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QC Comets complete championship sweep

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter

THE Queen’s College Comets completed a championship sweep in the junior divisions of the BAISS Championships on Monday night, taking game two in both the junior girls and junior boys divisions at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium to close out each best-ofthree final 2-0.

In the junior girls’ final, the Queen’s College Comets pulled away late to defeat St John’s College 33-31, securing the championship title.

The game was tight through the first half, with both teams trading baskets and struggling to create separation.

Queen’s College settled defensively in the second half, limiting St John’s to one-shot possessions while capitalising in transition.

The Comets were efficient from the free-throw line down the stretch with great game plan execution in lategame situations to close out the win.

Tahjunique Pride led the Comets in scoring with 19 points.

“It feels very good to win the championships, we've been working very hard over this year to get this

Junior boys and girls win BAISS basketball titles

one,” said Comets junior girls’ head coach Cyntese Cooper. “It's very mental, you know, you gotta stay locked in and you gotta stay vigilant and you gotta stick to the plan. You just stay focused, execute, then we'll get the job done,” said Cooper on the game plan for the series.

Coach Cooper mentioned that staying focused and executing were the two most worked on skills that improved this year for the Comets junior girls’ team.

In the junior boys’ division, Queen’s College completed the sweep with a 39-34 win over St Anne’s.

The Comets set the tone early with disciplined halfcourt defence and strong rebounding, holding St Anne’s to single-digit scoring in two quarters.

Queen’s College built a working margin by consistently attacking the paint and converting second-chance points. St Anne’s made a push in the second half but Queen’s College responded with made baskets and solid free-throw shooting to maintain control.

Kevin Hepburn led the Comets in scoring with 15 points.

Lenox, 11, powers to 5th place

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER making his debut in Europe in January, Bahamian Lenox Lockhart returned to the United States for his first motor karting competition for the year at the ROK Cup USA, Winter Tour in Orlando, Florida.

While he had a good test run with his new team, Parolin Motorsport USA, on Saturday, Lockhart powered through with a fifth place in the final on Sunday.

“I really like my new team and my teammates, and it’s been great learning from them," Lockhart said after the race. "The race was exciting, and we worked together and shared data all week to keep improving.” Lockhart, the 11-yearold sensation, started the

Hoping to secure funding from the government

year off with some coaching and practice races before he travelled to Spain, Campillos, for practice and competition.

His publicist Susan Schauff noted that they were advised by the Formula 1 team Driver development that Lockhart needs to focus this year on competing in the international races in Europe, especially the WSK series, and the Champions of the

“It feels great, man, these guys worked from last year summer all the way up to now.

“We went through a lot of adversity through the year, but I’m glad these boys

could pull it off in the end,” he said.

With the wins, Queen’s College captured both junior championships, completing a clean sweep of the junior girls and junior boys finals and closing out the series without the need for a deciding game three.

The championships add to another strong showing for the QC Comets programme.

Future races, which are coming up soon.

But she noted that while they are challenged with funding, they are hoping that they can secure some assistance from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

The WSK race in Viterbo, Italy, is next on the list this month and they have been told that these series of races are essential to get the skill sets needed for his career. Additionally, she stated that as Lockhart turns 12 in 2027, his priority will be on all the FIA Championship series of races, which will mean that more funding will be required. Lockhart, the first Bahamian to win a major US karting title, is the son of Gabriela and Migueal Lockhart. He has taken the karting world by storm and has been a great ambassador for The Bahamas.

Free soccer matches: UB Mingoes

men’s

FOR the first time since 2018, the University of The Bahamas is set to host a collegiate competition. This time it is hosting the California Intercontinental University men’s soccer team to two matches at 10am on Thursday, February 12 and Friday, February 13, at the Roscow A.L. Davies Soccer Fields.

The free matches are expected to see two highly competitive teams in action as UB currently leads the Bahamas Men’s Soccer League with an undefeated 6-0-2 win/lose/draw record

team all set to host CIU

and has been putting in the work to provide quality play. “California is one of the strongest states in terms of football.” Thompson said. “It'll be a good test to measure their growth and comparing them to how they performed in Florida in the fall semester. Also, to see how they've grown as a unit in the past few months playing local competition.”

UB’s captain and lead goalscorer Ronaldo Green is looking to keep the team locked in and focused as he plays in his first game in 2026. “As a captain, I want

to keep the team in high spirits and that's where we are right now,” Green said. “CIU looks like a great opponent and it should be a very interesting game. I'm happy to be back with Nathan Wells. A lot of guys are coming back off injury, like Nahum Johnson and Junior Kelly. These boys are crucial pieces to the puzzle. And I think with those guys, the squad is looking much stronger than it has been.”

Green and some of his teammates are no strangers to playing against American universities and college where they play at least six games a year. He is hoping to get some fan support now that UB is playing at home.

For freshman Nahum Johnson, he has been nursing some injuries but he is back to being healthy and is looking forward to play in this game. “I think it's a great opportunity to show why we should be here or I should be here to help the team win games and do what we have to do,” Johnson said.

“This is a different university, so these are higher level teams, so I am looking at getting the experience and goals, and bringing it back home for the win.”

Thompson is a former soccer player at the university and felt it is a huge deal to see a team coming from as far as California to play against UB.

“Their coach reached out to us about coming down,” Thompson said. “He was interested in playing us. He followed our results locally. He actually knew a lot about us. I think it speaks to the growth of the pro

gramme, the department,

and also the level of play that we've demonstrated over the past few years.”

He wants the soccer fans to see the university’s

Coca-Cola and FIFA bring World Cup buzz to The Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas —

Coca-Cola is thrilled to announce its latest promotion, “Buy & Win” with Coca-Cola and FIFA to celebrate the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup Tournament. The campaign, which will run from now until May, is celebrating consumers with big wins.

Everyone is a winner with Coca-Cola, and this time is no different! With any purchase of a Coca-Cola or Coca-Cola No Sugar 6-pack, 12-pack or full case consumers will be able to redeem a prize at one of the Coca-Cola FIFA, ‘Score, Sip & Win’ pop-ups.

Score, Sip & Win popups will be held on several Saturdays throughout the campaign. Buy & Win winners will redeem prizes at the pop-up and possibly win

more by participating in the festivities of the day. Each pop-up promises thrilling games, enticing prizes and refreshing beverages for consumers to enjoy.

To redeem your prizes at the Score, Sip & Win popups, scan the QR code on flyers, visit www.cbcbahamas/coca-colafifa.com or follow caribbean_bottling on social media.

Cara Douglas-Adderley, senior marketing director for Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, shared what this latest campaign means for Bahamians.

“Building on the success of last year’s standout promotions, like Share a Coke and Twist to Win, we kicked off the year with something even more rewarding.

“To start off strong we made winning simple. Consumers can unlock a range of exciting prizes just by buying. No added stipulations, simply Buy & Win,” she said.

Consumers can enjoy access to exciting prizes across Coca-Cola’s prize tiers. With the purchase of a 6-pack, 12-pack, or 24-pack, consumers become eligible to win prizes within their respective tier - the bigger the purchase, the bigger the win.

Coca-Cola and FIFA hope this latest promotion brings the real magic of the World Cup to Bahamians with every sip and win.

To learn more about Caribbean Bottling Company’s newest products, events and giveaways visit www.cbcbahamas.com today.

USA Powerlifting: Dominic Stubbs delivers standout debut performance

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net

THE JKS Fitness Powerlifting Team has introduced its newest athlete competing internationally - Bahamian powerlifter Dominic Stubbs - following a standout debut performance at the USA Powerlifting PR’s in Paradise.

Stubbs, a finance professional by trade, represented the JKS Fitness Powerlifting Team in his first sanctioned meet and had himself an impressive showing, successfully completing eight of nine attempts across the squat, bench press and deadlift.

The performance resulted in multiple personal records and further stamped his arrival on the competitive powerlifting stage.

His top lifts on the day included a 220-kilogram (485-pound) squat for a new personal record, a 145-kilogram (320-pound) bench press to match his best, and a 250-kilogram (551-pound) deadlift, also a new personal record.

Combined, those efforts earned Stubbs a 615 DOTS score, placing him firmly on the path toward qualification for future national and international championship competitions.

Head coach Je’Vaughn Saunders said the meet

VOLLEYBALL

NPVA

ACTION

THE New Providence Volleyball Association will continue its regular season action this week at the DW Davis Gymnasium with the following games on tap:

Wednesday

7:30pm - Setsy Poppers vs Lady Warhawks

8:30pm - Avengers vs Titans

Friday

7:30pm - Aces vs Ballers

8:30pm - Warhawks vs Tech B

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

AWARENESS WALK

SAVE the date of Saturday, March 28, for the Special Olympics Bahamas Awareness Walk.

It’s scheduled to start at 9am from the Western Esplanade and end at the Legends Walk of Fame outside of the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

All groups/organisations are urged to contact Special Olympics Bahamas at 356-2433 to register to participate.

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 five cases of beers for first 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.

MARIO FORD

BASEBALL CAMP

THE Mario Ford Baseball Camp at Windsor Park, designed for boys and girls between the ages of 4-16 years, will be staged every Saturday from 9:3011:30am until Saturday, April 18. Interested persons are urged to contact camp director Mario Bowleg at 556-0993.

TRIATHLON RESCHEDULED CHAMPIONSHIP

THE Bahamas Triathlon Association, which

unfolded exactly as planned.

“We went into Dominic’s first meet with a clear game plan, hit the target numbers we set out beforehand, and he executed beautifully,” Saunders said.

“He successfully made eight out of nine lifts, and even when he missed his second bench attempt, he stayed composed and unfazed. It felt like he was in his natural element, and coaching him was a breeze. He performed well above expectations.”

“The plan is to move him from the 110-kilogram category down to 100 kilograms, refine his technique, and prepare for the next meet later this year or early next year. This was a calculated, confident debut, and Dominic showed he belongs on that platform,” said Saunders.

Stubbs commented, saying: “I am very proud of myself. I was a bit anxious at first. I was nervous about squats because I tweaked my quad a few weeks prior, but I PR’d in everything. Either I exceeded it, or I matched it. I felt very proud of it. It lets me know that when I lock in, I know what I’m capable of.”

Stubbs’ performance at PR’s in Paradise marks the beginning of what JKS Fitness expects to be a promising international powerlifting career.

postponed its National Championships on February 1 due to the inclement weather, will host its new date on Sunday, March 15 at Jaws Beach, starting at 7am. The competition will have the Olympic competition including a 1.5 kilometre swim, 40K bike ride and 10k run, a sprint (750m swim, 20K bike and 5K run) and relay for teams of 2-3 people for all ages.

CYCLING TOUR DE GRAND

BAHAMA

THE Bahamas Cycling Federation and the Grand Bahama Cycling Association will stage the 12th annual Tour de Grand Bahama in Freeport, Grand Bahama, over the weekend of February 14-15.

On Friday, the competitors will compete in stage one in the 3-mile prologue starting at 8am followed by stage two with the criterium road race. Then on Saturday, stage three will conclude with the final stage with distance bycategory. Categories include the mile open, masters open, women open, under-23 and juniors. The registration fee is $140 for adults and $90 for juniors.

ATLANTIS COLLEGIATE BASEBALL SERIES

ATLANTIS will be branching out its athletic programme by introducing its Collegiate Baseball Series at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium from February 27 to March 1.

The series will be played between Indiana State Sycamores and the Penn State Nittany Lions, two National Collegiate Athletic Association Division One programmes. Tickets are currently on sale and will be 50% off for local residents using the code 242baseball at AtlantsBaseball.com. Kids 12-and-under will be admitted free.

TRACK ROADRUNNERS

DLT

CLASSIC

THE Roadrunners Track and Field Club will stage the 20th annual Diana Lynn Thpompson Track and Field Classic on Saturday, February 14, starting at 9am at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

The event is being held in memory of the late Diana Lynn Thompson, one of the founders of the Roadrunners Track Club, which

is now headed by coach

will be staged in all age group categories from under-7 to open for male and female athletes.

TRACK RED-LINE FIELD AND RELAY

CARNIVAL

THE Red-Line Athletics Track Club, coming off its successful hosting of the Sonja Knowles Track Classic, will now prepare for their third annual Field Events and Relay Carnival at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

The Carnival is scheduled for February 28 from 10am to 6pm with the long jump, triple jump, pole vault, discus, javelin and shot put and on March 1 from 1-6pm with the 4 x 100, 4 x 200, 4 x 400, 4 x 800 metres and both the sprint and distance medley relays. The event is open to competitors from

the under-7 to the open divisions. ROAD RACE BBSF FAMILY FUN RUN/WALK THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation will hold its Family Fun Run/Walk Race on Saturday, February 28, beginning at 6am at the Bahamas Baptist College, Jean Street.

The walk will leave Jean Street and head north to Bernard Road, turn onto Bernard Road and head west to Soldier Road, turn onto Soldier Road and head south to Prince Charles Drive, turn left onto Prince Charles Drive and head east to Jean Street, turn onto Jean Street and back to the Bahamas Baptist College. The run will leave Jean Street and head south to Prince Charles Drive, turn left onto Prince Charles Drive and head east to Fox Hill Road, turn left onto Fox Hill Road and head

south to Berard Road, turn onto Bernard Road and head west on Bernard Road and to Jean Street, turn left onto Jean Street and back to the Bahamas Baptist College. The categories in both events are the under15, under-20, under-40, under-60, 60-and-over and 70-and-over for men and ladies. There will also be a category for Pastors/Ministers combined. The cost is $10 per person. Trophies will be presented to the overall winners and medals distributed to the first three finishers in each category. There will also be a trophy for the church or organisation that brings the most participants. A free health screening will take place as well as there will be a special appearance by fitness guru Natasha ‘Downtown’ Brown and souse will also be on sale at a cost of $10 each.

Four players ejected after Pistons and Hornets tussle in physical game won by Detroit

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

(AP) — A fight between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets, in the third quarter of Monday night's game, resulted in four player ejections.

Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges were tossed, along with Detroit’s Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. Hornets coach Charles Lee was ejected in the fourth quarter after he had to be restrained from going after an official while arguing a call.

The Pistons won the game 110-104. The loss ended the Hornets’ bid to match a franchise record with 10 straight wins.

Duren had the ball and was driving toward the basket with just over seven minutes left in the third period when he was fouled by Diabate.

Duren turned around to get face-to-face with Diabate and the two appeared to butt heads. Duren then hit Diabate in the face with his open right hand, starting a confrontation that lasted more than 30 seconds and ultimately ended with a brief police presence on the floor.

While Pistons forward Tobias Harris was holding Diabate back, Diabate threw a punch at Duren. Duren walked away and Bridges charged at him, throwing a left-handed punch. Duren retaliated with a punch. Diabate attempted to charge again at Duren and had to be held back.

Stewart left the bench to confront Bridges, who responded with a punch, and the players tussled. At one point, Stewart got

Bridges in a headlock and delivered mutiple lefthanded blows to his head.

Duren called it an "overly competitive game."

“Emotions were flaring,” Duren said. “At the end of the day, we would love to keep it basketball, but things happen. Everybody was just playing hard.”

Duren said that opposing NBA teams have been trying to “get in our head” all season.

“This isn't the first time that people have tried to be like extra aggressive with us and talk to us, whatever the case may be,” Duren said. “But as a group we have done an OK job of handling

that energy and intensity. At the end of the day, emotions got high with everybody being competitive. Things happen."

Duren did not say how the fight started, referring reporters instead to the video replays.

The Hornets did not make Bridges and Diabate available for interviews after the game.

However, Bridges took to Instagram late Monday night to say: “Sorry Hornets nation! Sorry Hornets Organisation.! Always gonna protect my teammates forever.”

“It looked like two guys got into a heated

conversation and it just kind of spiraled from there,” Lee said.

Crew chief John Goble said in a pool report after the game that the players were ejected because they "engaged in fighting activity during the dead ball. After review, we assessed fighting fouls and by rule they were ejected from the game.”

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff defended his players after the game.

“Our guys deal with a lot, but they’re not the ones that initiated, they’re not the ones who crossed the line tonight,” Bickerstaff said. “It was clear, through frustration, because of what

J.D. (Duren) was doing, that they crossed the line. I hate that it got as ugly as it got.

“That’s not something that you ever want to see,”

Bickerstaff added, "but if a guy throws a punch at you, you have a responsibility to protect yourself. That’s what happened tonight. If you go back and watch the film, they’re the ones who initiated crossing the line and our guy had to defend himself.”

Tensions continued to mount at the Spectrum Center after the fight.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Lee was ejected and had to be restrained by Hornets

guard Brandon Miller while yelling at officials for a no-call after Charlotte's Grant Williams collided with Detroit’s Paul Reed.

“Grant was walking down the paint and barely touched somebody and the guy fell over and that is what we are going to call a foul,” Lee said.

“They have a hard job to make these calls, but I don't think that was the consistency with which that had been called the rest of the game.”

As for being ejected, Lee said he has to have more control of his emotions moving forward in the future.

Rookie

PORTLAND, Oregon

(AP) — Toumani Camara

scored a career-high 30 points and shot 8 of 10 from 3-point range, Deni Avdija had 26 points and 10 rebounds and Portland used a huge third quarter to cruise to a victory Philadelphia.

Jerami Grant and Donovan Clingan each added 15 points for the Trail Blazers, who trailed 65-64 at halftime before outscoring the 76ers 49-22 in the third to take control.

Embiid, who scored 33 points in a win at Phoenix on Saturday night, sat out against Portland to rest his right knee after an off day.

Tyrese Maxey had 30 points, Kelly Oubre Jr 19 and rookie Valdez VJ Edgecombe 11 for the 76ers, who wrapped up a 3-2 Western road trip and lost for just the second time in eight games overall. Edgecombe also contributed six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

NETS 123, BULLS 115

NEW YORK (AP) —

Nic Claxton scored 28 points and had 10 rebounds to lead Brooklyn to a win over Chicago.

Noah Clowney added 20 points for Brooklyn, which won its second in a row. Drake Powell had 14 points off the bench, rookies Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore each had 13 and Ziaire Williams added 11.

The Nets won three of the four meetings between the Eastern Conference teams that are rebuilding.

Anfernee Simons scored 23 points for Chicago, which lost its fifth straight. Collin Sexton scored 19 off the bench and Matas Buzelis had 18.

JAZZ 115, HEAT 111

MIAMI (AP) — Brice Sensabaugh made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 47 seconds remaining to lift Utah to a victory over Miami.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 22 points, Lauri Markkanen added 17, Kyle Filipowski had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Ace Bailey also scored 16 for the Jazz, who won for only the fifth time in their last 23 games. The Jazz erased a 108-103 deficit with 3:32 left and got within one at 111-110 on Isaiah Collier’s jumper with 1:23 remaining. Sensabaugh, who finished with 14 points, then connected with his shot from behind the arc. Miami twice had opportunities at a tying or go-ahead score. Andrew Wiggins missed a short jumper with 36 seconds left and Kasparas Jakucionis’ corner

Trail Blazers

3-point attempt bounced off the rim with 4 seconds left. Sensabaugh’s two free throws with 3 seconds remaining clinched the win for Utah. Wiggins scored 26 points, Bam Adebayo had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Jakucionis finished with 20 points for the Heat.

MAGIC 118, BUCKS 99

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) — Anthony Black scored 26 points, Desmond Bane added 25 and Orlando beat Milwaukee to snap the Bucks’ season-long threegame win streak.

Magic forward Franz Wagner played 17 minutes after missing 23 of the last 25 games due to a high ankle sprain. Wagner came off the bench for the first time in his career and finished with 14 points and five rebounds.

Kevin Porter Jr. led Milwaukee with 28 points and seven assists, but the Bucks committed 20 turnovers and gave up 67 points in the second half. that ended their season-long threegame win streak.

TIMBERWOLVES 138, HAWKS 116

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 21 of his 30 points in the first half as Minnesota used a dominant second quarter to cruise to a win against the short-handed Atlanta. Edwards led seven Minnesota players scoring in

double figures, pushing the Timberwolves to a commanding win after a pair of disappointing losses to New Orleans and the Los Angeles Clippers. Julius Randle has 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for Minnesota, which had lost three of four.

A game without much intensity changed early in the fourth when Atlanta’s Mouhamed Gueye appeared to trip up Wolves center Naz Reid. The two came together in an altercation that included a crowd of people trying to break up the two players. Both players were ejected.

Newcomer Ayo Dosunmu, playing his second game after being acquired in a trade from Chicago, had 21 points off the bench as Minnesota led by as many as 31. CJ McCollum had 38 points for the Hawks, who have lost four of five and were playing without Jalen Johnson (left knee inflammation), Antonio Daniels (right ankle inflammation) and newly acquired Jonathan Kumiga (left knee bone bruise).

PELICANS 120, KINGS 94

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trey Murphy III made five 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, Jeremiah Fears scored 14 of his 20 in the second half and New Orleans sent Sacramento to their 13th straight loss.

The Kings have their most consecutive losses since the franchise moved from Kansas City to Sacramento ahead of the 1985-86 season.

Murphy has made 23 3-pointers on 40 attempts (72.5%) in the last three games. Zion Williamson scored 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and had six assists for New Orleans.

Maxime Raynaud had 21 points and careerhigh 20 rebounds — the 7-foot-1 rookie’s eighth double-double this season — for Sacramento. Russell Westbrook added 17 points, Devin Carter scored 12 and Nique Clifford 10.

CAVALIERS 119, NUGGETS 117

DENVER (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, including two free throws with 0.9 seconds left after James Harden’s tying 3-pointer, and Cleveland rallied to beat Denver.

Harden finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds in his second game with Cleveland. Harden, acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 4, scored 23 points in his Cavaliers debut three nights later.

Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists but missed a potential winning 3-point shot at the buzzer. Two nights after Jokic passed Oscar Robertson for second place in career triple-doubles, he notched his 183rd.

WARRIORS 114, GRIZZLIES 113 SAN FRANCISCO

(AP) — Gui Santos made a go-ahead layup with 19 seconds left and Al Horford stole the ball from Cam Spencer moments later after he rebounded a Memphis miss, and Golden State rallied late to beat the Grizzlies.

Pat Spencer had 17 points and seven assists, leading seven players in double figures for a Warriors team missing Stephen Curry for the fourth straight game because of a lingering right knee injury that coach Steve Kerr said would keep him out of the All-Star Game next week.

De’Anthony Melton’s layup with 2:46 left pulled the Warriors within 113-110 and Moses Moody made it a one-point game with 2 minutes remaining. Brandin Podziemski, Santos and Horford each scored 16 points, and Moody 15.

Earlier in the day, Curry’s backcourt mate, Jimmy Butler, underwent surgery in Los Angeles for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that ended his season last month.

Ty Jerome scored 14 of his 19 points in the first half and also dished out seven assists. Jahmai Mashack scored 17 points off the bench, Taylor Hendricks had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

contributed 15 points — and the Grizzlies reserves scored 68 points, most Golden State has given up to an opponent’s backups this season.

THUNDER 119, LAKERS 110

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jalen Williams scored 15 of his 23 points in the second half of his return from a 10-game injury absence, and Oklahoma City snapped their two-game skid with a victory over Los Angeles. Reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and current NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic both sat out due to injuries, leaving their supporting casts to play a Thunder-style physical game featuring 52 combined free throws.

LeBron James scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half for the Lakers, whose three-game winning streak ended with another ineffective defensive performance.

Jalen Williams, who had been out with a hamstring strain, and Jaylin Williams both hit big jumpers while the Thunder broke open a close game down the stretch. Chet Holmgren added a key put-back dunk with 1:17 to play for the NBA-leading Thunder, who had lost three of five.

Isaiah Joe scored 19 points and Alex Caruso added 17 from Oklahoma City’s bench. Holmgren had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

‘Don’t jump in them’: Olympic athletes’ medals break during celebrations

By JAMES ELLINGWORTH AP Sports Writer

MILAN (AP) — Handle with care. That's the message from gold medallist Breezy Johnson at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after she and other athletes found their medals broke within hours.

Olympic organisers are investigating with “maximum attention” after a spate of medals fell off their ribbons during celebrations on the opening weekend of the Games.

“Don’t jump in them. I was jumping in excitement and it broke," women's downhill ski gold medallist Johnson said after her win Sunday. "I’m sure somebody will fix it. It’s not crazy broken but a little broken.” Johnson didn't have to wait long for a replacement. By the time she reached the starting hill for yesterday's combined team event she'd already been given a new one, though it still needs to be engraved.

Asked if she got to keep the busted one, Johnson shook her head.

“They don’t, like, let you have multiple of those things,” she said with a laugh.

(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

TV footage broadcast in Germany captured the moment biathlete Justus Strelow realised the mixed relay bronze he'd won Sunday had fallen off the ribbon around his neck and clattered to the floor as he danced along to a song with teammates.

His German teammates cheered as Strelow tried without success to reattach the medal before realising a smaller piece, seemingly the

clasp, had broken off and was still on the floor.

U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu posted a clip on social media of her team event gold medal detached from its official ribbon.

“My medal don’t need the ribbon,” Liu wrote early Monday.

Andrea Francisi, the chief games operations officer for the Milan Cortina organising committee, said it was working on a solution. “We are aware of the situation, we have seen the images. We are trying to understand in detail if there is a problem,” Francisi said Monday.

“But we are paying maximum attention to this matter, as the medal is the dream of the athletes, so we want that in the moment they are given it that everything is absolutely perfect, because we really consider it to be the most important moment. So we are working on it.”

It isn't the first time the quality of Olympic medals has come under scrutiny.

Following the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, some medals had to be replaced after athletes complained they were starting to tarnish or corrode, giving them a mottled look likened to crocodile skin.

THE WEATHER REPORT

‘Jazz’ to the World

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

NEW York Yankees’ infielder Jasrado “Jazz”

Chisholm will lead the list of Bahamians named to Great Britain’s 30-man roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Chisholm, 28, will be back with Lucius Fox Jr,  Ian Lewis and BJ Murray on the infield, while Kristian Robinson and Trayce Thompson will be on the outfield and Chavez Fernander will be on the pitching staff.

United Kingdom and some additional players from the United States of America, who also have a team playing on their own.

Great Britain will play out of Pool B at the Daikin Park, home of the Major League Baseball's Houston Astros, in the first round from March 6-11 against teams from Brazil, Italy, Mexico and the USA, the 2023 runner-up and 2017 champions.

Czech Republic, Korea and Australia will play at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan and Pool D, comprising the Netherlands, Venezuela, Nicaragu, the Dominican Republic and Israel will play at the home of the Miami Marlins at the LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.

NEW York

infielder Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm will lead the list of Bahamians named to Great Britain’s 30-man roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic nesxt month.

World Baseball Classic

opportunity for The Baha-

mas to get into the spotlight on the world stage.

The team will play two exhibition games in spring training on March 2-3 before they head to Houston, Texas, for the week of the tournament.

aggressive, great things will happen for us."

Previously, in 2016, The Bahamas had about nine to 10 players on the team, including Chisholm, but Cartwright said it's good to have him back as a Major League player.

"I believe that we, as a group, have put together the best team possible," Cartwright said.

"This year, they're allowing the Major League players to play, so Jazz has decided to play," Chisholm said.

Albert Cartwright Jr will serve as an assistant coach for the team that will be managed by Brad Marcelino and composed of the

The semifinals will be played in Miami, Florida on March 15 and 16 respectively, followed by the final at the same venue in Miami on March 17.

"As GB goes to these tournaments, they continue to rely on the Bahamian players to make up the team every year," Cartwright said. "Hopefully in a few years, as a nation in baseball, as we continue to grow, we will develop our team," Cartwright said. "We just need to continue to go into these tournaments playing international baseball. "I think as these bigger countries continue to go to the various age group tournaments to give them points, we have to continue, as a nation, to get our national teams out there so that we can collect our points." Chisholm

The teams from the pool, along with Pool A, comprising Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Canada, that advance to the quarterfinals will play from March 13-14 in Houston as well. Pool C, including Chinese Taipei, Australia,

Cartwright Jr, who first played on the team with Antoan Richardson in 2012 in Germany when The Bahamas was first invited to join Great Britain's team, said it's another great

"I think we have familiar faces and some new faces, but it will be fun to get all of the guys together.

"Last year we really got our feet wet, but this year, we should see a lot of positive things happening for Team GB.

“If we can play our type of game, which is to be

"It's going to be a lot of fun to have the Major Leaguers actively involved this year. It should be a lot of fun."

Since first playing in 2014, Cartwright said The Bahamas has been able to field a list of players and, at one point, he along with Richardson served as coaches.