16-SPORTS

16 THE FREEPORT NEWS Tuesday, February 27, 2018 SPORTS

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS – The Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins can once again sing the classic song “We Are The Champions” after a repeat title effort during the 2018 HOYTES Geneva Rutherford Girls Basketball Tournament. Above, the champion girls are pictured with Minister of Youth, Sports and ‘Culture Michael Pintard, next to Patron Geneva Rutherford and Coach Kevon Spence. Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins reign supreme! Preeminent girls’ basketball tourney gathers momentum The HOYTES (Helping Our Storr, West Bahamas District and moved on to face the Mar- a national championship, the Youth through Education and Education Chief Ivan Butler lins. While the senior champi- tournament is approaching the Sports) Geneva Rutherford and Patron Geneva Rutherford onship game was between two point of being compared in a Girls Invitational Basketball all expressed sentiments of full teams out of New Providence, meaningful way with the Hugh Tournament is now a distin- satisfaction with the fi ve-day it was an all- Campbell Invitational for high guished part of the Bahamian sports spectacular. Grand Bahama affair for the school boys. sports landscape. A general agreement classi- SPORTS junior championship. Minister of Youth, Sports and fi ed the tourney as “the most The Eight Mile Rock Blue No, it hasn’t quite reached Culture Michael Pintard, a pres- competitive ever.” Jays put up a valiant effort but the status of being the outright ence at the beginning and end- It is not an overstatement to could not hold on against the counterpart tournament to the ing of the tournament, is clearly refer to the tournament as one Sister Mary Patricia Falcons. Hugh Campbell event, but the delighted that indeed the event worthy of being celebrated and The four top senior teams teams that competed can take is quite special. He helped to accepted as one of the core SCOPE were evenly matched. They pride in being party to some- build the excitement with a aspects of the national sports are proof also of the incredible thing that is growing wonder- rousing tournament opening picture. The contests that de- national high school girls’ bas- fully well. The Ministry of address this past Wednesday at termined the actual champion- BY FRED STURRUP ketball talent pool. There is the Youth, Sports and Culture is the Jack Hayward Gymnasium. ships were extremely compet- was one that no team deserved sic that went down to the wire, strong view being expressed the anchor sponsor of the event. On Sunday, he was signifi - itive, but the tune was already to lose. with the Marlins ultimately pre- that because of the growing An undisputable fact is that cantly a part of the enthusiastic set by thrillers, in particular the It was however, the defend- vailing, to repeat as champions. prominence of the HOYTES the HOYTES Geneva Ruther- atmosphere, presenting awards triple overtime senior girls con- ing champion Mystic Marlins Earlier, in one of the semi-fi - invitational for girls, the ar- ford Invitational Girls Tourna- and posing with the talented test between the R. M. Bailey moving on to the championship nal match-ups, the St. George’s gument can well be made that ment is rapidly gathering mo- successful players and teams. Pacers and the Doris Johnson game, once again. They faced Lady Jaguars pinned Prince the Mystic Marlins are the best mentum. Tournament Founder Gladstone Mystic Marlins. the Prince Williams Falcons in Williams right to the wall, but female high school team in the • To respond to this column, “Moon” McPhee, Tournament A cliché is most appropriate the tourney’s fi nale and onlook- the more experienced group country. kindly contact Fred Sturrup at Director Sharon “The General” in this instance. The contest ers were treated to another clas- out of New Providence escaped Although not endorsed as [email protected]. ANTOAN RICHARDSON MOTIVATES YOUTHS TO BE LEADERS “So the point of the story is SHAYNE STUBBS every time you touch something FN Sports Reporter make sure that you put your best [email protected] effort into it because you never really understand if it’s an op- Retired professional baseball portunity or an obligation. That outfi elder Antoan Richardson was an opportunity for him to shared his blueprint on becom- fi rst of all create a beautiful ing leaders to young adult males house for himself and his family, recently. but that was another opportunity On February 17, the Alpha for him to make a mark on the Males: Men of Tomorrow Sem- artist and the mastery of what he inar was held at the Pelican Bay did in his work,” he explained. Hotel. The seminar featured a Richardson went on to explain number of motivational speakers that the most important trait in a for teenage males, with Richard- leader is creating other leaders. son playing a part on the roster “Currently, right now, I’m of speakers. learning that process as I go. As a professional athlete, the The thought is when you hear former New York Yankee ath- lead you think of others follow- letes’s career saw a number of ing behind you. The reality of it twists and turns playing for a is great leaders create other lead- number of minor league teams ers and the ironic part about it is; and just two major league teams. when you create other leaders For young males at an important their going to follow you. time in their lives his story about “When you start to think of his humble beginnings to the these different people that’s in walk-off run he scored on Derek your mind that you think are Jeter’s last at bat was used as in- great leaders you start to look at spiration for the young men con- the people behind them. Look at vened at the Pelican Bay Hotel. the at the New England Patriots. The former Minor and Major The Patriots have been a pretty League outfi elder fi rst used the good team over the past couple story of a retiring architect who of years; they’re either losing in was requested to build one more the Super Bowl or winning the house before he retired from a Super Bowl. company. In a reluctant fashion “But every off-season they lose the architect “cut some corners” a coach. Every off-season they while building the house only to have a coach going somewhere fi nd out in the end that he was else. So that’s probably saying building the house for himself as something about that organiza- BE A LEADER - Former Minor League and Major League Baseball outfi elder Antoan Richardson gave motivating words at the AL- a retirement gift from the com- tion and about that leadership PHA Males Seminar this past February, 17 at the Pelican Bay Hotel. He used his ups and downs in the game of baseball to encour- pany he worked for. (Continued on Page 11) age the young adults to be leaders. (PHOTO: SHAYNE STUBBS)