The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHEN one thinks about women’s basketball in the country, there’s very few who have contributed more to the growth and development of the sport than Anthony Swaby.

Over the weekend, the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association paid tribute to the veteran basketball coach and administrator by hosting the first Anthony Swaby All Girls High School Basketball Tournament at the DW Davis Gymnasium.

The tournament, which is expected to become an annual one in his honour, saw the Dame Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins hold off the Teleos Cherubims to clinch the initial title with a 46-34 victory Sunday night.

Swaby, who was busy throughout the tournament making sure that everything was in order, sat down for a few minutes and told The Tribune that he was just tickled pink to know that the executives of the NPWBA thought enough about him to honour him in this fashion.

“It wasn’t easy. It took a whole lot of time and energy and work to organise it,” Swaby said. “To the teams that came out to participate for the first year, I would like to say a special thanks. I also want to say thanks to my wife Melonie for allowing me to do what I do. She’s a very special person and I really appreciate her being in my life.”

Based on what he has seen, Swaby said the tournament has the making of being one of the best ever held in the country. “I know that the teams that were here saw how how organised the tournament was, it will only make them want to come out and participate next year,” he said. “But I really don’t know how we are going to top what we did this year. The tournament was very good.”

For the past 42 years, Swaby has been roaming the sidelines as a coach. He got started in his senior year at St Augustine’s College when the late Leviticus ‘Uncle Lou’ Adderley offered him the opportunity to assist him with the senior girls’ basketball team after Adderley realised that Swaby was only wasting his time trying out for the senior boys’ team.

“That was an awesome experience for me because I had some players like Denise Moss and Linda Woodside. It was just an awesome team. But I also had the opportunity to coach the president of the Nerw Providence Women’s Basketball league, Mynez Cargill-Sherman. She was a member of the Angels basketball team. She came up through my programme.

“So to her, I want to say a special thank you and thank you to the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association for thinking about what I’ve done by hosting this tournament in my honour. As long as I am here, I will continue to help. Technically, this is my retirement year with the Bommer G Lady Operators. That’s why I’m now the assistant coach to Donnie Culmer. I’m like Pat Riley, I’m moving into the front office. I just wished that I was getting that kind of money that Riley is making.”

Cargill-Sherman, back in the front office as the president of the NPWBA, a role she played when the league was first formed, said it was just their way to commence their junior development programme expected to get started in June at the end of their regular season.

“Everything turned out just as expected. Next year, we are looking to improve on some of the little mistakes that we made because we want to have a bigger and better tournment,” she said. “We will definitely bring it back next year and it will once again be held in honour of Anthony Swaby.

“He has been a pillow as far as basketball is concerned. He’s a permanent fixture when you think about women’s basketball in this country. He’s one of those persons who has given his entire life, unselfishly to the development of the sport. So it’s most fitting that we name this tournament after him and it will be a fitting tribute to him.”

Cargill-Sherman said she could remember when she joined the Angels basketball club in 1984 and Swaby was the head coach. Thirty-two years later, Cargill-Sherman said Swaby is still involved, albeit as the assistant to head coach Donnie Culmer.

“He retired as head coach just two short years ago, but still provides leadership and guidance along with coaching to the young ladies,” she said. “Additionally, he gives unselfishly to basketballers and to the development of the game. He was one of the founders of the NPWBA back in 2003 and besides coaching, he continues to make a significant contribution by ensuring that the playing facilities are kept in order.”

She further noted that Swaby has assisted many of the women basketball players to obtain athletic scholarships to colleges and universities abroad to continue their education.

“Anthony Swaby has worn many hats over the years as he has also held the title of national coach. I call him a man of many seasons,” she said. “He has done his due and has unselfishly paved the way for many players and coaches across the divide. It is fitting that the NPWBA recognise one of its own and in what better way than establishing a tournament in his honour.”

Although they didn’t win, Teleos’ head coach Pastor Dave Adams gave a fitting tribute to Swaby.

“I’ve had a small part in seeing him accomplish this day,” Adams said. “I really appreciate what he has done for the game. He’s been a pioneer for women’s basketball all through its history and all through his life. So we really appreciate him and I’m glad to see this tournament being named in honour of such a great man.”