUAL QUENTIN HALL CHRISTMAS BASKETBALL CLASSIC WAS A BLAST THE 7th annual Quentin ‘3 Ounce” Hall Christmas Basketball Classic was held in Grand Bahama over the weekend.

In the mini division, the Netbreakers won the title with a 24-23 decision over the Tabernacle Baptist Falcons.

Prince Weatley scored nine points and was named the most valuable player.

Mark Hanna was selected as the coach of the tournament in that division.

In the super mini division, the Tabernacle Falcons got revenge as they turned back the Netbreakers 31-24 behind Jarrett Hall’s 15 points that earned him the MVP honours.

Quincy Gray was named the coach of the year in that division.

And in the junior division, the Supreme Ballers from New Providence won the title as Tyrese Porter scored nine points to pick up the MVP honours.

Duery Edgecombe was named the coach of the tournament in the latter division.

THE Tabernacle Baptist Falcons display their Super Mini 13-14 championship awards.

Tournament organiser Quentin ‘3 Ounce’ Hall said the tournament was another tremendous success

with teams from New Providence and San Salvador participating along with the teams from Grand Bahama.

“It went well. It was good to see that we have so many young men who are interested in playing the game,”

said Hall, one of the country’s premier point guards who became a national coach.

Hall said it’s his intention to introduce a female element to the tournament next year.