River Lions News

RIVER LIONS SIGN CANADIAN FORWARD JD MUILA

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:57:24 GMT

St. Catharines, ON –The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of Canadian forward JD Muila. The 6’8” Ottawa, Ontario native is set to make his Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) debut this season after being selected in the 2024 CEBL Draft by the Ottawa BlackJacks , though international commitments did not allow him to play that year. He is currently competing with Nevezis Kedainai in Lithuania’s top division where he is averaging 9.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while shooting over 56 percent from the field.

“JD is ready to make a big impact in the CEBL, and we’re very excited to have him join the team,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Kimbal Mackenzie on the first new name announced to the 2026 roster. “He brings elite physicality, rebounding ability and defensive prowess, and as a highly mobile 5, he can contribute in many ways offensively. He continues to grow his game each year and we expect another big leap from him this summer.”

Prior to his time in Lithuania, Muila put together an impressive run across Europe, including a breakout 2023–24 season with Froya Basket in Norway where he averaged 19.4 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. He also competed in the BNXT League with Den Helder Suns, posting a double-double average of 11.1 points and 11.9 rebounds.

Muila graduated from Southern Illinois University where he played two seasons with the Salukis, averaging 3.1 points and 4.1 rebounds after redshirting due to injury. He originally began his collegiate career at Indian Hills Community College ( NJCAA) , where he contributed to a dominant 57–10 record across two seasons, including a 30–3 campaign in 2019–20 where he averaged 6.5 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game. That season, the team earned a No. 2 seed in the NJCAA Tournament before the competition was canceled.

Muila was the first graduate from Canada Topflight Academy (CTA), an elite preparatory program based out of Ottawa’s Notre Dame High School , to reach NCAA Division I, despite not starting basketball until the age of 16. During his time with CTA, he helped lead the program to back-to-back National Preparatory Association (NPA) national championships.

With his combination of size, rebounding ability, and international experience, Muila adds depth and toughness to the River Lions frontcourt.

“I’m extremely excited and blessed to have the opportunity to make my CEBL debut with the back to back CEBL champions this year.” said Muila “I look forward to seeing all of the dedicated fans very soon!”

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media and Marketing Coordinator

TJ LALL RETURNS TO NIAGARA FOR 2026 SEASON

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:58:03 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’6 Canadian forward T.J. Lall. The Cambridge, Ontario native returns to Niagara for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season after a one-year hiatus. The upcoming season will mark his third with the organization after helping the River Lions capture the 2024 championship.

After his time with the River Lions, Lall spent the 2024-2025 season with ZZ Leiden of the BNXT League in the Netherlands , where he averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 28 games. He spent the past year rehabbing a knee injury.

“We are thrilled to have T.J. back for his third season with the River Lions. T.J. is a versatile wing who impacts winning in a multitude of ways.”said Head Coach and General Manager, Kimbal Mackenzie, “He is a shotmaker, great passer, and elite point of attack defender. He brings a business first attitude and will do whatever is required to win. He has a great I.Q. and feel for the game, he will be a big piece for us!”

A proven contributor in the CEBL, Lall played a key role during the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the River Lions. In 2024, he averaged 9.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, continuing to establish himself as a reliable two-way presence.

Originally selected first overall in the 2020 CEBL U SPORTS Draft by the Ottawa BlackJacks , Lall began his professional career following a decorated collegiate run. He played four seasons at Carleton University , winning four national championships, before transferring to Brock University for his final year. At Brock, Lall delivered a standout season earning First Team All-Canadian, OUA West First Team All-Star, and team MVP honours.

Lall’s professional journey has taken him across the globe, having played in Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Netherlands, where he has consistently demonstrated his ability to adapt and contribute at a high level.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to Niagara and getting to work with this group,” said Lall. “We’ve built something special here, and I’m excited to compete for another championship with 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 IG , FB , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media and Marketing Coordinator

RIVER LIONS SIGN VETERAN PLAYER NATHAN CAYO FOR THE 2026 SEASON

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:59:03 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions announced today the re-signing of 6’7” Canadian forward Nathan Cayo for the upcoming 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The 28-year-old from Montreal, Quebec returns to Niagara after contributing to the River Lions’ championship successes over the past two seasons (2024, 2025) averaging 9.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

Cayo is currently playing with the ADA Blois Basket in France’s LNB Pro B , where he has averaged 9.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists during the 2025–2026 season.

“We are very excited to welcome Nathan and his family back to Niagara for year 3!”, said Head Coach and General Manager, Kimbal Mackenzie. “Cayo has played a pivotal role in our back to back championship runs, and is highly skilled, physical and smart. One underrated trait of Nathan’s that I got to see firsthand as his teammate is how competitive he is. He is primed for a big summer!”

Cayo began his CEBL career with the Montreal Alliance in 2022, where he played for two seasons before joining Niagara in 2024. Internationally, he has also competed with Astoria Bydgoszcz in Poland, the Memphis Hustle and Ontario Clippers of the NBA G League , and Manchester Basketball in the United Kingdom.

He played collegiately at the University of Richmond , appearing in 155 games across five seasons with the Richmond Spiders. Cayo averaged 8.9 points, 1.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game, finishing fourth all-time in program history in field goal percentage (55.2%). He also helped lead Richmond to the 2022 NCAA Tournament, scoring 15 points in a win over the University of Iowa to advance to the second round.

Having proven himself at every level he’s competed, Cayo combines professional experience, championship pedigree, and a unique ability to impact games on both ends of the floor. Since joining Niagara, he has been a cornerstone of the River Lions’ rotation, delivering timely scoring, rebounding, and defensive presence. With two consecutive CEBL titles under his belt, Cayo enters 2026 as a proven winner and the type of player who sets the tone for a team chasing sustained success.

“My family and I feel blessed to run it back for a third season!” said Cayo. “An opportunity to be part of history doesn’t come by everyday; and to try and do so in an environment that feels like home made it a no brainer. Go River Lions.”

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 IG , FB , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X

###

Media Contact:
Mya Hastings
Social Media & Marketing Coordinator
mhastings@riverlions.ca

MICHELLE BISKUP NAMED 2025 ST. CATHARINES SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:57:27 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions are proud to announce that President Michelle Biskup has been named the 2025 St. Catharines Sportsperson of the Year, a prestigious civic honour recognizing outstanding contributions to sport and community in the City of St. Catharines. She will be honoured at a ceremony on Monday March 9th at St. Catharines city hall.

Presented annually by the City of St. Catharines, the Sportsperson of the Year Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, achievement, and service in sport while contributing positively to the community. The award celebrates not only competitive success, but also long-term commitment to the growth and development of sport at the local level.

Biskup’s recognition marks a historic milestone for sport in St. Catharines, as both individual sport honours presented by the City, Sportsperson of the Year and Athlete of the Year, were awarded to women, with the Athlete of the Year honour presented to Madalyn Weinert. The achievement highlights the growing impact and leadership of women across all levels of sport in the community.

A decade-long member of the River Lions organization, Biskup has been a driving force behind the team’s growth and stability since its earliest days. She first joined the franchise during its National Basketball League of Canada (NBL) era, remaining with the team through its transition into the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) in 2019. Now entering her 11th season with the organization, Biskup served as Vice President for four years before being appointed President in late 2024. She has been part of the River Lions’ back-to-back championship seasons in 2024 and 2025 and remains a driving force behind the franchise’s continued success and regional growth.

Throughout her tenure, Biskup has played an integral role in shaping the River Lions’ culture, overseeing business operations, strengthening community partnerships, and helping establish the team as a cornerstone of professional sport in Niagara. Under her leadership, the organization has continued to grow its presence across the region while maintaining a strong commitment to community engagement, accessibility, and excellence both on and off the court.

"Being named Sportsperson of the Year is an incredible honor,” said Biskup. “It’s a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and support from our team, fans, and community. I hope this recognition inspires others to chase their goals, push their limits, and make a positive impact both on and off the court."

Biskup joins a notable list of River Lions leaders to receive the honour. Head Coach and General Manager Victor Raso was named St. Catharines Sportsperson of the Year in 2024 and River Lions owner Richard Petko earned the honours in 2016, further underscoring the organization’s ongoing impact within the local sports community.

For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on IG , FB , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings
Social Media & Marketing Coordinator
mhastings@riverlions.ca

ELIJAH LUFILE RETURNS FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:59:21 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the return of 6’7″ Canadian forward Elijah Lufile for the upcoming 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. A key member of Niagara’s rotation since 2024, Lufile brings strength, energy and rebounding acumen back to the River Lions. Lufile last played for the Nadim Souaid Academy in Lebanon’s Division A averaging 31.8 minutes, 14.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.9 blocks in 9 games.

“We are thrilled to have Elijah returning for 2026. Above all else, he is a winner, through and through. Coming off of 3 championships in a row, Elijah continues to develop his game and improve,” said Kimbal Mackenzie, in his first official signing since taking over as Head Coach and General Manager. “Aside from his obvious and impressive rebounding prowess, Elijah provides us with interior scoring, excellent defense, and mobility from the 5 spot which is rare. Elijah has become a staple in our culture over the last few seasons. He brings a charisma, attitude and sense of humor that we highly value!”

During the 2025 CEBL campaign, Lufile played a key role averaging 7.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game over 25 appearances. His steady production and physicality were instrumental in securing the team’s second consecutive Championship, highlighted by a season-high 15 rebounds in the championship game. The title marked Lufile’s third CEBL crown, having first won in 2023 with the Scarborough Shooting Stars and repeating in 2024 with the Niagara River Lions.

Lufile’s path to professional basketball includes a decorated collegiate career, starting with a redshirt season at Lamar Community College , a standout year at Midland College , where he posted 10 double‑doubles, and finishing at Oral Roberts University , where in his senior season he averaged 7.9 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting over 70 percent from the field.

Lufile began his professional career with the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League for the 2022-23 season and eventually made his CEBL debut in the Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA) that same year. He went on to play nine games with the Calgary Surge before closing the 2023 season with the Scarborough Shooting Star s .

Internationally, Lufile played for Finland’s Joensuun Kataja Basket in the Korisliiga , averaging 12.1 points and 9.8 rebounds in the 2023-2024 season acting as a pivotal part of the team's success. “I consider myself extremely blessed to be back in CEBL for my fourth year and to run-it back with Niagara. My previous years with the team have been really fun with the guys and the amazing supporting fans” said Lufile, “This year I’m looking forward to seeing a lot more new fans, more seats filled, and another ring added to the collection”.

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

mbiskup@riverlions.ca

NIAGARA RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE COACHING TRANSITION: VICTOR RASO PASSES THE TORCH TO KIMBAL MACKENZIE

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:51:37 GMT

St. Catharines, ON — The Niagara River Lions announced today a significant leadership transition, as Victor Raso, the longest-tenured and most successful head coach in Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) history, will transition from his role as Head Coach and General Manager into an advisory role with the organization as Senior Advisor, Player Personnel & Basketball Operations.

Taking over as Head Coach and General Manager is Kimbal Mackenzie, the River Lions’ team captain and current Brand & Community Ambassador, marking a new chapter grounded in continuity, leadership, and shared values through an intentional internal succession.

Since joining the River Lions in 2017, Raso has been synonymous with the franchise. Under his leadership, the organization established itself as a perennial contender, achieved historic milestones, and built one of the most respected cultures in Canadian professional basketball. His impact extends far beyond wins and losses, shaping the identity, standards, and reputation of the River Lions across the league.

Victor’s accolades include:

Back-to-Back CEBL Champions (2024, 2025)
Longest-Tenured Head Coach in CEBL History
7 Seasons | 134 Games | 87–47 Record (.649)
Never Missed the Playoffs Under His Leadership
Inaugural CEBL Coach of the Year (2019)
Perfect 11–0 Home Season (2024)
2024 St. Catharines Sportsperson of the Year

“Victor Raso is the foundation of everything we’ve built,” said Michelle Biskup, President of the Niagara River Lions. “His vision, leadership, and commitment to this organization and community have defined our success. This transition reflects trust, intention, and belief in the future, while ensuring Victor’s legacy remains an active part of our organization as we move confidently into our next chapter.”

Raso’s decision allows him to focus more fully on his young family while continuing to support the River Lions in an advisory capacity.

“The River Lions gave me an unbelievable opportunity that I am forever grateful for. I am so proud of what we have accomplished and what we have built here,” said Raso. “I feel privileged to have gotten to do it in front of these incredible fans. I look forward to playing my part in our continued success as we support Kimbal and his staff!”

Stepping into the role is Kimbal Mackenzie, who brings a rare blend of championship experience, leadership, and community impact. A two-time CEBL Champion (2024, 2025) and team captain, Mackenzie has been a core part of the River Lions organization since 2023, consistently embodying the culture and standards that have defined the franchise’s success.

Off the court, Mackenzie has served as the club’s Brand & Community Ambassador since March 2025 and was recognized with the 2024 Ben Zwolak Community Ambassador Award for his outstanding commitment to community engagement.

Mackenzie also brings coaching experience as the current Head Coach of the Ridley College Basketball Development Programme, as well as leading the Niagara College Women’s Basketball program as Interim Head Coach to a 14–2 record in 2025. A Bucknell University alumnus, he holds a BA in Economics and a Master’s degree in Finance & Investments, and has competed internationally as a member of the Great Britain National Team.

“Stepping into this role is an incredible honour. This organization has built a winning culture rooted in accountability, toughness, and pride—one I was fortunate to experience firsthand playing under Vic,” said Mackenzie. “I’m deeply grateful for the foundation he built and the standard he set for what this program represents. My goal is to respect that legacy, carry it forward, and continue to win at a high level. The expectations here are clear, and I embrace them with humility and responsibility.”

The Niagara River Lions enter this new era with confidence, continuity, and a clear commitment to excellence guided by a legacy that continues to shape the future.

For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on IG, FB, TikTok, & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup

President

Niagara River Lions Partner with MentorAction and Local Women's Organizations to Implement Coaching Boys Into Men Program (CBIM) and Coaching Leadership Equity and Respect (CLEAR)

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:57:32 GMT

Program facilitation to be led by Gillian's Place and Birchway Niagara, partnering agencies in the delivery of CBIM and CLEAR.

Niagara Region, ON – Interval House of Hamilton (IHOH), through its prevention education program MentorAction, is proud to announce a new partnership with the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) to support the delivery of Coaching Boys into Men (CBIM) and Coaching Leadership Equity and Respect (CLEAR) programs across the Niagara region. MentorAction is a program of Interval House of Hamilton and provides leadership in engaging men and boys in the prevention of gender-based violence through evidence-informed education and mentorship.

Coaching Boys into Men (CBIM) and CLEAR are nationally recognized, evidence-based prevention programs that engage coaches and athletes in meaningful conversations about healthy relationships, respect, consent, and leadership. Delivered through sport, the programs leverage the influential role of coaches to help prevent gender-based violence before it begins.

Gillian’s Place and Birchway Niagara, will lead local facilitation and delivery, ensuring the program is traumainformed, community-rooted, and responsive to regional needs.

“The Niagara River Lions believe in the power of sport to build character and shape communities,” said Michelle Biskup, President, Niagara River Lions. “The partnerships with Gillian’s Place and Birchway Niagara reflect our shared commitment to prevention and community leadership. Working alongside MentorAction to bring Coaching Boys into Men and CLEAR to Niagara reflects our commitment to leadership, respect, and positive social impact—both on and off the court.”

“Coaches play a critical role in shaping how young people understand respect, relationships, and responsibility,” said Sue Taylor, Executive Director of Interval House of Hamilton “We are proud to partner with the Niagara River Lions and work alongside Gillian’s Place and Birchway Niagara to deliver this program in a way that is locally led and deeply connected to the community.”

Gillian’s Place and Birchway Niagara will oversee program facilitation and delivery, bringing extensive expertise in prevention education, survivor-centered approaches, and community engagement.

“Prevention is most impactful when organizations work together” said Nicole Regehr, Executive Director of Gillian’s Place. “This partnership helps us reach boys and young men early, fostering conversations that prevent violence before it starts - because prevention and early intervention are essential to breaking the cycle of abuse”

“This initiative reflects a shared commitment to proactive, prevention-focused solutions that strengthen communities and promote safe, respectful sport environments across Niagara”, said Executive Director of Birchway Niagara, Jennifer Gauthier.

“Our government believes that gender-based violence has no place in Ontario, which is why we are supporting survivors and funding prevention programs through a four-year action plan that is backed by an investment of $1.4 billion,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “Ontario is proud to work with community partners to deliver the Coaching Boys into Men and Coaching Leadership Equity and Respect programs because all Ontarians deserve to live free from the fear of threats, exploitation and violence.”

For more information about Coaching Boys into Men, CLEAR, or this partnership, please visit mentoraction.org

About the Niagara River Lions

About Interval House of Hamilton and MentorAction

Interval House of Hamilton (IHOH) provides shelter, safety, and support for women and children experiencing violence. Its prevention education arm, MentorAction, engages men and boys in ending gender-based violence through evidence-based programming. MentorAction implements Coaching Boys into Men (CBIM) and CLEAR—both developed by the globally recognized organization Futures Without Violence—in partnership with schools, sports organizations, and communities across Ontario.

About Gillian’s Place

Gillian’s Place provides support, shelter, and prevention education to women, children, and families impacted by gender-based violence in the Niagara region. As a trained partner through MentorAction, Gillian’s Place leads facilitation of prevention programs that promote safety, respect, and community well-being.

About Birchway Niagara

Birchway Niagara supports individuals and families experiencing abuse across South Niagara through emergency shelter, outreach, counselling, and prevention education. As a trained MentorAction partner, Birchway Niagara plays a key role in delivering evidence-based prevention programs that engage communities in building safer, healthier futures.

###

Media Contacts

Jennifer Rowan

Director, Communications & Resource Development

Interval House of Hamilton

jrowan@intervalhousehamilton.org

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

Niagara River Lions

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE RETURN OF SCHOOL DAY GAME FOR 2026

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:53:28 GMT

St. Catharines, Ontario – The Niagara River Lions are excited to announce the return of their annual School Day Game as part of the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The school day game, presented by Alfred Beam Excavating , will take place on Friday, June 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m at the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines versus the Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club. This signature event connects the classroom with the basketball court, promoting healthy and active living, teamwork, sportsmanship, and community engagement.

The 2026 School Day Game will be the River Lions fourth consecutive season hosting this special event, welcoming thousands of students from across the Niagara Region and beyond to experience River Lions basketball. Last year’s School Day Game in 2025 saw record-breaking attendance, filling the entire arena with 4,454 attendees, the highest attended game in franchise history. The day will feature a range of interactive activities and performances, giving students countless opportunities to participate and immerse themselves in the game day experience.

“There’s no louder or more unforgettable atmosphere than a School Day Game. The excitement, the pride, the pure joy from every student in the stands - it’s something our players and staff look forward to all year. We’re proud to host the 2026 School Day Game and can’t wait to celebrate the next generation of fans, leaders, and changemakers.”said River Lions President, Michelle Biskup.

Local businesses are encouraged to support the event through the ‘Adopt a School’ program, which helps provide access to students who may not otherwise be able to attend a professional basketball game with their classmates.

Seating at the game is limited to the public, bowl and club seating at the game is reserved exclusively for students. Courtside seating will be available to the general public for purchase at a discounted rate.

For ticketing information or to learn more about the School Day Game, please contact Dom Labrecque at 289-273-5905 or dlabrecque@riverlions.ca .

For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on IG, FB, TikTok, & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X.

###

Media Contact:
Mya Hastings
Social Media Marketing Coordinator
mhastings@riverlions.ca

NIAGARA RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE 2026 SEASON SCHEDULE

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:00:02 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday their 24-game 2026 season schedule presented by Crime Stoppers Niagara . The reigning back-to-back CEBL Champions (2024,2025) will open the season with a four-game road trip, tipping off against the Ottawa BlackJacks on Monday May 18th, followed by matchups with the Winnipeg Seabears on Friday May 22nd, Edmonton Stingers on Sunday May 24th and the Montreal Alliance on Tuesday May 26th. The River Lions will then return home for the Home Opener at the Meridian Centre on Friday May 29th when they host the Vancouver Bandits .

In 2025, the Niagara River Lions marked the 10th anniversary of the franchise while completing their seventh season as a member of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. The club concluded the campaign with a 14–10 regular-season record and captured its second consecutive CEBL championship, defeating the Calgary Surge 79–73 in Winnipeg to further cement its place among the league’s elite.

“As we unveil our 2026 schedule, our focus remains the same: delivering an exceptional experience for our fans, our partners, and the Niagara community. We look forward to returning to celebrate our second championship together, while staying hungry and determined as we chase our third” said Michelle Biskup, President of the team.

New this year, the league will host a full in-market playoff model and the first best-of-three CEBL Finals series. The 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League Playoffs will begin with single-elimination Conference Semifinals on Thursday, August 6, where the 1st seed faces the 4th seed and the 2nd seed faces the 3rd seed in each conference. Winners will advance to the Conference Finals on Saturday, August 8, also single elimination, with higher seeds hosting each round. The CEBL Finals will be a best-of-three series from August 12–16, marking the first multi-game playoff series in league history:

Game 1 – August 12

Game 2 – August 15

Game 3 (if necessary) – August 16

The lower seed team will host Game 1, while the higher seed will host Games 2 and 3 (if necessary), replacing the previous single-elimination Championship Weekend host team model.

Key highlights of the River Lions’ 2026 schedule include:

May 29th home opener at the Meridian Centre at 7:00pm versus the Vancouver Bandits
A 24 game schedule including 12 home games at the Meridian Centre and 12 games on the road over the thirteen weeks
Four Friday, two Wednesday, one Thursday and one Saturday evening home game nights
A School Day Game on Friday June 19th at 11:00 am
A five game home stand starting May 29
A championship rematch on June 3rd versus the Calgary Surge
The final home game on Sunday July 26th at 3:00pm versus the Ottawa Blackjacks

Niagara River Lions season tickets are now available, with voucher packs, group and single-game tickets set to go on sale in the coming months. Fans can find ticket information at www.riverlions.ca/tickets or by calling 289-273-5905 or visiting 102-10 Albert St. East, Thorold.

In 2025, the CEBL featured 17 players with NBA experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its athletes were Canadian – the highest proportion of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. To date, nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following CEBL seasons, which run from May through August.

For more information about the league, visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube. Full schedule details for the Niagara River Lions are available at www.riverlions.ca/schedule .

For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on IG , FB , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X

###

Media Contact
Mya Hastings
Social Media & Marketing Coordinator
mhastings@riverlions.ca

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE THIRD ANNUAL 2026 BREAKFAST WITH DUNKIN

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:14:01 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions are proud to announce the return of Breakfast with Dunkin, a family-friendly community event to kick off Family Day weekend Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 9:00am to 11:00am at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 138 Merritton (2 Chestnut Street East, St. Catharines).

Designed to bring families together for a fun and welcoming morning, each ticket includes access to the breakfast buffet, face painting, colouring stations, photobooth, local mascot meet & greet, and a complimentary swag bag for children 13 and under.

Admission is $10 per person for the general public and $5 for River Lions Season Ticket holders. All proceeds will support the ‘Stubs for Cubs’ initiative, helping underprivileged children and families experience the excitement of a River Lions game who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Families interested in attending can purchase tickets here .

The event continues the River Lions’ commitment to creating meaningful community connections and providing accessible, family-oriented experiences for fans across Niagara.

In the spirit of community partnership, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 138 Merritton is once again generously opening its doors to host the event. The Legion’s long-standing dedication to community engagement makes it an ideal venue for a morning centered around togetherness, fun, and local pride.

For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on IG, FB, TikTok, & LinkedIn and on X @RiverLions.

###

Media Contact
Mya Hastings
Social Media & Marketing Coordinator
mhastings@riverlions.ca

FEATURE: Biskup’s Historic Win – Leading the River Lions while Breaking Barriers in Canadian Men’s Pro Sports

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:05:48 GMT

Myles Dichter – September 18, 2025

Michelle Biskup paced nervously along the sidelines of Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre.

As Niagara’s Khalil Ahmad stepped to the free-throw line with the 2025 CEBL championship in his fingertips, Biskup couldn’t help but battle flashbacks from one year earlier, when Ahmad missed a shot to win it all.

Some things were different: the locale, for one. The River Lions’ path to the Final — one much more fraught this time around — for two. And, of course, Biskup’s title, now president of the franchise.

One thing, though, did not change. No matter what happened, Biskup could not control what happened on the court. At least not at this point.

“I've gone through the highs, I've gone through the lows, but I just stay even keel until I know it's over,” said Biskup, who has now been with the River Lions for 10 years.

Ahmad, of course, went on to make those free throws, clinching the River Lions’ second consecutive championship and matching the Edmonton Stingers as the only teams to win multiple titles, let alone go back-to-back.

With the trophy, Biskup became the first female president to win a Canadian men’s professional sports title. Detroit Red Wings president Marguerite Norris (1954, 1955) and Los Angeles Lakers boss Jeanie Buss (2020) have also accomplished the feat in the U.S.

“It's a milestone to have my name stamped on history while also showing other young females in sports who are dreaming of having a career in sports that it's attainable,” Biskup said. “It's not something that can't be done because now they can see someone who's done it.”

Biskup, the 35-year-old from Burlington, Ont., was a Day 1 staffer of the River Lions 10 years ago when she held the title of operations coordinator.

The job only came about through a coincidental meeting with the River Lions owners, when Biskup pitched herself on a whim and suddenly found herself moving from her first job out of school in the entertainment department at Fallsview Casino to a professional basketball organization.

Steadily since, she’s risen the ranks until being promoted to president in September.

And in her first season atop the organization, she lifted it atop the CEBL.

“We really put 12 months into it — into something that we can't control the outcome of as front-office staff. So to have that full-circle moment from last year where, yes, I was involved, I was still a very big part of it as VP, but then for everything that I put into this past year, building a new culture in our office, hiring new staff, making some big changes. It really was like, ‘OK, this made it all worthwhile,’” she said.

“There's no greater feeling than winning at the end of the day. There's a reason why everyone wants to win. That's the best, ultimate feeling.”

Biskup said the team is almost unrecognizable from when she first started a decade ago — especially when she looks at the Meridian Centre crowd and the River Lions fan base.

But even more has changed since she took over as president. Biskup hired team captain Kimbal Mackenzie as community and brand ambassador in a CEBL first — an idea that was born late last off-season and one she hopes will truly take flight now.

Meanwhile, she signed head coach Victor Raso to a three-year contract lining up with a three-year Meridian Centre lease, locking in two key aspects of the team.

“Knowing that Vic's going to be here every year, or at least for the next three, we can depend on that, that we're going to have that returning group that helps us be successful on the court,” said Biskup, who credited the coach for maintaining season-to-season continuity in a league where that’s rare.

“It helps us be successful off the court too, right? It's great for our sales staff to be able to call people and say, we're back-to-back champions or we have their favourite players returning. So that consistency is really big.”

Raso has worked next to Biskup for the past eight years.

“I've seen her go from doing absolutely everything to doing absolutely everything as the president,” he said.

The coach described Biskup as “incredibly hard-working,” saying she’s created a culture of “doers” while keeping the atmosphere light and fun with plenty of laughs.

He added that he’s always coordinated closely with Biskup, with whom he enjoys a strong two-way relationship of trust.

“Michelle and I always talked about what we were doing on a day-to-day basis, but never from the perspective of she's my manager. So for her and I, it was a cool experience this year. She's always let me do my thing with the basketball and trusted me with decisions and budgets and everything,” he said.

To Raso, Biskup is the “lifeblood” of the River Lions.

“She can run a professional sport organization like with her eyes closed now. And I don't think people really understand how much actually goes into that,” he said.

Now, Biskup’s next task is one that’s never been done before: win three straight championships.

After last season’s motto was ‘Run It Back,’ Biskup said conversations are already underway about next year’s slogan, with the word dynasty being thrown around.

“That's definitely the goal for us to make that next stamp on history is being the first team to do a three-peat,” she said.

It’s a topic with which Biskup is now quite familiar.

- CEBL -

Niagara River Lions Partner with St. Catharines CYO Basketball Association to Launch Exclusive Drop-In Sessions with Team Captain Kimbal Mackenzie

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 17:05:17 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions are proud to announce a new partnership with St. Catharines CYO Basketball Association, offering young athletes a unique opportunity to learn directly from River Lions team captain, Kimbal Mackenzie.

Beginning in October, members of St. Catharines CYO Basketball Assoication will have exclusive access to bi-weekly Sunday drop-in sessions with team captain Kimbal Mackenzie, held at Ridley College through December. These sessions will give players the opportunity to develop their basketball skills and gain leadership insights from Mackenzie, who earned a Division 1 scholarship at Bucknell University, has competed professionally in Europe, represented the Great Britain National Team, and is now a two-time Canadian Elite Basketball League Champion.

The drop-in sessions will be split into two age groups to ensure players receive development suited to their skill level. Session 1 will run from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. for boys and girls in Grades 2–4, followed by Session 2 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. for boys and girls in Grades 5–8.

Participation requires pre-registration and a $10 donation per session, with all proceeds supporting the River Lions’ Stubs for Cubs initiative, which provides tickets and opportunities for local youth to attend River Lions home games.

“We’re thrilled to formalize a partnership with St. Catharines CYO Basketball Association and provide this unique opportunity to Rebels players,” said Michelle Biskup, President of the Niagara River Lions. “It’s a fantastic way to help grow the game in Niagara, giving young athletes access to professional mentorship while fostering skill development and a love for basketball.”

“We’re super excited to team up with the Niagara River Lions and kick off something really special,” said Gerry Mcilhone, President of the St Catharines CYO Basketball Association club. “It’s an awesome chance to grow the game more here in Niagara—giving our players a chance to learn from the pros, build their skills, and continue to love the game of basketball even more.”

The drop-in sessions will take place each starting Sunday October 19,and run biweekly until December 14th. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required to secure a spot.

For registration details, please visit https://registration.teamsnap.com/form/39121

About the Niagara River Lions
The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL and the league's reigning back to back champions. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Visit www.riverlions.ca for more information.

About CYO St. Catharines Basketball
The St Catharines Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Basketball Association is committed to providing boys and girls in our community with the positive and enjoyable experience of learning and competing in the great sport of basketball. We believe that every person is important and deserves the respect and consideration of others. CYO operates House Leagues for players of various skill levels and experience. As well, CYO operates a Select Team Program, for players with advanced skill levels.

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2702972

River Lions Capture Second Straight Championship in Thrilling Win Over Surge

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 01:34:45 GMT

The mountain had only been scaled once before.

But after the most grueling season in CEBL history, the Niagara River Lions reached the summit once again.

The River Lions captured the 2025 CEBL title on Sunday, beating the Calgary Surge 79-73 at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre.

Niagara joins the 2020-2021 Edmonton Stingers as the only teams ever to go back-to-back. They are also the only franchises in league history to claim multiple titles.

“It feels incredible. It really does,” head coach Victor Raso said. “It’s as special of a moment as I ever had as a coach. This one, for these guys, it just cemented them. I’m really happy for them.”

Khalil Ahmad was named Finals MVP after scoring 16 points, including the game-winner, while adding nine rebounds.

When the clocks stopped for Target Score Time, a River Lions lead that was once 16 had been cut to three points at 70-67.

Clutch as ever, Khalil Ahmad opened the proceedings with a three-pointer. After Sean Miller-Moore made a free throw at the other end, Elijah Lufile deposited a putback to move Niagara within four points of the win.

Calgary then went to the line on two straight possessions around an Ahmad miss, but made just two of four attempts. Niagara moved within any bucket of the title when Nathan Cayo cashed a pair from the charity stripe himself.

On the following play, Evan Gilyard II breathed some life into the Surge with a three-pointer. It turned out to be their last gasp.

While the Surge earned a defensive stop, a turnover sent Ahmad streaking back the other way, where he drew a foul in the corner that sent him to the line.

Attempt No. 1: splash. Attempt No. 2: ballgame. Champions.

“Redemption,” said Ahmad, who missed a free throw in the same situation in last year’s Final. “I thought about exactly that, [when] I made the first one, missed the second. I was like, ‘Oof, I can’t do that again.’”

The clutch free throws pushed Ahmad to his second straight Finals MVP and marked his fifth straight playoff game scoring the Target Score Time winner. He knocked down the game-winning three in Friday’s East Final against the Scarborough Shooting Stars, too.

After the game, Raso had high praise for his star player, who will need to make room on his trophy case next to a number of other accolades.

“He’s the greatest player to ever play in this league and he’s just a phenomenal person, so he won’t say all the things that I say, but that’s the truth,” Raso said.

Captain Kimbal Mackenzie echoed Raso’s sentiment.

“[It’s] getting a little bit ridiculous at this point, quite frankly,” Mackenzie joked. “When he hit that shot against Scarborough, I was like, ‘How many times is this guy gonna do this?’ He just has a knack for when those moments get big, just playing off his instincts.”

The game itself proved to be a defensive grind — the lowest-scoring final in league history. No player on either team reached 20 points, and the clubs combined to make just 27.5 per cent of their three-point shots while neither reached 40 per cent overall from the field.

For the River Lions, it came down to simple effort in their own end.

“These guys cared a lot. There was no in-between moments that we lost. These guys were thoughtful on every defensive possession and we just kinda forced them to play to their weaknesses instead of playing to their strengths,” Raso said.

Nathan Cayo was second on the River Lions with 14 points, while Ahmed Hill added 13 points and six rebounds off the bench while posting a team-high plus-16 rating.

Meanwhile, the star Surge guard duo of Jameer Nelson Jr. and Gilyard II struggled mightily, combining for 16 points on just seven-for-32 shooting.

“We didn’t make enough plays, but we’re a team. I’ve said it all year long,” head coach Kaleb Canales said.

Canada’s Sean Miller-Moore led the way for the Surge with 19 points, while Greg Brown broke a pair of championship record with 17 rebounds and five blocks.

Miller-Moore, the league’s all-time leading Canadian scorer, came up just short at his third Championship Weekend.

“Every loss is a heartbreak. Even when we lose in the regular season, it’s a heartbreak. So of course this was the last game and the last time I’m gonna be with this particular group, so it hurt more, but we were a good team all season and we just came up short today,” Miller-Moore said.

For Niagara, By Raso’s own admission, this season — the longest in CEBL history, with 24 games per team — was more difficult than last, as a roster featuring multiple returning players struggled at times to find motivation during the summer-long grind.

Around mid-season, however, the River Lions ripped off a seven-game winning streak to clinch the Eastern Conference. And the team found its motivation.

“I read a lot about teams who repeated and it all rang true,” Raso said. “It’s not gonna be like the first time. It’s gonna be hard. There’s gonna be ups and downs. You’re gonna have to find a new why. You have to shed last year.”

For some, that “why” was obvious. Ahmed Hill has scored more points than anyone in league history but was still searching for his first championship. Guillaume Boucard was a River Lion two years ago, but missed last year’s title run, and sought his first title, too.

Hill and Boucard were both part of the Montreal Alliance squad that fell to the River Lions in the semifinals last season.

“It’s amazing,” said Hill, who added that it’s his first title at any level. “I’ve always been a player to want to score and get all the accolades, but this is one thing I always missed.”

Added Boucard: “It doesn’t even feel real right now. It’s just full circle. … It’s been something that I’ve been chasing for a long time. It’s something that we always want every summer in Niagara.”

Elijah Lufile wanted to win for himself to become the first player to ever three-peat; he also wanted to win for brother Meshack, a teammate who had never won before.

“That’s something we can tell our kids,” Lufile said. “We just stayed true to ourselves and our identity is guys giving 100 per cent effort.”

Captain Kimbal Mackenzie was a leader on last year’s team, but didn’t play much. This year, he was a relied-upon starter.

And for all his league accolades, Khalil Ahmad still felt like he didn’t get the love he deserved.

“I mean, sheesh. Can’t put any words on it,” Ahmad said.

Raso said all the parts came together to make a roster that was underrated by some throughout the season. Now, they’re champions.

“It took a while for this team to gel and find their rhythm. We have Ahmed Hill coming off the bench. He’s the leading scorer in CEBL history. That’s what bothers me when people talk about us this year the way they did,” Raso said. “This was a really, really good basketball team and when it mattered, we were awesome.”

In the early going, Calgary made its presence known, racing to an 11-3 lead that was punctuated by a monstrous alley-oop jam from Brown III.

But last year’s winners showed their championship mettle immediately, responding with a 13-0 run of their own to go in front. They never relinquished that lead.

Through one quarter, Niagara led 21-20. Then, it turned the defence up a notch en route to a 42-36 halftime advantage as Calgary made just three of 19 three-point attempts.

But momentum followed Calgary into the locker room after Nelson Jr. drained a halfcourt buzzer-beater.

Still, the River Lions weren’t fazed, opening the third frame with an Ahmad three and stretching their lead to 16 after back-to-back Hill triples. Niagara took a 63-51 lead into the final quarter of the season before it ultimately prevailed.

Basketball royalty was among the 7,129 total attendance for the Final, as longtime Canadian coach Steve Konchalski and Nick Elam, who created Target Score endings, both witnessed the championship game.

Meanwhile, the parents of Chad Posthumus — a CEBL lifer and Winnipeg native who tragically died in November at age 33 — were on hand to present the championship trophy.

Now, for the second straight year, that trophy will make a home in St. Catharines, Ont.

“We fought through so much adversity,” Ahmad said. “We deserved this win.”

Box Score

- CEBL -

River Lions, Surge Set to Duel in 2025 CEBL Final

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 17:11:52 GMT

The motto in Niagara all season? Run it back.

Now, the River Lions are just one win away — but standing opposite them is a thriving Calgary Surge team that’s won seven straight games to get to the Final.

The championship game begins Sunday at 6 p.m. CDT / 5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre with live coverage on TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+ and NLSE.

A victory for the River Lions would make them the second team ever to go back-to-back, and also the second franchise to win multiple titles, joining the 2020-2021 Edmonton Stingers.

The Surge, meanwhile, are searching for their first title in their third straight trip to Championship Weekend.

Niagara head coach Victor Raso said this team feels different than last year’s despite having multiple returning players.

“It’s just been a very, very different season. It doesn’t matter how you do it; it just matters that you do it. And these guys got a chance to win a back-to-back championship, which is pretty cool,” he said.

Raso’s River Lions finished the regular season at 14-10, going on a mid-season seven-game winning streak to clinch the East before losing their last five in a row.

But when the level ramped up a notch in the East final against the Scarborough Shooting Stars, that middle-of-the-season squad showed up once more.

And yet again, it was Khalil Ahmad who delivered the game-winner in a 93-91 win.

Now, it’s onto the Surge.

“The big thing is I know that it’s just about basketball,” Raso said. “They don’t need me to care. They care enough about this. This is why this program has been successful is because we’ve created a culture where these guys actually care about each other and winning.”

Alongside Ahmad, Elijah Lufile dominated against the Shooting Stars, scoring eight points to go with 15 rebounds — a franchise playoff record — and four huge free throws down the stretch.

But both will face tougher tasks in Calgary, which allowed the fewest points per game in the regular season (87.2) and collected the most steals per game (10.3).

The Surge come into this Final as battle-tested as can be after winning a Battle of Alberta play-in game, beating the top-seeded Vancouver Bandits in the West semi and ousting the Winnipeg Sea Bears on their home court in front of 9,000-plus screaming fans.

Calgary had the second-best regular-season record at 17-7.

"Our championship poise down the stretch was big. We’ve coached that a lot this season and I just love our group,” head coach Kaleb Canales said.

Calgary got through those playoff matchups on the strength of defence — a strength all season. Both Defensive Player of the Year nominees came from the Surge, in the form of guard Jameer Nelson Jr. and big man Greg Brown III.

Nelson Jr. ultimately took home the trophy, but it was clear that Calgary’s defence was the product of a team effort.

“Yeah, we’re the No. 1 defensive team but we always feel like we can play way better defence. That’s what we love about our team. It’s just like endless trying,” forward Sean Miller-Moore said.

Miller-Moore, the league’s all-time Canadian leading scorer who is still searching for his first title, added that the Surge have plenty of fuel within them, which makes them tough to handle especially coming out of halftime.

“We’re all leaders on the court. There’s nothing they can tell us that will motivate us. We’re already motivated. We know what we need to do. We know that we’re the best defending team,” he said.

Given the internal motivation and the connectiveness, Raso said the Surge remind him of his own team.

“They’re incredibly together. Their chemistry is really good. You can tell they like each other, they like playing basketball for each other. … They just move the ball really well. There’s a lot of togetherness, they try defensively,” Raso said.

Both teams also have longtime CEBLers looking for their first title in Miller-Moore and River Lions guard Ahmed Hill, the league’s all-time leading scorer.

They’re each lined with top-end stars, clutch role players and depth across the floor.

Just one, however, will leave Sunday’s game with the coveted championship trophy.

2025 CEBL Playoff Schedule

CW25 – CEBL Championship Final – Sunday, Aug. 24 – CGY vs. NRL – 6 p.m. CDT / 5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE)

For the full 2025 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games

Ahmad Shines Late as River Lions Knock Off Shooting Stars to Reach CEBL Finals

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 17:09:44 GMT

Khalil Ahmad played hero. The Niagara River Lions won a close game. And Championship Weekend picked up right where it left off.

The River Lions eked past the Scarborough Shooting Stars 93-91 in the East Final on Friday at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre, moving one win away from repeating as league champion.

Niagara’s formula looked awfully familiar as head coach Victor Raso’s troops battled in a back-and-forth high-stakes game.

And when winning time came around, it was Ahmad — who scored all three playoff winners for his team last year —stepping up yet again to seal the deal.

“My God, that guy has something inside of him that is just built for Target Time,” Raso said.

When the clocks stopped, the River Lions led 84-83. And buoying their chances even further was the presence of Ahmad in their white-and-green jerseys.

Shooting Stars forward Donovan Williams started the proceedings with a driving layup, but Ahmad answered with a pair of free throws.

After Williams added two more points to put Scarborough back in front, another trip to the charity stripe for Ahmad handed Niagara the lead once again.

Michael Foster Jr., then tipped home a putback for the Shooting Stars before Elijah Lufile knocked down two more free throws for Niagara. When Foster Jr. hit another layup, both teams were within a bucket of the victory.

And after both teams missed their first opportunities to advance, Mr. Clutch stepped up yet again.

Ahmad raced up the court, stopped on a dime above the three-point arc, and splashed home a winner under pressure from behind.

Amid all the chaos, Ahmad was as cool as ever.

“There wasn’t a lot of thoughts going through my head. … We needed a three, so why not take it?” Ahmad said. “Stepped into it with confidence and knocked it down.”

Shooting Stars head coach Mike De Giorgio said the plan was for his team to foul in the backcourt to prevent the exact way it ended up losing.

Still, he said he was proud of his team’s performance in a “high-level” game.

“We handled the adversity we wanted to handle. We had chances to win the game. It just didn’t go for us and then Khalil made a big shot. That’s what he’s shown that he can do and he’s done it for years now,” De Giorgio said.

Niagara will meet the winner of the West final between the Winnipeg Sea Bears and Calgary Surge in Sunday’s final.

Ahmad, the 28-year-old from Corona, Calif., now has four career Target Score Winners in the playoffs — the most in league history.

He also surpassed 1,500 career points (including playoffs) in style with his game-winner, sitting at 1,502 entering the Finals.

For the night, he put up a game-high 29 points to go with six rebounds. He also knocked down all 10 of his free throws — notable after he missed some clutch ones last year which he said nagged at him throughout the off-season.

“We were just being where our feet are and trying to be locked into the moment, take every possession for what it was. Because, look, we won by two, so it was a close game. Every possession mattered and we took care of the little things,” Ahmad said.

Raso called him a “mental monster.”

“He has the physical tools, the physical skills and the mental confidence to be able to want it in those moments. Because those are shots that all of these guys are capable of making, but not all of those guys are capable of taking them,” he said.

Helping Ahmad was big man Elijah Lufile, who came off the bench to put up eight points and a whopping 15 rebounds. Montreal native Nathan Cayo also neared a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds.

The game marked the latest chapter in the Scarborough-Niagara rivalry that’s quickly growing into one of the league’s fiercest.

Each of the last two championships were won by the Ontario squads, and they even split the season series, making their playoff duel a tiebreaker of sorts.

Prior to Friday, however, the Shooting Stars were 2-0 in post-season contests against the River Lions.

Now, Niagara has a notch on its playoff record.

A major disparity between the teams came at the free-throw line, where the River Lions were a perfect 21-for-21 while the Shooting Stars went just 11-for-18.

The River Lions also dominated the glass, hauling in 56 rebounds (20 offensive) to the Shooting Stars’ 40 (seven offensive).

“When we sat in the press conference the other day, De Giorgio pretty much said we need some defensive rebounds so we can run. And all I’m thinking is we need to take quality shots so that they don’t have the opportunities to run. So they got us in spurts, but down the stretch there wasn’t much transition,” Raso said.

Donovan Williams led the way for the Shooting Stars, matching Ahmad’s 29 points while adding 11 rebounds. Backcourt mate Terquavion Smith had a 16-point, 10-assist double-double, but missed the potential game-winner before Ahmad’s dagger.

Foster Jr. added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

“It was a hell of a shot to end it off, but really just ready to move forward. It’s a loss,” Foster Jr. said.

Niagara entered the contest on a five-game losing streak and with 12 days of rest taking the top seed in the East.

Perhaps battling some rust after that layoff, it fell behind 9-2 early but battled back to tie things at 18. However, a Williams buzzer-beater put the Shooting Stars up 26-25 after the first quarter.

The back-and-forth continued in the second quarter as the teams exchanged leads. Scarborough took a narrow 50-49 edge into halftime.

In the third quarter, Niagara built its biggest lead of the game at nine points. It took a 74-68 advantage into the fourth after Kobe Elvis hit the Shooting Stars’ second buzzer-beating triple of the game.

Scarborough changed things quickly in the fourth quarter, erasing its deficit and regaining the lead early in the final frame after a 13-3 run.

Then, another classic Championship Weekend Target Score Time ensued.

And yet again, it was the Lion King who roared. Now, the River Lions are one win away from going back-to-back.

“If we get it done,” Ahmad said, “you’ll see what it means.”

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2700727

Up Next

The River Lions will meet the winner of the West final in Sunday’s championship game at 6 p.m. CDT / 7 p.m. ET in Winnipeg.

- CEBL -

River Lions Meet Shooting Stars in Battle of Previous Two Champions

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:39:58 GMT

Call it a tiebreaker of sorts.

When the Niagara River Lions meet the Scarborough Shooting Stars in Friday’s Eastern Conference Final, it will be a battle of the past two CEBL champions.

But only one will have the opportunity to become the second team in league history to hoist the trophy a second time.

Live coverage of the contest begins at 5 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. ET from Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre. You can watch on TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+ and NLSE.

The similarities between the teams don’t end with their titles, either.

Both endured roller-coaster seasons of sorts, with the Shooting Stars exchanging winning and losing streaks only to arrive at 11-13 (third in the East) for the season, while the River Lions ended their season with five losses that immediately followed seven wins, finishing first in the East at 14-10.

The five losses were somewhat meaningless, since Niagara had already clinched. But the River Lions will have sat on that skid for 12 days by the time tip-off arrives — though they did get some live action in a closed scrimmage against Team Canada.

Still, Niagara seems loose as ever entering its first knockout game of the season, bringing a football out to each of its practices and tossing cross-court heaves before getting down to business. Practice ended with a half-court shooting contest, as is ritual.

Perhaps that laid-back attitude is one of the benefits of entering as the reigning champs. There are drawbacks too, though.

“It challenges you in many ways. If I think back to the years in the past, specifically last year, the hunger to write what we felt like we didn't the year before was just evident in every single thing we did. This year it just hasn't always been like that because the group is confident in themselves, they are experienced, they know how long of a season it is and what you want to get at the end,” head coach Victor Raso said.

Meanwhile, the Shooting Stars have already faced a pair of do-or-die games — and barely broke a sweat in either, taking leads of 18 and 26 points, respectively, into Target Score Time before beating the Montreal Alliance and Ottawa BlackJacks.

It’s the same path the Shooting Stars travelled en route to their 2023 title, when they won a play-in game at home and the East semi on the road in order to face Niagara in the conference final.

Head coach Mike De Giorgio was an assistant on that team.

“They have a lot of the same guys available. We don't, but we have guys and a lot of our staff have been around and been in that game and have that experience. So for the most part, that's something that we've been referencing with the players and they've really stepped up to the challenge lately,” De Giorgio said.

The River Lions and Shooting Stars split their four games this season, with only their first meeting in early June even being close.

Both have a level of championship experience, and they understand what it takes to win tight games, in Target Score Time, in the post-season.

Players to watch

While their journeys to Winnipeg were similar, the River Lions and Shooting Stars employ vastly different playing styles.

Scarborough boasts two of the top scorers in the league in Donovan Williams and Terquavion Smith, who have hardly let up in the playoffs, either, averaging 26 and 22 points per game, respectively. In many ways, the Shooting Stars go as their star duo goes — another 50 points combined in the East final would go a long way toward winning.

On the other hand, Niagara leans more on its depth, with a guard rotation that goes deep into the bench.

The head of that snake is Khalil Ahmad, the reigning Finals MVP. Ahmad is arguably the most clutch player in league history — he scored the game-winner in each of the River Lions’ three 2024 playoff victories and tied for fourth this season with four more.

Ahmed Hill, the league’s all-time leading scorer, is also searching for his first title after being eliminated by the River Lions as a member of the Montreal Alliance last season.

“Like they say, I got all the accolades, but I don’t have a ring. So that’s something that I want really bad. I’ve never won a championship before, so to do it with these guys would be amazing,” Hill said.

2025 CEBL Playoff Schedule

CW25 – Eastern Conference Final – Friday, Aug. 22 – SSS at NRL – 5 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE)

CW25 – Western Conference Final – Friday, Aug. 22 – WPG at CGY – 7:30 p.m. CDT / 6:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE)

CW25 – CEBL Championship Final – Sunday, Aug. 24 – TBD at TBD – 6 p.m. CDT / 7 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE)

For the full 2025 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .

CEBL STARS HONOURED IN WINNIPEG AS 2025 AWARD WINNERS REVEALED

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:19:38 GMT

Bandits shine as Creek named MVP; Samuel claims Top Canadian and Clutch Player; Julius repeats as Coach of the Year

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced the winners of the 2025 CEBL Awards and the All-CEBL Teams at an event held at The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre (The MET) in Winnipeg, MB, on Thursday evening — the first official event of 2025 Championship Weekend (CW25) .

The Vancouver Bandits took home four awards, including forward Mitch Creek, who earned top honours as Most Valuable Player. Centre Tyrese Samuel was named both Canadian Player of the Year and Clutch Player of the Year, while Kyle Julius secured Coach of the Year honours for the second consecutive season.

This also marked the second straight year the Bandits swept the CEBL’s top three awards (MVP, Canadian Player, and Coach), repeating the feat achieved by Tazé Moore, Koby McEwen, and Julius in 2024 .

The full list of award winners is as follows:

2025 CEBL Award Winners

Most Valuable Player: Mitch Creek (Vancouver Bandits)

Canadian Player of the Year: Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits)

Coach of the Year: Kyle Julius (Vancouver Bandits)

Sixth Man of the Year: Zane Waterman (Ottawa BlackJacks)

Defensive Player of the Year: Jameer Nelson Jr. (Calgary Surge)

Developmental Player of the Year: Isaac Simon (Saskatchewan Rattlers)

Clutch Player of the Year: Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits)

Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award: Karl Toulouse

Creek’s leadership and production were instrumental in Vancouver’s league-best 19-5 record this season. He finished second in the CEBL in scoring with 24.4 points per game, ranked third in three-point percentage (48.6%), and fourth in field goal percentage (58.4%). The 6-foot-5 Australian's 488 total points were the second-highest in the league in 2025 and the fourth-most ever recorded in a single CEBL season. He also ranked among the league's top 10 in several other categories, including free throws made (2nd – 110), field goals made (3rd – 171), minutes played (6th – 687.7), and steals (9th – 30).

In his first CEBL season, Samuel was a dominant force for the Bandits and the only player in the league to average more than 20 points (21.4) and 10 rebounds (10.8) per game. Despite playing just 15 games, the Canadian big man tied for the league lead with six Target Score Winners, earning the Clutch Player of the Year award via a tiebreaking vote over Calgary’s Sean Miller-Moore. He also led the CEBL in field goal percentage (65.9), ranked third in rebounds per game, and tied for third with eight double-doubles.

Julius led Vancouver to a .792 winning percentage (19-5) in 2025 — the highest ever over a full, non-pandemic-shortened CEBL season — even with the league’s longest and most demanding schedule to date (24 games). The Bandits posted a league-best +250 point differential, more than 50 points ahead of the next closest team, while boasting the top-ranked offence and fourth-ranked defence. Vancouver finished first in total points (2,372), field goals made (868), field goal percentage (48.2), three-pointers made (277), three-point percentage (38.4) and assists (558), and ranked second in steals (208). Despite their high-paced offence, the Bandits committed the third-fewest turnovers (328) and allowed the fourth-fewest points (2,122).

Waterman played a significant role off the bench for the Ottawa BlackJacks this summer and was a key contributor to the team’s strong second-half surge, helping secure second place in the Eastern Conference. In just 14 games, he was part of nine wins, averaging 15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 23.1 minutes per game, while shooting 52.9 per cent from three-point range.

Nelson Jr. delivered a strong two-way performance for Calgary in 2025, making a particularly significant impact on defense. He set a new CEBL single-season steals record with 57 in just 19 games and added five blocks. His 3.0 steals per game led the league by a full steal over MVP runner-up Sean East II, and his total steals shattered the previous record of 44 set by Lloyd Pandi in 2024 by 13. He also showcased his offensive prowess last Saturday in the Western Conference Semifinal against Vancouver, scoring a CEBL playoff-record 39 points in a 105-103 Surge win to secure a berth at CW25.

Simon contributed valuable minutes for the Saskatchewan Rattlers in 2025, emerging as the top performer among this year’s class of Developmental Players. He appeared in all 24 games — including six starts — and averaged 4.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest. Simon will return to the University of Alberta Golden Bears for the upcoming U SPORTS season.

Toulouse, a day-one member of the CEBL as Manager of Minor Officials, was honoured with the Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award. He oversees 150 minor officials across all 10 CEBL markets, audits numerous games nationwide to ensure statistical accuracy, and has attended every CEBL Championship Weekend to support score table staff. A member of the Toronto Raptors stats crew since the team’s inception in 1995, Toulouse exemplifies the spirit of basketball development in Canada through more than 30 years of dedication and high-level performance.

The 2025 All-CEBL First, Second, and All-Canadian Teams were also revealed at the CEBL Awards:

All CEBL First Team: Greg Brown III (Calgary Surge), Mitch Creek (Vancouver Bandits), Sean East II (Edmonton Stingers), Javonte Smart (Ottawa BlackJacks), Donovan Williams (Scarborough Shooting Stars)

All CEBL Second Team: Khalil Ahmad (Niagara River Lions), Jameer Nelson Jr. (Calgary Surge), Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits), Simi Shittu (Winnipeg Sea Bears), Terquavion Smith (Scarborough Shooting Stars)

CEBL All-Canadian Team: Keon Ambrose-Hylton (Edmonton Stingers), Quincy Guerrier (Montréal Alliance), Sean Miller-Moore (Calgary Surge), Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits), Simi Shittu (Winnipeg Sea Bears)

Award nominees, winners and All-CEBL First, Second, and All-Canadian Teams are determined by votes cast by the league’s head coaches, general managers, assistant coaches, select league broadcasters, and internal media personnel. Team representatives are prohibited from voting for a player or head coach from their own team.

All CEBL award winners will receive a customized ring from Jostens, the Official Supplier of Award Rings of the CEBL; a custom trophy from protocole, crafted from maple and solid metal with a silkscreened CEBL logo; and a special gift from the league’s partner, Foot Locker.

The Conference Finals doubleheader at CW25 on Friday, August 22 will feature the defending champion Niagara River Lions taking on the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the East matchup at 5 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. ET, followed by the host Winnipeg Sea Bears facing the Calgary Surge in the West tilt at 7:30 p.m. CDT / 8:30 p.m. ET. Ticket and event information is available at cebl.ca/championshipweekend .

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 73 per cent of its rosters being Canadian and more than 15 players with NBA game experience in 2025. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by Tonybet, TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Surge Outlast River Lions, Cap Regular Season with Four Straight Wins

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 16:37:51 GMT

The Calgary Surge made sure to end their regular season on a high note, picking up a 94-76 win over the defending champion Niagara River Lions on Sunday night.

Calgary’s victory in the storied Scotiabank Saddledome improved the squad to 17-7 on the year and sent the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed into the playoffs on a four-game win streak.

Leading that charge was Olumide Adelodun, who finished with a game-high 17 points on 4-of-9 shooting from distance to go with eight rebounds. Behind him was DJ Jackson with 15 points off the bench and Javonté Brown, who put up 14 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

Rounding out the Surge’s double-digit scoring efforts were Evan Gilyard II with 13 points and eight assists and Jameer Nelson Jr. with 10 points.

All of this was made more impressive by the fact that Calgary was without two regular starters in Gabe Osabuohien and Sean Miller-Moore.

“We came to the game with an intense mentality,” Brown said after his double-double effort. “We came to play, came to win and (our secondary players) stepped up today.”

On the other side, the loss dropped the River Lions to 14-10 on the season as they capped off their year on a five-game skid.

Curtis Hollis led the River Lions’ effort on Sunday with 15 points off the pine to go with 10 rebounds and two steals. Khalil Ahmad wasn’t far behind as he added 13 points while Kimbal Mackenzie and Ahmed Hill scored 12 points each.

While it wasn’t an ideal outcome for Hill’s squad, the game marked a milestone night for the CEBL veteran. It was his 100th appearance (regular season + playoffs), making Hill one of just three players (Alex Campbell, Malcolm Duvivier) in league history to reach the triple-digit mark for games played all-time.

Meanwhile, entering Sunday, it was clear both teams were after the same thing to end the regular season before heading into the playoffs: momentum.

For the Surge, it was about maintaining it as they were in the midst of a win streak and looking to finish the season with a strong 9-3 home record. Meanwhile, the River Lions were hoping to snatch some of that momentum as they rode into Calgary amid a season-worst skid and 5-6 road record despite holding onto the No. 1 seed out East and a bye into the Conference Final.

Given that both teams had the same goal, it wasn’t a surprise that the ball game remained tightly contested throughout the opening frame. Niagara eked out a 24-22 lead by the end of the first thanks to a quarter-ending 5-0 run.

A spark that helped the defending champs capture some of that momentum they were so desperately after, as the River Lions went on a 16-2 charge between the end of the first and start of the second to lead by as many as 16 points before halftime.

That lead was short-lived, however, as the Surge answered back before the break. The home team ended the first half on a 7-2 run, including a buzzer-beating layup by Nelson that cut the deficit back to single digits, 47-39.

What underscored Niagara’s halftime lead was an uncharacteristically strong showing from beyond the arc. Despite entering the night tied last in three-point makes per game (8.5) and second last in percentage (30.5), the River Lions knocked down seven triples (plus-four) through the first 20 minutes on an impressive 43 per cent clip.

Yet it was Calgary’s effectiveness from deep that defined the second half.

After going 3-of-14 on threes before the break, the Surge went 10-of-17 through the second half as they outscored the River Lions by 26 points (55-29). Meanwhile, Niagara did little to help itself in that regard, cooling off to the tune of just five makes on its final 19 attempts.

Calgary went 5-for-9 from distance in the third, including back-to-back triples from Adelodun and Kyri Thomas at the 4:47 mark, giving the Surge the lead back for the first time since the opening frame. They ended up outscoring the River Lions 31-17 in the third quarter, turning an eight-point halftime deficit into a 70-64 lead.

The Surge then pushed their advantage to 12 points by the start of Target Score Time when the long ball, once again, had the most to say. Back-to-back triples from Gilyard and Jackson were sandwiched between makes at the rim by Brown as Calgary capped off its regular season with an emphatic victory.

Aside from the Surge’s production from distance, it was the squad’s trademark defensive tenacity that proved to be a catalyst in the win. While Calgary forced 18 turnovers to Niagara’s 15, the home team capitalizing on those freebies is what made the difference. The Surge finished with a 28-16 (plus-12) edge on points off turnovers.

All the while, Calgary's defence has held opponents to an average of 83.8 points through its four-game win streak, beating teams by a margin of 18.8 points during that span.

“It feels good,” Brown said. “Just to know that our (secondary players) can compete with one of the best teams in the whole CEBL, it gives us a lot of confidence. But we put in a lot of work, so I’m not even surprised to be honest.”

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600681

Next CEBL action

With the regular season wrapped up, CEBL basketball will return on Thursday for Play-In action. First, the Montreal Alliance will visit the Scarborough Shooting Stars out East, followed by the Surge hosting the Edmonton Stingers in a playoff Battle of Alberta in the West.

For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

- CEBL -

Steady Stingers Hand River Lions Fourth Straight Loss

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 16:32:45 GMT

Edmonton and Niagara received a taste of post-season basketball on Friday.

A chippy, tightly contested matchup ended in a 92-81 win for the Stingers over the River Lions at the Edmonton Expo Center in the second-last regular-season game of the year for both teams.

Edmonton moved to 14-9 for the season, keeping its hopes alive of a home playoff game depending on Calgary's result later Friday. The Battle of Alberta is locked in as the Western Conference play-in game.

Either way, the Stingers don't appear like they'll back down — at least if Friday's win was any indication.

“We know it's going to be a dogfight against Calgary. We know it's going to be a playoff-type atmosphere. It's going to be tooth and nail, it's going to be a five-point ballgame, so for us to be able to trust each other and have that chemistry going down the stretch is going to be important,” Stingers head coach Jordan Baker said.

Niagara has already clinched a spot at Championship Weekend with the top seed in the Eastern Conference but is now riding a four-game losing streak as it falls to 14-9.

The Stingers fired on all cylinders right from the tip, building an early advantage and holding on even as the River Lions made a series of runs throughout the game.

When the clock stopped for Target Score Time, Edmonton held an 82-76 lead.

The Stingers stood tall during the game's final phase, calmly playing their game and ultimately going up 90-81.

Veteran Nick Hornsby then raced in transition after a River Lions turnover, stopped up, bounced a shot off the glass and clinched the win for his team.

The Stingers clearly enjoyed the win. The team danced their way down the floor after Hornsby's victory — Scottie Lindsey called the choreography “natural” — and huddled around the booth for Lindsey's post-game interview.

“We're a family and winning is our main thing right now. We want to bring a championship back to Edmonton, and we're closed,” Lindsey said.

The win marked the Stingers' second straight after beating the Saskatchewan Rattlers on Wednesday.

Also Friday, Vancouver clinched the top seed in the West with a 102-95 victory over the Scarborough Shooting Stars. The Bandits will host the winner in the conference semifinal next Saturday.

For the Stingers, it means their play-in opponent — the Surge — has been determined.

“We're trying to gain momentum not only with wins, but with style of play, and I think tonight was rocky at times, but we weathered the storm and ended up on top,” Baker said.

Edmonton's offense — a strength all season — keyed its latest victory as the Stingers scored 49 points in the first half, made 59 per cent of their two-point attempts and connected on 48 per cent of their overall field-goal attempts.

The scoring was balanced throughout the Stingers lineup as leader Sean East II was limited to 14 points. He now needs 16 points in the Stingers' Sunday finale to break the league's single-season scoring mark.

“It just goes to show how deep we are. We've been together all year … so we're just trying to keep building that chemistry and keep building toward the playoffs,” East II said.

In his place, Hornsby led the way with 21 points to go with four rebounds and four assists, Lindsey added 20 points, four rebounds and four steals and forward Keon Ambrose-Hylton put up 12 points and six rebounds.

Baker said he was happy with the Stingers' team-first offensive mentality.

“We attacked aggressively, we found our gaps, we took advantage of mismatches. When the ball gets stagnant and we try to isolate, I think that's where we struggle a bit,” he said.

Hornsby said his team's “hard-headedness” was its key to success.

“They came out pretty hot in the second half. We didn't get down. We were frustrated with ourselves, just in the sense of we weren't doing what we needed to do, but we picked that back up and turned it around,” he said.

The River Lions, meanwhile, are suddenly stumbling as they make their way toward Winnipeg for Championship Weekend.

Niagara's losing skid comes on the heels of a franchise-record seven-game winning streak — and it may be feeling the frustration after it picked up technical crowds in the first half, including two on the bench and one against leading scorer Khalil Ahmad.

Head coach Victor Raso said the River Lions have been “losing on the margins.”

“It's a really tough task that we have right now and we're struggling with it. We're struggling to play meaningful, really high-level, championship-caliber basketball with nothing on the line and it's a dangerous game that we're playing here. I trust the experience of the group, but it's not ideal,” Raso said.

The River Lions enjoyed a balanced scoring attack like the Stingers, with Ahmad and Ron Curry sharing the team high with 19 points each.

Elijah Lufile fell just shy of a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds, while Ahmed Hill added 11 first-half points off the bench.

Captain Kimbal Mackenzie, who had 11 points of his own, said his team is still working hard despite already having Championship Weekend locked down.

“We're trying to be in a mode here where we're going in with good momentum. We're a competitive group. We play basketball because we like competing, because we want to win every game,” he said.

The Stingers roared to a strong start and led 23-19 by the end of the first quarter.

Another strong second quarter left Edmonton with a 49-42 lead at halftime, but Niagara responded with a 7-0 run to even terms early in the third quarter. Through 30 minutes, the Stingers regained a five-point advantage at 69-64.

Edmonton then kept Niagara at arm's length throughout the fourth quarter.

Now, it can carry that confidence into a Battle of Alberta play-in game.

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600677

Up Next

Both teams are in action for the final day of the regular season on Sunday as the Stingers host the Winnipeg Sea Bears while the River Lions visit the Calgary Surge.

Next CEBL Action

All 10 teams play on a quintuple-header Sunday as the regular season comes to a close. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

- CEBL –

Harris’ Target-Score Time Heroics Lift Sea Bears Past River Lions

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 17:25:25 GMT

In what might have been a preview of the 2025 Championship Final, it was the Winnipeg Sea Bears that secured a leg up over the Niagara River Lions after an 86-81 win on Wednesday night.

Both squads had already secured their spots in the Conference Finals before post-season action begins next week, Winnipeg (10-12) doing so by virtue of being the host city this season, while Niagara (14-8) paved its way by clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Meaning each team is just one win away from a rematch in the title game and only two victories away from securing a CEBL championship, giving each team plenty of opportunity to gain insight from the regular-season matchup.

“(Possibly facing Niagara in the Final) was clearly on top of our minds,” Jalen Harris said after scoring a game-high 24 points and all of Winnipeg’s baskets in Target Score Time. “Coach had repeated that throughout the week, this is a team we could potentially see, so I think we were locked in a prepared to learn whatever we could from this game.”

Behind the star guard was Will Richardson with 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Simi Shittu with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Meanwhile, Nathan Bilamu chipped in 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists, Terry Roberts added 10 points off the bench, and Trevon Scott dished out 10 assists to go with eight points.

On the other side, Ron Curry led the defending champs by scoring 22 points, to go with six rebounds and four assists. Khalil Ahmad added 18 points and seven rebounds, while Ahmed Hill finished with 12 points off the bench. Despite the loss, Hill did reach a personal milestone on Wednesday as his two helpers pushed him past 200 assists all-time (regular season only), making him just the 14th player in CEBL history to reach that mark.

The defeat at the Canada Life Centre also dropped the defending champs to 5-5 on the road this season, a stark contrast to their 9-3 showing at home in Niagara.

“We’re not playing with a sense of urgency that we need,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said after his team’s third straight loss. “This was a team that won seven games in a row to clinch the East, and now we’re just not … the little things are showing up.

“You can’t win a tight road game shooting 11-for-20 from the free throw line and as poorly as we did from three, but really, it’s the urgency. It has to matter a lot, and right now it doesn't.”

Winnipeg may have struggled to contain Niagara early as it trailed 27-21 after the first — following a 9-of-11 start from inside the arc by the River Lions — but it was clear right out of the gates that Harris was in for a big game as he scored the Sea Bears’ first nine points on the night.

And although the import put up just four points in the second, Winnipeg was still able to take advantage of that early momentum as it cut the deficit going into the break, trailing 45-42.

The Sea Bears did so largely thanks to an inspired effort on the glass. Winnipeg grabbed 13 offensive rebounds (plus-nine) through the game’s first 20 minutes, which led to a 12-2 edge on second-chance points and eight more field goal attempts than Niagara at halftime. Not a total surprise considering the Sea Bears entered Wednesday ranked second in the CEBL for offensive rebounds per game (12.2).

“We’re moving in the right direction,” Taylor said post-game. “We’ve got a great opportunity with our roster now, and I’m really proud of the attention to detail the players had today.”

And coming out of halftime, coach Raso said his team needed to “gang rebound,” to limit Winnipeg’s success on that front, but that appeared easier said than done. By the end of the third, the Sea Bears had ballooned what was a plus-six rebounding edge through the first half into a plus-14 advantage.

“We can’t just keep being like ‘we’re going to be okay,’” Raso said when asked about his team’s struggles of late toward the end of the season. “We’ll be back, but there has to be urgency. There’s no way around it … this team has won on the margins all year, and we need that.”

All the while, the Sea Bears retook the lead less than two minutes into the second half, fittingly after Shittu corralled yet another offensive board and dropped it back in through contact. The forward then completed the and-one at the free throw line, giving the Sea Bears their first lead since the 7:11 mark of the first. Winnipeg then built that into a 65-61 edge by the end of the third quarter.

The margin remained the same until the start of Target Score Time when Harris took over. The former second-round NBA draft pick scored all nine of Winnipeg’s points once the clock stopped and shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the field to seal the win. His final basket — a layup through traffic after knifing through Niagara’s defence — was especially timely as the River Lions had gone on a 5-0 run and cut the deficit to just three points before Harris’s ninth Target Score Winner all-time.

“We knew we had to execute,” Harris said of his heroics after the win. “It got away from us a little bit, but we buckled down and did what we planned to do.”

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600671

Up next

Both squads return to action on Friday, starting with the Sea Bears hosting the Brampton Honey Badgers in another cross-conference clash. Meanwhile, the River Lions continue their season-ending four-game road trip with a matchup against the Edmonton Stingers.

Next CEBL action

Wednesday’s triple-header slate wraps up with the second leg of a home-and-home set between the Stingers and host Saskatchewan Rattlers at 9:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. local.

The clash will mark their second matchup in three days and the final regular season meeting between the West rivals. Saskatchewan leads the season series 2-0.

For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

- CEBL -

Scarborough Cruises Past Top-Seeded Niagara in the Ends

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 14:04:25 GMT

The Scarborough Shooting Stars bolstered their position for the Eastern Conference’s second seed Sunday, dismantling the first-place Niagara River Lions, 81-64.

Led by Michael Foster Jr.’s franchise-record 16 rebounds and a commanding defensive effort, Scarborough showcased the kind of physicality and urgency that could make them dangerous contenders heading into Championship Weekend.

Foster, playing just his fourth game with the team, added 15 points to his monster rebounding performance and anchored a second-quarter surge that left Niagara scrambling. “I’m a little upset that I didn’t get 20 [rebounds], but hey, it’s a franchise record and I’m happy with that,” Foster said.

The River Lions have already secured their place in Championship Weekend as the top seed in the East. Perhaps that security contributed to their performance, but the Shooting Stars would not be denied this afternoon in front of their home crowd.

Scarborough has now split its regular season match-up with Niagara, 2-2. Foster was not a part of the team the last time the two played each other. Niagara added Meshack Lufile, brother of current River Lions’ big man Elijah Lufile, since then.

Scarborough had a dominant second quarter, winning 21-9, and cemented their lead in the third quarter even as Terquavion Smith and Donovan Williams spent more time resting than playing.

Scarborough’s size confounded Niagara in the second quarter. Foster set solid screens and not only was he scoring, his huge block on a nearly unguardable hook shot had reverberated through his team. His presence along with Kalif Young’s made it hard for Niagara to score down low – they only had four paint points by the second half.

Young had a block of his own and Khalil Miller followed suit, blocking Kimbal Mackenzie.

Towards the end of the quarter, Foster threw down a two-handed alley-oop to give Scarborough a 40-27 lead, and Kobe Elvis made a huge defensive play, mugging Ron Curry as the latter tried to post Elvis up, and this fueled an easy transition bucket for Aaron Best.

Foster said that these defensive plays were just a mental disposition. “[It’s] really just having heart. That’s really it,” he said. “I felt like everybody came out here, really wanted to win. It’s a really good team out here, so we just wanna show our impact.”

Scarborough continued to press the gas in the third quarter. Aaron Best answered with three triples, the third one giving Scarborough a 20-point lead. He then attacked the hoop and missed, but had Young to tap the ball back in.

Things were clicking so well for Scarborough that even Miller stopped on a dime in transition, and with two Scarborough guards around him, he hoisted a three and nailed it, causing CEBL+ commentator Rod Black to scream, “You did not do that! Miller Time!”

Scarborough also got lucky on some empty Niagara offensive possessions. After stopping Mackenzie from getting a three-point look, the ball was swung out to Khalil Ahmad on the weakside, but he missed the wide-open triple. On the other end, Miller attempted another three, but Foster grabbed the board and dished it out to Anthony Walker who splashed the corner three.

Foster kept putting his stamp on the third frame as well, scoring off his own miss and kissing the ball off the glass after taking Elijah Lufile off the dribble.

At the start of the fourth, Scarborough wasted some possessions – Best turned the ball over, Curry got a bucket, then Williams turned the ball over after getting called for a charge on Mackenzie. Young had a live-ball turnover, but Nathan Cayo could not convert it into a three.

Smith came back into the game with a 68-51 lead, and it didn’t take much for Scarborough to close out the lopsided affair.

“It helps us immensely in the standings. We’re one up against Ottawa now,” Scarborough head coach Mike De Giorgio said. “The guys came out and they responded. They were physically there. We hit first and that’s something that can carry over into the playoffs.”

Niagara head coach and general manager Vic Raso was honest about the challenge he faced today.

“We can’t fake the fact that every team we’re playing is fighting for something and we’ve already clinched,” he said. “But at the same time, we need to earn it back and we’ve got a good opportunity here to go away as a team for three games out west and really find that.”

Nathan Cayo reached his 1000th point milestone (regular season and playoffs) today. “It’s a blessing just to be able to get that many points … To be able to be healthy and get the opportunity to play in this league,” he said.

He finished the game with seven points on one-for-five three-point shooting, struggling from the field like most of his teammates. Niagara finished 26% from the field and 20% from downtown. Curry was the exception who had a team-high 21 points on eight-for-19 (42%) shooting.

Ahmad struggled shooting two-for-eight from the field, but Raso dusted the loss off and remained optimistic about the future.

“We’ve got some growing to do still,” he said matter-of-factly and looked forward to continuing the road trip ahead.

Box score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600658

Up next for both teams

Scarborough (11-11) stays home to host the best team in the league, Vancouver Bandits (16-5), at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre on Friday, August 8. Niagara (14-7) head west and face the Winnipeg Sea Bears (9-11) at Canada Life Centre on Wednesday, August 6.

Next CEBL action

The Montreal Alliance (8-12) recently secured a playoff berth and will host the Calgary Surge (14-7) at Verdun Auditorium tomorrow. This will be CEBL’s lone Monday, August 4 Civic Holiday game. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

- CEBL -

Roster Update: August 3 2025

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 17:12:57 GMT

The Niagara River Lions have announced the following roster update ahead of their road game against the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Sunday, August 3:

Eddie Ekiyor has been released from the team in accordance with his contractual obligations to join Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball of France’s LNB Pro A League for the 2025–2026 season.

We’re proud to support Eddie as he takes the next step in his professional journey overseas and thank him for the impact he’s made on and off the court during his time with the River Lions.

The River Lions remain focused as they enter the final stretch of the regular season and continue their push toward the playoffs.

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600667

Smart’s Record-Setting Night Lifts BlackJacks Over River Lions

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:52:11 GMT

The Ottawa BlackJacks entered Thursday’s game against the Niagara River Lions desperate for a win.

Javonte Smart made sure they got it.

Smart scored a season-high and franchise-record 44 points, including a miraculous game-winner, to send the BlackJacks past the River Lions 96-93 on Thursday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont.

Ottawa moved to 10-10 as it pursues second place in the East and a bye to the conference semifinals.

“I'm really proud of our guys, man. Shorthanded like that, and fighting through everything, the adversity we've been going through. And so to come out like that with a big win on the road against a really good team like this, I'm really proud of our group,” BlackJacks head coach Dave DeAveiro said.

Niagara, meanwhile, saw its franchise-record seven-game winning streak come to an end as it fell to 14-6 on the season.

In the early going, Ottawa looked like the team with way more to play for as it built a 17-point lead midway through the first quarter.

But the River Lions ended the frame on a 10-0 run, then slowly chipped away. After Niagara went up as many as nine points in the fourth, however, it was Ottawa’s turn to fight back.

The BlackJacks led 87-86 entering Target Score Time after River Lions guard Kimbal Mackenzie drew a three-point foul when Ottawa tried to initiate a whistle and the final stage of the game.

With the clock off, the teams traded scores until both were within three points at 93-all.

Then, Ottawa called a timeout, ostensibly to draw up some sort of play. Smart had other ideas.

“I told coach nah, I want the ball. It’s game time, I feel like winning,” he told sideline reporter Dhanung Bulsara after the game. “So that’s what I did.”

Smart received the ball following an inbounds play well beyond the arc on the left wing. He took one dribble toward River Lions defender Ron Curry, stepped back and launched a three-point heave from his left hip.

And in the 100th game of their existence, the BlackJacks picked up perhaps their most thrilling victory.

“Smart played a ridiculous game, made a ridiculous shot,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said.

DeAveiro added that it was a confidence-boosting win for his troops.

“Anytime you [can] play in Niagara and be successful at Niagara, it's quite the accomplishment, so it just gives us more confidence that we can go on the road and be successful on the road. We have to go on the road in the playoffs, so we have to be ready,” DeAveiro said.

Smart, who entered the game as the league’s leading scorer with 27 points per game in his first season in the CEBL, now has the Ottawa single-game record — a mark held at 37 solely by teammate Deng Adel since 2022 before Smart tied it himself on July 1.

Now, it’s Smart’s all alone.

An easy choice as the league’s top newcomer, Smart, the 26-year-old from Baton Rouge, La., played 18 NBA games with the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers before coming to the CEBL this season.

The LSU product only joined Ottawa on June 20, but has quickly made his presence known, adding 6.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game in addition to his prolific scoring.

On Thursday, Smart collected eight assists alongside his 44 points while shooting an efficient 13-for-19 from the field, including six-for-nine from beyond the arc.

“I feel good. I feel like everything I put up was going on, so that's the work I put in here [showing],” Smart said.

Big man Zane Waterman also pitched in with 20 points and five rebounds, while Tyrrel Tate contributed 12 points off the bench.

The game grew increasingly chippy as the minutes wore on, with both teams seemingly unhappy with the officiating.

DeAveiro was ejected late in the third quarter after arguing a non-call against Waterman, who also picked up a technical foul on the play. Assistant Matt MacLean took over from DeAveiro on the bench.

“I thought there was a lot of fouls today where they weren't being called,” DeAveiro said. “I just had to protect my guys. I was frustrated. You know, I got to be a little bit more mature on that situation, but I was just frustrated.”

For Niagara, meanwhile, the game represented its first since clinching the No. 1 seed in the East — and a trip to Championship Weekend — thanks to the BlackJacks’ Tuesday win against the Scarborough Shooting Stars.

Yet after falling behind early, the River Lions still fought back.

“I mean, did we play with the championship calibre mindset? No, I thought we were a little loose and that's the task that we have in front of us,” head coach Victor Raso said. “That's really difficult right now is that we have to approach these games as if they are as important to us.”

Curry paced the River Lions with 23 points, including five triples, to go with four assists.

Leading scorer Khalil Ahmad was held relatively in check by a fierce BlackJacks defence, managing just three points in the first half and 12 for the game. Ahmad, who missed all eight of his three-point attempts on the rare off night, became a facilitator instead with seven assists.

Mackenzie added 14 points and six rebounds, while forward Nathan Cayo neared a double-double with 13 points and nine boards.

Ahmed Hill became the first player in league history with 1,500 regular-season points when he nailed a corner triple late in the first quarter. He finished the game with nine points, four assists and three rebounds.

Curry said his team must stay locked in through its final four games of the season.

“We just got to be hungry, man. They wanted it a little bit more today. We can't get complacent. We got to stay hungry,” Curry said.

The BlackJacks led 26-19 after the first quarter, but by halftime, Ottawa’s lead had shrunk to 44-42. Niagara then took control in the third quarter and claimed a 72-64 advantage heading into the fourth.

But Ottawa’s comeback was mounted midway through the final frame as Smart refused to be denied. Then, he put the exclamation point on the win in Target Score Time.

Now, the BlackJacks are in the driver’s seat to join Niagara in Winnipeg.

Box Score

Up Next

Ottawa returns home to host the Calgary Surge on Saturday, while Niagara begins a season-ending four-game road trip with a trip to the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Sunday.

Next CEBL Action

A triple-header Friday begins with an East battle between Brampton and Montreal before a pair of Western Conference matchups including Saskatchewan at Winnipeg and Vancouver at Edmonton. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

- CEBL -

Niagara River Lions Clinch First Place in Eastern Conference, Advance Directly to Championship Weekend 2025

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 01:28:28 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions have officially secured the top seed in the CEBL Eastern Conference and a direct berth to Championship Weekend 2025 (CW25) in Winnipeg. With a possible final record no worse than 14–10 and holding the tiebreaker over Ottawa, Niagara has locked in the top spot in the East.

By finishing first, the River Lions skip the first two rounds of playoffs (Eastern Conference Play In on August 14 and Eastern Conference Semi Finals on August 16) and head directly to the Eastern Conference Finals at CW25, taking place August 21–24, 2025.

The River Lions remain the only CEBL team to advance to Championship Weekend every year since the league's inaugural 2019 season, and this marks the third consecutive season that the River Lions have finished first place in the Eastern Conference.

The River Lions now shift their focus to closing out the regular season strong, with one final home game remaining — Fan Appreciation Night on Thursday July 31 at the Meridian Centre, before finishing with a four game road trip versus Scarborough, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary.

CEBL Playoff Format:

The top four teams in each conference (East and West) qualify for the playoffs. The 2nd and 3rd seeds face off in a play-in game, with the winner advancing to face the 1st seed in the Conference Final. However, the team with the best overall record in each conference bypasses this round entirely and clinches a bye to Championship Weekend, entering directly into the league semifinals alongside the Western Conference winner.

By finishing first in the East, Niagara avoids both the play-in and conference final rounds, solidifying a place as one of the league’s final four teams competing for the 2025 CEBL title.

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL and the league's reigning champions. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

RIVER LIONS SIGN AMERICAN GUARD CURTIS HOLLIS TO ROUND OUT ROSTER AHEAD OF PLAYOFFS

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 20:31:18 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’6 American guard, Curtis Hollis. Hollis joins the River Lions after starting the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season with the Vancouver Bandits where he averaged 11.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 14 games.

“Curtis is a dynamic wing who we have admired from afar in the CEBL, and jumped at the opportunity to add him to our team”, said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “Curtis will bring depth and insurance to our roster as we approach our playoff run, and this is a great opportunity to build a relationship with an emerging CEBL talent.”

An Arlington, Texas native, Hollis played six games during the 2024 CEBL season, one with the Vancouver Bandits and five with the Montreal Alliance where he averaged 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists in 22.0 minutes played.

Hollis played overseas during the 2024-25 season with Helsinki Seagulls in Finland’s Korisliiga , posting averages of 16.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 27.6 minutes in 38 games played. His global career also includes stops in South Africa, the Dominican Republic, the Central African Republic, Germany and NBA G League training camp invites with the Detroit Pistons’ affiliate, Motor City Cruise (2022), and Golden State Warriors’ affiliate, Santa Cruz Warriors (2021).

Hollis played post-secondary basketball at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas where he helped lead the Blue Dragons to a Round of 16 appearance at the 2018 NJCAA DI men’s basketball championship. In his lone collegiate season, he averaged 6.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 34 games played.

“I’m happy and excited about joining such a great organization and championship team. Coach Victor has an amazing high level system in place and it’s one of the main reasons why I wanted to be apart of this organization”, said Hollis. “I feel like I will fit in really well with the group and can’t wait to compete. I know a good amount of the guys on the team already so it will be super easy for me to get acclimated.”

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE SIGNING OF MESHACK LUFILE AHEAD OF TRANSACTION DEADLINE

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 15:00:01 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’9 Canadian forward Meshack Lufile, whose deal was finalized ahead of the team’s July 26 transaction deadline. The 32-year-old Burlington, Ontario native started the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season with the Ottawa Blackjacks where he averaged 7.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 7 games.

“Meshack is a veteran Canadian 5 man, who will bring a veteran presence and depth to our team for our playoff run”, said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “He’s a quality basketball player who is familiar with our team and organization, and we are glad to have him for the rest of the season.”

Lufile is no stranger to the CEBL having suited up for the Guelph Nighthawks (now Calgary Surge ), Newfoundland Growlers, Edmonton Stingers , Scarborough Shooting Stars , and Ottawa Blackjacks . Lufile’s eight-year professional career has taken him overseas playing in The Netherlands, Romania and most recently KTP Basket of the Finnish Korisliiga League where he finished first in blocks (26), second in rebounds (154), third in points (335) and fifth in assists (42).

Prior to his professional career, Lufile played for Cape Breton University from 2011 to 2016 where he was named to the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) First All-Star Team in 2014–15 and earned AUS Defensive Player of the Year honours in 2015–16.

Lufile is part of a basketball family, with three of his brothers having CEBL experience. Meshack joins his brother Elijah currently on the River Lions,, while Abednego and Chadrack previously suited up for the Guelph franchise during the 2019 season.

“I’m excited to be part of an organization that has championship pedigree, and learning from a great group of guys. I’m hoping to bring a veteran presence, hard work ethic and a low post threat to add to what they have already established”, said Lufiile, “I’m also excited to share the court with my brother, in what feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600669

River Lions Roar Past Alliance with Wild Target-Score Comeback

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 02:29:00 GMT

Down to their last gasp, the Niagara River Lions proved yet again why they are the defending champions.

The River Lions mounted an insane 10-0 game-ending run to stun the Montreal Alliance on Friday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont., roaring back to pull a 91-89 victory from the jaws of defeat.

Montreal — which trailed by 16 early — was two points away from a shocking comeback of its own but failed to convert on three consecutive possessions.

Instead, two-time Clutch Player of the Year Khalil Ahmad sparked yet another defining night for Niagara, which, somehow, earned its franchise record-tying sixth straight win.

“We just wanted it, simple as that. We buckled down on defence, we made shots on offence and we got the win,” Ahmad told sideline reporter Esfandiar Baraheni after the game.

The East-leading River Lions improved to 13-5 on the season. Montreal, which could have clinched a playoff spot with a win and a Brampton loss to Scarborough, fell to 7-10.

Meanwhile, Niagara’s dominance over Montreal marches on: the River Lions moved to 10-1 all-time against the Alliance, including an emphatic season series sweep this year.

Montreal seemed well on its way to a signature victory as it led 82-75 when the clock stopped for Target Score Time.

But River Lions star Khalil Ahmad responded with a fadeaway three-pointer from one corner to start the final phase of the game — then, after a Tavis Smith layup, he hit one from the other side of the court, too, to cut Niagara’s deficit to three.

“No words for it, honestly,” Ahmad said. “When Target Time starts, it's a different mode.”

As they had all game to that point, the Alliance punched back when a Smith steal and ensuing Quincy Guerrier layup put them four points away from victory.

Montreal eventually pulled within two, and an inspiring comeback win seemed all but settled.

Suddenly, though, the Alliance could not buy a basket. Meanwhile, an 8-0 River Lions run — an and-one from Ron Curry followed by another Ahmad triple and an Ahmed Hill dunk — put both teams within a bucket of victory.

Then, a Montreal turnover gifted Niagara the ball, and head coach Victor Raso called timeout.

Ahmad missed a three-point attempt, but Nathan Cayo collected the rebound and kicked to Hill, who darted to the rim, took contact and made a diving layup to clinch the win — and send the Alliance home stunned.

“Ahmed played off the catch and just had an awesome attack to the rim. I mean, Ahmed struggled a bit to start the game, but that's a good feeling, playing against his former team, doing that,” head coach Victor Raso said.

Raso said it was a “championship-calibre” win.

“There's a no-give-up mentality with these guys, and they just believe. They believe that they can win every game they've been in. Like, even when we weren't playing well early this year, there's never a given in Target Time. If they haven't hit the target, then these guys feel like they can win,” Raso said.

Meanwhile, Alliance head coach Jermaine Small said the loss was a continuation of Montreal’s woes throughout the year.

“We've been saying kind of the theme this year is we felt like they didn't beat us, we beat ourselves. But like I said, we don't have time to regret and stuff. We’ve got to get back on the bus,” Small said.

Ahmad paced the River Lions with 29 points — including nine in Target Time — to go with five rebounds and five assists.

Curry, who played a major part in the comeback on the defensive end, also contributed offensively with 19 points in addition to four rebounds and three assists.

Cayo was the only other River Lion to reach double-figure scoring, finishing the contest with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.

The River Lions are now that much closer to booking their ticket to Winnipeg for Championship Weekend as the No. 1 seed in the East.

“We just got to keep chipping away. We're trying to get the first-overall seed, and that win goes a long way to doing that,” Raso said.

Starting Niagara guard and captain Kimbal Mackenzie missed the game.

The loss for Montreal could sting extra badly after it had ended an ugly seven-game skid with a win over the Ottawa BlackJacks two nights earlier.

Small said his team will rue its free-throw shooting. The Alliance shot just 10-for-20 from the charity stripe, including an 0-for-7 first half.

“We had our opportunity to win. They made a great comeback. I just kind of talked about [how] the free-throw shooting really, really hurt us. But, like I told our guys, you win or you learn, and there's a lot of growth,” Small said.

“No one’s going to feel sorry for us. Massive game Sunday [against the Scarborough Shooting Stars], so we got to prepare and shoot free throws tomorrow.”

The Alliance were led offensively by Smith, who found a second-half spark — including a third-quarter buzzer-beater — to finish with 19 points along with five assists and four steals.

Fellow reserve Michael Diggins Jr. poured in 17 points off the bench with five rebounds, while starter Brandon Porter added 11 points and six rebounds.

The River Lions roared to an early 10-0 lead to start the game, including seven points from Ahmad alone. Niagara held a 27-18 advantage after the first frame, but Montreal fought back to within six points at halftime.

Montreal then wrestled the lead away from Niagara in the third quarter, punctuated by the Smith triple to enter the fourth up 64-62.

A playoff-like atmosphere only intensified as the teams exchanged words midway through the fourth quarter when Curry got into Smith’s face after taking a reach-in foul. One technical foul and two unsportsmanlike penalties were handed out.

Then, the real madness ensued.

And by the time the final buzzer had sounded, CEBL order had been restored in a way. The River Lions, yet again, were back on top.

Box Score

Up Next

Both teams return to action Sunday when Niagara visits the Brampton Honey Badgers while Montreal hosts the Shooting Stars.

Next CEBL Action

Just one game is on the docket for Saturday as the Saskatchewan Rattlers head to Ottawa to take on the BlackJacks. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

- CEBL -

How Khalil Ahmad Carried a Cool Confidence from California to Canada

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 17:01:42 GMT

The first thing that comes to Khalil Ahmad’s mind when he thinks back on his maiden CEBL title is a miss.

Ahmad, long since known as the league’s Clutch King, was absent only the Championship Trophy to complete his wide-ranging, impressive set of league accomplishments.

Yet with a chance to ice the Niagara River Lions’ first title, the sharp-shooting, cool-as-a-cucumber Corona, Calif., native missed a free throw.

Before Ahmad knew it, then-Vancouver Bandits guard Koby McEwen nailed a three-pointer on the other end, and both teams were one point away from victory.

But Ahmad had a shot at redemption.

“And then it was kind of just, there was no play. It wasn't a play call. Just make something happen. And finished the play, got the chip. So that was all she wrote,” Ahmad recalled in a recent interview.

Except, well, the story didn’t end there.

A celebration ensued in Montreal as one of the CEBL’s most storied teams finally earned its first banner.

Now, Ahmad and the River Lions are on the hunt to become the second team in league history to successfully run it back.

At 12-5, Niagara leads the Eastern Conference by four games and has already punched its playoff ticket.

“For guys to be able to sacrifice [their overseas off-season] and come back and compete and be together for something bigger than themselves, I think that's a testament to our togetherness and the amazing club that we have,” Ahmad said.

Ahmad, 28, is in his fourth season with the River Lions, and quickly climbing the all-time league leaderboards.

Somewhat ironically, given how the 2024 Finals played out, Ahmad has made more free throws and nailed more Target Score Winners than anyone in league history. He is also the CEBL’s all-time steals leader.

It’s those finishes, though, that have become Ahmad’s calling card. His 28 winners are 10 more than second-place Cat Barber in the all-time ranks.

He said compounding confidence in those situations has helped him continue to succeed.

“Confidence can take you places you would've never expected to go before and have you do things you never expected to do,” he said.

Growing up in California, it’s impossible that Ahmad would have ever expected to become the face of a Canadian professional basketball league.

The CEBL didn’t even exist when Ahmad starred at Centennial High School in Corona. He went on to play four years at Cal State Fullerton, breaking the 1,000-point barrier for his career — as he’s now done in the CEBL, too — and reaching the NCAA tournament in 2018, when his 15th-seeded Titans fell to No. 2 Purdue.

Still, Ahmad carries that cool southern California swagger with him even as he competes in southern Ontario.

“I definitely would say that I'm pretty nonchalant as a person. My friends tell me that all the time, but it helps a lot, you know? I can keep a cool head, stay focused, stay in the moment, don't get too high, don't get too low. And I think that's the perfect level to be at,” Ahmad said.

Head coach Victor Raso has been with Ahmad for all four years of his CEBL journey.

They’ve experienced those up and downs together and shared the joy of that first championship one year ago in Montreal.

For Raso, it’s comforting knowing he has such a reliable star player.

“Like that that musician or painter, they're themselves in their own world but when they're doing the craft it's like this [different] person comes out and that's Khalil,” Raso said.

“Since Day 1, he's a mental monster and he's physically gifted, he works hard and he's just coachable. And we've had our struggles too, we've gone through losses and recommitted to each other, each and every year. And to see him last year just a switch flip mentally, that he was going to be super solid, and he was going to show everyone that he's a winner … it's like, this is an unbelievable basketball player.”

Outside of the court, Ahmad holds his Japanese heritage close to his heart.

His father was born there — and he’s honoured his background with tattoos, in addition to learning the culture through his grandmother, through books and through cooking.

If you’re wondering, Ahmad says his specialty is a Japanese-inspired salmon recipe.

He said his hope is to one day represent Japan as a basketball player on the national team, though there are certain citizenship hurdles he still must jump through.

“If I can get the opportunity to make that happen, that would be amazing,” he said.

For now, Ahmad’s sights sets are set on a second consecutive title. His River Lions are once again among the league’s top teams — despite a rocky start to the season, they’ve won five straight to re-establish themselves as a legitimate threat.

A trip to Winnipeg for Championship Weekend in August is starting to feel likelier than not.

After a recent victory, in which the River Lions clinched a playoff spot, Raso said they weren’t done there.

“We wanna win the East. We wanna win the championship,” he said. “Our standards are much higher. We expect to make the playoffs.”

Likewise, Ahmad is focused on one goal only.

“Hey, we're trying to run it back.”

- CEBL -

River Lions Expand Lead Atop East with Victory Over Shooting Stars

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:01:22 GMT

The Niagara River Lions have their eyes on a trip to Winnipeg for Championship Weekend.

They can feel safer thinking about booking those flights now as the defending champions cruised past the Scarborough Shooting Stars 96-81 on Sunday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont.

The River Lions expanded their lead atop the East to four games over the Shooting Stars with the victory. The 7-8 Ottawa BlackJacks remain 3.5 games back of the conference leaders.

Niagara now sits at 12-5 following its fifth straight win, while Scarborough fell to 8-9.

Head coach Victor Raso said the team had to go through the mud early in the season — including a pair of blowout losses to Scarborough and the Brampton Honey Badgers — to get to the point it’s at now.

“You have to earn the belief back. And I think we're doing that now. We're connected on the defensive end. We're connected on the offensive end. Our quality of shots have gone up a lot. We turned the ball over way too much tonight, but we just kind of figured out our rotations where guys should be in and we're playing much better now,” he said.

The River Lions’ latest victory was hardly ever in doubt.

After a closely contested first quarter — which still ended in a five-point advantage for Niagara — the River Lions stretched their lead to 21 points by halftime.

When the clock turned off for Target Score Time in the fourth, Niagara led 87-66.

The Shooting Stars scratched and clawed to cut their deficit to 12 points, but River Lions guard Ron Curry closed things out with a free throw.

“We’re just starting to figure out what our identity is, and we're starting to put it together a little bit. Everybody's playing to their potential, and we're starting to look better as a team,” Curry said.

With the win, Niagara closed in on the East’s top seed — which comes with a bye to the semifinals and a guaranteed trip to Championship Weekend.

The River Lions have never missed the playoffs in the CEBL’s existence. They’re now seeking to become the second team ever to go back-to-back.

On Sunday, Ron Curry sparked the River Lions attack with an early flurry of three-pointers that created separation from Scarborough.

Curry drilled three three-pointers in the first quarter and finished with 22 points, four rebounds and two assists.

“Ron is a really good basketball player. If Ron never tore his ACL, he probably wouldn't be in the CEBL. But he's tough, and he's a shotmaker. And I'm glad he's on our team,” Raso said.

While Curry feasted from beyond the arc, Khalil Ahmad lived at the free-throw line. Niagara’s leading scorer made 11 of 12 attempts from the charity stripe on the way to 23 points to go with four rebounds and two assists.

Like Curry, River Lions captain Kimbal Mackenzie nailed three treys. He scored 16 points in all, adding six rebounds and six assists.

“We’re locked in now,” said forward Eddie Ekiyor, who had 12 points and nine rebounds. “We’re doing pretty good. We gotta keep it going.”

Scarborough, meanwhile, now has its work cut out as it continues to fight for playoff positioning.

The Shooting Stars suddenly sit third in the conference after being limited to just 29 first-half points against Niagara.

For the game, the Shooting Stars committed 15 turnovers and made just 27 per cent of their three-point attempts.

Head coach Mike De Giorgio said the team’s first half was “terrible.”

“We didn't win enough 50-50 balls. We gave up 18 offensive rebounds. That was No. 1 on the scale. We had to match their effort, had to match their intensity, and we came out a little bit flat. And I think just our message here to the guys is just staying together for the full game. I think how we respond to adversity is very important for us,” De Giorgio said.

Terquavion Smith, who entered the game second in leaguewide scoring, put up 22 points to lead the way for Scarborough while also pitching in four steals and three assists.

Cat Barber scored 15 points to become the second player in league history to reach the 1,500-point plateau for his career, including playoffs. River Lions guard Ahmed Hill is the only other player to accomplish the feat.

All of Barber’s points came in the second half.

Aaron Best made his season debut for the Shooting Stars after signing earlier on Sunday. The Scarborough native nearly posted a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds.

“It’s always fun playing at home,” Best said.

Scarborough was missing four players due to NBA Summer League including star scorer Donovan Williams and big man Hason Ward.

“I think overall we just needed to play better. And that's something we'll keep working on we as we go towards our next game,” De Giorgio said.

The Shooting Stars made a run at a comeback in the third quarter, closing to within 12 points, but the River Lions punched back with a four-point play by Ahmad and a three-pointer from Mackenzie.

By the end of the frame, the River Lions were back up 70-51. In Target Time, despite some testy moments, the result never truly came into question.

Now, Niagara has a different lead to hold onto — its grip atop the Eastern Conference.

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600654

Up Next

Both teams are back in action Friday as the River Lions host the Montreal Alliance and the Shooting Stars visit the Brampton Honey Badgers.

Next CEBL Action

Just one game is on the docket for Monday as the Honey Badgers head to Ottawa to take on the BlackJacks. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

- CEBL -

River Lions Punch Playoff Ticket with Comeback Win Over Honey Badgers

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:38:13 GMT

Myles Dichter – July 16, 2025

Step 1 of the Niagara River Lions’ championship defence is complete. The River Lions clinched a playoff spot with a 97-79 win over the Brampton Honey Badgers on Wednesday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont. It marked the fourth straight win for Niagara, which padded its lead atop the Eastern Conference at 11-5.

The Honey Badgers have now lost six straight to fall to 4-14. Niagara has been in the playoffs every year since the CEBL’s inception. “We wanna win the East. We wanna win the championship,” head coach Victor Raso said. “Our standards are much higher. We expect to make the playoffs.” Niagara’s win was one of the comeback variety after trailing by 12 early in the second quarter. But the River Lions showed championship resolve, chipping away in the second frame before taking over in the third. Once Target Score Time rolled around, the River Lions led 87-67. Niagara forward Elijah Lufile finished the game off with a putback layup. “We didn’t start the game with the fight we needed, but we turned it around really quick and then the rest of the way we fought the way we needed to,” Raso said.

With just one-third of the season remaining, the River Lions appear to be rounding into form at just the right time after a rocky start to the year. Niagara has now held four of its last five opponents under 80 points, while offensively it is continuing to receive contributions from up and down the lineup. Raso said increased defensive identity has led to the team’s run. “We’re just finally playing well. … We talked about winning the game to infinity — play every game, every single possession like it doesn’t matter what happened before or after. Our team needs to keep doing that,” he said. Leading scorer Khalil Ahmad paced the River Lions in the victory, putting up 24 points to go with eight assists and six rebounds.

Montreal native Nathan Cayo added 14 points and five rebounds, while Ron Curry pitched in with 13 points and five rebounds Big man Elijah Lufile notched a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double off the bench. Ahmad said the team isn’t simply satisfied with a playoff spot. “It’s nice, but nowhere near close to the end goal. Nice little achievement to check a box, but we still got a lot more to do,” he said. Meanwhile, the Honey Badgers’ playoff chances took another hit as they continue to sit in the basement of the Eastern Conference. Head coach Sheldon Cassimy said there are positives his team can take from the loss, but he wasn’t willing to look too far ahead. “I think it’s just by focusing on each day. We focus on each day and getting better each day as a team and individual,” he said.

Canadian Marcus Carr led the way for the Honey Badgers with 20 points while also adding 10 assists and two rebounds. David Muenkat got off to a hot start with three triples in the first quarter, but didn’t make another until Target Score Time and finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Longtime CEBLer Koby McEwen reached the 1,000-point mark for his regular-season career with a late three-pointer from the corner. He had 14 points and six assists for the game. Carr said it’s important for Brampton to focus on the positives in order to bust its slump. “Although obviously we didn’t get the result we wanted, we did do some good things out there so we have to try and build on that for the next game and then try to put it into ending the drought,” Carr said.

Former Canadian Player of the Year Kadre Gray was in the house to take in the contest. The Honey Badgers burst out to a 26-17 lead after the first quarter, sparked by a trio of triples from Muenkat. But after Brampton pushed its lead to 12 in the second frame, Niagara fought back to head into the locker rooms at halftime trailing just 39-37. The River Lions then took control in the third quarter, winning the frame 34-13 to take a commanding 71-52 lead into the final 10 minutes. Despite a brief scare early in the fourth, Niagara held on to cruise to victory. Now, it knows it’s headed back to the playoffs. And another title is directly in sight.

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600643

Up Next

The River Lions host the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Sunday, while the Honey Badgers visit the Ottawa BlackJacks on Monday.

Next CEBL Action

A pair of Thursday games include the Edmonton Stingers heading to Ottawa while the Winnipeg Sea Bears welcome the Calgary Surge. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games.

- CEBL-

River Lions Race Past Bandits in Battle of Top Seeds

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 18:50:37 GMT

Myles Dichter – July 10, 2025

It was a battle worthy of a championship rematch. And perhaps, even, a championship preview. In the end, the Niagara River Lions left no doubt they are coming for the CEBL crown once again. The River Lions beat the Vancouver Bandits 96-77 on Thursday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont., in a contest pitting the top team in each of the Eastern and Western Conferences.

Both squads entered on winning streaks — but only Niagara’s continued as the Rivers Lions earned their third straight victory and improved to 10-5 on the season.

“We just haven't played to our potential yet, and we're starting to now,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said. “I mean, we defended with serious intensity. We took quality shots. We were on the same page. We won a rebounding battle. We had 25 assists and eight turnovers. Like, that was the best we’ve played.” Vancouver, meanwhile, saw its three-game run end to fall to 11-4. A closely contested game was blown open by Niagara in the third quarter with an 18-5 run to start the frame, pushing its lead to a game-high 14 points. Vancouver never got particularly close again. When Target Score Time rolled around, Niagara led by a massive 23-point margin at 87-64.

The game ground to a bit of a halt with the clock off as a series of unsportsmanlike and technical fouls — plus ensuing reviews — lengthened what was essentially a done deal. After the final review, Niagara’s Eddie Ekiyor finally iced the game with a pair of free throws. “It was a battle, but our identity's effort and just trying hard. We got a lot of skilled guys, and we just worked as a team, right? We were very upset about our first loss with them. … So it's just that togetherness and we're proud of the outcome,” River Lions forward Elijah Lufile said.

Niagara beat Vancouver 97-95 in the CEBL Finals last year for the franchise’s first-ever title. However, the Bandits got a measure of revenge early in the season with a 37-point blowout win in the rematch. In that game, the Bandits enjoyed a near-full roster while Finals MVP Khalil Ahmad, among others, was out for the River Lions. On Thursday, the roles were reversed. With Niagara boasting its top roster, Vancouver was without second-leading scorer Tyrese Samuel and sharpshooter Kyle Mangas, who are both competing at NBA Summer League.

Still, the River Lions made sure they wouldn’t blow the opportunity against a short-handed Bandits team.

“It's taken a long time for us to play really good basketball, and it's just the beginning of what we're capable of. I've been saying that this team's got a lot of potential to play well, and I think we saw tonight what it can look like when we're completely dialled in,” Raso said. It was a team effort for Niagara, who got contributions from up and down the lineup. Curry, in his third game back with Niagara, paced the River Lions with 20 points to go with seven assists and four rebounds.

Ekiyor had 16 points and seven rebounds, while Lufile neared a double-double off the bench with eight points and 10 rebounds. Kimbal Mackenzie added 17 points and six rebounds. Leading scorer Khalil Ahmad has 13 points on five-for-nine shooting. “I think it was just a collective effort on the bench because you got all the guys on the bench clapping, just cheering the guys on the court, whether they make or miss a shot on defence,” Lufile said. “So I had that energy from the get-go. I knew exactly what my assignment was. So coming into the game, it was just a no-brainer.” Meanwhile, the Bandits struggled to get going offensively in their first game without the Canadian Samuel. Potential MVP candidate Mitch Creek struggled to the tune of 13 points on five-for-18 shooting, adding five rebounds and three assists.

Zach Copeland led the way for Vancouver with 15 points despite making just two of 10 three-point attempts, and Corey Davis Jr., posted 14 points and six assists before being ejected in Target Score Time thanks to a pair of technical fouls. “Got a little out of control,” Copeland said. “We tried to scrap it out, grind it out, trying to make comeback, but it's tough team, so we couldn't pull it out.” Vancouver will now be back on the court in less than 24 hours as an Ontario road trip continues in Brampton on Friday before a trip to Scarborough on Sunday. Copeland said the team’s ball movement must improve in order to get the offence humming again. “I felt like it was kind of stagnant. They played good defence. They were in the gaps, but we got to drive the ball and get kickouts,” he said.

In the first quarter, Niagara used a frame-ending 8-0 run to lead 20-17 after 10 minutes. Vancouver replied with a 12-0 run in the middle of the second as the teams traded blows, but the River Lions held a 40-39 advantage at halftime. In the third quarter, the River Lions widened the gap with an 18-5 start to the quarter. They led 67-56 after 30 minutes, and did not look back from there. Niagara and Vancouver will not see each other again in the regular season as they look to pave their paths to and through the playoffs.

But, off course, a date in the Finals could still await.

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600627

Up Next

Vancouver’s Ontario trip heads to Brampton for a game against the Honey Badgers on Friday, while Niagara’s home stand continues against Brampton on Wednesday.

Next CEBL Action

In addition to Vancouver-Brampton on Friday, Scarborough hosts Edmonton and Winnipeg head west to face Saskatchewan. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please

Hill Hits Major Milestone as River Lions Down Alliance

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 14:02:38 GMT

Myles Dichter – July 6, 2025

It was a momentous return to Montreal for Ahmed Hill and the Niagara River Lions. Hill, the former Alliance member, scored 12 points to become the first player to pass the 1,500- point plateau in league history (including playoffs), and the River Lions won 77-73 on Sunday at Verdun Auditorium — the site of their championship victory last season.

The win marked a second straight for East-leading Niagara (9-5), while Montreal dropped under. 500 at 6-7 with the loss. “It was just a war. It felt like a playoff game a little bit,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said of a game in which the teams combined to shoot just 21 per cent from beyond the arc and 60 per cent from the free-throw line. After the River Lions controlled much of the contest, building an 11-point lead, a spirited Alliance comeback gave the home side a one-point advantage at the 5:16 mark.

But the Verdun frenzy was short-lived as the River Lions responded with an 8-0 run. When the clock turned off for Target Score Time, Niagara led 68-61. The Alliance tightened their deficit to as little as three, but a raft of missed free throws prevented them from getting any closer. In the end, the game ended the same way Niagara’s last Montreal contest — the 2024 Finals — did, as Khalil Ahmad nailed the game-winner, this time from the free-throw line. Raso said the win wasn’t necessarily a pretty one. “It just became a slugfest. We did not shoot the ball well from three, but a couple guys stepped up,” he said.

For Hill — the CEBL’s all-time leading scorer — it was a milestone night in one of the CEBL cities he once called home. The 30-year-old from Fort Valley, Ga., was competing in his 90th career game, which ranks third all-time and first among international players. Hill joined the CEBL in 2021 and spent two seasons with the Guelph Nighthawks before moving to Montreal for two more. He’s now in his first season as a River Lion, where he joined the reigning champions in search of his first career title. On Sunday, he came off the bench for the second straight game, making four of 10 field-goal attempts.

“Truly blessed to be on a couple teams with great coaches, great teammates, who let me be me and shine,” Hill said. “Credit to everybody I played with and the organizations. And shout out to the CEBL.” Montreal native Nathan Cayo paced the River Lions in his hometown, scoring 18 points to go with six rebounds. Ron Curry, who recently returned to Niagara after a five-game absence, added 16 points, six rebounds and four assists. Forward Eddie Ekiyor contributed 12 points and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, it was a strangely quiet night for reigning Finals MVP and River Lions leading scorer Ahmad, who struggled with his shot en route to just six points on one-for-10 shooting. He also had seven assists.

Still, his teammates picked up the slack. “It’s becoming not always about Khalil. We have guys who can make plays, we have guys who can score. We haven’t had guys healthy to do that for a while so for Khalil it’s kind of reassuring that he doesn’t have to score the ball as much,” Raso said. For a short-handed Montreal squad, a strong start fizzled quickly as the offence went dry. The Alliance made just six of 27 three-point attempts (22 per cent) and 19 of 31 free-throw tries (61 per cent) overall. Still, head coach Jermaine Small said he was proud of his team’s resolve. “You miss all those free throws, I’m a little bit frustrated about that, but I’m proud of the effort overall,” Small said.

Leading scorer Tavian Dunn-Martin missed the game with an injury, while forwards O.D. Anosike and Michael Diggins Jr. were also absent. In their place, Canadian Quincy Guerrier — in his last game with the team before heading to NBA Summer League with the Toronto Raptors — led the way with a whopping 19-point, 15- rebound double-double. Day 1 Alliance member Alain Louis scored 15 points to go with five rebounds and five assists in the losing cause.

Guerrier said the missing players could have made a difference, but the team needed to adjust accordingly. “I think defensively we were way better than the last four or five games. They’re a championship team, they’re a really good team. Our free-throw [misses] at the end, that was crucial,” he said. NBA champion and Montreal native Luguentz Dort was in the house to take in the game between his hometown Alliance and the defending CEBL champions. Montreal raced out of the gates with its game-opening 7-0 run and led 19-13 by the end of the first quarter. But Niagara took control in the second frame as a 7-0 run of its own powered it to a 41-34 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, the River Lions stretched their lead to 11 and threatened to run away with

things, but the Alliance cut their deficit back to six points entering the final frame. After a tightly fought fourth quarter, it was the River Lions who, familiarly, emerged victorious in Montreal.

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600639

Up Next

Montreal visits the Calgary Surge on Wednesday, while Niagara returns home for a championship rematch against the Vancouver Bandits on Thursday.

Next CEBL Action

Players hit the court next on Wednesday, when the Brampton Honey Badgers host the Ottawa BlackJacks in addition to the Alliance-Surge contest. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule

River Lions Halt Skid with Victory Over Scuffling Sea Bears

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 12:51:12 GMT

Myles Dichter – July 4, 2025

In the battle between struggling Niagara and Winnipeg, one team was assured of a get-right win. The River Lions made sure it was them. Niagara dispatched of the Sea Bears 93-82 on Friday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont., snapping its two-game skid and padding its lead atop the Eastern Conference. Winnipeg, meanwhile, suffered its fourth consecutive loss. Niagara now sits at 8-5, while Winnipeg falls to 5-9.

“I mean, it was the bounceback that we needed,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said. “I thought we played hard the entirety of the game. We played better basketball than we have been in the past, so that was a big step in the right direction.”

The River Lions controlled most of the game, leading by double digits much of the way, until the Sea Bears injected a scare with a fourth-quarter run that cut their deficit to five. It was as close as they would get. Niagara led 83-74 when the clock stopped for Target Score Time, which began explosively. After Jalen Harris hit a two-pointer to start the proceedings, the teams traded three-pointers on four straight possessions with Khalil Ahmad and Ron Curry hitting for Niagara, while Harris hit both for Winnipeg.

Shortly after, Ahmad reinforced yet again why he has become known as the Target Score King, splashing home a step-back three-pointer to seal the River Lions victory. “it's all about continuity and putting together that game after game after game after game, so if we can stay continuous, then we'll be alright,” Ahmad said. For Niagara, the long-awaited win came on the back of its defence. The River Lions entered Friday’s action allowing the most points against per game in the league and having given up a combined 193 points in its two losses. But on Friday, they held the Sea Bears to just 34 points in the middle two quarters and forced 19 total turnovers. “We defended really well, especially for the first three quarters up in the game, really up until the points of the game where Jalen Harris started making shots, I thought we were defending quite well,” Raso said.

Ahmad led the way for Niagara with 26 points to go with four assists and three rebounds. He made nine of 17 field-goal attempts, and two of his three triples came during Target Score Time. Elijah Lufile came off the bench for a near-double-double of 10 points and nine rebounds, while do-it-all guard Kimbal Mackenzie contributed 11 points, five rebounds and four assists. Ahmed Hill, the CEBL’s all-time leading scorer, had 12 points to move within five of becoming the first player in league history to reach the 1,500-point plateau (including playoffs). Ron Curry returned for the River Lions after a five-game absence, scoring eight points and dishing three assists.

But Ahmad also credited his team’s defence for the win. “Defensive toughness, defensive intensity, just being together on defence because offence isn't really our problem. We just got to stay consistent defensively,” he said.

On the flip side, Winnipeg’s defence — which entered just one-tenth of a point better than

Niagara per game and will exit with the dubious title of league’s worst defence — continued to struggle.

Niagara’s offence made 45 per cent of its three-point attempts and five different players scored in double digits. Head coach Mike Taylor pinpointed focus as the reason for his team’s losing streak.

“We really had a spirited comeback, put ourselves in a good position, but there were too many possessions in the early part of the game where we kind of got in our own way. And it's been a theme at times. We've been inconsistent,” he said. “And today that put us behind the eight ball to 19 turnovers. We've been a team that's taken care of the basketball really well all year. Unfortunately, today, we were a little bit disorganized.” Sea Bears leading scorer Simi Shittu was ejected from the game early in the fourth quarter after picking up his fifth personal foul.

In his place, Winnipeg native Emmanuel Akot paced his squad with 22 points to go with six rebounds and two assists. Harris ended with 21 points after his Target Time splurge. Akot said Winnipeg let Niagara build too big of an early lead, but he was happy with his team’s spirit to fight back. “But at the end of the day, winning is what matters, and we just got to go back to the office and figure things out,” Akot said.

Canadian Olympian Dillon Brooks, who was recently traded from the NBA’s Houston Rockets to the Phoenix Suns, attended the game.

The River Lions led 28-24 after a fast-paced first quarter and extended their lead to 51-38 by halftime. They took a 73-58 advantage into the final frame. But in the end, it was Ahmad — as per usual — coming up clutch when it mattered most, and Niagara was able to leave its home arena with a win.

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600635

Up Next

Niagara heads to Montreal to face the Alliance on Sunday, while Winnipeg wraps its three-game

road trip in Saskatchewan against the Rattlers next Friday.

Next CEBL Action The surging Ottawa BlackJacks visit the Rattlers in Saturday’s lone contest. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games.

Hot-Shooting Honey Badgers Cruise Past River Lions

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:46:49 GMT

Zulfi Sheikh – June 29, 2025

No Quinndary Weatherspoon, no problem for the Brampton Honey Badgers. Even without the services of their leading scorer, the home team managed to earn a wire-to- wire 91-66 win over the defending champion Niagara River Lions on Sunday afternoon.

It was the Honey Badgers’ first double-digit victory of the season and improved the squad to a winning 4-3 record at the CAA Centre this season, all while evening the regular-season series 1-1 in after the second of four matchups between the conference rivals. Meanwhile, the loss dropped Niagara into a tie with the Scarborough Shooting Stars atop the East standings and made it back-to-back defeats, both by double-digits.

David Muenkat led that charge as he finished with a season-high (and game-high) 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting and five made threes, capping his third consecutive game of scoring 20 or more. Behind him were the pair of Koby McEwen (19 points, 10 assists) and Amari Kelly (15 points, 12 rebounds), who chipped in double-double efforts. Rounding things out was Marcus Carr, scoring 13 of his 15 points in the final frame to go with eight assists on the night. “I thought we were solid with our energy throughout the game,” Honey Badgers head coach Sheldon Cassimy said post-game. “There were some runs, at times when we might’ve gotten flustered, but I thought we were able to weather Niagara’s runs and play a full 40 minutes.”

On the other side, Ahmed Hill led the way with 13 points, the lone River Lions starter to shoot over 40 per cent from the field. Behind him was Khalil Ahmad with 10 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Meanwhile, Kimbal Mackenzie chipped in 12 points and five assists off the bench — spearheading a 29-9 edge in second-unit scoring, one of the few areas Niagara won on Sunday.

“We’re not a good team right now, we can’t make shots.” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said after his team finished 33 per cent from the field (21-of-63) and 17 per cent from distance (5-of-17). “Can’t make shots, can’t consistently get stops, we’ve just lost our confidence … it’s not good enough.”

It was clear as early as the opening frame that the Honey Badgers — after losing their first matchup of the season against the River Lions by 14 points — had revenge on their mind. And after carving out a 31-16 lead after 10 minutes of play, it’s safe to say some of that comeuppance was exacted.

Brampton earned that big early lead thanks to a lights-out shooting effort, using a 3-for-3 start from downtown to spark an 11-2 run. The Honey Badgers, not long after, took the game’s first double-digit lead on yet another deep make, Ali Sow hitting their fourth triple of the quarter. “It was just about sharing the ball,” Cassimy explained of his team’s hot-shooting start. “We were giving up good shots to get great shots, getting into the paint and kicking the ball out, so it generated better team shots for us.”

The Honey Badgers ultimately went 7-for-8 from beyond the arc in the opening frame, more than they made in the entirety of their 14-point loss to the River Lions, and in stark contrast to the 8.1 they usually make per game, which ranked second-fewest. All the while, Niagara went 0- for-7 from distance in the first, underscoring what was a struggle scoring all around as the River Lions went just 3-for-15 (20 per cent) from the field.

“Disappointing,” Mackenzie said after the loss. “Not a good loss for us. Anytime you lose, it doesn’t feel good … they played better than us. It’s never just making (or missing) shots.” That trend only continued in the second quarter despite the River Lions cutting the deficit down to 10 points on a Mackenzie triple at the 8:25 mark, just their first long-distance make of the game. The Honey Badgers responded immediately with a 10-0 run, ballooning their lead as high as 23 points en route to a 56-35 advantage at halftime. Muenkat led that charge as he scored 12 of his game-high 17 halftime points in the second quarter, including Brampton’s final eight points going into the break. He shot 6-for-8 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc through 20 minutes. The Honey Badgers ended up making a season-high 15 threes, two shy of their franchise’s all- time single-game mark, doing so on a 45 per cent clip.

The River Lions did build a bit of momentum toward the end of the third, however, capping off the quarter on an 8-2 while holding the Honey Badgers scoreless for the final two minutes to shrink their deficit to 16 points (67-51). Although that effort was short-lived as Brampton outscored Niagara by seven points through the first six minutes of the final frame, pushing its lead to 82-59 headed into Target Score Time.

Carr was in charge of that response as he scored the Honey Badgers' first eight points in the

fourth quarter. It was smooth sailing for the Honey Badgers from there, again, in part due to the Toronto native. He scored five of the necessary nine points for Brampton once the clocks stopped while Kelly bookended the effort with a pair of layups. “We can play, we’re not a pushover team,” Muenkat said when asked what beating the defending champions proved. “I don’t think our record is a real representation of the kind of team we are.”

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600622

Up next

The Honey Badgers return Thursday to host the 8-4 Calgary Surge to wrap up a five-game homestand. Meanwhile, the River Lions head back to Niagara as they’ll host the 5-7 Winnipeg Sea Bears on Friday with hopes of putting an end to their skid.

Next CEBL action

Sunday’s double-header wraps up with a cross-conference matchup between the visiting 7-5 Scarborough Shooting Stars and 6-6 Edmonton Stingers 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.

ROSTER UPDATE: JUNE 29 2025

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 17:25:34 GMT

The Niagara River Lions have announced the following roster updates in advance of its Sunday, June 30 game on the road against the Brampton Honey Badgers:Ron Curry has made the decision to step away from the team for personal reasons. We support Ron’s choice and are grateful for the professionalism, and competitive nature he brought to our organization.

Jahvon Blair will also be unavailable for the remainder of the season due to overseas basketball obligations and his ongoing involvement with Canada Basketball. We’re proud to support Jahvon as he continues to represent at the highest levels and thank him for his valuable contributions to our squad.

Head Coach and General Manager Victor Raso will be actively exploring all options and working diligently to fill these roster spots as soon as possible.

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

Scarborough Gets Big Bounce Back Win at Home

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:48:58 GMT

Teru Ikeda – June 22, 2025

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 (3-8) 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

Hill, Ahmad Find Rhythm as River Lions Romp Past Alliance

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 20:22:58 GMT

Myles Dichter – June 20, 2025

The River Lions earned a statement win on School Day in Niagara. Khalil Ahmad led Niagara with 21 points in a 93-82 victory over the Montreal Alliance in a Friday matinee at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont.

Defending champion Niagara padded its lead atop the Eastern Conference by moving to 7-3 on the season, while the Alliance fell to 4-4 with their fourth straight loss. Player of the Game Eddie Ekiyor said the hundreds of screaming students provided a jolt to the River Lions for the 11 a.m. ET start. “I knew it this morning. Everyone thinks they’re gonna be tired — not me. (It) turns the energy up and you saw it with our team today. We played hard,” Ekiyor told sideline reporter J.J. Evason after the game. The River Lions led 84-70 when the clock was stopped for Target Score Time. But it was Montreal who began the closing stage of the game firing on all cylinders as the Alliance cut their deficit to just eight points.

That’s when the River Lions put the ball in the hands of the ‘Clutch King’ Khalil Ahmad. After a timeout from head coach Victor Raso, Ahmad drove and drew two free throws, making both. During the next time down the court, Ahmad rose up from the wing for a game-winning three- pointer. Raso said he was impressed by his team’s performance. “I thought it was the first time that we played with an intensity level that is required to win a championship. That's the first time we put a game together start to finish, especially on the defensive end,” he said.

Facing his former team for the first time, CEBL all-time leading scorer Ahmed Hill enjoyed a breakout first half with 14 points to pace Niagara. Hill, the 29-year-old from Fort Valley, Ga., is competing in his fifth CEBL season after spending two years apiece with the Guelph Nighthawks and Alliance. He had struggled by his standards during his first nine games as a River Lion, averaging just 10.4 points. But that all changed during the first 20 minutes of Friday’s game. He went scoreless in the second half but finished with 14 points, four rebounds, two assists and a team-high plus-16.

“Just me being aggressive. They talked about it the past a couple of games, so, you know, I just come out, try and set the tone,” Hill said. Raso said he saw positive signs from Hill despite the lack of shot-making down the stretch. “We saw the Ahmed Hill tonight that I expect to see the rest (of the season). His pace and his aggressiveness were awesome. … What I love about him is that he didn't make shots tonight, but he was still really good,” Raso said.

Ahmad, the team’s leading scorer for the season, also had five assists and four rebounds while making nine of 11 attempts from the free-throw line. Ekiyor provided a boost off the bench with 10 points and six rebounds on perfect three-for-three shooting from the field and from the stripe. Canadian point guard Jahvon Blair put up 18 points and four rebounds. “We've showed glimpses of being awesome offensively, awesome defensively, and then the other side of it. And today, our intensity was never questioned on the defensive side. We played really hard,” Raso said. Meanwhile, the Alliance are headed in the wrong direction after their blistering 4-0 start to the season.

Head coach Jermaine Small said his team may not have been ready for the early start. “They were more physical in the first half. I thought we were better in the second half, and I just thought, 11 a.m. game and we just played Wednesday. I thought ... because they were waiting, we didn't have a game this week, they just had a bit more gas than us,” he said. Diminutive guard Tavion Dunn-Martin matched Ahmad with a game-high 21 points for the Alliance to go with four rebounds and four assists.

Canadian Malcolm Duvivier contributed 12 points on the strength of four three-pointers and Quincy Guerrier posted an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double. Small said teams are starting to target the Alliance after their early hot streak. “I think at the beginning, no one knew what to expect from us, and now everyone's throwing their best shot at us. So it's one of those things. … I’m not worried. It's just, every game's a process, every possession is a process,” Small said. Alliance forward Michael Diggins Jr., left the game during Target Score Time, appearing to favour his arm. The River Lions raced out to a 25-13 lead after the first quarter. Montreal got within three points during the second frame, but Niagara bounced back to take an 51-36 advantage into halftime. Niagara then extended its lead to 74-55 heading into the fourth quarter. But while the Alliance provided a slight scare in Target Score Time, the River Lions emerged victorious.

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600603

Up Next

Both teams are back in action Sunday when Niagara visits the Scarborough Shooting Starswhile Montreal returns home to host the Saskatchewan Rattlers.

Next CEBL Action

For the second time in CEBL history, all 10 teams will play on the same day on Sunday, with Niagara-Scarborough at 2 p.m. ET and Winnipeg-Edmonton at 6 p.m. ET bookending the coast- to-coast action. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games.

- CEBL –

Ahmad, River Lions Finish Strong to Take Down BlackJacks

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 14:15:25 GMT

Alex Lough – June 15, 2025

Limited early in the game thanks to foul trouble, Khalil Ahmad did what he seemingly always does and turned it on when it mattered most.

The 2022 CEBL MVP scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Target Time to lead his team to a 90-89 victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks. Ahmed Hill and Nathan Cayo added 13 points each, with the former adding nine rebounds and the latter grabbing five boards and dishing out five assists.

“I thought that he was bound to get going,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said of his star player. “But we just couldn’t get him any minutes because he was getting into foul trouble and then he picked up his third and fourth with six and a half minutes to go in the third quarter. So, we put him in with eight minutes left and were trying to take him out on defensive possessions, but he just stuck with it. Khalil is a very good player in this league, and it’s a frustration experience for him and to play against him because he is so physical. I was proud that he kept his composure down the stretch and ultimately made the free throw for the win.” “Sometimes I do want to use him as a decoy. I have those thoughts of, “Okay, let’s go somewhere else’. But then I’m like, ‘You’re an idiot. Khalil scores all the time’. He didn’t score all the points in target time, but he did have the ball in his hands and he was making good decisions. Can I use him somewhere else or do I just get him the ball? He tends to get things done.”

The River Lions came out hot and finished the first quarter with a 30-14 lead, thanks largely to their 14 rebounds and holding the BlackJacks to 5-of-16 from the field. Ottawa answered strongly in the second quarter, going on a 24-16 run to cut the lead to as little as six before Niagara went into halftime up 51-44.

“We just changed a few things on defense,” BlackJacks head coach Dave DeAveiro said post game. “Sometimes as coaches you complicate things when you don’t need to. Just kept in simple in the second half and guys really stepped up and played a lot harder. We made the change, and I thought our guys did a tremendous job.”

Despite the disappointing outcome, of number of players on the BlackJacks had standout performances. Isaih Moore had 23 points – including 15 in the second quarter – and added 16 rebounds, finishing one shy of the team regular season record in his first game since suffering an injury on May 21. Rudi Williams had 14 points off the bench and Tyrell Tate went 4-for-8 from beyond the arc to finish with 12. In his first start of the season, Justin Jackson finished just shy of a double-double, with seven points and nine rebounds. Zane Waterman made his BlackJacks debut Sunday afternoon after spending the previous three seasons with the Honey Badgers franchise, winning a title in 2022. He impressed the coaching staff with 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench.

“Zane adds a toughness, you saw of that today on the rebounding, and some shooting that we needed,” DeAveiro said of his new additions. “The hard part is figuring out the rule where you can only play three imports at a time and juggling that and making that work. You saw; three games on the road without (Moore). Maybe if he plays in those games it’s a different outcome. He’s just an impact guy like that. Having him back – and the addition of Waterman – will only make us better.” “It was nice to play with these guys,” Waterman said of his new squad. “I’ve played against them for three years and I really like their game, so it was nice to play with them for once. Came up short, but we played a really good game. It could have gone either way. It’s a credit to these guys. They helped me fit in well. Some nights it’s going to be your night. Tonight it was for me personally, but I wish we could have got the win.”

The BlackJacks continued to crawl back into the game, going on a 16-4 run at the end of the third to close the gap to one. A Waterman basket at the 8:10 mark of the fourth quarter saw the team take their first lead of the game, a lead they would extend to as much as eight before being up 81-76 going into Target Time. But unfortunately for the home team, things played out much like they did when the squads faced each other in Ottawa’s season opener.

“Something we’ve been preaching out here is that we have to get better at Target Time,” Moore said. “We got to finish games. He have to finish basketball games. We have to get better at finishing games.” “It’s a rivalry,” he added. “Last three games against Niagara have all been decided by three points. The lob from Khalil Ahmed last year, lost by two at the start of the year, and now lost by one. It doesn’t get closer than one point in this game. There’s no ties. Now we have to win. Three points, two points, one point; we have to win. It’s always going to be a good game against Niagara, it’s always going to be hard fought game to the end like that. But we have to get a win. One point. That hurts. I’m going to think about that all day.” The win improved Niagara to 2-0 in Ottawa this season. The BlackJacks fell to 1-2 at home on the year.

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600588

Up next for both teams

The Ottawa BlackJacks hit the road once again to face the Scarborough Shooting Stars on June 20. On the same day, the River Lions will return to Niagara to host the Montreal Alliance.

Next CEBL action

On June 18, the Montreal Alliance will host the Scarborough Shooting Stars, streaming on Game+, RDS, CEBL+ and TSN+. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results,

-CEBL-

Stingers Hold Off River Lions for Win on Ring Night in Niagara

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 19:34:31 GMT

Myles Dichter – June 13, 2025

On ring night in Niagara, it was the Edmonton Stingers who showed championship quality.The Stingers opened the game on a 9-0 run and led wire-to-wire en route to a 106-88 victory over the River Lions on Friday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont. Edmonton dominated through the first 25 minutes or so and opened a 71-46 lead midway through the third quarter when Niagara offered a taste of the championship mettle that earned them diamonds, chipping away to cut the lead to six in the fourth quarter. But Edmonton still held a 97-88 lead at Target Score Time — and it was all Stingers from there.

With the River Lions held scoreless after the clock turned off, it was Edmonton’s Scottie Lindsey who ultimately ended the proceedings with a three-pointer and a dunk. “Basketball is a game of runs, and it was exemplified by that tonight. I mean, obviously, we played well in the first half, and to start the third, but credit to them, they battled back,” Stingers head coach Jordan Baker said. “But Target Time is when games are won and lost, and we managed to hold them scoreless,

which is a good win for us.” Edmonton dominated from the field and on the glass, shooting 48 per cent from three-point range and outrebounding Niagara 46-37.

The Stingers had three players in double-digits by halftime, with Lindsey ultimately leading the team in scoring with 32 points. The win for Edmonton (4-5) was its second straight after losing two in a row, while Niagara (5-3) saw a two-game win streak of its own come to an end. “We just gotta keep playing with the same intensity we’ve been playing with,” Lindsey, who was named player of the game, told sideline reporter Dhanung Bulsara in a post-game interview. River Lions head coach Victor Raso said his side did not come out with the proper intensity.

“They punched us in mouth at the start of the first half, start of the second half, start of Target Time. We just didn't have it tonight. Simple as that,” he said. Stingers guard Sean East II continued his torrid start to the season after entering third leaguewide at 24 points per game. The Louisville, Kent., native and CEBL rookie had 30 points to go with eight assists and five rebounds. Nick Hornsby neared a first-half triple-double with seven points, eight rebounds and eight assists. He failed to score in the second half, but finished with a 10-rebound, 10-assist double- double.

Forward Keon Ambrose-Hylton also contributed 18 points and seven rebounds.

East II said the team now hopes to take its good vibes into a Saturday night showdown in

Brampton.

“Just keep stacking and keep focusing on defensive end, playing hard (and) having fun out there,” he said. Baker said the team’s offensive success was about sharing the ball. “I think we played with pace. I mean, we had 17 assists in the first half, ended with 29, like when we were moving it, sharing it, being unselfish, we got some skilled guys out there that can make plays,” he said. The River Lions made a valiant second-half comeback effort as they ramped up their defence to fuel their offence and chip away at the Stingers’ lead.

However, a slow start and poor shooting night — Niagara made just four of 29 three-point attempts — ultimately proved its undoing. “That's what this league really is, is that if one team's ready to go, they always win, and that team was ready to fight. They were desperate,” Raso said.

For Niagara, reigning Finals MVP Khalil Ahmad led the way with 30 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Ahmad reached 300 career assists (including playoffs) with his first helper, joining Kadre Gray, Cat Barber and Alain Louis as the only players to accomplish the feat in league history. “I mean, it's a great accolade, like, I appreciate it from the league and the recognition and whatnot, but just focused on the main goal, which is the championship,” Ahmad said. Eddie Ekiyor (14 points) and Nathan Cayo (10) were the only other River Lions scorers in double digits.

Canadian point guard Jahvon Blair made his season debut after finishing a campaign in France, posting seven points and three rebounds in nearly 17 minutes of action. In a pre-game ceremony, commissioner Mike Morreale and River Lions executives Richard Petko (owner), Michael Skrtich (owner) and Michelle Biskup (president) presented players, coaches and support staff their 2024 CEBL championship rings. A banner commemorating the title run was unfurled from the rafters of the Meridian Centre.

“That was amazing, just like a cherry on top the big season last year. It's a 10-out-of-10 moment I'll keep with me for a long time,” Ahmad said. On the other hand, he’ll hope to forget the game that ensued rather quickly. The Stingers led 34-25 after the first 10 minutes and extended their advantage to 61-44 at halftime. Niagara put together a 20-6 run in the middle of the third quarter to cut a 25-point deficit to 12 heading into the final frame. But while Niagara cut things even closer from there, it could not close the deal — and ultimately walked away with rings, but without a win.

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600604

Up Next

Edmonton is back at it Saturday with a visit to the Brampton Honey Badgers, while the River Lions head to Ottawa to face the BlackJacks on Sunday.

Next CEBL Action

In addition to the Stingers-Honey Badgers game on Saturday, a battle of conference leaders will occur as the Vancouver Bandits host the Montreal Alliance. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games.

- CEBL-

Vreeken Comes Off Bench to Power River Lions Past Honey Badgers

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 19:38:39 GMT

CEBL Staff – June 8, 2025

Connor Vreeken came off the bench to score 14 points, and collect five rebounds and five assists as the Niagara River Lions defeated the Brampton Honey Badgers, 94-80, Sunday afternoon at Meridian Centre.

Vreeken finished an efficient 5-for-11 from the field and added a couple steals in a career-high 14 minutes of action. The former Carleton Ravens star credits the River Lions (5-2) organization with preparing him for the moment.

“We have a really good coaching staff here. They put me in good positions in order to make plays and then my teammates put me into good spots,” he said. “So, it makes it pretty easy to make reads and then it's just about executing at the end of the day.” Khalil Ahmad led all River Lions players with 22 points in 26 minutes, but was unable to finish the game as he was ejected, along with his Niagara teammate AJ Davis. Honey Badgers Koby McEwen and Amari Kelly were also ejected in the aftermath of a heated skirmish between both sides near the end of the third quarter.

Quinndary Weatherspoon scored a game-high 25 points in the loss for the Honey Badgers (1–7), who looked out of the game early after a 14–3 Niagara run in the first quarter effectively put it out of reach for Brampton. The River Lions bombarded the Honey Badgers from three in the opening frame, going 6-of-13 from distance.

“We always wanna play fast,” said River Lions assistant coach Troy Stevenson. “We thought we had an advantage in transition against them this time so we were really looking to go a little bit earlier, but that that being said, we’re always looking to hunt good shots. Talk to him first and then if it happens to unveil itself like it did today, we’ll take them. We’re not afraid to take shots.” Ahmad also become the first player in CEBL history to record 100 career steals with a couple in the first quarter.

Niagara carried a 53-35 lead into halftime and an 85-66 lead into Target Score Time. The Honey Badgers made a spirited run in Target Score Time, scoring 14 points while the clock was turned off, but couldn’t overcome the hole they dug themselves into.

The defending champion River Lions looked every part of it Sunday, but feel like there’s lots to work on moving ahead, so a Target Score Time like the one that occurred doesn’t happen again. “I think it’s just putting 40 minutes together,” Stevenson said. “We have we have veteran guys, we have guys who know how to win, guys that are proven winners. It’s just a matter of putting all the pieces together and getting comfortable with each other, communicating on the defensive side, not being stagnant on the offence, being aggressive.

“So we’ve got the veterans, we’ve got the pieces and we’re gonna put it together. It’s just taking a little bit longer than we would like.”

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600587

Up next

The River Lions will have a bit of a break and resume play Friday, June 13 at home against the Edmonton Stingers. The Honey Badgers also have a longer break before their next contest, also against Edmonton, at home on Saturday, June 14. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games.

Balanced Attack Helps River Lions Hand Shooting Stars First Loss of Season

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 13:31:13 GMT

Myles Dichter – June 6, 2025

On a night when Niagara’s Khalil Ahmad achieved a rare individual feat, it took a team effort to eke out a victory.

Ahmad scored 17 points to cross the 1,000-point barrier for his career, five other River Lions scored in double digits and Niagara beat the Scarborough Shooting Stars 98-94 on Friday at the Meridian Centre.

Niagara improved to 4-2 with the win, while Scarborough suffered its first loss of the season to fall to 3-1.

River Lions head coach Victor Raso said his team “gutted out” the victory. “We got tough down the stretch. We got stops when we need it. We made big plays. We're finding ways to win. And, you know, we've won four really close games. So we got work to do regardless, but I like our team's toughness and grit,” Raso said.

The River Lions led 89-84 when the clock stopped for Target Score Time. And while the Shooting Stars got within one, the River Lions mostly controlled the closing

stretch.

In the end, it was Nathan Cayo — the Canadian who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds — who established post position for a turnaround game-winner off the glass.

Shooting Stars head coach Michael De Giorgio said he was “proud” of his team’s fight. “We had a couple good looks that we just missed, and sometimes in this league, you've got to be able to take advantage of those looks when you get them. And they made plays. That's a good team on the other side, but that was a good physical war from both teams,” he said.

Niagara’s previous game was a nail-biting loss one week ago against the Saskatchewan Rattlers which snapped a 15-game regular-season home winning streak.

The game also marked Ahmad’s first of the season, and he exploded for 36 points. Yet Niagara still suffered the defeat, and to make matters even worse, both Guillaume Boucard and Ron Curry sustained injuries that prevented them from playing against the Shooting Stars.

But Niagara’s depth stepped up in their absence. Bench big Gatluak James nearly achieved his first professional double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Fellow centre Elijah Lufile had 14 points and five rebounds. Ahmed Hill

showed flashes of a breakout with 14 points and six boards.

And captain Kimbal Mackenzie, one game after being out with injury, scored 10 of his 13 points in the first quarter to spark Niagara to an early lead, then turned into a distributor with a career-

high nine assists.

“Kimbal has been our best player since the year started. He's just a really good basketball player. Like, he's just good. He's tough. He can shoot it, he makes plays, he gets us into things, he's competitive, he's leader, he's a coach on the floor. He's playing the best basketball he's ever played,” Raso said.

Mackenzie said he was just happy for his team to pull out the win — and that he simply tries to stay ready no matter the situation.

“I'm always ready to play whatever that may be, starting, coming off the bench, not playing. I'll be ready to go,” he said.

Ahmad became the fourth player in league history to surpass 1,000 regular-season points, joining teammate Hill, Scarborough’s Cat Barber and Winnipeg’s Alex Campbell.

He also added eight assists and four rebounds in the victory.

“Special, special, special talent, even better guy,” Mackenzie said. “I've had the pleasure of getting to know him over the past couple of years, and just a pleasure to be around, plays the game in such a free-flowing way.”

Scarborough was led by Donovan Williams, the league’s second-leading scorer behind Ahmad, who had 29 points and seven assists but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. “He's doing a really good job being efficient. I hold him accountable to the things that he's doing. We watch film, we do all that kind of stuff, so just we're trying to make him better at the same time as having team success. So there'll be some good teaching clips from tonight that we can use going into that game tomorrow,” De Giorgio said.

Williams poured in 17 of his points during a third quarter in which he was near-unstoppable. He credited Steph Curry for teaching him the mindset to stay focused during those types of runs. “He talked to me a lot about flow state. So when you work so tirelessly on shots, whether you're making it, whether you miss … you're just playing. You're not worried about the refs, you're not worried about fouls, defence, whatever it is, you’re just out there doing what you love,” Williams said.

Jayden Coke, of Richmond Hill, Ont., was a force off the bench for the Shooting Stars, contributing 18 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks and three steals. David Walker (12 points) and Jaden Campbell (11 points) also reached double digits. “We needed a little bit more energy to start the game, but other than that, that's a good team on the other side. And we came in here, we held our own, and took them down to the wire,” De Giorgio said.

Scarborough’s Barber (reconditioning) and Hason Ward (NBA tryout) were both absent. Led by Mackenzie’s early surge, the River Lions raced to a 17-5 lead and held a 26-18 advantage after the first quarter. The Shooting Stars fought back in the second frame, using an 18-8 run to gain their first lead of the game. But Niagara responded with an 11-1 run of its own and led 55-47 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Williams caught fire, helping stake the Shooting Stars to a 75-71 lead entering the final frame. The fourth quarter then went back and forth before Niagara sent the crowd home happy.

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600599

Up Next

The Shooting Stars are right back at it on Saturday when they host the Winnipeg Sea Bears,

while the River Lions stay home to face the Honey Badgers on Sunday.

Next CEBL Action

The Shooting Stars-Sea Bears game is the lone contest scheduled for Saturday. For the full

2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games.

Rattlers stun River Lions For First Win in Wild Target Score Time Finish

Sat, 31 May 2025 02:29:52 GMT

Myles Dichter – May 30, 2025

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 a way 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 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 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-Myles Dichter – May 30, 2025

An instant classic unfolded at Niagara’s Meridian Centre on Friday — but, for the first time since 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 .

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

KHALIL AHMAD, MOST DECORATED PLAYER IN CEBL HISTORY, RETURNS TO NIAGARA

Tue, 27 May 2025 14:01:35 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The River Lions announced today the re-signing of 6’4 American guard Khalil Ahmad for the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Hailing from Corona, California, Ahmad rejoins the River Lions following a standout 2024 campaign, where he played a pivotal role in securing the franchise’s first ever championship. After concluding his season with Carpegna Prosciutto Basket Pesaro of Italy’s Legadue Gold - where he averaged 21.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.8 steals in 33.6 minutes per game, Ahmad is set to join the River Lions on May 30th when they take on the Saskatchewan Rattlers at the Meridian Centre.

“I am thrilled to get to coach Khalil again, and for him to continue his legendary River Lions career” said Head Coach and General Manager Victor Raso. “He is a winner and a leader, and it can’t be understated how important his re-signing is to our team and organization. I know he is excited to run it back with his teammates and get to work.”

Recognized as one of the most accomplished players in CEBL and River Lions history, Ahmad first joined the team in 2022 where he began building his resume with an array of different awards including CEBL Player of the Year (2022), CEBL Defensive Player of the Year (2023), two-time CEBL Clutch Player of the Year (2022, 2023), three time All-CEBL First Team Member (2022-2024), CEBL Scoring Champion (2022), and CEBL Steals Leader (2023).

In the 2024 season, Ahmad led the River Lions in points and steals per game, while racking up several game-winning buckets, including his three consecutive target score baskets in the playoffs, earning him the “Mr. Clutch” moniker. He capped off the season by securing the championship winning basket in the finals against the Vancouver Bandits earning him the Finals MVP honour.

Beyond his CEBL success, Ahmad has built an impressive overseas career with stints at Keflavik Basketball Club (Iceland), Horsens IC (Denmark), Hapoel Be’er Sheva (Israel), and Telenet BC Oostende in Belgium where he captured a BXNT League championship.

Ahmad’s basketball journey began at Cal State Fullerton averaging 15.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.6 steals. He earned several awards during his collegiate career, including two-time All-Big West Second Team honours (2018, 2019), two-time Big West All-Tournament Team (2018, 2019), Big West-Freshman of the Year (2016), and three-time Big West Player of the Week.

Ahmad is excited to be returning, “Back with the crew. Let’s run it back” said Ahmad.

###

Media Contact:
Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

River Lions come back to edge Rattlers 88-86

Sun, 25 May 2025 05:01:05 GMT

Dillon White – May 24, 2025

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 13-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 propel 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 onThursday (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.

Bandits Top River Lions in Hard-Fought Rematch of 2024 Final

Fri, 23 May 2025 12:20:06 GMT

Zulfi Sheikh – May 22, 2025

While it wasn’t with a title on the line this time, Vancouver still managed to exact a measure of revenge on Thursday.

The Bandits beat the defending champion River Lions 109-72 at the Langley Events Centre, flipping the script in a rematch of last year’s final while handing Niagara its first loss of the

season. Leading Vancouver (2-0) to a home-opening win was Kyle Mangas, who finished with a game-high 28 points on 5-of-9 shooting from distance. It was an all-around effort for the import guard as he also chipped in 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks.

Curtis Hollis also did his part for the Bandits as he racked up 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting off the pine, while Tyrese Samuel notched his second consecutive double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds to go with a game-high four blocks. “We had a bit of a sluggish start, but from there it was off to the races,” Mangas said during his on-court interview post-game. “It could be anyone’s night … you never know who it’s gonna be, we have a lot of weapons.”

On the other side, Niagara (2-1) was helmed by Guillaume Boucard, who put up his own double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. The 2019 Canadian Player of the Year made a bit of history as well, his lone steal of the contest bringing him to 100 all-time for his CEBL career (regular season + playoffs). Boucard joined Khalil Ahmad as the only players in league history to reach that milestone. The forward, who previously spent three seasons in Niagara (2019-

2021), re-joined the River Lions this year after spending 2024 with his hometown Montreal Alliance.

“Guillaume is just a complete competitor,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said. “He defends …you always know you’re going to get 100 per cent from Guillaume, he’s about as plug and play as you can find in this league.”

Right behind Boucard was Antonio Davis Jr., who added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting off the bench, while River Lions captain Kimbal Mackenzie and Keyshawn Bryant chipped in 11 points

each. What was shaping up as a tightly-contested affair after 10 minutes — the River Lions led 20-17 at the end of the first — quickly broke open in the second quarter thanks to a pair of 7-0 Bandits runs. Vancouver ended up outsourcing Niagara 30-17 in the frame and went into halftime with the game’s first double-digit lead, up 47-37.

The Bandits first-half success came in part thanks to their dominance on the glass, racking up a 31-18 rebounding edge at the break while grabbing 15 offensive boards (plus-eight) for 14 second-chance points. They finished the game plus-15 for total rebounds (52-37) and doubled the River Lions production on the offensive glass (18-9). “Second chances on rebounds kind of changed the momentum,” Boucard said after the game. “We’ve still got to rebound at a championship level … we’ve still got to be physical and set a standard for our defence. Rebounding has been our Achilles (heel) these last three games.”

And Vancouver’s lead only grew once action resumed, one-upping its dominance in the second quarter by outscoring Niagara 33-14 in the third. Mangas had his fingerprints all over the victory-sealing stretch as he opened the second half by nailing three consecutive triples as part of a 13-3 Bandits run. He finished the frame with 14 points as his team extended their lead to 80-51. “I just try to stay aggressive at all times,” Mangas said while reflecting on his strong third quarter and first-career CEBL double-double. “I know I’m a good shooter, I put in the work … always try to stay aggressive, because I know that can really help our team.” Vancouver pushed that lead as high as 39 points throughout the final frame, eventually carrying a 99-65 lead into Target Score time. From there, it was Samuel who eventually put the game to bed, sealing the win with a dunk off a no-look bounce pass from Shamar Givance, who finished

with 10 assists.

The Bandits couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season, picking up back-to-back dominant victories. They opened their 2025 campaign with a record-setting 40-point win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers last week, only to follow that up with an equally impressive 37-point rout of the defending champs. And while the rosters may not have been all that similar to last year’s title game, make no mistake, it was a rematch Vancouver took personally. “We’ve been hearing about Niagara and just the battle the Bandits had last year with (the River Lions), so we had a chip on our shoulders tonight,” Mangas said.

Thursday’s victory at the Langley Events Centre in front of 3,987 fans in attendance also continued a trend of success in that building dating back to 2024. The Bandits started a perfect 6-0 in Vancouver last season and eventually finished with a West-leading 9-1 home record. “I thought it was electric tonight,” Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julis said post- game. “I thought that crowd was fantastic, it looked great, it sounded great, they were really

connected to our players.”

Box Score

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600571

Up next

Both teams will return to action on Saturday. Starting with the River Lions visiting the 0-2 Saskatchewan Rattlers to wrap up a three-game road trip, while the Bandits stay put in Vancouver as they’ll host the 1-2 Edmonton Stingers.

Next CEBL action

The 1-0 Winnipeg Sea Bears and 1-1 Calgary Surge resume action on Friday after both squads were off for a week, picking things back up with a rematch of last year’s West Play-In game. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games.

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordintaor

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600567

River Lions Storm Back Against BlackJacks for 87-85 Win

Mon, 19 May 2025 00:23:27 GMT

Written by Alex Lough

It wasn’t easy, but the Niagara River Lions rallied late to take home the win in head coach Victor Rasso’s 100 ^th regular season CEBL game, spoiling the Ottawa BlackJacks season debut with an 87-85 victory.

The BlackJacks started off hot with Tyrell Tate nailing back-to-back three pointers to start a 19-5 run mid-way through the first quarter to pull his team ahead 24-10. They would build their lead as high as 16 for the majority of the game and entered Target Score Time up 78-66.

Niagara struggled shooting the ball throughout the first half, failing to make a three-point shot until Connor Vreeken sank a basket with 48 seconds left in the first quarter. They finished the half just 3-of-15 from beyond the arc.

“We were pretty calm,” Raso said of his team’s mindset going into halftime. “I did think we had a lot more to give and it’s still very new; this is a very new basketball team. But we got really tough defensively and that was more of a defensive run at the end than anything.”

The adjustments paid dividends, as the River Lions held the BlackJacks to just 11-for-36 shooting from the floor in the second half after they shot 50 per cent to start the game.

Rudi Williams led the team with 15 points. Deng Adel added 14 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists on a night where he moved into the franchise’s all-time lead in the latter two categories. Isaih Moore chipped in with 14 points himself, and Tyrrel Tate finished with 13.

“Losses are disappointing, I get it,” BlackJacks head coach Dave DeAveiro said after the game. “But I’m just looking at the process and how we’re going to get better, that’s all I’m concerned about right now.”

On the other side of the ball, team captain Kimbal Mackenzie was the difference maker, scoring 24 points and hitting five three-pointers. He was a menace on the defensive end as well, constantly disrupting the BlackJacks players and even their fans with his vocal approach.

“He’s a captain,” Raso said of his star player after the game. “He is the captain of the team. He’s an extension of me. Kimball’s the Niagara college women’s coach. He gets it from both ends and he’s playing the best basketball he’s ever played. Yes, he fires the crowd up at home and on the road, he took a couple of fouls – he got an unsportsmanlike foul – so I can see why people don’t like him, but he’s our leader.”

On top of Mackenzie’s contributions, import Ron Curry had 15 points and a game high seven assists, while the returning Ottawa native Eddie Ekiyor had 11 points and 8 rebounds.

Never one to take too much of the credit, Coach Raso deferred the praise to his players and the level of talent the league has been able to recruit in Year 7, citing the growth he’s seen in the league since he’s been here.

“(The CEBL) is remarkably different than it was six years ago,” he reminisced. “There were six teams in the league, all the basketball was so different. Now we’re on TSN, these games have crowds like this, the quality of basket players are through the roof. I’m happy to be on board because I think this is going cool places.”

Box Score

Up next for both teams

The BlackJacks will welcome the Brampton Honey Badgers to The Arena at TD Place for their first of four meetings this season on May 21. As for the River Lions, they’ll continue their three-game road trip with a trek over to the west coast to face off against the 1-0 Vancouver Bandits on May 22.

For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

- CEBL -

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600565

Defending Champion River Lions Use Taste of Title Run to Top Surge in Season Opener

Sat, 17 May 2025 02:21:44 GMT

Written by Myles Dichter

Niagara leaned on its championship experience to start this season the same way the last ended: with a win.

The defending champion River Lions beat the Calgary Surge 98-94 in their home opener on Friday at the Meridian Centre. Calgary fell to 1-1 with the loss following a season-opening victory over Edmonton on Sunday.

A game that long seemed in the hands of Niagara — which once led by 16 — turned into a tight contest in Target Score Time when Calgary took its first lead of the game. However, the River Lions, who led 89-86 when the clock stopped, fought back to take a 96-94 lead of their own. That’s when head coach Victor Raso called timeout to set up a sideline out-of-bounds play. And River Lions fans saw something they might remember – just with a couple different names.

Ahmed Hill, in his first game as a River Lion, curled around a screen toward the net as inbounder Kimbal Mackenzie lofted a lob into the Niagara sky. Hill soared through the air and jammed home the alley-oop, putting an exclamation mark on the season-opening win. It was the same play the team executed last season – from TJ Lall to Khalil Ahmad — to beat the Ottawa BlackJacks in the quarterfinals last year. “It was amazing,” Hill said. “Shout out to the team. Shout out to the organization. Shout out to the fans for coming out, there was a great turnout. Happy we got the dub, for sure.”

Surge head coach Kaleb Canales, who spent time leading the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012, promised to see Raso and the River Lions again after the barnburner finish. “Tough battle [on] both ends. Came down to the wire. You know, we had opportunities. Got to do a better job at cleaning up the rebounds. Great game. I'll see him down the road. I'll be there,” Canales said.

Zooming out, Raso, who has coached Niagara for its entire CEBL existence, said his team looked like one just getting its feet wet in a new season despite the win. “I thought we played better offensively than we did defensively. I thought we were too much kind of focused on them and their strengths and we needed to be more focused on us defensively and being fundamental and all the stuff we did in training camp,” Raso said.

For Niagara, the win was a continuation of its home cooking from last season, when it became just the second team ever to go undefeated on its home court. The River Lions’ last loss at the Meridian Centre came on June 24, 2023, at the hands of Ottawa. “The crowd is awesome. We play well at home and we just believe we can win. That's a massive thing. If you've got energy and belief, then you can do a lot of great stuff,” Raso said.

Hill, 30, enjoyed a strong River Lions debut even beyond playing hero, totalling 20 points while adding five rebounds, five assists and four steals. The Augusta, Ga., native came to Niagara after four seasons split between the Guelph Nighthawks and Montreal Alliance. “I felt a little weird because every time I come in here, it's always a battle, but it's good being on … the home side. So it felt really good. I'm excited for the future,” Hill said. Hill also drained three three-pointers to give him 200 in the regular season for his career — the first player in league history to reach that mark.

He said he hopes to continue growing into the Niagara culture moving forward. “Just fitting in, you know, I bring a lot of things to the game, so whatever they need me to do, I just fit in to do it,” Hill said.

Raso said the River Lions are built to win with depth — but that the Hill addition certainly doesn’t hurt. “We don't necessarily play through one guy over and over. I mean, Khalil Ahmad has been that for us in the past, but we weren't necessarily playing through Ahmed tonight. He just does a lot of things. He does a lot of winning things, and he's proven in this league. And he played really well in the second half tonight,” Raso said.

The River Lions also welcomed back forward Eddie Ekiyor, who played for the team in 2023 but missed last season with a knee injury. The Ottawa native recorded 11 points and four rebounds in his return. Mackenzie, the team captain, was second in scoring behind Hill with 17 points. Guillaume Boucard, who played with Montreal last season but was a River Lion from 2019 to 2021, added 15 points and nine rebounds.

CEBL rookie Olumide Adelodun led the Surge with 25 points, including multiple key three-pointers as Calgary waged a comeback attempt in the second half. Greg Brown III contributed 23 points and six rebounds for Calgary, while Stefan Jankovic poured in 12 points off the bench.

Canales said he’s been impressed with his team’s cohesiveness through two games. “Love our competitiveness, our grit, our connection on both ends. You know, everything we've been practising, we're working on, we're seeing it on the floor, and we know every game's going to be tough, so we just got to focus on the next game and turn the page,” he said.

Niagara was up 28-24 after the first quarter despite leading by as much as 12 in the early going. It extended its lead to 57-50 at halftime. The River Lions’ lead swelled up to 16 in the third quarter, but Niagara took an 80-74 into the final 10 minutes. Then came the dramatic fourth quarter. Now, Niagara looks set on defending its title.

And the scary part for River Lions opponents? This may not be their final form, as Ahmad — who led Niagara in its title run and scored the winning bucket — could return to the team later in the season.

Box Score

Up Next

The River Lions hit the road to face the BlackJacks on Sunday, while the Surge have a week off before visiting the Winnipeg Sea Bears next Friday.

Next CEBL Action

In addition to the River Lions-BlackJacks game on Sunday, the Montreal Alliance will host the Brampton Honey Badgers in their home opener. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games .

- CEBL -

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordintaor

Dmitry.zaharov@tonybet.com

TONYBET BECOMES OFFICIAL ONLINE SPORTSBOOK OF THE CEBL

Sun, 11 May 2025 12:31:48 GMT

Ontario licensed and regulated Sportsbook to power all CEBL+ streaming broadcasts during 2025 season

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Saturday a groundbreaking partnership with Tonybet, which will see the Ontario licensed and regulated sportsbook become the Official Online Sportsbook of the CEBL.

As part of this landmark partnership, Tonybet has posted odds for the CEBL season opener at tonybet.ca . The first game of the CEBL’s seventh season features the Battle of Alberta as the Calgary Surge take on the Edmonton Stingers at 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 11 at Edmonton Expo Centre.

Fans can watch the season-opening tip-off – and every CEBL regular season, playoff, and Championship Weekend game – live and free, thanks to Tonybet. CEBL+ will now be powered by Tonybet for the 2025 season, delivering free streaming access to Canadians for all 127 broadcasts throughout the year.

With 15 years in the market, Tonybet has established itself as one of the most trusted sportsbooks worldwide, committed to providing a safe, fair, and reliable betting experience for its players.

“Tonybet is a respected leader in the online sports betting space and a welcome addition to the CEBL’s sponsorship family,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. “A main part of their commitment is providing free access to our existing and new fans to all 127 games this season on CEBL+, strengthening the league’s visibility and accessibility to basketball fans all across the country.”

Tonybet will also be delivering fans an immersive digital experience through the lens of some of Canada’s most recognizable social figures. They will be dropping social and digital content throughout the season, including the CEBL’s weekly digital sportsbook content series, Pick n’ Roll .

“Enabled by this partnership, we intend to bring an unparalleled streaming experience for free. Being a big fan myself, basketball is, easily, a very hype sport, and we’re happy that our partnership with CEBL brings it closer to every fan living in Canada,” said Dmitry Arabuli, CEO of Tonybet.

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.

Season tickets, flex packs and single-game tickets are now available league wide. Ticket information for all CEBL games can be found by visiting cebl.ca/tickets and cebl.ca/cw25/tickets .

ConnexOntario provides service information and resources for people experiencing problems with gambling, drugs, alcohol, or mental health. The service is free, confidential, and available anytime. Contact ConnexOntario 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600, via text at 247247, or chat online at Connexontario.ca .

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 73% of its rosters being Canadian and more than 10 players with NBA game experience in 2025. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by Tonybet, TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

About Tonybet

Tonybet is an international online gaming company specializing in iGaming and sports betting. Established in 2011, Tonybet operates in multiple jurisdictions worldwide, offering a comprehensive platform that includes sports betting, online casino games, and live dealer experiences. The company is committed to bringing players a secure, fair, and entertaining online gaming environment worldwide by employing the best practices in player protection and responsible gaming.

Media Contacts :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Kyle Warrener – Manager, Communications & Content

Canadian Elite Basketball League
(905) 870-1262 | kwarrener@cebl.ca

Dmitry Zakharov – PR Director
Tonybet

OLG RENEWS SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH CEBL UNDER ITS PROLINE AND LOTTO MAX BRANDS

Thu, 08 May 2025 16:26:20 GMT

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced Thursday the renewal of OLG’s official sponsorship for a second season. As part of the agreement, LOTTO MAX will continue as the Official Lottery, and PROLINE will remain the Official Retail Sportsbook of the CEBL and its four Ontario-based teams. Additionally, LOTTO MAX returns as the presenting partner of the CEBL’s Eastern Conference and Eastern Conference Playoffs.

OLG will continue to deliver innovative and exciting experiences for CEBL fans and basketball enthusiasts across Ontario in 2025. They remain committed to enhancing the vibrancy of the league by offering fan-centric promotions and engaging content both in arenas and on broadcast platforms.

“Renewing our partnership with OLG reflects our shared commitment to delivering exceptional fan experiences,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “Together, we’re building on our momentum to grow the game and elevate the league’s presence across Ontario in what promises to be another exciting season.”

To kick off the season, fans attending home openers for the Brampton Honey Badgers, Niagara River Lions, Ottawa BlackJacks and Scarborough Shooting Stars will receive a special team t-shirt. Adding to the excitement, OLG will introduce the "LOTTO MAX Supreme Fan of the Game" which will see two lucky fans per game in each of these markets upgraded to courtside seats, offering them an up-close and personal view of the action. This special recognition aims to celebrate our passionate supporters and enhance their game-day experience in an unforgettable way.

“OLG is proud to continue its sponsorship of the CEBL and create even more memorable and exciting moments for basketball fans,” said Maxine Chapman, VP Brand and Marketing Officer. “Our commitment to supporting sports in Ontario remains strong, and we look forward to enhancing the fan experience and celebrating the passion and enthusiasm of supporters across the province.”

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

About OLG

OLG is a Crown agency that contributes to a better Ontario by delivering great entertainment experiences for our customers. Acting in a socially responsible way, OLG conducts and manages land-based gaming facilities; the sale of province-wide lottery games; Internet gaming; and the delivery of bingo and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres. OLG is also helping support the horse racing industry in Ontario. Since 1975, OLG has generated approximately $62 billion for the people and Province of Ontario to support key government priorities like health care; the treatment and prevention of problem gambling; and support for amateur athletes. Each year profits from OLG's operations also support host communities, Ontario First Nations, lottery retailers and local charities across the province.

Media Contacts :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Kyle Warrener – Manager, Communications & Content

Canadian Elite Basketball League
(905) 870-1262 | kwarrener@cebl.ca

OLG Media Relations

1-888-946-6716

NIAGARA RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE 2025 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

Wed, 07 May 2025 21:18:15 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions announced today the 16 players that will report for 2025 training camp ahead of the upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Training camp will take place from May 8 to 12 at Ridley College and the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre at Canada Games Park, culminating in a pre-season scrimmage against the Brampton Honey Badgers on May 13. Head Coach and General Manager Victor Raso will then finalize the roster ahead of the River Lions season opener at home on May 16 against the Calgary Surge.

“The most important part of training camp is establishing our base for the season and instilling our core values. It is crucially important that we communicate what we define as winning qualities and fundamentals, and ensure we are focused on improving in those areas daily” said Head Coach and General Manager Victor Raso. “This group is a combination of veterans, new faces, and young professionals that we are very excited to start working with!”

Key players from the 2024 championship team are back, including captain and Brand & Community Ambassador , Kimbal Mackenzie, leading rebounder Elijah Lufile (7.2 rebounds per game), and AJ Davis, who is returning after missing most of last season due to injury. Joining the team upon completion of their respective FIBA seasons are Jahvon Blair ( Poitiers Basket 8 6 , France), Omari Moore ( Darüşşafaka Lassa , Turkey), and Nathan Cayo ( Manchester Giants , England).

Former River Lion, Guillaume Boucard who played with the team from 2018-2022 returns after suiting up for the Montreal Alliance during the 2024 CEBL Campaign. Fan favourite Eddie Ekiyor is also back in action after recovering from an injury over the past year.

New additions to the squad include Americans Ron Curry, Leon Ayers, Keyshawn Bryant, and Josh Morgan. The team also welcomes CEBL standout Ahmed Hill, who made league history in 2023 by becoming the first player to surpass 1,000 regular-season points.

The 2025 Draft Picks, Gatluak James ( St. Francis Xavier University ) and Charles Robert ( Bishops Universit y ), will be joined by other cu r rent and former U SPORTS talent including Michael Okeke ( Brock University ), Nathan Charles (Brock University), Xavier Ochu ( University of Windsor ), and Connor Vreeken ( Carleton University ).

Rounding out the training camp roster is CEBL veteran Jabs Newby, bringing experience from his time with the Vancouver Bandits and Brampton Honey Badgers.

River Lions players will be fueled by local restaurant partners during training camp including FUUL Eats , Joe Fetas , Oddbar , and Heat is On .

With a strong core of returning players, the infusion of international and NCAA -caliber talent, and emerging U SPORTS athletes, the River Lions are poised to defend their 2024 CEBL title. The 2025 season tips off at home on May 16 against the Calgary Surge at the Meridian Centre. Tickets for the 2025 season are available now at www.riverlions.ca/tickets .

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings
Social Media & Marketing Coordinator
mhastings@riverlions.ca

NEO FINANCIAL BECOMES OFFICIAL CREDIT CARD OF THE CEBL

Wed, 07 May 2025 15:35:32 GMT

Canadian fintech leader commits to cashback program on all CEBL ticket purchases for Neo Mastercard holders.

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday the renewal of its national partnership with Canadian fintech leader Neo Financial (Neo) as the Official Credit Card of the CEBL. Neo became the first official financial partner in league history in 2024.

The partnership between Neo and the CEBL provides Canadian basketball fans with exclusive access to cashback on all ticket purchases made with a Neo Mastercard throughout the upcoming 2025 season. By purchasing tickets through cebl.ca/neo , CEBL fans will receive 15 per cent cashback on their purchase with a Neo credit card, up to $20 off per transaction*.

For CEBL fans that don’t currently have a Neo Mastercard, a $25 sign-up bonus will be provided to any fan signing up for a new card, in addition to 15 per cent cashback on their CEBL ticket purchases*. Fans can sign-up for a Neo credit card today at get.neofinancial.com/cebl to secure their $25 sign-up bonus.

“Excited to continue our partnership with Neo Financial as they become the Official Credit Card of the CEBL,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “This next step in our partnership creates another unique opportunity for our fans to engage with a made in Canada brand with services that make it more rewarding than ever to support Canadian basketball.”

In addition to the relaunch of the CEBL Cashback Program, Neo will be selecting one lucky CEBL fan and a guest for a VIP basketball experience of a lifetime**. The winner will receive a Grand Prize package containing a VIP trip for two to Championship Weekend in Winnipeg this August, including flights, hotel, game tickets to the Conference Finals and Championship Final, and access to the CEBL Awards and Commissioner’s Luncheon. Each CEBL ticket purchase made with a Neo credit card through cebl.ca/neo will amplify your entries into the Neo Championship Weekend VIP Experience contest.

“We’re thrilled to once again partner with the CEBL as the official credit card and preferred payment method,” said Andrew Chau, Co-Founder and CEO at Neo Financial . “This renewed partnership goes beyond sponsorship – it’s about investing in Canada’s future by supporting homegrown athletes and delivering better financial experiences to fans across the country. Together, we’re driving innovation in both sports and finance, helping shape a strong, more connected Canada.”

Neo is building the future of financial services for Canadians, offering its customers a modern financial experience, simplifying finances through reimagined credit card products on an easy-to-use platform. To learn more about the CEBL Cashback Program, visit get.neofinancial.com/cebl .

Season tickets, flex packs and single-game tickets are now available league wide. Ticket information for all CEBL games can be found by visiting cebl.ca/tickets and cebl.ca/cw25/tickets .

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

About Neo Financial

Neo Financial is a technology company building a more rewarding financial experience through reimagined spending, savings, investing, and mortgages. Founded in 2019 by the co-founders of SkipTheDishes, Neo Financial has raised more than $650 million in funding and has been recognized as Canada’s fastest growing company by The Globe and Mail and Deloitte. Neo is headquartered in Calgary, Winnipeg, and Toronto and is backed by top-tier investors across North America. Through partnerships with leading financial institutions, Neo Financial provides customers with safe and secure ways to spend ( Neo Financial’s suite of credit and prepaid cards ), Everyday banking products ( Neo Money™ ), investment solutions ( Neo Invest™ ), and low-rate mortgages ( Neo Mortgage ). Neo for Business powers financial solutions for Tim Hortons, Cathay Pacific, Hudson’s Bay, and over 10,000 other partners across the country. To learn more, visit neofinancial.com .

Media Contacts :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Kyle Warrener – Manager, Communications & Content

Canadian Elite Basketball League
(905) 870-1262 | kwarrener@cebl.ca

Neo Financial

media@neofinancial.com

Disclaimers:

Neo Credit and Neo Secured Credit cards are issued by ATB Financial pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated.

The Neo Money™ card is a prepaid Mastercard® issued by Equitable Bank pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. The Neo Money™ card is powered by the Neo Money™ account, which is provided by Concentra Bank.

*Certain conditions apply. See www.cebl.ca/neo for terms and conditions.

**No purchase necessary. Giveaway runs until August 1, 2025. Open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec, who are the age of majority and participate in any of the designated locations during the Giveaway Period. Odds depend on the number of entries. Skill-testing question required. Full rules at NeoFinancial.com/CEBLChampionship

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE SIGNING OF FIRST-TIME CEBL GUARD RON CURRY

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 13:59:44 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The River Lions announced today the signing of 6’4 American guard Ron Curry ahead of the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Hailing from Pennsauken, New Jersey, Curry most recently played for Sporting Clube de Portugal of the Portuguese LBP (P-LPB) averaging 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.1 steals over 25 games in 2023-2024. After a season-ending knee injury last year, Curry is set to make both his return to the court and CEBL debut with the Niagara River Lions this season, bringing proven versatility and experience.

“Ron is a very good player who can do a bit of everything on the basketball court,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “He is an excellent decision maker, excellent defender, and he can create for himself and others. Ron has won championships all over Europe, and we expect him to bring his winning ways to Niagara.”

Curry had a standout career at James Madison University, averaging 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists across 128 games. As a senior, he posted 17.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 33.4 minutes per game, earning First Team honors in both the NABC All-District (10) and All-CAA selections, along with CAA Defensive Team recognition.

Professionally, Curry has built a reputation as a consistent winner. After launching his career in Slovenia with Krka Novo Mesto in 2016, he continued to thrive in Germany ( Telekom Baskets Bonn ), Hungary – winning a Hungarian NBIA championship with Falco-Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely – and Latvia, where he captured three titles in the 2021-2022 season with VEF Riga . He also spent time with Le Portel of the French Jeep Elite league before his most recent season in Portugal.

Now, healthy and energized, Curry looks to make an immediate impact in Niagara. "I'm really appreciative of the opportunity to play with the River Lions,” said Curry. “I've heard nothing but good things about this organization and I can't wait to arrive and be a part of it all!”

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE SIGNING OF CEBL STAR AHMED HILL

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:58:40 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’5 American guard Ahmed Hill ahead of the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The Augusta, Georgia native is currently playing for Peristeri BC of the Greek HEBA A1 , averaging 6.3 points and 2.9 assists in 18.7 minutes per game. A proven scorer and consistent performer, Hill averaged 16.1 points and 4.2 rebounds during the 2024 CEBL season with the Montreal Alliance . He was named to the All-CEBL Second Team in both 2021 and 2023 and made league history in 2023 by becoming the first player to surpass 1,000 regular season points.

“Having had the chance to coach against Ahmed for years, I have come to really respect the way he plays the game and the type of teammate he is,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “While known for his scoring, I believe Ahmed impacts the game in many more ways than that, and with the role that he will have on this team, I know he will thrive. This is a big addition for our program and I'm very excited to have Ahmed on our side!”

Hill spent his collegiate career at Virginia Tech University , playing four seasons for the Hokies where he averaged 11 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 30 minutes per game. Hill also proved his excellence off the court as he was named to the 2018-2019 ACC Academic Honour Roll. He scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers, six rebounds, and an assist against Duke in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

Hill began his professional career by joining the Brooklyn Nets NBA Summer League team in 2019 where he gained valuable experience playing 18.2 minutes per game. He went on to sign with the Northern Arizona Suns of the NBA G-League , appearing in 40 games and posting averages of 9.7 points and 3.0 rebounds during the 2019-2020 campaign. During the 2020-2021 season Hill played 11 games for the Greensboro Swarm .

Hill made his CEBL debut with the Guelph Nighthawks (now Calgary Surge) playing in the 2021 and 2022 seasons before joining the Montreal Alliance in 2023 and 2024.

Internationally, Hill has expanded his professional resume by signing with Hydro Truck Radom of the Polish Basketball League (OBL) , BBC Bayreuth of Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga (G-BBL), Maroussi BC in Greece’s HEBA A1 league, Hapoel Upper Galilee Safed of Isreal’s Ligat Winner Sal and Yalovaspor Basketbol in Turkey’s Basketbol Super Ligi.

"I’m Just excited and blessed to be part of this great organization. I'm locked in!" said Hill on joining the River Lions for the 2025 season.

###
Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE THE RETURN OF AJ DAVIS FOR HIS 4TH RIVER LIONS SEASON

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 14:51:50 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6 '9 American forward Antonio Junior “AJ” Davis ahead of the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The Buford, Georgia native will return to Niagara after his most recent stint with the team in 2024, where he missed the majority of the season due to a hip injury.

“Entering his 4th season with our program, AJ has played a crucial role in our culture both on and off the floor”, said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “His leadership during his injury last season played a massive role in our championship, and we are excited to see him as a leader back on the floor in 2025.”

In three seasons with the River Lions, Davis averaged 11 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 46 games. He last played internationally during the 2023-2024 season for the Stella Artois Leuven Bears of the BNXT League in Belgium, where he averaged 11.9 points and 4.4 rebounds, shooting 42% shooting from beyond the arc.

Davis started his college career at the University of Tennessee b efore transferring to the University of Central Florida (UCF) his sophomore year. In three seasons with the Knights, he averaged 10.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Davis became an accomplished NCAA athlete, scoring 1030 points over his time in college, finishing 8th all-time in rebounds at UCF (633), and 7th in free throws (319). He earned Second Team All-Conference honours from NBC Sports and was named to The American Weekly Honour Roll five times during his senior year.

Growing up, Davis was no stranger to the game of basketball; his father, Antonio Davis, was drafted 45th overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 1990 NBA draft. He played 13 seasons in the NBA with Indiana , Toronto , Chicago, and New York Knicks before becoming President of the NBA Players Association and an analyst for ESPN . AJ’s twin sister, Kaela Davis, plays for the Chicago Sky of the WNBA .

Davis began his professional career in 2018 with KB Prishtina of the Kosovo Basketball Superleague , marking the start of an impressive international journey. Since then, he has built a résumé that spans multiple continents and competitive leagues. He has played in Australia with the Brisbane Bullets ( NBL Australia ), returned stateside with the Delaware Blue Coats and Stockton Kings in the NBA G League , and joined the Philadelphia 76ers for NBA Summer League action. Davis has also been a key contributor in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Sweden, Greece, and Germany—earning a championship with Mauricio Baez Club and making impactful stops with teams such as Real Estelí Baloncesto , BC Lulea , Nurnberg Falcons BC , and AS Apollon Patras .

In 2022, Davis brought his veteran presence and versatility to the River Lions, joining for his first season in the CEBL. A member of the Niagara River Lions' 2024 CEBL championship-winning team, Davis appeared in four games before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Now fully recovered and entering his fourth season with the team, Davis is set to make his return to the court in 2025.

"I’m grateful to be back with the River Lions for year 4! It's been a long road recovering from injury, but with surgery behind me, I'm healthy and more motivated than ever to get back on the floor and help bring another championship to Niagara!” Said Davis, “Thank you to all the fans and my River Lions family for the love and support throughout my journey back to the court. Words can't express how much I appreciate you all!"

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

2025 CEBL ON TSN BROADCAST TEAM ANNOUNCED

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 17:01:37 GMT

CEBL Summer Classic in Montréal kicks off TSN’s national coverage May 23

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday its 2025 CEBL on TSN broadcast team that will cover the 17 nationally televised games this upcoming season.

TSN’s national CEBL coverage begins with the first 5x5 outdoor pro basketball game in Canadian history when the Montréal Alliance host the Ottawa BlackJacks on May 23 at IGA Stadium in the CEBL Summer Classic – Éclipse: Match Sous les Étoiles , and culminates with all playoff and 2025 Championship Weekend (CW25) games in Winnipeg this August.

Calling the games on TSN this summer will be a mix of top-tier talent that again includes current and former NBA broadcasters like the legendary Chuck Swirsky (Chicago Bulls), Rod Black (original Raptors television play-by-play broadcaster), Amy Audibert (Miami Heat), Paul Jones (Toronto Raptors) and Nikki Reyes (TSN SportsCentre host).

CEBL+ talent will again be featured on the TSN broadcasts in 2025, with returnees Joe Raso, Heather Morrison, Esfandiar Baraheni and Danielle Bain, and newcomers Mitch Peacock and Joey Slattery.

2025 CEBL ON TSN BROADCAST TEAM

Chuck Swirsky – Play-By-Play

Chuck Swirsky has served as the radio play-by-play voice of the Chicago Bulls for the past 17 seasons following 10 years in that capacity with the Toronto Raptors (1998-99 to 2007-08). He has broadcast more than 2,100 NBA games. Swirsky's association with Chicago sports started in 1979 with his WCFL AM 1000 talk show and has also included broadcasting Chicago White Sox games. He was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 and into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the WGN Radio Walk of Fame in 2018 and was inducted into the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame in 2022. Swirsky has called play-by-play for University of Michigan basketball and football. Swirsky grew up in Bellevue, Washington and gained his Canadian citizenship in January 2008.

Rod Black – Play-By-Play

As a Canadian sports broadcaster for over 40 years, Rod Black has been a part of some of sports most iconic events, including multiple Olympic Games and PGA tournaments. He was on the mic for the Toronto Raptors inaugural season television broadcasts. Following a lengthy career with TSN and CTV that included calling Toronto Blue Jays games and leading the pregame coverage of their 1992 and 1993 World Series championships, Black currently broadcasts numerous sports on both a national and regional level around the world. He currently handles play-by-play duties for the CEBL’s Scarborough Shooting Stars.

Mitch Peacock – Play-By-Play

The voice of the CEBL in Calgary since the Surge arrived in 2023, Mitch Peacock enters the new season fresh from a fall/winter calling German Basketball Bundesliga, Swedish Hockey League and Champions Hockey League action for world feeds delivering to a range of streaming services and sports channels. Mitch has done network play-by-play for five Olympic Games, worked as a rinkside reporter on Hockey Night In Canada, and hosted FIFA World Cup coverage. Peacock’s other credits include FOX Soccer Report anchor and host of Calgary Flames Radio.

Amy Audibert – Analyst

Returning to the CEBL for her sixth season, Niagara Falls native Amy Audibert is currently serving as an analyst on the Miami Heat radio/TV broadcast team. In 2023, she became only the third woman to ever call an NBA Finals in 'the booth'. Prior to her South Florida appointment, Audibert was the courtside reporter/analyst for Sportsnet's national coverage of the Toronto Raptors. Amy proudly was the studio analyst for the NBA's first-ever all-female broadcast, which was aired on TSN. Audibert’s on-air experience encompasses calling basketball games for many networks and many leagues, including, the WNBA, the NBA G- League, FIBA, NCAA Men's and Women’s college hoops.

Paul Jones – Analyst

Paul Jones has been associated with Toronto Raptors broadcasts since the team’s inception during the 1995-96 season. He was part of the inaugural radio broadcast crew for the first two seasons as an analyst and then moved into the television realm working as a sideline reporter and analyst for both Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies broadcasts on TSN and CTV. Jones has also worked as a courtside reporter for Raptor broadcasts on Sportsnet, as well as studio shows for NBA TV Canada. In 2025, Jones handled the radio play-by-play duties for TSN 1050 Toronto and served as the radio analyst for all games on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. During the NBA season he also hosts a weekly radio show (“Smith & Jones”). In 2022, he broadcasted the Canadian Senior Men's team qualifying contests on Sportsnet leading up to Canada's World Cup appearance. His experience also includes coverage of basketball at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, being part of the broadcast crew for the World Basketball Championship that was held in Toronto in 1994, and play-by-play duties for the Canadian Women's Team at the London 2012 Olympic Games on TSN.

Joe Raso – Analyst

Joe Raso, Sr. Director, Basketball Operations for the CEBL, returns for his seventh year on the league’s broadcast staff. Raso has been involved in all levels of basketball for more than 40 years. He is the all-time winningest head coach in McMaster University history where he coached his teams to 12 national tournament appearances in 18 years, claiming four OUA championships and four silver medals. Raso has worked in the NBA as an advance scout. At the international level he was a scout & assistant for the Canadian Men’s National Team. Raso has experience as a TV analyst for the CEBL, FIBA, CBC, Sportsnet and TSN.

Heather Morrison – Sideline Reporter

Heather Morrison is a broadcaster and public speaking coach from Saskatoon. This is Heather's fifth season with the Saskatchewan Rattlers and her third year covering the CEBL western conference on TSN. She has also handled sideline coverage for Canada West Football and the Saskatchewan Rush. Her previous work includes time with CBC Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Media Group and an extensive career in theatre. Now she runs her own business, Deliver Your Best Coaching, where she helps professionals overcome their fear of public speaking.

Nikki Reyes – Sideline Reporter

Nikki Reyes is an anchor for TSN’s SportsCentre and Toronto Raptors coverage. She was also an Anchor/Reporter on Sportsnet in Toronto and at NESN in Boston, covering the Celtics, Bruins and Patriots.

Esfandiar Baraheni – Sideline Reporter

Esfandiar Baraheni has been a basketball reporter, writer and producer for over six years, working with publications like TheScore, Bleacher Report, TSN, Spotify, and Raptors Republic — specializing in covering the Toronto Raptors and the rest of the NBA. Now, he works as a co-host for the NBA Daily for The Athletic and an In-Arena Host for the Raptors 905. Esfandiar is entering his third year as a sideline reporter and analyst for the

Danielle Bain – Sideline Reporter

Danielle Bain is a sports broadcaster from Mississauga who began her career as a video journalist in Thunder Bay. Transitioning to Ottawa, Bain covered local sports and breaking news on television and radio. Finally, she made her return to Toronto, where she currently works as the rinkside reporter for the Toronto Marlies and in-arena host for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last year, she had the incredible opportunity to work for OBS as a reporter and producer at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Now entering her third season with the CEBL, Bain is excited to bring her skills and enthusiasm to the basketball court this summer.

Joey Slattery – Sideline Reporter

Joey Slattery enters his third season as the CEBL sideline reporter in Winnipeg, where he also co-hosts the Target Score Weekly podcast focusing on the Sea Bears and CEBL. Slattery is a veteran journalist, having served as a reporter and anchor in both news and sports, as well as hosting TV morning shows in Northern Ontario, Regina, Edmonton and Winnipeg for more than a decade. Now narrowing his focus on basketball, he is excited to be back patrolling the CEBL sidelines and bringing you closer to the action in 2025.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

About TSN
TSN is Canada’s Sports Leader and provides world-class content across its industry-leading platforms including five national television feeds, TSN+, TSN.ca, TSN Radio stations, and the TSN app, featuring 5G capabilities. With a broad portfolio of multimedia sports assets, TSN delivers more championship events than any broadcaster in the country. The network’s deep and diverse roster of live sports programming includes the Grey Cup, IIHF Women’s Worlds, Men’s Worlds, and World Junior Championship, Spengler Cup, Hockey Canada events, CFL, NFL, NBA, MLS, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets, Season of Champions Curling, FIFA World Cup™, UEFA EURO, MLB, Golf’s Majors, Grand Slam Tennis, NASCAR, F1, IndyCar Series, CEBL, CHL, and NCAA March Madness. TSN is part of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. More information about TSN is available at TSN.ca .

Media Contacts :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations

Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Kyle Warrener – Manager, Communications & Content

Canadian Elite Basketball League
(905) 870-1262 | kwarrener@cebl.ca

Rob Duffy – Manager, Communications

TSN | rob.duffy@bellmedia.ca

NIAGARA TRAILERS TEAM UP WITH THE NIAGARA RIVER LIONS FOR A 4TH SEASON TO OFFER YOUTH GROUPS AN EXCITING GAME DAY EXPERIENCE

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:55:41 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions announced today that youth groups and organizations can now apply to take part in the Niagara Trailers High 5 Tunnel at all 2025 home games. This exciting initiative gives groups of 10 to 20 children the chance to stand courtside and high-five River Lions players as they enter the court for pre-game warm-ups. After the tunnel experience, participants will stay to cheer on the team from the Niagara Trailers row.

Groups are encouraged to apply for this FREE opportunity by completing the online form available now through May 9, after which 11 groups will be selected to participate.

At Niagara Trailers, community involvement has always been something we take great pride in,” said the Petrie family, owners of the locally owned and family-operated business, proudly serving the region since 1972. “We’re thrilled to once again partner with the River Lions and support the High 5 Tunnel initiative. Our family and staff love attending games—they’re always exciting, memorable, and a great night out. It’s also an incredible chance to watch elite athletes in action, including potential future NBA stars. We’re proud to be part of this experience again in 2025 and wish the Niagara River Lions a fantastic season ahead.”

The River Lions and Niagara Trailers share a deep belief in the power of sport to bring people together and inspire the next generation.

“Creating meaningful connections between our team and the community is what River Lions basketball is all about,” said Michelle Biskup, President of the Niagara River Lions. “We are thrilled that Niagara Trailers continues to support this initiative allowing young fans to attend games and take part in this memorable experience.”

To apply, visit riverlions.ca/high5apply .

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL and the reigning champions. Playing out of the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while embodying the values of pride and community. Season tickets, voucher packs, group tickets, and single-game tickets are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

LIVE CEBL ACTION RETURNS TO GAME+ IN 2025

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:02:25 GMT

Leading North American sports channel to broadcast 33 games this summer

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and global multi-platform media company Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. announced Wednesday that Game+ will once again deliver complete coverage of 33 live regular season CEBL games in 2025.

Available across North America on cable, IPTV, satellite and subscription streaming services including FUBO, Game+ is the premier destination for dynamic sports content. From live events and studio shows to the latest in emerging and popular sports, Game + delivers fast-paced, action-driven programming that keeps fans, engaged, energized and entertained.

Game+ coverage of the CEBL tips off on opening night of the 2025 season (Sunday, May 11) at 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET with the Battle of Alberta between the Edmonton Stringers and the Calgary Surge at Edmonton Expo Centre.

Mirroring their coverage from 2024, Game+ will broadcast at least one game in every week of the CEBL’s regular season. The full 33-game Game+ CEBL broadcast schedule in 2025 is as follows:

2025 GAME+ BROADCAST SCHEDULE

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

About Game+

Game+ ( www.gameplusnetwork.com ) is a North American sports channel that airs both live event and studio-based programming featuring emerging and popular sports content. In addition to fast-paced live action sports programming from across the globe, Game+ presents the best in sports analysis, wrestling, strength and endurance, action-adventure series and lifestyle programming. The channel is available on IPTV, cable, satellite systems and subscription streaming services across North America. Game+ is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp ., a leading global sports media company. For more information, visit www.gameplusnetwork.com and @GamePlusNetwork on X.

Canadian Elite Basketball LeaguE

CEBL.CA · 1040 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD, UNIT 105, STONEY CREEK, Ontario. L8E 6G3, 289-649-1121

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.

Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc.  is a global multi-platform media company with an expansive portfolio of diverse properties that includes  AXS TV , a leading television, streaming, digital, social music and entertainment brand;  Fight Network , the world's premier combat sports channel available globally through multiple OTT platforms;  TNA Wrestling , one of the world's leading professional wrestling organizations;  Invicta Fighting Championships , the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;   Game+ , a North American sports channel featuring emerging and popular sports content;   GameTV,  the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and  HDNet Movies , which features theatrically released films, including blockbusters and Academy award winners. For more information, visit  www.anthemse.com .

Media Contacts:
Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Kyle Warrener – Manager, Communications & Content

Canadian Elite Basketball League
(905) 870-1262 | kwarrener@cebl.ca

Cindy Ronzoni

Anthem Sports & Entertainment

cronzoni@anthemse.com

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE RE-SIGNING OF OMARI MOORE FOR 2025 SEASON

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 14:01:57 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the return of 6’6” American guard Omari Moore for the upcoming 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The 24-year-old Pasadena, California native rejoins the River Lions for the 2025 season. Moore is currently playing overseas in Turkey for Darüşşafaka Lassa in the Basketbol Süper Ligi (T-BSL), where he has had an impressive season averaging 14.9 points, 5.4 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in 25 games, showcasing his continued growth and versatility on the international stage.

“Omari is a phenomenal young basketball player with an incredibly high ceiling and we are excited to have him back with us this summer” said General Manager and Head Coach Victor Raso, “He was an integral part to us winning the CEBL Championship last year, he is excellent in all phases of the game, and is a winner. Welcome back O!

Moore returns to Niagara after a standout 2024 season, during which he played a key role in helping the River Lions capture their first-ever CEBL championship. Midway through the season, Moore joined the Toronto Raptors in NBA Summer League, but quickly returned to the River Lions to finish what he started. Over 16 games, he averaged an impressive 11.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. His defensive presence was felt across the league, finishing third overall and first among guards with 20 total blocks—an average of 1.4 per game. His all-around impact earned him recognition as a CEBL Defensive Player of the Year finalist.

Prior to his professional career, Moore played four seasons at San José State University , averaging 11.1 points, 3.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in 116 games. Moore scored 1312 points over his time with the Spartans earning his place as the 4th highest scorer in San Jose State history. During his senior year, he averaged 17.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists over 35 games, and made history by becoming the first player in program history to be named Mountain West Player of the Year. He also earned First Team All-Mountain West honors and was selected to the NABC All-District 17 First Team.

Moore started his professional career as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA Summer League team in 2023, and went on to sign with the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League , where he averaged 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

"Happy to be back with the River Lions” said Moore, “Last season was a great experience, really excited to run it back. Let's go win again!"

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

NIAGARA RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE FULL 2025 COACHING, TRAINING, AND MEDICAL STAFF

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:24:22 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions are excited to announce their full coaching, training, and medical staff for the 2025 season led by Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso, who recently signed a 3-year contract extension with the team. With the longest-tenured Head Coach in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) at the helm, and the return of many key pieces of the coaching staff, the River Lions are poised to defend their championship title in 2025.

"Much like our roster, most of this staff has been together for years,” said Raso. “This group has built a camaraderie and understanding of roles which has led to buy-in from our players. We are incredibly excited to tackle the challenge of repeating as CEBL Champions, and are eager for training camp to start!"

Returning to the basketball staff this season will be Troy Stevenson, Andrew Sergi, Joel Friesen, Jeff Zwolak, Marlo Davis, and Ryan Alford who each bring a unique set of experience and skills from their different backgrounds, but who also have long standing relationships with Victor Raso that will help the strength of the coaching team, and their ability to trust each other. The sole addition will be William Gatchalian.

Stevenson, who is returning for his third summer, will step into the role of Lead Assistant Coach for the 2025 season. He brings a wealth of experience and a high basketball IQ to the team as the current Head Coach for the University of Waterloo Men's Basketball team.

With over 30 years of experience, Sergi, a Hamilton, Ontario native will return for a second campaign as Assistant Coach. A longtime colleague and mentor to Head Coach Victor Raso, Andrew’s veteran presence and strategic mindset continue to be a key asset in player development and team success.

Friesen will continue as Assistant Coach bringing experience having played and coached at the university and professional levels.

Davis who has been with the River Lions since 2022 will take on a new role of Coaching Consultant while he continues to serve as the Head Coach of the Crestwood Prep Women’s team as well as fulfill National Team duties as a Coach with Canada Basketball.

Ryan Alford returns for his fourth season as Junior Assistant Coach as the youngest coach in the CEBL. Alford has also gained experience with the Brock Badgers men's basketball team and with a professional team in Valencia, Romania, as he works towards his ultimate goal of coaching at the NCAA level and ultimately in the NBA.

Zwolak will return for a 7th season as Chief of Staff bringing an invaluable attitude and perspective to the group. Zwolak has been a longtime assistant coach with the Cardinal Newman Cardinals basketball program in Stoney Creek, and is also a founding member of the Newman Youth Basketball organization. He is currently the Principal at St. Teresa of Calcutta CES in Hamilton.

William Gatchalian, who is an Assistant Coach at Brock University and has spent time with the Winnipeg Seabears , will round out the coaching staff.

Team training and medical staff will include Head Athletic Therapist,Marc Henri St. Francois, Strength and Conditioning Coaches, Matrixx Ferreira and Myles Mathner (Iron Performance) , Team Doctor, Dr. Jason Profetto, Team Dentist, Dr. Andrew Lee (Smilee Denta l ) and Team Chiropractor, Dr. Mark Lessey.

The Basketball Operations team will be led by Jack Beckett and include interns Naz Buhagiar, Benjamin Greaves and Samuel Bempah.

The River Lions’ coaching, training, and medical staff boast a wealth of experience and knowledge, all working together to ensure that the team remains competitive and continues to represent the Niagara Region with pride. With this seasoned group in place, the team is focused on defending their championship and achieving even greater success in 2025.

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings
Social Media & Marketing Coordinator
mhastings@riverlions.ca

NIAGARA RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE 2025 CEBL DRAFT PICKS

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 23:28:35 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today their selections in the 2025 CEBL Draft, selecting Gatluak James (9th overall, 1st round) of St. Francis Xavier University , Charles Robert (12th overall, 2nd round) of Bishop's University , and Thierry Tshibola (29th overall, 3rd round) of Brock University . The partnership between U SPORTS , the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and the CEBL continues to provide Canadian student-athletes with a unique opportunity to gain professional basketball experience during the summer months alongside veteran pro basketball players from the NBA, NBA G League, Canadian National team, and top international leagues.

Gatluak James, a 6’6 guard from Windsor, Ontario was selected 9th overall in the first round. In three seasons with the X-Men , James has averaged 7.1 points and 5.0 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game. He suited up for 5 games with the Calgary Surge in 2024 where he averaged 2.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in his first taste of professional basketball.

“Gatluak is a welcomed addition to our team!” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “He is an excellent rebounder who is versatile in the way he can impact the game. He can cover multiple positions, play with the ball in his hands or off the catch, and can take advantage of matchups. He also brings CEBL experience competing with Calgary in the final 4 last year, which is an additional benefit. He will play an important role for us this season.”

Charles Robert, a 6’8 forward from Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec,was selected 12th overall in the second round. Over his four years with the Gaitors , he has had consistent success especially during his senior season where he earned U SPORTS First-Team All-Canadian honors, Bishop’s Male Athlete of the Year, Bishop’s Male Academic Student-Athlete of the Year and Bishop’s Mens Basketball Most Valuable Player in 2024-25. During this past season he averaged 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 50%.

Part of the 2024 River Lions training camp roster, Coach Raso is pleased to welcome Robert back to Niagara. “Charles is one of the best players in USPORTS, and an under the radar centre who I believe will have a successful professional career when he is done at Bishop’s,” said Raso. “He is a complete offensive player, who can play beyond the arc, in the post, and in the pick and roll.”

Thierry Tshibola, a 6’3 point guard from Quebec City, Quebec, was selected 29th overall in the third round. In two seasons with the Badgers , Tshibola has averaged 5.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 19 minutes per game.

“Theirry is a talented point guard who has a ton of potential,” said Raso. “He suffered some setbacks this year at Brock, but when healthy, you could see the type of talent he possesses. His ability to run a team, create for others and impact the game on the defensive end and on the boards makes him a welcomed addition to the group.”

The River Lions are excited to welcome these talented players to the team and look forward to seeing them develop and contribute on the court this season.

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams in the CEBL. They play out of the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, representing the pride and strength of the Niagara Region. Season tickets, voucher packs, group tickets, and single-game tickets are now available. For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets .

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings
Social Media & Marketing Coordinator
mhastings@riverlions.ca

River Lions Unveil 10th Anniversary Logo, Rebrand, New Leadership and Celebration Plans Ahead of 2025 Season

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 19:07:41 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions are proud to announce details for the celebration of their 10th season, marking a decade of growth, success and deep community connection in the Niagara Region. As part of his milestone, the team is unveiling a special 10th anniversary logo, a brand refresh, and revealing plans for the historic anniversary celebration.

Honoring a Decade of River Lions Basketball
The team’s new anniversary logo pays homage to the franchise’s history. It features the original uniform font from the 2015 inaugural season along with a blue wave element, a nod to the team’s first logo before joining the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) in 2018. The anniversary logo will be featured throughout the 2025 season, including as a patch on player uniforms, at center court, and across all marketing materials.

A Bold New Look for the Future
In addition to the anniversary logo, the River Lions are officially transitioning their team colors from navy and lime green to black and lime green. This change, which subtly began in 2024, will continue to be integrated across all team branding, marking the beginning of a new era for the franchise. Black symbolizes strength, resilience, and dominance, while lime green represents energy, passion, and relentless drive—traits that define the River Lions both on and off the court.

#RunItBack – A New Rally Cry
After winning the 2024 CEBL Championship, the River Lions are retiring the hashtag #TheHunt, signifying the completion of their championship pursuit. Moving forward, the River Lions will embrace a new mantra: #RunItBack, reflecting the team’s focus on defending their championship title in 2025 and solidifying their place as one of the league's top teams.

10th Anniversary Celebration Night – June 13, 2025
The River Lions will host a special 10th anniversary celebration night on June 13th, to honour the team's rich history where the organization will welcome back alumni, former staff, coaches, interns and volunteers for a weekend of festivities, highlighted by the championship ring ceremony and banner raising to commemorate the 2024 championship victory.

Details on events including an alumni game and breakfast will be revealed at a later date, promising a weekend full of memorable moments for the River Lions family.

A New Era of Leadership
The 2025 season also marks a leadership transition as Michelle Biskup steps into the role of President of the Niagara River Lions. Michelle has been an integral part of the organization since 2016, growing alongside the team and shaping its success both on and off the court. Most recently serving as Vice President of Operations, she has gained experience in nearly every facet of the business. providing to be a dynamic leader and key figure in the team’s evolution. Her impact extends beyond the River Lions, as she was a valuable resource during the inception of the CEBL, helping establish some of the league’s operational framework.

Originally from Burlington, Michelle has called the Niagara Region home for over a decade. Her leadership and contributions to the local business community have been recognized with multiple accolades, including being named a Business Link Top 40 Under 40 recipient in 2021 and a Women in Business Young Professional Finalist by the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce in 2018.

As President of the Niagara River Lions, Michelle now oversees all aspects of the organization, including basketball and business operations, partnerships, and community initiatives. With her strategic vision and unwavering commitment to the franchise, she is set to lead the River Lions into their next decade of success.

I'm incredibly excited to take on the role of President of the Niagara River Lions. Having been part of this organization for the past 10 years, I've seen firsthand how much we've grown, and I know there's still so much potential ahead,” said Biskup. “My goal is to continue building a strong, sustainable franchise that not only delivers an elite basketball experience but also makes a lasting impact in our community. I want to ensure that our fans, partners, and players feel proud to be part of the River Lions family. This anniversary is a chance to celebrate our history while looking ahead to an exciting future. We can’t wait to share this season with our fans, partners, and alumni.”

The River Lions’ 10th anniversary season tips off May 16, and with a championship to defend, a bold new brand identity, renewed sense of purpose, and leadership, the best is yet to come.

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL . Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets, voucher packs, group tickets and single game tickets are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

###
Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

sandra.weber@travelbrands.com

REDTAG.CA RENEWS FOUNDING PARTNERSHIP WITH CEBL

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:09:09 GMT

Canada’s leading full-service travel company remains ‘Official Travel Partner of the CEBL’

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Monday the renewal of a multi-year national partnership with redtag.ca , a Founding Partner of the league and its 10 member clubs. redtag.ca is Canada’s leading full-service travel company and, as the 'Official Travel Partner of the CEBL,' will continue to support the league and its teams in coordinating travel across the country as the seventh season of CEBL basketball tips off in May.

redtag.ca will continue to provide the CEBL and its 10 member clubs with access to the best air travel options for league-affiliated personnel. In 2025, the CEBL will embark on its longest season in league history, with 127 total games, resulting in redtag.ca assisting teams in traveling over 400,000 kilometers across Canada. Their experience in serving professional sport teams and leagues, and their understanding that no two travellers are alike, will ensure the CEBL and its member teams travel with ease throughout this partnership.

“Our longstanding partnership with redtag.ca has united a league built by Canadians, for Canadians, with the country’s most trusted travel company,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner & Co-Founder of the CEBL. “As we continue our growth we have great confidence in their ongoing support to help our players, coaches, staff, officials and fans manage comfortable, timely, and convenient travel across Canada.”

To mark this partnership renewal, and as a gesture of appreciation for the CEBL’s passionate basketball fans across the country, redtag.ca is providing every CEBL fan with access to an exclusive travel offer of up to $300 off* their next vacation. Fans can access this offer until December 31, 2025 through the following link: Canadian Elite Basketball League | redtag.ca

“We’re pumped to team up with the CEBL once again,” said Sam Youssef, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Partnerships at redtag.ca. “Their dedication to Canadian athletes and the communities they inspire aligns perfectly with our passion for helping Canadians explore the world. It’s a slam dunk partnership - on and off the court. We can’t wait for another action-packed season!"

redtag.ca makes travel easy for CEBL fans and travellers, building custom trips tailored to their wants by combining flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises and car rentals anywhere in the world.

The seventh season of the CEBL tips off May 11 when the Calgary Surge travel to Edmonton to take on the Stingers in the Battle of Alberta. A total of 127 regular season games fill 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.

*Per booking. Certain conditions apply. See website for terms and conditions.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

About redtag.ca

redtag.ca is one of Canada’s top travel companies, specializing in personalized travel solutions for every type of traveller. As part of the H.I.S Canada Travel Inc./TravelBrands family, redtag.ca offers an extensive selection of vacation packages, flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and even travel to the edge of space – making it easier than ever to plan and book unforgettable travel experiences. Known for its innovative approach and exceptional customer service, redtag.ca has earned the trust of travellers seeking great value, simplicity, and convenience. With competitive pricing and exclusive perks, redtag.ca ensures customers always get the best value for their travel investment. With over 20 years of experience, redtag.ca is committed to helping travellers create their dream vacations, powered by cutting-edge technology and a passionate team of travel professionals. Discover travel made easy™ at www.redtag.ca .

Media Contacts:
Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Kyle Warrener – Manager, Communications & Content

Canadian Elite Basketball League
(905) 870-1262 | kwarrener@cebl.ca

Sandra Weber – Director of Communications, Content Strategy & Social Media
redtag.ca

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE ADDITION OF DARREN PETERS TO OWNERSHIP GROUP

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 17:00:01 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions announced today that Darren Peters, Founder and President of Peters Construction Group , has joined the team’s ownership group. His inclusion represents a significant step forward for the River Lions as they continue to build a top tier sports organization in the heart of the Niagara Region.

A lifelong Fort Erie resident, Peters has made a lasting impact on the Niagara business and cultural landscape. His leadership at Peters Construction Group, which he has operated for over 20 years, has transformed the company from a small subcontracting business into a multi-division operation offering a range of specialized construction services. His extensive experience in business growth and community engagement will be instrumental in the River Lions’ continued success both on and off the court.

“I’m proud to welcome Darren Peters to the River Lions ownership group,” said Richard Petko, Niagara River Lions Founder and Owner. “Darren’s deep ties to the Niagara community and his proven track record in driving growth make him the perfect fit. His passion for sports and commitment to our shared goals will be key as we continue our mission to become the best professional sports organization in Canada.”

Peters has been involved in various business ventures and real estate partnerships over the years and previously owned a successful race team as both a driver and team owner. His experience in sports and competition, combined with his business acumen, makes him a valuable addition to the River Lions ownership team.

“What interests me most about joining the group is, firstly, the fun and excitement of the games and the atmosphere in the arena,” said Peters. “Beyond that, I align strongly with the team’s vision of offering a superior product and fan experience while also being excellent corporate citizens through the River Lions’ efforts to support youth and the community. Sports and entertainment are key attractions for people and businesses looking to invest in Niagara, and I’m excited to be part of this journey.”

Peters has long recognized the unifying power of sports, both as a player and spectator. Since its inception, Peters Construction Group has actively supported youth sports teams, and many of its company events focus on team-building through sports. “I have always enjoyed how sports bring people together, regardless of background or economic situation. That sense of connection and camaraderie is what makes sports so special,” he added.

“I’m thrilled to officially welcome my good friend Darren Peters to the River Lions ownership group,” said Niagara River Lions Owner, Michael Skrtich. “Darren brings a wealth of experience and deep passion for sports, as well as a shared vision for growing this franchise. These are exciting times for the River Lions, and I couldn’t be happier to have him on board as we take the next steps together.”

Peters first caught the basketball bug during the Toronto Raptors’ NBA Championship run and quickly became a fan of the sport. After attending River Lions games, he was impressed by the level of competition and the energy of the fanbase. Now, as an owner, he looks forward to contributing to the team’s long-term success.

As the River Lions continue to aim high and build towards a future of sustained excellence, the addition of Darren Peters ensures the franchise is well-positioned to reach its full potential in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).

About Peters Construction Group

Peters Construction Group is a Family owned and operated Group of Companies engaged in Heavy Construction in the Niagara Region.Founded in 2004, Peters Excavating grew from the early days of two crews to today – where there are over 200 passionate team members across 8 operating divisions providing complementary construction services. The primary services include: Heavy civil work, earthworks, demolition, parking lot, Concrete works, a Haulage division, Environmental Remediation and more.visit www.petersgroup.ca for more information.

About the Niagara River Lions
The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL and the reigning champions. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets, voucher packs, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

2025 CEBL DRAFT REVEAL SHOW’ SET FOR APRIL 10 ON CEBL+

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Draft results will be unveiled live on league’s official streaming platform for the first time

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that results of the 2025 CEBL Draft will be unveiled live on CEBL+ for the first time in league history via the ‘2025 CEBL Draft Reveal Show’ on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. ET. Fans can subscribe at plus.cebl.ca for free access to the show and other CEBL video content including upcoming live and previously archived games.

The show, featuring the talents of CEBL Weekly hosts Dhanung Bulsara and Esfandiar Baraheni, as well as Canadian University sports expert Dashawn Stephens, Founder and Creative Director of PRSVRE Media Group, will include the full reveal of all 30 players selected by CEBL clubs this year from U SPORTS and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) programs, instant analysis of each team’s picks, an interview with Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL, and more!

The full 2025 CEBL Draft order is as follows:

The CEBL and U SPORTS have renewed a long-standing partnership, and with the addition of CCAA talent to the draft last year , every Canadian post-secondary student-athlete playing in Canada will again have an equal opportunity to be drafted into the league in April. The CEBL Draft presents a coveted opportunity for top Canadian post-secondary players to get a chance to experience professional basketball by practicing and playing alongside veteran pro basketball players from the NBA, NBA G League, Canadian National team, and top international leagues.

Both players that are returning developmental players (recognized Canadians with experience as a student-athlete with remaining eligibility) and those that have exhausted their academic eligibility are eligible to be drafted. CEBL teams are incentivized to have developmental players on their active roster as up to a maximum of three will not count against a club’s per game active roster salary cap.

Canadian Elite Basketball LeaguE

CEBL.CA · 1040 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD, UNIT 105, STONEY CREEK, Ontario. L8E 6G3, 289-649-1121

All developmental players will become free agents at the conclusion of the CEBL season and can maintain eligibility to be selected in the 2026 CEBL Draft and/or sign with a CEBL club and re-enter the league as a developmental player next season.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

About U SPORTS

U SPORTS is the national brand for university sports in Canada. Every year, over 15,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches vie for 23 national championships in 13 different sports. U SPORTS also provides high performance international opportunities at FISU Winter and Summer World University Games, World University Championships, University World Cups and various educational initiatives.

U SPORTS works in collaboration with 58 members and four conferences as well as the Canadian sport system and Corporate Canada on the growth and delivery of university sport to student-athletes across the country.

About Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association

The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association is the national governing body for organized sports at the collegiate level in Canada. The CCAA enriches the academic experiences of student-athletes by providing leadership, programs and services that foster development through high-level competitive opportunities in intercollegiate sport. CCAA student-athletes compete in seven sports at 10 CCAA national championships, each hosted by one of the 95 CCAA member institutions (colleges, universities, technical institutes and cégeps) located in nine provinces. In addition to governing the national championships, the CCAA also provides national awards and recognition to CCAA student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors and member institutions. For more information, please visit ccaa.ca .

Media Contacts:
Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Canadian Elite Basketball LeaguE

CEBL.CA · 1040 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD, UNIT 105, STONEY CREEK, Ontario. L8E 6G3, 289-649-1121

Kyle Warrener – Manager, Communications & Content

Canadian Elite Basketball League
(905) 870-1262 | kwarrener@cebl.ca

John Bower – Director, Marketing and Communications

U SPORTS

780-667-5646 | jbower@usports.ca

Nancy Paquette, Manager, Communications and Events
Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association
(613) 363-3133 | nancy@ccaa.ca

EDDIE EKIYOR RETURNS TO THE RIVER LIONS FOR 2025 SEASON

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 14:00:02 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’9 Canadian forward, Eddie Ekiyor for the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The 27-year old Ottawa, Ontario native returns for a second season with the team after missing the 2024 campaign due to an injury. Ekiyor last played for Sporting CP of the Liga Betclic in Portugal during the 2023-24 season where he was a contender for the league’s Most Valuable Player award averaging 18.6 points, 1.5 assists, and 5.8 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game.

“Eddie Ekiyor can be defined by his energy, whether that be on the basketball court, in the practice facility, or out in the community,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “He loves to be around people, he loves to compete, and he makes his teammates better. Eddie is very good at basketball, and has worked incredibly hard during his knee rehab to remind everyone of that. Welcome back Eddie!”

A product of the Carleton University Ravens basketball program, Ekiyor is a two time U SPORTS champion and two-time All Canadian who ended his collegiate career as the MVP during the 2019 final 8 tournament. Ekiyor averaged 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in 23 minutes per game during his time as a Raven.

Ekiyor began his professional career in 2021 playing in the Georgian Superliga , followed by a standout season in the Israeli National League , where in 31 games he was the leagues third best scorer (20.6) and fourth best rebounder (10.3) for Maccabi Ma’ale Adumim .

After joining the River Lions in 2023, Ekiyor made an impact both on and off the court, earning CEBL Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as being named the recipient of the Ben Zwolak Community Ambassador Award for his contributions to the community and positive attitude on and off the court. A 6th Man of the year finalist, Ekiyor led the River Lions in rebounds per game (5.6) while contributing 12.2 points and 0.9 blocks per game. He shot 41.7 in three-point percentage and 81.5 from the foul line.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Ekiyor is eager to make a statement and help contribute to the River Lions as they celebrate their 10th season. "I'm super excited to be back with the Niagara family! We have, without a doubt, the best organization in the CEBL." said Ekiyor, "The front office, coaches, players and our dedicated fans are unmatched and I can't wait to do my part to help our team win another championship!"

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL and the reigning champions. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets, voucher packs, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media and Marketing Coordinator

NLSE RETURNS AS U.S. HOME FOR CEBL IN 2025

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:00:01 GMT

Forty games broadcast live on Next Level Sports & Entertainment this summer

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and Next Level Sports & Entertainment (NLSE) announced Thursday that the innovative content platform and premier provider of live sports and entertainment will return as the ‘U.S. Home for CEBL’ in 2025 with 40 live game broadcasts in the United States this summer.

NLSE’s 2025 broadcast schedule tips off Friday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. CT / 8:30 p.m. ET when the Winnipeg Sea Bears host the Edmonton Stingers at Canada Life Centre. Their CEBL live coverage also includes all playoff and 2025 Championship Weekend (CW25) games in Winnipeg this August.

The full 40-game NLSE broadcast schedule in 2025 is as follows:

2025 NLSE BROADCAST SCHEDULE

In 2025, the CEBL will embark on its longest season in league history , tipping off Sunday, May 11 at 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET when the Edmonton Stingers host provincial rival the Calgary Surge at Edmonton EXPO Centre. The season will culminate at CW25 in Winnipeg which runs August 21-24, featuring three games at Canada Life Centre, including the Conference Finals doubleheader Friday, August 22 and the CEBL Championship Final on Sunday, August 24.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

About Next Level Sports & Entertainment

A Next Level Sports & Entertainment is an innovative content platform and premier provider of live sports and entertainment. As a global sports network, we feature innovative and unique programming that appeals to sports fanatics in all markets. We build technologies that empower our programming, including international professional basketball, elite-level lacrosse, and other live college and professional sports. We offer an integrated cable and digital platform that enables unique insight, analysis, and documentaries. Next Level showcases stories and achievements that promote athletes, teams, sports, programs, and communities. For more information, please visit nlse.com .

Media Contacts:
Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Kyle Warrener – Manager, Communications & Content

Canadian Elite Basketball League
(905) 870-1262 | kwarrener@cebl.ca

D’Ante Smith

Next Level Sports & Entertainment

d’ante.smith@nlse.com

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE SINGING OF VETERAN PLAYER GUILLAUME BOUCARD AHEAD OF 2025 SEASON

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:00:17 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of Canadian forward Guillaume Boucard ahead of the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The 6’6 Montreal, Quebec native returns to the River Lions for his sixth season in the CEBL after spending the 2024 season with his hometown team, the Montreal Alliance . Boucard is currently playing for CEP Lorient in France’s Nationale Masculine 1 de Basketball (NM1) league, where he is averaging 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 20.7 minutes per game.

Boucard’s signing represents the first addition from outside the 2024 championship-winning roster, joining previously announced players Jahvon Blair, Nathan Cayo, Kimbal Mackenzie, and Elijah Lufile for the 2025 season.

River Lions Head Coach and General Manager Victor Raso expressed excitement about Boucard’s return, “Welcome back to Niagara, G! As long-time River Lions fans know, Guillaume impacts winning in many ways. He is an elite defender, an excellent rebounder, and a versatile offensive player who can play on the perimeter and take advantage of matchups in the post. Most importantly, G is a great person and professional basketball player, and his commitment to winning is second to none.”

Before his professional career, Boucard spent five seasons with the Carleton Ravens , where he helped the team win five consecutive national championships from 2011 to 2016. Boucard averaged 14.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 25.6 minutes per game. He was named to the OUA second All-Start team and to the CIS All-Star Team, both during the 2015-16 season.

While Boucard first joined the River Lions organization in 2017-18, he had a standout campaign during the inaugural 2019 CEBL Season where he was named the Canadian of the Year, starting all 21 games and averaging 16.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 31.4 minutes per game. Aside from his time spent with the River Lions in 2020, 2021 and 2022, he has spent nearly a decade playing in France's NM1 league and the Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB Pro B). In 2019-20 with FC Mulhouse Basket he averaged 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 37.1 minutes per game.

Boucard is eager to make an immediate impact in the 2025 season and is determined to help the River Lions defend their championship title. "I'm back and couldn't be more excited to be a part of the hunt again!" said Boucard.

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL and the reigning champions. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets, voucher packs, group tickets and single game tickets are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

KIMBAL MACKENZIE NAMED FIRST-EVER BRAND & COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR FOR THE NIAGARA RIVER LIONS

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:00:04 GMT

St Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions are proud to announce that team captain Kimbal Mackenzie has been hired in a full time role as Brand and Community Ambassador, marking a first of its kind position across all teams in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). This groundbreaking role is designed to extend the River Lions impact beyond the court, strengthening community ties and growing the game of basketball across the region.

As Brand and Community Ambassador, Mackenzie will engage with fans, mentor young athletes, and inspire the next generation through school visits, coaching, and leadership presentations. His presence in the Niagara community throughout the CEBL off season (September to April) will allow him to embody the River Lions’ moniker of pride and strength of community.

"We are thrilled to welcome Kimbal to the River Lions front office in this historic role," said Michelle Biskup, President of the Niagara River Lions. "This marks a significant step forward in our commitment to making a lasting impact on the Niagara community year-round. Kimbal’s leadership on the court is unmatched, and now he will bring that same passion and dedication to this new role, helping us grow our brand, engage with fans, and support local initiatives. This role not only enhances our presence beyond the season but also reinforces our mission to lead on and off the court.”

Mackenzie's outreach will include school visits, basketball teams and community organizations across the Niagara Region and as far as Hamilton, Burlington and his hometown of Oakville. These visits will feature interactive question and answer sessions, basketball demonstrations, and discussions on leadership, teamwork, time management, healthy habits, and Kimbal’s personal journey in professional basketball.

As the 2024 Ben Zwolak Community Ambassador Award recipient, Mackenzie is already recognized for his dedication to service and in this new capacity he will continue to inspire, grow the game of basketball at the grassroots level and serve as a key representative for both the River Lions and CEBL.

"I'm ecstatic to be stepping into a full-time, community based role with the River Lions,” said Mackenzie. “I'm joining an incredible organization with top quality people up and down the board. I look forward to helping grow the game across the greater Niagara Region as well as the River Lions brand."

Now a proud resident of Grimsby, Mackenzie and his wife, and their two young children have made Niagara their home. This deep personal connection to the region makes his new role even more meaningful, as he helps build a stronger basketball culture and engages with the local community year-round.

The structure of this role will allow Mackenzie to return as team captain for the 2025 River Lions season (May to August), ensuring a year round connection between the team and the community.

More information on Mackenzie's role and for information on how to book an event, visit www.riverlions.ca/nrl-bca

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE RE-SIGNING OF ELIJAH LUFILE AHEAD OF THE 2025 SEASON

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:59:09 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The River Lions announced today the re-signing of 6’7 Canadian forward Elijah Lufile for the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The Milton, Ontario native is currently playing for Denain ASC Voltaire of the LNB Pro B in France, where he is averaging 7.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game. Lufile also played for the Balikesir Buyuksehir Belediysepor with the Türkiye Basketbol Ligi (T-TBL) earlier in the 2024-2025 season posting an average of 8.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game.

"Elijah is a winner! He impacts winning in many different ways, but at the core of that is an outstanding ability to rebound the basketball - he is one of the best rebounders in the CEBL" said Head Coach and General Manager Victor Raso. "Elijah is an excellent teammate and person, and we are happy to have him back in our River Lions Community!"

Lufile’s signing comes just a week after the announcement of River Lions 2024 captain, Kimbal Mackenzie returning to the team, in addition to Jahvon Blair and Nathan Cayo.

Lufile began his collegiate career redshirting as a freshman at Lamar Community College in 2016-17. He then transferred to Midland College , where he played one season, averaging 13.6 points and leading the team with 8.1 rebounds, posting 10 double-doubles in 27 starts. In 2019 Lufile moved on to Oral Roberts University where in his senior season, he averaged 7.9 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting an impressive 71.2% from the field.

Lufile began his professional career with the Salt Lake City Stars of the G League for the 2022-23 season where he averaged 5.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game.

In 2023, Lufile made his CEBL debut when he was selected to represent the league, playing for the Brampton Honey Badgers in the Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA). During the 2023 CEBL season, he played nine games with the Calgary Surge before joining the Scarborough Shooting Stars . Prior to his 2024 season with the Niagara River Lions, Lufile had a standout year in Finland with Joensuun Kataja Basket in the Korisliiga , averaging 12.1 points and 9.8 rebounds in the 2023-2024 that season playing a key role in the team's success.

Lufile joined the River Lions in 2024 where he averaged 6.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 18.4 minutes per game. His strong defensive presence played a key role in securing his second consecutive CEBL championship.

"Let's run it back River Lions! I'm so excited to be back with this organization." said Lufile, "We have the greatest fans with the best atmosphere. Let's get it!"

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE RETURN OF CAPTAIN KIMBAL MACKENZIE

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 15:03:14 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions today announced the re-signing of 6’1 Canadian guard Kimbal Mackenzie for the upcoming 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The 28-year-old Oakville, Ontario native is returning to the River Lions after captaining the team to a 2024 CEBL championship, where he averaged 6.2 points and 1.9 assists in 13.8 minutes per game. Mackenzie joins Jahvon Blair and Nathan Cayo as the third key returnee for the River Lions heading into the 2025 campaign.

“Bringing Kimbal back for the 2025 season was incredibly important for our team. He has been the leader of the locker room, and has been excellent on the court,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “He has a rare ability to make those around him better on a constant basis. He is a proven leader and winner, and we're thrilled to have him back again!"

Mackenzie spent his collegiate career at Bucknell University , where he made his mark as a leader, starting 89 out of 122 games and finishing as the 18th all-time scorer in program history with 1,330 career points. As a senior, he averaged 17.6 points and 3 assists per game.

Mackenzie first played in the CEBL with the Guelph Nighthawks (now Calgary Surge ), then spent a season in Spain where he played on a one year contract for the LEB Gold League’s Huesca team from 2020- 2021 before eventually becoming part of the River Lions in 2023. Mackenzie spent three international seasons as a standout player for the Leicester Riders of the British Basketball League (BBL). He also captained the Riders in 2023 and earned a spot on the 24-man Great Britain National Team for the Eurobasket Qualifiers . In his last season with the Riders, he averaged 13.2 points and 5.2 assists in 27.3 minutes per game.

After winning the 2024 CEBL Championship, Mackenzie took on the role of interim Head Coach at Niagara College for the Knights women’s basketball program where he led the team to a 14-2 record.

Mackenzie shared his excitement about returning to the River Lions, “Niagara is where I want to be. I'm eager to get our title defence started, and to continue our winning ways.” said Mackenzie. “I can't wait to be back in the Meridian Centre playing in front of the best fans in the league!"

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

LIVE CEBL ACTION AVAILABLE ON TSN & RDS ONCE AGAIN THIS SUMMER

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 18:16:14 GMT

2025 CEBL on TSN and RDS broadcast schedules revealed Thursday

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), TSN, Canada’s Sports Leader, and RDS, the leading Canadian French-language specialty sports channel, announced Thursday the CEBL on TSN and RDS broadcast schedules for the 2025 season.

TSN’s CEBL coverage in 2025 includes 17 nationally televised games, beginning Friday, May 23 when the Ottawa BlackJacks visit the Montréal Alliance at 8 p.m. ET, and culminating with all playoff and 2025 Championship Weekend (CW25) games in Winnipeg this August. Additionally, all 127 CEBL games this season will be streamed live on TSN+ , the network’s stand-alone digital streaming service.

French-language CEBL coverage this season on RDS includes 16 total games – 12 live televised games and four games streamed live on RDS.ca and the RDS app . All 12 Alliance regular season home games and one road game, as well as all three CW25 games, will be available on RDS platforms this summer.

The full TSN and RDS schedule for the 2025 CEBL season is as follows:

2025 CEBL ON TSN / RDS BROADCAST SCHEDULE:

*Scotiabank Saddledome

NOTE: All 127 CEBL games in 2025 available on TSN+

In 2025, the CEBL will embark on its longest season in league history , tipping off Sunday, May 11 at 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET when the Edmonton Stingers host provincial rival the Calgary Surge at Edmonton EXPO Centre. The season will culminate at 2025 Championship Weekend (CW25) in Winnipeg which runs August 21-24, featuring three games at Canada Life Centre, including the Conference Finals doubleheader Friday, August 22 and the CEBL Championship Final on Sunday, August 24.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

About RDS

Canadian Elite Basketball LeaguE

CEBL.CA · 1040 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD, UNIT 105, STONEY CREEK, Ontario. L8E 6G3, 289-649-1121

RDS is Canada’s French-language sports broadcasting leader. In addition to its world-class content delivered across multiple platforms, including RDS, RDS2, RDS Info, RDS.ca  and the RDS app , RDS offers the one of the broadest portfolio of French-language sports programming in the world. Official broadcaster of the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators, CFL and Grey Cup, NFL and Super Bowl, MLB and World Series, NBA and the NBA Finals, MLS and MLS Cup, LaLiga, FIFA World Cup until 2026, exclusive French-language broadcaster of the Montreal Alouettes, Laval Rocket and Formula 1, RDS’s slate of channels present more than 4,000 hours of live programming each year, including PWHL, the IIHF Men’s World Championship, Women’s World Championship and World Junior Championship, NASCAR, the CEBL, PGA Tour golf including all four majors, ATP tennis including all four Grand Slam tournaments and Season of Champions Curling. RDS comes from Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. More information about RDS is available at RDS.ca .

Media Contacts :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Kyle Warrener – Manager, Communications & Content

Canadian Elite Basketball League
(905) 870-1262 | kwarrener@cebl.ca

Rob Duffy – Manager, Communications

TSN | rob.duffy@bellmedia.ca

Patrick Tremblay – Chef, Communications et relations publiques

RDS | Patrick.tremblay@bellmedia.ca

NIAGARA RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE MAJOR SEATING LAYOUT CHANGE FOR 10TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:02:01 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions are excited to announce a major transformation to the seating layout inside the Meridian Centre for the team’s 10th anniversary season in 2025. Since the inaugural 2015-16 season, the River Lions' court has been positioned in a "horseshoe shape," pushed toward one end of the venue. However, as part of the celebration of a decade of basketball excellence in Niagara and a 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Championship, the team will be centering the court to create an enhanced game-day experience for fans.

“This is a monumental change that we believe will elevate the energy inside the Meridian Centre and provide fans with a better overall experience,” said team President, Michelle Biskup. “By centering the court, we can open up additional seating sections, ensuring that more of our incredible supporters can enjoy the action from prime vantage points.”

The new seating arrangement will offer improved sightlines, greater accessibility, and a more immersive atmosphere, reinforcing the River Lions' commitment to delivering top-tier entertainment both on and off the court. The change aligns with the team’s vision to continue growing basketball culture in the Niagara region while celebrating this milestone season in style.

Season tickets, voucher packs and group tickets for the 10th anniversary campaign are now available, with single game tickets coming March 5th. More details on special anniversary celebrations will be announced in the coming weeks.

2025 Niagara River Lions Seat Map:

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE RE-SIGNING OF NATHAN CAYO FOR THE 2025 SEASON

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 14:57:17 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - Today the Niagara River Lions announced the re-signing of 6’7 Canadian forward Nathan Cayo for the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The 27-year-old from Montreal, Quebec will return to the team for his second year after an outstanding 2024 championship run with the River Lions. Cayo is currently playing for the Manchester Giants of the Super League Basketball (SLB) averaging an impressive 16.1 points, 5.9 rebounds , and 2.2 assists in 32.5 minutes.

“We are thrilled to have Nathan back. Nathan broke out last season as one of the best forwards in the CEBL, and he was a massive part of our championship season", noted Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. "We have sky high expectations for him this summer, and we are incredibly proud that he chose to come back to Niagara for the 2025 season!”

Cayo is now the second of two returning players from last season, following the announcement of Jahvon Blair's re-signing to the River Lions last week.

Cayo played basketball at the collegiate level attending the University of Richmond , where he averaged 8.9 points, 1.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 155 games over his 5-year tenure with the Richmond Spiders. Cayo ranked 4th all-time in field goal percentage for the Spiders, shooting an impressive 55.2%. Cayo helped the Spiders qualify for the 2021-2022 March Madness Tournament where he scored 15 points in a win over the University of Iowa to help reach the second round.

In his first season with the River Lions, Cayo averaged 13.6 points and 4.1 rebounds, starting 20 of 23 games. He elevated his play during the playoffs, where he averaged 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks to help secure the CEBL title in front of family and friends in his hometown of Montreal. Cayo began his CEBL journey with the Montreal Alliance in 2022 where he played for two seasons. Aside from his experience in the CEBL, Cayo spent time with Astoria Bydgiszcz in Poland’s first division Polish Basketball League and the Ontario Clippers of the G-League.

Cayo quickly became a fan favorite in Niagara, delivering standout performances including his season-high 25 points and 8 rebounds in the CEBL championship game against the Vancouver Bandits .

"My family and I are so blessed and excited to come back to Niagara,” said Cayo. “Last summer was one for the books and I can't wait to run it back with my brothers, in front of the best fans in the league. I'm grateful for the

opportunity and excited to get back to work soon to compete for a back-to-back championship. Go River Lions!"

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL and the league's reigning champions. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

VICTOR RASO SIGNS THREE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION, NAMED ST. CATHARINES SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 20:00:00 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The River Lions are proud to announce that Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso has signed a three-year contract extension, solidifying his future with the team through the 2027 season. Raso first joined the River Lions organization in 2017 when he began as Lead Assistant Coach before taking over as Head Coach and General Manager for the Canadian Elite Basketball League 's (CEBL) inaugural 2019 season. Raso has been instrumental in shaping the team’s identity, driving its competitive success, and ensuring that Niagara is the preeminent basketball destination for professional players looking to develop and further their careers over the spring and summer months.

As the longest tenured Head Coach in CEBL history, Raso has a track record of success with a regular season record of 66-32 and playoff record of 5-5, amounting to the most wins (regular season and overall) and second-best win percentage of all time amongst CEBL coaches. The 2019 CEBL Coach of the Year has led Niagara to be the only CEBL team to appear at every Championship Weekend and helped the team to an impressive 11-0 perfect home record before winning the CEBL Championship in 2024.

“Victor embodies everything we stand for as an organization – professionalism, passion, dedication and a relentless drive to succeed,” said President, Michelle Biskup. “We couldn’t be prouder of his achievements, and we’re excited to continue building a championship calibre team under his leadership for years to come.”

In Raso’s six years as bench boss, several players have earned CEBL Awards including three Defensive Player of the Year awards, two Clutch Player of the Year awards and one recipient each for Player of the Year, Canadian Player of the Year, U SPORTS Player of the Year and 6th Man of the Year.

“I'm incredibly grateful to continue leading the Niagara River Lions as Head Coach and General Manager for the next three years,” said Raso. “This organization, our players, and our incredible fans mean everything to me, and I am thrilled to keep leading our team into the future.”

Coupled with the contract extension news, St. Catharines City Council will award Raso the 2024 St. Catharines Sportsperson of the Year this evening, recognizing his outstanding contribution to the local sports community and his leadership within the River Lions organization.

This prestigious honor celebrates Raso’s impact both on and off the court, guiding the River Lions to the 2024 championship while fostering a culture of excellence, community engagement, and player development. His commitment to growing the game and strengthening the connection between the team and the St. Catharines community has made him a true leader in the Niagara Region.

During the CEBL off-season Raso is the Head Coach for the Ridley College boys prep basketball team, who currently sits first in the Ontario Basketball Scholastic Association (OBSA) west division with a record of 9-3.

Prior to joining the River Lions organization, Raso gained experience both playing and coaching for Canada’s top university basketball program. He won back-to-back CIS national titles in 2013 and 2014 as captain with Carleton University before taking on the role of Assistant Coach for the Ravens, where he earned his third championship title alongside Canadian U SPORTS legend, Dave Smart.

###

Media Contact:

Mya Hastings

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE RE-SIGNING OF JAHVON BLAIR AHEAD OF 2025 SEASON

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:58:03 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions today announced the re-signing of 6’4 Canadian guard, Jahvon Blair for the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Blair, a 26-year-old Brampton native returns to the River Lions for his third season after an impactful 2024 campaign that helped the team win the CEBL Championship. Currently playing for Poitiers Basket 86 in France’s LNB Pro B , Blair is putting up an impressive 18.8 points, 2.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per game. Recently, he was also named to the Canada Basketball Senior Men’s training camp roster for the final window of the FIBA AmeriCup Qualifier taking place from February 21-24, 2025.

"Juggy's (Jahvon's) growth over the past two seasons has been remarkable, and his recognition as a 2nd Team CEBL All Star in 2024 is a testament to his work ethic and character,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “He has proven to be one of the best players, and teammates, in the CEBL and we are very thrilled to have him back with us again this summer!"

Blair’s journey to the CEBL began after a standout collegiate career at the University of Georgetown , where he averaged 15.4 points, 3.6 assists and 3.6 rebounds in his senior season. He was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team in 2018 and the Big East All-Tournament Team in 2021.

Having played for the River Lions the past two seasons, Blair, earned CEBL All-Canadian and All-CEBL Second Team honours, after averaging 18.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 2024. He played for the Newfoundland Growlers in 2022 and represented the CEBL with the Brampton Honey Badgers in the Basketball Champions League of Americas (BCLA) in 2023. Blair’s professional career has taken him around the world, including stints in Finland, Mexico and most recently France where he has been a standout performer.

While Blair’s contributions were crucial in the River Lions success last season, he was unable to compete in 2024 Championship Weekend in Montreal due to his commitment with Poitiers Basket 86, so his return will only fuel the hunt for a second consecutive title.

"Niagara is family! It was a no brainer to come back to play for the best team and fans in the CEBL,” said Blair. “I am looking forward to continuing our winning culture and cannot wait to get back to the Meridian Centre. Thank you to Coach Vic for allowing me to be part of this great organization.”

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup

River Lions Announce Details for 2nd Annual 'Breakfast With Dunkin & Friends'

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 20:54:08 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today “Breakfast with Dunkin & Friends,” which will take place over the upcoming Family Day weekend. The breakfast, set to take place on Saturday February 15th from 9:00am - 11:00am at Merritton Legion (2 Chestnut St E, St. Catharines) will include appearances from local mascots as well as family friendly activities throughout the morning.

Along with breakfast, attendees will enjoy face painting, colouring, a photo booth provided by Pic Booth , and the opportunity to meet multiple mascots including the host of the day, Dunkin the River Lion. The full mascot lineup will be announced at a later date. Additionally, children aged 13 years or under will receive a complimentary swag bag upon entry.

The event will aim to bring together fans and celebrate a sense of community in the spirit of Family Day weekend.

Tickets for the general public are $10 per person and $5 per person for River Lions Season Ticket holders. All ticket sales will be donated to the ‘Stubs for Cubs’ initiative which provides hundreds of underprivileged children and families the ability to attend a River Lions game who would not otherwise have the opportunity to do so. Those interested in attending can register here.

In keeping with the spirit of community, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 138 Merritton is generously opening its doors and providing their venue to host this family-oriented event. The Legion’s community-focused environment is the perfect setting for an event aimed at bringing together families, River Lions fans, and local residents in celebration of Family Day weekend.

The Niagara River Lions, 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Champions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets and voucher packs are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Niagara River Lions Announce 2025 Schedule

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 17:53:16 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday it’s 24-game 2025 season schedule presented by Crime Stoppers Niagara. The River Lions will defend their 2024 Championship starting with the home and season opener on Friday May 16th versus the Calgary Surge, before going on a three-game road trip including a visit to the Vancouver Bandits for a championship rematch on Thursday, May 22nd.

The expectations are high for the River Lions, coming off their most successful season, where the organization set a new CEBL record with a perfect 11-0 home record at the Meridian Centre, and captured their first CEBL Championship by defeating the Vancouver Bandits 97-95, in what some have claimed to be the greatest CEBL playoff game in history.

“The release of the 2025 schedule is an exciting moment for our team and the entire Niagara community. Last season’s championship was a testament to the energy and passion of our fans, and we can’t wait to bring that same excitement back to the Meridian Centre.,” said Michelle Biskup, President of the team. “As we enter our 10th anniversary season, every game will be a celebration of what we’ve achieved and a reminder of the hard work ahead.”

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced earlier this year that the league would expand its regular season to a 24-game format in 2025, increasing from 100 to 120 total regular season games. As a result, the season will start approximately one week earlier in May and end two weeks later August.

The 2025 Playoffs are scheduled to begin Thursday August 14th with the Conference Play-In games, followed by the Conference Semifinals on Saturday August 16th. The winners will advance to CW25 from August 22-24th to join the Winnipeg Sea Bears (host team) and the top ranked team from the Eastern Conference who are automatically seeded into the Conference Finals. Championship Weekend will take place in Winnipeg from August 22-24 where host Winnipeg, along with the top-ranked team from the Eastern Conference, will automatically be seeded into the semifinals hosted at Championship Weekend.

The 2025 broadcast schedule with all nationally televised games on TSN will be announced at a later date. All games, including playoffs, will be streamed live on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ Powered by BetVictor, on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices), and on TSN+.

Highlights of the Niagara River Lions schedule include:

Home Opener on May 16th at 7:00PM at the Meridian Centre
A total of 24 regular-season games during the 14-week Campaign
Twelve home games at Meridian Centre; twelve away games
Seven Friday, two Thursday and one Wednesday home games
Two Sunday afternoon home games
One home, school day game on Friday June 20th at 11:00am
A four home-game stand starting May 28th against all previous CEBL Champions - Saskatchewan Rattlers (2019), Scarborough Shooting Stars (2023), Brampton Honey Badgers (2022), and Edmonton Stingers (2020, 2021).
Final home game at Meridian Centre is Thursday, July 31st versus Ottawa Blackjacks.
Four-game road trip to Scarborough, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary to finish the regular season

Niagara River Lions season tickets and voucher packs are on sale now. Group tickets and single game tickets will be available in the coming months. Ticket information can be found at www.riverlions.ca/tickets or 289-273-5905.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Twenty-two players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+, Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

For full schedule details visit www.riverlions.ca/schedule

 ###

Media Contact

Michelle Biskup

President

marketing@boosterjuice.com

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE RETURN OF SCHOOL DAY GAME

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 20:04:00 GMT

 St. Catharines, Ontario – The Niagara River Lions are proud to announce the return of their annual School Day Game as part of their 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) schedule. The game will take place on Friday June 20, 2025, at 11:00am at the Meridian Centre in downtown, St. Catharines. The opponent will be revealed at a later date. This event aims to connect the classroom with the basketball court, promoting healthy and active living, as well as the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and community.

2025 will mark the third consecutive season that the River Lions will host a School Day Game, bringing nearly 4,000 students from across the Niagara Region to experience River Lions basketball—many for the first time. In line with past years, the event will feature a variety of activities and performances, providing numerous opportunities for students to get involved and engage with the game day experience.

"Hosting a school day game has been an incredible success for our organization. The energy in the arena is unmatched, and seeing thousands of students engaged, inspired, and cheering together make it a truly unforgettable experience”. said River Lions President, Michelle Biskup “It’s not just about basketball—it’s about creating a positive impact in the community and giving these young fans a day to remember. This event proves the power of sports to bring people together and inspire the next generation."

The River Lions are calling on local businesses to support the game through the ‘Adopt a School’ program, which provides students who may otherwise be unable to attend due to financial constraints with the opportunity to experience a professional basketball game with their peers.

For ticketing information, please contact Mitchell Lyons at 289-273-5905 or mlyons@riverlions.ca.

Media Contact:

Matthew Johnston

Vice President, Operations

mjohnston@riverlions.ca

INDOCHINO CEO DREW GREEN NAMED CHAIR OF CEBL BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 18:00:00 GMT

Award-winning Canadian entrepreneur becomes co-owner of the league, with the goal of growing the business of basketball in Canada

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that Drew Green , an award-winning CEO, entrepreneur, and expert in launching and managing innovative high-growth companies, has been appointed as the first-ever Chair of the CEBL Board of Governors. Green has also become a co-owner of the league.

A visionary leader and accomplished entrepreneur, Green’s role as Chair will include instituting new formal governance at a Board level, working alongside the team to attract strategic investors, partners and international relationships for the league, and advise the commissioner and team owners on league business matters.

“Being able to attract an experienced and highly accomplished leader like Drew Green is an incredible win for the CEBL and for Canadian basketball,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner & Co-Founder of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. “Drew’s business success speaks for itself and his passion for the game mimics all involved in making the CEBL a homegrown and global success. His investment into the league demonstrates his strong belief of our bright future and recognizes the foundation that has been built during our formative years. Personally, I look forward to getting right to work with Drew on the next stage of the CEBL and the growth of our game.”

Green currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of INDOCHINO, one of Canada’s fastest-growing apparel brands, globally. Between 2014-24, INDOCHINO has secured over $100M in strategic capital commitments from major firms like Madrona Venture Partners, Highland Consumer, Dayang Group, Mitsui & Co. and Postmedia Network, expanding the company to 145 retail locations across Canada and the United States and has served customers in over 50 countries. In addition, he has procured partnerships with hundreds of celebrities and professional athletes for INDOCHINO, along with MLB, NHL, NBA and NFL teams. Drew’s family office DREWGREEN INC. has empowered dozens of entrepreneurs and 100’s of companies across Canada and the US, in industries ranging from Fintech, Edtech, eCommerce, through to Real Estate. A full business profile and list of Green’s accolades can be found HERE and HERE .

“Anyone that has been paying attention knows the CEBL is a rapidly growing and vibrant brand with boundless potential that has made great strides in a very short period of time,” said Green. “It is truly a league built by Canadians, for Canadians, and this resonates with my family – the epitome of a basketball family in Canada. We are basketball players, the sport is near and dear to our hearts, and we are fans of the CEBL. The league has been a catapult for the growth of the sport in our country, and I can’t wait to help lift basketball in Canada to new heights.”

Drew and his wife Andrea Dayco are basketball parents through and through. Their sons Liam (18) and Aidan (16) Dayco-Green are two of the top U19 prospects in Canada, and both represented by Tandem Sports and Entertainment Agency and NBA agent Elias Sbiet. Liam plays NCAA D1 at Florida Atlantic University for NCAA National Championship winner John Jakus, and Aidan is at Montverde Academy playing for legendary coach Kevin Boyle. Canada Basketball invited Aidan to its U17 camp at 15 in 2024, with Liam being invited to its U23 camp in 2025. For many years, the family has awarded annual scholarships to student athletes (basketball) at York University and University of British Columbia.

The CEBL, Canada’s largest professional sports league with 10 teams in six provinces, will embark on its seventh season next summer after again posting record growth numbers across the business in 2024. More than 4.2 million fans now follow the CEBL in Canada and internationally, culminating in over 9.6 million social media views this year.

Since 2022, the CEBL has seen an unprecedented 89% increase in league-wide attendance and a 97% increase in overall broadcast viewership. All games are available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and TSN+ , and in 2024, more than 50 CEBL games were broadcast live nationally on TSN , Canada’s Sports Leader, and Game+ , with an additional eight games in French on RDS . The league has also developed numerous significant partnerships in just six short years, including meaningful relationships with Canada Basketball, U SPORTS and iconic brands like Spalding and New Era.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Twenty-two players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Media Contact :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

River Lions roar past Bandits in dramatic CEBL Final to win 1st-ever championship

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:57:53 GMT

Champions of the CEBL jungle at long last, the Niagara River Lions should sleep soundly tonight.

The River Lions beat the Vancouver Bandits in dramatic fashion, 97-95, to hoist the championship trophy on Sunday at Montreal’s Verdun Auditorium.

And yes, the team’s champagne-soaked celebration included a player rendition of The Tokens’ famous song The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

“I can’t even put it into words,” said Khalil Ahmad, who scored the CEBL Championship Final-winning basket. “This is my third summer here trying to get a chip and we finally got it done.”

But while the game ended with a celebratory howl for Niagara, the Bandits just as nearly stole the victory.

Niagara led 87-77 at the start of Target Score Time, but Vancouver slowly chipped away by winning rebound battles and watching a tired River Lions squad consistently settle for three-pointers.

Eventually, Niagara’s lead was whittled to two points at 94-92. With the River Lions in possession, Raso put the ball in the hands of two-time Clutch Player of the Year Khalil Ahmad, who drove to the net and got fouled, putting his team two free throws away from glory.

Ahmad made the first but missed the second.

“I can’t believe he missed the free throw,” head coach Victor Raso said. “I’ve never seen him miss a free throw like that, I don’t think ever. And then he just followed that up the next possession.”

In a seeming flash, Vancouver secured the rebound, came back down the court and tied the game at 95 courtesy of a Koby McEwen three-pointer — leaving both teams within a basket of the championship.

But that was as close as the Bandits would get.

Ahmad won the championship when he beat two defenders down the lane and rattled home a floater.

“That’s the biggest bucket of my life for sure. To get a chip like that on the third [season with Niagara], that’s the biggest bucket of my life. I can’t even put it into words,” Ahmad said.

Mitch Creek, who led the Bandits with 26 points, said his team put itself behind the eight-ball with a slow third quarter.

“When you put yourselves in a position to have to fight back, it’s really hard to repeatedly do that. We almost got lucky twice,” said Creek, whose Bandits survived a roller-coaster semifinal against Calgary. “Some of us might have to go to the casino and roll a few dice tonight and try to win back some of the emotions.

Creek said the Vancouver locker room was silent for 10 minutes after the game before head coach Kyle Julius said something he would not share.

“We go back to the hotel now and regroup, have a few beers, pat each other on the ass one more time and fly back to Vancouver and everyone goes on their own way,” Creek said.

One of the league’s Original Six teams, the River Lions were the model of consistency, making the playoffs in every season. The flip side of that is they soon become known as the team which couldn’t get it done when it counted most.

No longer.

“This organization has been elite in the CEBL, but we never had the validation of a championship,” head coach Victor Raso said. “We just needed this as an organization.”

While Ahmad, who scored 23 points, played hero, the River Lions’ victory was the result of a full team effort.

Omari Moore stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Aaryn Rai contributed 15 points and seven rebounds while leading the team with a plus-11 mark. Team captain Kimbal Mackenzie, the emotional leader of the team, added four points to reach 500 for his CEBL career.

In the midst of the on-court celebration, Moore almost seemed surprised at his emotions. “It means something,” he bellowed.

Rai was sure to locate his parents amid the chaos, giving them each a big hug.

But it was perhaps Montreal native Nathan Cayo, playing in front of friends and family, who made the biggest impact, leading the team with 25 points while also adding eight rebounds and four assists.

“It feels amazing. To have all my family here is a blessing. I’m just grateful,” Cayo said.

For Vancouver, which won the West with a 14-6 record, it was not the end to their season they’d envisioned when arriving in Montreal earlier this week.

League MVP Tazé Moore was held to just six points on 2-for-11 shooting. More damningly, the man who led the league with 7.3 assists per game in the regular season was held without a single helper in the one that mattered most.

Creek also chipped in 13 rebounds, while McEwen scored 20 points and big man Nick Ward added 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Creek said the loss was “sad, hard and tough.”

“You do so much and if you don’t feel emotion after a loss in the championship game it means you haven’t really done the work and put in the time and effort,” he said.

“You sit with it for a little bit. You sit and watch on court. You watch them cheer and chant and carry on like a pack of idiots just like we would as Bandits. You almost enjoy watching someone else win because you know at some point you’re going to get that opportunity.”

An exciting first half saw the teams trade leads throughout.

The Bandits built a five-point edge in the first quarter, only for the River Lions to roar back and go up 23-20 when the buzzer sounded on the frame.

Niagara kept it rolling early in the second and led by as many as eight, but Vancouver punched back with a 14-2 run. A late Duane Notice three-pointer sent the Bandits into halftime with a 46-44 advantage.

Notably, Tazé Moore struggled through the first 20 minutes, managing just two points and taking his frustrations out in an unsportsmanlike foul against Niagara’s Moore.

After halftime, the River Lions slowly started to take control. An 11-0 run powered them to what was then a game-high 12-point lead, and the East champions carried a 71-62 advantage into the fourth quarter.

Tension built when the clock turned off and the game began featuring plenty of stoppages for timeouts and reviews.

For a few moments, it seemed as though the Bandits would pull off the biggest Target Score Time comeback in CEBL playoff history.

Instead, the River Lions roared to their long-awaited championship.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Bandits, River Lions set to clash in high-powered CEBL Finals

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 14:20:32 GMT

A first-time CEBL champion will be crowned on Sunday.

In a battle of the regular season’s top teams, the Niagara River Lions (14-6) and Vancouver Bandits (14-6) will square off in the 2024 CEBL Championship Final at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT at Verdun Auditorium in Montreal. Broadcast coverage of the game is available on TSN, RDS and Next Level Sports & Entertainment, while you can live stream the contest on CEBL+, TSN+, Courtside 1891, RDS.ca and the RDS app.

The River Lions and Bandits, who were then known as Fraser Valley, are two of the league’s original six teams from the inaugural 2019 campaign.

But neither has climbed the championship mountain.

Niagara’s come agonizingly close, reaching the playoffs every year and making a Finals appearance in 2021. Similarly, Vancouver has only missed the post-season once, in its first season, and also made one Finals run in 2020.

The parallels don’t end there. Both teams lost their lone Finals games to Xavier Moon-led Edmonton Stingers squads.

And both survived intense semifinals battles just to get to their second.

The River Lions, despite drawing an easy matchup in the 6-14 Montreal Alliance on paper, were forced to deal with a raucous crowd and a feisty defence, which led to 27 missed three-pointers and 11 bricked free throws.

But like he has so many times in the past, two-time Clutch Player of the Year Khalil Ahmad scored Niagara’s final six points to snatch a 78-75 victory from the jaws of defeat.

The West final was more offensively minded as the Bandits and Calgary Surge traded blows for 36 minutes.

But scoring dried up during Target Score Time, and both teams had multiple chances to win it before a Zach Copeland triple finally ended the proceedings with an 89-87 Bandits victory.

River Lions head coach Victor Raso said he likes how it all shook out for his side.

“Vancouver survived a game because a guy missed an open layup. We had to survive the worst shooting performance of the year, and we just survived an incredible Ottawa team [in the East semifinal]. I like where we’re at,” Raso said.

Despite the River Lions’ shooting woes, the Finals present a fascinating offensive battle between the league’s top-two regular-season scoring teams.

The Bandits just barely outscored the River Lions 94.7 to 94.1 points per game, and the West side also held a slight shooting edge at 46.3 per cent to 46.1 per cent.

Niagara, though, will be without starting guard Jahvon Blair, its second-leading scorer who returned to his professional team in France.

On the other side, the Bandits seemed re-energized by the late-season arrival of Australian big man Mitch Creek, who scored 25.8 points per game in six regular-season contests and added a franchise playoff record 27 points against the Surge.

The teams’ lone matchup of the season came on Canada Day, when a Tazé Moore triple-double powered a 10-83 blowout victory for the Bandits.

Moore went on to win MVP, while head coach Kyle Julius took top coaching honours and Koby McEwen was named Canadian Player of the Year.

The River Lions earned just one individual accolade, a Sixth Man of the Year nod for forward Aaryn Rai.

But none of that matters now, as one team will spend Sunday night celebrating with the championship trophy.

Milestone watch

Niagara’s Kimbal Mackenzie is four points away from 500 for his career, including playoffs
Niagara’s Ahmad is 18 points away from 300 this season
Niagara’s Nathan Cayo is 13 points away from 300 this season
Vancouver’s Duane Notice is one steal away from 50 for his career, including playoffs
Vancouver’s Nick Ward is six points away from 350 this season

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Ahmad lifts River Lions to CEBL Finals in hard-fought win over scrappy Alliance

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 14:18:18 GMT

In the Niagara River Lions’ locker room after the East final, there was singing and dancing.

First though, there may also have been a few sighs of relief.

The top-seeded River Lions escaped with a 78-75 win over the host Montreal Alliance on Friday at Verdun Auditorium thanks, once again, to Khalil Ahmad, the two-time Clutch Player of the Year who drained two straight three-pointers to seal the victory.

The River Lions, who topped the East at 14-6 in the regular season, will meet the West’s top seed, the 14-6 Vancouver Bandits, in Sunday’s CEBL Finals back at Verdun.

It’s a game Niagara enters with confidence knowing Ahmad, who also scored a franchise playoff record 31 points, is on their side.

“He’s playing incredible basketball right now. You could tell from the start of the game, he is incredibly engaged and when the game is on the line, man, there’s not a secret to it. He’s an incredible athlete who is very, very well-trained, he takes his craft seriously and he has the ultimate confidence in himself,” River Lions head coach Raso said.

“And he just does it. He makes us look good.”

The Alliance led 69-67 when the clock turned off for Target Score Time, and the teams traded baskets as an already-intense contest ratcheted up a notch.

Montreal (6-14), which automatically qualified for this game as hosts, punched back every time Niagara threw anything at them and seemed to control the pace for most of the game.

Even after Ahmad made his first three-pointer in Target Score Time to put his team within a bucket of victory, Alliance guard Alain Louis answered back with a pair of free throws.

But Ahmad came right back down the floor with a response of his own, nailing a deep, contested jumper to send Niagara to the championship game.

“It’s taking me back to playing 21 with your friends, next point wins kind of thing,” Ahmad said. “But shout out to my teammates, because they carried me throughout the whole game. [I was] shooting terribly, missing free throws, et cetera, but [they were] giving me confidence, making big plays.”

In addition to his scoring output, Ahmad collected 10 rebounds to complete a double-double.

But he made just nine of 20 field-goal attempts (4-for-14 from beyond the arc) and missed five of his 14 tries from the free-throw line.

At least some credit goes to the crowd of over 3,000 at Verdun Auditorium, which roared every time the Alliance made a basket — and especially when those points gave their team the lead.

As a team, Niagara shot just 18 per cent from beyond the arc and 55 per cent from the line.

“We won a game on our worst shooting day and we talked all year about that: how good are you on your worst day? And today was our worst day. And all credit goes to Montreal, those guys are athletic across the board,” Raso said.

“[The River Lions players are] just a gritty, gritty, gritty group who always believes they have a chance. And a lot of that is because they always know that Khalil’s on our team.”

Niagara, which was one of the league’s original six teams, has reached the playoffs in every year but only made the Finals once, when it lost to Edmonton in 2021.

Now Victor Raso, the all-time coaching wins leader who took the River Lions’ helm in 2020, will get another shot to claim his title ring.

Montreal’s season, meanwhile, ends despite a valiant effort.

The Alliance went just 6-14 during the regular season but knew the entire time they’d be playing in this game and often spoke of the difficulty of maintaining focus with an automatic spot at Championship Weekend.

Indeed, things played out that way as the playoff version of the Alliance played a much crisper form of basketball than its regular-season counterpart.

Upon entering the post-game media room, head coach Derrick Alston Sr., spent a few moments going over the box score. His conclusion?

“We played pretty fu-, we played pretty well,” he said with a laugh.

Ahmed Hill paced a spread Alliance attack with 14 points, while Jordan Bowden added a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Alston Sr., said the team, which endured struggles and close losses throughout the campaign, peaked at the right time.

“We gave them a run for their money. It sucks that it didn’t turn out our way especially at home, crowd was great. You just feel sad,” he said.

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin, a Montreal native, was in the house for the game.

Niagara’s Jahvon Blair, the team’s second-leading scorer, missed the game as he had to report back to his professional team in France. He won’t be available for the Finals either.

The game began slowly as the teams combined for the lowest scoring quarter in playoff history, with the River Lions ahead 16-11 after 10 minutes.

The Alliance fought back in the second quarter as the River Lions’ offence continued to struggle. But Ahmad finally seemed to take the lid off the rim in the final minute of the half, knocking down a pair of threes to send his team to the locker rooms with a 38-36 edge. With his pair of triples, Ahmad surpassed 100 career three-pointers.

Yet Montreal withstood the brief flurry and continued to fight its way through the game. A buzzer-beating trey from Bowden put the Alliance up 59-54 entering the fourth quarter.

Montreal led by as many as seven points in the fourth quarter before a 5-0 River Lions run sent the game to Target Score Time.

Or, as it’s quickly becoming known, Ahmad Time.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions look to take down Alliance on their way to a CEBL Championship

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 14:29:33 GMT

The body content of your post gIt’s a game that, on paper, shouldn’t be very close. But as we’ve seen time and time again, anything can happen in the CEBL playoffs.

The Montreal Alliance (6-14) host the Niagara River Lions (14-6) in the East final at Verdun Auditorium on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Broadcast coverage of the game is available on TSN and Next Level Sports & Entertainment, while you can live stream the contest on CEBL+, TSN+ and Courtside 1891.

Whoever emerges victorious will face the winner of the West final — featuring the Vancouver Bandits (14-6) and Calgary Surge (11-9) — in Sunday’s CEBL Championship Final.

The Alliance’s knowledge since before the season that they would be in this game as hosts has been commonly brought up as a reason for their season-long struggles. Perhaps it was difficult to produce full effort in a regular season largely devoid of stakes.

But Montreal always said it planned to peak at the right time.

Now, the Alliance enter the playoffs winners of their last two games, including a two-point victory over the Bandits.

The question will be whether home court and momentum are enough to overcome a strong River Lions side.

Niagara, meanwhile, took control of the East early in the season and never let up, but its season — and its perfect home record — nearly went up in smoke in Sunday’s East semi, when the Ottawa BlackJacks held a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter.

But two-time Clutch Player of the Year Khalil Ahmad came to the rescue, scoring 13 straight points in Target Score Time including an alley-oop winner to punch his team’s ticket to Montreal and secure a much-desired date with the Alliance.

The gulf between Niagara and Montreal largely comes on the offensive end. While the River Lions were second in the league with 94.1 points per game, the Alliance sat dead last at 84.5 points per game.

For Montreal to succeed, then, it must rely on its defence, which was its biggest strength all season as the second-stingiest team overall — one spot better than Niagara.

One key for the will be limiting their league-high 17.1 turnovers per game and preventing the River Lions from running out in transition — especially against a defence featuring Ahmad, who recorded six swipes against Ottawa.

The River Lions won all three matchups against the Alliance during the regular season, but the final two were decided by a total of just eight points.

For most of the season, onlookers have scoffed at Montreal’s chances in this game. Now they have a chance to prove them all wrong.

Player spotlight

Jordan Bowden led the Alliance with 17.4 points per game this season, but it’s unclear how much he has to offer heading into the playoffs.

The 27-year-old American missed time down the stretch while playing in the NBA Summer League for the Atlanta Hawks and only returned for Montreal’s final game of the season.

Bowden made a positive impact in the contest, recording a team-high plus-16 mark, but he managed just four points on 1-for-7 shooting.

Now, he’ll have to deal with a pair of tough River Lions defenders in Ahmad and Omari Moore, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

Bowden could prove to be a true X-factor in this East final.

Milestone watch

Niagara’s Ahmad needs one three-pointer to reach 100 for his career, including playoffs
Niagara’s Kimbal Mackenzie needs nine points to reach 500 for his career, including playoffs
Niagara’s Nathan Cayo needs two steals to reach 50 for his career, including playoffs
Montreal’s Devonte Bandoo needs seven assists to reach 100 for his career, including playoffs
Montreal’s Guillaume Boucard needs two blocks to reach 50 for his career, including playoffs

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .oes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

River Lions beat BlackJacks in playoff thriller as Khalil Ahmad erupts in Target Score Time

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 12:57:25 GMT

It was the type of performance worthy of the two-time Clutch Player of the Year.

Khalil Ahmad scored 13 straight points in Target Score Time as the Niagara River Lions came back to beat the Ottawa BlackJacks 94-91 in the East semifinal at the Meridian Centre on Sunday.

The River Lions trailed by four points when the clock turned off — and Ahmad turned it on.

The California native made a layup in the first play of Target Score Time. He hit a three the next time down. On the ensuing possession, Ahmad was fouled attempting a triple, and swished all three free throws.

Then, a brief blip as he was called for a rare carrying violation, turning the ball over.

But Ahmad was not fazed. He drained yet another three-pointer on the next play.

Eventually, the River Lions found themselves leading 92-91, holding the ball and needing two points to win.

Ahmad inbounded the ball to Omari Moore, who passed to TJ Lall above the arc. Meanwhile, Ahmad curled around and sprinted toward the net.

Lall lobbed the ball into the air — and Ahmad ferociously threw down the alley-oop, sending his teammates and the crowd into a frenzy, and punching the River Lions’ ticket to Montreal for Championship Weekend.

“I told TJ, throw it up and I’ll go get it. And my guy trusted me,” Ahmad said. “It was beautiful, picture-perfect.”

Head coach Victor Raso said it’s a play the team has run multiple times throughout the season — but it’s usually completely shut down or wide open. On this occasion, the defence was somewhere in between.

“TJ threw the ball where only Khalil could get it and Khalil made an incredibly athletic play.”

Raso said he was still collecting his thoughts when he met with media after the game.

“They literally pushed us to the limit. And if this game is not here with 4,000 people, I don’t know if it goes our way. And then we got really tough, we went small, our guys played hard as hell and Khalil Ahmad is a special talent. Like what he did down the stretch and in Target Score Time was incredible,” he said.

For the Ottawa BlackJacks, it was a heartbreaking end to a game that was trending toward asserting their Cinderella season status.

Ottawa began the campaign 1-5 and earned the final playoff spot in the weaker Eastern Conference despite a 9-11 record, but a playoff upset over defending champion Scarborough on Friday had the BlackJacks thinking about Montreal.

They even took the good vibes to Niagara and held a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter against the River Lions, who are undefeated at home.

But the Ahmad flurry put a swift and emphatic end to the underdog story.

“That Ottawa team is really good,” Raso said. “There are teams we’ve played against in this league who have more talented, more stacked rosters but I don’t know if we’ve played against a team who plays with that type of pace, that type of flow and those smarts and shooting ability on the offensive end. Like they caused us so many problems.”

Ahmad was relatively quiet offensively for most of the game, managing just 10 points before Target Score Time.

Defensively, though, he was active with six steals — one off the CEBL’s single-game playoff record. He also kept the River Lions’ offence flowing with eight assists.

Guard Jahvon Blair contributed 22 points and six rebounds in the win, while Nathan Cayo added 17 points including a pair of three-pointers just before Target Score Time that cut Niagara’s deficit from 10 to four.

“We stayed together the whole game. They went on runs and we stayed together, took care of what we needed to take care of and we got the win. So I’m just proud of our guys, how we stayed resilient,” Ahmad said.

Ottawa was paced by Shamar Givance, who scored 19 points off the bench, while Deng Adel finished the game two points shy of a triple-double with eight points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Isaih Moore, Tevin Brown and Keevan Veinot all scored in double-digits as well.

The River Lions got off to a fast start as Blair scored a layup almost directly off the opening tip, and consecutive fast breaks led to an early 6-0 edge, which Niagara parlayed into a 28-19 advantage after 10 minutes.

But the feisty BlackJacks would not go away, and eventually took their first lead of the game in the final minute of the half. A late three-pointer by Blair, though, meant the River Lions carried a 49-48 lead into halftime.

Yet Ottawa kept coming in the third quarter as Givance caught fire. The BlackJacks led 77-67 entering the final frame.

The River Lions responded with a quick 5-0 run to start the quarter, but the BlackJacks rebuilt their 10-point lead until Cayo’s clutch triples ahead of Target Score Time.

And that’s when Ahmad called curtains.

Now, he’s headed back to his third consecutive Championship Weekend with the River Lions.

“It means a lot. Championship Weekend is a big deal obviously. We finished how we wanted to finish at home and now we just gotta take care of business there,” Ahmad said. “This is gonna be the third time and hopefully third time’s the charm.”

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions put perfect home record to test in East semifinal against soaring BlackJacks

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 13:57:07 GMT

For weeks now, it’s seemed a foregone conclusion that the Niagara River Lions would host the Eastern Conference Semifinal.

That they’d be facing the Ottawa BlackJacks in that game was unexpected. Yet here we are.

The River Lions and BlackJacks will square off on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET at Meridian Centre with a ticket to Montreal for Championship Weekend on the line. Broadcast coverage of the game is available on TSN and Next Level Sports & Entertainment, while you can live stream the contest on CEBL+, TSN+ and Courtside 1891.

After a 4-3 start to the season, Niagara cemented itself as the best team in the East, winning all 10 of its home games en route to a 14-6 record.

Meanwhile, Ottawa scuffled out of the gates with a 1-5 start but turned things around in the second half as reinforcements arrived. Eventually, Ottawa edged out Brampton for the conference’s final playoff spot.

The final two games of the River Lions’ season were a split against the BlackJacks. Though they held no significance in the standings, they still served as a solid measuring stick.

And it turns out the teams are fairly even. Ottawa took the first game in a high-scoring 122-113 affair, while Niagara won the second, 109-97.

Sunday will mark the first CEBL playoff game in River Lions history in front of their home crowd. The postseason mainstays have competed in seven playoff games since the league’s inception in 2019, including five at a Championship Weekend neutral site, one road game in Guelph and a 2020 Summer Serries game at Meridian Centre with no fans.

“We need to be fearless going down the stretch here, knowing that everybody's talking about us being 10-0 at home, always having great regular seasons and not having won a championship. So we need to earn the confidence to play fearless, aggressive basketball,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said.

Meanwhile, Ottawa may feel like it’s playing with house money after stunning defending champion Scarborough on the road on Friday.

The BlackJacks showed a relentless offensive rim attack in that victory, led by Isaih Moore’s 22-point, 10-rebound double-double.

But Ottawa’s basis for success is its defence, led at the point of attack by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Lloyd Pandi.

“Even though I’m up for the award it’s really a testament of our team,” Pandi said after the game.

Every playoff game in the CEBL is full of pressure.

But in this case, it appears to mainly lie on the side of the River Lions while a freed-up BlackJacks squad looks to continue its Cinderella run in Montreal.

Neither team has ever won a CEBL Championship. Only one will get the chance to change that.

Key matchup

One of Niagara’s best players is two-time Clutch Player of the Year Khalil Ahmad.

But while Ahmad, the all-time leader in Target Score Winners, has consistently come up big in the regular season, his teams have fallen short in the playoffs in each of the past two years.

Now, he’ll have Pandi in his way as he attempts to lift at least some of the monkey off his shoulder.

Ahmad averaged 19 points and 5.5 assists during the regular season, but also turned the ball over more than three times per game.

Pandi, meanwhile, set the CEBL’s single-season steals record. His 44 swipes were 14 more than the second-place player and equivalent to the gap between second and 16th.

If Niagara gets into its offence, it could be tough to beat. But Ottawa can also slow the game to a grind.

The battle between Ahmad and Pandi could decide the pace — and, ultimately, the result.

Milestone watch

Ottawa’s Deng Adel needs one assist to reach 200 for his career, including playoffs
Ottawa’s Pandi needs four steals to reach 100 for his career, including playoffs
Niagara’s Kimbal Mackenzie needs nine points to reach 500 for his career, including playoffs
Niagara’s Nathan Cayo needs two steals to reach 50 for his career, including playoffs
Niagara’s Ahmad needs four three-pointer to reach 100 for his career, including playoffs

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Rai, Moore, Blair Represent Niagara as 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League Award Finalists

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 15:00:00 GMT

Winners to be crowned at CEBL Awards August 7 in Montreal

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday the individual award nominees for the 2024 CEBL Awards being held Wednesday, August 7 at Le Centre Sheraton Montreal at 7 p.m. ET. The CEBL Awards is the first official event of 2024 Championship Weekend (CW24) in Montreal, Quebec between August 7-11.

Most Valuable Player finalists Tazé Moore of the Vancouver Bandits and Justin Wright-Foreman of the Winnipeg Sea Bears highlight the award nominees that were revealed for the six player categories. In total, there will be eight individual CEBL awards presented in 2024.

2024 CEBL Award Nominees

Most Valuable Player: Tazé Moore (Vancouver Bandits), Justin Wright-Foreman (Winnipeg Sea Bears)

Canadian Player of the Year: Jahvon Blair (Niagara River Lions), Koby McEwen (Vancouver Bandits)

Sixth Man of the Year: Aayrn Rai (Niagara River Lions), Stefan Smith (Calgary Surge)

Developmental Player of the Year: Simon Hildebrandt (Winnipeg Sea Bears), David Walker (Brampton Honey Badgers)

Defensive Player of the Year: Omari Moore (Niagara River Lions), Lloyd Pandi (Ottawa BlackJacks)

The 2024 CEBL Coach of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year (most Target Score Winners), Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award winner and All-CEBL First, Second, and All-Canadian teams will also be announced at the CEBL Awards.

All CEBL award winners will receive a customized ring from Jostens, the official Supplier of Awards and Rings of the CEBL, and a special gift on behalf of the league’s partner at Foot Locker.

Award nominees and winners are determined by votes cast by the league’s head coaches, general managers, assistant coaches, select league broadcasters, and internal media personnel. Team representatives are prohibited from voting for a player or head coach from their own team.

Tazé Moore earned his first MVP nomination in his first CEBL season after major contributions in numerous stat categories for the Bandits, finishing first in league average in assists (7.3), third in rebounds (8.1), fourth in steals (1.6) and 10th in points (17.6). His 124 total assists were the second-most in a single season in CEBL history and he became the first player to record two triple-doubles in the same regular season.

Wright-Foreman led the CEBL in scoring average (26.2) for the second consecutive season and was nominated for MVP again after finishing as last year’s runner-up behind Teddy Allen. He also finished second in league average in three pointers made (3.4), third in assists (6.2) and three-point percentage (45.7), and set a league-record with 16 assists June 27 against Niagara.

Canadian sharpshooters Blair and McEwen were both nominated for a CEBL award for the first time in their careers. Blair finished third in the league and first among Canadians in total points (329), and was third among all players in three-pointers made (53), free throw percentage (tie-83.5) and Target Score Winners (tie-3). McEwen led the CEBL in three-pointers made per game (tie-3.4), was second in total three-pointers made (54), fifth in three-point percentage (44.3), and ranked fourth among Canadians in total points (295).

Rai and Smith were also first-time CEBL award nominees, making significant contributions off the bench for their respective clubs in 2024. Rai appeared in all 20 games for the River Lions, averaging 12.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 24.2 minutes per game, and was tied for third in the league with three Target Score Winners. Despite suiting up in just 10 games for the Surge, Smith tied for the league lead with four Target Score Winners, while posting averages of 18.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 24.2 minutes per game.

Hildebrandt and Walker are the same nominees for the Developmental Player of the Year award (previously named U SPORTS Player of the Year) as last season, which saw the former take home the 2023 hardware. The only difference is Walker’s team which is Brampton this year after playing for the Scarborough Shooting Stars in 2023. Both players made a consistent contribution again in 2024, highlighted by Hildebrandt’s 19 points, seven rebounds and five three-pointers on July 20 against Saskatchewan, and Walker’s 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting (77.8%) from the field on June 30 vs. Scarborough.

Omari Moore and Pandi locked things down on the defensive side of the ball for their teams all season. Moore, a first-time CEBL award finalist, finished third in the league and first among guards with 20 total blocked shots and an average of 1.5 blocked shots per game. Pandi set a single-season CEBL record with 44 steals, good enough for 2.3 steals per game – a half steal ahead of the next closest eligible player. Pandi is a previous two-time winner of the CEBL’s U SPORTS Player of the Year award (now Developmental Player of the Year award) in 2020 and 2021.

The four-team CW24, hosted this year at Verdun Auditorium in Montreal, features a Conference Finals doubleheader Friday, August 9, and the CEBL Championship Final on Sunday, August 11. The Championship Final halftime will be performed by multi-platinum and award-winning recording artist Fefe Dobson, while Montréal-based award-winning rapper, FouKi, and Laval-based award-winning French rapper, Shreez, will perform at the Conference Finals. Ticket and event information is available at cebl.ca/cw24 .

The 2024 CEBL Playoffs begin Friday, August 2 with a Play-In round doubleheader at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET. For full details on the CEBL’s playoff format and 2024 matchups, please visit: https://www.cebl.ca/playoffs

All 2024 CEBL playoff games will be televised live on TSN in Canada and NLSE in the United States, and available to stream on CEBL+ Powered By BetVictor, TSN+ and Courtside 1891 for subscribers outside North America. All CW24 games in Montreal will also be televised on RDS.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Sixteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Media Contact :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Niagara goes undefeated at home, caps off regular season with win over Ottawa

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 12:53:21 GMT

The Niagara River Lions (14-6) closed out their 2024 CEBL regular season schedule with a 109-97 win over the Ottawa BlackJacks (8-11) Saturday night at Meridian Centre.

It was fitting that tonight marked Fan Appreciation Night in Niagara. The River Lions finished with a perfect 10-0 record in front of their home crowd this year, the first CEBL team to accomplish this feat in a full regular season.

“I think it’s an energy thing … our fans make it a great arena to play in,” said River Lions Head Coach Victor Raso. “We’re a good team and when we play really hard (which is easy to do with a crowd like this), we have success.”

Niagara finished atop the CEBL Eastern Conference and will look to translate this regular season success into the postseason when they host the East semifinal Aug. 4.

“We’ve got one more home game which we’ve earned and we’ve got to remain perfect at home,” said Raso.

The River Lions had five players finish in double figures tonight, including Jahvon Blair who poured in a game-high 23 points. The Brampton, Ont. native returned to the lineup tonight after missing Niagara’s last matchup due to the birth of his child.

Blair has now recorded 20-point performances in five of his last seven games played.

Other key contributors to Niagara’s offence were Khalil Ahmad who scored 22 points, including his 1,000th career CEBL point and the Elam Ending winning alley-oop, while Omari Moore (10 points, nine assists), Nathan Cayo (17 points, nine rebounds) and Elijah Lufile (16 points, nine rebounds) each finished just shy of double-doubles.

“The players are buying into the plan we have,” said Raso. “We have guys that are good passers and they bought into the idea that we’ll play through certain guys at certain times.”

The previous matchup between Ottawa and Niagara last weekend in the Capital City was a high scoring affair, resulting in a 122-113 win for the BlackJacks. Ottawa’s 122 points in that contest marked a single game franchise record.

Both teams began this contest exactly where they left off last Saturday. Niagara and Ottawa traded baskets in a back-and-forth game consisting of seven lead changes in the first quarter. The River Lions led 27-26 after the opening frame and held a 56-52 advantage at half time.

Ottawa’s Shamar Givance opened the third quarter with two three-pointers, helping the BlackJacks take back the lead. The River Lions responded however, going on a 21-6 run to extend their lead to its largest of the game, 77-64, with 3:39 remaining in the frame.

Lufile sparked this run for Niagara, scoring nine points in that span. His run was highlighted by a steal against older brother, BlackJack Meshack Lufile, which led to an emphatic fast break dunk for Elijah.

The Milton, Ont. native was a force down low, helping Niagara outscore Ottawa 62-40 (+22) in the paint.

Three-point shooting kept the BlackJacks within reach for most of the game as Ottawa shot 52 percent (13-25) from beyond the arc. Tyrrel Tate made a game-high five three-point field goals and finished with a team-best 22 points (8-12 FG, 5-7 3PT, 1-1 FT).

What’s next?

The BlackJacks will return to Ottawa and finish their regular season schedule Monday night against the visiting Brampton Honey Badgers. Ottawa will then travel to Scarborough on Friday to begin the 2024 postseason with a play-in date against the defending CEBL champion Shooting Stars.

Niagara will now await the winner of the CEBL Eastern Conference Play-In game. The River Lions will host the Eastern Conference Semifinal on Aug. 4 at the Meridian Centre.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Niagara and Ottawa meet for postseason tune-up

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 13:08:06 GMT

The Niagara River Lions (13-6) will look to finish their regular season schedule with a win when they host the visiting Ottawa BlackJacks (8-10) at 7 p.m. ET Saturday night. Fans can catch the action live from the Meridian Centre, on Game+ in Canada and NLSE in the U.S., or can stream online at CEBL+ and TSN+.

The contest marks a re-match of last weekend’s high-scoring affair in Ottawa, where the BlackJacks set a franchise single-game scoring record in a 122-113 comeback win.

Niagara entered last Saturday’s contest having won six straight games. The River Lions currently sit atop the CEBL Eastern Conference and have secured both a playoff berth and hosting rights for the East semifinal.

Despite a slow start to the season, the BlackJacks have found their rhythm as of late winning four of their last five matchups.

Ottawa’s offence has received a boost from late addition Tevin Brown, who joined the BlackJacks at the beginning of the month and has averaged a team-best 17.6 points in seven contests. The 6-foot-5 guard scored a game-high 27 points (9-16 FG, 8-13 3PT, 1-2 FT) in Ottawa’s victory last Saturday over the River Lions.

The BlackJacks have since rattled off another win – a 98-92 decision against Saskatchewan on Thursday – which secured them a spot in the Eastern conference play-in game. Ottawa will travel to Scarborough for that contest on Aug. 2, and will look to take down the reigning CEBL champion Shooting Stars.

Tonight’s game will serve as a postseason tune-up for both Niagara and Ottawa, who may also meet in playoff action next month.

Ottawa leads the season-series 2-1, with the home team winning each contest thus far.

Turnovers have been a major theme in two of three games between these teams this year. Ottawa sported a 28-12 (+16) advantage in points off turnovers in the first matchup on June 15, while Niagara held a 26-6 (+20) edge in the second contest on July 6.

The third game of the season series was primarily decided from the three-point line where the BlackJacks shot .510 (17-33), led by eight three-pointers from the aforementioned Brown.

If Niagara hopes to avenge last weekend’s loss and finish their regular season schedule on a high note, it will need another strong performance from Khalil Ahmad.

The California native is averaging a team-high 18.7 points this season, which ranks fifth in the CEBL. He has recorded 20-point performances in three of his last four games, including 24 points in last weekend’s matchup against the BlackJacks.

Key matchup

A deciding factor in this eastern conference clash may come on the glass.

The River Lions rank second in the CEBL in rebounds (40.7 per game), while the BlackJacks haul in just 34.6 per contest (10th in the league). Niagara also leads the CEBL in offensive boards at 12.5 per game.

Forward Elijah Lufile is largely to thank for this as he collects 7.1 rebounds per game for Niagara, which ranks fifth-most in the CEBL.

Isaih Moore has led the rebounding effort for Ottawa this season. His 8.4 rebounds per game ranks second in the CEBL.

Milestone watch

Niagara’s Khalil Ahmad needs 15 points to reach 1000 for his career (regular season + playoffs).
Ottawa’s Deng Adel needs two rebounds to reach 250 for his career (regular season + playoffs).
Ottawa’s Lloyd Pandi needs one steal to set a CEBL single-season record for steals. Christian Vital (43) currently holds the honour.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions come up short to BlackJacks, record falls to 13-6

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 13:12:45 GMT

The Ottawa BlackJacks (7-10) set a new franchise single-game scoring record en route to a 122-113 win over the East-leading Niagara River Lions (13-6) on Saturday night.

Niagara seemed to have the game under control in the third quarter, leading by as much as nine. But Ottawa had no quit in them, outscoring the River Lions 36-25 in the frame to edge out a 94-89 lead heading into the fourth.

The BlackJacks elevated their game to another level in the fourth quarter and the River Lions had no answers to slow them down. Ottawa went on to snap Niagara’s six-game win streak and walk away with a crucial victory.

“It was a huge win,” said Ottawa head coach James Derouin. “Niagara is the best team in the league, they won (six) in a row, missing a couple of guys, but then we lose D.A. [Deng Adel] at halftime, so that kind of evens it out. Even though we’re down four at the half, we lose D.A., to even rally behind that was really special.”

Tevin Brown led the way for Ottawa with 27 points, three rebounds, one assist, and a steal.

“I played good, and our team played a lot better as far as rebounding and taking care of the ball, and we came out with a victory,” Brown said about tonight's game.

Ottawa’s bench also showed up for them tonight, scoring 42 points in the victory.

“It was huge,” Derouin said about the bench's contribution. “We get 42 bench points to their 35, and we got Shamar in there, and Miryne in there. Great energy in just a short burst of minutes. Tyrrel Tate coming off the bench with a show-me-coach type of game after he didn’t play a lot on Thursday.”

“I don’t know if he was looking at the bench or if he was looking at me when he hit those shots, but that’s alright, whatever it takes, I’ll take it,” he added. “The bench was fantastic tonight.”

Ottawa came out of the gates swinging in the first quarter, jumping to a 31-23 lead. However, Niagara would roll with the punches and find their way back, taking the lead 64-58 heading into the half.

The River Lions would lead by as much as nine in the third, but the BlackJacks gave them a taste of their own medicine by battling back to take a 94-89 lead at the end of the third quarter. They carried this momentum straight into the fourth to extend their lead and take the 122-113 victory.

“It’s crazy how basketball works. On Thursday we couldn’t buy a bucket,” Derouin said about the team's offence tonight. “There were four- or five-minute stretches where we couldn’t score, and tonight it felt like we couldn’t miss. I just thought the guys compared to Thursday just stayed with it, they didn’t get down on themselves and energy stayed high.”

“We got a big boost from Miryne Thomas off the bench,” he added. "I thought he did really well and big man Meshack as well, just the pieces that we maybe needed, and obviously Tevin Brown is pretty special.”

What’s next for both teams?

The BlackJacks will look to keep up this winning momentum when they face off against the Saskatchewan Rattlers this Thursday. As for the River Lions, they will play their final game of the CEBL season in a rematch with the BlackJacks this Saturday.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions Sign Maurice Calloo to Assist With Their Championship Weekend Push

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 15:03:29 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’10 Canadian forward, Maurice Calloo. Calloo, a 24 year-old from Windsor, Ontario started the 2024 CEBL season with the Saskatchewan Rattlers where he averaged 14.1 points and 6.2 rebounds over 10 games.

“We are excited to add Maurice to our roster to end the season,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “Being able to add a talented Canadian like Mo, at this point in our season, to help bolster our roster for our playoff run is incredibly valuable.”

Calloo played two seasons with the Oregon State Beavers , averaging 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 35.6% from three during his senior year. Calloo’s ability to stretch the floor helped the Beavers win their first Pac-12 tournament title in 2021 where he scored a team high 15 points. This performance along with others earned the Beavers a spot in March Madness where they reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 1982. In this game Calloo led the 12 seed Beavers with 13 points and 5 rebounds while shooting 57% from the field. Calloo’s ability to show up in big games was showcased during this run and led to him representing Canada at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup where they made the semifinals.

Calloo started his professional career in the CEBL with the Guelph Nighthawks (now Calgary Surge ) in 2021 where he made an instant impact averaging 11.1 points. Calloo also showcased his ability to stretch the floor at the professional level shooting 50.7% from the field and 38.9% from three. This strong start to his pro career has earned Calloo opportunities in the NBA G-League with the Windy City Bulls and the Salt Lake City Stars . Calloo is also well travelled in his three years as a pro playing for Grengewald in Luxembourg and Bank of Taiwan in Taiwan. While overseas Calloo dominated the competition averaging 27.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over 28 games in the two leagues. Calloo also recorded his professional career high in points with 44 in January of 2024.

Calloo joins the River Lions this summer to help the teams as they look to earn a spot at Championship Weekend. “I’m grateful and blessed to join a championship caliber team,” said Calloo. “I am excited to make a meaningful contribution to this organization down the final stretch of the CEBL season.”

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL . Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Tickets for the 2024 CEBL playoffs featuring the Niagara River Lions on Sunday August 4th go on sale Friday July 19th at 3pm. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup – mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Vice President, Operations

River Lions look to extend six game win-streak against BlackJacks

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 14:26:49 GMT

The Ottawa BlackJacks (6-10) will try to cool off the hottest team in the CEBL Saturday when they host the Niagara River Lions (13-5) and their lengthy six-game winning streak.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. ET at The Arena at TD Place, with live coverage available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+, and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices.

The River Lions have been on a roll, coming off an 80-71 victory against the Brampton Honey Badgers in which they clinched the Eastern Conference's top seed.

Despite the Honey Badgers cutting a 13-point lead to five in Target Score Time, the River Lions were able to weather the storm in the clutch and secure a sixth consecutive victory.

Aaryn Rai had a career night with 28 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks. Jahvon Blair also chipped in with 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

The Ottawa BlackJacks, who are in a battle with the Brampton Honey Badgers for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East, are hoping they caught the River Lions at the right time. With the Montreal Alliance receiving an automatic bye to Championship Weekend as the host club, Niagara is now locked in as the home team in the Eastern Conference Semifinal and have little to play for in their two tune-up games – both against Ottawa – before the playoffs.

The BlackJacks are looking to get back into the win column after suffering a 92-79 loss to the Scarborough Shooting Stars this past Thursday.

The game was close heading into the fourth with Scarborough leading 65-63. However, Scarborough would come out red hot, starting the quarter with an 18-4 run, extending the lead and never looking back.

Turnovers hurt Ottawa the most in the end, giving away possession over 20 times and allowing Scarborough to score 20 points on those mistakes.

Tevin Brown had a great game despite the loss with 26 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals.

Player Spotlight

Rai has been having a great season for the River Lions and has no plans of slowing down. With Khalil Ahmad missing the team’s previous game, he stepped up with his best performance yet.

Rai is currently averaging 12.6 points per game, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 24 minutes this season.

He’s proven to be a reliable scoring option for Niagara, shooting 50.9 per cent from the field, and 47 per cent from three. Rai is also third on the team in rebounding per game, and his size has been essentially for securing the ball, cleaning up any mistakes, and protecting the paint.

Last Matchup

Niagara cruised to a 110-86 win in Ottawa on July 6 the last time these two teams met. They will round out their three-game season series Saturday, July 27 in St. Catharines.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Rai has career night as River Lions clinch Eastern Conference

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 13:11:35 GMT

Aaryn Rai scored a CEBL career high 28 points and added 12 rebounds in a double-double performance that helped the Niagara River Lions (13-5) clinch the Eastern Conference’s top spot with an 80-71 victory over the Brampton Honey Badgers (6-11) Wednesday night from Meridian Centre.

The win was the River Lions’ sixth straight as they improved to a perfect 9-0 at home.

“I think we’re just competing. We’re together and we’re competing,” said River Lions head coach Victor Raso after the game. “That’s been the key over these last six games. Tonight we were a little shorthanded, not being with Khalil [Ahmad], lots of guys had to step up and had to take on a bigger role.”

With first place secured and Montreal receiving an automatic bye to Championship Weekend as the host club, Niagara has earned the right to host the Eastern Conference semifinal in a few weeks’ time.

Stepping into the starting lineup in place of star guard Ahmad, Rai stuffed the sheet, shooting an efficient 12-for-21 from the field, including 4-for-5 from three-point range, while also adding four assists, getting after it defensively with four blocks and hauling down seven offensive rebounds.

“I was just aggressive,” Rai said. “Guys were just finding me. With Khalil out we missed a lot of scoring, so everybody had to step up and I guess I just made some shots.”

Added Raso: “That’s the big thing with us, it doesn’t always have to be Khalil, where in the past it needed to be him. Aaryn Rai is a phenomenal player. He’s an excellent matchup in the ball screen, the post, he can shoot it, he’s an excellent rebounder and tonight he had to start and he was fantastic.”

Rai had it going early and often, scoring 12 points in the first half as his River Lions carried a 41-31 lead into the midway break. Outside of Rai, neither team had anyone really going offensively, but because Niagara shot 5-of-13 from three compared to the 1-of-7 mark from Brampton, the River Lions were able to build a comfortable lead.

The cushion that the Lions built for themselves served them well in the second half as they carried a 71-58 lead into Target Score Time, where they showed some cracks.

Zane Waterman scored six of his Honey Badgers-high 24 points in Target Score Time including a driving layup to pull Brampton within five, 76-71. Ultimately, things proved to be too little, too late for the Honey Badgers, but they made things far more interesting with the clock turned off than it probably should have been.

As has been a trend all season long for them, there simply wasn’t enough offence from the Honey Badgers. Both sides were playing the defence necessary to win, but while Rai was able to step up in a big way for Niagara with Jahvon Blair having a bit of an off night (20 points on 16 field goal attempts), Brampton just didn’t have enough outside of Waterman, particularly with starting point guard LJ Thorpe going 0-for-5 from the floor.

With three games left in their season time is running out on the Honey Badgers to try to reclaim No. 3 in the East from the surging Ottawa BlackJacks and claim that final playoff spot. The strong play shown from them in Target Score Time, where they outscored Niagara 13-9, could be the blueprint to get themselves into the playoffs.

“It’s just a matter of putting those efforts that we had in Target Score Time at the beginning of the game and throughout the game,” said Brampton head coach Sheldon Cassimy. “I think we will be able to do that. We’re still locked in, we’re still focused, we still know that we have a shot to get into the playoffs and you never know what can happen from there.”

The River Lions never trailed during Wednesday’s contest.

Brampton centre Prince Oduro hauled down 12 rebounds and blocked three shots to reach the 250-rebound milestone for his CEBL career in the regular season and 50-block mark for his career in the regular season and playoffs.

Up Next

The Eastern Conference champion River Lions will finish off their 2024 CEBL regular season with a home-and-home series with a pair of games against the BlackJacks beginning with a visit to the nation’s capital on Saturday.

Brampton will next visit Scarborough on Saturday to take on the Shooting Stars.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL
A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 73% of its 2023 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions looking to secure tops in the Eastern Conference as they host the Honey Badgers

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 14:26:35 GMT

The red hot Niagara River Lions (12-5) will be looking to officially clinch tops in the Eastern Conference as they host the Brampton Honey Badgers (6-10) on Wednesday.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. ET from Meridian Centre, with live coverage offered on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , TSN+, Courtside 1891 (outside of North America) and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. The game will also be televised on TSN and available on NLSE in the United States.

Winners of five straight and sporting a perfect 8-0 record at home, it looks like the stars are aligned for Niagara to celebrate what has been a blessed 2024 campaign with an Eastern Conference-clinching victory over Brampton.

Led by a stingy defence and the dynamic backcourt duo of Jahvon Blair and 2022 CEBL Player of the Year Khalil Ahmad, the River Lions have looked like the class of the CEBL down the stretch of the regular season. They will be looking to make another statement Wednesday by securing the top spot in the East and, with Montreal getting the automatic bye to Championship Weekend, the rights to host the Eastern Conference Semifinal.

In their way is a Brampton team that’s been trending in the opposite direction of late. After holding onto the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference for the majority of the season, the Honey Badgers’ grip on that final playoff spot was wrested away by the Ottawa BlackJacks who had been on their tail all season long.

Losers of two straight now and sporting a dismal 1-6 record, coming in against the best home team in the league, things aren’t looking great for the Badgers, particularly when you consider the fact that Ottawa holds a game in hand over them.

Brampton’s struggled offensively this season, averaging just 83.9 points per game on 43.9 per cent shooting from the floor. And with an average defence supporting this tepid offensive attack, things have been difficult for the Honey Badgers. With that said, they still have found ways to win this season and they aren’t completely out of it yet.

A win Wednesday would get Brampton right back into third in the East, and there’s still the possibility that Scarborough could drop off and finish with a record identical to the Badgers’.

With the way Niagara has been playing lately and the consistency that the defending champs have shown this season, the probability of both these scenarios is looking rather low, but you can never say never.

Milestone watch

Brampton’s Prince Oduro, of Toronto, Ont., needs four rebounds to reach 250 for his career, regular season only.
Brampton’s Prince Oduro, of Toronto, Ont., needs three blocked shots to reach 50 for his career, regular season and playoffs.
Niagara’s Khalil Ahmad needs four steals to reach 100 his career, regular season and playoffs (would be the first player in CEBL history to record 100 steals).
Niagara’s Nathan Cayo needs two steals to reach 50 for his career, regular season only and regular season and playoffs.

2024 season series

This is the third and final encounter of the season between these two sides. The last time Niagara and Brampton played was way back at the beginning of the season on May 24 and May 30. The Honey Badgers took that season-opening contest on May 24, with stalwart defence, winning 74-67, but Niagara ended up routing them the second time they saw them 103-60, and never really looked back from there.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

Niagara defeats Edmonton 105-104 to secure home playoff game

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 12:54:14 GMT

Nathan Cayo came through in the clutch to help the Niagara River Lions (12-5) defeat the Edmonton Stingers (11-7) 105-104 on Sunday.

Cayo hit two shots in Target Score Time, including the game-winner, to finish with 20 points on an efficient 66 per cent shooting from the field.

“Just wanted to be aggressive,” Cayo said about his game-winner. “We were in the bonus, so any aggressive play would hopefully get to the line and ice the game. I’m just thankful to God I made the shot.”

The Stingers will now have to wait until at least later tonight to clinch a playoff berth. They came into the game Sunday needing a win or a Saskatchewan Rattlers loss to do so. (The Rattlers host the Calgary Surge on Sunday evening.)

Despite Niagara jumping out to a 10-point lead in the first half, Edmonton used a strong third quarter to climb back into it and take a two-point lead into the fourth.

Khalil Ahmad caught fire with five minutes left, hitting three three-pointers to help put the River Lions up 96-94. With the Target Score set at 105, it came down to the wire at Meridian Centre.

“Aggressiveness,” Ahmad said on how he was able to take over from three. “Confidence instilled in me by my teammates, coaches, and staff. I feel like they have big expectations for me, it’s just me doing my best to live up to that.”

Both teams would trade buckets throughout the Target Score Time. Loudon Love would sink two free throws to get the River Lions within two points of the Target Score. However, Brody Clarke would come out of a Stingers time-out and hit a layup to put them up 104-103.

With a guaranteed home playoff spot and their undefeated home record on the line, Cayo took advantage of his mismatch and sunk the mid-range jumper to secure the victory for Niagara. The River Lions have now won five straight games and are 8-0 on home court this season.

Ahmad finished the game with 29 points, nine assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Despite these solid numbers, Ahmad reflected after the game on what he could improve.

“Defensively got to be better,” he said. “Better reads offensively in the pick and roll. Otherwise, we got the win. That’s all that really matters.”

Niagara’s head coach Victor Raso shared after the game what the game plan was to secure the victory in Target Score Time.

“Play good offence, make sure that we’re not settling, that the ball is moving,” Raso said. “If we’re running actions, run it. We talked about that after the Montreal game, because we had some really good examples of doing so to end Target Score Time. We did the same tonight, we had two very good possessions to end Target.”

What’s next for both teams?

The River Lions will look to extend their winning streak to six when they host the Brampton Honey Badgers this Wednesday. The Stingers look to bounce back when they take on the Saskatchewan Rattlers this Thursday.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions host Edmonton; hope to clinch a home playoff game

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 13:16:58 GMT

The red hot Niagara River Lions (11-5) will look to extend their winning streak to five games Sunday when they host the Edmonton Stingers (11-6) who are seeking a win to clinch a playoff berth.

The game tips off at 3 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. MT at Meridian Centre, with live coverage available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+, and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices.

Niagara is coming off a hard fought 83-77 victory against the Montreal Alliance, in which they secured a playoff spot and improved to 7-0 at home.

With the Target Score set at 83 and Niagara’s most clutch performer on the bench, Jahvon Blair, Nathan Cayo and Kimbal Mackenzie stepped up to score the needed six points to seal the win for the River Lions. Blair would hit a layup followed by a Cayo layup and then Mackenzie’s heroic game-winning fade-away.

With the score 77-73 and Target Score set at 83, Khalil Ahmad, Niagara’s most clutch performer, would foul out of the game. In his absence, Jahvon Blair, Nathan Cayo, and Kimbal Mackenzie would all step up hitting key shots for the River Lions down the stretch to secure the victory.

Blair finished with 21 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block in the win. Ahmad had 19 points, four assists, two rebounds, two steals, and a block before his fifth foul.

Niagara was able to capitalize on Montreal’s mistakes outscoring them 21-9 on points from turnovers.

With their playoff spot secured, Niagara turns its focus to locking in a home playoff date which can happen Sunday with a win over Edmonton or an Ottawa loss to Montreal.

As for the Stingers, they're coming off a tough 103-92 loss against the Shooting Stars last night in Scarborough.

Despite the game being close throughout the first three quarters, they were unable to stop Cat Barber who went nuclear in the fourth quarter. Barber would go on to score a CEBL-record 24 straight points for his team, including the game-winner.

Davion Warren bounced back for Edmonton after being shut out the previous game and poured in 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists in a losing effort.

Key Matchup

Blair and Warren will go toe-to-toe in a battle of two of the best offensive guards in the league.

Blair is currently averaging 18 points per game, 2.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.

Warren is averaging 14.3 points per game, 1.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.

Both guards have proven to be reliable scoring options when the team needs them. They can stretch the floor, score from the mid-range, and lock up on defence.

Recent Matchup

The two teams faced off earlier this season on June 9 and the River Lions came out with a 100-79 victory. Sunday’s matchup with be the final tilt between the clubs in 2024 unless both teams make the CEBL Final at Championship Weekend in Montreal.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions secure playoff spot with 83-77 win over Alliance

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 13:23:24 GMT

Kimbal Mackenzie knocked down the game-winning shot to help the Niagara River Lions (11-5) defeat the Montreal Alliance (4-11) 83-77 and secure a playoff spot.

It came down to the wire at Meridian Centre as both teams refused to throw in the towel.

The River Lions were up 77-73 late in the game after a Khalil Ahmad three-pointer. However, Ahmad would foul out the next possession leaving Niagara’s undefeated home record in jeopardy.

With the Target Score set at 83 and Niagara’s most clutch performer on the bench, Jahvon Blair, Nathan Cayo and Kimball Mackenzie stepped up to score the needed six points to seal the win for the River Lions. Blair would hit a layup followed by a Cayo layup and then Mackenzie’s heroic game-winning fade-away.

Mackenzie shared after the game what was going through his mind when taking that shot.

“Nothing specifically,” he said. “I think most guys would tell you that when you’re in the moment and the games going fast, you're probably not consciously thinking of anything. I was hoping it went in.”

The River Lions’ win not only secured the team a playoff spot, but was their fourth in a row and improved their record to 7-0 at home this season.

“It was a big win with about five games to go,” Mackenzie said about the victory tonight. “Just trying to close out the season on the right note. We consider every game important, not to be cliché. But every game, especially against these Eastern Conference teams are super important.”

Blair came to play tonight with 21 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Ahmad was right behind him with 19 points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals.

“I thought I started off pretty slow,” said Blair. “But I’m happy with how I ended, and I’m happy that we got the win. So, just got to keep going, watching film, and get back to the drawing board.”

Neither team could find a way to pull away from each other, trading bucket after bucket, with Montreal leading 63-62 heading into the fourth before Niagara ultimately came out on top.

Even after picking up the victory, River Lions head coach Victor Raso knows what the team can improve on while heading toward the playoffs.

“Right off the bat, our energy,” Raso said. “Our energy and intent to go out and do all the things necessary to win were not there tonight, and we’ve had these moments throughout the year. Where it’s like, a little tired, lots of games in a short amount of time. We’re playing well, we’re just going to win, and tonight we had that approach.

“We were not nearly as engaged as we’ve been for the last three,” he added. “I think it’s really important that we were able to over come that, get gritty down the stretch, get stops when we needed to, and win the game. There were a lot of technical things, but for the most part, the lack of energy, and a lack of readiness to do what we needed to do.”

What’s next for both teams?

The River Lions look to extend their win streak to five when they host the Edmonton Stingers this Sunday. The Alliance look to get back into the win column when they face off against the Ottawa BlackJacks, also on Sunday.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions look to clinch playoff berth against Alliance

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 13:02:52 GMT

Win and they’re in.

The Niagara River Lions (10-5) will look to clinch a playoff berth when they host the Montreal Alliance (4-10) on Thursday night.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. ET at Meridian Centre, with live coverage available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+, and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices.

The River Lions, winners of three in a row, are coming off a dominant 98-77 win against the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Tuesday.

After a tightly contested first quarter, Niagara was able to turn up the heat with a 32-point second frame in which they built a 15-point lead. That lead proved insurmountable thanks in large part to their overall defensive effort that held the Shooting Stars to 26 per cent shooting from three and 36 per cent from the field.

Khalil Ahmad led the way for Niagara with 25 points, seven assists, four steals, and two blocks in the win.

The Alliance are looking to keep their momentum going after an 80-73 win against the Sea Bears last Friday.

The game came down to the wire in Target Score Time and it was the heroics of guard Jordan Bowden’s game-winning layup that propelled them to victory. Ahmed Hill had a fantastic game with 31 points, two rebounds, and two steals.

The Alliance were able to capitalize on all of the Sea Bears' mistakes, outscoring them 30-13 on points from turnovers.

Player Spotlight

Hill has been rolling this season for the Alliance. The forward is currently averaging 17.3 points per game, 2.4 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals.

Throughout his career, Hill has proven himself to be a reliable scoring option and his play in 2024 is no different. He can score from beyond the arc, the mid-range, and inside the paint. He’s also no stranger to creating offence for others.

2024 Season Series

Wednesday marks the third and final regular season matchup between the two clubs. The River Lions won both previous games, including a 94-80 win in Montreal on June 13 and surviving a 97-95 decision at home on June 21.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions Announce Signing of Former Charlotte Hornet, Scottie Lewis

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 17:31:24 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’5 American forward, Scottie Lewis. Lewis, a 24 year-old from the Bronx, New York averaged 3.3 points, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks during the 2023-24 NBA G-League season playing for both the Salt Lake City Stars and the Rip City Remix .

“I am excited to add Scottie to our roster as we make our final push towards a championship,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “Scottie is a very talented basketball player and gifted athlete, who can really impact the game, especially on the defensive end. He will contribute in a valuable role for us down the stretch and we are happy to welcome him to the River Lions family.”

Lewis played two seasons with the Florida Gators , averaging 8.2 points, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks over 51 games. This was enough to earn Lewis a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2020. Lewis came to the Gators as a solidified 5 star recruit being ranked in the top 10 of the 2019 recruiting class by ESPN, 247Sports, and Rivals. Lewis was also a McDonald’s All-American in his senior year of high school proving that he deserved a spot amongst other top recruits. As a Sophomore Lewis declared for the NBA Draft and was selected as the 56th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets.

Lewis started his professional career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets NBA Summer League team in 2021 where he made an instant impact averaging 8.5 points, 3.3 assists and 1.8 blocks over 4 games. Over this stretch Lewis shot 50% from the field, 60% from three, and 100% from the stripe showing that he could be an efficient scorer in addition to his defensive presence. This summer league performance earned Lewis an opportunity with the Charlotte Hornets NBA roster where he had limited minutes over 2 games. After his stint in the NBA, Lewis has made appearances for the Greensboro Swarm , Rip City Remix , and Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G-League .

Lewis joins the River Lions this summer hoping to showcase his abilities and help the River Lions make it to Championship Weekend. “I’m super excited for the opportunity that the River Lions have given me and I’m even more excited to contribute and learn from an already established and successful team,” said Lewis. I’m here to win.”

Lewis will make his River Lions debut this Thursday July 11th when the team takes on the Montreal Alliance at the Meridian Centre at 7:00pm.

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL . Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. The River Lions currently sit in first place in the Eastern Conference with five games remaining in the regular season. Tickets are available by visiting www.riverlions.ca/tickets .

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup – mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Vice President, Operations

River Lions hand Shooting Stars 1st home loss of the season

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 15:50:17 GMT

Khalil Ahmad and Aaryn Rai combined for 45 points to help the Niagara River Lions (10-5) defeat the Scarborough Shooting Stars (7-7) 98-77 on Tuesday night.

The River Lions propelled themselves to victory with a massive 32-point second quarter in which they built a 15-point lead that they would never relinquish.

“We stuck to our plan,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said about how the team gained the upper hand in the second. “We had matchups on the floor that we wanted to go at, and we did that. We defended quite hard, our ball screen coverage was good.”

Niagara’s defence was unrelenting, holding Scarborough to 26 per cent from three, and 36 per cent from the field in the game. Their suffocating defence resulted in just 17- and 13-point quarters for the Shooting Stars in the middle two frames, respectively.

Raso discussed how the team prepared for Scarborough defensively coming into this matchup.

“We were quite prepared for Cat [Barber],” he said. “This is a roster who didn’t shoot the ball well tonight, they’re missing some of their guys. We knew we had to load up on Cat and let the other guys beat us.”

Ahmad led the way for the River Lions with 25 points, seven assists, four steals, and two blocks. Rai also helped out with 20 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

“Pretty good, had some mistakes I need to clean up,” Ahmad said about how he would evaluate his performance tonight. “Otherwise, I feel like it was a well-put-together, all-around game.”

Scarborough’s Cat Barber, who made history by becoming the second CEBL player to register 300 career assists in the loss, tallied 16 points, seven assists, and five rebounds on the night.

After neither team could gain the upper hand in the first, the River Lions were able to take over on both ends of the floor to balloon their lead to 51-36 heading into the second half.

“It was the defensive intensity,” said Ahmad about the team’s impressive second quarter. “Get stops, go out and get good ones. That gives us confidence to keep it going.”

Niagara kept their foot on the gas throughout the second half and strolled to a 98-77 victory.

Shooting Stars assistant coach Kane Martinez knows what the team can take away from this loss.

“Just came out flat tonight,” Martinez said. “We didn’t come out with pop at home, that’s partly on me. It’s tough, we got guys in and out. But that’s how it is, that’s how this league is. You got to react in the right way, but other than that we just have to put it behind us.”

What’s next for both teams?

The River Lions look to extend their win streak to four when they face off against the Montreal Alliance this Thursday. The Shooting Stars look to get back into the swing of things when they take on the Edmonton Stingers this Saturday.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Shooting Stars host River Lions in CEBL’s 400th regular season game

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 12:59:52 GMT

The top two teams in the Eastern Conference will meet Tuesday night as the Scarborough Shooting Stars (7-6) host the Niagara River Lions (9-5) in the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s 400th regular season game all-time.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Toronto’s Pan Am Sports Centre, with live coverage available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+, Game+ and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices.

The River Lions are rolling this season and inching closer to a coveted playoff spot, most recently posting a dominant 110-86 win against the Ottawa BlackJacks this past Saturday.

Niagara flipped the switch in the second quarter against Ottawa, going on a 13-4 run to build a double-digit lead and never look back.

Jahvon Blair led the way with 24 points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals. He also knocked down six three-pointers on 66 per cent shooting.

The River Lions offence was firing on all cylinders in the game but it was their defensive effort that was key to the victory. They forced 18 turnovers and outscored the BlackJacks 26-6 on points from turnovers.

As for Scarbrough, the team boasts a perfect 4-0 record at home this season and are coming off a hard-fought 105-99 win against the Saskatchewan Rattlers.

The Rattlers led 78-73 heading into the fourth and were hungry to end their five-game losing streak. However, the Shooting Stars had different plans.

Donovan Williams and Cat Barber took over in the fourth to build a lead as high as 12. The team's newest addition, Aaron Best, would be the one to sink the game-winning free throw for the win.

In total, Williams had 27 points, six rebounds, and two steals for the Shooting Stars, while Barber chipped in with 25 points, three assists, and two rebounds of his own.

Player Matchup

The game will feature two of the premier guards in the CEBL going head-to-head in Blair and Barber.

Blair is averaging 17.8 points per game, 2.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 26 minutes of play.

Barber is averaging 20.6 points per game, 4.4 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 30 minutes of play.

Both players have proven numerous times how dangerous they can be on the court. Whether it's slashing, shooting the try ball, creating for others, or locking down on defence, they can both lead their teams to victory on any given night.

Season Matchup

Tuesday will mark the third and final matchup of the 2024 regular season between the two clubs, with each team winning a game so far. The Shooting Stars took the first contest 95-87 in Scarborough on June 1 and the River Lions rebounded with a 81-78 win in Niagara on June 19.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions rout BlackJacks to inch closer to playoff spot

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 13:03:13 GMT

The Niagara River Lions are one game closer to securing a playoff spot.

Jahvon Blair scored a game-high 24 points as the River Lions bounced the Ottawa BlackJacks 110-86 on Saturday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont.

Niagara increased its lead atop the Eastern Conference, moving to 9-5 as it attempts to top the table for the second consecutive season.

Ottawa, meanwhile, fell to 4-9 and remains fourth in the conference, now 1.5 games behind the Brampton Honey Badgers for the final playoff spot. Montreal currently sits last but will automatically head to the semifinals as host of Championship Weekend.

On a Saturday that was billed as country night in Niagara, the River Lions lassoed the BlackJacks with a 13-4 run in the second quarter to build a double-digit lead. That’s when head coach Victor Raso said the game changed.

“We really turned up the intensity, we turned up the pace of the game, we turned up our intensity on the defensive end. I was quite happy with the way we played,” Raso said.

From there, the East leaders held Ottawa at arm’s length through the remainder of the game. The River Lions’ point total matched the second largest of the season leaguewide. Vancouver and Calgary scored 112 and 110 points, respectively, in wins over Winnipeg last month.

Niagara took a 101-79 lead into Target Score Time, during which it scored on nearly every possession en route to a quick victory. Canadian Nathan Cayo wound up as the hero, making a free throw after being fouled under the basket.

Eight different River Lions, including all five starters, scored double-digit points.

“It’s how we are designed to play,” Raso said. “Guys don’t usually play 30 minutes on our team. We pick on [whichever] matchup we want to … and guys trust each other. They trust that we have multiple different guys that will make the right decision.”

The River Lions remained perfect at home, now having won all six their games at the Meridian Centre.

The key differentiator in the game was efficiency from beyond the arc. As the River Lions drained 50 per cent of their three-points attempts, the BlackJacks were held to just 25 per cent. Blair made six on his own – just one less than Ottawa’s team total.

In addition to Blair’s hot shooting, he added four rebounds, four assists and four steals.

“It feels good,” Blair told sideline reporter Esfandiar Baraheni after the game. “My teammates make it a lot easier, my coaches makes it a lot easier. I just gotta hit my shots. And we’re winning, so everything’s good right now.”

The River Lions’ lead swelled as large as 28 points early in the fourth quarter. Everything seemed to fall for Niagara on this night as even big man Loudon Love showed some touch with a buzzer-beating floater to end the third.

Khalil Ahmad, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, finished the first 20 minutes with 12 points and four assists, including a layup on the final play of the half.

He ended the game with 17 points on six-for-11 shooting to go with six assists.

“Our team performed great on defence and on offence,” Ahmad said. “The ball was moving, whipping around. We were helping each other on defence and the three-point shots, they go down when you get good looks. So that was perfect.”

Ahmad echoed Raso’s sentiment that trust was key to the offence clicking as it did.

“Any given night, any guy can go off for 20, 30, whatever,” he said. “It’s just a matter of us staying unselfish and moving the ball like we’ve been doing because we have a great group of guys who trust and love each other.”

Cayo, a Montreal native, surpassed 100 career regular-season assists with four dimes in his 106th CEBL contest.

Ottawa, meanwhile, now heads into a crucial matchup on Wednesday with the Honey Badgers – one that could ultimately determine its playoff fate as the teams don’t meet again until the final game of the season.

Despite the wide deficit, the BlackJacks competed through the final buzzer, with multiple players hitting the floor throughout the fourth quarter.

Ultimately, though, it wasn’t enough.

And as Niagara can begin to think about playoff matchups, the urgency is ratcheting up in Ottawa just to get there.

What’s next?

Niagara visits Scarborough on Tuesday, while Ottawa heads to Brampton to face the Honey Badgers on Wednesday.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Niagara looks to secure another home-court win against Ottawa

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 13:10:59 GMT

As Niagara continues its march toward the playoffs, a feisty Ottawa team stands in its way.

The River Lions host the BlackJacks at Meridian Centre on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the second matchup between the teams this season. Broadcast coverage is available on Game+, while you can find live streaming on Game+, CEBL+ and TSN+.

Every win for the BlackJacks, who opened the season 1-5, is important for their uphill climb to the post-season. After splitting their last six games, the BlackJacks now stand 4-8 – a full game behind the 6-8 Brampton Honey Badgers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Niagara, meanwhile, sits first in the conference at 8-5, but may prefer to avoid an Ottawa team that’s already provided trouble.

In Ottawa last month, the BlackJacks raced to an early lead then held on for a four-point victory over the River Lions.

But Niagara has since added reigning Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Ahmad to its roster, and the American made an immediate impact. Ahmad has played over 25 minutes per game, averaging 15.3 points and 4.5 assists.

Ahmad’s strong return comes at an important time, too, as River Lions minutes leader Omari Moore gets set to join the Toronto Raptors’ NBA Summer League squad.

The BlackJacks have found their level over the past six games thanks in part to big man Isaih Moore, who averages nearly a double-double per game with 17.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game – both tops on Ottawa.

In its most recent game, Ottawa escaped with a one-point win over the last-place Montreal Alliance when Canadian Lloyd Pandi hit a game-winning layup with both teams within a bucket of victory.

The victory capped a 2-1 homestand for the BlackJacks, who now head on the road for three straight.

The River Lions and BlackJacks meet twice more during the regular season on July 20 in Ottawa and one week later back in Niagara.

Player spotlight

Ex-Shooting Star Shamar Givance and Tevin Brown, a CEBL rookie, made their BlackJacks debuts on Thursday against Montreal.

Brown started and led the team with 20 points, nailing six of his 12 attempts from beyond the arc and chipping in four rebounds to boot.

“I’m just looking to come out and run through the sets that the coaches give us, and whenever I can get an open shot it’s my job to come here and take them, and that’s what I did tonight,” Brown said after the game.

Givance, the Toronto native, played just 10 minutes in a bench role, but scored eight points and posted a team-high mark of plus-16 in the one-point win.

Both players now seem poised to play big roles in Ottawa’s playoff push.

Milestone watch

Niagara’s Khalil Ahmad is 29 points away from 900 for his career, including playoffs
Niagara’s Nathan Cayo is one assist away from 100 for his career, regular season only
Ottawa’s Tyrrel Tate is six three-pointers away from 100 for his career, including playoffs

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions cruise to 109-89 win over Surge, stay undefeated at home

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 13:05:35 GMT

A season-best offensive performance from the Niagara River Lions (8-5) led them to a near-wire-to-wire 109-89 win over the Calgary Surge (6-7) on Thursday night.

Niagara shot an identical 53 per cent from the field and from beyond the arc, drilling 15 threes and leading by as many as 25 points en route to their highest scoring total of the season. The victory also improved the River Lions to 5-0 at home this season – one of just two teams that remain undefeated in front of their own fans.

Leading the charge was Jahvon Blair who finished with 25 points and five assists, shooting 5-of-7 from deep. The team’s leading scorer was backed up by TJ Lall’s 19 points, Khalil Ahmad’s 16 and near double-double efforts by Elijah Lufile (10 points, eight rebounds) and Aaryn Rai off the bench (12 points, eight assists).

“The fans make us want to play,” Blair said after the game when asked about Niagara’s perfect home record. “Just going out there and playing for them … there’s no other (crowd) like this.”

On the other side, the second night of a back-to-back proved too big of an obstance for the Surge to overcome on Thursday. Stef Smith led the team in scoring, putting up 19 points off the bench, with Corey Davis Jr. right behind as he dropped 17. The duo struggled holding onto the rock, however, as they combined for 10 of Calgary’s 18 turnovers on the night. Malcolm Duvivier also chipped in with 13 points off the bench while shooting 3-of-5 from distance.

Meanwhile, the Surge’s leading scorer Sean Miller-Moore had one of his quietest games of the season as he finished with four points and two turnovers in 17 minutes of action.

No one appeared happier to be back in Niagara than Blair, as he bounced back in a big way in front of the Meridian Centre crowd.

After putting up just seven points in their previous outing, going 0-of-8 from the field, the Brampton, Ont. native responded by surpassing that output within the first quarter on Thursday night. By the end of the opening 10 minutes, Blair had scored 11 points, going 4-of-6 from the field and hitting three triples.

His hot start sparked an 11-0 run that Niagara used to lead 31-20 by the end of the quarter.

“I told myself before the game that I have to play well and be consistent,” Blair said after the win when asked what his mindset was leading into the turnaround performance. “I feel like I did that and I’m glad we got the win … after I hit my first and second shots, I knew I was going to have one of those games.”

And the runs didn’t stop there. The River Lions not only finished the first frame on a 6-0 run, but they also carried it into the second, pushing it to a 19-4 run. And by the end of the scoring outburst, Niagara had gone up by as many as 22 points before they led 60-42 at the break.

Blair, like he did through the first quarter, continued to spearhead the effort as he finished the half with a game-high 20 points, shooting over 50 per cent from the field and distance. He was just two points shy of single-handedly matching the scoring production of Calgary’s entire starting lineup through 20 minutes.

And despite the Surge’s best efforts, like Kamba hitting a three at the 5:42 mark of the third to cut the deficit to 16 points, they couldn’t slow down the River Lions on the offensive end – especially from distance. Niagara drilled five threes in the third as they extended their lead to 83-63 by the end of the frame.

“It was great,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said postgame when asked about Blair’s performance. “He had a tough road trip … he came ready to play tonight. It shows his resilience, he set the tone.”

Niagara would’ve taken a 25-point lead into Target Score Time had it not been for a heads up play by Smith. The veteran guard baited Lall with a pump fake beyond the arc that led to three free throws he calmly knocked down to put his team’s deficit to 99-77.

That show of resilience seemed to spark the Surge as they scored 12 points in Target Score Time, but it wasn’t enough to re-kindle the type of defence required to make a comeback and had previously won them four games in a row.

Niagara missed just three shots in the stoppage period before Ahmad, the reigning Clutch Player of the Year, added to a long list of game-winners by drilling a deep three. The import scored eight of the River Lions’ 10 Target Score points.

Calgary kept up offensively, shooting a serviceable 46 per cent from the field and an impressive 41 per cent from distance. But the defence that had held opponents to below 84 points per game for the last 30 days was nowhere to be seen.

The Surge hadn’t conceded 100 points or more in back-to-back games since their 0-3 start, but that streak came to an end after giving up 108 and now 109 to Brampton and Niagara in the span of 48 hours.

Up next

The Surge will return to action on Tuesday as they wrap up a six-game road trip by visiting the Edmonton Stingers for the final CEBL Battle of Alberta game this regular season.

For the River Lions, they’ll stay put and host the Ottawa BlackJacks on Saturday for an Eastern Conference showdown.

– CEBL –

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Both squads hope to bounce back as Surge visit River Lions for second of back-to-back

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 12:57:15 GMT

The Calgary Surge (6-6), on the second night of a back-to-back, continue a six-game road trip as they visit the Niagara River Lions (7-5) for their lone regular season matchup on Thursday night.

Live coverage from Meridian Centre begins at 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. MT and fans can catch all the action on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , TSN+ and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices.

Ahead of a cross-conference face-off, both teams can relish in the fact they’ve had their fair share of success thus far. Niagara sits atop the East as they pass the half-way mark of the season and Calgary have worked their way into a playoff spot out West after being out of the mix early on.

But despite all of that, both teams are coming off losses that risk stalling the momentum they’ve carried to this point.

For the River Lions, the matchup will be the first of a quick two-game homestand. And going back to Niagara could prove auspicious as the River Lions can seemingly build upon their undefeated home record and extend their lead atop the East. Niagara is 4-0 at the Meridian Centre in 2024, one of just two teams not to lose a home game thus far.

And with six of their next eight games in Niagara, there’s a real opportunity for the River Lions to build upon their slim one-game lead for the conference’s top spot.

But if that’s to happen, they’ll have to start by getting back in the win column against the Surge. The last time the River Lions were in action, they fell to the West-leading Vancouver Bandits – and it wasn’t particularly close.

Niagara lost 105-83, as their offence was completely neutralized by Vancouver’s league-best defence. The River Lions shot 38 per cent from the field and 21 per cent from beyond the arc as they put up one of their quietest offensive outputs of the season.

And things won’t get much easier for Niagara against a Calgary squad that has ratcheted things up defensively as of late. The Surge have allowed more than 90 points just twice in the last 30 days, holding teams to an average of 83.9 points per game during that span.

In order to crack Calgary’s seemingly impenetrable defence, Niagara will likely need a bounce back performance from Jahvon Blair. Against Vancouver, the team’s leading scorer (16.6 points per game) had one of his quietest performances of the season. Blair finished with just seven points on 0-of-8 shooting from the field.

Even if the Brampton, Ont. native does return to form, he’ll likely need support from his backcourt running mate Khalil Ahmad. Thankfully, the reigning CEBL Clutch Player of the Year and former league MVP has slowly picked up steam with each game since his return. Ahmad has put 18 points in back-to-back contests and is seemingly inching closer to his 19.6 points per game mark from last year.

Meanwhile, the Surge are also coming off a defeat they’d like to rebound from. The loss to the Brampton Honey Badgers last night was a heavy blow as it not only snapped a four-game win streak but it also dropped Calgary from third to fourth in the West.

And although they lost by just three points, the 108 points conceded were a season-high for the Surge. It was a rare poor performance defensively for Calgary, after seemingly turning things around on that end. After allowing more than 100-points in two of their first three games, this was just the second time Calgary let it happen in the past month.

Brampton shot over 50 per cent from both the field and beyond the arc, putting up the most post they’ve scored all year as a result.

Despite the defensive miscue from an otherwise disciplined squad on that end, the Surge continued their impressive play on the offensive end. Scoring 105 points in the loss to the Honey Badgers marked the third time in their last four games that Calgary surpassed the 100-point threshold. Over their last five games, the Surge have averaged 97.8 points per game.

Against Brampton, Calgary was led by Justin Lewis and Stef Smith who accounted for nearly 50 per cent of their points scored. Lewis dropped 27 on 10-of-14 shooting while Smith chipped in with 25 points off the bench.

2023 season series

The cross-conference opponents split their two games last season. Calgary took the earlier matchup by a narrow three-point margin, while Niagara came out on top in the rematch in a more convincing 13-point fashion.

Notably, Ahmad scored game-high 30 points in that contest as the River Lions cruised to victory.

– CEBL –

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions end west coast trip on a sour note, fall short against Bandits

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:43:57 GMT

A battle between two conference leaders ended with Vancouver and Niagara feeling kilometres apart.

The Bandits ran away with 105-83 win over the East-leading Niagara River Lions on Monday at Langley Events Centre, a bounceback performance following their disheartening 19-point loss to their conference-rival Stingers on Saturday.

Vancouver kept pace with Edmonton, which beat Saskatchewan earlier Monday, by improving to 9-3 to remain tied atop the West standings. The River Lions fell to 7-5.

“I just thought that was a complete team win, and I thought the energy was there,” Bandits head coach Kyle Julius said.

Vancouver’s victory was a stark difference from the loss to the Stingers in which Moore was ejected on his birthday.

“It was much needed. It was really just a character game with the team,” Moore said. “The other game we came out complaining, crying, running to the refs after every problem. We really know that the only way to beat us is us. So we just gotta keep the guys together, including myself being the head of the snake and everything.”

Moore secured his second triple-double of the season and the sixth in CEBL history, stuffing the stat sheet with 21 points, 14 assists and 10 boards. The American became the first player ever to record two triple-doubles in the regular season.

“We talk to Tazé about continuously attacking and not waiting for the game come to him. But he’s good enough to take control of the game early and I think when he does that, he makes everyone better,” Julius said.

Every time the River Lions seemed to threaten, the Bandits responded with a flurry of triples to keep Niagara at arm’s length.

In the second quarter, it was Toronto native Koby McEwen, whose fifth three-pointer of the half handed the Bandits their biggest lead to that point at 50-36.

When the River Lions cut their deficit to four points in the third quarter, starting guard Zach Copeland splashed two consecutive shots from beyond the arc to bump the differential back up to double digits.

And the Bandits broke open the game when U SPORTS Player of the Year Diego Maffia put home a transition to triple to end the third quarter and Tazé Moore opened the fourth with one of his own.

“They made their open ones, and then they made some really tough ones,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said. “On nights like tonight, they’re gonna be really tough to beat.”

In all, Vancouver made 46 per cent of its three-point attempts compared to just 21 per cent for the River Lions.

McEwen, who appeared on his way to threatening the CEBL’s single-game three-pointers record just hours after Edmonton’s Elijah Miller had reset the number at 10, played just 85 seconds to begin the second half before subbing out with four fouls.

It was the River Lions who surged ahead early, taking a 21-11 lead midway through the first quarter. But a timeout from Julius seemed to ignite the Bandits, who responded by cutting their deficit to just three points by the end of the frame.

The Bandits led 96-76 at Target Score Time, and Toronto native Duane Notice ended the game on a free throw.

Niagara, meanwhile, wrapped its three-game Western road trip with a 1-2 record. Losses to the Stingers and Bandits show just how stark the difference is between conferences, where the West now sits at a total record of 35-23 while the East is 24-36.

Raso pushed a sense of urgency after the game.

“Kyle Julius was talking about it the other night with his team. He didn’t like their mental toughness and then those guys turned around, they played great basketball, shot the hell out of the ball and did really good things,” he said.

“If our guys don’t respond quickly, then I’m gonna have to make changes quick.”

Khalil Ahmad and Lall paced Niagara with 18 points each. Lall’s performance pushed him past the 500-point barrier for his CEBL career.

“It’s always good to see my shots fall. I’m a confident shooter, I know I’m good at shooting, and just gotta keep the momentum going all season,” Lall said.

Loudon Love added a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double off the bench.

The Bandits wore Terry Fox memorial jerseys for Canada Day, with proceeds set to be donated to The Terry Fox Foundation for cancer research.

Fox’s brother, Fred Fox, attended the game also.

What’s next?

Niagara returns home for a tilt with the Calgary Surge on Thursday, while Vancouver travels to Edmonton for a key date with the Stingers on Friday.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Top-seeded Bandits, River Lions set to stage potential Finals preview on Canada Day

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 14:22:55 GMT

A championship preview may unfold on Canada Day in Vancouver.

The Bandits, tied atop the Western Conference at 8-3 along with the Edmonton Stingers, are set to meet the East-leading Niagara River Lions (7-4) at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT at Langley Events Centre. Live broadcast coverage is available on TSN and Next Level Sports & Entertainment, and you can stream the game on CEBL+, TSN+ and Courtside 1891.

For Vancouver, the contest against the River Lions has suddenly become an important measuring stick as the team has lost two of its past three games to relinquish its spot alone in first place.

The Bandits’ most recent effort was a 19-point loss against the Stingers.

Still, B.C.’s team is a force to be reckoned with – especially at home, where the Bandits sport a 6-1 record. For the season, Vancouver allows the fewest points per game in the league at 83.9 while scoring the second-most at 92.5.

Even the River Lions’ biggest potential advantage – they pull down three more offensive rebounds per game than anyone else – is somewhat negated by Vancouver’s second-best proficiency on the glass.

Yet Vancouver, almost out of nowhere, now finds itself needing to regain its footing.

"Our lack of emotional resilience, I think, is definitely something we have to deal with, so you can take that away,” Bandits head coach Kyle Julius said after the loss against the Stingers. “I think that's a good thing for us. The only team that can beat the Bandits is the Bandits."

Niagara, meanwhile, may be feeling confident after pulling away from Saskatchewan in Target Score Time for their latest victory on Saturday.

A win over Vancouver would put two games between the River Lions and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the East.

It would also send the River Lions home from a three-game Western swing feeling good as the season enters its stretch run.

“Coming out of this road trip 2-1 would be awesome. We didn’t play very well the first game [a 94-82 loss to the Sea Bears]. We didn’t play honestly very well tonight,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said after beating the Rattlers.

“To be in this position puts us in a pretty good spot to try to be the No. 1 seed in our conference.”

Key matchup

Reigning CEBL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Ahmad has only been back with the River Lions for four games in the 2024 season, but he appears to be finding his stride.

Against the Rattlers, Ahmad swiped his first steal of the season and impacted the game in all aspects.

He’ll have his hands full Monday, though, as he takes on Vancouver’s Tazé Moore, a 6-foot-5 wing who’s 10th overall in points per game fifth in rebounding and first in assists.

Milestone watch

Niagara’s T.J. Lall is six points away from 500 for his career, regular season only
Niagara’s Nathan Cayo is two assists away from 100 for his career, including playoffs
Vancouver’s Koby McEwen is six assists away from 200 for his career, including playoffs

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

River Lions Edge Rattlers 94-87

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 20:25:58 GMT

Down three starters to injury in the second half, Saskatchewan finally ran out of steam.

The short-handed Rattlers fell 94-87 to the Niagara River Lions on Saturday at the SaskTel Centre while playing without three of its top four scorers in Jalen Harris, Elijah Harkless and Maurice Calloo.

Harris was injured on the second-last play of the first half, staying down on the offensive baseline until halftime. He did not return for the remainder of the contest, with Rattlers head coach Larry Abney saying after the game that Harris hurt his knee and his ankle and that he needed to see doctors for more information.

Calloo was ruled out Saturday morning, while Harkless hurt himself during warmups and was determined unable to go just minutes before tip in Saskatoon.

Despite all of that, Saskatchewan managed to keep things close throughout the game and even led at halftime. But it couldn’t keep pace with Niagara for a full four quarters.

In the end, it marked the fourth straight loss for the Rattlers, who fell to 5-6 on the season after starting 3-0. They now sit last in the Western Conference, one game out of the final playoff spot.

“I thought they did a great job. They did everything I asked them to do, they battled to the end,” Abney said. “I like that because it’s something we can build on. We’ll have some help coming in pretty soon, get some guys back healthy, and if the guys who played tonight can come with that enthusiasm, that energy, we’ll get out of the bottom.”

The River Lions, on the other hand, increased their lead in the Eastern Conference, improving to 7-4 to move a full game ahead of the 6-5 Scarborough Shooting Stars in second place.

With a pair of three-win teams at the bottom of the East, Niagara is seemingly starting to click at the right time and can feel somewhat comfortable as it enters the second half of the season.

“I think it was really important,” said River Lions forward T.J. Lall, “because now we have a bigger lead in first place and it’s just good to keep the momentum going.”

It was Khalil Ahmad who led a balanced River Lions attack, flirting with a triple-double by recording 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in his 31-plus minutes of action. Big man Loudon Love added 14 points in 20 minutes off the bench, while T.J. Lall scored 13 points on the strength of four first-half three-pointers.

Stepping into a starting role due to the Rattlers’ injuries, Cody John paced the team with 23 points, while holdover starter Bryson Williams contributed 15 points and eight rebounds.

“Just next man up, because I saw guys were down,” John said. “And I’ve been preparing for this throughout the summer, so I just stayed ready mentally and when my name was called my coaches, my teammates believed in me.”

A pair of unlikely Rattlers scorers in Isaac Simon and Emmanuel Bandoumel added 14 and 16 points apiece.

“We definitely showed we got some dogs on the bench and I feel like we were missing that throughout these games,” John said.

A fast-paced first half saw the Rattlers run out to a 53-50 advantage, thanks in part to John who scored all but two of his points over the first 20 minutes, including a quartet of triples

Harris, meanwhile, was his usual solid self in putting up 10 points and six assists. The former Toronto Raptors second-round draft pick sits second among active players in both points and minutes per game.

Without Harris on the floor, the game slowed considerably after halftime. Saskatchewan was limited to just 34 points after putting 31 on the board in the second quarter alone.

Meanwhile, Niagara leaned on its defence led by the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Ahmad, who recorded his first steal of the season in his fourth game.

Freed from guarding Harris, who was in street clothes by Target Score Time, Ahmad was able to wreak havoc and shut down John.

Still, the Rattlers stayed in the fight and trailed 85-84 to begin Target Score Time. But that’s when they appeared to finally run out of gas.

Niagara won Target Score Time 9-3, with Aaryn Rai icing the contest on a transition layup.

“I thought we gutted it out,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said. “We’re going through that mid-season trying to refind ourselves. We were really good, on the same page early, and now we’re just kind of gutting these games out and I was proud of the guys for pulling through at the end.”

D’Andre Bernard, the longest-tenured Rattlers player, returned for his fourth season with the team on Saturday, playing six minutes in the loss.

What’s next?

Both teams are back in action on Monday when the Rattlers head to Edmonton for a date with the Stingers while the River Lions wrap a three-game road trip in Vancouver.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Rattlers host River Lions looking to climb out of Western Conference basement

Sat, 29 Jun 2024 13:59:32 GMT

On paper, it’s a lopsided battle.

The East-leading Niagara River Lions visit the Western Conference’s basement-dwelling Saskatchewan Rattlers on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. MT. Live streaming coverage is available on CEBL+ and TSN+.

But looks can be deceiving. At 5-5, the Rattlers sit just one game behind the 6-4 River Lions at the halfway mark.

Meanwhile, Saskatchewan has lost just once in five attempts at home, while Niagara brings a 2-4 road record to Saskatoon’s SaskTel Centre.

Both teams are coming off losses to the Winnipeg Sea Bears, with the River Lions falling 94-82 on Thursday and the Rattlers taking a 103-101 defeat last Saturday.

In fact, neither squad is playing its best basketball. The Rattlers have lost three straight and the River Lions have fallen in two of their last four.

It all makes for what should be a fascinating contest.

The playoff pressure is already on in Saskatchewan to climb out of last place in its conference. The standings are bunched, which helps, but every loss can feel like lost ground.

Recent defeats at the hands of conference-rival Winnipeg and Calgary only amplifies the urgency for Saskatchewan, which is searching for its first title since the inaugural 2019 season.

Niagara can focus more on achieving consistency with a 3.5-game edge on last-place Brampton in the East.

But with a date against top-ranked Vancouver approaching on Monday, the River Lions may be at risk of their first losing streak of the season if they fall against the Rattlers.

Head coach Victor Raso didn’t sound pleased after the loss against the Sea Bears.

“I’m disappointed in our performance, honestly,” Raso said. “I kind of blame myself, I think I should’ve been a little harder on the guys. We had a tough injury week, but when we got out here our approach wasn’t correct and I’m upset with them for how we approached the game, but I blame myself more than them.”

Surely, then, Raso will have his River Lions locked against a Rattlers team eager to climb up the standings.

Key matchup

Niagara and Saskatchewan are two of the top three rebounding teams in the league.

The River Lions average three more offensive boards per game than any other team, while the Rattlers do more of their work on the defensive end.

As both teams average nearly the same points per game (89.3 for Saskatchewan, 89.8 for Niagara), the extra opportunities off the glass could prove crucial.

Milestone watch

Niagara’s Antonio Davis Jr., is 17 points away from 500 and five assists away from 100 for his career, regular season only
Niagara’s T.J. Lall is 19 points away from 500 for his career, regular season only
Niagara’s Khalil Ahmad needs five assists to reach 200 for his career, regular season only
Saskatchewan’s Cody John needs 13 points to reach 500 for his career, regular season only
Saskatchewan’s Jalen Harris is seven assists away from 100 for his career, regular season only

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

River Lions come up short, 94-82 in Winnipeg

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 13:15:52 GMT

Justin Wright-Foreman’s 22 points and CEBL single-game record 16 assists led the Winnipeg Sea Bears (6-5) to their third consecutive win with a decisive 94-82 victory over the Niagara River Lions (6-4) on Thursday night.

Wright-Foreman, who also had six rebounds in the win, waited until the picture-perfect moment to make history. Tied for the previous league record of 15 assists (Marek Klassen) and Winnipeg one point away from the Target Score of 93, he dished the ball underneath to Emmanuel Akot who delivered the game-winning layup and a new league record for Wright-Foreman in dramatic fashion.

Despite his record and overall outstanding play, Wright-Foreman remained humble when asked about his performance against Niagara.

“I don’t know if I played my best game,” Wright-Foreman said. “I feel like I have areas where I need to improve. I’m proud of the records, but I’m more proud of my teammates for stepping up and helping me. In all ways, not just on the court, but just mentally and physically, whatever I need they’re there.

“So, the 16 assists are because of them,” he added.

The Sea Bears improved to 5-1 at home and extended their winning streak to three as they were firing on all cylinders against the River Lions.

Just like their previous game, Winnipeg’s bench also came up big, outscoring Niagara’s bench 48-21.

“I absolutely loved the game, because I have so many guys make solid contributions,” head coach Mike Taylor said about how important the bench is to the team. “The bench points are important, but it was the bench defence as well. Really pleased with the team effort -- this was about as good a team effort as you can have. Five players in double figures.”

Despite being down by as much as eight early in the first, Winnipeg was able to find their footing and battle back to end the quarter leading 21-20.

The second quarter was all Winnipeg, as they shot 53 per cent from beyond the arc and the bench outscored Niagara’s 30-4. The Sea Bears led 47-37 heading into the half.

“We expect contributions from everyone, and that’s just me holding everyone accountable as well,” Wright-Foreman said about the benches production tonight. “We had big minutes from Chad, Akot. It didn’t matter, all the way down the line. Big, big contributions from Mason off the bench. We really appreciate them, and they did a great job today.”

Niagara couldn’t find an answer to Winnipeg, as the Sea Bears kept their pressure on throughout the second half and finished with a 94-82 victory.

Niagara head coach Victor Raso vocalized his disappointment after the game.

What’s next for both teams?

The Winnipeg Sea Bears look to extend their win streak to four when they host the Edmonton Stingers this Wednesday. As for the Niagara River Lions, they look to bounce back when they take on the Saskatchewan Rattlers this Saturday.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions clash with Sea Bears in Winnipeg

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 13:04:17 GMT

The Winnipeg Sea Bears (5-5) host the Niagara River Lions (6-3) Thursday in a cross-conference class.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. CDT / 8 p.m. ET at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre, with live coverage available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+ and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. It will also be televised in Canada on Game+.

The River Lions have been rolling this season, sitting in first place in the Eastern Conference with an undefeated record at home and riding a current two-game winning streak.

In their last game, they nearly relinquished an 18-point lead to the Montreal Alliance. However, it was the heroics of Aaryn Rai who knocked down some clutch free throws to secure the victory.

Jahvon Blair and Nathan Cayo combined for 42 points. Blair had 21 points, three assists, and two rebounds, while Cayo had 21 points, four rebounds, and two assists.

The River Lions bench also showed out in the win, outscoring the Alliance’ bench 35-12.

As for the Sea Bears, they're looking to carry over their momentum from their 103-101 victory against the Saskatchewan Rattlers.

Justin Wright-Foreman led the way for the Sea Bears, continuing his hot start with the club with 30 points, four three-pointers, and six assists.

And just like the River Lions, the Sea Bears bench came up huge for them in the victory against the Rattlers, outscoring Saskatchewan’s bench 40-16.

A matchup to look out for

Two high-scoring guards in Blair and Wright-Foreman are set to go toe-to-toe.

Blair is currently averaging 19 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists for the River Lions, while Wright-Foreman is posting 28.3 points per game, 5.0 assists, and 2.8 rebounds for the Sea Bears.

Both guards are currently leading their respective teams in scoring per game, and they can flip that switch on offence when needed while helping create offence for their teammates.

Recent Matchup

The Sea Bears are looking for some revenge against the River Lions who walked away with a 101-94 victory on June 6.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

CANADIAN ELITE BASKETBALL LEAGUE TO EXPAND REGULAR SEASON TO 24-GAME FORMAT IN 2025

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:30:48 GMT

CEBL teams have played 20-game schedule since league’s inception in 2019

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that the league will expand its regular season to a 24-game format in 2025, increasing from 100 to 120 total regular season games next summer. In addition, the season will start approximately one week earlier next year in early-May and end two weeks later in late-August.

The 2025 CEBL season will mark the most games played and longest timeframe of an individual season in what will be the seventh campaign in league history. With the exception of the pandemic-shortened 2020 and 2021 seasons, the CEBL has played a 20-game regular season schedule since the league’s inception in 2019. Most recently, that included 100 regular season games that were scheduled from late-May until early-August annually.

“With an expanded schedule and larger window for our games next summer, our fans will have more fan-friendly options, including more weekend games and two additional home dates to see their favourite CEBL teams and stars live in action,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “As we continue to take giant leaps forward across the business, it’s clear fans and partners want more CEBL basketball and our players deserve more opportunities to showcase their skills and to earn more. We are happy to be able to deliver all of that as we prepare for another exciting season in 2025.”

More than 50 CEBL games will be broadcast live nationally on TSN and Game+ in 2024, with an additional eight games in French on RDS . Fans can also livestream all regular season, playoff and Championship Weekend games on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+ and the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Next Level Sports & Entertainment – The U.S. Home for CEBL, will pick up 40 CEBL games for its U.S. audience this season, while international streaming service, Courtside1891 , will carry 27 games for subscribers outside North America.

Ticket information for all CEBL games, including single-game tickets for 2024, can be found by visiting cebl.ca/tickets . Ticket and event information for 2024 Championship Weekend in Montreal (August 9-11) is available at cebl.ca/cw24 .

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Media Contact :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

River Lions avoid collapse, remain undefeated against Alliance with 97-95 win

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:10:53 GMT

After nearly blowing an 18-point lead, a pair of Aaryn Rai free throws secured a 97-95 win for the Niagara River Lions (6-3) over the Montréal Alliance (3-7) on Friday night.

Niagara was ahead for almost the entirety of the ball game, leading by as many as 18 points before taking a commanding 88-72 lead into Target Score Time. Yet all that changed when Montréal ripped off a 21-3 run to take their first lead of the ball game at 93-92.

Bearing the weight of an epic collapse on his shoulders, and likely that of every fan in a packed Meridian Centre as well, Rai stepped up and knocked down two shots from the charity stripe without a moment’s hesitation. The guard finished with 16 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Despite the shaky ending, the win extended Niagara’s lead over the Eastern Conference and marked back-to-back wins. Helping the River Lions get there was Jahvon Blair and Nathan Cayo who each scored 21 points apiece.

“It was a tight one, a close one, but we always find ways to win,” Blair said his team’s second win of the year against the Alliance. “We just thank the lord Aaryn hit those big free throws.”

On the other side, Montréal’s spirited comeback ultimately fell short as they wound up losing a second consecutive game. Still, there were plenty of inspired efforts that got them to within just two points of a win after facing seemingly insurmountable odds. The trio of Jordan Bowden, Ahmed Hill and Chris Smith carried the offensive load, scoring 24, 23 and 20 points, respectively.

Hill, notably, scored 10 of those points during the Target Time comeback, including a pair of free throws that got them within one possession of a victory.

Entering this matchup, it was clear that if Montréal was going to change the outcome (a 14-point loss), they’d have to find a way to contain Niagara on the glass. Easier said than done, considering the River Lions lead the league in rebounds per game (46.8), but being minus-15 on the glass for a second time wasn’t going to be a winning formula for the Alliance.

The early stages of the ball game appeared to be a sign of things to come as Niagara led by as many as 12 points in the first half before a Montréal response left the River Lions up just 46-43 at the break.

“We raised our intensity,” Alston Sr. said at halftime. “On defence, our intensity, it allowed us to come back.”

The bench boss had a point considering the five turnovers Montréal forced in the second quarter alone.

Come the third quarter, however, it appeared Niagara had once again regained control thanks to an 11-point outburst by Blair. The guard’s takeover minutes spearheaded a 14-5 run that put the River Lions up 78-62 going into the fourth.

Blair has now put up back-to-back 21-point performances against the Alliance this year.

“(Coach) told us to wake up,” the Brampton, Ont. native said following his big quarter. “We were chilling, we let them get back in, we came out with more aggression and found ways to dig in.”

And although facing a 16-point gap was hardly a consolation, it was an improvement for Montréal considering the last time they played Niagara it was a 27-point deficit going into the final frame. And that mattered because if the Alliance could replicate that fourth quarter just over a week ago – , where they outscored the River Lions by 13 points – , iit would get them within striking distance.

Lo and behold, that’s exactly how things shook out. Montréal outscored Niagara 33-19 (+14) in the fourth, 22-9 in Target Score Time and came within two points of tying the CEBL record for largest Target Score comeback all-time.

“I’m glad we won the game,” coach Victor Raso said following the win. “We played really well in spurts, and we didn’t play really well in other spurts … we have some time now to practice and we can be a really good basketball team.”

It may not have resulted in a victory for this year’s Championship Weekend host, but they can at least take solace in the fact things were much closer. A tighter battle on the glass, 43-40 in favour of Niagara, with Montréal winning the o-board total (12-11), indicates that come round three in mid-July, things will be compelling to say the least.

Up Next

The River Lions get to rest for a bit, having nearly a week off before they hit the road for a three-game trip against the Western Conference, starting with the new-look Winnipeg Sea Bears on Thursday.

For the Alliance, they’ll wrap up a three-game trip on Sunday with a rematch against the defending champion Scarborough Shooting Stars.

- CEBL –

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions look to extend lead over East against visiting Alliance

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 14:17:07 GMT

The Eastern Conference leading Niagara River Lions (5-3) welcome the Montréal Alliance (3-6) to the Meridian Centre on Friday night for the second of three regular season matchups.

Live coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. ET, available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , TSN+, and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices.

It’s been less than a week since Niagara and Montreal last faced off and the squads have each gone 1-1 since that meeting. Coincidentally, both picked up wins at the expense of the defending champion Scarborough Shooting Stars.

The previous contest between the two teams saw the River Lions walk away with a commanding 94-80 victory thanks to dynamic guard play and effective defence. Niagara’s offence was taken care of by the duo of Jahvon Blair, who finished with 21 points with four made triples, and Omari Moore who recorded one of just five triple-doubles in CEBL history (16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists).

The import who’s coming off an impressive NBA G League season with the Raptors 905 also spearheaded the defensive front. Moore finished with five steals and three blocks, leading a River Lions squad that held the Alliance to 37 per cent from the field and 29 per cent from downtown.

Niagara did lose its next game following that victory but bounced back in a big way on Wednesday by snagging a win over the Shooting Stars. The 81-78 victory broke a tie between the squads, lifting the River Lions into first place in the Eastern Conference.

The narrow victory saw the season-debut of former league MVP Khalil Ahmad and the import did not disappoint. He finished with a team-high 18 points coming off the bench, none of those baskets more important than the final one, as Ahmad hit the game-winning three. A fitting return for the CEBL’s two-time, and reigning, Clutch Player of the Year.

On the other side, Montréal has looked sharper as of late as they’ve gone 2-2 ever since their 0-3 start. The Alliance, since taking on the River Lions, toppled the Shooting Stars but most recently lost to the Brampton Honey Badgers. The loss was a bit of a missed opportunity to separate Montréal from Brampton and Ottawa who sit at the bottom of the pack in the East.

Instead, the Alliance are now just half a game ahead of the Honey Badgers clinging onto third seed.

The 85-79 loss on Wednesday saw Montréal’s offence sputter yet again. It’s been a theme of inconsistency this year for the Championship Weekend hosts as they’ve gone up-and-down from game to game, looking great offensively one night and struggling the next. And against Brampton it was the latter as Montréal finished the game shooting 39 per cent from the field.

What has remained consistent for the Alliance is the strong play of Chris Smith and Jordan Bowden. The duo lead Montréal in scoring this season, and against Brampton, accounted for over 50 per cent of the team’s point production as Smith put up 24 and Bowden finished with 16.

Key Matchup

In a game filled with plenty of dynamism in the backcourt, the matchup that might swing things the most is between two forwards. Keep an eye on what goes on between Montréal’s Smith and Niagara’s Nathan Cayo.

Last time out, Smith finished with just nine points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field. But beyond the lack of offensive production, it was a lack of discipline defensively that really cost his team. The forward fouled out in just 23 minutes of action, taking away one of the Alliance’s best scorers and rebounders.

Throughout the season, Smith has shown a tendency to rack up avoidable fouls. Yet when he remains disciplined on that end, like he has the past two games, his impact is undeniable. Evidenced by back-to-back 24-point performances.

Meanwhile, if Cayo can force the issue and get Smith into foul trouble again, it could lead to even more success for Niagara. The forward finished with a modest, yet impactful 15 points and three rebounds against his former squad in their previous face-off.

- CEBL –

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Niagara defeats Scarborough 81-78 to move into first place in the East

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 19:18:10 GMT

Khalil Ahmad’s 18 points and five rebounds helped the Niagara River Lions (5-3) defeat the Scarbrough Shooting Stars (4-4) 81-78 Wednesday afternoon in a battle of two teams vying for the top spot in the eastern conference.

Ahmad, the two-time CEBL Clutch Player of the Year, made his season debut and picked up right where he left off last season, hitting a three-pointer to seal the Niagara win in Target Score Time.

“I was a little rusty, a little rough,” Ahmad said on his return and in-game performance. “But that’s to be expected, coming into a group of new guys like this, we all got to figure each other out, figure out the tendencies, and stuff like that. It’s all going to be going up from here.”

Jahvon Blair knows how important Ahmad’s return is for the team.

“He’s a big-time player, you guys saw what he did, he hit a big-time shot,” Blair said. “You know he makes it easier for us, and you know him coming just made it easier and we got the win.”

Blair also made an impact for the River Lions, scoring 17 points on 46 per cent shooting, grabbing five rebounds, and dishing out two assists.

In the loss, Donovan Williams poured in 29 points on 56 per cent shooting, knocked down three threes, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out four assists for the Shooting Stars.

Both teams came out hungry in the first quarter, trading buckets and matching each other’s energy. It was Blair who helped Niagara edge out a 23-17 first-quarter lead, scoring 10 points in the frame.

Niagara rode their momentum into the second and had an answer for everything Scarborough threw at them, turning it up on defence, forcing turnovers and scoring in transition. The River Lions’ bench also helped propel the team forward outscoring Scarborough 23-6. Niagara ended off the half leading 48-39.

“Just trying to hold them to one shot,” Blair said about how Niagara prepared for Scarbrough defensively. “Last game they killed us on the second chance points, so we wanted to emphasize holding them to one shot.”

Despite being down by as many as 11 points in the third, Scarborough turned up the heat on both sides of the floor. They forced Niagara into mistakes and hit timely shots to cut the lead to 62-61 going into the fourth.

With both teams exchanging blows, it came down to the wire in the fourth. With the Target Score set at 81, the teams were tied at 78 before Ahmad’s heroics.

“Glad it went in,” Ahmad said about his game-winning shot. “They were playing a great game, we kind of slowed down a little bit. So, it was good to finish it off.”

Even though the River Lions came away with the victory, head coach Victor Raso still knows the team can improve going forward.

“We have to play good basketball over the course of a game, we had times where we were lackadaisical,” Raso said. “I thought defensively we tried for the most part but offensively, we had some issues with our flow and what we were trying to do. It’s not easy to incorporate a guy like Khalil [Ahmad] back into the lineup, but it's not much of an excuse. We have to play better basketball.”

What’s next for both teams?

The River Lions look to continue their winning momentum when they face off against the Montreal Alliance this Friday. As for the Shooting Stars, they look to get back to their winning ways when they take on the Brampton Honey Badgers this Friday.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions host Shooting Stars in School Day matinee

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 11:10:34 GMT

The Niagara River Lions (4-3) host the Scarborough Shooting Stars (4-3) Wednesday morning as both teams look to get back in the win column.

The game marks Niagara’s 2024 School Day Game and has an 11 a.m. ET tipoff at Meridian Centre. Live coverage is available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+, and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices.

The River Lions are coming off a close 90-86 loss against the Ottawa BlackJacks this past Saturday.

Aaryn Rai led the way for the River Lions with 24 points on 50 per cent shooting, while hitting three shots from beyond the arc, snagging 16 rebounds and dishing out two assists. Niagara also out-rebounded Ottawa 51-39 in the game, posting 22 second-chance points in a losing effort.

As for the Shooting Stars, they had their four-game winning streak snapped in a 93-86 loss to the Montreal Alliance on Sunday.

Jackson Rowe scored 19 points on 77 per cent shooting, knocked down three shots from three, pulled down four rebounds and had three assists in the loss. Tevian Jones also showed out for Scarborough, scoring 18 points, hitting four threes and grabbing three rebounds.

Key Matchup

Scarborough’s Jones and Niagara’s Jahvon Blair could be a matchup to keep an eye out for.

Jones is currently averaging 16.6 points per game, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and shooting 44 per cent from the field, while Blair is sporting a similar 19 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 41 per cent average from the field.

The two guards are leading their teams in scoring and have the ability to catch fire at any moment. They can both stretch the floor, attack the paint and help create offence for their teammates.

Last Matchup

On June 1, Kadre Gray had 18 points and 10 assists to lead the Shooting Stars to a 95-87 victory over the River Lions. Blair led all scorers in the game with 22 points in a losing effort for Niagara.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River lions come up short, 90-86 against Blackjacks

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 17:10:55 GMT

Tyrrell Tate had 19 points to lead the Ottawa BlackJacks (2-5) to their first home victory of the season on Saturday defeating the Niagara River Lions (4-3), 90-86.

Tate knocked down two threes as part of his 19 points, snagged two rebounds, dished out four assists and had two steals. With the game on the line in Target Score Time, Tate put his head down, drove straight to the paint, and hit a running floater to seal the win.

“Just wanted to win, we needed it,” Tate said on hitting the game-winning floater. “We've been, we've been struggling, but we know how good we can be. We know our potential. We’re just trying to find a rhythm and get some consistency going. So, it just feels good to get to win at home in front of our fans that deserve it.”

Brandon Sampson also had an impact for the BlackJacks, scoring 16 points, grabbing six rebounds and snatching two steals.

In the loss, Niagara’s Aaryn Rai had 24 points on 50 per cent shooting and pulled down 16 rebounds.

“I mean, I think individually I had some opportunities to score, it just, you know, made some bad decisions turning it over,” Rai said about his thoughts on the game. “But I think, you know, we missed some shots that we usually make. And I think that, if we make those, maybe it's a different game, but kind of dropped the intensity of our defence.”

Both teams started the game trading buckets. However, it was the BlackJacks that were able to capitalize on Niagara's mistakes and pull away to end off the first leading 23-15.

Despite being down by double digits at times, the River Lions just wouldn’t go away. Rai erupted in the second quarter, scoring 13 points to help chip away at Ottawa's lead. The BlackJacks ended the half with a 46-45 lead and then maintained that one-point lead with a 64-63 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Sampson spoke after the game on how he stays focused during close games like this one.

“I think anybody as a player, these are the moments that you live for as a player,” Sampson said. “You know, just close games and things like that, trying to stay locked in. So, no better opportunity in a game like that. Good team out there, gave us a good game, and situations like that are exciting. So, it's always a game. You never know how things go.”

After a close fourth quarter and with Target Score set at 90, Niagara evaporated Ottawa’s lead down two, trailing just 88-86 before Tate’s heroics to end the game for the BlackJacks.

Niagara’s head coach Victor Raso knows what the team must take away from this game going into the next.

“We have been very good in transition, and we made some really poor decisions in transition,” Raso said. “We turned the ball over 21 times. That's not going to win a road game. We missed a lot of shots around the rim too. You know can't really be missing layups and turn the ball over and expect to win on the road.”

What’s next for both teams?

The River Lions look to regroup and get back into the win column when they take on the Scarborough Shooting Stars this Wednesday. As for the BlackJacks, they look to continue this winning momentum when they face off against the Edmonton Stingers this Thursday.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions Look to Extend Win Streak to Four Against BlackJacks

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 14:37:29 GMT

The Ottawa BlackJacks (1-5) host the Niagara River Lions (4-2) Saturday in the first of four matchups between the two clubs this season.

The game begins at 7:30 p.m. ET at Ottawa’s TD Place, with live coverage available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+, Courtside 1891 (outside of North America), and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. It will also be televised on NLSE in the United States.

The River Lions are fresh off a 94-80 victory against the Montreal Alliance this past Thursday.

Omari Moore registered just the fourth triple-double in CEBL history and first of the 2024 season, scoring 16 points on 50 per cent shooting with 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Moore also blocked three shots and had five steals in the win.

Jahvon Blair also had an impact, scoring 21 points on 46 per cent shooting. Blair had it going from beyond the arc in the game, knocking down three threes, while also adding five rebounds and three assists.

Niagara’s stifling defence was key to helping the team secure the win, holding the Alliance to 29 per cent shooting from three and 37 per cent from the field.

As for the BlackJacks, they are coming off a 105-91 loss to the Scarborough Shooting Stars this past Thursday.

Despite the loss, Tyrrel Tate had a solid game for Ottawa, scoring 21 points off the bench. He also grabbed nine rebounds, had two steals, and dished out three assists.

One of the bright spots for the BlackJacks in the game was their ability to score in the paint, posting a 54-34 advantage over Scarborough in that area.

A matchup to look out for

The battle between forwards Nathan Cayo and Isaih Moore could be a good one.

Moore is currently leading the BlackJacks in scoring with 17.8 points per game. He is also averaging 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and shooting 40 per cent from three.

Cayo has also been solid for Niagara, averaging 12.8 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and shooting 32 per cent from beyond the arc.

Both forwards can get hot from the perimeter quickly and knock down key shots. It will be interesting to see how the opposing defences prepare to slow these marksmen down.

2023 season series

Ottawa and Niagara also faced off four times in the 2023 CEBL season with the River Lions getting the better of the BlackJacks three times.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Omari Moore’s Triple-Double Lifts River Lions to 94-80 Win Over Alliance

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 12:49:49 GMT

Omari Moore erupts for the first triple-double of the 2024 CEBL season as the Niagara River Lions (4-2) defeat the Montreal Alliance (2-5), 94-80.

Moore was all over the stat sheet tonight, scoring 16 points on 50 per cent shooting, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists. He also added five steals and three blocked shots in the win.

“I think I came out pretty aggressive today, I kind of wanted to make a point of that,” Moore said about his performance tonight. “I was able to find my teammates pretty early, get some stuff going down hill and was able to make shots. Overall, I think it was a solid performance.”

Jahvon Blair also made an impact with 21 points on 46 per cent shooting, knocking down four threes, snagged five rebounds and adding three assists.

Despite the loss, Montreal’s Ahmed Hill had a fantastic game. Hill scored 19 points on 46 per cent shooting, while also grabbing two rebounds and dishing two assists.

The teams went at each other throughout the first trading buckets in the early going. The River Lions built a 24-20 lead at the end of the first quarter on Blair’s nine points on 75 per cent shooting.

Blair knows how important his consistency on the offensive end is to this team.

“I was telling myself that before this game started, stay consistent, keep my shot going,” Blair said. “Keep the flow going, but not rushing anything, or forcing anything. It’s really with my teammates finding me and my coach trusting me.”

The River Lions rode their momentum into the second, executing on both offence and defence. Niagara locked up on defence, holding Montreal to 33 per cent from the field, and 23 per cent from three to end the first half leading 48-35.

Niagara head coach Victor Raso spoke after the game on how he prepares the team defensively each game.

“We are very strict on our defensive fundamentals and how we handle actions,” Raso said. “We work on them every day. Coach Troy Stevenson has been an excellent defensive coach. These guys have really allowed us to coach them more than teams I've had in the past. I can coach them pretty hard, and they’ll be quite responsive to it.”

After being outscored 29-15 in the third quarter, the Alliance made a fourth-quarter push, ending the frame with a 30-17 advantage but ultimately falling 94-80.

What’s next for both teams?

Niagara looks to extend their winning streak to four when they take on the Ottawa BlackJacks this Saturday. As for the Montreal, they look to get back into the win column against the Scarborough Shooting Stars this Sunday.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Alliance and River Lions Battle in First Match-up of 2024

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:01:59 GMT

The Montreal Alliance host the Niagara River Lions Thursday in the first of three matchups between the two clubs this season.

The game begins at 7:30 p.m. ET at Montreal’s Verdun Auditorium, with live coverage available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+, RDS.ca, the RDS app, and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. It will also be televised on RDS.

The Alliance set a franchise record for points scored in a single game in their historic 104-89 win against the Ottawa BlackJacks this past Tuesday.

Chris Smith led the team in scoring in the win with 21 points on 61 per cent shooting. Smith also knocked down two threes, grabbed five rebounds, and snatched two steals. Jordan Bowden also made an impact off the bench with 20 points on 50 per cent shooting while adding six rebounds, six assists, and two steals.

The Alliance were able to attack Ottawa’s paint and put pressure on their rim defence, outscoring the BlackJacks 52-36 in that area.

As for the River Lions, they are coming off a victory of their own with a 100-79 win over the Edmonton Stingers this past Sunday.

Jahvon Blair erupted for 26 points on 60 per cent shooting and knocked down four threes, grabbed six rebounds, and added two steals. Nathan Cayo also caught fire, scoring 23 points on 80 per cent shooting while adding two rebounds and two assists. Cayo couldn’t be stopped from three, knocking down five shots from beyond the arc.

Niagara was on fire from beyond the arc throughout the game, knocking down 14-of-28 three-pointers. On the opposite end, the River Lions were able to lock down on the perimeter and hold the Stingers to just 6-of-24 three-pointers made.

A player to look out for

Blair has been on an absolute tear this season for Niagara, averaging 20.3 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals. He is also shooting an impressive 41 per cent from the field, and 34 per cent from three.

The 6-foot-4 guard could be a problem for Montreal’s defence to deal with. His ability to stretch the floor, create his own shots off the dribble, and finish at the rim is on another level.

2023 season series

Montreal and Niagara faced off three times in the 2023 CEBL season, with the River Lions getting the better of the Alliance twice.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

RECORD GROWTH NUMBERS ACCELERATE AS CANADIAN ELITE BASKETBALL LEAGUE’S SIXTH SEASON TAKES FLIGHT

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 17:55:12 GMT

Attendance up 41% league wide from 2023 as digital metrics also reach new heights

The Canadian Elite Basketball League’s (CEBL) sixth season has launched the same way its fifth season ended – posting record growth numbers across the business.

The year-over-year accension from the same time frame and number of games from 2023’s opening weeks includes a 41 per cent increase in league-wide attendance numbers (70,308) and a 189 per cent spike in viewership on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor. The league’s 2,717,089 social media impressions throughout Opening Week powered by Neo Financial represented a 113 per cent increase from the same period last season.

Home opener attendance numbers were also up 31 per cent from 2023 as two of the three highest-attended CEBL games ever took place over the course of four days. The largest single-game crowd in league history tipped off the season May 21 when 12,327 CEBL fans filed into Scotiabank Saddledome to see the Calgary Surge and Edmonton Stingers. The Winnipeg Sea Bears followed that up three days later with the third largest single-game crowd ever for a CEBL game, hosting 9,116 fans May 24 in their home opener against the Scarborough Shooting Stars at Canada Life Centre. Winnipeg holds the CEBL single-game playoff attendance record of 10,580 fans (Aug. 4/23 vs. Edmonton).

Record growth highlights from the start of the 2024 CEBL season include:

Attendance

41% increase in total attendance over 2023
31% increase in home openers league-wide over 2023
League record 12,327 fans at Calgary Surge vs. Edmonton Stingers season-opening game May 21 at Scotiabank Saddledome
Third largest crowd ever for a CEBL game (9,116) at Winnipeg Sea Bears home opener May 24 vs. Scarborough Shooting Stars at Canada Life Centre

Livestream & Video-On-Demand

Total CEBL+ viewership up 189% over 2023
Video-on-demand impressions up 159% over 2023
652% increase in CEBL+ subscribers in May 2024 compared to May 2023

NOTE : Viewership numbers from CEBL broadcast partners (TSN, TSN+, RDS, RDS.ca, Game+, Courtside 1891 & NLSE) will be available at a later date.

Social Media

2,717,089 impressions (113% higher than opening week in 2023)
4.5% engagement rate (3x higher than industry standard for sports leagues)
4.3% overall growth
67.1% net weekly audience growth (week-over-week)

Website

119,207 page views (31% higher than opening week in 2023)
68,896 unique visitors

More than 50 CEBL games will be broadcast live nationally on TSN and Game+ this season, with an additional eight games in French on RDS . Fans can also livestream all regular season, playoff and Championship Weekend games on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+ and the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Next Level Sports & Entertainment – The U.S. Home for CEBL, will pick up 40 CEBL games for its U.S. audience in 2024, while international streaming service, Courtside1891 , will carry 27 games for subscribers outside of North America.

Ticket information for all CEBL games, including single-game tickets for 2024, can be found by visiting cebl.ca/tickets .

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Media Contact :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

River Lions Cruise to 100-79 Win Over Stingers

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 13:02:57 GMT

Jahvon Blair's 26-point explosion helped the Niagara River Lions (3-2) defeat the Edmonton Stingers (4-2) 100-79.

Blair led the way for a white-hot Niagara team, knocking down four shots from beyond the arc, grabbing six rebounds, dishing out two assists and snatching two steals.

Blair knows what it takes for him to help the River Lions secure more wins going forward.

“Being consistent, I would say,” Blair said. “Shot was falling, just got to try to keep playing my game, coach believes in me, and teammates do too. So, just keep it going, everything will fall in place.”

Forward Nathan Cayo also had an impact for the River Lions, scoring 23 points on 80 per cent shooting, grabbing three rebounds and dishing out two assists.

The first quarter was a battle with both teams trading buckets. However, Niagara was able to gain the upper hand and end off the first leading 25-18. Leading the charge for the River Lions was guard Jahvon Blair, who exploded for 13 points on 100 per cent shooting from the field.

Niagara started the second quarter with their foot on the gas, hitting shot after shot to extend their lead. The River Lions locked up on the Perimeter, holding a Stingers team that shoots 35.8 per cent from three to only seven per cent from beyond the arc in the first half. Despite Edmonton mounting a comeback in the second, it was Niagara’s defence that was key to help withstand the Stingers' run and finish off the half leading 44-35.

“We just kind of understood their personnel and where it comes from,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said when asked about the team's first-half defence. “Nick Hornsby was a big part of what they do because he’s a passer a lot of times. So, staying home a lot on him, making him a scorer rather than a passer.”

The River Lions' hot hand kept up into the third, as they rained down threes to extend their lead to 76-58.

Edmonton could not find an answer for Niagara’s offence as they fell 100-79.

Despite the loss, Stingers' head coach Jordan Baker remains positive and knows what the team must improve on going forward.

“Defensive rebounding,” Baker said. “I’m about one game away from signing myself to a 10-day contract because we need to make sure we clean up on the glass.”

What’s next for both teams?

The Niagara River Lions look to continue their winning momentum this Thursday when they take on Montreal Alliance. As for the Stingers, they look to get back into the win column this Friday against the Calgary Surge.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Stingers and River Lions Square Off for First Time this Season

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 14:21:14 GMT

The Edmonton Stingers host the Niagara River Lions Sunday in their first of two meetings this season.

The game begins at 4:00 p.m. MT / 6:00 p.m. ET at the Edmonton EXPO Centre, with live coverage available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+, and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. It will also be televised in Canada on Game+.

The Stingers are coming off a 93-90 loss against the Vancouver Bandits despite having four starters in double-digit scoring. Guard Davion Warren led the way with 23 points on 53 per cent shooting, while Elijah Miller, Brody Clarke and Nick Hornsby also contributed 13, 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Forward Ben Krikke was also great for the Stingers off the bench, scoring 15 points and snagging three rebounds in 19 minutes of play. Edmonton’s bench was one of their main bright spots against Vancouver, outscoring the latter’s reserves 31-7.

As for Niagara, they are coming off a 101-94 victory against the Winnipeg Sea Bears. Guard Jahvon Blair led the scoring for the River Lions with 21 points on 46 per cent shooting. Blair also grabbed four rebounds and threw out two assists.

Forward Aaryn Rai was right behind Blair, scoring 20 points on 58 per cent shooting. Rai knocked down two shots from beyond the arc, snagged five rebounds and had four assists.

The River Lions put the pressure on Winnipeg’s rim, outscoring them 54-24 in the paint.

A matchup to look out for

The battle of two crafty guards in Blair and Warren could be a good one.

Warren has been having a great season for the Stingers, currently averaging 17.6 points per game, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. Blair has also been on a tear for Niagara and is averaging 18.3 points per game, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.

Both guards have very similar playing styles. They can stretch the floor, create their shots off the dribble and attack the paint when needed.

2023 season series

In their only match-up in the 2023 CEBL Season, the Edmonton Stingers defeated the Niagara River Lions 99-94 on May 31, 2023.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions Snap Sea Bears Win Streak with 101-94 Win

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 16:12:57 GMT

Jahvon Blair’s 21 points helped the Niagara River Lions (2-2) pick up a 101-94 win on Thursday night, snapping the Winnipeg Sea Bears (3-2) three-game win streak in the process.

It was an eventful game for the third-year CEBL guard, not only because it was his second consecutive 20-point performance but also because he joined an exclusive club. By hitting a floater at the 8:38 mark of the first quarter, Blair became just the 25th player in league history to score 500 regular season points all-time – 340 of which have come as a member of the River Lions.

“It feels good,” Blair said reflecting on his milestone night postgame. “And it feels even better because we won tonight too.”

Niagara got contributions from everyone in the victory as every player to check in scored at least five points. Aaryn Rai did the most damage after Blair, as he put up 20 points, five rebounds and two steals off the bench and T.J. Lall chipped in with 14 points and eight rebounds.

On the other side, Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson led the way for Winnipeg as he put up a game-high 24 points and six assists. 18 of those points came in the second half as the lead guard stepped up in the absence of Teddy Allen who was ejected late in the second with just eight points.

David Muenkat had his best game as a Sea Bear as he put up 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Mason Bourcier joined the other two as Winnipeg’s only double-digit scorers with his 13 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting.

Fans were treated to a back-and-forth affair right from the opening tip as Winnipeg and Niagara traded leads 10 times throughout the opening quarter. The Sea Bears led by as many as six points through the frame but by the time the dust settled the River Lions were up 35-31.

Niagara finished the quarter on an 11-5 run, courtesy of three consecutive triples, before Jordan Tchuente wrapped up the effort with a steal and bucket in the final seconds. He scored the River Lions final five as part of 10 points in the first quarter.

The exchanging of leads didn’t continue throughout the second quarter however, as Niagara went ahead by as many as 14 points before going into halftime up 61-52. It wasn’t their production from outside the arc like in the first, but a strong inside game that helped the River Lions take the game’s first double-digit lead.

Niagara finished the first half plus-18 on points in the paint, overcoming the fact they didn’t hit a single three in the second quarter. It was an adjustment on their part, reacting to Winnipeg’s drop coverage and using the open space in the mid-range, finishing the half with 17 two-point makes on a 61 per cent clip.

By the end of the game the River Lions’ edge scoring inside ballooned to a +30 advantage on paint points.

“It’s exactly what we expected,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said after the game on seeing Winnipeg in a drop coverage. “We did a great job against it, we scored at the rim … over and over, it’s what we prepared to do.”

Meanwhile, Allen was held scoreless in the frame and was clearly frustrated by that fact, as he was tossed at the 2:55 mark following a second technical foul. If facing a nine-point deficit wasn’t challenging enough for the Sea Bears coming out of halftime, they ended up having to do it without the league’s top scorer (34.5 points per game).

And credit to Winnipeg as they got the lead down to as low as two points before the end of the third quarter, which ended with them trailing 78-72. The Sea Bears’ biggest adjustment came on the defensive end as they switched into a zone defence that paid immediate dividends.

The River Lions went scoreless through the first two minutes of the third and put up 17 total points, their fewest in any of the four quarters on Thursday.

It wasn’t just their ability to get stops that swung momentum in favour of Winnipeg it was also the leadership of Ogungbemi-Jackson. The Sea Bears’ guard scored nine points in the frame as he got things within striking distance.

Winnipeg’s comeback effort continued in the fourth as a Hildebrandt triple at the 6:59 mark capped off an 8-3 run and cut the lead down to just one point. A valiant push but it did little to waver the Niagara as they responded like they had all night. The River Lions used an 11-3 run of their own to go into Target Score Time ahead 92-83.

And although Ogungbemi-Jackson’s six points in the stoppage period led one last push for Winnipeg they ultimately saw their win streak come to an end following a Blair layup that was blocked but called a goaltend.

The Sea Bears tried to overcome the absence of Allen as best they could, with all nine of their players scoring in the end, but it wasn’t their offence that fell short, it was their defence. Specifically on the glass, Winnipeg finished minus-10 on rebounds and gave up 20 offensive boards (-5) to Niagara.

It allowed the River Lions to score 22 second chance points (+11) and put up 10 extra field goals inside the arc.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” Raso said after his team’s second win through the first quarter of the season. “Our team is capable in winning in a bunch of different ways … I like where we’re at and we have a former player of the year returning soon.”

Up Next

Winnipeg looks to get back in the win column on Sunday as they stay on the road for a third consecutive game, taking on the Calgary Surge.

Meanwhile, Niagara start a three-game road trip against the other Alberta ball club, taking on the Edmonton Stingers on Sunday.

- CEBL –

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Sea Bears visit River Lions for second game of back-to-back

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:50:53 GMT

The Winnipeg Sea Bears (3-1) continue a four-game road trip as they visit the Niagara River Lions (1-2) at the Meridian Centre on Thursday night.

Live coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. ET available on Game+ with streaming options on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , TSN+ and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices.

It’ll be the first of two matchups for the cross-conference opponents and Winnipeg’s second game is an many days. The Sea Bears are the first team this year to go through a back-to-back as they enter the night following a nail-biter against the Brampton Honey Badgers on Wednesday.

Winnipeg rolled into the CAA Centre yesterday and withstood just about every punch thrown by Brampton as they came out with a 92-90 victory for a third consecutive win.

Had it not been for another heroic performance from Teddy Allen, however, things might’ve ended differently. The reigning league MVP finished the game with 30 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter, including a game-winning floater in Target Score Time.

Allen is yet to score less than 27 points in a contest this year and through four games he leads the league in scoring, with his 34.5 points per game almost a full 10 points more than the second-leading scorer.

The import guard helped the Sea Bears overcome a game they nearly gave away thanks to a season-high 17 turnovers which gifted Honey Badgers nine extra points. An uncharacteristic showing from a team that entered the day averaging the fewest turnovers in the league.

On the other side, Niagara enters the night looking to bounce back from a 95-87 loss against the Scarborough Shooting Stars in what was billed as a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Final.

The River Lions had their quietest offence showing of the year as they were held to a season-low in scoring and coughed up the ball a season-high 16 times. Niagara wasn’t able to keep up with Scarborough’s fire power for the entirely of the contest and it ended up costing them.

After a strong start, making seven threes on better than 50 per cent shooting, the River Lions’ well completely dried up. They made just four triples the rest of the way on a sub-30 per cent clip. By the end of the game, Scarborough canned three more triples, making all the difference in Niagara’s eight-point loss.

There were silver linings for the River Lions to build on however, as they got two standout performances that they’ll hope happen again. Jahvon Blair came off the bench and led the game in scoring, potting 22 points in 24 minutes of action. It was a season-high performance for the third-year CEBL guard and until 2022 league MVP Khalil Ahmad returns from his overseas season, it’s the type of output Niagara will need more of.

Meanwhile, Elijah Lufile also had his best game of the year as he put up 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds against his former team. The 2023 champion will be equally necessary against Winnipeg as he’ll have to match up against two of the league’s premier forwards in Byron Mullens and Chad Posthumus.

Keys to victory

Three-point shooting: It sounds simple to say the team that hits more shots from beyond the arc is likely to win, but in this game, it could be a big swing factor. Neither team shoots with much efficiency from distance, in fact Winnipeg (31.1) and Niagara (31.5) rank second and third last when it comes to three-point conversion rate.

Granted, the Sea Bears may shoot worse in terms of percentage, but they average about three more makes a contest. And with both squads likely neutralizing each other’s two-point production, those extra couple of makes could be game-changing.

Rebounding: Despite the Sea Bears entering the matchup with more size in their lineup, the River Lions are statistically the better team on the glass. Niagara leads the CEBL, averaging 43.7 rebounds a game while ranking top two on both the offensive and defensive side. In their loss to the Shooting Stars, rebounding was one of the few advantages as they grabbed 17 offensive rebounds (+3) and earned 18 second-chance points as a result.

And for what it’s worth, giving up extra possessions appears to be a trend for Winnipeg in tight ball games. Their lone loss and Wednesday’s two-point win are the only game’s where opponents have grabbed more offensive rebounds then them. Against Brampton they gave up 19 offensive rebounds (-4) for 15 second-chance points.

2023 Season Series

If last year’s lone matchup is any indication, fans will be in for a treat. Winnipeg took their first-ever contest against Niagara by overcoming a 17-point deficit midway through the third quarter in what ended up as a three-point win.

Unsurprisingly, Allen led the way with a game-high 28 points to go with six rebounds, six assists and three steals as his Sea Bears came out with a 93-90 victory.

- CEBL –

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Shooting Stars Earn Gritty 95-87 win over River Lions in Home Opener

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 12:49:01 GMT

It was banner night for the defending champions and the Scarborough Shooting Stars celebrated by putting up arguably their best defensive performance of the season to pull out a 95-87 win over the Niagara River Lions on Saturday.

Scarborough gave up the fewest points they have to any opponent this season and forced Niagara into a season-high 16 turnovers as they grinded out their second consecutive win.

“They shot 50 per cent from three in the first half and 25 per cent in the second,” Shooting Stars head coach Devan Blair said postgame on what propelled them to victory. “Overall, we did a pretty good job of making the guys we wanted to see shoot, shoot, but we also did a really good job flying around and contesting late when we had to.”

The Shooting Stars were led by the duo of Kadre Gray and Jackson Rowe who each put up double-doubles. Gray led the way with a team-high 18 points and 10 assists while Rowe scored 13 points to go with his 13 rebounds. Meanwhile, Jaden Campbell finished with 11 points off the bench, making it back-to-back double-digit outings for the import guard.

On the other side, the River Lions were led by a sixth man of their own as Jahvon Blair scored a game-high 22 points off the pine to go with seven rebounds and three assists. Omari Moore chipped in with 16 points, while former Shooting Star Elijah Lufile had his best game of the season, putting up a season-high 15 points and eight rebounds against his old squad.

“I was just trying to play my role,” Lufile said after the game on his return Scarborough. “I’m a high energy guy, get rebounds, putbacks and defend. That’s just my game, even if I score 20 points or zero points … it does feel good to be back though.”

It’s fitting that Saturday’s contest was a tightly contested affair considering it was a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Final that was decided by three points.

Neither team could claim an early advantage as Niagara and Scarborough went shot-for-shot through practically the entire quarter. The River Lions finished the frame with five threes on 55 per cent shooting while the Shooting Stars made six on a 54 per cent clip.

That one extra triple ended up making all the difference for the defending champs as they went into the second quarter with a narrow 29-27 lead. It was a return to form for the Shooting Stars – who lead the league in three-point makes (13.7) and percentage (39.4) -- after uncharacteristically converting at a lesser 35 per cent clip from beyond the arc against the Calgary Surge.

The Shooting Stars went on to hit 14 triples on a 41 per cent conversion rate.

And speaking of uncharacteristic, that’s a fitting way to describe Niagara’s second quarter as they gave the ball away well above their usual pace. The River Lions entered the night averaging just 13 turnovers a game but ended up with eight in the frame and 11 by halftime. Their unsure hands proved costly as they gave up 11 unanswered points off turnovers and trailed 55-47 going into the break.

“We challenged the guys after the road trip,” Blair said postgame on his team’s increased defensive effort against Niagara. “Dig in, get back to who we need to be … being active with our hands. We want to play so fast, so we have to be able to create turnovers.”

Scarborough’s three-point onslaught showed no signs of slowing down once action resumed as three of their first four makes in the third quarter came from distance. At the 7:14 mark of the frame, Gray hit one of his three total threes and gave the Shooting Stars the first double-digit lead of the contest.

Credit to Niagara as they didn’t wave the white flag after trailing by as many as 12 points in the frame. The River Lions finished the quarter on a 15-6 run that cut the Shooting Stars lead to just two points going into the fourth quarter.

Scarborough showed some championship poise however as they responded with a 10-2 run of their own, capped off by Adaway throwing down an alley-oop slam, that put them back up by 10 points midway through the fourth quarter and forced Niagara into a timeout.

Head coach Victor Raso’s message was apparently heard loud and clear as the River Lions cut the Shooting Stars’ lead down to eight points going into Target Score Time and in quick succession had it down to just three points following an Aaryn Rai layup.

“Just keep playing our game,” said Moore when asked what Raso’s message was that sparked their late push. “We never felt like we were out of the game … keep chopping away, there’s no 10-point play.”

That was as close as Niagara could chop things up, however, as Scarborough held on the rest of the way thanks to back-to-back dunks from Hason Ward, scoring four of his six points in Target Time, before Tevian Jones drilled a step back three to end the contest.

Up Next

The Shooting Stars get plenty of time to bask in Saturday’s outcome as they won’t return to action until June 9 when they visit the Brampton Honey Badgers for a GTA rivalry game.

Meanwhile, the River Lions head back home to host the Winnipeg Sea Bears for a cross-conference affair on Thursday.

- CEBL –

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Shooting Stars Host River Lions in Rematch of Eastern Conference Final

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 13:59:12 GMT

The Scarborough Shooting Stars welcome the Niagara River Lions to the Pan Am Sports Centre for a trip down memory lane on Saturday night.

All the action tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET and fans looking to take watch can stream live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , TSN+ and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. This contest will also be televised in Canada on Game+ and NLSE in the United States.

After starting the season on a three-game road trip, the Shooting Stars will finally have their home opener on Saturday and will celebrate by raising their championship banner. And it seems fitting that after finishing the trip with a win over the Calgary Surge, the team Scarborough beat in the title game, they now return home to take on Niagara, the team they beat in the Eastern Conference Final.

In that win against the Surge, the Shooting Stars bounced back from an 0-2 start and avoided their first three-game losing streak to start a season in franchise history. It was a total team effort as eight out of nine players to check in for Scarborough hit double-digit scoring and their bench finished with 40 points (+13).

Second unit production continues to be a major strength for the Shooting Stars. Through three games, Scarborough’s bench is averaging 37 points per game, outscoring opponents by an average of 19.3 points and has put up 40-or-more points in back-to-back contests.

In the win against Calgary, it wasn’t just the fact that players off the pine were scoring a lot, it was the timeliness of their production that stood out. Hason Ward and Devoe Joseph each scored 10 of their 14 and 13 points, respectively, in the second quarter as they gave the Shooting Stars their first significant lead. Meanwhile, Jaden Campbell scored eight of his 13 points off the bench in the fourth quarter to help seal Scarborough’s first victory of the season.

On the other side, Niagara also bounced back following a shaky start of their own. The River Lions opened their year by losing the first game of a home-and-home set against Brampton before responded with a commanding 43-point win over the Honey Badgers on Thursday.

And it may be an oversimplification, but Niagara’s biggest adjustments were hitting more shots and being sharper defensively. The River Lions scored 36 more points in their win compared to last week’s seven-point loss and that’s not a surprise considering they shot nearly 25 and 30 per cent better from the field and distance.

Defensively, the River Lions didn’t allow Zane Waterman and L.J. Thorpe to combine for 51 points and outscore their entire starting lineup for a second consecutive game. Granted Thorpe was out for the rematch, but Niagara still looked impressive stifling Waterman to just seven points on 0-for-4 shooting.

Key matchup

This game will be especially unique for one player in particular, Elijah Lufile. He’ll be taking on his old squad for the first time since winning a title last season and then subsequently joining the team he helped eliminate.

The Milton, Ont. native’s offensive numbers may not pop out as he’s averaged just two points in his 15.5 minutes per game, but his impact has still been felt. His eight rebounds on average are 10th in the CEBL as he’s spearheaded the league’s most productive team on the glass.

Matched up against Lufile on Saturday will be who Scarborough signed to replace him, Hason Ward. The American import has been impressive in his own right through his first three games in the CEBL, immediately establishing himself as an elite rim protector.

Ward is averaging a league-best 3.3 blocks a game to go along with his 10.7 points per game as he’s slotted in as the Shooting Stars de facto big man.

So, in a game chalked full of guard depth and wing talent, make sure to keep an eye on the battle that’ll be taking place inside the paint.

2023 season series

Going back to last year, Niagara won both regular season contests before Scarborough ultimately got the last laugh and bounced them from the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Final.

- CEBL –

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions strike early, often in dominant victory over Honey Badgers

Fri, 31 May 2024 16:02:49 GMT

The Niagara River Lions have entered the chat.

Niagara came out with a vengeance against their Ontario rival Brampton Honey Badgers on Thursday, forcing the issue early and often en route to a resounding 103-60 victory.

The River Lions stormed to a 15-2 lead early in the first quarter and never looked back during their home opener at the Meridian Centre. To put icing on the cake, they scored the first seven points in Target Score Time, too.

The River Lions, who entered the season among the championship favourites, opened their 2024 campaign with a 74-67 loss to the Honey Badgers on Friday after winning all three of the teams’ contests last season.

For the past six days, then, they’ve been sitting on that defeat in which just two starters scored more than two points.

“Last game was like a pre-season game for us. We found out that we can be very good defensively. We found out that we had clarity issues on offence. And then we just addressed them. We worked really hard over the course of the week,” said River Lions head coach Victor Raso.

“It’s validating for the guys to have a bounceback like that because we felt like we left a lot on the table in the first game.”

On Thursday, Niagara flipped the script and looked the powerful part for which it’d been prognosticated, improving its record to 1-1. Scarier still for the rest of the league, the River Lions continue to await the return from overseas of 2022 MVP and Clutch Player of the Year Khalil Ahmad.

Brampton fell to 2-1 with the loss.

Omari Moore, a G Leaguer with Raptors 905, was named Player of the Game after sharing the River Lions’ team lead of 18 points while adding eight assists.

“I think tonight we came out with a different level of intensity, a different level of aggressiveness. We had a couple hard days of practice and we really wanted to come out and play our brand of basketball,” Moore said.

Fellow starter Aaryn Rai also scored 18 points, while Antonio Davis Jr., added 16 to put him at 504 for his CEBL career.

“That means a lot,” Davis Jr., said. “I love playing here in the CEBL, so for this to be my third summer and to have 500 points is just an honour. This is a great league and it’s really building and growing and I just love that I’m a part of it.”

Honey Badgers look to continue hot start in rematch against River Lions

Thu, 30 May 2024 14:35:42 GMT

The Brampton Honey Badgers are turning heads early in this 2024 campaign.

A team that many had counted out before the season even began, one that fell meekly in the play-in round last year after winning just eight games, is already 2-0 following wins over the Niagara River Lions and Ottawa BlackJacks.

Thus, Thursday’s rematch against the River Lions — this time in Niagara — comes with some juice.

“I think we're just honestly … I think we're the stronger team,” Honey Badgers forward Zane Waterman said after the first meeting. “I think a lot of people counted us out this season and I think a lot of people are going to be biting their words.”

The game tips off at 7 p.m. ET at Niagara’s Meridian Centre. Broadcast and streaming coverage are available on Game+, with additional streaming coverage on TSN+ and CEBL+.

It was Waterman who led the charge in the Honey Badgers’ home-opener victory against the River Lions, recording a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double while drawing a whopping eight fouls. He added 28 points in Brampton’s 99-82 victory over Ottawa.

The American Waterman is in his third year with the Honey Badgers, helping the franchise win its first title in 2022 before relocating with the club to Hamilton last season.

Waterman’s sidekick in victory was fellow American import LJ Thorpe, who provided a bigger impact than may have been expected with 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting against the River Lions.

Niagara, meanwhile, was atop some pre-season power rankings after adding the likes of guard Omari Moore from Raptors 905 in the off-season. But the River Lions have instead sat stewing for six days since the loss to Brampton in its lone game this season.

“The morale lies in the fact that we get to play these guys a week later and we'll be ready to go,” head coach Victor Raso said after the defeat.

The River Lions will be looking for widespread improvement from their starters, just two of whom scored more than two points in the opener. The fivesome of Jahvon Blair, Omari Moore, Antonio Davis Jr., TJ Lall and Elijah Lufile combined to make just 10 of its 37 field-goal attempts.

Niagara is also awaiting the return of 2022 MVP and Clutch Player of the Year Khalil Ahmad, who’s currently competing overseas.

Key matchup

A pair of guards are looking to get their seasons on the rails.

Niagara’s Jahvon Blair, the Oakville, Ont., native and Georgetown alum, struggled to just four-of-17 shooting in the team’s opening matchup, including two-of-10 from distance.

The River Lions will need an improved performance from Blair if they hope to exact revenge on the Honey Badgers, who await the breakout of Javonte Cooke.

Cooke, an American G-Leaguer, has combined for 23 points in his first two games with Brampton, but could swing the River Lions rematch with strong defence and improved efficiency.

Milestone watch

Niagara’s Blair is three points away from 500 for his career, including playoffs
Niagara’s Davis Jr., is 12 points away from 500 for his career, including playoffs

Season series

Brampton ignited the fans in its home opener, edging Niagara 74-67 in a defensive-minded affair last Friday after the River Lions won all three 2023 matchups.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Zane Waterman and LJ Thorpe take over to help the Honey Badgers defeat the River Lions

Mon, 27 May 2024 12:57:26 GMT

Zane Waterman and LJ Thorpe combined for 35+ to help the Brampton Honey Badgers (1-0) come back from a double-digit deficit and take down the Niagara River Lions (0-1) 74-67.

The first quarter started with both teams getting especially physical, attacking the paint consistently throughout the first few possessions. The River Lions started to gain the upper hand late into the first, by constantly pushing the tempo and scoring in transition. Niagara stuck to what brought them success throughout the quarter, pushing the pace in transition or attacking the Badgers' paint when working in the half-court. Niagara kept the buckets coming by hitting a late pull-up three to end off the quarter and lead going into the second.

The second quarter started fantastic for the River Lions; Forward Loudon Love was everywhere for Niagara. Fighting for the offensive boards, battling down low in the paint, or running the pick-and-roll for some easy scores. It seemed like while Love was in the game, Brampton didn’t have an answer for him. However, Brampton would slowly start to chip away at Niagara’s lead, and at the head of this comeback would be Forward Zane Waterman. Waterman played at a slow methodical pace, taking advantage of Love not being in the game, attacking the paint and drawing fouls.

The Niagara River Lions led the Brampton Honey Badgers 36-34 at the half.

The third quarter began with Brampton coming out of the gates playing aggressively and forcing Niagara to make consecutive turnovers, leading to some easy scores and to take an early lead over the River Lions. The Honey Badgers stepped up their defence in the third, forcing Niagara into some bad passes, cutting off passing lanes and denying them from driving to the paint as often. Waterman kept up his high level of play from the second, helping to keep the Honey Badgers ahead, either making the right play or scoring when the team needed it. It seemed like the Honey Badgers found an answer for Loudon Love, as he just couldn’t seem to get it going during the third. Brampton would keep up the high level of play and end off the third with the lead.

Sheldon Cassimy, Head Coach of the Honey Badgers, spoke about how important Waterman is to the team and how crucial he was to help Brampton take the lead. “He helps with the spacing and he helps with the execution,” Cassimy said. “He's a vet and he's played for so many years overseas and he gives that kind of a European offence and execution that we're looking for like this is the feeble game, so he's big for our offence, his ability to stretch the floor and just kind of keep everybody together, so it's huge for us.”

The River Lions started the fourth trying their best to attack the paint and chip away at the Honey Badgers lead. However, Brampton was able to answer back by going back to what made them successful in the third. Despite Niagara’s best efforts, both Waterman and LJ Thorpe would continue their high level of offence from both inside and beyond the arc. Waterman had a beautiful pass out of a double team to the open man to help push the Brampton lead 69-64, with a 74-target score in sight. Thorpe would hit the game-winner with a pull-up three to help Brampton secure their first win of the season.

The Honey Badgers just put the league on notice, and Zane Waterman knows that they're playing with a chip on their shoulder this season.

“I think we're just honestly; I think we're the stronger team,” said Waterman. “I think a lot of people counted us out this season and I think a lot of people are going to be biting their words.”

Despite the loss, the Head Coach of the River Lions, Victor Raso knows the team can be better going forward and looks forward to the rematch. “It happens, it's tough to win in this league, it's tougher to win on the road, and you know we didn't play well,” Raso said. “That locker room knows that we are a much better team than we showed tonight, and you know part of it is on them, a lot of it is on me making sure that we are better offensively going forward.”

“So, we just get back to the drawing board. The morale lies in the fact that we get to play these guys a week later and we'll be ready to go.”

What’s next for both teams?

Brampton looks to continue this momentum as they’ll be back in action this Sunday against the Ottawa Black Jacks. As for the River Lions, they’ll be looking for some revenge as they play the Honey Badgers once again next Thursday!

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Honey Badgers Host River Lions in Home Opener on Friday Night

Fri, 24 May 2024 13:40:26 GMT

The Brampton Honey Badgers host the Niagara River Lions on Friday in the season opener for both teams. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. ET at Brampton’s CAA Centre, with live coverage available on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+ and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. It will also be televised nationally on Game+.

The River Lions had the Honey Badgers number last season, winning all three of their 2023 matchups.

There were two main reasons why Niagara was able to gain the upper hand in each of these games. First was the River Lions' three-point shooting against the Honey Badgers as they were able to hit 40% of their threes to Brampton’s 30%.

The second reason was Niagara’s stellar defence and ability to score off turnovers. Across these three matchups, the River Lions were able to steal the ball 35 times compared to Brampton’s 16. Niagara had 71 points off turnovers, 32 of these points came on their July 29 matchup, where Brampton only scored one point off turnovers.

However, the future looks bright for the Honey Badgers with some fantastic new additions to its roster.

First off, Brampton signed NBA G League guard Javonte Cooke . Cooke is coming off a fantastic 2023-24 G League season with the Iowa Wolves, where he averaged 16.8 points per game, 3.7 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. He also shot an impressive 44.5 per cent from the field and 37.5 per cent from three. Cooke’s ability to stretch the floor and create his own shot off the dribble will provide a huge boost to the Honey Badgers' offence.

The Honey Badgers also drafted guard Callum Baker from the University of Toronto with the second pick in the 2024 CEBL Draft. Baker had an impressive 2023-24 season with U of T averaging 22.7 points per game, 3.8 assists per game, and 4.7 rebounds. He was also named a U SPORTS first-team All-Canadian, and OUA player of the year. Baker is a shifty guard with a reliable jump shot and should help out Brampton this season.

However, Niagara also had an impressive offseason.

The River Lions signed Raptors 905 guard Omari Moore . Moore averaged 9.3 points per game, 3.9 assists, and 3.9 rebounds. Niagara fans should be on the lookout for the guard as his G League experience, athleticism, and ability to finish at the rim is something special and can help flesh out the River Lion's offence.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

EMI PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS BECOME THE OFFICIAL PROMOTIONAL PARTNER OF CEBL

Thu, 23 May 2024 17:00:00 GMT

New multi-year sponsorship agreement to provide fans, coaches, and players with premium custom and promotional apparel and products

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday that EMI Promotional Products (EMI) has been named the Official Promotional Partner of the CEBL through a new National sponsorship that encompasses the league and its 10 teams. This partnership enables EMI to showcase its capabilities and commitment to quality and innovation in the promotional products and apparel space.

“EMI has a great reputation for providing premium products to companies across the country and around the world,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “We look forward to working with them to create exciting promotional items for our fans, staff, players and coaches in 2024.”

EMI aims to elevate the fan experience by introducing high-quality, custom promotional products that fans can cherish and utilize beyond the games. This partnership signifies an innovative approach to sports marketing, emphasizing the creation of a deeper connection between the sport and its fans.

“In our commitment to elevating fan experiences and fostering deeper connections, we at EMI are thrilled to embark on this journey with the CEBL as their Official Promotional Partner,” said EMI President, Mark Shields. “This partnership not only reflects our dedication to providing premium products but also signifies our shared passion for basketball and community engagement. Together, we look forward to igniting the excitement of the game and creating memorable moments for fans nationwide.”

This collaboration with the CEBL furthers EMI's position as a Canadian leader for custom printed t-shirts. As the partnership unfolds, fans can look forward to exciting promotions, exclusive merchandise, and unique fan engagement opportunities that bring them closer to the game they love. First up are 10,000 custom printed t-shirts that will be distributed to fans at the season home opener for our Ontario based teams.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

About EMI Promotional Products

EMI is a full-service advertising specialties company offering a wide range of promotional items to promote companies and assist with marketing objectives with quality programs like corporate recognition programs, premiums and incentives sales, trade show programs, safety programs service awards, employee recognition, product introductions, business gifts, sport tournaments, company outings, thank you programs, e-commerce services: online stores and fulfillment services and more! EMI helps find cost-effective ways to market and promote businesses with custom promotional items that speak directly to customers and clients. For more information, please visit www.emipromotionalproducts.com .

Media Contact :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

RECORD NUMBER OF NBA EXPERIENCED PLAYERS ON ROSTERS AS CANADIAN ELITE BASKETBALL LEAGUE TIPS OFF SIXTH SEASON MAY 21

Mon, 20 May 2024 17:00:01 GMT

World class basketball talent on display across the country again in 2024

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canada’s largest professional sports league with 10 teams across six provinces, launches its sixth season Tuesday as Opening Week powered by Neo Financial begins. The season officially tips off at 7 p.m. local / 9 p.m. ET when the Calgary Surge host provincial rival the Edmonton Stingers in a nationally televised (TSN) game at Scotiabank Saddledome.

More than 140 players are attending 2024 CEBL Training Camps presented by Electrolit, of which 107 are Canadian. Rosters heading into the regular season include a record number of NBA experienced players, extensive high-profile returning CEBL talent, and players that have played in the NBA G League, NCAA, USPORTS and elsewhere.

Notable highlights of the elite talent under contract league-wide in the CEBL in 2024 includes:

107 Canadians (75% of all rostered players)
10 players with NBA game experience (most ever)
43 players with NBA G League experience (most ever)
22 players that have suited up for the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team
80 returning CEBL players
91 players with professional experience playing overseas
90 former NCAA players
74 players from U SPORTS / CCAA (Canadian College Athletic Association)
4 non-American imports from Barbados, Lithuania, Netherlands and South Sudan

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891 . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Media Contact :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE 12 DAY COMMUNITY COUNTDOWN ACROSS THE NIAGARA REGION

Fri, 17 May 2024 18:38:12 GMT

St. Catharines, Ontario - The Niagara River Lions announced today a 12-day Community Countdown initiative where the organization will embark on a journey through the twelve Niagara municipalities in the days leading up to the Home Opener on May 30th. River Lions players, staff, dance pak members and mascot, Dunkin, will take part in a series of activities and activations meant to engage residents from across the region while building excitement for the 2024 season.

Schedule of events:

Wainfleet - 12 Days to Home Opener

May 18 - 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Join Dunkin at the Wainfleet Public Library for a meet and greet, story time and FITtastic programming.

Niagara-on-the-Lake - 11 Days to Home Opener

May 19 - 3:00pm - 5:00pm

River Lions players will be at Ironwood Cider to celebrate the arts, community, and diversity in Niagara-on-the-Lake while experiencing some of the best ciders and wine made right in our backyard.

West Lincoln - 10 Days to Home Opener

May 20 - Starting at 1:00pm

Residents are encouraged to follow the River Lions instagram page to take part in a scavenger hunt across West Lincoln where game tickets will be hidden at various landmarks.

Pelham - 9 Days to Home Opener

May 21 - 5:00pm-9:00pm

River Lions staff members will be on site at the Meridian Community Centre during the Pelham Panthers sessions with special offers and prizes.

Lincoln - 8 Days to Home Opener

May 22 - Time TBD

Dunkin and River Lions Community Ambassador, Clinton Springer will surprise a local public school with an afternoon visit.

Niagara Falls - 7 Days to Home Opener

May 23 - Time TBD

Keep an eye out for some of the RIver Lions players aboard the Hornblower as they experience the wonder of Niagara Falls for the first time.

Thorold - 6 Days to Home Opener

May 24 - 12:30pm-1:30pm

The River Lions Front Office and Skrtich Living welcome downtown Thorold businesses to join them for a free community BBQ lunch at the rooftop of the River Lions Front Office.

Port Colborne - 5 Days to Home Opener

May 25 - 5:00-7:30pm

River Lions players will visit the Port Colborne Hornets to assist with running a U11 boys practice from 5:00-6:00pm as well as a U13 boys and girls practice from 6:30-7:00pm.

Welland - 4 Days to Home Opener

May 26 - 10:00am-12:00pm

Be one of the first 10 fans to meet Dunkin and the RIver Lions Dance Pak at Empire Sportsplex to score Home Opener tickets. Stay and play on the beautiful outdoor facility that has been the recipient of the Parks and Recreation Ontario Park or Facility Design Award.

Grimsby - 3 Days to Home Opener

May 27 - 3:00pm - 5:30pm

Keep an eye out for River Lions players refreshing the mesh at parks in Grimsby to improve and enhance the overall playing experience at local basketball courts.

Fort Erie - 2 Days to Home Opener

May 28 - 10:00am - 3:00pm

Join our Street Team at Safari Niagara and stop by our tent for giveaways and youth vouchers.

St. Catharines - 1 Day to Home Opener

May 29 - Time TBD

The River Lions end the Home Opener countdown inside the den when CHCH TV will be onsite to film a segment for their morning show at the Meridian Centre.

The Niagara River Lions invite fans to join along for the excitement culminating at the Home Opener at the Meridian Centre on May 30th at 7:00pm versus the Brampton Honey Badgers 2024.

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL . Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Tickets for the 2024 season which tips off with the River Lions home opener on May 30th are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup,

Vice President, Operations

mbiskup@riverlions.ca

BETVICTOR RETURNS AS OFFICIAL SPORTS BETTING PARTNER OF THE CEBL

Fri, 17 May 2024 17:00:00 GMT

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday that BetVictor will return as the Official Sports Betting Partner of the league for its upcoming 2024 season. The relaunch of the partnership between the CEBL and BetVictor will include a more integrated betting experience for CEBL fans across its media platforms, including a new weekly CEBL betting show launching this week across CEBL+ and the league’s social media channels.

BetVictor is a licensed and regulated online gaming operator in Ontario and is the official online sportsbook for CEBL fans looking to wager on games this season. In parallel with this announcement, BetVictor has launched outright winner odds for the 2024 CEBL Championship.

“Over the past year, our partnership with BetVictor has not only delivered unique and entertaining engagement options and experiences for our fans, but also enhanced our CEBL brand on a global scale,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “We look forward to building on that and providing even more personalized and innovative sports betting experiences for basketball fans and fans of the CEBL through BetVictor in 2024.”

As part of this partnership, BetVictor will continue as the presenting partner of CEBL+ and through it deliver Canadians free streaming access to all of its live broadcasts during the 2024 CEBL season.

“We’re thrilled to renew our partnership with the CEBL for the upcoming season and look forward to bringing more exciting content and engagement opportunities to its growing fanbase,” said Brent Almeida, Chief Commercial Officer at BVGroup, the global operator whose flagship brand is BetVictor. “2023 was a record-breaking year for the CEBL in terms of attendance and viewership and similarly, more Canadians than ever made BetVictor their choice for a safe and responsible betting experience. This news underscores our commitment to supporting Canadian basketball and engaging with passionate fans of the sport and we are proud to be a part of the CEBL’s impressive growth!”

The 2024 CEBL season tips off Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. local / 9 p.m. ET when the Calgary Surge host provincial rival the Edmonton Stingers in a nationally televised (TSN) game at Scotiabank Saddledome. Season tickets and flex packs are now available league wide with priority seating access and preferred pricing. Ticket information for all CEBL games, including single-game tickets, can be found by visiting cebl.ca/tickets .

More than 50 CEBL games will be broadcast live nationally on TSN and Game+ this season. Fans can also livestream all regular season, playoff and Championship Weekend games on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+ and the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

Media Contact :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

NEXT LEVEL SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT BECOMES U.S. HOME FOR CEBL

Thu, 16 May 2024 17:00:00 GMT

Innovative content platform to broadcast 40 CEBL games in the U.S. in 2024

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and Next Level Sports & Entertainment (NLSE) announced Thursday a partnership that will see the innovative content platform and premier provider of live sports and entertainment become the ‘U.S. Home for CEBL’ in 2024.

This season, NLSE will broadcast 40 live CEBL games across the United States and again serve as home to CEBL’s feature programming in the U.S. including game highlights, player features, documentaries, and more. The partnership was orchestrated by ThePostGame, a U.S.-based sports consultancy and content studio, which continues to work with the CEBL on media rights and betting strategies.

NLSE’s CEBL coverage tips off with the first game of the 2024 season on Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. MT / 9 p.m. ET when the Calgary Surge host provincial rival the Edmonton Stingers at Scotiabank Saddledome. The full 40-game NLSE broadcast schedule in 2024 is as follows:

Season tickets and flex packs are now available league wide with priority seating access and preferred pricing. Ticket information for all CEBL games, including single-game tickets, can be found by visiting cebl.ca/tickets . More than 50 CEBL games will be broadcast live nationally on TSN and Game+ this season. Fans can also livestream all regular season, playoff and Championship Weekend games on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+ and the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

About Next Level Sports & Entertainment

Media Contacts:
Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Lu Foster – Digital Marketing Director

Next Level Sports & Entertainment

lindsey.foster@nlse.com

BOOSTER JUICE BECOMES OFFICIAL SMOOTHIE OF THE CEBL

Thu, 16 May 2024 15:00:00 GMT

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and Booster Juice, Canada's original juice and smoothie bar, announced Thursday a partnership naming Booster Juice as the Official Smoothie of the CEBL for the upcoming 2024 season.

Booster Juice, a partner and supporter of the CEBL at 2023 Championship Weekend in Vancouver, will now engage in a league-wide, season-long campaign across all CEBL markets. This partnership further builds on Booster Juice's ongoing commitment to creating healthy and vibrant communities across Canada, and officially aligns two truly Canadian brands.

As part of this national partnership, Booster Juice will promote its delicious, nutritious smoothies that are perfectly suited for an active lifestyle by aligning with elite CEBL performances as the presenting partner of the Player of the Game on all 107 CEBL broadcasts during the 2024 season.

“We are proud to expand our partnership with Booster Juice in 2024 as they continue to support the CEBL and basketball in Canada,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “Their vision and commitment to promoting healthy and active lifestyles in our communities across the country aligns perfectly with ours, and we’re pleased to be working with them in an increased capacity this season.”

“The CEBL has been growing tremendously and fills that need for competitive basketball in Canada, and we are proud to be a part of it as the Official Smoothie of the CEBL,” said Booster Juice President and CEO, Dale Wishewan. “We hope with this partnership we can help fuel their continued mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees.”

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

About Booster Juice

In 1999, Booster Juice opened its first store in Sherwood Park, Alberta. The response was enormous. Since then, Booster Juice has taken off and now, approaching their 25th Anniversary, they continue to satisfy millions of smoothie lovers with over 450 locations across Canada. Booster Juice stays on the move with flexible opportunities for franchise partners and innovative new premium products and unique ingredients from around the world. Visit www.boosterjuice.com for more on their smoothies, juices, shots, and food items. You can also follow them on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , Facebook .

Media Contacts :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Jimmy Tran – National Director of Marketing

Booster Juice

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE 2024 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

Tue, 14 May 2024 15:00:01 GMT

St. Catharines, Ontario – The Niagara River Lions announced today the players that will report to 2024 training camp set to begin later this week. The camp will take place from May 16th to May 21st, before the team prepares for their first road game in Brampton. Training camp will take place at Ridley College , as well as the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre at Canada Games Park in Thorold. An intrasquad scrimmage is scheduled for May 21st. After six consecutive days of training, Head Coach and General Manager Victor Raso will select the final roster that will tip-off the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season on May 24th.

“As always, this is the most exciting time of the season,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “We finally get together as a group and start building towards reaching our potential as a team. Training camp is all about developing winning habits, building chemistry, and beginning our journey of finding clarity individually and as a group. This is an incredibly important week for us, and we're ready to get going!”

Returning members of the team include Americans, AJ Davis and 2023 CEBL Defensive Player and Clutch Player of the Year, Khalil Ahmad, along with Canadians, Eddie Ekiyor, 2024 CIBACOPA All-Star Jahvon Blair, Kimbal Mackenzie, and TJ Lall.

The River Lions welcome former Raptors 905 forward Omari Moore, from Pasadena, California, American forward Loudon Love who is joining the team after a short stint in Italy with Victoria Libertas Pesaro , and Naythan Shaw-Clarke from the University of the Virgin Islands .

The River Lions have also signed new Canadians, Aaryn Rai, Elijah Lufile, and Nathan Cayo who each bring a wide range of domestic, international and CEBL experience.

Jordan Tchuente of Brock University , Luka Syllas and Cameron Bett of Queen's University , and Charles Andre Robert of Bishop’s University will join the training camp roster as current and graduating U SPORTS athletes. Jerry Mercury of Mohawk College will also be joining the River Lions camp as the first ever Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) player to be drafted in the CEBL U SPORTS/CCAA Draft .

With a mix of both returning and new players, the training camp roster was built to reflect players who are looking to develop during the spring and summer months while sharing the common goal of winning a 2024 CEBL Championship. After making the semi-finals last season and coming up short of the goal, Head Coach Victor Raso has been tirelessly working to acquire phenomenal players that align with the River Lions culture and values, while contributing to the on-court success of the organization.

The River Lions will tip off the 2024 CEBL season versus the Brampton Honey Badgers on May 24th at 7:30pm (ET).

The River Lions home opener will take place on May 30th versus the Brampton Honey Badgers. Tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

###

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup, Vice President, Operations

mbiskup@riverlions.ca

NEO FINANCIAL BECOMES FIRST FINANCIAL PARTNER OF THE CEBL WITH AN INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP

Mon, 13 May 2024 17:00:01 GMT

Neo Financial to launch innovative new CEBL Cashback Program for all Neo cardholders

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Monday a landmark national partnership with Canadian fintech leader, Neo Financial (Neo), to become the first official financial partner in the league’s history.

Neo is building the future of financial services for Canadians, and as a part of this season-long partnership with CEBL, Neo cardholders will get cashback on CEBL purchases. Additionally, Neo will become the presenting partner of the CEBL’s Opening Week Tip-Off including the first two nationally broadcast CEBL games May 21 and May 24 on TSN.

Neo offers its customers a modern financial experience, simplifying finances through reimagined spending, savings, investing, and mortgages on an easy-to-use platform. The CEBL Cashback Program will allow any Neo card customer to access cashback on their purchase of CEBL tickets and select CEBL merchandise by using their Neo card of choice.

“We are very proud to add Neo Financial to our CEBL family through a ground-breaking partnership as the first official financial partner in league history. This partnership brings together two emerging Canadian disruptor brands that want to engage and support the communities we both operate in,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “Collectively we are invested in one another and are committed to elevating both brands to provide fans and clients access to Neo Financials’ innovative financial tools and CEBL experiences that align with that shared vision.”

In addition to the launch of the CEBL Cashback Program, Neo wants to recognize the real MVPs, our CEBL fans across the country. The Neo Fan MVP campaign will allow CEBL fans across Canada to show their fanaticism by entering to win prizes throughout the season, including the Grand Prize of a VIP package to attend the CEBL Championship Weekend in Montreal.

“We’re thrilled to be the official financial partner of the CEBL,” said Andrew Chau, Co-Founder and CEO at Neo Financial. “At Neo, we’re excited to grow alongside one of Canada’s fastest growing sports leagues. Through this partnership with the CEBL, we’ll be able to bring better financial experiences to more Canadians.”

The 2024 CEBL season tips off Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. local / 9 p.m. ET when the Calgary Surge host provincial rival the Edmonton Stingers in a nationally televised (TSN) game at the Saddledome. Season tickets and flex packs are now available league wide with priority seating access and preferred pricing. Ticket information for all CEBL games, including single-game tickets, can be found by visiting cebl.ca/tickets .

To learn more about the CEBL Cashback Program: get.neofinancial.com/cebl

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

About Neo Financial

Neo Financial is a technology company simplifying finances through reimagined spending, savings, investing, and mortgages. Founded in 2019 by the co-founders of SkipTheDishes, Neo has raised more than $299 million in funding and has been recognized as one the top tech startups in Canada by LinkedIn. Neo is headquartered in Calgary and Winnipeg, and is backed by top-tier investors across North America. Through partnerships with leading financial institutions, Neo provides members with a safe and secure way to spend ( Neo Credit ), save ( Neo Money™ ), invest ( Neo Invest™ ), and get a mortgage ( Neo Mortgage ). Neo for Business powers financial solutions for Tim Hortons, Cathay Pacific, Hudson’s Bay, and over 12,000 other partners across the country. To learn more, visit neofinancial.com .

Media Contacts :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

Neo Financial

media@neofinancial.com

Disclaimers:

Neo Credit and Neo Secured Credit cards are issued by ATB Financial pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated.

The JA Money card is a prepaid Mastercard® issued by Neo Financial pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. The JA Money card is powered by the Neo Everyday account, which is provided by Peoples Bank of Canada.

RIVER LIONS ANNOUNCE THE SIGNING OF LOUDON LOVE

Mon, 13 May 2024 14:57:51 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 26 year-old American, Loudon Love. The 6’8 forward from Geneva, Illinois is currently playing in Italy for Victoria Libertas Pesaro of the Lega Basket (LBA) where he is averaging 6.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 15.8 minutes per game over his first 4 games.

“Loudon will be an excellent addition to our team this year,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “He can anchor a defense, he is capable of impacting the game offensively in a variety of ways, but most importantly he comes to us as a high character person who will be a great teammate. I look forward to coaching Loudon this season!”

Prior to his professional career, Loudon spent four years at Wright State University where he played Division 1 basketball in the Horizon League while earning a Business Management degree. As a member of the Raiders, Loudon averaged 15.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 119 games played. During the 2020-2021 season, Loudon ranked among the top 10 in the Horizon League in scoring (16.6 per game, 7th), rebounding (10.1 per game, 2nd), blocked shots (1.3 per game, 2nd) and field goal percentage (56.4%, 3rd) earning him his second consecutive Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Year Award.

Following his collegiate career, Loudon signed with the Texas Legends of the NBA G-League where the team went 19-15 earning the Legends a 5th place finish and a playoff spot. Loudon made his mark with strong performances averaging 8.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and shooting 54.3% during the Legends season in a meaningful 23.6 minutes per game.

In his most recent G-League season with the Memphis Hustle , Loudon saw an increased role playing in 43 games while putting up 8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game shooting 53.8% from the field.

“I am definitely looking forward to this new experience,” said Love. “I have never played in the CEBL, but I know it’s one of the most competitive summer leagues there is! I also look forward to getting more and more familiar with FIBA style play while also developing individually. I will get to reconnect with an old teammate in Nate Cayo, and I’m also excited to create new bonds along the way. Overall I think this opportunity will be very fruitful.”

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL . Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Tickets for the 2024 season which tips off with the River Lions home opener on May 30th are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup – mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Vice President, Operations

KAL TIRE BECOMES OFFICIAL TIRE EXPERT OF THE CEBL

Fri, 10 May 2024 17:00:03 GMT

NEWS

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday a multi-year national partnership naming Kal Tire as the Official Tire Expert of the CEBL and its 10 member clubs.

The partnership unites Canada’s largest professional sports league and one of Canada’s largest independent tire service dealers. With over 260 Kal Tire stores across Canada, this landmark partnership will see Kal Tire expand its existing partnerships with the Vancouver Bandits, Edmonton Stingers and Brampton Honey Badgers to now include the entire CEBL and will provide basketball fans nationwide with access to exclusive Kal Tire offers and promotions by attending games during the 2024 season. As part of the agreement, Kal Tire will leverage the marketing rights and intellectual property of the CEBL and its teams.

“Kal Tire is one of Canada's leading automotive brands and has been a trusted source for retail and service for tires for over 70 years,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “They have a long-standing tradition of supporting Canadian sports and deep roots in the communities in which they operate across the country. We look forward to collaborating with them and their expanded commitment to the CEBL and Canadian basketball in 2024.”

“Kal Tire is pleased to support the CEBL and basketball enthusiasts from across Canada,” said Jamie Shillingford, marketing manager stores, Kal Tire. “Canadians from coast-to-coast can now cheer their favourite CEBL team and know that Kal Tire is there to help them drive to and from each and every game safely.”

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

About Kal Tire

Kal Tire is one of Canada's largest independent tire dealers and one of North America's largest commercial tire dealers. Kal Tire's Mining Tire Group is an international leader in mining tire service and supply, servicing more than 150 mine sites across five continents. The company has warehouse facilities across Canada servicing more than 260 Kal Tire retail and commercial stores. Kal Tire owns and operates 11 truck tire retread facilities across Canada, plus six earthmover retreading facilities located in Canada, the United Kingdom, Chile, Ghana and Mexico. The company employs more than 6,500 team members. For more information, please visit Kaltire.com .

Media Contact :

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

RIVER LIONS RE-LAUNCH NIAGARA TRAILERS HIGH 5 TUNNEL

Fri, 10 May 2024 14:50:46 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today that youth groups and organizations can now apply to be part of the Niagara Trailers High 5 Tunnel at nine of their 2024 home games. This initiative will allow between 10 to 20 children to stand on the court and High 5 River Lions players as they take to the floor for pre-game warm-ups. Participants will then get to stay to watch the game in the Niagara Trailers row.

Groups are encouraged to apply for the free opportunity via an online form starting today after which (9) will be randomly selected.

“Here at Niagara Trailers we take pride in community involvement,” said the Petrie family, owners of the locally and family owned business which was established in 1972. “We are so excited to be involved with the River Lions again this year, as ourselves, our family and staff always enjoy the opportunity to attend a game for a great night out. The games are always an unforgettable experience, not to mention an opportunity to see some amazing players and potential NBA prospects.”

The River Lions and Niagara Trailers understand the importance of community and the way that sport brings people together.

“The Niagara River Lions extend our heartfelt gratitude to Niagara Trailers for their unwavering support,” said Matthew Johnston, Vice President of Business Development for the team. “By sending over 300 children to a basketball game in the last 3 seasons, they've provided more than just a ticket; and allowed these lucky fans the chance to stand on the court with the players and give High 5's as they come out to start the game. Niagara Trailers commitment to fostering unique opportunities speaks volumes, and we're privileged to have them as a cornerstone for the 2024 season.”

To apply, groups can visit www.riverlions.ca/high5apply .

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Tickets for the 2024 season which tips off with the River Lions home opener on May 30th are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information .

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup

Vice President, Operations

2024 CEBL+ BROADCAST TEAMS ANNOUNCED

Thu, 09 May 2024 17:00:01 GMT

Sixth season of CEBL action tips off May 21 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on TSN

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday the local broadcast teams that will deliver all the excitement of Canada’s professional basketball league to viewers across the country on the league’s OTT streaming platform, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+ and the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices. The lineup covering all livestream games consists of more than 35 media personalities across all 10 of the league’s markets.

The 2024 CEBL season tips off Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. MT / 9 p.m. ET when the Calgary Surge host provincial rival the Edmonton Stingers at Scotiabank Saddledome. In addition to the CEBL on TSN broadcast team announced Wednesday, the following is the full CEBL+ broadcast lineup in 2024:

2024 CEBL+ BROADCAST TEAMS

BRAMPTON / NIAGARA :

Matt Bonomi

Matt Bonomi returns for his second season as a play-by-play commentator in the CEBL. As a fan of the sport, Bonomi has called over 200 Canadian University basketball games as the voice of the Brock Badgers. In 2020, he earned the inaugural OUA Broadcaster of the Year Award. In addition, Bonomi was on the call for the 2023 CCAA Women’s Canadian College Basketball Championships and two windows of the 2023 FIBA Basketball Champions League of Americas, featuring the 2022 CEBL champion Honey Badgers. Bonomi is a 2019 graduate of Brock University (Sport Management), and a 2022 graduate from the Ontario College of Sports Media.

Joe Raso

Joe Raso, Sr. Director, Basketball Operations for the CEBL, returns for his sixth year on the league’s broadcast staff. Raso has been involved in all levels of basketball for more than 35 years. He is the all-time winningest head coach in McMaster University history, where he coached his teams to four OUA championships and four silver medals at the CIS (now U SPORTS) National Championships. Raso has also worked on the international level as the Head Scout for the Canadian Men’s National Team and was an assistant coach with the program for four years. Raso has experience as a TV analyst for the CEBL, FIBA, CBC, Sportsnet and TSN.

Sean Woodley

Sean Woodley is the longtime host of the daily Locked On Raptors podcast, and has worked as a studio

personality and play-by-play voice for the CEBL since the league's inception. Woodley has also worked as a host at TSN 1150 Radio, was a credentialed member of the Raptors' media corps from 2015-2022, and coaches youth basketball in Hamilton.

Andrew Damelin

Andrew Damelin enters his fourth season covering the CEBL. The Raptors Republic reporter creates highlights for SportsCentre and updates for TSN 1050 Toronto, and has hosted “The Honey Drop” podcast covering the Brampton Honey Badgers franchise since 2021. He's 6-foot-5, loves his wife, kids, eggs benedict and nifty post moves. His playing days may be over, but his passion for the grassroots game has never been stronger.

Dhanung Bulsara

Dhanung Bulsara, commonly known as ‘D', enters his fourth season with the CEBL as a sideline reporter. For the past three seasons, Bulsara has patrolled the sidelines covering home games for the Guelph Nighthawks (2021, 2022), Brampton Honey Badgers and Niagara River Lions. Last season saw him draw his first of multiple assignments on TSN, covering nationally televised games for the league. This past summer also saw Bulsara make his debut as the in-game host for the Toronto Blue Jays. He has previous experience as the Raptors 905 in-game host, spending two seasons with the team.

Esfandiar Baraheni

Esfandiar Baraheni has been a basketball reporter, writer and producer for over five years, working with publications like TheScore, Bleacher Report, TSN, Spotify, and Raptors Republic — specializing in covering the Toronto Raptors and the rest of the NBA.

Kyle Parkinson

Kyle Parkinson is a communicator with a passion for interviewing, creating exciting content and having an enthusiastic eye for attention to detail and critical analysis. Parkinson is a self-starter who is goal-oriented, active on social media and able to report stories and create content. From being an on-screen talent with Sportsnet, he has covered numerous live major sporting events in pursuit of his passion for sports media and eagerness to grow in this industry.

CALGARY :

Mitch Peacock

The voice of Calgary Surge games in their inaugural season, Mitch Peacock enters his second CEBL campaign fresh from regular duty calling the German Basketball Bundesliga’s World Feed. The versatile announcer also recently completed a season doing Swedish Hockey League and Champions Hockey League games for global audiences, and last fall worked international soccer matches for CONCACAF. Peacock has done network play-by-play for five Olympic Games, hosted FIFA World Cup coverage, and worked as a rinkside reporter on Hockey Night in Canada. His other credits include anchor on the FOX Soccer Report and host of Calgary Flames Radio.

Jamaine Cummings

As a student of the game, Jamaine Cummings is prepared to bring his unique analysis style to the Calgary Surge broadcast for a second season. Some of his past broadcast credits include the 2024 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Men’s Final 4 Championship,2023 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s National Championship, 2023 Western Canadian Baseball League Championship and the 2023 ACAC Men’s Provincial Championship. Cummings also played basketball at St. Marys' in Calgary and for Basketball Alberta. With a passion for both basketball and broadcasting, he is excited and honoured to once again, combine the two, to help showcase the CEBL's elite talent to the entire nation.

Cami Kepke

Cami Kepke returns to the sidelines for the Calgary Surge’s second season. Kepke brings eight years of award-winning television sports experience to the court, including coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, 2023 and 2018 Heritage Classics, the Grey Cup and the Basketball Champions League Americas’ Calgary event. She has roved the sidelines for the Surge’s inaugural season, the 2023 Canada West Women’s Basketball Championship, the 2022 U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship, and University of Calgary Dinos Football games. Kepke looks forward to bringing fans inside the game and sharing the stories of the coaches, athletes and staff who make every electric CEBL season possible.

EDMONTON :

Doug McLean

With over 20 years of national and international broadcast experience, lifelong Edmontonian Doug McLean returns for his fifth season calling Edmonton Stingers games. Currently the colour commentator for University of Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas basketball, McLean also recently called the 2024 U SPORTS Women’s Final 8. Internationally, he has broadcast Team USA basketball at the FISU World University Games while also calling FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying events and FIBA 3x3. Additionally, McLean has called hockey at four FISU World University Games, does colour commentary of university football across the Canada West Conference, and did colour on two Edmonton Elks CFL broadcasts in 2023.

Paul Sir

Paul Sir has spent his life intensely immersed in the game of basketball. As a player, Sir is a member of the Iowa High School Basketball and Winona State University Halls of Fame while also played professionally in Europe. He has coached at all levels and recently retired after being the Executive Director of the Alberta Basketball Association for 16 years. Sir has been the driving force for developing 3x3 in Canada. He led the efforts to make Edmonton the home of the Canada Basketball Women's Olympic Team. Sir is the host of 'The Basketball Show' on Sports 1440 radio in Edmonton and has done the colour commentary for the Edmonton Stingers since the club's inception.

Emma Foose

Emma Foose joins the Edmonton Stingers in her first year as a sideline reporter in the CEBL. Foose comes from a diverse sports background both behind the scenes and in the action. Growing up playing competitive hockey, she has been involved with sports as long as she can remember. From aiding game-day operations with the Edmonton Elks to coaching a U15 AA hockey team, Foose is excited to branch out into the world of basketball. She is currently enrolled in the Radio and Television program at NAIT and has a passion for storytelling.

Ethan Ready

Ethan Ready is a graduate from Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. Born and raised in Woodstock, Ontario, Ready moved to Northern BC in 2019, working as a broadcaster and most recently doing play-by-play for both hockey and football. His work experience includes time spent covering the CFL, CJFL, NHL, WHL, and U SPORTS basketball, soccer and volleyball. Ready is excited to be a part of the Stingers' broadcast team for the 2024 CEBL season.

MONTREAL :

Moe Khan

Moe Khan is entering his third year as the play-by-play voice of the Montreal Alliance in the CEBL. Khan has called games in the CCAA, NCAA, and U SPORTS levels across multiple varsity sports. This year, with Montreal hosting Championship Weekend, he believes the city is ready to showcase to Canada why it is a basketball city and looks forward to working with his colleagues Dwight Walton and Gabriela Hebert to produce top quality broadcasts.

Dwight Walton

Dwight Walton is a former member of the Canadian National Team from 1986-1995. Walton played professionally in Israel and Switzerland from 1994-2004, including four years in Israel and six years in Switzerland. The basketball analyst and colour commentator was also an assistant coach for the men’s program at Concordia University in Montreal and served as General Manager for the Los Angeles Ignite of The Basketball League.

Gabriela Hébert

After playing U SPORTS basketball with McGill University where she was part of five provincial championships and helped lay the foundations for the eventual Bronze Baby winning Martlets, Gabriela Hébert started getting involved in broadcasts. She participated as an analyst for different provincial and national women’s basketball championships in the last few years. Hébert is also the season analyst for the women’s basketball team at McGill University. You can also catch her new podcast, “The Corner Girl” launching this summer as she will discuss the world of women’s sports, including basketball, through stories and news to inspire the new generation of athletes. In 2024, Hébert will serve her third season as sideline reporter for Montreal Alliance home games.

OTTAWA :

AJ Jakubec

AJ Jakubec is a 27-year sports broadcasting veteran who has been at TSN 1200 Ottawa for 18 years after stops throughout British Columbia and his native Edmonton. Jakubec’s first basketball call was as the voice of the Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas from 2001-03. In Ottawa, he has brought the action to viewers and listeners during numerous Carleton Ravens and Ottawa Gee-Gees games, including the annual Capital Hoops Classic and multiple U SPORTS Championships. Jakubec’s local play-by-play experience includes work with the Ottawa REDBLACKS, Ottawa 67’s, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oil Kings, Atlético Ottawa, and Ottawa Fury FC, in addition to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Elias El-Zein

As a seasoned broadcaster, Elias El-Zein captivates audiences with a compelling blend of charisma, wit, and insightful commentary. With a knack for engaging storytelling, El-Zein has carved a niche in the broadcasting world, delivering news, analysis, and entertainment with professionalism and flair. His dynamic on-air presence and a deep understanding of the game of basketball ensures an enriching experience for listeners/viewers. Whether behind the mic or in front of the camera, El-Zein brings passion and expertise to every broadcast.

Wumi Agunbiade

Pro-player turned coach, Wumi Agunbiade, is a Canadian basketball figure known for bridging her experience of the game with her passion for the community. From Pickering, ON, Agunbiade fell in love with basketball before she could walk and has since been on a mission to uplift others through the sport. She is the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Queen’s University and the Founder of Hoopers Loop, an organization geared towards the development of female-identifying student-athletes. From playing in the NCAA and professionally in Europe, to coaching with the Raptors 905 and the Guelph Nighthawks (Calgary Surge), Agunbiade offers a unique perspective of the game.

Fabienne Blizzard

Fabienne Blizzard played basketball and graduated from the University of Ottawa. As a point guard, Blizzard was awarded Rookie of the Year, MVP, Best Defensive Player, OUA All-Star, Athlete of the Year and was inducted into the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees Hall of Fame. She has had the pleasure of coaching at every level in basketball (Grassroots, Club, University, College, Regional, Provincial, National and Professional) and has also had the opportunity to assist and coach with the NBA Basketball Without Boarders, Senegal SEED Forum and NBA Academy guest coach.

Jackie Perez

Jackie Perez is excited to join the Ottawa BlackJacks broadcast team for her first season as a CEBL sideline reporter. Born in Manila, Philippines and raised in Mississauga, Ontario, Perez spent three seasons as the in-game host for the Toronto Argonauts Football Club. She began her television career as a video journalist for CTV News Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. In 2018, she made the move to Regina as CTV Morning Live's on location reporter. This led to a role at CityNews Calgary as an anchor and video journalist. Perez is currently a television broadcaster with CTV News Ottawa contributing content to television, radio and digital platforms.

SASKATCHEWAN :

Simon Hiatt

Simon Hiatt has been the play-by-play voice of the Saskatchewan Rattlers since their inaugural season and called the first-ever CEBL championship game in 2019. Hiatt has worked in local television in Saskatoon for 25 years and was also the play-by-play voice for the University of Saskatchewan women’s and men’s basketball teams for over a decade. He has also been a newspaper columnist and public address announcer and is an award-winning filmmaker. Hiatt lives in Saskatoon with his wife Joy, a cantankerous old cat named Wrigley and an unruly puppy named Lucy.

Amy Prokop

Amy Prokop enters her second season as a colour analyst in the CEBL with the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Born and raised in Saskatoon, Prokop had an accomplished career as a point guard with the University of Saskatchewan women’s basketball program (2004-09) and helped them earn their first Canada West championship banner in 2005. She sits third all-time in Huskie assists and fifth in steals. Leaning into her multi-sport background, Prokop is now in her 10th year as an assistant coach with Huskie Women’s Soccer and is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in sport in her community.

Heather Morrison

Heather Morrison, a member of the CEBL’s Saskatchewan Rattlers broadcast team, is a broadcaster and public speaking coach from Saskatoon. This is Morrison’s fourth season with the CEBL. She is the founder and president of Deliver Your Best public speaking coaching. Morrison has also handled sideline coverage for Canada West Football and spent three years as an associate producer with CBC Saskatchewan, where she also hosted radio programs and was a television weather reporter. Last season Morrison had the honour of covering the CEBL's Western Conference Finals and Championship Weekend.

Ryan Flaherty

After more than a decade in TV news primarily as a sports anchor and reporter, Ryan Flaherty became a freelance broadcaster in 2021. This is his third season as a member of the Rattlers broadcast team and when he’s not calling games he serves as the team’s PA announcer. Flaherty’s play-by-play work includes two seasons as the voice of the National Lacrosse League’s Saskatchewan Rush, six years of Saskatchewan Huskies basketball, hockey and soccer, Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League games, and he’s currently in his sixth season as the voice of Saskatchewan SWAT Jr. Lacrosse. He also works as a sideline reporter covering Canada West football.

SCARBOROUGH :

Rod Black

Warren Ward

Warren Ward, a seasoned broadcaster and former professional athlete, spent six years on the court before transitioning to broadcasting. Currently working with the Toronto Raptors, Raptors 905, and Scarborough Shooting Stars, Ward seamlessly merged his athletic prowess with his passion for communication. Now in his third season with Scarborough, he continues to captivate audiences with his insightful commentary and dedication to the game. Ward’s dynamic career trajectory showcases a commitment to excellence both on and off the court.

Danielle Bain

Danielle Bain is a sports broadcaster from Mississauga who began her career as a video journalist in Thunder Bay. Transitioning to Ottawa, Bain covered local sports and breaking news on television and radio, honing her skills as a reporter. Finally, she made her return to Toronto, where she currently works as the rinkside reporter for the Toronto Marlies, content host for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Digital Storyteller for Women's Para Hockey of Canada. Now in her second season with the CEBL, Bain can’t wait to bring her skills and enthusiasm to the basketball court this summer before heading overseas to cover the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

VANCOUVER :

Cheryl Jean-Paul

Joining Trinity Western University as the head coach of their women’s program in 2010, Cheryl Jean-Paul has built the Spartans into a perennial playoff contender. Internationally, she led Canada’s Cadette Women to a top four finish at the U17 Championships in 2022. Jean-Paul, a Winnipeg native who played for the Bisons and has officiated at the university level, is a Chartered Professional Coach, obtained her Advanced Coaching Diploma and has a master’s in leadership. CJP’s 22 years of coaching has included the CanWest Coach of the Year award, and is currently Basketball BC’s High Performance head coach, most recently joining Howard Tsumura as analyst for the BC High School Championships.

James Cybulski

An award-winning broadcaster who has worked nationally for Sportsnet, TSN, and TheScore, James Cybulski has covered several major sporting events around the world, ranging from the Olympics, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup, World Series, and several others. A versatile talent, Cybulski has worked as a reporter and host in television, and also a talk show host on radio in both Toronto and Vancouver. He is currently the play-by-play voice for the iconic NHL video game franchise from EA Sports. When James isn’t behind a microphone, he is busy spending time with his family, helping coach his daughters in soccer, ringette, and softball.

Virgil Hill

Virgil Hill is a former Vancouver Bandits assistant coach from the inaugural season, and former U SPORTS and NCAA head coach at Laurentian University and Simon Fraser University, respectively. A two-sport university athlete in football and basketball, Hill was a team captain at SFU and was coached by former national team coach and present Sacramento Kings assistant coach Jay Triano. His resume also includes serving as an assistant coach of the national student team that captured a bronze medal in the 2003 World University Games, and Head Coach of the BC U-19 provincial team that won gold in 1998.

Chris Wiggins

Chris Wiggins transitions to a sideline reporter with the Vancouver Bandits in 2024 after two seasons as the team’s in-game host. Wiggins carries over 10 years of morning radio and television experience, along with a variety of emcee and PA announcing roles with the OHL, AHL and NBLC. He is also a two-time Ontario basketball provincial champion and a graduate of the Broadcasting Program at Niagara College where he played a season with the Knights.

WINNIPEG :

Christian Aumell

After a mediocre high school basketball career, Aumell turned his attention to the microphone where he called games for well over a decade. He served as the play-by-play voice of the Western Mustangs before moving to Winnipeg where he has called games for the University of Winnipeg Wesmen since 2016 and has been the voice of the Sea Bears since their inaugural game. In his day job, Aumell hosts the CJOB Sports Show, covering the Winnipeg sports scene on a nightly basis.

Dave Crook

Dave Crook returns for his second season working for the CEBL in Winnipeg. Crook has a long connection in Canada having worked for over 40 years in the U SPORTS system including 27 years as a head coach. He also enjoyed a decade-long career coaching with the Canadian National team program. His time with Canada included the highlights of being named Head Coach of the Canadian junior team in 2002. In 2004, Crook led the Men’s Young team to be the first Canadian age group team to ever qualify for a World Championship. The following year, the team knocked off the US in the quarter finals (Canada’s first win over the US at a FIBA event) and then went on to defeat the reigning World Champions Australia to capture the bronze medal. Crook recently retired from his position as Athletic Director at the University of Winnipeg.

Joey Slattery

Joey Slattery enters his second season as the CEBL sideline reporter in Winnipeg where he also co-hosts the Target Score Weekly podcast focusing on the Sea Bears and CEBL. Slattery is a veteran journalist having served as a reporter and anchor in both news and sports, as well as hosting TV morning shows in Northern Ontario, Regina, Edmonton and Winnipeg for more than a decade. Now narrowing his focus on basketball, he is excited to be back patrolling the CEBL sidelines and bringing you closer to the action in 2024.

Kurt Black

Kurt Black enters his first season as a CEBL sideline reporter in Winnipeg in 2024. Black is currently a Video Journalist at CityNews Winnipeg after two and a half years as a reporter and anchor at Thunder Bay News (TBN). He recently studied radio and television broadcasting at the College of Sports Media and Niagara College.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

Media Contact:
Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

River Lions Announce Signing of Raptors 905 Guard, Omari Moore

Thu, 09 May 2024 15:00:00 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’6 American guard, Omari Moore. Moore, a 23 year-old from Pasadena, California averaged 9.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists during the 2023-24 NBA G-League season playing for the Raptors 905 .

“I am very excited to welcome Omari as another new addition to our River Lions family,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “Omari is a very talented, athletic point guard who can impact the game offensively and defensively in a variety of ways, and we are excited that the next stop on his basketball journey will be in Niagara.”

Moore played four seasons at San Jose State University , averaging 11.1 points, 3.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 116 games. Moore scored a total of 1,312 points over his time with the Spartans earning his place as the 4th highest scorer in San Jose State history. Moore finished with a field goal percentage of 45.4%, ranking 5th all time in program history. Moore finished his college career leading the Spartans with 17.4 points and 4.8 assists in 36.5 minutes per game during the 2022-23 season. These career high numbers led to Moore winning Mountain West Player of the Year as well as a spot on the First team All-Mountain West.

Moore started his professional career as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA Summer League team in 2023 where he averaged 2.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals over 5 games. Moore went on to sign with the Raptors 905, where he took advantage of this new opportunity averaging 28.9 minutes per game. In addition to this, Moore had a strong Showcase Cup where his minutes increased to 32.3 which led to him averaging 9.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.

Moore joins the River Lions this summer hoping to keep this momentum from the 905 going to add to his young professional career. “I am really excited and grateful for the opportunity to play for the River Lions this coming season,” said Moore. “Fans can expect a player who is going to come out and compete on both sides of the floor to try and help the team win. This season should be a lot of fun!”

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL . Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Tickets for the 2024 season which tips off with the River Lions home opener on May 30th are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup – mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Vice President, Operations

2024 CEBL ON TSN BROADCAST TEAM ANNOUNCED

Wed, 08 May 2024 17:00:02 GMT

Sixth season of CEBL action tips off May 21 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on TSN

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday its 2024 CEBL on TSN broadcast team that will cover the 20 nationally televised games announced in March, beginning with the first game of the season Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. MT / 9 p.m. ET when the Calgary Surge host provincial rival the Edmonton Stingers at Scotiabank Saddledome.

A crew that again includes current and former NBA broadcasters like the legendary Chuck Swirsky (Chicago Bulls), Rod Black (original Raptors television play-by-play broadcaster), Amy Audibert (Miami Heat), Paul Jones (Toronto Raptors) and Nikki Reyes (Raptors sideline reporter for TSN) will be joined by three-time NBA Champion and Chicago Bulls radio colour commentator Bill Wennington, and head coach of the Windsor Lancers women's basketball program and former general manager and head coach of the Hamilton Honey Badgers (now Brampton Honey Badgers), Chantal Vallée.

CBC host Heather Morrison (Saskatchewan Rattlers), and Joe Raso and Dhanung Balsara of CEBL+ also return to the CEBL on TSN broadcast team in 2024, while CEBL+ sideline reporter Esfandiar Baraheni joins the crew for the first time.

2024 CEBL ON TSN BROADCAST TEAM

Chuck Swirsky – Play-By-Play

Chuck Swirsky has served as the radio play-by-play voice of the Chicago Bulls for the past 16 seasons following 10 years in that capacity with the Toronto Raptors (1998-99 to 2007-08). He has broadcast more than 2,100 NBA games. Swirsky's association with Chicago sports started in 1979 with his WCFL AM 1000 talk show and has also included broadcasting Chicago White Sox games. He was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 and into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the WGN Radio Walk of Fame in 2018. Swirsky has called play-by-play for University of Michigan basketball and football. Swirsky grew up in Bellevue, Washington and gained his Canadian citizenship in January 2008.

Rod Black – Play-By-Play

Amy Audibert – Analyst

Returning to the CEBL for her fifth season, Niagara Falls native Amy Audibert is currently serving as an analyst on the Miami Heat radio/TV broadcast team. Prior to her South Florida appointment, Audibert was the courtside reporter/analyst for Sportsnet's national coverage of the Toronto Raptors. Amy proudly was the studio analyst for the NBA's first-ever all-female broadcast, which was aired on TSN. Audibert’s on-air experience encompasses calling basketball games for many networks and many leagues, including, the WNBA, the NBA G- League, FIBA, NCAA Men's and Women’s college hoops.

Paul Jones – Analyst

Paul Jones is Canadian sportscaster who has served as a play-by-play and colour analyst for Toronto Raptors radio broadcasts since the team’s inaugural season in 1995. He appears on the weekly basketball show Hoops on Raptors NBA TV and is a co-host on the show Double Dribble. Jones has also served as studio analyst and sideline reporter for the Raptors and the Canadian Senior Men’s National team on TSN, CTV, and Rogers Sportsnet.

Joe Raso – Analyst

Chantal Vallée – Analyst

Chantal Vallée is the current head coach of the Windsor Lancers women's basketball program and a former general manager and head coach of the Hamilton Honey Badgers (now Brampton Honey Badgers) – the first woman to hold those roles simultaneously for a men's professional basketball team. Since 2005, the Montreal, Quebec native has built one of the top women's basketball programs in the country at the University of Windsor, a tenure that includes 10 consecutive trips to the OUA final four while earning nine straight OUA medals following the 2016-17 season, and capturing five consecutive CIS (now U SPORTS) national titles in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Vallée has also contributed as a colour commentator for basketball on prominent Canadian broadcasting channels, including CBC, CTV, Sportsnet, TSN, and RDS. Her broadcasting resume includes significant sporting events such as the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

Bill Wennington – Analyst

Bill Wennington recently completed his 21st season as colour commentator for all Chicago Bulls radio broadcasts, partnering with Chuck Swirsky to broadcast Bulls games on WSCR 670 AM and the Bulls Radio Network. He was also a sideline reporter for FOX SportsNet Chicago during the 2002-03 season. A 13-year veteran of the NBA, Wennington spent six seasons with the Bulls (1993-94 through 1998-99), which included three World Championships. The native of Montreal was also a member of the 1984 and 1992 Canadian Olympic Teams and was recently inducted into the Quebec Basketball Hall of Fame and the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame. He played his college basketball at St. John’s University and was inducted into the school’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Heather Morrison – Sideline Reporter

Heather Morrison, a member of the CEBL’s Saskatchewan Rattlers broadcast team, is a broadcaster and public speaking coach from Saskatoon. This is Morrison’s fourth season with the CEBL. She is the founder and president of Deliver Your Best public speaking coaching. She has also handled sideline coverage for Canada West Football and spent three years as an associate producer with CBC Saskatchewan, where she also hosted radio programs and was a television weather reporter. Last season Morrison had the honour of covering the CEBL's Western Conference Finals and Championship Weekend.

Nikki Reyes – Sideline Reporter

Nikki Reyes is an anchor for TSN’s SportsCentre and a sideline reporter for Toronto Raptors coverage on TSN. She was also an Anchor/Reporter on Sportsnet in Toronto and at NESN in Boston covering the Celtics, Bruins and Patriots.

Dhanung Bulsara – Sideline Reporter

Esfandiar Baraheni – Sideline Reporter

Season tickets and flex packs are now available league wide with priority seating access and preferred pricing. Ticket information for all CEBL games, including single-game tickets, can be found by visiting cebl.ca/tickets . More than 50 CEBL games will be broadcast live nationally on TSN and Game+ this season. Fans can also livestream all regular season, playoff and Championship Weekend games on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, and the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

- CEBL -

About the CEBL

Media Contact:
Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations
Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

LOTTO MAX and PROLINE Become Official Partners of CEBL

Thu, 02 May 2024 20:27:27 GMT

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) unveiled a new sponsorship agreement Thursday with the CEBL and its four Ontario-based teams, naming LOTTO MAX as the Official Lottery and PROLINE as the Official Retail Sportsbook. LOTTO MAX also becomes the new presenting partner of the CEBL’s Eastern Conference and Eastern Conference Playoffs.

The sponsorship marks a significant collaboration that promises to enhance the fan experience in the CEBL like never before, focusing on fan-centric promotions that will boost engagement and excitement around CEBL games, both in-arena and across broadcast platforms.

“Our sponsorship agreement with LOTTO MAX and PROLINE is a testament to our dedication to providing our fans with unparalleled money-can’t-buy experiences, while elevating the profile of the CEBL across Ontario and beyond,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “This collaboration heralds a new era of basketball fanaticism, promising CEBL fans across Ontario the opportunity to dream bigger in a season filled with more excitement, engagement and unforgettable memories.”

Tipping off at the home openers for the Scarborough Shooting Stars, Brampton Honey Badgers, Niagara River Lions and Ottawa BlackJacks, each fan in attendance will receive a limited-edition team t-shirt. During the season, ticket holders will be automatically entered into a draw* for a chance to win an exclusive trip to the 2024 CEBL Championship Weekend in Montreal, courtesy of LOTTO MAX. This marquee promotion is set to run throughout the season, offering fans continued opportunities to win unique prizes and unforgettable experiences.

Additionally, PROLINE retail customers will have access to exclusive offerings, further solidifying this partnership's commitment to delivering exceptional value and excitement to basketball enthusiasts across Ontario.

“By teaming up with the CEBL through LOTTO MAX and PROLINE, OLG aims to create memorable moments that resonate with fans and bring excitement to the stands,” says Nancy Kennedy, OLG’s Chief Lottery and Customer Officer. “As a proud supporter of all kinds of sports in Ontario, we look forward to finding new ways to enrich the fan experience at CEBL games and celebrate the joy of sport.”

More than 40 CEBL games will be broadcast live nationally on TSN and Game+ this season. Fans can also livestream all regular season, playoff and Championship Weekend games on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN+ and the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

*Must be an Ontario resident and 18+ at the time of participation for entry.

About the CEBL

About OLG

OLG is a crown agency that contributes to a better Ontario by delivering great entertainment experiences for our customers. Acting in a socially responsible way, OLG conducts and manages land-based gaming facilities; the sale of province-wide lottery games; Internet gaming; and the delivery of bingo and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres. OLG is also helping support the horse racing industry in Ontario. Since 1975, OLG has generated approximately $59 billion for the people and Province of Ontario to support key government priorities like health care; the treatment and prevention of problem gambling; and support for amateur athletes. Each year profits from OLG's operations also support host communities, Ontario First Nations, lottery retailers and local charities across the province.

River Lions Announce Theme Games for 2024 Season

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 16:37:34 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the dates and themes for specialty games set to take place during the upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Five out of 10 home games will feature an exciting lineup of themes that will deliver unforgettable experiences for basketball enthusiasts of all ages.

With single game tickets set to go on sale next week, the River Lions curated an array of theme nights designed to celebrate the spirit of the game and vibrant Niagara community that supports it.

May 30, 2024 - Niagara Night

The 2024 Home Opener, deemed ‘Niagara Night’ will celebrate the strong sense of community and civic engagement of residents across the Region. In the twelve days leading up to this night, the River Lions organization will be visiting each of the twelve municipalities with a unique activation aimed to connect with the community and give back to local groups. ‘Niagara Night’ will honour Niagara’s cultural diversity and rich heritage, while giving fans an

unforgettable experience as the River Lions return to the Meridian Centre for the 2024 season versus the Brampton Honey Badgers.

June 21, 2024 - Mystery Night

Join us for a night of mystery and magic on June 21 where fans can expect to be immersed in an atmosphere of intrigue and anticipation. The evening will feature roaming magicians, character appearances, interactive challenges and riddles, and many more surprises on and off the court.

July 6, 2024 - Country Night

Back by popular demand, it’s time to break your cowboy boots and western wear on July 6th when the River Lions take on the Ottawa Blackjacks. Fans can expect live country music and interactive experiences where we celebrate the spirit of resilience, independence and camaraderie that defines the cowboy way of life.

July 14, 2024 - Christmas in July

Santa Claus is coming to town on July 14th when the River Lions take on the Edmonton Stingers in a family friendly, Sunday afternoon game. Arrive early to receive a River Lions Santa hat and meet characters from the North Pole. Be sure to visit the Cub Zone for festive games and activities.

July 27, 2024 - Fan Appreciation Night

It’s time to roll out the red carpet and show our gratitude for the best fans in the CEBL. Get ready for a night of excitement, surprises, extra giveaways and heartfelt appreciation as we say thank you to our loyal supporters. On this night we’ll shine a spotlight on one special fan who exemplifies true River Lions spirit as we award the ‘Fan of the Year’.

Fans can lock in tickets for these games when single game tickets go on sale April 18th. River Lions email insiders and text subscribers will receive exclusive pre-sale access starting April 16th.

Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets, voucher packs and group tickets are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup – mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Vice President, Operations

River Lions Announce Selections in 2024 CEBL Draft

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 18:41:41 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today their three selections in the 2024 CEBL Draft, including Jordan Tchuente of Brock University , Luka Syllas from Queen's University and the first ever Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) player drafted to the CEBL, Jerry Jr. Mercury of Mohawk College .

In March, the CEBL announced a newly rebranded and expanded draft format beginning in 2024 that includes all eligible Canadian U SPORTS and CCAA student-athletes. The CEBL Draft presents a coveted opportunity for top players in U SPORTS and the CCAA to get a chance to experience professional basketball by practicing and playing alongside veteran pros from the NBA, NBA G League, Canadian National team, and top international leagues.

Each CEBL club made three selections total (one in each round) in 2024 of either returning or graduating Canadian post-secondary players. The priority of selection in round one was the reverse order of how each team finished the 2023 regular season, and the following rounds reverted to a ‘snake format’ in reverse order of the previous round.

The River Lions used their first-round selection on Jordan Tchuente, a 6’7 forward from Ottawa, Ontario.

"Jordan has been part of our River Lions family for the past two seasons, and I'm grateful that he will be with us again for year 3,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “He has become part of our core group, and I believe his game has really grown this past season under Coach Willy at Brock. I'm excited for Dino to take a big step forward this summer!"

A familiar name to the River Lions, Tchuente spent the last two summers as a developmental player with the team. Upon returning to Brock for the 2024 campaign, he registered career high statistics and led the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference with 9.1 rebounds per game and was ninth overall in the country. Tchuente collected a total of 191 rebounds and was named OUA Second Team All Star. Tchuente was also awarded with the team’s Most Valuable Badger.

“I'm excited and looking forward to running it back for the third time with the River Lions. Just like my teammate Khalil said, “3rd time might just be a charm”.” said Tchuente.

With their second selection the River Lions took Luka Syllas from Queens University , a 6’2 guard from Kingston, Ontario.

"Luka is coming off an incredible season at Queen's University and will be a welcomed addition to our team this summer,” said Raso. “He is a fierce competitor who excels defensively but has also improved his offensive game tremendously during his career. His competitiveness will translate to the professional game well and I'm excited to see the impact he can make on our team."

Syllas has played four seasons with the Gaels and is coming off a stellar 2023-24 campaign where he earned OUA Defensive Player of the Year and was selected as an OUA First Team All Star. Syllas was the Gaels’ defensive leader in steals with 47 on the season, which ranked fifth in U SPORTS, while also averaging 18.7 points, 5.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game.

“I am excited to get drafted by the Niagara River Lions. I am really looking forward to learning from some of my new teammates and developing my game to the next level,” said Syllas. “I think I will be a great fit for this team, as I play with high intensity on the defensive side of the floor, along with pose scoring and facilitating on the offensive end. I am also a tenacious rebounder that can keep plays alive and provide extra opportunities to score.”

With their final selection the River Lions took Jerry Jr. Mercury from Mohawk College , a 6 '4 forward from Scarborough, Ontario, becoming the first CCAA player drafted in CEBL history.

"Jerry is a very talented basketball player, who like many of our signings, can impact winning in many ways,” said Raso. “He is versatile offensively and can really score the ball, he loves to defend, and is an excellent rebounder. He is an impressive young man who has overcome a lot to get to this point in his basketball journey, and he has earned the opportunity to be drafted into the CEBL."

Mercury started his collegiate career with St. Clair College before transferring to Mohawk after his freshman year. Mercury made an immediate impact, starting every game for the Mountaineers . During the 2023-24 season as a junior, Mercury averaged 22.6 points, the second highest in the OCAA , 10.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. His 10.4 rebounds per game ranked third in the OCAA.

“I want to start off by thanking God for blessing me with such an exciting opportunity to play the sport I love at a high level,” said Mercury. “To get selected by an amazing organization like Niagara River Lions and be a part of this amazing region, it doesn’t get any better than this. Getting drafted into the CEBL is more than a dream come true, it still feels surreal. Fans can expect a player who’s going to give it 100% on every possession, who is a winner, and also someone who loves to put on a show. I’m ready to get to work. GO RIVER LIONS!”

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL . Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets, voucher packs and group tickets are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup – mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Vice President, Operations

River Lions Announce Signing of Aaryn Rai

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 15:13:11 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 25 year-old Canadian, Aaryn Rai. The 6’6 forward from Markham, Ontario is currently playing for the Cheshire Phoenix of the British Basketball League (BBL) where he is averaging 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.6 minutes per game.

“Aaryn is a young Canadian who has really impressed me with how he plays the game,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “His game is very multi-faceted, he plays multiple positions, can score in many ways and is an excellent rebounder. On top of that, he is a very impressive young man who has a bright career ahead of him. Aaryn is an excellent addition to our team and I’m very excited to have him!”

Prior to his professional career, Rai spent five years at Ivy League, Dartmouth College where he played Division 1 basketball while earning a neuroscience degree. As a member of the Big Green, Rai averaged 8.6 points, 5,3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 107 games played. During the 2021-2022 season, Rai ranked among the top 10 in the Ivy League in scoring (12.3 per game, 10th), rebounding (7.2 per game, 3rd), blocked shots (0.6 per game, 7th) and steals (1.2 per game, 10th).

Following his collegiate career, Rai signed with the Hemel Storm of the National Basketball League in England where the team went unbeaten all season and Rai made his mark in Storm history. Rai became the team’s second ever season MVP after averaging 24 points, 10.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists amongst many memorable performances.

In his current season with the Pheonix, Rai helped lead the team to a BBL Cup victory putting up 16 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in the final game. He sits second in the league in points per game (18.4), and fifth in total rebounds per game (7.8).

“I'm super excited to play for Coach Victor and the River Lions this summer.” said Rai “I'm preparing to bring great energy to the team and hopefully some silverware back to Niagara at the end of the season!”

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL . Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets, voucher packs and group tickets are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup – mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Vice President, Operations

River Lions Sign Canadian Power Forward, Elijah Lufile

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:50:38 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’7 Canadian, Elijah Lufile. The 26-year old power forward from Milton, Ontario is currently playing for Joensuun Kataja of the Korisliiga , Finland’s first division league, where he is averaging 12.9 points and 1.4 assists, while leading the team with 10.2 rebounds.

“Elijah is a phenomenal young man and basketball player, and we are lucky to have him on our side this summer,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “One of the areas that we felt like we needed to improve from last summer was rebounding, and the addition of Elijah directly addresses that. He brings a lot to the table – he is physical, a great athlete, he is excellent attacking the rim on the pick and roll, he is improving in the post, but ultimately he is a professional rebounder who can change a game on the boards.”

Lufile becomes the second new player added to the 2024 roster after Nathan Cayo, following the announcement of six returning players, Khalil Ahmad, AJ Davis, Eddie Ekiyor, Jahvon Blair, TJ Lall and Kimbal Mackenzie.

Lufile began his collegiate career in 2016-17 redshirting as a freshman at Lamar Community College before transferring to Midland College where he played one season averaging 13.6 points and leading the team with 8.1 rebounds, while recording 10 double-doubles in 27 starts. He then transferred to Oral Roberts University in 2019 where in his senior season he averaged 7.9 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 71.2% from the field.

In 2022 Lufile signed his first professional contract with the Salt Lake City Stars of the G-League where he played in 16 games averaging 5.0 points and 3.2 rebounds.

In early 2023 Lufile was selected to represent the CEBL playing for the Brampton Honey Badgers in the Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA) where he scored 19 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench versus Libertadores de Queretaro. Lufile went on to play for the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada before signing with the Calgary Surge .

Lufile split the 2023 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season playing 9 games for the Calgary Surge before joining the eventual 2023 CEBL Champions, the Scarborough Shooting Stars . In 11 games with the Shooting Stars, Lufile averaged 4.2 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 44.7% from the field.

“I’m excited to win with the River Lions!” said Lufile. “They are a championship contending organization and have a great coaching staff. Praise God!”

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL . Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets, voucher packs and group tickets are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup – mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Vice President, Operations

River Lions Announce Signing of Montreal Native, Nathan Cayo

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 14:53:20 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions today announced the signing of 6’7 Canadian forward, Nathan Cayo. Cayo, a 26 year-old from Montreal, Quebec averaged 14.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists during the 2023 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season playing for the Montreal Alliance .

“We are very excited to welcome Nathan to our organization,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “Nathan has been an excellent player for Montreal the past two seasons and will be a great addition to our team this summer. He impacts the game in winning ways, causes matchup advantages in our favour, and loves to compete. Welcome to the NRL, Nathan!”

Cayo becomes the first new name signed to the River Lions for the 2024 season after the team recently announced six returning players, Khalil Ahmad, AJ Davis, Eddie Ekiyor, Jahvon Blair, TJ Lall and Kimbal Mackenzie.

Cayo played five seasons at the University of Richmond , averaging 8.9 points, 1.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 155 games. Cayo became the 50th Richmond Spider player to reach 1000 career points and finished with a field goal percentage of 55.2%, ranking 4th all time in the program’s history. Cayo helped the Spiders qualify for the March Madness Tournament during the 2021-22 season where he scored 15 points in a win over the University of Iowa to help Richmond reach the second round.

Cayo started his professional career with the Montreal Alliance in 2022 where he averaged 12.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 20 games. After the 2022 CEBL season, Cayo took his talents to Poland to play for Astoria Bydgoszcz in first division Polish Basketball League , where he averaged 8.4 points 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists earning himself an all-star selection in week 23. After returning to the Alliance for the 2023 season, Cayo has been in the G-League where he averaged 1.4 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists in 2 games for the Memphis Hustle . He is currently playing for the Ontario Clippers .

“I’d like to thank God and the River Lions for this exciting opportunity!” said Cayo. “My family and I are thrilled to join this great organization, and make Niagara our home. To the fans, I will contribute in any way I can to win a championship for you all. Let’s Go River Lions!”

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL . Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets, voucher packs and group tickets are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup – mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Vice President, Operations

River Lions Announce Returns of TJ Lall and Kimbal Mackenzie

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:55:33 GMT

St Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions today announced the return of 6’6 forward, TJ Lall and 6’1 guard, Kimbal Makenzie, both returning to the team for a second consecutive year. Lall, a 27 year-old from Cambridge, Ontario averaged 8.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23 minutes per game during the 2023 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Mackenzie, a 27 year-old from Oakville, Ontario averaged 8.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 9 games with the River Lions.

“It was a priority this off-season to be able to retain both TJ and Kimbal for 2024, and I'm grateful that we were able to come to terms with both of them,” said Head Coach and General Manager Victor Raso.

Lall and Mackenzie will join other key returning members from the 2023 team including Khalil Ahmad, AJ Davis, Eddie Ekiyor and Jahvon Blair who were just announced two weeks ago.

"I am looking forward to playing with the River Lions once again this season,” said Lall. “I am excited to have a great summer in Niagara and compete for the CEBL Championship."

Lall won four national championships with Carleton University before transferring to Brock University in a season that saw him average 22 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. In his senior year with the Badgers , he earned First Team All-Canada and OUA West First Team All Star honors and Brock’s Team MVP. Lall was selected first overall in the 2020 CEBL U SPORTS Draft by the Ottawa Blackjacks , and then went on to play two seasons with the Guelph Nighthawks (now Calgary Surge ). After three seasons in Canada, Lall took his talents to Japan where he averaged 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 16.6 minutes per game with Kyoto Hannaryz . Now suited up for the Leicester Riders of the British Basketball League (BBL), he is currently averaging 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and shooting 46.6 percent from the three point line in 24.8 minutes per game.

“TJ is a versatile, talented wing who has shown glimpses of all the ways he can impact a game in his time with the River Lions, and in the CEBL,” said Raso. “TJ has high expectations of himself and tremendous confidence in his abilities, and I feel the same way about him. I believe TJ will have his best professional season to date in an expanded role with us in 2024.”

Mackenzie spent his four year collegiate career at Bucknell University where he became a vital part of the Bison’s Lineup, starting in 89 out of 122 games in four seasons. With 1330 career points, Mackenzie ranked 18th in Bisons history as well as 4th in all-time made three pointers (211) and 2nd in career free throw percentage (85.4%). In his final season at Bucknell, Mackenzie averaged 17.6 points and 3.0 assists in 34.3 minutes per game. Mackenzie went on to play two seasons with the Guelph Nighthawks (now Calgary Surge ), before eventually finding a home with the Leicester Riders of the BBL.

Currently in his third season with the Riders, Mackenzie was named captain of the team for the 2023 season and recently earned a spot on the 24-man Great Britain National Team for the Eurobasket Qualifiers . With the Riders he is averaging 12.7 points and 4.5 assists in 25.7 minutes per game.

“Kimbal is a phenomenal leader and point guard and we are lucky to have him back,” said Raso. He brings a winning, experienced attitude to the team and he brings the best out of his teammates everyday. He was a great mid-season addition to our team last season, and it will be even more beneficial to have him for the entirety of this season.”

Mackenzie shared the same enthusiasm, "I’m thrilled to be back in Niagara this summer. We have a core group of guys returning who I love playing with. Looking forward to continuing the winning culture that has been built for years, and to bringing a championship to Niagara."

Now having played on three teams together in Guelph, Niagara and Leicester, Lall and Mackenzie’s chemistry on the court will only add to the four players already signed for the 2024 season.

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL . Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets, voucher packs and group tickets are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup – mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Vice President, Operations

New CEBL Draft Format Unveiled for 2024

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 17:00:00 GMT

Three-round draft in April will select 30 eligible players from U SPORTS, CCAA programs

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday that beginning in 2024, the newly rebranded and expanded ‘CEBL Draft’ will serve as the league’s annual entry draft for eligible Canadian U SPORTS and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) student-athletes. Results of the 2024 CEBL Draft will be announced Thursday, April 11.

The CEBL’s amendments to its roster composition rules in 2024 adds CCAA athletes alongside U SPORTS athletes as eligible developmental players (recognized Canadians with experience as a student-athlete with remaining eligibility). CEBL teams are incentivized to have developmental players on their active roster as up to a maximum of three will not count against a club’s per game active roster salary cap.

The first opportunity for a developmental player to join a CEBL team is via the 2024 CEBL Draft. Beginning this year, the CEBL Draft will expand to three rounds with each club making three selections total (one in each round) of either returning or graduating Canadian post-secondary players. In total, 30 eligible players will be selected. The priority of selection in round one will be in the reverse order of how each team finished the 2023 regular season, and the following rounds will revert to a ‘snake format’ in reverse order of the previous round.

The full 2024 CEBL Draft order is as follows:

New Paragraph

2024 CEBL on TSN Broadcast Schedule Announced

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 18:05:14 GMT

TSN coverage features 20 nationally televised games including CEBL playoffs and CW24, with every game of the 2024 CEBL season available on TSN+

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and TSN, Canada’s Sports Leader, announced Wednesday the 2024 CEBL on TSN broadcast schedule that includes live coverage of 20 nationally televised games, culminating with all playoff and Championship Weekend games in August.

TSN’s CEBL coverage tips off with the first game of the 2024 season on Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. MT / 9 p.m. ET when the Calgary Surge host provincial rival the Edmonton Stingers at Scotiabank Saddledome. Both games of the Canada Day doubleheader on Monday, July 1 will be featured on TSN, including the Saskatchewan Rattlers visiting the Stingers at Edmonton EXPO Centre at 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET, followed by the Niagara River Lions travelling to Vancouver to take on the Bandits at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET at Langley Events Centre.

In total, TSN will broadcast 13 CEBL regular season games, and all playoff and 2024 Championship Weekend games on TSN’s national television feeds. In addition, all 107 CEBL games in 2024 will be streamed live on TSN+, the network’s stand-alone digital streaming service. French-language coverage of select Montréal Alliance games on RDS will be announced at a later date.

2024 CEBL ON TSN BROADCAST SCHEDULE

-CEBL -

About the CEBL

Media Contact:

Aaron Gogishvili – Sr. Director, Communications & Community Relations

Canadian Elite Basketball League

(905) 730-4691 | agogishvili@cebl.ca

River Lions Welcome Back Top 4 Leading Scorers from 2023

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 15:57:07 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions announced today the re-signing of Khalil Ahmad, Jahvon Blair, Eddie Ekiyor and Antionio ‘AJ’ Davis for the 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Season. These four returning players led the 2023 River Lions in points per game with 18.9, 15.3, 12.0, and 10.6, respectively.

“Our goal going into this offseason was to retain as many pieces as possible from last year’s team, and this announcement gets us off to a great start towards that goal,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “Khalil, AJ, Eddie and Juggy (Jahvon) are great basketball players, and great people, and being able to build upon the success we had last season and the lessons we learned was a necessary step in free agency. But we aren’t done there – more members of last year’s team will be announced soon, as well as some exciting new additions!”

Ahmad, a 6’4 guard from Corona, California returns to the River Lions for a third season after being named the 2023 CEBL Defensive Player of the Year, 2022 CEBL MVP and earning Clutch Player of the Year honours in both seasons. Ahmad spent all four years of his collegiate career at Cal State Fullerton becoming one of the most prolific scorers in school history. Ahmad’s professional career has taken him to Finland, Denmark, Israel and most recently Belgium, where he is currently averaging 14.6 points, 2.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game for Filou Oostende of the BNXT League .

“Niagara feels like home to me,” said Ahmad. “I am excited to return and get to work to win the championship that our fans and organization deserve. Third times a charm”

Ahmad was a late but welcome addition to the 2023 roster where he made an immediate impact leading the team in points (18.9), assists (6.0), steals (2.4) and minutes (28.9) per game, while also scoring 8 of the team’s target score winning shots in the River Lions 13-7 regular season record.

Blair, a 6’4 guard from Brampton, Ontario returns to the River Lions for a second year boasting plenty of CEBL experience having suited up for the Newfoundland Growlers in 2022, and in 2023 representing the CEBL with the Brampton Honey Badgers in the Basketball Champions League of Americas (BCLA), and being named to ‘Team East’ in the CEBL Clash showcase. Prior to his professional career, Blair spent four seasons with basketball powerhouse, Georgetown University where in his senior year he helped the Hoyas to the Big East tournament title and an NCAA tournament berth. Blair recently signed with Ostioneros de Guaymas in Mexico whose season will tip off this weekend.

“I can’t wait to get back to the Meridian Centre in front of the best fans in the league,” said Blair. “I am looking forward to another great summer with my teammates and coaching staff. Once again, I truly appreciate Coach Vic for giving me the opportunity to be part of this program. I’m glad to be back.”

In 2023 Blair proved to be a well-rounded combo player averaging 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 26.6 minutes per game while shooting an impressive 44.4% from the 3-point line.

Ekiyor, a 6’9 forward from Ottawa, Ontario returns to the River Lions for a second season where he will be coming off a dominating campaign with Sporting CP of the Liga Betclic in Portugal where he is a top contender for league MVP currently averaging 19.6 points per game, 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. With Sporting CP, Ekiyor has earned career highs in points (33), rebounds (13) and blocks (5) in three different games. A product of the Carleton University Ravens program, Ekiyor is a two-time U SPORTS champion and two-time All Canadian who ended his collegiate career as the MVP during the 2019 final 8 tournament.

“I am extremely excited to be part of the Niagara family again!” said Ekiyor. “I had so much fun in Niagara last season and loved the support that we received from our fans. I look forward to winning a championship in 2024!”

A 2023 CEBL Defensive Player of the Year and 6 ^th Man of the Year finalist, Ekiyor led the River Lions in rebounds per game (5.6) while contributing 12.2 points and 0.9 blocks per game. He shot 41.7 in three-point percentage and 81.5 from the foul line. Ekiyor was named the 2023 recipient of the Ben Zwolak Community Ambassador Award for his contributions to the community and his positive attitude on and off the court.

Davis Jr., a 6’9 forward from Burford, Georgia returns to the River Lions for a third season after helping to lead the team to first place after the regular season in 2023 as captain. Born into a basketball family, AJ graduated from the University of Central Florida (UCF) where he finished 8 ^th in UCF history with 633 rebounds and 7 ^th with 319 made free throws. Davis Jr. has gained international experience playing in Kosovo, Australia, Sweden, Greece, Germany and most recently Belgium where he is currently averaging 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.5 assists for the Leuven Bears of the BNXT League.

“I am excited to come back to Niagara and see all of our season ticket holders and fans inside the Meridian Centre,” said Davis. “I’m looking forward to another great summer as we take care of unfinished business and bring home the CEBL Championship.”

A natural leader on and off the court, Davis has proven to be a consistent and efficient part of the team averaging 10.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 27.6 minutes per game during the 2023 CEBL campaign.

Today’s announcement of Khalil Ahmad, Jahvon Blair, Eddie Ekiyor and AJ Davis returning to the team for 2024 marks the first players signed to the River Lions since CEBL free agency opened on February 1 ^st .

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets, voucher packs and group tickets are on sale now. Single game tickets are expected to go on sale in early spring. Visit www.riverlions.ca for more information.

###

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup, Vice President, Operations

mbiskup@riverlions.ca

River Lions Announce 2024 School Day Game

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 18:55:20 GMT

St. Catharines, Ontario – The Niagara River Lions are proud to announce the inclusion of a School Day Game as part of their 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) schedule. The game will take place on Wednesday June 19, 2024 at 11:00am as the River Lions host the Scarborough Shooting Stars at the Meridian Centre in downtown, St. Catharines. This event will serve as a synergy between the classroom and the basketball court to promote healthy and active living and the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Last season, the River Lions organization hosted a school day game which saw nearly 4000 students from across the Niagara Region take in River Lions basketball while creating a sense of community amongst their peers.

In keeping with last year, the game presentation inside the Meridian Centre will include many opportunities for students to get involved through various activities and performances. Attendees will be entertained by award-winning Canadian community leader, motivational speaker, and artistic director, Saidat, who will make a guest appearance as the in-game host for the day.

“Last year’s game was an overwhelming success and the feedback that we heard from those in attendance made it an easy decision to include a school day game in the 2024 schedule,” said River Lions Vice President of Operations, Michelle Biskup. “We are grateful for the collaboration between the school boards, Switzer Carty Transportation, and the Meridian Centre to create another memorable experience for all.”

The River Lions are calling upon local businesses to help support this game through purchasing tickets to provide to students who may not otherwise be able to attend due to financial constraints.

Season ticket holders have the option to opt in to attend this game if they choose to, or they can use the credit towards playoff tickets in the event that the River Lions host a postseason game.

For more information on the School Day Game, contact Michelle Biskup at 289-273-5905 or mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup

Vice President, Operations

mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Niagara River Lions Group Tickets On Sale Now

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 14:53:23 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that group tickets for the upcoming 2024 season are now on sale through contacting the River Lions Front Office at 289-273-5905 or tickets@riverlions.ca .

With 10 home games played inside the Meridian Centre downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions events will feature non-stop entertainment before, during and after world class professional basketball games. Group tickets provide fans with a fantastic opportunity to spend quality time with friends, family or colleagues. Groups of 10 or more qualify for discounted tickets, and the larger the group, the more of a discount members will receive.

Groups will also have the opportunity to take part in experiences including high 5 tunnels, halftime performances, post game court rentals and more.

In addition to group tickets, voucher packs and season tickets are currently on sale, and River Lions fans can expect single game tickets to become available in the spring. .

The River Lions will open the season with a trip to Brampton to face the Honey Badgers before returning to the Meridian Centre for the home opener on May 30th versus the Honey Badgers.

As a league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL continues to demonstrate itself as a top tier basketball league for both professional development and fan experience. After an exciting finish last season, the River Lions hope to once again advance to Championship Weekend which will be hosted in Montreal, Quebec.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup

Vice President, Operations

mbiskup@riverlions.ca

River Lions Announce 2024 Schedule

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 17:47:12 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) today announced its 20-game 2024 season schedule presented by Crime Stoppers Niagara . The River Lions open the season with a home-and-home against the Brampton Honey Badgers first traveling to the CAA Centre on May 24th before hosting the Honey Badgers at the Meridian Centre on May 30th. Niagara splits their first four games of the season home and away before a three game road trip.

The River Lions will head into their sixth season in the CEBL after finishing the 2023 campaign in first place after the regular season with a league best record of 13-7. The team earned an automatic bye to Championship Weekend in Vancouver where they were eliminated in the semi finals by the eventual champion, the Scarborough Shooting Stars.

Within the Eastern Conference, the River Lions will play the Ottawa Blackjacks four times, and the Brampton Honey Badgers, Scarborough Shooting Stars and Montréal Alliance each three times. As for the Western Conference, Niagara will play the Winnipeg Seabears and the Edmonton Stingers each twice then the Vancouver Bandits, the Calgary Surge and the Saskatchewan Rattlers once.

Highlights of the Niagara River Lions schedule include:

A total of 20 regular season games over 10 weeks
10 games at the Meridian Center in St. Catharines, 10 road games
4 Thursday, 2 Saturday, 1 Friday and 1 Wednesday night home games
1 Sunday afternoon home game
1 School day game at home on Wednesday June 19th at 11:00am
Winnipeg Sea Bears will visit the Meridian Centre on Thursday June 6th for their first time since joining the CEBL in 2023.
6 of final 8 regular season games are at home
Close the regular season with and home and home versus Ottawa Blackjacks

The CEBL season culminates at 2024 Championship Weekend (CW24) in Montréal from August 9-11. Host Montréal, along with the top-ranked team from the Western Conference, will automatically be seeded into the Conference Finals at Championship Weekend. The full playoff schedule, including the Play-In and Conference Semifinal games, will be announced at a later date.

The 2024 broadcast schedule with all nationally televised games on TSN will be announced at a later date. All games, including playoffs, will be streamed live on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ Powered by BetVictor, on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices), and on TSN+.

For full schedule details visit www.riverlions.ca/schedule

About the River Lions

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets and voucher packs are on sale now. Niagara River Lions season tickets and voucher packs are on sale now. Stay tuned for updates regarding single game and group tickets. Ticket information can be found at www.riverlions.ca/tickets or 289-273-5905.

About the CEBL

###

Media Contact

Michelle Biskup

Vice President, Operations

mbiskup@riverlions.ca

2024 Niagara River Lions Schedule

River Lions Announce ‘Breakfast with Dunkin & Friends' Event

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:15:51 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today “Breakfast with Dunkin & Friends” presented by Crime Stoppers of Niagara , which will take place over the upcoming Family Day weekend. The breakfast, set to take place on Saturday February 17th from 9:30am-11:30am at Central Community Centre (680 York Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake) will include appearances from local mascots as well as family friendly activities throughout the morning.

Along with breakfast, attendees will enjoy face painting, colouring, a photo booth and the opportunity to meet multiple mascots including the host of the day, Dunkin the River Lion. The full mascot lineup will be announced at a later date. Additionally, children aged 13 years or under will receive a complimentary swag bag upon entry.

The event will aim to bring together fans and celebrate a sense of community in the spirit of Family Day weekend.

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. Season tickets and voucher packs are on sale now, with the 2024 schedule set to be announced later this month. Visit www.riverlions.ca for more information.

###

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup, Vice President, Operations

mbiskup@riverlions.ca

River Lions, IceDogs and Jackfish Partner for Third Year of “Ultimate Niagara Fan Pack”

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 14:55:14 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Welland Jackfish of the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL), announced today the return of the “Ultimate Niagara Fan Pack” for the 2023 holiday season. This collaborative ticket package includes two mid-level tickets for each of the region’s favourite sports teams for the cost of $115.00. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to Golf Fore All. Sports enthusiasts can purchase the fan pack starting today until December 22, 2023.

The “Ultimate Niagara Fan Pack” was introduced in 2021 after Vice President of Operations for the River Lions, Michelle Biskup approached the IceDogs and Jackfish with the idea. With growth over the last two years, it was an easy decision for the team’s to collaborate once again.

“We are excited to bring back the Ultimate Niagara Fan Pack this holiday season,” said Biskup. “Collaborating on this ticket pack is a great way to build a sense of community and give residents across Niagara the opportunity to experience and support their local sports teams.”

The IceDogs shared their excitement in joining the local sports community all while supporting Golf Fore All, an initiative created to help those with disabilities learn and enjoy the sport of golf. “The IceDogs are very excited to once again team up with the River Lions and Jackfish organizations to help showcase their talented athletes, and of course to unite the passionate fans of Niagara’s great sports teams!”, commented Elijah DiDomenico, Group Sales Manager for the IceDogs.

Hockey and basketball fans who are used to calling the Meridian Centre home, will get to experience another top notch sports facility at the upgraded Welland Stadium, home of the 2023 Dominico Cup Champions, the Welland Jackfish.

Ryan Harrison, President and Director of Fun for the Jackfish stated, “The Fish are excited to welcome River Lions and IceDogs fans to The Pond yet again with this amazing package. The Jackfish can’t wait to introduce River Lions and IceDogs fans to a Jackfish show!”

In creating this ticket package, it was important to all three organizations to include a give back component and support a local charity. In keeping with the sports theme, selecting Golf Fore All as the recipient was a natural fit.

Founded in 2023 by Special Olympics of Ontario Golfer, Mikey Rocco DiRaddo, Golf Fore All is a Niagara based program for beginners who have a disability or who don’t have the chance to play the game of golf due to a physical or adapted disability.

Fans can purchase this one-of-a-kind ticket package by visiting www.riverlions.ca/fanpack until December 22, 2023.

###

Media Contacts:

Niagara River Lions

Michelle Biskup, Vice President, Operations

e.didomenico@niagaraicedogs.net

Niagara IceDogs

Elijah DiDomenico, Group Sales Manager and Billet Co-ordinator

Welland Jackfish

Ryan Harrison, President and Director of Fun

rharrison@wellandjackfish.com

Niagara River Lions Voucher Packs On Sale Now

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 14:45:00 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that voucher packs for the upcoming 2024 season are now on sale at https://am.ticketmaster.com/riverlions/2024packs or through contacting the River Lions Front Office at 289-273-5905 or tickets@riverlions.ca .

With 10 home games played inside the Meridian Centre downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions events will feature non-stop entertainment before, during and after world class professional basketball games. Voucher packs are available in both 6 game and 10 game packages. 6 game packs can be purchased for as low as $135 and 10 game packs start at $200.

These 6 or 10 game packs are un-dated vouchers that can be used for any home game during the 2024 season. Voucher pack holders will have full flexibility in deciding what game they want to attend and how many vouchers they want to use for each game.

In addition to voucher packs, season tickets are currently on sale, and River Lions fans can expect group and single game tickets to become available in the coming months.

The 2024 CEBL schedule is set to be released in the new year which will mark the countdown to the CEBL’s 6 ^th season.

As a league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL continues to demonstrate itself as a top tier basketball league for both professional development and fan experience. After an exciting finish last season, the River Lions hope to once again advance to the 2024 Championship Weekend which will be hosted in Montreal, Quebec.

To purchase Niagara River Lions voucher packs, click here.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup

Vice President, Operations

Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team opens FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers at home in St. Catharines

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 14:59:47 GMT

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. (November 14, 2023) – Canada Basketball, in partnership with the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), announced Tuesday that the Senior Men’s National Team will return home in February to St. Catharines as Canada opens the FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers .

Canada will face Nicaragua on Friday, February 23, at the Meridian Centre at 7:10 p.m. ET before travelling south to Nicaragua for a rematch on Monday, February 26 (time TBC). Fans can catch all the action live on Sportsnet.

Canada Basketball and CEBL insiders have exclusive presale access now until tickets go on sale to the public beginning this Thursday, November 16, at 10:00 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster Starting as low as $30, tickets are also available by contacting the Niagara River Lions Front Office, which is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by calling or texting 289-273-5905 or visiting 2 Front Street North, Thorold. ON, L2V 1X4. Online and phone orders are subject to applicable fees.

Bringing more international basketball events to Canada is one of several shared priorities between Canada Basketball and the CEBL as the two organizations look to continue working closely together to grow the game of basketball here in Canada.

The 16 teams in the FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers have been distributed into four groups of four teams each, with Canada being drawn into Group C along with the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

Each team will play each opponent in their group twice under a "home and away" format during three windows, which will take place in February and November 2024 and then in February 2025.

The top three teams in each group (12 in total) will qualify for the FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025.

Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team is coming off a historic run at the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup 2023, which saw the team not only qualify for next summer’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games but also earn a bronze medal – their first medal at a Men’s World Cup in team history.

Canada is currently ranked sixth in the latest FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike , after the rankings were updated following the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup 2023.

QUOTES

“Canada Basketball is excited to partner with the Canadian Elite Basketball League again to bring more basketball to Canadians as Canada takes on Nicaragua in FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers action here at home. This year, our national teams experienced unprecedented success on the world stage, including our Senior Men capturing a historic bronze medal at the World Cup, and we’re looking forward to celebrating that team and some of its players in February in front of their family, friends and Canadian fans.” - Michael Bartlett, President & CEO, Canada Basketball

“The CEBL is proud to assist our partners at Canada Basketball in presenting this world-class event in February at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, home of our Niagara River Lions. Along with our fellow Canadians and basketball fans across the country, we look forward to helping our Senior Men’s National Team kick-start the first stage of their quest to qualify for the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup. Thank you to Canada Basketball, the River Lions, ASM Global and the City of St. Catharines for their collaboration in putting this together.” - Mike Morreale, Commissioner & Co-Founder, Canadian Elite Basketball League

Scarborough advances to second straight championship, ousting Niagara 74-71

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 03:33:33 GMT

By: Dillon White

The Scarborough Shooting Stars are headed to back-to-back CEBL Championship games after knocking off the top-ranked Niagara River Lions 74-71 at Langley Events Centre on Friday.

Cat Barber powered the Shooting Stars to victory with a team-high 15 points on 5-16 shooting to go along with six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Scarborough locked down defensively, holding the highest scoring offence in the CEBL to 71 points – their third consecutive game with a points against in the 70s. Niagara shot 39 per cent from the field while tallying 19 turnovers that led to 28 points.

The Shooting Stars also dominated the paint, outscoring the River Lions 44-16 and snagging 20 offensive rebounds.

“It’s effort. Those are all effort plays. Those are plays that show how much the team wants to win,” Scarborough head coach Chris Exilus said. “Plays that are not always on the stat sheet…what you saw was was a resilient group that played together. On this team, nobody cares who makes the play.”

The Shooting Stars had four players reach double-digits in the win. Gedi Juozapaitis was scorching hot from the corners throughout the game, hitting four threes on his way to 13 points. Isiaha Mike chipped in 12 points, including six in target score time despite going 4-11 from the field.

Big man Kalif Young was also a dominant force in the paint for Scarborough. He secured a double-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and one block.

“I just think we’ve really bought into our system,” Young said. “You don’t win in those big moments and win championships without locking down on defence and focusing in on players. I think our biggest thing was focusing on a really good player in Khalil Ahmad today.”

Ahmad was named 2023 CEBL Clutch Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and received an All-CEBL First Team nod on Wednesday. However, he was held to eight points on 2-8 shooting from the field on Friday night.

“I don't think [Ahmad] was aggressive enough and I think there was a little bit of time where he got frustrated with the wrong things and how physical they were being,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said.

Meanwhile, Jahvon Blair netted a game-high 20 points for the River Lions on 7-17 shooting and four threes. Edward Ekiyor produced inside with 15 points and six rebounds.

It’s now the second consecutive year the Shooting Stars eliminate the River Lions during Championship Weekend.

“We were just fighting ourselves offensively and not really sticking to the plan. But even with that being said, we had a chance down the stretch,” Raso said. “I didn't think we were aggressive enough, early enough. Offensively, that was probably the biggest thing.”

After almost two weeks of rest, the River Lions were cold to start the game. Niagara didn’t connect on a field goal for the opening five minutes of action but got to the free throw line. The River Lions sent multiple defenders at Barber, but he was able to get out in transition with a steal and score before slicing through the defence for a layup.

Niagara came out of the TV timeout hot. Blair dialed long distance twice and Antonio Davis Jr. finished through contact to complete the hoop and the harm. However, Scarborough was active on the offensive glass with putbacks from Kyree Walker and Young. Patrick Whelan came off the bench towards the end of the quarter to drill a three and give the River Lions a 20-14 lead after 10 minutes.

At the start of the second quarter, the River Lions climbed to their largest lead of the night at 12 points with a 6-0 run. However, Juozapaitis buried back-to-back corner threes for Scarborough to end the run and force a Raso timeout.

Out of the team talk, Young made an impact in the paint with an outstanding sequence of plays. He blocked Ekiyor at the rim to force a shot clock violation, completed an and-one, grabbed a rebound and finished a reverse layup to cap off an 11-0 Scarborough run.

The Shooting Stars stayed hot and achieved their first lead of the quarter with a two-handed slam from Mike. After a 21-3 run from Scarborough, Kimbal Mackenzie hit a timely three to take the River Lions into halftime down 35-32.

In the first two quarters, turnovers held back the Niagara offence. They gave the ball up 12 times, leading to 15 points for the Shooting Stars. However, Scarborough struggled from long range going 3-19 for 15 per cent in the first half. Blair led all scorers with 11 points at halftime while Juozapaitis scored 10.

To start the second half, Scarborough and Niagara traded blows. Blair continued to have the hot hand and helped keep the River Lions close as the Shooting Stars maintained the lead. Juozapaitis buried another corner three to cap off a 7-0 run for Scarborough but TJ Lall beat the buzzer with a corner triple of his own to cut the deficit to 53-47 after three.

After a scoreless third quarter, Barber got going in the final frame. He scored six points early in the fourth to extend Scarborough’s lead to 10 points. However, Niagara went on a timely run before target score time.

Ahmad got his first hoop of the game with a clutch and-one. Ekiyor feasted in the paint before Lall drilled a three from the corner to cap off a 14-2 run and give Niagara a 65-63 lead with a target of 74.

The Shooting Stars quickly clapped back at the start of target time. Walker spun and finished a tough layup while draped by a defender before Mike found mesh from the right wing. Another contact layup from Walker pushed Scarborough four points away from victory.

However, Ahmad hit a clutch three to narrow the gap. The River Lions trapped full court and forced a turnover that led to a game-tying Davis layup. But another bucket from Mike put the Shooting Stars two points away from a win.

An unsportsmanlike foul in transition by Lall was reviewed and confirmed by officials. Mike went to the line for Scarborough with a chance to send them to the championship but missed the first. After Mike made the second, Lall came up with a steal and went to the line himself, hitting one and intentionally missing the second.

An offensive rebound on ensuing possession for Scarborough helped put Barber on the free throw line. He rattled in the game-winning free throw to book the Shooting Stars a trip to the CEBL Championship game on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

All games are available for streaming on TSN, TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 per cent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

CEBL Championship Weekend tips off with matchup between River Lions and Shooting Stars in Eastern Conference Final

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 14:17:38 GMT

By: Dillon White

Tonight in Vancouver, the Scarborough Shooting Stars will look to secure a spot in back-to-back CEBL championship games as the Niagara River Lions seek revenge for last year’s elimination.

The Eastern Conference Final will tip off CEBL Championship Weekend at Langley Events Centre on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

The game will be live on TSN and available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

During the 2022 Championship Weekend in Ottawa, Scarborough eliminated Niagara with a 93-81 victory before falling to the Hamilton Honey Badgers in the title game.

River Lions’ head coach Victor Raso and Shooting Stars' head coach Chris Exilus both helmed last year’s squads as well.

“My expectations are to win,” Raso said. “I think that's all of our expectations. To do that, we need to play within ourselves for 40 minutes. So we need to play as hard as we possibly can. We have a base of fundamentals that really developed over the course of the season and we just need to do that hard for 40 minutes and play through mistakes, play with the ups and downs.”

Exilus also has high hopes for Championship Weekend after the Shooting Stars sparkled last weekend in the Play-In with a 98-74 defeat of the Honey Badgers and the Eastern Conference Semi-Final with a 77-72 win over the BlackJacks.

“I expect our team to be at their best. We’re very excited to play in this semifinal game. Our aspirations and goals are always championships and this is another step in that journey,” Exilus said.

To earn a win on Friday, Exilus says it’s important to play team basketball as they have been for the better part of the season.

However, neither coach is losing sight of the headliners for Friday’s playoff tilt. Scarborough point guard Cat Barber and Niagara point guard Khalil Ahmad each earned First Team honours at the CEBL Awards on Wednesday night.

After winning league MVP in 2022, Ahmad had another terrific campaign this summer. He averaged 19.6 points, 6.1 assists and 2.4 steals during 16 regular season games. His active hands on defence and reliable performances in crunch time helped him win both Clutch Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year at awards night as well.

Meanwhile, Barber has balled out in both the regular season and the playoffs. He averages 20.4 points, 4.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals entering Championship Weekend. In the Play-In against Brampton, Barber posted single-game CEBL playoff records for both points and threes before newly-minted MVP Teddy Allen broke the points record later the same night.

Exilus says the matchup between Barber and Ahmad on Friday is key. Niagara won two of three games against Scarborough this season with varying degrees of success in guarding Barber. In their wins, they held him to 13 points and one point respectively, before Barber followed it up with 28 points in the last meeting that the Shooting Stars won.

“You always need to have bodies in front of [Barber] in transition,” Raso said. “We're gonna force him to go weak and we're gonna try to get the ball out of his hands every time there's a ball screen and really attack him when he's on defence.”

Both teams also feature strong supporting casts that they will rely on to contribute. Scarborough’s Isiaha Mike scored a game-high 24 points against Ottawa to help them to victory last Sunday while Kyree Walker stepped up with 25 points on 10-13 shooting against Brampton. Big man Kalif Young anchors the paint for the Shooting Stars with elite shot-blocking and rebounding while sharpshooter Kassius Robertson is a threat from the perimeter.

“Many of our players have done a good job throughout different parts of the game and that's helped us. We're gonna need everybody. Everybody has to do a good job of staying locked in,” Exilus said.

On the other side, Niagara boasts the highest-scoring offence in the CEBL. They lead the league in points per game at 91.7 while finishing top-three in field goal percentage, three-point percentage and assists per game.

Sharpshooter Jahvon Blair has proven to be a great fit beside Ahmad in the River Lions’ backcourt this season, averaging 15 points on 44 per cent shooting from long range. Edward Ekiyor has come off the bench to make an impact, while Antonio Davis Jr. has also been a consistent offensive presence.

“I think both teams are really good in transition, so the game will be fast,” Raso said. “I think the team who can slow the other down the most and make them play in the half court [will have success] – that's definitely what we want to do to them. But it’ll be physical. It will definitely be physical.”

Raso expects the Shooting Stars to have a plan defensively, especially for Ahmad.

“I know they'll be organized on transition defence and emphasizing it because that's what they've done in the past but they will have a plan. And we're gonna have to be able to counter it,” Raso said.

Defence has been crucial in Scarborough’s pair of playoff victories so far. They proved they could shoot the lights out against the Honey Badgers but also win a defensive battle against Ottawa.

“I think we've had some real key defensive stops [this playoffs],” Exilus said. “Everything starts for us with defence. So we want to continue to buckle down and get stops. That kind of pushes everything and helps our transition offence. I want to continue on that same page and make sure we're defending at a high level.”

Niagara will enter Championship Weekend well-rested after winning the Eastern Conference with a league-best 13-7 record. Meanwhile, the Shooting Stars have played four games since the River Lions last hit the court.

“It's an advantage because you get to win your way here and then it's a disadvantage because you haven't played against an opponent in 12 or 13 days,” Raso said. “The disadvantage, I guess, is if you're not prepared to play right off the bat – it [could] take you a quarter or however long it takes. But I think we'll be alright.”

Raso says Scarborough is talented and will have their wins throughout the course of the game, but if Niagara plays hard for 40 minutes, then he expects to win. Meanwhile, Exilus is also not underestimating the opponent but has championship aspirations.

“They're a really good team – well balanced and I think they play really hard. We expect a really good game,” Exilus said.

The winner of Friday’s conference final books a trip to the CEBL Championship on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

All games are available for streaming on TSN, TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 per cent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions defeat Honey Badgers 82-72 to claim fourth straight win

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 03:09:57 GMT

By: Dillon White

The Niagara River Lions’ role players stepped up in their final game of the regular season to lead the squad to an 82-72 win over the Brampton Honey Badgers at CAA Centre on Saturday.

It’s the fourth consecutive win for Niagara as they sweep the season series with Brampton. It snapped a two-game winning streak for the Honey Badgers in their final home game this summer.

“I was really proud of the way in the second half, we just got back to our fundamentals,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said. “It seemed like we were playing the basketball we've been playing all year, which is awesome because it means there's a togetherness [with] the group and a standard of how we do things.”

The River Lions and Honey Badgers each had their seeds for the CEBL Playoffs clinched prior to the contest, which resulted in several players receiving rest.

“I think we both were trying to give our guys some extra playing time and get our starters out of there,” Brampton head coach Antoine Broxsie said. “I'm trying to give .. new guys more reps and just work on the game. I'm playing to win, but at the same time, I'm also trying to play to win for the long game.”

Niagara stars Khalil Ahmad, Jahvon Blair and Antonio Davis Jr. all rested on Saturday with Prince Oduro sitting out for Brampton. Christian Vital started the game but played just under five minutes while Koby McEwen played 23 minutes.

However, the supporting cast for both squads stepped up. After stuffing the stat sheet against the Alliance last night, TJ Lall had another impactful outing for the River Lions. The forward tallied a game-high 18 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists and a block.

“I feel like we're all together all the time,” Lall said after the game. “Our defence picked up throughout the season and we're gaining trust with each other.”

Niagara’s Kimbal MacKenzie took over starting point guard duties for Ahmad and filled in admirably. He scored 17 points and dished seven assists to direct the Niagara offence. Sharpshooter Patrick Whelan also contributed off the bench with 14 points on 4-15 shooting while Shawn Occeus chipped in eight points, six rebounds, five steals and the game-winning free throw.

On the other side, Zane Waterman paced the Brampton offence. The well-rounded forward did well in under 20 minutes of action, scoring a team-best 18 points while hauling in eight rebounds. Tyrell Green had the green light off the bench and splashed four threes on his way to 13 points. Meanwhile, Shamiel Stevenson followed up his best performance of the season with 10 points and five rebounds in just under 23 minutes of action.

Both teams struggled offensively on Saturday and shot 36 per cent from the field. The Honey Badgers were 37 per cent from long range and connected on 11 threes while the River Lions shot just 28 per cent from deep.

Turnovers proved to be the biggest difference in the final matchup of the regular season between the two squads. Brampton suffered 23 turnovers – including 13 Niagara steals – and was outscored 32-1 in the points from turnovers battle.

“I feel like we're a fast team. So once we get tips, deflections [and] once we get the rebound, we just get out and run,” Lall said. “It’s a big factor for our team.”

The game began as a defensive battle with neither team reaching 20 points in the first quarter. The Honey Badgers and River Lions traded blows with six lead changes and two ties through the first 10 minutes. To close the quarter, an and-one three from Green and a putback from Patrick Emilien gave Brampton the largest lead to that point at 18-13.

The Honey Badgers continued to roll to start the second quarter. Jahbril Price-Noel and Callum Baker each scored to give Brampton an 11-0 run stretching back to the first. However, the River Lions answered with a 10-0 run of their own to retake the lead at 23-22.

From there, Baker responded immediately to snatch the lead right back. The Honey Badgers controlled the remainder of the quarter, going on a 10-0 run and an 8-0 run to take a double-digit lead. Occeus scored late for Niagara and cut the deficit to 41-31 at halftime.

Brampton dominated the paint in the first half, outrebounding the River Lions 29-18 and outscoring them in the paint 20-6. Niagara struggled offensively in the opening 20 minutes, shooting 26 per cent from the field.

However, MacKenzie picked up the hoop and the harm to kick off the second half for Niagara. The River Lions inched closer several times, but the Honey Badgers held them off for most of the quarter. Niagara finally regained the lead late in the third with free throws from Whelan, but Emilien responded immediately with a three. An unsportsmanlike foul that stemmed from a McEwen screen led to game-tying free throws from Niagara’s Aiden Warnholtz. The teams went into the fourth even at 57.

Green drilled a three to start the final frame, but Occeus was active on both ends and led the River Lions to a quick six points to give them the advantage. Brampton bounced back and a putback three from Green off his own miss gave them a six-point lead. However, Lall led Niagara on a 10-1 run before target time to give the River Lions a 73-70 advantage with a target of 82.

Niagara breezed to a win in target time. MacKenzie dished to Walker in the paint for a finish to start them off, before a long stepback two from Lall put them four points away. Occeus secured the victory with a trifecta on one possession and the game-winning free throw on the next.

The River Lions finish the regular season at 13-7 in first place in the Eastern Conference while the Honey Badgers fall to 8-11 with one game remaining.

Niagara will have almost two weeks off before the Eastern Conference Final in Langley at CEBL Championship Weekend, while Brampton will close the regular season in Scarborough on Monday.

All games are available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 per cent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Streaking River Lions and Honey Badgers collide at CAA Centre

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 13:52:58 GMT

By: Dillon White

In a potential playoff preview, the defending champion Brampton Honey Badgers (-138) will host the Niagara River Lions (+102) in their final home game of the season at CAA Centre at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

The game will be available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

It’s the final game of the regular season for Niagara and the penultimate game for Brampton after their matchup with Scarborough last night was postponed to Monday (July 31). Both teams have their playoff berths and seeds secured heading into Saturday’s clash. They also come into the game on hot streaks with Niagara winning three in a row and Brampton two.

While the Honey Badgers matchup with the Shooting Stars last night was put on hold, the River Lions defeated the Montréal Alliance 98-91 to ensure a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference. As top seed, Niagara books a trip to Vancouver for CEBL Championship Weekend from August 11-13 and earns a bye to the Eastern Conference Final.

Reigning CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad dropped a game-high 33 points and hit his league-best eighth game winner of the season to lead the team to victory over the Alliance. Niagara guard Jahvon Blair was also incredible with 18 points on 6-12 shooting from the field and 5-9 from deep. Meanwhile, forward TJ Lall stuffed the stat sheet with five points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and one steal while finishing with the game’s best plus/minus at 14.

With a win on Saturday, Niagara could close the season with the best record in the league. The River Lions come into the game at 12-7, in a battle with Western foes from Winnipeg (12-7 ) and Calgary (11-8).

Meanwhile, Brampton has the four seed in the East locked up after they eliminated Montréal with a win over Scarborough on Wednesday night. The Honey Badgers will await their opponent in the play-in game, with Ottawa and Scarborough battling for second place in the conference.

Shamiel Stevenson and Christian Vital carried the Honey Badgers to a win over the Shooting Stars earlier in the week. Stevenson played his best game of the season with 28 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and one steal. Meanwhile, Vital tallied 22 points, six rebounds and three steals.

The Honey Badgers will aim to finish the season as a .500 team as they enter Saturday’s game at 8-10. Beyond Vital’s 20.7 points per game, Brampton relies on reigning CEBL Sixth Man of the Year Koby McEwen and big man Prince Oduro.

McEwen has started all 18 games for the Honey Badgers this summer and averages 14.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists on the campaign. Meanwhile, Oduro has stepped up in the absence of paint beast Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. and averages just over eight points and seven rebounds.

On Saturday, Brampton will look to solve Niagara for the first time this season. It’s the third meeting of the month between the two squads, with the River Lions emerging from a home-and-home with the Honey Badgers victorious earlier in July.

At CAA Centre on July 5, a 23-point night from Ahmad and a double-double from EJ Onu led Niagara to a 101-84 win. In the following game at Meridian Centre on July 7, a balanced attack with five players in double-digits fuelled an 87-79 victory for the River Lions.

With a spot in Championship Weekend secured, Niagara head coach Victor Raso was unsure about resting players after Friday’s win. With two games left in the regular season, lineup strategies for Brampton bench boss Antoine Broxsie are unknown as well.

However, there are stakes for each squad’s star point guard on Saturday. Vital and Ahmad are both grappling for the 2023 steals crown. Vital ranks first in the CEBL in both steals per game at 2.5 and total steals at 42 in 17 games played. Ahmad is close behind at 2.4 per game and 39 on the season.

The worst Vital could finish if he plays the final two games and doesn’t record a steal is 2.2 per game while the worst Ahmad could finish is 2.29. Ahmad would match Vital’s current average with three steals on Saturday.

Following the matchup, the River Lions will have almost two weeks off before the Eastern Conference Final in Langley while the Honey Badgers will close the regular season in Scarborough on Monday.

All games are available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 per cent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions earn spot in Eastern Conference Final with 98-91 win over Alliance

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 03:13:30 GMT

By: Dillon White

The Niagara River Lions are headed to Vancouver for CEBL Championship Weekend after a 98-91 win over the Montréal Alliance at Meridian Centre on Friday.

Reigning CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad netted a game-high 33 points and drilled his league-best eighth game winner of the season to lead the team to victory.

The win clinches first place in the Eastern Conference for Niagara with one game to spare. In turn, it also guarantees a spot in the Eastern Conference Final in Vancouver on August 11.

“I thought we would be tight early and I know how good Montréal is. They're a tough basketball team that causes lots of problems,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said. “If you are not really prepared to cover, they're gonna cause problems…I was happy with how resilient we were [and] how we turned up the defensive pressure.”

A timely 11-2 run at the beginning of the fourth quarter helped the River Lions take control of the game as target score time approached. Sharpshooting guard Jahvon Blair was a massive part of that run, dialing long distance three times to give his squad their largest lead of the night. He finished with 18 points on 6-12 shooting from the field and 5-9 from deep.

While Blair was effective from the perimeter, Edward Ekiyor was a force in the paint for Niagara. He scored 14 points on 5-11 shooting while hauling in seven rebounds. Antonio Davis Jr. and Kimbal Mackenzie each hit double-digit points as well with 11 apiece.

TJ Lall struggled from the field for Niagara with five points on 1-8 shooting but excelled everywhere else. He tallied 12 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and one steal while finishing with the game’s best plus/minus at 14.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Hill made history for Montréal in the loss by becoming the first CEBL player to score 1,000 career points. He entered the contest at 996 with former teammate and Scarborough guard Cat Barber close behind at 993. Hill hit the landmark less than a minute into the game and finished with a team-high 26 points in the loss.

Barber will still have a shot at finishing the season as the CEBL’s all-time leader in points. In the final two games of the season, he needs 29 points to tie Hill and 30 points to surpass him.

The Alliance were eliminated from playoff contention prior to the matchup but showed fight throughout. Nathan Cayo capped off a spectacular season with 20 points on 7-16 shooting from the field and 6-7 from three. Treveon Graham chipped in 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Montréal while Christian Rohlehr was rolling off the bench with 11 points.

“We didn't just lay down and get blown out by 20. I just told them we're here to win,” Alliance head coach Derrick Alston Sr. said. “Hill made history tonight. We were trying to get him a win to go on top of that. It didn't work out that way but it was a competitive game.”

Montréal shot a higher percentage from the field and three while winning the rebounding and points in the paint battle. However, they suffered 13 turnovers that led to an advantage in points from turnovers for Niagara at 13-6.

“We compete. Through all the injuries and all people we don't have, we compete,” Alston said. “We gave ourselves a chance to win. I felt we had opportunities in the game where we were winning and we had some control.”

Both teams started the game piping hot. Blair drained a pair of early triples for Niagara, while Hill quickly got the four points he needed to reach 1,000. However, the River Lions slowed on offence after the midway point of the quarter and Montréal took advantage. The Alliance closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 25-14 lead into the second.

The River Lions punched back to begin the following quarter with a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to four points. Montréal’s Kemy Ossé stopped the bleeding with a timely three but Niagara had another run in them before halftime. Ahmad took control of the game with 12 points in the quarter and powered the River Lions to a 14-2 run that gave them a six-point lead. Cayo connected on a much-needed triple to take the game to halftime with Niagara leading 41-38.

In the third quarter, the teams traded scores for almost seven minutes with neither squad stringing together consecutive buckets. The stars showcased their spectacular shotmaking, with Ahmad, Ekiyor, Hill, Graham and Cayo all connecting on tough shots. Montréal finally picked up consecutive field goals and took back the lead, but the River Lions hit back and regained the advantage themselves. They took a 69-64 lead into the fourth.

Niagara began the final frame with an 11-2 run fuelled by three trifectas from Blair. Hill scored eight straight Montréal points to pull closer but Ahmad took the game into target score time with a layup to give the River Lions an 89-79 lead.

Montréal started target time on a 7-2 run but an Ahmad three pulled Niagara closer to an important win. Davis powered home a two-handed slam from the baseline and left the River Lions just a bucket away. Ahmad missed three free throws to win — one intentionally – but curled for a catch-and-shoot mid-range jumper to claim victory in the next possession.

The River Lions improve to 12-7 on the season while Montréal finishes the summer at 7-13. Niagara will close the regular season on the road on Saturday against Brampton at 7:30 p.m. ET.

All games are available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 per cent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

July 28 - Post Game - Khalil Ahmad

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:23:21 GMT

July 28 - Post Game - Victor Raso

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:18:07 GMT

Alliance look to play spoiler as River Lions attempt to secure top spot in East

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:53:20 GMT

By: Dillon White

The Niagara River Lions (-211) will look to book a trip to Vancouver for CEBL Championship Weekend with a win over the Montréal Alliance (+150) at Meridian Centre on Friday at 7 p.m.

The game will be available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

The River Lions need just one win to hold off Ottawa and Scarborough and clinch first place in the Eastern Conference. The one seed has a spot secured in the Eastern Conference Final at Championship Weekend in August.

Niagara enters their penultimate game of the regular season in first place in the conference at 11-7 with an advantage over the second-place BlackJacks at 12-8 and the third-place Shooting Stars at 10-8.

If Niagara loses to Montréal on Friday, it opens a path for both Scarborough and Ottawa to secure first place. The red-hot River Lions would need to lose out for Ottawa to regain the one seed. Meanwhile, for the Shooting Stars to bolt into the top spot, Niagara would have to lose out and Scarborough win out.

The River Lions come into the matchup with the Alliance as winners of two straight games and six of their last seven. Back-to-back wins over Ottawa put them in a prime position for the final stretch of the season ahead of the CEBL Playoffs.

The strong stretch of play can be attributed to Niagara’s offensive exploits. The squad boasts the top offence in the league this season at 91.8 points per game. They shoot 46.5 per cent from the field and 35.9 per cent from long range on 19.8 assists per game – behind only Ottawa in the CEBL ranks. The River Lions also lead the league in free throws made per game.

Reigning CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad is an integral part of Niagara’s high-powered offence. The clutch guard is having another outstanding season in 2023, averaging 18.7 points, 6.2 assists and 2.6 steals. In per-game stats, that leaves him top-10 in the CEBL in points, second in assists and first in steals. He is also tied for first in the league in target score winners with Kadre Gray at seven and has two more games to take the outright lead.

However, the River Lions also feature a supporting cast that can step up at opportune moments. Jahvon Blair has been shooting the lights out this season with 14.8 points per game at a 43 per cent rate from three. Edward Ekiyor and Antonio Davis Jr. also average double-digit points for Niagara.

On the other side, Montréal will look to end their season the same way they started it – with a win over Niagara. The squads have clashed twice this season, splitting the results. The Alliance defeated the River Lions on opening night 84-69. Ahmad hadn’t joined the team yet for Niagara, while Montréal guard Blake Francis was healthy and scored 30 points.

In the following game, Ahmad scored just eight points but the River Lions earned a 100-93 win over the Alliance at home. Blair was fantastic in that win, scoring 26 points and matching Montréal guard Ahmed Hill for a game-high.

Entering Friday’s game, Montreal's hopes of making their first CEBL Playoffs have been dashed. The Brampton Honey Badgers eliminated the Alliance with a win over Scarborough on Wednesday night. On Sunday, Brampton left Montréal’s postseason chances hanging by a thread after defeating them 89-69 at Verdun Auditorium.

However, the Alliance will hope to play spoiler on Friday and win the season series against Niagara. They’ll look to Hill, Nathan Cayo and Treveon Graham to close their season on a high note. Hill is fifth in the league in points per game at 20.1, close behind former Guelph teammate Cat Barber.

Barber and Hill are also in a race to become the first CEBL player to hit the 1,000-point landmark and finish the season as the league’s all-time points leader. Hill enters Friday’s game with 996 points with Barber close behind at 993.

Montréal hits the court 30 minutes before Scarborough on Friday, so Hill has a good chance to become first to hit 1,000 but Barber has an extra game on Sunday to take the overall lead.

Niagara will have one game remaining following Friday’s game against Montréal. The River Lions will close the regular season on the road on Saturday against Brampton at 7:30 p.m. ET.

All games are available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 per cent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Niagara River Lions Return to Local Parks for Second Year of “Mesh Refresh” Initiative

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 19:11:49 GMT

St. Catharines, ON - The Niagara River Lions announced today that their “Mesh Refresh” initiative will be returning to local municipalities across the Niagara Region for its second year. Members of the River Lions team along with representatives from the City of Thorold and City of St. Catharines will visit outdoor basketball courts to install and/or replace mesh basketball netting on July 26th and 27th.

“Our team is excited to re-launch this initiative for the second summer in a row,” said Michelle Biskup, Vice President of Operations for the River Lions. “Replacing or adding a mesh on a basketball rim is such a small task, yet it makes a big difference, so we are proud to dedicate time towards enhancing the playing experience at parks across the Region.”

As Canadian basketball continues to grow, the River Lions recognize the importance of giving back to the community and providing opportunities for youth to engage with the sport. Since many of the selected parks currently have no mesh on the rim, installing or replacing mesh will improve the overall playing experience. The "Mesh Refresh" initiative aligns with the team's commitment to fostering a vibrant basketball culture, ensuring accessible and quality playing environments for athletes, and encouraging the growth of basketball at all levels.

Each municipality's Parks and Recreation Department assisted in identifying which parks would receive the new Spalding meshes. Local residents are encouraged to come out and join River Lions players at the following parks on the specified date and times*:

Thorold - July 26th

1:00pm - South Confederation Park - 159 Confederation Avenue, Thorold, ON

1:45pm - Village of Beaverdams Village Park - Kaye Ave, Thorold, ON

“On behalf of City Council, I’d like to thank the Niagara River Lions for generously donating new mesh basketball netting at South Confederation Park and Beaverdams Village Park in the City of Thorold. Partnerships like this play a crucial role in strengthening and enhancing our Community. We hope to inspire our youth and residents of all ages to show off their basketball skills and help break in the new nets!” - Mayor Terry Ugulini

St. Catharines - July 27th

2:00pm - Barley Drive Park - 10 Barley Dr, St. Catharines, ON

2:30pm - Glengarry Park - 63 Glengarry Rd, St. Catharines, ON

3:00pm - Partridge Park - 22 Rockcliffe Rd, St. Catharines, ON

“The City of St. Catharines welcomes partnerships that enhance our recreational facilities for the benefit of our community. This partnership with the River Lions is a fantastic opportunity to spruce up the nets at Barley Drive Park, Glengarry Park and Partridge Park, while at the same time inspiring the youth in our community to get active and improve their basketball skills.” - Mayor Mat Siscoe, City of St. Catharines

*Please note times are approximate.

###

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup, Vice President, Operations

mbiskup@riverlions.ca

Niagara River Lions sweep home-and-home set against Ottawa BlackJacks with 97-82 win

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 00:29:58 GMT

By Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh)

Khalil Ahmad’s 29-point performance led the Niagara River Lions (11-7) to their second consecutive win over the Ottawa BlackJacks (12-7) in a 97-82 victory on Sunday afternoon.

The reigning league MVP finished the game with 29 points, six assists, and two steals, doing so on 69 per cent shooting from the field and 6-10 from distance. After finishing with just 10 points in their last game against Ottawa on Thursday, it felt clear to BlackJacks head coach James Derouin that Ahmad came into this one with a point to prove.

“He’s the league’s MVP and showed why tonight,” said Derouin post-game. “Good players like Khalil remember the last game…and he wanted to prove he’s one of the best, if not the best, player in the league…it was his night tonight.”

Ahmad’s backcourt mate Jahvon Henry-Blair was the team’s next best scorer as he put up 18 points, knocking down four triples along the way. Meanwhile Eddie Ekiyor added in a double-double performance with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Alonzo Walker had his best game of the year with a season-high 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Ottawa was led by Kadre Gray and his 21 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, on better than 60 per cent shooting from the field and distance. Jackson Rowe was the team’s next best contributor as he added 19 points and seven rebounds. Meanwhile MVP hopeful Deng Adel had one of his quietest outings all season, as he put up nine points on 3-11 shooting from the field, failing to reach the double-digit points mark for just the third time this year.

Niagara’s backcourt duo of Henry-Blair and Ahmad landed the first punch in this battle of Eastern Conference heavyweights, as the pairing scored the River Lions first 19 points in the game.

Henry-Blair put up eight points, while Ahmad had 11 on a perfect 4-4 shooting from the field. The two guards combined to score more points than Ottawa’s entire starting lineup throughout the first quarter, and their strong play helped Niagara go up by as many as 14 points throughout the frame.

However, with danger of the game slipping away early, BlackJacks head coach James Derouin wisely called a timeout to steady his team, and it seemed to work. Ottawa came out of the huddle and finished the quarter by going on a 7-0 as they cut the deficit down to 27-20 headed into the second.

Ahmad was on the bench getting a well-earned rest for much of that quarter-ending BlackJacks run, and as soon as he checked back in, the guard scored nine points, sparking a 13-4 run that gave Niagara their double-digit lead back. He averaged 33 per cent from beyond the arch entering the contest but seemed to forget that as he went 5-6 on triples throughout the first half, finishing the quarter with a game-high 20 points.

The BlackJacks came into the game as the league’s strongest three-point shooting team (38.9 per cent), but the River Lions were the squad making it look easy from downtown through two quarters of play. Niagara knocked down eight triples as a team, doing so on a stellar 57 per cent clip. More impressive than their ability to make shots, it was their effort to deter shots by Ottawa.

“They know we’re looking for the threes,” said Derouin on his team making only six threes today. “They dominated us defensively…we not only made less threes than usual, but we also couldn’t even take as many as we usually do.”

Ottawa however had yet another response to the herculean effort of Ahmad as they ended the quarter by going on a 14-5 run to make it a seven-point game, down 50-43 at halftime.

After a quiet first-half with eight first-half points, Rowe took over for the BlackJacks in the third as he tried to lead his team back into the game. He scored eight of the team’s first 10 points in the quarter, but Ottawa’s struggle containing Niagara’s lead-guard continued to cost them.

Ahmad scored seven more points in the third as he helped Niagara to yet another big run, this time 9-2, as the River Lions went into the fourth with a 74-57 lead, the biggest margin of the game until then.

Niagara didn’t slow down through the final frame, outscoring Ottawa by five points in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 87-65 headed into Target Score Time.

The BlackJacks, facing a 22-point deficit, showed why they owned the league’s top record coming into the game, as they went on a 9-2 run to try and get back into the game. Unfortunately for Ottawa fans, the effort came a bit too late as the gap was too large to overcome.

Antonio Davis Jr. scored five of his eight points on the night, in Target Time, including the game-winning jumper from the right wing to end the contest, 97-82 the final.

With the victory the River Lions finish the regular season 3-1 versus the BlackJacks and have also broken a tie with the Scarborough Shooting Stars for sole possession of second place in the East. Niagara now has two games remaining in their 2023 campaign before the post-season and will return to action on July 28 when they’ll be hosting the Montréal Alliance.

“It’s the biggest week of the season,” said River Lions head coach Victor Raso on his team’s mentality going into their next game. “This next Monday through Thursday has to be our best Monday through Thursday all year.”

Ottawa has now lost back-to-back games for the first time since June 22, and have one game remaining in their regular season schedule. They’ll hope to head into the CEBL playoffs with a win and some momentum as they’ll be hosting the Vancouver Bandits on July 27 from TD Place.

“There’s a lot at stake still,” said BlackJacks head coach James Derouin.

“After winning eight in a row, we’ve lost two straight [games], so we want to finish with a win against Vancouver at home…we definitely want to get a win heading into that potential first playoff game.”

All games are available on TSN+ and CEBL + powered by BetVictor . Recap written by Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh).

A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 71 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball. The CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us (@cebleague) on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

BlackJacks looking for payback against River Lions in final regular season matchup

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 14:11:19 GMT

By Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh)

Eastern Conference heavy weights face-off in the second game of a home-and-home set as the Ottawa BlackJacks (-115) head to the Meridian Centre to take on the Niagara River (-118) Lions at 3:00 pm ET on Sunday afternoon.

The game will be available for streaming live on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

This will be the fourth and final contest this regular season between Ottawa (12-6) and Niagara (10-7), with the series currently favouring the River Lions 2-1.

For the BlackJacks, the 89-87 loss to the River Lions three days ago snapped their franchise-record eight-game win streak. It was the first time in a while that Ottawa looked vulnerable as Niagara’s defence seemed to be all over them. The BlackJacks entered the night as the league’s best three-point shooting team (38.9 per cent) but were limited to just nine makes on a 28 per cent clip.

Ottawa’s leaders, Deng Adel and Kadre Gray had solid scoring nights with 24 and 18 points respectively, but the duo gave a lot of that back with their nine combined turnovers. It seemed like the BlackJacks had figured out their giveaway problems from earlier in the season, averaging just 14.5 during their eight-game win streak, but on Thursday night they committed 20 turnovers.

Niagara’s stifling defence earned them a +15 edge on points off giveaways and should be recognized for the problems they’ve caused Ottawa all season. Through three games so far, they’ve forced 18.7 turnovers by the BlackJacks, well above their season average of 15.9 a contest.

The win was even more impressive for the River Lions considering their scoring leader had his second-lowest offensive performance of the season. Khalil Ahmad put up just 10 points on 2-11 shooting from the field and 0-4 from beyond the arch. Despite the reigning regular season MVP’s struggles, Niagara found contributions elsewhere to come out victorious.

When asked post-game about the other contributions from the River Lions that caused the BlackJacks problems, Ottawa head coach James Derouin immediately spoke about Antonio Davis Jr. and Eddie Ekiyor.

Davis put up a season-high 21 points while grabbing nine rebounds in a near double-double performance, while Ekiyor had a similar night with 18 points and eight boards.

Niagara entered the game as the league’s weakest rebounding team, averaging 36 boards a night, but managed to keep pace with Ottawa by grabbing 43, largely thanks to the duo of Davis Jr. and Ekiyor. According to Adel, the River Lions energy attacking the glass certainly played a role in Thursday night’s outcome and something Ottawa needs to match today.

“It’s a physical game,” Adel said. “You have to have that type of energy…especially do a good job of crashing the glass, so it’s trying to match that, getting stops and out and running.”

Despite the loss, there were positives for Ottawa to take away from the game. Outside of Adel and Gray, Thomas Scrubb had a strong outing as the team’s second-leading scorer with his season-high 19 points and nine rebounds. His near double-double performance was joined by Gray who along with his 18 points added in eight assists as well. The league’s assists leader (6.7 APG) continues to lead the CEBL’s best passing offence, with Ottawa averaging 20.3 dimes a night.

Despite both teams having punched their tickets to this year’s playoffs, the two squads still have lots to play for. Because the River Lions came out with a win over the BlackJacks on Thursday, they’re still in contention for the number one seed in the East. Both teams will be fighting for the top spot in the conference, trying to earn that all-important bye into Championship Weekend.

Full conference standings can be found here .

All games will also be streamed live internationally on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, and on the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Full list of betting props available on BetVictor . Preview written by Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh).

July 23 - Post Game - Khalil Ahmad

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 14:07:07 GMT

NIAGARA RIVER LIONS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH WITH 89-87 VICTORY OVER OTTAWA BLACKJACKS

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 03:22:10 GMT

Written by Josh Kozelj

Khalil Ahmad punched the Niagara River Lions’ (10-7) ticket to the CEBL playoffs with the game-winner in a 89-87 victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks (12-6) at TD Place.

Ahmad, who shot 1-11 from the field entering the River Lions final possession, had a chance to end the game—with both teams one point away from victory in target score time—after Ottawa’s Matt Coleman III bobbled a pass on the other side of the court.

Following the turnover, the reigning CEBL MVP escaped multiple defenders and got a high-arching scoop layup to fall to snap Ottawa’s eight game win streak.

Ahmad finished with 10 points, six of which came from the free throw line, and six assists.

“We knew it was going to be a dog fight,” River Lions forward AJ Davis said after the game. “All the respect to Ottawa, they’re a great team, we’re also a great team, so it’s two top dogs fighting it out in the east.”

Davis finished with a team-high 21 points and nine rebounds.

The victory also moved the River Lions to one and a half games behind the eastern conference-leading BlackJacks, who currently hold the conference’s automatic ticket to Championship Weekend by virtue of sitting in first place.

“It was massive,” Niagara head coach Vic Raso said of his team’s win. “If we lose tonight we have no chance of getting the first seed… This is a big win for this group tonight.”

Ottawa’s Deng Adel led all scorers with 24 points. He also collected six rebounds and four assists, but had five of the 20 BlackJack turnovers on the night—which proved costly in the loss.

Niagara scored 24 points off those 20 turnovers. And although the River Lions also had issues holding onto the ball—recording 16 giveaways of their own—Ottawa managed only nine points from turnovers.

The game started with both teams refusing to give an inch on defence.

The River Lions and BlackJacks shot a combined 3-15 from three point range in the first quarter, as Eddie Ekiyor—who finished with 18 points and eight rebounds—scored five points in the frame to give Niagara a one-point edge. Adel countered with six of his 24 points in the quarter, while Patrick Whelan chipped in with six points and four rebounds off the bench.

While Niagara struggled to get shots to drop, their hustle on the glass helped provide ample second chance opportunities.

“We started off missing shots,” Davis said. “Offensive rebounds got us more looks and brought us some energy throughout the game.”

Ekiyor nabbed three offensive rebounds in the game, and the River Lions turned 16 offensive boards into 15 second chance points.

“We got to find an answer for Eddie and AJ Davis,” Ottawa head coach James Derouin said. “I thought those two guys dominated the paint.”

Adel added that Niagara’s ability to rebound played a major factor in the game tonight.

“It’s a physical game, you have to have that type of energy. [The River Lions] especially do a good job of crashing the glass, so it’s trying to match that, getting stops and out and running,” he said.

Heading into the second, Jackson Rowe finally got on the scoreboard with a three pointer two minutes into the frame. Rowe, who is averaging over 15 points per game this season, finished with a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Seven of his 10 points, however, came in target score time.

Adel found success by stretching the floor, scoring back to back layups in transition, and pushed the BlackJacks ahead in the quarter. But nine points from Jahvon Henry-Blair made it a 46-40 game at the half.

Following the break, Kadre Gray knocked down three three pointers in the beginning of the quarter to give the BlackJacks a 10-point lead. Gray finished with 18 points and made four of his eight three point attempts.

But Niagara did not go away.

Davis scored seven of his 21 points in the quarter, and the River Lions ended the quarter on a 10-2 run to climb within one point entering the fourth. And in the final frame, Niagara scored four quick points to force an Ottawa timeout.

The River Lions then took a 79-76 lead entering target score, and traded blows with the BlackJacks before Ahmad ended the game with a scoop layup.

With the win, Niagara earned their second victory in three games over the BlackJacks this season.

Ottawa and Niagara will have two days off to rest before squaring off for the fourth and final time in the regular season on Sunday at the Meridian Centre.

Full broadcast schedule of CEBL Games of the Week on TSN can be found here . All games will also be streamed live internationally on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, and on the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

OTTAWA BLACKJACKS HOST NIAGARA RIVER LIONS IN FIRST OF HOME-AND-HOME SERIES

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 14:19:10 GMT

Written by Josh Kozelj

The top two teams in the eastern conference are set to open a home-and-home series tonight in Ottawa, as the league-leading BlackJacks (12-5) (-125) host the Niagara River Lions (9-7) (-110) at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The game will also be available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

Both teams come into tonight’s game riding extended hot streaks.

Ottawa, powered by an eight-game win streak, has not lost in nearly one month and clinched a spot in the CEBL playoffs last week. Niagara, despite losing their last contest in Scarborough, has won four out of their past five games to sit in second place in the east and 2.5 games behind the BlackJacks.

However, after a 83-80 Scarborough win in Montréal last night, the Shooting Stars moved into a tie with Niagara for second place.

The balance of power in the east—and an automatic spot to Championship Weekend in Vancouver—could shift in the next two games between these two clubs.

The River Lions have one game in hand over the BlackJacks, and if they sweep the home-and-home, will be only a half game back of Ottawa entering the final week of the regular season. If they falter, though, they risk falling behind Scarborough in the conference and into the east’s play-in tournament.

Jackson Rowe led all scorers in Ottawa’s last game with 26 points on 10-15 shooting from the field. The 6’7” forward from Toronto, averaging 15 points and 6 boards per game, also knocked down 5 of his 9 three point attempts in his best scoring output of the season.

Rowe also recorded 26 points in a game against the Bandits on July 9. He hasn’t scored less than double figures since June 22, which was the last time Ottawa lost.

Outside of Rowe, expect Deng Adel and Kadre Gray to shoulder the offensive load. Adel ranks ninth in the CEBL in points per game with 16.7, and Gray’s 6.6 assists per contest lead the league.

The BlackJacks will be tasked with slowing down reigning CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad.

Ahmad has followed up his MVP campaign by averaging over 18 points and 6 assists through 13 games this season. Ahmad is also racking up a league-best 2.7 steals per game. In his team’s last outing, a six-point loss to the Scarborough Shooting Stars, Ahmad had three steals to go with 15 points and 12 assists.

Eddie Ekiyor was also another bright spot for the River Lions in the loss, putting up 16 points and 8 rebounds on 66 per cent shooting.

Both Niagara and Ottawa bring efficient offences into tonight’s game. As a team, the River Lions (91.7) and BlackJacks (88.8) are ranked first and third respectively in the CEBL in points scored per game.

The two teams have similar stats in shooting beyond and inside the arch, however, Niagara has been getting to the free throw line 22.8 times per game—the second highest rate in the league—and are converting nearly 17 shots from the charity stripe. Ottawa is averaging a little over 12 free throws on 17 attempts per game.

Niagara’s ability to draw fouls can largely be credited by Ahmad, who has a quick first step and knack at drawing fouls at the hoop. Ahmad is shooting over 83 per cent from the line and has had 14 free throw attempts (converting 12 of those shots) in his last two games.

In their last meeting, on June 17, Niagara edged Ottawa 93-82 at TD Place. Both Ahmad and Rowe led their teams with 19 points each, but the River Lions had a 10 point edge on points scored in the paint.

After tonight’s game, the River Lions and BlackJacks will square off for the final time in the regular season on July 23 at the Meridian Centre.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Barber’s 28 points and return of Isiaha Mike powers Shooting Stars to 90-84 win over River Lions

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 02:43:24 GMT

By: Dillon White

Cat Barber bounced back with 28 points to help the Scarborough Shooting Stars snap a two-game losing streak and defeat the Niagara River Lions 90-84 on Sunday at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

After scoring just one point last weekend against Niagara, Barber returned to form in a crucial game for both teams. He went 9-24 from the field, 4-11 from three, 6-8 from the free throw line and secured the victory with the winning bucket. The CEBL MVP candidate added five rebounds and five assists to his stat line.

“When [target score] comes, it’s my time,” Barber said post-game. “[My teammates] bank on me to make that winning play and that's what I did tonight.”

The River Lions mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter and it appeared they could lead heading into target score time, but Kassius Robertson ignited for Scarborough with a trio of clutch threes. Robertson finished the game with 18 points on 6-17 shooting, with 11 points coming in the fourth quarter.

“We've been through a lot of battles throughout the season so everybody felt comfortable and understands this is a game of runs, so we felt pretty good going down the stretch,” Scarborough head coach Chris Exilus said.

The Shooting Stars also received a stellar performance from Isiaha Mike in his 2023 debut after a spectacular run to the championship game with the squad last summer. Mike netted 16 points off the bench on 6-8 shooting from the field and 2-2 from three to go along with four assists and four rebounds.

Meanwhile, the River Lions came into the game shorthanded. Without EJ Onu and Lloyd Pandi, Edward Ekiyor got the start for Niagara and led the team in scoring with 16 points. Reigning CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad finished the game with 15 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and three steals after struggling in the first half. Regular starters Antonio Davis Jr. and Jahvon Blair added 13 points and 10 points respectively.

“It was an interesting [game] because we had to figure it out as a new group … I thought we played pretty hard,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said. “We’ve got to build some chemistry now because we're a bit of a different team.”

Three-point shooting emerged as a major difference in Sunday’s contest. Scarborough buried 15 threes at a 44 per cent rate while Niagara struggled from beyond the arc in the loss, connecting on just seven at 23 per cent. However, the River Lions won the paint battle by outscoring the Shooting Stars 42-28.

The game opened with a high-scoring quarter that saw both offences flowing freely. Barber scored more in the first quarter than the previous two games combined with 12 points for Scarborough. However, a late triple from TJ Lall gave Niagara a 24-23 edge after 10 minutes.

The nature of the game shifted from offence to defence in the second quarter. Neither team reached 20 points in the second with field goals hard to come by. The Shooting Stars went on an 8-0 run late in the half to take a five-point lead and forced a Raso timeout. However, a strange tip-in for Niagara took the game to halftime with the River Lions down 40-37.

Niagara shot just 16 per cent from long range after 20 minutes in a half that witnessed eight lead changes. The Shooting Stars shut down Ahmad in the first half, leaving him scoreless.

However, Ahmad got his first bucket of the night early in the third quarter on the low block. Davis hit a three for Niagara to tie the game, but Scarborough controlled the quarter from there. The Mike and Myck connection led to a three for Kabongo, followed by a huge stepback three from Isiaha Mike to give Scarborough a 10-point lead. Blair drilled a much-needed trifecta for the River Lions before another big bucket for Mike closed the quarter with Scarborough ahead 65-58.

To start the fourth quarter, Ahmad spun for a layup and knocked down a three from the wing to force an Exilus timeout. A transition layup tied the game at 65 and the River Lions stayed hot with a 12-1 run to take a five-point lead shortly before the whistle to enter target score time. However, Robertson caught fire with three straight triples to give the Shooting Stars a four-point lead.

The chaos continued with a Shawn Occeus three for Niagara to cut it back to one, a reverse from Djuricic, an alley-oop to Mike and a deep ball to Ahmad. Barber finally took the game to target time with a pair of free throws that gave Scarbrough an 81-76 advantage.

Barber scored five points in target time to power the Shooting Stars to victory, including the game-winning layup. Scarborough improves their record to 8-7 on the season while Niagara drops to 9-7.

Following Sunday’s game, the Shooting Stars face the Alliance in a home-and-home. The first matchup is slated for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Verdun Auditorium.

Meanwhile, the River Lions have a crucial home-and-home on the horizon against Ottawa, starting with a visit to TD Place on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

All games are available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 per cent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

RIVER LIONS WELCOME BACK AMERICAN FORWARD SHAWN OCCEUS

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 19:13:33 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’4 American forward, Shawn Occeus presented by YOUR Legal Services . The 25-year-old from Boca Raton, Florida will join the team for tonight’s game versus the Scarborough Shooting Stars at 7:00pm at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. Occeus most recently played his third season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League.

In three seasons with the Vipers, Occeus averaged 3.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 16.3 minutes per game. Occeus also spent one season overseas with Pheonix Hagen of the German ProA League during the 2021-22 season, where he averaged 30 minutes a game scoring 13.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.03 steals.

Occeus played 4 games with the River Lions during the 2022 season averaging 4.5 points, 1.5 steals and 1 rebound in 15.5 minutes per game.

Occeus spent his college basketball career at Northeastern University where he averaged 8.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals over three seasons. In 2018 he was named as the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Defensive Player of the Year, as well as being named to the CAA All-Defensive Team and CAA All-Tournament Team. That same year Occeus finished as the team’s second leading scorer and made a team and conference high 64 steals.

Occeus was selected by the Salt Lake City Stars with the seventh pick in the second round of the 2019 NBA G League draft, and later went on to sign his first professional contract with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. The River Lions are currently 9-6 on the season with just two more regular season home gamesin July. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

###

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup, Vice President, Operations

River Lions pursue fifth straight win in clash with Shooting Stars

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 14:13:25 GMT

By: Dillon White

The Scarborough Shooting Stars (+105) host the Niagara River Lions (-143) on Sunday at 7 p.m at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in a game rife with playoff implications.

The game will be available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

Niagara and Scarborough are grappling for control of second place in the Eastern Conference as they chase the first-place Ottawa BlackJacks for a chance at a bye to CEBL Championship Weekend in August.

The Shooting Stars are coming into the third and final meeting of the regular season with Niagara on a two-game losing streak. After they were defeated by Niagara last weekend, they lost 88-79 to the streaking BlackJacks on Friday night (July 14). Scarborough is 7-7 on the season with a 1.5-game advantage over both Montreal in fourth and Brampton in fifth — each with 6-9 records.

Meanwhile, the River Lions enter Sunday’s contest on a four-game winning streak. They sit in second place in the Eastern Conference, 1.5 games ahead of the third-place Shooting Stars. Niagara boasts a 9-6 record with five games remaining in the season — all against Eastern Conference teams. That includes an important home-and-home against the red-hot BlackJacks starting on Thursday (July 20).

With a win over Scarborough last Sunday and another in June, the River Lions hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Shooting Stars should the teams end the season with identical records.

Last Sunday, a dominant fourth quarter from the River Lions led them to a 98-89 victory over the Shooting Stars. Khalil Ahmad netted a game-high 31 points and eight assists to steer Niagara’s offence, while EJ Onu added 15 points, seven rebounds and a block. David Muenkat tallied a team-high 21 points for Scarborough to go along with nine rebounds while Kyree Walker stepped up with 17 points and four steals.

Shooting Stars’ guard Cat Barber had a game to forget last Sunday. He finished 0-10 from the field with just one point in almost 30 minutes of action. On Friday night against Ottawa, Barber followed up the one-point performance with 10 points on 4-11 shooting with four assists and four turnovers.

He’ll look to return to form in a crucial game tonight. Barber ranks third in the CEBL in points per game at 21, ninth in assists and third in steals. He’s emerged as an MVP candidate through almost three-quarters of the season but will have the reigning MVP Khalil Ahmad to contend with on Sunday.

Ahmad has been outstanding in 2023 for the River Lions. He’s just outside the top five in points per game at 18.8, fourth in assists at 5.8 and first in steals at 2.7. The River Lions also feature the league leader in blocks with Onu, the reigning CEBL Defensive Player of the Year.

In addition to defensive playmakers, the River Lions also flaunt the highest-scoring offence in the CEBL this season. Niagara leads the league in points per game at 92.2, two-point percentage at 52 and free throws made at 17, while ranking top-five in field goal percentage, three-point percentage and assists.

Jahvon Blair is a major part of Niagara’s attack, forming one of the best backcourt duos in the league with Ahmad. The Canadian guard is averaging 15.1 points on 39.8 per cent shooting from the field and 46 per cent from three. He’s started every game this season for the River Lions along with Lloyd Pandi and Antonio Davis Jr.

On the other side, Scarborough’s defence has been among the toughest in the CEBL this season. They’re third in points against (low to high) at 85.3 – just a tenth of a point more than their sixth-ranked 85.2 points per game. Despite a point differential of just -1 this season, the majority of the Shooting Stars’ games haven’t been close. In 14 games so far, they’ve had five games decided by five points or less, seven by 10 points or more and their last two losses by nine points.

Outside of Barber, the Shooting Stars rely on a variety of players to contribute. In eight games with the team, Kyree Walker is averaging 13.9 points to go along with 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals. David Walker averages just over 10 points as well, while Kassius Robertson, David Muenkat and Kalif Young round out a capable supporting cast.

Following Sunday’s game, the Shooting Stars face the Alliance in a home-and-home. The first matchup is slated for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Verdun Auditorium.

Meanwhile, the River Lions have a crucial home-and-home on the horizon against Ottawa, starting with a visit to TD Place on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

All games are available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 per cent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

GAME-WINNING SLAM SENDS RIVER LIONS TO FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN AND 98-89 WIN OVER SHOOTING STARS

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:40:58 GMT

Written by Josh Kozelj

An emphatic right-handed slam dunk by T.J. Lall in target score time lifted the Niagara River Lions (9-6) to a 98-89 victory over the Scarborough Shooting Stars (7-6) at the Meridian Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Leading by seven, and one point away from victory, a half-court bounce pass from Khalil Ahmad set up a flying Lall to end a back-and-forth affair between two eastern conference heavyweights.

“I saw the defender coming and I just wanted to end the game,” Lall said after the game. “So I went [to the hoop] as hard as I could.”

The win also increased Niagara’s win streak to four and placed them one half game behind the eastern conference-leading Ottawa BlackJacks, who will play tonight in Vancouver at 10:00 pm ET.

Ahmad finished with a game-high 31 points, 8 assists, and 2 steals. He also shot 68 per cent from the field and 8-9 from the free throw line.

He credited Lall for being aggressive and getting to the hoop in the final play in target score.

“He’s fast, I trust my dog to throw it and he made it happen,” Ahmad said.

Scarborough came into today’s game as winners of two straight and six of their last seven contests. The Shooting Stars, who last played on June 29, had a 10-day break after dispatching Edmonton at the end of June, but didn’t show any signs of rust from the opening tip.

The Shooting Stars recorded 12 boards and 7 offensive rebounds in the first five minutes to take an early lead.

“We send a few different guys to the glass every time, we force the issue with that and we have size in a lot of different positions,” said Kalif Young, who recorded 14 points and 5 offensive rebounds.

As a team, Scarborough finished with 23 offensive rebounds.

Niagara, however, fueled by a 5-0 run by Ahmad, took a seven-point lead with one minute to go in the first.

“He’s good, he’s a gamer, he’s competitive,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said. “He takes what the defence gives him, today he was passing the ball well and rebounded well. Khalil is the MVP for a reason.”

But Scarborough would use three straight three pointers in the final 46 seconds—highlighted by a buzzer-beating three by Kassius Robertson off the glass—to take a 21-20 lead after one. Scarborough converted 11 of 29 three pointers on the afternoon today.

Robertson finished with 17 points and three threes. David Muenkat led all Scarborough scorers with 21 points and 9 rebounds, as Cat Barber struggled with foul trouble.

Barber, who came into today’s game averaging 23.6 points per game (third best in the CEBL), recorded only 1 point on 0-10 shooting from the field. However, the Shooting Stars had four starters score 14 points or more, and David Walker chipped in with 11 off the bench.

“We’re a resilient team and guys stepped up,” Scarborough head coach Chris Exilus said. “This is a good team we played and we put ourselves in a position to win the game.”

In the second, both team’s traded baskets and refused to let either squad get too far ahead.

Ahmad, who scored 9 of his 31 points in the second, was fouled on a lay-up at the hoop and converted the free throw to cap off an 8-2 run. But Kyree Walker, who finished with 17 points and a perfect 3-3 from three, countered with 7 in the quarter to make it a 45-43 Niagara lead at half.

After the break, Niagara started to edge ahead. The River Lions led by nine points at point, buoyed by seven third quarter points from Jahvon Henry-Blair.

But as soon as the River Lions tried to pull away, Scarborough responded with an 11-3 run to keep themselves in the game.

Towards the end of the frame, Ahmad was fouled on an euro-step layup and converted his second and-one of the game. That layup helped Niagara extend their lead to six, however, Scarborough responded to take a two-point lead entering the fourth.

A five-point possession was a major turning point in the final quarter. Ahmad drew an unsportsmanlike foul and knocked down a pair of free throws. And after inbounding the ball on the same possession, as a result of the foul, Blair drilled a three to put Niagara up by 5.

Ahmad also drew Barber’s fourth personal of the game on a three-point attempt in the quarter, and Niagara led 88-85 entering target score time.

Niagara then went on a 6-1 run, before Ahmad sunk another layup and set up Lall to end the game.

Niagara will return to the court on July 16, when they travel to Scarborough and look to sweep the regular season series against the Shooting Stars.

Scarborough, meanwhile, will look to get back on track on Friday against the Ottawa BlackJacks at the Toronto Pan Am Centre.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

NIAGARA RIVER LIONS HOST SCARBOROUGH SHOOTING STARS IN EASTERN CONFERENCE CLASH

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 15:25:51 GMT

Written by Josh Kozelj

Jockeying for playoff positioning in the eastern conference is going to heat up as the Niagara River Lions (8-6) (-125) host the Scarborough Shooting Stars (7-5) (-110) at the Meridian Centre at 3:00 pm ET.

The game will also be available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

Both teams come into today’s game one game behind the eastern conference leading-Ottawa BlackJacks. But Scarborough edges out Niagara for second place in the conference based off win percentage.

After dropping a pair of games at the end of June, Niagara has responded with three straight victories—including back-to-back wins over the Brampton Honey Badgers this week.

“All three games have been team wins,” Eddie Ekiyor said after Niagara’s latest win on Friday night. “I bring as much energy as I can, but in terms of the success we’ve had, that’s definitely coming from all of us following the fundamentals we’ve been ingraining all season.”

Ekiyor scored a team-high 18 points, as the River Lions overcame a 26 point outburst from Christian Vital on Friday night.

As a team, Niagara is leading the CEBL in points per game (91.8), and second in the league in field goal percentage (47.2 per cent) and three pointers made per game (10.3). Khalil Ahmad is leading the charge for the team on offence, recording nearly 18 points per game, while EJ Onu is leading the league in blocks per game with over two per contest.

Scarborough, meanwhile, comes into today as winners of two consecutive games but have not played since June 29, when they edged the Edmonton Stingers 91-89 in the second half of a back-to-back Alberta road trip. The Shooting Stars defeated Calgary on June 28.

On offence, Cat Barber—who is third in league scoring at 23.6 points per game—is expected to go head to head with a Niagara backcourt that features the reigning CEBL MVP Ahmad and Jahvon Henry-Blair who is averaging 15.4 points through 14 games this season.

Scarborough also boasts two players in the top 10 in steals (Barber and Thomas Kennedy) and blocks (Kennedy and David Walker). The Shooting Stars are averaging the most steals per game at a hair over 10.

These two teams last met on June 8. And led by a combined 48 points by Henry Blair, Ahmad, and Ekiyor, the River Lions held Barber to 38 per cent shooting and 13 points and knocked off Scarborough 99-81.

With a win, both Scarborough and Niagara could climb closer to the BlackJacks, who are playing in Vancouver tonight.

After tonight, Niagara will have one week off before squaring off against the Shooting Stars in Scarborough on July 16. Scarborough will return home for the first of a two-game home stand with a date against the Ottawa BlackJacks on July 14.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

July 9 - Post Game - Victor Raso

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 14:03:42 GMT

Niagara River Lions survive late rally by Brampton Honey Badgers in 87-79 win

Sat, 08 Jul 2023 02:50:17 GMT

By Zulfi Sheikh

The Niagara River Lions (8-6) swept a home-and-home set against the Brampton Honey Badgers – despite nearly blowing a 27-point lead – in an 87-79 victory, making it three straight wins for the squad on Friday night.

It was a total team effort for the River Lions to win their third consecutive game, as six players scored in double figures. It was Eddie Ekiyor that led the way with his 18 points on the night, going an efficient 6-11 from the field. The forward was inserted into the starting lineup three games ago and since the move by Niagara head coach Victor Raso, the team has yet to lose.

“All three games have been team wins,” Ekiyor said post-game. “I bring as much energy as I can, but in terms of the success we’ve had, that’s definitely coming from all of us following the fundamentals we’ve been ingraining all season.”

The forward’s description of tonight's victory being a team win was appropriate considering they had six players score in double figures. Lloyd Pandi and Khalil Ahmad were the team’s next highest scorers, putting up 14 points each. Meanwhile Jahvon Henry-Blair and Antonio Davis Jr. rounded out the starters, along with Patrick Whelan off the pine, all of whom chipped in with 10 points a piece.

On the other side it was Christian Vital once again taking charge for the Honey Badgers by way of his game-high 26 points, and six rebounds. The guard made ten shots from the field in the contest and was a catalyst in the comeback effort as a third of his points came in the fourth quarter.

Despite the loss, with his 11 points and three assists, it was still a milestone night for Brampton’s Koby McEwen. He set two franchise records by passing Caleb Agada’s mark of 122 assists early in the game when he set up Prince Oduro for two of his 13 points on the night. He then followed that up by setting the franchise record for free throws made, passing Lindell Wigginton when he knocked down two shots from the line in Target Score Time.

Before the game tipped-off Niagara head coach Raso attributed much of his team’s recent success to their improvements rebounding the ball. The River Lions currently average a league-low 36.4 rebounds per game, but over their two-game win streak leading into tonight the squad has grabbed 44 and 40 respectively.

That success on the glass found its way into this contest as well as Niagara made their presence felt early on. The team grabbed 13 rebounds in the first quarter, three of which came on the offensive end, giving the squad a +6 edge on second chance points.

The result of that work was five extra possessions from the field as they used those shots to spark an 8-2 run and finish the frame up 24-12 over the Honey Badgers.

Ball security was a point of emphasis for Brampton entering this contest as they had been committing around 18 a game throughout their three-game losing skid, well above their previous season average of 14 a night. However, despite their efforts to limit those mistakes, the Honey Badgers’ struggles holding onto the ball crept into this one throughout as they gave the ball away eight times in the second quarter, giving Niagara a 12-0 advantage on points off turnovers.

Needless to say, the River Lions’ lead grew even larger as a result as the two teams went into the break, with Niagara doubling Brampton’s scoring output in the frame as they took a 43-20 lead into half-time.

After being down as many as 27 points throughout the third quarter, the defending champion Honey Badgers eventually showed some of that hardware earning resiliency. The team used a 13-3, capped off by an Oduro free throw to get the lead down to 15 points with less than four minutes remaining to go in the period.

The big man notched his double-double night before the game had even reached the fourth, tallying 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Despite his success till that point, that was as far as things got as Oduro did not add to those totals the rest of the way.

Unfortunately for Brampton fans that’s as close as their team got to cutting the lead down in the quarter as Niagara’s Whelan scored seven of his team’s final nine points in the quarter to keep his team up big as they went into the fourth with a 64-47 lead.

However, the Honey Badgers finally woke up offensively as the game’s final frame got under way. The squad went on a lights out 15-2 run, and it was the long ball that helped the defending champs make things interesting. They caught fire from distance, despite having struggled all night.

The team was 0-10 from deep throughout the first 25 minutes of this contest but went an impressive 6-8 the next 15 minutes as the once 27-point lead was cut to as little as four points. Vital led the charge for the squad as he knocked down three triples in the fourth as part of his team’s scoring burst.

With a stunned Meridian Centre watching, the River Lions made sure to punch back going into Target Time as Henry-Blair and Ekiyor splashed a pair of three-balls which helped the squad hold on to a seven-point lead going into Target Score Time.

That was when last year’s Clutch Player of the Year Ahmad, reminded folks why he won the award. He drilled a three to start things off and ended up scoring five of his team’s final nine points, capping things off at the charity stripe as he knocked down two free throws to seal the contest, 87-79 the final.

With the victory Niagara is now within inches of the Scarborough Shooting Stars for second place in the East, behind the team on win percentage by just one percent, but tied in terms of each team being just one game back of the Ottawa BlackJacks. They’ll have a chance to capture sole possession of second place and gain even more ground on Ottawa as the River Lions take on the Shooting Stars on Sunday.

“Everything we have,” said Raso post-game when asked what it’ll take to keep the win streak going. “It’s going to take a lot of preparation and mental focus for 40 minutes a night.”

Meanwhile the Honey Badgers get a couple days off before returning on July 12 where they’ll hope to snap what’s now a four-game losing skid as they take on the tough task of hosting the conference leading BlackJacks.

“The way we fought in the second half, that’s [the real] us,” said Associate head coach for Brampton Sheldon Cassimy as he continued to fill-in for Antoine Broxsie. “That’s what we have to tap in to more in the beginning of the game…we play like that, we put ourselves in a position to win.”

All games are available on TSN+ and CEBL+ Powered by BetVictor.

July 7 - Post Game - Victor Raso

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:27:43 GMT

July 7 - Post Game - Eddie Ekiyor

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:22:33 GMT

Brampton Honey Badgers look to even up home-and-home series against Niagara River Lions

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 14:20:30 GMT

By Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh)

In game two of a home-and-home set, the Brampton Honey Badgers visit the Niagara River Lions as action between the Eastern Conference opponents tips off tonight at 7:00 pm ET from the Meridian Centre.

The game will be available for streaming live on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

Brampton (5-7) and Niagara (7-6) will be facing-off for their second of three contests this regular season and going head-to-head just two days after their first matchup. In that contest, the visiting River Lions went into the CAA Centre and came out with a dominant 101-84 victory over the Honey Badgers.

The league’s top scoring team (92.2 PPG) found much of their success early by way of the long ball, as Niagara knocked down 13 triples in the first half alone. Their strong shooting helped them build a double-digit lead going into half-time that they never surrendered the rest of the way.

It was their star guard Khalil Ahmad who led the way for the team via his 23 points on better than 50 per cent shooting from both the field and distance. He’s now averaging 18.1 points per game (seventh in the league) and 5.6 assists (fourth), while doing work on the defensive end as well with his CEBL-best 2.8 steals a night.

Ahmad’s play has been pivotal for the team as of late as he’s scored over 20 points in three consecutive games on route to back-to-back wins for the River Lions.

On the other side, Brampton also enters this game in the midst of a streak, but unfortunately for Honey Badgers fans it’s in the opposite direction as the team has lost three-in-a-row. Outside of Niagara’s hot shooting throughout the contest, it was Brampton’s mishandling of the ball that cost them quite a few possessions.

They finished the game with 20 turnovers, many of which were of the live-ball variety. Those giveaways allowed the River Lions to take a 19-13 edge on points from turnovers and get out on the break for easy looks as they finished the game with a +17 advantage on transition baskets.

Ball security should be a point of emphasis for the Honey Badgers as they look to snap this losing skid. In their three consecutive losses the team has averaged 18 turnovers a game, a noticeably higher uptick from their 14 a night prior to said streak.

Ashley Hamilton will be a player who’ll look to bounce back from his ball handling issues, as the forward gave the ball away five times on his own. However, despite those struggles, he still had one of his best nights of the season as Hamilton nearly notched a double-double with a season-high 17 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes of action off the bench.

Another player to watch out for is Brampton’s Koby McEwen. One of the top candidates for the CEBL’s Canadian Player of the Year Award, the guard has been in a bit of a funk as of late. During the team’s three-game losing streak he’s averaged just 7.7 points per game on 27 per cent shooting from the field and 20 per cent from distance. After finishing their latest game with just 12 points on 21 per cent shooting, fans of the team will hope McEwen can get back to his earlier form when the guard was averaging nearly 16 points a night.

The Honey Badgers did have a bright spot in the game, and it was the play of Christian Vital. The guard matched much of Ahmad’s production throughout the night as he put up 23 points, five rebounds, and three steals, doing so on an efficient plus-50 per cent shooting from the field and distance.

He now averages 19.6 points per game (fourth), 4.5 assists (ninth), and 2.6 steals (third), and will be looked upon to match the high scoring efforts of Niagara’s backcourt once again.

As this is an inter-conference matchup, there are seeding implications in this contest. The River Lions are just half a game behind the Scarborough Shooting Stars for second place in the East and with a win they’d be tied with Scarborough and just one game back of the conference leading Ottawa BlackJacks.

Meanwhile the Honey Badgers could use a victory to bring themselves into a tie with the Montréal Alliance for fourth place, and avoid extending their gap at the bottom.

RIVER LIONS TAKE FIRST OF HOME-AND-HOME SERIES WITH 101-84 WIN IN BRAMPTON

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 02:56:00 GMT

Written by Josh Kozelj

The Niagara River Lions (7-6) sunk 13 three pointers in the first half en route to downing the Brampton Honey Badgers (5-7) 101-84 at the CAA Centre on Wednesday night.

Khalil Ahmad led the way with a game-high 23 points and 4 assists. He also scored 4 of Niagara’s 14 long balls on the night. TJ Lall chipped in with three threes off the bench.

Ahmad credited his team’s commitment to defence after the game.

“[We] stay solid on defence, stay solid on offence, don’t do too much and just help each other out,” he said.

Three days after sinking 13 threes in a 90-75 win in Saskatoon against the Rattlers on Sunday, the River Lions used a strong dose of paint penetration to kick out and find open looks from deep.

As a team, Niagara had 18 assists on the night. Seven players recorded two or more assists on the night.

“We’re not trying to shoot that many threes that quickly, but if you have a night like that, or a half like that, and everyone is making their shots, I’m not complaining,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said.

Reigning CEBL Finals MVP Christian Vital did all he could for the Honey Badgers, scoring 23 points—matching his counterpart Ahmad—and snagging 5 boards.

Forward Ashley Hamilton also provided a pop off the bench for Brampton with 17 points, the second most on the team, and 8 rebounds.

“It’s my game. The more time I spend with the team, the more comfortable I’m getting,” Hamilton said. “Today I came off the bench, other games I’ve started, I’ve had similar numbers… Ideally, I want the team to win.”

Early on, Brampton took charge of the game by finding buckets inside. The Honey Badgers outscored the River Lions 16-0 in the paint and shot 11-12 from inside the arch. Vital racked up 6 of his 23 points in the first quarter.

But Niagara withstood the early run with their ability to drain the three.

The River Lions failed to record a bucket inside the arch in the first quarter, using six three pointers and an Ahmad free throw to trail by only three points at the end of the first. Brampton also shot 0-6 from deep in the frame.

Niagara recorded their first hoop inside the arch about a minute into the second quarter when Ahmad dropped in a reverse layup off a steal from centre court.

The River Lions then started to extend their lead with the long ball, shooting 13-27 from three in the first two quarters.

Their strong shooting came despite a steady presence from Hamilton, who recorded 10 points in the first half and was a perfect 4-4 from the field.

But after a kick out three pointer by Lall in the final minute—following a dribble drive penetration—Niagara led 48-36 at the break.

Although Niagara sunk only one three ball in the second half, the River Lions still ended up shooting close to 40 per cent (38 per cent) from deep.

And in the third, Niagara used an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 18.

Vital, however, did his best to keep the Honey Badgers within striking distance—scoring 11 of his 23 points in the quarter.

Kimbal Mackenzie, making his season debut for the River Lions, responded with four points in the frame. The Oakville, Ontario native finished with those 4 points and 3 rebounds in 14 and a half minutes played.

“Kimbal was good, he was exactly what he thought,” Raso said. “He’s tough, he can beat people off the dribble, he can lead a team.”

The River Lions took a 92-75 lead entering target score time, and clinched the game despite a late Brampton run on a goaltending bucket by Ahmad.

With the win, Niagara has now recorded their second straight victory and move to within a half game of the Scarborough Shooting Stars for second place in the eastern conference.

Brampton, meanwhile, falls one half game behind Montreal for the fourth and final playoff spot in the east with eight games to go in the year.

These two teams will square off in Niagara to complete the home-and-home series on Friday night.

“Losing is tough,” Hamilton said.

“It can be disheartening, but it’s all about sticking with it and working hard. The season could easily change—there’s a lot of time left and you can’t put your head down.”

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

BRAMPTON HONEY BADGERS TO HOST THE NIAGARA RIVER LIONS AS PLAYOFF RACE HEATS UP

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 13:53:13 GMT

Written by Josh Kozelj

Two of the best guards in the CEBL are set to square off tonight in Brampton, as the Honey Badgers (5-6) (-148) host the Niagara River Lions (6-6) (+108) at the CAA Centre at 7:00 pm ET.

The game will also be available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

Reigning CEBL Finals MVP Christian Vital will look to get the Honey Badgers closer to a playoff position when reigning CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad visits Brampton for the first time this year.

Brampton has lost their last two games and sit in last place in the eastern conference.

But, despite the losing streak, the Honey Badgers are only one half game behind Niagara for third place. They are also just two games out of first place in a bunched up eastern conference playoff race.

The Honey Badgers last played on June 27, when they lost 79-60 on the road in Ottawa. Vital scored a team-high 12 points, but shot 29 per cent from the field. Vital’s 19.3 points per game this season ranks him fourth in the league.

Backcourt mate Koby McEwen, meanwhile, is averaging 5.6 assists per game—which also places him in the top-four in the CEBL. As a team, the Honey Badgers are dishing 17.2 assists per game.

The River Lions snapped a two-game losing streak of their own on Sunday with a 90-75 win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers in Saskatoon.

Ahmad recorded a team-high 20 points, while big man Edward Ekiyor chipped in with a double-double of 19 points and 10 boards. The River Lions also shot better than 50 per cent from three, dropping 13 of 25 three point attempts on the night.

The River Lions win on Sunday also marked the fifth time in their last six games that they have scored 90 points or more.

Niagara, who is averaging 91.4 points per contest, is the only team in the CEBL to average over 90 points this season.

Ahead of tonight’s game, Niagara announced that they have added Canadian point guard Kimbal Mackenzie to their roster. The Oakville, Ontario native averaged over 12 points and 3 assists for the Leicester Riders of the British BBL this year.

“Kimbral is a leader, great teammate and a very good basketball player,” River Lions head coach and GM Victor Raso said in a press release. “I’m excited for him to join this group for the second half of the season.”

Mackenzie also joins the River Lions with CEBL experience, having averaged more than 13 points for the Guelph Nighthawks from 2019-2021.

Tonight’s game will be the first matchup between these two teams this year, and marks the first of a home-and-home series this week.

Brampton is scheduled to travel to Niagara on Friday night.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

River Lions Sign Canadian Point Guard Kimbal Mackenzie

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 18:07:04 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions announced today the signing of 6’1 point guard, Kimbal Mackenzie presented by YOUR Legal Services . The 26-year-old from Oakville, Ontario will join the team ahead of tomorrow’s game versus the Brampton Honey Badgers. Mackenzie most recently played for the Leicester Riders of the British BBL where he averaged 12.7 points and 3.6 assists in 22.9 minutes per game.

“Kimbal is a leader, great teammate and a very good basketball player,” said Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso. “I’m excited for him to join this group for the second half of the season.”

A familiar name to the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Mackenzie played three seasons for the Guelph Nighthawks where he averaged 13.2 points and 3.2 assists from 2019-2021.

After his final summer with the Nighthawks, Mackenzie found a home with the Leicester Riders and has proven to be a fan favourite as he earned the Supporters Club Player of the Year this past season. Mackenzie was also named on the Molten BBL British Team of the Year alongside Riders teammate and now River Lions teammate, Patrick Whelan. Mackenzie recorded several team-leading performances during the 2022-23 season including a 31-point game where he went 11-15 from the field and 7-7 from the free throw line. Mackenzie will return to England after the 2023 CEBL campaign for his third year with the Riders.

Prior to his professional career, Mackenzie spent four seasons at Bucknell University where he proved to be an outstanding playmaker and leader. Over the course of his collegiate career, Mackenzie started in 89 of 122 games and averaged 10.9 points, 2.4 assists and 2 rebounds through four seasons. With 1330 career points, Mackenzie ranked 18 ^th in Bisons history as well as 4 ^th in all-time made three pointers (211) and 2 ^nd in career free throw percentage (85.4%).

“I’m very excited to be joining the River Lions organization,” said Mackenzie. “Vic has created an awesome culture of winning here and I’m looking forward to playing with a great group of guys in front of an great fan base.”

Mackenzie’s signing comes as Aiden Warnholtz temporarily leaves the River Lions to play with the U23 Men’s National Team in preparation for GLOBL JAM , a world-class international basketball showcase taking place in Toronto from July 12-16.

The Niagara River Lions are one of the original six teams of the CEBL. Playing out of Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, the River Lions represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region while living up to the River Lions moniker of pride and strength of community. The River Lions are currently 6-6 on the season with just four more regular season home games through the month of July. Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup –

Vice President, Operations

NIAGARA RIVER LIONS SWEEP SEASON SERIES AGAINST SASKATCHEWAN RATTLERS IN 90-75 VICTORY

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 13:35:22 GMT

Written by Josh Kozelj

The Niagara River Lions (6-6) used the long ball to knock off the Saskatchewan Rattlers (4-8) 90-75 on the road at the SaskTel Centre.

Following back-to-back losses earlier in the week, the River Lions racked up 13 three pointers and shot better than 50 per cent from deep to get back to .500 on the season. The victory also helped Niagara climb within one game of the second place Scarborough Shooting Stars in the eastern conference.

Reigning CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad recorded a team-high 20 points and 4 threes, while Edward Ekiyor racked up a double-double with 19 points and 10 boards.

“For the most part, it was good shot selection and we shot the ball well,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said after the game.

Although Justin Wright-Foreman, who leads the CEBL in points with 30.2 per game, provided his usual spark on offence for Saskatchewan—scoring 29 points and handing out 5 assists—he faced constant double teams and pressure all night from the Niagara defence.

TJ Lall, specifically, finished with 13 points off the bench. But Raso cited his defense as one major key that allowed Niagara to earn the victory tonight.

“It’s crazy that Wright-Foreman had 29 [points] but he had to work for them,” Raso said. “TJ was super active all game long. He’s a good player and he’s tough as hell.”

After losing by over 40 points to the River Lions almost exactly one month ago today, the Rattlers came out of the gate hot to avenge the blowout loss.

Wright-Foreman converted a four-point play after being fouled on a three point attempt, and Saskatchewan raced out to a 23-16 lead.

“I tried the best I can,” Wright-Foreman said. “I know the defence is going to be keyed in on me so I tried to find holes to keep us in the game, whether it’s scoring or finding open teammates.”

In the opening frame, Saskatchewan outrebounded Niagara 15-7 and scored 10 more points in the paint than the River Lions. However, Niagara’s ability to sink the three ball helped them stay within striking distance—as the River Lions dropped four of their 13 threes in the first quarter.

Jermel Kennedy helped take some of the offensive load off Wright-Foreman’s shoulders in the frame by racking up seven points in the opening quarter. Kennedy finished the first half with a near double-double: 9 points and 8 rebounds.

On the opposing side, though, Ekiyor started to flex his muscles inside. Niagara evened the rebound battle and the two teams traded leads.

In total, there were 10 lead changes in the first half, and Ekiyor finished the half with 15 points, which helped Niagara cut the Rattlers’ lead to one after the first two quarters.

After the break, Niagara went on a 16-6 run to start the quarter. But Saskatchewan started to get hot from deep themselves in the frame. The Rattlers hit five threes in the quarter—highlighted by three by Wright-Foreman—and cut the River Lions’ lead to 66-60 by the end of the quarter.

Michael Nuga, who made his second start of the season for Saskatchewan, chipped in with 17 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds. He also recorded three three pointers on the night.

But entering the fourth, Niagara used another run—outscoring Saskatchewan 9-2 to start the quarter—and never looked back.

Leading the game 81-70 entering target score time, Ahmad made a layup to bring Niagara within seven points of the win. And after four straight points by Ekiyor, Ahmad got the ball on the left side of the basket and made a contested three to seal the game.

“I think now is the turning point,” Ekiyor said. “The season is coming to an end, we had a couple losses, and now we just got this win. We’re locked in, we’re focused, and we gotta keep rolling.”

The River Lions are set to return to action on Wednesday against the Brampton Honey Badgers. Saskatchewan will look to snap their two-game losing streak on July 5 against the eastern conference-leading Ottawa BlackJacks.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

NIAGARA RIVER LIONS AND SASKATCHEWAN RATTLERS LOOK TO GET BACK ON TRACK IN SHOWDOWN TONIGHT

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 14:12:52 GMT

Written by Josh Kozelj

The Niagara River Lions (5-6) (-125) will look to snap a two-game losing streak and sweep the season series against the Saskatchewan Rattlers (4-7) (-108) tonight at the SaskTel Centre at 7:30 pm local/9:30 pm ET.

The game will also be available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

Both teams come into tonight’s matchup looking to bounce back from disappointing results earlier in the week.

Niagara, who won five of their first six games in June, have lost back-to-back games to a pair of teams that sit at the top of their respective conferences.

After dropping a game at home to Ottawa on Sunday, the River Lions blew a 17-point lead on the road in Winnipeg on Thursday and lost 93-90.

All five starters—led by Khalil Ahmad’s team-high 24 points—shot over 55 per cent from the field. And four of the five starters recorded double digits in points. Patrick Whelan also chipped in with 11 off the bench.

But Niagara was also outrebounded 45-31 on Thursday and gave up 22 offensive boards—which resulted in 30 second chance points for Winnipeg. The River Lions had only 4 second chance points.

The River Lions also had trouble containing the CEBL’s second highest scorer, Teddy Allen, who recorded 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Their task on defence will not get any easier tonight, as they are taking on the league’s highest scorer Justin Wright-Foreman, who is putting up over 30 points per game for the Rattlers.

Saskatchewan snapped a five-game losing streak at home on Sunday and followed that up with a nine-point win on the road in Montréal on Wednesday. However, in the second half of a back-to-back, the Rattlers lost 97-86 to the BlackJacks in Ottawa on Thursday.

In those back-to-back games, Wright-Foreman put up a combined 70 points, highlighted by 37 in a losing effort to Ottawa three days ago.

Reserve Michael Nuga, who missed Saskatchewan’s home game against Scarborough last Sunday, returned on the two-game road trip and chipped in with a steady 11 and 13 points in both games respectively. The Toronto product has averaged over 13 points and 2 three pointers per game off the bench.

Despite the loss, as a team, Niagara is still leading the league in points per game (91.6). Saskatchewan sits seventh in the CEBL with 84.4 points per game but are leading the league in three pointers—racking up 11 per contest.

In their last meeting, on June 3, Niagara held Wright-Foreman to 21 points and used a double-double from Ahmad to dismantle the Rattlers 116-74 at home. The River Lions also forced 21 turnovers and scored 33 points off those giveaways in that game.

After tonight’s game, Niagara will travel to Brampton to cap off their three-game road trip on July 5. Saskatchewan, meanwhile, will host Ottawa on Wednesday night.

Full broadcast schedule of CEBL Games of the Week on TSN can be found here . All games will also be streamed live internationally on CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, and on the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Winnipeg Sea Bears complete comeback in 93-90 win over Niagara River Lions

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 12:07:00 GMT

By Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh)

Teddy Allen’s 28 points led the league-best Winnipeg Sea Bears (8-3) to a thrilling 17-point comeback in a 93-90 win over the Niagara River Lions (5-6) on Thursday night.

The league’s second-best scorer (26.4 PPG) added to his growing catalogue of strong performances this season, strengthening his case as one of the front-runners for regular season MVP. The guard also added six rebounds, six assists, and three steals to go with 28 points.

He was joined by E.J. Anosike who put up a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double, his fifth time passing the 20-point mark this season. Jelani Watson-Gayle – one of the favourites for Sixth Man of the Year – finished with 19 points and seven assists in a season-high 32 minutes of action off the bench.

“My team just needs me to come off and be that spark off the bench,” Watson-Gayle said. “Just do whatever the team needs, whether that’s scoring or facilitating, making an impact right away.”

On the other side, the reigning regular season MVP Khalid Ahmad led the way with his 24 points on 56 per cent shooting. Jahvon Henry-Blair and E.J. Onu were the team’s next best scorers as they put up 15 and 14 points respectively.

This game was touted as an offensive battle coming into the night, and that is exactly how things shaped up early. The teams shot a combined 60 per cent from the field – good for 54 points – and showing why they’re one and two in the league in terms of total points per game.

For the River Lions it was Onu leading the way, doing some damage on the long ball. Averaging just 24.1 per cent from beyond the arch this season, the big man went a perfect 2-2 on triples, scoring eight points in the frame.

Not to be outdone, Allen started the game red-hot, scoring 14 points in the first by way of four treys of his own. The star guard tied the CEBL record for threes in a game with nine, exactly two weeks prior, and that record looked in danger of being broken as his Sea Bears went into the second with a 29-25 lead.

Winnipeg seemed to feed off the scorching start by their lead guard, building up the gap to nine points, before a wise timeout by Niagara head coach Victor Raso allowed his team to respond. The River Lions came out of that chat and went on a 13-1 run in under a three-minute span to go up 40-37 at the 6:04 mark of the second frame.

Things didn’t get much better for the Sea Bears the rest of the quarter as Allen’s strong start was neutralized due to foul trouble. With the league’s minutes per game leader riding the bench, the team managed just seven points the rest of the way as they went into the break facing a 55-44 deficit.

A big part of Niagara’s success scoring was their determination to attack the basket. They finished the half with a +10 advantage on points in the paint, with all but six of the River Lions’ 30 points in the frame coming from the interior or the charity stripe.

That double-digit margin grew to as many as 17 points for the River Lions throughout the third as they looked to take a chokehold on the game. However, the league-leading Sea Bears showed some fight after a couple monster Anosike slams and a shot-clock beating triple by Tyler Sagl propelled a 13-2 run, cutting the lead down to 71-66 with the final quarter ahead.

Winnipeg’s usual catalyst for a comeback would’ve been their potent offence, but in that third period it was their defensive efforts that led the way. The squad forced eight turnovers in the frame out of a Niagara team that averages just 13.5 a game.

“It was mental [mistakes] and that’s what bothers me,” coach Raso said reflecting on his team’s 19 turnovers on the night. “When things go badly, you’re supposed to stay fundamental…we didn’t do that. We had the game won and if we didn’t get down on ourselves when they made that run, we would’ve been fine.”

The Sea Bears took that momentum and carried it right over into the fourth as they forced three more giveaways, converting on all three opportunities, Jelani Waston-Gayle capping off the comeback with a layup that gave Winnipeg a one-point lead, their first since it was 35-33 at the 6:46 mark of the second.

The bench guard then knocked down a triple to give his squad an 83-81 lead heading into Target Score Time.

Canada Life Centre was on its feet for the finish to this contest as the teams traded baskets in the final moments where they were tied at 87, when Watson-Gayle showed he wasn’t done taking over just yet. The league’s leader in points off the bench knocked down five of Winnipeg’s final six points, including the game-winning fade away, 93-90 the final.

“My teammates and my coaches trust me,” Watson-Gayle said reflecting on his fifth game-winner of the season. “They look to me to finish the games…they have the confidence in me and that puts my confidence up there as well.”

The Sea Bears take their now three-game win streak on the road as they take on the Eastern Conference leading Ottawa BlackJacks on Sunday.

The River Lions have now lost two in a row, but coach Raso knows they have the ability to stay relevant in a tight Eastern Conference.

“We’re fine,” Raso said. “It’s not physical with us, it’s just being locked-in throughout the course of a game…It's a game we should’ve won and you gotta be pissed-off about it, but we got nine games left.”

His squad will hit the road to start a three-game road trip on Sunday where they face-off with the Saskatchewan Rattlers.

All games are available on TSN+ and CEBL+ Powered by BetVictor. Recap written by Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh).

Battle of top-scoring teams as Winnipeg Sea Bears take on Niagara River Lions

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 14:08:08 GMT

By Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh)

The league-leading Winnipeg Sea Bears (-133) finish up a three-game homestand on Thursday when they host the Niagara River Lions (-103) from the Canada Life Centre at 7:00 pm local/8:00 pm ET.

The game will be available for streaming live on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

As this is the inaugural season for the Sea Bears, not only is this the only matchup between the two teams this regular season, but it’s also the first head-to-head battle for the squads ever. Although there’s no history between them, this will still be an interesting matchup as it’ll be a fixture between the highest scoring teams in the league.

Niagara currently leads the CEBL averaging 91.7 points per game, with Winnipeg right behind them at 89.9 points a contest. Two high-powered offenses facing off in a cross-conference clash for the first time, it’ll hopefully result in a bucket-filled treat for fans of both sides.

The Sea Bears enter the contest as leaders in the Western Conference with a league-best 7-3 record and are currently on a two-game win streak. Their most recent victory came in an 86-78 contest with the Saskatchewan Rattlers where they were able to come out on top despite being outshot from both the field and distance.

A big catalyst for Winnipeg’s third win in five games was their work around the glass. The team finished the game with 11 more rebounds than the Rattlers and a +10 advantage on offensive boards. Their efforts securing the ball resulted in 10 extra shot attempts, four of which were converted. Unsurprisingly, most of their rebounds led to opportunities inside the paint, where the team capitalized as they were a +16 on the night.

The Sea Bears’ impressive night securing the ball off the rim came down to a team effort, as three players on the squad recorded a points-rebounds double-double. E.J. Anosike, Chad Posthumus, and most notably, Teddy Allen, who put up a team-high 22 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.

The guard is commonly known for his scoring prowess, and rightfully so, considering he’s second in the league’s scoring race at 26.4 points per game. However, his ability to rebound the ball has been equally – albeit quietly – impressive as Allen is top-five in the CEBL, averaging nine rebounds a game.

Keep an eye on the glass battle in this matchup as Winnipeg is a top-two offensive rebounding team (13.7 ORPG) going up against a defensive rebounding team in Niagara that ranks second-last (27 DRPG).

The River Lions enter this contest on the heels of a 101-87 loss to the Ottawa BlackJacks that snapped a three-game win streak and sees them sitting at a 5-5 record midway through the season. Tonight’s matchup will also be the start of a three-game road trip for Niagara and keep an eye on how they perform as the visiting team throughout this stretch.

The team currently holds a 1-3 record on the road this season and are also winless against West coast teams in that span when playing them away from the Meridian Centre.

In their defeat to Ottawa, Niagara was outshot from the field, distance, and charity stripe. They went 9-30 from beyond the arch and did themselves no favours by missing a season-high 13 free-throws. It also didn’t help that the BlackJacks hit 14 triples along the way. The result of their struggles was their lowest scoring output in four games, failing to score over 90 points for the first time since June 10.

Despite the loss, there were positives for the River Lions. The team showed discipline handling the ball, only turning the ball over 10 times, their lowest in their last four games and below their season average of 13.5 a game. Niagara would ideally like to continue that trend and minimize their errors in tonight’s fixture as they’ll be taking on a Winnipeg team that currently averages the least giveaways in the league at just 10.9 a game.

The team also continues to be one of the better teams when it comes to distributing the ball as they lead the CEBL, averaging 20 assists. A major contributor to that success has been the unselfish play of 2022 regular season MVP Khalil Ahmad and his seven assists per game. After a quiet performance against Ottawa, putting up 11 points and four assists, look for the lead guard to try and bounce back.

A Sea Bears win could see their lead in the West grow even larger, going up two games ahead of the second-seeded Calgary Surge. Whereas a win for the River Lions could vault them back into a three-way tie for top spot in the Eastern Conference with the BlackJacks and the Scarborough Shooting Stars.

June 24 - Post Game - Victor Raso

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 15:09:08 GMT

BlackJacks hit 15 threes and defeat River Lions 101-87

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 15:55:04 GMT

By: Dillon White

The Ottawa BlackJacks caught fire from long-range to fuel them to a 101-87 win over the Niagara River Lions on Saturday at the Meridian Centre.

Tyrrel Tate’s six threes and 24 points both led the way for Ottawa in the victory. Tate hit a corner three in target score time and missed just once from long range in the contest.

“It feels good to be with a bunch of guys that believe me,” Tate said post-game. “We kept believing, we never lost faith. We know what kind of team we are. We're resilient. And the guys believe me to take those shots.”

Without Kadre Gray in the lineup due to injury, other BlackJacks stepped up with five players reaching double figures. Reigning CEBL Canadian Player of the Year Caleb Agada made his 2023 debut for Ottawa with 17 points and six assists.

“[Agada]’s a leader. He came in first practice yesterday, he was just a leader vocally,” Tate said. “We've seen what he can do last year and it's great to have a great addition like that on the team.”

Ottawa was impressive offensively all night, shooting 55 per cent from the field, 57 per cent from three and 85 per cent from the line. The BlackJacks hit 15 threes and dished out 25 assists on 36 field goals.

Jackson Rowe secured a double-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and the game-winner. Ottawa forward Deng Adel did it all again with 16 points, four rebounds and five assists, while Maxime Boursiquot added 11 points and six rebounds. Despite falling short of the 10-point mark, Zena Edosomwan still contributed seven points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.

On the other side, Niagara struggled to hit from the charity strip at 58 per cent with 13 misses. However, the River Lions dominated the offensive rebounding battle with 16 and forced 18 Ottawa turnovers.

“Every game is a playoff game. It's why we can't have nights where it's like this,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said. “You try hard but mentally, it's like you beat this team last week [and think] it's all gonna be relatively easy. It's not.”

Jahvon Blair paced the River Lions’ offence with a team-high 22 points. The BlackJacks were mostly able to contain reigning league MVP Khalil Ahmad who finished with 11 points, four assists and two steals.

Meanwhile, 2022 Defensive Player of the Year EJ Onu showed off his elite athleticism with a collection of highlight reel dunks and rejections at the rim. Onu tallied 15 points, five rebounds and three blocks in the loss. TJ Lall also played an all-around game with 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals for the River Lions.

A fast-paced first quarter saw both teams excel offensively. Each team came out of the gates on fire from long range, with 11 threes combined at over 70 per cent each. A reverse layup from Boursiquot late in the frame helped Ottawa to a narrow 25-24 lead after 10 minutes.

The BlackJacks started the second quarter on a 7-0 run to force a timeout for Raso. Ottawa went on another mini-run and extended their lead to as much as 13 after a corner three from Agada. However, Niagara closed out the half on a 9-0 run of their own, capped off by a high-flying transition jam from Onu and a buzzer-beating tip-in from Walker. The BlackJacks carried a 49-45 lead into the third quarter.

Ottawa continued to cook from three to start the second half. Tate and Adel hit a pair of triples each while Agada also got going with an and-one plus a pair of elbow jumpers. The BlackJacks picked up their largest lead of the night to that point at 16 points, but the River Lions closed the gap to 77-65 heading into the final quarter.

Niagara missed some crucial free throws in the fourth and back-to-back finishes from Adel gave the BlackJacks an 18-point lead. Blair scored seven straight points for Niagara to cut into the deficit but Ottawa took a 91-76 lead into target score time.

Blair continued to find ways to score with free throws and a triple, but Ottawa weathered a late push from the River Lions. A crafty pass from Agada to Edosomwan for an inside finish put Ottawa a bucket away from victory and Rowe hit the game-winner from the corner.

Ottawa’s record improves to 5-5, while Niagara drops to 5-5. The teams will meet again on July 20 at TD Place.

The River Lions will now hit the road for a three-game trip that starts in Winnipeg on Thursday. Ottawa will return to TD Place for a three-game homestand that starts with a matchup against Brampton on Tuesday.

All games are available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 per cent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

Streaking River Lions host BlackJacks in Eastern Conference bout

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 13:59:23 GMT

By: Dillon White

The Niagara River Lions will look to win their fourth straight game in an Eastern Conference showdown with the Ottawa BlackJacks at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday at the Meridian Centre.

The game will be available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

Niagara is coming off wins against Calgary, Montreal and Ottawa – tonight’s opponent. Since reigning CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad joined the squad on June 3, the River Lions have won five of six games.

However, the squad won’t have much time to rest and recover from their 99-86 win over Calgary on Friday afternoon. Ahmad scored a game-high 30 points in the win, while Jahvon Henry-Blair scored 16 points on 66 per cent from the field. The River Lions shot 50 per cent from the field, 45 per cent from three and forced 23 Calgary turnovers.

Meanwhile, Ottawa is coming off a heartbreaking home loss to Montreal. The BlackJacks came back from 16 points down to take the lead into target score time against the Alliance but missed two chances to win, including a free throw.

The loss dropped Ottawa to fourth place in the Eastern Conference at 4-5 on the season, behind Brampton at 5-5, Niagara at 5-4 and Scarborough at 5-4. The Eastern Conference is poised for a tight playoff race with a two-way tie for first place and just 1.5 games separating first from last.

“You could end up winning the division, or you could end up being out of the playoffs and it might be a free throw that makes the difference,” Ottawa head coach James Derouin said. “Everybody's aware of it in the division. I think you're seeing playoff-like atmosphere [and] intensity out there. That's because all the coaches and players are fully aware of the situation.”

Derouin says adjustments going forward for the BlackJacks include avoiding situations where there’s a large deficit to come back from.

“We just got to find ways to limit the runs where we dig ourselves a hole,” Derouin said. “We continue to dig ourselves a hole and have to fight our way out of it. So we got to find a way not to fall apart and then use so much energy trying to come back in the game.”

In the previous meeting between Ottawa and Niagara last Sunday, the River Lions earned a 93-82 win powered by an all-around performance from Ahmad and five players in double figures. Ahmad tallied 19 points, eight assists and six steals in the win.

Niagara brings an excellent offence with a deep roster into Saturday’s contest. The River Lions lead the league in both points per game and field percentage. Their attack is highlighted by the backcourt of Ahmad and Henry-Blair, who average 17.2 points and 15.7 points respectively.

Edward Ekiyor’s energy off the bench has provided Niagara with steady scoring and rebounding, while Antonio Davis Jr. and Lloyd Pandi stuff the scoresheet as well. Reigning CEBL Defensive Player of the Year EJ Onu is continuing to provide elite rim protection while averaging just under nine points per game.

On the other side, Ottawa could come out with a new-look lineup on Saturday. The BlackJacks’ top scorer and passer Kadre Gray missed Thursday’s game against the Alliance with an injury. The Canadian facilitator is averaging 17.4 points and 6.9 assists on 49 per cent shooting in eight starts. However, the guard’s status for the game against Niagra is up in the air.

The BlackJacks can compensate for Gray's possible absence with the potential debut of 2022 CEBL Champion and Canadian Player of the Year Caleb Agada. The team announced the signing of Agada for the remainder of the 2023 CEBL season on Friday. In last year’s championship run with the Honey Badgers, Agada averaged 12.4 points and 6 rebounds in 21 starts.

One sure thing for Ottawa is the presence of Deng Adel. Adel is a complete player that provides scoring, rebounding and playmaking to the BlackJacks. He led their comeback on Thursday night and averages 16.6 points, 7 rebounds and 5.4 assists on the season. Ottawa will also look to sharpshooter Michael Flowers, big man Zena Edosomwan and veteran playmaker Thomas Scrubb to step up and contribute.

The teams will meet again on July 20 at TD Place.

All games are available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 per cent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

June 23 - Post Game - Khalil Ahmad

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 20:01:50 GMT

June 23 - Post Game - Victor Raso

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 19:58:19 GMT

KHALIL AHMAD LEADS THE WAY IN 99-86 NIAGARA RIVER LIONS WIN OVER CALGARY SURGE

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 19:33:21 GMT

Written by Josh Kozelj

The Niagara River Lions (5-4) scored 31 points off turnovers to notch their third straight win in a 99-86 victory over the Calgary Surge (6-5) in a Friday afternoon matinee.

Reigning CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad led the way for the River Lions, who along with winning their third consecutive game, have now won five of their past six games since he joined the team on June 3.

“He knows that we’re so confident in him,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said after the game. “Khalil was great and bad throughout the whole course of the game, but he stuck with it and we stuck with him.”

Ahmad finished with a game-high 30 points, 6 assists, and 5 steals. He also turned the ball over six times.

Niagara’s high-powered offence—averaging roughly 91 points coming into today—was too much to handle for a normally stingy Surge defence. Calgary came into today having given up 90 points only once through their first 10 games.

However, following a 93-80 loss in Brampton to the Honey Badgers on Wednesday night, today’s game marked the second time Calgary has given up 90 or more points. It was also the most points that the Surge have given up in a single game all season.

Carelessness with the ball led to easy buckets in transition for Niagara. Calgary turned the ball over 23 times, which resulted in 31 points for the River Lions—21 of which came on the fast break.

“The reason Niagara scored more points today was because of the transition they got from turnovers to offence,” Calgary head coach Nelson Terroba said. “I thought our defence was very good today in the half court, our after turnover defence wasn’t great.”

The game was tight from the jump, as Admon Gilder Jr. gave Ahmad fits in the first quarter.

With Sean Miller-Moore scoring 9 of his team-high 23 points in the first, Gilder Jr. was the primary player guarding the reigning MVP—holding Ahmad to just two points (a pair of free throws) and no field goals in the frame.

But while Ahmad struggled to find his footing, his backcourt mate Jahvon Henry-Blair picked up the slack to keep the River Lions within striking distance. Henry-Blair was perfect in the first quarter, notching 8 points and 2 three pointers.

Henry-Blair finished with 16 points and 4 threes and shot 66 per cent from the field.

After taking a 42-37 lead into half, the River Lions capitalized on Calgary’s inability to take care of the ball to build a lead. The Surge turned the ball over six times in the third, which resulted in 10 Niagara points.

Ahmad, after turning the ball over five times in the first half, only turned it over once in the second half.

“I was forcing it a little bit in the first, I just decided to calm down a little bit,” Ahmad said.

Guard Stefan Smith did all he could do to keep Calgary in the game. The Ajax, Ontario product, who scored 19 points on 50 per cent shooting in the game, splashed 3 of his 4 three pointers in the third quarter and kept Calgary within 9 points when the fourth quarter began.

The lead would be insurmountable, however, as Ahmad continued to slice to the bucket with ease and his teammates chipped in offensively.

Four of Niagara’s five starters scored 12 points or more, and the River Lions racked up 48 points in the paint. Over half of Calgary’s points (44) also came in the paint.

The River Lions took a 90-78 lead into target score time, and one point within victory, Ahmad drew a foul on a layup attempt at the hoop and ended the game in his first free throw attempt.

With the victory, Niagara moved into a three-way tie for first place in the eastern conference. The River Lions will look to create some separation in the standings in a matchup tomorrow night against the Ottawa BlackJacks.

Calgary, meanwhile, will end their three-game road trip on Sunday in Vancouver against the Bandits.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

HIGH-FLYING RIVER LIONS SEARCH FOR REVENGE AGAINST DEFENSIVE-MINDED CALGARY SURGE

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 13:11:09 GMT

Written by Josh Kozelj

The Niagara River Lions (4-4) and Calgary Surge (6-4) will look to inch towards the top of their respective conferences in a 11:00 am ET matinee showdown at the Meridian Centre.

The game will also be available for streaming on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor , and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

As the regular season marches towards the halfway point, both the River Lions and Surge come into tonight’s contest one half game back of top spot in the eastern and western conference standings.

The matchup will also see Niagara, the CEBL’s highest scoring offence, who is averaging over 91 points per game, take on a Calgary team that has given up more than 90 points only one time through their first 10 games—which came in their last outing, a 93-80 loss to the Brampton Honey Badgers, on Wednesday night.

Calgary allowed the Honey Badgers to shoot over 50 per cent from the field in that game and rack up 40 bench points. Before the loss in Brampton, though, Calgary had held teams to 81 points or less in five games this season.

Both Stef Smith (2.3) and Admon Gilder Jr. (2.1) rank in the top five in the league in steals per game, while Kylor Kelley is leading the CEBL with 2.4 blocks per game. The feat is even more impressive considering Kelley has played primarily off the bench this season, averaging 11 minutes per night.

On the opposing side, the River Lions have won four of five since reigning CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad joined the team on June 3. Through his first five contests of the year, Ahmad is averaging 14.6 points and 8 assists per game.

Jahvon Henry Blair, however, has been leading the charge offensively for the high-flying River Lions. The Brampton product, who played for the New York Knicks in summer league last year, is averaging a team-best 15.6 points per game and shooting over 46 per cent from three point range.

Elsewhere, Edward Ekiyor has provided a pop off the bench all season. Ekiyor, who is averaging over 21 minutes played per contest, is putting up over 14 points and nearly 6 rebounds.

As a team, along with leading the league in points per game, Niagara is also tops in field goal percentage (46.1).

Calgary, meanwhile, is averaging the second fewest points per game (81.7) but are averaging a league-best 5.2 blocks per contest.

This will be the second and final meeting between these two teams in the regular season.

Calgary squeaked out a 85-82 victory back on May 30, days before Ahmad rejoined the River Lions. Henry-Blair scored a game-high 26 points in that matchup, while four Calgary starters—led by Simi Shittu’s 17—recorded double digits in points.

Shittu’s 106 total rebounds on the year is also leading the CEBL.

Today is the first of back-to-back home games for the River Lions, as they will square off against the Ottawa BlackJacks tomorrow evening. For Calgary, after today’s game, their three-game road trip will conclude Sunday in Vancouver.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .

June 13 - Post Game - Jahvon Blair

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 21:04:58 GMT

June 13 - Post Game - Victor Raso

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 20:59:23 GMT

June 10 Post Game - Victor Raso

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 20:54:59 GMT

June 8 - Post Game - Jahvon Blair

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 20:53:28 GMT

June 8 - Post Game - Eddie Ekiyor

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 20:38:48 GMT

June 3 - Post Game - Victor Raso

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 20:34:03 GMT

RIVER LIONS PARTNER WITH HENRY OF PELHAM FAMILY ESTATE WINERY FOR ‘SIP & SWISH’ EVENT

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 19:45:07 GMT

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions announced today a unique workshop that will provide women 19+ the opportunity to learn the basics of basketball, while tasting four varieties of wine courtesy of Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery. The event, titled ‘Sip & Swish’ will be held on Thursday July 13th from 7pm-9pm inside the Meridian Centre. Led by Head Coach and General Manager, Victor Raso, along with River Lions players, attendees will enjoy an evening of live music, hors d’oeuvres and will take home a commemorative wine glass and corkscrew, along with new basketball knowledge.

‘Sip & Swish’ falls under the Workshop Series umbrella that the River Lions introduced earlier this year where events are held, catering to different demographics, while maintaining the core values of networking, learning, and growing.

The goal of ‘Sip & Swish’ is to provide all attendees with a fun overview of how the game of basketball works and an opportunity to meet the River Lions team, all while gaining an appreciation for the wines that are produced right here in the Niagara Region.

“We are excited to launch this Sip & Swish evening which is sure to be a memorable event for all in attendance,” said Michelle Biskup, Vice President of Operations for the Niagara River Lions. “We are fortunate to be located in the Niagara Region, where beyond basketball, there is so much for both locals and tourists to experience. We are proud to collaborate with Henry of Pelham to showcase a winery that is true to its family roots and holds such history within the region.”

The River Lions prioritize community engagement as a core value, and believe that providing a bridge between the team, the game of basketball, and the Niagara community is vital to the success of the organization. Non-season ticket holders will receive a pair of tickets to a 2023 game as part of their purchase.

A limited number of tickets are now available at www.riverlions.ca/sipswish .

Media Contact:

Michelle Biskup

Vice President, Operations