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SPORTS SECTION E

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018

Water polo teams bring home the gold By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ead coach Laszlo Borbely said Team Bahamas made sure they didn’t leave any hardware in Kingston, Jamaica, as they won all three divisional gold medals and carted off all of the individual awards in their dominating performances at the CARIFTA Water Polo Championship. When they returned home Monday night, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard assured them that they will be rewarded very soon as the government, in conjunction with the Bahamas Swimming Federation, is looking at the possibility of getting them their own facilities to train in. Pintard, welcoming the team home at the Lynden Pindling International Airport, said when he congratulated them in the House of Assembly, the island nation’s policy makers were extremely pleased with their performances. But he told them that the excitement pales in comparison to the support from their family and friends, who were outside of the arrival lounge where they waited with the junkanoo music. Yesterday, the team was in the House of Assembly for an official government recognition. “We are in your corner. We clearly understand that water polo needs additional facilities,” Pintard told the team. “So we are prepared to work with the federation, parents and your support team, those of you that are from other islands originally, we believe that it is important for us to have a build out of additional facilities, not just in New Providence, but outside of New Providence.

WATER POLO CHAMPIONS: The Bahamas’ water polo programme won gold medals in all three age categories - under-14, under-16 and under-19 - at the CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica. The three teams returned home on Monday night and can be seen above at the Lynden Pindling International Airport in New Providence. Team Bahamas was congratulated by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard. Photo: Raymond A Bethel Sr/BIS “The Grand Bahama Port Authority is partnering with the government. We are looking to build a 50-metre pool in Grand Bahama. We will work closely with your federation and we make a commitment that we will work with you, your parents and your support team so that we can provide just one part of what you need so that you can continue to excel.” The announcement was sweet music in the ears

of the team that comprised of three squads that captured the under14, under-16 and under-19 championship titles at the Kingston National Stadium on Sunday. It started with the under14 team winning their first title with a 16-2 rout over Jamaica. The under-16 followed as they repeated as champions with a 17-3 clobbering of the Reggae Boyz. It climaxed with the under-19

securing a 13-10 decision over Jamaica. In the end, the Bahamas also captured six individual awards as Oliver Roberts won the under-14 most valuable player and Jayden Seymour was the best goalie. Gabriel Sastre was the under-16 MVP and Aiden Johnson was the best goalie. Saequan Miller was the under-29 MVP and Aiden Johnson was again the best goalie. “The younger team,

under-14 and under-16, didn’t have any competition,” said Borbely. “They went into the finals and they put on some very good performances. The 19-year-old team had some problems in the beginning in the preliminaries, but once we got to the semis, we had one goal that changed everything and we went into a fighting mode. “When we played Jamaica for the gold, I told them to just hang on,

hang on. Keep them close and not let them get too far away from you. By the third quarter, we had their number. “By the fourth quarter, we had three goals ahead of them and they couldn’t catch us.” Borbely said the team won everything and “there wasn’t anything else to bring home,” so he was thrilled with their performances.

SEE PAGE 2

Sprinters Fraser, Hart get set for Commonwealth Games By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net NOT since Derrick Atkins ran 9.91 seconds to win the silver medal in the men’s 100 metres at the IAAF World Championships in 2007 in Osaka, Japan, has there been a Bahamian male sprinter that was a serious contender for global success. Reigning national champion Warren Fraser and 2016 champion Shavez Hart are both having to change that landscape when they head to the Gold Coast, Australia, next month as a part of the 31-member team that will represent the Bahamas at the Commonwealth Games.

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“So far things are looking good as we take the next two weeks to prepare for Commonwealth,” Fraser said. “I’m basically just trying to get my race model down packed so that I can be comfortable at the games.” Fraser, who has ran a personal best of 10.14 in 2014, said it’s always good to have another compatriot entered in the same event because it takes a little of the pressure off when they step out into the huge crowd of spectators in the stands. How much that will inspire Fraser depends on how healthy he can remain going into the competition where all eyes will be watching to see whether or not he or Hart will be able to break the 10-second barrier and be a contender for at least a spot in the final and possibly a medal in the Gold Coast. “I think the one thing I have to actually do to run that fast, because I believe I’m capable of running that fast, is I just have to focus on trying to stay healthy,” Fraser said. “If I can stay healthy and be consistent for a whole year, I know that I will be able to run under 10 seconds. “Everything else hinges on how well I take care of my body, eating right and stay away from things that could cause me to get

WARREN FRASER

SHAVEZ HART

away from my proper training programme.” As he heads to Australia, Fraser said he expects the competition to be fierce even without the presence of the United States of America. “The 100 metres will still be the most competitive event because we really won’t be missing much people, except for the United States,” he stated. “All of the other people who have set records and are among the top competitors in the world are from the Commonwealth countries. “So it’s basically a world championship match-up minus the

United States, so I still have to go there and perform. It’s going to be a lot of fun because I have some people on my list that I have to beat. I have a whole list. I just mark them off after I beat them.” Fraser, who won’t have a meet to compete in before he heads to Australia, is training at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, under coach Ken Harding. He is coming off his appearance at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Great Britain, at the beginning of the month where he got to the

semi-final of the 60m with a season’s best of 6.66. Hart, who is training in Phoenix, Arizona, under coach Stuart McMillan of the ALTIS group that includes Canadian top sprinter Andre De Grasse, Great Britain’s 2017 Diamond League 100m champion Chijindu ‘CJ’ Ujah and American Ameer Webb, said he’s in the right atmosphere to succeed. “I like it here,” said Hart, now in his second year and his first full season in the camp. “Practice here is a simulation of a meet. That’s good because I’m in a professional environment where everybody is making a name for themselves. I like it here.” Coming off an indoor meet in January, Hart said his training there is progressing very well and should culminate with him turning in a great performance at the Commonwealth Games. He intends to compete in at least one meet before he heads to Australia. “I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life, but doing that in practice is one thing and doing it in a meet is another thing,” he said. “I just have to translate everything now from practice to competition.” As the games draw near, Fraser advised the public to: “Just watch out for the sprinters.”

PAGE 2, Wednesday, March 21, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Water polo teams bring home the gold FROM PAGE 1 Said Saequan Miller, the veteran member of the under-19 team: “We had our disadvantages, but we still battled through them,” he said. “We went into the water and we played to the best of our abilities. Our coaches strategised us as much as they could and we applied what we learn and now we’re the champions.” At 18 years of age and in his final year on the team, Miller said as the players get older, they can only continue to get better. The other members of the under-19 team were Gabriel Sastre, Nicholas Wallace-Whitfield, Loron Bain, Turnquest, Joshua Knowles, Adonis Sasso, Sean Knowles, Johnathon Demeritte, Adrian Burrows, Michael Moore, Kurdero Major and Kyrdaz Major. “It was unexpected. We had a very small squad to start off the games with and we were relying on the under-16 team to support us,” said Carl Illing, the coach of the under-19 team. “In the semi-final, we got by Barbados to get into the gold medal as we avenged our loss in the preliminaries. “When we went to the final, we had a deeper bench, we played better as a team. Jamaica had better individual players, but as a team, the Bahamas came out on top. I was very proud of how well they played together.”

Sastre, the 15-year-old Queen’s College student and leader of the under-16 team, said they played to the best of their abilities. “Everyone put forth their best effort that they could and I can gladly say that with all of the vigorous training that we’ve had from our coaches, it actually played out with us coming back with gold in all three categories, so I am very proud of our performances,” said Sastre, a three-year member of the team. “We are a very strong

team. We are not as big as the other teams, but we played to the best of our abilities and that everyone used everything they could, including our stamina and our strength and that was what helped us to win.” Joining Sastre on the under-16 team were Gabriel Encinar, Thomas Illing, Nicholas Wallace-Whitfield, Damian Gomez, Jelani Grant, Alex Turnquest, Thor Sasso, Jahkai Gray, Liam Mills, Mataeo Ferguson, Aidan Johnson and Gabriel Encinar.

And Oliver Roberts, a 14-year-old student of St Andrew’s School, said their under-14 team did extremely well. “I was very proud of my team,” he stated. “We are 13 very dedicated athletes. We trained very hard and we trained harder than ever for these games and obviously the results showed. This is my second national team, so I was very pleased to be the captain and to lead us to victory.” The other members who played with Roberts were

Dominic Beneby, Dominic Demeritte, Atuwan McKenzie, Remington Minnins, Akeil Smith, Jayden Fernander, Skyler Dean, Jayden Seymour, Madisson Deveaux, Kaitlyn Williams, Wesley Ingraham and Joshua Gibson. “It was so surprising how well we played,” said Krisztian Keleman, the coach of the under-14 team. “With the under-14 and under-16 teams, there was no question who will win the gold. The under-19 was tougher, but the players did

very well and we did the little things to win all three titles.” Brenna Turnquest served as the manager of the team. A number of parents and family numbers also travelled with the team. Federation president Algernon Cargill also congratulated the team and indicated that they are excited with the team’s performance and they are looking forward to the team going to Trinidad & Tobago next year to defend the three titles.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 21, 2018, PAGE 3

Resistance get away with 100-98 win over Bucket to take 1-0 lead in semi-finals STINGERS ROUT PIRATES 101-78 TO WIN THE SERIES 2-1 THE New Providence Basketball Association continued its postseason action on Monday night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium with the Caro Contractors Resistance and the PJ Stingers winning the double header. In the men’s division II opener, the Resistance nipped the Aliv Bucket 100-98 to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five semi-final series, while the Stingers won 101-78 over the Caro Contractors Pirates to win their division one series 2-1. Resistance 100, Aliv Bucket 98 Quemah Gibson, in 38 minutes and 19 seconds, shot 11-for-15 from the field, 2-for-5 from the threepoint arch and 3-for-6 from the free throw line for a game high 31 points to lead Caro Contractors to the victory. Gibson also had nine rebounds and four assists. Matthew Davis helped out with 25 points, five assists and three rebounds, Kamal Murphy had 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two rebounds and Comardo Seymour chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds. In a losing effort for Aliv, Rashad Ingraham had 29 points as he shot 10-for-27 from the field, 4-for-10 from the three-point line and

5-for-6 from the foul line in 36:23 minutes. He also pulled down 15 rebounds. Dylan Musgrove came off the bench and contributed 19 points, Kieran Mortimer had 16 points and 13 rebounds, Akeil Bullard had 12 points, six rebounds and two steals and James Rolle added 12 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals. Stingers 101, Pirates 78 Mark Hanna led all five starters in double figures with 21 points, including 6-for-11 from the field and 3-for-5 from the three-point

line in 33:30 minutes as PJ’s wrapped up their series. Devon Ferguson had 19 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, Salathiel Dean had 18 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three block shots, Randy Williams had 18 points, six assists, four steals and three rebounds and Mario Pickstock had 12 points, four rebounds and three assists. Scottie Farrington had 18 points, shooting 8-for16 from the field, 2-for-5 from the three-point line in 34:45 minutes as he added nine rebounds, five assists and as many steals to pace

THROWER CALEA JACKSON TOO YOUNG TO MAKE THIS YEAR’S CARIFTA TEAM By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ALTHOUGH she was considered to compete in the under-17 girls’ discus, Calea Jackson was a little too young to make this year’s team that will represent the country at the Flow CARIFTA Games over the Easter holiday weekend. But her coach Corrington Maycock said they used this year’s process to get her ready for participation in the 2019 CARIFTA Games in the Cayman Islands where he anticipates that she will not only make the team, but also be a potential medallist. “Calea is not your typical thrower,” said Maycock, the head coach of the Blue Chip Athletic Club. “She is very funny, matured and composed for her age and also very competitive. She wants to improve every time she competes. “I did not expect Calea to step up the way she did at the trials. “I wanted her to just experience the atmosphere and competition. I expect a major upgrade next year from Calea. She is learning to perfect her glide in the shot put and rotation in the discus.” As far as Maycock sees it, 12-year-old Jackson will be a force to reckon with in the under-17 division for the next three years before she explodes into stardom. Jackson, a seventh grade student at Queen’s College, has only been throwing under Maycock for a year and she’s quite pleased with the progress she’s made, including attaining the CARIFTA qualifying standard. “I think I did very well, considering that I wasn’t at my best that day,” said Jackson, who won the discus in the final trials on Saturday with a toss of 28.80 metres, or 96-feet, 4-inches, which turned out to be the best feat by any competitor. “I think I could have done better honestly.”

CALEA JACKSON But Jackson said she’s more than thrilled by the improvement she made over the year. “Next year, coach said I should make it with a little more practice,” she said. “So I’m definitely looking forward to next year. But I’m going to watch the games here and see how the competition is and what I will need to work on. “I know I need to work on my rotation and I need to do a little better in the shot put.” During a primary school meet a year ago at Queen’s College, Jackson said they were throwing shot put and after she won the competition, her physical education teacher introduced her to coach Maycock and the rest was history. Her mother Carla Carey said she is proud to watch the development of her daughter in such a short space of time. “I’m really impressed. It’s one of those situations where you want your kid to do well, even if she was just average, that would have been fine with me,” she stated. “But I’ve been going to all of her meets and it’s not even been a year yet and she has really improved. “I remember the first one she competed in, she under-achieved because she

was really nervous. She has this very timid personality, but once she gets comfortable and she warms up, she gets out there and she over performs.” On May 15, Jackson will turn 13 and so Carey said the plan is to allow her to continue throwing the shot and discus. But she noted that she is also interested in developing her skills as a ballerina, so she has her work cut out ahead of her. “It’s really hard to balance both of them, but she will be doing both of them,” Carey stressed. “I plan to be here to support her as long as it takes to get her to where she needs to be in life, if it’s in track and field or in dancing.” Carey said as long as Jackson has a passionate coach like Maycock, she’s confident that her daughter will succeed. “I don’t know how he does it, but he has a passion for what he’s doing,” she pointed out. “I go out there to all of the meets. I may have missed one or two meets, depending on what is going on elsewhere. “But he has this drive, this energy, this passion that’s second to none. Whenever Calea is competing, if there’s not a conflict where she’s competing against one of the senior members of the club, he’s right there pushing her along.” As a parent to coach, Carey said Maycock is a straight shooter and that is something that she can handle because they don’t try to waste anybody’s time. “I love what he’s doing with the kids. I see the energy and the love from the other moms when they come out. It’s like a little family,” she reflected. “I don’t know about the other clubs, but we have a very close knitted family atmosphere. “Whatever he gets out of her, I am satisfied because I believe that she will only get better as long as she stays committed to training under coach Maycock.”

THE RESISTANCE nipped the Aliv Bucket 100-98 to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-5 semi-finals. Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff Caro Contractors in the loss. Craig Smith Jr had 13 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals, Kronoff Dean had 11 points

and four rebounds off the bench and Dominique Fernander also came off the bench with 10 points and six rebounds.

Tonight 7pm - High Flyers vs Triple K Stampers 8:30pm - Rockets vs UB Mingoes

PAGE 4, Wednesday, March 21, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Rabada’s ban overturned, available for 3rd test By GERALD IMRAY AP Sports Writer SOUTH Africa’s Kagiso Rabada had his two-test ban overturned on appeal yesterday, meaning the world’s No. 1 bowler will be available for the remainder of the series against Australia. Rabada was banned by the International Cricket Council for the third and fourth tests after being found guilty of two charges of misconduct for inappropriate wicket celebrations in South Africa’s series-leveling victory in the second test in Port Elizabeth. The first charge, of deliberately bumping into Australia captain Steve Smith after getting him out in the first innings in Port

Elizabeth, earned Rabada three disciplinary demerit points, took him over a threshold, and resulted in a two-test ban. The 22-year-old Rabada and Cricket South Africa appealed that finding by arguing that he didn’t deliberately bump into Smith. The appeal was upheld after an independent judicial hearing in Cape Town on Monday. “The key issue is whether Mr Rabada made ‘inappropriate and deliberate physical contact’ with Mr Smith,” said judicial officer Mike Heron, who heard the appeal. “I am not ‘comfortably satisfied’ that Mr Rabada intended to make contact and I therefore find him not guilty.”

Heron released his ruling on Tuesday, two days before the third test starts. It was a rare case of a successful appeal against an ICC ruling, and the first time South Africa has succeeded with a legal challenge against cricket’s governing body. Cricket South Africa said it welcomed the decision. The decision to drop the two-test ban is a major boost for South Africa ahead of the third test in Cape Town starting on Thursday. Rabada won the man-of-the-match award in the second test with 11 wickets and is the spearhead of the home team’s bowling attack. The South Africa-Australia series is level at 1-1 with tests in Cape Town

JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE OF NASSAU

and Johannesburg to come and South Africa seeking a first home series win over arch-rival Australia since the end of apartheid. Having cleared him of deliberately bumping into Smith, Heron instead found Rabada guilty of the lower-level offence of “non-deliberate and minor contact” and issued him with a one demerit point penalty and a fine of 25 per cent of his match fee. That punishment did not constitute enough demerit points for a ban. Rabada had already pleaded guilty to a second charge in Port Elizabeth, of shouting in Australia batsman David Warner’s face when he got him out. That also didn’t constitute enough demerit points for a suspension. As a successful young black cricketer, Rabada is a sporting role model in postapartheid South Africa, but his huge talent has been undermined by a series of disciplinary sanctions. He was previously found guilty of inappropriate wicket celebrations on three occasions before this series and served a one-test ban in England last year. While celebrating Smith’s wicket in the second test against Australia, Rabada went down the pitch toward his teammates, bumping shoulders with Smith on the way. The contact was light, but the ICC recently brought in rules to stop any kind of physical contact

SOUTH Africa’s batsman Kagiso Rabada leaves the field after being dismissed by Australia’s bowler Mitchell Starc, for 3 runs on day two of the first cricket test match between South Africa and Australia in Durban, South Africa, on March 2. (AP) between bowlers and batsmen in an effort to remove flashpoints in games. “I consider the conduct was inappropriate, lacked respect for his fellow player and involved non-deliberate and minor contact,” Heron said in a statement Tuesday. “The actions contravened the principle that a dismissed batsman should be left alone.” The ICC said it accepted the decision of the independent judicial hearing but also reminded players of their “responsibilities to maintaining a standard of behaviour which sets a good example to players at all levels of the game.”

This series between South Africa and Australia has been ill-tempered. Rabada is the fifth player in just two tests to be punished for misconduct. The first test in Durban was also overshadowed by an offfield confrontation between Australia’s Warner and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock, who were involved in a heated argument on a staircase outside the team dressing rooms. During the argument, Warner had to be physically restrained by teammates and later accused de Kock of making a “vile and disgusting” comment about his wife.

JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE OF NASSAU

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 21, 2018, PAGE 5

MINNESOTA Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns dunks in front of Clippers guard Milos Teodosic (4) in the second quarter last night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)

TOWNS, WIGGINS LEAD TIMBERWOLVES PAST CLIPPERS 123-109 By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The intensity for Andrew Wiggins and the Minnesota Timberwolves that has been inconsistently present with Jimmy Butler out was on full display. This critical matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers brought out their best. Karl-Anthony Towns racked up 30 points and 10 rebounds for his NBA-best 60th double-double and Wiggins scored 27 points in an all-around performance, leading the Timberwolves to a 123-109 victory on Tuesday night that stretched their lead over the

Clippers to three games. “It’s just desperation,” Wiggins said. “We know that we needed this game. They’re right behind us.” Jeff Teague pitched in 20 points and 12 assists for the Timberwolves, who swept the four-game season series and sent the weary Clippers to their fourth consecutive loss on the commencement of a four-game, six-night trip. “Everybody had to be in. You can’t have half the group playing with urgency, half the group not playing with it,” Clippers sixth man Lou Williams said. Jamal Crawford scored 20 points on his 38th birthday and Taj Gibson had 15 points as the Timberwolves (41-31) crept into

seventh place in the Western Conference, one-half game behind New Orleans and San Antonio and one-half game ahead of Utah. Denver (38-33) is ninth. The Clippers (37-33) dropped to 10th place. DeAndre Jordan led the Clippers with 18 points and 12 rebounds, but Tobias Harris played with flu-like symptoms and finished with only 10 points on 5-for-16 shooting, missing all five of his 3-point tries. “I just felt like I’ve got to be there for my teammates, and whatever I could bring, just bring it,” Harris said. “That’s it. It was a rough night.” Neither team led by more than six points until the Wolves awoke

early in the third quarter and used a 13-0 run to build a 72-59 advantage. Just as they did on Sunday night to make a noncompetitive matchup Houston close in the waning minutes after the Rockets agitated them with some rough stuff, the Wolves snapped back when the Clippers engaged them in some extra-physical play. Towns took his share of hard contact underneath by the much burlier Jordan and Montrezl Harrell. Gibson and Teague each had blood drawn by inadvertent elbows or forearms to the face. “They noticed that it was a physical game, and they went out and got more physical,” Clippers

coach Doc Rivers said. “We went the other way.” WINNING WITH WIGGINS The Wolves are 5-5 without Butler, who’s out following knee surgery. Wiggins made all three of his 3-point attempts in the third, and he matched his career high with three blocks while displaying energy and hustle on both ends of the floor. At one point in that quarter, he harassed Austin Rivers from end to end and nearly stole the ball from the coach’s son, an effort that brought the crowd and the team to life. “He’s one of those guys who doesn’t show a lot of emotion, but when you see him make a play like that, you get excited,” Teague said.

Celtics end Thunder’s win streak on Morris’ 3-pointer BOSTON (AP) — Marcus Morris made a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left and the Boston Celtics stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder 100-99 on Tuesday night. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Morris added 21 points as Boston snapped the Thunder’s six-game win streak. Russell Westbrook finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Oklahoma City, which fell apart in the closing minute. HAWKS 99, JAZZ 94 SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dennis Schroder scored a career-high 41 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, and Atlanta stunned Utah. Dewayne Dedmon had 15 points and 15 rebounds to help the Eastern Conference-worst Hawks snap their six-game losing skid and end Utah’s winning streak at nine. Taurean Prince made four free throws in the final 11 seconds to clinch the victory. The Jazz, who won 21 of 23 games in between losses to the Hawks, made their final field goal on Gobert’s basket with 2:33 to play and missed their last five shots. PELICANS 115, MAVERICKS 105 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Anthony Davis scored 37 points, and New Orleans overcame the absence of second-leading scorer Jrue Holiday to beat struggling Dallas.

BOSTON Celtics forward Marcus Morris, top right, puts up his game-winning 3-point shot over Oklahoma City Thunder centre Steven Adams (12) and forward Paul George last night. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Rajon Rondo added 19 points and 14 assists, and Ian Clark also scored 19 points for the Pelicans, who are in a tight, seven-team race for one of the final five Western Conference playoff spots. Davis made 15 of 21 shots, helped by Rondo setting him up for several easy baskets inside. New Orleans shot 52.7 percent (48 of 91) as a team.

Dirk Nowitzki and Harrison Barnes each scored 19 for the Mavericks, who’ve lost three straight and four of five. RAPTORS 93, MAGIC 86 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Lowry scored 25 points and Toronto used a strong fourthquarter defensive effort to

beat Orlando. Toronto limited Orlando to 3-of-19 shooting (15.8 percent) in the fourth quarter, helping the Raptors overcome an eight-point deficit and win for the 12th time in their last 13 games. Serge Ibaka had 14 points and Deion Wright and Norman Powell had 10 apiece for Toronto. Shelvin Mack led Orlando with 17 points.

Aaron Gordon, returning after missing five games with a concussion, added 16 points. Nikola Vucevic had 15 points and nine rebounds for Orlando, which has lost seven of its last eight.

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THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 21, 2018, PAGE 7

ENGLAND WEAK IN KEY AREAS AS WORLD CUP APPROACHES By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — With less than three months to go, at least half of England’s starting lineup for its opening match of the World Cup remains uncertain. It makes the upcoming friendlies against Netherlands and Italy pivotal for England coach Gareth Southgate — and also for a slew of players who might otherwise have viewed the matches as a distraction amid a crucial stage of the season at club level. Gone are the days when the England team was filled with Premier League superstars and the lineup often picked itself. The starters for its most recent match — a friendly against Brazil on November 14 — contained only five players who would be considered regular starters for their clubs: Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire, Ryan Bertrand, Eric Dier and Jamie Vardy. Go back to England’s last competitive game and the

situation was the same. For the World Cup qualifying win over Slovenia October 5 that clinched England a spot in Russia, only five starters were first-choice at their clubs: Walker, Bertrand, Dier, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane. Consequently, Southgate is going to have to rely on a number of players who won’t exactly be match-sharp for the World Cup. Considering England’s squad often turns up at major tournaments burnt out from a gruelling domestic season, it might not necessarily be such a bad thing. It also means there is plenty at stake over the next week for players looking to impress Southgate and earn a place on the plane to Russia. These are the last friendlies before Southgate names his World Cup squad and one good 90-minute display could be all it takes. GOALKEEPER Maybe England’s biggest area of concern.

GARETH SOUTHGATE, the manager of England’s soccer team, speaks to the media. (AP)

made errors in recent Premier League games and also play for teams who have been in poor form in the last few months. Southgate called up uncapped Nick Pope, who has been superb for Burnley, for the upcoming friendlies but it would be a massive leap of faith to start him. “Clearly the No. 1 jersey is up for grabs,” Southgate has said. It could still be Hart’s jersey to lose, which is something of a concern for England fans.

Joe Hart has been England’s No. 1 for most of this decade but has struggled for confidence since being let go by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in August 2016. A loan spell at Italian club Torino last season featured plenty of mistakes, while he was relegated to backup keeper at West Ham from late November until being recalled for its last game. Of the possible replacements for Hart, Jack Butland (Stoke) and Jordan Pickford (Everton) have

CENTRE BACK It would help whoever is selected in goal to have an experienced centre back partnership ahead of him. That won’t be case, however. Of the five players in Southgate’s latest squad who can play in central defence, there are just 27 international appearances — and John Stones has 23 of them. However, Stones is currently fourth-choice centre back at Manchester City. Joe Gomez is the subject of

rotation at Liverpool, where he plays at right back, while James Tarkowski (Burnley) and Alfie Mawson (Swansea) are newcomers to the squad. Maguire is the other option and is looking increasingly like a World Cup starter, with Chris Smalling and the experienced Gary Cahill not currently in Southgate’s thoughts.

Wilshere and newcomer Lewis Cook, but this department appears to be another area of weakness for England. The options for the attacking playmaker role look slightly stronger, with Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard now probably ahead of Adam Lallana after his injury-hit season at Liverpool.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD This was once a position of strength for England — remember when Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick were competing for starting spots? — but it is now a sea of mediocrity, at least when compared to the world’s biggest soccer nations. Southgate experimented with a five-man defence in England’s friendlies against Germany and Brazil in November, meaning he fielded two deep-lying centre midfielders in Dier and Jake Livermore. There is also competition from Jordan Henderson, Jack

BACK-UP STRIKER With Harry Kane out because of an ankle injury, the upcoming games will offer clues about who Southgate regards as his leading backup striker heading to the World Cup. Marcus Rashford is among the striker options but has barely played in that position all season, instead featuring sporadically as a winger at Manchester United. Injury-prone Danny Welbeck is a fringe player at Arsenal these days, so Jamie Vardy looks to be best-placed to benefit from Kane’s absence in the short term.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 71° F/22° C Low: 46° F/8° C

TAMPA

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

A morning shower; partly sunny

Clear to partly cloudy

Mostly sunny

Sunshine and patchy clouds

Partly sunny and pleasant

Mostly sunny and pleasant

High: 83°

Low: 64°

High: 78° Low: 62°

High: 77° Low: 62°

High: 78° Low: 63°

High: 80° Low: 64°

AccuWeather RealFeel

85° F

63° F

80°-60° F

79°-63° F

81°-66° F

88°-68° F

High: 67° F/19° C Low: 51° F/11° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

almanac

ABACO

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 64° F/18° C

10-20 knots

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 50° F/10° C

10-20 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 55° F/13° C

W S

WEST PALM BEACH

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 58° F/14° C

MIAMI

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 54° F/12° C

10-20 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 70° F/21° C Normal high ....................................... 79° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 66° F/19° C Last year’s high ................................. 77° F/25° C Last year’s low ................................... 62° F/17° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 6.79” Normal year to date ..................................... 3.94”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 64° F/18° C

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 69° F/21° C

KEY WEST

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 60° F/16° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 70° F/21° C

7-14 knots

7-14 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

11:18 a.m. 11:48 p.m.

2.6 2.9

5:21 a.m. -0.2 5:30 p.m. -0.3

Thursday

12:07 p.m. -----

2.5 -----

6:12 a.m. -0.1 6:19 p.m. -0.2

Friday

12:42 a.m. 1:02 p.m.

2.9 2.3

7:09 a.m. 0.0 7:14 p.m. -0.1

Saturday

1:42 a.m. 2:06 p.m.

2.9 2.3

8:12 a.m. 8:18 p.m.

0.1 0.0

Sunday

2:47 a.m. 3:15 p.m.

2.8 2.3

9:20 a.m. 9:27 p.m.

0.2 0.0

Monday

3:55 a.m. 4:24 p.m.

2.9 2.4

10:27 a.m. 0.1 10:36 p.m. -0.1

Tuesday

5:00 a.m. 5:29 p.m.

2.9 2.5

11:30 a.m. -0.1 11:42 p.m. -0.2

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

7:13 a.m. 7:21 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

10:10 a.m. 11:32 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Mar. 24

Mar. 31

Apr. 8

Apr. 15

CAT ISLAND

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 69° F/21° C

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

4-8 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS W at 10-20 Knots NW at 8-16 Knots NW at 7-14 Knots N at 8-16 Knots SW at 8-16 Knots NNW at 7-14 Knots SSW at 4-8 Knots N at 6-12 Knots WSW at 8-16 Knots NW at 7-14 Knots WNW at 10-20 Knots NW at 8-16 Knots SW at 7-14 Knots NNW at 7-14 Knots SW at 4-8 Knots N at 6-12 Knots SW at 6-12 Knots N at 7-14 Knots S at 6-12 Knots NNW at 6-12 Knots W at 6-12 Knots NNW at 6-12 Knots W at 4-8 Knots N at 8-16 Knots SW at 8-16 Knots NNW at 7-14 Knots

WAVES 4-8 Feet 4-8 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 4-7 Feet 4-7 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 4-7 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 74° F 74° F 77° F 77° F 77° F 77° F 79° F 79° F 77° F 77° F 73° F 73° F 77° F 77° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 75° F 75° F 78° F 78° F 77° F 77° F

Covering The Bahamas for over 40 years. NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

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(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

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PAGE 8, Wednesday, March 21, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Els says Tiger Woods playing well validates previous generational By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Tiger Woods has come close to looking like the player who ruled golf for the better part of 15 years, and Ernie Els is happy to see it. Never mind that Els was on the losing end to Woods more than any other player. He speaks for his generation of Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and others. Els keeps hearing about the depth of talent being greater than ever, and he has seen it. But he gets weary listening to suggestions that Woods might not have 79 PGA Tour victories if he had to face this group. “I’m just glad he’s playing like I know he can play to validate me — validate me, Phil and Vijay,” Els said. “We weren’t bad players. This guy was a special player. To see him back, playing special stuff again ... is great for the game.” Generational debates are nothing new. Every generation was better than the next one. Then again, Jack Nicklaus used to lament that Woods was lacking competition from players who had more experience winning majors, such as Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, Tom Watson and Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros. Mickelson, Els and Singh combined to win 12 majors. Els says Woods won 14 on his own because he was that much better. Does it get under his skin to hear fans rave about this generation’s players? “It doesn’t (tick) me off. Can you imagine how it must (tick) Tiger off?” he said. “He was leaps and bounds the best player. People forget very quickly, and then you see special

players like we have now, the younger generation. But I know what I played against. You can’t take anything away from anybody.” LEFTY REJECTION: Jordan Spieth says the importance of signing autographs for kids is to give them the personal touch, and perhaps inspire them. He knows that because he was one of those kids, trying to get autographs while attending the Byron Nelson Classic. One of those moments involved Phil Mickelson. It didn’t end well. “There was a time that I was out with my dad, and Phil Mickelson and Davis Love were on the putting green,” Spieth said. “And I was yelling at them — as I now get annoyed while I’m practicing when I’m getting yelled at — and they were talking and then they said, ‘One second.’ And when they finished, Phil was pulled off in a different direction and Davis came and signed for me. “And I thought for the longest time that Phil just blew me off, and Davis was like the nicest guy,” Spieth said. “And Phil, I didn’t care for as much for a little while because of that.” Spieth laughed as he told the story, mainly because he now knows the drill. “He could have been late for media, he could have been having a sponsor obligation. “He could have been going over to sign for a kids’ area, where there was a 100 of them,” Spieth said. “Time management is so different out there. You have no idea, and there’s certainly been kids that probably think I’ve blown them off, which was never my intention. It would have

That is now in doubt. Koepka was quoted by Treasure Coast Newspapers as saying that doctors told him he would be about 80 per cent healthy, and that he doesn’t want to risk reinjuring the wrist and being away from golf even longer. His manager at Hambric Sports, Blake Smith, says the report was premature. “No decision has been made,” Smith said Tuesday.

TIGER Woods lines up his putt on the third green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament on Sunday. (AP Photo/Phelan M Ebenhack) never been Phil’s intention, either.” Spieth was 19 when he made it on the PGA Tour. The first time he played with Mickelson, he shot 62 in the final round at the TPC Boston, a round that inspired Mickelson to recommend Spieth for the Presidents Cup. And yes, Spieth told him the

story from his youth. “He probably responded with a Phil-like, ‘Yeah, I knew who you were and I didn’t want to go over there and sign it,’” Spieth said. KOEPKA UPDATE: US Open champion Brooks Koepka had hoped to recover from his wrist injury in time for the Masters.

GAMESMANSHIP: Paul Casey has seen his share of gamesmanship in match play, most notably on the professional level when Jason Day wouldn’t concede short putts in the Match Play. One of his memorable times was as a junior in England. This involved miscommunication, and the sudden ability to lose the ability to speak English. His opponent’s ball was close to Casey’s line on the green, both of them about 10 feet away, and there was eye contact on what to do. “I assumed he looked at me to confirm whether his marker was in my life and it needed to be moved,” Casey said. “And I said, ‘That’s OK there.’ So he picked it up. And then of course his perfect English ... yeah, he lost his ability to understand English all of a sudden.” Casey doesn’t remember the outcome, and he doesn’t expect anything like that his week. WINNER’S FEAST: Rory McIlroy won the Arnold Palmer Invitational for his first victory in 18 months, which would seem to call for quite a celebration. Then again, maybe not. “Two glasses of wine and a big bowl of ice cream,” McIlroy said Tuesday. “That was it. And I

watched the highlights, but I fell asleep before the fireworks started on the 15th. Just tired.” The ice cream of champions: Ben & Jerry’s. One scoop of Salted Caramel. One scoop of Americone Dream. The wine was Opus One. MAJOR INVITATIONAL: Dustin Johnson had reason to feel like a winner last week even without playing. Johnson’s team of juniors went wire-to-wire and won by seven shots over a junior team representing Jack Nicklaus in the inaugural Major Champions Invitational. Nick Faldo organised the event as an extension of his Faldo Series for juniors. He reached out to some 20 major champions who have foundations and junior programs to send boys and girls to Bella Collina outside Orlando, Florida. Johnson’s team of Isabella Britt, Trent Phillips, Lauren Stephenson and Grayson Wotnosky combined to post 19-under par. Tom McKibbin, a 15-year-old from Northern Ireland, won the male division while representing Rory McIlroy. Cory Lopez, a 16-year-old from Mexico, won the female division as an individual. STAT OF THE WEEK: Five of the 11 winners on the PGA Tour this year have at least 10 career tour victories — Phil Mickelson (43), Dustin Johnson (17), Rory McIlroy (14), Jason Day (11) and Bubba Watson (10). FINAL WORD: “I don’t really chirp at guys who have $100 million.” — Pat Perez, on why there isn’t much trash talking when he plays Phil Mickelson.

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