Tyson Leads Honey Badgers Past River Lions with Record-Setting Performance
St. Catharines, ON – Led by a franchise-record nine three-pointers from Cameron Tyson, the Brampton Honey Badgers defeated the Niagara River Lions 97-86 Friday night at the Meridian Centre.
Heading into the matchup the Brampton Honey Badgers had not won a game at the Meridian Centre since 2022, dropping their previous five games in Niagara. Led by Tyson, the 6-1 Honey Badgers were determined to change that trend.
Tyson found his rhythm early, knocking down four of his first five three-point attempts in the opening quarter. Tyson’s shooting, combined with the River Lions' offensive struggles, fueled a 9-0 Brampton run midway through the first quarter. At the end of the opening frame, the Honey Badgers led 25-17 with Tyson scoring 12 points.
The second quarter brought more of the same for Niagara, as the River Lions continued to struggle offensively. Brampton increased their lead to 52-38 with Joshua Omajofo contributing nine points in the quarter and Tyson knocking down another three-pointer to bring his total to five on the night. By halftime, Niagara was shooting just 37.5% from the field as they struggled to generate quality looks against a determined Honey Badgers defence.
Following the game, Brampton Head Coach Alex Cerda praised his team's defensive effort: “Culturally we talked about being the toughest, hardest working, and the most competitive team in the CEBL. I thought we made them score through bodies, defended without fouling, and we contested a lot of their shots.”
Brampton continued to control the game through most of the fourth quarter, entering Target Score Time with a commanding 21-point lead. A major reason for that advantage was Tyson, who has been one of the league’s most dangerous perimeter shooters all season. Tonight was no different as Tyson knocked down a franchise-record nine three-pointers while shooting 60% from beyond the arc. Tyson has established himself as one of the CEBL’s premier perimeter shooters, averaging 11.8 three-point attempts per game while connecting on over 50% of them.
Coach Cerda had this to say about Tyson’s record-breaking performance: “Cameron errs on the side of aggression, which we want him to do. He’s a movement shooter, he doesn’t need a lot of space and time to get them off, and he definitely makes some tough ones. We’re not out there trying to break records, but it just so happens to happen because we play the right way.”
Tyson also commented on his performance: “We have a phenomenal team, you have to guard everyone on the court, and if you don’t want to guard someone, we’re going to make you pay. We do a good job of finding open guys and tonight they left me open.”
Target Score Time appeared to be little more than a formality when Brampton quickly scored six points to extend their lead to 27 and come within three points of their first win in Niagara since 2022. However, just when it looked like the game was out of reach, Niagara began chipping away at the deficit. The River Lions scored 15 unanswered points as a part of a 20-2 run. Donald Carey Jr. and Keonte Kennedy led the charge offensively with eight and five points respectively during this stretch. Phil Jordan Tchuente played a major role in the comeback effort, helping spark Niagara’s defensive intensity. Tchuente showcased his athleticism with three blocked shots and one steal during Target Score Time, providing the energy that helped fuel the River Lions’ rally.
Coach Mackenzie praised Tchuente's impact on the defensive end: “Dino did a great job. He’s a very athletic player, so he did a good job helping at the basket.”
After trailing by as many as 27 points, Niagara cut the deficit to single digits before Judson Martindale sealed the victory for the Honey Badgers with an emphatic dunk. The 97-86 victory improved Brampton to a league-best 7-1 record, already surpassing last season's win total by two games.
“It takes a collective effort to stay poised in those moments” said Coach Cerda. “You have to withstand the runs that they’re going to go on and you still have to take it one possession at a time.”
Tyson also reflected on Brampton’s strong start to the season: “We have one end goal and that's to hoist the trophy at the end of the year. So everyone’s just buying in, we understand that it’s a journey. It’s going to be a process, and we aren’t trying to be a finished product right now. We are trying to be a finished product in August.”
Niagara will look to bounce back on Wednesday, June 10, when the River Lions continue their homestand against the Scarborough Shooting Stars at 7 p.m. Coach Mackenzie commented on the team’s focus heading into the matchup: “We have to be ready to play basketball right at the start of the game. Scarborough is a brand new opponent who plays quite different than Brampton, so it’ll be a fresh game for us.”
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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