The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER they opted not to compete last year, all of the schools from Grand Bahama will be back to participate in the 33rd Hugh Campbell Basketball Tournament next week.

The prestigious tournament for high school senior boys teams will kick off on Monday at the AF Adderley Gymnasium and wrap up a week later on February 29 with the championship game at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Nicara Knowles, one of the committee members, revealed that 30 teams from New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands have confirmed their participation in the tournament.

The Tabernacle Falcons, St George’s Jaguars, Eight Mile Rock Bluejays, Sir Jack Hayward Wildcats, Sunland Lutheran, St Paul’s and Mary Star of the Sea, formerly Catholic High, and Bishop Michael Eldon are all making plans to travel to the capital from Grand Bahama to start competing next Wednesday.

Last year, the Grand Bahama schools indicated that they were disappointed in the way the pools were formatted and they felt that they were not treated fairly, so they opted not to participate.

This year Central Abaco and Central Eleuthera are coming to join the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s (GSSA) champions and runners-up, Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins and CI Gibson Rattlers, who head the list of New Providence schools. They include the CC Sweeting Cobras, RM Bailey Pacers, Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves, CV Bethel Stingrays, CR Walker Knights and the Government High Magics.

And from the private ranks, the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools’ (BAISS) champions Jordan Prince Williams Falcons and runners-up Queen’s College Comets will be joined by the St John’s Giants, St Anne’s Bluewaves, Kingsway Academy Saints, Charles W Saunders Cougars, Temple Christian Suns, Hope Academy and Akhepran International Academy.

Knowles said they are delighted that Grand Bahama is back. “They are back and it’s a chance for the children to get the exposure because the tournament isn’t about the coaches or the committee, but rather giving the children the exposure that they need, especially in competition playing against other schools from New Providence and the Family Islands,” she said.

The last time the Grand Bahama teams participated in the tournament was in 2014 with Tabernacle, Bishop Michael Eldon, Sunland, Sir Jack Hayward, St George’s and Eight Mile Rock competing. The tournament, however, came down to a New Providence match-up with CI Gibson winning the title from the Mystic Marlins.

“It should be a very interesting tournament because Grand Bahama has always been very competitive,” Knowles said. “With the New Providence-based schools, there is no clear cut winner, although we have two champions in Doris Johnson and Jordan Prince William, who both pulled of upsets in their championships.

“As for the Family Island teams, Abaco Central has proven to be a force to reckon with because last year they almost made it to the pool championships. So I think it’s going to be very interesting. But one of the challenges, I think for the Family Islands, is that they don’t have coaches or Physical Education teachers at the schools, so that has been one of the reasons why we have a decline in the Family Islands participation.”

Last year, the Cobras, coached by Mario Bowleg, won the title with a 67-61 victory over the Rattlers as Michael Bethel was named the most valuable player.

While the tournament starts on Monday at 4 pm, the official opening ceremony is set for Tuesday at 10 am at the AF Adderley Gym.

Knowles noted that tournament director Reggie Forbes is still working on the placement of the teams in the four pools and the schedule of games. Once it’s complete, she said it will be distributed to the media and placed on the Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic’s Facebook page.

The Falcons, coached by Norris Bain, still hold the record of having won the title six times (1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2009 and 2010). The Rattlers and coach Johnson are close behind with five (2002, 2004-2006 and 2014), while Catholic High also have also won it five times, three under Gladstone ‘Moon’ McPhee (1983, 1989 and 1991) and twice under Charlie ‘Softly’ Robins (1999 and 2003).

The initial tournament, which was only played between the New Providence schools, in 1982 was won by the LW Young Golden Eagles, coached then by Walter Rand with Bernard Storr as the MVP. The next year, the Grand Bahama teams joined and McPhee and the Crusaders with Ben Russell as the MVP won their first title in 1983.

No Family Island or BAISS schools has ever won the tournament, which was cancelled once in 1986 because of a dispute with the teachers that eventually led to the formation of the GSSSA and the BAISS. Last year was the first year that none of the schools from Grand Bahama participated.