Honey Badgers Complete Comeback Over River Lions to Advance to Semifinals

With the win, Hamilton advances to meet Fraser Valley at 1:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. PT) on Saturday, while Niagara will look to regroup and prepare for next season after another quick exit from the postseason.

“It’s just the resiliency that we’re showing in each game,” Honey Badgers head coach Ryan Schmidt said. “For us it all comes down to the defensive end. When we defend as a team, we’re a really hard team to beat, and I don’t think we were locked in the way we needed to start the game.”

The never-say-die River Lions, who won an 81-79 nail-biter over Ottawa on Tuesday to stave off elimination from the tournament and steal the sixth seed in the playoffs, almost turned that trick for the second time in as many games. Tuesday’s hero with a coast-to-coast game-winning layup drive, Trae Bell-Haynes found himself at the foul line with his team trailing 83-81 and the Elam Ending target score set at 84. He made the first free throw and attempted to miss the second off a play intended to lead to an offensive rebound and put-back to win the game. But the second attempt went in to knot the score at 83, setting the stage for game-winning heroics from Hamilton’s Brianté Weber. Weber had scored only two points in the second half but added the most important basket of the night with a tough layup through contact to deliver the 85-83 win for Hamilton.

“At the end of the day we just needed to stay aggressive,” Weber said. “With me being aggressive, I know my teammates will follow that and will get a glimpse of what staying in attack mode is, regardless of what’s happening on offence.”

The River Lions got out to a hot start in the first quarter, scoring early and often thanks to a series of drive and kick actions that stretched Hamilton’s defence. Bell-Haynes was his usual crafty self and was able to orchestrate for himself and others. Kassius Robertson nailed a pull-up three-pointer to pad the River Lions’ early cushion before a late floater by Weber cut the score to 28-15 heading into the second quarter. 

Hamilton bounced back in the second quarter with a 22-13 advantage, punctuated by a buzzer-beater from Weber to pull to within 41-37 at intermission.

In a game chalk full of highlights, both teams traded baskets as Hamilton continued its comeback push in the second half. A lead pass from Owen Klassen to Weber gave the Honey Badgers their first lead since the first frame, 43-41 at the 7:25 mark of the third quarter.

Ultimately, the game would be decided in the Elam Ending, which opened with the Honey Badgers owning a 75-69 advantage. With a target score of 84, Hamilton set its sights on putting the River Lions to rest.

Robertson nearly rose to the challenge of single-handedly leading Niagara’s late run as the skilled guard tallied eight points in the Elam Ending. A fadeaway jumper by Robertson gave the River Lions a momentary 79-78 lead, setting the stage for a classic finish.

Hamilton’s Jean-Victor Mukama and Niagara’s Bell-Haynes each scored 23 points to lead their teams. Bell-Haynes handed out five assists, while Mukama countered with eight rebounds and four three-pointers.

“We didn’t get many boards and then we stopped moving the ball,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso said. “We fought all the way back at the end, but we hurt ourselves in the second and third quarter.”

Saturday’s semifinal game between Hamilton and Fraser Valley will be nationally televised by CBC and livestreamed on Twitch, CBCSports.ca and the CBC Gem App. A complete broadcast schedule can be found here.