Team Bahamas Defeats Finland In Olympic Qualifier Debut

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VALENCIA, SPAIN – Team Bahamas got off to the start we all wanted to see as the Olympic Qualifying Tournament got underway in Valencia, Spain.

The Bahamas defeated Finland 96-85 in game one in Valencia, Spain.

Buddy Hield led four Bahamian players in double figures with 24 points, VJ Edgecombe scored 20, DeAndre Ayton was one board shy of a double double with 19 points and 9 rebounds and Eric Gordon was the late game hero once again – 16 points – none bigger than his final jumper that put the game away.

The Bahamas led a tightly contested first quarter, 27-26 before Finland’s shooting from beyond the arch took control with a 16-4 run.

They led by as much as 12 before Buddy Hield went on a run of his own and scored the next eight points for The Bahamas.

The Bahamas was back in it but still trailed 54-47 at the half.

Defensively, The Bahamas limited Finland to just 13 points in the third quarter and outscored them 26-13.

Leading by 10 late in the fourth, Finland cut the lead down to just three before Eric Gordon showed up with his now customary late-game heroics. 

His jumper sealed the win for The Bahamas and got their Olympic bid started on a winning note.

The Bahamas looks to claim the top spot in Group B with a win over Poland Wednesday. 

Tipoff is at 11:30 am local time.

Baseball

Texas Rangers prospect Sebastian Walcott was named to the roster for the MLB Futures All-Star game.

The 25th all-star futures game, hosted July 13 at globe life field in Arlington, Texas will feature 39 members of MLB pipeline’s top 100 prospects list.

The 18-year-old infielder is ranked no.1 by the Rangers and no.73 in MLB pipeline’s top 100.

In his first season at the high-a level Walcott went on an absolute tear in June, hitting .346 for the month to bring his season average to .235 with a .731 ops, 26 RBI, 9 stolen bases and six home runs.

Golf

The 36th Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship was postponed due to the passage of Hurricane Beryl and its path through the region.

The event was set to tee off this week the Caymanas Golf Course, in Jamaica but was postponed to August 5.

Team Bahamas includes Rashawn Hanna and Juan Wilson in the under 13 boys, Maddison Carlos Carroll and Annissa Robinson in the under 13 girls.

Kerrington Rolle, Aiden Grosope and Zacarey Joseph in the under 15 boys, Haily Hall and Charmari Pratt in the under 15 girls.

Camden Forbes, Christopher Callander and Angelino Cooper in the under 18 boys and finally Mia Underwood and Taylor sands in the under 18 girls.

Georgette Rolle and Fredrick Taylor are the coaches of the team and Gina Gonzalez-Rolle is the team manager.