River Lions Expand Lead Atop East with Victory Over Shooting Stars
July 20, 2025
Myles Dichter
The Niagara River Lions have their eyes on a trip to Winnipeg for Championship Weekend.
They can feel safer thinking about booking those flights now as the defending champions cruised past the Scarborough Shooting Stars 96-81 on Sunday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont.
The River Lions expanded their lead atop the East to four games over the Shooting Stars with the victory. The 7-8 Ottawa BlackJacks remain 3.5 games back of the conference leaders.
Niagara now sits at 12-5 following its fifth straight win, while Scarborough fell to 8-9.
Head coach Victor Raso said the team had to go through the mud early in the season — including a pair of blowout losses to Scarborough and the Brampton Honey Badgers — to get to the point it’s at now.
“You have to earn the belief back. And I think we're doing that now. We're connected on the defensive end. We're connected on the offensive end. Our quality of shots have gone up a lot. We turned the ball over way too much tonight, but we just kind of figured out our rotations where guys should be in and we're playing much better now,” he said.
The River Lions’ latest victory was hardly ever in doubt.
After a closely contested first quarter — which still ended in a five-point advantage for Niagara — the River Lions stretched their lead to 21 points by halftime.
When the clock turned off for Target Score Time in the fourth, Niagara led 87-66.
The Shooting Stars scratched and clawed to cut their deficit to 12 points, but River Lions guard Ron Curry closed things out with a free throw.
“We’re just starting to figure out what our identity is, and we're starting to put it together a little bit. Everybody's playing to their potential, and we're starting to look better as a team,” Curry said.
With the win, Niagara closed in on the East’s top seed — which comes with a bye to the semifinals and a guaranteed trip to Championship Weekend.
The River Lions have never missed the playoffs in the CEBL’s existence. They’re now seeking to become the second team ever to go back-to-back.
On Sunday, Ron Curry sparked the River Lions attack with an early flurry of three-pointers that created separation from Scarborough.
Curry drilled three three-pointers in the first quarter and finished with 22 points, four rebounds and two assists.
“Ron is a really good basketball player. If Ron never tore his ACL, he probably wouldn't be in the CEBL. But he's tough, and he's a shotmaker. And I'm glad he's on our team,” Raso said.
While Curry feasted from beyond the arc, Khalil Ahmad lived at the free-throw line. Niagara’s leading scorer made 11 of 12 attempts from the charity stripe on the way to 23 points to go with four rebounds and two assists.
Like Curry, River Lions captain Kimbal Mackenzie nailed three treys. He scored 16 points in all, adding six rebounds and six assists.
“We’re locked in now,” said forward Eddie Ekiyor, who had 12 points and nine rebounds. “We’re doing pretty good. We gotta keep it going.”
Scarborough, meanwhile, now has its work cut out as it continues to fight for playoff positioning.
The Shooting Stars suddenly sit third in the conference after being limited to just 29 first-half points against Niagara.
For the game, the Shooting Stars committed 15 turnovers and made just 27 per cent of their three-point attempts.
Head coach Mike De Giorgio said the team’s first half was “terrible.”
“We didn't win enough 50-50 balls. We gave up 18 offensive rebounds. That was No. 1 on the scale. We had to match their effort, had to match their intensity, and we came out a little bit flat. And I think just our message here to the guys is just staying together for the full game. I think how we respond to adversity is very important for us,” De Giorgio said.
Terquavion Smith, who entered the game second in leaguewide scoring, put up 22 points to lead the way for Scarborough while also pitching in four steals and three assists.
Cat Barber scored 15 points to become the second player in league history to reach the 1,500-point plateau for his career, including playoffs. River Lions guard Ahmed Hill is the only other player to accomplish the feat.
All of Barber’s points came in the second half.
Aaron Best made his season debut for the Shooting Stars after signing earlier on Sunday. The Scarborough native nearly posted a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds.
“It’s always fun playing at home,” Best said.
Scarborough was missing four players due to NBA Summer League including star scorer Donovan Williams and big man Hason Ward.
“I think overall we just needed to play better. And that's something we'll keep working on we as we go towards our next game,” De Giorgio said.
The Shooting Stars made a run at a comeback in the third quarter, closing to within 12 points, but the River Lions punched back with a four-point play by Ahmad and a three-pointer from Mackenzie.
By the end of the frame, the River Lions were back up 70-51. In Target Time, despite some testy moments, the result never truly came into question.
Now, Niagara has a different lead to hold onto — its grip atop the Eastern Conference.
Box Score
https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600654
Up Next
Both teams are back in action Friday as the River Lions host the Montreal Alliance and the Shooting Stars visit the Brampton Honey Badgers.
Next CEBL Action
Just one game is on the docket for Monday as the Honey Badgers head to Ottawa to take on the BlackJacks. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games.
- CEBL -
The Vancouver Bandits downed the Edmonton Stingers 111-99 in a battle between two of the CEBL’s hottest teams at Langley Events Centre on Sunday (July 20). Vancouver snapped Edmonton’s seven-game win streak and extended its own to four games with the victory. Scorching hot three-point shooting continued to make the difference for the Bandits. The home team connected on 17 threes in the win, their third consecutive game hitting at least 15. Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius attributed the strong stretch of shooting to the team’s ability to generate open looks. “We've been really moving the ball well – really unselfish. The guys have confidence in each other,” Julius said. The ball movement yielded 29 assists on Vancouver’s 40 field goals on Sunday. Duane Notice led the charge for Vancouver with 23 points in the win. With varying minutes throughout the season, Notice made the most of his opportunities in the past several games. “I always try to stay ready. I mean it's cliché, but it's the truth. There's games where I don't play, there's games where I play the whole game, [and] there's games where I play spot minutes,” Notice said. “So I just try to approach the game with the same mentality every time, which is ‘How can I impact the game and winning on both ends of the court?’” Bandits guard Corey Davis Jr. contributed 20 points and eight assists to the effort, while Mitch Creek returned to the lineup with 19 points. Edmonton head coach Jordan Baker said the loss is a good wake-up call heading into the final six games. “The details matter and we've got to play four quarters of basketball,” Baker said. Stingers’ guard Sean East II was held in check for the bulk of the contest but finished strong with 10 points in Target Score Time, ending the night with 20. Scottie Lindsey and Nick Hornsby each added 19 points for the Stingers as well. Hornsby said the Stingers just have to move on to their next matchup against Winnipeg. “We did try to execute what we needed to execute. And it’s just part of basketball – you're not going to win every game. You're not going to win 100 in a row. We're blessed to be able to win seven,” Hornsby said. Meanwhile, Keon Ambrose-Hylton made history for the Stingers in the loss. The big man broke his coach’s franchise record for rebounds in a single game with 18 on the night. “It's great for him – he did a great job for us on both ends, cleaning the glass. [Vancouver] only having four offensive rebounds is a testament to what he was doing down there. But yeah, I mean, small consolation,” Baker said. Both offences were operating efficiently to start the game. After knocking down 17 threes on Friday, the Bandits carried over the hot shooting into Sunday. Davis Jr. and Notice both buried a pair of triples to earn an early lead for Vancouver. Davis Jr. kept hitting shots from beyond the arc to begin the second quarter, helping to extend the lead to as high as 15. However, the Stingers gained some momentum with a 6-0 run to close the half, cutting the deficit to nine points after 20 minutes. Vancouver didn’t cool down from long range in the third quarter. After Hornsby hit from deep to start the frame, the Bandits went on a 14-2 run to force a Baker timeout, highlighted by a Notice triple from almost half court. Lindsey and Hornsby kept the Stingers offence afloat during the quarter, but the Bandits still entered the fourth with an 84-69 advantage. Returning from NBA Summer League, Kyle Mangas joined the three-point frenzy early in the fourth before Creek and Sam Maillet connected with another pair to head into Target Score Time with a 101-82 lead. Edmonton kept fighting with a 9-1 run to begin Target Score Time, prompting a Julius timeout. However, Creek helped to close out the game with a long two from the wing and a transition layup to win it. The Stingers and Bandits meet again on Aug. 1 at Edmonton Expo Centre. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600661 Up next for both teams Vancouver and Edmonton are both back in action on the road next Friday (July 25) with the Bandits facing the Surge and the Stingers matching up against the Sea Bears. Next CEBL action Brampton visits Ottawa in an Eastern Conference showdown on Monday (July 21). For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -
À seulement sept matchs de confirmer leur laissez-passer automatique pour le week-end du Championnat à titre d’équipe hôte, les Sea Bears de Winnipeg cherchent à prendre leur élan pour conclure la saison en force. Dimanche, ils ont démontré tout leur potentiel en signant une victoire convaincante de 94-81 sur la route face à l’Alliance de Montréal. Avant la deuxième demie, l’entraîneur-chef de Winnipeg, Mike Taylor, avait l’air soulagé dans une entrevue avec la journaliste Gabriela Hebert sur les lignes de côté. « On a bien contrôlé le tempo… et nos deuxièmes chances dans la clé nous ont aidés », a déclaré Taylor, dont l’équipe a terminé avec un différentiel de plus quatre au chapitre des deuxièmes chances et a su limiter les pertes de ballon. Les Sea Bears ont eu une petite frayeur au troisième quart alors que Montréal s’est rapprochée à seulement trois points, mais Winnipeg a rapidement repris le contrôle au quatrième pour sceller une victoire de 13 points. L’Alliance a connu un bon départ avec une avance rapide de 14-6, menée par le garde vedette Tavian Dunn-Martin. Les Sea Bears ont toutefois rapidement inversé la tendance, terminant le premier quart en avance 23-18 grâce à deux jeux consécutifs avec faute convertie de Jalen Harris, qui a terminé la rencontre avec un sommet de 29 points. Montréal a passé la majeure partie du deuxième quart à tenter de limiter les dégâts. Après un départ explosif, Dunn-Martin est resté silencieux pendant tout le quart. Le garde américain de Winnipeg, Will Richardson, a enchaîné deux tirs de trois points pour creuser des écarts de 11 puis 12 points. Quand Shamiel Stevenson a réduit l’écart à huit points avec un panier sous l’anneau, Emmanuel Akot — excellent en début de match — a refroidi l’élan de Montréal avec un tir de trois points crucial, suivi d’un tir chanceux de Jaylin Williams derrière l’arc, portant l’écart à 15 points. « Eman (Akot), pour moi, il a vraiment été excellent. Il a un peu passé sous le radar lors des derniers matchs, a souligné Taylor. Il joue du très bon basket, avec beaucoup d’intensité des deux côtés du terrain. » Winnipeg menait 50-37 à la mi-temps, mais O.d. Anosike de Montréal est revenu en force au troisième quart, un peu comme Dunn-Martin en début de match. Non seulement il marquait dans le bas de la clé, mais il agissait aussi comme meneur offensif, en créant le jeu à partir de ses déplacements après écran. Le 100e tir de trois points en saison régulière de Jalen Harris a redonné une avance de 12 points aux Sea Bears, mais le tir de trois points de Kevin Osawe, suivi d’une passe d’Anosike à Abdul Mohamed en coupure vers le panier, a mené ce dernier sur la ligne des lancers francs. Il a réussi ses deux tirs, réduisant l’écart à cinq points. Même si Dunn-Martin ne marquait pas, la menace constante de son tir extérieur lui a permis de soutirer une faute derrière l’arc. Il a converti ses trois lancers francs, ramenant Montréal à seulement trois points. Mais c’est Simu Shittu de Winnipeg, auteur d’un doublé de 14 points et 11 rebonds, qui a permis à son équipe de reprendre le dessus. Shittu a fait le ménage sous le panier comme tout au long du match. Son cinquième rebond offensif a mené à un panier de Harris, créant un écart de huit points. Son sixième rebond offensif s’est transformé en passe décisive pour Tre Scott, qui a porté l’avance à neuf points. Les Sea Bears n’ont plus jamais perdu leur avance de dix points dans le quatrième quart et ont terminé la rencontre aisément pendant la période du pointage cible. Le week-end du Championnat approche à grands pas. Montréal a maintenant subi une quatrième défaite de suite, mais reste tout de même dans la course aux séries. Winnipeg bénéficiera d’un laissez-passer automatique en tant qu’équipe hôte, mais Taylor était ravi de la performance de son groupe. « On travaille très fort pour rester prêts et affamés, mais on court une course différente des autres équipes qui luttent pour leur place en séries, a-t-il dit. J’adore la direction que prend notre équipe et on doit continuer à progresser pour être à notre meilleur en août. » Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600659 À venir pour les deux équipes Les Sea Bears (7-10) seront de retour à la maison pour affronter les puissants Stingers d’Edmonton (11-6), invaincus à leurs sept derniers matchs, au Canada Life Centre le vendredi 25 juillet. L’Alliance (6-10) recevra les BlackJacks d’Ottawa (7-8) à l’Auditorium de Verdun le mercredi 23 juillet. Prochain match dans la LECB Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa (7-8) accueilleront les Honey Badgers de Brampton (4-14) à la Place TD, lors du seul match de la LECB demain. Pour l’horaire complet de la saison 2025 et pour les résultats à jour, visitez cebl.ca/games . - LECB -
With just seven games remaining before they secure an automatic berth in Championship Weekend as the host team, the Winnipeg Sea Bears are focused on building momentum down the stretch. On Sunday, they looked every bit like a team hitting its stride, earning a convincing 94-81 road win over the Montreal Alliance. Before the second half, Winnipeg head coach Mike Taylor seemed relieved in his interview with sideline reporter Gabriela Hebert. “We controlled the tempo well … [and] second chance opportunities inside helped us,” said Taylor whose team was plus-four in second chance opportunities and minimized turnovers. There was a brief scare for the Sea Bears as Montreal inched within three points in the third quarter, but Winnipeg re-established its dominance in the fourth en route to a 13-point victory. Montreal jumped out to an early 14-6 lead, spearheaded by star guard Tavian Dunn-Martin. Winnipeg, however, quickly flipped the script, closing the first quarter up 23-18 — capped by back-to-back and-one plays from Jalen Harris, who finished with a game-high 29 points. Montreal spent much of the second quarter trying to minimize the damage. Though TDM started the first frame with a bang, he went scoreless in the second. Winnipeg’s import guard Will Richardson’s back-to-back triples built an 11 and 12-point lead. When Montreal’s Shamiel Stevenson hit a lay-up to make it an eight-point game, Emmanuel Akot, who had a great first quarter, dashed their hopes by nailing a big three-pointer, giving Winnipeg a 14-point boost, followed by a lucky bounce on Jaylin Williams’ three-pointer,making it a 15-point game. “Eman (Akot), for me, he’s so been so good, kinda under-the-radar the last several games,” said Taylor. “He’s played great, he’s played so hard on both ends.” Winnipeg had a 50-37 lead at halftime, but Montreal’s O.d. Anosike came out with the same bang that TDM came out with at the start of the game. Not only was Anosike scoring in the low post, he was acting as a point forward, a playing-making hub off rolls. Jalen Harris’ 100th regular-season three-pointer pushed the lead to 12 points, but Kevin Osawe’s triple and Anosike finding Abdul Mohamed backdoor, led him to the charity stripe. His two free throws made it a five-point game. Though TDM wasn’t scoring, the threat of his three-point shooting allowed him to draw a foul from the perimeter, which got him to the charity stripe. He hit all three free throws to inch within three points. But it was Winnipeg’s Simu Shittu, who had a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double performance that helped re-establish Winnipeg’s lead. Shittu brought out the Windex as he had done all game – his fifth offensive board led to Harris’ bucket, creating an eight-point buffer. Shittu’s sixth offensive board was a touch pass to Tre Scott to build a nine-point lead. Winnipeg never let go of their double-digit lead in the fourth, and it was an easy win in Target Time. Championship Weekend is only a month away. Montreal has lost four games in a row, but their playoff hunt continues. Winnipeg will receive an automatic bye for being the host, but Taylor was ecstatic after today’s performance. “We are working as hard as we can to stay sharp and hungry, but we’re running a different race from the other teams who are fighting to get into the playoffs,” he said. “I really love the direction the team is going and we have to keep working to be at our best come August.” Box score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600659 Up next for both teams The Sea Bears (7-10) will return home to host the red-hot Edmonton Stingers (11-6), who are on a seven-game winning streak, at Canada Life Centre on Friday, July 25. The Alliance (6-10) will stay home and host the Ottawa BlackJacks (7-8) at Verdun Auditorium on Wednesday, July 23. Next CEBL action The Ottawa BlackJacks (7-8) will host the Brampton Honey Badgers (4-14) at TD Place in tomorrow’s only CEBL game. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -
The Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Sunday that they have re-signed veteran guard Aaron Best as they push to clinch their spot at Championship Weekend 2025 (CW25). The 6-foot-4 Scarborough native returns for his second season with the Shooting Stars and third CEBL campaign overall. Best brings over a decade of professional experience, having played 411 career games across top leagues in Europe and North America, including Poland’s OBL, EuroCup, the NBA G League, and the CEBL. He has totaled 4,044 points, 1,416 rebounds, and 646 assists, averaging 9.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 36.7% from three-point range and 75.7% from the free throw line. In 2024–25, Best averaged 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists over 39 games with Trefl Sopot in Poland’s top division (OBL), shooting an efficient 43.7% from beyond the arc and 84.9% from the line. He recorded nine 20+ point performances, including a standout 31-point game with seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. He also suited up for Canada in FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers, averaging 9.2 points and 2.7 rebounds across six games. During the 2024 CEBL season, Best appeared in nine games for Scarborough, averaging 10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 27 minutes per game, while helping the team remain competitive throughout the summer stretch. Best previously captured a CEBL Championship with the Hamilton Honey Badgers in 2022 and has played professionally in France, Greece, Germany, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom. He is known across the league for his leadership, consistent production, and ability to impact both ends of the floor. Collegiately, Best was a standout at TMU (formerly Ryerson University), where he averaged 14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists over five seasons. He was a two-time OUA First-Team All-Star, CIS Second-Team All-Canadian, and two-time Ryerson Male Athlete of the Year, leading the team to an OUA Wilson Cup title in 2016. Best rejoins a strong Shooting Stars roster featuring Kalif Young, Cat Barber, NC State product Terquavion Smith, and recent addition Anthony Walker as Scarborough (8–8) continues its playoff push in the closing stretch of the regular season. The team is back in action this afternoon, Sunday, July 20, as they travel to St. Catharines to face the Niagara River Lions (11–5) at the Meridian Centre. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in what promises to be a pivotal matchup with playoff implications. 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 15 players with NBA game experience in 2025. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by Tonybet, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .
Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa de la Ligue canadienne élite de basketball (LCEB), la plus grande ligue professionnelle de sport au Canada, ont annoncé aujourd’hui la signature de l’ailier Brock Newton ainsi que la re-signature de l’ailier Owen Kenney, qui faisait auparavant partie de l’équipe d’entraînement du club. Les deux joueurs ont signé des contrats standards de développement de joueur pour le reste de la saison. En tant que membres des Gee-Gees de l’Université d’Ottawa pour la saison 2024-2025 (U SPORTS), les deux joueurs ont contribué à une saison régulière record de 20 victoires et 2 défaites, qui s’est conclue par une troisième médaille de bronze consécutive pour Ottawa lors du Championnat national U SPORTS 2025 à Vancouver. Originaire de Barrie, en Ontario, et mesurant 6 pi 7 po, Kenney a été inscrit sur la liste des joueurs suspendus, alors que le membre de l’équipe d’étoiles recrues U SPORTS 2024-2025 représente actuellement le Canada à l’événement FIBA U23 3x3 Nations League 2025 – Amériques 2 , à Punta Arenas, au Chili. Titulaire à cinq reprises et présent dans les 22 matchs de saison régulière d’Ottawa cette saison, Kenney a affiché des moyennes de 8,4 points et 4,8 rebonds par match, tout en se classant neuvième dans l’OUA avec un total de 21 blocs. Newton, 23 ans, a terminé sa troisième saison avec les Gee-Gees en 2024-2025, au cours de laquelle il a été nommé au sein de l’équipe d’étoiles du tournoi U SPORTS Final 8, aux côtés d’autres joueurs de la LCEB, Sam Maillet (Vancouver) et Geoffrey James (Winnipeg). En 2023-2024, cet originaire de Fergus, en Ontario, a été nommé sur la première équipe d’étoiles de l’OUA ainsi que sur la deuxième équipe d’étoiles canadienne U SPORTS, après avoir mené son équipe avec une moyenne de 17,0 points par match. Il a été ajouté à l’alignement actif et devrait être en uniforme pour le match des BlackJacks le lundi 21 juillet contre Brampton. Il est actuellement possible d'acheter des forfaits de billets flexibles en visitant le site theblackjacks.ca/fr-ca/tickets . ### À propos des BlackJacks d'Ottawa Première franchise d'expansion de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB), les BlackJacks d'Ottawa présentent le meilleur du basket-ball et du divertissement dans la capitale nationale. Le bureau de direction d'Ottawa apporte à la franchise son expérience de la NBA, de la NBA G League, de l'équipe nationale, de la NCAA et des grandes ligues professionnelles internationales. Dirigée par le directeur général James Derouin et l'entraîneur-chef Dave DeAveiro, l'équipe d'Ottawa joue ses matchs à domicile dans l'aréna de classe mondiale de la Place TD, dans le parc Lansdowne. Pour plus d'informations, visitez le site theblackjacks.ca .
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canada’s largest professional sports league, announced today that the team has signed forward Brock Newton while re-signing forward Owen Kenney who had previously been serving as a member of the club’s practice team. Both players have signed standard player developmental contracts for the remainder of the season. As members of the 2024-25 University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (U SPORTS), both players were a part of a record-setting 20-2 regular season that culminated in a third consecutive bronze medal for Ottawa at the 2025 U SPORTS National Championship in Vancouver. A 6’7” native of Barrie, Ont., Kenney has been placed on the suspended list as the member of the 2024-25 U SPORTS All-Rookie Team is currently representing Canada at the FIBA U23 3X3 Nations League 2025 - Americas 2 event in Punta Arenas, Chile. Making five starts while appearing in all 22 regular season contests for Ottawa this past season, Kenney averaged 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per-game while ranking ninth in the OUA with 21 blocks on the year. Newton, 23, concluded his third season with the Gee-Gees in 2024-25 where he was recognized with a spot on the U SPORTS Final 8 All-Star Team along with fellow CEBL players Sam Maillet (Vancouver) and Geoffrey James (Winnipeg). In 2023-24, the native of Fergus, Ont. was recognized as an OUA First Team All-Star and U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian after pacing his team with 17.0 points per-game. He has been added to the active roster and is expected to be in the lineup for the BlackJacks game on Monday, July 21 against Brampton. Flexible ticket packages are currently available to purchase by visiting theblackjacks.ca/tickets . ### About the Ottawa BlackJacks The first expansion franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Ottawa BlackJacks showcase the best of basketball and entertainment in the nation’s capital. The Ottawa front office brings NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. Led by General Manager James Derouin and Head Coach Dave DeAveiro, Ottawa plays its home games out of the world-class Arena at TD Place in Lansdowne Park. For more information, visit theblackjacks.ca .
Red-hot three-point shooting propelled the Vancouver Bandits to their third straight win on Friday (July 18). The Bandits connected on 17 trifectas on their way to a 100-79 win at Langley Events Centre that eliminated the Saskatchewan Rattlers from playoff contention. Edmonton fans can also celebrate Vancouver’s win as it clinches a playoff berth for the Stingers. The backcourt duo of Zach Copeland and Corey Davis Jr. carried the offensive load for the Bandits on Friday with Mitch Creek out of the lineup. Copeland netted a game-high 26 points, while Davis Jr. notched a double-double with 25 points, 12 assists and seven threes. Clutch contributions also came from Duane Notice with 13 points, including the game winner. Davis Jr.'s 12 assists pushed him past the 200 mark for his CEBL regular season career. On Tuesday, his single season assist record was broken by Saskatchewan guard Nate Pierre-Louis. “[Pierre-Louis] is a great basketball player and he does it the right way. So it's kudos to him. I'm pretty sure if I was here the whole season, I'd probably still be holding on to that. I feel a way about it but nonetheless,” Davis Jr. said. Unselfish basketball pushed the Bandits to the convincing win. Of Vancouver’s 35 field goals, 29 were assisted. The Bandits bounced back from 11 first-half turnovers and seven offensive rebounds allowed to take control in the second. “We've just been moving the ball really well. Our assists have been high, our three-point makes and percentage has been high and it's actually been fun to watch to be honest,” Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius said. For Saskatchewan, head coach Eric Magdanz said the team will continue to battle despite its elimination from the playoffs. “Our team has been nothing but competitive this whole year,” he said. “They're a great group of pros and a big thing we've talked about right from the start is saying this isn't the end of the road for any of us. We're all trying to see what's next and advance [our] career.” Recent additions Alex Garcia and Tevian Jones were bright spots for the Rattlers in the loss. With Pierre-Louis out, Garcia stepped up with 25 points in just his third professional game and Jones tallied 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists. “I've had some of the best [coaching] I feel like in the world, and that's really prepared me to play at this level,” Garcia said. “I put in the skill work but more than anything if … you're under skilled, you can play with better competition if you have the mind for it.” The Bandits opened the game strong, but the Rattlers responded quickly. A balanced attack, highlighted by a pair of and-ones from Garcia and Isaac Simon, helped Saskatchewan gain the lead and maintain it throughout the first quarter. Down just five to begin the second, Nick Ward settled in for Vancouver with back-to-back contact finishes inside. But the Bandits couldn’t gain ground, as Devonté Bandoo’s hot shooting pushed the Rattlers’ lead even further, forcing a Julius timeout. An 11-3 run for Saskatchewan capped by a transition jam from Elijah Ifejeh prompted another timeout from Julius. Vancouver narrowed the gap to close the half, culminating in a buzzer-beating corner three from Notice to make it a two-point game heading into the locker room. Copeland drove to the rack and finished through contact to knot the game at 45 to open the third. Kur Jongkuch added another layup on the following Bandits’ possession to seize the lead for the first time since early in the first quarter. The trio of Copeland, James Karnik and Davis Jr. made major contributions in the third to give the Bandits a 73-65 lead. Notice delivered another pair of clutch buckets in the fourth and the Bandits locked in defensively. Jongkuch rocked the rim with an alley-oop to cap a 17-10 run and carry a 15-point lead into the final stretch. Vancouver made quick work of Target Score Time, with another alley-oop to Jongkuch, a triple from Davis Jr. and two buckets from Notice — including a contact layup to win it. The Bandits handed the Rattlers a sweep in the season series, while winning their fourth straight at home as well. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600651 Up next for both teams Vancouver hosts Western Conference rival Edmonton on Sunday (July 20). Saskatchewan gets a longer break, returning to action next Saturday (July 26) in Ottawa — the second stop on a four-game road trip. Next CEBL action A battle between the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference unfolds on Sunday with Niagara (11-5) hosting Scarborough (8-8) in the first game of a CEBL tripleheader. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -
Septième victoire de suite pour les Stingers, qui se rapprochent d’une place en séries éliminatoires
Après une première demie chaudement disputée, les Stingers d’Edmonton ont pris le contrôle du match dans les deux derniers quarts pour arracher une victoire de 87-85 face aux BlackJacks d’Ottawa, prolongeant ainsi leur série victorieuse à sept gains consécutifs. Les Stingers ont inscrit 52 points en deuxième demie, menés par le candidat MVP Sean East II, limité en début de match en raison de fautes. Il a tout de même terminé la rencontre avec 23 points et cinq passes décisives. Keon Ambrose-Hylton a lui aussi marqué 23 points, en plus de capter 10 rebonds pour enregistrer un doublé, tandis que Scottie Lindsey a ajouté 13 points, incluant trois tirs de trois points. « Il s’est présenté en deuxième demie, a déclaré l’entraîneur-chef des Stingers, Jordan Baker, à propos de sa vedette. Évidemment, il a eu des ennuis de fautes en première demie, mais il est revenu en force. Il a été excellent offensivement, mais je trouve qu’il a aussi été solide dans nos couvertures défensives. Sans lui dans notre alignement, on n’en serait pas là. On aborde chaque match comme un incontournable, a-t-il ajouté. Calgary joue du gros basket, Vancouver aussi. On est dans une situation où il est très probable qu’on affronte l’une ou l’autre de ces équipes – voire les deux – en [séries]. Notre objectif, c’est de finir premiers ou deuxièmes pour pouvoir recevoir un match éliminatoire et compter sur notre foule à Edmonton. » Comme souvent au basketball, la première demie a été marquée par des séquences de domination offensive. Edmonton a pris les devants 16-12, mais un temps d’arrêt des BlackJacks a déclenché une poussée de 15-0 qui leur a permis de terminer le quart avec une avance de dix points. Ottawa a même mené jusqu’à 36-24, profitant d’une séquence de 9 minutes 40 entre la fin du premier et le début du deuxième quart où Edmonton n’a réussi que deux tirs sur 16. Les Stingers ont ensuite répliqué avec une poussée de 11-3 pour réduire l’écart à quatre points à la mi-temps. De retour du vestiaire, Edmonton a poursuivi sur sa lancée avec une séquence de 10-1 pour amorcer le troisième quart, totalisant une domination de 21-4 sur cette période. Les BlackJacks ont riposté avec une séquence de 12-3, avant que Zane Waterman ne soit contraint de quitter le match en raison d’une blessure à un moment clé en fin de troisième quart. Déjà privés de Deng Adel, absent en raison d’un problème de santé, l’équipe locale a dû composer avec un effectif réduit, notamment à l’intérieur de la clé. Ambrose-Hylton en a pleinement profité, inscrivant 17 de ses 23 points en deuxième demie. « Dès le départ, j’aborde chaque match en voulant prendre le contrôle, en essayant de tout donner pour l’équipe, a-t-il dit après le match. Je sais que la plupart des équipes n’ont pas un gars qui va sprinter sur le terrain à 100 % du temps. J’utilise ça à mon avantage. Nos entraîneurs nous le répètent à chaque pratique : jouez avec intensité et misez sur votre vitesse. On n’a peut-être pas les joueurs les plus grands, mais on sait ce qu’on fait. On a des joueurs motivés sur le terrain, on joue vite. Pour les rebonds, on connaît nos positions. Nos arrières s’occupent des coudes de la clé, nos grands foncent dans la clé. On ne court pas dans le vide, on s’assure d’être aux bons endroits au bon moment, » a ajouté Ambrose-Hylton. Du côté des BlackJacks, Isaih Moore a terminé avec un sommet de match de 28 points et 15 rebonds, à seulement deux rebonds d’égaler le record de la franchise en saison régulière. Javonte Smart a inscrit un doublé avec 19 points et 10 passes décisives – un sommet personnel en carrière dans la LECB, à une passe du record d’équipe. Waterman a récolté 12 points et six rebonds avant sa sortie, tandis que Keevan Veinot – qui jouait pour la première fois de la saison sans sa manche à l’épaule – a livré une solide performance avec 13 points, six rebonds et six passes décisives. Les deux équipes étaient à égalité 78-78 à l’entrée dans la période du pointage cible. Plusieurs erreurs ont coûté cher aux BlackJacks en fin de match. L’incident le plus marquant est survenu lorsqu’une faute de Moore sur East a été suivie d’une faute technique à l’endroit de Smart, offrant un lancer franc supplémentaire à East, qui a ensuite attaqué la clé et inscrit le panier de la victoire sur la possession suivante. « Avant tout, je suis fier de mes gars, de la manière dont ils se sont battus, a déclaré l’entraîneur-chef des BlackJacks, Dave DeAveiro. On était privés de deux joueurs, mais on s’est battus jusqu’à la fin. Il y a beaucoup de fierté dans ce vestiaire, beaucoup de déception aussi. On a du mal à bien exécuter dans les fins de match, pendant la période du pointage cible. On continue de revoir ces séquences, on va continuer de progresser. Mais quand une défaite crève-cœur comme celle-là arrive, la chose la plus importante, c’est de rester unis. Il faut continuer de croire en notre plan et aller de l’avant. On n’a pas exécuté notre plan défensif en deuxième demie, a-t-il reconnu. Est-ce que la fatigue a joué un rôle? Probablement. Javonte, Isaih… ils ont passé beaucoup de minutes sur le terrain aujourd’hui. Et quand t’es fatigué, les erreurs s’enchaînent. On a connu plusieurs bris défensifs en deuxième demie qu’on ne voit pas d’habitude. Ce n’est pas le dernier tir qui a décidé du match. On peut croire que oui, mais c’est faux. Ce sont toutes les erreurs défensives en deuxième demie qui ont mené à 52 points encaissés. C’est là que le match s’est joué. » Les Stingers d’Edmonton ne sont maintenant plus qu’à une victoire de sécuriser leur place en séries éliminatoires. Ils pourraient d’ailleurs obtenir leur laissez-passer dès demain, si les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan s’inclinent face aux Bandits de Vancouver. Sinon, ils peuvent aussi s’assurer une place en poursuivant leur séquence de victoires – leur troisième série de sept gains dans l’histoire de la franchise, et seulement la quatrième dans l’histoire de la ligue. Le record de la LECB est de neuf victoires consécutives, établi par Edmonton lors de la saison inaugurale. Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600645 À venir pour les deux équipes Les Stingers d’Edmonton se rendront à Vancouver pour affronter les Bandits, meneurs de la Conférence de l’Ouest, le 20 juillet. Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa resteront à domicile pour accueillir les Honey Badgers de Brampton le 21 juillet. Prochain match dans la LECB Les Bandits de Vancouver accueilleront les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan le 18 juillet, dans un match diffusé en direct sur CEBL+ et TSN+. Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB et les résultats à jour, visitez le site cebl.ca/games . - LECB -
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 -
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 -