SPORTS SECTION E
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2016
Davis Cup tie set for Doral Country Club By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas showdown for the first round of the American Zone II Davis Cup tie will be played next month at the Doral Country Club in Miami, Florida, instead of the home surface of Venezuela. Venezuela is the designated host of the tie, scheduled for February 3-5, but because of the economic crisis, they consented to play on neutral grounds in Miami. “I think it’s very important that it is being played on a neutral site that is very close to us,” said Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association president Elwood Donaldson. “Considering the conditions
that they are experiencing in Venezuela, we had requested for them to allow us to host it, but they decided to go with the neutral site, which works out very good for us.” With the tie now being played in Miami, Donaldson said the Bahamas would be able to have a lot more fans in attendance than they would have if it were in Venezuela. And he noted that it being in Miami, it works out better for the Newman brothers – Baker and Spencer – whose training base is in Florida. “We can now send a very large contingent to support the team because it’s very close,” Donaldson said. “So that turned out well for us with the Davis Cup being held in Miami.”
The team, comprising of the Newman brothers, Kevin ‘KJ’ Major and player/captain Marvin Rolle, was decided last month at the BLTA’s Annual Giorgio Baldacci National Open Tennis Tournament. However, Baker Spencer is still in school at Vanderbilt and Major is expected to enrol in Seminole State Junior College in Oklahoma in the next week. Donaldson said the BLTA is anticipating that both players will be cleared in time to participate, but in the event that either one can’t make it they will add Philip Major Jr to the team. “We are hoping that to have both KJ and Baker, but if not, we have Philip, who was our fifth qualifier and he’s at their level
too, so he would fill in,” Donaldson said. “He’s been touring professionally, he won a regional qualifier, so we are still looking forward to sending a very good team.” This will be the eighth time that the Bahamas has faced Venezuela. The Bahamas holds a 5-2 advantage, having won the last tie between the two countries February 8-10, 2008 at the National Tennis Centre when the Bahamas pulled off a 4-1 decision in the first round of Group II. Prior to that, Venezuela won 4-0 in Maracaibo, Venezuela in the Group One final September 19-21 and 3-2 in Nassau in Group One first round tie February 8-10,
SEE PAGE 3
We are the champions
TIGER WOODS
New Year, Pg 4
‘HANDS ACROSS THE NET, FRIENDSHIP ACROSS THE OCEAN’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE focus of attention at the National Tennis Centre will switch to the hosting of the fourth edition of the International Tennis Club, featuring some of the top former players from the Bahamas, US, Canada, Barbados and an international team, comprising of players of various nationalities. The event, which has a motto of ‘Hands Across the Net, Friendship Across the Ocean,’ is being organised by Kit Spencer and will run from Monday to Friday with the Bahamian team led by John Antonas and Kim O’Kelly, former Bahamian Davis and Cup players and captains. “It’s the fourth biannual event we’re running and we have a pretty strong Bahamian team this time,” Spencer said. “Last year, we were runnersup to a strong United States team, but we feel this team is good enough to win it this year.”
SEE PAGE 3
BASKETBALL COMMUNITY SAYS FAREWELL TO THE LATE RANDOLPH SWABY JR
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: The CI Gibson Rattlers with their awards.
CI Gibson Rattlers emerge as winners of Providence Basketball Tournament By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
T
he CI Gibson Rattlers, still riding a perfect season on the local scene although they are coming off two losses overseas, emerged as champions of their own Providence Basketball Tournament. The Rattlers pulled off a 76-67 victory over the Jordan Prince Williams Falcons in a match-up of two undefeated teams in the respective Government Secondary Schools Sports Association and the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools. CI Gibson, the GSSSA runners-up, advanced to the final with a 80-47 rout over the CV Bethel Stingrays and Jordan Prince Williams, the BAISS champions, clinched their berth with a 71-54 clobbering of the CC Sweeting Cobras. Most valuable player Asher
Scavalla canned 23 points in the win and Adam Johnson pumped in a game high 27 in the loss. “I have a very young team once again. I lost two really good players to school in the United States, but the guys who are stepping up are really playing some good basketball,” said Rattlers’ head coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson. “They really understand what it takes to try to get the job done by winning the game, one game at a time. They are young and they are making their mistakes, but as the games go on, we are only getting better as a team. I see that they are doing that and hopefully at the end of the day, we will be ready to finish strong at the GSSSA Championships, Hugh Campbell and the Nationals.” As for the level of competition exhibited in the tournament, Johnson said if it was any indication, the road to the Hugh Campbell in February will be an interesting one. “We played a very good team,
very well coached,” Johnson said. “I think Prince Williams have one of the best centres or small forward in Adam (Johnson) in the country. He’s very athletic. We had to come out with a very good game plan and we did that to pull off the win. “But hats off to Prince Williams. They are a very good team with some very good guards. We executed down the stretch and we did what was necessary for us to win. We just need to mature a little more, understanding what it is the coach is trying to tell them and playing the game the way we should.” The four teams mentioned above emerged as the pool champions with the Rattlers beating the Westminster Diplomats 73-44, the Falcons flew past the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves 68-66, the Stingrays stunned the Mt Carmel Cavaliers 60-40 and the Cobras roared over the Queen’s College Comets 73-68. In games played during the
pool play, Queen’s College def. Government High 64-49; CI Gibson def. Akhepran 76-11; RM Bailey def. St Anne’s, Queen’s College def. Teleos 63-47; Anatol def. RM Bailey 68-37; Westminster def. Akhepran 53-44; Anatol def. St Anne’s; Prince Williams def. RM Bailey 82-35; CV Bethel def, Temple Christian 58-56; CC Sweeting def, Teleos 84-67; Anatol def. Jordan Prince Williams 74-70; CC Sweeting def. Government High 72-52; CV Bethel def. Mt Carmel 58-53; Jordan Prince Williams def. St Anne’s 73-46; Mt Carmel def. Temple Christian 7044; CV Bethel def. Akhepran 6560; CI Gibson def. West Minster 86-43 and Queen’s College def. CC Sweeting 51-50. As the tournament director, Johnson said he was pleased with the level of competition that he saw on display. But as the season progresses, he said it will be interesting to see how everybody
THE basketball community joins in offering its condolences to the family of the late Randolph Swaby Jr, who passed away 4am Wednesday at Princess Margaret Hospital at the age of 59. He was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer. Swaby followed in the footsteps of his famed basketball coach and father Randolph Swaby Sr, as he assisted his oldest brother Anthony Swaby when the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association was formed. The Swaby brothers were able to combine their expertise to help the Burger King Angels win the inaugural league title that featured such players as Charlene ‘Swish’ Smith, Kimberly Rolle, Kayla Campbell and Sherelle Cash. Although he never continued coaching, Swaby was a permanent figure in the DW Davis Gymnasium whenever the Angels, now known as the Bommer G Lady Operators, were playing in the league. Swaby was the fourth of seven boys born to the parentage of Randolph Sr and Joyce,
SEE PAGE 4
SEE PAGE 5
PAGE 2, Wednesday, January 4, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, January 4, 2017, PAGE 3
International Tennis Club takes the spotlight FROM PAGE 1
free day). The make-up of the teams are O’Kelly, now residing in Philadelphia with her husband, will as follows: Men’s Doubles comheadline the Bahamas ladies’ bined age 105+ and combined age team that will include Sue Kim- 125+; Ladies Doubles combined ball, who won the world’s ITF age 105+; Mixed Doubles comOver-70s doubles title. She was a bined age 105+ and combined age former teacher here in the Baha- 125+. Age is what a player will be by the end of 2017 (ITF standard). mas, “It’s a senior tournament for On the men’s side, Antonas will suit up with Neil MacTaggart, Mas people who have been very good Kimball and Guillaume Bouffa- tennis players and now we are in rd, Spencer and John Farrington. those age categories,” Spencer Bouffard, making his debut in the said. “We have John Antonas, tournament, has been a resident former Davis Cup player, Kim of the Bahamas for a number of O’Kelly, former Fed Cup player years. His father was the former and Sue is a world champion in doubles in her age group. So we president of the French Club. The action starts at 9:30am have a pretty strong senior team. each morning and the format al- We are all very competitive and lows for each team to play four in- we play with a good spirit too.” On Sunday at 2pm, some of the dividual matches - one with each country (four match days and one players will be at the NTC where
they will get a chance to not only get in a practice session, but to also provide some competition for the local junior players in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association to sharpen their game as well. The players expected to make up the various teams are as follows: Barbados-Peter Symmonds (captain), Julie Salomon, Raymonde Forde, Marie Gentle, Ian Gentle. Caribbean guest Leo Rolle. USA-Bob Beverley (non-playing captain), Michelle Williams, Robert Williams, Stuart Chase, Gabriela Chase, Norma Taylor, Colleen Burns Keenan, Don Keenan, Henry Kennedy, Altomease Kennedy, Chauncey (Chum) Steele and Jolita Kalpokas.
Canada - Peter Clarke (captain), Owen Pellew, Rob Benneyworth, Fraser & Mrs. Macdonald, Pam Olley, Richard Olley and Dale Kozicz. Possibly Janice Longhurst will join the team. Interational Team - Joint captains: Kay Beverley (USA) and Tara Mactaggart (Bahamas/ Canada). Birgitte Hostrup (Denmark), Margot Thomson (Canada/Barbados), Bob Beverley (USA), Bruce Moorhead (USA), Habbo De Vere (Holland/Bahamas), Bob Martyn (Canada/Bahamas), Imelda Mehlert Bahamas -John Antonas (Captain), Neil MacTaggart, Mas Kimball, Guillaume Bouffard, Kit Spencer, Sue Kimball and Kim O’Kelly. Other possibilities - John Farrington, Mark Knowles and Dyphany Mortier.
Brajaxba Elite Tennis Exhibition ‘all about having some fun’
SPORTS NOTES BASKETBALL CARIBS IN TAMPA THE University of The Bahamas Caribs men’s basketball team is off to Tampa, Florida today to participate in the Sun Coast Men’s Basketball Classic January 5-7. The schedule is as follows: January 5 @ 8pm – Florida College (host team) January 6 @ 7pm – Georgia Northwestern Tech January 7 @ 4pm – Trinity College The team returns home on Sunday, January 8. TENNIS BLTA JANUARY EVENTS THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association has released its activities for the month of January The events are as follows: January 7 to Feb. 18 - Bahamas International Tennis Club (IC) Invitational Team Tennis League (Saturdays at 2pm at six tennis clubs – Gym Tennis Club, Albany, NTC, Nassau Lawn, Lyford Cay Club, Lyford Youth) January 8 Juniors to play with IC Players (International Tennis Club) at NTC (2pm) January 9-11 4th Bi-annual IC Doubles Week at NTC (morning matches) - USA, Canada, Barbados, Bahamas January 27 Juniors’ Quarterly Seminar – NTC at 6pm. TRACK 65TH ANNIVERSARY THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations is all set to hold a church service and luncheon on Sunday to mark the 65th anniversary. The service will be held at 9am at Holy Cross Anglican Church, Highbury Park. The luncheon is scheduled for 1 pm at the British Colonial Hilton. The cost is $35 per person. For further information, persons can contact Ann Thompson at the BAAA office at 357-5833. TRACK BAAA MONTHLY CALENDAR THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) calendar of track and field events for January are as follows: Saturday, January 14 – T-Bird Flyers Invitational at Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. Saturday, January 21 – Road Runners’ Dianne Lynn Thompson Track Classic at Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. Saturday, January 21 – Mary McNabb Track Classic at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Grand Bahama. Saturday, January 28 – Club Monica Track Classic at Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. SWIMMING BSF MONTHLY CALENDAR THE Bahamas Swimming Federation (BSF) calendar of swim meets for the month of January are as follows: Swift Swimming Gunite Invitational at Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre – starting 6pm Friday and Saturday at 9am. Barracuda Swim Club Invitational at Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre – starting 6pm January 27 and Saturday at 9am.
PLAY ACTION: The white team sealed a close 16-15 decision over the blue team in this year’s Brajaxba Elite Tennis Exhibition at the Winton Tennis Centre on Saturday. Competing for the white team was Justin Roberts, fellow collegian Christian Cargill, rising young star Jacobi Bain and female players Savannah Roberts and Vika Malman. The blue team was made up of Kevin Major Jr, Philip Major Jr, Joshua Turnquest, Jodi Turnquest, Iesha Shepherd and Sydney Clarke. Brajaxba founder and head coach Bradley Bain said the exhibition was to provide the public an opportunity to view some of the best players in the country in action as they return home for the Christmas break from playing in college, academies or on the pro circuit. The event also turned out to be a charity one for Brajaxba, which raised some funds that they presented to Special Olympics Bahamas at the end of the night. Photos: Shawn Hanna/The Tribune
DAVIS CUP TIE ALL SET FOR DORAL COUNTRY CLUB IN MIAMI NEXT MONTH FROM PAGE 1 2002. The Bahamas’ other victories came September 24-26, 1999 in Group One final 3-1 in Venezuela; 3-2 at the Nassau Beach Hotel in another Group One first round tie July 11-13; 5-0 in Caracas, Venezuela in Group II final, July 1719, 1992 and 5-0 at the Wyndham Beach Hotel, February 3-5, 1989. A victory over Venezuela, the number two seed in the Americans Group II, will move the Bahamas into the second round against the winner of Mexico and Guatemala over the weekend of April 7-9 at a venue to be announced. Mexico, the No.3 seed, and Guatemala, will also play February 3-5 in Guatemala. If the Bahamas loses against Venezuela, they will face the loser between Mexico and Guatemala that same weekend, April 7-9 at a venue to be determined.
In the two scenarios, the Bahamas will either be ahead on the winning side with a chance to advance to Zone One next year, or on the losing side to avoid being demoted to Zone III. In either second round match-up, the Bahamas could also end up remaining in Zone One, depending on the outcome. “We’re looking forward to getting back to the days that we were at back in the day with players like Mark Knowles and Roger Smith,” said Donaldson of two of the most successful Bahamian Davis Cuppers. “So if we can move on, that would be great because it would be the highest level that we have been in for at least 10 years. So it would be very monumental for us moving forward.” The Davis Cup tie is just one of the many international events that the BLTA is looking forward to either hosting or competing in this year.
Starting at 2pm Saturday to February 18, the Bahamas International Tennis Club Invitational Team Tennis League will be played at six different venues. And 2pm Sunday at the National Tennis Centre, the IC players will participate with the juniors. Then from January 9-11, the 4th biannual IC Doubles Week between the United States of America, Canada, Barbados and the Bahamas will take place at the National Tennis Centre. Right on the heels of Davis Cup, the BLTA will send a team off to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to compete in the World Junior Tennis Competition Pre-qualifying Event for under16s. The Fed Cup for ladies is tentatively set for July 17-23, but those dates could change as the event will no longer be staged in Uruguay. “We are trying to develop our junior teams to compete and
we are also trying to get more juniors involved because most of our juniors who have done very well have moved up,” Donaldson said. “With Fed Cup in July, we will be using our junior players so we are hoping that they will have sufficient time to prepare. We will have Marvin Rolle working with them as well as the Davis Cup team. So we are looking forward to some great things happening with our national teams.” Overall, Donaldson said he’s hoping this year that they will see a breakthrough on the senior level as Justin Roberts is the only player with an ATP computer point. “We are looking to try and get him to come home in December to play in our national trials because we believe that he can help our Davis Cup in the future,” Donaldson said. “But we are looking forward to getting as many players as we can to compete at the pro level this year.”
VOLLEYBALL NPVA ACTION THE New Providence Volleyball Association will resume its 2016/17 season Sunday at the DW Davis Gymnasium after taking a break for the Christmas holiday. The match-ups for Sunday are as follows: Women’s Division 3:30pm - University of the Bahamas vs Lady Technicians 5pm - Truckers vs Panthers Men’s Division 6:30pm - Intruders vs Defenders BASEBALL FREE FORUM ON Friday from 7:30-9:30pm at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel, professional baseball player Antoan Richardson will host a free ‘Career Paths to Athletic Success’. Persons will get an opportunity to speak with professional athletes, a division 1 college coach as well as an executive from the office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Young athletes will have a chance to ask questions and receive advice that will help them to create a road map for their future. The panel members’ goals are to help aspiring individuals make the most of their abilities.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, January 4, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
5 questions for a new year, starting with Tiger Woods By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — The new year in golf is consumed by an old topic, this time with a twist. Instead of wondering when (or if) Tiger Woods will play, the question now is how will he play? And here’s another question: Who ever imagined a time when the guys he beat for so many years would be rooting for him to play better? “I think we’ve proved that golf does not need Tiger to be successful,” Brandt Snedeker said last month in the Bahamas. “That being said, golf is better when Tiger is around. I don’t think we need Tiger necessarily any more. We all want Tiger. I think golf is a better product, it’s better TV and I want to see Tiger play again. It’s fun. You see the crowds he brings and he still has an innate ability to do something only a couple of guys can do.” No one commands attention like Woods. The biggest problem for golf might be battling the perception that it matters only when Woods is playing. Compared with last year, that’s a nice problem to have. There remains a battle for supremacy, minus any talk about a “Big Three.” Europe has to face a Midwestern crowd, this time in the Solheim Cup. Two of the majors are going to courses that have never held one — Erin Hills for the US Open, Quail Hollow for the PGA
Championship. The first tee shot of the year is Thursday. Answers to a few topics will take months to sort out. TIGER WOODS By most accounts, Woods made a successful return in the Bahamas, except for the one that matters. He finished in 15th place out of 17 players and 14 shots out of the lead. But it was a start, and a healthy one. The best bet is that Woods will return at Torrey Pines at the end of the month, and with each event, the measure will shift form his health to his score. Jack Nicklaus is mostly curious about his motivation, and he speaks from experience. Nicklaus won his 16th and 17th majors at age 40, and he refers to his final major in the 1986 Masters as “an accident in many ways.” “It’s really difficult when you’ve had as much success as I had over a long period of time to charge your batteries, day after day, and go back out and say, ‘Man, I want to do this again.’ That’s what he’s going to have to do,” Nicklaus said. “Whether he can do that or not, I don’t know. That’s going to be the question.” THE BATTLE FOR NO. 1 Jordan Spieth started last year at No. 1, won three times and fell to No. 5. Spieth, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy were separated by 0.76 points of their world ranking average going into last year, so some
out passion in team golf quite like the United States vs. Europe. The Presidents Cup also holds some intrigue. The International team has lost six straight times and has won only once since the Presidents Cup began in 1994. More pressure would seem to be on US captain Steve Stricker, not only because the Americans haven’t lost since 1998, but because he is the likely Ryder Cup captain for 2020 at Whistling Straits in his native Wisconsin. Speaking of Ryder Cup captains, expect the next American skipper to be named next week. But those matches are two years away.
TIGER WOODS lines up a putt on the 17th hole inthe final round of the Hero World Challenge golf tournament in Nassau, Bahamas, on December 4, 2016. A new year starts with an old topic, with a twist. Instead of wondering when Tiger Woods will play, the question now is how will he play? (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) movement was inevitable. Day has been at No. 1 since the end of the March, and while there is slightly more separation at the top, there are a half-dozen players or more who could end 2017 at No. 1. McIlroy came on strong at the end of the year. Dustin Johnson won the US Open and was the PGA Tour player of the year. Henrik Stenson won his first major and became a threat every time he teed it up. Hideki Matsuyama ended last year by winning four of his last five tournaments. A different player has fin-
ished No. 1 for the eighth consecutive year. Odds are this will be the ninth. MAJOR MYSTERIES No one knows what to expect at the US Open for the second time in three years. The USGA took golf’s second-oldest championship to Chambers Bay in the Pacific Northwest in 2015, and now heads to Erin Hills in the middle of Wisconsin. The last time the US Open went to two courses in a three-year span that had never held a professional major was Hazeltine (1970) and Pebble Beach
(1972). Then again, Pebble had been around since 1919 and hosted the US Amateur four times. Erin Hills opened in 2006. The PGA Championship is going to Quail Hollow, the North Carolina club’s first time holding a major, though it has held the Wells Fargo Championship since 2003. CUPS RUNNETH OVER The Americans will be going for a third straight victory in the Solheim Cup when it goes to Iowa this summer. Nothing brings
WHAT WILL PHIL DO NEXT? Phil Mickelson was runner-up at a major for the third straight year since his last victory, which was the 2013 British Open at Muirfield for his fifth major. The focus, as always, will be whether Lefty can complete the career Grand Slam at the US Open. At age 46, and having gone through two hernia operations in the offseason, it would seem a victory anywhere would suffice. Mickelson, however, shouldn’t be ruled out after last year. He made 10 birdies in a Ryder Cup singles match against Sergio Garcia. He shot 267 at the British Open, matching the fourth-lowest score in major championship history. Just his luck, he got only a half-point against Garcia, and he was runnerup at the Open.
RUNNERS-UP Jordan Prince William Falcons with their awards.
THIRD PLACE finishers CV Bethel Stingrays with their awards.
CI Gibson Rattlers emerge as winners of Providence Basketball Tournament SEE PAGE 4
stack up when the teams come together from Grand Bahama. While Scavalla carted off the championship MVP, the tournament MVP was won by Frantwon Newton from Jordan Prince Williams. Scavalla also clinched the rebounds title and Newton was the best offensive player. Dominic
Bridgewater of Anatol Rodgers won both the assists and steals titles. Dominic Burnside of Anatol Rodgers won the blocks title and Adam Johnson added the best defensive player award to the Jordan Prince Williams’ collection. Kevin Johnson was named the Coach of the Tournament. From the tournament, the fol-
lowing players were selected for the postseason honours: First Team All-Tournament - Dominic Bridgewater/Anatol Rodgers; Preston Ferguson/Mt Carmel; Asher Scavella/CI Gibson; Terrance Storr/CI Gibson; Deonte Tinker/CI Gibson; Kenneth Johnson/Teleos; Sirmar Rolle/Queen’s College; Ashton
Knowles/St Anne’s; Adam Johnson/Jordan Prince Williams andFrantawn Newton/Jordan Prince Williams. Second Team All-Tournament - Jayson McHardy/Anatol Rodgers; Aaron Jordan/Queen’s College; Eric Cox/CV Bethel; Wilfred Ferguson/Jordan Prince Williams; Kristen Munroe/CC
Sweeting; Elliott Greenslade/ Queen’s College; Tyrell Butler/ CI Gibson; Dominic Bridgewater/CI Gibson; Saheed Sansusi/ Akhepran and Marco Beckford/ CC Sweeting. The teams are now preparing for the second halaves of the GSSSA and BAISS seasons that are expected to resume next week.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, January 4, 2017, PAGE 5
Covington’s buzzer-beater lifts 76ers over the Timberwolves By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Robert Covington made a fallaway shot off an inbounds pass with 0.2 seconds left to give the Philadelphia 76ers a 93-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves last night. The Sixers needed the late basket after they blew a 26-point lead and seemed headed to overtime. Ricky Rubio, just a 26 per cent 3-point shooter, buried one with 1.6 seconds left that tied it at 91. Dario Saric hit Covington, who had been booed most of the game, for the decisive bucket that sent the crowd of 17,124 into a frenzy. Joel Embiid scored 25 points and Ersan Ilyasova had 19 for the Sixers. Embiid again showed that the NBA’s top rookie just might play
on one of the league’s worst teams. Embiid has won over Philly with his humour on social media and colourful quotes as he chases Alist celebrities for potential dates. He’ll be a bigger hit if he helps the Sixers win more games. Embiid waved his arms and encouraged fans to get louder when they chanted his nickname “The Process,” and he later baited KarlAnthony Towns into a technical foul. When the Sixers’ 26-point lead was whittled to 11 late in the third quarter, Embiid made a steal and fed Nik Stauskas for a 3-pointer that seemed to steady the offence. Towns had 23 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, and Zach LaVine scored 28. Embiid, who sat out two seasons recovering from a broken foot, was named before the game the Eastern Conference rookie of
WESTERN CONFERENCE
CLIPPERS 109, SUNS 98 LOS ANGELES (AP) — J.J. Redick scored 22 points and Los Angeles beat Phoenix, opening the new year by snapping a sixgame skid. Jamal Crawford added 18 points and DeAndre Jordan had 20 rebounds for the Clippers, who remain without Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. Griffin has missed nine games while recovering from right knee surgery, while Paul has missed six with a sore left hamstring. Los Angeles improved to 3-9 without both of them in the lineup since Paul was acquired before the 201112 season. T.J. Warren led the Suns with 24 points and former Clipper Eric Bledsoe added 22. ROCKETS 101, WIZARDS 91 HOUSTON (AP) — Eric Gordon scored 31 points and James Harden had 23 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds to lead Houston over Washington. Harden’s ninth tripledouble of the season was a rocky encore to his brilliant New Year’s Eve performance where he had 53 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds against the Knicks and became the first player in NBA history with a 5015-15 game. Harden committed six turnovers and was just 2 for 11 on 3-pointers after going 9 for 16 against New York. John Wall had 18 points and 11 assists for Washington, which snapped a threegame winning streak and failed to move over .500. The Wizards haven’t had a winning record since starting 6-5 last season.
the month for the second time this season. Embiid averaged 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 10 games — numbers that could be even better had the Sixers not placed minutes restrictions on him and held him out in at least one game of back-to-backs. “He feels like this is his programme,” coach Brett Brown said. Even with concern over the 7-footer’s health, the Sixers have made a big push for fans to tweet, hashtag and vote Embiid onto the East All-Star team. “I think he deserves it,” Brown said. “I think the health risk is becoming increasingly less, as I’m advised.” Embiid’s popularity is soaring in a city desperate to cheer for competitive basketball. The big man had fans going wild in the second quarter. He pumpfaked at the 3-point line, drove the
lane and dished to Nerlens Noel on his right. Noel hit him back for a shot and was fouled. Towns airballed a 3 during a Minnesota run in the third and Embiid was quick to pounce. He trailed Towns and baited him into a profanity that earned him a technical. Embiid, naturally, made the free throw. He stripped former Kansas teammate Andrew Wiggins later in the quarter and hit Stauskas for the 3. Embiid’s dunk over Towns late in the fourth made it 88-80, and he flexed his muscle a bit and cupped his hand to his ear to hear the crowd like Allen Iverson. The Sixers have struggled with which natural centre to pair with Embiid. Jahlil Okafor sat out the first quarter and Noel was benched for the third as the Sixers try to find the right big man to match with Embiid for the long haul.
NBA CAPSULES
DENVER Nuggets’ Gary Harris, right, shoots against Warriors’ Klay Thompson (11) on Monday night. (AP)
BULLS 118, HORNETS 111 CHICAGO (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 52 points and outdueled Kemba Walker, carrying the Chicago Bulls in a 118-111 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night. Butler was a point shy of his career high, which he got January 14, 2016 at Philadelphia. He scored 20 points in the first half and 17 in the game’s final four minutes. Butler also had 12 rebounds and six assists while shooting 21 of 22 from the free-throw line. He has scored at least 25 points in four straight games, and his performance Monday surpassed his previous season high of 40 points, which he tallied Wednesday against Brooklyn. Walker boosted his All-Star candidacy with 34 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Walker, who scored 37 points against Cleveland on Saturday, tallied consecutive 30-point games for the first time since March 7-9, 2016.
BUCKS 98, THUNDER 94 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points and 10 rebounds and rookie Malcolm Brogdon hit two free throws with 8.8 seconds left, lifting Milwaukee over Oklahoma City. With Milwaukee leading 96-94, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook drove the lane, but Tony Snell deflected the ball off the Thunder guard’s leg and the ball went out of bounds. The referees initially signalled the ball went off Snell, but after a video review, they reversed the call and gave Milwaukee possession. Brogdon then was fouled and made both free throws to seal the victory. Westbrook led Oklahoma City with 30 points and six assists but made only 3 of 17 shots in the second half. Antetokounmpo had five assists, including when he drove the lane and passed to John Henson for a layup, giving Milwaukee a 96-94 lead with 54 seconds to go.
MAGIC 115, KNICKS 103 NEW YORK (AP) — Jodie Meeks scored a season-high 23 points, Serge Ibaka and Aaron Gordon each had 22 and Orlando rolled over New York, which lost its fifth straight game. Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and 13 rebounds and fellow reserve Elfrid Payton added 13 points and 14 assists for the Magic, who were routed in their previous two games but totally turned things around against a Knicks team that played without Kristaps Porzingis or much defensive intensity. Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points for the Knicks, who have dropped eight of 10 to fall to 16-18.
FROM PAGE 1 who predeceased him. The proprietor of Randy’s Well Drilling Company left behind four daughters and one son. “He will be missed,” were the first three words that came out of the mouth of Anthony Swaby as he tried to reflect on the life of his brother. Swaby’s funeral service is scheduled for 10am on Saturday at St Francis Xavier Cathedral, West Street. It will take the form of a memorial as Swaby’s wish was to be cremated.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
WARRIORS 127, NUGGETS 119 OAKLAND, California (AP) — Draymond Green’s putback with 28.9 seconds left gave him the final rebound for his second triple-double of the season, and he finished with 15 points, 13 assists and 10 boards to lead balanced Golden State past Denver. Klay Thompson had 25 points to lead six Warriors in double figures, while Stephen Curry scored 22 points in Golden State’s eighth straight home victory. Kevin Durant scored 21 points, Zaza Pachulia reached double digits for the third time with 11 points and nine rebounds, while Ian Clark came off the bench to score 12 points. The Warriors reached 30 assists for the third straight game and NBA-best 24th time total.
JAZZ 101, NETS 89 NEW YORK (AP) — Gordon Hayward scored 30 points, Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 16 rebounds and Utah pulled away in the final quarter to beat Brooklyn. Rodney Hood and Shelvin Mack also scored 15 points each for the Jazz. Trevor Booker led the Nets with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Brook Lopez scored 14 points. The game was tied 70-70 after three quarters, but Utah’s Joe Ingles and Raul Neto opened the fourth with consecutive buckets and the Jazz never trailed again. They extended their lead to 89-78 on Hood’s layup with 6:11 left, but the Nets pulled to 91-86 on Lopez’s dunk with 3:11 remaining. Utah countered with a 9-1 run and took a gamehigh 13 point lead on Mack’s jumper with 1:09 left.
RANDOLPH SWABY JR
CROSSWORD PUZZLE TUESDAY, JANUARY 3RD
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, January 4, 2017, PAGE 7
Giroud leads Arsenal comeback to salvage draw at Bournemouth
ATLETICO MADRID BEATS LAS PALMAS 2-0 IN COPA DEL REY
BOURNEMOUTH, England (AP) — Olivier Giroud headed a late equaliser after setting up two goals to complete Arsenal’s second-half fightback at Bournemouth, salvaging a 3-3 draw for his side in an engrossing Premier League game yesterday. Bournemouth stunned Arsenal in an electric 20-minute opening, with Charlie Daniels netting and Callum Wilson scoring a penalty. Arsenal’s troubles on the south coast deepened in the 58th minute when Ryan Fraser put the ball through goalkeeper Petr Cech’s legs. But Bournemouth capitulated in the final 20 minutes, helped by being reduced to 10 men, with Giroud setting up Alexis Sanchez with a header and then teeing up Lucas Perez’s volley in the 75th minute. Bournemouth was a man down for the final 10 minutes following a red card for Simon Francis. Giroud then spared Arsenal from a fourth loss of the campaign in the second minute of stoppage time after getting the slightest of touches on the end of Granit Xhaka’s cross to glance
LAS PALMAS, Spain (AP) — Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion and Antoine Griezmann scored a goal in each half as Atletico Madrid defeated Las Palmas 2-0 in a first-leg match in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey yesterday. Koke opened the scoring with a right-foot shot from inside the area in the 24th minute, and Griezmann secured the victory in the 51st with a close-range header after being set up by Kevin Gameiro. Atletico is already nine points behind league leader Real Madrid, and its most realistic chance of a domestic trophy this season is in the Copa.
in a header. “It’s a shame we conceded three goals like that,” Giroud said. “We should not have done these kinds of mistakes ... it’s very frustrating and hopefully we’ll learn from our mistakes.” Arsenal missed a chance to regain third place from Manchester City, staying fourth in the standings — eight points behind leader Chelsea, which is at Tottenham today. Bournemouth is ninth as it looks to secure a third season in the Premier League. Bournemouth had quickly seized on Arsenal’s malaise from the kickoff, with the influential Junior Stanislas playing a key role in the opener. Daniels latched onto Stanislas’ crossfield ball, cut inside defender Hector Bellerin and then buried a low shot past a stranded Cech. Arsenal continued to freeze and Bournemouth struck again. Stanislas and Wilson engineered a lightning break, sending Fraser into the box. Xhaka naively bundled over the Scotsman, and Wilson kept his com-
OLIVIER GIROUD (AP) posure to slide the Cherries into a 2-0 lead from the penalty spot. Arsenal’s problems deepened when Francis Coquelin hobbled out with a suspected hamstring injury, forcing Aaron Ramsey to drop deeper with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain onto the right flank. Harry Arter had a goal ruled
out owing to a handball from Wilson at the start of the second half, but Bournemouth was soon 3-0 in front. Fraser raced onto Daniels’ ball and outmuscled Bellerin, before slotting the ball between Cech’s legs. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was visibly-frustrated, and quickly remonstrating with fourth official Graham Scott. Arsenal finally woke up, with Sanchez scoring with the Gunners’ first meaningful effort on goal. Giroud flicked on OxladeChamberlain’s whipped rightwing cross, and the unmarked Sanchez completed the job at the far post. Perez then volleyed home Giroud’s savvy flick over the defence. Bournemouth’s Dan Gosling spurned a fine chance to end the argument by blasting over the bar, before Francis saw red for a clumsy challenge on Ramsey. And as Bournemouth’s defending became ever more fraught, Xhaka laid on a fine cross for Giroud to nod home the equaliser.
VALENCIA 1, CELTA VIGO 4 Valencia continued to struggle after the surprise resignation of former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli. Goals by Iago Aspas in the third minute, Theo Bongonda in the 14th and Daniel Wass in 19th put Celta in control in front of a frustrated crowd at Mestalla Stadium. Daniel Parejo scored for Valencia by converting a penalty kick early in the second half, but John Guidetti netted again for Celta to seal the victory and leave his club in good position to advance to the quarterfinals.
THE WEATHER REPORT
5-Day Forecast
TODAY
ORLANDO
High: 78° F/26° C Low: 54° F/12° C
TAMPA
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Partial sunshine with a shower
A shower or two early, then showers
A morning shower; partly sunny
Partly sunny with a passing shower
Humid with increas‑ ing cloudiness
Some rain and a t‑storm in the p.m.
High: 82°
Low: 69°
High: 81° Low: 69°
High: 81° Low: 69°
High: 82° Low: 68°
High: 77° Low: 62°
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
96° F
75° F
96°-72° F
96°-74° F
94°-68° F
76°-57° F
High: 76° F/24° C Low: 57° F/14° 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.
N
almanac
E
W
ABACO
S
N
High: 77° F/25° C Low: 72° F/22° C
7‑14 knots
S
High: 82° F/28° C Low: 61° F/16° C
7‑14 knots
FT. LAUDERDALE
FREEPORT
High: 82° F/28° C Low: 63° F/17° C
E
W S
E
W
WEST PALM BEACH
N
uV inDex toDay
TONIGHT
High: 82° F/28° C Low: 67° F/19° C
MIAMI
High: 84° F/29° C Low: 64° F/18° C
6‑12 knots
KEY WEST
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C
ELEUTHERA
NASSAU
High: 82° F/28° C Low: 69° F/21° C
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017
High: 77° F/25° C Low: 73° F/23° C
N
tiDes For nassau High
Ht.(ft.)
Low
Ht.(ft.)
Today
11:51 a.m. ‑‑‑‑‑
2.6 ‑‑‑‑‑
5:42 a.m. 0.1 6:19 p.m. ‑0.2
Thursday
12:31 a.m. 12:46 p.m.
2.5 2.5
6:43 a.m. 0.2 7:12 p.m. ‑0.3
Friday
1:32 a.m. 1:46 p.m.
2.6 2.4
7:48 a.m. 0.2 8:09 p.m. ‑0.4
Saturday
2:34 a.m. 2:50 p.m.
2.7 2.4
8:56 a.m. 0.1 9:09 p.m. ‑0.5
Sunday
3:37 a.m. 3:53 p.m.
2.9 2.4
10:03 a.m. ‑0.1 10:09 p.m. ‑0.7
Monday
4:37 a.m. 4:55 p.m.
3.1 2.4
11:05 a.m. ‑0.3 11:07 p.m. ‑0.8
Tuesday
5:35 a.m. 5:54 p.m.
3.2 2.5
12:03 p.m. ‑0.5 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑
sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset
6:56 a.m. 5:34 p.m.
Moonrise Moonset
11:20 a.m. 11:40 p.m.
First
Full
Last
New
Jan. 5
Jan. 12
Jan. 19
Jan. 27
CAT ISLAND
E
W
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C
N
S
E
W
4‑8 knots
S
4‑8 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 72° F/22° C Normal high ....................................... 78° F/25° C Normal low ........................................ 66° F/19° C Last year’s high ................................. 89° F/32° C Last year’s low ................................... 67° F/20° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday .................................. trace Year to date .................................................. trace Normal year to date ..................................... 0.17”
The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
ANDROS
SAN SALVADOR
GREAT EXUMA
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C
N
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C
E
W S
LONG ISLAND
insurance management tracking map
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C
6‑12 knots
MAYAGUANA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 79° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 76° F/24° C
GREAT INAGUA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C
N
E
W
E
W
N
S
S
6‑12 knots
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: 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 SW at 7‑14 Knots SW at 4‑8 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots W at 3‑6 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots SW at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots SSW at 4‑8 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots SW at 4‑8 Knots SW at 7‑14 Knots SW at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots W at 4‑8 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SW at 4‑8 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SW at 3‑6 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots S at 3‑6 Knots WSW at 3‑6 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots W at 4‑8 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots SW at 4‑8 Knots
WAVES 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 0‑1 Feet 0‑1 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet
VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles
WATER TEMPS. 76° F 76° F 77° F 77° F 76° F 76° F 79° F 79° F 75° F 75° F 78° F 78° F 76° F 76° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 75° F 75° F 78° F 78° F 76° F 76° F