Bandits looking for second consecutive win in their regular season finale against Shooting Stars

July 30, 2023
Zulfi Sheikh

The Vancouver Bandits (+118) finish up their 2023 campaign on the road as they visit the Scarborough Shooting Stars (-160) on Sunday night from the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre with tip-off set for 7:00 pm ET. 


It will be available for streaming live on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.


This will be the first and only regular season matchup between the cross-conference opponents, and their first since the two squads went head-to-head in July of last year. It was Scarborough, in their inaugural season, that ended up with the edge in the season series against Vancouver in 2022, winning two out of three games.


The Bandits are heading into this contest on the heels of one of their most impressive wins of the season, as the squad picked up a narrow 90-89 victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks. Not only bumping the top team in the East into second place, but also handing them their third loss in a row.


It was Duane Notice’s heroic game-winning triple that gave the Bandits their second win in their last five outings, but it took a team effort to bring them to that point. Seven of the eight players that checked-in for the team put up eight or more points, unsurprisingly led by the forward duo of Giorgi Benzhanishvili and Nick Ward. 


Benzhanishvili tallied an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Ward added a game-high 25 points and grabbed seven boards of his own.


The pairing continues to be top contributors for Vancouver, both as scorers and for their work on the glass. Leading the CEBL’s best rebounding squad (43.2 RPG), their work securing the ball has been the team’s strength all season, and that didn’t change Thursday as the Bandits grabbed four more boards than the BlackJacks. 


Their efforts also earned them a +5 edge on offensive rebounds and +7 advantage on second chance points. Vancouver’s rebounding prowess also allowed them to dominate the interior as they shot an efficient 55 per cent from two-point range and ended the night +30 on points inside the paint. 


Fans should keep an eye out for a glass battle as the Shooting Stars are also a top-five rebounding team (40 RPG) and will give the Bandits a good test before both teams head into the post-season.


Most notably, Scarborough will hope for a big game from Kalif Young. Like Ward (7.8 RPG) and Benzhanishvili (9.0 RPG), the big man is a top-ten rebounder in the league (7.7 RPG) and will likely be fighting in the paint against Vancouver’s duo all night. In Scarborough’s latest outing the forward did a bit of everything on route to a double-double as Young notched 13 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks.


Despite the big man’s valiant effort, the Shooting Stars still took a 103-86 loss to the defending champion Brampton Honey Badgers and snapped a three-game win streak as a result. Tonight’s contest was also meant to be Scarborough’s regular season finale, but after their game on Friday was rescheduled to July 31, it will now be the first of a back-to-back set instead. 


In said defeat, the team held their own in most statistical categories against Brampton, but they struggled mightily from beyond the arch. Scarborough made just two triples on a 10 per cent clip, ending up a -18 on points from distance as a result. Their poor shooting, mixed with a major 22-8 run surrendered in the third quarter is what ultimately led to their first loss in four games.


There were some positives for the Shooting Stars to take from the game, as they actually led in scoring through the first, second, and fourth quarters, and if it weren’t for the lopsided third, they would’ve had a shot at making it four wins in a row. The squad will look to put together a full 40-minute performance as they try to get back in the win column.


Fans of Scarborough should also keep their eyes on Cat Barber, as the team’s top-scorer is only seven points away from reaching the 1000-point mark for his career in the CEBL. If he reaches the milestone tonight, he’ll be the second player ever in league history to get there, doing it only two days after his former teammate Ahmed Hill did it.


In terms of playoff implications, as host city, Vancouver is locked into a spot at Championship Weekend, so a win or loss won’t change much for positioning but can help them gain some momentum heading in. 


The Shooting Stars have already clinched a playoff spot as well, but the team has a chance to make their path to a second-straight finals appearance easier if they win out to end the season. If Scarborough can win both of their final two games, they would leap over the BlackJacks for second in the East, avoiding the play-in as a result.


Full conference standings can be found here.


All games will also be streamed live internationally on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, and on the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Full list of betting props available on BetVictor. Preview written by Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh).


A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 71 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball. The CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us (@cebleague) on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

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The Montréal Alliance has made a key signing for the franchise, announcing today that dynamic guard Keeshawn Barthelemy, a Montréal native with NCAA, international, and professional experience, has signed with the team for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. “Keeshawn is a high-character player who brings poise, competitiveness, and a strong feel for the game,” said Joel Anthony, General Manager and co-owner of the Alliance. “He’s played at a high level, he’s continued to grow as a professional, and having a Montreal-born player return home with that experience means a lot to this organization. We believe he’ll be a great fit for what we’re building.” The 6'1", 180-pound guard brings professional experience after most recently competing with Proteas EKA AEL in the Cyprus Division A, where he made an immediate impact during the 2025–26 season. In 10 professional games, he averaged 13.8 points, 3.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game, ranking third on the team in scoring while serving as a primary ball handler and reliable two-way contributor. His impact was evident throughout the season, scoring in double figures on multiple occasions, highlighted by a 27-point performance against Morphou. The 25-year-old guard built an impressive collegiate career in the NCAA, beginning at the University of Colorado before finishing at the University of Oregon. Across five seasons, he appeared in 140 games, earning multiple starting roles and developing into a consistent perimeter scorer and playmaker. In his final collegiate season at Oregon (2024–25), Barthelemy averaged 10.0 points per game while shooting 41.4% from three-point range, ranking among the conference leaders in efficiency and free throw percentage. Barthelemy also brings valuable international experience, having represented Team Canada on multiple occasions, including at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup and the 2022 Global Jam Tournament. “Coming back to Montreal to play professionally is something I’ve dreamed about,” said Barthelemy. “This city is where everything started for me, and to put on an Alliance jersey in front of my family, friends, and the fans is really special. I’m excited for the new season, excited for what this team is building, and ready to get to work.” This signing marks a significant milestone for the Alliance, bringing home a Montréal native whose journey has taken him from local gyms to the NCAA and the professional ranks overseas. Throughout his career, Barthelemy has remained connected to the city that shaped him, proudly representing Québec and Canada on the national and international stage. His return reinforces the Alliance's commitment to building a team that reflects both the talent and the identity of Montréal as the organization builds toward the 2026 season. The upcoming season will include 12 home contests for the Alliance at the Verdun Auditorium and a new league-wide playoff format that culminates in a best-of-three CEBL Final. The Alliance will play its home opener on May 15 against the Scarborough Shooting Stars. For more information on available ticket packages, visit BASKETMTL.ca. ###

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The Winnipeg Sea Bears are pleased to announce that they have agreed to terms with guard Isiah Osborne for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Osborne, a 6’5” guard from Windsor, Ontario, brings a wealth of professional experience to Winnipeg. Across 49 career CEBL games, Osborne has averaged 25.1 minutes, 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, between the Edmonton Stingers, Montréal Alliance, and Ottawa BlackJacks. “Isiah’s background as a dynamic offensive player and his athletic capabilities made him an ideal fit for our system,” said Head Coach and General Manager Mike Raimbault. “He brings positional size and versatility at both ends of the floor and has the ability to impact winning in a variety of ways.” “I’ve hit big shots in this league, but nothing comes without hard work and teammates who make winning possible,” said Osborne. “That’s why I’m excited to come to Winnipeg. I’m grateful for the opportunity and I’m coming in ready to grind.” Osborne is currently competing with Energa Kotwica Kołobrzeg in Poland. Prior to turning professional, Osborne appeared in 23 NCAA games with the University of Texas at El Paso. He then spent two seasons at Carleton University (2018–2020), where he played 43 U SPORTS games and helped lead the Ravens to back-to-back U SPORTS national championships. Osborne earned All-Star honours in both seasons and was named U SPORTS Championship MVP in 2020. Osborne has played professionally in Canada with the Stingers, Surge, and Alliance, as well as internationally in Finland (Kouvot), Greece (Maroussi), Latvia (Rīgas Zeļļi), Lithuania (Prienų and Gargždų), and Romania with CSM Corona Brașov of the Rome DivA league. Season tickets for the 2026 Winnipeg Sea Bears season are on sale now and can be purchased online at https://www.seabears.ca/season-tickets-2026 ### About the Winnipeg Sea Bears The Winnipeg Sea Bears joined the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) as an expansion franchise in 2023. The city's only professional basketball team plays out of Canada Life Centre from May to August in a 24-game regular season schedule. Winnipeg businessman and lawyer, David Asper, is the organization's owner and chairman. More information on the Sea Bears can be found at seabears.ca and @wpgseabears on Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn & Facebook.