By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net
DEANDRE Ayton
turned in one of the most efcient games of the NBA season in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 110–93 win over the Toronto Raptors on January 18. Ayton did not miss a shot, fnishing 10-for-10 from the feld for 25 points and 13 rebounds in 33 minutes. Every basket came in rhythm, almost all at the rim, as he controlled the paint.
The performance placed Ayton in rare Lakers history. He became just the fourth player in franchise history to post at least 20 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 100 per cent from the foor, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Mitch Kupchak and Shaquille O’Neal. For a franchise built on dominant big men, it was a notable milestone.
“That’s pretty cool,” Ayton said after the game. “But I defnitely give it up to my teammates. They fnd me in the easiest spots ever, and I got some easy ones tonight, for sure.”
His efciency was a product of spacing, ball movement and consistent rim pressure.
Ayton has emphasized patience and readiness throughout the season as his role has fuctuated. “Pressure is a privilege,” Ayton said earlier this month. “This is the biggest opportunity of my career. I’m not going to take it for granted.”
That mindset has been evident in recent weeks, as his minutes and impact have trended upward.
Ayton makes Lakers history
Scores 10 baskets without a miss in win over Raptors
Ayton added a block and anchored a defence that held Toronto to a season-low 93 points. “It started with our defence,” Ayton said. “Guys cutting, moving energy, ball-fnding energy, that’s what happened tonight.”
His presence limited second-chance opportunities and helped the Lakers control tempo.
On the season, Ayton is averaging 14.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting just under 69 per cent from the feld. His efciency ranks among the best in the league, and his production around the rim has provided steady ofence for a Lakers team that often leans on perimeter creators.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick has consistently highlighted Ayton’s importance. “We did a better job of getting Deandre Ayton touches to keep him involved,” Redick said. “He was great throughout the game.”
Redick pointed to Ayton’s fnishing as a key reason the ofence fowed smoothly.
Redick also stressed that Ayton’s impact extends beyond scoring. “He was phenomenal tonight,” Redick said after the Raptors' win. “He blocked shots, cleaned up possessions, and did exactly what we needed to win.”
The Lakers were controlled whenever Ayton was on the foor.
Ayton joined the Lakers this season after reaching a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers. Los Angeles signed him to a two-year, $16.6 million contract, a low-risk move that
has delivered efciency, rebounding and interior stability.
The Lakers sit at 25-16, placing them around sixth in the Western Conference in a tightly packed
playof race. While consistency has been an issue at times, performances like Ayton’s provide balance and reduce pressure on the team’s perimeter stars. This performance was a
reminder of how efective Ayton can be when engaged and established as a true inside presence which could matter greatly as the Western Conference race tightens.
Gibson and Miller represent Bahamas at the Latin American Amateur Golf Championships
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor
bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
RICHARD Gibson
Jr and Lynford Miller
didn't have the type
of performances they expected at the Latin American Amateur Golf Championships in Lima, Peru, over the weekend. Competing in his fourth championship,
Gibson - the 34-year-old
Bahamas national amateur championship runner-up - advanced to the fnal two days of competition, while Miller - the 43-yearold national champion
- failed to make the cut over the frst two days of competition.
The duo represented the Bahamas Golf Federation after they both qualifed from the nationals and were the top ranked Bahamian amateur golfers in the World Amateur Golf Ranking system.
Gibson Jr, who competed in 2024 where he missed the cut, 2023 where he was tied for 19th and in his debut in 2018 where he missed the cut, said he was thrilled to play over the fnal two days, but the performance wasn't what he expected.
"The weekend didn't go as planned. For the last two days, we drew the worst hand, but thank God it came on the last two days as opposed to the frst two days," Gibson Jr said.
Gibson Jr, who missed last year's event with Nolan Johnson because of visa issues and again in 2019 as a result of a car accident, said his performance was consistent, but not at the top of the chart.
"I came hot out of the gate with a two-over and then a fve-over. That is pretty much consistent in that area," he said. "Then in the last two rounds, I literally shot 79 back-toback, so I guess it was kind of consistent, but not the consistency that I wanted.
Nevertheless, I gave God the honour."
With Miller as his travelling partner this year, Gibson Jr said it was kind of rough for him. "He tried to be the nice guy, but those frst hole jitters and nerves are diferent and he saw it," Gibson Jr said.
"It's diferent when you're playing with people you know and playing you don't know and then playing in little crowds. So it was defnitely a diferent
experience for him. But he did well."
Miller, the president of the BGF, said his putting was his downfall because of too many three putts.
"It’s my frst appearance at this event and this was not my best performance I would say," he stressed. "It was not as easy as it appeared to be at frst glance."Both players have indicated that they are looking forward to returning to the tournament next year.
Bahamas National Chess Championship set for January 23 to February 1 at Boost Academy
THE Bahamas Chess Federation (BCF) is proud to announce the return of the Bahamas National Chess Championship 2026, the federation’s premier over-the-board competition and one of the country’s most enduring annual sporting traditions.
This year’s championship will be a FIDE-rated, 10-player round-robin staged over nine rounds, running Friday, January 23 to Sunday, February 1 at Boost Academy.
The feld features 10 of the nation’s top performers, each earning qualifcation through performance and consistency across the local chess calendar. Competing for the 2026 crown are
FIDE Master Cecil Moncur (2025 National Champion), Avian Pride (2025 Junior National Champion), Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Chika Pride (Junior National Female Champion and the only female qualifer), CM Kendrick Knowles (fve-time National Champion), William Davis, Dr. Kenville Lockhart, Sohan Umesh, Curtis Pride Jr, Philip Hanna Jr and Bharath Nair. With 2026 being an Olympiad year, the championship carries added signifcance. In addition to the national title and cash prize, the 2026 national champion will receive an automatic place on Team Bahamas for the 2026 Chess Olympiad
in Uzbekistan, raising the stakes for every round.
“As president of the Bahamas Chess Federation, it is a privilege to welcome back our National Championship and to see this calibre of talent on one stage," said Curtis Pride Sr, president of the BCF.
"In an Olympiad year, every round carries added meaning because the champion will earn an automatic place on Team Bahamas for the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan.
“Each qualifer has already proven they belong among the country’s best, and now the challenge is to stay composed, prepare well, and deliver when it matters most. I wish all players their very best and
look forward to an exciting championship.” The tournament will be ofciated by chief arbiter international arbiter (IA) Andre White, and matches will be streamed live via DGT boards, allowing chess fans at home and abroad to follow the games as they unfold.
BCF encourages the public, supporters and the wider chess community to stay engaged throughout the championship by following updates, pairings and results on bahamaschessfederation.org and on Facebook and Instagram
at @Bahamas Chess Federation. Nationals 2026 Schedule (Boost Academy)
Round 1: Friday, January 23 @ 6pm
Round 2: Saturday, January 24 @ 9am
Round 3: Saturday, January 24 @ 2:30pm
Round 4: Sunday, January 25 @ 9am
Round 5: Sunday, January 25 @ 2:30pm
Round 6: Friday, January 30 @ 6pm
Round 7: Saturday, January 31 @ 9am
Round 8: Saturday, January 31 @ 2:30pm
Local Sports Calendar
TRACK MEET
STAR TRACKERS
THE Star Trackers Track Club will hold its Star Performers Track Classic on Saturday, January 24 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
The event will begin at 9am and will feature competition for men and women in all age groups. Interested persons can contact Laura Charlton at 357-3109 for more information.
SWIMMING
BA KICK OFF MEET
THE Bahamas Aquatics will begin the new year with its New Year Kick Of Meet over the weekend of January 23-24 at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.
The event will begin on Friday at 6pm and continue on Saturday at 9am.
BAHAMAS
TRIATHLON
THE Bahamas Triathlon Association will hold an Olympic, sprint and relay triathlon on Sunday, February 1 at Jaws Beach starting at 7am.
The Olympic course will feature a 1.5 kilometre swim, a 40K bike run and a 10K run; the sprint will have a 750m swim, 20K bike and 5K run and the relay will comprise teams of two or three people competing together in both the Olympic and sprint courses. Interested persons can contact the BTA for more details.
EDRON KNOWLES
TOURNEY
THE National Sports Authority will pay special tribute to the late Edron ‘Ed’ Knowles with a Home Run Hitting Showcase at the Bankers Field on February 20.
The top 20 home run hitters in the country will compete for $500 cash plus fve cases of beers for frst place, $300 and three cases
of beers for second and $200 and two cases of beers for third.
The event is being sponsored by GBall and A Sure Win.
BASEBALL MARIO FORD
CAMP
THE annual Mario Ford Baseball Camp at Windsor Park, designed for boys and girls between the ages of 4-16 years, will be staged every Saturday between the hours of 9:30-11:30am until Saturday, April 18. Interested persons are urged to contact camp director Mario Bowleg at 556-0993.
BLTA SEASON
OPENER
THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association will begin the new year with an under-14 and under-16 tournament at the National Tennis Centre over the weekend of January 23-24.
The event is expected to attract the top male and female players in those age groups as they compete for their national ranking.
CYCLING
RIDE FOR EXUMA
THE Bahamas Cycling Federation will kick of its calendar year with the Ride for Exuma on January 24, starting at 8am in Georgetown.
The event will enable competitors to view the turquoise waters and breathtaking landscapes of Exuma.
ROAD RACE
MACEDONIA 60TH ANNIVERSARY RACE
AS a part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, Macedonia Baptist Church on Bernard Road, Fox Hill, will stage a Family Fun Run/Walk Race, which is open to the general public.
The dual event will take place on Saturday, January 24, starting at 6am.
The walk race will leave the church and head west
on Bernard Road to Village Road, turn around and head back east on Bernard Road to the church.
The run will leave the church and head west on Bernard Road to Village Road, turn onto Soldier Road, head to Prince Charles Drive, onto Fox Hill Road and west on Bernard Road back to the church.
The registration fee is $10 for the men and women 15-and-under, 20-and-under, 40-and-under, 60-and-under, 60-and-over and Ministers/Pastors.
Interested persons can whatsapp or call Brent Stubbs at 426-7265 or call the church at 324-1583 for more information.
6th RED-LINE
SONJA KNOWLES
CLASSIC
THE Red-Line Athletics Track Club’s sixth annual Sonja Knowles Track Classic will be held over the weekend of January 31 to February 1 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Classic.
The event will begin at 10am on Saturday, January 31 and continue on Sunday, February 1 at 1pm.
The categories for men and women will begin from under-7 to the masters. Interested persons can contact coach Tito Moss at 425-4262 for more information.
BBSF FAMILY FUN RUN/WALK
THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation will hold its annual Family Fun Run/ Walk Race on Saturday, February 26, starting at 6am from the Bahamas Baptist College on Jean Street.
The run will leave Jean Street and head north to Bernard Road, turn left onto Bernard Road and head to Village Road, turn left onto Soldier Road, turn left onto Prince Charles Drive, turn left onto Fox Hill Road and turn left onto Bernard Road, heading back to the church.
The registration fee is $10 per person in both the men and women 15-and-under, 20-and-under, 40-and-under, 60-and-under and 60-and-over as well as the Ministers/Pastors.
Interested persons can call Brent Stubbs at 4267265 for more information.
BYFFL’s 16U team wins championship title at USA Flag World Championships
By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Youth Flag Football League delivered a strong overall showing at the USA Flag World Championships, which concluded this weekend in Tampa, Florida, highlighted by a championship title from its 16U team.
Competing against hundreds of teams from across the United States and international programmes, The Bahamas was represented in the 9U, 12U and 16U divisions. Each group entered the weekend with high expectations, especially following the league’s recent history of success at the event.
As tournament play progressed, the 16U team continued to separate itself. In the championship game, The Bahamas 16U team delivered its most complete performance of the tournament. When the fnal whistle sounded, The Bahamas secured a 33-20 victory, claiming the USA Flag World Championships title in the 16U division.
After the opening day of competition, the teams showed mixed but encouraging results.
The 9U squad jumped out to a perfect 2-0 start, displaying strong organisation and energy in a feld
packed with experienced programmes.
The 12U team faced a tougher opening slate, fnishing day one at 0-2, but remained competitive and resilient throughout their matchups.
The 16U team matched the 9U group’s early success, also closing the frst day at 2-0 and positioning themselves as one of the top teams in their division.
The win marked a significant achievement for the
BYFFL programme and continued its upward trajectory on the international youth fag football stage.
The league has been a regular participant in the USA Flag World Championships for many years, and last season’s 15U team set a high bar by fnishing second overall.
This year’s championship run not only met those expectations but exceeded them. Founded with the goal of introducing
young athletes to football in a structured, safe, and development-focused environment, the Bahamas Youth Flag Football League has grown steadily over the years. What began as a grassroots initiative has evolved into one of the country’s premier youth football programmes, emphasizing fundamentals, discipline, teamwork and character development. The BYFFL has also become a key
pipeline for athletes progressing into tackle football.
While the 16U title stood out as the headline team, the performances across all age groups refected the continued growth of youth fag football in The Bahamas.
The early success of the 9U team and the competitiveness shown by the 12U group of players highlight the depth of talent being developed within the league.
As the teams return home, the weekend in Tampa will be remembered as another milestone for the Bahamas Youth Flag Football League. With a championship trophy in hand and valuable experience gained at every level, the league’s presence at the USA Flag World Championships once again reinforced that Bahamian youth football can compete and get the victory on a global stage.
‘Donnie’ Freeman ‘one of the most dynamic forwards in the Atlantic Coast
By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter
jburrows@tribunemedia.net
DONAVAN “Donnie” Freeman’s rise from The Bahamas to the heart of Syracuse Orange basketball has been remarkable. Born in Nassau and raised partly in The Bahamas before moving to the United States at a young age, Freeman has developed into one of the most dynamic forwards in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He is a sophomore power forward for Syracuse, wearing No. 1, and anchors the Orange frontcourt alongside ACC teammates and the son of an NBA legend, Kiyan Anthony, who is the son of Carmelo Anthony. Freeman and Anthony have built a strong on-court connection that has helped Syracuse compete at a high level in the 2025-26 season.
Freeman’s latest performance came in Syracuse’s game against Boston College, where the Orange fell 81-73 in overtime. Freeman led Syracuse with 19 points and 14 rebounds, showing his all-around ability even in defeat. Boston College outlasted Syracuse after a late three-pointer tied the game in regulation and
momentum shifted in the extra period, but Freeman’s efort was a highlight in a hard-fought game.
In the game prior to that, Syracuse beat Florida State 94-86. Freeman scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Orange to their sixth win in seven games. His performance included key plays down the stretch, including a chase-down block and a go-ahead layup that swung momentum frmly in SU’s direction. “When the game gets tight, I just focus on competing and doing the little things that help us win,” Freeman said after that game.
“I mean, of course, I hit some big shots down the stretch the last few games, but coming up it could be anybody. It just so happened to be me the last few games.”
In another moment refecting on his time on the court, he said after a strong scoring night, “I’m not going to take it for granted every time I’m out there,” said Freeman.
“Every game I come out with one mindset to help my team win and compete every possession,” Freeman said about his role this season. “I’ve worked hard to stay consistent and play
with confdence. I want to make my teammates better and help this team go as far as we can.”
Head coach Adrian Autry has praised Freeman’s development. “Donnie has been exceptional for us,” Autry said. “He’s physical, smart with the ball, can score inside and out, and rebounds with tenacity. His presence changes how teams defend us.”
“He’s playing really well. Ofensively, he’s one of the better players in college basketball,” said Autry.
Another coach commented on Freeman’s impact: “His growth over the ofseason was impressive. He came back faster, stronger, and with an even better feel for the game.”
Through the 2025-26 season, Freeman, 20, is averaging 20.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game on 53.7 percent shooting from the feld. He has shown improved aggression on both ends of the court and has become one of the most efcient players in SU’s rotation.
Through 18 games, Syracuse’s overall record stands at 12-6, and the Orange are 3-2 in ACC play. The team’s blend of veteran leadership and young talent has kept them competitive in
one of the toughest conferences in college basketball.
“We have great chemistry,” Freeman said. “Playing alongside guys like Kiyan and Nate Kingz and everyone else on the roster has helped us stay resilient. We trust each other, and that makes a big diference.”
Freeman’s coach echoed that sentiment. “The way Donnie has embraced his role and elevated his play this season speaks to his work ethic,” Autry said.
“He’s a key reason why we’re where we are, and I expect even more big performances as the season continues.”
Freeman’s journey began in The Bahamas, but his basketball path quickly took him to the United States.
He moved with his family to Washington, D.C., at age six and played high school basketball at St. John’s College High School, where he led the team to a 32-4 record and a WCAC championship. He transferred to IMG Academy for his senior season, showcasing his versatility and strength on a national stage. A consensus fve-star recruit, Freeman committed to Syracuse in 2023, making him the highest-rated Syracuse commit since former NBA star Carmelo Anthony.
Conference’
At Syracuse, Freeman’s impact was immediate.
After recovering from a right-leg injury that ended his freshman season early, he returned stronger and became a go-to scorer and
rebounder for the Orange. His contributions on both ends of the foor have made him one of the most exciting players in ACC basketball and a cornerstone of Syracuse’s hopes this season.
Durant climbs to 6th on NBA career scoring list in Rockets’ 119-110 win over Pelicans
By The Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant had 18 points and moved into sixth place on the NBA’s career points list, and Jabari Smith Jr. scored a season-high 32 points as the Houston Rockets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 119-110 Sunday night.
Alperen Sengun had 21 points and eight rebounds and Amen Thompson fnished with 20 points as Houston won for the third time in four games.
Trey Murphy III scored 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting and Zion Williamson had 20 points and six rebounds. Derik Queen fnished with 15 points for the Pelicans, who lost for the fourth time in fve games and 13th time in 15 games.
With 15.2 seconds left in the game, Durant stepped to the free throw line needing one point to pass Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki (31,560 points) on the NBA’s scoring list.
The 15-time All-Star made two free throws and received a standing ovation from the home crowd. Durant now has 31,562 career points. Michael Jordan is ffth on the list at 32,292.
GRIZZLIES 126,
MAGIC 109
LONDON (AP) — Ja Morant had 24 points and 13 assists in his return to the lineup to lead Memphis Grizzlies to a victory over Orlando in the frst NBA regular-season game in London since 2019.
Jock Landale added 21 points and 8 rebounds and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 17 points as Memphis avenged its 118-111 loss to Orlando in Berlin on Thursday in the frst of their European doubleheader.
Orlando trailed by 33 points in the frst half before
reducing the defcit to 17 on Paolo Banchero’s 3-pointer to make it 108-91 with 8:15 left in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies closed it out from there.
Anthony Black led the Magic with 19 points and Wendell Carter Jr. added 18 points and 7 rebounds. Banchero fnished with 16 on 7 of 20 shooting. He also had 9 assists and 8 rebounds.
The game at London’s O2 Arena was the 10th regular-season game in the English capital. The frst one was March 4, 2011. Europe is set to host two more regular-season games in 2027. The host cities are Paris and Manchester, England. In 2028, Paris and Berlin will host games.
LAKERS 110, RAPTORS 93
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 25 points and seven assists, LeBron James added 24 points and seven assists, and Los Angeles returned to form with a victory over Toronto.
Deandre Ayton had 25 points and 13 rebounds in his impressive return from a knee injury for the Lakers, who won for just the second time in seven games while playing their fnal home game before an eight-game, 15-day road trip.
Ayton had his highest-scoring performance since November 3 while making all 10 of his shots.
Doncic also returned with a strong performance after missing Saturday’s loss at Portland to rest his nagging injuries, hitting fve 3-pointers.
James played in back-toback games for the second time this season — and the second time this week, capably completing a set of fve games in seven days for the 41-year-old superstar who had previously been resting for one game in back-to-back sets.
Scottie Barnes had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost back-to-back games for the frst time in four weeks after the Clippers beat them in Toronto on Friday.
Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 20 points. And former Lakers draft pick Brandon Ingram added 19 points and seven assists for Toronto, which faded in the fourth quarter in the opener of a fve-game road trip.
BULLS 124, NETS 102
CHICAGO (AP) — Coby White scored 24 points, Ayo Dosunmu had 19 and Chicago beat Brooklyn to split a homeand-home set.
The Nets won the opener 112-109 on Friday night in Brooklyn.
Nikola Vucevic added 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for Chicago. Matas Buzelis also scored 17 points.
Nolan Traore scored 16 points for Brooklyn. Danny Wolf and Jalen Wilson each had 14. The Nets have lost nine of 11.
Dosunmu had 3-pointers at the beginning and end of a 10-0 run late in the frst quarter to help the Bulls take a 39-22 lead into the second.
Chicago led 70-51 at the half and the advantage stayed above 20 points for most of the second half.
HORNETS 110, NUGGETS 87
DENVER (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 23 points, Tidjane Salaun came of the bench for 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Charlotte blew past the injury-depleted Denver.
Rookie big man Ryan Kalkbrenner had 17 points and six rebounds, Collin Sexton had 14 points and fve assists.
And LaMelo Ball had 10 points, six assists and three steals for Charlotte.
Over the past three games, Miller has averaged 25.7 points per game.
The Hornets had lost four of their previous six games and entered the night 1-9 in its past 10 matchups against Denver, which sufered its second-most lopsided loss of the season.
The Nuggets were without fve of their top eight scorers — centre Nikola Jokic (bone bruise in left knee), forward Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), forward Cameron Johnson (bone bruise in right knee), guard Christian Braun (left ankle sprain) and center Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain). The fve players combine to average 77.3 points per game.TRAIL
BLAZERS 117, KINGS 110
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Deni Avdija had 26 points, eight assists and eight rebounds in his return from a back injury to help
Portland beat Sacramento. Avdija missed three games after straining his lower back late in a game against New York last Sunday. He looked fne while helping Portland to its ninth victory in 12 games, going 10 of 18 from the foor in 31 minutes. Shaedon Sharpe also had 26 points, and Donovan Clingan added 21 points and 17 rebounds. Toumani Camara had 17 points as the Trail Blazers won their third consecutive game against the Kings this season. The Trail Blazers have won 12 of 15 games to get back to .500 at 22-22 for the frst time since they were 6-6 on Nov. 11.
Malik Monk scored 23 points for the Kings, while Russell Westbrook added 20 points and seven assists. Domantas Sabonis had eight points and six turnovers for the Kings in his second game since missing 27 games because of a knee injury.
Newly formed UPward Performance Track Club makes its presence felt at Carl Lewis High School Invitational
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
THE newly formed UPward Performance Track Club made its presence felt along with others at the Carl Lewis High School Invitational over the weekend in Houston, Texas.
The club, formed in June, 2025 by former St Augustine's College alumnus Jason Edwards and Demaris Cash, took 10 of their 20 athletes to the meet with fve of them attaining the standards for the 2026 CARIFTA Games in Grenada over the Easter holiday weekend.
Leading the way was Caitlyn Smith, an 11th grader at SAC, who won the triple jump with a leap of 12.05 metres, surpassing the CARIFTA standard.
Taree Forbes, a ninth grader at SAC as well, won the 60m dash, upsetting her older competitors in the 11th and 12th grades with a sizzling time of 7.54. She also competed in the long jump, placing third with a leap of 5.71m for a CARIFTA-qualifying mark.
Three teammates contested the boys’ triple with Carlin Archer heading the list with second place with 14.58m; Landon Moxey was
third (14.55m) and Demian Brice came in ffth (14.52m) as they all achieved the CARIFTA-qualifying mark. "The performances were exceptional. This was their season opener," said Edwards, who also serves as the athletic director at SAC. "If I’m not mistaken, we etched our name in the history books as the frst Bahamian track club to win events at this prestigious indoor meet. We managed to do it twice."
Edwards noted that all of their athletes performed well and we have to also acknowledge all of those athletes who achieved personal best performances.
They included Savannah Fraser, Talise and Tylen Musgrove and Jayla Knowles.
"This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our parents and team manager, who were diligently working behind the scenes," Edwards said.
Red-Line Athletics team turns in another credible performance
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
THE Red-Line Athletics, one of two teams from New Providence competing, turned in another credible performance at the Carl Lewis Invitational in Houston, Texas, over the weekend.
The team, competing in the meet for the fourth year with 19 athletes this year, fnished with 10 personal best performances from the boys and nine from the girls.
"All in all, we were pleased with the showing from RedLine Athletics," said Tito Moss, the president and head coach of the club. "We brought back three medals, including the girls’ 4 x 200m relay team of Syrmiah Crawley, Darvinique Dean, Alexis Roberts and Brianna Bootle, who placed third overall in 1:42.18.
"Again we had a very good showing and we were very pleased with the 19 athletes that we took up there and
their performances at the Carl Lewis Invitational."
Individually, Dean, 18, paced the girls with a pair of appearances in the fnal of the girls’ 400m where she placed second in 56.17 for a lifetime best and she was sixth in the 200m in 24.81, but had a personal best of 24.69 in the preliminary rounds. Bootle, 14, also ran her PR in both the 200m in 25.38 and 58.58 in the preliminaries of the 400m to advance to the fnal where she placed ninth in 59.65.
Yulianis Akompi in 1:01.33, Akompi also competed in the 800m, running 2:29.26 and Bailey Babbs, 12, did her PRs in the 60m in 8.27 and despite fumbling on the curve, did 26.43 in the 200m. In the preliminaries of the 60m, Kellise Bain ran 8.66 and in the preliminaries of the 200m, Roberts, 17, ran 25.39; Crawley, 16, did 26.72; Jade Hudson, 17, did 28.47; Neveah Moncur, 15, did 28.67; Taylor Moss, 16, ran 29,.68 and Makyaha Johnson, 17, did 29.76.
Roberts also advanced to the fnal of the 400m, but didn't fnish. She clocked 57.14 in the preliminary round.
Others who competed in the 400m preliminaries were Crawley in 59.59; Hudson in 1:06.44; Moss in 1:07.83; Johnson in 1:07.92 and Moncur in 1:09.66.
Arjay Roberts, 15, led the boys' team with a personal best of 53.53 seconds in the 400 metres and 2:05.96 in the 800m and Tahje Johnson, 17, posted his best of 55.47 in the 400m and 2:13.30 in the 800m. Noah Bingham ran 2:16.61 in the 800m and 5:33.53 in the 1,600m. In the 60m, Aiden Curry, 16, clocked 7.34 in the 60m and Macnair Beneby, 14, did 7.37 for their PRs. Curry also ran 23.71 in the 200m and Shevano Nixon did 23.42. Nixon, 16, also ran 51.74 in the 400m, while Brandon Hanna, 16, did 56.81. Also in the 800m, Hanna ran 2:10.71. Curry, Johnson, Roberts and Hanna teamed up in the 4 x 400m relay in 3:41.58.
"The UPward Performance coaching staf are extremely proud of this group."
Edwards also commended all the other Bahamian athletes who participated in the meet, including the Red-Line Athletics Track Club's Darvinique Dean, Brianna
"The future defnitely looks bright," he summed up. The club is one of the latest to register under the banner of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations.
Bootle, Alexis Roberts and Syrmiah Crawley.
Kostoulas’s late overhead kick rescues point for Brighton in 1-1 draw with Bournemouth
BRIGHTON, England (AP)
— Teenage substitute Charalampos Kostoulas scored with an audacious overhead kick in a stoppage-time to give Brighton a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth yesterday.
The 18-year-old Greece international received a knock-down from Jan Paul van Hecke, chested the ball up in the air and then executed a perfect bicycle kick from about 10 yards out. “I’ve seen him score better in training, but that was unbelievable," Brighton captain Lewis Dunk said of the late strike.
The result extends Brighton's unbeaten run to fve games and leaves it in 12th place in the Premier League, three points and three places above its south coast rivals.
"He’s a special talent. You’ve seen glimpses, and there’ll be many more things to come from him. He’s adapting to the country, new league, and he’s shown what he can do. That shows exactly what he can do.”
Fabian Hürzeler’s team started well but faded after an encouraging frst few minutes and Bournemouth took the lead with a disputed penalty in the 32nd minute.
Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was adjudged to have fouled Amine Adli in the box.
And, after a video review, Marcus Tavernier confdently dispatched the penalty.
Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola lamented giving up the late goal. And he decried what he said was a run in which it seemed like “everything is going against us.”
But he was sanguine about the quality of Kostoulas's decisive strike.
“It is an incredible goal, it is an overhead kick into the top corner, and we fnish with a point," he said.
"It is a shame because the players have done an incredible efort. We are going point by point and we have to keep going,” said Iraola
Real Madrid, Chelsea return to Champions League with rookie coaches in season of frings
By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer
REAL Madrid and Chelsea resume in the Champions League this week after the winter break with new coaches working in the competition for the frst time.
Job losses are a strong theme in a season where patience has run thin in the board room and 11 of the 36 Champions League clubs changed coach.
Nine of the 11 were fred, the latest being Xabi Alonso one week ago when Madrid removed him after barely seven months and well set in seventh in the Champions League standings.
Madrid’s new coach
Álvaro Arbeloa will take charge of just the third game of his career when hosting Monaco on Wednesday. The last time Madrid hired a novice coach mid-season, Zinedine Zidane's appointment in January 2016 led to
three straight Champions League titles.
Chelsea replaced its Club World Cup-winning coach Enzo Maresca with Liam Rosenior — who had led sister club Strasbourg to top the third-tier Conference League standings — and will host Pafos on Wednesday.
Monaco and Pafos have also changed coaches. Monaco fred Adi Hütter in October and went to another Champions League team, Union Saint-Gilloise, to lure its Belgian league-winning coach Sébastien Pocognoli.
Pafos’s coach in the frst half of the season, Juan Carlos Carcedo, bought out his contract this month to return to Spartak Moscow. Pafos hired another Spaniard, Albert Celades, who was in Madrid’s Champions League-winning squad in 2002 and later played at New York Red Bulls. Also fring their coach this season were Ajax,
Atalanta — now ffth in the standings — Benfca, Club Brugge, Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen, which gave Erik Ten Hag just three games before the Champions League even began.
Benfca fred Bruno Lage one day after an opening home loss against Qarabag and hired José Mourinho.
The two-time European champion was himself fred at Fenerbahce for losing in the qualifying playofs to Benfca.
Few would be surprised if Tottenham joins the list before the fnal round of Champions League opening-phase games next week.
Inter-Arsenal Stability reigns at Arsenal and Inter Milan, the Premier League and Serie A leaders who meet in the highest profle game of the week of frst versus sixth in the standings.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is the only team with six straight wins and now goes back to the scene of its only
loss in last season’s league phase. Then, a Hakan Çalhanoğlu penalty was decisive at San Siro.
Inter matched Arsenal’s pace through four rounds in its frst season coached by Cristian Chivu, then lost back-to-back games to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.
Inter likely needs to avoid a third loss to stay on track for the round of 16. Last season it took 16 points to secure a top-eight fnish and avoid the playofs round in February.
Chill Man City
When UEFA made the match schedule in steamy, humid Monaco in August, a key question was who would have to visit the Arctic Circle in January.
Manchester City was the answer, playing at Bodø/ Glimt on Tuesday.
Still, the forecast temperatures at game time are barely below freezing in the early evening in star striker Erling Haaland's native Norway.
Man City, the 2023 European champion, already has 13 points in fourth place, unlike the last-day drama last January needing to win just to squeeze into the knockout playofs 22nd in the standings.
Højlund’s return Napoli forward Rasmus Højlund returns Tuesday to hometown club Copenhagen which once sold him for less than 2 million euros ($2.3 million) to Sturm Graz.
The price soared to 77 million euros ($89.6 million) about 18 months later when Højlund moved to Manchester United from Atalanta. Napoli, where
he is spending the season on loan, is the 22-year-old Højlund’s fourth club since leaving Copenhagen four years ago.
Far east
Two teams in the far east of Europe — Qarabag and Kairat Almaty — both have home games this week because their distant times zones mean they will not host on the decisive last round.
All 18 games on January 29 must start simultaneously to ensure fair play, at 9pm in Central Europe, when it would be 1am at Almaty in Kazakhstan.
Still, it will be an early 4:30pm in central Europe when Kairat kicks of against Club Brugge at 8:30pm local time Tuesday. Qarabag hosts Eintracht Frankfurt in an early game Wednesday.
