Two Clutch Target Time Threes Give Edmonton Edge Over Winnipeg

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

Au bord du gouffre, les River Lions de Niagara ont encore une fois prouvé pourquoi ils sont les champions en titre. Les River Lions ont terminé la rencontre avec une poussée renversante de 10-0 pour arracher une victoire de 91-89 à l’Alliance de Montréal, vendredi soir, au Meridian Centre de St. Catharines, en Ontario. Montréal, qui accusait pourtant un retard de 16 points en début de match, était à deux points d'un retour tout aussi spectaculaire, mais n'a pas su tirer parti de trois possessions consécutives. À la place, Khalil Ahmad, nommé deux fois Joueur clutch de la ligue, a encore une fois mené les siens avec un sang-froid remarquable, permettant à Niagara d’égaliser un record d’équipe avec une sixième victoire d’affilée. « On le voulait plus qu’eux, tout simplement. On s’est resserrés en défensive, on a rentré nos tirs, et on est repartis avec la victoire », a déclaré Ahmad au journaliste Esfandiar Baraheni après le match. Les River Lions, qui dominent l’Est, améliorent leur fiche à 13 victoires et cinq défaites. L’Alliance, qui aurait pu confirmer sa place en séries avec une victoire combinée à une défaite de Brampton face à Scarborough, glisse à 7-10. Par ailleurs, la domination de Niagara sur Montréal se poursuit : les River Lions montrent maintenant un dossier de 10-1 contre l’Alliance, avec un balayage de la série cette saison. Montréal semblait pourtant en bonne position pour décrocher une victoire, menant 82-75 au moment où la période de pointage cible a été enclenchée. Mais Khalil Ahmad a aussitôt répondu avec un tir de trois points en déséquilibre à partir du coin. Puis, après un panier de Tavis Smith, il a récidivé de l’autre côté du terrain pour réduire l’écart à trois points. « Honnêtement, je n’ai pas de mots », a dit Ahmad. « Quand la période de pointage cible commence, je passe en mode différent. » Comme ils l’avaient fait tout au long du match, les Montréalais ont répondu avec intensité : un vol de ballon de Smith suivi d’un panier de Quincy Guerrier dans la clé a rapproché l’Alliance à quatre points de la victoire. Montréal a même repris une avance de deux points et semblait filer vers une victoire inspirante. Mais soudainement, plus rien ne rentrait pour l’Alliance. Pendant ce temps, Niagara a enchaîné huit points sans réplique : un jeu de trois points de Ron Curry, un autre tir de trois points d’Ahmad, et un puissant dunk d’Ahmed Hill ont placé les deux équipes à un panier de la victoire. Une perte de balle coûteuse de la part de Montréal a ensuite permis à Niagara de récupérer le ballon. Le coach Victor Raso a aussitôt appelé un temps mort. Ahmad a raté son tir de trois points, mais Nathan Cayo a capté le rebond offensif et a remis à Hill, qui a foncé au panier, absorbé le contact et marqué un layup en plongeant, scellant ainsi la victoire et laissant l’Alliance abasourdie. « Ahmed a joué sur réception et a attaqué le panier avec brio. Il a connu un début de match difficile, mais quelle belle façon de conclure contre son ancienne équipe », a affirmé l’entraîneur-chef, Victor Raso. Raso a qualifié la victoire de « calibre de championnat ». « Ces gars-là n’abandonnent jamais. Ils croient toujours qu’ils peuvent gagner chaque match, même quand nous jouions mal en début de saison. Rien n’est garanti pendant la période du pointage cible. Tant que l’autre équipe n’a pas atteint le pointage, ils y croient. » De son côté, l’entraîneur-chef de Montréal, Jermaine Small, a affirmé que cette défaite était représentative des difficultés de son équipe cette saison. « On a souvent dit cette année que ce n’est pas eux qui nous battent, c’est nous qui nous battons nous-mêmes. Mais comme je l’ai dit aux gars, pas le temps de s’apitoyer. On remonte dans l’autobus et on se remet au travail », a déclaré Small. Ahmad a terminé avec 29 points — dont neuf pendant la période du pointage cible — en plus de cinq rebonds et cinq passes décisives. Ron Curry, clé du revirement défensif, a également brillé en attaque avec 19 points, quatre rebonds et trois passes décisives. Nathan Cayo a été le seul autre joueur de Niagara à atteindre la dizaine, avec 10 points, six rebonds et cinq passes décisives. Les River Lions se rapprochent ainsi d’une qualification pour le week-end du Championnat à Winnipeg, comme première tête de série de la conférence de l’Est. « Il faut continuer à travailler. Notre objectif, c’est la première place, et cette victoire nous rapproche », a affirmé Raso. À noter que Kimbal Mackenzie, meneur et capitaine de Niagara, n’a pas pris part au match. Pour Montréal, la défaite est d’autant plus difficile à avaler qu’elle survient deux jours après une victoire qui avait mis fin à une vilaine série de sept revers, contre les BlackJacks d’Ottawa. Small a pointé du doigt le manque d’efficacité aux lancers francs. L’Alliance n’a réussi que 10 de ses 20 tentatives, dont un 0 sur 7 en première mi-temps. « On avait notre chance. Ils ont réussi une super remontée. Mais ce qui fait mal, ce sont nos lancers francs. Comme je l’ai dit aux gars, on gagne ou on apprend, et il y a encore beaucoup de marge de progression », a-t-il ajouté. « Personne n'aura pitié de nous. Demain, nous avons un match important dimanche contre les Shooting Stars de Scarborough, alors nous devons nous préparer et lancer des lancers francs demain.» Tavis Smith a été le meneur offensif de l’Alliance avec 19 points, cinq passes décisives et quatre vols, dont un tir à la dernière seconde du troisième quart. Michael Diggins Jr., en sortie de banc, a contribué avec 17 points et cinq rebonds, tandis que Brandon Porter a ajouté 11 points et six rebonds. Niagara avait entamé le match force avec une série de 10-0, dont sept points d'Ahmad. Les River Lions menaient 27-18 à la fin du premier quart, mais Montréal a réduit l’écart à six points à la mi-temps. L’Alliance a ensuite pris l’avance au troisième quart, concluant la période avec un tir de trois points de Smith pour mener 64-62. L’intensité est montée d’un cran en fin de match lorsque Curry et Smith ont eu une altercation verbale après une faute. Un avertissement technique et deux fautes antisportives ont été distribués. C'est alors que la vraie folie a commencé. Et lorsque la sirène finale a retenti, l’ordre avait été rétabli dans la LECB : les River Lions de Niagara étaient de nouveau au sommet. Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600669 À venir Les deux équipes seront de retour sur le terrain dimanche : les River Lions de Niagara rendront visite aux Honey Badgers de Brampton, tandis que l’Alliance de Montréal accueillera les Shooting Stars de Scarborough. Prochains matchs dans la LECB Un seul match est au programme samedi alors que les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan seront de passage à Ottawa pour affronter les BlackJacks. Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB ainsi que les résultats à jour, visitez le cebl.ca/games . - LECB -

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

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

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

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

Le garde de l’Alliance de Montréal, Tavis « Pistol » Smith, a terminé le match de la même manière qu’il l’a commencé. Montréal n’avait qu’une avance de trois points en entrant dans la période du pointage cible, mais c’est Tavis “Pistol” Smith, le garde de l’Alliance de Montréal de retour avec l’équipe, a scellé l’issue de la rencontre, une victoire de 87-79 contre les BlackJacks d’Ottawa mercredi soir. « Je lui ai littéralement demandé hier matin s’il voulait revenir, a confié l’entraîneur-chef de Montréal, Jermaine Small. Je pense qu’il permet à TDM (Tavian Dunn-Martin) d’avoir un peu de repos à la position de meneur… Et honnêtement, il a été solide dans les moments clés et il a joué une très bonne défensive. » Smith, qui avait porté les couleurs de l’Alliance plus tôt cette saison, a terminé meilleur marqueur du match avec 26 points, dont quatre tirs de trois points sur sept. Il a eu un impact immédiat dès son retour dans l’alignement montréalais. Sorti du banc, il a eu un impact considérable sur le match au troisième quart, alors que l’écart restait serré et qu’il fallait absolument provoquer des changements de momentum. Il a répondu à l’appel en volant un ballon à Keevan Veinot d’Ottawa avant de réussir un tir de trois points. Deng Adel a répliqué avec un tir en suspension à mi-distance, mais Smith a enchaîné avec un autre trois points pour redonner l’avance à Montréal. Il a ensuite conclu le quart de manière spectaculaire, changeant de main en plein vol à la manière de MJ, avant de profiter d’une perte de ballon d’Ottawa pour inscrire un dunk et donner une avance de six points à son équipe avant le dernier quart. Ce jeu a donné le ton au capitaine de l’Alliance, Quincy Guerrier, tout juste de retour de la Ligue d’été avec les Raptors de Toronto, qui a répondu à l’appel au bon moment. Véritable machine au rebond offensif, il a aussi bien protégé sa position contre Veinot pour marquer dans la clé et creuser l’écart à cinq points, juste avant la période du pointage cible. Guerrier a terminé le match avec un doublé de 16 points et 15 rebonds. Mais Montréal n’a pas pu se relâcher, car Javonte Smart a marqué un panier important pour Ottawa. Il a ensuite réussi un lay-up en Eurostep pendant la période du pointage cible pour réduire l’écart à un seul point. Mais six lancers francs consécutifs de TDM, Smith et Osawe ont permis à Montréal de prendre une avance de sept points, à seulement trois points du pointage cible. L’Alliance n’a pas eu à s’appuyer autant sur TDM, qui a conclu la rencontre avec 10 points et sept passes décisives. L’entraîneur Small a souligné l’impact d’Osawe — auteur lui aussi d’un doublé avec 15 points et 10 rebonds — qui a donné le ton tôt dans le match avec sa présence au rebond et sa pression sur Smart dans la clé. Smart et Isiah Moore ont combiné 39 points pour les BlackJacks, jouant un rôle essentiel pour garder Ottawa dans le match du début à la fin. « Notre coach insiste beaucoup pour que je fonce au panier et que je provoque des fautes, donc j’essaie simplement de suivre ce plan de match et d’aller chercher des lancers francs pour me mettre en rythme, » a expliqué Moore à la mi-temps. L’entraîneur-chef d’Ottawa, David DeAveiro, a reconnu l’impact du changement tactique de Small au troisième quart. « Je pense qu’ils ont très bien défendu quand le coach a opté pour une formation plus petite, » a-t-il mentionné. « Ça a changé un peu la dynamique, et on n’a pas vraiment trouvé de solution. Chapeau à eux. » Ottawa a perdu la bataille du rebond 48 à 37, et DeAveiro a admis que l’absence de Zane Waterman s’était fait sentir. La course aux séries reste très serrée dans l’Est. Alors que Montréal cherche à améliorer sa fiche, Ottawa est toujours dans une bataille serrée avec Scarborough pour la deuxième place. Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600666 À venir pour les deux équipes L’Alliance de Montréal (7-10) se rendra au Meridian Centre de St. Catharines vendredi soir pour y affronter les River Lions de Niagara (12-5), meneurs de la Conférence de l’Est. Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa (8-9) accueilleront les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan (4-14) à la Place TD dans l’unique match à l’horaire samedi, le 26 juillet. Prochains matchs dans la LECB Quatre matchs sont au programme vendredi, le 25 juillet. En plus du duel Ottawa-Niagara, les Honey Badgers de Brampton (4-15) recevront les Shooting Stars de Scarborough (8-9) au CAA Centre; les Sea Bears de Winnipeg (7-10) accueilleront les Stingers d’Edmonton (11-7) au Canada Life Centre; et le Surge de Calgary (12-5) affrontera les Bandits de Vancouver (15-4) au WinSport Event Centre. 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 first thing that comes to Khalil Ahmad’s mind when he thinks back on his maiden CEBL title is a miss. Ahmad, long since known as the league’s Clutch King, was absent only the Championship Trophy to complete his wide-ranging, impressive set of league accomplishments. Yet with a chance to ice the Niagara River Lions’ first title, the sharp-shooting, cool-as-a-cucumber Corona, Calif., native missed a free throw. Before Ahmad knew it, then-Vancouver Bandits guard Koby McEwen nailed a three-pointer on the other end, and both teams were one point away from victory. But Ahmad had a shot at redemption. “And then it was kind of just, there was no play. It wasn't a play call. Just make something happen. And finished the play, got the chip. So that was all she wrote,” Ahmad recalled in a recent interview. Except, well, the story didn’t end there. A celebration ensued in Montreal as one of the CEBL’s most storied teams finally earned its first banner. Now, Ahmad and the River Lions are on the hunt to become the second team in league history to successfully run it back. At 12-5, Niagara leads the Eastern Conference by four games and has already punched its playoff ticket. “For guys to be able to sacrifice [their overseas off-season] and come back and compete and be together for something bigger than themselves, I think that's a testament to our togetherness and the amazing club that we have,” Ahmad said. Ahmad, 28, is in his fourth season with the River Lions, and quickly climbing the all-time league leaderboards. Somewhat ironically, given how the 2024 Finals played out, Ahmad has made more free throws and nailed more Target Score Winners than anyone in league history. He is also the CEBL’s all-time steals leader. It’s those finishes, though, that have become Ahmad’s calling card. His 28 winners are 10 more than second-place Cat Barber in the all-time ranks. He said compounding confidence in those situations has helped him continue to succeed. “Confidence can take you places you would've never expected to go before and have you do things you never expected to do,” he said. Growing up in California, it’s impossible that Ahmad would have ever expected to become the face of a Canadian professional basketball league. The CEBL didn’t even exist when Ahmad starred at Centennial High School in Corona. He went on to play four years at Cal State Fullerton, breaking the 1,000-point barrier for his career — as he’s now done in the CEBL, too — and reaching the NCAA tournament in 2018, when his 15th-seeded Titans fell to No. 2 Purdue. Still, Ahmad carries that cool southern California swagger with him even as he competes in southern Ontario. “I definitely would say that I'm pretty nonchalant as a person. My friends tell me that all the time, but it helps a lot, you know? I can keep a cool head, stay focused, stay in the moment, don't get too high, don't get too low. And I think that's the perfect level to be at,” Ahmad said. Head coach Victor Raso has been with Ahmad for all four years of his CEBL journey. They’ve experienced those up and downs together and shared the joy of that first championship one year ago in Montreal. For Raso, it’s comforting knowing he has such a reliable star player. “Like that that musician or painter, they're themselves in their own world but when they're doing the craft it's like this [different] person comes out and that's Khalil,” Raso said. “Since Day 1, he's a mental monster and he's physically gifted, he works hard and he's just coachable. And we've had our struggles too, we've gone through losses and recommitted to each other, each and every year. And to see him last year just a switch flip mentally, that he was going to be super solid, and he was going to show everyone that he's a winner … it's like, this is an unbelievable basketball player.” Outside of the court, Ahmad holds his Japanese heritage close to his heart. His father was born there — and he’s honoured his background with tattoos, in addition to learning the culture through his grandmother, through books and through cooking. If you’re wondering, Ahmad says his specialty is a Japanese-inspired salmon recipe. He said his hope is to one day represent Japan as a basketball player on the national team, though there are certain citizenship hurdles he still must jump through. “If I can get the opportunity to make that happen, that would be amazing,” he said. For now, Ahmad’s sights sets are set on a second consecutive title. His River Lions are once again among the league’s top teams — despite a rocky start to the season, they’ve won five straight to re-establish themselves as a legitimate threat. A trip to Winnipeg for Championship Weekend in August is starting to feel likelier than not. After a recent victory, in which the River Lions clinched a playoff spot, Raso said they weren’t done there. “We wanna win the East. We wanna win the championship,” he said. “Our standards are much higher. We expect to make the playoffs.” Likewise, Ahmad is focused on one goal only. “Hey, we're trying to run it back.” - CEBL -

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