Nighthawks and River Lions Tip off in the First Contest of a Two Game Set
A System Administrator • Jul 30, 2021
By Justine Jones
The Guelph Nighthawks (2-8) travel to St. Catharines to take on the Niagara River Lions (6-3) on July 30 at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Meridian Centre.
This marks the first game in a home-and-home series between these two teams, with the second contest scheduled for Sunday, August 1 at the Sleeman Centre.
These regional rivals have yet to meet this year, and tonight’s game will be key for both Guelph and Niagara as they look to build chemistry in the second half of this CEBL season.
Ending before Elam
While the Guelph Nighthawks have only won two games so far this year, the team has displayed solid stretches of basketball throughout the season, and their record does not necessarily convey the true talent of the team. What has largely kept the squad winless in their last three games has been their struggles to close in the Elam Ending.
The Nighthawks led for the first three quarters against Hamilton on Tuesday, and had a three-point lead heading into the Elam Ending, yet were unable to seal the victory. Similarly, Guelph was tied 77-77 with Saskatchewan just prior to the Elam Ending last Thursday, July 22, but also dropped that game.
However, a bright spot in both these games has been the play of Ahmed Hill. The former G-League guard has carried the load offensively over the Nighthawks’ last three matchups, averaging 24.0 points per game. Throughout the last week, Guelph has seen some if its top players in forwards Justin Jackson and Chad Brown depart for the NBA Summer League, but Hill has answered the call and done his part to fill the void offensively.
Guelph will also rely on strong perimeter defence again tonight against the Niagara River Lions. The Nighthawks held the Hamilton Honey Badgers starters to a combined 13 points in the first half of Tuesday’s game. Hamilton, a team that leads the CEBL with 127 three-pointers made this season, shot only 12 per cent from beyond the arc through two quarters against Guelph earlier this week.
Double-Double DeLaurier
The River Lions enter tonight’s contest on a three-game winning streak. Javin DeLaurier has been solid for the River Lions through this stretch, registering a double-double in each of these matchups. The six-foot-ten forward also leads the CEBL with 11.3 rebounds per game, and ranks as one of the league’s top three shot blockers, averaging 1.8 blocks per game. DeLaurier has been an anchor for the River Lions on both offence and defence this year, and as a collective Niagara tops the CEBL in rebounds (38.0) and blocks per game (4.2).
This elite rim protection has allowed the River Lions to be aggressive on defence, knowing they have a stable interior presence behind them. Niagara has three players, Daniel Mullings, Guillaume Payen-Boucard and Xavier Sneed, ranked in the top five in steals and as a collective the River Lions lead the CEBL, averaging 11.7 steals per game.
Another advantage of DeLaurier’s point production is that it has opened up perimeter shooters including Jaylen Babb-Harrison, Xavier Sneed and Phil Scrubb. In all, Niagara has scored by committee this season and in its most recent win over the BlackJacks, the River Lions’ bench outscored Ottawa, 38-18. A collective scoring effort will be key again tonight as Guelph’s point production has come largely from two players, the aforementioned Hill and his back court partner, Cat Barber.
The River Lions also recently announced the signing of five-time U SPORTS National Champion, Thomas Scrubb. The former Carleton Raven is reunited with his brother, Phil Scrubb, and is set to make his River Lions debut against Guelph. A seasoned two-way player, Scrubb’s impact will surely be felt both tonight, and as the River Lions close out their season.
Playoff picture
The Nighthawks remain in the playoff hunt, fighting the Saskatchewan Rattlers for the sixth and final post-season berth. Guelph has played one less game compared to the Rattlers, and the two split the season series 1-1.
Niagara has secured its playoff spot, and currently sits in third place behind the Edmonton Stingers and Hamilton Honey Badgers. The River Lions will now jockey for seeding, hoping to secure a top two placement by the end of season, to receive a bye to the CEBL semifinals. Niagara has played less games compared to the Stingers and Honey Badgers, and will play a two game series with Hamilton in August. These games will be crucial in finalizing playoff matchups.
| Position | Team | Wins | Losses | Win % | Home | Road | L5 | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonton Stingers | 10 | 1 | 0.91 | 4-0 | 6-1 | 4-1 | 3W |
| 2 | Hamilton Honey Badgers | 9 | 3 | 0.75 | 5-1 | 4-2 | 3-2 | 3W |
| 3 | Niagara River Lions | 6 | 3 | 0.67 | 4-0 | 2-3 | 4-1 | 3W |
| 4 | Fraser Valley Bandits | 5 | 5 | 0.50 | 5-2 | 0-3 | 1-4 | 3L |
| 5 | Ottawa BlackJacks | 4 | 7 | 0.36 | 4-2 | 0-5 | 2-3 | 1W |
| 6 | Guelph Nighthawks | 2 | 8 | 0.20 | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1-4 | 3L |
All CEBL games will be available for live streaming on the CEBL’s new OTT streaming service, CEBL+, cbcsports.ca, the free CBC Gem streaming service, the CBC Sports App for iOS and android devices, and on Twitch.
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 75 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 typically runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.