River Lions Fall to Red-Hot Mamba in School Day Showdown
By Jack Lewis
St. Catharines, ON – Niagara entered Friday’s highly anticipated school-day matchup against the Saskatoon Mamba looking to secure their third consecutive victory and surpass their longest win streak of the season. After a dominant showing against the Brampton Honey Badgers at the CAA Centre, the River Lions appeared to be building momentum heading into a packed Meridian Centre. A sold-out Meridian Centre created an electric atmosphere for everyone in attendance.
Former River Lion Gautlak James returned to the Meridian Centre and was presented with his 2025 CEBL Championship ring by former head coach Victor Raso, setting a celebratory tone for the morning.
The game got off to a difficult start for Niagara, as their offensive rhythm was noticeably off from the jump. Jaden Bediako opened up the scoring for Saskatoon with a floater while River Lions guard Keonte Kennedy responded with a quick three-pointer to start the scoring for Niagara. Unfortunately, the River Lions' shot selection and turnover struggles continued, and Saskatoon took full advantage of Niagara’s stagnant play early on. The Mamba capitalized, using a 17-4 run midway through the opening quarter to seize control of the game. Despite some energy from Niagara's second unit, Saskatoon finished the first quarter leading by 16 points with all the momentum heading into the second.
With the starters struggling to generate a consistent offence, Niagara’s bench unit was thrust into action to provide a much-needed spark. The second quarter showcased the depth of the River Lions' bench, which outscored the team's starting lineup 16-12 in the first half. Kameron Warrens was phenomenal off the bench, putting up back-to-back threes, followed by a diving defensive play forcing a Saskatoon over-and-back, leading to another steal and an acrobatic finish at the rim by Warrens. Cole Long also delivered several key defensive possessions early in the quarter.
Regardless of the boost off the bench, Saskatoon's perimeter shooting was blistering, as the Mamba knocked down 11 of their 15 attempts from beyond the arc in the first half with three players recording three three-pointers before the break. Saskatoon headed into the locker room up 62-28, tying the CEBL record for 2nd most points in a single half.
Following the game, head coach Kimbal Mackenzie credited Saskatoon's offensive execution: “They played with good pace, and made a lot of shots early, so give them credit… They shared the ball well and, you know, hurt us inside and out… yeah, we tried, but sometimes when a team gets confident, and they're really flowing, they can be tough to slow down.”
Niagara looked like a completely different team coming out of halftime, allowing only a single three-point make until late into the quarter. They put together some terrific defensive stops leading to multiple Saskatoon turnovers, sparking a 10-0 run fueled by Kameron Warrens with major contributions from Donald Carey Jr. and Cole Long. Warrens finished the third frame with seven points, one rebound, one assist and one steal. While Carey Jr. and Long finished with a combined 10 points, three rebounds, and four assists. Even as Niagara found some rhythm offensively, Saskatoon continued to answer, showing they could do more than just shoot the three ball, with 14 of their 19 points coming in the paint or at the free-throw line. Saskatoon held their lead by the end of the quarter, leading 81-54.
Niagara continued to fight back during the fourth quarter and Target Score Time, through some crafty finishes by Khalil Ahmad accompanied by some early trips to the free-throw line. The River Lions also had some excellent defensive possessions from JD Muila leading to a pair of three-pointers from Carey Jr and Warrens. Ayub Nurhussien made his third appearance for Niagara and scored the first points of his CEBL and River Lions career on a corner three-pointer. Saskatoon's offence never relented, and Tavian Dunn-Martin ultimately sealed the victory with the Target Score game-winning three-pointer, ending the game 104 - 77 in favour of Saskatoon. The Mamba were powered by 25-plus point performances from Jaden Bediako and Tavian Dunn-Martin, while Kameron Warrens led Niagara with 21 points and a team-best +7 plus/minus.
Kimbal Mackenzie commented on the game and what it means for Niagara moving forward: “You know, hopefully it's a wake-up call; if you can't come in and be the more competitive team that tries harder, things like this will happen.”
The loss drops Niagara to 5-6 on the season and concludes a difficult June stretch at the Meridian Centre, where the River Lions posted a 2-4 record. Niagara will have little time to regroup before Sunday's rematch against the league-leading Scarborough Shooting Stars (8-1), with an opportunity to climb back to .500 still within reach.
The Niagara River Lions are one of the founding franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and the league’s reigning back-to-back champions (2024 & 2025). Competing out of the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, from May to August each season, the River Lions proudly represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region, uniting fans through passion, pride, and purpose. Entering their second decade, the River Lions have earned a reputation for championship-caliber performance and community impact, embodying the strength and spirit of Niagara both on and off the court.
For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X.
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