Bahamas News

The Hugh Campbell Basketball Tournament entered day five on Friday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium with more than a half dozen eliminations games on the schedule and the defending Champions C.C. Sweeting Cobras took on the Queen’s College Comets during the afternoon session with both teams facing elimination.

It was the struggling champions that scaved off defeat against the Comets, 49-34. The victory gave the Cobras new life. They will advance to the next round where they will meet the winner of the Telios Academy and Temple Christian who will play on Saturday morning.

For the Cobras, Dwight Rolle led with a game high 15 points. His teammate Gabi Laurent contributed 12 points. Nathaniel Carter and Eleazor Johnson settled with 9 points each in the loss.

The Cobras attacked early and stifled the Comets with tough hardnosed defense in the first quarter and they took and early 14-6 edge.

By the end of the first half the Cobras had increased their lead to 26-12, as they continued to play strong defense and pressured the Comets forcing them into multiple turnovers.

In the second half of the game, the Comets showed signs of life. Their offense came to life as a result of a trapping defense that began to affect the play of the Cobras, at one point forcing the champions into a shot clock violation.

The Comets picked up the majority of their points at the free throw line. The Cobras committed six team fouls in 45 seconds in the fourth quarter, which gave the Comets many opportunities to score without the game clocking running and it gave them a chance at the upset, but it was not meant to be.

During Friday’s morning session, another three teams were eliminated in addition to the four from Thursday’s evening session. Those teams eliminated on Friday morning included the S.C. Bootle Dolphins, South Andros High Cheetahs, and the Bimini All Age School.

In the feature game of the morning session, the Clement Howell Eagles out of the Turks and Caicos Islands took on South Andros.

In the first half, the Eagles played a strong defense breaking down the offense of the Cheetahs and forcing them to commit turnovers.

Down by 15 points, the Cheetahs made a charge in the third quarter, and shut down the scoring attack of the Eagles forcing a tie at 35 all.

In the fourth quarter the game was close, as both teams traded baskets. With two minutes left in regulation the score was tied 52-52. The Eagles added an additional five points to bring the score to 57-52.

The Cheetahs however forced the Eagles to commit two turnovers in the last 59 seconds allowing them to hit a three pointer and a lay up to tie the game once again at 57-57 with 25.8 seconds on the clock. The game was forced into overtime and both defenses stood tall in the final seconds.

In the overtime period, the Eagles dominated with more of their pressure defense which forced the Cheetahs turnovers. In addition the Cheetahs missed valuable free throws which resulted in them not being able to force a second overtime, and they lost 63-60.

Eagles Steve Bras scored 21 points, his teammate Krishna Penn dropped in 15, while the Cheetah Shemeko Greene had a game high 29 points in the loss. His teammate Travis Sands contributed with 14 points.

In the first elimination game of the day during the morning session, the Comets took on Bimini All-Age handing them a defeating 45-44.

The team from Bimini played a very good defensively and although they struggled offensively they were in a position to win the game but their strong defense began to fall apart down the stretch and suffered defeat and elimination.

In the second game of the morning session, the Harbour Island Panthers defeated the S.C. Bootle Dolphins, 48-34.

For the Dolphins this was their second loss of the tournament. They were beaten on Thursday by the Tabernacle Baptist Falcons.

The Dolphins did secured one victory in the tournament. They defeated the Bishop Michael Eldon Warriors.

Rolando Davis led the winning Panthers eight points with his teammate Robert Knowles contributing seven points.

In the loss the Dolphins Oryshawn Rolle had a game high 12 points with his team mates Rashad Moxey and Edward Burrows contributing eight.

Source: Bahama Journal

The Bahamas Swimming Federation continued on the road to the Carifta Games with five athletes attaining the required standards during the Swift Swim Club Classic on Saturday past at the Betty Kenning Kelly Aquatic Complex.

Berchadette Moss, representing the Dolphin Swim Club, went under the Carifta mark of 35.09 seconds in the girls 11-12 50 metres butterfly, winning the race 34.18 seconds.

In the girls 13-14 50 metres butterfly, Bria Deveaux from the Barracuda Swim Club won the event in 33.01 seconds while Shaunte Moss of Swift placed second in 33.44 seconds, both girls dipping below the Carifta mark of 33.63 seconds. On the boys’ side, T’Auren Moss of the Sea Bees, won 400 metres freestyle in 5:12.36 seconds to dip below the Carifta mark of 5:15.49 seconds.

Mancer Roberts and Matthew Lowe, both from the Barracuda Swim Club qualified undere the Carifta mark of 4:52.89 seconds in the 13-14 boys 400 metres freestyle.

Roberts won the event in 4:49.44 seconds while Lowe settled for second place in 4:52.08 seconds.

Source: Bahama Journal

The Government All for One Regatta came to an end on Sunday at Montague Bay with the Red Stripe winning the A-Class while Cobra took the B-Class and Chris Sands won the Optimist event. On, Saturday Irene Goodnight clinched the C-Class title.

On Monday night at the Ministry of Youth and Sports the awards presentation took place, resulting on smiles from the winners and the runner-ups as they collected their earnings. Minister of State for Youth and Sports, Hon. Byran Woodside said he is extremely please with the overall performance of the organizing committee in making the regatta successful.

“The Ministry placed the theme on this ‘All For One Regatta’ season, “Sailing 2008- Strengthened, Fortified and Unified.” Those are some serious words”, said Woodside. “The Bahamian people have strengthened up to go forward in making this regatta season the most successful one ever seen.

“They are fortified in going forward with no looking back and being unified coming together as untied they stand. Divided they fall.

“With the Farmers Cay Exuma Regatta coming up, I am expecting the participation of many skippers and the Bahamian people. Then we move on to Long Island, Cat Island and Acklins,” said Woodside. The Red Stripe owned by Sheldon Gibson and skippered by Lundy Robinson took home the top prize of $2,000.00 in the A-Class with the Bahamar Boat of the Year Good News placing second and garnering $1,700.00. Pieces of Eight placed third for $1,400.00 and the Ana Nicole rounded out in fourth and got $1,100.00. Gibson said this time he sat back and allowed the younger guys to take command of the boat and they were indeed successful.

“This is the first time I really had the chance to see the Red Stripe sailing and she looked beautiful on the water. “Red Stripe will sail at the “Catch Me If You Can Regatta” slated for February and we are again looking for success there. “Red Stripe, having already won Boat of the Year before, was out of action last year so we concentrated on the Silent Partner. This year is different and we will win”, said Gibson.

Lee Armstrong skipper of the 2007 Boat of the Year, the Good News, said the race was successful on Sunday and he is quite confident that there will be success at the end of the year.

“The Red Stripe got a better start on us on Sunday and because of the weather we only sailed one race, giving them the victory but come “Catch Me If You Can Regatta” the results will be a lot different” said Armstrong
In the B- Class the Cobra took the top prize of $1,700.00, with the Eudeva placing second for $1,400.00, the Ant’s Nest third and winning $1,100.00 and Ansbacher Queen fourth for $800.00.

Cobra owner Dwanye Higgins said the races went “okay in their favor on Saturday” as they were able to pull of two first places. On Sunday they ran into some difficulties and finished third, but still took the overall prize.
“I was extremely happy to have my father Jacob Higgins out there to watch the boat sail as he has always been there to give us pointers and good ideas as to what needs to happen.

“We are planning on having a very positive and productive season. We are heading into George Town to bring the championship back and from there we will compete in all of the regattas” said Higgins
He said with this being the first points producer for Boat of the Year, he believes the Cobra can continue on the right track and win although the B-Class is a very competitive.

The Optimist boats headed by Jimmy Lowe also got in some action during the Regatta as a part of their youth development programme.

Chris Sands won with Michael Gibson and Bruce Hall taking second and third respectively.

Source: Bahama Journal

Young Phillip Major boosted the Bahamas’ junior tennis image recently by capturing an important event in the Casely International Camps at Florida International University.

Major won the Boys’12 Series No. 10 by beating Canadian Mckenzie Sterns in the final 6-2-, 6-0.

The Bahamian advanced to the final by winning his first round match and then powering through to the final. Japan’s Ryota Tanuma (6-1, 6-1) and Israeli Aderlin Dav (6-1, 6-4) were his respective victims.

The accomplishment by Major is testimony to the depth of young players in the country’s talent pool. Regularly, Bahamian players are doing well on the Florida circuit.

The Casely format entailed 11 consecutive 2-3 day competition camps with a player playing possibly two matches in a day. As indicated by Major’s opponents, the field is made up of lots of internationals. Also the top nations from the United States are always in the mix.

The Casely International Training/competition Package includes non-boarders, boarding groups and individuals. The fee includes registration, five days of training (two hours per day), airport pick-up and drop-off, shared rooms, meals and transportation.

Source: Bahama Journal

Sports mentor and former Olympic medallist Frank Rutherford on Monday told the Bahama Journal he was “very happy” for another of his Bahamian recruits who has ended up in a major basketball college programme.

He spoke of the ex-Doris Johnson High School star Dwight Miller who has signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Pittsburgh. After visiting a “goodly Number” of interested institution, Ruther said it was decided to finally settle on Pitsburgh.

Miller accordingly gave a commitment to be a part of the Panthers. He is the latest in the string of Bahamian recruits by Rutherford who have gone on to seize opportunities on the collegiate and professional level.

Ranked in the top 100 on the United States’ high school chart, Miller, at 6-8 and 220 pounds is in his senior year at St. Pius High in Houston. St. Pius is the defending state champion and on the squad is another Bahamian, Probese Leo.

The University of Pittsburgh competes in the noted Big East Conference and is considered one of the top basketball colleges in the nation. They have gone to the round of 16 in the prestigious National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) four out of the last seasons.

Rutherford says his expectations are high on Miller.

“I expect that barring injury he will develop into a top college forward,” said Rutherford, a triple jump bronze medallist for The Bahamas, at the 1992 Olympic Games.

Source: Bahama Journal

The Bahamas Softball Federation will host its 2007 National Championship this weekend beginning on Thursday October 18th to Sunday October 21st at the Blue Hills Sporting Complex.

Championship teams from Andros, Long Island, Eleuthera, Abaco, Grand Bahama, New Providence will slug it out for the national fast pitch crown.

The weekend of the 2006 men’s nationals held in Eleuthera was marred by relentless rainstorms, but through it all Eleuthera defeated New Providence for the title.

The women’s tournament was held in Grand Bahama and was also hampered by heavy continuous rain, however, the women were not able to complete the tournament that saw Grand Bahama’s Triple Play Pearls and the New Providence based Electro Telecom Wildcats reach the final. The National title was eventually awarded to the Wildcats.

The federation, coaches and players are hoping for much better weather this year. Friday’s weather is predicted to be perfect with partly sunny skies and winds up to 14 km/h.

On Saturday the forecast reads clouds and sun with possible thunderstorms, and on Sunday the things are expected to improve with a mixed bag of sun and clouds with winds up to 12 km/h.

The defending men’s national champions are from Savannah Sound, Eleuthera. On the women’s side a national championship was supposed to be decided between the Electro Telecom Wildcats and the Grand Bahamian champions, the Triple Play Pearls

The 2007 tournament robin is being held in honour of Arthur Thompson a member of the International Softball Hall of Fame. He is also the rules interpreter for the local federation and he is an internationally certified softball instructor.

Thompson will share his honour with Beulah Kelley, a long time veteran pitcher with the women’s national team.

According to the Tournament Director, Burkette Dorsett, the tournament will take the format that is used in international play, which allows the top four teams from the men and ladies division to play in a sudden championship series the same week.

The round robin portion of the tournament will end on the morning of Saturday October 20. The Sudden death round would begin on Saturday.

Some of the teams that will compete at the Nationals include the D’s Truckers who defeated the New Breed for the New Providence men’s title.

After both the men and women’s championship series in the Grand Bahama Amateur Softball Association became entangled in a controversy, the BSF stepped in and determined that the BTC Rockets men and women’s teams would represent Grand Bahama at the Nationals.

The BTC Lady Rockets were leading The Bahamasair Flyers in their best of seven series three games to two, while the Bommer George Swingers trailed the BTC men’s squad three games to none after they refused to play because one of their coaches was “unfairly” suspended for three games.

Source: Bahama Journal

At 31, she has accomplished a lot within the grouping of the fabulous Golden Girls and also on her very own merit in both the 100 metres and 200 metres. Respected more for her prowess over the half lap, she has also been quite outstanding in the century. Her anchor leg on the 2000 relay gold medal team will forever be etched in our memories.

Ever since her bronze medal achievement at the Athens Olympics in 2004 she has struggled however.
There have been layoffs due to injuries and surgeries, the difficult journeys along the rehabilitation trail, and this year an annoying bout with chicken pox.

At the World Championships in Osaka, normally a given for her, Ferguson failed to make the finals in any of the short sprints. Nevertheless, she continued to battle though, with the World Athletics final as her target.
The resilient one showed some signs of a late return to form when she ran 23.07 in the race prior to the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany this past Saturday and Sunday.

The Athletics Final’s women’s 200 metres list was as talented as the World Championships. Americans Lauryn Williams, LaShauntea Moore and Stephanie Durst were there. So were France’s Muriel Hurtis-Houairi, Belgium’s veteran Kim Gevaert, Great Britain’s Joice Naduaka and Jamaica’s Sheri-Ann Brooks.

Given the problems she has had during the latter part of the season, Ferguson was not considered a favourite.
But, she has always been a rock of confidence and pulled out a 22.74 performance, her highlight effort for the year given the glamour of the Athletics Final. (Only a 22.49 clocking way back in February has been better).

On Saturday, the mainrace was between Ferguson and the French lady. She settled for second, but Ferguson’s feat gave her a solid mental approach for the 2008 season.

It was another high water mark in a glorious career for ’she’ of the wonderful demeanor.
Her bubbling personality has endeared her to many around the world, track and field folks and others. Debbie is most deserving of that exciting climax to 2007. She has filled Bahamians with pride many times.

Apart from her significant role as a Golden Girl, and the courageous run to bronze in Athens, there was her great display in Manchester, England during the year 2002 at the Commonwealth Games.

There she wrote a spectacular page in Commonwealth history by doubling up in the 100 and 200 metres and being a part of the last taste of relay glory for the Golden Girls.

She surely has persevered.

We salute this Golden Girl and wish her the best for 2008 and beyond.

If you think you’re the best at shooting pool, the Nassau Valley Eight-Ball Association (NVEA) has scheduled an event just for you.

The NVEA will host the first Best-Of-The-Best Pool Tournament beginning 11am at the family friendly Mecca Grand Lodge next to British American Insurance on the Independence Highway.

The tournament was initially scheduled to be held at the Kendal Isaacs Gym.

The event will feature competition in a number of categories for men and women.

“Quite a number of the people who have already registered are unknown in the local pool arena. They are ready and excited about the competition and are looking to upset a few of the local regulars who believe they can play,” said NVEA President, Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday.

The drawing will be held at Millie’s Place, East Bay Street at 9 pm this evening (Friday September 14).

“Absolutely no one would be able shoot once the drawing begins. Additionally, the prize money is still not finalized because it is still growing, but I think the winners will be more than pleased to have participated in this historic event,” said Lightfoot.

She said, “It is my hope that from this event we will be able to attract additional talent to the association and in particular to encourage more women to play this upcoming season.”

The 2007/2008 season begins on October 1. The deadline to get teams registered for the new season is September 27.

Local pool legends like Grand Master James Lockhart Sr., and Master Sweet Boy who have taken the game of pool to new levels in The Bahamas are scheduled to participate.

NVEA Vice President Michael Demeritte said, “We have some real good players in New Providence, but we have seen some new faces that have been shooting well and I’m sure some of the younger players are prepared to try and knock off the best-of-the-best. So we are expecting an exciting tournament with lots of highlights. So if you think you can shoot, be there.”

Additionally he said, “We would also like to invite players to bring their family and friends to support them, and spectators are more than welcomed to join in the fun.”

Source: Bahama Journal

The International Associations of Athletics Federations World Athletics Tour 2007 is nearing its conclusion. Track and field fans around the world can start to look forward to an exciting climax of the season at the 5th edition of the IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final, which is taking place in Stuttgart, Germany, on September 22-23.

After the last World Athletics Tour meeting of the season in Berlin, Germany on the 16th of September this year, the seven top athletes in each event and the top 11 athletes for races of 1500m and over who have the highest number of points from their best five results (four for throws) - will qualify automatically for the World Athletics Final.

Two Bahamians who have already been guaranteed a spot in the final are World Champion high jumper Donald Thomas and 100m silver medallist Derrick Atkins.

And although she did not have a great season, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie has shown that she can still compete with the best in the world, as she is ranked fifth in the point standings in the finale of the 200m.

However, with only the September 16th event left in Germany on the schedule, Ferguson McKenzie finds herself in a three-way tie for fifth with Jamaicans Veronica Campbell and Sheri-Anne Brooks each with 27 points.

Cydonie Mothersil is hot on their heals with a total 26 points. So if Mothersil defeats any of the three ladies who are tied on the 16th, she may very well finish in the top seven. The eighth lane is used for the athlete who will receive the wildcard entry. American Rachelle Boone-Smith is ranked number one in the 200m with 42 points.

Ferguson is ranked #13 in the women’s 100m with 33 points. American Torri Edwards leads the women’s 100m ranking with 86 points.

Christine Amertil-Ling who has run quite a few 200m races this year is in a five-way tie ranked 35th with five points. Amertil-Ling is ranked 12th in the 400m with 25 points. American Sanya Richards is top ranked with 100 points.

Ferguson-McKenzie competed in the 100m at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday and was third in 11.38 seconds. Australia’s Sally McLellan (11.30) and American Stephanie Durst (11.37) were first and second respectively.

At the same meet on Sunday, both Ferguson-McKenzie and Amertil-Ling competed in the 200m. Ferguson-McKenzie was fifth in 22.92 and Amertil-Ling sixth in 23.10. American Lauryn Williams won in 22.76.

The World Athletics Final is closely linked to the World Athletics Tour (WAT), because athletes qualify for the final by scoring points on the tour throughout the year. The WAT is composed of 24 Permit Meetings, divided into two levels.

The first comprises the IAAF Golden League and Super Grand Prix, and the second level, the Grand Prix meetings, with each IAAF Continental Association represented by at least one WAT meeting.

In the men’s 100m finale, Atkins is actually ranked #1 with 82 points. He is followed by Jamaica’s world record holder Asafa Powell with 76 points, and Portugal’s Francis Obikwelu third with 72 points.

Atkins was expected to run at an IAAF Golden League meet in Germany last Friday but did not appear on the starting line. Francis won in 10.17 seconds.

Meanwhile, Thomas is ranked #6 with 34 points. Sweden’s Stefan Holm is ranked #1 with 68 points.

Local organisers of the IAAF Final in Stuttgart have announced that 25,000 tickets have already been sold for the meeting.

Source: Bahama Journal

At the beginning of the 2007 season, the Price Water House Stingrays envisioned themselves as being one of the dominant forces in the men’s division of the New Providence Softball Association, but with less than a dozen games left, and the Bahamas Softball Federation National Championships fast approaching, the Stingrays are clinging to the fourth and final playoff spot and are lucky there are only five teams in the division.

They currently sit in the fourth and final playoff spot with a 3-7, record just one game ahead of the struggling Thompson Heavy Equipment Outlaws who are at 2-9 on the season.

Tonight in the feature at 8:30pm, the Stingrays will face the second ranked D’s Truckers who are 7-2, and in a battle for the pennant with the New Breed.

In their last game on August 23 against the lowly Outlaws, the Stingrays lost 19-7 with Rudy Williams pitching.

The Stingrays have struggled on defense and have committed many errors in their losses, including eight errors in the loss to the Outlaws.

The Stingrays also struggled to find a seasoned pitcher to be able to compete with the top teams in the division. Eventually, they were able to secure veteran pitcher Cardinal Gilbert, who has turned out to be one of their top batters as well.

“It’s been a disappointing season for the Stingrays because we haven’t gel together the way we need to and the way we did last year, which means there is still lots of room for improvement as the season moves towards the final few games,” said coach Godfrey Burnside on Tuesday.

Burnside who is also a National coach said, he believes despite their struggles the team will play well enough to make the playoffs and that they will put it all together and be “serious contenders” in the playoffs.

In the ladies opener on Wednesday night, the Briteley’s Angels (5-4) will face the division leading Proper Care Pool Lady Sharks (8-2).

The Sharks are led by young pitcher Theila Johnson who has been quoted as saying that, the defending champion Electro Telecom Wildcats are a team of the past and their ace pitcher Mary ‘Cruise Control’ Edgecombe no longer has the advantage over most batters in the league. The Sharks and Wildcats will not meet again until the second week in September.

On Monday, the league was only able to play half of the scheduled double header because late afternoon showers soaked the field.

The caretakers were able to get the field dry and ready for the late game at 8:30pm, that saw the Truckers beat the Outlaws 8-6 behind the pitching arm of Leroy Thompson.

Thompson gave up eight hits in the win while Roscoe Thompson gave up nine hits in the loss.

It was an error filled game that saw the Truckers over come three errors of their own, compared to four errors for the Outlaws.

Stephen Brown was 3-for-3 with one RBI and Julian Collie was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

In the loss Kevin Neely was 2-for-3 including a home run, a run scored and one RBI. His teammate Mike Butler was 2-for-3 with a triple, a double, two runs scored and a RBI.

Asked to give his opinion on the running of the league during the 2007 season, keeping in mind all of the problems waiting for the government to get the field ready for fast pitch, and other challenges like scheduling conflicts with the Bankers Softball Association and a lack of discipline and sportsmanship by certain players in the league.

Burnside said, “I think leadership is a serious problem in the NPSA because we seem to be a little bit disorganized.”

“However,” he said, “There are a few bright spots in the league, like the new young team the New Breed led by coach Pork Burrows, that has brought some energy to the league, and that is what I like to see developing young ball players playing well and leading the league.”

The National Championships are set for New Providence from October 18-20. Last years Nationals was not well attended, as many of the Family Island leagues did not participate because they were not active.

The women’s played in Grand Bahama and the men’s championship battled through a rain filled weekend in Eleuthera.

According to Burnside, the 2007 Nationals may also be in jeopardy of not being the best they can be. “The Nationals has been a major concern of mine all year and right now I don’t know where The Bahamas Softball Federation stands,” said Burnside.

“I noticed that Eleuthera started their season two weeks ago, I have seen one of the leading pitchers from the Abaco league pitching for a team in the NPSA so I would assume Abaco has not gotten a season together, I’m sure Long Island is not playing any softball, and Exuma is now and then, so I don’t know how its going to all pan out,” said Burnside.

He added that, “It’s a real concern for softball because there is so much talent out there, we cannot evaluate all of the islands in they are not playing softball.”

Source: Bahama Journal