Shooting Stars Clinch Playoff Berth with 86-75 Win over River Lions
The Scarborough Shooting Stars clinched a spot in the 2022 CEBL Playoffs with an 86-75 victory over the Niagara River Lions.
The Shooting Stars (10-7) avenged a 93-70 loss to the River Lions last week. Niagara falls to 12-5 after winning five games in a row. The game started off close throughout the first half but the Shooting Stars pulled away in the second half with multiple clutch shots.
Antonio Davis Jr. scored at the rim to open the scoring for Niagara. Kalif Young and Marcus Anderson responded with baskets for Scarborough for an early 9-4 lead.
The River Lions responded with a run to cut within one by attacking the basket. Hometown guard Abu Kigab scored his first-ever River Lions points at the rim.
The Shooting Stars answered the River Lions’ scores as Rashad James hit a three right after Khalil Ahmad hit one. The visitors led 23-18 after one quarter.
The threes continued to fall for Niagara as Jaylen Babb-Harrison nailed one on their first possession of the second quarter. River Lions guard Elijah Mitrou-Long was hitting his shots and he found EJ Onu for a dunk. Babb-Harrison and Alonzo Walker hit from beyond the arc to give Niagara a 29-28 lead.
The score remained close for the rest of the half as Kigab stole the ball and layed it in as Scarborough led 37-34.
The lead changed hands multiple times at the start of the third quarter. The Shootings Stars then scored seven straight points as Isiaha Mike hit a three and floater by Anderson.
Scarborough increased their lead to 12 points after a triple by David Muenkat before Mitrou-Long hit a step-back three. Niagara chipped away into the lead at the start of the fourth quarter with their defence and by getting to the free throw line. Mike responded with back-to-back threes to restore Scarborough’s double-digit edge.
The Shooting Stars held a 77-66 lead going into the Elam Ending after Davis Jr. scored off an offensive rebound and hit the ensuing free throw.
Niagara started Elam time with a Mitrou-Long drive but Kameron Chatman answered with a corner three. Mike hit a three as well before he hit a free throw to win the game.
Scarborough had a balanced scoring attack with five players in double figures, including Mike with 20 points and six rebounds. They shot 50 per cent from three and 43 per cent from the field.
“We fought. I feel like that was the separator for us today,” Mike said. “We played with a little bit more than our first meeting versus Niagara.”
Scarborough head coach Chris Exilus pointed out how the team played with purpose against Niagara and Edmonton in their previous game. “You can see it diving for loose balls, second, third efforts, guys on the bench coming in, starters high-fiving guys coming in,” Exilus said. “It was a collective effort from the whole team.”
Mike praised Anderson’s impact as a recent addition. “A guy of his calibre defensively adds another element to this championship calibre team,” Mike noted.
The River Lions were led by Davis Jr. (19 points, 10 rebounds), Mitrou-Long (18 points, six assists) and Jaylen Babb-Harrison (12 points, five rebounds, three steals). They finished with less rebounds and assists than Scarborough.
“I think exactly what we did to them a few days ago, they did to us,” River Lions head coach Victor Raso noted. Raso said the team did a decent job defensively but Scarborough made some tough shots. “I didn’t really like the way we played offence either,” he added. “I don’t think I had a good grasp of telling the guys what we wanted and actually executing. I thought the ball didn’t move enough.”
Kigab made his debut as the first Niagara area player to play for the River Lions. He finished with four points, three rebounds and one assist in front of friends and family. “It felt amazing,” Kigab noted. “I had the love from the crowd and my teammates and I was just very blessed to be out there.”
The River Lions host the Fraser Valley Bandits on July 25. The Shooting Stars host the Saskatchewan Rattlers on July 24.
Fans will be able to live stream all games including the playoffs on the CEBL’s OTT streaming service CEBL+, the CEBL’s official app, CEBL Mobile for iOS and Android devices, cbcsports.ca, the free CBC Gem streaming service, the CBC Sports App for iOS and Android devices and on NXT Level Sports in the U.S. As part of its playoff coverage, CBC Sports will broadcast the quarterfinal games Sunday, August 7, semifinal games Friday, August 12, and the Championship game on Sunday, August 14. For the complete broadcast and streaming schedule, click here. All times are subject to change.
The CEBL’s fourth regular season began May 25 and ends August 1. A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL is the largest pro sports league in the country with 10 teams located in six provinces. It 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.