Sports

Bahamians Make Preseason Debuts for New Programs

U.S.A. – The NCAA basketball season is on the horizon, that means exhibitions are underway and we get an early look at Bahamian players, some with new programs, as they prepare to make a run toward March.

Published

2 months ago

October 28, 2024

10th Year Seniors

Syracuse freshman forward Donnie Freeman made his debut for the orange and finished with 16 points and a team high seven rebounds in a 101-73 win over Clarion.

He shot 7-13 from the field, including one three pointer.

Syracuse opened the game on a 30-7 run and dominated the rest of the way on 53 percent shooting from the field.

The orange returns to the JMA Wireless Dome for its final exhibition game on October 30 against DII Slippery Rock.

AJ Storr made his debut with the no.1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks in their fundraising exhibition against no.16 Arkansas.

He finished with eight points in the Jayhawks’ 85-69 loss in the matchup between big 12 and SEC powerhouses.

The fundraising exhibition benefitted mental health providers and charities within each school’s footprint.

Storr came to the jayhawks after seasons with the st. John’s red storm and Wisconsin Badgers.

Kansas will play its final exhibition game when it hosts Washburn on October 30.

In another fundraising matchup between ranked teams, fredrick king and the no.15 creighton bluejays won 93-87 over no.14 purdue.

The junior center finished with eight points and four rebounds.

Creighton led 46-43 at halftime and pushed their lead to as large as 13 in the second half against the defending national runner-ups.

The contest raised $150,000 for the united way of the Midlands Disaster Relief Fund.

Baseball

Team Bahamas won its opening game of the sixth Caribbean Baseball Cup, but it was a struggle on the field the rest of the way.

The team finished the tournament with a 1-4 record capped by a 4-1 loss to the Dominican Republic in their last game of the event, Sunday night at the Andre Rodgers National Stadium.

Terell Outten drove in the lone rbi for Team Bahamas who missed out on several scoring opportunities.

In the fifth, they had the bases loaded with one out, but were unable to capitalize.

Despite the final outcome, veteran outfielder Chavez Young was optimistic about the future of team bahamas and opportunities to play in front of the home crowd.

NBA

A busy night for Bahamians in the association featured one to head matchup and a two players getting their first wins of the season.

That’s three games, three double doubles for Deandre Ayton.

He finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Portland Trailblazers to their first win of the season, 125-103 over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Moda Center in Portland.

In a balanced scoring attack, every Blazers starter finished in double figures on 52 percent shooting from the field.

Ayton also anchored a defense that held New Orleans to 38 percent shooting and 1-of-13 shooting from three in the first half.

The Blazers will play their first road game of the season tonight against the Sacramento Kings at Golden1 Arena at 10pm

Eric Gordon and the injury plagued Philadelphia 76ers also got their first win of the season sunday night.

The veteran three point specialist finished with 15 points off the bench in Philadelphia’s 118-115 overtime win over the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana.

Gordon scored 12 of his 15 in the first half to keep the Pacers in contention and another key field goal in overtime as they pulled ahead.

The 76ers will host the Detroit Pistons at Wells Fargo Arena in Philly, Wednesday night at 7:30 pm.

On the other end, Buddy Hield and the Golden State Warriors took on Kai Jones and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers came away with the 112-104 win at the chase center in San Francisco.

Hield scored eight points off the bench in 28 minutes, while jones went scoreless in limited minutes.

After the Clippers went on an 11-0, Hield was the catalyst behind eight straight points for the warriors with a jumper, four point play, and an assist to Trayce Jackson-Davis.

The Warriors faltered down the stretch after Stephen Curry left the game late in the third with a sprained ankle.

Golden State has back to backs against the New Orleans Pelicans Tuesday and Wednesday night at 10pm.

The Clippers will face Ayton and the Blazers Wednesday night at 10:30 pm.