Moore’s big night exacts revenge for Bandits with 98-85 win over Rattlers

June 16, 2024
Zulfi Sheikh

Taze Moore’s near triple-double led the Vancouver Bandits (7-1) to a fifth consecutive victory as they beat the Saskatchewan Rattlers (5-3), 98-85, on Saturday night.


Entering the night, the Bandits lone loss of the season came against the Rattlers and without the services of their top scorer in the game. In the rematch, Moore proved why his play would’ve been a game-changer as he flirted with a second consecutive triple-double, putting up 23 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.


The import was backed up by Nick Ward who put up 21 points, including the game-winner, to go with his seven rebounds, and Koby McEwen and Zach Copeland who chipped in 16 apiece.


“They were our target,” Vancouver captain Duane Notice said after the win when asked how much his team was looking to avenge their previous, and only, loss to Saskatchewan. “That was our main focus, knowing they gave us our only loss. We wanted to make a statement to the league, so we were definitely motivated”


On the other side, it was a three-headed monster that led the Rattlers and ultimately came up short. Elijah Harkless finished with a game-high 25 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists, while Jalen Harris and Bryson Williams scored 24 and 23 points, respectively.


The trio accounted for 85 per cent of Saskatchewan’s point production in the defeat that saw their two-game win streak come to an end.


“Hats off to them, they played a great game,” Rattlers head coach Larry Abney said after the game. “We weathered the storm from the first half, missed some opportunities to finish it … can’t wait to play them again.”


Entering the night, fans were promised a marquee matchup between two of the Western Conference’s top teams and two of the league’s premier guards. And it didn’t take long for Saturday night’s affair to live up, but it wasn’t exactly as promised.


Unsurprisingly, Moore did his part in the first half as he put up a game-high 21 points, 12 of which came in the second quarter alone. Proving yet again why the Bandits were and remain undefeated with him in the lineup.


But it was Harkless, not Harris, who initially responded for the Rattlers. The guard exploded for 17 of his 25 points in the second quarter as he cut what was once a 13-point lead down to 58-50 going into the break.


Coming into the game Julius spoke about the task of guarding Harris, especially after he exploded for a CEBL record 45 points the game prior. For at least the first half his philosophy of throwing multiple bodies at the former Toronto Raptor to wear him out, worked. The league’s leading scorer was held to seven points through the first 20 minutes of play, scoring just one basket in the second quarter.


Yet once the third got underway, and Harris re-joined the action, he did so in a big way. The import scored 12 points in the frame and eight straight for Saskatchewan in the final two minutes before Cody John hit a buzzer-beating floater to knot things up at 76.


That’s where the comeback fizzled out however, as the Bandits built their lead back up to seven prior to Target Score Time. 


It was thanks to their dominance on the glass bearing fruit. Vancouver grabbed four of their 16 (+6) offensive rebounds through the first six minutes of the frame, getting up quality looks at the rim as a result. They finished the game plus-10 on total rebounds along with 13 second chance points.


Things didn’t get much easier in that regard for the Rattlers as their leading rebounder on the night, Williams with nine, fouled out almost immediately once Target Score Time got underway. 


From there the Bandits took care of business and Moore put a bow on his stellar night by throwing a full-court outlet pass to Ward under the basket for the game-winning layup. 


It was a fantastic follow-up performance after the 25-year-old recorded just the fifth triple-double in CEBL history one game prior. Moore’s big night added to what’s looking like an MVP resume, leading the top-seeded Bandits


He’s led the No. 1 team in the CEBL to a league-best win streak and is the only player to be top 10 in average scoring (21), rebounds (8.8) and assists (8). 


“I know I’m the kind of guy that can bring energy, get buckets, make sure my teammates attack whatever we need, Moore said post-game. “I trust myself … I work my tail off.”


Up Next

The Bandits will leave Langley Events Centre, where they remain undefeated this season, to visit the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Thursday in a rematch of their contest from less than a week ago.


For the Rattlers, they head home to host the Calgary Surge on Sunday for their second of three games against Western Conference opponents.


- CEBL –



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 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. 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. Fourteen 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 BetVictor, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+, Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

Veteran Guard Osborne, Sea Bears Agree to Terms

January 28, 2026
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January 27, 2026
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January 26, 2026
The Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club has notified Head Coach Eric Magdanz that his contract will not be renewed following the conclusion of the 2025 season. Associate Head Coach Steve Burrows will also not be returning due to family reasons. Burrows spent two years with the franchise and Magdanz four – three as Lead Assistant Coach and in 2025 he was promoted to Head Coach. The team finished with a 7-17 record and did not qualify for the playoffs for the third straight season. The organization is grateful for the contributions of both Eric and Steve and their families. Their passion for player development and growing the game of basketball throughout Saskatchewan has our deepest admiration. The Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club has already begun recruitment for a new Head Coach. A new era of basketball in Saskatoon will be unveiled on February 4th, 2026.  ### About the Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club The Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club (previously Saskatchewan Rattlers) tipped off their inaugural season at SaskTel Centre in May 2019 and went on to win the inaugural Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) championship. The team are active members of the community, participating in countless events that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. The team has restored over 100 basketball nets across the city to make basketball more accessible to youth. For more information, visit www.therattlers.ca .

Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa nomment Justin Mazzulla entraîneur en chef

January 22, 2026
Les BlackJacks d'Ottawa de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB), ont annoncé aujourd’hui que le club a engagé Justin Mazzulla comme cinquième entraîneur en chef de l’histoire de la franchise. Il remplace David DeAveiro, dont le contrat n’a pas été renouvelé à la suite de la saison 2025. Mazzulla, originaire de Johnston, R.I., est actuellement le poste de coordinateur vidéo adjoint pour le Jazz de l'Utah dans la ligue NBA, après avoir débuté sa carrière professionnelle d’entraîneur en tant qu’entraîneur adjoint et coordinateur vidéo des Stars de Salt Lake City, l’affiliée de l'Utah en G League. « Justin Mazzulla représente exactement le standard d’excellence que nous voulons pour les BlackJacks d’Ottawa », a déclaré le directeur général des BlackJacks, James Derouin. « Il a été un élément clé de certaines des salles d’entraîneurs les plus innovantes de la NBA, et il apporte à notre organisation un plan directeur digne d’une équipe de championnat. Nous ne cherchons pas seulement à être compétitifs; nous voulons mener la ligue en matière d’innovation et d’intensité. Justin est l’architecte qui nous permettra d’y parvenir. » Âgé de 27 ans et 26 jours au moment de sa nomination, il devient le plus jeune entraîneur en chef de l’histoire de la CEBL, surpassant l’entraineur en chef des Niagara River Lions, Victor Raso, qui avait 28 ans lorsqu’il a été nommé à ce poste en 2019. « J’ai choisi Ottawa parce que les propriétaires, la direction sportive et les dirigeants ont cru en moi et étaient prêts à me donner une chance », a déclaré Mazzulla. « Intrépide, rapide et plaisant étaient les piliers qu’ils ont mis de l’avant, et cela me semblait une excellente occasion de me joindre à eux et de bâtir autour de la culture et de la communauté d’Ottawa. » Joueur de Division I à George Washington (2017-2019) et à l’Université du Vermont (2020-2022), frère de l’actuel entraîneur en chef des Celtics de Boston, Joe Mazzulla, il a rejoint l’Université du Rhode Island en juin 2022 en tant qu’assistant diplômé à l’issue de sa carrière de joueur. Il a auparavant travaillé comme entraîneur en chef pour Rise to the Top, où il a organisé des ligues de basketball Junior NBA pour les jeunes, ainsi que comme préparateur de la performance pour Ernie Duncan Hoops, deux structures basées dans le Vermont. Élu Joueur de l’Année Gatorade du Rhode Island en 2016, Mazzulla a contribué à mener le Bishop Hendricken High School à des championnats d’État consécutifs avant de commencer sa carrière universitaire avec les George Washington Colonials, où il a été nommé dans l’équipe All-Academic de l’Atlantic 10 lors de sa saison sophomore. Ottawa amorcera sa saison à l’Aréna de la TD Place le mardi 12 mai à 19 h 30 contre les champions en titre de la Conférence de l’Ouest, le Calgary Surge. Des forfaits de billets flexibles et des expériences de groupe sont actuellement en vente en visitant theblackjacks.ca/fr-ca/tickets , ou rendez-vous sur theblackjacks.ca/fr-ca/season-seat-memberships pour vous joindre à nous lors de tous les matchs à domicile de la saison 2026. ###

Mazzulla Becomes CEBL’s Youngest Head Coach

January 22, 2026
Ottawa BlackJacks hire NBA-developed coach to lead franchise forward

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La huitième saison de la ligue, qui commencera le 9 mai, introduira des changements historiques : des séries éliminatoires entièrement disputées sur les marchés locaux et une finale de la LECB au meilleur de trois

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January 15, 2026
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Saskatchewan Announces Basketball Operations Update

January 13, 2026
The Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club has notified General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Barry Rawlyk that his contract will not be renewed following the conclusion of the 2025 season. During his seven seasons with the franchise, Barry brought a deep familiarity with Canadian basketball and long-standing relationships across the province that supported the club’s operations and player development. He also served as the Lead Assistant Coach during the franchise's 2019 Championship season. The organization wishes Barry and his family well as he moves on from the team and appreciates his willingness to support a smooth transition. The Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club has already begun recruitment for a new General Manager. A new era of basketball in Saskatoon will be unveiled soon. ### About the Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club The Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club (previously Saskatchewan Rattlers) tipped off their inaugural season at SaskTel Centre in May 2019 and went on to win the inaugural Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) championship. The team are active members of the community, participating in countless events that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. The team has restored over 100 basketball nets across the city to make basketball more accessible to youth. For more information, visit www.therattlers.ca .

Cowan Joins CEBL as Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships

January 13, 2026
Please join us in welcoming Rob Cowan to the Canadian Elite Basketball League as Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships. Rob brings more than 20 years of experience across the Canadian sports industry. Most recently at Rugby Canada, he led national partnership sales, account management, and commercial strategy across the organization’s flagship programs and events. With a background spanning partnerships, data & analytics, live events, and digital marketing, Rob brings a well-rounded, modern perspective on how brands create value in sport today - and where the partnership landscape is heading next. Welcome to the CEBL, Rob!

Bilamu Agrees to Terms with Sea Bears

January 8, 2026
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