Bahamas qualifies for
FIBA AmeriCup 2025
The Bahamas senior men’s national basketball team concluded the final window of the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 qualifiers with a 105-83 loss to the USA but managed to accomplish their main goal of qualifying for the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 last night at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.
A pivotal victory against Cuba in the opening game of the final window helped the host team to finish in the top three to advance out of Group D. Team Bahamas finished second in the Group D standings with a 2-4 (win/ loss record) and eight points.
The USA held their own in Group D to wrap up with a 5-1 record and 11 points for the first spot. Puerto Rico clinched the final qualification spot with a 2-3 record and seven points. After shooting Cuba out of the gym last Thursday, Team Bahamas was on the receiving end of the
HUGH CAMPBELL CLASSIC FINAL ALL SET
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
IT will be the clash of the New Providence and the Grand Bahama titans as the two winningest teams in the history of the senior boys’ tournament will go head-tohead in tonight’s final of the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic. The AF Adderley Fighting Tigers - the runners-up in the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association - and the Grand Bahama Secondary Schools Sports Association champion Tabernacle Baptist Falcons will be in the big dance that will be played at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium instead of the AF Adderley Gymnasium.
It will start at 8:30pm with coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson trying to ink his name into history as the winningest coach when he goes for his seventh title with the defending champions Rattlers against the Falcons, who won a tournament record of eight titles with six under former head coach Norris Bain.
On Sunday in the semifinal matches, which were rematches of both the New Providence and Grand Bahama championship series, the Rattlers and the Falcons set the stage
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By TENAJH SWEETING
tsweeting@tribunemedia.net
ATHLETES turned in winning performances to qualify for the 2025 CARIFTA Games at the second edition of the Red-Line Field Events Classic hosted on Saturday at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.
Event organiser Tito Moss was pleased to have another successful hosting of the event.
“I am really excited about it and it has great potential because we are offering field events to kids that do not normally have the opportunity to do field events. We have club meets where kids are not offered any field events in the under-11 and under-13 divisions so it is very exciting
to offer an event that gives kids an opportunity that is not very often offered.
“We have about 300 athletes that participated. We have a few of them who have qualified and requalified. The performances were really good and we found some kids blossoming in some areas that they did not know they had talent in,” he said.
Jade Ferguson, of RedLine Athletics, went over the CARIFTA-qualifying mark of 2.60m in the under20 girls’ pole vault event. She posted a winning mark of 2.75m in the event. Her clubmate Nevaeh was a distant second-place finisher at 2.15m.
CARIFTA gold medallist Taysha Stubbs requalified for the CARIFTA Games once again in the under-20 girls’ javelin throw.
UNCLE LOU FUN RUN/WALK THE St Augustine’s College and the Alumni Association is inviting the general public to come out and participate in the Uncle Lou Fun Run/Walk. Under the theme: “Paint the streets red,” the event will take place on Saturday, March 15, starting 6am at SAC’s campus off Bernard Road. The route will leave SAC’s campus and head on Bernard Road, turn onto Soldier Road to Prince Charles Drive,
Stubbs threw a season’s best 49.92m to earn the victory. Her heave was well above the CARIFTA standard of 39.75m. Her clubmate Dior-Rae Scott secured the second spot with a toss of 40.15m to also requalify in the event.
Dahija Mesidor, of Jumpers Inc Global, came third with a throwing distance of 28.06m.
The top three finishers in the under-17 boys’ javelin throw event all eclipsed the CARIFTA-qualifying standard of 44.95m.
Ahkeel Williams, representing Air Assault, posted a winning throw of 50.82m to requalify for the 2025 CARIFTA Games. Air Assault’s Wyatt Cartwright also requalified in the event with a heave of SEE PAGE E8
and
back to SAC. The registration fee is $20 for adults and $10 for persons under the age of 20. The first 200 participants will receive road race t-shirts. Persons can register now by logging onto www.saintaugustinescollege.com Following the race, a health screening will take place. There will also be a souse out with chicken priced at $10, pig feet at $12 and sheep
SEE PAGE E4 February
BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
ON the heels of winning their District 4-3A Championship title, versatile Terrell McCoy helped the Bulldogs varsity girls’ basketball team add the FHSAA Class 3A regional championship title to their collection at Bolles High School in Jacksonville, Florida. With her parentsClementra and Harcourt McCoy - in the stands, the six-foot, three-inch Terrell and the Bulldogs prevailed with a 52-38 victory over Rutherford to remain undefeated at 4-0.
“I’m very proud of my team. We were the first to
it. We’ve been working for about six months on our conditioning and we came out and showed what we were supposed to do and we ended up with a win,” Terrell said.
“It was a lot of pressure, but I knew my team had my back and I had my team’s back, so if we were feeling scared, we would play for each other,” she said.
The 16-year-old, who averaged 15 points and nine rebounds, said she couldn’t ask for much better team performance because it helped to translate to her performing as well as she did.
“I feel pretty good about my performance. With all of the hard work
that I was able to put in, it’s finally shown on the court,” said the 16-yearold Terrell, a three-time CARIFTA medallist in the under-17 girls’ shot put and discus. “I feel as if all the work that I’ve been doing is now going into these key moments.”
Looking back at her season, the 16-year-old Terrell McCoy, who hopes to one day become a neurosurgeon, said it would be considered one of the best she’s ever had.
“I’ve had some really good team-mates and some good coaches to really push me through it,” said Terrell, who averaged 12-13 points per
YOUNG athletes in action during the second edition of the Red-Line Field Events Classic at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium on Saturday.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
By TENAJH SWEETING
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
SIR DURWARD KNOWLES NATIONAL YOUTH SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Exuma Sailing Club awarded top sailing team honours
THE Ministry of Works and Family Islands Affairs’ Sir Durward Knowles National Youth Sailing Championships was completed in Montagu Bay on Saturday. The winners were crowned during the awards closing ceremony by Minister Clay Sweeting, who also gave some remarks. The Exuma Sailing Club was awarded the top sailing team. The
OPTIMIST champion Leon Zarchan.
CLASS E 2nd place crew One Bahamas.
CLASS E 3rd place crew Lady Annmarie.
LASER champion Johannes Maritz.
SUNFISH champion Tanaj Manos.
CLASS E champion crew of Lady Kayla.
Photos by Patrick Hanna/BIS
Clash of the Titans: 41st Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic final set for tonight
FROM PAGE E1
for tonight’s showdown. Tabernacle Baptist Academy powered past their Grand Bahama runners-up Sunland Baptist Academy Stingers with a 59-56 triumph, while CI Gibson prevailed over the GSSSA champions Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves 66-58.
Here’s a summary of the two matches: Falcons 59, Stingers 56 With four players in double figures, Tabernacle Baptist clinched another berth in the final to go after their title.
Gianno Murray exploded for 25 points with six rebounds, Anthony Missick had 16 points, three assists, three steals and two rebounds and Dylan Morris added 12 points with 14 rebounds and a pair of block shots.
Kevin Clarke, a former player who took over from Bain as the coach, winning the last two Tabernacle Baptist tithes back-to-back in 2017 and 2018, said he was just happy that his Falcons can go after another title.
“Every game we’ve played them, it’s been a real battle,” Clarke said. “But we just been able to get them lately. So, we’re peaking at the right time.”
As for the final, Clarke said it doesn’t matter who they face. Their opponents will take on the “winningest” high school basketball programme in the country.
The game, which saw both teams hold the lead, went right down to the wire with the Falcons surging ahead 57-53 on a consecutive three-pointer from Murray and a lay-up from Missick with 32.9 seconds left.
However, the Stingers responded as Sylvanno Gibson canned a threepointer and then converted the last of two free throws with eight seconds left to trim the deficit to two, 57.55.
But with 13.3 remaining on the clock, Murray canned another threepointer to seal the deal for Tabernacle Baptist, sending Sunland, the two-time champions from 2020 and 2023, packing.
Jermaine Woodside paced the Stingers with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Brian Cezalien had 12 points and nine rebound.
Gibson finished with 12 points as well with right rebounds, three steals and two blocks while Kareme Styles had eight points and Jahmaion Albury chipped in with six points, four assists and three rebounds. Rattlers 68, Timberwolves 58 Avenging their defeat in the GSSSA championship, CI Gibson came up with some big shots in the clutch moments down to the stretch to get back into the tournament final for the third consecutive year.
The combo of Tashon Butler, Darus Hanna, Mario Rolle and Condae Smith proved to be a little too much for Anatol Rodgers to handle as they secured the win for the Rattlers.
Butler finished with 24 points, seven steals and five rebounds, Hanna had 15 points, four steals and three rebounds; Smith had 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
“Anatol is a tough team. We had to really dig deep and force some turnovers,” said coach Johnon.
“My boys didn’t play the type of basketball that we could. We missed some layups and free throws, but in tournament play, you have to play.” Johnson said they just had to stay focused and poised because the Timberwolves came out to play.
Raymone Woods led the
Timberwolves’ attack with 13 points, nine rebounds, four steals and two assists. Derek Francis had 12 points, nine rebounds and two assists; Cavelle Ferguson had nine points, eight rebounds and two assists and D’Nagio Fowler added eight points with five steals, three rebounds and two assists.
Anatol Rodgers was coached by Denyko Bowles, who won a Hugh Campbell title in 2019 with the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins before he was eventually transferred to Anatol Rodgers. Here’s the scores from the other games played over the weekend: Friday - Gateway Christian Academy def. Teleos Christian Academy 32-28; St George’s def. Westminster 37-28; CR Walker def. Doris Johnson 34-33; Charles W Saunders 58-28; Gateway Academy def. Kingsway Academy 38-37; CI Gibson def. Agape Chistian School 56-42; CC Sweeting def. Sunland Baptist 48-39; Tabernacle Baptist Academy def. RM Bailey 52-45 and Anatol Rodgers def. St John’s 47-42. Saturday - St Goerge’s def. Agape Academy 51-39; St John’s College def. Gateway Christian Academy 43-33; Sunland Baptist def. CR Walker 50-30; RM Bailey def. Charles W Saunders 35-25; Anatol Rodgers def. St John’s College 71-49; Tabernacle Baptist Academy def. RM Bailey 51-30;
CI Gibson def., St George’s 72-58 and Sunland Baptist def. CC Sweeting 61-53. Highlights of quarterfinal
games
Stingers 61, Cobras 53
Brian Cezalien led a balanced scoring attack for Sunland with 20 points, six rebounds and four steals for Sunland Baptist as they marched into the divisional final. Jermaine Woodside had 15 points and 13 rebounds and Jahmarion Albury added a doubledouble with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Tavari Roker scored 14 points with six rebounds for CC Sweeting, coached by Baker, as they got eliminated. Keyshawn Pierre chipped in with 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Rattlers 72, Jaguars 56
Tashon Butler continued his impressive play, leading two other players in double figures for CI Gibson with 23 points, seven steals, six rebounds and three assists.
Mario Rolle had another double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, five block shots and three steals and Condae Smith added 10 points with 10 rebounds, five steals and four assists.
St George’s, coached by Darryl Sears, got a game high 27 points with six rebounds, four steals and two assists from Isaih Roker, but it wasn’t enough to keep them in the tournament. Makan Nesbitt added
15 points with 11 rebounds and four assists.
Falcons 51, Pacers 30
Gianno Murray came up with 11 points, six steals, five rebounds and four assists as Tabernacle Baptist clinched their berth into the divisional final.
Anthony Missick added 20 points with three steals and two assists.
RM Bailey, coached by Lamont Armaly, had one player in double figures in William Ingraham Ward with 10 points and six rebounds as they got ousted. Lawrence Monestine was their best producer with six points, 11 rebounds.
Timberwolves 71, Giants 49
Raymone Woods led three other players in double figures with 16 points, seven steals, four rebounds and three assists as Anatol Rodgers advanced to the divisional playoffs.
Derek Francis and Cavelle Ferguson both had 14 points with three rebounds to help out.
Francis also had five steals and three assists, while Ferguson had four steals and three assists.
White chipped in with 10 points with four rebounds. As St John’s, coached by Daryshan Baker made their exit, Leonardo
Isreal
Rolle scored 13 points with a pair of rebounds and assists and Akai Miller and Deren Moultrie both scored nine.
ON THE REPLAY: Students compete last night in the 41st Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic at AF Adderley Gymnasium. Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
BAHAMAS LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION
CONGRATULATES
JERALD CARROLL AND WILLIAM MCCARTNEY
TWO Bahamian tennis
athletes are making their presence felt on the junior tennis circuits internationally as Jerald Carroll won two titles in Mexico and William McCartney IV was a runner-up in Spain.
The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association congratulates William and Jerald on their hard work and dedication to tennis. They are both reaping the fruits of their labour.
Carroll won the singles and doubles titles at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) J30 in Mexico.
In singles opening rounds
Jerald won over wildcard Fernando Sanchez 6-0, 7-6 and Ecuadorian Felipe Wright 6-0, 6-2.
Jerald was seeded number three in the tournament and made a fantastic run to the finals. In the quaterfinals he won over Mexican qualifier Nicolas Mireles 6-2, 6-2. He won over his doubles partner Alesandro Belaunde in the seminfinal 6-2, 6-3. In the finals he
faced the local favorite from Mexico Sebastian Puente and he won decisively in straight sets. In doubles Carroll teamed up with Peruvian Alesandro Belaunde Mexicans Gonzalez and Puente 7-5, 4-6, 10-4. In the quarters they won 7-6, 6-2 over Anerican Bedwick and Mexican Maya. In the semifinals Carroll and partner defeated Spanish Lopez and Mexican Ocampo 6-4, 6-2. In the finals the No.3 seeds won in a hard fought three-setter over the local favourites and the fourth seed Mexicans Garza and Ajotna 7-2, 2-6, 10-5. McCartney competed in the Torneo Contra Corrente at the Playa De Santa Ponsa Tennis Club in Balearic Islands, Spain. In his first match, McCartney, who came into the tournament unseeded, won over No.1 seed Yahor Kryvaruchka in a threeset thriller coming from a set down 5-7, 7-6(5), 12-10. McCartney advanced over
‘VJ’ Edgecombe scores eight points for Baylor in 76-74 loss to
Colorado
BOULDER, Colo.
(AP) — Julian Hammond
III hit a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left and Colorado held off a late comeback by Baylor to earn its second straight Big 12 Conference home victory, 76-74 on Saturday. Colorado (11-16, 2-14) lost its first 14 conference games, including 13 straight before the Buffaloes beat UCF a week ago, 76-63 at home. Their string of 13 straight losses and six straight homecourt losses was their longest skid since the 1985-86 season.
VJ Edgecombe contributed eight points, seven assists and five rebounds for Baylor, who held a 32-30 lead at the break and Robert Wright III hit from 3 with under 14 minutes to play to give the Bears a 45-40 advantage.
Trevor Baskin turned a three-point play with under seven minutes to play to put Colorado in front for good, 62-59, and Sebastian Rancik followed by knocking down a 3 and then converting two free throws as the Buffaloes used a 9-0 run to take a double-digit lead. Jalen Celestine hit a pair of 3-pointers and a layup to get the Bears within two, 74-72 with :29 left. Hammond went to the line with :17 left and converted both free throws, but VJ Edgecombe’s tip-in with :04 left set the final margin.
Andrej Jakimovski scored 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished five assists to lead Colorado. RJ Smith added 13 points, Hammond 12 and Rancik 10.
J Orzabal and third seed F Hernandez to book his ticket into the finals. It would be another threeset thriller with William
fighting hard against No.2 Jaume Nadal Comas wininig a set but falling short in the third set tiebreak 7-6, 4-6, 10-4.
congratulates Carroll and McCartney who are making their presence felt on the ITF and European junior circuits respectively.
MCCOY HELPS BULLDOGS ADD FHSAA CLASS 3A REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE TO THEIR COLLECTION
FROM PAGE E1
game. “From here now, I will get ready for track. I plan to go to state (championship) in shot put and discus and medal.”
BAYLOR guard V.J. Edgecombe, left, reaches over to get the loose ball after knocking it away from Houston guard Mylik Wilson, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, February 10, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Norman Omier scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Baylor (16-11, 8-8). Langston Love added 17 and Celestine and Jeremy Roach each contributed 11 each. Baylor has lost three of its last four, including losses to No. 6 Houston and No. 19 Arizona, and lost back-to-back for just the second time this season.
Her older sister Danielle, 18, is a freshman at Hollins University where she is expected to play both basketball and volleyball.
“As a parent of girls, I’ve always taught them to be committed in whatever they are doing and to have integrity,” stated father Harcourt.
“Watching them compete and seeing their drive and passion makes me proud beyond words but it also makes me grateful to God for keeping them healthy and safe throughout their sporting seasons.”
While Danielle and Terrell have been making their presence felt in basketball, their younger sister Hardassah has followed in the footsteps of his siblings on the basketball court.
But she is also making a name for herself as a high jumper.
The 11-year-old 5-7 sixth grader at Temple Christian Academy competed over the weekend
SPORTS CALENDAR
FROM PAGE E1
tongue at $15. Drinks will also be on sale. For more information, persons can call 242-324-1511 or email Thesacalumni@gmail.com
NPA TRACK CLASSIC
THE Noble Preparatory Academy is all set to hold its 2025 Track and Field Classic on Saturday, March 15 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium from 9am to 6pm. The registration
at the Red-Line Athletics Field Meet at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium where
deadline is March 11. Athletes can register at info@ npabahamas.com
RUGBY GAMES AT WINTON
AFTER making some minor repairs to the Winton rugby pitch, the Bahamas Rugby Union is scheduled to play matches on Saturday, March 8 and Saturday, March 22. All ages and all abilities are welcome, including men and women, ‘Golden Oldies’ teams and beginners and seasoned players. The BRU is also inviting persons to come and try rugby this year. The
she won both the under-13 girls’ high and triple jumps and placed third in the long jump. “All of them have
only equipment needed are tennis/cleats and PE kit.For further information, persons are urged to call (242) 812-0417. BASKETBALL HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS
AS the senior boys’ high school basketball teams get ready to compete in the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic that began yesterday at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, Ossie ‘the Sports Insider’ Simmons has released his top 12 rankings. Here’s how they stack up:
unique personalities that have placed them each in unique situations,” Harcourt McCoy summed up.
BLTA
Both boys were a part of the Bahamas’ dynamic U16 Jr Davis Cup team that won the Jr Davis Cup in 2024 in Trinidad and Tobago.
JERALD Carroll and William McCartney take the spotlight.
TERRELL McCoy cutting the nets for Bolles after their victory.
‘Buddy’ Hield leads Warriors with 22 points in 132-106 blowout win over Kings
By ERIC HE Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif.
(AP) — Chavano “Buddy”
Hield and Moses Moody had 22 points each and the Golden State Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings 132106 on Friday night.
Brandin Podziemski added 21 points, and Stephen Curry had 20 points as role players stepped up for the Warriors.
DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 34 points and Domantas Sabonis finished one assist shy of a triple double with 14 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.
The Warriors got off to a hot start in the second quarter and led by 20. They were 11 of 23 from deep in the first half to take a 68-53 lead at halftime. Golden State maintained a 100-83 lead heading into the fourth.
Markelle Fultz, the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, scored eight points in his debut with the Kings after signing with them last week.
Takeaways Warriors: The newlook Warriors continue to impress since acquiring Jimmy Butler, improving to 4-1 with him in the lineup. They are two games over .500 for the first time since December.
Kings: The Kings dropped to 3-4 since trading De’Aaron Fox. They have allowed over 110 points in each of their last five games, as the Warriors shot 54%.
Key moment
The Kings cut a 20-point lead to nine midway through the third quarter, but the Warriors responded with an 11-0 run — capped off by five straight points by Curry — to push the lead back to 20.
Key stat
The Warriors took much better care of the basketball than in their two prior games against the Kings
SACRAMENTO Kings forward DeMar DeRozan, centre, stops Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield, left, from taking a 3-point shot after a timeout is called during the second half on Friday.
SACRAMENTO Kings guard Keon Ellis (23) attempts a shot with Golden State Warriors guards Buddy Hield (7) and Stephen Curry (30) on defence during the first half. (AP Photos/ Sara Nevis)
this season. They turned the ball over just 12 times, after having 19 and 22 turnovers in the earlier losses.
Doncic’s 32 points lead Lakers to snap Nuggets’ 9-game win streak
DENVER (AP) — Luka
Doncic scored 32 points in his best game by far with the Lakers, leading Los Angeles to a 123-100 runaway win at Denver on Saturday night that snapped the Nuggets’ ninegame winning streak.
LeBron James added 25 points, Austin Reaves scored 23 and Rui Hachimura had 21 when he left holding his left side with 10 minutes remaining — the Lakers didn’t miss him, going on a 12-2 run to stretch their lead to 19.
The Lakers never trailed in winning in Denver for the first time since April 10, 2022. They had lost 13 of their previous 14 against the Nuggets.
Doncic averaged 14.7 points in his first three games with the Lakers. He surpassed that less than 10 minutes in and had 19 points by halftime with the Lakers up 63-54.
Aaron Gordon scored 24 points and Jamal Murray 19 for Denver, which lost for the first time this month.
Nikola Jokic posted his 26th triple-double of the season, but he was just 2 of 7 from the floor with six turnovers.
The Nuggets have never won 10 in a row during coach Michael Malone’s decade in Denver.
SUNS 121, BULLS 117
CHICAGO (AP) —
Devin Booker had 29 points and eight assists, Kevin Durant scored 27 points and Bradley Beal had 25 in his return to the starting
lineup to help Phoenix beat Chicago to end a four-game losing streak.
Playing the third of five straight road games, the Suns overcame an early deficit and held off the Bulls. They won for the first time since January 31 with the Big Three of Booker, Durant and Beal in the lineup together.
Josh Giddey led Chicago with 24 points and had 10 assists and eight rebounds. The Bulls have lost six straight.
The Suns missed their first seven attempts and shot 29.2% in the first quarter. Chicago jumped out to a 10-point lead on a buzzerbeating floater from Tre Jones. Phoenix was 16 of 21 from the field in the second quarter and led by two at the half.
Phoenix built a 12-point lead in the third, but Chicago pulled within three entering the final quarter. Chicago evened it up in the final minutes, only for Booker, Beal and Durant to close it out.
NETS 105, 76ERS 103
PHILADELPHIA (AP)
— Nic Claxton scored 16 points and tipped in the winner as time expired, Cam Johnson had 23 points and Brooklyn edged Philadelphia.
Tyrese Maxey buried a 3 with 25 seconds left that tied it at 103 and helped the 76ers rally from a 17-point deficit.
The game seemed set for overtime when Keon
Johnson missed a long 3, only for Claxton to be in the right spot to score at the horn and send the Nets storming onto the court in a wild celebration.
Trendon Watford also scored 16 points for the Nets. Maxey led the 76ers with 31 points. The 76ers played at full strength with All-Stars Joel Embiid, Paul George and Maxey in the starting lineup. It didn’t seem to matter until the fourth.
Quintin Grimes hit a 3 for the Sixers for a 95-94 lead and Maxey snapped
another tie with a 3 that made it 100-97.
TRAIL BLAZERS 141, HORNETS 88 PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)
— Anfernee Simons hit five 3-pointers and scored 25 points in the largest blowout victory in Portland history, a romp over Charlotte. The 53-point margin topped the franchise record of 50 set in a 129-79 home victory over Cleveland on Nov. 21, 1982. Toumani Camara added 20 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, a steal and two blocks for the Trail Blazers.
Shaedon Sharpe had 20 points off the bench, and Jabari Walker had 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 17 points. Nick Smith Jr. had 14 points. Jusuf Nurkic added 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists off the bench.
JAZZ 124, ROCKETS 115 SALT LAKE CITY (AP)
— Keyonte George scored 30 points and Lauri Markkanen added 23 points and 10 rebounds to rally Utah to a victory over Houston. Walker Kessler had 11
points and 17 rebounds, and Isaiah Collier added 12 points and 10 assists to help Utah snap a two-game skid. Alperen Sengun led Houston with 27 points and 12 rebounds.
Jalen Green added 25 points and 10 assists, and Amen Thompson had 23 points.
Aaron Holiday and Thompson made back-toback 3-pointers to put the Rockets up 96-89. But the Jazz surged ahead for good behind a 21-5 run.
Three straight baskets, capped by Cody Williams’ layup, gave Utah a 110-101 lead with 5:59 left.
Sengun and Dillion Brooks each scored a pair of baskets to key an early 13-2 spurt that gave Houston a 45-40 lead midway through the second quarter. Utah chipped away at the deficit, but did not retake a lead again until the third quarter when Markkanen bookended a string of four straight baskets that powered a 13-5 run.
Kessler’s alley-oop dunk three possessions later punctuated that run and put the Jazz up 77-76.
LOS Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic is congratulated after hitting a basket and drawing a foul in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, February
FIBA AMERICUP 2025 QUALIFIERS: BAHAMAS VS. USA
Bahamas qualifies for FIBA AmeriCup 2025
FROM PAGE E1
three-point barrage against the USA last night.
Coach John Lucas III discussed what went wrong for Team Bahamas in last night’s game.
“We beat ourselves tonight. We have to be just a little more disciplined. We got every shot we wanted but we turned the ball over, stopped trusting the pass and stopped playing for each other and they just capitalised off bad shots, our turnovers and their offensive rebounding,” he said.
“I am very proud of the guys and our whole goal was to qualify for the next round and we did that. We accomplished one goal and now the next goal is to try to go there and win it all.”
Team Bahamas had four players score in double digits with guard Domnick Bridgewater leading the charge with 19 points, five assists and two steals.
Franco Miller Jr poured in 18 points, four assists and four rebounds but he only shot 40 per cent from the field.
Tavario Miller Sr pitched in 14 points and Lathaniel Bastian scored 10 points.
Nassir Little led the USA in scoring with 16 points to pair with seven rebounds and a steal.
Javonte Smart also pitched in 16 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists.
The opening quarter was tightly contested between the USA and the host team.
Bahamian veteran Jaraun
“Kino” Burrows threw down a dunk to give his team an 18-17 lead in the final minutes of the first before closing out the quarter behind 26-22. In the second quarter is where Team USA started to make a run.
Sammy Hunter cleaned up a missed layup by Franco Miller Jr and pulled the home team within five (38-33) at the 3:06 mark.
Team USA responded with a 7-0 run that shifted the score to double digits, 45-33.
Team Bahamas fell behind 48-36 at the halftime break.
The host team shot 33 per cent from the field while the USA made 44 per cent in the first half and that trend continued the rest of the way.
Team Bahamas showed some signs of life in the second half. They mounted a 10-3 run to shave the deficit to just 11 (59-48) with less than five minutes remaining.
The USA’s Jahimus Ramsey along with Miller Kopp nailed back-to-back buckets that pushed the lead up to 16 (66-50).
Team USA took control of the game 73-56 with one quarter remaining and the rest was history. They went up by as much as 24 points in the fourth
to put the nail in the coffin in front of a deflated home crowd.
The USA shot the ball at an efficient 52.6 per cent while holding Team Bahamas to 38.3 per cent shooting from the field.
They won the rebound battle 48-42.
The USA also dominated the paint 58-44.
Despite the tough loss, coach Lucas believes Team Bahamas has the talent to compete with any team but needs to get more playing time together.
“We are there. We have the talent and we have everything we need. It is just about us building now.
“Like I told the guys I am very proud of them, a lot of these guys are high level guys, it is just about us getting together earlier and being able to get more reps in before games,” he said.
The Bahamas senior men’s national basketball team will try to make a run at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup slated for August 23 to 31 in Managua, Nicaragua. Go Team Bahamas!
Photos by Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
Bahamas routs Cuba 97-74 at home
ON THE REPLAY: Bahamian national basketball team players in action on Thursday night against Cuba in the third window of the FIBA
The home-court advantage paid dividends for Team Bahamas as they dominated Cuba 97-74 to secure their first victory of the third and final window of the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers last night at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium. It was a must-win game and the host team benefited greatly from hometown cooking from long range to shoot the Cuban national team out of the gym and stave off elimination in Group D play. Team Bahamas improved to a 2-3 (win/loss record), good enough for the second spot in the Group D standings.
Photos by Chappell Whyms Jr
AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.
2ND RED-LINE FIELD EVENTS CLASSIC AT ORIGINAL TAR
Athletes qualify for CARIFTA Games
50.73m for second place. Sherman Ferguson, who competed unattached, turned in a throw of 45.00m for a third place finish.
Two jumpers hit the qualifying standards in the under-17 girls’ long jump event but their marks were wind-aided. The CARIFTA standard for the event is 5.45m.
Keely Deveaux, of Fast Forward, leapt to 5.56m for the first position in the event.
Second place went to Taree Forbes, of Red-Line Athletics, with her final mark of 5.48m.
Her clubmate Caitlyn Smith settled for third at 5.24m.
The wind also played a factor in the under-20 girls’ long jump event.
Bayli Major emerged victorious with a wind-aided jump of 5.64m which was above the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 5.58m.
Alexis Roberts, of RedLine Athletics, placed second at 5.44m and Speed Capacity’s Synia Lockhart was third overall at 5.31m.
Demian Brice and Carlin Archer exceeded the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 14.29m in the under-20 boys’ triple jump event.
Brice, representing Bahamas Speed Dynamics, cleared 14.52m to win the event.
Carlin Archer, PVS Sports, fell to the second spot with a jump of 14.35m. Nicholas Knowles, of Jumpers Inc, was third in the event with a jump of 13.60m.
Annae Mackey, of Blue Chip, requalified in the under-20 girls’ discus throw event with a heave of 42.81m.
The CARIFTA qualifying mark for the event is 40.36m. Additionally, she placed first in the under-20 girls’ shot put event with 11.42m. Javan Missick, of Panthers Track Club, came close to the CARIFTA standard of 1.87m in the under-17 boys’ high jump event. He soared to 1.80m to finish in first place.
Jahcario Wilson, of Bahamas Speed Dynamics, settled for second place at 1.75m.
Dario Butterfield, of Noble Preparatory Academy, took the third spot at 1.60m. Next up on the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) calendar is the BAISS High School Championship set for March 5-7.
ON THE REPLAY: Young athletes in action during the second edition of the Red-Line Field Events Classic at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium on Saturday.
Photos by Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff