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Battle of Boca: Sydney has ‘strong’ showing

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@ tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN tennis player Sydney Clarke continued her push on the international circuit with a strong showing at the Battle of Boca tennis tournament in Boca Raton, Florida, advancing to the quarter-finals after winning three matches before falling in a tightly contested battle on Saturday.

Clarke opened the tournament with a first-round bye before cruising past Olufemii Owoeye 6-2, 6-0 in the round of 32.

She followed that with a hard-fought round of 16 victory over American Perez Corona, rallying for a 2-6, 6-3, 10-8 win.

Her tournament run ended in the quarter-finals where she lost a close match to Michelsen 3-6, 6-1, 10-6.

Despite the defeat, Clarke said the tournament marked one of her most encouraging performances in recent months as her game continues to develop both physically and mentally while she continues chasing her Olympic ambitions.

“I’m very motivated about the possibility to represent The Bahamas at the Olympics and will keep pushing until I make it,” Clarke said.

“I still have ways to go to meet the qualifications for the Olympics, but I’m not giving up. Playing on tour is really tough, especially for someone like myself who has an 8am to 4pm job. However, I don’t let that discourage me from continuing my dream.”

Clarke said the last three weeks leading into the tournament featured one of the most demanding

Advances to quarter-finals before losing a tightly contested match

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Anthony Volpe answered Bobby Witt Jr’s go-ahead homer in the eighth with a two-run single in the ninth for New York, sending the Yankees to a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday and extending their winning streak to 12 in the series. Jake Bird nearly squandered a strong start by Will Warren when he gave up Witt's tiebreaking shot inside the left-field foul pole leading off the eighth inning. But the Yankees promptly rallied off Lucas Erceg (3-2), starting with Paul Goldschmidt's broken-bat hit and Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr’s oneout double before Volpe's timely single to left field. Tim Hill (2-2) earn the win while David Bednar worked around a two-out walk in the ninth to earn his 12th save of the season. It was Erceg who wound up

the Royals' Michael Wacha, and an even more effective

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter

IT has been a rough three-game stretch for Bahamian star Jonquel Jones and the New York Liberty, who have now dropped consecutive games to the Golden State Valkyries, Dallas Wings and Portland Fire after Monday night’s 81-74 loss at Barclays Center.   Jones continues to provide steady production despite the loss, recording a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocks in 32 minutes against Portland. She shot 3-of-11 from the field, connected on one three-pointer and went a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line.

The 2021 WNBA MVP has been one of the Liberty’s most consistent players through the opening seven games of the season. According to ESPN statistics, Jones is averaging 12.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 43.8 per cent from the field.

Monday’s loss was particularly frustrating for New York because the Liberty appeared to have had control entering the fourth quarter.

The Liberty led 57-49 after three periods behind Breanna Stewart and Marine Johannes before Portland exploded for a 32-17 fourth quarter to steal the game.   Jones helped New York build momentum during the third quarter with one of the highlight plays of the night. Johannes dribbled toward halfcourt before throwing a blind backward pass over her head to Jones, who finished the layup through contact to push the Liberty ahead 47-40.

SEE WNBA, Page 10

YANKEES’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. slides home to score on a single by Anthony Volpe during the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

inning from Daniel Lynch IV, who had set down the top of the New York lineup in the eighth to turn a 3-2 lead over to the Kansas City closer. Cody Bellinger homered earlier in the game for the Yankees, who have not lost

Brunson leads Knicks to NBA Finals, wins Larry Bird Trophy as Eastern Conference finals MVP

By BRIAN DULIK Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP)

— The New York Knicks made a commitment to Jalen Brunson four years ago, signing him as a free agent and building their team around him.

Brunson proved they made the right decision by leading them to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.

The All-Star point guard averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists during New York's sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, earning the Larry Bird Trophy as the series MVP. He had 15 points and five assists Monday, when the Knicks crushed Cleveland 130-93 in Game 4.

“It's an honour to be here in this city and this organisation,” Brunson said, sitting side-by-side with former

New York back in big dance for first time since 1999 after beating Cleveland 130-93 to finish sweep

Villanova University teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. "I wouldn't trade it for the world.

“We're still writing our story, but I like the journey that we're on right now.”

Scepticism abounded around the league when New York extended a fouryear, $104 million contract to the then-Dallas Mavericks guard in 2022. Brunson silenced many critics when he averaged 24.0 points in his first season, then added three straight All-Star selections.

After helping the Knicks reach the East finals in

2025, when they lost to the upstart Indiana Pacers, Brunson was the best player in the series from start to finish against the Cavaliers. In Game 1, his 38-point masterpiece fuelled New York's comeback from a 22-point hole in the fourth quarter.

“He just puts in the work. He’s a testament of that,” Knicks centre Karl-Anthony Towns said. “He believes in that, and he showcases that every single day to all of us and it drives us to be better.”

Brunson’s work ethic instantly impressed New York coach Mike Brown when he was hired last summer, then forced him to change his sleep habits during the season as the 29-year-old went all out in morning shootarounds. It

prompted Brown to compare his determination to basketball legends Stephen Curry and Tim Duncan. “Their quiet strength, all the time, is what they all have in common,” Brown said. “Jalen's work ethic is off the chart and he makes

me adjust because he goes so hard every day. When your leader is that way, it's easy to be a coach.”

The Knicks subsequently brought in Bridges and Hart via trades, and acquired Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves as

THE WEATHER REPORT

“There

player, no other guard I'd want to be in this position with than J.B.,” Bridges said.

Jonquel Jones posts double double - 12 points, 11 rebounds - in 81-74 loss to the

Portland Fire

But the Liberty offence collapsed late. Trailing 65-60 midway through the fourth, Portland ripped off a 12-0 run with rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker scoring all seven of her points during the burst. Barker converted a layup and later buried a three-pointer to give Portland a 67-65 lead, its first advantage since early in the third quarter.   New York never fully recovered. Stewart finished with 25 points to lead the Liberty while Johannes added 17 points and six assists. Jones was the only other Liberty starter in double figures after Satou Sabally exited

just four minutes into the game because of illness and did not return.

The Liberty briefly cut the deficit to 74-71 on two Stewart free throws with 29 seconds left, but Carla Leite answered with a dagger three-pointer with 13.7 seconds remaining to seal the win for Portland. Leite finished with 18 points.   The defeat also continued an unusual season series between New York and expansion Portland. The Fire stunned the Liberty 98-96 earlier this month on a buzzer-beater by Barker before New York answered with a 100-82 victory two days later. Portland has now won two of the three meetings this season.

New York, now 3-4 on the season, has also been battling injuries and inconsistent lineups. Sabrina Ionescu missed Monday’s game as she continues to work back from injury, while Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Leonie Fiebich also remained out.

Despite the difficult stretch, Jones continues to anchor the Liberty frontcourt on both ends of the floor. Along with her nearly eight rebounds per game, she is also averaging one block per contest and remains one of the league’s top interior defenders.

The Liberty will try to regroup when they host the Phoenix Mercury for a twogame set beginning tonight.

Ashton Roach ends high school baseball career as

one of the

most decorated players in Tallulah Falls School history

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@ tribunemedia.net

ASHTON Roach closed his high school baseball career as one of the most decorated players in Tallulah Falls School history, capping his senior season by earning the school’s prestigious Indian of the Year award after rewriting nearly every offensive record in the programme.

Roach, a senior utility player who starred in the infield, outfield and on the mound for Tallulah Falls School in Georgia, finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in hits, home runs, runs batted in, runs scored, doubles, triples, stolen bases, walks and hit by pitch.

Last May, Roach also committed to play NCAA Division I baseball at University of California, Berkeley, another major milestone in a career filled with accomplishments.

The award, presented at the school’s athletics ceremony, honours the male

athlete who has been successful at the individual, team, region and state levels while positively representing the culture and values of the athletic department.

“His impact in the record books and in the locker room will be felt for years to come in our baseball programme," said a school official.

Roach’s senior numbers backed up the praise. According to MaxPreps statistics, he hit .483 during the 2025-26 season with 42 hits, 36 RBIs, 47 runs scored, 16 doubles, three triples and four home runs across 31 games. Over his varsity career, he played 103 games with a .377 batting average, 101 hits, 79 RBIs and 122 runs scored. Despite the accolades and record-breaking production, Roach said the numbers were never his main focus. “The records were never like, I didn’t think about them,” Roach said. “I just wanted to play baseball and I just worked. I worked a lot and I just think the records are a testament of how hard and how much I’ve worked.”

Chisholm Jr and Yankees beat Royals 4-3

to the Royals since September 10, 2024. That streak includes the past 11 regular-season meetings and the clinching game of the 2024 AL Divisional Series.

After the Yankees jumped to a 2-0 lead on Bellinger’s homer and an RBI single by Jose Caballero, the Royals clawed back in the bottom of the second. Salvador Perez, Jac

While he now owns nearly every offensive category in the programme’s history books, Roach admitted

Caps his senior season by earning prestigious Indian of the Year award

there is one accomplishment that stands above the rest.

“The hits record,” he said when asked which record means the most to him.

“My freshman year, I didn’t have a really good year and I didn’t get a lot of hits and I had a lot of self-doubt.

“To be able to hit the 100-hit mark, I mean my freshman year I had about like 10 hits, but over three years there’s been a lot of hits. “That just, it’s a different feeling for me.”

Roach explained that milestone carried a personal significance because of the adversity he faced early in his career.

“It wasn’t necessarily competing against anyone because it wasn’t a record,” he said. “It was more me versus me, very personal.”

His growth from a struggling freshman into the face of the programme became one of the defining stories of Tallulah Falls baseball over the past several years.

Beyond the statistics, coaches and teammates consistently pointed to his work ethic and leadership as the qualities that separated him.

Asked what legacy he hopes to leave behind, Roach did not mention the records. “I just want them to think about me as a hard worker,” he said. “I just want everything I do to do well. A humble kid that always kept God first. I never boast about myself.”

Roach was also a threetime all-region selection and is expected to add all-state honours to his résumé following his senior campaign.

Caglianone and Isaac Collins walked and Michael Massey hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1. That score remained until Perez’s tying homer in the sixth. It was his 136th home run at Kauffman Stadium, tying George Brett’s stadium record, and it moved the Royals captain to within five of the Hall of Famer’s overall club record of 317 homers.

Caribbean sporting icons among the speakers at Turks & Caicos Islands Business Outlook

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

TWO of the Caribbean sporting icons, including Bahamian track and field executive Mike Sands, will be among the speakers at the third annual Turks & Caicos Islands Business Outlook.

Joan Albury, the president of The Counsellors, the outlook organisers, said when the TCIBO takes place on Friday, June 5, at The Palms in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, Sands, the president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) and Sonia Fulford, president of the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association and a FIFA council member, will add another dimension to the conversation.

The topic for discussion for both Sands and Fulford will be "Opportunities and Challenges for the Development of Sports" and they will join TCI's Premier Charles Washington Missick, who will deliver the keynote address. His topic will be "Strengthening Foundations for Long Term Prosperity."

Also speaking at the event will be Rachel Taylor,

the Minister of Education in TCI, who will address the topic "Future Ready Education for a Small Island Economy."

"The outlook has always been financial, but because of the value of sports, I really wanted to share the experiences of Mike Sands and Fulford, especially as she is a female and is on the board of FIFA," Albury said.

"I really want to highlight these two persons because my whole objective is to show people the value of sports. In terms of the outlook, we want to share this information with the public, showing them how far they can go with sports."

With sports integrated into so many avenues in life, Albury said she wants to ensure that persons are getting the maximum potential to negotiate the financial future for their children.

Sands was unavailable for comments, but Fulford indicated that she's truly honoured and excited to be part of this important forum, especially at a time when conversations around development, resilience, and opportunity are so critical for our region.

"Sport has the power to transform lives, strengthen communities, and create

opportunities far beyond the field of play," she said.

"To be invited to share my experiences and perspectives alongside other respected leaders is both humbling and meaningful to me."

She further pointed out that she intends to share insights on the opportunities and challenges surrounding the development of sport in small island states and developing nations.

"I hope to motivate, educate, and inspire the audience by highlighting how sport can positively impact youth development, education, tourism, national

pride, health, and economic growth," she stressed.

"I also want to speak honestly about the realities we face, limited resources, infrastructure challenges, and the need for stronger partnerships, while emphasizing that vision, commitment, collaboration, and good leadership can still produce extraordinary results."

Fulford revealed that her goal is for people to leave feeling encouraged that meaningful progress is possible, even in smaller countries like TCI, especially for her, being one of the first women to serve in such a role at the highest

level of global football governance.

"While I am proud to represent women in football, I do not focus solely on being a woman in the position," she said. "Rather, I focus on the opportunity to contribute meaningfully, help drive positive change, and ensure that football development reaches people and communities in impactful ways.

"At the same time, I recognise that representation matters. I hope my journey encourages other women and young girls to believe that they too can lead, contribute, and take their place confidently in spaces that were once difficult for women to access."

Fulford said she has always been deeply passionate about service, development, and creating opportunities for people through sport.

"Over the years, I have dedicated much of my work to youth empowerment, football development, and helping to strengthen football infrastructure and programmes within the Caribbean region and beyond," said Fulford, who is president of the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association and a member of the FIFA Council, where she continues to advocate

for the growth and accessibility of football globally.

"One of the things I value most is being able to use my platform to inspire others, particularly young people, to dream bigger, work hard, and understand that their background does not limit their potential."

She pointed out that she firmly believes that sport is one of the greatest tools to unite people, inspire hope, develop communities, and create lasting change.

The TCIBO is sponsored by Sun Oil Ltd, Deloitte, Caribbean Wines and Spirits, Bahamasair, Doctors Hospital Health Systems, CIBC, HG Christie Ltd, One Foundation Eleuthera, RBC and Scotiabank.

Interested persons can register at tcievents.com or by contacting Margaret Albury at 322-1000 or malbury@tcibahamas.com

The Counsellors have hosted the Bahamas Business Outlook 8-Islands Series for the past 35 years. This is the third year that they have expanded it to the Turks & Caicos Islands.

Tennis ace Sydney Clarke advances to quarterfinals at the Battle of Boca

training periods of her career. “My practice schedule has been a lot tougher for these past couple of weeks,” she said. “I’ve been doing two practices Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, gym three times a week and six days a week on court while mixing in recovery.”

She added: “My recovery days are Tuesdays, so the more practice I’ve been able to get in, the more confidence I’m building with my ground strokes. I just hope that I continue to build on it, train smartly, not overtrain, but still get enough work in where it’s beneficial and helps me make the next jump.”

Balancing full-time work with life on tour has become one of the biggest challenges in her development, but Clarke said time management has helped her remain focused on her long-term goals.

“The grind to qualify is extremely tough because I’m working a normal job while continuing to play,” Clarke said. “However, managing my time wisely helps me to find balance and stay on track to meet my goals.”

Clarke said the mental side of tennis has become one of the most important aspects of her preparation as she looks to continue climbing.

“The mental side is a big aspect of the game and it’s something that’s going to be very helpful for me,

especially with my goal of qualifying for the Olympics,” she said. “Being mentally strong is the main part of the game. Everyone can hit forehands and backhands, but you still have to be mentally tough whether you’re winning or losing.”

She said she has started working with a sports psychologist to improve her focus and ability to manage pressure situations during matches.

“That’s something I’m constantly working on,” Clarke said. “I have a sports psychologist that helps me prepare for matches, somebody I can talk to about how I’m feeling during practices or matches and give me advice on how to handle pressure moments and stay focused.”

Clarke admitted maintaining momentum and composure during tight situations remains one of the areas she continues trying to improve.

“Sometimes I drift away or allow my opponents to take control after I’ve played a couple of great points,” she said. “Going forward, I have to learn how to handle pressure moments better.”

Still, Clarke believes she made important strides throughout the weekend as the tournament progressed.

“Yes, I felt that as I played the various matches at the Battle of Boca tournament, my game started to come together,” she said.

“I was more intentional and I was able to learn and bounce back quickly, especially with some matches being back-toback. It helped me make quick changes and improvements and be ready for the next match.” Clarke pointed to her serve, confidence and improved mentality as some of the biggest positives from the tournament.

“What worked best for me at the Battle of Boca tournament was my serve and my mental toughness,” she said. “Unlike the previous tournament earlier in the week, during Battle of Boca I was more focused mentally and my confidence played a huge role in my success.”

She also identified movement and shot variety as key areas she hopes to sharpen going forward.

“I think I’m a great athlete, but my movement side to side still needs work,” Clarke said. “Moving forward is easy for me, but moving side to side is something I’m focusing on, along

with putting more spin on the ball to add more variety to my game.”

The upcoming months could become some of the most important of Clarke’s career as she prepares to represent The Bahamas internationally.

“I am very excited to represent The Bahamas at the CAC Games this summer in the Dominican Republic with hopes of medalling in the event,” she said. “Also, I’m looking forward to playing in the Pan Am Games next year as well as WTA tournaments in the near future.”

Clarke said the possibility of becoming the first Bahamian female tennis player to qualify for the Olympics continues to fuel her motivation.

“It would be a huge honour to represent the Bahamian colours on the Olympic stage in tennis,” Clarke said. “Having the opportunity to strive to be the first female Bahamian tennis player to qualify would mean the world to me. Also being able to be a role model for other women in sports.” Clarke also had a message for the next generation of Bahamian tennis players hoping to follow a similar path.

“I would tell younger Bahamian tennis players to keep dreaming big,” she said.

“The road is tough and there’s lots of failure before the success. Be patient with yourselves and don’t rush the process.”