SPORTS SECTION E
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016
CentroBasket
Team Bahamas , Page 8
JOANNA EVANS MAKES A CUT FOR THE RIO OLYMPICS By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
BUDDY HIELD, right, shares a special moment with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected sixth overall by the New Orleans Pelicans during last night’s NBA basketball draft in New York. (AP)
‘Buddy Buckets’ goes to Pelicans at No.6
By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net BROOKLYN, New York — The New Orleans Pelicans drafted arguably the best shooter in the NBA Draft and an entire new fanbase of about 400,000 Bahamian fans. The Pelicans chose Grand Bahamian native and former Oklahoma Sooner Buddy Hield with the No.6 overall selection in last night’s NBA Draft at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York. It marked the first time the Pelicans kept their first round draft selection since they took Anthony Davis at No.1 in 2012. Hield, a favourite to fill the starting shooting guard spot for the Pelicans right away, was awed by the moment of realising a lifelong dream and already plans a way to fit into the system. “I’m speechless right now and thank God I got the opportunity to play with New Orleans picking me. When I go there, I’ll be a high-character guy, bring a lot of energy. I know most of you guys watched me during the year, I’m a scorer. I can shoot the ball a lot. Love to shoot. And I feel like when I go there I can open up the floor for Anthony Davis and other guys to be able to penetrate. “And for a guy like Anthony Davis, they have a guy like me who can shoot the ball really well, can keep the floor spaced. Create more space,” Hield said. “I’m so happy, man, not only for me but for all the kids back in the Bahamas. The norm is that we never make it out there. To be one of the few that make it out there, so being one of the few that makes it out there helps
BUDDY HIELD answers questions during an interview after being selected sixth overall by the New Orleans Pelicans last night. (AP) me give to the kids and inspire them, like okay, there will be more that will make it out there.” Hield’s stock rose after he completed a star-studded senior season for the Sooners which concluded with a litany of awards including the John R Wooden, Naismith and Oscar Robertson Player of the Year trophies. He was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches firstteam, a first-team All-American by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), Sports Illustrated and USA Today. His list of honours also includes the Sporting News Player of the Year, USBWA District VI Player of the Year, CBS Sports Player of the Year, Big 12 Player of the Year and the All-Big 12 first-team. He said he was now ready to embrace the
culture of a new home. “I know they have great food, I know it’s not too far from the Bahamas. I know they have beaches, not like the Bahamas, but there are beaches there so that’s always good. Like I said it’s not too far from home so I love it. They have a rich culture like we do with Mardi Gras and everything, we have Junkanoo so it’s a great fit,” Hield said. “New Orleans guy who is known for his basketball but at the same time who is going to help the community. I’ll do whatever it takes to win and I hate losing so they’re getting a hard worker, someone who will do everything they can for this organisation.” The last time Hield played in Louisiana, it was as a member of the Sooners when they defeated LSU 77-75 in Baton Rouge. Hield had 32 points and made 7-8 three pointers in the contest. This year’s draft marks the beginning of a busy offseason for the Pelicans, who are trying to give All-Star forward Anthony Davis a stronger supporting cast. The Pelicans shot 36 per cent from three with Luke Babbit, Toney Douglas, Gordon, and Ryan Anderson - they were the top three-point shooters, but none played more than 66 games. “He’s a phenomenal player,” Pelicans general manager Dell Demps said in brief comments after the pick. “He’s a player we targeted. We’re thrilled to have him.” Hield plans to bring the Bahamian faithful with him to New Orleans. “They know what I bring to the table,” Hield said. “I’m just ready for the Bahamas to come out and support me in New Orleans. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
JOANNA Evans was waiting for this time for a long time. She came home and finally posted her A qualifying time in the women’s 800 metres for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August. EVANS The University of Texas Longhorns’ junior came home and, on the first day of the Bahamas Swimming Federation’s 45th Royal Bank of Canada National Championships, she not only surpassed the A standard for the Olympics, but she shattered every record on the books in the process. The Grand Bahama native, who came having done the B standard of eight minutes and 51.96 seconds, won the gruelling race yesterday at the Betty Kelly Kenning National Swim Complex in 8:32.19 to surpass the A standard of 8:33.97 to solidify her spot for Rio with double qualifier Arianna VanderpoolWallace. She also lowered both her National and Open records of 8:59.49 she set back in 2013 and her Bahamas record of 8:37.18 that she posted in 2015. After the victory, Evans said she was just relieved that she did the A qualifying time. “Honestly, I can’t really say I expected that time,” Evans told The Tribune after the performance. “I asked the girl swimming next to me if she was going to go for it and after she said yeah, I went for it. I tried it a couple of times and I didn’t get it, so I’m just happy that I finally got it.” Evans’ event was one of the first finals completed last night. Results of the other events were not available. But her win came after Anya MacPhail of the Barracuda Swim Club took the girls 1314 800m in 10:16.88. The holder of the younger divisional national record in 9:32.53 coasted to her win in the open division over her Swift Swimming teammate Lilly Higgs, who did 9:53.87. “To come home and swim this fast is just amazing,” said Evans, who will now concentrate on a possible second qualifier in the 400m free. “I’ve been trying for this time for so long and after coming so close in the past, I’m just glad that it all finally came together in this meet.” Evans, 18, is still trying to relish in the moment, but she said she is just so thrilled to be an official Olympic qualifier that she can now go to sleep. While Evans and Vanderpool-Wallace are the only two official Olympic qualifiers for the Bahamas, Elvis Burrows and Dustin Tynes are both waiting in the wings with their B qualifying marks. Over the next three days, they are both hoping that with the international field of competitors competing in the Nationals, they will be able to lower their marks. If they fail to do it this weekend, they can still come back next week when the BSF hosts the Caribbean Islands Swim Championships from Wednesday to Sunday at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.
Divine Parker qualifies for the IAAF World Youths in 100, 200 By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net DIVINE Parker completed the sprint double and dipped under the qualifying standard for the 2016 IAAF World Youth Championships in both events. The under-18 competitor, who moved up to the under-20 division, was joined by hurdler Bronson Rolle, who achieved the standards on day two of the championship yesterday at the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium as they look ahead to the trip to Poland in July. Parker, a protégé of Pauline Davis-Thompson, exploded out of the blocks and like she did in the 100m the night before, the rest of the field was unable to catch her as she crossed the finish line in 23.91 seconds to go under the qualifying time of 11.80. Her nearest rival was Alexis Gray in 24.87. Doneisha Anderson was third in 25.31. The result of the under-20 boys
200m was not available. But in the under-18 boys 200m, Johnathan Smith added to his title in the 100m by winning the halflap race in 22.16. Karon Bain got second in 22.56 and Max Azor came in third in 22.67. Megan Moss also added to the under-18 girls 200m to her century collection with her winning time of 25.20. Kendesha Ingraham was second in 25.62 and Rashan Darling got third in 25.81. Branson Rolle, in winning the under-20 boys 400m hurdles, pulled away from the four-man field to take the title in 52.12 as he went well under the World Youth qualifying time of 53.20. Jarrod Stuart came in second in 56.31 and Alexander Storr was third in 57.18. The under-20 girls 400m hurdles was won by Dreshanae Rolle in 1:01.60. Gabrielle Gibson was second in 1:03.73 and Daejha Moss was third in 1:06.05. Glen Knowles took the under-20 boys 800m in 1:57.86, while Ricardo Richardson got second in
DIVINE PARKER 2:00.70. Glenroy Newton came in third in 2:01.45. Nicole Callis won
the under-20 girls two lap race in 2:23.46, holding off Breanna Pratt, who did 2:41.05. Joseph Lheyinne Joseph, winner of the 1,500m the night before, took the 3,000m in 10:25.26 over Richardson Ambrose, who did 11:05.25. On the field, Holland Martin was the competitor in the under-20 boys triple jump, winning with 15.02 metres. Martin was the winner of the long jump the night before. Tristen Hanna won the under-18 boys triple jump with 13.31m. Andira Ferguson won the under-20 girls long jump with 5.67m, followed by Charisma Taylor with 5.56m. Daejha Moss was third with 5.12m. Dejanique Turnquest was the lone competitor in the under-18 division, clearing 3.90m for the win. Douvankiylin Rolle won the under-20 boys pole vault, soaring 3.70m - the same height as Ramel Poitier. Serena Brown, who qualified for the World Youth in the discus
the night before, picked up another victory in the under-20 girls shot put with her heave of 12.99m. Tiffany Hanna got second with 11.42m and Tahj’Nee Thurston was third with 11.12m Blayre Fernander took the under-20 boys high jump with 1.95m over Aaron Ross, who cleared 1.90m. Jyles Etienne had the best performance of the night, winning the under-18 boys event with 2.10m. Benjamin Clarke came in second with the second best height of 2.05m and Kyle Alcine was third with 1.95m. Malik Stuart got another win in the under-20 boys shot put with a heave of 16.27m over Perry Adderley, who had a toss of 14.95m. With the junior nationals over and done with, the BAAA will now switch its attention to the senior nationals slated to begin tonight and continue Saturday.Then at 3pm on Sunday, the BAAA will hold its awards banquet for the 2015 season at the Melia Hotel, Cable Beach.