Les Shooting Stars arrachent la victoire 87–86 face aux BlackJacks devant un public scolaire

Ce ne fut pas toujours facile, mais les Bandits de Vancouver ont eu le dessus sur l’Alliance de Montréal par la marque de 94 à 87, devenant ainsi la première équipe à se qualifier pour les séries éliminatoires de la saison 2025 de la LECB. Vancouver a pris les devants par 19 points tôt dans le troisième quart et semblait bien en voie de filer vers la victoire. Mais Montréal n’avait pas dit son dernier mot et est revenu en force pour transformer la fin de match en véritable duel, jusqu’à la période du pointage cible. Les Bandits ont été menés par Zach Copeland, qui a établi un nouveau record de franchise avec huit tirs de trois points réussis, battant son propre record précédent de sept. Il a terminé la rencontre avec 36 points, égalant ainsi ses coéquipiers Mitch Creek et Tyrese Samuel pour le record de points marqués en un match dans l’histoire de l’équipe. Corey Davis Jr. a enregistré 14 points et 10 passes décisives pour son quatrième doublé en cinq matchs, Mikyle McIntosh a ajouté 15 points et sept rebonds, tandis que Duane Notice a contribué avec 12 points dans la victoire. « J’ai été vraiment concentré ces derniers matchs, » a affirmé Copeland au bord du terrain après la rencontre. « Un de nos joueurs clés, Mitch (Creek), était absent aujourd’hui, donc tout le monde devait élever son jeu, et c’est exactement ce que j’ai essayé de faire. » Au sujet de la qualification en séries, il a ajouté : « C’est très important. On veut obtenir l’avantage du terrain en séries, alors on est venus ici pour tout donner. Ce fut un voyage difficile, trois matchs en quatre jours, alors on voulait vraiment finir ça en force. » Le match a démarré en force alors que les deux équipes ont combiné 19 tirs réussis sur 29 tentatives au premier quart, dont une séquence parfaite de huit tirs consécutifs des Bandits. Le tir de trois points a été un facteur clé du succès initial de Vancouver, qui a réussi ses cinq premiers tirs derrière l’arc, pour un total de six dans le quart. Le deuxième quart a marqué un changement de rythme : L’Alliance a ralenti le jeu et laissé sa défensive faire le travail, limitant Vancouver à seulement cinq tirs réussis sur 19 dans le quart. Mais les tirs de trois points et les points sur deuxième chance – un secteur où les Bandits menaient 13-0 à la mi-temps – ont permis aux visiteurs de maintenir une avance de 48-41 à la pause. En amorçant la deuxième demie, les Bandits voulaient sceller l’issue du match rapidement avec une séquence de 16-4. Mais après deux temps d’arrêt, Montréal a répliqué avec une poussée de 12-0, réduisant l’écart à un seul chiffre. « Il y a des matchs où on joue bien pendant deux, parfois trois quarts, mais dans cette ligue, c’est crucial d’enchaîner les 40 minutes complètes, parce que n’importe quelle équipe peut partir sur une grosse séquence. » Mohamed a inscrit 16 points – tous en deuxième demie – en plus de capter quatre rebonds. Kevin Osawe a mené l’équipe avec 17 points et cinq rebonds, Tavian Dunn Martin a ajouté 13 points et huit passes décisives, O.D Anosike a terminé avec 11 points et huit rebonds, tandis que Shamiel Stevenson a inscrit 10 points pour l’Alliance. « Je me mets beaucoup de pression pour aider l’équipe, » a ajouté Mohamed. « L’organisation, les entraîneurs et la direction comptent sur moi pour contribuer, donc je prends cette responsabilité très au sérieux. Peu importe ce que l’équipe a besoin – défensive, tirs – je suis prêt à tout donner. » Montréal est parvenu à réduire l’écart à 85-80 en entrant dans la période du pointage cible, puis a même égalé le score à 87-87, se donnant ainsi une vraie chance de l’emporter. Mais une poussée de 7-0 des Bandits – couronnée par un tir de trois points record de Copeland suivi d’un lancer franc – a anéanti les espoirs de la foule locale. Cette défaite fait glisserlL’Alliance à une fiche de 6-8, avec seulement deux victoires à ses dix derniers matchs. Pour les Bandits, il s’agissait d’un deuxième gain consécutif, portant leur fiche à 13-4, ce qui consolide leur première place au classement. Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600640 À venir pour les deux équipes L’Alliance de Montréal poursuit sa série de trois matchs à domicile en accueillant les Sea Bears de Winnipeg le 20 juillet. De leur côté, les Bandits de Vancouver seront de retour à la maison après un voyage de trois rencontres sur la route pour affronter les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan le 18 juillet. Prochain match de la LECB Les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan tenteront de porter leur fiche à 3-0 face au Surge de Calgary lors de leur avant-dernière rencontre de la saison, le 15 juillet. Le match sera diffusé en direct sur CEBL+ et TSN. Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB et les résultats à jour, visitez le site cebl.ca/games. - LECB -

It wasn’t always easy, but the Vancouver Bandits triumphed over the Montreal Alliance 94-87 to become the first team to punch their ticket to the 2025 CEBL playoffs. Vancouver got up to as much as a 19-point lead early in the third quarter and looked well on their way to securing the victory. Unfortunately for them, Montreal wasn’t willing to go down that easy and came roaring back to make it anyone’s game heading into Target Time. The Bandits were led by Zach Copeland, who set a franchise record with eight made three-pointers, breaking his own previous record of seven. He finished with 36 points on the night – tying teammates Mitch Creek and Tyrese Samuel for the franchise record. Corey Davis Jr. had 14 points and 10 assists for his fourth double-double in the last five games, Mikyle McIntosh had 15 points and seven rebounds, and Duane Notice notched 12 points in the win. “I’ve just been locked in these past few games,” Copeland said from the sidelines following the game. “One of our main players in Mitch (Creek) was down today, so everyone had to step up and that’s just what I was trying to do.” “Very important,” he said about his team securing a spot in the post-season. “We want to establish homecourt advantage for the playoffs, so we just wanted to come in here and give it our all. It’s been a tough road trip, three games in four days. So, we were just trying to finish strong.” Things got off to a fiery start as the teams combined to hit 19 of 29 shots in the first quarter, including the Bandits making their first eight from the field. Three-point shooting was pivotal to Vancouver’s early success, as they hit their first five from beyond the arc and six total in the quarter. The second quarter saw a shift in momentum as the Alliance slowed the pace and let their defense take over, holding the Bandits to just 5 of 19 shooting in the period. Unfortunately for the home squad, three-pointers and second-chance points — an area in which the Bandits held a 13–0 advantage at the half — dictated the game and allowed the visitors to carry a 48–41 lead into the break. Coming into the second half, the Bandits looked to put the game away early by starting on a 16-4 run. After a pair of timeouts, the Alliance were able to chip away at the seemingly insurmountable lead by going on a 12-0 run of their own and cut the deficit down to single digits. “I think the biggest thing for us is just putting 40 minutes together,” Abdul Mohamed said of his team’s performance on the season. “There are times where we put two quarters, three quarters together, but putting together the full 40 is important in this league because any team can go on a massive run, just like you saw from us. Just putting 40 minutes together is big.” Mohamed had 16 points – all of them coming in the second half – to go along with four rebounds. Kevin Osawe led the team with 17 points and added five rebounds, Tavian Dunn Martin had 13 points and eight assists, O.D Anosike had 11 points and eight rebounds, while Shamiel Stevenson added 10 points for the Alliance. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to help the team in any way,” Mohamed said. “The organization, the coaches and the ownership all look at me as a player that needs to contribute, so there’s immense pressure and I take it with full responsibility. Whatever the team needs, whether it’s defense or making shots – anything, I’m willing to do it.” Montreal was able to cut the lead down to 85-80 heading into Target Time and even tied the game at 87-87 to give themselves a chance to win. Put a 7-0 run by the Bandits – capped by Copeland’s record setting three-pointer and a subsequent free throw – dashed the hopes of the home crowd. The loss dropped the Alliance to 6-8 on the season with just two wins in their last ten games. It was the second straight win for the now 13-4 Bandits, who extend their lead at the top of the standings. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600640  Up next for both teams The Montreal Alliance continue their three-game homestand as they host the Winnipeg Sea Bears on July 20. The Vancouver Bandits return home following a three-game road trip to face the Saskatchewan Rattlers on July 18. Next CEBL action The Saskatchewan Rattlers look to make it 3-0 against the Calgary Surge in their penultimate meeting on the season July 15. You can catch the game streaming live on CEBL+ and TSN. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

Terquavion Smith defied the numbers in the Scarborough Shooting Stars 86-71 win over the Brampton Honey Badgers on Sunday afternoon. Scarborough is the league’s worst free throw shooting team, yet Smith’s four consecutive free throws capitalized on a pair of Brampton’s technical fouls right before Target Time. Those freebies gave Scarborough an eight-point lead, then Smith’s triple gave Scarborough a nine-point lead. Before the game, Scarborough head coach Mike De Giorgio talked about avoiding “self-inflicted wounds” like poor free throw shooting, which have cost them games in the past. After scoring just 11 points in the first quarter, the Shooting Stars turned up the tempo in the second quarter and maintained it throughout the remainder of the game. “I think our first quarter was poor,” said De Giorgio. “I think the last three quarters were more indicative of who we are as a team.” Scarborough took full advantage of their seven-point buffer in Target Time and put the game away, including another triple from Smith, who had a game-high 33 points on five-for-11 three-point shooting. Brampton, led by David Muenkat’s career-high 31 points, played a scrappy game. They came out of halftime on a 8-0 run, but Scarborough’s Cat Barber stopped the bleeding as his triple gave them a 42-40 lead, forcing a timeout. He then hit another one right away – a transition dribble, pull-up three-pointer, using a drag screen from Kalif Young. Barber had a highlight play in third where he split the screen, turned Amari Kelly and Quinndary Weatherspoon inside and out with handles that mirrored fellow Virginia basketball legend, Allen Iverson. Barber, who had 15 points, showed a lot of scrappiness too in the second quarter after missing both free throws, airballing the second one. After being on the receiving end of a LeBron James-like block by Muenkat, he still put on the jets to give his team a quick deuce for a five-point lead going into halftime. His fellow backcourt mate started to heat up in the second half, matching the temperature outside. After Muenkat tried to crown Smith with a two-handed dunk, the latter hit a deep three. Then, later in the frame, he answered Bryson Williams’ triple with his own to give Scarborough a seven-point lead. Muenkat made his former team pay with an incredible three-point shooting performance. He shot six-for-nine from downtown and embodied Brampton’s tenacity. In the fourth, he refused to let his team be put away, hitting a triple to inch within six points. Guard Marcus Carr dribbled out in transition, waited, then dished it out to Muenkat. He threw a pump fake, made a nice spin move on Young, and reversed the ball for his 30th point. But it was Weatherspoon’s foul on the defensive end and reaction to it that killed Brampton’s momentum. When asked about Muenkat’s progression as a shooter, his secret is simple. “A lot of reps. I think I just spend a lot of time in the gym getting shots up,” he said about how he has grown so confident from long-range. Young recently surpassed his 600th rebound and Brampton’s Prince Oduro surpassed his 500th point this afternoon. More and more Canadians are returning to the CEBL year after year and setting records. “I mean it feels good,” Oduro smiled. “I don’t really think about stuff like that, but obviously it’s still a good accomplishment.” Scarborough busted its three-game losing streak, and today’s Battle of the 401 was a preview of Caribbean Night coming up at the CAA Centre on Friday, July 25. Box score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600638 Up next for both teams The Brampton Honey Badgers (4-13) head to Meridian Centre to play the beast of the East Niagara River Lions (10-5) on Wednesday, July 16. The Scarborough Shooting Stars’ (8-8) next game is against Niagara too, on Sunday, July 20. Next CEBL action CEBL’s lone Tuesday, July 15 game will feature the Calgary Surge (10-5) playing against the Saskatchewan Rattlers (4-12) at SaskTel Centre. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

The CEBL got its first look at the new-look Winnipeg Sea Bears on Friday night, and if early returns are any indication, the roster moves are already paying dividends. With Terry Roberts and Jaylin Williams away from the team while plying their trade in NBA Summer League, Will Richardson and Trevon Scott stepped in and looked like established veterans on the squad as the Sea Bears led nearly from buzzer to buzzer to take a 94-70 win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Simi Shittu had a game-high 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Jalen Harris had 19 points. Emmanuel Akot finished with 14 points, six rebounds and six assists while Richardson introduced himself to the league with 18 points and a game-high eight assists. Scott had 16 points and five rebounds off the bench. “Today was a game where we really played well together. I thought we brought a good energy,” Sea Bears head coach Mike Taylor said afterwards. “The last couple of games, there were distractions and stuff going on within the team that really prevented us from being our best. I thought this was a credit to the players today. They really played hard, they really played well. It was just an excellent performance on both ends.” Richardson – the Oregon Ducks alum – and Scott – former member of the Calgary Surge – made their impact felt immediately. The former played every second of the first quarter and quickly tallied up eight points. The latter checked in at the start of the second quarter and never came off, piling up 11 points of his own. “Really pleased with the way they played,” Taylor said of his new additions. “They brought a fresh energy to the team. Both guys fit in really, really well. They played like they’ve been here a while. You saw the natural point guard talent of Will in terms of his playmaking and hitting big shots. (Trevon) contributed in so many ways on both ends of the floor. Those two new guys fit in seamlessly and we’re really pleased with their play today.” It was all Sea Bears in the first half, as they led 40-25 heading into the break and held the home team to just 37 per cent from the floor. Winnipeg – on the other hand – seemingly could do no wrong on offense, making 56 per cent of their shots and hitting six three-pointers in the first half. The Saskatchewan Rattlers would regroup and try to take a run at it to start the third quarter. They opened the second half by outscoring the Sea Bears 16-6. Nate Pierre-Louis led the way for Saskatchewan, scoring 11 of his 14 points through the first three quarters. He finished the game with six assists, leaving him just three shy of the CEBL single-season record. Johnny Hughes III had a team high 16 points to go with eight rebounds, while Devonte Bandoo chipped in with 10 points. Australian big man Grant Anticevich finished just shy of a double-double, scoring 11 points – nine of them in the first half – and grabbing nine rebounds. “It was just an individual check within each of ourselves about who we are, who we want to be and how we want to play,” Rattlers head coach Eric Magdanz said of his halftime message. “And credit to our guys, they took that message to heart and competed in the second half.” Although the Rattlers were able to cut the lead down to 13 and flirted with bringing the score within single digits on a few occasions, it was all for naught. Winnipeg would hold onto a 15-point lead heading into target time, where a clean 9-0 run put an end to the Rattlers night. “We just came out flat,” Magdanz said. “We didn’t have the energy, the effort, the level of compete that we’ve had for the entire season in the first half, and that dug us a hole. And once you dig yourselves a hole in this league, it’s pretty hard to come back.” The win was the Sea Bears’ first since June 20, snapping a four-game losing streak. For the Rattlers, it was another disappointing setback after a spirited effort in Target Time earned them a win in their last outing. The loss to Winnipeg dropped their record to 4-12. “It’s just been a tough season. Every game has been like this. We’re either sad that we didn’t get the win or we’re mad that we lost or just happy that we got the win,” Pierre-Louis, the Rattlers team captain, said after the loss. “I just tell the guys to keep their head up and stay together. There’s going to be days like that. You just have to stay even keel and get back to the drawing board on Monday. Myself, I have to be better. I felt that today wasn’t my best one. I’ve been playing well but today wasn’t one of my high standard games. Just got to get back to the drawing board. Never too high, never too low.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600636 Up next for both teams The Winnipeg Sea Bears return home following a three-game road trip to host the Calgary Surge on July 17. The Saskatchewan Rattlers wrap up a four-game homestand as they take on the Calgary Surge on July 15. Next CEBL action The Brampton Honey Badgers take to the road to face the Scarborough Shooting Stars in their second of three meetings on the season, streaming live on CEBL+, TSN+, and NLSE. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

Edmonton got its six-game win streak in the Six. Scarborough had a 72-71 lead heading into Target Time and it was anyone’s game. Edmonton, who trailed in a two-possession game for the majority of the game, came alive when it mattered most, going on a 10-4 run in Target Time. Keon Ambrose-Hylton, who had 16 points on another efficient seven-for-nine shooting, made a lay-up in Target Time after Sean East baited Scarborough into fouling him and made both free throws. Scarborough took a timeout and Terquavion Smith missed a triple before Cat Barber missed a lay-up. Scottie Lindsey, who was fresh off a 29-point performance from the previous game, made Scarborough pay by pushing the lead to 79-74. Unfortunately, Edmonton’s game-winning bucket was an anticlimactic one. Edmonton guard Mason Bourcier’s defence may not show up in the stat sheet, but his tenacity stood out late in the game. “He gets tasked with the toughest match-up every single night. He rises to the challenge,” said Edmonton head coach Jordan Baker. “That’s what he gets excited about. He did a great job on the ball.” This made life difficult for Cat Barber and Terquavion Smith. Captain Nick Hornsby, who willed himself a bucket in the fourth and completed the and-one, finished the game with 16 points and 15 rebounds. In tight, two-possession games like this, it’s easy to look back and find reasons for a loss, but Scarborough’s 10-for-24 (41%) free throw shooting hurt them in a win-in-the-margins type of game. Scarborough was, however, happy with its defence tonight. Edmonton’s star Sean East, who is the league’s third-leading scorer through the last five games (24.4 PPG) has shot 50 per cent from three-point range (13-for-26). Tonight, he was zero-for-six from downtown, held to four points in the first half as Scarborough constantly threw doubles at him. “That was part of our game plan and we did a good job of it early,” said Scarborough head coach Mike De Giorgio. “We got kind of loose towards the end. I think a little bit of that was our defensive transition.” The intimate vibes inside the arena was electric and Anthony Walker had a game-high 19 points in his debut. When Scaborough was trying to pull away in the third, he had a rim-rattling two-handed dunk and hit a big three at the end of the quarter. Another highlight for Scarborough was Kalif Young, the league’s all-time rebounder, grabbing his 600th one. He laughed at the milestone: “I’ve been here a long time. Over six years, so I guess 100 a year.” Young had 14 rebounds tonight. Scarborough got close to icing Edmonton’s hot streak in their first road game. It spells progress for Scarborough as they were blown out in their previous matchup. After beating their provincial rival Calgary Surge by three points on the road, Edmonton went on a perfect four-game homestand, where they averaged a margin of +16 in through their four home games. Edmonton had a slow start to this season, but they are now putting the entire league on notice. Box score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600632 Up next for both teams The Scarborough Shooting Stars (7-8) host the Brampton Honey Badgers (4-12) at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre on Sunday, July 13th. The Edmonton Stingers (10-6) continue their road trip as they head to TD Place to face the Ottawa BlackJacks (7-7) on Thursday, July 17th. Next CEBL action Double-header this Sunday with the said 401 Series, and league-best Vancouver Bandits (12-4) face Montreal Alliance (6-8) at Verdun Auditorium. Vancouver will be looking to reassert their dominance after only winning against Brampton by a narrow margin. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .  - CEBL -

The Vancouver Bandits proved on Friday that it’s not about how you start a game, just how you finish it. Despite trailing for a majority of the game, and by eight points at the start of Target Score Time, the Bandits walked away with an 89-85 victory over the Brampton Honey Badgers on Friday thanks to a 19-7 run once the clock stopped. Leading Vancouver’s effort as they improved to 12-4, extending their lead atop the West to 1.5 games, was Zach Copeland, who finished with a team-high 27 points and a franchise-record tying seven made triples. Behind him were Corey Davis Jr. (18 points, 10 assists) and Kur Jongkuch (13 points, season-high 17 rebounds) with a pair of double-doubles, while Mikyle McIntosh chipped in with 18 points and seven rebounds. The quartet helped the Bandits overcome the fact that they were missing all three of their leading scorers on the season — Mitch Creek (23.1 points per game), Tyrese Samuel (18.9) and Kyle Mangas (17.8). “We were working hard to adapt to our roster,” Vancouver head coach and general manager Kyle Julius said after the win. “We’ve had some changes and some new faces, so we just wanted to be able to settle in … and I thought we did a good job of that.” Meanwhile, the Honey Badgers fell to 4-12 on the season after a fourth consecutive loss, still in last place out East. Spearheading Brampton on Friday was Quinndary Weatherspoon, who put up a game-high 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Rounding out the Honey Badgers’ double-digit scoring efforts were David Muenkat and Marcus Carr with 17 and 13 points, respectively. “It was a tough loss,” Weatherspoon said post-game. “I thought we played well throughout the whole game, but just the last couple of possessions … some things got away.” Despite both squads entering the matchup on the heels of double-digit losses, their last time squaring off less than a week earlier — an 87-84 down-to-the-wire win for the Bandits — led to the belief that Friday’s contest would also be a neck-and-neck battle. Which turned out to be true for much of the ball game, as neither squad carved out a double-digit lead for the entirety of the contest and were separated by a narrow 63-62 Bandits edge headed into the fourth quarter. The final frame proved to be the ultimate difference maker, but it, too, wasn’t without back-and-forth action. Brampton appeared to capture the momentum thanks to an 11-0 run in the early minutes of the fourth, sparked by three consecutive triples. The Honey Badgers finished with 12 made threes on a 38 per cent clip, five of those long balls coming in the fourth. And although Brampton led 78-70 at the start of Target Score Time thanks to that run to open the fourth, Vancouver stormed right back thanks to a defensive clinic. The Honey Badgers punched first with back-to-back threes by Carr and Weatherspoon to put themselves on the cusp of victory but were held to just one point after that point as they missed their next six field goal attempts while the Bandits rallied. Vancouver shot 7-of-12 in Target Score Time, capping off the comeback effort with a Davis triple from the right corner. “Crazy, hard-fought game,” Copeland said after the win. “I just felt like we stuck it out to the end and made a lot of high-level plays to pull it out.” Underscoring the Bandits' comeback effort was their effort on the glass, building a 50-36 rebounding edge throughout the night, leading to 15 second-chance points (plus-10). “We have to end possessions,” Honey Badgers head coach Sheldon Cassimy said post-game. “If we don’t give up 19 offensive rebounds, then we win the game by way more.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600634 Up next Both squads return Sunday, starting with the Honey Badgers visiting the Scarborough Shooting Stars for the second of three regular-season matchups between the GTA rivals. Meanwhile, the Bandits visit the Montreal Alliance to wrap up a three-game road trip before heading back to Vancouver. Next CEBL action Friday’s triple-header slate wraps up with the Winnipeg Sea Bears looking to end a four-game skid as they visit the Saskatchewan Rattlers at 9:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. local. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

The Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday that they have signed forward Anthony Walker. The 6-foot-9 Baltimore native most recently played with BC Beroe of the Bulgarian NBL, where he averaged 19.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 29.5 minutes across 25 games during the 2024–25 season. Walker shot 58% from two-point range, 31.8% from three, and 81.2% from the free throw line, totaling 482 points, 182 rebounds, 29 steals, and 14 blocks. He led Beroe in scoring and emerged as one of the team’s most efficient offensive weapons in his rookie season. Walker began his pro career overseas after a five-year NCAA journey split between the University of Miami and Indiana University. He appeared in 158 games with 37 starts, averaging 4.9 points and 2.5 rebounds across his collegiate career. His standout college campaign came in 2020–21, when he posted 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game for the Hurricanes. At Indiana in 2023–24, he contributed 5.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 48.3% from the field, helping the Hoosiers throughout a competitive Big Ten season. Walker joins a strong Shooting Stars roster that includes returnees Kalif Young, Cat Barber, and NC State standout Terquavion Smith as the team looks to build momentum heading into the second half of the season. Scarborough currently holds a 7–7 record and returns to action tonight, Friday, July 11, for its first home game since June 22. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. against the Edmonton Stingers at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. Tonight’s game also celebrates Ontario Basketball Association (OBA) Night, welcoming young athletes and community partners from across the province. The team will be back at home on Sunday, July 13, to take on Brampton in another key matchup for STC Day.  For more information on the team, tickets, and schedule, visit scarboroughshootingstars.ca. ### About the CEBL A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 73% of its rosters being Canadian and more than 10 players with NBA game experience in 2025. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by Tonybet, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube . ###

It was a battle worthy of a championship rematch. And perhaps, even, a championship preview. In the end, the Niagara River Lions left no doubt they are coming for the CEBL crown once again. The River Lions beat the Vancouver Bandits 96-77 on Thursday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont., in a contest pitting the top team in each of the Eastern and Western Conferences. Both squads entered on winning streaks — but only Niagara’s continued as the Rivers Lions earned their third straight victory and improved to 10-5 on the season. “We just haven't played to our potential yet, and we're starting to now,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said. “I mean, we defended with serious intensity. We took quality shots. We were on the same page. We won a rebounding battle. We had 25 assists and eight turnovers. Like, that was the best we’ve played.” Vancouver, meanwhile, saw its three-game run end to fall to 11-4. A closely contested game was blown open by Niagara in the third quarter with an 18-5 run to start the frame, pushing its lead to a game-high 14 points. Vancouver never got particularly close again. When Target Score Time rolled around, Niagara led by a massive 23-point margin at 87-64. The game ground to a bit of a halt with the clock off as a series of unsportsmanlike and technical fouls — plus ensuing reviews — lengthened what was essentially a done deal. After the final review, Niagara’s Eddie Ekiyor finally iced the game with a pair of free throws. “It was a battle, but our identity's effort and just trying hard. We got a lot of skilled guys, and we just worked as a team, right? We were very upset about our first loss with them. … So it's just that togetherness and we're proud of the outcome,” River Lions forward Elijah Lufile said. Niagara beat Vancouver 97-95 in the CEBL Finals last year for the franchise’s first-ever title. However, the Bandits got a measure of revenge early in the season with a 37-point blowout win in the rematch. In that game, the Bandits enjoyed a near-full roster while Finals MVP Khalil Ahmad, among others, was out for the River Lions. On Thursday, the roles were reversed. With Niagara boasting its top roster, Vancouver was without second-leading scorer Tyrese Samuel and sharpshooter Kyle Mangas, who are both competing at NBA Summer League. Still, the River Lions made sure they wouldn’t blow the opportunity against a short-handed Bandits team. “It's taken a long time for us to play really good basketball, and it's just the beginning of what we're capable of. I've been saying that this team's got a lot of potential to play well, and I think we saw tonight what it can look like when we're completely dialled in,” Raso said. It was a team effort for Niagara, who got contributions from up and down the lineup. Curry, in his third game back with Niagara, paced the River Lions with 20 points to go with seven assists and four rebounds. Ekiyor had 16 points and seven rebounds, while Lufile neared a double-double off the bench with eight points and 10 rebounds. Kimbal Mackenzie added 17 points and six rebounds. Leading scorer Khalil Ahmad has 13 points on five-for-nine shooting. “I think it was just a collective effort on the bench because you got all the guys on the bench clapping, just cheering the guys on the court, whether they make or miss a shot on defence,” Lufile said. “So I had that energy from the get-go. I knew exactly what my assignment was. So coming into the game, it was just a no-brainer.” Meanwhile, the Bandits struggled to get going offensively in their first game without the Canadian Samuel. Potential MVP candidate Mitch Creek struggled to the tune of 13 points on five-for-18 shooting, adding five rebounds and three assists. Zach Copeland led the way for Vancouver with 15 points despite making just two of 10 three-point attempts, and Corey Davis Jr., posted 14 points and six assists before being ejected in Target Score Time thanks to a pair of technical fouls. “Got a little out of control,” Copeland said. “We tried to scrap it out, grind it out, trying to make comeback, but it's tough team, so we couldn't pull it out.” Vancouver will now be back on the court in less than 24 hours as an Ontario road trip continues in Brampton on Friday before a trip to Scarborough on Sunday. Copeland said the team’s ball movement must improve in order to get the offence humming again. “I felt like it was kind of stagnant. They played good defence. They were in the gaps, but we got to drive the ball and get kickouts,” he said. In the first quarter, Niagara used a frame-ending 8-0 run to lead 20-17 after 10 minutes. Vancouver replied with a 12-0 run in the middle of the second as the teams traded blows, but the River Lions held a 40-39 advantage at halftime. In the third quarter, the River Lions widened the gap with an 18-5 start to the quarter. They led 67-56 after 30 minutes, and did not look back from there. Niagara and Vancouver will not see each other again in the regular season as they look to pave their paths to and through the playoffs. But, off course, a date in the Finals could still await. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600627 Up Next Vancouver’s Ontario trip heads to Brampton for a game against the Honey Badgers on Friday, while Niagara’s home stand continues against Brampton on Wednesday. Next CEBL Action In addition to Vancouver-Brampton on Friday, Scarborough hosts Edmonton and Winnipeg head west to face Saskatchewan. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

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