CEBL NEWS ARTICLES
By Maggie Hsu
•
July 18, 2025
The Calgary Surge has booked its ticket to the playoffs for the third straight year with a 93-89 win over the Sea Bears in Winnipeg on Thursday night. Calgary has yet to miss the postseason since the franchise relocated from Guelph in 2022. The win moves the Surge to 12–6 on the season, making them the third team to clinch a spot in the 2025 CEBL playoffs. Meanwhile, the Sea Bears drop to 6–10. Greg Brown III led the charge with a double-double, posting 20 points and 10 rebounds. The former G-Leaguer has made an instant impact in his debut CEBL season, climbing past Vancouver’s Mitch Creek to take over second place in league scoring. Brown took over in the first half, keeping the Surge within striking distance during Winnipeg’s early offensive push. “My teammates have been helping me get to my spots and opening up the game for me,” Brown said on what has been the greatest factor in his success. “They keep talking to me, where the angles are, where the space is… they have been helping me this whole season.” “I watched Gremlins growing up, and they run when light comes,” Brown added, explaining his unconventional inspiration. “You always must show up when it matters and when the lights come on. I’ve always had that mentality from when I started playing until now.” While Brown stole the spotlight, the Surge’s success continues to come from balanced contributions across the roster. Four other players hit double figures, including 16 points off the bench from Jamorko Pickett — a testament to Calgary’s status as a multi-headed offensive monster that’s tough to slow down. Winnipeg Head Coach Mike Taylor stressed the importance of strong defensive execution to contain Calgary’s firepower, aiming to force them into transition and create opportunities on the other end. “I think we did a very good job executing our game plan,” Taylor said. “Controlling the tempo and trying to keep them out of transition for the majority of the game. But in terms of those crucial possessions, we’ve got to be better.” Simi Shittu finished the game with 19 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, including a valuable last-minute play in target time to set up Jalen Harris beyond the arc to bring the Sea Bears closer to the target score of 92. “I feel like we had the game,” Shittu reflected. “We made it as tough as we can for them, but at the end of the day, we can clean up things.” Although the Surge pulled away late, the Sea Bears made them earn it. Winnipeg scored 28 points off second-chance possessions and kept applying pressure throughout the game. Trevon Scott was limited to 10 points but dominated the boards with 16 rebounds — just three shy of the franchise record of 19 set by Shittu less than three weeks ago. The game stayed tight through three quarters, with both teams trading leads. Calgary led 22–21 after the first quarter, but Winnipeg struck early in the second. The Surge responded with an 11–3 run to regain control. Scott’s rebounding in the third quarter led directly to 11 of Winnipeg’s 21 points in the frame, helping the Sea Bears keep pace heading into the final period. In the fourth, Calgary’s depth and composure showed. The Surge limited Winnipeg to just 10 points before target time and built a six-point cushion before the clocks turned off. Calgary quickly rose to the occasion, extending the lead to 89–79, but Winnipeg surged back, capitalizing on missed shots and late fouls. A Jalen Harris three-pointer brought the Sea Bears within two, 91–89, just short of Harris’s 100th career point. However, Calgary slammed the door as Evan Gilyard Jr. hit a decisive field goal to seal the victory and deny Harris a final shot. “This is a tough loss,” Taylor said. “But it’s a type of loss that can turn into a positive when we use adversity to try to get better.” With the win, the Surge now look ahead to returning to the postseason this August and possibly a return to Canada Life Centre as Winnipeg prepares to host the 2025 Championship Weekend festivities. However, they remain focused on the task ahead: finishing the season strong and motivating each other until the end. “We always iterate from the start that we want to win a championship,” Brown said. “We want to take the mindset of ‘this is normal’ — this is what we’ve been talking about since day one, so don’t look up, keep your head down, and keep grinding.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600648 Up next Winnipeg hits the road for a Sunday matinee against the 6–9 Montreal Alliance. Calgary enjoys a well-earned week off before a crucial battle for the Western Conference’s top seed against the 13–4 Vancouver Bandits on Friday, July 25. Next CEBL action The only matchup over the next two days features the 4–13 Saskatchewan Rattlers squaring off against the league-leading Vancouver Bandits tomorrow night (Friday, July 18). For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -
By Alex Lough
•
July 18, 2025
After grinding it out in the first half, the Edmonton Stingers turned it on the final two quarters to power their way to an 87-85 victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks, extending their winning streak to seven straight games. The Stingers scored 52 points in the second half, powered by MVP-candidate Sean East II who was limited in the first thanks to foul trouble. He finished with 23 points and five assists, Keon Ambrose-Hylton also had 23 points to go along with 10 rebounds, and Scottie Lindsey added 13 points including three three-pointers. “He showed up in the second half,” Stingers head coach Jordan Baker said of his star. “Obviously in the first half, he was in some foul trouble. But he came back in a big way in the second half. He was great offensively, but I thought he was great defensively in our coverages and we certainly aren’t where we are without him in our lineup.” “We’re approaching every game down the stretch as a must win,” he continued. “Calgary is playing great, Vancouver is playing great. We’re in a situation where we’re going to have to see one of those teams – maybe both – in the [playoffs]. For us, our goal is to try to get into a first or second seed where we can host a playoff game and we can lean on our crowd in Edmonton.” As is often the case in basketball, the first half was a game of runs. Edmonton got off to a 16-12 lead, but an Ottawa timeout would equate to a 15-0 run that put them up by double-digits at the end of the quarter. They would extend their lead to as much as 12 being up 36-24, which featured a 9:40 stretch between the first and second quarter where the BlackJacks held the Stingers to shooting just 2-of-16 from the floor. Edmonton would answer with an 11-3 run of their own to cut the lead to four heading into the break. The road team continued their hot play coming out of the locker room, going on a 10-1 run to start the third quarter, totaling to outscore their opponents 21-4 during the entire stretch. Ottawa would answer with a 12-3 run before Zane Waterman was forced to leave the game with an injury in a pivotal moment of the game late in the third quarter. With the BlackJacks already undermanned due to Deng Adel sitting out due to illness, the home squad also found themselves undersized with the loss of their import big. Ambrose-Hylton would take full advantage, scoring 17 points in the second half. “I think from the jump, I go into every game trying to take over, trying to do what I can for the team,” he said afterwards. “I know most teams don’t have a guy that’s going to be running down the floor, up and down, one hundred percent of the time. I use that to my advantage in every game.” “They tell us everyday in practice to play hard and use our speed. We got a lot of players that might not be the tallest, but we know what we’re doing. We got a lot of dogs, and we play fast. When it comes to getting rebounds, we know what spots to be on the court. We got our guards tucking the elbows, we got our bigs going to the paint. We’re not just going in there running and dashing. We’re making sure to be in the right spots at the right times,” Ambrose-Hylton added. For the BlackJacks, Isaih Moore finished with a game-high 28 points and 15 rebounds, finishing two boards shy of tying the franchise regular season record. Javonte Smart posted a double-double with 19 points and a CEBL career high 10 assists – one shy of the team record, Waterman had 12 points and six rebounds before leaving, and Keevan Veinot – playing without a sleeve on his shoulder for the first time this season – showed off his health with a 13 point, six rebound, six assist game. The game was all tied up at 78 heading into Target Time, where a number of mistakes would ultimately prove costly for the BlackJacks on their home court. Most notably, a technical foul was assessed to Smart after a Moore foul on East, giving the latter an extra shot on the line which would prove to be critical as he drove to the lane and scored in the next possession for the win. “First of all, I’m proud of my guys, the way they competed,” BlackJacks head coach Dave DeAveiro said. “Being two guys down, I thought we fought, competed right to the end. There’s a lot of pride in that room, a lot of disappointment right now. We seem to struggle in terms of executing down the stretch, in Target Time. We continue to review it, and we’ll continue to get better. But when a tough loss like this happens, the most important thing is to stick together. Continue to believe in what you’re doing and continue to move forward.” “We did not execute the plan in the second half defensively,” he said of his team’s ultimate downfall. “Whether that’s fatigue – and that’s part of it – guys played a lot of minutes today. Javonte, Isaih. Guys played a lot of minutes out there. You’re tired, and things happen when you’re tired. We had a lot of defensive breakdowns in the second half that we normally don’t have. The game wasn’t decided in that last shot. Everyone can think it was, but it wasn’t. It was all the breakdowns we had defensively in the second half that leads to 52 points. That’s the difference in the game.” The Edmonton Stingers now found themselves one game away from punching their post-season ticket. They can learn their fate as early as tomorrow, as a Saskatchewan Rattlers loss to the Vancouver Bandits would lock the Stingers into a playoff spot. They can also guarantee their berth by extending their seven-game winning streak – the third in franchise history and only the fourth in the history of the league – in their next game. The longest winning streak in league history is nine, held by Edmonton in the CEBL’s inaugural season. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600645 Up next for both teams The Edmonton Stingers travel to Vancouver to take on the Western Conference leading Bandits on July 20. The Ottawa BlackJacks will stay home to host the Brampton Honey Badgers on July 21. Next CEBL action The Vancouver Bandits will play host to the Saskatchewan Rattlers on July 18, streaming live on CEBL+ and TSN+. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -
By Myles Dichter
•
July 17, 2025
Step 1 of the Niagara River Lions’ championship defence is complete. The River Lions clinched a playoff spot with a 97-79 win over the Brampton Honey Badgers on Wednesday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont. It marked the fourth straight win for Niagara, which padded its lead atop the Eastern Conference at 11-5. The Honey Badgers have now lost six straight to fall to 4-14. Niagara has been in the playoffs every year since the CEBL’s inception. “We wanna win the East. We wanna win the championship,” head coach Victor Raso said. “Our standards are much higher. We expect to make the playoffs.” Niagara’s win was one of the comeback variety after trailing by 12 early in the second quarter. But the River Lions showed championship resolve, chipping away in the second frame before taking over in the third. Once Target Score Time rolled around, the River Lions led 87-67. Niagara forward Elijah Lufile finished the game off with a putback layup. “We didn’t start the game with the fight we needed, but we turned it around really quick and then the rest of the way we fought the way we needed to,” Raso said. With just one-third of the season remaining, the River Lions appear to be rounding into form at just the right time after a rocky start to the year. Niagara has now held four of its last five opponents under 80 points, while offensively it is continuing to receive contributions from up and down the lineup. Raso said increased defensive identity has led to the team’s run. “We’re just finally playing well. … We talked about winning the game to infinity — play every game, every single possession like it doesn’t matter what happened before or after. Our team needs to keep doing that,” he said. Leading scorer Khalil Ahmad paced the River Lions in the victory, putting up 24 points to go with eight assists and six rebounds. Montreal native Nathan Cayo added 14 points and five rebounds, while Ron Curry pitched in with 13 points and five rebounds Big man Elijah Lufile notched a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double off the bench. Ahmad said the team isn’t simply satisfied with a playoff spot. “It’s nice, but nowhere near close to the end goal. Nice little achievement to check a box, but we still got a lot more to do,” he said. Meanwhile, the Honey Badgers’ playoff chances took another hit as they continue to sit in the basement of the Eastern Conference. Head coach Sheldon Cassimy said there are positives his team can take from the loss, but he wasn’t willing to look too far ahead. “I think it’s just by focusing on each day. We focus on each day and getting better each day as a team and individual,” he said. Canadian Marcus Carr led the way for the Honey Badgers with 20 points while also adding 10 assists and two rebounds. David Muenkat got off to a hot start with three triples in the first quarter, but didn’t make another until Target Score Time and finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Longtime CEBLer Koby McEwen reached the 1,000-point mark for his regular-season career with a late three-pointer from the corner. He had 14 points and six assists for the game. Carr said it’s important for Brampton to focus on the positives in order to bust its slump. “Although obviously we didn’t get the result we wanted, we did do some good things out there so we have to try and build on that for the next game and then try to put it into ending the drought,” Carr said. Former Canadian Player of the Year Kadre Gray was in the house to take in the contest. The Honey Badgers burst out to a 26-17 lead after the first quarter, sparked by a trio of triples from Muenkat. But after Brampton pushed its lead to 12 in the second frame, Niagara fought back to head into the locker rooms at halftime trailing just 39-37. The River Lions then took control in the third quarter, winning the frame 34-13 to take a commanding 71-52 lead into the final 10 minutes. Despite a brief scare early in the fourth, Niagara held on to cruise to victory. Now, it knows it’s headed back to the playoffs. And another title is directly in sight. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600643 Up Next The River Lions host the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Sunday, while the Honey Badgers visit the Ottawa BlackJacks on Monday. Next CEBL Action A pair of Thursday games include the Edmonton Stingers heading to Ottawa while the Winnipeg Sea Bears welcome the Calgary Surge. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL –
By Dillon White
•
July 16, 2025
Calgary guard Evan Gilyard Jr., who joined the team after a June 26 loss to Saskatchewan, hit his stride with a second consecutive 30-point performance to lead the Surge to a 103-81 victory over the Rattlers on Tuesday (July 15) at SaskTel Centre. The team-high 30 points included four threes and the game winner, almost a week after setting a franchise record with 37 points against Montréal. “The guys have welcomed me with open arms. I’m coming in, playing aggressive, and still playing my style of game,” Gilyard Jr. said. After a tight first quarter, the Surge pulled away in the second and third to earn their second straight win and first of the season against Saskatchewan. “I feel like we came out in the second half and set the tone with our defence,” Gilyard Jr. said. Greg Brown III added 17 points and seven rebounds to the Surge attack, while Khyri Thomas scored 12 points and Sean Miller-Moore contributed 11 points. Calgary head coach Kaleb Canales said his team played a complete game that was to their standard. “We knew it was going to be a tough matchup [and] tough environment against these guys but I felt we came to play today on both ends,” Canales said. The Surge spoiled a record-breaking night for Saskatchewan guard Nate Pierre-Louis and a stellar debut for Tevian Jones. Pierre-Louis set the CEBL single-season record for assists with another eight on Tuesday, surpassing the standard of 126 assists set by former Surge guard Corey Davis Jr. last season. With seven games remaining in the 2025 campaign, Pierre-Louis’ record sits at 131 assists. Saskatchewan head coach Eric Magdanz said the passing from Pierre-Louis has been a highlight of their offence all season. “Nate’s grown a ton as a point guard over the course of this season. His ability to move the ball and get into the key and draw two defenders has been a big part of what we’ve done,” Magdanz said. Meanwhile, Jones had the green light in his first game with the Rattlers. The former Sea Bear netted a game-high 31 points on 12-20 shooting in the loss, including six threes. “I think I incorporated pretty well. I was able to play off the guys out there … I feel like we could’ve played together a little bit more down the stretch. But I think, overall, for a first game it was good,” Jones said. To open the game, recent acquisitions for both teams showcased their talent. Jones was on fire in his first quarter as a Rattler, dropping 13 points to lead all scorers after 10 minutes. On the other side, Gilyard Jr. scored at the rim and free-throw line while drilling jumpers from long range on his way to nine points in the first. Calgary led for the majority of the first quarter, fueled by efforts on the offensive glass that led to a 7-1 advantage in second chance points. But the Surge squandered the extra possessions with a flurry of turnovers to close the frame. A corner three from Jones and a transition layup from Pierre-Louis provided Saskatchewan with its first lead of the game heading into the second. The Surge regained the advantage in a back-and-forth start to the second quarter. Calgary wrestled away control of the contest with a 12-3 run capped off by a coast-to-coast finish from Brown III. Saskatchewan stopped the run with a historic bucket. A Jones layup in transition came off the 127th assist of the season from Pierre-Louis – a CEBL single-season record. However, the Surge led 51-43 after 20 minutes. Calgary came out of the halftime break with energy on both ends of the floor. Brown III was scorching hot in the frame, soaring for a dunk early in the quarter and drilling a trio of corner threes. The Surge dominated the quarter 24-12 and carried a 20-point lead into the fourth. A 10-2 run early in the final quarter extended Calgary’s advantage to 28 points. However, Saskatchewan carved the deficit back to 18 heading into Target Score Time, highlighted by a massive putback slam from Jones. Miller-Moore got things started in Target Score Time for Calgary before Jamorko Pickett pulled the visitors even closer with an and-one baseline jam. Gilyard Jr. put an exclamation point on the win with a scoop layup and game-winning pull-up three. The Rattlers and Surge meet once more this season on Aug. 8 in Calgary. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600642 Up next for both teams Calgary visits Winnipeg on Thursday (July 17) in another Western Conference clash, while Saskatchewan heads to Langley Events Centre to face the top-seeded Vancouver on Friday (July 18). Next CEBL action Brampton visits Niagara on Wednesday (July 16) in the lone game of the night. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -
By Myles Dichter
•
July 15, 2025
(Preview: Week 11) For the past 10 weeks, only one team has known its playoff fate: Winnipeg. The Sea Bears, of course, clinched a spot at Championship Weekend for the CEBL’s Final Four as hosts, with all three games to be played and a champion set to be crowned at Canada Life Centre. Meanwhile, the rest of the league has jockeyed for position, battling roster churn and opponents alike, scratching and clawing for every win. Now, seven to 10 games remain for each team on the brand new 24-game schedule — and urgency is about to be kicked up a notch. On Sunday, the Vancouver Bandits became the first non-Winnipeg team to secure a playoff spot after beating the Montreal Alliance 94-87 to wrap a three-game Eastern road trip at 2-1. The Bandits now lead the West at 13-4 and sit in pole position for an automatic berth into the conference semifinals, where a trip to Winnipeg will be on the line. But Calgary and Edmonton are hot on Vancouver’s heels. The Surge — who have been among the league’s best from the very start of the season, while handing the Bandits half of their losses — could help their cause with a win over Saskatchewan on Tuesday. If Calgary (10-5) indeed beats Saskatchewan (4-12), it would guarantee the Rattlers could finish no better than tied with the Surge, leaving a potential playoff spot up to a tiebreaker. However, it will be no easy task for Calgary, who have lost twice to basement-dwelling Saskatchewan already this season and will be without star guard Jameer Nelson Jr., who is playing at NBA Summer League. Rattlers captain Nate Pierre-Louis has proved problematic for the Surge, racking up 51 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists in the two wins. He is also just four assists away from breaking Corey Davis Jr.’s CEBL single-season record of 126 assists and could eclipse that mark on Tuesday night. A Calgary win would both help and hurt rival Edmonton, who have won six straight to improve to 10-6 and face road games against Ottawa and Vancouver this week. The Stingers would move closer to a playoff spot with a Surge victory, but also face an even tougher climb for a home game in the post-season. If the Bandits keep creating space atop the conference, and the Rattlers keep their spot at the bottom, a Battle of Alberta play-in game could be in store. Meanwhile, a similar story is playing out in the East. The reigning champion Niagara River Lions appear to have found their groove, winning three straight with an opportunity to stretch their run to five this week. Niagara hosts last-place Brampton on Wednesday. The Honey Badgers have yet to win a road game on the season, though they did crush the River Lions by 35 points in their last meeting in June. A win for the River Lions in the rematch would assure the Honey Badgers cannot catch them in the standings. Then, on Saturday, the River Lions welcome the Scarborough Shooting Stars, who sit tied for second in the East at 8-8 alongside 7-7 Ottawa. Unlike in the West, where Winnipeg has the semifinal bye, the automatic berth is still up for grabs in the East. Niagara should know firsthand how important that free pass is after barely surviving a conference semifinal scare against the BlackJacks last season. It would make the championship defence a whole lot easier to play two games instead of three. But the Shooting Stars, the 2023 champions, will not go down easily. After three straight losses, Scarborough rebounded with a 15-point win over Brampton on Sunday as Terquavion Smith erupted for 33 points in the absence of second-leading scorer Donovan Williams (Summer League). The BlackJacks also remain in the fight as winners of five of their last six games. Ottawa’s hot streak has coincided with big man Zane Waterman’s introduction to the team. The longtime Honey Badger is averaged 14.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in his first season in Ottawa. Plenty is at stake as the CEBL season heads into overdrive — and you can be sure there will be no shortage of twists, turns and Target Score thrillers along the way. Weekly schedule (Nine games) Game #80 – Tuesday, July 15 – CGY at SSK – 7:30 p.m. CST/MT / 9:30 p.m. ET– SaskTel Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #81 – Wednesday, July 16 – BHB at NRL – 7 p.m. ET – Meridian Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #82 – Thursday, July 17 – EDM at OTT – 7:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. MT – The Arena at TD Place (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #83 – Thursday, July 17 – CGY at WPG – 7 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Game #84 – Friday, July 18 – SSK at VAN – 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. CST / 10 p.m. ET – Langley Events Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #85 – Sunday, July 20 – SSS at NRL – 3 p.m. ET – Meridian Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #86 – Sunday, July 20 – WPG at MTL – 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CDT – Verdun Auditorium (RDS, CEBL+, TSN+) Game #87 – Sunday, July 20 – EDM at VAN – 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET – Langley Events Centre (TSN, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Game #88 – Monday, July 21 – BHB at OTT – 7:30 p.m. ET – The Arena at TD Place (CEBL+, TSN+) For the full 2025 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .
July 14, 2025
6-foot-7 guard has averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 25 CEBL games with Scarborough and Winnipeg
July 14, 2025
The Canadian guard appeared in 10 games for the Rattlers last season
July 14, 2025
Alliance, BlackJacks set for additional matchup August 6 at Verdun Auditorium in Montréal
By Alex Lough
•
July 13, 2025
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 -
By Maggie Hsu
•
July 18, 2025
The Calgary Surge has booked its ticket to the playoffs for the third straight year with a 93-89 win over the Sea Bears in Winnipeg on Thursday night. Calgary has yet to miss the postseason since the franchise relocated from Guelph in 2022. The win moves the Surge to 12–6 on the season, making them the third team to clinch a spot in the 2025 CEBL playoffs. Meanwhile, the Sea Bears drop to 6–10. Greg Brown III led the charge with a double-double, posting 20 points and 10 rebounds. The former G-Leaguer has made an instant impact in his debut CEBL season, climbing past Vancouver’s Mitch Creek to take over second place in league scoring. Brown took over in the first half, keeping the Surge within striking distance during Winnipeg’s early offensive push. “My teammates have been helping me get to my spots and opening up the game for me,” Brown said on what has been the greatest factor in his success. “They keep talking to me, where the angles are, where the space is… they have been helping me this whole season.” “I watched Gremlins growing up, and they run when light comes,” Brown added, explaining his unconventional inspiration. “You always must show up when it matters and when the lights come on. I’ve always had that mentality from when I started playing until now.” While Brown stole the spotlight, the Surge’s success continues to come from balanced contributions across the roster. Four other players hit double figures, including 16 points off the bench from Jamorko Pickett — a testament to Calgary’s status as a multi-headed offensive monster that’s tough to slow down. Winnipeg Head Coach Mike Taylor stressed the importance of strong defensive execution to contain Calgary’s firepower, aiming to force them into transition and create opportunities on the other end. “I think we did a very good job executing our game plan,” Taylor said. “Controlling the tempo and trying to keep them out of transition for the majority of the game. But in terms of those crucial possessions, we’ve got to be better.” Simi Shittu finished the game with 19 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, including a valuable last-minute play in target time to set up Jalen Harris beyond the arc to bring the Sea Bears closer to the target score of 92. “I feel like we had the game,” Shittu reflected. “We made it as tough as we can for them, but at the end of the day, we can clean up things.” Although the Surge pulled away late, the Sea Bears made them earn it. Winnipeg scored 28 points off second-chance possessions and kept applying pressure throughout the game. Trevon Scott was limited to 10 points but dominated the boards with 16 rebounds — just three shy of the franchise record of 19 set by Shittu less than three weeks ago. The game stayed tight through three quarters, with both teams trading leads. Calgary led 22–21 after the first quarter, but Winnipeg struck early in the second. The Surge responded with an 11–3 run to regain control. Scott’s rebounding in the third quarter led directly to 11 of Winnipeg’s 21 points in the frame, helping the Sea Bears keep pace heading into the final period. In the fourth, Calgary’s depth and composure showed. The Surge limited Winnipeg to just 10 points before target time and built a six-point cushion before the clocks turned off. Calgary quickly rose to the occasion, extending the lead to 89–79, but Winnipeg surged back, capitalizing on missed shots and late fouls. A Jalen Harris three-pointer brought the Sea Bears within two, 91–89, just short of Harris’s 100th career point. However, Calgary slammed the door as Evan Gilyard Jr. hit a decisive field goal to seal the victory and deny Harris a final shot. “This is a tough loss,” Taylor said. “But it’s a type of loss that can turn into a positive when we use adversity to try to get better.” With the win, the Surge now look ahead to returning to the postseason this August and possibly a return to Canada Life Centre as Winnipeg prepares to host the 2025 Championship Weekend festivities. However, they remain focused on the task ahead: finishing the season strong and motivating each other until the end. “We always iterate from the start that we want to win a championship,” Brown said. “We want to take the mindset of ‘this is normal’ — this is what we’ve been talking about since day one, so don’t look up, keep your head down, and keep grinding.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600648 Up next Winnipeg hits the road for a Sunday matinee against the 6–9 Montreal Alliance. Calgary enjoys a well-earned week off before a crucial battle for the Western Conference’s top seed against the 13–4 Vancouver Bandits on Friday, July 25. Next CEBL action The only matchup over the next two days features the 4–13 Saskatchewan Rattlers squaring off against the league-leading Vancouver Bandits tomorrow night (Friday, July 18). For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -
By Alex Lough
•
July 18, 2025
After grinding it out in the first half, the Edmonton Stingers turned it on the final two quarters to power their way to an 87-85 victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks, extending their winning streak to seven straight games. The Stingers scored 52 points in the second half, powered by MVP-candidate Sean East II who was limited in the first thanks to foul trouble. He finished with 23 points and five assists, Keon Ambrose-Hylton also had 23 points to go along with 10 rebounds, and Scottie Lindsey added 13 points including three three-pointers. “He showed up in the second half,” Stingers head coach Jordan Baker said of his star. “Obviously in the first half, he was in some foul trouble. But he came back in a big way in the second half. He was great offensively, but I thought he was great defensively in our coverages and we certainly aren’t where we are without him in our lineup.” “We’re approaching every game down the stretch as a must win,” he continued. “Calgary is playing great, Vancouver is playing great. We’re in a situation where we’re going to have to see one of those teams – maybe both – in the [playoffs]. For us, our goal is to try to get into a first or second seed where we can host a playoff game and we can lean on our crowd in Edmonton.” As is often the case in basketball, the first half was a game of runs. Edmonton got off to a 16-12 lead, but an Ottawa timeout would equate to a 15-0 run that put them up by double-digits at the end of the quarter. They would extend their lead to as much as 12 being up 36-24, which featured a 9:40 stretch between the first and second quarter where the BlackJacks held the Stingers to shooting just 2-of-16 from the floor. Edmonton would answer with an 11-3 run of their own to cut the lead to four heading into the break. The road team continued their hot play coming out of the locker room, going on a 10-1 run to start the third quarter, totaling to outscore their opponents 21-4 during the entire stretch. Ottawa would answer with a 12-3 run before Zane Waterman was forced to leave the game with an injury in a pivotal moment of the game late in the third quarter. With the BlackJacks already undermanned due to Deng Adel sitting out due to illness, the home squad also found themselves undersized with the loss of their import big. Ambrose-Hylton would take full advantage, scoring 17 points in the second half. “I think from the jump, I go into every game trying to take over, trying to do what I can for the team,” he said afterwards. “I know most teams don’t have a guy that’s going to be running down the floor, up and down, one hundred percent of the time. I use that to my advantage in every game.” “They tell us everyday in practice to play hard and use our speed. We got a lot of players that might not be the tallest, but we know what we’re doing. We got a lot of dogs, and we play fast. When it comes to getting rebounds, we know what spots to be on the court. We got our guards tucking the elbows, we got our bigs going to the paint. We’re not just going in there running and dashing. We’re making sure to be in the right spots at the right times,” Ambrose-Hylton added. For the BlackJacks, Isaih Moore finished with a game-high 28 points and 15 rebounds, finishing two boards shy of tying the franchise regular season record. Javonte Smart posted a double-double with 19 points and a CEBL career high 10 assists – one shy of the team record, Waterman had 12 points and six rebounds before leaving, and Keevan Veinot – playing without a sleeve on his shoulder for the first time this season – showed off his health with a 13 point, six rebound, six assist game. The game was all tied up at 78 heading into Target Time, where a number of mistakes would ultimately prove costly for the BlackJacks on their home court. Most notably, a technical foul was assessed to Smart after a Moore foul on East, giving the latter an extra shot on the line which would prove to be critical as he drove to the lane and scored in the next possession for the win. “First of all, I’m proud of my guys, the way they competed,” BlackJacks head coach Dave DeAveiro said. “Being two guys down, I thought we fought, competed right to the end. There’s a lot of pride in that room, a lot of disappointment right now. We seem to struggle in terms of executing down the stretch, in Target Time. We continue to review it, and we’ll continue to get better. But when a tough loss like this happens, the most important thing is to stick together. Continue to believe in what you’re doing and continue to move forward.” “We did not execute the plan in the second half defensively,” he said of his team’s ultimate downfall. “Whether that’s fatigue – and that’s part of it – guys played a lot of minutes today. Javonte, Isaih. Guys played a lot of minutes out there. You’re tired, and things happen when you’re tired. We had a lot of defensive breakdowns in the second half that we normally don’t have. The game wasn’t decided in that last shot. Everyone can think it was, but it wasn’t. It was all the breakdowns we had defensively in the second half that leads to 52 points. That’s the difference in the game.” The Edmonton Stingers now found themselves one game away from punching their post-season ticket. They can learn their fate as early as tomorrow, as a Saskatchewan Rattlers loss to the Vancouver Bandits would lock the Stingers into a playoff spot. They can also guarantee their berth by extending their seven-game winning streak – the third in franchise history and only the fourth in the history of the league – in their next game. The longest winning streak in league history is nine, held by Edmonton in the CEBL’s inaugural season. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600645 Up next for both teams The Edmonton Stingers travel to Vancouver to take on the Western Conference leading Bandits on July 20. The Ottawa BlackJacks will stay home to host the Brampton Honey Badgers on July 21. Next CEBL action The Vancouver Bandits will play host to the Saskatchewan Rattlers on July 18, streaming live on CEBL+ and TSN+. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -
By Myles Dichter
•
July 17, 2025
Step 1 of the Niagara River Lions’ championship defence is complete. The River Lions clinched a playoff spot with a 97-79 win over the Brampton Honey Badgers on Wednesday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont. It marked the fourth straight win for Niagara, which padded its lead atop the Eastern Conference at 11-5. The Honey Badgers have now lost six straight to fall to 4-14. Niagara has been in the playoffs every year since the CEBL’s inception. “We wanna win the East. We wanna win the championship,” head coach Victor Raso said. “Our standards are much higher. We expect to make the playoffs.” Niagara’s win was one of the comeback variety after trailing by 12 early in the second quarter. But the River Lions showed championship resolve, chipping away in the second frame before taking over in the third. Once Target Score Time rolled around, the River Lions led 87-67. Niagara forward Elijah Lufile finished the game off with a putback layup. “We didn’t start the game with the fight we needed, but we turned it around really quick and then the rest of the way we fought the way we needed to,” Raso said. With just one-third of the season remaining, the River Lions appear to be rounding into form at just the right time after a rocky start to the year. Niagara has now held four of its last five opponents under 80 points, while offensively it is continuing to receive contributions from up and down the lineup. Raso said increased defensive identity has led to the team’s run. “We’re just finally playing well. … We talked about winning the game to infinity — play every game, every single possession like it doesn’t matter what happened before or after. Our team needs to keep doing that,” he said. Leading scorer Khalil Ahmad paced the River Lions in the victory, putting up 24 points to go with eight assists and six rebounds. Montreal native Nathan Cayo added 14 points and five rebounds, while Ron Curry pitched in with 13 points and five rebounds Big man Elijah Lufile notched a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double off the bench. Ahmad said the team isn’t simply satisfied with a playoff spot. “It’s nice, but nowhere near close to the end goal. Nice little achievement to check a box, but we still got a lot more to do,” he said. Meanwhile, the Honey Badgers’ playoff chances took another hit as they continue to sit in the basement of the Eastern Conference. Head coach Sheldon Cassimy said there are positives his team can take from the loss, but he wasn’t willing to look too far ahead. “I think it’s just by focusing on each day. We focus on each day and getting better each day as a team and individual,” he said. Canadian Marcus Carr led the way for the Honey Badgers with 20 points while also adding 10 assists and two rebounds. David Muenkat got off to a hot start with three triples in the first quarter, but didn’t make another until Target Score Time and finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Longtime CEBLer Koby McEwen reached the 1,000-point mark for his regular-season career with a late three-pointer from the corner. He had 14 points and six assists for the game. Carr said it’s important for Brampton to focus on the positives in order to bust its slump. “Although obviously we didn’t get the result we wanted, we did do some good things out there so we have to try and build on that for the next game and then try to put it into ending the drought,” Carr said. Former Canadian Player of the Year Kadre Gray was in the house to take in the contest. The Honey Badgers burst out to a 26-17 lead after the first quarter, sparked by a trio of triples from Muenkat. But after Brampton pushed its lead to 12 in the second frame, Niagara fought back to head into the locker rooms at halftime trailing just 39-37. The River Lions then took control in the third quarter, winning the frame 34-13 to take a commanding 71-52 lead into the final 10 minutes. Despite a brief scare early in the fourth, Niagara held on to cruise to victory. Now, it knows it’s headed back to the playoffs. And another title is directly in sight. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600643 Up Next The River Lions host the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Sunday, while the Honey Badgers visit the Ottawa BlackJacks on Monday. Next CEBL Action A pair of Thursday games include the Edmonton Stingers heading to Ottawa while the Winnipeg Sea Bears welcome the Calgary Surge. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL –
By Dillon White
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July 16, 2025
Calgary guard Evan Gilyard Jr., who joined the team after a June 26 loss to Saskatchewan, hit his stride with a second consecutive 30-point performance to lead the Surge to a 103-81 victory over the Rattlers on Tuesday (July 15) at SaskTel Centre. The team-high 30 points included four threes and the game winner, almost a week after setting a franchise record with 37 points against Montréal. “The guys have welcomed me with open arms. I’m coming in, playing aggressive, and still playing my style of game,” Gilyard Jr. said. After a tight first quarter, the Surge pulled away in the second and third to earn their second straight win and first of the season against Saskatchewan. “I feel like we came out in the second half and set the tone with our defence,” Gilyard Jr. said. Greg Brown III added 17 points and seven rebounds to the Surge attack, while Khyri Thomas scored 12 points and Sean Miller-Moore contributed 11 points. Calgary head coach Kaleb Canales said his team played a complete game that was to their standard. “We knew it was going to be a tough matchup [and] tough environment against these guys but I felt we came to play today on both ends,” Canales said. The Surge spoiled a record-breaking night for Saskatchewan guard Nate Pierre-Louis and a stellar debut for Tevian Jones. Pierre-Louis set the CEBL single-season record for assists with another eight on Tuesday, surpassing the standard of 126 assists set by former Surge guard Corey Davis Jr. last season. With seven games remaining in the 2025 campaign, Pierre-Louis’ record sits at 131 assists. Saskatchewan head coach Eric Magdanz said the passing from Pierre-Louis has been a highlight of their offence all season. “Nate’s grown a ton as a point guard over the course of this season. His ability to move the ball and get into the key and draw two defenders has been a big part of what we’ve done,” Magdanz said. Meanwhile, Jones had the green light in his first game with the Rattlers. The former Sea Bear netted a game-high 31 points on 12-20 shooting in the loss, including six threes. “I think I incorporated pretty well. I was able to play off the guys out there … I feel like we could’ve played together a little bit more down the stretch. But I think, overall, for a first game it was good,” Jones said. To open the game, recent acquisitions for both teams showcased their talent. Jones was on fire in his first quarter as a Rattler, dropping 13 points to lead all scorers after 10 minutes. On the other side, Gilyard Jr. scored at the rim and free-throw line while drilling jumpers from long range on his way to nine points in the first. Calgary led for the majority of the first quarter, fueled by efforts on the offensive glass that led to a 7-1 advantage in second chance points. But the Surge squandered the extra possessions with a flurry of turnovers to close the frame. A corner three from Jones and a transition layup from Pierre-Louis provided Saskatchewan with its first lead of the game heading into the second. The Surge regained the advantage in a back-and-forth start to the second quarter. Calgary wrestled away control of the contest with a 12-3 run capped off by a coast-to-coast finish from Brown III. Saskatchewan stopped the run with a historic bucket. A Jones layup in transition came off the 127th assist of the season from Pierre-Louis – a CEBL single-season record. However, the Surge led 51-43 after 20 minutes. Calgary came out of the halftime break with energy on both ends of the floor. Brown III was scorching hot in the frame, soaring for a dunk early in the quarter and drilling a trio of corner threes. The Surge dominated the quarter 24-12 and carried a 20-point lead into the fourth. A 10-2 run early in the final quarter extended Calgary’s advantage to 28 points. However, Saskatchewan carved the deficit back to 18 heading into Target Score Time, highlighted by a massive putback slam from Jones. Miller-Moore got things started in Target Score Time for Calgary before Jamorko Pickett pulled the visitors even closer with an and-one baseline jam. Gilyard Jr. put an exclamation point on the win with a scoop layup and game-winning pull-up three. The Rattlers and Surge meet once more this season on Aug. 8 in Calgary. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600642 Up next for both teams Calgary visits Winnipeg on Thursday (July 17) in another Western Conference clash, while Saskatchewan heads to Langley Events Centre to face the top-seeded Vancouver on Friday (July 18). Next CEBL action Brampton visits Niagara on Wednesday (July 16) in the lone game of the night. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -
By Myles Dichter
•
July 15, 2025
(Preview: Week 11) For the past 10 weeks, only one team has known its playoff fate: Winnipeg. The Sea Bears, of course, clinched a spot at Championship Weekend for the CEBL’s Final Four as hosts, with all three games to be played and a champion set to be crowned at Canada Life Centre. Meanwhile, the rest of the league has jockeyed for position, battling roster churn and opponents alike, scratching and clawing for every win. Now, seven to 10 games remain for each team on the brand new 24-game schedule — and urgency is about to be kicked up a notch. On Sunday, the Vancouver Bandits became the first non-Winnipeg team to secure a playoff spot after beating the Montreal Alliance 94-87 to wrap a three-game Eastern road trip at 2-1. The Bandits now lead the West at 13-4 and sit in pole position for an automatic berth into the conference semifinals, where a trip to Winnipeg will be on the line. But Calgary and Edmonton are hot on Vancouver’s heels. The Surge — who have been among the league’s best from the very start of the season, while handing the Bandits half of their losses — could help their cause with a win over Saskatchewan on Tuesday. If Calgary (10-5) indeed beats Saskatchewan (4-12), it would guarantee the Rattlers could finish no better than tied with the Surge, leaving a potential playoff spot up to a tiebreaker. However, it will be no easy task for Calgary, who have lost twice to basement-dwelling Saskatchewan already this season and will be without star guard Jameer Nelson Jr., who is playing at NBA Summer League. Rattlers captain Nate Pierre-Louis has proved problematic for the Surge, racking up 51 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists in the two wins. He is also just four assists away from breaking Corey Davis Jr.’s CEBL single-season record of 126 assists and could eclipse that mark on Tuesday night. A Calgary win would both help and hurt rival Edmonton, who have won six straight to improve to 10-6 and face road games against Ottawa and Vancouver this week. The Stingers would move closer to a playoff spot with a Surge victory, but also face an even tougher climb for a home game in the post-season. If the Bandits keep creating space atop the conference, and the Rattlers keep their spot at the bottom, a Battle of Alberta play-in game could be in store. Meanwhile, a similar story is playing out in the East. The reigning champion Niagara River Lions appear to have found their groove, winning three straight with an opportunity to stretch their run to five this week. Niagara hosts last-place Brampton on Wednesday. The Honey Badgers have yet to win a road game on the season, though they did crush the River Lions by 35 points in their last meeting in June. A win for the River Lions in the rematch would assure the Honey Badgers cannot catch them in the standings. Then, on Saturday, the River Lions welcome the Scarborough Shooting Stars, who sit tied for second in the East at 8-8 alongside 7-7 Ottawa. Unlike in the West, where Winnipeg has the semifinal bye, the automatic berth is still up for grabs in the East. Niagara should know firsthand how important that free pass is after barely surviving a conference semifinal scare against the BlackJacks last season. It would make the championship defence a whole lot easier to play two games instead of three. But the Shooting Stars, the 2023 champions, will not go down easily. After three straight losses, Scarborough rebounded with a 15-point win over Brampton on Sunday as Terquavion Smith erupted for 33 points in the absence of second-leading scorer Donovan Williams (Summer League). The BlackJacks also remain in the fight as winners of five of their last six games. Ottawa’s hot streak has coincided with big man Zane Waterman’s introduction to the team. The longtime Honey Badger is averaged 14.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in his first season in Ottawa. Plenty is at stake as the CEBL season heads into overdrive — and you can be sure there will be no shortage of twists, turns and Target Score thrillers along the way. Weekly schedule (Nine games) Game #80 – Tuesday, July 15 – CGY at SSK – 7:30 p.m. CST/MT / 9:30 p.m. ET– SaskTel Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #81 – Wednesday, July 16 – BHB at NRL – 7 p.m. ET – Meridian Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #82 – Thursday, July 17 – EDM at OTT – 7:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. MT – The Arena at TD Place (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #83 – Thursday, July 17 – CGY at WPG – 7 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Game #84 – Friday, July 18 – SSK at VAN – 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. CST / 10 p.m. ET – Langley Events Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #85 – Sunday, July 20 – SSS at NRL – 3 p.m. ET – Meridian Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #86 – Sunday, July 20 – WPG at MTL – 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CDT – Verdun Auditorium (RDS, CEBL+, TSN+) Game #87 – Sunday, July 20 – EDM at VAN – 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET – Langley Events Centre (TSN, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Game #88 – Monday, July 21 – BHB at OTT – 7:30 p.m. ET – The Arena at TD Place (CEBL+, TSN+) For the full 2025 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .
July 14, 2025
6-foot-7 guard has averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 25 CEBL games with Scarborough and Winnipeg
July 14, 2025
The Canadian guard appeared in 10 games for the Rattlers last season
July 14, 2025
Alliance, BlackJacks set for additional matchup August 6 at Verdun Auditorium in Montréal
By Alex Lough
•
July 13, 2025
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 -
By Teru Ikeda
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July 13, 2025
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 -
By Alex Lough
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July 12, 2025
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 -
By Teru Ikeda
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July 12, 2025
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 -
By Zulfi Sheikh
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July 12, 2025
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 -
July 11, 2025
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 . ###
By Myles Dichter
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July 11, 2025
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 -
July 10, 2025
The Santa Fe, NM guard adds depth to the Rattlers backcourt
By Teru Ikeda
•
July 10, 2025
Evan Gilyard was all smiles after the game. When sideline reporter Heather Morrison told him about his 37-point franchise-record breaking performance for most points in a game, he looked astonished. “Ahhh, we’re seeing red,” he said. “I knew that we had to have a bounce back game from the last game that we lost,” referring to the 113-90 loss against provincial rival Edmonton Stingers at the EXPO Centre. “I feel like a lot of that energy from the last game carried over…We came out and fought.” Calgary surged back from a 13-point first-half deficit and punched Montreal back in the second half en route to a 107-91 victory. While the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth was happening outside the arena, Calgary gave its 6,954 fans inside the Saddledome a treat on Stampede Night. The game had all the hallmarks of a nationally televised game as Paul Jones and Rod Black – two familiar faces in Canadian basketball – on the broadcast. The game was hyper-competitive with two elite undersized guards. On the big stage, Gilyard proved that what Tavian Dunn-Martin could do, the former could do better. TDM buried five three-pointers in the first half, tossing up shots – and making them – as if he were casually shooting at the park. Calgary, however, instantly punched back after halftime, making a 11-3 run. Gilyard hit a triple, Montreal turned the ball over, and Calgary capitalized by running out and scoring. Though TDM hit his sixth triple in what briefly seemed to be a buffer builder, Gilyard answered back with a triple and Khyri Thomas’ three-pointer forced Montreal to take a timeout. Calgary suddenly trailed by five points. The timeout did little to stop the bleeding as Calgary would dominate the third 39-15, led by Gilyard’s miraculous 21-point third quarter extravaganza on 12-for-23 shooting. He showed the home crowd he was even more electrifying than TDM. After the timeout, Gilyard hit some mid-range jumpers, a triple to inch within two points before Greg Brown (game total 23 points) hit one of his own to give Calgary a one-point lead and the team never looked back. Most notably, the tide had swung so much in Calgary’s favour that Gilyard’s technical after his three-pointer did little to stop his team’s relentless surge. He hit another triple with 1:37 left in the third to give Calgary a six-point lead, a triple as deep as TDM’s second quarter threes. Fan favourite Sean “Rugzy” Miller-Moore also had a consistent scoring night, finishing the game with 23 points. Montreal tried to punch back towards the end of the game, but it was too little, too late. They got within 10 points by Target Time, but Calgary easily put the game away. Montreal had an extremely strong showing in the second quarter. They pounded the ball inside and went nine-for-13 from downtown in the first half. Before the second half, Calgary Surge head coach Kaleb Canales said, “We just let them get loose. 69 per cent from three is just not a good number for us.” TDM splashed threes from everywhere and even flew out of the paint to hit one as two Surge players came out to the perimeter to contest (Gilyard also made a similar triple in the third quarter as two Alliance players came to blitz him). As Montreal has shown throughout the season, they didn’t have to solely rely on TDM. Newcomer Shamiel Stevenson attacked the hoop and missed, but an offensive board led to a three-pointer by Malcolm Duvivier, who then splashed another one. When so much focus went into stopping TDM, Montreal went to the second-side, swinging the ball to Abdul Mohamed who splashed a triple of his own. Montreal made their surge in the second quarter when Duvivier made a pitch pass to TDM who nailed a deep three, and kept his shooting hand suspended for all in the Saddledome to see. Even Gabe Osabuohien’s outstretched hands didn’t phase him. The score was 52-44, but that lead quickly disappeared in the second half. With TDM out for most of the third, however, Gilyard and the Surge took full advantage and never looked back. Box score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600630 Up next for both teams The Montreal Alliance (6-8) return to Verdun Auditorium and host the league-best Vancouver Bandits (11-3) on Sunday, July 13. The Calgary Surge (10-5) stampede east to face the Saskatchewan Rattlers (4-11) at SaskTel Centre on Tuesday, July 15. Next CEBL action The league-best Vancouver Bandits (11-3) face the best of the East. They head to Meridian Centre tomorrow to play the Niagara River Lions (9-5). For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -
By Zulfi Sheikh
•
July 9, 2025
While the clouds were outside in the Brampton area on Wednesday, it was raining threes inside the CAA Centre as the Ottawa BlackJacks tied a franchise-record with 17 made triples en route to a 101-73 win over the Honey Badgers. The BlackJacks made 11 of those long-balls in the second half, finishing plus-seven on made triples overall while converting on a 54 per cent clip for the game as they improved to 7-7 on the season — tied with the Scarborough Shooting Stars for second in the East and two games back of the Niagara River Lions. Meanwhile, the Honey Badgers fell to 4-11 and remain at the bottom of the conference. Leading Ottawa’s three-point onslaught was Javonte Smart, who finished with a game-high 28 points on 4-of-6 shooting from distance as the team improved to 5-1 since adding the import guard. Behind him was Isaih Moore with 17 points, 13 rebounds and six assists on 8-of-11 from the field. Deng Adel and Zane Waterman (off the bench) each chipped in 17 points as the forward duo also each knocked down five threes, respectively, going a combined 10-of-15. Meanwhile, Keevan Veinot added 12 points and eight assists while going 5-of-7 from the field. “It was a great second half, we obviously shot the ball well, but I think the main difference in the second half was just defending (better),” Adel said after the win. “We did a good job of matching their intensity and stopping their main scorers.” On the other side, David Muenkat’s 16 points and seven rebounds led the way as Brampton lost its third game in a row. Quinndary Weatherspoon added 14 points while Amari Kelly and Bryson Williams rounded out the double-digit scoring efforts with 11 and 10 points apiece. “Ottawa made a lot of threes in the third quarter and that kind of just opened up the game,” Honey Badgers head coach Sheldon Cassimy said. “Sometimes it was making open shots, other times it was tough shots, they just had it rolling … that was literally the game right there.” Conference rivalry games are never supposed to be easy, especially when one team has taken the first two of four matchups by an average of 17.5 points, like Ottawa had. Something Brampton appeared determined to change on Wednesday, as they kept things much closer early on. The first half between the East rivals saw 12 lead changes as neither team carved out a lead larger than six points, despite the BlackJacks going on an 8-0 run mid-way through the second, to which the Honey Badgers responded with a 10-0 charge of their own. Once the dust settled on an opening half that fittingly saw both teams shoot an identical 51 per cent from the field, and was capped off by an Adel triple right before the buzzer , Brampton held on for a 45-42 lead. That narrow edge was largely thanks to their efforts defensively as the Honey Badgers forced 12 BlackJacks turnovers in the first half, eight in the second quarter alone, from a team that entered the day averaging 14.7 per game. That disruptive play not only won Brampton the first-half possession battle, it also earned it a 14-7 edge on points off turnovers. That trend wouldn’t continue, however, as the BlackJacks only gave the ball away three times the rest of the way. “The two things we talked about at halftime were turning things up on defence, and then taking care of the ball,” Ottawa head coach Dave DeAveiro said post-game. “I thought we did a really good job in those two areas in the second half.” And then the third quarter happened. A frame in which the BlackJacks outscored the Honey Badgers 32-13 after Ottawa caught fire from beyond the arc. The same team that made six threes in the opening half drilled eight triples in the third quarter alone. Leading that charge was Adel, who hit four shots from beyond the arc as he scored 12 points in the third to more than remedy a quiet first half with just three points. “Deng has great self-awareness,” DeAveiro explained. “He had four shots in the first half (he knew) he needed to take more shots … he played with a lot more bounce, a lot more step and let the game come to him.” Right behind him was Waterman, who’s two triples towards the end of the third not only contributed to a 12-0 BlackJacks run en route to a 74-58 lead before the fourth, but also marked his 100th regular-season three-point make all-time. The sharpshooter was just the 15th player in CEBL history to reach that mark. “Our energy kind of died down in the second half,” Muenkat said after the loss. “We weren’t able to have a response to their late-game push … they just really got hot, which kind of tilted the momentum.” Ottawa’s lead only ballooned from that point, leading 92-68 at the start of Target Score Time before Moore wrapped up the Camp Day win in front of the 2,641 in attendance with a make at the charity stripe as part of nine points in the fourth quarter. It won’t be long before the East rivals square off again, as they’ll run it back for their fourth and final regular-season matchup in less than two weeks (July 21) when the BlackJacks host the Honey Badgers with hopes of sweeping the series. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600625 Up next The Honey Badgers stay put in Brampton as they get set to host the West-leading Bandits on Friday — a rematch from Sunday when Vancouver held on for a three-point win. Meanwhile, the BlackJacks get an extended break as they’ll return on July 17 when they host the red-hot Edmonton Stingers, winners of five straight. Next CEBL action Wednesday’s double-header slate resumes with the first-ever Stampede Game at Scotiabank Saddledome as the Montreal Alliance visit the Calgary Surge for a cross-conference clash 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 -
July 8, 2025
The Montréal Alliance is pleased to announce the signing of Canadian forward Shamiel Stevenson. The 6’6” forward from Toronto joins the organization after a productive 2024 CEBL campaign with the Brampton Honey Badgers where he averaged 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 30.8 minutes across 19 games. Most recently, he completed the 2024-25 season with Inter Bratislava in Slovakia, averaging 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 32.8 minutes per game. Stevenson brings valuable CEBL experience to Montréal, having played three seasons in the league with both the Ottawa BlackJacks (2022) and the Brampton Honey Badgers (2023-2024). During the 2024 season, he scored in double figures in 11 contests, including four games with 20+ points. His standout performances included a 2024 season-high 24 points against Montréal on June 2 and a dominant 28-point, 10-rebound effort against Scarborough on July 26, 2023. The Toronto native played four years of NCAA Division I basketball at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Nebraska, averaging 7.0 points and 3.4 rebounds over 62 games. As a freshman at Pittsburgh in 2017-18, he led the team in field goal percentage (.505) and total rebounds (141). The Alliance also announces the promotion of local players Nate Tshimanga and Blondeau Tchoukuiegno from the practice squad. Tshimanga recently completed his collegiate career at New Mexico State (2024-25), where he appeared in 31 games with nine starts. His college career also included stops at Utah Valley (2023-24) and Troy University (2021-22, 2022-23). Montréal guard Tchoukuiegno also joins the active roster. Tchoukuiegno returns from a season in Croatia with Osijek, where he averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals in 33.8 minutes across 11 games. The California Baptist University graduate Both players will be available starting with the Alliance’s next game. The team currently holds a 6-7 record and continues its pursuit of a playoff position.
By Myles Dichter
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July 8, 2025
(Preview: Week 10) In the CEBL, every game can be its own rodeo. Hard-charging opponents barrel toward each other from the opening tip, scores swing wildly in either direction and you never know how Target Score Time is going to end. It’s fitting, then, that the CEBL will be teaming up with the literal rodeo for the first time ever. On Wednesday, the Calgary Surge will host their first Stampede Game at the Scotiabank Saddledome, taking on the visiting Montreal Alliance. Action from the 19,289-seat arena begins at 7:30 p.m. MT / 9:30 p.m. ET, with tickets available starting at $35 for the upper bowl and $45 for the lower bowl (plus applicable fees and taxes). “The Calgary Stampede is one of the most iconic celebrations in Canada, and it’s only fitting that CEBL basketball will become part of that energy and tradition,” commissioner Mike Morreale said when the game was announced in May. Indeed, this Surge-Alliance matchup should bring the energy. Calgary enters with a chip on its shoulder on the heels of a loss to provincial rival Edmonton. Still, the Surge, who sit second in the West at 9-5, have represented one of the breakout stories of the season. Fueled by a three-headed monster in Sean Miller-Moore, Greg Brown III and Jameer Nelson Jr., the Surge have consistently turned defence into offence, ranking first leaguewide on a per-game basis in steals (10.1), second in rebounds (41.4) and blocks (4.8) and third in points (93.5). Head coach Kaleb Canales has instilled his philosophy quickly and effectively in his first year leading a CEBL squad. The former Portland Trail Blazers bench boss adapted quickly to the league’s quirks — including Target Score Time — and turned the Surge into a well-oiled machine. While Nelson Jr., will miss the Stampede Game as he heads to NBA Summer League (more on that to come), Calgary should not miss a step. Meanwhile, Alliance head coach Jermaine Small referred to his team’s season as a “roller-coaster.” Montreal won its first four games, lost the next four and has gone 2-3 since for a total record of 6-7. The Alliance could enter short-handed, with star forward Quincy Guerrier also off to Summer League while leading scorer Tavian Dunn-Martin missed the team’s last game with an injury. Reinforcements could be on the way ahead of Wednesday’s game. Stay tuned. As a team, Montreal has made and attempted the most three-pointers per game while leading the league in assists per game. Its swift ball movement — even with some new players — could present a challenge for Calgary’s opportunistic defence in a battle of strengths. Giddy up. Championship rematch 2.0 Any time Niagara and Vancouver face off these days, it’s a treat. Not only will Thursday’s matchup in St. Catharines, Ont., feature last year’s Finals combatants, but it also could be a preview of this year’s championship game with both teams currently atop their conferences — and riding winning streaks, to boot. The season hasn’t been all smooth-sailing for the River Lions, whose current two-game surge comes after a two-game skid. Niagara has won ugly at times — see Sunday’s victory over Montreal for proof of that — and its minus-61 point differential does not portend confidence. But Khalil Ahmad has provided his usual Target Time heroics, and players like Nathan Cayo — who scored a team-high 18 points in his hometown — have stepped up in support. In Vancouver, the Bandits carry a league high plus-154 point differential and 11-3 record, with two of three losses coming at the hands of the Surge. They are rolling once more now with a three-game winning streak. While sharpshooter Kyle Mangas and Canadian Tyrese Samuel are off at Summer League, leading scorer Mitch Creek should continue to carry the load at both ends alongside CEBL vet Corey Davis Jr., for Kyle Julius’s squad. The Bandits crushed the River Lions 109-72 in their first matchup of the season in May, but Niagara’s squad is much improved from then — and now they’re at home, too. It all adds up to what should be a fascinating measuring-stick game for both sides. Record number of players headed to Summer League The CEBL just continues to churn out talent. Now, a record 15 players will temporarily leave their teams to compete at NBA Summer Leagues. Calgary’s Nelson Jr., the son of longtime NBAer Jameer Nelson, is already with the San Antonio Spurs alongside the Bandits’ Mangas. Both have been crucial parts of their teams, with Nelson Jr., an early favourite to win Defensive Player of the Year and Mangas knocking down triples at a team-high rate of 3.7 per game. Calgary forward Osayi Osifo is also set to be on the Spurs' Summer League roster, having played about 15 minutes per contest for the Surge off the bench. Elsewhere, the Raptors will feature the Canadian Guerrier, who was second on Montreal in scoring and first rebounds. Guerrier played for Toronto’s G League affiliate Raptors 905 last season. Brooklyn will feature Vancouver’s Samuel and Winnipeg’s Terry Roberts. And Scarborough has lost second-leading scorer Donovan Williams, who is averaging 24.3 points per contest but is off to play for the Denver Nuggets. Other players headed to Summer League include Jaylin Williams (Dallas), Izaiah Brockington (New Orleans), Jaden Campbell (New York), Hason Ward (Oklahoma City), Cam McGriff (Utah) and Jalen Gainey (Utah). Weekly schedule (Eight games) Game #72 -- Wednesday, July 9 – OTT at BHB – 12:30 p.m. ET– CAA Centre (Game+, CEBL+, TSN+) Game #73 – Wednesday, July 9 – MTL at CGY – 7:30 p.m. MT / 9:30 p.m. ET – Scotiabank Saddledome (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+) Game #74 – Thursday, July 10 – VAN at NRL – 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT – Meridian Centre (CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Game #75 – Friday, July 11 – EDM at SSS – 7:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. MT – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #76 – Friday, July 11 – VAN at BHB – 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT – CAA Centre (Game+, CEBL+, TSN+) Game #77 – Friday, July 11 – WPG at SSK – 7:30 p.m. CST / 8:30 p.m. CDT / 9:30 p.m. ET – SaskTel Centre (CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Game #78 – Sunday, July 13 – BHB at SSS – 2 p.m. ET – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Game #79 – Sunday, July 13 – VAN at MTL – 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT – Verdun Auditorium (RDS, CEBL+, TSN+) For the full 2025 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .