Preview: Canada Basketball vs. Dominican Republic

The Vancouver Bandits (7-1) improved to 4-0 on the road this season with an emphatic 101-76 win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers (2-5) on Sunday evening. It was déjà vu for the franchise-record 3,518 fans in attendance at the SaskTel Centre as Vancouver took the second of four regular-season meetings in a similarly dominant fashion to their first matchup — now having won both by an average margin of 32.5 points. The Bandits used a full-team effort for their latest victory as seven different players made at least two field goals, while four scored in double figures. And just like he did last time against the Rattlers, Tyrese Samuel led the way as the Canadian put up 21 points. Behind him was Izaiah Brockington, who scored 18 points with three triples, while Shamar Givance and Mitch Creek added 16 points each. “Really happy with the win,” Vancouver head coach and general manager Kyle Julius said post-game. “Pleased with the energy, togetherness and connectivity of the guys.” On the other side, Cody John spearheaded the Rattlers as their two-game win streak got snapped, finishing with a team-high 18 points. Meanwhile, Jamir Chaplin chipped in 16 points, while Grant Anticevich and Jordan Bowden off the bench scored 11 points, respectively. It was no secret that the Rattlers entered Sunday looking for revenge after last month’s home-opener was spoiled thanks to a 40-point loss to the Bandits — a franchise-record win for Vancouver. Saskatchewan head coach Eric Magdanz admitted as much pre-game, noting the rematch had been marked on the calendar. Unfortunately for his Rattlers squad, the Bandits' league-leading offence continued to prove troublesome as they shot 66 per cent from the field (12-of-18) in the opening frame. The hot start sparked a 13-2 run that helped carve out a 30-16 lead after the first. Practically identical to last time, when Vancouver led by 11 points after 10 minutes into the first matchup. “We had moments where we fought back, but that’s got to be consistent for 40 minutes,” Magdanz said post-game. “We’ve improved in some areas, but we have some growth yet to happen … we (previously) found success by playing together, playing as a team and we lacked that today.” The Bandits have now scored at least 100 points in six of their eight games and are the only team in the CEBL averaging 100-plus points per game. And it’s been done collectively as four Bandits (Creek, Kyle Mangas, Samuel and Curtis Hollis) rank top 30 in the CEBL for scoring. “Not trying to be arrogant, but we seem to be getting everyone’s best game,” Julius said on his team’s mindset entering the contest. “But when you’re one of the top teams in the league, everybody really prepares for you, and so we really thought today was going to be a significant challenge.” As has been the case for much of the season, Vancouver asserted their dominance by spreading the wealth as all five starters scored in the first quarter — led by Brockington, who had eight points on 3-for-3 shooting, including two triples. Also like last time, the Bandits held onto the momentum from there, building their lead up to 20 points (56-36) at the break. Seven different players on Vancouver finished the half with five-plus points, spearheaded by Mangas’s nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. Unlike the first matchup, however, the Rattlers came out of halftime with a much better response. Rather than getting outscored by 17 in the third like the previous mid-May matchup, Saskatchewan won the frame on Sunday — the first-time beating Vancouver for a quarter this season — and chipped into the deficit, down 72-54. And that was largely thanks to John, as the Mississauga, Ont. native single-handedly scored the Rattlers' first 10 points of the quarter. “We played within our tempo, we played physically defensively and that let us get out in transition,” Magdanz explained when asked how his team found success in the third. But although Saskatchewan had already proven it could rally with the clock stopped — going on an 11-0 run in Target Score Time against the Calgary Surge on Friday for their second win — Sunday’s deficit proved too large to overcome. Ultimately, Vancouver’s game plan was similar to the first matchup, and it yielded similarly positive results. The Bandits focused exclusively on rim pressure and were met by little resistance, finishing plus-eight for paint points (50-42) while earning 10 more free throws than the Rattlers. “Proud of how we stuck to the game plan and attacked the paint first and really got ourselves going early,” Brockington said after the win. The Bandits went up by as many as 26 points headed into Target Score Time before Samuel tipped in a Hollis miss for the game-sealing score — providing one final dose of been there, done that as forward also made the winning basket the last time these teams played. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600593 Up next Both squads get a bit of rest before returning to action, starting with the Rattlers wrapping up their two-game homestand by welcoming the Scarborough Shooting Stars to Saskatchewan on Friday. Meanwhile, the Bandits head back to Vancouver as they’ll get set to host the Montreal Alliance on Saturday. Next CEBL action The undefeated Alliance (3-0) start a three-game road trip on Monday as they visit the Shooting Stars for the first of four regular-season meetings between the East rivals. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

On a night where they didn’t have their best shooting performance, the Saskatchewan Rattlers showed they had enough grit and determination to pull out the victory. Nate Pierre-Louis led the way with 23 points, 12 rebounds and six assists as the Rattlers came back after trailing by six at the start of Target Time to take the 87-84 win and snap the Calgary Surge’s four-game winning streak. The win was also Saskatchewan’s first over Calgary since the franchise relocated from Guelph in 2023. “I was just trying my best to rebound, start the pace,” the star import said. “I feel like when I rebound, it’s a lot less thinking, more reaction. I pride myself on that. Just trying to rebound, start the break, and make really easy decisions.” “I think that we’re learning each other even more, practice has been good,” he said of his team’s growth early into the season. “We’ve been gelling really well and I think we’re about to play our best basketball. These past two wins show what kind of guys we have; we have high-character guys. We’re some dogs, and we pride ourselves on that.” Jamir Chaplin added 19 points, Cody John chipped in with 16 points, and Jordan Bowden scored five of his 11 points in Target Time to seal the dramatic comeback. It was the second straight win for the Rattlers, who have bounced back from an 0-4 start to their season. “This team is resilient,” Rattlers head coach Eric Magdanz said after the game. “It’s an amazing group of guys that just dig in when things get harder. For me, it’s just trying to make sure I’m trying to put them in the right spots at the right time and they just keep battling through. We’ve been building throughout the entire season. Outside of our first game, every game has been close for us. I think we’ve used that as a learning opportunity. You can see that in Target Time now. We don’t get stressed in the moment and we’ve been able to pull out a couple of wins here.” Things started out well enough for Saskatchewan as they got off to a 15-7 lead at the 4:57 mark before Calgary called a time out. As a quick pep talk from head coach Kaleb Canales, the Surge got off to a run befitting their name and cut the lead to one by the end of the first quarter. They continued their strong play through the entirety of the game, leading from the 3:21 mark of the second quarter until the end of Target Time. “It’s a long game,” Surge head coach Kaleb Canales said of his team’s rough start. “We talked about pushing the ball in transition. I thought they did a good job of getting offensive rebounds, so we cleaned up some things, but we just have to tip our hats to them. They made some shots down the stretch.” Greg Brown III put up a team-high 22 points in the loss to go with eight rebounds, while Jameer Nelson Jr. and Sean Miller-Moore had 18 and 17 points, respectively. Osayi Osifo had 10 of his team’s 13 points off the bench and also finished with seven rebounds. The Surge were without a pair of key contributors in Khyri Thomas and Stefan Jankovic due to injury. As a result, the team was shorthanded and only seven players played at least five minutes in the game. “They’re two really big pieces to our team, so they really could’ve helped us, but it’s next man up,” Brown said of his fallen teammates. “Next man has the opportunity to go seize it. But with them out of the lineup, we really needed to go get it.” The game played as a battle of opposing strategies, as Magdanz’s Rattlers team took over 40 three-pointers throughout the contest, while Canales’ Surge squad tried to use their size and athleticism to run the floor and score most of their points in the paint. For the majority of the contest, it looked like things would turn out in the home team’s favour as the Surge racked up a total of 52 points-in-the-paint while the road squad shot just 5-of-36 from the three-point line as they headed into Target Time. But the Rattlers come up big when it mattered most. “I feel like they didn’t do anything different; it was on us,” Brown lamented. “We have to come with the same fire that we normally do coming into games. My being on the boards a bit, me being a rim protector, I could have done a better job tonight. They have some really good guards – I know Nate Pierre-Louis personally – but we just have to be better.” The loss dropped the Surge to 1-1 during their five-game homestand, while the Rattlers won back-to-back road games for the first time since July 11 & 13 of the 2023 season. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600608 Up next for both teams The Calgary Surge continue their five-game homestand as they welcome the Ottawa BlackJacks for the first time this season on June 8. On the same day, the Saskatchewan Rattlers will play hosts to the Vancouver Bandits in a rematch of both teams’ season openers. Next CEBL action The Winnipeg Sea Bears head to Scarborough to take on the Shooting Stars, streaming live on Game+, CEBL+ and TSN+. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

An instant classic unfolded at Niagara’s Meridian Centre on Friday — but, for the first time since 2023, the home side did not come out on top. The Saskatchewan Rattlers pulled out an 89-87 victory over the reigning champion River Lions (2-3), earning their first win in five games this season and snapping Niagara’s 15-game home winning streak that dated back nearly two years. Both teams had multiple chances to emerge victorious during a wild, back-and-forth Target Score Time. Saskatchewan (1-4) held a 79-77 lead when the clock stopped. But two things were working against the Rattlers — they’ve struggled all season in these situations, and the River Lions were welcoming back Khalil Ahmad, the two-time Clutch Player of the Year. Yet after multiple swings, a flurry of missed free throws, some vintage Ahmad play and a dose of controversy, the Rattlers’ Jordan Bowden sent the crowd home sad when he followed a transition attempt and cleaned up a rebound to give Saskatchewan the hard-earned win. “It's kind of the weight off our shoulders. When you get you have a bunch of close ones that maybe slip away, and you get another close one like tonight, you fear guys are going to maybe tighten up under the weight of it. And you know what? They battled through, they fought through, and I think this may be gives us some confidence the next time we're in the situation,” Rattlers head coach Eric Magdanz said. In Target Score Time, Ahmad immediately tied the game with a floater, but the Rattlers’ Nate Pierre-Louis responded with a monstrous slam, converting the and-one to give his side a three-point lead. Ahmad replied with a dunk of his own to cut the Niagara deficit back to one. A debatable three-shot foul against the River Lions’ Ron Curry then sent Pierre-Louis to the line, but he missed all three attempts and Ahmad took advantage with a layup on the other end, handing the River Lions their first advantage of Target Score Time. Eventually, the River Lions extended their lead to 86-83 with possession. Following a timeout from head coach Victor Raso, Ahmad received the ball with everyone in the building expecting him to end the game — to the point that even when he missed, the celebratory lights went off in the home arena. That’s when Niagara went cold, allowing Saskatchewan to take an 87-86 lead and setting up a next-bucket-wins scenario with the River Lions getting the ball. Ahmad missed a desperation three-pointer at the end of the shot clock but flew in for the offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback attempt, giving him a chance to win the game at the line. But he missed the second, leaving both teams within one. Then, controversy struck — an Elijah Ifejeh attempt rattled on top of the rim and was knocked away above the cylinder by the River Lions’ Guillaume Boucard. The refs initially called it goaltending — which would have ended the game — but convened and overturned the call, giving possession back to the River Lions. “I don't think I've ever seen a basket called back. Just a number of situations that were probably first for me and I've been in this league a while now. So, I think the fans got their money's worth,” Magdanz said. After more misses by each team, Pierre-Louis came up with a steal and ran the other way. When he missed, Bowden was there to clean up. And that was the ballgame. “It's been a tough week here where we've had a number of close ones that haven't bounced our way. So to see us continue to fight through [Target Score Time] and find a way to make the ball bounce the right way, credit to our guys,” Magdanz said. Meanwhile, Ahmad described the game’s final possessions as “intense.” “You gotta get stops [or] you're gonna lose, and that showed today, but we'll figure it out,” he said. Australian big man Grant Anticevich led the Rattlers with 25 points, including five makes from deep, while nearing a double-double with nine rebounds. Jamir Chaplin added 22 points while Cody John contributed 16 points off the bench. “Credit to my teammates, they give me a lot of confidence,” Anticevich said. “They get me open shots … they get draw a lot of help, a lot of attention from the defence and get me open. I was able to get a bit of a rhythm, I guess, tonight, and knock down some shots.” Ahmad led the way for the River Lions without looking like he missed a step. The star guard scored 36 points — one off his personal career high and River Lions record — including 20 in the first half alone, while also hauling in nine rebounds and dishing six assists. Canadian Nathan Cayo, also making his season debut, was the only other River Lion in double digits with 14 points. “Obviously we're a new group, there's a lot we gotta figure out, but we're very capable. Just a matter of practice and getting experience together,” Ahmad said. Ahmad, the 28-year-old from Corona, Calif., returned to the River Lions after missing the first four games of the season while finishing his pro season in Italy. Despite the eventual loss, he said it was “amazing” to make his CEBL return on the heels of last year’s championship. “Especially to be at home, the crowd is amazing, the city's amazing, the team's amazing. So it's all love,” Ahmad said. After falling into an early 15-6 hole, the River Lions responded with a 17-0 run and took a 29-19 lead into the second quarter. But Saskatchewan fought back, cutting the Niagara lead to 45-41 at halftime. Led by Anticevich, the Rattlers kept rolling in the third quarter, retook the lead and entered the final frame up 66-63. Then the end-of-game chaos ensued. Yet it wasn’t the home-dominant, defending champion River Lions that were able to keep composed and pull out the win. Instead, the Rattlers emerged victorious, busting their slump and ending Niagara’s Meridian Centre run. Anticevich said the win was “a great feeling.” “We've had a bit of trouble closing the game up and we've had leads before Target Score [Time]. So to be able to close that out and fix our mistakes … hopefully we can use that momentum moving forward.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600583 Up Next Both teams are off until next Friday when the River Lions host the Scarborough Shooting Stars and the Rattlers visit the Calgary Surge. Next CEBL Action Just one game is set for Saturday as the Winnipeg Sea Bears host the Ottawa BlackJacks with both teams looking for their second win of the season. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

Once the dust settled on a game that saw 17 lead changes and neither team lead by more than eight points, it was the Scarborough Shooting Stars who walked away with their perfect record intact. The East-leading squad improved to 3-0 after a 91-84 victory on Thursday over the visiting Saskatchewan Rattlers (0-4) at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. Spearheading that effort was Donovan Williams, who finished with a CEBL career-high of 34 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the field and five made triples. Yuri Collins did his part as well, chipping in 18 points, eight assists and two steals, while Hasan Ward added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, Kobe Elvis put up nine points and five assists, finishing as Scarborough’s only bench player with a positive plus-minus (plus-nine). “That’s something we prepare for,” Williams said after the win when asked about the back-and-forth nature of the game. “Being able to get hit and hit back, this is a league full of great players … we understand we’re a gritty team, we have to work hard, so when teams make runs, you just weather the storm.” On the other side, Saskatchewan was led by recent-signee Jordan Bowden. The import finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting off the bench in his Rattlers debut, reminding fans why he ranked top 15 in scoring last season with the Montreal Alliance. Cody John wasn’t far behind as the Mississauga, Ont. native put up 18 points and four assists, albeit struggling efficiency wise, going 6-of-15 from the field. Grant Anticevich and Nate-Pierre Louis chipped in 12 and 11 points respectively, while Jaden Bediako scored nine to go with his game-high 14 rebounds. Entering the game, Shooting Stars head coach Mike De Giorgio’s message to his team was simple. “We have to come out and punch first,” the first-year CEBL bench boss said pre-game. “Get ourselves going and hopefully sustain it for 40 minutes.” And count that message received, specifically by Williams, who proved to be the tone-setter for Scarborough early on. The UNLV product made five of his first six shots as he scored 12 points in the opening frame while the Shooting Stars carved out a slim 22-21 lead — showcasing why he now leads the league in scoring with 25.3 points per game. “That’s his challenge every night,” De Giorgio said of Williams post-game. “He’s our leader, our best player, he’s the dude we’re relying on to do a whole lot of different things, not just score. So when he can do that for us, we’re going to be tough to beat.” That lead only grew in the second as Williams’ strong play — scoring Scarborough’s first eight points of the quarter and finishing the half with 25, the last three of which came on an off-balance triple right before the buzzer — was coupled with some sloppy ball handling by the Rattlers. Saskatchewan racked up 10 turnovers through the first 20 minutes, giving up 15 points off those giveaways as they trailed 48-43 at the break. An uncharacteristic showing from a Rattlers team that averaged 15.3 turnovers per game entering the day — finishing the loss with a total of 19. “It’s frustrating and you get sick of silver linings,” Saskatchewan head coach Eric Magdanz said post-game of his team’s winless start. “But we’ve lost a game by two, four and seven … we’re right there and we know we’re right there. Just have to put together the final couple pieces.” And while the Rattlers did respond coming out of halftime, winning the third quarter (26-22) and briefly taking the lead thanks to a 7-2 run toward the end of the frame, consecutive buckets from Kobe Elvis and Williams put the Shootings Stars back up 70-69 ahead of the fourth quarter. Scarborough pushed that lead up to five (82-77) going into Target Score time before ultimately walking away with a seven-point victory. And just like he did in the Shooting Stars’ first win of the season, Collins closed out the game with a near-identical stepback jumper from the left elbow. The first-year CEBLer is making a strong early case for Clutch Player of the Year as he’s hit all three of Scarborough’s Target time winners this season. “It’s a sense of relief,” Williams said when asked what it’s like playing with Collins in late-game situations. “Understanding games like this where I’m hot throughout the game, teams are focusing in on me, the last three games Yuri has taken advantage of one-on-one matchups, and it feels good to have a guy like that.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600581 Up next The Rattlers will get little time to dwell on the outcome as they’ll visit the Niagara River Lions (3-1) on Friday for the second leg of a GTA back-to-back. It’ll be the second and final meeting between the cross-conference opponents after Saskatchewan narrowly fell 88-86 to the defending champs in their first meeting last Saturday. Meanwhile, the Shooting Stars will get much more rest as they won’t return to the court until next Friday (June 6) when it’ll be their turn to take on the River Lions. Next CEBL action Another East vs. West matchup will wrap up Thursday’s slate, with the 0-4 Honey Badgers visiting the 3-1 Surge. Brampton’s search for a first win resumes in Calgary at 9:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. local. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

Saskatoon, Sask. - The Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday that the club has signed 6-foot-6 Tennessee native Jordan Bowden for the 2025 season. The American guard made his professional debut during the 2020-21 season with the Long Island Nets (Brooklyn Nets affiliate). Since his rookie year with the Nets, he has played five seasons in the NBA G League that lead to signing multiple NBA contracts with the affiliate club. Bowden will make his return to the CEBL with the Rattlers on May 29 against the Scarborough Shooting Stars after playing with the Montreal Alliance during the 2024 season. “We signed Jordan with one clear goal: to make our offense more potent – and he’s already proven he can do that, both in the CEBL and throughout his college career,” said General Manager and Vice-President of Basketball Operations, Barry Rawlyk. “He’s a high-level, highly efficient shooter who brings a wealth of playing experience to our roster. Jordan is also a high-character individual who will contribute leadership and help strengthen our emerging team culture. We expect him to perform at a high level every night.”

Ron Curry connected on a contested mid-range jumper to complete a Target Score Time comeback for the Niagara River Lions on Saturday (May 24). The defending CEBL champs came back from an 11-point deficit to defeat the Saskatchewan Rattlers 88-86 in a defensive battle. Niagara head coach Victor Raso said the defence stepped up late to allow the comeback. “It just was ugly basketball, then we got really tough down the stretch,” Raso said. “But we have to stop doing this because two of our wins are in these kinds of situations.” Raso praised his team’s grittiness, but emphasized the need for improvement. “We need to get home and we need to practice. We have had one practice as a group and we rode some momentum early, but we're not playing great basketball right now,” Raso said. Four River Lions reached double figures in the win, and every player who saw the floor got on the scoresheet. Curry and Kimbal Mackenzie led the charge with 15 points each, while Ahmed Hill and Gatluak James added 11. Mackenzie said defence down the stretch made all the difference. “We dug in, we were able to get some stops and finish them with a rebound. And I think the game opened up a little bit,” he said. While the Niagara bench outscored Saskatchewan’s 31-3, the Rattlers’ starters showed their prowess. Saskatchewan guard Nate Pierre-Louis flirted with a triple-double again, tallying a game-high 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Jamir Chaplin and Grant Anticevich netted 24 and 16 points, respectively. Meanwhile, Regina native Isaac Simon picked up his first start in the CEBL and contributed on both ends for Saskatchewan with 10 points and two steals. “It's pretty cool, man. I've been here the last two summers, and I've been working really hard. So now that I get to contribute in a different way – whether on the court starting or coming off the bench – I'll do whatever I can to help us win,” Simon said. Simon says the team is becoming battle-tested, but it’s the little details that will get them over the hump to pick up their first win. “I think we just got to keep our head down and keep going, just knowing that we're capable and a win’s on the horizon,” he said. Saskatchewan head coach Eric Magdanz was happy with the way the team competed, but said the group needs to be more organized late in games. “I think we wanted to win it so bad that we got a little bit isolation-heavy. So we're going to work on putting some stuff in and making sure that we have some end-of-game scenarios to make sure that the ball continues to move,” he said. In the first quarter, Niagara and Saskatchewan exchanged punches with four lead changes in the game's early stages. The Rattlers welcomed big man Jaden Bediako into the lineup on Saturday, but he was forced to the bench midway through the quarter after picking up his third foul. The River Lions went on a 10-0 run after Bediako’s exit and carried a five-point lead into the second quarter. Connor Vreeken was scorching hot off the bench for Niagara in the first half with three triples, including a pair early in the quarter to force a Magdanz timeout. Pierre-Louis began to heat up for the Rattlers out of the timeout, leading the home team on a 9-0 run to make it a one-point game. It remained a close contest for the rest of the quarter, with Pierre-Louis tying it up with a mid-range jumper late to head into the locker room at 45-45. Saskatchewan locked down defensively to begin the third quarter. The Rattlers regained the lead and forced the River Lions into over four minutes without a field goal. Guillaume Boucard stopped the dry spell for Niagara, but the Rattlers continued to assert themselves with an 11-2 run. After Saskatchewan earned a 13-point cushion, Niagara fought back near the end of the frame to cut the deficit to single digits after three. The Rattlers pushed the advantage back up to 11 early in the fourth, but some big finishes from Elijah Lufile, including a pair of and-one putbacks, cut the deficit to four heading into Target Score Time. A three from Curry to kick off Target Time, in addition to an and-one from Boucard and free throws from Hill, gave Niagara its first lead since the second quarter. Saskatchewan replied with big buckets from Chaplin and Simon, while Hill and Boucard made clutch plays for Niagara. Both teams were one point away from victory when a shot clock violation from the Rattlers gave possession to the River Lions. Curry made no mistake, hitting a contested stepback jumper to earn the win for Niagara. The River Lions are now the first franchise in CEBL history to hit 75 wins. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600574 Up next for both teams The River Lions and Rattlers will get a rematch in Niagara next Friday (May 30), with Saskatchewan making a stop in Scarborough for a matchup with the Shooting Stars on Thursday (May 29) as well. Next CEBL action A triple-header is slated for Sunday, with Scarborough visiting Brampton, Winnipeg taking on Calgary and Ottawa facing Montréal in an outdoor battle. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

The Edmonton Stingers prevailed over the Saskatchewan Rattlers in a tight 92-89 contest on Thursday (May 22) to earn their first win of the season. Timely runs and efficient three-point shooting propelled the Stingers to victory in a game in which no team held a lead larger than eight points. Sean East II spearheaded the Stingers’ attack, netting a game-high 27 points that included five triples. The 25-year-old American guard corralled eight rebounds and added two steals as well. “We can always improve, but it's better to improve off a win than a loss,” East said after the game. The duo of former Rattlers Devonté Bandoo and Scottie Lindsey also made a major impact on their old home court at SaskTel Centre. The familiar faces made big shots, with Lindsey hitting the game-winning free throw as part of a 13-point performance. Bandoo contributed 15 points, including three connections from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter and Target Score Time. Bandoo said it felt great to play in front of his former home crowd and it will always be home. “It's always a great feeling, hitting shots ... I think every basketball player loves to see the ball going in, so I'm excited to see [it], especially coming back from injury,” Bandoo said. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan relied heavily on Nate Pierre-Louis and Cody John in the narrow defeat. Pierre-Louis notched the third triple-double in franchise history and seventh in league history, with 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. He added a steal and block for good measure. The New Jersey product said hard work off the court is finally showing up. “I wasn't trying to get [a triple-double], I was just trying to win a game. So I'm grateful but I just wish we got the W,” Pierre-Louis said. John also made an immediate impact for the Rattlers in his season debut, putting up a team-high 25 points in the loss. Edmonton head coach Jordan Baker said the team needs to be better the finer details, but he praised the resilience and shot-making down the stretch. “I mean, it seemed like it was much harder than we needed it to be. But credit to Saskatchewan. They played hard, played right to the end, and made some big plays on both ends of the floor,” Baker said. Saskatchewan head coach Eric Magdanz was pleased with the level of competition coming off a 40-point loss in the season opener against Vancouver. “I'm really happy with the response. We challenged them this week about who we want to be this season and they showed up and proved that we're going to be a team to contend with,” he said. The game began with two minutes of scoreless basketball before the Rattlers and Stingers started exchanging blows. Lindsey and Bandoo got on the board early, with Lindsey hitting the 500-point milestone in his CEBL career. Edmonton went on a 9-2 run to snag a six-point lead, but Saskatchewan rallied to head into the second quarter down one. The western squads continued a close battle in the second frame. Elijah Ifejeh showed his prowess on both ends, blocking a mid-range shot on defence before capitalizing with a transition slam to force a Baker timeout. Saskatchewan and Edmonton jostled for the lead throughout the opening 20 minutes, with 10 lead changes and six ties in the first half. A floater and wing three from East late in the frame provided Edmonton with a 40-39 lead entering the locker room. East continued to cook in the third quarter, going on a 10-3 personal run on the Rattlers that extended back to the first half. Saskatchewan made big plays of its own, with a lead-changing three from Chaplin and a massive dunk from Pierre-Louis. However, in his CEBL debut, Cameron McGriff stopped the Rattlers’ momentum after the aforementioned plays, answering with a triple of his own and an and-one after the Pierre-Louis dunk. The Rattlers kept battling, with Isaac Simon scoring six straight points and forcing a travel on the other end to keep it a one-point game after three. An 8-2 Edmonton run early in the fourth that featured triples from East and Bandoo forced a Magdanz timeout. The Stingers weathered each Rattlers’ push prior to Target Score Time, taking an 83-79 lead into the final stretch. John stayed hot for Saskatchewan early in target time, pulling the Rattlers within one point. However, a layup from Lindsey to go along with threes from East and Bandoo put the Stingers one point away from victory. Saskatchewan fought back and had a shot to win— Jamir Chaplin’s three hit back rim —before Lindsey drew a foul and sealed the game at the line. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600570 Up next for both teams Both teams are back in action on Saturday (May 24) as Saskatchewan continues its homestand to open the season against the defending champion Niagara River Lions, while Edmonton visits Vancouver. Next CEBL action The Calgary Surge visit the Winnipeg Sea Bears in a Western Conference battle tomorrow (May 23). For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

The Vancouver Bandits opened the season with a record-setting 105-65 win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers on Thursday (May 15). The Bandits spoiled the Rattlers’ home opener with a convincing performance that saw the defending Western Conference champs set a team record for margin of victory. Transition offence, sound defence and forceful low-post play fueled the 40-point win for Vancouver, eclipsing its previous win-margin record – a 37-point win over Ottawa last June. Big man Tyrese Samuel highlighted the post-play for the Bandits, scoring another team-record 36 points in the opener. Samuel grew familiar with the SaskTel Centre rims throughout the game with dunk after dunk, saying farewell with the Target-Score winning slam. “I didn't really know how [many] points I actually had. I really just had a bunch of layups and dunks and putbacks, so it didn't seem like I had that much. But hey, I'm happy,” Samuel said. The former Florida Gator collected 12 rebounds as well to secure the double-double in his CEBL debut. Returning Aussie big man Mitch Creek added 21 points for the Bandits, while newcomer Izaiah Brockington chipped in 19. Samuel says putting in work with Creek before the season allowed the duo to excel on Thursday. “He's a great guy. He has experience playing in the NBA, playing overseas, so he just has helped me a lot since I’ve been here,” he said. The Bandits shot 55 per cent from the field in the win, while Saskatchewan finished 35 per cent from the field and 22 per cent from three. Jamir Chaplin led the Rattlers’ attack with 17 points, followed by Nate Pierre-Louis with 16. Chaplin said the game was a learning experience and the team can build on its offensive performance. “It was the defence that we slacked on today. I think we moved the ball pretty well. Shots weren't going in for most of us, but I think those are easy [to] fix,” he said. Despite the loss, Saskatchewan head coach Eric Magdanz says it’s a long season. “This is just one game. We're gonna learn from this. We've got a week to prepare for our next game, and we're gonna take advantage,” Magdanz said. “We've got a lot of things to improve on. I'm happy with how we battled at the end, but we've got to increase our execution, and we've got to do a better job of sharing the basketball.” Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius was pleased with the togetherness but echoed his peer about the long road ahead. “We want to stay humble. It's the first game. In the CEBL, if you put any stock into the first game, I think you're crazy,” Julius said. To open the game, the Bandits feasted on the fast break and in the paint, forcing two Rattlers timeouts and leading 29-18 after one. Brockington, a 25-year-old guard with NBA experience, showed off his abilities as a slasher in the first quarter with multiple finishes at the rim. Vancouver built on its lead by hunting low-post mismatches early in the second quarter, with Creek and Samuel fuelling a 13-1 run. Saskatchewan trailed by as many as 23 in the first half before trimming the deficit to 52-34 at halftime. The Bandits shot 80 per cent from inside the arc in the opening 20 minutes. The frontcourt duo of Creek and Samuel continued to attack the rim in the third. Vancouver kept its foot on the gas throughout the second half and led by 40 heading into Target Score Time. The Rattlers showed fight during the final stretch, but Samuel’s record-breaking dunk ended the contest. Vancouver and Saskatchewan will become well-acquainted this season. The teams will meet three more times, including their next matchup on June 8 in Saskatoon. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600564 Up next for both teams The Bandits return to B.C. for their home opener against the defending champion Niagara River Lions on May 22 in a rematch of last year’s final. Meanwhile, the Rattlers host the 0-1 Edmonton Stingers the same evening. Next CEBL action Niagara kicks off its title defence against the 1-0 Calgary Surge at the Meridian Centre tomorrow (May 16). For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

Partner branding to appear on all league referee jerseys this summer The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced the renewal of its national partnership with the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC), building upon their Championship Weekend partnership from the 2024 season. As Canada’s federal Crown corporation that protects deposits in the event of member institution failure, CDIC is aligning the core of its partnership with the CEBL’s referees by becoming the first national partner to brand the CEBL’s referee jerseys for the duration of a CEBL season. Additionally, CDIC and the CEBL are developing a dedicated social campaign that will recognize the CEBL’s top defender each week during the 2025 season. “We’re proud to renew and expand our partnership with an organization that prioritizes the best interests of our communities,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “Our partnership will engage fans in ways that celebrate financial protection for Canadians, both on and off the court.” The CDIC has been a long-standing staple of the Canadian financial industry since 1967, contributing to the stability of the financial system in Canada by insuring deposits at member institutions against failure up to $100,000 – per institution, per category. “CDIC is happy to renew its partnership with the CEBL for the upcoming season,” said Tamara Mason, Head of Communications at CDIC. “We are committed to raising awareness of deposit protection among Canadians as research shows that awareness contributes to overall confidence in—and the stability of—the Canadian financial system.” The seventh season of the CEBL tips off May 11 with a total of 120 regular season games in the 2025 campaign , leading to playoffs that begin August 14. Championship Weekend , which features the league’s top four teams during the regular season vying for the league title, will be held at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, August 22-24.