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Dans ce qui était sans doute leur plus gros match de la saison jusqu’à présent, toute l’équipe des BlackJacks d’Ottawa a élevé son niveau de jeu pour aller chercher la victoire et sécuriser sa place pour le demi-finales de la Conférence de l’Est. Six joueurs d’Ottawa ont inscrit au moins 10 points alors que les BlackJacks ont connu beaucoup de succès au troisième quart pour l’emporter 98-92 contre l’Alliance de Montréal. Ce gain, combiné à la défaite des Shooting Stars de Scarborough peu après la fin de la rencontre, a permis aux BlackJacks de se qualifier comme deuxième tête de série dans l’Est. Ils affronteront maintenant le gagnant du match de jeudi entre l’Alliance et les Shooting Stars, alors qu’ils accueilleront un match éliminatoire au Centre Slush Puppie à Gatineau, au Québec. Javonte Smart et Zane Waterman ont partagé le sommet des pointeurs de l’équipe avec 19 points chacun, tandis qu’Isaih Moore a récolté 17 points – dont sept en période du pointage cible – en plus de 11 rebonds et cinq passes décisives. Justin Jackson a inscrit 12 points et six rebonds, alors que Deng Adel et Tyrell Tate ont ajouté respectivement 11 et dix points. « On savait que Montréal allait être un gros défi encore aujourd’hui. On joue toujours des matchs serrés contre eux », a affirmé l’entraîneur-chef des BlackJacks, Dave DeAveiro. « On savait qu’on allait livrer une bataille et, avec la façon dont le scénario des séries se met en place, c’est un peu particulier. Mais on s’est concentrés sur notre jeu, sur le fait de contrôler notre destin. Terminer deuxièmes, c’est super, et de pouvoir rassembler nos partisans de Gatineau et ceux d’ici… On a hâte à cette opportunité. » Dans la deuxième moitié d’une série aller-retour, les rivaux bien connus se sont tenus dans un match serré pendant la majorité de la première demie. Après une séquence de treize points consécutifs de Montréal en début de match, Ottawa a répliqué avec une poussée de dix-huit contre six. Les deux équipes se sont échangé les paniers pendant les deux premiers quarts, jusqu’à ce que l’Alliance prenne l’avance 49-47 à la mi-temps. Les choses ont complètement basculé au retour du vestiaire, alors qu’Ottawa a contrôlé la majorité du troisième quart grâce à sa taille et à sa rapidité. Les BlackJacks ont limité Montréal à seulement cinq tirs réussis sur seize dans le quart, tout en réussissant onze de leurs douze lancers francs, l’Alliance ayant de la difficulté à les défendre sans commettre de fautes. Ottawa a dominé 27-13 au troisième quart. « Je pense qu’ils ont rentré leurs lancers francs et nous, non », a commenté l’entraîneur-chef de l’Alliance, Jermaine Small, au sujet de la performance de son équipe. « Si on regarde le troisième quart, on s’est littéralement tiré dans le pied avec nos pertes de ballon. Une bonne partie, c’est à cause des lancers francs. Ils ont fait du bon travail pour aller sur la ligne dans le troisième quart. Ils sont rapidement tombés dans le bonus et ont capitalisé. Chapeau à eux. » Tavian Dunn-Martin a mené l’Alliance avec 22 points sur huit tirs réussis en onze tentatives. Brandon Porter a inscrit 19 points et capté 13 rebonds pour le doublé, alors que Quincy Guerrier a marqué 13 points et pris six rebonds. Tavis Smith a ajouté 14 points en sortie de banc. Les BlackJacks ont creusé l’écart jusqu’à onze points en fin de quatrième quart, mais l’Alliance est revenue à seulement quatre points pendant la période du pointage cible. Avec plusieurs partisans de l’Alliance ayant fait le voyage pour encourager leur équipe et les fidèles d’Ottawa répondant en force, l’ambiance était électrisante en fin de match. « J’adore les partisans à la Place TD. C’est incroyable, a lancé Justin Jackson à propos du soutien local. Même quand je jouais pour Calgary et que je revenais ici, je me disais toujours qu’Ottawa avait de vraiment bons partisans et je me demandais ce que ce serait de jouer ici. Maintenant, j’y suis pour vrai. C’est vraiment trippant. Je vous aime. Continuez de nous encourager et on va pousser ça le plus loin possible. » Ce match marquait une deuxième grosse performance de suite pour Jackson, lui qui avait inscrit 21 points, incluant le tir de trois points victorieux, lors du dernier affrontement entre les deux équipes mercredi. Pour l’ancien choix au repêchage de la NBA, dont la carrière a été lourdement affectée par les blessures, cette période avec les BlackJacks représente quelque chose de spécial, surtout qu’il joue sous les ordres de son ancien entraîneur au secondaire. « C’est un rêve devenu réalité pour moi, honnêtement. Surtout avec les dernières années que j’ai vécues dans ma carrière, a-t-il confié. C’est incroyable d’être dans un environnement où je suis apprécié, où on prend soin de moi sur le terrain et à l’extérieur… ça rend le basketball le fun à nouveau. Les gars ont vraiment des cœurs d’enfants, alors ils font toujours ressortir l’enfant en moi. » Ces deux victoires de suite donnent aux BlackJacks leur première fiche gagnante de la saison, à 12-11. Cette troisième défaite d’affilée fait chuter l’Alliance à huit gains et 15 revers, alors qu’ils se préparent à affronter les Shooting Stars de Scarborough, un avant-goût de leur duel éliminatoire de jeudi. « On veut juste arriver en santé. Comme tout le monde, on a eu notre lot de blessures. Les formations changent, et ce n’est pas une question de ce qui nous manque, mais plutôt de ce qu’on possède et de la manière d’en tirer le meilleur, a rappelé Small. Lors des séries, c’est toujours un match sans lendemain, alors il faut en profiter au maximum. Peu importe ce qui va se passer dimanche, tout le monde repart à zéro jeudi et on verra qui sortira vainqueur. Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600673 À venir pour les deux équipes Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa terminent la saison régulière en recevant les Bandits de Vancouver, meneurs de la ligue, le 10 août. Le même jour, l’Alliance de Montréal se déplacera à Scarborough pour affronter les Shooting Stars, un avant-goût de leur affrontement au premier tour des séries. Prochains matchs dans la LECB Les 10 équipes seront de nouveau en action le 10 août, avec un premier match à 14 h (HE) opposant l’Alliance de Montréal aux Shooting Stars de Scarborough, diffusé en direct sur CEBL+ et TSN+. Pour consulter l’horaire complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB ainsi que les résultats à jour, visitez le cebl.ca/games . - LECB -

Calgary’s defence-to-offence formula was on full display in a 105-76 win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers on Friday (Aug. 8), clinching second place in the Western Conference. Twenty Rattlers’ turnovers led to 28 points for the Surge, including high-flying finishes to wow the crowd at WinSport Events Centre in another signature performance. After trailing by two after the first quarter, the Calgary defence locked in and held Saskatchewan to 18 points or less in each of the final three quarters. Calgary head coach Kaleb Canales said the intensity picked up after the opening 10 minutes. “We played our brand of basketball – defence-to-offence. [It’s been] our identity all year, our style of play, so we're excited to get the win,” Canales said. Sean Miller-Moore was dominant for Calgary in the win, netting a career-high 30 points that included the game-winner. On the defensive end, he added a pair of steals and blocks. “I had a big second half. Shout out [to] my teammates getting me in transition … that's where I strive,” Miller-Moore said. Surge forward Greg Brown III notched another double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Evan Gilyard Jr. chipped in 17 points and seven assists. For Saskatchewan, Jaden Bediako and Jordan Bowden led the way in the loss with 15 points each, with Bediako snagging 13 rebounds as well. Calgary outscored Saskatchewan 62-36 in the paint and won the transition battle 20-4 on Friday night while shooting 46 per cent from the field. The Surge are now locked into a play-in showdown at home against their provincial rivals Edmonton on Thursday night (Aug. 14). “[I’m looking forward to] being in a home environment with our fans and putting on a show. And then hopefully taking it possession by possession to get a win,” Miller-Moore said. Saskatchewan started Friday’s game on a 7-0 run, powered by the interior presence of Bediako. Calgary quickly battled back to within one possession and Brown III sparked the home crowd’s interest by climbing the ladder for a massive left-handed alley-oop in transition. Jones replied with another alley-oop and the Rattlers stayed efficient offensively to lead 24-22 after 10 minutes. After fighting back to tie the game four times, the Surge finally seized the lead just over three minutes into the second quarter with another transition flush from Brown III. The Western Conference rivals hung tight for much of the frame and Bowden briefly regained the lead for Saskatchewan with five consecutive points. However, Brown III closed the half with five straight points of his own to carry Calgary into the locker room with a 44-41 advantage. After Bandoo scored to open the second half for Saskatchewan, Calgary took control. The Surge went on a 17-2 run that included high-flying finishes from Miller-Moore and inside-the-arc mastery from Gilyard Jr. Calgary’s attack continued to assert itself and Gilyard Jr. closed the third with an open three to take an 18-point advantage into the fourth. The Surge kept pushing in the final frame and extended its lead to 26 heading into Target Score Time. Miller-Moore finished off the Rattlers with a pair of buckets in the final stretch and clinched the home playoff game for Calgary. With Friday’s result, the Surge and Rattlers split the season series with two wins each. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600678 Up next for both teams All 10 CEBL teams are in action again on Sunday (Aug. 10) in the regular season finale. Calgary hosts Niagara in a possible Championship Weekend preview, while Saskatchewan hosts Brampton in a battle between last-place teams. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

Edmonton and Niagara received a taste of post-season basketball on Friday. A chippy, tightly contested matchup ended in a 92-81 win for the Stingers over the River Lions at the Edmonton Expo Centre in the second-last regular-season game of the year for both teams. Edmonton moved to 14-9 for the season, keeping its hopes alive of a home playoff game depending on Calgary’s result later Friday. The Battle of Alberta is locked in as the Western Conference play-in game. Either way, the Stingers don’t appear like they’ll back down — at least if Friday’s win was any indication. “We know it’s gonna be a dogfight against Calgary. We know it’s gonna be a playoff-type atmosphere. It’s gonna be tooth and nail, it’s gonna be a five-point ballgame, so for us to be able to trust each other and have that chemistry going down the stretch is gonna be important,” Stingers head coach Jordan Baker said. Niagara has already clinched a spot at Championship Weekend with the top seed in the Eastern Conference but is now riding a four-game losing streak as it falls to 14-9. The Stingers fired on all cylinders right from the tip, building an early advantage and holding on even as the River Lions made a series of runs throughout the game. When the clock stopped for Target Score Time, Edmonton held an 82-76 lead. The Stingers stood tall during the game’s final phase, calmly playing their game and ultimately going up 90-81. Veteran Nick Hornsby then raced in transition after a River Lions turnover, stopped up, bounced a shot off the glass and clinched the win for his team. The Stingers clearly enjoyed the win. The team danced their way down the floor after Hornsby’s winner — Scottie Lindsey called the choreography “natural” — and huddled around the booth for Lindsey’s post-game interview. “We’re a family and winning is our main thing right now. We want to bring a championship back to Edmonton, and we’re close,” Lindsey said. The win marked the Stingers’ second straight after beating the Saskatchewan Rattlers on Wednesday. Also Friday, Vancouver clinched the top seed in the West with a 102-95 victory over the Scarborough Shooting Stars. The Bandits will host the winner in the conference semifinal next Saturday. For the Stingers, it means their play-in opponent — the Surge — has been determined. “We’re trying to gain momentum not only with wins, but with style of play, and I think tonight was rocky at times, but we weathered the storm and ended up on top,” Baker said. Edmonton’s offence — a strength all season — keyed its latest victory as the Stingers scored 49 points in the first half, made 59 per cent of their two-point attempts and connected on 48 per cent of their overall field-goal attempts. The scoring was balanced throughout the Stingers lineup as leader Sean East II was limited to 14 points. He now needs 16 points in the Stingers’ Sunday finale to break the league’s single-season scoring mark. “It just goes to show how deep we are. We’ve been together all year … so we’re just trying to keep building that chemistry and keep building toward the playoffs,” East II said. In his place, Hornsby led the way with 21 points to go with four rebounds and four assists, Lindsey added 20 points, four rebounds and four steals and forward Keon Ambrose-Hylton put up 12 points and six rebounds. Baker said he was happy with the Stingers’ team-first offensive mentality. “We attacked aggressively, we found our gaps, we took advantage of mismatches. When the ball gets stagnant and we try to isolate, I think that’s where we struggle a bit,” he said. Hornsby said his team’s “hard-headedness” was its key to success. “They came out pretty hot in the second half. We didn’t get down. We were frustrated with ourselves, just in the sense of we weren’t doing what we needed to do, but we picked that back up and turned it around,” he said. The River Lions, meanwhile, are suddenly stumbling as they make their way toward Winnipeg for Championship Weekend. Niagara’s losing skid comes on the heels of a franchise-record seven-game winning streak — and it may be feeling the frustration after it picked up technical fouls in the first half, including two on the bench and one against leading scorer Khalil Ahmad. Head coach Victor Raso said the River Lions have been “losing on the margins.” “It’s a really tough task that we have right now and we’re struggling with it. We’re struggling to play meaningful, really high-level, championship-calibre basketball with nothing on the line and it’s a dangerous game that we’re playing here. I trust the experience of the group, but it’s not ideal,” Raso said. The River Lions enjoyed a balanced scoring attack like the Stingers, with Ahmad and Ron Curry sharing the team high with 19 points each. Elijah Lufile fell just shy of a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds, while Ahmed Hill added 11 first-half points off of the bench. Captain Kimbal Mackenzie, who had 11 points of his own, said his team is still working hard despite already having Championship Weekend locked down. “We’re trying to be in a mode here where we’re going in with good momentum. We’re a competitive group. We play basketball because we like competing, because we want to win every game,” he said. The Stingers roared to a strong start and led 23-19 by the end of the first quarter. Another strong second quarter left Edmonton with a 49-42 lead at halftime, but Niagara responded with a 7-0 run to even terms early in the third quarter. Through 30 minutes, the Stingers regained a five-point advantage at 69-64. Edmonton then kept Niagara at arm’s length throughout the fourth quarter. Now, it can carry that confidence into a Battle of Alberta play-in game. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600677 Up Next Both teams are in action for the final day of the regular season on Sunday as the Stingers host the Winnipeg Sea Bears while the River Lions visit the Calgary Surge. Next CEBL Action All 10 teams play on a quintuple-header Sunday as the regular season comes to a close. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL –

The Scarborough Shooting Stars had a hard time keeping up with the Vancouver Bandits. Even the mops at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre had a difficult time soaking up all the sweat flying off the players as Vancouver set the pace. They set the tone early – scoring 32 points in the first quarter – and never gave up a lead en route to a 102-95 victory. Vancouver head coach and general manager Kyle Julius methodically took timeouts to kill Scarborough’s momentum, and had an answer every time his squad took time to regroup. Player of the Game, Tyrese Samuel, hit two free throws to not only win the game, but clinch first in the West for the Bandits, which means Vancouver will host the Western Conference Semifinal. Scarborough will finish the season as the third seed in the East, and will host the Montreal Alliance in the Eastern Conference Play-In. Samuel had a monstrous 32-point and franchise-record tying 18-rebound double-double performance. Vancouver went inside every time they needed him. Mitch Creek also played a huge role throughout the game with a 23-point game performance. However, it was the depth of Vancouver’s roster that made them the league’s very best. “We love each other,” Samuel said after the game. “We hold each other accountable.” All five starters scored in double-digits. Shamar Givance (20 points) nailed a triple to give Vancouver a 7-0 start, and his triple in the third gave them a 12-point lead. Zach Copeland’s threes in the second quarter killed any momentum Scarborough thought they had. Duane Notice came off the bench, but hit an important triple in the fourth to make it a 11-point lead. Though there are no moral victories in the CEBL, it was a confidence booster for Scarborough as they gave the league’s best a run for their money again. Today, they punched back, getting within four points in the fourth quarter. The last time the two played, Scarborough had the lead in the third, but Vancouver surged back and won in a nailbiter, 100-97. From Coach Julius’ perspective, this game would have been an improvement. Scarborough showed tremendous fight this game. Cat Barber remained sidelined, but Donovan Williams (20 points) and Terquavion Smith (18 points) punched back. Williams’ two-handed slam in the final frame forced Julius to take a timeout. Williams had another one earlier in the second quarter. Smith recovered from an injury in the third quarter after he had nailed a bucket at the buzzer. Michael Foster Jr. (20 points) hit threes for the first time in his CEBL career, making three of them. “He’s made us a lot more versatile. His ability to play both inside and out, handle the glass for us, and just being an athletic presence inside for us has really helped us out,” Scarborough head coach Mike De Giorgio said. Like Vancouver, Scarborough relied on its depth today, too. Jaden Campbell had 19 points off the bench and made a game-high five three-pointers, hitting them in pivotal periods of the game. Khalil Miller is becoming increasingly comfortable with his three-point range, hitting two of them. Box score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600674 Up next for both teams The Bandits (18-5) head to the nation’s capital to face the second-seeded Ottawa BlackJacks (12-11) on Sunday, August 10. The Scarborough Shooting Stars (11-12) will stay home to host the Montreal Alliance (8-15) on the same day. This will be a preview of the Eastern Conference Play-In. Next CEBL action Sunday, August 10 will be the last day of the CEBL regular season and all 10 teams will be in action. In addition to the Vancouver and Scarborough games, the Edmonton Stingers (13-9) host the Winnipeg Sea Bears (11-12) at Edmonton EXPO Centre, the Saskatchewan Rattlers (6-16) host the Brampton Honey Badgers (5-18) at SaskTel Centre, and the Calgary Surge (15-7) host the Niagara River Lions (14-8) at Scotiabank Saddledome. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

The next time the Winnipeg Sea Bears step onto the Canada Life Centre court, it’ll be for the Western Conference Final. Until then, there’s no doubt that fans will be hoping for a repeat performance of the Sea Bears' dominant 92-60 win over the Brampton Honey Badgers on Friday in Winnipeg. Winnipeg never trailed despite being without top contributors Jalen Harris and Simi Shittu, leading by as many as 37 points as it improved to 11-12 on the year following the team’s final home game of the regular season. Leading that charge was Terry Roberts with his team-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including the game-winning basket. Will Richardson wasn’t far behind with his 20 points, four made threes, nine rebounds and six assists, while Trevon Scott chipped in 16 points, 13 rebounds and three steals. All of which gave the 7,207 fans in attendance plenty of seasons to celebrate, along with the fact that the Sea Bears faithful set a new all-time single-season attendance mark (92,103) for the CEBL. Not only surpassing the previous record of 86,275 Winnipeg set last year, but it making the franchise the first to eclipse the 90,000 mark in league history. “I had heard a lot of stories about the fans (in Winnipeg) and how the games go, but to be on this team and experience it is special,” Scott said following the victory. “The crowd gets crazy, gets loud and it helps us.” Meanwhile, Quinndary Weatherspoon led the Honey Badgers’ effort as the import finished with 22 points and six rebounds. Prince Oduro added 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Yaw Obeng-Mensah scored 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting. The loss dropped Brampton to 5-18 on the season as they remained winless on the road, now 0-11 with one game to go. “I thought the guys gave it the best they could, considering the circumstances,” Honey Badgers head coach Sheldon Cassimy said after his undermanned squad that dressed nine players lost its third straight game. “For some of the players, it was their first game … it’s a tough environment to come into, I think it’s the toughest environment in the league to play in, so I thought they battled back, but it got away from us in the third quarter.” Heading into Fan Appreciation night in Winnipeg, head coach and general manager Mike Taylor’s message to his players was clear: “Feed the bear.” And it’s safe to say that message was received loud and clear by the players as Winnipeg opened the ball game on a 9-0 run en route to a 25-16 lead after the first quarter. Spearheading that charge was Roberts, who scored seven consecutive points and punctuated that effort with a windmill slam in transition. The highlight reel slam and early lead were more than enough “food” to energize the Canada Life Centre crowd in order to make its presence known on the record-setting night. “We talked about it, showing the fans how much we appreciate playing in Winnipeg,” Taylor said post-game. “Show the fans how much you appreciate their support, and you do that by playing hard and playing together.” And although it appeared that Brampton had weathered the early storm, cutting what was once a 14-point deficit down as low as three points in the second thanks to a 12-1 run, Winnipeg answered right back. The Sea Bears capped off the half with a 9-0 run of their own as they went into the break with a 45-33 lead. The Honey Badgers did themselves no favours, however, with 10 first-half turnovers, five of which came in the second quarter as they tried to rally. Brampton entered the night averaging 15.0 giveaways per game, tied for the second-most in the CEBL. The Sea Bears’ lead only grew from there, ballooning as high as 29 points in the third thanks to a 15-0 run, as part of a 23-7 quarter, before settling for a 68-40 lead after 30 minutes. “I really loved how the team competed today. We came out strong to start the game and to start the third quarter,” Taylor said. “We kind of took our foot off the gas midway through the first half, but talking about it at halftime, I think it was a real priority for us to finish strong … we had guys step up.” Winnipeg cruised to victory from there, bookending its closing effort with a pair of buckets from Roberts. The guard nailed a fading jumper through a foul to send the Sea Bears into Target Score Time with an 83-49 lead, and then wrapped up the win by dropping in a fastbreak layup of the Honey Badgers’ 18th turnover of the night. Once the dust settled on Winnipeg’s 32-point victory, two areas of the game stood out as clear catalysts for success: rebounding and three-point shooting. The Sea Bears dominated the glass to the tune of a plus-14 rebounding edge that allowed them to generate 11 extra field goals. Meanwhile, it was less so Winnipeg’s production from beyond the arc and more so Brampton’s struggles that proved to be a difference maker. While the Sea Bears finished a modest 11-for-36 (30.0 per cent) from distance, the Honey Badgers went a woeful 3-for-24 (12.0 per cent), leading to a 24-point disparity on threes between the cross-conference opponents. “Heading into our last game and going into championship weekend, it was a good win,” Scott said post-game. “An opportunity for everyone (on the team) to play, so it was a good team win.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600676 Up next Both squads return to the court on Sunday for the final day of regular-season action. The Sea Bears will head to Edmonton as they visit the Stingers, while the Honey Badgers wrap up their season-ending three-game road trip against the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Next CEBL action The CEBL’s five-game Friday slate concludes with a cross-conference matchup between the defending champion Niagara River Lions visiting the Stingers in Edmonton at 9 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. local.  For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

In arguably their biggest game of the season so far, the entire Ottawa BlackJacks team stepped up to secure the victory and punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Semifinal. Six Ottawa players scored in double digits as the BlackJacks rode a huge third quarter to a 98-92 win over the Montreal Alliance. The win, combined with the Scarborough Shooting Stars loss shortly after the game’s conclusion, solidified the BlackJacks as the second seed in the Eastern Conference. They’ll now await the winner of Thursday’s matchup between the Alliance and the Shooting Stars as they host a playoff game at Centre Slush Puppie in Gatineau, Quebec. Javonte Smart and Zane Waterman tied for the team lead in points with 19, and Isaih Moore had 17 points – including seven in Target Time – to go with 11 rebounds and five assists. Justin Jackson had 12 points and six rebounds, while Deng Adel and Tyrell Tate added 11 and 10 points, respectively. “We knew Montreal was going to be a tough game again today. We always play them tough, they always play us tough,” BlackJacks head coach Dave DeAveiro said. “We knew we were in for a battle and the way the playoffs scenario kind of works out, it’s awkward, but we were just focused on playing our game, controlling our own destiny. Finishing second would be great, having the fans over in Gatineau joining our fans over here… We’re looking forward to that opportunity.” In the second half of a home-and-home series, the familiar foes kept the game close for the majority of the first half. After a 13-0 Montreal run early was answered by an 18-6 run from Ottawa, the teams traded baskets for the first two quarters until the Alliance took a 49-47 lead into halftime. Things took a drastic turn coming out of the break, as Ottawa controlled much of the third quarter with their size and athleticism. They held Montreal to just 5-of-16 shooting in the period and made 11-of-12 free throws as the Alliance struggled to defend them cleanly. The BlackJacks outscored the opposition 27-13 in the frame. “I think they made free throws and we didn’t,” Alliance head coach Jermaine Small said of his team’s performance. “You look at the third quarter and we literally shot ourselves in the foot by turning over the ball. I think a big part of it was the free throw shooting. They did a good job of getting to the line in the third quarter. They got into the bonus really early, and they did a good job of making their free throws. Credit to them.” Tavian Dunn-Martin led the Alliance with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Brandon Porter had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the double-double, while Quincey Guerrier had 13 points and six rebounds. Tavis Smith added 14 points off the bench. With the BlackJacks building their fourth quarter lead to as much as 11, the Alliance came back to cut it down to four during Target Time. With a number of Alliance fans making the trip to cheer on their team and the Ottawa faithful responding in kind, the atmosphere was electric as the end of the game drew near. “I love the fans at TD. It’s been amazing,” Justin Jackson said of the local support. “Even when I was playing for Calgary and I would come back here, I would always say, ‘Ottawa has a great fanbase. I wonder what it would be like to play here.’ And now I’m actually here. It’s pretty fire. I love you guys, man. Continue to support us and we’re going to push this as far as we can.” The game was the second standout performance in a row for Jackson, who had 21 points including the game-winning three when the teams last played on Wednesday. For the former NBA draft pick who has had injuries significantly impact his career, it’s encompassed his whole time with the BlackJacks organization, which includes playing for his old high school coach. “It's been a dream come true for me, honestly. Especially with how the last few years of my career have been,” he reflected. “It feels amazing to be in a spot where I’m appreciated, I’m loved on and off the court… it makes basketball fun again. Just being around the guys, we got a bunch of children on our team so they always just bring the inner child out of me.” The back-to-back wins give the BlackJacks their first winning record on the season at 12-11. The third straight loss drops the Alliance to 8-15 as they head into a matchup against the Scarborough Shooting Stars in what will be an early preview of their playoff matchup on Thursday. “We just want to walk in healthy. We’ve been banged up, like most. Rosters are changing and it’s not about what you don’t have, it’s about what you have and making the most of it,” Small reiterated. “It’s all one game series and it’s all about making the most of it. Whatever happens Sunday happens. But Thursday everyone is 0-0 and we’ll see who the best team is.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600673 Up next for both teams The Ottawa BlackJacks finish up the regular season playing hosts to the league-leading Vancouver Bandits on August 10. That same day, the Montreal Alliance travel to Scarborough to face the Shooting Stars in a preview of their first-round playoff matchup. Next CEBL action All 10 teams will once again be in action on August 10, starting with the Montreal Alliance taking on the Scarborough Shooting Stars at 2 p.m. ET, streaming live on CEBL+ and TSN+. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that they have re-signed forward Jasman Sangha, and signed forward Malik Grant and guard Ankit Choudhary for the final two games of the regular season. The Honey Badgers will hit the road to face the Winnipeg Sea Bears this Friday, August 8, then make their move to Saskatchewan to close the 2025 regular season versus the Rattlers on Sunday, August 10. Ahead of these final two games, the Honey Badgers will be without some of their stars including Koby McEwen, David Muenkat, and Marcus Carr, as they have all departed for their next journeys overseas. To make up for these losses, the Honey Badgers have added some Canadian talent, including two Brampton natives in Sangha and Grant. Jasman Sangha began his professional career this season with the Honey Badgers, playing two games and posting three points in each one versus Montreal and Ottawa. He was eventually released to explore an opportunity with The Basketball Tournament and has now been re-signed after playing one game with the Brown Ballers, recording 11 points and three rebounds July 19 versus the Stars of Storrs. Malik Grant was drafted by the Ottawa BlackJacks with the 24th overall pick in the 2025 CEBL Draft out of Humber College. Grant will make his professional debut this Friday versus the Sea Bears after a very successful senior season of collegiate basketball where he led the Hawks to a CCAA Championship, earning the CCAA Championship MVP. He also became the third Humber Hawk to be named OCAA Player of the Year, averaging 16.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 29.7 minutes in 18 games. Ankit Choudhary is a 6-foot-1 guard out of the University of Ottawa. He joined Jasman Sangha in the Brown Ballers matchup versus the Stars of Storrs and dropped a team-high 21 points including five made three-pointers and four assists. In his final collegiate season, Choundary helped the Gee-Gees to a OUA Tournament Championship and third place finish in the U SPORTS Tournament. He earned All-OUA Second Team honours as well, posting 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 28.9 minutes in 28 games. The Honey Badgers 2025 campaign will come to an end this weekend as they look to end on a high note versus the Winnipeg Sea Bears on August 8 and Saskatchewan Rattlers on August 10. You can catch all the action on 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

A 10-3 run in Target Score Time propelled the Edmonton Stingers to a bounceback victory over the Saskatchewan Rattlers at SaskTel Centre on Wednesday (Aug. 6). After trailing for the majority of the second half, Edmonton rallied in the fourth to defeat Saskatchewan 100-94 to keep hopes of a home playoff game alive. Edmonton head coach Jordan Baker said defence made the difference down the stretch. “When we execute defensively and get stops, we're a pretty efficient team. We held them in the second half to 18- and 19-point quarters. As we look towards the playoffs, you're not going to outscore teams, you need to play defence,” Baker said. The Stingers also avenged a tight 90-88 loss to the Rattlers on Sunday (Aug. 3) at Edmonton Expo Centre in the first half of a home-and-home. Sean East II was clinical in the win, pacing the Stingers’ offence with 24 points on 9-16 shooting. He followed up a quiet first half with 18 points in the second, including the game-winner. The American guard became the third player in CEBL history to score 500 points in a single season and now sits 29 points away from the scoring record with two games remaining. “[It’s] just a great coaching staff, great players, and they allow me to be myself and put me in great positions to be successful,” East II said. Nick Hornsby’s well-rounded skillset also helped the Stingers to the victory with 20 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals. Former Rattler Scottie Lindsey added a double-double for Edmonton with 18 points and 11 rebounds while Keon Ambrose-Hylton chipped in 16 points and seven rebounds. On the other side, the Rattlers continued to compete after elimination from playoff contention almost three weeks ago. The duo of Jordan Bowden and Tevian Jones were a handful for the opposing defence yet again, scoring a combined 51 points on Wednesday. “Edmonton put a lot of bodies their way and they handled it well,” Saskatchewan head coach Eric Magdanz said. “They found spaces in order to get their shot up. They attacked the rim, they got some open threes, and they did a good job moving the ball to other people as well.” Jones netted a game-high 27 points on 10-for-20 shooting, while Bowden added 24 on 8-for-13 shooting. Down the stretch, Jones said it was a lack of composure that led to the loss. “We kind of let the emotions of the game get the best of us. I think really, that was it. I think if we were able to just kind of keep our heads down the stretch that we would have been able to pull out that win,” Jones said. Both teams started hot offensively in the first quarter. The Stingers and Rattlers exchanged blows throughout the frame as Jones came out of the gates with a 13-point flurry in the opening 10 minutes. A pair of timely Saskatchewan threes from Devonté Bandoo and Isaac Simon put the home team ahead 30-26 after one quarter of action. The Rattlers kept firing from long range in the second quarter, extending their lead to nine and forcing back-to-back timeouts from Baker. Bowden took control offensively in the second for Saskatchewan while Chris Smith helped the Stingers fight back to within one possession. However, the Rattlers headed into the locker room with a bit of breathing room, ahead 57-51. Edmonton fought back to tie the game twice in the third quarter, but the duo of Bowden and Jones kept Saskatchewan in front. Powered by a pair of floaters from East II, the Stingers went on a 6-0 run to claw back within one heading into the fourth. A back-and-forth final quarter saw four ties and two lead changes ahead of Target Score Time. East II showcased his deadly floater while Ambrose-Hylton and Horsby helped Edmonton seize its first lead since the opening quarter. Trailing by three, Jaden Bediako scored back-to-back buckets to provide the Rattlers with a one-point lead heading into Target Score Time. From there, the Stingers dominated. Lindsey regained the lead with a putback finish and scored another acrobatic layup several possessions later to cap an 8-0 run. Bandoo buried a shot from long range to get the Rattlers back to within four but East II put the finishing touches on a stellar second half with a mid-range jumper to win it. Edmonton claimed the season series against Saskatchewan with the victory after splitting the first two games earlier in the campaign. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600672 Up next for both teams All 10 CEBL teams are in action on Friday (Aug. 8) with Saskatchewan hosting Calgary and Edmonton facing the Niagara River Lions. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

Les espoirs d’un match éliminatoire à domicile demeurent bien vivants pour les BlackJacks d’Ottawa. Les BlackJacks ont résisté à la poussée finale de l’Alliance de Montréal pour l’emporter 87-83 mercredi soir à l’Auditorium de Verdun, s’assurant ainsi de terminer parmi les trois premières équipes de la Conférence de l’Est. Ottawa améliore sa fiche à 11-11, à égalité avec les Shooting Stars de Scarborough au deuxième rang de la conférence. L’Alliance, maintenant à 8-14, terminera au quatrième rang et jouera donc le match éliminatoire sur la route, que ce soit à Ottawa ou à Scarborough. Mais cette dernière victoire des BlackJacks n’a pas été de tout repos. « Chaque fois qu’on affronte Montréal, c’est un match intense comme celui-là. Et venir ici, dans leur environnement, et les battre… c’est une très belle victoire pour nous », a commenté l’entraîneur-chef des BlackJacks, Dave DeAveiro. Le pointage est resté serré tout au long du match, et Ottawa menait 77-73 lorsque l’horloge s’est arrêtée pour laisser place à la période du pointage cible, après une séquence de 7-0 des visiteurs. L’Alliance a immédiatement répliqué après l’arrêt de jeu, prenant les devants 79-77 dans une série de possessions chaotiques marquées par plusieurs tirs ratés et des rebonds offensifs répétés. Mais l’ailier Justin Jackson a calmé la tempête avec un tir de trois points décisif qui a redonné l’avance à Ottawa. Après un tir raté de Montréal, Isaih Moore a inscrit le panier sur un rebond offensif pour remettre les BlackJacks aux commandes. Les deux équipes ont ensuite échangé des paniers, si bien qu’Ottawa ne se retrouvait plus qu’à un tir de trois points de la victoire. Et après un flotteur réussi de Kevin Osawe pour Montréal, Jackson a encore une fois réussi un tir de trois points pour sceller la victoire. « Ça c’est du vrai basketball des séries. J’adore jouer dans un environnement comme celui-là, a confié Jackson en entrevue d’après-match avec la journaliste Gabriela Hébert. Ce sont deux bonnes équipes qui s’affrontent. J’adore la compétition, mes coéquipiers étaient derrière moi, ils m’ont motivé tout le match, alors je devais juste continuer. » Cette victoire marque la 50e de l’histoire de la franchise d’Ottawa, séries comprises. Malgré leur position au classement, les partisans d’Ottawa pourraient ne pas voir de match éliminatoire chez eux. En raison des Jeux autochtones des maitres 2025 (du 14 au 17 août à l’Aréna de la Place TD), si les BlackJacks terminent deuxièmes et doivent accueillir la demi-finale de l’Est, le match sera déplacé à Gatineau . S’ils terminent troisièmes, le match de barrage — où l’Alliance sera officiellement l’équipe visiteuse — se jouera à Montréal. Pour l’instant, les deux formations se retrouveront dès vendredi, cette fois dans la capitale nationale. Et elles pourraient croiser le fer une troisième fois en huit jours lors du match de barrage prévu jeudi prochain. Ottawa a encore beaucoup à gagner dans ses deux derniers matchs de la saison. La victoire à Montréal a donné un avant-goût d’intensité et d’émotions fortes propres aux séries. « Il y a des moments où l’adversaire joue vraiment bien, et il faut rester unis, continuer de se battre. Et je trouve qu’on a bien fait ça », a ajouté DeAveiro. Jackson, originaire de Toronto, a été le meneur pour Ottawa avec 21 points, incluant deux tirs de trois points décisifs pendant la période du pointage cible, en plus de capter cinq rebonds et distribuer quatre passes décisives — son plus haut total de la saison. « Je me suis senti super bien dans ce gym. C’est une belle ambiance pour jouer au basket… c’est physique, intense, ça brasse, et moi j’adore ça. Au final, je vais juste jouer aussi fort que je peux, et aujourd’hui, les tirs rentraient », a-t-il souligné. Moore a inscrit un doublé avec 17 points et 11 rebonds, menant la charge en première demie. L’ailier Deng Adel a failli lui aussi inscrire un doublé avec 15 points et neuf passes décisives, tandis que Keevan Veinot a franchi le cap des 500 points en carrière (séries incluses) grâce à une performance de 12 points. Javonte Smart, meneur incontesté au chapitre des points par match dans la LECB avec une moyenne de 28,2, a été limité à 10 points avec une efficacité de quatre en 18. Il a tout de même contribué autrement avec cinq passes décisives et cinq rebonds. Adel a affirmé que l’équipe avait une mission inachevée après l’élimination de l’an dernier face aux River Lions de Niagara. « On revient chaque été avec le même objectif : gagner ensemble. Il y a une vraie camaraderie dans le groupe, et les coachs, la direction, le président — tout le monde veut sincèrement nous voir gagner. C’est ce qui nous motive », a-t-il dit. De son côté, l’Alliance a montré beaucoup de cœur après un début difficile et avoir tiré de l’arrière pendant la majorité du match, sans toutefois parvenir à compléter la remontée. L’équipe est maintenant certaine de finir au quatrième rang, ce qui rendra son retour au week-end du Championnat, qu’elle avait organisé l’an dernier, particulièrement difficile. L’entraîneur-chef Jermaine Small estime que ses joueurs ont trop misé sur des actions individuelles. « Il faut gérer les émotions et ne pas chercher à être le héros. Quand on joue en équipe, on est meilleurs. Quand chacun veut le faire seul, on perd, on arrive à la période du pointage cible sans être prêts. Il faut jouer collectif, pas individuel », a-t-il tranché. Le rapide garde Tavian Dunn-Martin a mené tous les marqueurs avec 30 points, en plus de six rebonds. Il a quitté brièvement le match en fin de première demie, mais est revenu en force en deuxième. Originaire de Huntington, en Virginie-Occidentale, il a réussi sept de ses douze tirs de trois points, gardant l’Alliance dans le match du début à la fin. Malcolm Duvivier a ajouté 12 points en sortie de banc avec cinq rebonds, tandis qu’Osawe a été le seul autre joueur de l’Alliance à atteindre la dizaine avec 11 points. Dunn-Martin a résumé le match en quelques mots : « Il n’y a pas une grande différence entre les deux équipes. Ils le voulaient juste plus que nous. Il faut qu’on ait faim. On va se servir de ça pour le prochain match et la semaine prochaine. » À noter : le triple MVP de la LECB, Xavier Moon, était présent dans les gradins. Les BlackJacks menaient 27-21 après le premier quart, même si Smart n’avait pas encore marqué. Ottawa a conservé une avance de six points à la mi-temps, 48-42. Après trois quarts, l’Alliance avait réduit l’écart à 64-62, mais Ottawa est resté en contrôle. La fin de match a donné lieu à une véritable bataille d’intensité, chaque équipe étant bien consciente de ce qui était en jeu. Et ce n’est peut-être que le début. Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2682612 À venir L’Alliance de Montréal et les BlackJacks d’Ottawa se retrouvent vendredi pour un autre affrontement dans la capitale. Prochains matchs dans la LECB Chaque équipe sera en action ce vendredi dans le cadre d’un programme quintuple, qui marque l’avant-dernière journée du calendrier régulier. Pour consulter l’horaire complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB et les résultats à jour, visitez le cebl.ca/games . - LECB -