BlackJacks Rally Past River Lions in Crucial Eastern Conference Matchup
By Cole Meyering
St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions entered Saturday’s matchup in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and half a game behind the fourth-place Ottawa BlackJacks. With a chance to move into the fourth and final playoff spot in the east, this matchup had clear playoff implications for both teams.
Niagara entered Saturday's matchup shorthanded following injuries to Curtis Hollis and JD Muila. Without Muila's interior presence and Hollis' two-way impact, the River Lions needed contributions throughout the lineup to keep pace with Ottawa.
The River Lions got off to a strong start, building a 20-10 lead with three minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Early on, Niagara moved the ball well, consistently generating open looks in the half court and finishing the quarter with seven assists. Keonte Kennedy led the way for Niagara early on with eight points and one assist in under seven minutes of play. Jordan Tchuente also chipped in with seven points on 100% shooting in the first. Ottawa responded after a timeout, closing the quarter on a 10-5 run behind six points from Javonte Smart, including a step-back three at the buzzer. This was the first sign of a trend that would ultimately define the night, as Niagara repeatedly let strong quarters slip away in the closing minutes.
Niagara's early ball movement allowed the River Lions to control the opening quarter, something head coach Kimbal Mackenzie said was key to their success.
"Just playing team basketball, playing off the catch, and being unselfish."
Niagara opened the second quarter with renewed energy as Tchuente threw down a putback slam before finding Kennedy for an early three-pointer. Once again Niagara had a strong quarter rebuilding an eight-point lead with 1:08 remaining. Despite another encouraging quarter the BlackJacks were able to cut the lead back down to three after a 5-0 run in the last minute of the quarter.
Despite Ottawa's late push, there were still plenty of positives for Niagara at halftime. Their bench was outscoring Ottawa 20-9, while Tchuente posted a solid stat line of 11 points, four rebounds, and one assist on 100% shooting. The River Lions also held the lead for all but a minute and a half of the first two quarters and their offense was in rhythm. The only downside was their inability to capitalize on this early offense and increase their lead, which would prove to be a costly mistake.
Coming out of the half Ottawa took control of the game holding Niagara to just 28 points in the second half. Led by their starting unit, Ottawa found success in transition and repeatedly attacked the paint, turning those touches into easy points. With two minutes remaining in the third Ottawa would take a 61-60 lead, their first lead of the game since the first quarter. Ayub Nurhussien drained a crucial three to tie the game at 63 with 27 seconds left to play in the third. The BlackJacks would respond with yet another buzzer beater at the end of the quarter, with Kobe Elvis knocking down a three as the clock expired to give Ottawa a 66-63 lead entering the fourth.
Mackenzie credited Ottawa's defensive adjustments for disrupting Niagara's offensive rhythm after halftime.
"Ottawa's defense got better, and the ball stuck a little bit. Our spacing and ball movement wasn't as good in the second half."
The fourth quarter remained tightly contested, with neither team leading by more than four points. The score was tied 75-75 entering Target Time and it looked to be anyone’s game. Target Time belonged to Javonte Smart. The Ottawa guard scored eight of the BlackJacks' final 11 points, including a contested step-back three that sealed the victory. Meanwhile, Niagara managed just two points during Target Time, committing costly turnovers and missing quality looks.
Ottawa BlackJacks Head Coach Justin Mazzula credited his team's defensive intensity for the second-half turnaround.
"The guys locked in. They started guarding the ball, controlling their closeouts, forcing contested shots and limiting them to one-shot opportunities."
Despite being shorthanded, Niagara received a significant boost from its bench, outscoring Ottawa's reserves 34-18 behind strong performances from Jordan Tchuente (15 points), and Ayub Nurhussien (8 points). Mackenzie praised the performance of Niagara's young contributors. "I thought they played with great energy and great enthusiasm, all of them. I was happy to see them play well." With an expanded role, Tchuente said his focus remained on impacting the game whenever called upon. "I feel like I impacted winning to the best of my ability. Obviously we didn't come out with the win so that's frustrating, but I feel like I rebounded, defended and took advantage of my opportunities."
However, repeated late-quarter runs and a difficult Target Time proved too much to overcome as the River Lions fell 86-77.
The River Lions have now lost all three meetings against the BlackJacks this season and have dropped five straight, falling to 5-10 on the year. Niagara now sits a game and a half behind the BlackJacks and the Alliance for a playoff spot. The River Lions still have nine games to change their fate, but every remaining game now carries significant playoff implications. Mackenzie emphasized the importance of the stretch ahead. "Very important. We're sitting in last in the East, so to be able to get a couple of these wins against teams in the same conference as us will be very important."
Niagara’s next four matchups are all against Eastern Conference opponents and will be critical if the River Lions hope to make the playoffs. The River Lions return home Friday, July 10, to host the Scarborough Shooting Stars in another pivotal Eastern Conference matchup as they look to snap their five-game losing streak.
The Niagara River Lions are one of the founding franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and the league’s reigning back-to-back champions (2024 & 2025). Competing out of the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, from May to August each season, the River Lions proudly represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region, uniting fans through passion, pride, and purpose. Entering their second decade, the River Lions have earned a reputation for championship-caliber performance and community impact, embodying the strength and spirit of Niagara both on and off the court.
For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X.
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Media Contact:
Cole Meyering
Communications Coordinator