The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SINCE becoming the new principal a year ago, Olivia Daxon said she was waiting for the opportunity to join coach Sherman Smith in celebrating another championship performance from their Carlton E Francis basketball team.

That opportunity came at the Primary Schools basketball championships that was played last month at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Carlton Francis won the title for the fourth time in advancing to the final in seven years.

Their girls, led by fifth grader Jade Knowles, ended up in fourth place.

The performances came after Carlton Francis placed third in the boys’ division at the Father Marcian Peters Invitational in December at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Daxon and faculty, staff and the student body recently recognised the teams for their accomplishments. Players Trevon Clarke and Devon Ferguson were both named to the All-Tournament team.

“I’m a person with a winning attitude and so my job was to motivate coach (Smith) and the team and to make sure that we got back on that winning streak,” she said.

“So I was motivating coach (Smith) and the team letting them know that they had to get back there. They are back there and so they have to continue that tradition.”

Daxon, joining the rest of her staff and the student body in congratulating the team, said she’s elated and excited about the talent that they witnessed in the players.

“I attended some of the basketball games and I was so impressed,” she stated.

“Coach (Smith) is doing an excellent job. The fundamentals, you can see that they have been trained.

“They look like little NBA players. I was very impressed. They have a lot of talent and with coach continuing to train them, they will be well in high school and out of high school. I was very impressed.”

Clarke, who has been on the team since grade one, got into the starting lineup for Smith when he went into grade three.

He along with Ferguson have already sealed deals to take their talent to Jordan Prince Williams where Smith hopes they will continue to soar for the Falcons’ team.

“These players are very talented and I am happy that I can push them to the next level,” Smith said.

“Even though they are leaving, we still have some talented players here so we hope we can continue our winning tradition.”

Before they graduate, Clarke and Ferguson will have another opportunity to bring some glory to Carlton Francis as they lead the team in the Providence Basketball Club’s annual Phil Smith Memorial Tournament.

The big event is set to be held at CI Gibson Gymnasium in about two weeks.