Where Each Team Stands Near Season’s Halfway Point

Après sept semaines d’action dans la LECB et avec encore sept autres à venir, le moment est bien choisi pour faire un point sur la situation alors que la saison 2025 approche de sa mi-parcours. Voici où chaque équipe se situe, classée selon sa fiche : Le Surge de Calgary (8-3, premiers dans l’Ouest) Prochains matchs : jeudi à SSK, 3 juillet à BHB, 6 juillet à EDM Le Surge pourrait bien être le favori pour le titre après avoir battu les Bandits de Vancouver, champions en titre de la Conférence de l’Ouest, pour une deuxième fois la semaine dernière. Menés par le nouveau venu Greg Brown III et le vétéran Sean Miller-Moore, le Surge s’est transformé en véritable puissance sous la gouverne de Kaleb Canales, ancien entraîneur-chef dans la NBA. Même en étant deuxièmes de la ligue pour l’attaque, Calgary ne réussit que 30,2 % de ses tirs de trois points, preuve qu’il leur reste encore une marge de progression. Une pensée qui donne froid dans le dos au reste de la ligue. Les Bandits de Vancouver (8-3, deuxièmes dans l’Ouest) Prochains matchs : samedi c. SSK, 1er juillet c. SSS, 6 juillet c. BHB Pour la première fois cette saison, les Bandits ont subi deux défaites consécutives, contre Winnipeg et Calgary. Mais attention à ne pas les enterrer trop vite — l’équipe de Kyle Julius mène la ligue en points marqués et en points alloués par match, avec une différence cumulative de +136 après 11 rencontres. Quand Vancouver gagne, c’est souvent avec éclat. Portés par leur trio dominant composé de Mitch Creek (23,7 points par match), Tyrese Samuel (10,5 rebonds) et Shamar Givance (6,3 passes décisives), les Bandits gagnent aussi souvent. Les River Lions de Niagara (7-4, premiers dans l’Est) Prochains matchs : dimanche à BHB, 4 juillet c. WPG, 6 juillet à MTL Les champions en titre se retrouvent peut-être un cran en dessous des deux puissances de l’Ouest, eux qui ont montré par moments l’éclat de leur saison dernière, tout en luttant avec une certaine irrégularité. Cela dit, tous les signes laissent croire que Niagara est en train de trouver son rythme, avec le retour récent du meneur Jahvon Blair. Comme à son habitude, Khalil Ahmad règne sur le terrain — le véritable roi lion des River Lions — avec une moyenne de 23 points par match. L’Alliance de Montréal (5-4, deuxièmes dans l’Est) Prochains matchs : samedi à OTT, 1er juillet à EDM, 3 juillet à SSK Accrochez-vous si vous voulez suivre l’Alliance. Ce nouvel alignement montréalais a commencé la saison en force avec quatre victoires de suite, avant d’encaisser quatre défaites et de retomber à une fiche de ,500. Mais l’équipe du Québec a redressé la barre face à la Saskatchewan lors de son dernier match, et le meneur Tavian Dunn-Martin continue d’être l’un des joueurs les plus électrisants de la ligue. Les Shooting Stars de Scarborough (6-5, troisièmes dans l’Est) Prochains matchs : vendredi à WPG, dimanche à EDM, 1er juillet à VAN Une autre équipe qui a commencé fort : Scarborough montre une fiche de 3-5 depuis un départ parfait de 3-0. Mais les Shooting Stars sont en confiance après avoir écrasé Niagara par 32 points samedi dernier, et ce, sans leur meilleur marqueur Donovan Williams (25,5 points par match). En son absence, l’équipe a misé sur une attaque équilibrée — un bon signe si elle recroise Niagara en séries. Les Stingers d’Edmonton (6-6, troisièmes dans l’Ouest) Prochains matchs : dimanche c. SSS, 1er juillet c. MTL, 6 juillet c. Calgary Les Stingers semblent trouver leur rythme, avec quatre victoires à leurs cinq derniers matchs, incluant une fin de série de quatre gains pour Winnipeg. Sean East II s’impose comme une révélation au poste de meneur avec une moyenne de 23,5 points par match, réussissant 50 % de ses tirs de trois points. Le vétéran Scottie Lindsey et le centre Keon Ambrose-Hylton apportent aussi un soutien précieux. Les Sea Bears de Winnipeg (5-6, quatrièmes dans l’Ouest) Prochains matchs : vendredi c. SSS, 1er juillet à OTT, 4 juillet à NRL Il s’avère que Jalen Harris et Simi Shittu savent jouer au ballon. Le duo a complètement relancé les Sea Bears depuis son arrivée il y a quelques semaines, menant l’équipe à une séquence de quatre victoires, à une seule du record de la franchise. Shittu affiche une moyenne impressionnante de 23,5 points et 10,5 rebonds — un doublé digne de mention. Quant à Harris, il représente une menace offensive constante partout sur le terrain. Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa (4-6, quatrièmes dans l’Est) Prochains matchs : samedi c. MTL, 1er juillet c. WPG, 5 juillet à SSK Les vrais BlackJacks semblent enfin s’être manifestés. Ottawa a intégré Zane Waterman et Keevan Veinot à son effectif lors des trois derniers matchs, apportant un nouvel élan à un alignement qui avait du mal à trouver son rythme en début de saison. Ce sang neuf a permis deux victoires consécutives dans la capitale nationale, et le match de samedi contre l’Alliance s’annonce comme un autre bon test. Les Honey Badgers de Brampton (3-8, cinquièmes dans l’Est) Prochains matchs : dimanche c. NRL, 3 juillet c. CGY, 6 juillet à VAN Ces Honey Badgers ont du mordant. Avec deux victoires de suite avant la défaite de dimanche contre Ottawa, Brampton a prouvé qu’il ne comptait pas simplement accepter sa place au bas du classement de l’Est. L’équipe n’est qu’à 1,5 match des BlackJacks pour une place en séries. C’est une route difficile qui attend les hommes de Sheldon Cassimy, mais le meilleur marqueur de l’équipe, Quinndary Weatherspoon (17,8 points, 5,8 passes décisives), semble prêt à relever le défi. Les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan (2-9, cinquièmes dans l’Ouest) Prochains matchs : jeudi vs CGY, samedi à VAN, 3 juillet c. MTL Les Rattlers devront rapidement redresser la situation s’ils veulent conserver un espoir de séries dans une Conférence de l’Ouest impitoyable, ayant déjà trois matchs de retard sur les Sea Bears. Fait étrange, leurs deux victoires cette saison sont venues contre Calgary et Niagara. Leurs deux dernières défaites se sont jouées à six points combinés. Mais la suite ne s’annonce pas plus facile avec Calgary et Vancouver à l’horizon. Calendrier hebdomadaire (six matchs) Match #56 – Jeudi 26 juin – CGY à SSK – 19 h 30 HC/HR / 21 h 30 HE – SaskTel Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Match #57 – Vendredi 27 juin – SSS à WPG – 19 h 30 HAC / 20 h 30 HE – Canada Life Centre (TSN, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Match #58 – Samedi 28 juin – MTL à OTT – 15 h HE – The Arena at TD Place (CEBL+, TSN+) Match #59 – Samedi 28 juin – SSK à VAN – 19 h HP / 20 h HC / 22 h HE – Langley Events Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Match #60 – Dimanche 29 juin – NRL à BHB – 14 h HE – CAA Centre (CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Match #61 – Dimanche 29 juin – SSS à EDM – 16 h HR / 18 h HE – Edmonton EXPO Centre (Game+, CEBL+, TSN+) Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB, visitez le cebl.ca/games .

The Vancouver Bandits proudly unveiled Monday a new logo and alternate jersey celebrating Filipino culture, designed in collaboration with fashion designer Edmond Santelices and Filipino BC. The custom, hand-drawn jersey and logo will be worn for the first time during the club's second-annual Filipino Celebration Game, presented by Westland Insurance, Guildford Town Centre and Fix Auto, which will be hosted on Saturday, June 28, when the Bandits host the Saskatchewan Rattlers at Langley Events Centre. A percentage of proceeds of each jersey and logo t-shirt sold will be donated to the United Way BC KAPWA STRONG Fund and Canadian Red Cross 2025 Vancouver Lapu Lapu Festival Appeal . Adult and youth sizes of the jersey and logo t-shirt are available exclusively online or in-store at ATO Basketball Merchants in Langley. “The jersey and logo celebrates community and shows that Filipino people are strong. It creates a sense of belonging,” said Santelices, who is the founder of Vancouver-based apparel manufacturing company ES Fashion Design Studio and fashion brand Varsant . “When I grew up in the Philippines, people would just play around the basketball court; it is all about family gathering together, enjoying their time and playing a sport that we all love.” “When it came to designing the jersey and logo, I really wanted to go back to our roots. I wanted to know the original people of the Philippines and how we used to classify ourselves. Many of the details are inspired by the different types of indigenous Filipino tattoos.” Santelices’ hand drawn logo conveys cultural significance and features depictions of prominent animals in Filipino folklore, including crocodile teeth, snake tongues, and scorpions. Additional cultural references incorporated within the logo include imagery of a "Vinta," a traditional Philippine sailing vessel, and a red bandana emblazoned across the emblem which serves as a homage to Filipino folk hero, Lapu Lapu. The reimagined jersey utilizes a colourway of red, yellow and blue, the national colours of the Philippines, and features a distinct side panel design. Continuing to draw inspiration from Indigenous Filipino tattoo motifs, the detailed pattern embodies themes of love, family and unity. Furthermore, the country's iconic sun symbol is prominently showcased in a repeating pattern around the uniform. “This jersey and logo is more than just a uniform - it is a celebration of culture, community and connection. The Filipino community has played a major role in shaping the energy and heartbeat of Bandits Basketball and this jersey is a tribute to their passion, pride and love for the game,” said Dylan Kular, team president of Vancouver Bandits. “We’re proud to wear the colours not only as a symbol of representation, but as a commitment to creating space and opportunity for Filipino youth, families and leaders to feel seen, celebrated and empowered.” The jersey will also honour the victims and those affected by the tragic events that occurred following the Lapu-vLapu Day Festival, which took place in Vancouver on April 26, 2025. A black stripe will be worn across the top left shoulder of the jersey and feature the word “KAPWA” displayed prominently, a term that describes the Filipino experience of community, interconnectedness and shared humanity. “Our love of basketball extends beyond just the game, this sport has had the power to bring us closer to our community through celebrations, losses and even now in times of grief,” said RJ Aquino, Chair of Filipino BC. “We are grateful to the Vancouver Bandits for honouring those we’ve lost and for making space for those affected to gather and heal.” Back by popular demand, the highly anticipated June 28th game will include various in-game entertainment and production activations designed to showcase the music, fashion, culture and cuisine of the Philippines, including a pre-game buffet featuring a Filipino-inspired menu, a pregame dance performance by PhilCAS of BC and halftime performance by Filipino-Canadian R&B artist Mikey Jose. Tickets for the game are on sale now at this link . ### About the Vancouver Bandits: The Vancouver Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits offer an entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue at Langley Events Centre (LEC).

With team royalty in the building, the Edmonton Stingers showed championship-level resolve. The Stingers weathered a first-quarter storm to beat the Winnipeg Sea Bears 98-85 on Sunday at Edmonton Expo Centre. Prior to the game, longtime Stinger Brody Clarke — who retired after last season — was inducted to the team’s Ring of Honour. Former teammate Xavier Moon, a two-time champion and three-time MVP with the Stingers, was also in attendance for the celebration. And Edmonton’s response to an early deficit might have made them proud. “Resilience is one of our core values and us being able to figure things out when things don’t go our way is part of battling adversity,” Stingers forward Nick Hornsby said. Edmonton was punched in the mouth during the opening 10 minutes as the streaking Sea Bears raced to a 27-19 lead. But the Stingers got off the mat, regained the lead early in the second and never looked back from there. By the time the clocks turned off for Target Score Time, the Stingers led 89-75. While the Sea Bears showed some fight, the deficit ultimately proved too much to overcome. Nick Horsnby ended the proceedings after drawing a shooting foul, making his first free throw to clinch the game. The Stingers moved to 6-6 win the win, while the Sea Bears fell to 5-6 as their four-game winning streak was snapped. Edmonton has now won four of its past five games. “The vibes are high but we’re not satisfied. We’re always longing for that next game and ready to play and get that next win,” Hornsby said. Head coach Jordan Baker added that he was happy with his team’s response after its slow start. “We’re not gonna get too high getting up 10 or 15 and we’re not gonna get too low, so understanding that we’re gonna stick to our stuff,” he said. “I might have to scream at them in a timeout, but they responded very well tonight.” Hornsby, who is in his third year with the Stingers, recorded 17 points, six assists and five rebounds in the win. Sean East II led the Stingers with 27 points while also adding eight rebounds and seven assists. Forward Keon Ambrose-Hylton neared a double-double with 19 points and eight rebounds. But it’s Hornsby who has taken the torch as a Stingers leader in the absence of the likes of Clarke and Moon. The 30-year-old from Irvine, Calif., has quickly made Edmonton his CEBL home. “Too comfortable. I love it here. I enjoy talking to the fans in the off-season and almost a second home, really. It’s great coming back,” he said. The sentiment is still shared by Moon to this day. “It was a huge stepping stone for me getting to the NBA,” he told the broadcast after the game. “Great fanbase here, band of brothers that I’ll have for a lifetime, and the city — I can’t even put it into words.” Luck may have been on Edmonton’s side in its latest win as the Stingers twice beat the buzzer with three-point heaves. Hornsby launched one from halfcourt ahead of the shot clock expiring during a second-quarter possession, and Isiah Osborne added a triple of his own from the wing at the third-quarter horn. Edmonton’s Aaron Rhooms was away from the team as he competes for Canada at the 3x3 World Cup in Mongolia. Meanwhile, Winnipeg’s strong run of play was halted seemingly as soon as the first quarter turned into the second. Head coach Mike Taylor pointed to “readiness” as one of the reasons for the team’s winning streak coming to an end. “You could see us be a little casual with the ball offensively. … We gave up too many points off of those turnovers, we didn’t get very much bench production,” Taylor said. “Our team’s been on a great streak, I’m really proud of the guys, but we’ve gotta work for consistency.” Canada’s Simi Shittu led the Sea Bears with a game-high 30 points and 12 rebounds, while Jalen Harris contributed 22 points, six rebounds and five assists. Harris said his team may just have been tired at the end of a road trip that also included a win over Vancouver on Friday. “We just gotta refocus on ourselves. We got a few days in between the next game and that’s kind of our mindset each game, focusing on ourselves — how can we be better? — and doing that moving forward,” he said. Taylor added that the Stingers out-hustled his squad — especially in the middle two quarters. “They beat us to all the loose balls and they did the little things, the physical things that give you an advantage,” he said. The Stingers’ win capped a wild Sunday across the CEBL, which saw all 10 teams play on the same day for just the second time ever. Earlier, Scarborough crushed Niagara, Ottawa beat Brampton, Montreal edged Saskatchewan and Calgary downed Vancouver. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600617 Up Next Winnipeg returns home to face the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Friday while Edmonton has a week off before it hosts the Scarborough next Sunday. Next CEBL Action After five games Sunday, every team has a bit of a break before the Calgary Surge visit the Saskatchewan Rattlers on Thursday. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

Dans un match qui a confirmé que le basketball est bel et bien un sport de séquences, l’Alliance de Montréal a tenu bon en fin de rencontre pour mettre fin à une série de quatre défaites consécutives grâce à un gain de 93-89 face aux Rattlers de la Saskatchewan. Ce sont les visiteurs qui ont connu le meilleur départ, alors que Grant Anticevich a marqué les huit premiers points de son équipe, donnant une avance de 16-8 aux Rattlers avant le premier temps mort. Le grand Australien a terminé le match avec 14 points et huit rebonds. Les Rattlers ont même creusé l’écart jusqu’à 10 points (25-15), avant qu’une poussée de 15-3 de Montréal au deuxième quart — conclue par un panier de Ben Stevens — ne donne aux locaux leur première avance du match. Saskatchewan a répliqué avec une séquence de 11-4, mais l’Alliance a repris le contrôle grâce à un autre élan de 12-2, pour rentrer au vestiaire avec une avance de 48-44 dans ce qui restera l’une des premières demies les plus folles de la saison dans la LECB. « C’était un match complètement fou, vraiment dramatique », a déclaré l’entraîneur-chef de l’Alliance, Jermaine Small, après la rencontre. « Mais tu sais quoi? J’en ai vécu d’autres comme ça. Il faut juste trouver une façon de gagner, et c’est ce qu’on a fait. » « Ça fait du bien. On avait gagné nos quatre premiers matchs, puis perdu les quatre suivants… un vrai tour de montagnes russes émotives. Mais je pense qu’on est en bonne posture et j’espère qu’on pourra bâtir là-dessus. » « L’objectif, évidemment, c’est de gagner chaque match — mais honnêtement, c’est surtout de continuer à progresser. Mi-juillet, on veut être à notre sommet. Chaque match, on ajoute une brique. Et on espère construire quelque chose de spécial. On a intégré un nouveau joueur aujou rd’hui, on essaie de l’impliquer… et on a déjà vu son expérience ressortir dans plusieurs aspects du jeu. On veut continuer à construire. » Ce nouveau joueur, c’est le vétéran pivot O.D. Anosike, âgé de 34 ans, avec une vaste expérience dans plusieurs grandes ligues européennes. Il a immédiatement fait sentir sa présence dans son premier match avec Montréal, terminant la rencontre avec 13 points, 10 rebonds et 4 passes décisives en sortie de banc. Il s’est dit impressionné par ses nouveaux coéquipiers, et surtout, par l’ambiance. « L’atmosphère, l’énergie des partisans… c’était incroyable », a-t-il dit. « Ça va nous aider, surtout qu’on a un jeune groupe. Quand on tirait de l’arrière en début de match, ils sont restés avec nous. Quand on était en avance, ils étaient encore là. Ils nous ont poussés. » « Sur le terrain, c’est une jeune équipe. Je suis de loin le plus vieux. Alors oui, on va vivre des hauts et des bas. C’est normal avec la jeunesse. Mais j’étais fier de la résilience du groupe. On a encaissé les coups, on est revenus, et ça donne confiance à tout le monde. » Quincy Guerrier a mené l’Alliance avec 20 points et huit rebonds, tandis que Tavian Dunn-Martin a ajouté 15 points et cinq passes décisives. En comptant les contributions d’Anosike, le banc a marqué 42 points au total. Abdul Mohamed a connu son meilleur match en carrière dans la LECB avec 15 points et six rebonds, alors que Malcolm Duvivier a inscrit 11 points, dont trois tirs de trois points, portant son total en carrière dans la ligue à 151. La deuxième demie a été tout aussi intense que la première, mais plus physique, alors que les deux formations cherchaient à s’imposer. Montréal a pris une avance de 57-51, mais une autre séquence des Rattlers leur a permis de repasser devant 64-63 avant d’amorcer le dernier quart. Une poussée en fin de match de l’Alliance a donné une avance de 83-78 à l’approche de la période du pointage cible. Dans une fin de match serrée, les Rattlers ont eu une chance de l’emporter, mais Devonte Bandoo, nouvellement arrivé, a raté un tir de trois points dans le coin. Montréal a capté le rebond et inscrit le panier décisif de l’autre côté. C’est une autre sortie difficile pour les Rattlers, qui tombent à une fiche de 2-9. Ils ont peiné à égaler la vitesse et l’intensité physique de Montréal, terminant la première demie avec un déficit de 14-0 au chapitre des points sur contre-attaque. « Ils ont fait du bon travail pour nous attaquer à l’intérieur », a commenté l’entraîneur-chef des Rattlers, Eric Magdanz. « Ils jouent avec beaucoup d’intensité défensive. De notre côté, je pense qu’on a bien déplacé le ballon et créé de bons tirs. Mais parfois, le basketball se joue à quelques centimètres, et ils ont eu le dernier mot. » « Je suis extrêmement fier de mon équipe cette saison pour la manière dont elle affronte l’adversité. Ils sont aguerris. On a des leaders sur le terrain, et même quand ça tourne mal, ils trouvent une façon de résister et d’obtenir les jeux importants. Mon travail, c’est de les placer dans les meilleures conditions possibles. » Bandoo a été le meilleur marqueur du match avec 23 points et 8 rebonds. Nate Pierre-Louis a enregistré un doublé avec 10 points et 10 passes décisives, tandis que Anthony Tsegakele a mené les remplaçants avec 12 points, son sommet de la saison. L’ancien de l’Alliance, Jordan Bowden, faisait son retour à Montréal pour la première fois dans l’uniforme adverse. Il a terminé avec 21 points, quatre rebonds et trois passes décisives. Malgré la défaite, il s’est dit fier de l’effort de ses coéquipiers. « J’ai eu quelques poussées d’adrénaline aujourd’hui », a confié Bowden. « Mais on savait qu’ils allaient se battre. Montréal veut toujours défendre son terrain. On savait qu’ils seraient prêts, et moi aussi, je devais l’être. » Sur la suite de la saison : « Il faut retourner à la table à dessin, regarder la vidéo. Oui, c’est frustrant, mais il faut continuer à progresser. Je pense qu’on va dans la bonne direction. Notre fiche ne le montre peut-être pas, mais on a des guerriers dans l’équipe. Et on sait qu’on peut rivaliser avec n’importe qui. » Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600615 À venir pour les deux équipes L’Alliance de Montréal amorcera un voyage de trois matchs à l’extérieur en rendant visite aux BlackJacks d’Ottawa le 28 juin. De leur côté, les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan seront de retour à la maison pour accueillir le Surge de Calgary le 26 juin. Prochains matchs dans la LECB La ligue fera une pause de trois jours après l’horaire chargé de dimanche, puis l’action reprendra le 26 juin alors que les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan accueilleront le Surge de Calgary. Le match sera diffusé sur CEBL+ et TSN+. Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB et les résultats à jour, visitez le site cebl.ca/games . - LECB -

On peut dire que l’arrivée de Javonte Smart dans la LECB se passe plutôt bien jusqu’ici. Le garde américain a inscrit un sommet personnel de 32 points cette saison pour mener les BlackJacks d’Ottawa (fiche de 4-6) à une victoire de 89-76 face aux Honey Badgers de Brampton (3-8), dimanche après-midi au CAA Centre. À son deuxième match seulement avec l’équipe de la capitale, Smart a non seulement dominé au pointage, mais il a littéralement porté Ottawa à la victoire en inscrivant à lui seul les neuf points requis lors de la période du pointage cible. « C’était le moment de gagner, l’entraîneur m’a donné le ballon et m’a dit de faire mon travail », a-t-il affirmé après la rencontre, quelques instants après avoir réussi son quatrième et dernier tir de trois points, scellant ainsi un deuxième gain consécutif pour les BlackJacks – une première cette saison. Smart a aussi tiré à 50 % derrière l’arc, en plus de réussir 10 de ses 11 lancers francs. Il a également ajouté quatre rebonds et six passes décisives. Derrière lui, Isaiah Moore a enregistré un doublé avec 13 points et 10 rebonds. De son côté, Zane Waterman effectuait un retour à Brampton, mais pour la première fois comme adversaire dans sa carrière dans la LECB. L’ancien pilier des Honey Badgers a terminé la rencontre avec 11 points, réussissant trois tirs de trois points sur sept tentatives, et a capté quatre rebonds. Chez les Honey Badgers, David Muenkat a été le meneur offensif avec 21 points, un taux de réussite de 7 en 12 (incluant 3 en 4 derrière l’arc), en plus de récolter quatre rebonds, deux vols et un bloc. En sortie de banc, Marcus Carr a aussi contribué avec 15 points, six rebonds et cinq passes décisives. « Il faut juste être meilleurs », a mentionné l’entraîneur-chef des Honey Badgers, Sheldon Cassimy, après la fin de leur séquence de deux victoires. « Je crois qu’on a tous les bons outils… On a eu de bons moments, mais pas de manière constante. » Koby McEwen, qui avait récemment dépassé Waterman au premier rang de l’histoire des Honey Badgers pour le nombre de points marqués, a franchi un autre jalon dimanche. Grâce à ses 14 points, il est devenu seulement le septième joueur de l’histoire de la LECB à atteindre le plateau des 1000 points en carrière. L’attaque des BlackJacks n’a peut-être pas été la plus explosive cette saison – l’équipe figurait dans le bas du classement avec une moyenne de 88,7 points et 31,4 tirs réussis par match – mais elle a tout de même été efficace, se classant quatrième en termes d’efficacité. Une tendance qui s’est poursuivie dès le premier quart dimanche, alors qu’Ottawa a réussi 52 % de ses tirs. Les BlackJacks ont terminé le quart avec une poussée de 12-0, couronnée par un tir de trois points dans le coin gauche de Shakur Daniel au son du buzzer, leur procurant une avance de 26-21. Mais Daniel, natif d’Ajax, en Ontario, n’avait pas terminé de faire vibrer la salle. Juste avant la mi-temps, il a inscrit un autre panier au buzzer , cette fois un tir en suspension près de l’aile gauche, pour conclure une autre séquence d’Ottawa – un 7-0 – et envoyer son équipe au vestiaire avec une avance de 49-42. Sans cette fin de deuxième quart, le scénario aurait pu être bien différent pour Ottawa, qui avait ralenti offensivement, ne réussissant que 39 % de ses tirs en première demie. Pendant ce temps, Brampton connaissait l’une de ses meilleures demies derrière l’arc cette saison, dépassant sa moyenne de 7,8 tirs de trois points par match avec huit réussites en première demie à un taux de 57 %. L’équipe a terminé le match avec 11 tirs de trois points réussis à 42 %. « Selon moi, c’était deux équipes qui se battaient jusqu’au bout », a déclaré l’entraîneur des BlackJacks, David DeAveiro, après le match. « C’est ce qu’on se répète cette saison : il faut être plus fort mentalement. » Marcus Carr a joué un rôle clé pour Brampton, prenant en main la direction du jeu alors que McEwen et Weatherspoon étaient sur le banc en raison de problèmes de fautes. Il a notamment enchaîné trois tirs de trois points consécutifs qui ont permis aux Honey Badgers de revenir à égalité à moins d’une minute de la mi-temps, avant que les BlackJacks n’enchaînent. En plus des tirs décisifs de Daniel, Smart a aussi été un élément déclencheur en fin de demie. Il a inscrit 17 points avant la pause, dont huit dans le deuxième quart et une séquence de cinq points consécutifs lors de la poussée décisive. Au retour du vestiaire, Brampton a continué de gruger l’écart. Après une séquence de 8-2, les Honey Badgers ont vu les BlackJacks répliquer avec un 12-2 au milieu du troisième quart. Brampton a ensuite enchaîné une poussée de 7-2 pour réduire l’écart de 12 à 6 points, tirant de l’arrière 67-61 après trois quarts. Leur remontée aurait pu être encore plus significative si ce n’était des pertes de ballon, un problème récurrent cette saison. En tête de la ligue avec 17,6 pertes de ballon par match, les Honey Badgers avaient été disciplinés en première demie avec seulement six pertes, mais en ont commis cinq dans le troisième quart. Ils ont terminé le match avec 15 pertes de ballon, contre 14 pour Ottawa, qui a su en tirer profit avec un avantage de 22-14 sur ces opportunités. « On est une équipe fière, on se bat », a souligné Cassimy lorsqu’on lui a parlé de l’effort de ses joueurs après la mi-temps. « C’est simplement une question de corriger les erreurs. » Pour compliquer les choses, Brampton a dû composer avec l’absence de Quinndary Weatherspoon pendant la majeure partie de la deuxième demie, lui qui a été exclu après avoir reçu une faute offensive et une faute technique coup sur coup, au milieu du troisième quart. Ottawa est entré dans la période du pointage cible avec une avance de 80-74, avant que Smart ne prenne le relais. Il a amorcé son festival offensif avec des lancers francs, suivi de deux tirs en suspension à mi-distance, avant de conclure le tout avec un tir de trois points dans le coin droit, assurant ainsi un deuxième gain cette saison contre Brampton. Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600614 À venir Les BlackJacks retourneront dans la capitale nationale pour accueillir l'Alliance de Montréal le 28 juin, dans le cadre du premier match d’une série de deux à domicile. De leur côté, les Honey Badgers profiteront d’une semaine complète de repos avant de retrouver l’action, alors qu’ils recevront les champions en titre, les River Lions de Niagara, pour le deuxième affrontement de quatre en saison régulière. Prochains matchs dans la LECB La journée bien remplie de cinq matchs se poursuit ce dimanche, alors que les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan (fiche de 2-8) tenteront de mettre fin à une série de quatre défaites consécutives face à l’Alliance de Montréal, dès 15 h (HE). Ce match sera suivi de deux affrontements de la Conférence de l’Ouest : les Bandits de Vancouver rendront visite au Surge de Calgary dans un duel entre les meilleures formations de l’Ouest à 16 h (HE) / 14 h (heure locale), puis les Stingers d’Edmonton tenteront de freiner la séquence de quatre victoires des Sea Bears de Winnipeg à 18 h (HE) / 16 h (heure locale). Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB et les résultats à jour, visitez le site cebl.ca/games . - LECB -

In a battle between the Western Conference’s top two teams, the Calgary Surge pushed the pace on their way to a convincing win over the Vancouver Bandits on Sunday (June 20). Calgary’s 100-83 victory vaults the team atop the CEBL standings at 8-3, winning both meetings with their rivals from Vancouver so far this season. The second loss to Calgary marks the first time Vancouver has lost consecutive games this year and snaps a four-game winning streak on the road. Both squads were coming off losses to Western Conference rivals heading into Sunday’s clash at WinSport Event Centre, but a massive 33-13 second quarter propelled the Surge to a comfortable win. After allowing 31 points in the first quarter, Calgary head coach Kaleb Canales said the team got back to its bread and butter. “In the team huddle, we just kept talking about [how] our brand of basketball is defence to offence. We had to get more activity on the ball and our weak side tighter. And I thought the guys did a great job of executing the game plan,” Canales said. Six Surge players scored in double figures, with Greg Brown III’s 24 points leading the way. The NBA-experienced forward scored the Target Score Winner at the line and added eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. Brown III felt the Surge were already the best team in the league before Sunday’s win. “We already beat Vancouver the first time by 15 – now we beat them by 20. We showed we’re the best team in the league,” Brown III said. Sean Miller-Moore tallied 20 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Surge while Olumide Adelodun netted 17 off the bench. Jameer Nelson Jr., Khyri Thomas, and Javonté Brown rounded out the Calgary attack with 11 points apiece. As a team, Calgary dished 29 assists while winning the battles on the fastbreak and in the paint. The Surge were a menace on defence as well, forcing 29 turnovers – including 14 steals – and blocking six shots. Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius said it was noticeable the squad was shorthanded, including the absence of Mitch Creek due to injury late in Friday’s loss to Winnipeg. He said the team didn’t stick with what was working after a strong first quarter. “The game plan worked great in the first quarter and then it ended. Then it stopped,” Julius said. Duane Notice and Curtis Hollis each scored 15 to pace the Bandits’ offence in Creek’s absence, while recent acquisition Zach Copeland netted 12 off the bench in his second game of the season. Copeland played with Vancouver last year and is confident they’ll figure things out. “We had some rough patches last year too and we made it to the final. So [we have to] keep a level head and just keep going,” he said. To open the game, defence was difficult to find. The Surge and Bandits both started hot offensively and hung tight with eight lead changes. Calgary showcased its athletic pedigree with high-flying finishes from Brown III and Miller-Moore. However, the Bandits showed off their long-range accuracy and carried a 31-25 lead after 10 minutes. In the second quarter, the Surge continued to excel offensively while locking in on defence. After a back-and-forth start to the frame, Calgary finished the half on a 25-6 run. While the usual suspects of Brown III, Miller-Moore, and Nelson Jr. all contributed, the supporting cast stole the show in the second quarter. Big man Javonté Brown made plays on both ends, while Adelodun caught fire from beyond the arc and Thomas carried the offence early. Adelodun led all scorers with 14 points and Calgary carried a 58-44 advantage heading into the locker room. “It's good to see the work show and that’s actually all that matters at the end of the day,” Adelodun said. The third quarter proved why basketball is known as a game of runs. The Surge looked poised to run away with the win after an 11-2 run to open the half, taking a 23-point lead. The stretch was highlighted by Miller-Moore buckets at all three levels, including an off-backboard transition alley-oop from Nelson Jr. Out of a timeout, the Bandits stormed back with a 13-2 run of their own with long-range shooting from Hollis, Copeland and Corey Davis Jr. But the Surge closed the quarter on yet another run to lead 81-64 ahead of the fourth. Vancouver climbed back to cut the deficit to 10, but four straight points from Brown III gave Calgary a 14-point lead before Target Score Time. Brown III continued to assert himself in the final stretch with help from his running mates, Miller-Moore and Nelson Jr. A putback from Brown III put the Surge one point away before he ended the game at the free throw line. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600616 Up next for both teams Calgary embarks on a three-game road trip starting with a visit to Saskatoon on Thursday (June 26), while Vancouver also faces the Rattlers at Langley Events Centre next Saturday (June 28). For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

In a game that truly proved basketball is a game of runs, the Montreal Alliance were able to hold on late and snap a four-game losing streak with a 93-89 victory over the Saskatchewan Rattlers. It was the road team that got off to a hot start, with Grant Anticevich scoring his team’s first eight points and the Rattlers taking a 16-8 lead into the first time out. The Australian big man finished with 14 points and eight rebounds on the night. Saskatchewan would build their lead up to as many as 10 with a 25-15 score before a 15-3 Montreal run in the second quarter gave them their first lead of the night off a Ben Stevens basket. The Rattlers would answer with an 11-4 run of their own before a 12-2 Alliance run gave them a 48-44 lead in one of the wildest halves you’ll see in the CEBL this season. “It was definitely a dramatic game, it was crazy,” Alliance head coach Jermaine Small said afterwards. “But you know what? Been in some crazy games before and you just have to find a way to win, and we did that.” “It feels good,” he said of putting his team’s four-game losing streak in the rear-view mirror. “Obviously, we won four in the beginning and then we lost four, so it’s been a bit of an emotional roller coaster, but I think we’re in a good place and hopefully we can just build off this. “The expectation – obviously you want to win every game – but honestly it was just to get better, get better, get better. Mid July, we want to peak. We keep putting one brick down every time we play and hopefully, we can build something special. We got a new player today and we’re trying to get him going and obviously his experience showed in a lot of ways today. But we want to keep building.” That new player was veteran center O.D Anosike. The 34-year-old has experience in some of the biggest leagues across Europe and made an immediate impact in his Alliance debut. He finished with 13 points and 10 boards off the bench, even chipping in with four assists. He was impressed with not only his new teammates, but also the crowd they played in front of. “The fan experience, the atmosphere, was unbelievable,” he said. “That’s going to help us, especially as a young team coming down the stretch. Just giving us the energy, staying with us when we were down early, staying with us when we were up. Pushing us to go further. “On the court, this is a young team. I’m the oldest – by far. We’re going to have our ups and downs because that’s the nature of young players. But I was proud of our resolve. We stayed with it. We were down early but we stayed with it, battled back. That gives me and probably those guys a lot of confidence going forward.” Quincy Guerrier finished with a team high 20 points to get with eight rebounds and Tavian Dunn-Martin added 15 points and five assists. Including Anosike’s production, the bench finished with 42 points. Abdul Mohamed had a CEBL career-high 15 points and six rebounds while Malcolm Duvivier had 11 points including three 3-pointers, giving him 151 for his CEBL career. The second half of the game played out much like the first, but with more physicality as both teams tried to find an advantage over the other. Montreal would build up a 57-51 lead before yet another run from Saskatchewan gave them a 64-63 advantage heading into the final quarter. A strong final push from the Alliance gave them an 83-78 lead as we entered Target Time. A back and forth stretch saw the Rattlers have a chance to win the game, but new addition Devonte Bandoo missed a three-point shot from the corner and the Alliance were able to take the ball the other way and score the final basket. It was another tough outing for a Rattlers squad that fell to 2-9 on the season. They struggled to match Montreal’s speed and physicality, facing a 14-0 fast-break point deficit at halftime. “They did a great job of attacking us on the inside,” Rattlers head coach Eric Magdanz said of the opposition. “They play really hard and aggressive defense. I think we did a great job of moving the ball and creating open shots against them. Unfortunately, this game comes down to inches and they got the last shot. “I’ve been super proud of our team this entire season for the adversity they battled through. They’re battle tested. For us, we’ve got great leadership on the floor so that when things start not going our way, they battle through and get us a big stop and create a good stop for us. For me as the coach, it’s just making sure I’m putting them in positions to be successful.” Bandoo has a game-high 23 points and also grabbed eight boards. Nate Pierre-Louis had a 10 point, 10 assist double-double, while Anthony Tsegakele led the second unit with a season-high 12 points. Former Montreal Alliance Jordan Bowden retuned to the city for the first time as a member of the opposing team. He scored 21 points to go with four rebounds and three assists. Despite the loss, he was proud of his new team’s effort. “I had a couple boosts of energy today, but we knew they were going to fight” Bowden said. “Montreal always wants to protect home court. We just knew we had to be ready and they were going to be out there ready to play, but I knew I had to bring it.” “Just got to get back to the drawing board, look at film,” he said of his team. “We have to bite our tongue on this one, but we just have to keep getting better. I think we’re trending in the right direction. Obviously, our record doesn’t indicate that, but we got dogs out there and we know we can play with anybody.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600615 Up next for both teams The Montreal Alliance start a three-game road trip in Ottawa against the BlackJacks on June 28. The Saskatchewan Rattlers return home to host the Calgary Surge on June 26. Next CEBL action The league takes a three-day break following Sunday’s jam packed docket and will resume action on June 26 when the Saskatchewan Rattlers host the Calgary Surge, streaming on CEBL+ and TSN+. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

It’s safe to say the Javonte Smart experience in the CEBL has been a positive one so far. The import guard’s season-high 32 points lifted the Ottawa BlackJacks (4-6) to an 89-76 victory over the Brampton Honey Badgers (3-8) at CAA Centre on Sunday afternoon. In just his second game playing for the nation’s capital, Smart not only led the game in scoring, he single-handedly carried Ottawa to victory by putting up all nine points required in Target Score Time. “It’s winning time, coach put the ball in my hands and told me to go get it,” Smart said post-game, moments after hitting his fourth and final triple to give the BlackJacks a second straight win for just the first time this season. Along with shooting 50 per cent from beyond the arc, he also chipped in a 10-of-11 effort from the free throw line to go with four rebounds and six assists. Behind Smart, Isaiah Moore put up a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, Zane Waterman made his return to Brampton, doing so as an opponent for the first time in his CEBL career. The long-time Honey Badger finished with 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting from distance to go with four rebounds. On the other side, David Muenkat led the charge as he finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting (3-of-4 on three-pointers) to go with four rebounds, two steals and a block. Behind him was Marcus Carr, who chipped in 15 points, six rebounds and five assists off the bench. “We just have to be better,” Honey Badgers head coach Sheldon Cassimy said after their two-game win streak was snapped. “I think we have all the right tools … we had spurts of it, but not consistently.” Meanwhile, Koby McEwen, who recently passed Waterman for the most points all-time in Honey Badgers franchise history, set another milestone on Sunday. His 14 points pushed him past the 1000-point mark, making McEwen just the seventh player in CEBL history to do so. The BlackJacks' offence may not have been the most productive this season — it entered the game bottom five in points (88.7) and made field goals (31.4) per game — it’s been fairly efficient, ranked fourth-best in that regard. A trend that continued through the opening frame on Sunday, as Ottawa shot 52 per cent from the field. The BlackJacks punctuated that effort with a 12-0 run to end the first quarter, finishing with a Shakur Daniel left-corner triple at the buzzer to give them a 26-21 lead. The Ajax, Ont. native’s late-clock heroics didn’t end there, however, as Daniel hit yet another buzzer-beater to once again cap off an Ottawa run, this time 7-0. His fading left-elbow jumper sent the BlackJacks into the break with a 49-42 advantage. Had it not been for that stretch to end the second quarter, things may have looked quite different for Ottawa as its offence cooled off to the tune of 39 per cent shooting in the first half. Meanwhile, Brampton had one of its best three-point shooting halves of the season, outpacing its per-game average (7.8) with eight first-half makes from distance on a 57 per cent clip. They’d finish with 11 triples on 42 per cent shooting. “I thought it was two teams grinding it out,” BlackJacks head coach David DeAveiro said after the win. “That’s something we talk about, being mentally tougher as we go along in the season.” Carr led that charge, not only holding down ball-handling duties while McEwen and Weatherspoon sat due to foul trouble, but also nailing three consecutive triples that had the game tied with less than a minute to go in the second before the BlackJacks' run. Meanwhile, aside from Daniel’s clutch shooting, it was Smart who was a catalyst for that Ottawa charge to end the half, as he finished with 17 points at the break, including eight in the second quarter and five straight as part of that difference-making run. Coming out of halftime, the Honey Badgers continued chipping into that deficit, to their credit. After their 8-2 run was outdone by a 12-2 BlackJacks charge midway through the third, they responded with another 7-2 run to cut what was once a 12-point deficit down to six, 67-61 after 30 minutes. Brampton’s surge could’ve been greater had it not been for their usual ball-security woes creeping back up. The Honey Badgers — leading the league with 17.6 turnovers per game — played a disciplined first half with just six giveaways, but had five turnovers in the third. They’d finish with nine in the second half for 15 total, as the BlackJacks built a 22-14 edge on those freebies. “We’re a team with pride, we compete,” Cassimy said when asked about his team’s push after halftime. “It’s just a matter of cleaning up the errors.” To make matters even more difficult, Brampton was without the services of Quinndary Weatherspoon for much of the second half after the guard fouled out midway through the third after picking up an offensive foul and technical foul in quick succession. Ottawa carried that six-point lead into Target Score Time (80-74) before Smart got to work. His scoring barrage began with some free throws, followed up by a pair of mid-range pull-ups and lastly a triple from the right corner as the BlackJacks took a 2-0 regular-season series lead over the Honey Badgers. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600614 Up next The BlackJacks head back to the nation’s capital to host the Montreal Alliance on June 28 for the first of a two-game homestand. Meanwhile, the Honey Badgers get a full week off before returning when they’ll host the defending champion Niagara River Lions for the second of four regular-season matchups. Next CEBL action A jam-packed five-game slate continues on Sunday with the 2-8 Saskatchewan Rattlers aiming to end their four-game skid against the home Alliance at 3 p.m. ET. That game will be followed by a pair of Western Conference matchups — the Vancouver Bandits visiting the Calgary Surge in a battle between the West’s top seeds at 4 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. local, followed by the Edmonton Stingers looking to end the Winnipeg Sea Bears' four-game win streak at 6 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. local. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

Scarborough built a lead quickly in the first quarter, never looked back, and dominated the 2024 CEBL champions with a 102-70 win over Niagara on Sunday. “We need a ton of energy. We’re short-handed today, so next-up-man mentality,” said Scarborough head coach Mike De Giorgio at the start of the game. “We gotta let the ball move and let the ball see multiple hands each possession.” De Giorgio said he emphasized ball movement in practice yesterday, and today, the ball was hopping. From the get go, Scarborough resorted to the tried-and-tested offensive play of driving and kicking the ball to the corner, and then swinging the ball to the wing. It worked well enough to build a 19-5 lead and force an early Niagara timeout. Defensively, Scarborough frustrated Niagara, most notably as they trapped 2022 CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad in the corner, right where the half-court line meets the sideline. “We just didn’t come out with the right intensity,” reflected Niagara head coach Vic Raso. He stated quite bluntly: “We just disrespected the start of the game.” Scarborough made six threes en route to a 26-11 first quarter win, allowing them to spread the floor and attack the gaps in the second. Scarborough won the second quarter, 30-25, and shot nine-for-18 from downtown in the first half. Terquavion Smith (game total: 20 points on four-for-eight three-point shooting) made all of his team’s three-pointers in the second quarter. He splashed one early as he used Khalil Miller’s screen from the top of the arc. Smith was such a three-point threat that he baited Niagara’s Eddie Ekiyor into drawing a three-point shooting foul after Kobe Elvis reversed the ball back to him. In the past week, Niagara was the only team in the league to average less than double-digit turnovers per game (eight turnovers per game through two games). They had nine by halftime and 18 at the end of the game. After halftime, a pair of back-to-back threes by Jahvon Blair helped Niagara get within 16 points, but their momentum was short-lived as Scarborough had increased the lead to 26 points at the end of the third. Smith spoke about using Scarborough’s last home blowout loss to the Ottawa Blackjacks as fuel. They came out swinging despite the absence of Hason Ward and Donovon Williams. Scarborough has now evened out their regular season series with Niagara, 1-1, after losing by four points back in early June. “If you have the answer, let me know because I’m at a loss for this one,” Coach De Giorgio said when asked to explain the sudden change from a blowout loss to a blowout win over last year’s champions. His guess was as good as yours. Like Scarborough, Niagara is also looking to become a much more consistent team. “There’s just not a sense of urgency and we’ve played in spurts the entire year,” Coach Raso said about Niagara’s peaks and valleys so far. “The disappointing part is that it kinda feels like we’re fat and happy with winning because this group had an insane fire in them last year, and it’s there, but it’s only showing up in spurts.” In the cool, air-conditioned confines of the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, this game had many familiar CEBL faces who have had longevity. Scarborough’s Cat Barber, the league’s all-time assist leader, had a strong performance (19 points and seven assists) and 2022 CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad and all-time scoring leader Ahmed Hill combined for 16 points. Today was a special day for Canadian basketball. It was one of four quintuple-headers for the CEBL on a day where four Canadians will also play in the NBA Finals. Box score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600613 Up next for both teams The Scarborough Shooting Stars (6-5) hit the road and head to Canada Life Centre to play the Winnipeg Sea Bears (5-5) on Friday, June 27th. The Niagara River Lions (7-4) head to the CAA Centre to play the Brampton Honey Badgers (3-7) on Sunday, June 29th. Next CEBL action The Calgary Surge (7-3) face the Saskatchewan Rattlers (2-8) at the SaskTel Centre on Thursday, June 26th.For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -