The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE local high school basketball season has a final championship title.

Through a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Grand Bahama, Education alongside Youth Sports and Culture, the inaugural Bahamas National Highschool Basketball Championships is all set to be hosted March 10-14 in Grand Bahama.

The top senior teams in the country will compete in three divisions at both the Sir Jack Hayward and St George’s Gymnasiums over the course of the five-day event held in honour of late educator Sandra Edgecombe.

Division I will feature the top teams from the Grand Bahama Secondary School Athletic Association, the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools and the Government Secondary School Sports Association.

This group includes the Jack Hayward Wildcats, Sunland Stingers, Tabernacle Falcons, Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves, CI Gibson Rattlers, Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins, Queen’s College Comets, RM Bailey Pacers, CR Walker Knights, Jordan Prince William Falcons, Teleos Cherubims and the CC Sweeting Cobras.

Division II will feature Family Island teams including Central Abaco, Bimini, Exuma, Cat Island and San Salvador.

Division II will include the group of senior girls: Doris Johnson, CR Walker, Harbour Island, CV Bethel, Bishop Michael Eldon Warriors and Tabernacle Falcons.

Evon Wisdom, director of the Sports Unit in the Ministry of Education, said it is an event long overdue for all stakeholders.

“This is years in the making. It is a collaborative effort to ensure that something that has never happened happens and we are all a part of an historic event,” he said.

“We want to thank everyone for taking part. This will truly prove who is the number one team in the country. May the best teams win.”

Over 300 coaches have been invited along with scouts ties to junior college, division II and division III colleges.

“I’m proud to salute the inaugural high school championship. It’s the first of its kind but it will not be the last one. This will prove that a family island community can host an event of a truly national scope,” said Lionel Sands, director of education.

“This is an opportunity for student athletes to get scholarships to get you into colleges their parents may not be able to afford. Seize the day, be at your best, make sure your academics are as good as your athletics. I wish we had this opportunity when I was in school all those years ago, but you have the opportunity so seize the day.”

The host hotel will be Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach Resort.

“We are glad to be here working together to bring championship sporting events in high school,” said Tim Munnings, director of sports. “We hope that this can help spawn championships in other sports as well.”