The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN student athletes were looking to return from the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) winter break and resume their basketball seasons next week, but the COVID- 19 pandemic has forced the conference to postpone all competition.

The AUS announced that it will pause all competition until at least January 19, 2022, due to recent public health restrictions in various Canadian provinces.

The season was expected to resume Friday, January 7 for the winter semester.

“The health and well-being of our student-athletes is our main concern as we navigate this latest wave of COVID-19, and we understand that providing them with meaningful competition is part of that,” says AUS executive director, Phil Currie. “While pausing the AUS schedule is a necessary decision given our current reality, we are confident that under the guidance of our provincial health authorities we will return to the field of play and finish the 2021-22 season in a way that is safe for everyone.”

When the fall semester concluded play last month, Shamar Burrows and the Dalhousie Tigers maintained their No.6 spot in the national rankings.

The Tigers improved to 7-2 with an 81-65 win over the Acadia Axemen to increase their lead in the standings of the Atlantic University Sport Conference. Burrows averaged 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game through the fall semester.

Qyemah Gibson continues his stair climb this season and recently won Male Athlete of the Week for the St Mary’s Huskies for the week of November, 22-28. The Huskies are 5-4 on the season.

Gibson, a third year forward, led the Huskies with 23 points and 12 rebounds, and added two assists and a block in a 92-90 overtime loss to the DiAngelo Woodside and the Cape Breton Capers to conclude the fall semester. Woodside finished with six points and seven rebounds in just 15 minutes.

Gibson is ranked top 10 in the AUS in points scored (173, second), points per game (19.2, fifth), field goals made (66, second), three-pointers made (third, 3rd), total rebounds (71, third), rebounds per game (7.9, sixth), blocks (10, third), minutes (340, first) and minutes per game (37.8, first).

Woodside is averaging 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds for the 3-6 Capers. The regular season is expected to conclude Saturday, February 19.

The 2021 AUS championships will be hosted by AUS conference office at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, February 25-27.