SPORTS SECTION E
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
SIR DURWARD REGATTA - E5
Rattlers rule CI Gibson 42nd Hugh Campbell Classic champions Kevin Johnson winningest coach in tourney history Mario Rolle earns the Most Valuable Player award By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net THE CI Gibson Rattlers reclaimed the Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic title last night at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, defeating the St. Georges Jaguars 75-53 to win the 42nd edition of the tournament and erase the sting of last year’s championship loss. After falling in overtime in the 41st final, coach Kevin “KJ” Johnson’s team returned focused and composed. This time there was no late collapse. The Rattlers controlled the second half and closed with authority. St. Georges led 19-13 after the first quarter and carried a slim 35-34 advantage into halftime. CI Gibson stayed within striking distance despite early offensive struggles, then delivered the blow in the third quarter as their defence picked up with the full court press, starting the third with three straight steals and scores in transition. The Rattlers outscored the Jaguars 23-9 in the third to take a 57-44 lead into the fourth. Defensive pressure triggered the run as CI Gibson forced 22 turnovers in the game and converted them into 23 points. In contrast, the St. George’s Jaguars managed just 11 points off CI Gibson’s 15 turnovers. The Rattlers dominated the paint, scoring 46 points inside compared to 20 for St. George’s. They were also efficient at the free-throw line, converting 15-of-19 for 78.9 per cent.
Senior Mario Rolle, named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, delivered when it mattered most. Rolle finished with a monster double double - 24 points and 18 rebounds anchoring both ends during the championship stretch. His leadership and composure helped stabilise the team after halftime. For earning MVP honours, Rolle received two free tickets from Bahamasair to travel and watch Bahamian standout Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe in action. Senior Darius Hanna had 18 points, attacking downhill and setting the tone during the third-quarter surge. He controlled tempo, finished through contact while also hitting key three pointers to advance the Rattlers’ lead in the home stretch. Sidney Higgs added 18 points and was perfect at the line, going 7-of-7. The trio combined for 54 of CI Gibson’s 75 points and carried the offensive load once the Rattlers seized momentum. CI Gibson led for 17 minutes and 11 seconds and built the advantage to as many as 22 points in the second half. St. George’s shot just 26.2 per cent from the field and 23.8 per cent from three-point range, unable to recover after the break. Shanto Curry Jr paced the Jaguars with 15 points and Mikhal Nesbitt added 13, but the deficit proved too much once CI Gibson tightened defensively. The victory also cemented history for Johnson's history. With the win, he became the coach with the most Hugh Campbell championships in tournament history,
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: The CI Gibson Rattlers celebrate last night after winning the 42nd Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic final 75-53 over the St George’s Jaguars, out of Grand Bahama, at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr/Tribune Staff securing his seventh title and moving to the top of the all-time list as he already is considered by most to be the most winningest coach in high school basketball. “We wanted to get the 50-50 balls. St. George's did a very good job in the first
half. Really, really good win. We just wanted to be more aggressive, and we did that on the defence tonight. “We were successful tonight,” said an emotional Johnson. “This means a lot for me, I've been working hard
the last two years, last year we failed but this year we accomplished it,” said MVP Mario Rolle. “This championship means a lot to me. I didn't do it just for me, I did this for my father who passed away on Friday,” said Rolle.
One year after watching the trophy slip away, the Rattlers responded. This time, there was no doubt. The championship returned to Nassau, and the Rattlers walked off the floor with both redemption and history.
Pitcher Alcott Forbes wins inaugural ‘Ed’ Knowles Home Run Derby title By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstbbs@tribunemedia.net
Cheers as he pockets $500 and five cases of beers
TALENTED pitcher Alcott Forbes said it was more personal for him in winning the National Sports Authority's inaugural Edron 'Ed' Knowles Home Run Derby on Friday night. Forbes electrified the crowd in the Bankers Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex in a dramatic comeback fashion in the final round to edge out Michael 'Vader' Ingraham 7-6. "Edron Knowles was my best friend, so to see the NSA put on something like this for him, I took it personally," said Forbes, regarded as one of the best hitting pitchers in the country. "I know right now, he's happy with the results." Forbes said it was important for him to get ahead of the field every round so
that he could be well rested by the time he got into the batter's box. It worked to his perfection as he watched the other competitors compete and he was able to hit just enough homers to surge out front. He collected $500 and five cases of beers. After watching Forbes put together a solid effort to win, Ingraham said he was not disappointed in falling short. He earned $300 and three cases of beers. "Edron was like a brother to many of us, so we really wanted to come out here and put on a show for him," Ingraham said. "The competition was stiff all the way. "The championship came down to just one home run. Alcott really exploded in the tournament. I tried to hold him off, but he was just too
ALCOTT Forbes gets his winning award from Martin ‘Pork’ Burrows, Edron Knowles Jr and Kathleen Minnis.
explosive, especially in the championship round." Keiron Sands was the other finalist, but he only managed two homers for third, pocketing $200 and two cases of beers. "It started off pretty good for me in the first and second rounds, but in the final two rounds, it got harder and harder," Sands said. "Thank God I managed to push through and kept moving on until the final." Sands said he will definitely be back next year and his aim is to win it all. Norman Bastian had one of the best performances in the first two rounds, but could not put it together in the third when it counted the most to get into the final. Martin 'Pork' Burrows said the event turned out to be a successful one with 20 competitors lining up in the
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