CEBL NEWS ARTICLES

The former Vancouver and Montreal guard has averaged 12.2 points and 4.3 rebounds over 20 career CEBL games

A dominant performance from Simi Shittu against his former team pushed the Winnipeg Sea Bears past the Calgary Surge 79-78 at WinSport Event Centre on Sunday (July 27). The Winnipeg big man notched 28 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in the defensive battle, including the game-winner and a clutch rejection in Target Score Time. “It was personal,” Shittu said. “They kind of shouted us out in the media … but at the end of the day, we're a whole new team, a whole different vibe, so we wanted to come in and show everybody that we’re here in the CEBL and ready to play.” The final regular-season meeting between the Western Conference rivals yielded a back-and-forth showdown with a playoff atmosphere. Trailing by as much as eight in Target Score Time after entering the final stretch with the lead, Winnipeg head coach Mike Taylor credited defensive stops and rebounding with the comeback. “In the beginning [of Target Score Time], we weren't very efficient, and we dug a hole for ourselves. And then it was just no quit,” Taylor said. Calgary had a dozen chances to win the game in Target Score Time, including a pair of free throws, but came away empty-handed and had its four-game winning streak snapped. Head coach Kaleb Canales said it was a “grind-it-out” game that the Surge were in a position to win, but failed to get the job done. “[It’s a] hard lesson, but we got to learn from it, and we got to move on. All these games are important,” Canales said. While Shittu was an interior force for the Sea Bears, Surge big man Greg Brown III battled throughout the game with a 21-point, 17-rebound double-double of his own. Calgary guard Evan Gilyard Jr. was a handful with 26 points as well, while Jameer Nelson Jr. added 14 points and made league history with a pair of steals. In his second game back from NBA Summer League, Nelson Jr. set a CEBL single-season steals record with 46, surpassing Lloyd Pandi’s 44 with Ottawa from last season. Canales said Nelson Jr.’s anticipation and feel for the game have allowed him to reach the milestone. “He cares about playing defence, which is rare … it just speaks to his approach and his professionalism,” Canales said. Calgary struggled offensively on Sunday, finishing at just 35 per cent from the floor and 19 per cent from long range. Winnipeg came away better at 41 per cent from the field and 36 per cent from three, but shot 50 per cent from the free-throw line. The Sea Bears also took advantage of 19 Surge turnovers, outscoring their opponents 22-11 in the points-from-turnovers category. Gilyard Jr. said the energy was off for the Surge on Sunday. “We just got to stay together, stay even keel and … weather the storm to win the game. I don't feel like we did that today,” he said. The Surge and Sea Bears both started the game hot behind the arc. The Western Conference rivals traded trifectas early, with Gilyard and Scott each hitting a pair in the opening 10 minutes. As the first quarter progressed, defence emerged as the focal point and Nelson Jr. snagged his record-breaking steal. Winnipeg took a 22-18 lead into the second quarter, and the game stayed close throughout the frame. Shittu was a force inside for Winnipeg, as well as showcasing his range with a three. The Surge seized the lead and forced Taylor into a timeout after a massive dunk from Brown III, set up by Nelson Jr., who just lost a shoe. In the final minutes of the half, Winnipeg and Calgary traded leads multiple times. A Jalen Harris layup carried the Sea Bears into the locker room with a 42-41 advantage. After Nelson Jr. regained the lead for Calgary with the first bucket of the second half, Winnipeg took control for the bulk of the quarter. Timely threes from the Sea Bears extended their advantage, with a Shittu triple providing Winnipeg its largest lead at nine. However, Gilyard and Brown III willed the Surge back into the game. Gilyard scored six consecutive points for Calgary, highlighted by an ankle-breaking take that resulted in a pair of free throws. Brown III then sparked the Surge defence with a rejection before closing the third with five straight points to tie the game. Shittu and Brown III duelled in the early stages of the fourth, leaving their teams two points apart heading into Target Score Time. Winnipeg had the 70-68 advantage in a race to 79. Calgary looked poised for its fifth straight win early in the final stretch. Gilyard and Brown III led the Surge on a 10-1 run to start Target Score Time, putting the home team one point away from victory. However, the Sea Bears locked in on defence and mounted a comeback. Shittu delivered clutch plays on both ends, rejecting a Sean Miller-Moore dunk attempt to win the game and finishing the game-winning layup on the other end. Winnipeg avoided a regular-season series sweep after losing the first three meetings with Calgary. No more matchups are scheduled between the two teams this season, but Winnipeg hosts Championship Weekend and Calgary is locked into a playoff spot. “We know there’s some great teams in the league. Calgary is one of them – they could very well be at Championship Weekend – they've played like a championship-level team all year,” Taylor said. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600660 Up next for both teams Calgary hits the road for a visit to Scarborough on Thursday (July 31) while Winnipeg returns home for a matchup with Saskatchewan on Friday (Aug. 1). Next CEBL action Scarborough visits Ottawa on Tuesday (July 29) as the two squads jostle for playoff position in the Eastern Conference. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

Donovan Williams heated up in Target Time to lead the Scarborough Shooting Stars to a 94-89 win over the Montreal Alliance on Sunday. The Alliance nearly pulled off a comeback in front of their hometown fans at Verdun Auditorium. Williams, however, saved his three-point shooting for the end, hitting back-to-back triples to close out the game, including a game-winning answer to Montreal captain Quincy Guerrier’s emphatic two-handed dunk. Guerrier stuck on him like glue, but Williams’ confident downtown stroke gave Scarborough a 94-89 victory and silenced the Montreal crowd. Williams finished with a team-high 24 points on 8-for-15 shooting. Williams’ game-winning three had an even bigger impact today as it helped Scarborough pull ahead of the Ottawa BlackJacks for second place in the East. A Brampton loss earlier in the day sealed a playoff berth for both Scarborough and Ottawa. Scarborough is 2-1 in their meetings with Montreal this season, and Scarborough’s Anthony Walker played on the opposing team when the two teams last met. Scarborough recently added Aaron Best and Michael Foster. Foster had 12 points and eight rebounds in his debut game and provided inside presence. “He came off the plane, gave us great energy … was a real rock for us down the stretch,” head coach Mike De Giorgio said. “He did everything we asked him to do today.” The exciting Sunday afternoon game kept NBA champions Bennedict Mathurin and Lu Dort - in attendance - on the edge of their seats. Montreal punched first in the game, getting up to an early 15-point lead in the first quarter. Scarborough quickly turned the tide in their favour, but Montreal regained their momentum by halftime. Montreal, however, fell into a hole in the third quarter, losing 28-13. Scarborough started to relentlessly attack the rim, which gave them frequent trips to the free throw line. Montreal got some consecutive stops and kept fighting back, but a baseline drive by Walker and his ensuing pass out to a cutting Foster gave Scarborough a nine-point lead. Terquavion Smith was pivotal, finishing with 21 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. He was often an answer to Tavian Dunn-Martin and dashed Montreal’s hopes of a comeback. Montreal head coach Jermaine Small said that overreliance on three-point shooting in the third contributed to them being in a hole. “Not settling for three-pointers. I think we took eight straight, that’s definitely not in the game plan,” he said. He added that the most important part of getting out of that rut was “relying more on our defence than our offense.” Even after a Jaden Campbell three and Best’s layup pushed Scarborough’s lead up to 12 in the fourth, Montreal kept fighting back. In a last-ditch effort, Guerrier made a hook shot, hit a three, followed his own missed three-pointer and scored at the basket. Guerrier and Dunn-Martin combined for 54 of Montreal’s 89 points. TDM (28 points and eight assists) bailed his team out countless times, but Michael Diggins’ three late in the game helped Montreal inch within four points heading into Target Time. Scarborough was relieved today after failing to punch their ticket to the playoffs earlier in a loss against the Brampton Honey Badgers. Their win today ended a two-game losing streak. Montreal is now 1-5 in the last six games. Box score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600657 Up next for both teams The Scarborough Shooting Stars (9-10) head east to face the Ottawa BlackJacks (8-10) at TD Place in CEBL’s lone Tuesday game on July 29. The Montreal Alliance (7-12) host the Brampton Honey Badgers (5-15) at Verdun Auditorium on Friday, August 1. Next CEBL action The Ottawa BlackJacks (8-10) host the Scarborough Shooting Stars (9-10) at TD Place in CEBL’s lone Tuesday game on July 29. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

A game between the two teams on opposite ends of the conference standings came down to the last shot, but it was the East-leading Niagara River Lions that were able to emerge victorious in their seventh straight game. Trailing by as many as 23 points in the second quarter, Niagara leaned on the CEBL’s all-time leading scorer in Ahmed Hill to get them back into the game and lead them to the 86-84 win over the Brampton Honey Badgers. Hill posted a team-high 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting for the River Lions, while Khalil Ahmad had 22 points. Eddie Ekiyor had 10 points and eight rebounds, and Nathan Cayo scored nine points to go with eight rebounds and five assists in the win. “Once he started going, we made sure we were getting him the looks,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said of his star player. “That’s Ahmed Hill. That’s the all-time leading scorer in the CEBL and we have him coming off our bench. He’s a phenomenal teammate and we knew there was a Med game coming, because there hasn’t been a Med game yet, and that was it today.” Niagara became just the fourth team to string together seven consecutive wins, the third longest streak in the history of the CEBL. Today’s victory also secured the River Lions a top-2 seed in the conference, ensuring – at worst – they’ll play host in the semifinal as they continue to vie for the conference’s automatic spot at Championship Weekend. “You have to approach every game the same, whether we clinch it in our next win or it gets clinched in the next loss before that, it doesn’t matter,” Raso added. “There’s a long time before championship weekend, and our task is a very difficult one: becoming the most improved team from now until championship weekend.” Brampton got off to a hot start, scoring the game’s first five points as part of a 20-9 run to start the game. Weatherspoon made his mark early, scoring nine points in the opening frame. But the biggest difference was made on the defensive end, with the home squad holding the opposition to 33-percent shooting and owning a 16-6 rebounding edge in the quarter. An 18-7 run to start the second quarter made it look like the game would soon be completely out of hand, but a timeout by the River Lions sparked a 16-5 run of their own, with Ahmad and Cayo combining to score 12 of those points and evening things up in the quarter to cut the lead back down to 12. With Brampton up 61-48 late in the third quarter, it was an 11-4 Niagara run – with every River Lion point being scored by Hill – that brought them back into the game. “I just wanted to be aggressive, my teammates wanted me to be aggressive, so I just wanted to find my shot. I hit two in a row, so I shot another one to get a good look,” Hill said of the stretch. “We love each other, we have fun playing with each other, but we also got on each other,” he said of his team’s recent success. “When you’re playing like ---, we tell each other and when we’re playing great, we tell each other – it’s the accountability.” The Honey Badgers led 77-76 heading into Target Time, but unfortunately for the home crowd, Hill saw it as an opportunity to take over again. He scored eight of his team’s 10 points in the decisive period, including the game-winning three-point shot. One of the determining factors in the game was Quinndary Weatherspoon’s foul trouble. The team’s leading scorer coming into the game, he had 19 points in the first half before being limited to the bench for the majority of the second half. He ended up with a game-high 28 points, while Ali Sow filled in admirably in his role to contribute 12 points off the bench. Bryson Williams had eight points and 11 rebounds, and Prince Oduro had six points and 12 boards. “I thought we had that one and we let it slip,” Oduro said. “There were some unfortunate events: (Weatherspoon)’s foul troubles, me getting hurt. Stuff like that is really out of our control, but we can do a better job of focusing on what we can control.” The loss was Brampton’s eighth in their last nine games after they snapped a seven-game losing streak last time out. With their positioning in the standings, they have to win out their remaining three games and hope for some help from the teams above them in order to make the playoffs. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600655 Up next for both teams The Brampton Honey Badgers start a three-game road trip to finish out their season against the Montreal Alliance on August 1. The Niagara River Lions will play their final home game of the season against the Ottawa BlackJacks on July 31. Next CEBL action The Scarborough Shooting Stars take on the Ottawa BlackJacks on July 29 in a game pivotal to both teams playoffs hopes, streaming live on CEBL+ and TSN+. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

Wisconsin native joins the Shooting Stars with NBA Summer League and G League experience

The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6-foot-9 Canadian forward Meshack Lufile, whose deal was finalized ahead of the team’s July 26 transaction deadline. The 32-year-old Burlington, Ontario native started the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season with the Ottawa Blackjacks where he averaged 7.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 7 games. “Meshack is a veteran Canadian 5 man, who will bring a veteran presence and depth to our team for our playoff run”, said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “He’s a quality basketball player who is familiar with our team and organization, and we are glad to have him for the rest of the season.” Lufile is no stranger to the CEBL having suited up for the Guelph Nighthawks (now Calgary Surge ), Newfoundland Growlers, Edmonton Stingers , Scarborough Shooting Stars , and Ottawa Blackjacks . Lufile’s eight-year professional career has taken him overseas playing in The Netherlands, Romania and most recently KTP Basket of the Finnish Korisliiga League where he finished first in blocks (26), second in rebounds (154), third in points (335) and fifth in assists (42). Prior to his professional career, Lufile played for Cape Breton University from 2011 to 2016 where he was named to the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) First All-Star Team in 2014–15 and earned AUS Defensive Player of the Year honours in 2015–16. Lufile is part of a basketball family, with three of his brothers having CEBL experience. Meshack joins his brother Elijah currently on the River Lions,, while Abednego and Chadrack previously suited up for the Guelph franchise during the 2019 season. “I’m excited to be part of an organization that has championship pedigree, and learning from a great group of guys. I’m hoping to bring a veteran presence, hard work ethic and a low post threat to add to what they have already established”, said Lufiile, “I’m also excited to share the court with my brother, in what feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity.” The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL and the league's reigning champions. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information. ###

While the season may not have gone the way the Saskatchewan Rattlers would have hoped, there’s no denying there were happy with how Jaden Bediako looked on Saturday afternoon. The Brampton native had a CEBL career high 23 points and tied the league rebound record with 20 to help lift the Rattlers over the Ottawa BlackJacks, 97-96. The team got strong performances across the board, with Devonte Bandoo posting a game high 24 points and Tevian Jones adding 21 points and six rebounds, including nailing the game-winning free throws. Nate Pierrel-Louis finished with nine points and 11 assists to finish just shy of a double-double. “We’ve talked about it from the start of the season: this whole season isn’t the end of the road for anybody here,” said Rattlers head coach Eric Magdanz, whose team entered the game mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. “We’re building to become better basketball players, to become better professionals, to set ourselves up for the next opportunity and to set a standard and a culture for our program. A big reason why I was brought on is to give some of that culture setting. I’ve preached that all year and the guys have bought in. We got a good group of professionals.” Despite his obvious dominance on the court, both player and coach were unaware that Bediako was approaching – and eventually met – the CEBL rebounding record until after the game. “I didn’t even know that, but now I’m mad. I should have got 21,” Bediako joked after learning of his record. “That’s my game. It’s been my game since I was at Seton Hall in the Big East,” he continued. “I led the Big East in (offensive rebounds), and then my first year (in the CEBL), for the last six games, I averaged four a game. It’s been a part of my game’s repertoire even overseas. It’s a mental thing.” “We’ve been working with Jaden all year,” Magdanz added. “There’s been times where we haven’t utilized him properly, and I think there’s times where we’ve asked Jaden to sort of grow into a bigger role. Over the course of the season we’ve challenged him. In the last month, he’s really stepped up to that challenge and changed his style of play and his force on the court.” Things got off to a back-and-forth start early in the first quarter, with the BlackJacks looking to punch their ticket to the postseason and the Rattlers determined to make sure that didn’t come at their expense. A 15-9 Saskatchewan lead was erased by a 14-2 Ottawa run, before the away team rattled off seven straight to take a 24-23 lead into the break. The points kept coming in the second quarter with both teams piling up 28 in the period. A 12-4 run by the BlackJacks would put them up by as much as seven, but the Rattlers would storm back to retake the lead at halftime. Jones led the way for the Rattlers with 17 points in the half, while Moore had 15 for the BlackJacks and finished one rebound shy of the early double-double. Things would remain close until an 8-2 run by Saskatchewan would give them a 71-62 advantage, which would by answered by an Ottawa run to make the game 74-70 going into the final period. The teams would trade blows all the way through the final quarter to eventually set up a next basket wins scenario. With the game on the line, Jones drove the ball in from the three-point line and was fouled on his way to the net, setting up the game winning shot. The BlackJacks entered the game at the bottom of the league in terms of rebounding. That was something that the Rattlers joined a long list of teams to take advantage of against Ottawa, and BlackJacks head coach Dave DeAveiro admitted needed to be addressed. “Our toughness is being challenged day in and day out. This is a toughness category,” he said of his team’s rebounding metrics. “This is not skill, this is toughness. You want the ball. These are one-on-one battles that we are not winning. This is who we are. Until we address this, we’re going to have situations where we’re playing really good defense and then we give up an offensive rebound, then we’re playing defense again – then another offensive rebound… I’m proud of my team. We fight and we fight and we fight. But there has to be more. We have to pay attention to detail. Detail wins games. We’re not great at detail.” Javonte Smart and Isaih Moore tied for the team lead with 22 points, with the latter adding 13 rebounds. Deng Adel had 16 points, six rebounds and eight assists, becoming the fifth CEBL player to surpass the 300-assist mark, as well as tying the team record for all-time steals. Keevan Veinot and Tyrell Tate both chipped in with 11 points. The loss prevented the BlackJacks from clinching a playoff berth, which they will do with their next win or Brampton’s next loss. The win snapped a three-game skid for the Rattlers, with their previous victory on July 5 also coming at the BlackJacks’ expense. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600653 Up next for both teams The Ottawa BlackJacks will play host to the Scarborough Shooting Stars on July 29 in a game that will be critical in determining both teams’ playoff positioning. The Saskatchewan Rattlers continue their four-game road trip in Winnipeg when they face the Sea Bears on August 1. Next CEBL action The East leading Niagara River Lions head to Brampton to face the Honey Badgers on July 27, streaming live on CEBL+ and TSN+. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

A few friendly bounces at the rim made all the difference for the Calgary Surge in a tense battle against rival Vancouver on Friday night (July 25). With the game on the line in Target Score Time at WinSport Events Centre, Calgary guard Evan Gilyard Jr. launched a deep three that rattled in after a few tense moments. It was Gilyard’s first triple of the game, but it lifted the Surge past the Bandits 98-96. The Surge have now swept the regular season series against the top-ranked Bandits, with both teams already locked into playoff spots in the Western Conference. The intensity of Friday’s contest mimicked a postseason showdown. Calgary head coach Kaleb Canales said the group executed the game plan on both ends of the floor with togetherness and championship poise. “We felt we had a great week of practice. We knew this was a heavyweight fight. We have a lot of respect for that team but I love our team and I love our squad and I love where we’re at,” Canales said. Both teams saw the return of NBA Summer League talent, with Vancouver’s Tyrese Samuel and Calgary’s Jameer Nelson Jr. making an impact after their time in Las Vegas. Nelson Jr. netted 21 points, including 15 in the first half, while tallying six rebounds, six assists and four steals. “[Jameer] was playing both ends at an … elite level. We absolutely love him and he was making plays when it was time to make plays,” Canales said. Sean Miller-Moore and Greg Brown III also had standout performances in the win. Miller-Moore dropped a game-high 27 points and hauled in eight rebounds, while Brown III notched a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double. Meanwhile, Samuel finished with a team-high 26 points for Vancouver on 12-15 shooting. He said he could’ve done better on the boards, but was happy with his return to the lineup overall. “It feels good to be back out there with the guys. Obviously, today wasn't the result we wanted but we're just gonna go back to the drawing board and just be ready for the playoffs,” Samuel said. Aussie big man Mitch Creek was also a force in the frontcourt with 25 points and 13 rebounds in the loss, while Kyle Mangas added 12 off the bench in his second game back from NBA Summer League. After three consecutive games with at least 15 threes, the Bandits cooled down on Friday with eight from long range at a 29 per cent clip. Calgary also capitalized on 18 Vancouver turnovers with 25 points. “Some turnovers and giving them some easy offensive rebounds I think was part of the problem for sure,” Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius said. The range of talent for both squads was on full display in the early stages of the game. The Bandits and Surge each started hot before the pace slowed. A catch-and-shoot triple from Corey Davis Jr. gave the Bandits their first lead at 16-14, and they stayed ahead 25-22 after 10 minutes. Vancouver extended its lead to nine in the second quarter following inside finishes from Creek, Zach Copeland, Samuel and a three from Davis Jr. However, Nelson Jr. willed the Surge back into the game with 11 points in the quarter. He showed off his complete game as well, stealing the rock on defence before dishing to Brown III in transition for a massive slam. After trailing for the entire second quarter, Calgary tied it up heading into the locker room with a buzzer-beating putback from Javonté Brown. Miller-Moore regained the lead for the Surge to kick off the third quarter with a transition dunk. Calgary locked in defensively for the remainder of the frame, limiting the high-powered Bandits' offence to just 18 points. Brown III added to his highlight reel late in the quarter, spinning for a left-handed dunk on Kur Jongkuch that put him on the free throw line as well. Down four points entering the final quarter, Creek and Samuel went to work inside for Vancouver. The frontcourt duo combined for 17 points before Target Score Time to knot the game at 87, but Brown III finished a putback to give Calgary a two-point advantage heading into the final stretch. The bigs continued to duel in Target Score Time, with Samuel opening the scoring before Brown III showed his versatility, connecting on back-to-back threes and rejecting Creek on the other end. Calgary missed multiple shots for the win, and Samuel added another layup before fouling out. A putback from Creek vaulted Vancouver back in front at 96-95, putting both teams a bucket away from victory. On the following possession, Gilyard did his best Kawhi Leonard impression to win the game with a deep three that needed multiple bounces before dropping. Box Score  https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600650 Up next for both teams Calgary hosts Winnipeg on Sunday in another Western Conference showdown, while Vancouver has a week off before visiting Edmonton next Friday (Aug. 1). Next CEBL action Saskatchewan and Ottawa meet in the nation’s capital on Saturday (July 26) in the lone game of the day. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

“What’s my name?” Booster Juice Player of the Game and Edmonton Stinger star Scottie Lindsey asked his teammates after the game. “Big Shot Scott!” “Scottie Too Hottie!” his teammates yelled at the camera. “We needed this win. We’re trying to get a home game for the playoffs and we want to be right back here in a couple weeks,” Lindsey pointed down to the Canada Life Centre floor. The Winnipeg Sea Bears were only within three points of Target Score, while Edmonton trailed by seven. Two free throws by Winnipeg’s Trevon Scott inched them within one, but Sean East buried a three, followed by Lindsey’s triple put the game away, 95-92, in front of 7,142 stunned fans inside Canada Life Centre. Edmonton has only lost against Vancouver in July, and stole the game from Winnipeg. Now, they are on an 8-1 stretch. When asked what Edmonton head coach Jordan Baker wanted to improve upon, “Wow, there’s a lot,” he said. “I think our defensive rebounding, we needed to do a better job. They got a lot of second-chance opportunities … but it was nice to come out with a win.” Winnipeg was plus-two in second chance points and grabbed 18 offensive boards. But the three consecutive triples made by Edmonton in the fourth quarter was a harbinger of what was to come for Winnipeg. Lindsey had a smooth crossover and hit a big three to make it a three-point game. Then, Edmonton took full advantage of the attention Lindsey attracted as he swung the ball out to Mike Nuga for another three. Elijah Miller dribbled side-to-side and handed the ball off to Lindsey, who lifted perfectly from the corner to splash another for a one-point lead. Lindsey finished with a game-high 26 points, shooting six-for-11 from downtown, and nine rebounds. Miller hit two big free throws right before Target Time. Sean East II (game total 19 points) also kept them in the game when it mattered most. He had a tough finish as he drove on Simi Shitu, tying the game at 86 apiece. Winnipeg head coach Mike Taylor credited Edmonton’s pace of play in the first half and Edmonton’s Keon Ambrose-Hylton (19 points on nine-for-15 shooting) for giving Winnipeg a lot of pressure in the first half. The high scoring first half – both teams shooting 52% from the field – gave it an almost All-Star Game-like feel. “I thought our team put out a great effort. We put ourselves where we needed to be, but when it comes down to winning time possessions, we gotta do a better job,” he said. “There’s no way we can come out of a timeout with our defensive coverages in place and have breakdowns that cost us the game.” In a game where two teams constantly traded baskets, the details mattered. Trevon Scott had his highest scoring game this season with a 25-point, 10-rebound double-double performance. He shot nine-for-17 from the field. His highlight plays consisted of bumping Lindsey in the paint and turning around for a fadeaway jumper that screamed “Koobee!” He also flew inside for a huge fourth quarter dunk off Emmanuel Akot’s miss. Akot had 15 points and made two consecutive baskets to give Winnipeg their first five-point lead in the second half. Simi Shittu had an impressive game, finishing with a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double performance. He even showed some point forward skills, taking Nick Hornsby off the dribble and pushed in a basket for a 63-61 lead. Will Richardson was the fourth Winnipeg player to finish in double-digit scoring, posting up 18 points on seven-for-13 shooting. He had a key play in the last 53 seconds of the third quarter, finishing through contact and making the free throw. He took a play out of East’s foul-drawing playbook in Target Time and got to the line, but missed his second free throw. Box score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600646 Up next for both teams The Edmonton Stingers (12-7) return home to host the Vancouver Bandits (15-4) at Edmonton EXPO Centre on Friday, August 1. The Winnipeg Sea Bears (7-11) hit the road and face the Calgary Surge (12-5) at WinSport Event Centre on Sunday, July 27. Next CEBL action Tomorrow’s lone CEBL game will Tomorrow - July 26 - Saskatchewan 4-14 at Ottawa 8-9 at TD Place . Only one game For the full 20 25 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

The Scarborough Shooting Stars' path to a playoff berth entering Friday was clear: win and you’re in. None of which mattered to the Brampton Honey Badgers, however, as they picked up a 96-89 win over their GTA rivals to spoil those plans. Brampton’s victory not only snapped a seven-game skid, now 5-15 on the season, but it also aided its chances of making a run to the playoffs. While the Honey Badgers were busy stopping the Shooting Stars from clinching a post-season spot, they were helped in their playoff quest by the Niagara River Lions, who rallied past the Montreal Alliance earlier in the night to keep Brampton’s hopes mathematically alive. Koby McEwen led the Honey Badgers in their pivotal win, scoring 29 points while going 9-for-9 from the free throw line to go with two assists and two steals. Not far behind was Quinndary Weatherspoon, who chipped in 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting with three rebounds, four assists and two steals. Meanwhile, Prince Oduro had one of his best showings of the season with 17 points on 8-of-16 shooting to go with 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Rounding out Brampton’s double-digit scoring efforts was Yaw Obeng-Mensah off the bench with his 12 points and nine rebounds. “We played really hard today,” Oduro explained after the win. “We brought good intensity, and it was also good to see the ball movement … a really good team win today.” All of which was made more impressive by the fact that the Honey Badgers were missing David Muenkat and Marcus Carr, the team’s Nos. 2 and 3 scorers heading into the contest. On the other side, the Shooting Stars' second consecutive loss dropped them to 9-9 on the season and out of a tie for second in the East with the Ottawa BlackJacks. Terquavion Smith did most of Scarborough’s damage on the night as he racked up 27 points on 8-of-16 shooting to go with nine rebounds, a steal and two blocks. The import also made 5-of-9 triples, two shy of tying the franchise record. Behind him was Cat Barber with 18 points and six assists, while Anthony Walker added 12 points, five rebounds and two steals. “An unacceptable loss,” Shooting Stars head coach Mike De Giorgio said post-game. “(Our) energy and effort waxed and waned throughout the game … let them come back, let them stay close. Kudos to them, they made shots, but an unacceptable loss on our part.” It’s no secret that one of Scarborough’s main advantages in the season series against Brampton — previously leading 2-0 before Friday’s tilt, the final regular-season matchup between the two sides — was its production from distance. The Shooting Stars had shot 36 per cent from beyond the arc and averaged 11.5 triples in their previous two meetings with the Honey Badgers. And sure enough, those trends continued on Friday as Scarborough opened the game by making six of its first seven three-point attempts en route to an 8-of-12 effort from beyond the arc through 10 minutes. Leading that charge — as the Shooting Stars carved out a 34-20 lead following the first quarter — was Barber, who started a torrid 4-of-4 from distance as he spearheaded a 20-3 run midway through the frame. Unlike previous matchups, however, the Honey Badgers were able to reclaim momentum after losing it early. Remarkably, flipping what was a 14-point deficit after the first into a 52-51 lead at halftime after outscoring the Shooting Stars 32-17 in the second. The frame included an 11-2 run and a 6-0 finish as Brampton took charge headed into the break. “We did a good job of weathering the storm in the first quarter,” Honey Badgers head coach Sheldon Cassimy said post-game. “Scarborough came out and they were making a lot of shots, maybe in the past we might’ve crumbled, but we fought back.” Part of that swing was Scarborough’s hot shooting from the first fizzling out as the team shot 2-of-10 from distance throughout the second. “Once we were able to get stops — they were shooting lights out — but once we were able to get stops, it helped us get out in transition a little bit … and that’s what I think helped us,” Cassimy added. Another catalyst for that comeback was Oduro, who scored eight points in the quarter as part of 12 points at halftime on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting. All of his points came inside the paint, indicative of the Honey Badgers' collective success scoring up close, as they were a plus-10 (26-16) inside the key through 20 minutes. They’d finish plus-16 in the paint (44-28). “Just trusting (my teammates’) passes,” Oduro said when asked about his strong performance. “The season hasn’t gone how we wanted … but I still think I’m one of the best bigs in this league, so I’m still going to come out and play the same way and let the work show.” Brampton carried its narrow one-point advantage into the fourth (72-71) after a stalemate of a third quarter. And in the decisive 10 minutes, the Honey Badgers eked out the pivotal victory largely by dominating the possession battle. Once the dust settled on a back-and-forth final frame, the Shooting Stars had taken 15 fewer field goal attempts. An outcome made possible largely due to Brampton’s success on the glass (plus-11). All the while, the Honey Badgers capitalized on the Shooting Stars' 16 turnovers on the night to the tune of a 27-13 edge in points off those giveaways. “We didn’t defend at a high enough level, we turned the ball over for easy scores on their part and their guys made a bunch of those shots,” De Giorgio said. The Honey Badgers were also helped by the fact that their starting backcourt of McEwen and Weatherspoon combined to score 19 of the team’s final 21 points, including all 10 in Target Score Time. McEwen did his work first, nailing a floater and then a triple, to which Weatherspoon matched with a mid-range jumper and then a three to end the ball game. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600644 Up next Both squads return to action on Sunday, starting with the Honey Badgers staying put in Brampton to host the defending champion River Lions . Meanwhile, the Shooting Stars will visit the Alliance for their third of four straight road games. Next CEBL action Just one game is on the docket for Saturday as the Saskatchewan Rattlers head to Ottawa to take on the BlackJacks. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

Down to their last gasp, the Niagara River Lions proved yet again why they are the defending champions. The River Lions mounted an insane 10-0 game-ending run to stun the Montreal Alliance on Friday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont., roaring back to pull a 91-89 victory from the jaws of defeat. Montreal — which trailed by 16 early — was two points away from a shocking comeback of its own but failed to convert on three consecutive possessions. Instead, two-time Clutch Player of the Year Khalil Ahmad sparked yet another defining night for Niagara, which, somehow, earned its franchise record-tying sixth straight win. “We just wanted it, simple as that. We buckled down on defence, we made shots on offence and we got the win,” Ahmad told sideline reporter Esfandiar Baraheni after the game. The East-leading River Lions improved to 13-5 on the season. Montreal, which could have clinched a playoff spot with a win and a Brampton loss to Scarborough, fell to 7-10. Meanwhile, Niagara’s dominance over Montreal marches on: the River Lions moved to 10-1 all-time against the Alliance, including an emphatic season series sweep this year. Montreal seemed well on its way to a signature victory as it led 82-75 when the clock stopped for Target Score Time. But River Lions star Khalil Ahmad responded with a fadeaway three-pointer from one corner to start the final phase of the game — then, after a Tavis Smith layup, he hit one from the other side of the court, too, to cut Niagara’s deficit to three. “No words for it, honestly,” Ahmad said. “When Target Time starts, it's a different mode.” As they had all game to that point, the Alliance punched back when a Smith steal and ensuing Quincy Guerrier layup put them four points away from victory. Montreal eventually pulled within two, and an inspiring comeback win seemed all but settled. Suddenly, though, the Alliance could not buy a basket. Meanwhile, an 8-0 River Lions run — an and-one from Ron Curry followed by another Ahmad triple and an Ahmed Hill dunk — put both teams within a bucket of victory. Then, a Montreal turnover gifted Niagara the ball, and head coach Victor Raso called timeout. Ahmad missed a three-point attempt, but Nathan Cayo collected the rebound and kicked to Hill, who darted to the rim, took contact and made a diving layup to clinch the win — and send the Alliance home stunned. “Ahmed played off the catch and just had an awesome attack to the rim. I mean, Ahmed struggled a bit to start the game, but that's a good feeling, playing against his former team, doing that,” head coach Victor Raso said. Raso said it was a “championship-calibre” win. “There's a no-give-up mentality with these guys, and they just believe. They believe that they can win every game they've been in. Like, even when we weren't playing well early this year, there's never a given in Target Time. If they haven't hit the target, then these guys feel like they can win,” Raso said. Meanwhile, Alliance head coach Jermaine Small said the loss was a continuation of Montreal’s woes throughout the year. “We've been saying kind of the theme this year is we felt like they didn't beat us, we beat ourselves. But like I said, we don't have time to regret and stuff. We’ve got to get back on the bus,” Small said. Ahmad paced the River Lions with 29 points — including nine in Target Time — to go with five rebounds and five assists. Curry, who played a major part in the comeback on the defensive end, also contributed offensively with 19 points in addition to four rebounds and three assists. Cayo was the only other River Lion to reach double-figure scoring, finishing the contest with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists. The River Lions are now that much closer to booking their ticket to Winnipeg for Championship Weekend as the No. 1 seed in the East. “We just got to keep chipping away. We're trying to get the first-overall seed, and that win goes a long way to doing that,” Raso said. Starting Niagara guard and captain Kimbal Mackenzie missed the game. The loss for Montreal could sting extra badly after it had ended an ugly seven-game skid with a win over the Ottawa BlackJacks two nights earlier. Small said his team will rue its free-throw shooting. The Alliance shot just 10-for-20 from the charity stripe, including an 0-for-7 first half. “We had our opportunity to win. They made a great comeback. I just kind of talked about [how] the free-throw shooting really, really hurt us. But, like I told our guys, you win or you learn, and there's a lot of growth,” Small said. “No one’s going to feel sorry for us. Massive game Sunday [against the Scarborough Shooting Stars], so we got to prepare and shoot free throws tomorrow.” The Alliance were led offensively by Smith, who found a second-half spark — including a third-quarter buzzer-beater — to finish with 19 points along with five assists and four steals. Fellow reserve Michael Diggins Jr. poured in 17 points off the bench with five rebounds, while starter Brandon Porter added 11 points and six rebounds. The River Lions roared to an early 10-0 lead to start the game, including seven points from Ahmad alone. Niagara held a 27-18 advantage after the first frame, but Montreal fought back to within six points at halftime. Montreal then wrestled the lead away from Niagara in the third quarter, punctuated by the Smith triple to enter the fourth up 64-62. A playoff-like atmosphere only intensified as the teams exchanged words midway through the fourth quarter when Curry got into Smith’s face after taking a reach-in foul. One technical foul and two unsportsmanlike penalties were handed out. Then, the real madness ensued. And by the time the final buzzer had sounded, CEBL order had been restored in a way. The River Lions, yet again, were back on top. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600669 Up Next Both teams return to action Sunday when Niagara visits the Brampton Honey Badgers while Montreal hosts the Shooting Stars. Next CEBL Action Just one game is on the docket for Saturday as the Saskatchewan Rattlers head to Ottawa to take on the BlackJacks. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

Former Cincinnati standout and All-AAC Player of the Year has 158 games of pro experience including in the NBA and NBA G League

The first thing that comes to Khalil Ahmad’s mind when he thinks back on his maiden CEBL title is a miss. Ahmad, long since known as the league’s Clutch King, was absent only the Championship Trophy to complete his wide-ranging, impressive set of league accomplishments. Yet with a chance to ice the Niagara River Lions’ first title, the sharp-shooting, cool-as-a-cucumber Corona, Calif., native missed a free throw. Before Ahmad knew it, then-Vancouver Bandits guard Koby McEwen nailed a three-pointer on the other end, and both teams were one point away from victory. But Ahmad had a shot at redemption. “And then it was kind of just, there was no play. It wasn't a play call. Just make something happen. And finished the play, got the chip. So that was all she wrote,” Ahmad recalled in a recent interview. Except, well, the story didn’t end there. A celebration ensued in Montreal as one of the CEBL’s most storied teams finally earned its first banner. Now, Ahmad and the River Lions are on the hunt to become the second team in league history to successfully run it back. At 12-5, Niagara leads the Eastern Conference by four games and has already punched its playoff ticket. “For guys to be able to sacrifice [their overseas off-season] and come back and compete and be together for something bigger than themselves, I think that's a testament to our togetherness and the amazing club that we have,” Ahmad said. Ahmad, 28, is in his fourth season with the River Lions, and quickly climbing the all-time league leaderboards. Somewhat ironically, given how the 2024 Finals played out, Ahmad has made more free throws and nailed more Target Score Winners than anyone in league history. He is also the CEBL’s all-time steals leader. It’s those finishes, though, that have become Ahmad’s calling card. His 28 winners are 10 more than second-place Cat Barber in the all-time ranks. He said compounding confidence in those situations has helped him continue to succeed. “Confidence can take you places you would've never expected to go before and have you do things you never expected to do,” he said. Growing up in California, it’s impossible that Ahmad would have ever expected to become the face of a Canadian professional basketball league. The CEBL didn’t even exist when Ahmad starred at Centennial High School in Corona. He went on to play four years at Cal State Fullerton, breaking the 1,000-point barrier for his career — as he’s now done in the CEBL, too — and reaching the NCAA tournament in 2018, when his 15th-seeded Titans fell to No. 2 Purdue. Still, Ahmad carries that cool southern California swagger with him even as he competes in southern Ontario. “I definitely would say that I'm pretty nonchalant as a person. My friends tell me that all the time, but it helps a lot, you know? I can keep a cool head, stay focused, stay in the moment, don't get too high, don't get too low. And I think that's the perfect level to be at,” Ahmad said. Head coach Victor Raso has been with Ahmad for all four years of his CEBL journey. They’ve experienced those up and downs together and shared the joy of that first championship one year ago in Montreal. For Raso, it’s comforting knowing he has such a reliable star player. “Like that that musician or painter, they're themselves in their own world but when they're doing the craft it's like this [different] person comes out and that's Khalil,” Raso said. “Since Day 1, he's a mental monster and he's physically gifted, he works hard and he's just coachable. And we've had our struggles too, we've gone through losses and recommitted to each other, each and every year. And to see him last year just a switch flip mentally, that he was going to be super solid, and he was going to show everyone that he's a winner … it's like, this is an unbelievable basketball player.” Outside of the court, Ahmad holds his Japanese heritage close to his heart. His father was born there — and he’s honoured his background with tattoos, in addition to learning the culture through his grandmother, through books and through cooking. If you’re wondering, Ahmad says his specialty is a Japanese-inspired salmon recipe. He said his hope is to one day represent Japan as a basketball player on the national team, though there are certain citizenship hurdles he still must jump through. “If I can get the opportunity to make that happen, that would be amazing,” he said. For now, Ahmad’s sights sets are set on a second consecutive title. His River Lions are once again among the league’s top teams — despite a rocky start to the season, they’ve won five straight to re-establish themselves as a legitimate threat. A trip to Winnipeg for Championship Weekend in August is starting to feel likelier than not. After a recent victory, in which the River Lions clinched a playoff spot, Raso said they weren’t done there. “We wanna win the East. We wanna win the championship,” he said. “Our standards are much higher. We expect to make the playoffs.” Likewise, Ahmad is focused on one goal only. “Hey, we're trying to run it back.” - CEBL -

The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that they have re-signed forward Yaw Obeng-Mensah and have picked up former Ottawa BlackJack Wheza Panzo for the remainder of the season. With five games remaining in the 2025 regular season, the Honey Badgers are rounding out their roster as some players have headed back overseas, including David Muenkat and Marcus Carr. Yaw Obeng-Mensah spent the entire 2024 season with the Honey Badgers and averaged 5.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 15.8 minutes in 19 games. He finished the season with the best game of his professional career, recording 25 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks, and one steal versus Ottawa on July 29. Since his last stint with the team, the Niagara University product has spent time with London in the Basketball Super League (BSL) and Independ in Argentina. Now he will get a chance to play right back where his career started. “Yaw’s energy will be a welcome presence to the team for the remainder of the season,” said Honey Badgers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Jermaine Anderson. “He’s familiar with our system, and he will play with passion and grit regardless of our position in the standings. Wheza Panzo on the other hand is currently playing through his first professional season of basketball. Coming from Iona University, the Mississauga-native signed with the Ottawa BlackJacks and played with them through their first four games of the season. The sharpshooter will now join the Honey Badgers to close the CEBL season. Panzo is a sharpshooter. He shot .395 from distance throughout his five-year collegiate career and currently holds the single game three-point record at Stetson University where he made 10 threes in a career-high 30-point effort vs. Webber International University on December 10, 2022. “Similar to Yaw, we’re familiar with Wheza and his ability to space the floor” said Anderson. “As players leave for their respective teams and national team duties, Wheza will have the opportunity to prove himself in the last five games of the season.” Overall, the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 24.6 minutes in 154 games with Iona (2023-2024) & Stetson (2019-2023). The Honey Badgers 2025 campaign is set to continue this Friday at the CAA Centre for Caribbean Night where Obeng-Mensah and Panzo will make their season debuts with the team. This is followed by the Honey Badgers’ final home game of the season where they will face the Niagara River Lions on July 27 on Fan Appreciation Day. In the spirit of the end of the regular season, please find a Buy One, Get One free offer here for the Honey Badgers last two home games. We look forward to seeing you at the CAA Centre! ###  About the Brampton Honey Badgers One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit honeybadgers.ca .

Montreal Alliance guard Tavis “Pistol” Smith ended the game the same way he started it. Montreal only had a three-point lead going into Target Time, but it was the return of “Pistol” Smith and his stepback three-point marksmanship that put the game away, 87-79, for Montreal against the Ottawa BlackJacks on Wednesday. “I literally asked him if he wanted to come back yesterday morning,” Montreal head coach Jermaine Small admitted. “I think he gives TDM (Tavian Dunn-Martin) a break in handling the ball…And I mean I think he was clutch and he played really good defence.” Smith, who played for the Alliance earlier this season, finished with a game-high 26 points on four-for-seven three-point shooting and made an immediate impact in his return to the Montreal lineup. Coming off the bench, he put his biggest stamp on the game in the third quarter. This was mostly a two-possession game, so any momentum-shifting plays to break parity was desperately needed. Smith answered the call by stripping Ottawa’s Keevan Veinot and hitting a triple. Ottawa’s Deng Adel answered back with a mid-range jumper, but Smith hit another three to give Montreal a two-point lead. Then, he ended the third frame by switching hands mid-air in a MJ-esque way, and capitalized on Ottawa’s turnover by throwing down a dunk to give Montreal a six-point lead going into the final frame. That would set the tone for Montreal’s captain Quincy Guerrier, fresh off Summer League with the Toronto Raptors, to rise to the occasion. He not only became an one-man offensive rebounding machine, he also put Veinot on his hip and scored inside for a bucket to build a five-point lead before Target Time. Guerrier finished with a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double performance. But Montreal could not rest as Javonte Smart answered with a clutch two of his own for Ottawa. Another eurostep lay-up by Smart in Target Time would make it a one-point game, but six consecutive free throws made by TDM, Smith and Osawe built a seven-point lead and they were within three points of the Target Score. Montreal did not have to rely as much on TDM, who finished with 10 points and seven assists. Coach Small credited Osawe – who had a 15-point, 10-point double-double – for setting tone early on the glass and pushing Smart inside. Smart and Isiah Moore combined for 39 points for the BlackJacks and were pivotal in keeping the game close throughout. “Our coach has been adamant about me driving to the basket and trying to draw fouls, so I’ve just been trying to follow that game plan and get to the free throw line and get going early,” said Moore at halftime. Ottawa head coach David DeAveiro credited Small’s tactics in the third quarter. “I think they did a really good job defensively when Coach went to a small line-up,” he said. “I thought that changed the game a little bit and we didn’t really have an answer for that. My hat goes off.” Ottawa lost the rebounding battle 48-37 and DeAveiro admitted to feeling the absence of Zane Waterman. The East remains in a tight playoff race. While Montreal looks to continue improving its record, Ottawa will be fighting neck-and-neck with Scarborough for the second seed. Box score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600666 Up next for both teams Montreal (7-10) will head to Meridian Centre in St. Catharines on Friday night for a tilt with the East-leading Niagara River Lions (12-5). The BlackJacks (8-9) host the Saskatchewan Rattlers (4-14) at TD Place in the lone CEBL game on Saturday, July 26. Next CEBL action There will be a quadruple header on Friday, July 25. In addition to Ottawa-Niagara, the Brampton Honey Badgers (4-15) host Scarborough (8-9) at CAA Centre; Winnipeg Sea Bears (7-10) host the Edmonton Stingers (11-7) at Canada Life Centre; and Calgary Surge (12-5) host Vancouver Bandits (15-4) at WinSport Event Centre. For the full 20 25 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday the extension of Kal Tire’s national partnership through the 2027 season, which will see the Official Tire Expert of the CEBL expand its rights to become the presenting partner of the league’s Western Conference and Western Conference Playoffs. The expansion of Kal Tire’s partnership with the CEBL reinforces one of Canada’s largest independent tire retailer’s support of Canadian basketball and further ingrains its commitment to the CEBL’s five Western Conference teams. As part of this landmark partnership, Kal Tire and its 197 locations in Western Canada will support the upcoming Western Conference Playoffs through an enhanced fan experience and brand campaign. “Kal Tire is an incredible partner of the CEBL, and we’re proud to see their commitment grow with the presenting rights to our Western Conference,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “Their ongoing support strengthens our connection and fuels the passion of basketball fans across Canada, especially those cheering on our Western teams.” “We’re thrilled to deepen our partnership with the CEBL as the presenting partner of the Western Conference,” said Jamie Shillingford, Kal Tire’s Marketing Manager, Stores. “Basketball is growing rapidly across Canada, and this partnership allows us to connect with fans in a meaningful way — especially in the communities where our team members live and work. We’re proud to support a league that champions Canadian talent and brings such incredible energy to the court and communities.” Fans can catch the remainder of the CEBL’s 2025 regular season and the race for playoff positioning in the Western Conference presented by Kal Tire, live in Canada on TSN, CEBL+, and TSN+, and in the United States on NLSE. The Western Conference Playoffs presented by Kal Tire begin Thursday, August 14, with the Play-In Game, followed by the Semifinal on Saturday, August 16, where the second-place team will host the Play-In winner. The 2025 CEBL Playoffs will culminate at Championship Weekend (CW25), hosted in Winnipeg from August 22–24. For ticket information for all CEBL games, visit cebl.ca/tickets and cebl.ca/cw25/tickets . - 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 73% of its rosters being Canadian and more than 15 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 . About Kal Tire Kal Tire is one of Canada's largest independent tire dealers and one of North America's largest commercial tire dealers. Kal Tire's Mining Tire Group is an international leader in mining tire service and supply, servicing more than 150 mine sites across five continents. The company has warehouse facilities across Canada servicing more than 270 Kal Tire retail and commercial stores. Kal Tire owns and operates 11 truck tire retread facilities across Canada, plus six earthmover retreading facilities located in Canada, the United Kingdom, Chile, Ghana and Mexico. The company employs more than 6,500 team members. For more information, please visit Kaltire.com .

The Montréal Alliance announced today the return of dynamic guard Tavis “Pistol” Smith alongside the addition of veteran forward Sascha Kappos as the team bolsters its roster for the crucial final stretch of the regular season and playoff push. Smith, who began the 2025 season with the Alliance before being released due to roster construction rules, returns to Montréal. The Detroit native had emerged as one of the Alliance’s top offensive weapons during his initial tenure, bringing explosive scoring ability and playmaking skills that quickly made him a fan favourite at Verdun Auditorium. The 25-year-old guard originally joined the Alliance after a standout season with MBK Handlová in Slovakia's top division, where he averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists over 38 games. His offensive prowess was consistently on display, scoring double digits in every appearance including 17 games over 20 points, four games over 30 points, and a season-high 43-point explosion against Iskra Svit. “Coming back to Montreal feels like coming home,” said Smith. “I loved my time with the Alliance and our fans, and I’m excited to rejoin this group.” The Alliance also announced the signing of 6’10” forward Sascha Kappos, a two-time CEBL champion who reunites with head coach Jermaine Small after winning back-to-back titles with the Edmonton Stingers in 2020 and 2021. “Sascha is a welcome addition to the team,” said Small. “His experience in the league and within my system will make for a seamless transition.” Kappos returns to the CEBL after four seasons competing internationally, most recently averaging 12.8 points and 3.8 rebounds with Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rico’s premier league. During his collegiate career at Dalhousie University (2015-2020), Kappos earned Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Second Team All-Star honours while helping the Tigers capture four AUS championships and reach the national stage with U SPORTS bronze (2016-17) and silver (2019-20) medal performances.  In corresponding moves to make room for new additions, the Alliance announced the release of forwards O.D. Anosike and Abdullah Shittu. Anosike appeared in six games this season, averaging 9.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 19.9 minutes per game. Shittu contributed across seven appearances, averaging 2.6 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.9 assist in 8.7 minutes per contest. The Alliance organization thanks both players for their professionalism and contributions. The Alliance return to Verdun Auditorium this Wednesday, July 23 at 7:30 PM ET to host the Ottawa BlackJacks in a crucial division matchup. Tickets are available at alliancemontreal.ca/en-ca/tickets .

(Preview: Week 12) The finish line is in sight — but there is still plenty of race left to be run for teams across the league. Whether it’s to win the conference, earn a home playoff game or simply just get into the dance, much is still to be determined with three weeks remaining on the season. Up first this week, the Ottawa BlackJacks can punch their ticket to the playoffs with a win over rival Montréal Alliance on Wednesday. They would become the second team to clinch in the East, joining the first-place Niagara River Lions. The picture could become even clearer on Friday, when eight of the league’s 10 teams suit up for a quadruple-header. Riding a five-game winning streak, the River Lions can continue inching closer to an automatic berth into Championship Weekend with a win over the Alliance to tip things off. The defending champions appear to have hit their groove, while their Quebec counterparts have lost four straight, sinking to 6-10 overall and 2-10 since a fiery 4-0 start. Montréal’s travails have left last-place Brampton some semblance of hope — and the Honey Badgers will meet their provincial rival Scarborough Shooting Stars in Game 2. With a win, Scarborough can clinch a playoff spot as well, and while a recent loss left it four back of Niagara, it could still catch the River Lions atop the conference. It’s imperative for the Shooting Stars to take care of business against a last-place team – but you can bet Sheldon Cassimy’s Honey Badgers will come out desperately. Moving west, the Edmonton Stingers recently saw their rollicking seven-game winning streak get halted by the first-place Vancouver Bandits. The Stingers’ response on the road in Winnipeg in Game 3 — where they hope to return in about one month’s time — should be fascinating. Edmonton also must contend with a strong Calgary team for home-court advantage in the play-in game, where a Battle of Alberta seems like a near-lock. Given the nature of that rivalry, the location will be huge. Winnipeg will counter with a new addition in Canadian centre Jordy Tshimanga, and a mandate to show the rest of the league that it is a force to be reckoned with come Championship Weekend. Meanwhile, in the nightcap, Calgary faces Vancouver as it looks to strengthen its grip on second place. The Bandits have lost just four times all season — and two of those came against the Surge. Calgary clearly has the upper hand and can assert its dominance — leaving a speck of doubt in Vancouver’s mind should they meet in the playoffs — if it picks up another win. Yet the Bandits are rolling, having won four straight despite key Summer League losses. Vancouver, like Niagara in the East, is closing in on that No. 1 seed. Safe to say there is plenty on the line as coast-to-coast CEBL action is in full flight Friday. Record breakers Some numbers you should know… 6 – the River Lions’ next win would be its sixth straight, matching a franchise record. 17 — the Bandits have made 17 three-pointers in each of their last two games; their franchise record is 18. 131 — Saskatchewan’s Nate Pierre-Louis already has the single-season assists mark. 544 — Teddy Allen’s single-season points record is in jeopardy of being shattered by Edmonton’s Sean East II, who averages 23.5 per game on the season but needs just 20 per game over the last six to take over the mark. 1,509 — Cat Barber became the second player in league history on Sunday to eclipse the 1,500-point barrier for his career, including playoffs, joining Niagara’s Ahmed Hill in the exclusive club. River Lions guard Khalil Ahmad, who sits at 1,347, could be the next player to join the list. Weekly schedule (Nine games) Game #89 -- Wednesday, July 23 – OTT at MTL – 7:30 p.m. ET – Verdun Auditorium (RDS, CEBL+, TSN+) Game #90 – Friday, July 25 – MTL at NRL – 7 p.m. ET – Meridian Centre (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Game #91 – Friday, July 25 – SSS at BHB – 7:30 p.m. ET – CAA Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #92 – Friday, July 25 – EDM at WPG – 7:30 p.m. CDT / 6:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #93 – Friday, July 25 – VAN at CGY – 8 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET – WinSport Event Centre (CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Game #94 – Saturday, July 26 – SSK at OTT – 2 p.m. ET / noon CST – The Arena at TD Place (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #95 – Sunday, July 27 – NRL at BHB – 2 p.m. ET – CAA Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #96 – Sunday, July 27 – SSS at MTL – 3 p.m. ET – Verdun Auditorium (CEBL+, TSN+, RDS.ca, NLSE) Game #97 – Sunday, July 27 – WPG at CGY – 2 p.m. MT / 3 p.m. CDT / 4 p.m. ET – WinSport Event Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) For the full 2025 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .

After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Ottawa BlackJacks locked in on the defensive effort that has become their calling card and rode it to a 91–77 victory over the visiting Brampton Honey Badgers. Javonte Smart led the way with 28 points and six assists, while Isaih Moore had 22 points and a regular-season franchise-record 18 rebounds for the BlackJacks. “The first quarter, we really couldn’t find a flow defensively,” BlackJacks head coach Dave DeAveiro said after the game. “I think Shakur (Daniel) picking up two quick fouls… he gets our defense going. We usually put Shakur on their toughest offensive player, and not having him out there hurt us a little bit. We put him in for the second quarter, and I thought he did a really good job. We always have a chance to win the game when our defense is good.” DeAveiro added: “The guy I really want to acknowledge tonight is Christian (Rohlehr). He's been sitting and waiting for his turn, and he did a really good job for us tonight. Six points and eight rebounds is a really good game for a guy that’s been sitting.” The win brought the BlackJacks back to an even .500 record and moved them closer to clinching a playoff berth, which they can secure with either a win in their next game on Wednesday or a Brampton loss. Things got off to a fast start for both teams in a chirpy first quarter that saw 16 free throws awarded on 11 committed fouls. Ottawa led by as much as eight, but Brampton responded to cut the lead to 31–30 by quarter’s end. The game shifted in the second quarter, when the BlackJacks held the Honey Badgers to just 6-of-21 shooting from the field and only 13 points. “Even just looking at the box score, I feel like we could have shot the ball a bit better, been better on the offensive glass,” Brampton head coach Sheldon Cassimy said. “They have multiple guys that get on the glass. I feel like we were getting the initial stop and then just giving up those second-chance points. Isaih Moore did a great job on the offensive glass and finished off the game with 22 and 18. Not much you can coach about that, other than having heart and closing out possessions. “At times guys get deflated with the back and forth of what’s going on in the game that I don’t want to get in trouble for, but that’s how the game went for me.” Koby McEwan and Quinndary Weatherspoon tied for the team lead with 17 points for the Honey Badgers, while David Muenkat added 14 points and eight rebounds, including a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range. Brampton kept it close in the second quarter, but a 12–4 Ottawa run late in the frame gave the BlackJacks some breathing room. By the start of the second half, Ottawa came out with renewed energy and ensured the outcome was never in doubt. The loss extended Brampton’s losing streak to seven games. Their last win came on June 29 against the Niagara River Lions. “As soon as we got to the locker room, coach emphasized this was going to be a defensive half in order for us to pull away with the lead, and I think we really locked in on that in the second half,” Moore said. As for his record-setting rebound performance, Moore downplayed the individual accomplishment, instead focusing on the team’s larger goals. Still, he shared the mindset that drives his consistency. “Three things I tell myself religiously: I control my energy, my attitude, and my effort,” Moore said. “Those three things are my controllables. I can’t control missed shots and calls or stuff like that, so I really key in on those three things. I think my energy and my effort really help me get rebounds.” “The win is the most important,” he continued. “Right now, we’re trying to push for the playoffs. With seeding, we’re playing every game like it’s a playoff game for the last two or three weeks of the season.” “We’re in a tough stretch now. I think we have six games in 13 days,” DeAveiro said. “What’s really important here is rest. Our guys need to take care of their bodies and rest. This is the toughest stretch of the season coming up. We have to make sure our guys are fresh. We got something to play for. We’re trying to finish first or second so you get that bye and that home-court advantage. I think we’re all on the same page there, so that’s definitely on our minds.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600663 Up next for both teams The Ottawa BlackJacks head down the road to face the Montreal Alliance on their homecourt July 23. The Brampton Honey Badgers return home for the first time since July 11 to host the Scarborough Shooting Stars on July 25. Next CEBL action The Ottawa BlackJacks and Montreal Alliance meet in their second of four matchups this season on July 23, live on RDS, CEBL+ and TSN+. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -