The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE hospitality that is offered to tourists to our shores by Romeo Farrington’s world renowned Romeo’s Executive Limousine & Taxi Service was extended to the Carlton E Francis girls basketball team as they were treated to lunch on Tuesday at McDonald’s downtown.

Farrington and two of his children escorted the team, coach Sherman Smith and principal Rosella Armbrister from the school on Baillou Hill Road to McDonald’s. Once they were finished, they were transported around the western end of the island to view the Baha Mar project before they returned to school.

“The idea came to me when I realised that these kids are the best at what they do,” Farrington said. “I compare them to my services. I don’t think anybody on the island provides better service than me and when I see that they are going on game after game winning, I said to myself that their energy and determination could easily be compared to what I expect from my drivers in my business - the best at all times.

“There’s no reason for mediocrity. We are competing. We can’t tell you not to be better than us. We have to try as hard as we can to be better than the competition. On our uniform, we have a clock that reads quarter to six. That is only to suggest that all pick-ups are 15 minutes before time. We are never late picking up anybody and we will never take an unclean vehicle to pick up anybody.”

Principal Rosella Armbrister said they are appreciative of the gesture by Farrington. “He’s quite aware of all the wonderful things the children have been doing, including all of the championships that they have won,” Armbrister said. “So he thought it was fitting for him to treat them for the day. Our students are known to be a tenacious group. If you look at them, they look so unassuming, however, they are a force to reckon with.”

Armbrister, who has been in charge of the school for the past three years, said last year the boys shined and this year, the girls took over.

“Ever since the girls have been doing their thing, the other students have been trying to follow them,” she said. “We also remind them that just as much as they love basketball, we want them to do very well in their academics too. So that is another thing that we push for.”

Head coach Sherman Smith, according to Armbrister, has been very aggressive in leading the girls and that has been one of the reasons why they are champions today.

“The girls have done very well this year and after Mr Farrington heard about it, he decided to treat them,” Smith said. “This year is our best year for the team. They have already won five championships for the year and they are 31-0 (win-loss record). We are going to Grand Bahama this weekend to win another one.”

Smith said what he likes about their programme is that since he came there, he has been able to produce players who have gone on to excel at some of the top junior high schools like Temple Christian (private school) and SC McPherson (government school).

“The programme has not just stopped at Carlton E Francis. It has moved on,” Smith said. “When you look at what our players have been able to do in our programme, we are really pleased because they go on and perform at the other schools in the junior high division.”

The Carlton E Francis team is comprised of Kevsnique Davis, Anya Farrington, Brenika Alexis, Takia Ferlin, Amaia Saunders, Makita Georges, Shian Euwing, Shavante Poitier, Gyllian Cooper. Brianna Dean and Aliah Henfield.

Ferlin, a fourth grader, has been on the team for the past three years. “I feel famous and I am happy,” she said. “The limousine ride was nice. I think we really deserve this lunch because we have done a great job.”

Farrington, a fifth grader, said she is grateful for the support from her grandfather.

“Our team won four championships and we deserve this,” she said. “They all liked the ride and I enjoy riding with them. I am glad that they had this experience in the limo.”

Cooper, one of the sixth graders on the team, said it was good to go out in style.

“It feels good and I am very proud of my team-mates and my parents are very proud of me,” she said. “I feel we deserve this treat.”

And Davis, the winner of a few most valuable player (MVP) awards, said she is pleased to make a contribution to the team.

“I’m looking to make the children on our team who are behind me better than I was,” she said. “I am really, really happy that Mr Farrington brought us here in the limo. We really deserve it. We are 31-0 and our principal Rosella Farrington and our coach Sherman Smith have only been trying to get the best out of us.”

Carlton E Francis is scheduled to depart Thursday for Grand Bahama where Smith anticipates that they will continue their winning streak.