The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THREE years after their historic triumph, the first two-time winners of the Bahamas National High School Basketball Championships finally received their championship rings to commemorate the occasion.

The St George’s Jaguars senior boys’ basketball programme were presented with their rings for their 2019 national title on Saturday night at an official ceremony in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Several members of the team went on to pursue collegiate basketball careers and are in the midst of their respective seasons, but others were on hand to be recognised by the Bahamian basketball community at large.

Team members included tournament MVP Paul Greene, Shavaul Butters, Christopher Johnson, Sammy Pinder, Khosygen Hield, Jaden Atkinson, Dion Storr, Micah Moss, Theodore Grant, Adrian Pinder, Dwaine Gayle and Adrian Harris.

Butters currently competes at the Division I level with Texas-Rio Grande Valley, while Greene is a member of the Three Rivers College Raiders and Johnson has been a breakout star for the CCBC Catonsville Cardinals.

Darell Sears was the team’s head coach, assisted by Calvin McIntosh, and Gregory Munroe and Patrick Victor served as assistant coaches.

“It feels great. It’s a very proud moment. From the former principal Mr Barr and all our coaches, I am happy and proud of all of them,” Sears said.

“I have the best coaches in The Bahamas and the work that they and the young men put in, they are the ones to be thanked for what they’ve done.”

Greene’s broken left hand was in a cast until the day before the Jaguars’ 2019 title run, but he delivered a series of gutsy performances to lead his programme to the title.

He finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds in the Jaguars’ 62-57 win over the Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy Falcons. Pinder had 19 points, while Butters had eight points and nine rebounds.

The Jaguars overcame an early loss in their tournament opener, but won six consecutive games to make their third appearance in the national title game.

They lost the aforementioned 2016 inaugural title 60-55 to Bowleg and the Cobras and returned in 2017 with a 61-53 win over the Jordan Prince William Falcons.

“Also, Minister Mitchell, he’s also to be thanked,” Sears said.

“I’ll never forget the day I was on Facebook crying about these boys not getting their just due and I saw other teams getting their championship rings. Mr Mitchell was not in the position of power at that time, but saw it fitting to make this happen.”

Foreign Affairs and Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell said it was the right thing to do, getting the team members their championship rings.

“The rings were donated by the Prime Minister [Philip Davis] when he was Leader of the Opposition, because we felt that these young men were neglected by the last administration.

“They won the championship, but could never get the championship rings. So, he stepped in.

“I was chairman of the PLP at that time and brought it to his attention and now the young men have the rings. We have a commitment to young people, to sports and a commitment to an economy where young people can get an opportunity and a chance to excel.”

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg claimed the inaugural national championship in 2016 when he was the head coach of the CC Sweeting Cobras.

“To know what it is for these young men to be able to have something that they can wear for the rest of their life, it shows something that they can always keep as a remembrance of what they’ve done and achieved during their high school career,” he said.

Prime Minister Philip Davis offered his congratulations to the programme.

“You became history makers for not just your school, but the entire community of Grand Bahama. For that, you should be proud.

“I celebrate with you your major achievement. Your 2019 win at the National High School Basketball Championship is one that is admirable and a true representation of what hard work and determination will get you. You now have your championship rings, which you will forever have as a reminder of your major achievement and the stellar high school basketball career you leave behind.”

Mr Davis also said his administration is mandated to the development of Bahamian sport at both the youth and international levels.

“My government is committed to ensuring we positively impact the lives of the young and old throughout the length and breadth of our beautiful Bahamaland. We have world-class talent right here at home, which is why we believe giving the tools and support to our athletes is key,” he said.

“We want to see sports in this country come alive again. We are actively leveraging the power of the world’s top athletes brands to reintroduce ‘Sports in Paradise.’”