St. Catharines, ON – The quest for a historic three-peat continues as the two-time defending champion Niagara River Lions turn their sights to an Eastern Conference Finals showdown against the #2 seeded Brampton Honey Badgers. Niagara enters the conference championship matchup with immense momentum following a thrilling 86-84 victory over the #1 Scarborough Shooting Stars on Thursday night. Even against the league’s top regular-season squad, the River Lions delivered a gritty, clutch performance to advance and keep their championship aspirations alive. With a spot in the CEBL Championship Final on the line, every possession will carry increased importance as Niagara prepares to clash with their provincial rival. Niagara’s path forward will require the same defensive intensity and physicality that powered its upset win in Scarborough, where the River Lions forced timely stops and executed in the biggest moments. Leading the charge once again was the Lion King himself, Khalil Ahmad, who delivered when the lights were brightest. Ahmad scored 17 points, ending on a cold-blooded, game-winning three-pointer with two defenders draped over him to seal the victory and send Niagara to the Eastern Conference Finals. River Lions veteran Nathan Cayo served as an outstanding secondary option, spacing the floor with 3 three-pointers while attacking the paint with crafty finishes to complete his night with 16 points and 7 rebounds. For Niagara to keep rolling, Ahmad and Cayo will need to set the tempo early and continue to establish an unselfish offensive rhythm. Niagara’s bench will also need to be at their best against a deep Honey Badgers squad capable of changing the momentum with its second unit. The victory was far from easy, as Scarborough pushed Niagara through all four quarters despite missing three key rotation pieces. However, the River Lions’ championship calibre and late-game execution proved decisive when the game was on the line. Standing in Niagara’s way is a formidable Brampton squad led by elite scoring guard Sean East II, who had 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 13 assists, along with high-flying wing Trentyn Flowers who finished with 25 points and 7 rebounds in their Eastern Conference Semi-Finals matchup against the Ottawa Blackjacks. Brampton possesses a well-rounded roster capable of striking quickly in transition, making plays on both ends of the floor, and hitting their shots from the perimeter. Containing Brampton’s backcourt and winning the battle on the boards will be critical keys for Niagara’s defense. With a trip to the CEBL Championship Game at stake, Niagara’s success will hinge on its defensive intensity, floor spacing, and high-level execution under pressure. The River Lions have proven throughout the season that their title-defending identity shines brightest when the pressure is high. A victory over Brampton would send Niagara to their third straight CEBL Finals and bring the River Lions one step closer to cementing their place among the greatest dynasties in CEBL history. Game Information Date: Saturday, August 8th, 2026 Time: 1:00 p.m. ET Location: CAA Centre Broadcast: CBC, TSN, CEBL+, CBC Gem For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X . ### Media Contact: Cole Meyering Communications Coordinator communications@riverlions.ca

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions are heading back to the Eastern Conference Final. In one of the biggest upsets in CEBL playoff history, Niagara defeated the top-seeded Scarborough Shooting Stars 86-84 Thursday night, overcoming the league's winningest team to advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the third consecutive season. Following a 10-14 regular season, Niagara entered Thursday’s matchup as the fourth seed and significant underdogs against a Scarborough team that had just completed a historic regular season. The Shooting Stars won a CEBL-record 20 games, doubling Niagara’s regular-season win total. Scarborough had also shown throughout the season that it could execute with composure while playing a balanced brand of basketball on both ends of the floor. But Niagara's roster had something Scarborough did not: Championship Experience . The River Lions entered the postseason as back-to-back CEBL champions, with six players on the roster who had previously won a championship in Niagara. Khalil Ahmad is a two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP and two-time Clutch Player of the Year, while Elijah Lufile owns the most championships in CEBL history with three. On a night when the game would ultimately come down to one possession, that experience proved invaluable. Elijah Lufile opened the scoring with a tip-in layup, and Niagara jumped out to an early five-point lead before Myles Powell sparked a Scarborough run, scoring the Shooting Stars’ next five points to help give the home team its first lead of the game. However, neither team could separate themselves before the end of the quarter, with the game tied 19-19 after the opening 10 minutes. The second quarter belonged to Scarborough. The Shooting Stars outscored Niagara 24-18 in the frame, with Anthony Walker leading the way, scoring nine of his 24 points in the quarter. Scarborough also began to change the tempo of the game, generating offense from its defense and converting multiple transition opportunities off blocks and missed shots. The fast-paced attack energized the home crowd at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre and allowed Scarborough to take control. The Shooting Stars closed the half with a 43-37 lead, putting the pressure on Niagara to respond coming out of the locker room. Scarborough extended its lead to eight early in the third when Akoi Yuot finished a reverse layup. Niagara answered immediately, with Nathan Cayo converting an and-one layup to keep the River Lions within striking distance. From there, the two teams traded baskets in what quickly became a heavyweight battle. Scarborough maintained its advantage for much of the quarter, but Niagara continued to chip away. Then Munis Tutu caught fire. The mid-season acquisition scored eight points in just over a minute, including the three-pointer that put Niagara back in front, providing the River Lions with a much-needed offensive spark at a pivotal point in the game. The River Lions outscored the Shooting Stars 31-26 in the third quarter, cutting Scarborough's six-point halftime lead to just one heading into the final frame. With both teams’ seasons on the line, the fourth quarter delivered exactly what a playoff game between two Eastern Conference rivals should. Scarborough opened the quarter with an emphatic baseline hesitation dunk from Anthony Walker, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. As Target Score Time approached, the intensity continued to rise, with both teams playing some of their best defense of the night. With four minutes remaining, Nathan Cayo made a strong move to the basket and finished with an athletic layup to give Niagara a 77-76 lead heading into Target Score Time. The Target Score was set at 86. Nine points separated the River Lions from the Eastern Conference Final. Every possession now carried the weight of the entire season. Cayo opened Target Time with a corner three, bringing Niagara within two possessions of the Eastern Conference Final. Scarborough responded with five straight points to tie the game at 81. After another Cayo layup and a Michael Foster three-pointer, the teams found themselves in a familiar situation — eerily similar to last season’s Eastern Conference Final. Scarborough and Niagara. One shot away from advancing. The Shooting Stars needed two points. The River Lions needed three. Niagara opted not to call a timeout and instead trusted their most experienced player. Khalil Ahmad used a screen near half court to create just enough separation before rising from the logo and drilling the game-winning three-pointer, sending Niagara into the Eastern Conference Final and silencing the Scarborough crowd. Championship Experience. Championship Calibre . And once again, Khalil Ahmad delivered in the biggest moment, living up to his reputation as “ Mr. Clutch ” and “ The Lion King .” The shot marked Ahmad’s sixth consecutive Target Score winner in the playoffs. His clutch performances have helped lead the River Lions to two championships and now their third straight Eastern Conference Final appearance. The River Lions have done it again. After entering the postseason as the fourth seed and knocking off the CEBL’s winningest team, Niagara is now one win away from a third consecutive appearance in the CEBL Championship. The quest for a three-peat continues Saturday, as the River Lions travel to Brampton to face the Honey Badgers in the Eastern Conference Final. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X . ### Media Contact: Cole Meyering Communications Coordinator communications@riverlions.ca