Shooting Stars head back to Championship Weekend after 77-72 comeback over BlackJacks

August 7, 2023
Dillon White

A fourth-quarter comeback from the Scarborough Shooting Stars helped them defeat the Ottawa BlackJacks 77-72 at TD Place on Sunday to earn a spot in CEBL Championship Weekend. 


The BlackJacks led by 12 points after three quarters and four points at the start of target score time but the Shooting Stars played smothering defence to earn the win in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. Scarborough will face off against the Niagara River Lions in the Eastern Conference Final on August 11 at CEBL Championship Weekend (CW23) in Langley BC.


“We all sacrificed a lot throughout the season, we've all pushed hard, and we wanted to play. We wanted to win,” Scarborough head coach Chris Exilus said of the final stretch. “You saw a lot of guys in there who just buckled down and said, ‘You know what, we're winning this game and we're gonna fight all the way to the end until we get that last score.’”


In his first game against Ottawa this season, Isiaha Mike dropped a game-high 24 points to lead Scarborough back to CW23 for the second straight season. Mike shot well from the field at 9-15 and secured a double-double with another game-high 13 rebounds. 


“We just dug in. We got in a hole in that third quarter. They went on a really good run – they kept that 10 [to] 12-point lead for a while,” Mike said. “Once we dug in and got a few stops in a row, we got out in transition. They were fouling [and] we started hitting some shots. I think that late defensive push is really what secured the win for us tonight.” 


After a 32-point performance in Friday’s play-in, Scarborough star Cat Barber cooled off against the BlackJacks. However, he still tallied 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and the game-winning layup. 


Big man Kalif Young also earned a double-double in the victory with 10 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. Meanwhile, Kyree Walker chipped in nine points, six rebounds and three assists to round out the Scarborough attack. 


On the other side, Jakeenan Gant came off the bench to pace the Ottawa offence. Gant filled the stats sheet with 21 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Guard Matthew Coleman had a big first half for Ottawa and finished the game with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. 


The BlackJacks’ go-to duo of Kadre Gray and Deng Adel didn’t meet their usual efficiency from the field but still produced. Gray scored 18 points on 6-19 shooting while Adel added 13 points on 5-17 shooting. 


Both teams struggled from the field in what was a defensive battle from the opening tip. Scarborough shot 40 per cent from the floor, 25 per cent from three and 69 per cent at the line, while Ottawa finished at 39-25-61. 


“I thought our guys play great,” Ottawa head coach James Derouin said. “Maybe not great in terms of how we're used to seeing this team play but we had to play differently. We were shorthanded and they're loaded up. We had to defend. We had to fight. We had to compete…I just thought [Gray] and [Adel] ran out of gas down the stretch.”



The game began with both teams locking down defensively and different faces contributing. The first 10 buckets came from 10 different scorers. Ottawa was able to contain Barber for the majority of the first quarter, but the Shooting Stars’ guard impacted the game on the perimeter in the closing minutes of the frame. He connected on back-to-back threes and was fouled on another to give Scarborough a 15-14 lead after 10 minutes. 


The Shooting Stars forced Derouin into a timeout early in the second quarter and went on a 10-0 run stretching back to the first. However, Gray stopped the bleeding with a trifecta for Ottawa. Coleman made some big plays for the BlackJacks to cut the deficit to three and force an Exilus timeout. 


Ottawa closed the half on a 13-2 run to carry a 37-30 lead into the locker room. The BlackJacks were efficient from three in the opening 20 minutes at 50 per cent, while the Shooting Stars connected at just a 20 per cent rate.  Coleman led all scorers at halftime with 13 points, while Gant and Barber each had 10. 


In the third quarter, Mike started to heat up for the Shooting Stars. He cut the deficit down to six. However, the BlackJacks went on a 10-2 run to take a 12-point lead and force an Exilus timeout. Elijah Lufile scored back-to-back buckets for Scarborough after the team talk, but Ottawa answered with a 4-0 run of their own to head into the final frame with a 62-50 advantage. 


The Shooting Stars started the fourth quarter with some urgency. They turned steals into scores on consecutive possessions and forced a Derouin timeout after a 6-0 run. Ottawa bounced back after the brief chat to extend the lead back to 10, but the Shooting Stars went on a 7-1 run before target score time. The BlackJacks carried a 67-63 advantage into the final stretch with a target of 76. 


Gant finished strong at the rim to kick off target time but the Shooting Stars took control from there. Mike banked in a floater before Kassius Robertson faded off the dribble and connected on a clutch three. Walker and Mike hit from the line while the defence shut down Ottawa. 


After an offensive rebound, Walker drove to the rim and finished an and-one to put the Shooting Stars one point away from victory. Adel completed an old-fashioned three-point play of his own to make it a one-possession game again, but a reverse layup at the other end for Barber completed the Scarborough comeback. 


With the win, the Shooting Stars book a trip to Vancouver for CEBL Championship Weekend for the Eastern Conference Final against the Niagara River Lions at 8 p.m. ET on Friday (Aug. 11). 


All games are available for streaming on TSN, TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.


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 71 per cent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August.  More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa annoncent le calendrier de la saison régulière 2026

February 26, 2026
Les BlackJacks d'Ottawa de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB) ont annoncé aujourd’hui que l’équipe a conclu une entente avec l’ailier Justin Ndjock-Tadjoré en vue de la saison 2026. Il effectue un retour avec les BlackJacks pour une troisième campagne, après avoir été sélectionné par Ottawa lors des deux derniers repêchages de la CEBL. Il s’agira de sa première saison sous contrat standard, plutôt que sous contrat de joueur en développement. Originaire de Gatineau (Québec), Ndjock-Tadjoré dispute présentement sa première saison avec BK Ogre, dans la Estonian-Latvian Basketball League. Il occupe présentement le deuxième rang de l’équipe aux rebonds (7,8), aux blocs (0,8) et aux vols de ballon (0,8) par match, en plus de se classer quatrième pour les minutes jouées (27,9 par match) et quatrième au chapitre des points (13,2 par match). Lors de la saison 2025 de la CEBL, l’ailier de 6 pi 7 po a maintenu des moyennes de 4,3 points et 2,3 rebonds en 15 matchs de saison régulière. Il a notamment signé un sommet personnel dans la CEBL avec 19 points le 10 août contre Vancouver. « Annoncer Justin aujourd’hui représente un moment dont nous sommes très fiers comme organisation. Ça souligne notre engagement envers le développement des joueurs — prendre un talent local d’élite issu du niveau U SPORTS et l’aider à faire le saut vers le basketball professionnel », a déclaré le directeur général des BlackJacks d’Ottawa, James Derouin. « Après une solide première saison outremer, Justin revient à la maison en joueur plus expérimenté et polyvalent. Ses atouts physiques et son intensité sont exactement ce dont nous aurons besoin cet été, et nous avons hâte de le voir franchir une autre étape importante dans sa carrière chez nous. » Diplômé de l’Université d’Ottawa, il a aidé les Gee-Gees à remporter une médaille de bronze U SPORTS lors de chacune de ses deux saisons avec l’équipe. Il s’est joint au programme après un transfert de St. Bonaventure University (NCAA), où il a disputé 13 matchs en deux saisons avec les Bonnies. Ottawa lancera sa saison à The Arena à la Place TD, le mardi 12 mai à 19 h 30, face aux champions en titre de la Conférence de l’Ouest, le Calgary Surge. Des forfaits de billets flexibles et des expériences de groupe sont actuellement en vente en visitant theblackjacks.ca/fr-ca/tickets , ou rendez-vous sur theblackjacks.ca/fr-ca/season-seat-memberships pour vous joindre à nous lors de tous les matchs à domicile de la saison 2026. ### À propos des BlackJacks d'Ottawa Première franchise d'expansion de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB), les BlackJacks d’Ottawa sont une équipe professionnelle masculine de basketball qui évolue à l'Aréna de la Place TD. Le club est engagé envers l’excellence tant sur le terrain qu’en dehors, et vise à inspirer la fierté communautaire, à encourager le développement de la relève et à offrir une expérience inégalée à ses partisans. Pour plus d'informations, visitez le site theblackjacks.ca/fr-ca .

BlackJacks Re-Sign University of Ottawa Standout Ndjock-Tadjoré

February 26, 2026
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that the club has signed forward Justin Ndjock-Tadjoré ahead of the 2026 season. He returns to the BlackJacks for his third campaign with the club after previously being selected by Ottawa in each of the last two CEBL Drafts. This will be Ndjock-Tadjoré's first season under a standard player contract as opposed to a developmental contract. A native of Gatineau, Que., Ndjock-Tadjoré is currently participating in his first season for BK Ogre of the Estonian-Latvian Basketball League where he currently ranks second on the team in rebounds (7.8), blocks (0.8) and steals (0.8) per-game, fourth in minutes (27.9 mpg) and fourth in scoring (13.2 ppg) The 2025 CEBL season saw the 6'7" forward average 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 15 regular season games. The year was highlighted by a CEBL career-high 19 points on Aug. 10 vs. Vancouver. “Announcing Justin today is a proud moment for our program. It highlights the commitment to the development player process – taking elite local talent from the U SPORTS level and helping them bridge the gap to the professional game," said Ottawa BlackJacks general manager, James Derouin. “After finishing a strong first year overseas, Justin returns home as a more seasoned, versatile player. His physical tools and high motor are exactly what we need this summer and we're eager to see him take the next big step in his career with us.” A graduate of the University of Ottawa, he helped the Gee-Gees to a U SPORTS bronze medal in each of his two seasons with the team. He joined the club after transferring from St. Bonaventure University (NCAA) where he appeared 13 times for the Bonnies across two campaigns. Ottawa opens the season at The Arena at TD Place on Tuesday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. against the defending Western Conference champion, Calgary Surge. Flexible ticket packages and group experiences are currently available to purchase by visiting theblackjacks.ca/tickets or visit theblackjacks.ca/season-seat-memberships to become a 2026 season seat member. ### About the Ottawa BlackJacks The first expansion franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Ottawa BlackJacks are a professional men’s basketball team competing out of The Arena at TD Place. The club is committed to excellence on-and-off the court and aims to inspire community pride, foster grassroots development and deliver an unparalleled fan experience. For more information, visit theblackjacks.ca .

Sea Bears Sign Canadian Guard Walker

February 19, 2026
The Winnipeg Sea Bears today announce the signing of Canadian guard David Walker. Walker most recently appeared for the Ottawa BlackJacks in the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League season, where on Aug. 16 2025, in a playoff game, he had a standout performance, scoring 19 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and recording 3 steals in 25 minutes. Prior to his time in Ottawa, he suited up for the Scarborough Shooting Stars in 2025. Walker was also recognized as a finalist for the 2024 CEBL Developmental Player of the Year award. In addition, Walker was a finalist for the 2023 U SPORTS Player of the Year award, recognizing his outstanding performance at the university level and cementing his reputation as one of Canada’s top basketball talents. Over his CEBL career, playing for Brampton Honey Badgers, Scarborough Shooting Stars, and Ottawa BlackJacks, Walker has averaged 8.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. “David fits the identity we’re building. He’s a tough, physical Canadian guard with league experience who strengthens our Canadian depth,” said Lead Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager Alex Campbell. “He defends with purpose, plays hard, and gets downhill offensively. We believe he has tremendous upside, and I think Sea Bears Nation is going to appreciate the way he competes and works every single day.” Walker was originally selected 22nd overall in the 2024 CEBL Draft and began his professional career with the Brampton Honey Badgers, where he averaged 7.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 16 games during the 2024 season. Before turning professional, Walker starred at Toronto Metropolitan University, averaging 16.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists during the 2023–24 season. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the Sea Bears,” said Walker. “Winnipeg has built something special, and I’m coming in ready to bring toughness, versatility, and a winning mindset every time I step on the floor.” ###

Mazereeuw promu Président et Chef de la Direction de la Ligue Elite Canadienne de Basketball

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Le premier président de l'histoire de la ligue assume un rôle de leadership élargi alors que la ligue professionnelle de basketball du Canada amorce sa prochaine phase de croissance

Mazereeuw Promoted to President and CEO of Canadian Elite Basketball League

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Brampton Native Djuricic Inks Deal with Honey Badgers

February 17, 2026
The four-year CEBL veteran and former Harvard standout joins Brampton after winning a championship with Scarborough in 2023

NBA-Experienced Cerda, Brampton Agree to Terms on Head Coaching Role

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Vancouver Bandits Make Impactful Community Visits in the Okanagan

February 12, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), are committed to making a positive impact through basketball and growing the game across British Columbia, and this dedication was highlighted this past week in Kelowna and the Okanagan area. Coming off the recent announcement of Kelowna HOOPFEST, a brand-new basketball festival featuring a CEBL neutral-site home game in partnership with the City of Kelowna, Bandits head coach Kyle Julius spent time at five Okanagan-area secondary schools and both of Kelowna’s post-secondary men’s basketball teams, as part of the Vancouver Bandits third-annual Bandits School Tour. Julius and Bandits staff visited Mount Boucherie Secondary School, Immaculata Regional High School, Okanagan Mission Secondary, Rutland Secondary School and Kelowna Secondary, as well as the men’s basketball teams at UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College, providing dedicated and tailored practices along with motivational talks and training materials. Launched in 2023, the Bandits School Tour is supported by the Bandits Community Foundation, Preston Chevrolet and Envision Financial and offers a unique opportunity for student-athletes and volunteer coaches to learn directly from BC’s only professional basketball coach. “What stood out most during our visit was the impact basketball can have when it is rooted in mentorship and connection; it is clear how vibrant the basketball and business ecosystem is in the Okanagan,” said Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “We are thankful to the Okanagan and Kelowna communities for welcoming us so openly, and this is only the beginning. We are committed to being present and intentional in the lead-up to Kelowna HOOPFEST from June 5th to 7th.” In addition to the Bandits School Tour, Julius and members of Bandits staff had the opportunity to connect with various Okanagan business, media and community leaders, including attending the 51st annual Western Canada Tournament at Kelowna Secondary and a Kelowna Rockets hockey game. ###

Montréal Announces Return of Hometown Star Guerrier

February 11, 2026
Montréal native and team captain returns after a standout 2025 season with the Alliance

Montréal annonce le retour de la vedette locale Guerrier

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Le Montréalais d'origine et capitaine de l'équipe fait son retour après une saison 2025 exceptionnelle avec l'Alliance.