LE SURGE RESTE INVAINCU APRÈS UNE VICTOIRE DE 85-82 CONTRES LES RIVER LIONS DE NIAGARA

Les BlackJacks d'Ottawa de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB), la plus grande ligue sportive professionnelle du Canada, ont annoncé aujourd'hui que l'équipe a signé l'arrière Javonte Smart pour un contrat le reste de la saison 2025. Il est prévu qu’il fasse ses débuts ce soir alors qu’Ottawa affronte les Shooting Stars de Scarborough à 19 h 30. Originaire de Baton Rouge, en Louisiane, il se joint à l’équipe après avoir passé toute la saison 2024-2025 avec le Magic d’Osceola de la NBA G League, où il a maintenu une moyenne de 14,1 points par match. Il s’est classé troisième de son équipe au chapitre des passes décisives (3,8) en 44 matchs de saison régulière et de séries éliminatoires, aidant le club à atteindre la finale de la G League en 2025. « Nous sommes très heureux d’accueillir Javonte au sein des BlackJacks d’Ottawa, a déclaré le directeur général James Derouin. Sa capacité éprouvée à marquer des points à un niveau élite, combinée à sa précieuse expérience dans la NBA et la G League, fait de lui un atout majeur pour notre formation. Son talent pour livrer la marchandise dans les moments décisifs sera un véritable atout pour nous dans la suite de la saison. » L’Américain de 6 pi 4 po a également représenté son pays lors de quatre matchs de qualification pour l’AmeriCup cette année, où il a maintenu une moyenne de 18,3 points par match lors de la deuxième fenêtre du tournoi, menant ainsi son équipe à l’attaque. Cette performance a été soulignée par une prestation de 21 points — un sommet du match — le 25 novembre dans une victoire de 97-74 contre les Bahamas. Ce tournoi constitue la plus récente expérience internationale de sa carrière, lui qui avait déjà remporté une médaille d’or avec les États-Unis lors du Championnat FIBA Amériques U16 en 2015 à Bahia Blanca, en Argentine. Âgé de 26 ans, il rejoint Deng Adel parmi les joueurs actuels des BlackJacks ayant une expérience dans la NBA, ayant disputé un total de 18 matchs au cours des saisons 2021-2022 et 2023-2024 avec les 76ers de Philadelphie, le Heat de Miami et les Bucks de Milwaukee. En plus de son passage à Osceola, sa carrière l’a également mené à évoluer avec Sioux Falls, Birmingham et Delaware dans la NBA G League, où il a maintenu une moyenne de 16,3 points par match, menant Sioux Falls au chapitre des points marqués durant la saison 2021-2022. Il a disputé un total de 25 matchs dans la NBA Summer League, prenant part au tournoi chaque année depuis 2021, à la suite d’une brillante carrière universitaire de trois saisons à Louisiana State. Celle-ci s’est conclue par une sélection au sein de la deuxième équipe d’étoiles de la SEC (choix des entraîneurs) en 2021. Cette même saison, il a mené les Tigers au chapitre des minutes jouées, des passes décisives et des interceptions par match, tout en se classant troisième meilleur marqueur de l’équipe derrière ses coéquipiers actuels des Nets de Brooklyn, Cam Thomas et Trendon Watford. Diplômé de l’école secondaire Scotlandville à Baton Rouge, il a été nommé à trois reprises Joueur de l’année Gatorade de la Louisiane ainsi que Joueur par excellence de la classe 5A à trois occasions, terminant sa carrière au secondaire avec un total impressionnant de 3 306 points. Il est actuellement possible d'acheter des forfaits de billets flexibles en visitant le site theblackjacks.ca/fr-ca/tickets . ###  À propos des BlackJacks d'Ottawa Première franchise d'expansion de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB), les BlackJacks d'Ottawa présentent le meilleur du basket-ball et du divertissement dans la capitale nationale. Le bureau de direction d'Ottawa apporte à la franchise son expérience de la NBA, de la NBA G League, de l'équipe nationale, de la NCAA et des grandes ligues professionnelles internationales. Dirigée par le directeur général James Derouin et l'entraîneur-chef Dave DeAveiro, l'équipe d'Ottawa joue ses matchs à domicile dans l'aréna de classe mondiale de la Place TD, dans le parc Lansdowne. Pour plus d'informations, visitez le site theblackjacks.ca .

Louisiana guard has played 18 career NBA games with Miami, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia

Despite a new location, the Battle of Alberta maintained the same intensity on Thursday (June 19). Edmonton weathered a late comeback from Calgary at Westerner Park Centrium in Red Deer to secure a 98-95 victory in the second matchup between the provincial rivals this season. The Stingers led by 13 heading into Target Score Time, 16 in the fourth and as much as 17 in the game, but the Surge climbed back to tie the game at 95 with a target of 97. Both teams had game-winning looks in a wild finish that featured turnovers, jump balls and back-and-forth basketball. A transition slam from Edmonton’s Chris Smith ended the contest and made up for a missed free throw to win the game earlier in Target Time. Edmonton head coach Jordan Baker said the win showed resilience. “Obviously, credit to Calgary – they came out of the gates hot and they finished the game on a run,” Baker said. “For us to be able to hold them off at the end there is a testament to the guys we got in our locker room.” The Stingers evened the season series with Calgary and did so without star player Sean East II for the majority of the contest. East II was ejected early in the second quarter with 11 points after picking up his second unsportsmanlike foul. However, Scottie Lindsey and the Edmonton offence stepped up in his absence. “I think guys played the rest of the way with a little chip on their shoulder,” Baker said. “They wanted to prove that we're more than just Sean East and his supporting cast.” Lindsey dropped a game-high 28 points to go along with seven rebounds and three blocks to pace the Edmonton attack. “The team needs me to be aggressive all the time. Obviously with Sean going out, that's over 20 points a game that we're missing. But I think the team needs me to be aggressive either way,” Lindsey said. The Stingers’ unselfishness was a good match for the stellar Surge defence, with 25 assists on the team’s 37 field goals. Nick Hornsby contributed an all-around effort and flirted with a triple-double for Edmonton, tallying 17 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Smith and Keon Ambrose-Hylton reached double figures as well, chipping in 11 points apiece. Meanwhile, Jameer Nelson Jr. netted a team-high 23 points for Calgary, including some clutch shooting in Target Score Time. He was effective defensively as well with four steals and seven rebounds. Nelson Jr. said the presence of new acquisition, the NBA-experienced Jamorko Pickett, helped spur the Target Score Time run. Sean Miller-Moore added 21 points, six rebounds and six assists for Calgary, while Greg Brown III scored 19 before he fouled out. Overall, the Surge struggled offensively for much of the game. Calgary finished at 37 per cent from the field and 25 per cent from three. Surge head coach Kaleb Canales said the team didn’t make enough plays down the stretch. “We had an opportunity – about five to seven opportunities – to finish the game, and we just came up short tonight,” Canales said. To open the game, Nelson Jr. scored seven of Calgary’s first nine points before Brown III got in on the action with seven straight points as well. The Surge went on an 11-0 run but East II led the Stingers on a run of their own to reclaim a lead. The provincial rivals exchanged blows for the remainder of the quarter and were knotted at 24 to start the second. After a scorching 11-point first quarter, East II picked up his second unsportsmanlike foul of the game to end his day. The game remained close for the bulk of the second quarter, with the Surge and Stingers trading leads. Back-to-back inside finishes from Kevin Bercy towards the end of the frame extended Edmonton’s lead to 50-46 at halftime. The Stingers built on their advantage in the early stages of the third by getting to the rim, free throw line, and connecting from long range. Catch-and-shoot threes from Lindsey and Hornsby helped Edmonton to lead by as much as 17. Brown III got the shooter’s bounce on the three in the closing seconds of the quarter to cut the deficit to 12, but Hornsby beat the buzzer with a floater to take a 77-63 lead into the fourth. Miller-Moore helped trim the Stingers’ lead to 10, but Ambrose-Hylton went to work inside for Edmonton. The big man from Toronto had three consecutive finishes in the paint, including two and-ones and a poster dunk. After an Olumide Adelodun three for Calgary, Edmonton led 88-75 entering the final stretch. Calgary scored the opening five points of Target Score Time and continued on a 20-7 run to tie the game, highlighted by back-to-back mid-range jumpers from Nelson Jr. With both teams one bucket away from victory, chaos ensued. A wild scramble saw turnovers and game-winning looks for both squads before Smith was fouled in transition. He made one of two at the free throw line before another sequence with a combined six attempts at victory, two turnovers and two jump balls. Smith finally iced the game with a transition dunk coming on an assist from former Calgary Surge guard Mason Bourcier. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600600 Up next for both teams Calgary and Edmonton are both back in action on Sunday (June 22) with the Surge hosting the Bandits and the Stingers hosting the Sea Bears. Next CEBL action The other eight CEBL teams are all in action on Friday (June 20), with the Alliance facing the River Lions, the BlackJacks visiting the Shooting Stars, the Rattlers heading to Brampton, and the Sea Bears on the road in Vancouver. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

The American forward averaged 16.8 points and 9.7 rebounds in six games with Saskatchewan last summer

Copeland returns to Vancouver after averaging 15.0 points and 3.3 assists in 22 games with the Bandits last season

T he Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) are pleased to announce that they will be celebrating the career achievements and community initiatives of Michael Linklater on July 5 when the team hosts the Ottawa BlackJacks at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, proudly presented by Sheron Lau of Research Capital Group. In collaboration with the Province of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Rattlers declare July 5 as “Michael Linklater Day” in Saskatchewan. Linklater is a leader for indigenous youth, basketball, and community in Saskatchewan; his work has expanded world-wide, and he continues to develop and foster community through Sohkisiwin Solutions . As the co-founder of Sohkisiwin Solutions, they bridge the gap between non-Indigenous and Indigenous groups. “This is unbelievable! I am truly humbled and extremely grateful by this incredible recognition,” said Michael Linklater. “I give thanks to my grandparents, Maria and late Walter Linklater for inspiring me to always help others through their lifetime of supporting those in need. I am grateful to my children for continuously making me a better person. I want to share this recognition with the entire community who work tirelessly to make this world a better place. Thank you!” Linklater is a Nehiyaw (Cree) father, descending from the Thunderchild First Nation, located in Treaty 6 Territory. He won the first ever National Championship for both the University of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Rattlers in the inaugural season of the CEBL. He played for the Canadian National team at the FIBA 3X3 World Cup. Michael is the Recipient of numerous awards which include; Inductee into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame and the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, Indspire Laureate, the National Tom Longboat Award, Canadian Sport Award for Inclusion, and the Saskatchewan CBC Future 40 under 40. Outside of basketball, he is the Founder of the International Campaign Boys with Braids. Michael was invited by Dr. Jill Biden to attend the first ever Reception at the White House that celebrated Native American Heritage month. He is the Co-chair of the Early Learning Equal Start Campaign, which aims to raise $20M for early childhood education. He also serves as a member of the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame selection committee, Toronto Raptors Indigenous advisory circle, also served on the FIBA 3X3 Commission. Linklater is a professional speaker with over 24 years of experience. Most recently, Linklater appeared as an analyst during the 2024 Paris Olympics for 3x3 Basketball where he appeared alongside numerous indigenous voices during the Summer Olympics. As contestants of Amazing Race Canada, Linklater and his son, Amari, competed across Canada representing Thunderchild First Nation. “Thrilled to share in honouring Michael Linklater and all of his accomplishments,” said Rattlers President, Lee Genier. “He is truly a great inspiration to us all. We very much look forward to celebrating Michael Linklater Day.” The Rattlers look to celebrate Michael Linklater’s career and the work that he continues to do for the community for “Michael Linklater Night” on Saturday July 5 at SaskTel Centre which will feature appearances from his colleagues, peers, and community members. The event will happen about a week after the Rattlers “First Nations Night” presented by Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation on Thursday June 26 at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Rattlers have hosted an indigenous celebration night every season since their inaugural season in 2019. Tickets for “First Nations Night” on June 26 and “Michael Linklater Night” on July 5 are available now through Ticketmaster starting at $20 for single game tickets, with additional group pricing discounts available through bulk purchases. Premium seat options are available including VIP tables, Luxury Suites, and the Rattlers Courtside Lounge. All tickets options can also be purchased through the Rattlers Front Office in Downtown Saskatoon (306) 244-2181, Saskatchewan Rattlers website , or via Ticketmaster . For more seating options, and partnership opportunities; fans can contact a member of the Rattlers Front Office . The 2025 schedule has been released, which features a new 24-game slate. The 2025 CEBL Playoffs are scheduled to begin Thursday, August 14 with the Conference Play-In games, followed by the Conference Semifinals on Saturday, August 16. The winners will advance to CW25 to join the Winnipeg Sea Bears (host team) and the top-ranked team from the Eastern Conference who are automatically seeded into the Conference Finals. The full playoff schedule with tipoff times will be announced at a later date. General public and returning season ticket members can claim their seats for the entire Rattlers 2025 season by using Account Manager . All tickets can also be purchased through the Rattlers Front Office (306) 244-2181, Saskatchewan Rattlers website , or via Ticketmaster . Flex Ticket Bundles can be purchased online or at the Rattlers Front Office , which features a minimum of four-tickets in any section with a bonus gift card to Moxies. Single game tickets are available now via Ticketmaster . For more seating options, suites, and group rates; fans can contact an account executive . ### About the Saskatchewan Rattlers The Saskatchewan Rattlers are Saskatchewan’s professional basketball team, one of the six original teams in the CEBL – the Rattlers won the 2019 inaugural season championship. Playing out of SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – the Rattlers offer an entertainment-focused environment surrounded by some of the world’s top professional athletes. The Rattlers are a community-first organization and take pride in their ability to bring communities together while making sport more accessible to the province.

The Washington, DC native appeared in 13 games with the Detroit Pistons of the NBA

La revanche a un goût particulièrement doux pour les Shooting Stars de Scarborough. Après avoir encaissé une défaite de 20 points face à L’Alliance de Montréal la semaine dernière au Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, Scarborough a renversé la vapeur mercredi soir à l’Auditorium de Verdun, l’emportant de manière convaincante par la marque de 101 à 73. Les Shooting Stars (fiche de 5-4) passent maintenant au-dessus de la barre des ,500, tandis que L’Alliance (4-3) subit une troisième défaite de suite. Montréal n’a pas gagné depuis sa victoire contre Scarborough — une séquence qui semble déjà lointaine après un retour à domicile suivant un voyage de trois matchs sur la route (fiche de 1-2). « Il vient d’ouvrir le cœur de Montréal ! » s’est exclamé Moe Khan à la description, alors que Cat Barber a pris Kevin Osawe de vitesse en 1 contre 1 pour terminer au cercle, sans aucune contestation. Malcolm Duvivier ne pouvait pas aider, trop préoccupé par Terquavion Smith, qui faisait ses débuts avec Scarborough. Anthony Walker est resté campé dans la clé, trop loin dans la zone restreinte. Ce panier a porté l’avance à 19 points. Ce tir de Barber au troisième quart a été le début de la fin : l’écart a gonflé jusqu’à 30 points lors du dernier quart. L’Alliance est demeurée sans point pendant les quatre dernières minutes et 20 secondes du troisième quart. C’est à ce moment que Scarborough a entamé sa dissection à cœur ouvert, recevant des contributions importantes du banc, notamment de Khalil Miller. « C’est une victoire d’équipe. Tout le monde a contribué en attaque comme en défense, » a déclaré l’entraîneur-chef Mike De Giorgio. « Quand tu réussis un match comme ça, surtout sur la route, tu peux être fier. » Miller a inscrit 14 points en réussissant six de ses neuf tirs. Il a marqué un tir en suspension à mi-distance, suivi d’un tir de trois points de Barber qui a donné huit points d’avance aux Shooting Stars. Un peu plus tard, Miller a marqué sur une coupe de fond pour porter l’écart à 12. En défense, il a réussi un énorme bloc en aide du côté faible, puis a enchaîné avec un tir de trois points du coin, creusant l’écart à 15. De Giorgio avait presque prédit la suite à la mi-temps : « Il faut gérer nos propres séquences et les faire durer aussi longtemps que possible. On doit garder notre énergie bien haute. » Cette énergie a propulsé Scarborough vers une domination totale dans la deuxième moitié du troisième quart. Joirdon Nicholas est devenu le cinquième joueur des Shooting Stars à atteindre la dizaine de points, avec 11 points parfaits (5 en 5) et six rebonds. Manny Diressa a marqué deux tirs de trois points, punissant Tavian Dunn-Martin pour être passé sous l’écran, et son deuxième tir longue distance a poussé l’avance à 26 points, après que Dunn-Martin ait eu du mal à suivre à travers les écrans. Le trio composé de Barber, Hason Ward et Terquavion Smith a été le moteur des Shooting Stars. Barber et Ward ont chacun terminé avec un doublé : Barber avec 12 points et 11 passes décisives, Ward avec 16 points et 10 rebonds. Smith a été le meilleur marqueur du match avec 26 points. Malgré l’écart final, L’Alliance a offert à plus de 2 500 partisans une première demie divertissante, ponctuée de jeux spectaculaires en début de troisième quart. Tavian Dunn-Martin, discret en première demie, a démontré pourquoi on l’appelle parfois Tavian Doesn’t Miss. Il a livré le jeu le plus électrisant de la soirée : une percée fulgurante dans la clé, suivie d’un pirouette-spin et d’un panier qui a réduit l’écart à trois points. Un peu plus tard, il a battu Danilo Djuricic avec un changement de direction avant de finir du revers de la main droite, côté gauche du panier, pour encore s’approcher à trois points. Quincy Guerrier a été une présence fiable (14 points, six rebonds), avec notamment un bloc en poursuite impressionnant pendant que Dunn-Martin devait défendre à un 3 contre 1, mais les jeux spectaculaires de Dunn-Martin ont été de courte durée, et l’élan s’est rapidement éteint. L’Alliance avait pourtant entamé une poussée de 9-0 au deuxième quart pour effacer un retard, atteignant la mi-temps presque à égalité. Mais dès que Scarborough a lancé sa plus grosse séquence de la soirée, Montréal a goûté à la médecine qu’il avait lui-même administrée une semaine plus tôt. Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600597 Prochains matchs pour les deux équipes L’Alliance de Montréal prendra la route vers l’Ouest pour un court voyage d’un match, alors qu’elle affrontera les River Lions de Niagara (fiche de 6-3) ce vendredi 20 juin. Les Shooting Stars de Scarborough (5-4), de leur côté, seront de retour à la maison pour accueillir les BlackJacks d’Ottawa (2-6), également vendredi. Prochains affrontements dans la LECB Le Surge de Calgary (7-2), deuxième meilleure équipe de la LECB, recevra ses rivaux provinciaux, les Stingers d’Edmonton (4-6), au Westerner Park Centrium demain. Edmonton voudra prendre sa revanche, après une défaite crève-cœur de 86-84 subie lors du match d’ouverture de la saison au Edmonton EXPO Centre. Pour consulter l’horaire complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB et les résultats à jour, visitez le site cebl.ca/games . - LECB -

Revenge is the sweetest joy for Scarborough. They lost to Montreal by 20 points at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre last week, but then beat them by 28 points on Wednesday night at Verdun Auditorium. 101-73 was the final score. The Scarborough Shooting Stars now sit above .500 with a 5-4 record. Montreal (4-3) has now lost three straight games, and have not won a game since it defeated Scarborough. They recently came back from a 1-2 road trip. “He just opened up the heart of Montreal!” said play-by-play commentator Moe Khan emphatically as Scarborough’s Cat Barber took Montreal’s point-of-attack defender Kevin Osawe off the dribble and nobody could contest his lay-up. Malcolm Duviver couldn’t tag as he had to keep a close eye on Scarborough’s Terquavion Smith, who had his debut game today. Montreal’s Anthony Walker stayed home, too far deep into the restricted area, and that bucket pushed the lead to 19 points. Barber’s third quarter lay-up was the beginning of the end as the lead ballooned to 30 points in the final frame. Montreal went scoreless in the last four minutes and 20 seconds of the third quarter. That’s when Scarborough started its open heart surgical procedure, seeing contributions from bench player Khalil Miller. “That was a team win. Everybody contributed offensively and defensively,” Scarborough head coach Mike De Giorgio said. “When you can put something like that, especially on the road, you gotta feel proud of that.” In the third, Miller, who had 14 points on six-for-nine shooting, hit a mid-range jumper, followed by Cat Barber’s three-pointer, which pushed the lead up to eight. Miller scoring later on baseline cut pushed the lead up to 12 points. On the defensive end, he had a huge block as a backline help defender, and then hit a corner three to make it a 15-point game. De Giorgio showed clairvoyance as he uttered these words at halftime. “We gotta weather our own runs and sustain them for as long as we can,” he said. “So we gotta keep our energy up nice and high.” Scarborough’s run in the second half of the third quarter propelled them to a huge victory. Joirdon Nicholas was the fifth Shooting Star to score in double digits (11 points on a perfect five-for-five shooting and six boards). Manny Diressa hit two triples – he made Tavian Dunn-Martin pay for going under on the screen, and his second one pushed the lead to 26 after Dunn-Martin had a hard time chasing him around the screen. The tripartite of Barber, Hason Ward, and Smith was the centrepiece of Scarborough’s win. Barber and Ward finished with a double-double; Barber with 12 points and 11 assists, and Ward with 16 points and 10 boards. Smith led all scorers with 26 points. While the final score showed a lopsided performance, Montreal gave its 2,500-plus fans an entertaining first half with some highlight reel plays at the start of the third quarter. Despite a slow first half for Dunn-Martin, he showed why he’s Tavian Doesn’t Miss. He had the night’s most electrifying play – blazing into the lane, spinning like a pirouette, and scoring to inch within three points. He later crossed over Danilo Djuricic and finished a right-handed lay-up on the left side of the bucket to inch within three again. Quincy Guerrier was a reliable presence (game total 14 points and six boards), and had a big chase down block while Dunn-Martin was left to guard 3-on-1. But Dunn-Martin’s highlight plays were a flash in the pan, and the momentum quickly fizzled out. Montreal spent the second quarter catching up after letting their lead slide. They went on a 9-0 run, and at halftime, the game was near parity. However, once they got punched in the mouth in Scarborough's biggest run of the game, Montreal was getting a taste of what it gave Scarborough last week. Box score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600597 Up next for both teams Montreal will head back out west for a one-game road trip to face the Niagara River Lions (6-3) on Friday, June 20th. Scarborough (5-4) will return back to the Ends to host the Ottawa BlackJacks (2-6) on the same day. Next CEBL action The second-best team in the CEBL, Calgary Surge (7-2), will host their provincial rivals, Edmonton Stingers (4-6), at Westerner Park Centrium tomorrow. Edmonton will be looking for revenge as Calgary took home the victory, 86-84, at Edmonton EXPO Centre in the season opener. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -