‘Everything is different’: Five seasons later, Target Score endings remain as complex as ever
August 2, 2024
Myles Dichter
In just the eighth game of the season, the stakes were already high.
Niagara was visiting Scarborough, and with both teams sitting on 4-3 records and carrying big expectations for the season, a victory here would create slight separation and could jumpstart a second-half run. Moreover, the Shooting Stars had eliminated the River Lions in each of the previous two years.
As expected, the game was close. The Shooting Stars came back from down 11 to take a 72-69 lead into Target Score Time, but eventually the teams found themselves tied at 78, each three points away from the win.
River Lions head coach Victor Raso called timeout. Khalil Ahmad, the two-time Clutch Player of the Year in his season debut, already scored seven of his team’s nine points with the clock off. And so Raso gave the ball to Ahmad.
It was a good idea.
Ahmad drained a triple, ending the ballgame. Talk about clutch.
“The game is literally in your hands. You make this, the game's over, and then they can't do anything about it,” Ahmad said. “To just be able to end on a bucket and literally the other team has no say in what happens unless they get the ball back and I happen to miss or whatever, it takes the competitiveness in me to another level.”
The CEBL instituted Target Score Time in time for the 2020 season and has used it ever since. A quick recap of the rule: the clock is turned off at the first stoppage with four minutes or less in the fourth quarter. Nine points are added to the winning team’s total, creating the Target Score. First team to hit the target wins.
Over five seasons, trends and strategies have evolved over how best to crack the code of Target Score Time.
Ahmad, the all-time leader in Target Score Winners with 18, said the format reminds him of the basketball games he’d play as a kid in Anaheim, Calif.
“It's kind of like playing 21 with your friends when you're growing up and someone has game point, everyone's suddenly super, super locked into another level because just the thought of losing, it's just that much closer, that much more in your face,” he said.
Ask anyone, and you’ll likely hear just how much Target Score Time completely revamps the end of basketball games.
Raso, the CEBL’s all-time coaching leader in games and wins, said Target Score endings are hardly even comparable to the regular fare.
“Other than it's on a basketball court and it's basketball rules, your strategy towards ending the game, the momentum, the pressure, everything is different,” he said. “Simply from a strategy perspective, all of the fouling, end-of-clock scenarios, the things that we've all just learned to know about the game of basketball, those things are out the window.”
In the NBA, if you’re up 15 points with four minutes left, you can often just run out the clock. But in the same scenario in the CEBL, you still must go out and win the game.
The increased pressure is often revealing of which players can rise to the moment.
“It kind of brings out your true qualities both as a player and as a team. I have a love-hate relationship with Target,” Raso said. “The thing I love about it is that over the course of the year, it puts you in situations where you're never going to care more than you do in Target time.”
Yet there is also another side to the coin. Raso said luck can play a factor, depending on teams’ foul situations, while teams who tend to play with flow can falter in the more stilted end-of-game action.
“It is mentally taxing. It definitely is. And it's not just Target, right? It's the fourth quarter, it's the two or three minutes leading up to Target where possessions are so incredibly valuable,” he said.
Ahmad, 27, said he enjoys seeing CEBL newcomers adjust to Target Score Time and realize they can’t just wait out the game if they have a lead.
Mitch Creek, who recently signed with the Vancouver Bandits for his first CEBL stint, gave Target Score Time a rave review.
“This Target Score ending? This needs to be in every league. I’m telling you — CEBL, you’ve done an amazing job,” Creek said.
Despite Creek’s optimism, though, Ahmad said there is an adjustment period — one that he endured himself.
“I think I've become more and more aggressive consistently. And it really developed the way I see the game, I think, because even when it's not [Target Score Time] there's still so much to think about — kind of like playing chess and stuff like that. You got to think ahead in certain cases,” he said.
Raso said Ahmad is “built for” Target Score Time.
“It's a combination of his skillset and his confidence and his mentality. One, he trains a lot, so he's confident. Two, he has the ability to score at all three levels against anybody. And three, he wants it,” Raso said.
Outside of relying on Ahmad, Raso said he’s learned the best strategy is often to just stick with what got his team to Target Score Time in the first place.
And while ending the game with three three-pointers can seem tempting, rim pressure is most important.
“If you don't tell guys, remind them to put pressure on the rim, they'll get greedy and search threes and that's how you can let another team back in,” he said.
Ahmad, in three seasons with Raso, has heeded that lesson.
“That's kind of like going up to the plate and trying to hit a home run. You're more likely to strike out if you swing it with all your might like that instead of hitting the singles and doubles,” he said.
In almost all cases, the pressure falls on the winning team. When the playoffs begin on Friday, that will only ramp up further.
“It does change it, but that's what you have the whole season for, to calm yourself down and understand that what actually wins in Target is very good possessions,” Raso said.
After that early-season win over the Shooting Stars, the River Lions won eight of their last 11 contests to finish the season with a 14-6 record, setting themselves up to host a playoff game on Sunday — a possible rematch against reigning champion Scarborough.
C'est la dernière semaine de la saison de la LECB et il reste encore beaucoup à décider, en commençant par les places pour les séries éliminatoires jusqu’au classement des têtes de série. Commençons sans plus attendre... Conférence de l'Est Nous savons (nous savions depuis longtemps, en réalité) que les Shooting Stars de Scarborough entreront en séries éliminatoires en tant que la meilleure équipe de l'Est et qu'ils sont l'équipe à battre. Les Shooting Stars n'ont pas lâché prise depuis qu'ils se sont taillés au premier rang. D’ailleurs, ils ont remporté une série de trois victoires lors de leur dernière paire de matchs. L'objectif est maintenant de maintenir les bons moments tout au long du mois d'août. Quand est-il du reste de la conférence? Eh bien, bonne chance pour faire le tri dans tout ça. Oui... encore à ce jour. Les Honey Badgers de Brampton et les River Lions de Niagara, deux fois champions en titre, occupent une position favorable, chacun ayant remporter 10 victoires. La première équipe a encore trois matchs à jouer tandis que la seconde en a deux. Brampton, cependant, devra faire face à une tâche de taille en accueillant une équipe désespérée de Montréal avant de terminer la saison avec des matchs aller-retour contre les Shooting Stars. Ce ne sera pas facile non plus pour Niagara, qui se dirige vers l'ouest pour clore la saison sur la route contre le Mamba de Saskatoon et le Surge de Calgary. Mais les deux équipes peuvent compter sur leur pédigrée avec Sean East II, finaliste du joueur le plus utile en 2025, parmi les Honey Badgers, tandis que les River Lions comptent sur le double récipiendaire du titre de joueur le plus utile dans les finales, Khalil Ahmad, qui a été le joueur du match lors de leur récente victoire contre les BlackJacks d'Ottawa. La pression est forte pour les joueurs de la capitale nationale, qui sont à égalité avec l'Alliance de Montréal à 9-13 au bas de la conférence. L'Alliance termine sa saison régulière avec des matchs contre les Bandits de Vancouver et les Honey Badgers avant même que les BlackJacks ne reviennent sur le terrain. Ottawa saura ce qu'il faut faire lorsqu'elle visitera les Sea Bears de Winnipeg et les Stingers d'Edmonton pour clore sa saison. Bien sûr, si Ottawa et Montréal l'emportent, la pression sera exercée sur Niagara et Brampton. L'Est, comme c'est le cas depuis la plus grande partie du mois, demeure un fouillis. Conférence de l'Ouest Les choses sont un peu plus simples dans l'Ouest. Les Stingers d'Edmonton ont rendu les choses intéressantes, mais leur victoire 100-89 contre le Surge de Calgary dimanche leur a assuré la dernière place de la conférence en séries éliminatoires. Ils ont ainsi arrêté la renaissance en fin de saison de leur rival albertain et les ont empêchés d'atteindre les séries éliminatoires. Edmonton se joindra à Vancouver, Winnipeg et Saskatoon pour les séries éliminatoires, mais qui joue qui doit encore être décidé. Au sommet, les Bandits (14-8) détiennent une avance d'un match sur les Sea Bears (13-7). Encerclez dimanche dans votre calendrier, car les deux forces de l'Ouest se rencontreront en Colombie-Britannique pour leur finale de saison ce jour-là dans un affrontement qui pourrait déterminer le déroulement des séries éliminatoires. Si les choses s'alignent correctement, cela pourrait créer une atmosphère de type pseudo-éliminatoire au Langley Event Centre. Pendant ce temps, deux jours plus tôt, le Mamba et les Stingers s'affronteront dans une compétition qui pourrait avoir des répercussions sur la troisième place dans la capitale albertaine. En fin de compte, ils seront tous deux des underdogs sur la route contre les Bandits ou les Sea Bears. Mais s'ils ont une préférence d’adversaire, c'est là qu'ils pourraient aider à changer leurs destins. Finalement, Calgary a été réduit au rôle de saboteur, car l’équipe pourrait mettre fin à l'année des River Lions si elle inflige une défaite aux troupes de l'entraîneur Kimbal Mackenzie lors de leur dernier match. Ce serait une sacrée façon de terminer la campagne pour une équipe de Calgary qui a eu une énergie positive pendant la majeure partie de l'été, mais qui n'a tout simplement pas pu réparer les dégâts qu'elle a causés au début de la saison. Tout cela s'ajoute à ce qui devrait être une fin effrénée. Horaire hebdomadaire (11 matchs) Match #110 — Le mardi 28 juillet — VAN à MTL — 19 h 30 (HE)/16 h 30 (HP) — L’Auditorium de Verdun (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS, CEBL+) Match #111 — Le mercredi 29 juillet — NRL à SSK — 19 h 30 (HNC)/21 h 30 (HE) — SaskTel Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #112 — Le jeudi 30 juillet — MTL à BHB — 19 h 30 (HE) – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #113 — Le vendredi 31 juillet — OTT à WPG — 19 h (HAC) / 20 h (HE) — Canada Life Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #114 — Le vendredi 31 juillet — SSK à EDM — 19 h (HNC)/(HR)/21 h (HE) — Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #115 — Le vendredi 31 juillet — NRL à CGY — 19 h 30 (HR) / 21 h 30 (HE) – WinSport Event Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #116 — Le samedi 1er août — SSS à BHB — 19 h (HE) – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #117 — Le dimanche 2 août — WPG à VAN — 12 h 30 (HP)/14 h 30 (HAC)/15 h 30 (HE) — Envision Financial Court au Langley Events Centre (CBC, CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #118 — Le dimanche 2 août — OTT à EDM — 16 h (HR) / 18 h (HE) — Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #119 — Le lundi 3 août — BHB à SSS — 16 h (HE) — Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #120 — Le lundi 3 août — CGY à SSK — 16 h (HNC)/(HR)/18 h (HE) — Merlis Belsher Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Pour le calendrier complet de la LECB 2026, veuillez consulter cebl.ca/games .
It’s the final week of the CEBL season, and much is yet to be decided, from playoff spots to seeding. Let’s get right into it… Eastern Conference We know (we have known for quite a while now, really) that the Scarborough Shooting Stars will enter the post-season as the top team in the East, and is the squad to beat. The Shooting Stars haven’t let up since clinching that No. 1 spot, and carry a three-game winning streak into their final pair of contests. The goal now is to keep the good times rolling through August. As for the rest of the conference? Well, good luck sorting through all that. Yes…still. The Brampton Honey Badgers and two-time defending champion Niagara River Lions are in the catbird seats, each sitting on 10 wins. The former still has three games to play while the latter has two. Brampton, however, will face a tall task hosting a desperate Montreal squad before a season-ending home-and-home with the Shooting Stars. It won’t be easy for Niagara either, which heads west for a closing set on the road against the Saskatoon Mamba and Calgary Surge. But both teams can rely on pedigree, with 2025 MVP runner-up Sean East II showing out for the Honey Badgers while the River Lions count on two-time Finals MVP Khalil Ahmad, who was player of the game in their recent win over the Ottawa BlackJacks. The pressure is on for those players in the nation’s capital, who are tied with the Montreal Alliance at 9-13 at the bottom of the conference. The Alliance close out their regular season with games against the Vancouver Bandits and Honey Badgers before the BlackJacks even return to the court. Ottawa will know what is required when it visits the Winnipeg Sea Bears and Edmonton Stingers to close out its season. Of course, if both Ottawa and Montreal win out, then the pressure is on Niagara and Brampton. The East, as it has been for the better part of a month, remains a jumble. Western Conference Things are a little more straightforward in the West. The Edmonton Stingers made things interesting, but their 100-89 win over the Calgary Surge on Sunday assured them of the conference’s final playoff spot and prevented their Alberta rival’s late-season renaissance from reaching the post-season. Edmonton will join Vancouver, Winnipeg and Saskatoon in the playoffs, but who plays whom must still be decided. At the top, the Bandits (14-8) hold a one-game lead over the Sea Bears (13-7). Circle Sunday on your calendar, because the two West forces will meet in B.C. for their season finales on that day in a clash that could determine the course of the playoffs. If things line up correctly, it could make for a pseudo-playoff-type atmosphere at Langley Event Centre. Meanwhile, just two days earlier, the Mamba and Stingers will collide in a contest that could have implications on third place in the Alberta capital. Ultimately, they will both be underdogs on the road against the Bandits or Sea Bears. But if they happen to have a preference of opponent, this is where they could help alter the destinies. Calgary, finally, has been reduced to the role of spoiler, where it can potentially end the River Lions’ year if it hands coach Kimbal Mackenzie’s troops a loss in their final game. It would be quite the way to end the campaign for a Calgary team that’s had good vibes for most of the summer, but just couldn’t undo the damage it wrought at the beginning of the season. It all adds up to what should be a wild closing stretch. Weekly schedule (11 games) Game #110 – Tuesday, July 28 – VAN at MTL – 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT – Verdun Audiotrium (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS, CEBL+) Game #111 – Wednesday, July 29 – NRL at SSK – 7:30 p.m. CST / 9:30 p.m. ET – SaskTel Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #112 – Thursday, July 30 – MTL at BHB – 7:30 p.m. ET – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #113 – Friday, July 31 – OTT at WPG – 7 p.m. CDT / 8 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #114 – Friday, July 31 – SSK at EDM – 7 p.m. CST/MT / 9 p.m. ET – Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #115 – Friday, July 31 – NRL at CGY – 7:30 p.m. MT / 9:30 p.m. ET – WinSport Event Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #116 – Saturday, Aug. 1 – SSS at BHB – 7 p.m. ET – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #117 – Sunday, Aug. 2 – WPG at VAN – 12:30 p.m. PT / 2:30 p.m. CDT / 3:30 p.m. ET – Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (CBC, CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #118 – Sunday, Aug. 2 – OTT at EDM – 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET – Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #119 – Monday, Aug. 3 – BHB at SSS – 4 p.m. ET – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #120 – Monday, Aug. 3 – CGY at SSK – 4 p.m. CST/MT / 6 p.m. ET – Merlis Belsher Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) For the full 2026 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .
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The Vancouver Bandits announced Friday that the club has signed former NBA draft selection and decorated overseas champion Stephen Zimmerman for the remainder of the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. A 7-foot centre hailing from Las Vegas, Nev., Zimmerman was selected 41st overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2016 NBA Draft and appeared in 19 games as a rookie. With the signing, Zimmerman becomes the first-ever NBA draft selection to sign with the Bandits. “Zimmerman brings additional size to our team and experience from the highest levels of the game around the world,” said Bandits general manager Kyle Julius. “His signing is part of our strategic plan to ensure we have a strong roster to compete in the CEBL playoffs.” A veteran of 10 professional seasons, Zimmerman most recently played for Gigantes de San Francisco in the Dominican Republic during the 2025-26 season where he helped lead the club to a Dominican LNB championship. He also earned championships in the Czech Republic, guiding ERA Nymburk to both a Czech Cup and Czech NBL title in 2021. His journeyman career overseas includes previous stops in Germany, Poland, Australia, Japan, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Malaysia and China. In addition, Zimmerman played parts of four NBA G League seasons with the Orlando Magic’s affiliate (Erie Bayhawks, now Osceola Magic) in 2016-17, the Los Angeles Lakers’ affiliate (South Bay Lakers) in 2017-18, the New York Knicks’ affiliate (Westchester Knicks) in 2018-19, and San Antonio Spurs’ affiliate (Austin Spurs) in 2022-23. Internationally, Zimmerman represents the United States. He competed for his country at the senior level at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup and 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, and won a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in 2014. Before playing professionally, Zimmerman played one season of NCAA DI basketball for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). As a freshman, he started 24 of 26 games played and averaged 26.2 minutes, 10.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots per game while shooting .477 per cent from the field.
Trois équipes ont obtenu leur laissez-passer, mais bonne chance pour deviner le reste. La course aux séries éliminatoires de la LECB est plus effrénée que jamais cette saison, avec six équipes qui comptent huit ou neuf victoires, dont quatre dans l’Est (!) et une équipe de dernière place qui multiplie les efforts en fin de saison pour rendre les choses encore plus intéressantes dans l’Ouest. Pendant ce temps, les Sea Bears de Winnipeg et les Bandits de Vancouver se disputent la première place, tandis que les Shooting Stars de Scarborough peuvent s’asseoir et regarder tout cela se dérouler depuis leur perchoir au sommet de l’Est. Analysons le tout… Conférence de l’Est Les Shooting Stars ont assuré la première place dans l’Est malgré une semaine de 1-1 qui comprenait une victoire contre les Stingers d’Edmonton et une défaite contre les BlackJacks d’Ottawa. Maintenant, l’objectif au cours de leurs cinq derniers matchs sera de rester prêts pour le début des séries éliminatoires, où tout se jouera soudainement sur un seul match. Qu’en est-il du reste de l’Est? Un mot juste pour décrire la course aux séries éliminatoires serait le chaos. Les Honey Badgers de Brampton occupent la deuxième place avec une fiche de 9-10, mais ils viennent de perdre deux matchs consécutifs contre les River Lions de Niagara (9-11), qui ont descendu en quatrième place après une défaite contre les Stingers. Entre les deux, les BlackJacks (9-10) sont troisièmes après cette victoire contre les Shooting Stars. L’Alliance de Montréal (8-12), qui connaît une série de trois défaites, ferme la marche. Comme on peut l’imaginer, toutefois, tout cela pourrait être très différent dans une semaine. Ottawa est l’équipe à surveiller, avec des matchs à l’extérieur cette semaine, vendredi à Montréal et dimanche à Niagara, qui pourraient leur permettre de se détacher du peloton ou de perdre un terrain précieux. Les BlackJacks auront aussi une autre chance d’affronter les Shooting Stars, qui terminent leur saison, mercredi, tandis que Scarborough accueillera Niagara et Montréal plus tard dans la semaine avec la possibilité d’avoir son mot à dire sur ses adversaires potentiels en séries. La saison dernière, les River Lions, dans la même position que les Shooting Stars, ont perdu cinq matchs de suite pour terminer la saison, mais se sont ralliés pour remporter le championnat. La façon dont cela affectera la stratégie de fin de saison de Scarborough sera captivante, en particulier avec le retour du marqueur étoile Terquavion Smith, qui a re-signé avec l'équipe jeudi. Conférence de l’Ouest Il y a moins de désordre dans l’Ouest, mais trois paliers distincts se démarquent tout de même. Au sommet, les Sea Bears (13-7) et les Bandits (12-7) se disputent la première place, ce qui pourrait constituer un avantage clé s'ils devaient s'affronter lors de la finale de conférence. Ils se rencontreront jeudi au Canada Life Centre de Winnipeg, alors que Teddy Allen des Sea Bears est en pleine forme après sa soirée record de 54 points lors d'une victoire contre l'Alliance dimanche, au cours de laquelle il a également établi le record de points en une seule saison. Ce match a également marqué les débuts à Winnipeg de Xavier Moon, triple joueur le plus utile, qui a inscrit 17 points et distribué 14 passes décisives aux côtés de sa nouvelle covedette. Si cela est révélateur, les Sea Bears pourraient être les favoris pour le titre, mais les Bandits et la vedette canadienne, Tyrese Samuel, auront certainement leur mot à dire. Ensuite, il y a une bataille pour la troisième place dans l'Ouest, le Mamba de Saskatoon (8-10) et les Stingers (8-11) luttant pour suivre le rythme dans la course aux séries éliminatoires, tandis que le Surge de Calgary (5-14), dernier au classement, effectue une remontée en fin de saison, ayant remporté quatre de leurs cinq derniers matchs. Le Mamba et les Stingers s'affronteront mardi et le vainqueur aura le plein contrôle de son destin. C'est une semaine particulièrement importante pour Edmonton, qui disputera une série aller-retour contre son rival albertain, Calgary, vendredi et dimanche. S'ils remportent les deux matchs, les Stingers assureront leur place en séries éliminatoires. S'ils perdent les deux, la dernière semaine de la saison deviendra beaucoup plus intéressante. En effet, c'est ce moment de l'année où chaque panier, chaque arrêt, chaque temps mort semble beaucoup plus crucial. Les séries éliminatoires approchent à grands pas. Horaire hebdomadaire (13 matchs) Match #97 – Le mardi 21 juillet – EDM à SSK – 19 h 30 (HNC)/(HR) / 21 h 30 (HE) – Merlis Belsher Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #98 – Le mardi 21 juillet – VAN à CGY – 19 h 30 (HR) / 18 h 30 (HP) / 21 h 30 (HE) – WinSport Event Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #99 – Le mercredi 22 juillet – SSS à OTT – 19 h 30 (HE) – l’aréna à la Place TD (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #100 – Le jeudi 23 juillet – VAN à WPG – 19 h (HAC) / 17 h (HP) / 20 h (HE) – Canada Life Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #101 – Le jeudi 23 juillet – BHB à SSK – 19 h 30 (HNC) / 21 h 30 (HE) – Merlis Belsher Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #102 – Le vendredi 24 juillet – NRL à SSS – 19 h 30 (HE) – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #103 – Le vendredi 24 juillet – OTT à MTL – 19 h 30 (HE) – l'Auditorium de Verdun (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS, CEBL+) Match #104 – Le vendredi 24 juillet – EDM à CGY – 19 h 30 (HR) / 21 h 30 (HE) – WinSport Event Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #105 – Le samedi 25 juillet – BHB à WPG – 14 h 30 (HAC) / 15 h 30 HE – Canada Life Centre (CBC, CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #106 – Le samedi 25 juillet – SSK à VAN – 18 h (HP) / 19 h (HNC) / 21 h (HE) – Envision Financial Court au Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #107 – Le dimanche 26 juillet – OTT à NRL – 15 h (HE) – Meridian Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #108 – Le dimanche 26 juillet – MTL à SSS – 16 h (HE) – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #109 – Le dimanche 26 juillet – CGY à EDM – 16 h (HR) / 18 h (HE) – Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Pour le calendrier complet de la LECB 2026, veuillez consulter cebl.ca/games .
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that they have signed two-year NBA G League-experienced big man Jordan Minor for the remainder of the CEBL season. After a short six-game stint in ProB France, Minor has spent the last two seasons in the G League with the Mexico City Capitanes, Birmingham Squadron (New Orleans Pelicans affiliate), Memphis Hustle (Memphis Grizzlies affiliate), and Long Island Nets (Brooklyn Nets affiliate). He most recently averaged 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 15.3 minutes in 20 games with the Capitanes to close out the G League campaign. Through 77 games, Minor posted five double-doubles and has grabbed more offensive rebounds than defensive throughout his G League tenure (151:130), as he has consistently used his 239-pound physique to outmuscle opponents near the basket. The Kingston, Massachusetts native will look to bolster the skill that the Honey Badgers already possess to crash the glass effectively, as Brampton currently leads the CEBL in offensive rebounds with 230. “Jordan is a physical player with a high motor,” said Honey Badgers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jermaine Anderson. “His physical tenacity and willingness to defend will provide a much needed boost. We’re looking forward to welcoming Jordan to the team for our playoff push.” Minor spent his senior season of college at the University of Virginia, where he teamed up with current Phoenix Sun Ryan Dunn and reached the ACC Tournament semifinals with a 23-11 record. He was able to tally 135 points over 31 games with the Cavaliers, which then allowed him to make the jump to the pros. Before joining Virginia, Minor was one of the standouts of the Merrimack College program, spending four years competing in the Northeast Conference. He broke out in the 2022-23 campaign where he led the Warriors to their first ever NEC championship by averaging 17.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals. Leading the NEC in rebounds per game, blocks (59), blocks per game, and offensive rebounds (82), while ranking second in points per game and field goal percentage (.519), Minor was awarded the Conference Co-Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and was nominated to the All-NEC First Team. “Jordan is a proven competitor who impacts the game in ways that don't always show up in the box score,” said Honey Badgers Head Coach Alex Cerda. “Rebounding, defending multiple positions, protecting the rim, and doing the little things that help teams win.” The Brampton Honey Badgers will begin their final road trip of the season tonight, July 23, at the Merlis Belsher Place against the Saskatoon Mamba and then take on the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Saturday, July 25. Stream all the action live on CBC Sports, CBC Gem, CBC Sports YouTube, and CEBL+. ### About the Brampton Honey Badgers One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit honeybadgers.ca .
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that they have signed former Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans signee and three-year CEBL-experienced guard Tevian Jones for the remainder of the 2026 season. Through 12 games so far this season, 10 with Saskatoon and two with Vancouver, Jones is averaging 19.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals. He recently went off for a career-high 36 points on 11-for-17 shooting June 28 versus the Edmonton Stingers while playing for the Mamba. Prior to this CEBL season, Jones spent the 2025-26 season with the South Bay Lakers - his third season in the NBA G League after signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in September, 2025. Here he posted 10.9 points across 38 games while playing under current Honey Badgers Head Coach Alex Cerda. “I'm excited to welcome Tevian to the Honey Badgers,” said Cerda. “I had the opportunity to coach him this past season with the South Bay Lakers, so I've seen firsthand the competitor, worker, and teammate that he is every day. He brings toughness, athleticism, and the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Just as importantly, he has a great approach to the game and will fit the culture we're building here in Brampton. We're looking forward to seeing him make an immediate impact for our organization.” In 2025, Jones played 22 games between the Saskatchewan Rattlers and Winnipeg Sea Bears, posting 18.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 steals. He also played 11 games with the Scarborough Shooting Stars in 2024, averaging 16.9 points and 5.5 rebounds. He currently ranks 21st in CEBL history in points scored at 820. “We are looking forward to welcoming Tevian to the Honey Badgers organization,” said Honey Badgers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jermaine Anderson. “His CEBL experience will be a welcome addition to our roster as we continue to fight for playoff positioning.” After finishing his collegiate career ranked fifth on Southern Utah University’s all-time scoring list, he joined the New Orleans Pelicans for his first stint at NBA Summer League, and later signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the club to begin his professional career. The Brampton Honey Badgers are down to five more regular season games in one of the tightest playoff races the CEBL has seen with four Eastern Conference teams within 1.5 games of each other. Only three can make it. Get your Honey Badgers tickets here with their last two home appearances taking place on July 30 and August 1. ### About the Brampton Honey Badgers One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit honeybadgers.ca .
Un partenariat axé sur la communauté célèbre le basketball, un mode de vie sain et un lien local à travers l'Ouest canadien
Community-focused partnership celebrates basketball, healthy living and local connection across Western Canada.
Three teams have punched their ticket, but good luck figuring out the rest. The CEBL post-season race is as wild as ever this season, with six teams sitting on eight or nine wins, including four in the East (!), and a last-place team cobbling together a late-season surge to make things even more interesting out West. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Sea Bears and Vancouver Bandits are duking it out for top spot, while the Scarborough Shooting stars can sit back and watch the whole thing unfold from their perch atop the East. Let’s break it all down… Eastern Conference The Shooting Stars sewed up the top seed in the East despite a 1-1 week that included a win over the Edmonton Stingers and a loss to the Ottawa BlackJacks. Now, the goal over their final five games will be to stay sharp for when the post-season begins and it’s suddenly do or die. As for the rest of the East? An apt word to describe the playoff race would be chaos. The Brampton Honey Badgers sit second at 9-10, but just lost two straight to the Niagara River Lions (9-11), who fell back to fourth after a loss to the Stingers. In between, the BlackJacks (9-10) are third after that win over the Shooting Stars. The Montreal Alliance (8-12), riding a three-game losing streak, bring up the rear. As one would imagine, however, this could all look very different in a week’s time. Ottawa is the team to watch, with road games in Montreal Friday and Niagara Sunday that could see it separate from the pack or lose valuable ground. The BlackJacks will also get another shot at the playing-out-the-string Shooting stars on Wednesday, while Scarborough will host Niagara and Montreal later in the week with the chance to have a say in its potential playoff opponents. Last season, the River Lions, in the same spot as the Shooting Stars, lost five straight to end the season, but rallied to win the championship. How that informs Scarborough’s season-end strategy should be fascinating, especially as it reintegrates star scorer Terquavion Smith, who re-signed with the club on Thursday. Western Conference There’s less mess in the West, but three clear tiers still stand out. At the top, the Sea Bears (13-7) and Bandits (12-7) are dueling for first place, which could be a key advantage if they wind up against each other in the conference final. They’ll meet Thursday at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre with the Sea Bears’ Teddy Allen scorching hot off his record 54-point night in a win over the Alliance on Sunday in which he also set the single-season scoring record. That game also saw Winnipeg debut of three-time Xavier Moon, who registered 17 points and dished 14 assists alongside his newfound co-star. If that’s any indication, the Sea Bears may be title favourites, but the Bandits and Canadian star Tyrese Samuel will certainly have their say. Then, there’s a battle for third place in the West, with the Saskatoon Mamba (8-10) and Stingers (8-11) fighting to keep pace in the playoff race as the last-place Calgary Surge (5-14) author a late-season charge, having won four of their last five. The Mamba and Stingers will meet Tuesday, and the winner will be in full control of their fate. It’s an especially big week for Edmonton, which has a home-and-home with Alberta-rival Calgary on Friday and Sunday. Win both, and the Stingers will secure their post-season spot. Lose both, and the final week of the season gets a whole lot more interesting. Indeed, it’s that time of year, where every basket, every stop, every timeout feels that much more crucial. The post-season is right around the corner. Weekly schedule (13 games) Game #97 – Tuesday, July 21 – EDM at SSK – 7:30 p.m. CST/MT / 9:30 p.m. ET – Merlis Belsher Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #98 – Tuesday, July 21 – VAN at CGY – 7:30 p.m. MT / 6:30 p.m. PT / 9:30 p.m. ET – WinSport Event Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #99 – Wednesday, July 22 – SSS at OTT – 7:30 p.m. ET – The Arena at TD Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #100 – Thursday, July 23 – VAN at WPG – 7 p.m. CDT / 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #101 – Thursday, July 23 – BHB at SSK – 7:30 p.m. CST / 9:30 p.m. ET – Merlis Belsher Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #102 – Friday, July 24 – NRL at SSS – 7:30 p.m. ET – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #103 – Friday, July 24 – OTT at MTL – 7:30 p.m. ET – Verdun Auditorium (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS, CEBL+) Game #104 – Friday, July 24 – EDM at CGY – 7:30 p.m. MT / 9:30 p.m. ET – WinSport Event Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #105 – Saturday, July 25 – BHB at WPG – 2:30 p.m. CDT / 3:30 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CBC, CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #106 – Saturday, July 25 – SSK at VAN – 6 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. CST / 9 p.m. ET – Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #107 – Sunday, July 26 – OTT at NRL – 3 p.m. ET – Meridian Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #108 – Sunday, July 26 – MTL at SSS – 4 p.m. ET – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #109 – Sunday, July 26 – CGY at EDM – 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET – Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) For the full 2026 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .