River Lions Rally Past Calgary Surge Behind Dominant Bench Performance
St. Catharines, ON – Both teams headed into tonight’s rematch of the 2025 CEBL Championship looking for a win. The Surge entered the game having lost their first five contests of the season. The River Lions on the other hand were hoping for their first home win of the season which would bring them back to .500 on the year.
Calgary started off the night hot, moving the ball up the floor and getting some quick points in transition. Sean Miller-Moore spearheaded the offense with 18 points on 8/9 shooting from the field all in the first half. As a team the Surge only missed one shot from inside the 3 point line the entire first half showcasing their proficiency in getting to the basket and knocking down high quality looks. Perry Huang, Head Coach of the Calgary Surge emphasized this point stating that “the first goal is always to get high efficiency shots… I thought our guys did a good job attacking closeouts, getting into the paint, and also playing off of the pick and roll”
The only sign of weakness for Calgary early on was their three point shooting, as the Surge went just 1-for-9 from beyond the arc. Those struggles continued after halftime, with Calgary finishing the game 1-for-19 from deep. While the Surge consistently found success attacking the basket, their inability to stretch the floor allowed Niagara to stay within striking distance and gradually chip away at the deficit.
Niagara seized its opportunity late in the third quarter with a transition dunk from Kameron Warrens giving the River Lions a 59-58 lead. After this point, the River Lions never relinquished the lead, capitalizing on the moment taking a 4 point lead into the final frame.
Niagara showcased their depth in the fourth quarter with key shots from multiple contributors in addition to big stops that led to quick buckets on the break. Niagara's bench proved to be a major difference-maker, outscoring Calgary's reserves 40-15. Niagara River Lions Head Coach, Kimbal Mackenzie spoke highly of the team’s performance stating that “we have really good depth, you saw that tonight. We had a lot of great contributions from the bench… JD was awesome, Kameron was awesome, Cole was really good, and same with Blondeau. We’re a really deep team and it played to our advantage tonight”
Another key to the game was slowing down Sean Miller-Moore. Coach Mackenzie stated that "Miller-Moore is a really good player. Early he got a lot of stuff in transition and we were messing up some switches. Cleaning that up and making him take tough jump shots was an important part of our game plan heading into the second half." After scoring 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting in the opening half, Miller-Moore was limited to just 2 points after halftime as Niagara's defensive adjustments took effect. The River Lions' ability to slow Calgary's leading scorer proved to be a major factor in their comeback victory.
One of Niagara’s biggest contributors was JD Muila, who is in his first season with the team. The River Lions outscored the Surge by 16 while Muila was on the floor which led both teams. Muila’s impact extended well beyond the box score, drawing charges, getting crucial rebounds on both ends of the floor, and providing a strong interior presence throughout the comeback effort. Muila commented on his experience joining the River Lions this season “I got here a week and a half ago and I’m already getting used to the team, the guys are very welcoming, and we have a great coaching staff, so it’s been easy to start understanding what we are trying to accomplish”
The River Lions capped off tonight’s victory with a big dunk by Keonte Kennedy in Target Time, earning coach Mackenzie his first win as Head Coach of the Niagara River Lions. “Happy to get this one for the fans” said Coach Mackenzie. “We’re really trying to show up every day and get better. It’s a long season, so we’re trying to build habits right now that will hopefully pay dividends down the road”
The River Lions continue their Home Stand on Friday, June 5 as they take on the Brampton Honey Badgers at 7pm. The Honey Badgers are off to a hot start in 2026 with a 6-1 record after Sean East capped off an 87-86 thriller against his former team, the Edmonton Stingers, with a free throw to win it in Target Time.
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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