Les River Lions et le Surge s’affrontent en finale du Championnat 2025 de la LECB

(Aperçu: Finale du Championnat de la LECB) La montagne n’avait été escaladée qu’une seule fois auparavant. Mais après la saison la plus exigeante de l’histoire de la LECB, les River Lions de Niagara ont atteint le sommet une fois de plus. Les River Lions ont remporté le titre 2025 de la LECB dimanche, battant le Surge de Calgary 79-73 au Canada Life Centre de Winnipeg. Niagara rejoint ainsi les Stingers d’Edmonton (2020-2021) comme les seules équipes à avoir gagné deux titres consécutifs. Les River Lions deviennent aussi la première franchise de l’histoire de la ligue à avoir plus d’un championnat à leur palmarès. « C’est incroyable. Vraiment, a dit l’entraîneur-chef Victor Raso. C’est l’un des moments les plus spéciaux de ma carrière. Cette fois-ci, pour ces gars-là, c'est une confirmation. Je suis vraiment heureux pour eux. » Khalil Ahmad a été nommé joueur le plus utile de la finale après avoir inscrit 16 points, dont le panier gagnant, en plus de capter neuf rebonds. Quand l’horloge a stoppé pour la période du pointage cible, l’avance des River Lions — qui avait déjà atteint 16 points — n’était plus que de trois, à 70-67. Comme toujours dans les moments décisifs, Ahmad a ouvert le bal avec un tir de trois points. Après qu’un lancer franc de Sean Miller-Moore ait réduit l’écart, Elijah Lufile a saisi un rebond offensif et marqué pour rapprocher Niagara à quatre points du titre. Calgary est ensuite allé sur la ligne de lancers francs lors de deux possessions consécutives, autour d’un tir raté d’Ahmad, mais n’a converti que deux de ses quatre tentatives. Nathan Cayo a alors calmement réussi deux lancers francs, laissant les River Lions à un panier du championnat. Sur le jeu suivant, Evan Gilyard II a redonné vie aux Surge avec un tir à trois points. Cela s'est avéré être leur dernier souffle. Même si le Surge a ensuite forcé un arrêt défensif, une perte de ballon a permis à Ahmad de filer de l’autre côté du terrain, où il a provoqué une faute et obtenu deux lancers francs. Premier lancer : ficelle. Deuxième lancer : match fini. Champions. « Rédemption », a déclaré Ahmad, qui avait manqué un lancer franc crucial dans la même situation lors de la finale de l'an dernier. « Je pensais exactement à ça. J’ai marqué le premier et raté le deuxième l’an dernier… Je me suis dit : “Ouf, je ne peux pas refaire ça.” » Ces lancers francs victorieux ont valu à Ahmad un deuxième titre consécutif de Joueur par excellence de la finale, et son cinquième match éliminatoire de suite à inscrire le panier gagnant en période du pointage cible. Vendredi, en finale de la Conférence de l’Est contre les Shooting Stars de Scarborough, il avait aussi réussi le tir de trois points décisif. Après la rencontre, Raso n’avait que des éloges pour sa vedette : « C’est le meilleur joueur à avoir évolué dans cette ligue et c’est une personne phénoménale. Il ne dira pas ce que je dis, mais c’est la vérité », a lancé Raso. Le capitaine Kimbal Mackenzie a renchéri : « Franchement, ça devient presque ridicule, a-t-il dit en riant. Quand il a marqué contre Scarborough, je me suis dit : combien de fois ce gars-là va faire ça? Il a ce flair pour briller dans les grands moments. » Le match a pris des allures de duel défensif — la finale la moins offensive de l’histoire de la ligue. Aucun joueur n’a atteint 20 points, et les deux équipes n’ont converti que 27,5 % de leurs tirs de trois points, tout en restant sous la barre des 40 % au total. Pour les River Lions, tout s’est joué par l’effort défensif. « Ces gars-là se sont donnés à fond. Il n'y a pas eu un seul moment perdu. Ils ont réfléchi à chaque possession défensive, et nous les avons forcés à jouer sur leurs faiblesses plutôt que sur leurs forces », a expliqué Raso. Nathan Cayo a suivi Ahmad avec 14 points, tandis qu’Ahmed Hill a ajouté 13 points et six rebonds en sortie de banc, affichant le meilleur différentiel de l’équipe (+16). Chez le Surge, le duo de meneurs Jameer Nelson Jr. et Gilyard II a éprouvé beaucoup de difficultés, ne combinant que 16 points avec un taux de réussite de sept en 32. « On n’a pas fait assez de jeux, mais on reste une équipe. Je l’ai dit toute l’année », a résumé l’entraîneur-chef Kaleb Canales. Le Canadien Sean Miller-Moore a mené le Surge avec 19 points, tandis que Greg Brown a établi deux records de finale avec 17 rebonds et cinq blocs. Miller-Moore, meilleur marqueur canadien de l’histoire de la ligue, a encore échappé au titre à son troisième week-end du Championnat. « Chaque défaite est un crève-cœur. Même en saison régulière. Alors, pour le dernier match avec ce groupe, ça fait évidemment encore plus mal. Mais on a été bons toute la saison et aujourd'hui, on est juste tombés à court. » Pour Niagara, il s'agissait de la saison la plus longue de l'histoire (24 matchs par équipe) et la plus difficile. Malgré plusieurs retours de vétérans, l’équipe a parfois manqué de motivation. À la mi-saison, les River Lions ont toutefois enchaîné une série de sept victoires qui leur a permis de prendre la tête de la Conférence de l’Est et de retrouver leur élan. « J’ai lu beaucoup d’histoires d’équipes qui ont répété et ça s’est avéré vrai. Ce n’est jamais comme la première fois. C’est difficile. Il faut trouver un nouveau pourquoi. » Il faut tourner la page sur l’an dernier », a déclaré Raso. Pour certains, la raison était évidente. Ahmed Hill, meilleur marqueur de l’histoire de la ligue, n'avait toujours pas remporté de championnat. Guillaume Boucard, de retour à Niagara après avoir manqué le titre en 2024, le voulait aussi. Hill et Boucard avaient d'ailleurs fait partie de l'Alliance de Montréal, éliminée en demi-finale par Niagara l'an dernier. « C’est incroyable, a déclaré Hill, rappelant que c’était son premier titre. J’ai toujours aimé marquer et accumuler les honneurs, mais ça, c’est ce qui me manquait. » Boucard à ajouté: « Je n'ai même pas l'impression que c'est réel pour l'instant. La boucle est bouclée. C'est quelque chose que je poursuis depuis longtemps. C'est quelque chose que nous voulons chaque été à Niagara. » Elijah Lufile, qui visait un triplé historique, voulait aussi gagner pour son frère Meshack, qui n’avait jamais été champion. « C’est quelque chose qu’on pourra raconter à nos enfants, a dit Lufile. On est restés fidèles à nous-mêmes, en donnant toujours 100 %. » Le capitaine Mackenzie, peu utilisé en 2024, était cette fois l’un des joueurs partants importants dans l’équipe. Et malgré ses nombreux honneurs, Ahmad a répété qu’il ne se sentait pas toujours reconnu à sa juste valeur. « Ouf… je n’ai pas de mots », a-t-il soufflé. Raso a déclaré que tous les éléments étaient réunis pour former une équipe qui a été sous-estimée par certains tout au long de la saison. Aujourd'hui, ils sont champions. « Il a fallu un certain temps à cette équipe pour s'adapter et trouver son rythme. Nous avons Ahmed Hill qui sort du banc. Il est le meilleur marqueur de l'histoire de la LECB. C'est ce qui me dérange quand les gens parlent de nous comme ils l'ont fait cette année, a déclaré Raso. C’était une très bonne équipe de basketball et, quand ça comptait, on a livré. » Calgary avait pourtant frappé fort d’entrée, prenant les devants 11-3 avec un spectaculaire alley-oop de Brown III. Mais les champions en titre ont immédiatement répondu par une séquence de 13-0 et n’ont plus jamais perdu l’avance. Après un quart, Niagara menait 21-20, puis a haussé son intensité défensive pour prendre l’avance 42-36 à la mi-temps, alors que Calgary n’avait réussi que trois de ses 19 tirs de trois points. Nelson Jr. a toutefois donné un peu d’élan au Surge avant la pause, en marquant un panier du milieu de terrain au buzzer. Pourtant, les River Lions n'ont pas été découragés. Ahmad a ouvert le troisième quart avec un tir de trois points, puis Hill a enchaîné deux autres tirs de trois points consécutifs pour porter l’avance à 16. Niagara menait 63-51 après trois quarts, avant de compléter le travail. Dans une foule de 7 129 personnes, plusieurs figures marquantes étaient présentes : Steve Konchalski, entraîneur légendaire au Canada, et Nick Elam, créateur du pointage cible en fin de match. Les parents de Chad Posthumus, vétéran de la LECB et natif de Winnipeg, décédé en novembre dernier à l'âge de 33 ans, étaient également présents pour remettre le trophée. Pour la deuxième année consécutive, ce trophée prendra donc le chemin de St. Catharines, en Ontario. « Nous avons traversé tellement d'adversité, a déclaré Ahmad. On méritait cette victoire. » Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2702972 - LECB -

(CEBL Championship Final) The mountain had only been scaled once before. But after the most grueling season in CEBL history, the Niagara River Lions reached the summit once again. The River Lions captured the 2025 CEBL title on Sunday, beating the Calgary Surge 79-73 at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre. Niagara joins the 2020-2021 Edmonton Stingers as the only teams ever to go back-to-back. They are also the only franchises in league history to claim multiple titles. “It feels incredible. It really does,” head coach Victor Raso said. “It’s as special of a moment as I ever had as a coach. This one, for these guys, it just cemented them. I’m really happy for them.” Khalil Ahmad was named Finals MVP after scoring 16 points, including the game-winner, while adding nine rebounds. When the clocks stopped for Target Score Time, a River Lions lead that was once 16 had been cut to three points at 70-67. Clutch as ever, Khalil Ahmad opened the proceedings with a three-pointer. After Sean Miller-Moore made a free throw at the other end, Elijah Lufile deposited a putback to move Niagara within four points of the win. Calgary then went to the line on two straight possessions around an Ahmad miss, but made just two of four attempts. Niagara moved within any bucket of the title when Nathan Cayo cashed a pair from the charity stripe himself. On the following play, Evan Gilyard II breathed some life into the Surge with a three-pointer. It turned out to be their last gasp. While the Surge earned a defensive stop, a turnover sent Ahmad streaking back the other way, where he drew a foul in the corner that sent him to the line. Attempt No. 1: splash. Attempt No. 2: ballgame. Champions. “Redemption,” said Ahmad, who missed a free throw in the same situation in last year’s Final. “I thought about exactly that, [when] I made the first one, missed the second. I was like, ‘Oof, I can’t do that again.’” The clutch free throws pushed Ahmad to his second straight Finals MVP and marked his fifth straight playoff game scoring the Target Score Time winner. He knocked down the game-winning three in Friday’s East Final against the Scarborough Shooting Stars, too. After the game, Raso had high praise for his star player, who will need to make room on his trophy case next to a number of other accolades. “He’s the greatest player to ever play in this league and he’s just a phenomenal person, so he won’t say all the things that I say, but that’s the truth,” Raso said. Captain Kimbal Mackenzie echoed Raso’s sentiment. “[It’s] getting a little bit ridiculous at this point, quite frankly,” Mackenzie joked. “When he hit that shot against Scarborough, I was like, ‘How many times is this guy gonna do this?’ He just has a knack for when those moments get big, just playing off his instincts.” The game itself proved to be a defensive grind — the lowest-scoring final in league history. No player on either team reached 20 points, and the clubs combined to make just 27.5 per cent of their three-point shots while neither reached 40 per cent overall from the field. For the River Lions, it came down to simple effort in their own end. “These guys cared a lot. There was no in-between moments that we lost. These guys were thoughtful on every defensive possession and we just kinda forced them to play to their weaknesses instead of playing to their strengths,” Raso said. Nathan Cayo was second on the River Lions with 14 points, while Ahmed Hill added 13 points and six rebounds off the bench while posting a team-high plus-16 rating. Meanwhile, the star Surge guard duo of Jameer Nelson Jr. and Gilyard II struggled mightily, combining for 16 points on just seven-for-32 shooting. “We didn’t make enough plays, but we’re a team. I’ve said it all year long,” head coach Kaleb Canales said. Canada’s Sean Miller-Moore led the way for the Surge with 19 points, while Greg Brown broke a pair of championship record with 17 rebounds and five blocks. Miller-Moore, the league’s all-time leading Canadian scorer, came up just short at his third Championship Weekend. “Every loss is a heartbreak. Even when we lose in the regular season, it’s a heartbreak. So of course this was the last game and the last time I’m gonna be with this particular group, so it hurt more, but we were a good team all season and we just came up short today,” Miller-Moore said. For Niagara, By Raso’s own admission, this season — the longest in CEBL history, with 24 games per team — was more difficult than last, as a roster featuring multiple returning players struggled at times to find motivation during the summer-long grind. Around mid-season, however, the River Lions ripped off a seven-game winning streak to clinch the Eastern Conference. And the team found its motivation. “I read a lot about teams who repeated and it all rang true,” Raso said. “It’s not gonna be like the first time. It’s gonna be hard. There’s gonna be ups and downs. You’re gonna have to find a new why. You have to shed last year.” For some, that “why” was obvious. Ahmed Hill has scored more points than anyone in league history but was still searching for his first championship. Guillaume Boucard was a River Lion two years ago, but missed last year’s title run, and sought his first title, too. Hill and Boucard were both part of the Montreal Alliance squad that fell to the River Lions in the semifinals last season. “It’s amazing,” said Hill, who added that it’s his first title at any level. “I’ve always been a player to want to score and get all the accolades, but this is one thing I always missed.” Added Boucard: “It doesn’t even feel real right now. It’s just full circle. … It’s been something that I’ve been chasing for a long time. It’s something that we always want every summer in Niagara.” Elijah Lufile wanted to win for himself to become the first player to ever three-peat; he also wanted to win for brother Meshack, a teammate who had never won before. “That’s something we can tell our kids,” Lufile said. “We just stayed true to ourselves and our identity is guys giving 100 per cent effort.” Captain Kimbal Mackenzie was a leader on last year’s team, but didn’t play much. This year, he was a relied-upon starter. And for all his league accolades, Khalil Ahmad still felt like he didn’t get the love he deserved. “I mean, sheesh. Can’t put any words on it,” Ahmad said. Raso said all the parts came together to make a roster that was underrated by some throughout the season. Now, they’re champions. “It took a while for this team to gel and find their rhythm. We have Ahmed Hill coming off the bench. He’s the leading scorer in CEBL history. That’s what bothers me when people talk about us this year the way they did,” Raso said. “This was a really, really good basketball team and when it mattered, we were awesome.” In the early going, Calgary made its presence known, racing to an 11-3 lead that was punctuated by a monstrous alley-oop jam from Brown III. But last year’s winners showed their championship mettle immediately, responding with a 13-0 run of their own to go in front. They never relinquished that lead. Through one quarter, Niagara led 21-20. Then, it turned the defence up a notch en route to a 42-36 halftime advantage as Calgary made just three of 19 three-point attempts. But momentum followed Calgary into the locker room after Nelson Jr. drained a halfcourt buzzer-beater. Still, the River Lions weren’t fazed, opening the third frame with an Ahmad three and stretching their lead to 16 after back-to-back Hill triples. Niagara took a 63-51 lead into the final quarter of the season before it ultimately prevailed. Basketball royalty was among the 7,129 total attendance for the Final, as longtime Canadian coach Steve Konchalski and Nick Elam, who created Target Score endings, both witnessed the championship game. Meanwhile, the parents of Chad Posthumus — a CEBL lifer and Winnipeg native who tragically died in November at age 33 — were on hand to present the championship trophy. Now, for the second straight year, that trophy will make a home in St. Catharines, Ont. “We fought through so much adversity,” Ahmad said. “We deserved this win.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2702972 - CEBL -

(Preview: CEBL Championship Final) The motto in Niagara all season? Run it back. Now, the River Lions are just one win away — but standing opposite them is a thriving Calgary Surge team that’s won seven straight games to get to the Final. The championship game begins Sunday at 6 p.m. CDT / 5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre with live coverage on TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+ and NLSE. A victory for the River Lions would make them the second team ever to go back-to-back, and also the second franchise to win multiple titles, joining the 2020-2021 Edmonton Stingers. The Surge, meanwhile, are searching for their first title in their third straight trip to Championship Weekend. Niagara head coach Victor Raso said this team feels different than last year’s despite having multiple returning players. “It’s just been a very, very different season. It doesn’t matter how you do it; it just matters that you do it. And these guys got a chance to win a back-to-back championship, which is pretty cool,” he said. Raso’s River Lions finished the regular season at 14-10, going on a mid-season seven-game winning streak to clinch the East before losing their last five in a row. But when the level ramped up a notch in the East final against the Scarborough Shooting Stars, that middle-of-the-season squad showed up once more. And yet again, it was Khalil Ahmad who delivered the game-winner in a 93-91 win. Now, it’s onto the Surge. “The big thing is I know that it’s just about basketball,” Raso said. “They don’t need me to care. They care enough about this. This is why this program has been successful is because we’ve created a culture where these guys actually care about each other and winning.” Alongside Ahmad, Elijah Lufile dominated against the Shooting Stars, scoring eight points to go with 15 rebounds — a franchise playoff record — and four huge free throws down the stretch. But both will face tougher tasks in Calgary, which allowed the fewest points per game in the regular season (87.2) and collected the most steals per game (10.3). The Surge come into this Final as battle-tested as can be after winning a Battle of Alberta play-in game, beating the top-seeded Vancouver Bandits in the West semi and ousting the Winnipeg Sea Bears on their home court in front of 9,000-plus screaming fans. Calgary had the second-best regular-season record at 17-7. "Our championship poise down the stretch was big. We’ve coached that a lot this season and I just love our group,” head coach Kaleb Canales said. Calgary got through those playoff matchups on the strength of defence — a strength all season. Both Defensive Player of the Year nominees came from the Surge, in the form of guard Jameer Nelson Jr. and big man Greg Brown III. Nelson Jr. ultimately took home the trophy, but it was clear that Calgary’s defence was the product of a team effort. “Yeah, we’re the No. 1 defensive team but we always feel like we can play way better defence. That’s what we love about our team. It’s just like endless trying,” forward Sean Miller-Moore said. Miller-Moore, the league’s all-time Canadian leading scorer who is still searching for his first title, added that the Surge have plenty of fuel within them, which makes them tough to handle especially coming out of halftime. “We’re all leaders on the court. There’s nothing they can tell us that will motivate us. We’re already motivated. We know what we need to do. We know that we’re the best defending team,” he said. Given the internal motivation and the connectiveness, Raso said the Surge remind him of his own team. “They’re incredibly together. Their chemistry is really good. You can tell they like each other, they like playing basketball for each other. … They just move the ball really well. There’s a lot of togetherness, they try defensively,” Raso said. Both teams also have longtime CEBLers looking for their first title in Miller-Moore and River Lions guard Ahmed Hill, the league’s all-time leading scorer. They’re each lined with top-end stars, clutch role players and depth across the floor. Just one, however, will leave Sunday’s game with the coveted championship trophy. 2025 CEBL Playoff Schedule CW25 – CEBL Championship Final – Sunday, Aug. 24 – CGY vs. NRL – 6 p.m. CDT / 5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) For the full 2025 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games

When the whistle blew for Target Score Time in Niagara’s contentious semifinal victory against Scarborough, Elijah Lufile went to the free-throw line for two crucial attempts. Lufile had made just 58.3 per cent of his attempts from the stripe during the season — and everyone in the building knew these pressure shots could essentially be coin flips. Before the first, the big man walked to the base of the net, put his head against the blue padding and lingered there for a few moments. He proceeded to make both — and then two more a few minutes later to put the River Lions within three points of victory. “I was locking in. I was also extremely tired. I think right before that I had asked Vic [Raso] for a sub and I was just trying to really gather my thoughts and clear my head at the same time, because that’s what you want. You’re not thinking. You’re just form shooting, repetition and muscle memory,” Lufile said. He added that this Championship Weekend means even more to him with brother Meshack on his side. On a personal level, he could become the first player ever with three titles. He played for the Shooting Stars in 2023 where he won his first championship after collecting seven offensive rebounds in a semifinal win over the River Lions. He then signed with Niagara that off-season and won yet again. “Knowing that this could be a historical thing for me potentially winning three in a row, I was just locked in. That’s really what it was. I was just locked in. And I’m really doing this for my brother as well. He’s on my team, he’s never won a ring before, get him to win a ring and also the other guys who are just coming in as well,” Lufile said. Lufile, the Milton, Ont., native, also hauled in a River Lions playoff record 15 rebounds in the win over the Shooting Stars. From the sidelines, Raso said he didn’t waver even as one of the worst free-throw shooters on his team — at least statistically — stepped in for some of the biggest of the game. “There was something about him that gave me confidence last night, just the way he was standing over the ball. That was humongous. Outside of Khalil’s shot, his [free throws] were massive. Massive.” Ahmad, who now has more playoff Target Score Winners than anyone in league history, had just one word to describe Lufile’s heroics. “Clutch.” Miller-Moore, Hill take aim at first title Between them, Calgary’s Sean Miller-Moore and Niagara’s Ahmed Hill have suited up in 194 CEBL games. Miller-Moore has scored more points than any Canadian; Hill’s scored more points than anyone, period. Yet neither has ever won a title. That will change Sunday, when Miller-Moore’s Surge clash with Hill’s River Lions at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre. “It’d be amazing,” Hill said. “Like they say, I already got accolades, but I don’t have a ring, so that’s something I want really bad. I’ve never won a championship before. So to do it with these guys, it would be amazing.” To be clear, when the 30-year-old Hill says he’s never won a championship before, he doesn’t just mean the CEBL. Hill said he’s never won a season-long championship in his career, dating back to at least high school. In the CEBL, he’s bounced around three teams in search of that elusive ring — now, with the defending champions, he’s one win away. Standing in his way, however, is Miller-Moore, who’s been in the Surge organization for five years since it was located in Guelph. He wasn’t willing to look ahead after the team’s semifinal win over Calgary, though. “It’s a great feeling, but it doesn’t mean anything unless you win. So we’re excited for the opportunity to get there. Obviously it’s my second time there, so extremely excited.” Teammate Evan Gilyard II said part of his motivation was getting Miller-Moore that long-awaited win. “It’d be great to win this championship for us, the city and Rugzy. … We gotta get him one.” Posthumus legacy lives on It’s hard to miss. Hanging from the roof on the south end of Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre, there is a lone Sea Bears banner. ‘Posthumus, 33.’ The teal-coloured sign memorializes Chad Posthumus, the Winnipeg native and longtime CEBLer who died tragically in November at age 33 after suffering a brain aneurysm. On the court across from the banner, another logo is imprinted: ’33 Forever.’ As Championship Weekend takes place in Winnipeg, it’s clear that Posthumus won’t soon be forgotten. Sea Bears head coach and general manager Mike Taylor, who spent Posthumus’ final two seasons with him in his hometown, said the connection between player, city and league was undeniable. “My last phone call with Chad, I remember sitting at my son's baseball practice in Florida, and it was a conversation about how great Championship Weekend is going to be, how special it's going to be here in Winnipeg,” Taylor recalled in a press conference on Wednesday. “So it's a difficult thing to think about. We loved him, and he was such a big part of our organization and city. And I really believe he's with us now in spirit.” Posthumus still sits 13th all-time in games played in CEBL history, having suited up for 81 contests. He appeared in the inaugural 2019 season, where he won the championship as a member of the Saskatchewan Rattlers, and he also spent two seasons with the Ottawa BlackJacks in 2021 and 2022. In many ways, the CEBL was created for players like Posthumus, a basketball lifer who was finally given the opportunity to play professionally at home. It’s fitting, then, that he’s watching over as a champion will be crowned in his hometown on Sunday. - CEBL -

Due to gusting winds and the chance of rain, the Kal Tire CW25 3x3 Tournament Powered by Peg City has moved to its backup indoor location today. Duckworth Centre – University of Winnipeg 400 Spence St, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2R6The tournament is still open to the public, and with some games delayed yesterday, today’s schedule will be packed as they work to complete the tournament. Special Note: Slam Dunk Contest – 2:00 pm Matt Loewen Legacy Shootout – 2:30 pm Both also moved to Duckworth a nd open to the public. Weather is looking better for tomorrow, and the playoffs are expected to return to the Play Now Street Festival. The rest of the festival is currently scheduled to continue as planned at the main site on Graham at True North Square. ###

( Finale de la Conférence de l’Ouest ) Avec les ambitions de titre du Surge de Calgary en jeu, il semblait approprié que Sean Miller-Moore soit celui qui envoie son équipe en finale du championnat dimanche. Probablement personne sur le terrain du Canada Life Centre vendredi soir n’était mieux placé pour comprendre les enjeux pour son équipe que le natif de Brampton, Ontario, un pilier de l’alignement du Surge depuis le déménagement de la franchise à Calgary en 2023. Miller-Moore avait déjà ressenti la douleur d'avoir mené Calgary jusqu'au match de championnat il y a deux ans, avant de s'incliner face aux Shooting Stars de Scarborough. Alors, lorsque le meneur a porté le ballon sur le terrain, évalué la situation et foncé à travers Trevon Scott pour marquer un tir de deux points, ce panier n’a pas seulement offert la victoire 90-79 du Surge sur les Sea Bears de Winnipeg, il représentait également une occasion qui se préparait depuis trois ans. « Ça fait du bien… mais ça ne signifie rien si on ne gagne pas le championnat, a déclaré Miller-Moore après avoir salué les 9 082 spectateurs présents pour la finale de la Conférence de l’Ouest vendredi. Nous sommes excités de cette opportunité. Évidemment, ce sera ma deuxième fois, et c'est un sentiment extraordinaire. » Dimanche, lorsque le Surge affrontera les River Lions de Niagara, champions en titre, la revanche sera possible. Le capitaine du Surge a terminé la soirée avec 20 points (huit sur 16), dont quatre tirs à trois points, et sept rebonds. Evan Gilyard II a également contribué avec un total de 24 points et six tirs réussis au-delà de l’arc, tandis que Jameer Nelson Jr. a ajouté 16 points, quatre passes décisives et trois vols. Greg Brown III a réalisé un doublé avec 12 points et 11 rebonds, égalant ainsi le record de la franchise en séries pour les blocs avec quatre. « Nous savions que ce serait un combat de poids lourds, a déclaré l’entraîneur-chef de Calgary, Kaleb Canales, après la victoire. Ça a pris 12 rounds, et il nous reste un autre combat dimanche. » Du côté de Winnipeg, Scott a mené les Sea Bears avec un total de 18 points, cinq passes décisives et deux vols. Will Richardson l'a suivi de près avec 17 points, 10 rebonds, sept passes décisives et trois vols, ayant joué les 40 minutes. Enfin, Simi Shittu a complété les efforts à deux chiffres avec 13 points et 10 rebonds. La défaite porte la fiche des Sea Bears en séries à 0-3 et marque la deuxième défaite consécutive face à Calgary. « Je sentais que nous étions là où nous devions être, a déclaré Mike Taylor, entraîneur-chef et directeur général des Sea Bears. L’effort a été excellent… je suis fier des gars. » Avant le match, il n’était un secret pour personne que le Surge avait un style de jeu bien à eux : transformer la défense en attaque. Après la rencontre, Canales a confirmé : « C’est notre identité, notre style de basket depuis le début de la saison. » Et si cela a fonctionné au départ, prenant une avance de 28-19 après avoir forcé quatre pertes de ballon lors du premier quart et les avoir converties en tirs faciles dans la clé pour un +14, ces plans ont dû évoluer au fil du match. Les Sea Bears se sont calmé au deuxième quart et n’ont pas permis au Surge de réussir neuf tirs sur 12 à l’intérieur de la clé, comme au permier quart. Winnipeg a limité Calgary à seulement 14 points, avec cinq paniers réussis, et a réduit un déficit de 13 points à la mi-temps pour atteindre 42-36. Au retour de la mi-temps, il était donc clair que le Surge devaient trouver des solutions offensives ailleurs et, heureusement pour eux, ils y sont parvenus. Si dehors, il ne pleuvait que légèrement vendredi soir, l’aréna a connu une véritable averse lors de la deuxième mi-temps. En 20 minutes, Calgary a réussi 10 tirs à trois points, dont six sur 13 au troisième quart, ce qui a permis à l'équipe de creuser l'écart à 16 points (68-52) avant le dernier quart. L'équipe a terminé avec 16 paniers derrière l'arc (+9) pour un pourcentage de 36 %. Or, Calgary se situait dans la moitié inférieure de la ligue pour les paniers et le pourcentage à trois points pendant la saison régulière, ce qui rend cette performance d'autant plus impressionnante. Miller-Moore a été au centre de cet effort, réussissant deux tirs à trois points dans le troisième quart, malgré un pourcentage de 28,6 % sur l'ensemble de la saison, pour un total de 4 sur 8. « On savait tout l’été que nous sommes une équipe du troisième quart, a dit le meneur. On voit ce qu’ils nous donnent et on ajuste. » Pourtant, les Sea Bears, l’équipe hôte, n’allaient pas céder une dernière fois — même sans Jalen Harris, limité à huit points en 16 minutes en raison de spasmes au dos. Après trois tirs à trois points réussis consécutifs d’Olumide Adelodun, Winnipeg était à 21 points de retard dans le dernier quart. Ils ont réduit l’écart à 81-68 au début de la période du pointage cible et ont continué à remonter avec l’horloge arrêtée, menés de façon inhabituelle par la défense. Les Sea Bears ont forcé huit pertes de ballon du Surge durant cette période, réduisant l’écart à huit points sur un layup de Scott. « Ils ont très bien joué, a dit Taylor. Même si notre performance offensive n’a pas été la meilleure, je suis fier de notre équipe et de la façon dont nous nous sommes battus… l’effort était là, mais l’exécution pas exactement là où il fallait. » Malheureusement pour les supporters de Winnipeg, la remontée s'est arrêtée là, Calgary continuant à marquer des tirs à trois points. Gilyard a marqué un tir à trois points en semi-transition depuis l’aile droite, ce qui a permis à Miller-Moore de marquer le panier de la victoire. « Au final, ce n’est que deux points, a déclaré le capitaine du Surge à propos du tir décisif. J’essaie de le traiter comme n’importe quel autre point, et le fait que Gilyard réussisse ce tir important a relâché la pression sur nous ; il ne nous manquait plus que deux points. » Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2700731 À venir Il reste un dernier match au calendrier 2025 : le Surge affrontera les River Lions de Niagara dimanche à 18 h HAC / 19 h HE pour déterminer le prochain champion de la LECB. Niagara a obtenu sa place en finale après une victoire serrée 93-91 sur les Shooting Stars de Scarborough plus tôt vendredi grâce aux exploits de Khalil Ahmad. Les champions en titre tenteront de devenir seulement la deuxième équipe de l’histoire de la ligue — après les Stingers d’Edmonton en 2020 et 2021 — à remporter deux titres consécutifs, tandis que le Surge vise son premier titre. - LECB -

(Western Conference Final) With the Calgary Surge’s title aspirations hanging in the balance, it felt fitting that Sean Miller-Moore was the one to send his team into Sunday’s Championship Final. Arguably no one on the court at Canada Life Centre on Friday night was better equipped to understand the stakes for his team than the Brampton, Ont., native — a mainstay of the Surge’s roster since the franchise moved to Calgary in 2023. Miller-Moore had previously felt the sting of leading Calgary all the way to the title game two years ago, only to fall short of a championship after losing to the Scarborough Shooting Stars. So, when the guard carried the ball up the court, sized up and drove right through Trevon Scott for a layup, it not only stood as the game-winning basket in the Surge’s 90-79 victory over the Winnipeg Sea Bears, it also marked an opportunity three years in the making. “It feels great … but it doesn’t mean anything unless we win (a championship),” Miller-Moore said after he was done waving goodbye to the 9,082 in attendance for the Western Conference Final on Friday. “We’re excited for the opportunity to get there. Obviously it’s my second time there, it’s a great feeling.” Come Sunday when the Surge take on the defending champion Niagara River Lions, redemption awaits. The Surge captain finished the night with 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting, including four triples and seven rebounds. Evan Gilyard II did his part as well, scoring a game-high 24 points while going 6-of-12 from beyond the arc, while Jameer Nelson Jr. chipped in 16 points, four assists and three steals. Meanwhile, Greg Brown III put up a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds while tying a franchise single-game playoff record with four blocks. “We knew it was going to be a heavyweight fight,” Calgary head coach Kaleb Canales said after the win. “It took 12 rounds, and we’ve got one more fight on Sunday.” On the other side, Scott led Winnipeg’s effort with a team-high 18 points, five assists and two steals. Will Richardson was right behind with 17 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals as he played the full 40 minutes. Rounding out the Sea Bears double-digit scoring efforts was Simi Shittu with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The loss dropped Winnipeg to 0-3 all-time in the post-season and marked the franchise’s second consecutive playoff loss at the hands of Calgary. “I felt like we were right where we needed to be,” Sea Bears head coach and general manager Mike Taylor said. “The effort was great … I’m proud of the guys.” Entering the night, it was no secret that the Surge had a preferred style of play: turn defence into offence. After the game, Canales admitted as much, saying “it’s been our identity, our brand of basketball all season.” And while that worked early — carrying a 28-19 lead into the second quarter after forcing four turnovers in the opening frame and converting them into easy rim attempts to the tune of a plus-14 edge in paint scoring — those plans had to change as the game progressed. The Sea Bears would settle down throughout the second and wouldn’t allow the Surge to go 9-of-12 from inside the arc like they did in the first quarter. In fact, Winnipeg held Calgary to just 14 points in the frame on five made field goals as it cut what was once a 13-point first-half deficit into a 42-36 margin at the break. So, coming out of halftime, it was clear that the Surge needed to find offence elsewhere and luckily for them, they did. It may have merely been drizzling outside the Canada Life Centre on Friday night, but come the second half, there was an undeniable downpour inside the arena. Calgary would rain down 10 threes in the final 20 minutes, including 6-of-13 in the third quarter to balloon its lead to 16 points (68-52) heading into the fourth quarter before finishing with 16 makes from beyond the arc (plus-nine) on a 36 per cent clip. Considering that the Surge ranked in the bottom half for both three-point makes and percentage per game during the regular-season, it was an even more impressive showing. Highlighting that effort was Miller-Moore, who, despite converting at just 28.6 per cent from downtown on the season, nailed two triples in the third and finished 4-of-8. “We knew all summer that we’re a third-quarter team,” the guard said. “We see what they’re giving us and we just adjust.” However, the host city Sea Bears wouldn’t be denied one final push — even without Jalen Harris, who ended up with just eight points in 16 minutes as he was hampered due to back spasms. After a barrage of three Olumide Adelodun triples had Winnipeg down by as many as 21 points in the final frame, it cut the deficit to 81-68 at the start of Target Score Time and continued storming back with the clocks stopped in a charge that was, once again, uncharacteristically led by defence. The Sea Bears forced the Surge into eight turnovers during Target Score Time as they clawed the deficit down to eight points on a Scott layup. “Give them credit, they played really well,” Taylor said. “Even though we didn’t have our best offensive performance, I’m proud of our team and the way we battled today … the effort was there but the execution was not where it needed to be.” Unfortunately for the Winnipeg faithful, the comeback stopped there as Calgary wasn’t done hitting threes. Gilyard nailed a semi-transition triple from the right wing to give the Surge the necessary breathing room to set up Miller-Moore’s winner. “At the end of the day, it’s just two points,” the Surge captain said when asked about game-sealing play. “I try to treat it like any other point, and (Gilyard) hitting that big three relieved some pressure off all of us, we were just two points away.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2700731 Up Next One final game remains on the schedule for 2025 as the Surge will take on the Niagara River Lions on Sunday at 6 p.m. CDT / 7 p.m. ET to determine the next CEBL champion. Niagara earned its spot in Sunday’s Final after eking out a 93-91 win over the Scarborough Shooting Stars earlier on Friday thanks to Khalil Ahmad’s heroics. The defending champs will look to become just the second team in league history — behind the Edmonton Stingers in 2020 and 2021— to win back-to-back titles, while the Surge aim to capture their first.  - CEBL -

(Finale de la Conférence de l’Est) Khalil Ahmad a encore joué les héros. Les River Lions de Niagara ont arraché une victoire serrée. Et le week-end du Championnat a repris exactement là où il s’était arrêté. Les River Lions ont eu le dessus 93-91 contre les Shooting Stars de Scarborough, vendredi, en finale de la Conférence de l’Est au Canada Life Centre de Winnipeg, se retrouvant à une victoire de défendre leur titre de champions. La recette de Niagara semblait familière, alors que les joueurs de l’entraîneur-chef Victor Raso ont bataillé dans un duel à haute intensité, ponctué de revirements. Et quand est venu le temps de conclure, c’est Ahmad — qui avait inscrit les trois paniers victorieux de son équipe en séries éliminatoires l’an dernier — qui a encore une fois scellé l’issue du match. « Mon Dieu, ce gars-là a quelque chose en lui qui est fait pour la période du pointage cible », a lancé Raso. Quand l’horloge s’est arrêtée, les River Lions menaient 84-83. Et la présence d’Ahmad, dans son uniforme blanc et vert, renforçait encore plus leurs chances. L’ailier Donovan Williams a amorcé la séquence avec un panier en pénétration, mais Ahmad a répliqué avec deux lancers francs. Après que Williams ait redonné l’avance à Scarborough, Ahmad est retourné sur la ligne pour replacer Niagara en tête. Michael Foster Jr. a ensuite inscrit un panier sur un rebond offensif pour les Shooting Stars, mais Elijah Lufile a répondu avec deux lancers francs. Foster Jr. a ajouté un autre panier, mettant les deux équipes à une possession de la victoire. Puis, après des occasions ratées des deux côtés, Monsieur Clutch a frappé de nouveau. Ahmad a traversé le terrain, s’est arrêté net derrière l’arc de trois points et a décoché un tir victorieux malgré la pression défensive. Au milieu du chaos, Ahmad a gardé son sang-froid. « Je n’avais pas grand-chose en tête… On avait besoin d’un trois points, alors pourquoi pas? Je l’ai pris avec confiance et je l’ai réussi », a-t-il expliqué. L’entraîneur-chef Mike De Giorgio a affirmé que le plan de Scarborough était de commettre une faute avant que cette situation n’arrive. Il s’est toutefois dit fier de la performance de son équipe dans ce qu’il a décrit comme un match de très haut niveau. « On a géré l’adversité comme on le voulait. On a eu des chances de gagner. Ça n’a juste pas fonctionné pour nous et ensuite Khalil a mis un gros tir. C’est ce qu’il a prouvé qu’il pouvait faire depuis des années », a dit De Giorgio. Niagara affrontera le gagnant de la finale de l’Ouest entre les Sea Bears de Winnipeg et le Surge de Calgary, dimanche, en grande finale. Âgé de 28 ans et originaire de Corona, en Californie, Ahmad compte désormais quatre paniers victorieux en période du pointage cible en séries éliminatoires — un record dans l’histoire de la ligue. Il a aussi franchi le cap des 1 500 points en carrière (incluant les séries) grâce à ce tir, portant son total à 1 502 avant la finale. Lors de ce match, il a mené tous les marqueurs avec 29 points et six rebonds. Il a aussi réussi ses 10 lancers francs — une belle revanche après en avoir raté quelques-uns dans des moments clés l’an dernier, ce qui l’avait hanté pendant la saison morte. « On essayait juste d’être dans le moment, de se concentrer sur chaque possession, parce qu’on gagnait par deux points, alors chaque possession comptait. On a pris soin des petits détails », a dit Ahmad. Raso l’a qualifié de « puissance mentale ». « Il a les outils physiques, les habiletés, et la confiance mentale pour vouloir le ballon dans ces moments-là. Parce que ce sont des tirs que tous ces gars peuvent réussir, mais pas tous osent les prendre », a-t-il ajouté. Ahmad a été épaulé par le centre Elijah Lufile, sorti du banc pour inscrire huit points et 15 rebonds importants. Le Montréalais Nathan Cayo a presque inscrit un doublé grâce à ses 16 points et neuf rebonds. Ce match a ajouté un nouveau chapitre à la rivalité grandissante entre Scarborough et Niagara, deux des équipes les plus dominantes de la ligue. Les deux derniers championnats ont été remportés par ces clubs ontariens, et ils s’étaient partagé leurs affrontements de saison régulière, faisant de ce duel un véritable bris d’égalité. Avant vendredi, les Shooting Stars avaient une fiche parfaite de 2-0 contre Niagara en séries. Cette fois, c’est Niagara qui ajoute une victoire à sa fiche éliminatoire. La différence majeure s’est faite sur la ligne des lancers francs, où les River Lions ont été parfaits (21 en 21), alors que Scarborough n’a converti que 11 de ses 18 tentatives. Niagara a aussi dominé au rebond, avec 56 prises (dont 20 offensives), contre 40 (7 offensives) pour Scarborough. « Lors de la conférence de presse l’autre jour, De Giorgio a dit qu’ils devaient obtenir des rebonds défensifs pour courir. Et tout ce que je me disais, c’est qu’on devait prendre de bons tirs pour qu’ils n’aient pas ces occasions. Ils nous ont fait mal par séquences, mais en fin de match, il n’y avait plus beaucoup de transition », a expliqué Raso. Donovan Williams a mené Scarborough avec 29 points et 11 rebonds. Son coéquipier Terquavion Smith a signé un doublé de 16 points et 10 passes décisives, mais il a raté le panier de la victoire juste avant le tir d’Ahmad. Foster Jr. a ajouté 11 points et 10 rebonds. « C’était un sacré tir pour conclure, mais on doit déjà tourner la page. C’est une défaite », a dit Foster Jr. Niagara entrait dans ce match après cinq défaites consécutives et 12 jours de repos en tant que tête de série de l’Est. Peut-être un peu rouillés, les River Lions ont tiré de l’arrière 9-2 tôt dans la rencontre, avant de revenir à égalité 18-18. Williams a ensuite inscrit un tir au buzzer pour donner l’avance 26-25 aux Shooting Stars après le premier quart. Le va-et-vient s’est poursuivi au deuxième quart, Scarborough menant 50-49 à la mi-temps. Au troisième quart, Niagara a creusé son plus grand écart du match, neuf points, et menait 74-68 après un autre tir au buzzer des Shooting Stars, cette fois un tir de trois points de Kobe Elvis. Scarborough a rapidement comblé l’écart au quatrième quart avec une séquence de 13-3 pour reprendre les devants. Puis, comme souvent au week-end du Championnat, la période du pointage cible a offert un spectacle classique. Et encore une fois, c’est le Lion qui a rugi. Niagara n’est plus qu’à une victoire de réussir le doublé. « Si on le fait, vous verrez ce que ça signifie », a conclu Ahmad. Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2700727 À venir Les River Lions affronteront le gagnant de la finale de l’Ouest, dimanche, en finale du Championnat à 18 h HAC / 19 h HE à Winnipeg. - LECB -

(Eastern Conference Final) Khalil Ahmad played hero. The Niagara River Lions won a close game. And Championship Weekend picked up right where it left off. The River Lions eked past the Scarborough Shooting Stars 93-91 in the East Final on Friday at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre, moving one win away from repeating as league champion. Niagara’s formula looked awfully familiar as head coach Victor Raso’s troops battled in a back-and-forth high-stakes game. And when winning time came around, it was Ahmad — who scored all three playoff winners for his team last year —stepping up yet again to seal the deal. “My God, that guy has something inside of him that is just built for Target Time,” Raso said. When the clocks stopped, the River Lions led 84-83. And buoying their chances even further was the presence of Ahmad in their white-and-green jerseys. Shooting Stars forward Donovan Williams started the proceedings with a driving layup, but Ahmad answered with a pair of free throws. After Williams added two more points to put Scarborough back in front, another trip to the charity stripe for Ahmad handed Niagara the lead once again. Michael Foster Jr., then tipped home a putback for the Shooting Stars before Elijah Lufile knocked down two more free throws for Niagara. When Foster Jr. hit another layup, both teams were within a bucket of the victory. And after both teams missed their first opportunities to advance, Mr. Clutch stepped up yet again. Ahmad raced up the court, stopped on a dime above the three-point arc, and splashed home a winner under pressure from behind. Amid all the chaos, Ahmad was as cool as ever. “There wasn’t a lot of thoughts going through my head. … We needed a three, so why not take it?” Ahmad said. “Stepped into it with confidence and knocked it down.” Shooting Stars head coach Mike De Giorgio said the plan was for his team to foul in the backcourt to prevent the exact way it ended up losing. Still, he said he was proud of his team’s performance in a “high-level” game. “We handled the adversity we wanted to handle. We had chances to win the game. It just didn’t go for us and then Khalil made a big shot. That’s what he’s shown that he can do and he’s done it for years now,” De Giorgio said. Niagara will meet the winner of the West final between the Winnipeg Sea Bears and Calgary Surge in Sunday’s final. Ahmad, the 28-year-old from Corona, Calif., now has four career Target Score Winners in the playoffs — the most in league history. He also surpassed 1,500 career points (including playoffs) in style with his game-winner, sitting at 1,502 entering the Finals. For the night, he put up a game-high 29 points to go with six rebounds. He also knocked down all 10 of his free throws — notable after he missed some clutch ones last year which he said nagged at him throughout the off-season. “We were just being where our feet are and trying to be locked into the moment, take every possession for what it was. Because, look, we won by two, so it was a close game. Every possession mattered and we took care of the little things,” Ahmad said. Raso called him a “mental monster.” “He has the physical tools, the physical skills and the mental confidence to be able to want it in those moments. Because those are shots that all of these guys are capable of making, but not all of those guys are capable of taking them,” he said. Helping Ahmad was big man Elijah Lufile, who came off the bench to put up eight points and a whopping 15 rebounds. Montreal native Nathan Cayo also neared a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds. The game marked the latest chapter in the Scarborough-Niagara rivalry that’s quickly growing into one of the league’s fiercest. Each of the last two championships were won by the Ontario squads, and they even split the season series, making their playoff duel a tiebreaker of sorts. Prior to Friday, however, the Shooting Stars were 2-0 in post-season contests against the River Lions. Now, Niagara has a notch on its playoff record. A major disparity between the teams came at the free-throw line, where the River Lions were a perfect 21-for-21 while the Shooting Stars went just 11-for-18. The River Lions also dominated the glass, hauling in 56 rebounds (20 offensive) to the Shooting Stars’ 40 (seven offensive). “When we sat in the press conference the other day, De Giorgio pretty much said we need some defensive rebounds so we can run. And all I’m thinking is we need to take quality shots so that they don’t have the opportunities to run. So they got us in spurts, but down the stretch there wasn’t much transition,” Raso said. Donovan Williams led the way for the Shooting Stars, matching Ahmad’s 29 points while adding 11 rebounds. Backcourt mate Terquavion Smith had a 16-point, 10-assist double-double, but missed the potential game-winner before Ahmad’s dagger. Foster Jr. added 11 points and 10 rebounds. “It was a hell of a shot to end it off, but really just ready to move forward. It’s a loss,” Foster Jr. said. Niagara entered the contest on a five-game losing streak and with 12 days of rest taking the top seed in the East. Perhaps battling some rust after that layoff, it fell behind 9-2 early but battled back to tie things at 18. However, a Williams buzzer-beater put the Shooting Stars up 26-25 after the first quarter. The back-and-forth continued in the second quarter as the teams exchanged leads. Scarborough took a narrow 50-49 edge into halftime. In the third quarter, Niagara built its biggest lead of the game at nine points. It took a 74-68 advantage into the fourth after Kobe Elvis hit the Shooting Stars’ second buzzer-beating triple of the game. Scarborough changed things quickly in the fourth quarter, erasing its deficit and regaining the lead early in the final frame after a 13-3 run. Then, another classic Championship Weekend Target Score Time ensued. And yet again, it was the Lion King who roared. Now, the River Lions are one win away from going back-to-back. “If we get it done,” Ahmad said, “you’ll see what it means.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2700727 Up Next The River Lions will meet the winner of the West final in Sunday’s championship game at 6 p.m. CDT / 7 p.m. ET in Winnipeg. - CEBL -