BAHAMAS Water Polo is celebrating after an epic last day at a prestigious tournament in Florida as both the Under-16 and the Under-14 boys teams won their respective place finals with sudden-death goals against formidable opponents.
The Bahamas entered two teams into the South Florida International Water Polo tournament in the Coral Spring Aquatic Complex, Fort Lauderdale, from last Friday to Sunday. Both teams played for ninth position in their respective divisions, which included teams from the dominant countries in the sport: Hungary, Canada, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, as well as teams from both coasts of the US.
The Bahamian Under-16s played a nail biting final match which finished 8-8 in regulation time against Trinidad. The first overtime was hard fought but goalless, bringing the need for a second period of overtime. During this, the Bahamas’ lead player Loron Bain made a fast break toward the Trinidad goal but he was stopped quite violently and awarded a free penalty shot.
Loron’s perfect execution of the penalty brought victory to The Bahamas.
Hot on the heels of the older boys, the Under-14s played their final game, again against the Trinidadians. The Bahamas took a comfortable 6-2 lead early in the game only to see it melt away by the fourth quarter and in the last 20 seconds Trinidad scored to move ahead 8-7.
However, Brian Wynter scored with the final shot to equalise with just three seconds remaining. In overtime, he stepped up again by stealing the ball after a weak throw by the goalkeeper and smashed the winning goal into the Trinidad net for a 9-8 triumph.
Both teams, the U14 and the U16 played finals for the prestigious 9th position in their respective divisions which sported teams from the world dominating countries in the sport: Hungary, Canada, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, as well as teams from both coasts of the USA.
The Bahamian team continue its preparation for the water polo division of the upcoming Caribbean Swimming Championships. Bahamas Water polo trains in the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex on weekdays from 5pm to 8pm and on Saturdays from noon to 3pm. Girls and boys with adequate swimming ability are welcome to try this rapidly developing sport.
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