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SPORTS SECTION E

MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2018

Giants, Saints national basketball champions By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net A PAIR of new national champions emerged from the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s Bunny Levarity National Round Robin and featured a title split between New Providence and Grand Bahama. The NPBA’s Commonwealth Bank Giants won the Division I title while the Coca Cola Reach Out Saints protected home court in Grand Bahama with the Division II title at the Jack Hayward Gymnasium in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Division I Commonwealth Bank Giants – 86 Fast Track Gym Rats - 80

As they did for much of the season, D’Shon Taylor and Michael Bain Jr were the catalysts behind the Giants’ offence en route to the win. Taylor finished with a game high 26 points, six rebounds and five assists while Bain added 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Jeffrey Henfield scored 10, Gamaliel Rose added 10 points and seven rebounds while Tehran Cox scored eight. Trevor Bain led the Gym Rats with 18 points, Franklyn Petion scored 13 while Kiplin Fowler, Keno Russell and Desmond Butler all finished with eight points apiece. The Giants’ ball movement led to their efficient offensive production all game long with 36 of their field goals coming on 22 assists. Tied at 72 with 4:21 left to play

in regulation, the Giants went on a 9-1 run to put the game away. Taylor sparked the run with his jumper followed by another from Bain. Trevor Bain split a pair at the line for the Gym Rats but the Giants got back to their run with a jumper from Henfield and a three from Bain gave the Giants an 81-73 lead with 2:34 left to play. The Gym Rats came within five but several key baskets down the stretch sealed the title for Commonwealth Bank. The Giants got out to a 12-4 lead in the first quarter and took a 21-16 lead at the end of the period. The Gym Rats tied the game at 23 early in the second quarter when Devon Clark made the second of two free throws. The Giants rebounded with a 14-4 run and took their first double

figure lead of the game when Bain made a three pointer to make the score 37-27 with 3:36 left in the half. Jabar Lightbourne’s late layup brought the Gym Rats within three, but Bain followed with his second three of the quarter on the ensuing possession. They led 42-36 at the half. Fast Track would trim the deficit to just a single possession at several points in the third, but were unable to tie or take control. Henfield’s late jumper with 33 seconds left gave the Giants a 59-56 lead headed into the fourth and they would go on to outscore the Gym Rats by three in the final frame. The national championships made its way back to the second city (Freeport) after it was hosted

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Bahamas winless in Beach Soccer Cup By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

he home team scored the final goal of the Bahamas Beach Soccer Cup but finished the tournament winless and in fourth place in the final standings. The Bahamas suffered a 4-2 loss to the United States in the third place match last night at the National Beach Soccer Stadium in the tournament presented by Beach Soccer Worldwide. Mexico took the Cup championship with a 5-4 win over Spain. The United States got three goals from team captain Nicolas Perera and another goal from Jason Dos Santos en route to the win. The Bahamas got goals from Lesly St Fleur and the final shot a header from Daron Beneby with 17 seconds left to play. “It is an A class effort, unfortunately we didn’t come out with the result that we wanted, but when you step out onto the pitch, win, lose, or draw you want it to be a learning experience. To play at this level we know the amount of work we have to do and the number of games we have to play in order to maintain,” said Bahamas team captain Gavin Christie. “We have to introduce the young players to the sport to keep pushing the younger guys like myself. So it was a good experience for them this tournament and hopefully in another year or so they will be the stars of the team.” The Americans’ first shot on goal early in the second period struck the goalpost just beyond outstretched arms of Bahamian goalkeeper Julio Jemison. Perera would score in the box just moments later at the 7:39 mark. Dwayne Forbes had an opportunity for the equaliser on a

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MEN’S 4 X 400 TEAM 2ND AT PENN RELAYS By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH another outstanding anchor leg from Alonzo Russell, the men’s 4 x 400 metre team placed second behind the United States of America in the much anticipated USA versus the World showdown while the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine got into a couple high school finals at the 124th version of the Penn Relays. On the final day of competition Saturday at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Russell joined the team of Ramon Miller, Teray Smith and Michael Mathieu as they clocked three minutes and 02.54 seconds to finish behind the USA that won in 3:01.31. Jamaica had to settle for third in 3:03.12. Russell got the baton in third place from Mathieu and kept his composure until the back stretch where he passed Jamaica’s Jermaine Gayle. He went after American Mike Berry and although he caught him coming off the final curve, he didn’t have enough left in the tank to accelerate to the front. It was the second time in two weeks that Russell has anchored the Bahamas to a second place. At the recent Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia, Russell was on the anchor leg as he chased Botswana’s Isaac Makwala through the finish line. The rest of the team comprising of Ojay Ferguson, Smith and Stephen Newbold had to settle for the silver as Botswana clinched the gold.

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GIBSON WINS 400M HURDLES AT DRAKE RELAYS By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE BAHAMAS suffered a 4-2 loss to the US in the third place match last night at the national beach soccer stadium. Mexico took the Cup championship with a 5-4 win over Spain. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Darnette Weir new president of the BLTA By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FLAG FOOTBALL

Darnette Weir will serve as the new president of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association. During the annual general meeting held on Thursday at the National Tennis Centre, Weir and nine of her slate of officers were voted in. Weir, the incumbent secretary general, replaces outgoing president Elwood Donaldson, who didn’t seek another term in office. Joining Weir on the board are Ceron Rolle as first vice president, Terran Rodgers as second vice president, Bjorn Ferguson as treasurer, Timothy Dames as assistant treasurer, Chilean Burrows as secretary and Nadine Munroe as assistant secretary. Council members are Brent Johnson, Philip Major Jr, Perry Newton Jr, Marvin Rolle and Wesley Rolle. “I had submitted a full slate before the elections because

persons normally just we have on the board, show up to the AGM and I think we can transthey were nominated,” form or re-brand the Weir said. association.” “I decided that I For the next two years, wanted to present a platusing the theme: “Transform and so I selected forming the Tennis the persons who I Arena,” Weir and her wanted on my team. In officers will use the foldoing that, I think we lowing as her platform: would have the same * To bridge the vision and goals and the gap within the tennis chemistry to fulfil those community goals. That was why I * To focus on grasstook that route.” root tennis in recruiting In the end, it paid off. raw talent amongst WEIR “I wanted persons who underprivileged children I feel would be a worker * To make the Bahabecause we have a lot of things to mas Lawn Tennis Association do and I want people who will be financially stable to implement willing to take the association to needed programmes to grow the next level,” she stated. tennis and to comfortably cover “I think we have an ambitious platform and with the people SEE PAGE 3

GRAND Bahamian national record holder Jeffery Gibson powered from behind for a victory in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. And Purdue Boilermaker Devynne Charlton saw her bid for an upset in the women’s 100m hurdles bumped out on the seventh hurdle. During the meet on Saturday in the Drake Stadium at Drake University, Gibson trailed in third place for the majority of the race until he cleared the last flight of 10 hurdles. That’s when he got a clean clearance and he surged past American leader Bershawn Jackson, who clipped his bar. The 6-foot, 4-inch Gibson, running for Nike in lane six, used his height to get the extra steps to the finish line to clock 49.09 seconds for the win. Jackson, coming out of a brief retirement to run for Nike as well, slipped to fourth place in 49.64 in lane four after he was passed by three other competitors, including Jamaica’s Annsert Whyte, who was fourth in 49.34. “I know he caught me very early and this is a 400m hurdles, so you still have a lot of race to run,” said Gibson in a post interview with American Butch Johnson after the race. “I know I’m in my own lane and I’m focusing on my own run.”

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Bahamas 8th overall in the Tournament of Champions THE Bahamas Flag Football League sent an All-Star ladiesâ€™ team to compete in the Tournament of Champions flag football tournament in Las Vegas. Thirteen teams competed and after day 1 of the tournament, the Bahamas would finish with a 1-2 winloss record and an overall ranking of 7th place. This ranking placed the Bahamas as the top seeded team in the North American Division of the tournament. After receiving a bye and winning their first game on day 2 of the tournament, the Bahamas would advance to the divisional championships. Unfortunately, their opponents, First String Flag Football Club from San Francisco, proved too strong and won the championship game 19-0. The Bahamas would finish in 8th place overall.

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Monday, April 30, 2018, PAGE 3

Giants, Saints national basketball champions SPORTS FROM PAGE 1 in Abaco last year. GBBA president Quentin Hall said that he was pleased to have the tournament back in Grand Bahama. “We’re happy to have the tournament here in Grand Bahama. We’ve been looking forward to it for an entire year. We know how it was to get to Abaco last year so we were happy to host the teams coming in.” Both the Giants and Gym Rats opened the tournament with relatively untested wins on day one to begin their path to the championship. The Giants scored an 86-48 win over the Bimini Marlins led by 20 points and seven rebounds from Gameliel Rose. Fast Track would win 93-83 over the Marsh Harbour

Darnette Weir new president of the BLTA

Division II Coca Cola Reach Out Saints – 87 Breezes High Flyers – 79 The Saints were the most dominant team in the field over the course of the weekend and cemented that status in the title game. Joshua Cornish had 19 points for the Saints and several Tabernacle

Baptist Falcons teammates – fresh off their national High School championship title – were also major contributors led by Regis Cooper’s 21 points and 12 rebounds, Seandre Todd’s 14 points and Shyrone Kemp had nine rebounds. Jack Hayward’s Cleavon Clarke scored 10 and Howard Hinzey added nine. Jeremy Neely led the High Flyers with 17 points, Dave Davis had 10 points and 16 rebounds, Devonte Gibson finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Shanton Pratt added nine points and six steals. Delano Forbes’ three pointer brought the High Flyers within one, 78-77 with 1:16 left to play, but the Saints closed the game on a 9-2 run. Hinzey made a layup, followed by a jumper from Cornish, and five free throws from Clarke down the stretch to secure the win.

The Saints opened tournament play with an 85-60 win over the High Flyers on day one. Todd led five players in double figures with 15 points. Also, on day one, the Crusaders (Eleuthera) escaped with a 71-69 win over the Young Legends out of Abaco. On day two, the High Flyers rebounded with an 81-71 win over the Young Legends, the Saints won 70-43 over the Bimini Marlins followed by the Legends’ 72-48 win over the Marlins and the High Flyers concluded day one with a 56-42 win over the Crusaders. On day three, the Saints had their closest game of the tournament but won 68-63 over the Young Legends. The Crusaders won 48-44 over the Marlins, the High Flyers also defeated the Marlins 54-26 and the Saints concluded the afternoon with a 75-60 win over the Crusaders.

Bahamas winless in Beach Soccer Cup FROM PAGE 1 penalty shot near the nine-minute mark of the second period, but it went wide right. Perera scored his second goal of the match on a penalty kick to take a 2-0 lead. Christie attempted to respond on the ensuing kickoff but a spectacular effort from US goalkeeper Christopher Toth kept the Bahamas scoreless. The next opportunity for the Bahamas to score was on a St Fleur’s header, but it was turned away by Toth once again. The Americans added to their lead when Oscar Reyes assisted Dos Santos whose goal found the back of the net for a 3-0 lead. The Bahamas would finally get on the scoreboard as St Fleur took advantage of a miscommunication between Toth and defender Christian Blandon. Perrara scored his third goal on the ensuing possession just seconds later to put the US ahead 4-1. Beneby’s late header would bring about the game’s final margin. The Beach Soccer Worldwide Tour Bahamas

FROM PAGE 1 operational costs. * To be a vibrant presence in the sporting arena in The Bahamas. Weir said she intends to meet with her executives this week so that they can chart the course of direction for the association together and not what is dictated by the president or secretary general. “I’m involving everybody. I’m using their strength because I think by doing so, having people feel more valued, they will be more inclined to do the work,” she stated. “So I will use persons strengths and I believe persons on the job have something to bring to the table. So we are all about transforming the association.” The mother of talented junior tennis player Donte Armbrister said she would definitely like to focus on a more vibrant grassroot programme and will be looking at trying to instal more courts at the National Tennis Centre now that the parking lot has been paved. Once that is done, Weir said they will be looking at reaching out to the friends of tennis by bringing back the glory days. This is the first full twoyear term that has been instituted in the BLTA after they made a resolution last year to increase it from one year because it wasn’t sufficient for any team in office to accomplish their goals. Weir said once they meet as a team, she will be able to articulate their plans for the this term and a longterm goal for the next five years.

Hoopers out of Abaco. Trevor Bain and Keno Russell finished with 25 points and 21 points respectively to lead the Gym Rats. On day two, the Giants met the Gym Rats for the first time and won 72-68, led by Michael Bain’s 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Hoopers also defeated the Marlins 72-70. On day three, the Giants won 79-63 over the Hoopers and the Gym Rats outlasted the Marlins 81-85 in overtime.

THE BAHAMAS suffered a 4-2 loss to the US in the third place match last night at the national beach soccer stadium. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Beach Soccer Cup 2018 came to the Bahamas approximately one year after the country hosted the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. The event featured the hosts, United States, Mexico and Spain in a round robin format over

GIBSON FROM PAGE 1

PENN RELAYS FROM PAGE 1

The Bahamas also participated in the sprint medley on the ladies’ side of the USA vs the World match-up. The team of Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson and Tamara Myers (running the first two 100m respectively), TyNia Gaither (200m) and Katrina Seymour (400m) had to settle for fourth place in 1:39.03. The USA took the top spot in 1:35.20 with Trinidad & Tobago second in 1:37.42 and Jamaica third in 1:38.31. The Bahamas didn’t enter teams in the women and men 4 x 100m or the women’s 4 x 400m and the men’s sprint medley. The USA, with a cadre of young competitors, won five of the six events, losing just the women’s 4 x 100m relay to Jamaica. Big Red Machine roll on St Augustine’s team of Megan Moss, running slightly injured in a split of 55.90, Jada Knowles (57.04), Marissa White (55.60) and Doneisha Anderson (53.02) sped to victory in their heats of

Gibson, a former 400m specialist, said he relied on his strength and that was the difference in the outcome. “Coming from the 400 to the hurdles, the straight away I know I’m very strong,” he admitted. “I just had to focus on clearing it easily and the rest of it is just running.” The 27-year-old Gibson picked up the victory after he turned in a silver medal performance in 49.10 at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia. He joined strongman Bradley Cooper as the only Bahamian to return to the games to win another medal in the same event, improving on his bronze in Glasgow in 2014. With the IAAF World Championships heading to Doha, Qatar in 2019, Gibson is hoping to add to the bronze he collected at the last championships in Beijing, China where he lowered his national record to 48.17 in 2015. Meanwhile, it wasn’t quite the finish that Charlton anticipated

the high school girls 4 x 400m relay. But without Moss and Knowles, the team of White, Anderson, Anthaya Charlton and Kayneshia Carter ended up ninth in the Championship of America final in 4:01.04. SAC’s girls 4 x 100m team of Lakelle Kinteh, Anderson, Charlton and Knowles had the second fastest qualifying time of 46.21 in the heat. St John’s team of Shania Darrell, Jameka Chisholm, India Cartwright and Geordan Thurston was 15th in 49.25. In the Championship of America final, the combo of Knowles, Charlton, Kinteh and Anderson ran 46.64 for seventh place. The Big Red Machine’s 4 x 100m team of Lowell Bethel, Joel Johnson, Raymond Oriaki and Adrian Curry finished fifth in their heat in 42.32 to advance to the Championship of America final. In the final, the same combo did 41.41 for seventh place. Going for some exposure, the Big Red Machine’s team of Oriakhi (49.28), Oscar Smith (49.70), Rickey Moxey (50.65) and Kyle Humes (51.80) were second in their heat of the 4 x 400m in 3:41.21. In the girls’ high school javelin, SAC’s Latia Saunders was eighth with her toss of 39.77

three days. “The team has progressed [since the World Cup] but it can’t be a year in between highlevel games like this. “We have to be playing games like this every three months and that’s a challenge,” Christie said. “These teams we are

in the women’s 100m hurdles. In fact, the Boilermaker senior led the race through the first seven flights of hurdles. That was when she clipped the eighth, ran through the ninth and watched as the race slipped away from her as she didn’t get to finish. World record holder Kendra Harrison kept her composure in lane four as she surged ahead of Charlton in two for the win in 12.37 to erase the previous meet record of 12.40 that was held by fellow American Jasmin Stowers, who was in the race and had to settle for fourth in 12.85 in lane six. Although they were hoping to add Charlton’s performance to their triumph, the 11th ranked Boilermakers went on to win the Hy-Vee Cup for the first time in Purdue’s history as they won eight events and broke two school records and a meet record on the final day of the meet. Bahamian and Purdue head coach Lonnie Greene, who is assisted by Norbert Elliott, was quite thrilled by the performances from the Boilermakers. “This is the beginning of the postseason for us. We’re still working

metres or 130-feet, 5-inches and Taylor Walters was ninth with 38.40m (125-11). Grand Bahamian teams In results of other schools that participated from the Bahamas, Grand Bahama’s Bishop Michael Eldon’s team of William Forbes, Ty Dawkins, Travis Joseph and Deshon Joseph was 66th in 45.37 in the boys’ 4 x 100m heats and their team of William Forbes, Travis Joseph, Braham Najman and Ty Dawkins got 11th in 3:23.59 in the 4 x 400m. Tabernacle Baptist Academy, also from Grand Bahama, competed in the boys’ 4 x 400m heat where they were ninth in 3:22.70. The team comprised of Devonte Smith, Nastario Williams, Shaquiel Higgs and Corey Sherrod. The Falcons’ 4 x 100m team of Corey Sherrod, Nastario Williams, Ethnie Stubbs and Shaquiel Higgs didn’t complete the race. UB Mingoes in action After the University of the Bahamas got an historic victory from Ken Mullings in the men’s decathlon, the Mingoes brought in the rest of their team and they made it to one more

playing against, they play high-level games every other month so they stay fit and they continue to grow. It cannot be a year in between games for us.” The Bahamas began the competition against Mexico, the eventual Cup champion, but suffered a 5-1 loss Friday night. They returned on Saturday with a 7-4 loss to Spain and were relegated to the third place game against the USA. Spain took an early 2-0 lead but Lesly St Fleur’s goal would put the Bahamas on the scoreboard in the opening moments of the second period. Spain eventually scored several unanswered goals and took a 7-2 lead. Gavin Christie and St Fleur would tack on goals late for the game’s final margin. In the opening game of the competition, Spain edged out the United States 4-3, with the goahead score of the game coming in the final 20 seconds of the match. Mexico earned their spot in the title match with an 8-6 win over the United States in the latest chapter of a heated CONCACAF rivalry.

and our work volume is still high,” Greene said. “We have 10 days before Big Tens and I’m very pleased with how we’re performing. We need to maintain this through the next few weeks for Big Tens, then for regionals and nationals. The big thing for me right now is that we’re healthy. “We were very aggressive and we walked away from the meet healthy. Even Devynne Charlton. She was leading the world-record holder in the 100-metre hurdles until she hit the seventh hurdle and pulled out. It was nice to win the trophy today. Now, we just need to keep the distractions down and keep working.” On Friday, Charlton was second in the women’s 200m final in 23.73. The race was won by her team-mate Brionne Thomas, a senior as well, in 22.99. The Drake Relays got started in 1910 and was the first major track and field event to be broadcast on the radio. It is now the second longest running track and field event in the USA, trailing the Penn Relays, which is 124 years old and was held this weekend as well in Philadelphia.

Championship of America Invitational. That came from their men’s 4 x 200m relay team of Anthony Adderley, Yurick Dean, Verdell McIntosh and Michael Stuart, but they didn’t get to complete the race that was won by Middle Tennessee. UB men’s 4 x 100m team of Javaughn Culmer, Anthony Adderley, Yurick Dean and Avery Thompson placed 36th in 42.83; their 4 x 200m team of Adderley, Dean, Verdell McIntosh and Mullings got seventh in 1:25.74 and their 4 x 400m team of Michael Stuart, Byandon Hanna, Donya Roberts (50.47) and Verdell McIntosh (50.23) came 43rd in 3:21.12. On the ladies’ side, the Mingoes’ 4 x 100m team of Jodie Miller, Alexander Strachan, Gabrielle Shannon and Romica Josey were 48th in 49.10 and Shannon, Miller, Strachan and Romila Torrey made up their 4 x 200m team that placed 30th in 1:42.90. Other Bahamians in action Brianne Bethel, competing for the University of Houston with “Golden Girl” Debbie FergusonMcKenzie as an assistant coach, got the better of a match-up with

NOTES

SOFTBALL NPSA OPENING RAINED OUT THE New Providence Softball Association, under the new presidency of Desiree Taylor, had to postpone the start of its 2018 regular season in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex on Saturday night due to the rain that left the field soaked. The association was hoping to get started with the teams matched against each other in the men and women championship games from last year. The league has announced that they will play a double header on Tuesday, starting at 7pm, but it will be the regular scheduled games for that night. The games that were not played on Saturday will be made up at a later date. This year, four teams will participate in the men’s division, including the C&S Hitmen, BTC Elite Warriors, Commando Security Truckers and the Chances Mighty Mitts. There are six ladies’ teams inclusive of the Sunshine Auto Wildcats, Johnson Lady Truckers, BTC Ladies, Hennessey Panthers, The Strykers and the Platinum Pool Lady Sharks. Taylor, just the second woman president of the league, said she intends to honour persons who have contributed to the sport and have never been recognised and host a few tournaments during holiday weekends, and restart the junior programme over the summer for 4-6 weeks and restart the inter-island play against the Family Island teams. • Here’s this week’s schedule: Tuesday 6:45pm - BTC vs Platinum Pool Sharks (L) 8:15pm - Chances Mighty Mitts vs Commando Security Truckers (M) Thursday 6:45pm - Strikers vs Hennessey Panthers (L) 8:15pm - Commando Security Truckers vs BTC Warriors (M) Saturday 6:45pm - Platinum Pool Sharks vs Johnson Lady Truckers (L) 8:15pm - C&S Hitmen vs Mighty Mitts (M) TRACK WALTER CALENDAR MEET POSTPONED THE DTSP Wolfpack Track Club has announced that its annual Walter Calendar Track Classic got rained out on Saturday at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. It will be rescheduled for Saturday, May 5, starting at 9am. Registration for the meet will reopen on Wednesday, May 2. Any persons who could not participate this weekend can now do so. All athletes already registered for the meet will be able to participate at no extra cost.

Eleuthera native Keianna Albury, running for Penn State in their Championship of America final match-up, although they didn’t run the same legs. In the 4 x 100m, Bethel anchored Houston’s team of Essance Sample, Ariele Adams and Samiyah Samuels to fifth place in 45.00. Albury, on the second leg for Penn State’s team of Brooke-Lynn Williams, Quenee Dale and Kiara Lester, had to settle for seventh place finish in 45.35. Albury’s quartet of Deja Davis, Lester and Madeline Holmberg got third in 1:33.86 in their other appearance in the Championship of America 4 x 200m final. And Xavier Coakley, popping off in his split of 48.9, helped Auburn’s team of Akeem Bloomfield (43.4), Chiason Tenkiang (47.46) and Nathon Allen (43.77) to a second place finish in the college men’s 4 x 400m Championship of America Invitational in 3;03.52 behind Houston, the winner in 3:01.82. Bahamian Henry Rolle is an assistant coach at Auburn. The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest meet on record in the USA, having started on April 21, 1895.

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Monday, April 30, 2018, PAGE 5

7th heaven: LeBron carries Cavs past Pacers in Game 7 By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James wasn’t ready to go home or to Philadelphia or Los Angeles. He’s heading to Toronto, bringing a Cavaliers team that isn’t done yet. Unwilling to sit despite battling leg cramps in the second half, James scored 45 points and got some much-needed help from his teammates in Game 7 to stay unbeaten in the opening round of the NBA playoffs, leading the Cavaliers to a 105-101 win yesterday over the Indiana Pacers, who pushed the game’s best player to the breaking point. Following the game, an exhausted James said the series took a physical toll. “I’m burnt right now,” he said. “I’m not thinking about Toronto right now until tomorrow. I’m ready to go home. Can we? I’m tired. I want to go home.” James added nine rebounds, seven assists and played over 43 minutes while improving to 13-0 in the first round. He kept Cleveland’s strange season alive — for the time being — but it took everything the 33-year-old and the Cavs had to hold off the Pacers, who came in confident after a 34-point win in Game 6. But James, who at times seemed to be playing the Pacers by himself in the series, pulled the Cavs back from the brink of elimination and at least delayed any more talk about impending free agency. “Amazing,” Indiana’s Victor Oladipo said of James. “He did what he always does. It’s not really shocking. He’s the best in the world, and that’s what the best does and now I gotta work to get on that level.” The Cavs will open the conference semi-finals on Tuesday at top-seeded Toronto. Early in the game, James looked at agent Rich Paul sitting courtside and told him he wasn’t coming out. James then played the first 35 minutes before heading to the locker room with one minute left in the third to be treated for what he said was “a little minor injury.” James said he was urged to get IV fluids but turned them down. Nothing was going to keep James off the floor in what some Cleveland fans feared could have

been his last game with the franchise. He fought through the fatigue. He had no choice. “It felt like a Game 7,” he said. “It was like, your mind is thinking like, ‘OK, besides the two I played in the Finals, you start thinking like, is this it? Could this be it?’ That’s just human nature. And then the other side of my brain was like, ‘Let’s go make something happen. Let’s go, that’s what you here for. You’re here to make plays, you’re the leader.’” The Cavs got a huge lift from Tristan Thompson, who played just 24 minutes in the first six games but made a rare start as Cavs coach Tyronn Lue used his 34th different starting lineup this season. Thompson added 15 points and 10 rebounds, Kevin Love made four 3-pointers, and George Hill returned after missing three games with back spasms to score 11 in 19 second-half minutes. “Five guys in double figures,” said Lue, who has taken heat for some decisions in the series. “But I’m just happy Tristan, because he’s been here with us for so long and been through all of the things we’ve been through over the course of the last four years, and to step in and play the way he did, I’m just so happy for him.” Oladipo scored 30 and Darren Collison had 23 for the Pacers, who were still within four in the final minute before a cutting James scored on a bullet pass from Kyle Korver with 30 seconds left. “Best receiver in the NBA,” Korver said of James. “Just got to put it up there for him.” Oladipo hit a 3 at the horn and was immediately embraced by James, who had never played a firstround Game 7 and was in jeopardy of seeing an eighth trip to the Finals end quickly. “Honestly, I think we were the better team, and they had the best player in the world,” Pacers forward Trevor Booker said. It was the first Game 7 in Quicken Loans Arena history, and Cleveland fans were on edge from the start. A loss would not only have ended the Cavs’ season earlier than expected and their reign as three-time conference champs, but it would have pushed James closer to free agency. He’s expected to opt out of his contract

CLEVELAND Cavaliers’ LeBron James (23) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers’ Myles Turner (33) in the first half of Game 7 of their first-round playoff series yesterday. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) in July to test the market, and there’s already a line of teams stretching from Philly to L.A. looking to sign the three-time champion. His stay in Cleveland isn’t quite complete. TRUST FACTOR After the Cavs were rocked in Game 6, Lue knew he needed to shake things up, so he started players he trusts most. Korver got the nod along with James, Love, Smith and Thompson — the four holdovers from the three Finals teams. “I just think in Game 7, go with the guys who’ve

been here, who’ve been through it all and know what it takes,” Lue said. PROUD PACERS Despite the loss, the Pacers felt great about their season. “If y’all don’t respect the Indiana Pacers now, I have no respect for you,” Oladipo said. “Nobody thought we would be here.” Lance Stephenson, an eight-year pro in his second tour with Indiana, was especially impressed with the team’s young players. “This team was amazing,” he said. “We brought it every night. There was

no drama all season and everybody kept a positive attitude at all times. The future is bright.” TIP-INS Pacers: Both Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis fouled out. Stephenson picked up his second technical of the series when he hit James in the head on a first-quarter drive. Dropped to 3-6 in Game 7s, with all of the losses coming on the road. Cavaliers: James won his fifth straight Game 7. By picking off a pass midway through the second quarter, James became the career

playoff leader in steals. He entered the game tied with Scottie Pippen (395) for the most postseason thefts. Celebrated the 42nd anniversary of the “Miracle at Richfield” in 1976, when the Cavs defeated the Washington Bullets in Game 7 of the conference semi-finals. Cleveland’s fans stormed the court and tore down both baskets. UP NEXT Pacers: Head into an offseason with optimism after their strong showing. Cavaliers: Will meet the Raptors for the third straight postseason.

HARDEN’S 41 POINTS LEAD ROCKETS OVER JAZZ IN GAME 1 By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden scored 41 points and the Houston Rockets raced out to a huge lead and sailed to a 110-96 win over the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of the Western Conference semi-finals yesterday. Houston was up by 25 at halftime behind 34 points combined from Harden and Chris Paul. The Jazz, who didn’t wrap up their first-round series with Oklahoma City until late Friday night, looked sluggish and struggled to keep pace with the energy of the top-seeded Rockets, who haven’t played since eliminating Minnesota on Wednesday. It was Houston’s fourth straight win by 10 or more points this postseason, and the Rockets have won their five games against the Jazz by an average of 16.8 points. Harden, who also had seven assists and eight rebounds, picked up where he left off in the regular season against the Jazz when he averaged 34.3 points, led by a 56-point performance in a 137-110 win in November that set a career-high he has since bested. The Jazz got 21 points each from rookie Donovan Mitchell and Jae Crowder while playing without starting point guard Ricky Rubio, who sat with a strained left hamstring. It was a significant blow after he averaged 14 points, 7.3 rebounds and seven assists in the first round. The Rockets had 10 3-pointers by halftime, led by three apiece from Harden and P.J. Tucker. They finished with 17, including seven from Harden. The Rockets were up by 18 entering the fourth after Paul hit a 3-pointer at the end of the third. Utah scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to get within

minutes to go. Both the Rockets and the fifth-seeded Jazz are in the semi-finals for the second straight year. The Rockets, who beat the Timberwolves in five games to advance, lost to the Spurs last season, and Utah was eliminated by Golden State.

ROCKETS guard James Harden (13) drives to the basket as Jazz forward Jae Crowder defends during the first half in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series yesterday. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) 86-75, but Harden made three free throws over the next minute to end the run. Rudy Gobert, who had 11 points and nine rebounds, had a dunk after that, but a 3-pointer by Harden extended Houston’s lead to 92-77 with about 8½ minutes left. Mitchell was shaken up when Eric Gordon stepped on his ankle as he drove to the basket with about 5½ minutes

remaining. He stayed on the court for a second holding his ankle before hopping up and walking gingerly to the bench. But remained on the bench for just a few seconds before returning. Houston still had a 15-point lead later in the fourth when Gordon stole a pass from Royce O’Neal and Harden finished with a 3 to make it 103-85 with less than four

TIP-INS Jazz: Royce O’Neale started in place of Rubio and finished with four points and four assists. ... The Jazz haven’t said how long Rubio will be out, but multiple reports have indicated that it could be as many as 10 days. ... Joe Ingles had 15 points. Rockets: Luc Mbah a Moute had three points and three rebounds in his first postseason action this season. He had been out since dislocating his right shoulder on April 10. ... Clint Capela had 16 points and 12 rebounds for his third straight doubledouble. ... Paul finished with 17 points, four steals and six assists. UP NEXT The Rockets host Game 2 on Wednesday night before the series shifts to Utah for two games.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 30, 2018, PAGE 7

Nadal wins 11th Barcelona title, unbeaten in 46 sets on clay BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Rafael Nadal continues to make winning on clay look all too easy. Nadal extended his dominance on the surface with a 6-2, 6-1 win over 19-year-old Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas yesterday to win his 11th Barcelona Open title. Nadal, who also won his 11th Monte Carlos Masters title last week, was never seriously challenged on his way to a 19th straight victory on clay. The top-ranked Spaniard has won 46 straight sets on clay, extending his own record. He hasn’t lost on clay since facing Dominic Thiem in Rome last year. “It’s very difficult to describe how to win 11 titles at one tournament,” Nadal said. “To win 11 Monte Carlos and 11 Barcelonas is something I couldn’t imagine doing. I’m just enjoying every week and the fact I’m playing in a tournament that I enjoy so much means a lot to me.” It was the 77th title overall for Nadal, tying him with John McEnroe for fourth best in the Open Era. Only Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Ivan Lendl are ahead. Nadal, who won his 400th match on clay in Saturday’s semi-final, needed the victory in Barcelona to secure his No. 1 ranking.

“It’s hard for anybody to imagine all the feelings and emotions I have when I play here,” Nadal said. “Hopefully I can keep coming back for many more years to come.” After the win, Nadal dived into a pool at the venue along with some of the tournament’s ball boys and ball girls. Nadal was out of action earlier this year because of a lingering right hip injury sustained in the Australian Open quarter-finals. He returned to help Spain defeat Germany in the Davis Cup quarter-finals and then went on to win in Monte Carlo. “I’ve had two fantastic weeks but we were coming off difficult months because of the injuries,” Nadal said. The 63rd-ranked Tsitsipas was trying to become the first Greek to win an ATP Tour title. He was the first Greek to make it to an ATP final since Nicholas Kalogeropoulos in 1973. “I knew the chances to win were small but my confidence was rising in every match, and while I was expecting a little better today, congratulations to Rafa,” Tsitsipas said. “It was a first experience and tougher than I thought. I’ve watched him millions of times on TV, but it’s tougher to face him in reality.”

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 62° F/17° C

TAMPA

Tsitsipas was the youngest finalist in Barcelona since 2005 and was looking to become the first unseeded champion in the tournament since Gaston Gaudio in 2002. Tsitsipas had 23 unforced

errors in the 77-minute loss on the Rafa Nadal court, with brief rain interruptions. The Greek is expected to move to 44th in the rankings after his performance in Barcelona.

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Partly sunny and breezy

Partly cloudy, showers around late

Partly sunny with a few showers

Clouds and sun with a shower or two

Partly sunny, breezy and pleasant

Mostly sunny, breezy and pleasant

High: 85°

Low: 71°

High: 86° Low: 72°

High: 85° Low: 73°

High: 86° Low: 72°

High: 86° Low: 73°

AccuWeather RealFeel

90° F

68° F

88°-73° F

88°-72° F

90°-72° F

92°-73° F

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: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C

8-16 knots

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 67° F/19° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N E S

WEST PALM BEACH

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 64° F/18° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 67° F/19° C

MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

7-14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 69° F/21° C Normal high ....................................... 82° F/28° C Normal low ........................................ 70° F/21° C Last year’s high ................................. 87° F/31° C Last year’s low ................................... 74° F/24° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 11.04” Normal year to date ..................................... 6.22”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 71° F/22° C

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C

KEY WEST

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

8:51 a.m. 9:15 p.m.

2.6 3.1

2:56 a.m. -0.3 2:59 p.m. -0.4

Tuesday

9:33 a.m. 9:55 p.m.

2.5 3.0

3:39 a.m. -0.3 3:38 p.m. -0.3

Wednesday 10:14 a.m. 10:36 p.m.

2.4 2.9

4:21 a.m. -0.2 4:17 p.m. -0.1

Thursday

10:55 a.m. 11:17 p.m.

2.3 2.8

5:04 a.m. 4:57 p.m.

0.0 0.0

Friday

11:38 a.m. -----

2.1 -----

5:47 a.m. 5:39 p.m.

0.1 0.2

Saturday

12:00 a.m. 12:24 p.m.

2.6 2.0

6:32 a.m. 6:24 p.m.

0.3 0.4

Sunday

12:46 a.m. 1:14 p.m.

2.5 2.0

7:20 a.m. 7:14 p.m.

0.4 0.6

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C

8-16 knots

8-16 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

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

6:35 a.m. 7:39 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

8:25 p.m. 7:11 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

May 7

May 15

May 21

May 29

CAT ISLAND

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Karolina Pliskova ended CoCo Vandeweghe’s brilliant week with a 7-6 (2), 6-4 win in the Stuttgart Open final yesterday. The sixth-seeded Czech held her nerve at key times to win her first title of the season and her 10th overall in just under two hours. Pliskova, who fired 41 aces over four matches on her way to the final, added another 11 against Vandeweghe. Vandeweghe, a wild card entry who defeated defending champion Laura Siegemund and three top 10 players including top-ranked Simona Halep over the week, was bidding to become the first American winner in Stuttgart since Lindsay Davenport in 2005. “Sometimes, your opponent plays too good,” Vandeweghe said. “The only thing I know is I gave everything I had out there today.”

RAFAEL Nadal poses with his trophy after winning the Barcelona Open Tennis Tournament final yesterday. Nadal defeated Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-1 in the final. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

PLISKOVA BEATS VANDEWEGHE 7-6, 6-4 TO WIN STUTTGART OPEN

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 81° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 85° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

6-12 knots

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

Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday:

WINDS NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots E at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots

WAVES 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 4-7 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 4-7 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 6 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 75° F 75° F 79° F 79° F 77° F 77° F 80° F 80° F 76° F 76° F 80° F 80° F 78° F 78° F 82° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 77° F 77° F 80° F 80° F 77° F 77° F

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

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