Surge Host Marquee Stampede Game, Championship Rematch 2.0, and Summer League Is Upon Us

L’Alliance de Montréal est fière d’annoncer la signature de l’ailier canadien Shamiel Stevenson. L’ailier de 6’6” originaire de Toronto se joint à l’organisation après une campagne productive dans la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB) en 2024 avec les Honey Badgers de Brampton, où il a maintenu des moyennes de 15,6 points, 4,7 rebonds, 1,7 passes décisives et 30,7 minutes sur 19 rencontres. Plus récemment, il a complété la saison 2024-25 avec Inter Bratislava en Slovaquie, maintenant des moyennes de 19,4 points, 6,4 rebonds et 2,4 passes décisives en 32,8 minutes par match.  Stevenson apporte une expérience précieuse dans la LECB à Montréal, ayant disputé trois saisons dans la ligue avec les BlackJacks d’Ottawa (2022) et les Honey Badgers de Brampton (2023-2024). Lors de la saison 2024, il marqué 10 points ou plus à 11 reprises, incluant quatre parties de plus de 20 points. Ses performances incluent un match de 24 points contre Montréal le 2 juin 2024 et une performance de 28 points et 10 rebonds contre Scarborough le 26 juillet 2023. Le natif de Toronto a disputé quatre saisons universitaires dans la division 1 de la NCAA à l’Université de Pittsburgh et l’Université du Nebraska, maintenant des moyennes de 7,0 points et 3,4 rebond sur 62 matchs. Lors de sa première année à Pittsburgh en 2017-18, il menait l’équipe au chapitre du pourcentage aux tirs (.505) et du total de rebonds (141). L’Alliance annonce également la promotion des joueurs locaux Nate Tshimanga et Blondeau Tchoukuiegno de l’équipe d’entraînement. Tshimanga, pivot de 6’10”, vient tout juste de compléter sa carrière universitaire à New Mexico State (2024-25), où il a participé à 31 matchs avec neuf départs en tant que titulaire. Sa carrière collégiale l’a également mené à Utah Valley (2023-24) et Troy University (2021-22, 2022-23). Tchoukuiegno, un meneur de 6’2”, revient d’une saison en Croatie avec Osijek, où il a maintenu des moyennes de 12,5 points, 3,5 rebonds, 3,3 passes décisives et 1,4 vols en 33,8 minutes sur 11 matchs. Les trois joueurs seront disponibles dès le prochain match de l’Alliance. L’équipe détient une fiche de 6-7 et poursuit sa quête d’une position éliminatoire.

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.

(Aperçu: Semaine 10) Dans la LECB, chaque match peut devenir un vrai rodéo. Dès le début du match, les équipes jouent avec intensité, le pointage fluctue constamment, et on ne sait jamais comment la période du pointage cible va se conclure. Il est donc tout naturel que la LECB s’associe, pour la première fois, au rodéo… au sens propre du terme. Ce mercredi, le Surge de Calgary disputera son tout premier match du Stampede au Scotiabank Saddledome contre l’Alliance de Montréal. L’action débutera à 19 h 30 (HR) / 21 h 30 (HE) dans l’aréna de 19 289 sièges. Les billets sont en vente à partir de 35 $ pour le balcon supérieur et 45 $ pour le niveau inférieur (plus taxes et frais applicables). « Le Stampede de Calgary est l’une des célébrations les plus emblématiques au Canada. C’est tout à fait logique que le basketball de la LECB fasse maintenant partie de cette énergie et de cette tradition », avait déclaré le commissaire Mike Morreale lors de l’annonce du match en mai. Et ce duel entre le Surge et l’Alliance promet d’être à la hauteur. Calgary arrive avec un goût amer en bouche après une défaite contre son rival provincial, Edmonton. Malgré tout, le Surge (fiche de 9-5), deuxième dans l’Ouest, représente l’une des belles surprises de la saison. Porté par un trio explosif composé de Sean Miller-Moore, Greg Brown III et Jameer Nelson Jr., le Surge transforme constamment la défense en attaque. L’équipe mène la ligue pour les vols (10,1 par match), occupe le deuxième rang pour les rebonds (41,4) et les blocs (4,8), et le troisième rang pour les points marqués (93,5). L’entraîneur-chef Kaleb Canales a rapidement imposé sa philosophie à sa première saison dans la LECB. L’ancien entraîneur adjoint des Trail Blazers de Portland s’est bien adapté aux particularités de la ligue — notamment à la période du pointage cible — pour transformer son équipe en une véritable machine. Même si Nelson Jr. manquera le match Stampede pour participer à la Ligue d’été de la NBA (plus de détails ci-dessous), Calgary ne devrait pas ralentir pour autant. De son côté, l’entraîneur de l’Alliance, Jermaine Small, décrit la saison de Montréal comme une « montagne russe ». L’équipe a commencé avec quatre victoires de suite, a ensuite perdu ses quatre matchs suivants, puis a une fiche de 2-3 depuis, pour un total de 6-7. L’Alliance pourrait se présenter avec un effectif réduit, avec son ailier vedette Quincy Guerrier également en route vers la Ligue d’été, alors que le meilleur marqueur de l’équipe, Tavian Dunn-Martin, a raté la dernière rencontre en raison d’une blessure. Des renforts pourraient être en route avant le match de mercredi. Restez à l’écoute. Collectivement, Montréal tente et réussit le plus de tirs de trois points par match dans la ligue, en plus de mener au chapitre des passes décisives. Leur jeu de passes rapide — même avec de nouveaux joueurs — pourrait poser problème à la défense opportuniste de Calgary dans ce duel de styles. Revanche de championnat 2.0 Quand les River Lions de Niagara affrontent les Bandits de Vancouver, c’est toujours un spectacle. Le match de jeudi à St. Catharines, en Ontario, opposera une fois de plus les deux finalistes de la saison dernière. Ce pourrait également être un aperçu de la finale 2025, alors que les deux équipes trônent au sommet de leurs conférences respectives… et arrivent toutes deux avec des séquences victorieuses. La saison n’a pas été sans embûches pour Niagara, qui a rebondi avec deux victoires après avoir subi deux revers consécutifs. Les River Lions ont parfois gagné de façon difficile — la victoire de dimanche contre l’Alliance en est un bon exemple — et leur différentiel de -61 n’a rien de rassurant. Mais Khalil Ahmad continue d’offrir ses habituels coups d’éclat en période du pointage cible, alors que des joueurs comme Nathan Cayo — ayant marqué 18 points dans sa ville natale — ont relevé le défi. Du côté de Vancouver, les Bandits affichent le meilleur différentiel de la ligue (+154) et une fiche de 11-3. Deux de leurs trois défaites sont survenues face au Surge. L’équipe reste sur une série de trois victoires. Même si le spécialiste des tirs de trois points Kyle Mangas et le Canadien Tyrese Samuel participent à la ligue d’été, le meilleur marqueur Mitch Creek devrait continuer de mener la charge, bien épaulé par le vétéran de la LECB Corey Davis Jr. sous la direction de l’entraîneur Kyle Julius. Lors du premier affrontement entre les deux équipes en mai, les Bandits avaient écrasé les River Lions 109-72. Mais Niagara est une formation bien différente aujourd’hui — et joue à la maison cette fois-ci. Tout indique que ce duel sera un bon test pour évaluer où se situent réellement les deux équipes. Un nombre record de joueurs en route vers la Ligue d’été La LECB continue de produire des talents de haut niveau. Pas moins de 15 joueurs quitteront temporairement leur équipe pour participer à la Ligue d’été de la NBA — un record. Jameer Nelson Jr. du Surge de Calgary, fils de l’ancien joueur de la NBA Jameer Nelson, se trouve déjà avec les Spurs de San Antonio, tout comme Kyle Mangas des Bandits de Vancouver. Les deux ont joué un rôle clé au sein de leur équipe: Nelson Jr. est un favori pour le titre de joueur défensif de l’année, tandis que Mangas réussit en moyenne 3,7 tirs de trois points par match, un sommet chez les Bandits. L’ailier de Calgary Osayi Osifo fera aussi partie de l’effectif des Spurs pour la Ligue d’été. Il joue en moyenne 15 minutes par match en sortie de banc. Du côté des Raptors, on retrouvera le Canadien Quincy Guerrier, deuxième meilleur marqueur de l’Alliance de Montréal et meneur au rebond. Guerrier a porté les couleurs des Raptors 905 la saison dernière. Brooklyn pourra compter sur Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver) et Terry Roberts (Sea Bears de Winnipeg). Scarborough devra se passer de son deuxième meilleur marqueur, Donovan Williams — auteur d’une moyenne de 24,3 points par match — qui prendra part à la Ligue d’été avec les Nuggets de Denver. Parmi les autres joueurs de la LECB attendus à la Ligue d’été, on retrouve Jaylin Williams (Dallas), Izaiah Brockington (Nouvel-Orléans), Jaden Campbell (New York), Hason Ward (Oklahoma City), Cam McGriff (Utah) et Jalen Gainey (Utah). Calendrier de la semaine (huit matchs) Match #72 – Mercredi 9 juillet – OTT à BHB – 12 h 30 (HE) – CAA Centre (Game+, CEBL+, TSN+) Match #73 – Mercredi 9 juillet – MTL à CGY – 19 h 30 (HR) / 21 h 30 (HE) – Scotiabank Saddledome (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+) Match #74 – Jeudi 10 juillet – VAN à NRL – 19 h (HE) / 16 h (HP) – Meridian Centre (CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Match #75 – Vendredi 11 juillet – EDM à SSS – 19 h 30 (HE) / 17 h 30 (HR) – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Match #76 – Vendredi 11 juillet – VAN à BHB – 20 h (HE) / 17 h (HP) – CAA Centre (Game+, CEBL+, TSN+) Match #77 – Vendredi 11 juillet – WPG à SSK – 19 h 30 (HNC) / 20 h 30 (HAC) / 21 h 30 (HE) – SaskTel Centre (CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Match #78 – Dimanche 13 juillet – BHB à SSS – 14 h (HE) – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Match #79 – Dimanche 13 juillet – VAN à MTL – 16 h (HE) / 13 h (HP) – Auditorium de Verdun (RDS, CEBL+, TSN+) Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB, visitez cebl.ca/games .

The duo adds valuable NBA G League experience to Winnipeg's roster

During his first year in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, Calgary Surge head coach Kaleb Canales has had to watch his mouth. “I'm used to using the word 48 minutes, right?” Canales said recently, in reference to the length of an NBA game. Of course, in the CEBL, games are 40 minutes — or thereabouts, depending on how Target Score Time goes. And so it’s safe to say that the league has been an adjustment for Canales, whose long NBA career includes 23 games as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. He is the first former NBA head coach to come to the CEBL. “With Target Score and having strategy when it comes to that, when the clock stops, we want to execute certain things. But no, listen, I think from a coaching perspective, it probably keeps me up at night. But from a fan perspective, I think it's pretty cool,” Canales said. Canales, the 46-year-old from Laredo, Texas, moved north of the border in May in pursuit of furthering his coaching career. He has spent the past two seasons as an assistant with the Texas Legends — the Dallas Mavericks’ G League affiliate — but was ready to move back into a lead role. “I felt strongly about taking this step to lead an organization, to lead a team to a championship, to have the challenge of leading a team to a championship. And so we took it head on,” Canales said. Canales’s rise up the coaching ladder was swift. He was a high-school assistant for two years, spent one season at the NCAA level and then jumped to the NBA, where he spent four years as a Blazers assistant. In 2012, after head coach Nate McMillan was fired by Portland, Canales took over for the final stretch of the season, becoming the youngest head coach in the NBA and the first ever of Mexican-American descent. But since his brief stint in Portland, Canales had not returned to the lead chair until joining the Surge. “Any opportunity to lead a franchise and lead an organization is a big step in my development as a coach. So I wanted to continue to grow as a coach like players continue to grow as players,” he said. “In my coaching journey where I was at, I think everything matched and it was a blessing for me to get this opportunity. And I also wanna get better, and obviously this was a great opportunity for my career and to help my growth as a coach.” It was also an opportunity for Canales to help expand his coaching creativity. While he was familiar with Target Score endings since the G League uses them in overtime, the rules are slightly different. Plus, the run of game before the clock turns off in the CEBL is much shorter. Other rule differences — such as the maximum three imports allowed on the floor per team — create new situations, too. “I have a lot of respect for other coaches in this league. There's a lot of good coaches, a lot of good players. And I felt, right when I started studying the league, it's a young dynamic league that's growing and it's going to continue to explode here in the next couple of years,” Canales. Canales has found plenty of success in the early going with Calgary. At 9-5, the Surge are second in the West, having handed the first-place Vancouver Bandits (11-3) two of their three losses. Statistically, the Surge score the third-most points per game in the league and allow the fourth fewest. They lead the CEBL in steals per game and sit second in blocks — essential parts of Canales’ coaching philosophy. “I love our team. I love our squad. I love that our identity is defence to offence and staying in an attack mindset throughout the game. I've just been really proud of the group,” Canales said. Sean Miller-Moore, who’s played four CEBL seasons for the Surge franchise under four different coaches, said Canales’s energy stands out. “He’s one of those coaches that makes me want to play for him because of how energetic he is and how focused he is. And obviously he knows what it takes to win a championship because he’s been at the NBA level before,” Miller-Moore said. Canales isn’t the only NBA-experienced coach in the league. Nathaniel Mitchell, a former assistant for three teams including the Toronto Raptors, recently signed with the Brampton Honey Badgers as a coaching consultant. Meanwhile, longtime CEBL head coaches like Vancouver’s Kyle Julius and Niagara’s Victor Raso have proven their chops year after year in the league. Now, Canales is looking to chart his own path through the CEBL and up the NBA ranks — just like his players. “One of our main goals going into the season is to help these players develop and to have them have a great summer of development to put them in a great position in their careers heading into next season,” Canales said. Miller-Moore said Canales allows him to be himself on the court — to “play without thinking.” “He’s like a player’s coach. He makes me want to take shots that I might not usually take and he instills confidence in me,” he said. Together, Canales and the Surge could be ascending toward a CEBL title — and potentially beyond. - CEBL -

While the game was contested between two teams on either side of the standings, you never would have guessed it by what took place on the court. The Vancouver Bandits and Brampton Honey Badgers traded power punches until the very end, but it was the home team that managed to come on late and take the 87-84 victory in front of their fans. Mitch Creek led the game with 30 points for the Bandits, including 15 in the pivotal third quarter. Zach Copeland added 20 points for Vancouver, while Corey Davis Jr. had 15 points to go along with 11 assists. Vancouver was able to pick up the win despite missing a number of players as they attend NBA camps and participate in the NBA Summer League. Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius was proud of the way his team performed despite the roster turnover. “We weren’t that composed today, but I think that’s part of the process,” he said post-game. “We’re in a messy time right now with personnel changes, and I’m really proud of the fact we were able to win a game missing some key pieces, and it was a messy game at that.” “Our leadership; we have really good leadership,” he said when asked how the team was able to perform despite the personnel changes. “But there isn’t consistency. We had a completely different rotation today. Our sub pattern was wacky, and we found a way to win at the end. We have to find a way to grind through this time until our main pieces get back.” The Bandits struck first, getting off to a 12-4 lead before the visitors called a timeout. The Honey Badgers cam back strong, going on a 16-6 run out of the break to take a momentary lead before the Bandits were able to bring a 23-22 lead into the first break. A big part of the Brampton comeback was thanks to Quinndary Weatherspoon. The former Golden State Warrior had 11 of his 22 first half points in the quarter, ensuring his team was able to stay in the game. “We need these performances from (Weatherspoon),” teammate Amari Kelly said afterwards. “They’re big and they help keep us going. He’s a big factor for our team and kind of our leading guy, so we always want nights like this from him.” Things kept rolling for Weatherspoon in the second quarter, as he and David Muenkat started the period off with back-to-back three-pointers to take a lead that their team would carry into halftime, leading 44-40 – with the former NBA champion accounting for half his team’s points. In the second half, it was time for the Bandits’ star play to answer. Creek scored nine of his team’s first 15 points in the third quarter, and the team made three consecutive three-pointers to cap off a 12-2 run for a 61-56 lead. But the road team refused to go down quietly, rebounding with an 11-2 run off their own to go ahead leading into the final quarter. Weatherspoon was held to just three points in the third. A 9-0 Honey Badgers run to start the fourth had them up by as many as 10, but a pair of Copeland threes kickstarted a streak of 11 straight points for the team. The Honey Badgers led 78-77 at the start of Target Time, but another nine-point run from the Bandits put things out of reach, and they eventually took the win off a Duane Notice free throw. “They did a good job of making shots,” Honey Badgers head coach Sheldon Cassimy said of the opposition. “They made some tough shots that gave them a lead and then we were going through one of our droughts where we’re trying to execute, we’re looking for our mismatches or their rotations to break down. But they were solid in their rotations and we had a couple of turnovers.” Weatherspoon led his team with 27 points, though just five of them came in the second half. Kelly carried the load of the offense in the final two quarters, where he scored 12 of his 16 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds for the game. Marcus Carr and Bryson Williams had strong performances off the bench, as both finished with 12 points. “One of the things we’re struggling with is winning on the road,” Cassimy said. “Early on, we had a lot of games on the road, so that’s part of the reason for the struggle. We have to find a way to put together wins on the road. I think once we do that we’ll be fine.” Brampton got off to a tough start on the season, boasting just a 1-7 record early on. The team had won three of their last five and were looking to continue their improved play against the top team in the CEBL. Despite coming out on the losing end, Cassimy was happy with his team’s performance and what it means for them going forward. “Just being together, trusting each other, and being able to execute and cut down on our turnovers,” he said about what his team needs to continue to work on in the second half of the season. “In the first half we were good with our turnovers, but in the second half, not so great. Once we’re trusting each other and cutting down on turnovers, then I think we’ll be fine.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600624 Up next for both teams The west leading Vancouver Bandits will head on the road to take on the east leading Niagara River Lions only July 10 in a championship rematch. The Brampton Honey Badgers will head home for a pair of games, starting with a contest against the Ottawa BlackJacks on July 9. Next CEBL action The Brampton Honey Badgers will host the Ottawa BlackJacks in a special Camp Day game on July 9, streaming live at 12:30PM ET on CEBL+, TSN+ and Game+. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

The always entertaining Battle of Alberta has come to an end for the time being. With a 113-90 victory over the Calgary Surge on Sunday, the Edmonton Stingers not only took the inter-province season series 2-1, but they also extended their league-best win streak to five consecutive games. Edmonton improved to 9-6 with the win, now just half a game back of Calgary, who fell to 9-5, for second place in the West. Leading that charge for the Stingers, as they hit a new season-high in scoring and the largest Target Score mark of any team this season, was Scottie Lindsey with 29 points on 7-for-11 from beyond the arc. Behind him was Sean East II, who chipped in 22 points, six rebounds and 10 assists, and Nick Hornsby, who added 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as part of five different Edmonton players to reach double figures in scoring. “We’re in a groove,” Lindsey said after Edmonton extended its win streak. “We took a tough loss to Montreal, and even since then, we've been locked in, in a different way.” Meanwhile, Olumide Adelodun led the way for the Surge as he finished with 25 points on 6-of-10 shooting from distance off the bench. Greg Brown III and Jamarko Pickett each scored 16 and 12 points, respectively. “We allowed their runs to affect us,” Adelodun said post-game. “We let play after play roll over, and we didn’t fight back after that … just too much for us to come back.” The lopsided outcome was a surprise considering both of the previous two Battle of Alberta matchups this season had been decided by a combined five points — the first half of Sunday’s contest proving similar. Neither team went ahead by more than 10 points through the first 20 minutes as Calgary led 43-40 at halftime. But then the third quarter happened. Edmonton opened the second half on a 17-0 run en route to a league-record 42 points in the third quarter, one shy of the most points scored in any frame all-time. Calgary’s first basket of the second half didn’t come until he 6:08 mark of the third, a Sean Miller-Moore triple, to which Edmonton immediately replied with an 11-0 run as it carved out an 82-64 lead ahead of the fourth. “We had two close games with (Calgary) already this season, so we knew them well,” Lindsey explained. “We just wanted to come out and protect home court, and we did that in the second half.” The Stingers built that lead as high as 29 points throughout the final frame, ultimately carrying a 103-79 edge into Target Score Time. “Great third quarter,” Stingers head coach Jordan Baker said on what made the difference in the win. “We felt the energy in this building from the fans, and it was easy to get on a run.” Underscoring Edmonton’s CEBL-record second-half scoring output of 73 points was a drastic turnaround from beyond the arc. The League’s No. 1 three-point percentage (37.7) team entering Sunday, starting the contest just 1-for-14. Yet they caught fire as the game went on, making 10 of their next 16 attempts from distance — fittingly ending the ball game on a Lindsey triple from the right wing. “We didn’t play our brand of defence or our brand of basketball,” Surge head coach Caleb Canales said after the loss. “Which led to us not playing efficient offence … just have to give them credit, they had a great game today.” Meanwhile, the Stingers also did plenty of damage inside the arc, outscoring the Surge 60-32 in the paint as Edmonton shot 57 per cent on two-pointers to Calgary’s 36 per cent. Much of which was predicated on the Stingers' commitment to ball movement as they finished with 27 assists (plus-16) on as many turnovers (12) as the Surge. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600641 Up next The Surge head back to Calgary as they prepare to host the Montreal Alliance on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Stingers head east as they get set to begin a four-game road trip by visiting the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Friday. Next CEBL action The West-leading Vancouver Bandits host the Brampton Honey Badgers at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. local to wrap up Sunday’s triple-header slate. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

C’était un retour marquant à Montréal pour Ahmed Hill et les River Lions de Niagara. Ahmed Hill, ancien membre de l’Alliance, a inscrit 12 points et est devenu le premier joueur de l’histoire de la ligue à franchir le plateau des 1 500 points (séries éliminatoires incluses). Les River Lions ont signé un gain de 77-73 dimanche à l’Auditorium de Verdun — le même endroit où ils avaient remporté le championnat la saison dernière. Cette victoire, la deuxième de suite pour les River Lions, consolide leur place en tête de la Conférence de l’Est (fiche de 9-5), tandis que Montréal glisse sous la barre de ,500 avec une fiche de 6-7. « C’était une vraie guerre. On se serait cru en séries, un peu », a commenté l’entraîneur-chef des River Lions, Victor Raso, au sujet d’un match où les deux équipes n’ont tiré que 21 % derrière l’arc et 60 % de la ligne des lancers francs. Après avoir dominé une grande partie de la rencontre et pris une avance de 11 points, les River Lions ont vu l’Alliance revenir de l’arrière pour prendre les devants par un point avec 5 minutes 16 à jouer. Mais l’euphorie de l’Auditorium de Verdun a été de courte durée. Niagara a immédiatement répliqué avec une poussée de 8-0. Lorsque la période du pointage cible a commencé, les River Lions menaient 68-61. L’Alliance a resserré l’écart jusqu’à trois points, mais une série de lancers francs ratés l’a empêchée de revenir à égalité. Au final, le match s’est conclu de la même manière que la dernière visite des River Lions à Montréal, lors de la finale 2024, alors que Khalil Ahmad a inscrit le panier victorieux, cette fois sur un lancer franc. Raso a reconnu que ce n’était pas une victoire particulièrement élégante. « C’est devenu un combat de tranchées. On n’a pas bien tiré de loin, mais quelques gars se sont levés », a-t-il indiqué. Pour Hill — le meilleur marqueur de tous les temps de la LECB — c’était une soirée marquante dans une des villes de la ligue qu’il a déjà appelée son domicile. Le joueur de 30 ans originaire de Fort Valley, en Géorgie, disputait son 90e match en carrière, ce qui le place au troisième rang de l’histoire et premier parmi les joueurs internationaux. Hill a rejoint la LECB en 2021 et a joué deux saisons avec les Nighthawks de Guelph, avant de passer deux ans à Montréal. Il en est maintenant à sa première saison avec les River Lions, où il a rejoint les champions en titre dans l’espoir de décrocher son premier championnat. Dimanche, il a amorcé le match sur le banc pour une deuxième rencontre de suite, réussissant quatre de ses dix tirs. « Je suis vraiment chanceux d’avoir évolué avec de bonnes équipes, de bons entraîneurs, de bons coéquipiers qui m’ont permis d’être moi-même et de briller », a déclaré Hill. « Tout le crédit revient à tous ceux avec qui j’ai joué et aux organisations. Et un gros merci à la LECB. » Le Montréalais Nathan Cayo a mené l’attaque des River Lions dans sa ville natale avec 18 points et six rebonds. Ron Curry, qui effectuait un retour au jeu après une absence de cinq matchs, a ajouté 16 points, six rebonds et quatre passes décisives. L’ailier Eddie Ekiyor a contribué avec 12 points et huit rebonds. De son côté, le joueur par excellence des dernières finales et meilleur marqueur de Niagara, Khalil Ahmad, a connu une soirée difficile, se contentant de six points avec un seul tir réussi en dix tentatives, mais il a tout de même récolté sept passes décisives. Ses coéquipiers ont toutefois pris le relais. « Ce n’est plus toujours à propos de Khalil. On a d’autres joueurs capables de créer et de marquer. On n’avait pas eu tout le monde en santé depuis un moment, donc pour Khalil, c’est rassurant de savoir qu’il n’a pas toujours besoin de marquer autant », a expliqué Raso. Pour une formation montréalaise décimée par les absences, le bon départ s’est rapidement estompé alors que l’attaque s’est essoufflée. L’Alliance n’a réussi que six de ses 27 tirs de trois points (22 %) et 19 de ses 31 lancers francs (61 %). Malgré tout, l’entraîneur-chef Jermaine Small s’est dit fier de l’effort de ses joueurs. « Quand tu rates tous ces lancers francs, c’est un peu frustrant, mais je suis fier de l’effort dans l’ensemble », a-t-il affirmé. Le meilleur marqueur de l’équipe, Tavian Dunn-Martin, était absent en raison d’une blessure, tout comme les ailiers O.D. Anosike et Michael Diggins Jr. En leur absence, le Canadien Quincy Guerrier — qui disputait son dernier match avec l’Alliance avant de se joindre à la Ligue d’été de la NBA avec les Raptors de Toronto — a dominé avec un doublé de 19 points et 15 rebonds. Membre de l’Alliance depuis la création de l’équipe, Alain Louis a inscrit 15 points, en plus de capter cinq rebonds et de distribuer cinq passes décisives dans la défaite. Guerrier a reconnu que les absents auraient pu faire une différence, mais que l’équipe devait s’adapter. « Je pense que défensivement, on a été bien meilleurs que lors des quatre ou cinq derniers matchs. C’est une équipe championne, une très bonne équipe. Nos lancers francs manqués à la fin, ça a été crucial », a-t-il résumé. Le champion de la NBA et Montréalais Luguentz Dort était sur place pour assister au duel entre l’Alliance et les champions en titre de la LECB. Montréal a connu un départ canon avec une poussée initiale de 7-0 et menait 19-13 après le premier quart. Mais Niagara a repris le contrôle au deuxième quart grâce à une séquence de 7-0 qui lui a permis de rentrer au vestiaire en avant 41-34. Au troisième quart, les River Lions ont porté leur avance à 11 points et semblaient prêts à l’emporter, mais l’Alliance a réduit l’écart à six points avant le dernier quart. Après un quatrième quart âprement disputé, ce sont encore une fois les River Lions qui sont repartis de Montréal avec la victoire. Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600639 À venir Montréal rendra visite au Surge de Calgary mercredi, tandis que Niagara retournera à domicile jeudi pour un match revanche de la finale contre les Bandits de Vancouver. Prochains matchs dans la LECB Les joueurs seront de retour sur le terrain mercredi alors que les Honey Badgers de Brampton accueilleront les BlackJacks d’Ottawa, en plus du duel entre l’Alliance et le Surge. Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB et les résultats à jour, visitez le cebl.ca/games - LECB -

It was a momentous return to Montreal for Ahmed Hill and the Niagara River Lions. Hill, the former Alliance member, scored 12 points to become the first player to pass the 1,500-point plateau in league history (including playoffs), and the River Lions won 77-73 on Sunday at Verdun Auditorium — the site of their championship victory last season. The win marked a second straight for East-leading Niagara (9-5), while Montreal dropped under .500 at 6-7 with the loss. “It was just a war. It felt like a playoff game a little bit,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said of a game in which the teams combined to shoot just 21 per cent from beyond the arc and 60 per cent from the free-throw line. After the River Lions controlled much of the contest, building an 11-point lead, a spirited Alliance comeback gave the home side a one-point advantage at the 5:16 mark. But the Verdun frenzy was short-lived as the River Lions responded with an 8-0 run. When the clock turned off for Target Score Time, Niagara led 68-61. The Alliance tightened their deficit to as little as three, but a raft of missed free throws prevented them from getting any closer. In the end, the game ended the same way Niagara’s last Montreal contest — the 2024 Finals — did, as Khalil Ahmad nailed the game-winner, this time from the free-throw line. Raso said the win wasn’t necessarily a pretty one. “It just became a slugfest. We did not shoot the ball well from three, but a couple guys stepped up,” he said. For Hill — the CEBL’s all-time leading scorer — it was a milestone night in one of the CEBL cities he once called home. The 30-year-old from Fort Valley, Ga., was competing in his 90th career game, which ranks third all-time and first among international players. Hill joined the CEBL in 2021 and spent two seasons with the Guelph Nighthawks before moving to Montreal for two more. He’s now in his first season as a River Lion, where he joined the reigning champions in search of his first career title. On Sunday, he came off the bench for the second straight game, making four of 10 field-goal attempts. “Truly blessed to be on a couple teams with great coaches, great teammates, who let me be me and shine,” Hill said. “Credit to everybody I played with and the organizations. And shout out to the CEBL.” Montreal native Nathan Cayo paced the River Lions in his hometown, scoring 18 points to go with six rebounds. Ron Curry, who recently returned to Niagara after a five-game absence, added 16 points, six rebounds and four assists. Forward Eddie Ekiyor contributed 12 points and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, it was a strangely quiet night for reigning Finals MVP and River Lions leading scorer Ahmad, who struggled with his shot en route to just six points on one-for-10 shooting. He also had seven assists. Still, his teammates picked up the slack. “It’s becoming not always about Khalil. We have guys who can make plays, we have guys who can score. We haven’t had guys healthy to do that for a while so for Khalil it’s kind of reassuring that he doesn’t have to score the ball as much,” Raso said. For a short-handed Montreal squad, a strong start fizzled quickly as the offence went dry. The Alliance made just six of 27 three-point attempts (22 per cent) and 19 of 31 free-throw tries (61 per cent) overall. Still, head coach Jermaine Small said he was proud of his team’s resolve. “You miss all those free throws, I’m a little bit frustrated about that, but I’m proud of the effort overall,” Small said. Leading scorer Tavian Dunn-Martin missed the game with an injury, while forwards O.D. Anosike and Michael Diggins Jr. were also absent. In their place, Canadian Quincy Guerrier — in his last game with the team before heading to NBA Summer League with the Toronto Raptors — led the way with a whopping 19-point, 15-rebound double-double. Day 1 Alliance member Alain Louis scored 15 points to go with five rebounds and five assists in the losing cause. Guerrier said the missing players could have made a difference, but the team needed to adjust accordingly. “I think defensively we were way better than the last four or five games. They’re a championship team, they’re a really good team. Our free-throw [misses] at the end, that was crucial,” he said. NBA champion and Montreal native Luguentz Dort was in the house to take in the game between his hometown Alliance and the defending CEBL champions. Montreal raced out of the gates with its game-opening 7-0 run and led 19-13 by the end of the first quarter. But Niagara took control in the second frame as a 7-0 run of its own powered it to a 41-34 halftime lead. In the third quarter, the River Lions stretched their lead to 11 and threatened to run away with things, but the Alliance cut their deficit back to six points entering the final frame. After a tightly fought fourth quarter, it was the River Lions who, familiarly, emerged victorious in Montreal. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600639 Up Next Montreal visits the Calgary Surge on Wednesday, while Niagara returns home for a championship rematch against the Vancouver Bandits on Thursday. Next CEBL Action Players hit the court next on Wednesday, when the Brampton Honey Badgers host the Ottawa BlackJacks in addition to the Alliance-Surge contest. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL –