The local governing body for basketball in the country is in a financial hole after hosting two major regional tournaments this summer.
The estimated cost for the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships (CBC), which catered to men and women was more than $300,000. The two tournaments were held in The Bahamas at the Sir Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium during the months of July and August. All teams that participated stayed at the SuperClubs Breezes resort.
Even though the Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) finds themselves in a tough situation, financially, the experience gained as well as one of the team's qualifying, said President Lawrence Hepburn was priceless.
"As for this administration we have accumulated some debt after hosting two major tournaments and international coaches clinic," confirmed Hepburn. "So we are going to be seriously coming up with ideas on how we can raise money.  For those of us who do not return to office, we will be finding ways in which we can help the incoming administration.  We are planning fundraisers to pay off those debts.
"We still have a significant amount of funds for the hotel that assisted us.  Some persons have invested their personal funds in the federation, so we are going to try and see how we can assist the federation in maintaining a level of financial stability.  If we all just work together we will have one big happy family in basketball. I see a very bright future for the sport."
The men's championship title was won by the squad from the US Virgin Islands.

Host country, The Bahamas finished second followed by Jamaica and British Virgin Islands. Cuba was the women's champions. Trinidad and Tobago and the US Virgin Islands were second and third respectively. The Bahamas finished right under the Dominican Republic, who was fourth overall.
A junior squad participated in the Centrobasket Under-17 tournament, held in Puerto Rico, in August. The team lost the bronze medal to the US Virgin Islands 86-83. There is still hope of being invited to the next round.
After the three summer tournaments The Bahamas sky rocketed up the ranking charts. The country was slated 59 in the International Basketball of Americas (FIBA Americas) last year, but Hepburn is expecting an improvement when the rankings are released later on.
He said: "Every indication is that the game has improved. The level of coaching has improved because we have invested quite a bit of money over the last four to five years in that aspect. We have tried to get more persons trained in the game of basketball. Just this morning I sent a message to FIBA Americas, who was inquiring of me when we are going to host the Level II Coaching Clinic for the persons who would have concluded the Level I. I sent them a confirmation saying that we will be looking to host from the 26 September to October 1. So coaches are being trained. We are emphasizing that because we realize that the game has changed and players can not be develop unless the coaches are trained, and trained properly.
"This is quite an intense course. It ensures that coaches know how to put together a team, manage one especially if they are in a game situation. Right now we are just awaiting their response. This will be one of the last functions for us in office. Other than that we have a referee certification and a camp scheduled. We look to send one of our female referees to this camp, I think it is going to be held in Columbia in September."
Late last year the BBF hired two American coaches, Larry Tidswell and Larry Brown to head the national teams.
Tidswell and Brown were assisted by local coaches Mario Bowleg and Felix 'Fly' Musgrove.
"We have gotten tremendous amount of help from foreign coaches in addition from some of our senior coaches," said Hepburn."We were able to put together one of the strongest senior men's team. That has motivated a lot of guys to play and want to represent the country. Moreso we have seen a number of guys who have gone out there on the professional level and obtain jobs in the foreign market.
"The game can only improve for the country. We look for a greater participation from some of the more outstanding professionals to assist as we go forward in CentroBasket."
The senior men's team did qualify for the CentroBasket Championships, set for next year. The junior boys squad will await word from the organizers of Tournament of America, since they placed fourth. The women's side will have to wait two years to seek qualification.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian