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RECENT NEWS 

May 31, 2025
Myles Dichter – May 30, 2025 An instant classic unfolded at Niagara’s Meridian Centre on Friday — but, for the first time since 2023, the home side did not come out on top. The Saskatchewan Rattlers pulled out an 89-87 victory over the reigning champion River Lions (2-3), earning their first win in five games this season and snapping Niagara’s 15-game home winning streak that dated back nearly two years. Both teams had multiple chances to emerge victorious during a wild, back-and-forth Target Score Time. Saskatchewan (1-4) held a 79-77 lead when the clock stopped. But two things were working against the Rattlers — they’ve struggled all season in these situations, and the River Lions were welcoming back Khalil Ahmad, the two-time Clutch Player of the Year. Yet after multiple swings, a flurry of missed free throws, some vintage Ahmad play and a dose of controversy, the Rattlers’ Jordan Bowden sent the crowd home sad when he followed a transition attempt and cleaned up a rebound to give Saskatchewan the hard-earned win. “It's kind of the weight off our shoulders. When you get you have a bunch of close ones that maybe slip away, and you get another close one like tonight, you fear guys are going to maybe tighten up under the weight of it. And you know what? They battled through, they fought through, and I think this may be gives us some confidence the next time we're in the situation,” Rattlers head coach Eric Magdanz said. In Target Score Time, Ahmad immediately tied the game with a floater, but the Rattlers’ Nate Pierre-Louis responded with a monstrous slam, converting the and-one to give his side a three-point lead. Ahmad replied with a dunk of his own to cut the Niagara deficit back to one. A debatable three-shot foul against the River Lions’ Ron Curry then sent Pierre-Louis to the line, but he missed all three attempts and Ahmad took advantage with a layup on the other end, handing the River Lions their first advantage of Target Score Time. Eventually, the River Lions extended their lead to 86-83 with possession. Following a timeout from head coach Victor Raso, Ahmad received the ball with everyone in the building expecting him to end the game — to the point that even when he missed, the celebratory lights went off in the home arena. That’s when Niagara went cold, allowing Saskatchewan to take an 87-86 lead and setting up a next-bucket-wins scenario with the River Lions getting the ball. Ahmad missed a desperation three-pointer at the end of the shot clock but flew in for the offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback attempt, giving him a chance to win the game at the line. But he missed the second, leaving both teams within one. Then, controversy struck — an Elijah Ifejeh attempt rattled on top of the rim and was knocked a way above the cylinder by the River Lions’ Guillaume Boucard. The refs initially called it goaltending — which would have ended the game — but convened and overturned the call, giving possession back to the River Lions. “I don't t think I've ever seen a basket called back. Just a number of situations that were probably first for me and I've been in this league a while now. So, I think the fans got their money's worth,” Magdanz said. After more misses by each team, Pierre-Louis came up with a steal and ran the other way. When he missed, Bowden was there to clean up. And that was the ballgame. “It's been a tough week here where we've had a number of close ones that haven't bounced our way. So to see us continue to fight through [Target Score Time] and find a way to make the ball bounce the right way, credit to our guys,” Magdanz said. Meanwhile, Ahmad described the game’s final possessions as “intense.” “You gotta get stops [or] you're gonna lose, and that showed today, but we'll figure it out,” he said. Australian big man Grant Anticevich led the Rattlers with 25 points, including five makes from deep, while nearing a double-double with nine rebounds. Jamir Chaplin added 22 points while Cody John contributed 16 points off the bench. “Credit to my teammates, they give me a lot of confidence,” Anticevich said. “They get me open shots … they get draw a lot of help, a lot of attention from the defence and get me open. I was able to get a bit of a rhythm, I guess, tonight, and knock down some shots.” Ahmad led the way for the River Lions without looking like he missed a step. The star guard scored 36 points — one off his personal career high and River Lions record —including 20 in the first half alone, while also hauling in nine rebounds and dishing six assists. Canadian Nathan Cayo, also making his season debut, was the only other River Lion in double digits with 14 points. “Obviously we're a new group, there's a lot we gotta figure out, but we're very capable. Just a matter of practice and getting experience together,” Ahmad said. Ahmad, the 28-year-old from Corona, Calif., returned to the River Lions after missing the first four games of the season while finishing his pro season in Italy. Despite the eventual loss, he said it was “amazing” to make his CEBL return on the heels of last year’s championship. “Especially to be at home, the crowd is amazing, the city's amazing, the team's amazing. So it's all love,” Ahmad said. After falling into an early 15-6 hole, the River Lions responded with a 17-0 run and took a 29-19 lead into the second quarter. But Saskatchewan fought back, cutting the Niagara lead to 45-41 at halftime. Led by Anticevich, the Rattlers kept rolling in the third quarter, retook the lead and entered the final frame up 66-63. Then the end-of-game chaos ensued. Yet it wasn’t the home-dominant, defending champion River Lions that were able to keep composed and pull out the win. Instead, the Rattlers emerged victorious, busting their slump and ending Niagara’s Meridian Centre run. Anticevich said the win was “a great feeling.” “We've had a bit of trouble closing the game up and we had leads before Target Score [Time]. So to be able to close that out and fix our mistakes … hopefully we can use that momentum moving forward.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600583 Up Next Both teams are off until next Friday when the River Lions host the Scarborough Shooting Stars and the Rattlers visit the Calgary Surge. Next CEBL Action Just one game is set for Saturday as the Winnipeg Sea Bears host the Ottawa BlackJacks with both teams looking for their second win of the season. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-Myles Dichter – May 30, 2025 An instant classic unfolded at Niagara’s Meridian Centre on Friday — but, for the first time since Up Next Both teams are off until next Friday when the River Lions host the Scarborough Shooting Stars and the Rattlers visit the Calgary Surge. Next CEBL Action Just one game is set for Saturday as the Winnipeg Sea Bears host the Ottawa BlackJacks with both teams looking for their second win of the season. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . ###  Media Contact: Mya Hastings Social Media & Marketing Coordinator mhastings@riverlions.ca
May 25, 2025
Dillon White – May 24, 2025 Ron Curry connected on a contested mid-range jumper to complete a Target Score Time comeback for the Niagara River Lions on Saturday (May 24). The defending CEBL champs came back from an 13-point deficit to defeat the Saskatchewan Rattlers 88-86 in a defensive battle. Niagara head coach Victor Raso said the defence stepped up late to propel the comeback. “It just was ugly basketball, then we got really tough down the stretch,” Raso said. “But we have to stop doing this because two of our wins are in these kinds of situations.” Raso praised his team’s grittiness, but emphasized the need for improvement. “We need to get home and we need to practice. We have had one practice as a group and we rode some momentum early, but we're not playing great basketball right now,” Raso said. Four River Lions reached double figures in the win, and every player who saw the floor got on the scoresheet. Curry and Kimbal Mackenzie led the charge with 15 points each, while Ahmed Hill and Gatluak James added 11. Mackenzie said defence down the stretch made all the difference. “We dug in, we were able to get some stops and finish them with a rebound. And I think the game opened up a little bit,” he said. While the Niagara bench outscored Saskatchewan’s 31-3, the Rattlers’ starters showed their prowess. Saskatchewan guard Nate Pierre-Louis flirted with a triple-double again, tallying a game-high 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Jamir Chaplin and Grant Anticevich netted 24 and 16 points, respectively. Meanwhile, Regina native Isaac Simon picked up his first start in the CEBL and contributed on both ends for Saskatchewan with 10 points and two steals. “It's pretty cool, man. I've been here the last two summers, and I've been working really hard. So now that I get to contribute in a different way – whether on the court starting or coming off the bench – I'll do whatever I can to help us win,” Simon said. Simon says the team is becoming battle-tested, but it’s the little details that will get them over the hump to pick up their first win. “I think we just got to keep our head down and keep going, just knowing that we're capable and a win’s on the horizon,” he said. Saskatchewan head coach Eric Magdanz was happy with the way the team competed, but said the group needs to be more organized late in games. “I think we wanted to win it so bad that we got a little bit isolation-heavy. So we're going to work on putting some stuff in and making sure that we have some end-of-game scenarios to make sure that the ball continues to move,” he said. In the first quarter, Niagara and Saskatchewan exchanged punches with four lead changes in the game's early stages. The Rattlers welcomed big man Jaden Bediako into the lineup on Saturday, but he was forced to the bench midway through the quarter after picking up his third foul. The River Lions went on a 10-0 run after Bediako’s exit and carried a five-point lead into the second quarter. Connor Vreeken was scorching hot off the bench for Niagara in the first half with three triples, including a pair early in the quarter to force a Magdanz timeout. Pierre-Louis began to heat up for the Rattlers out of the timeout, leading the home team on a 9-0 run to make it a one-point game. It remained a close contest for the rest of the quarter, with Pierre-Louis tying it up with a mid-range jumper late to head into the locker room at 45-45. Saskatchewan locked down defensively to begin the third quarter. The Rattlers regained the lead and forced the River Lions into over four minutes without a field goal. Guillaume Boucard stopped the dry spell for Niagara, but the Rattlers continued to assert themselves with an 11-2 run. After Saskatchewan earned a 13-point cushion, Niagara fought back near the end of the frame to cut the deficit to single digits after three. The Rattlers pushed the advantage back up to 11 early in the fourth, but some big finishes from Elijah Lufile, including a pair of and-one putbacks, cut the deficit to four heading into Target Score Time. A three from Curry to kick off Target Time, in addition to an and-one from Boucard and free throws from Hill, gave Niagara its first lead since the second quarter. Saskatchewan replied with big buckets from Chaplin and Simon, while Hill and Boucard made clutch plays for Niagara. Both teams were one point away from victory when a shot clock violation from the Rattlers gave possession to the River Lions. Curry made no mistake, hitting a contested stepback jumper to earn the win for Niagara. The River Lions are now the first franchise in CEBL history to hit 75 wins. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600574 Up next for both teams The River Lions and Rattlers will get a rematch in Niagara next Friday (May 30), with Saskatchewan making a stop in Scarborough for a matchup with the Shooting Stars onThursday (May 29) as well. Next CEBL action A triple-header is slated for Sunday, with Scarborough visiting Brampton, Winnipeg taking on Calgary and Ottawa facing Montréal in an outdoor battle. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games.
May 23, 2025
Zulfi Sheikh – May 22, 2025 While it wasn’t with a title on the line this time, Vancouver still managed to exact a measure of revenge on Thursday. The Bandits beat the defending champion River Lions 109-72 at the Langley Events Centre, flipping the script in a rematch of last year’s final while handing Niagara its first loss of the season. Leading Vancouver (2-0) to a home-opening win was Kyle Mangas, who finished with a game-high 28 points on 5-of-9 shooting from distance. It was an all-around effort for the import guard as he also chipped in 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. Curtis Hollis also did his part for the Bandits as he racked up 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting off the pine, while Tyrese Samuel notched his second consecutive double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds to go with a game-high four blocks. “We had a bit of a sluggish start, but from there it was off to the races,” Mangas said during his on-court interview post-game. “It could be anyone’s night … you never know who it’s gonna be, we have a lot of weapons.” On the other side, Niagara (2-1) was helmed by Guillaume Boucard, who put up his own double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. The 2019 Canadian Player of the Year made a bit of history as well, his lone steal of the contest bringing him to 100 all-time for his CEBL career (regular season + playoffs). Boucard joined Khalil Ahmad as the only players in league history to reach that milestone. The forward, who previously spent three seasons in Niagara (2019- 2021), re-joined the River Lions this year after spending 2024 with his hometown Montreal Alliance. “Guillaume is just a complete competitor,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said. “He defends …you always know you’re going to get 100 per cent from Guillaume, he’s about as plug and play as you can find in this league.” Right behind Boucard was Antonio Davis Jr., who added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting off the bench, while River Lions captain Kimbal Mackenzie and Keyshawn Bryant chipped in 11 points each. What was shaping up as a tightly-contested affair after 10 minutes — the River Lions led 20-17 at the end of the first — quickly broke open in the second quarter thanks to a pair of 7-0 Bandits runs. Vancouver ended up outsourcing Niagara 30-17 in the frame and went into halftime with the game’s first double-digit lead, up 47-37. The Bandits first-half success came in part thanks to their dominance on the glass, racking up a 31-18 rebounding edge at the break while grabbing 15 offensive boards (plus-eight) for 14 second-chance points. They finished the game plus-15 for total rebounds (52-37) and doubled the River Lions production on the offensive glass (18-9). “Second chances on rebounds kind of changed the momentum,” Boucard said after the game. “We’ve still got to rebound at a championship level … we’ve still got to be physical and set a standard for our defence. Rebounding has been our Achilles (heel) these last three games.” And Vancouver’s lead only grew once action resumed, one-upping its dominance in the second quarter by outscoring Niagara 33-14 in the third. Mangas had his fingerprints all over the victory-sealing stretch as he opened the second half by nailing three consecutive triples as part of a 13-3 Bandits run. He finished the frame with 14 points as his team extended their lead to 80-51. “I just try to stay aggressive at all times,” Mangas said while reflecting on his strong third quarter and first-career CEBL double-double. “I know I’m a good shooter, I put in the work … always try to stay aggressive, because I know that can really help our team.” Vancouver pushed that lead as high as 39 points throughout the final frame, eventually carrying a 99-65 lead into Target Score time. From there, it was Samuel who eventually put the game to bed, sealing the win with a dunk off a no-look bounce pass from Shamar Givance, who finished with 10 assists. The Bandits couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season, picking up back-to-back dominant victories. They opened their 2025 campaign with a record-setting 40-point win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers last week, only to follow that up with an equally impressive 37-point rout of the defending champs. And while the rosters may not have been all that similar to last year’s title game, make no mistake, it was a rematch Vancouver took personally. “We’ve been hearing about Niagara and just the battle the Bandits had last year with (the River Lions), so we had a chip on our shoulders tonight,” Mangas said. Thursday’s victory at the Langley Events Centre in front of 3,987 fans in attendance also continued a trend of success in that building dating back to 2024. The Bandits started a perfect 6-0 in Vancouver last season and eventually finished with a West-leading 9-1 home record. “I thought it was electric tonight,” Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julis said post- game. “I thought that crowd was fantastic, it looked great, it sounded great, they were really connected to our players.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600571 Up next Both teams will return to action on Saturday. Starting with the River Lions visiting the 0-2 Saskatchewan Rattlers to wrap up a three-game road trip, while the Bandits stay put in Vancouver as they’ll host the 1-2 Edmonton Stingers. Next CEBL action The 1-0 Winnipeg Sea Bears and 1-1 Calgary Surge resume action on Friday after both squads were off for a week, picking things back up with a rematch of last year’s West Play-In game. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games. ### Media Contact: Mya Hastings Social Media & Marketing Coordintaor mhastings@riverlions.ca
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RECENT NEWS  

May 31, 2025
Myles Dichter – May 30, 2025 An instant classic unfolded at Niagara’s Meridian Centre on Friday — but, for the first time since 2023, the home side did not come out on top. The Saskatchewan Rattlers pulled out an 89-87 victory over the reigning champion River Lions (2-3), earning their first win in five games this season and snapping Niagara’s 15-game home winning streak that dated back nearly two years. Both teams had multiple chances to emerge victorious during a wild, back-and-forth Target Score Time. Saskatchewan (1-4) held a 79-77 lead when the clock stopped. But two things were working against the Rattlers — they’ve struggled all season in these situations, and the River Lions were welcoming back Khalil Ahmad, the two-time Clutch Player of the Year. Yet after multiple swings, a flurry of missed free throws, some vintage Ahmad play and a dose of controversy, the Rattlers’ Jordan Bowden sent the crowd home sad when he followed a transition attempt and cleaned up a rebound to give Saskatchewan the hard-earned win. “It's kind of the weight off our shoulders. When you get you have a bunch of close ones that maybe slip away, and you get another close one like tonight, you fear guys are going to maybe tighten up under the weight of it. And you know what? They battled through, they fought through, and I think this may be gives us some confidence the next time we're in the situation,” Rattlers head coach Eric Magdanz said. In Target Score Time, Ahmad immediately tied the game with a floater, but the Rattlers’ Nate Pierre-Louis responded with a monstrous slam, converting the and-one to give his side a three-point lead. Ahmad replied with a dunk of his own to cut the Niagara deficit back to one. A debatable three-shot foul against the River Lions’ Ron Curry then sent Pierre-Louis to the line, but he missed all three attempts and Ahmad took advantage with a layup on the other end, handing the River Lions their first advantage of Target Score Time. Eventually, the River Lions extended their lead to 86-83 with possession. Following a timeout from head coach Victor Raso, Ahmad received the ball with everyone in the building expecting him to end the game — to the point that even when he missed, the celebratory lights went off in the home arena. That’s when Niagara went cold, allowing Saskatchewan to take an 87-86 lead and setting up a next-bucket-wins scenario with the River Lions getting the ball. Ahmad missed a desperation three-pointer at the end of the shot clock but flew in for the offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback attempt, giving him a chance to win the game at the line. But he missed the second, leaving both teams within one. Then, controversy struck — an Elijah Ifejeh attempt rattled on top of the rim and was knocked a way above the cylinder by the River Lions’ Guillaume Boucard. The refs initially called it goaltending — which would have ended the game — but convened and overturned the call, giving possession back to the River Lions. “I don't t think I've ever seen a basket called back. Just a number of situations that were probably first for me and I've been in this league a while now. So, I think the fans got their money's worth,” Magdanz said. After more misses by each team, Pierre-Louis came up with a steal and ran the other way. When he missed, Bowden was there to clean up. And that was the ballgame. “It's been a tough week here where we've had a number of close ones that haven't bounced our way. So to see us continue to fight through [Target Score Time] and find a way to make the ball bounce the right way, credit to our guys,” Magdanz said. Meanwhile, Ahmad described the game’s final possessions as “intense.” “You gotta get stops [or] you're gonna lose, and that showed today, but we'll figure it out,” he said. Australian big man Grant Anticevich led the Rattlers with 25 points, including five makes from deep, while nearing a double-double with nine rebounds. Jamir Chaplin added 22 points while Cody John contributed 16 points off the bench. “Credit to my teammates, they give me a lot of confidence,” Anticevich said. “They get me open shots … they get draw a lot of help, a lot of attention from the defence and get me open. I was able to get a bit of a rhythm, I guess, tonight, and knock down some shots.” Ahmad led the way for the River Lions without looking like he missed a step. The star guard scored 36 points — one off his personal career high and River Lions record —including 20 in the first half alone, while also hauling in nine rebounds and dishing six assists. Canadian Nathan Cayo, also making his season debut, was the only other River Lion in double digits with 14 points. “Obviously we're a new group, there's a lot we gotta figure out, but we're very capable. Just a matter of practice and getting experience together,” Ahmad said. Ahmad, the 28-year-old from Corona, Calif., returned to the River Lions after missing the first four games of the season while finishing his pro season in Italy. Despite the eventual loss, he said it was “amazing” to make his CEBL return on the heels of last year’s championship. “Especially to be at home, the crowd is amazing, the city's amazing, the team's amazing. So it's all love,” Ahmad said. After falling into an early 15-6 hole, the River Lions responded with a 17-0 run and took a 29-19 lead into the second quarter. But Saskatchewan fought back, cutting the Niagara lead to 45-41 at halftime. Led by Anticevich, the Rattlers kept rolling in the third quarter, retook the lead and entered the final frame up 66-63. Then the end-of-game chaos ensued. Yet it wasn’t the home-dominant, defending champion River Lions that were able to keep composed and pull out the win. Instead, the Rattlers emerged victorious, busting their slump and ending Niagara’s Meridian Centre run. Anticevich said the win was “a great feeling.” “We've had a bit of trouble closing the game up and we had leads before Target Score [Time]. So to be able to close that out and fix our mistakes … hopefully we can use that momentum moving forward.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600583 Up Next Both teams are off until next Friday when the River Lions host the Scarborough Shooting Stars and the Rattlers visit the Calgary Surge. Next CEBL Action Just one game is set for Saturday as the Winnipeg Sea Bears host the Ottawa BlackJacks with both teams looking for their second win of the season. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-Myles Dichter – May 30, 2025 An instant classic unfolded at Niagara’s Meridian Centre on Friday — but, for the first time since Up Next Both teams are off until next Friday when the River Lions host the Scarborough Shooting Stars and the Rattlers visit the Calgary Surge. Next CEBL Action Just one game is set for Saturday as the Winnipeg Sea Bears host the Ottawa BlackJacks with both teams looking for their second win of the season. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . ###  Media Contact: Mya Hastings Social Media & Marketing Coordinator mhastings@riverlions.ca
May 25, 2025
Dillon White – May 24, 2025 Ron Curry connected on a contested mid-range jumper to complete a Target Score Time comeback for the Niagara River Lions on Saturday (May 24). The defending CEBL champs came back from an 13-point deficit to defeat the Saskatchewan Rattlers 88-86 in a defensive battle. Niagara head coach Victor Raso said the defence stepped up late to propel the comeback. “It just was ugly basketball, then we got really tough down the stretch,” Raso said. “But we have to stop doing this because two of our wins are in these kinds of situations.” Raso praised his team’s grittiness, but emphasized the need for improvement. “We need to get home and we need to practice. We have had one practice as a group and we rode some momentum early, but we're not playing great basketball right now,” Raso said. Four River Lions reached double figures in the win, and every player who saw the floor got on the scoresheet. Curry and Kimbal Mackenzie led the charge with 15 points each, while Ahmed Hill and Gatluak James added 11. Mackenzie said defence down the stretch made all the difference. “We dug in, we were able to get some stops and finish them with a rebound. And I think the game opened up a little bit,” he said. While the Niagara bench outscored Saskatchewan’s 31-3, the Rattlers’ starters showed their prowess. Saskatchewan guard Nate Pierre-Louis flirted with a triple-double again, tallying a game-high 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Jamir Chaplin and Grant Anticevich netted 24 and 16 points, respectively. Meanwhile, Regina native Isaac Simon picked up his first start in the CEBL and contributed on both ends for Saskatchewan with 10 points and two steals. “It's pretty cool, man. I've been here the last two summers, and I've been working really hard. So now that I get to contribute in a different way – whether on the court starting or coming off the bench – I'll do whatever I can to help us win,” Simon said. Simon says the team is becoming battle-tested, but it’s the little details that will get them over the hump to pick up their first win. “I think we just got to keep our head down and keep going, just knowing that we're capable and a win’s on the horizon,” he said. Saskatchewan head coach Eric Magdanz was happy with the way the team competed, but said the group needs to be more organized late in games. “I think we wanted to win it so bad that we got a little bit isolation-heavy. So we're going to work on putting some stuff in and making sure that we have some end-of-game scenarios to make sure that the ball continues to move,” he said. In the first quarter, Niagara and Saskatchewan exchanged punches with four lead changes in the game's early stages. The Rattlers welcomed big man Jaden Bediako into the lineup on Saturday, but he was forced to the bench midway through the quarter after picking up his third foul. The River Lions went on a 10-0 run after Bediako’s exit and carried a five-point lead into the second quarter. Connor Vreeken was scorching hot off the bench for Niagara in the first half with three triples, including a pair early in the quarter to force a Magdanz timeout. Pierre-Louis began to heat up for the Rattlers out of the timeout, leading the home team on a 9-0 run to make it a one-point game. It remained a close contest for the rest of the quarter, with Pierre-Louis tying it up with a mid-range jumper late to head into the locker room at 45-45. Saskatchewan locked down defensively to begin the third quarter. The Rattlers regained the lead and forced the River Lions into over four minutes without a field goal. Guillaume Boucard stopped the dry spell for Niagara, but the Rattlers continued to assert themselves with an 11-2 run. After Saskatchewan earned a 13-point cushion, Niagara fought back near the end of the frame to cut the deficit to single digits after three. The Rattlers pushed the advantage back up to 11 early in the fourth, but some big finishes from Elijah Lufile, including a pair of and-one putbacks, cut the deficit to four heading into Target Score Time. A three from Curry to kick off Target Time, in addition to an and-one from Boucard and free throws from Hill, gave Niagara its first lead since the second quarter. Saskatchewan replied with big buckets from Chaplin and Simon, while Hill and Boucard made clutch plays for Niagara. Both teams were one point away from victory when a shot clock violation from the Rattlers gave possession to the River Lions. Curry made no mistake, hitting a contested stepback jumper to earn the win for Niagara. The River Lions are now the first franchise in CEBL history to hit 75 wins. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600574 Up next for both teams The River Lions and Rattlers will get a rematch in Niagara next Friday (May 30), with Saskatchewan making a stop in Scarborough for a matchup with the Shooting Stars onThursday (May 29) as well. Next CEBL action A triple-header is slated for Sunday, with Scarborough visiting Brampton, Winnipeg taking on Calgary and Ottawa facing Montréal in an outdoor battle. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games.
May 23, 2025
Zulfi Sheikh – May 22, 2025 While it wasn’t with a title on the line this time, Vancouver still managed to exact a measure of revenge on Thursday. The Bandits beat the defending champion River Lions 109-72 at the Langley Events Centre, flipping the script in a rematch of last year’s final while handing Niagara its first loss of the season. Leading Vancouver (2-0) to a home-opening win was Kyle Mangas, who finished with a game-high 28 points on 5-of-9 shooting from distance. It was an all-around effort for the import guard as he also chipped in 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. Curtis Hollis also did his part for the Bandits as he racked up 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting off the pine, while Tyrese Samuel notched his second consecutive double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds to go with a game-high four blocks. “We had a bit of a sluggish start, but from there it was off to the races,” Mangas said during his on-court interview post-game. “It could be anyone’s night … you never know who it’s gonna be, we have a lot of weapons.” On the other side, Niagara (2-1) was helmed by Guillaume Boucard, who put up his own double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. The 2019 Canadian Player of the Year made a bit of history as well, his lone steal of the contest bringing him to 100 all-time for his CEBL career (regular season + playoffs). Boucard joined Khalil Ahmad as the only players in league history to reach that milestone. The forward, who previously spent three seasons in Niagara (2019- 2021), re-joined the River Lions this year after spending 2024 with his hometown Montreal Alliance. “Guillaume is just a complete competitor,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said. “He defends …you always know you’re going to get 100 per cent from Guillaume, he’s about as plug and play as you can find in this league.” Right behind Boucard was Antonio Davis Jr., who added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting off the bench, while River Lions captain Kimbal Mackenzie and Keyshawn Bryant chipped in 11 points each. What was shaping up as a tightly-contested affair after 10 minutes — the River Lions led 20-17 at the end of the first — quickly broke open in the second quarter thanks to a pair of 7-0 Bandits runs. Vancouver ended up outsourcing Niagara 30-17 in the frame and went into halftime with the game’s first double-digit lead, up 47-37. The Bandits first-half success came in part thanks to their dominance on the glass, racking up a 31-18 rebounding edge at the break while grabbing 15 offensive boards (plus-eight) for 14 second-chance points. They finished the game plus-15 for total rebounds (52-37) and doubled the River Lions production on the offensive glass (18-9). “Second chances on rebounds kind of changed the momentum,” Boucard said after the game. “We’ve still got to rebound at a championship level … we’ve still got to be physical and set a standard for our defence. Rebounding has been our Achilles (heel) these last three games.” And Vancouver’s lead only grew once action resumed, one-upping its dominance in the second quarter by outscoring Niagara 33-14 in the third. Mangas had his fingerprints all over the victory-sealing stretch as he opened the second half by nailing three consecutive triples as part of a 13-3 Bandits run. He finished the frame with 14 points as his team extended their lead to 80-51. “I just try to stay aggressive at all times,” Mangas said while reflecting on his strong third quarter and first-career CEBL double-double. “I know I’m a good shooter, I put in the work … always try to stay aggressive, because I know that can really help our team.” Vancouver pushed that lead as high as 39 points throughout the final frame, eventually carrying a 99-65 lead into Target Score time. From there, it was Samuel who eventually put the game to bed, sealing the win with a dunk off a no-look bounce pass from Shamar Givance, who finished with 10 assists. The Bandits couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season, picking up back-to-back dominant victories. They opened their 2025 campaign with a record-setting 40-point win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers last week, only to follow that up with an equally impressive 37-point rout of the defending champs. And while the rosters may not have been all that similar to last year’s title game, make no mistake, it was a rematch Vancouver took personally. “We’ve been hearing about Niagara and just the battle the Bandits had last year with (the River Lions), so we had a chip on our shoulders tonight,” Mangas said. Thursday’s victory at the Langley Events Centre in front of 3,987 fans in attendance also continued a trend of success in that building dating back to 2024. The Bandits started a perfect 6-0 in Vancouver last season and eventually finished with a West-leading 9-1 home record. “I thought it was electric tonight,” Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julis said post- game. “I thought that crowd was fantastic, it looked great, it sounded great, they were really connected to our players.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600571 Up next Both teams will return to action on Saturday. Starting with the River Lions visiting the 0-2 Saskatchewan Rattlers to wrap up a three-game road trip, while the Bandits stay put in Vancouver as they’ll host the 1-2 Edmonton Stingers. Next CEBL action The 1-0 Winnipeg Sea Bears and 1-1 Calgary Surge resume action on Friday after both squads were off for a week, picking things back up with a rematch of last year’s West Play-In game. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games. ### Media Contact: Mya Hastings Social Media & Marketing Coordintaor mhastings@riverlions.ca
May 19, 2025
Written by Alex Lough  It wasn’t easy, but the Niagara River Lions rallied late to take home the win in head coach Victor Rasso’s 100 th regular season CEBL game, spoiling the Ottawa BlackJacks season debut with an 87-85 victory. The BlackJacks started off hot with Tyrell Tate nailing back-to-back three pointers to start a 19-5 run mid-way through the first quarter to pull his team ahead 24-10. They would build their lead as high as 16 for the majority of the game and entered Target Score Time up 78-66. Niagara struggled shooting the ball throughout the first half, failing to make a three-point shot until Connor Vreeken sank a basket with 48 seconds left in the first quarter. They finished the half just 3-of-15 from beyond the arc. “We were pretty calm,” Raso said of his team’s mindset going into halftime. “I did think we had a lot more to give and it’s still very new; this is a very new basketball team. But we got really tough defensively and that was more of a defensive run at the end than anything.” The adjustments paid dividends, as the River Lions held the BlackJacks to just 11-for-36 shooting from the floor in the second half after they shot 50 per cent to start the game. Rudi Williams led the team with 15 points. Deng Adel added 14 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists on a night where he moved into the franchise’s all-time lead in the latter two categories. Isaih Moore chipped in with 14 points himself, and Tyrrel Tate finished with 13. “Losses are disappointing, I get it,” BlackJacks head coach Dave DeAveiro said after the game. “But I’m just looking at the process and how we’re going to get better, that’s all I’m concerned about right now.” On the other side of the ball, team captain Kimbal Mackenzie was the difference maker, scoring 24 points and hitting five three-pointers. He was a menace on the defensive end as well, constantly disrupting the BlackJacks players and even their fans with his vocal approach. “He’s a captain,” Raso said of his star player after the game. “He is the captain of the team. He’s an extension of me. Kimball’s the Niagara college women’s coach. He gets it from both ends and he’s playing the best basketball he’s ever played. Yes, he fires the crowd up at home and on the road, he took a couple of fouls – he got an unsportsmanlike foul – so I can see why people don’t like him, but he’s our leader.” On top of Mackenzie’s contributions, import Ron Curry had 15 points and a game high seven assists, while the returning Ottawa native Eddie Ekiyor had 11 points and 8 rebounds. Never one to take too much of the credit, Coach Raso deferred the praise to his players and the level of talent the league has been able to recruit in Year 7, citing the growth he’s seen in the league since he’s been here. “(The CEBL) is remarkably different than it was six years ago,” he reminisced. “There were six teams in the league, all the basketball was so different. Now we’re on TSN, these games have crowds like this, the quality of basket players are through the roof. I’m happy to be on board because I think this is going cool places.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600567 Up next for both teams The BlackJacks will welcome the Brampton Honey Badgers to The Arena at TD Place for their first of four meetings this season on May 21. As for the River Lions, they’ll continue their three-game road trip with a trek over to the west coast to face off against the 1-0 Vancouver Bandits on May 22. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL - ### Media Contact: Mya Hastings Social Media & Marketing Coordinator mhastings@riverlions.ca
May 17, 2025
Written by Myles Dichter Niagara leaned on its championship experience to start this season the same way the last ended: with a win. The defending champion River Lions beat the Calgary Surge 98-94 in their home opener on Friday at the Meridian Centre. Calgary fell to 1-1 with the loss following a season-opening victory over Edmonton on Sunday. A game that long seemed in the hands of Niagara — which once led by 16 — turned into a tight contest in Target Score Time when Calgary took its first lead of the game. However, the River Lions, who led 89-86 when the clock stopped, fought back to take a 96-94 lead of their own. That’s when head coach Victor Raso called timeout to set up a sideline out-of-bounds play. And River Lions fans saw something they might remember – just with a couple different names. Ahmed Hill, in his first game as a River Lion, curled around a screen toward the net as inbounder Kimbal Mackenzie lofted a lob into the Niagara sky. Hill soared through the air and jammed home the alley-oop, putting an exclamation mark on the season-opening win. It was the same play the team executed last season – from TJ Lall to Khalil Ahmad — to beat the Ottawa BlackJacks in the quarterfinals last year. “It was amazing,” Hill said. “Shout out to the team. Shout out to the organization. Shout out to the fans for coming out, there was a great turnout. Happy we got the dub, for sure.” Surge head coach Kaleb Canales, who spent time leading the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012, promised to see Raso and the River Lions again after the barnburner finish. “Tough battle [on] both ends. Came down to the wire. You know, we had opportunities. Got to do a better job at cleaning up the rebounds. Great game. I'll see him down the road. I'll be there,” Canales said. Zooming out, Raso, who has coached Niagara for its entire CEBL existence, said his team looked like one just getting its feet wet in a new season despite the win. “I thought we played better offensively than we did defensively. I thought we were too much kind of focused on them and their strengths and we needed to be more focused on us defensively and being fundamental and all the stuff we did in training camp,” Raso said. For Niagara, the win was a continuation of its home cooking from last season, when it became just the second team ever to go undefeated on its home court. The River Lions’ last loss at the Meridian Centre came on June 24, 2023, at the hands of Ottawa. “The crowd is awesome. We play well at home and we just believe we can win. That's a massive thing. If you've got energy and belief, then you can do a lot of great stuff,” Raso said. Hill, 30, enjoyed a strong River Lions debut even beyond playing hero, totalling 20 points while adding five rebounds, five assists and four steals. The Augusta, Ga., native came to Niagara after four seasons split between the Guelph Nighthawks and Montreal Alliance. “I felt a little weird because every time I come in here, it's always a battle, but it's good being on … the home side. So it felt really good. I'm excited for the future,” Hill said. Hill also drained three three-pointers to give him 200 in the regular season for his career — the first player in league history to reach that mark. He said he hopes to continue growing into the Niagara culture moving forward. “Just fitting in, you know, I bring a lot of things to the game, so whatever they need me to do, I just fit in to do it,” Hill said. Raso said the River Lions are built to win with depth — but that the Hill addition certainly doesn’t hurt. “We don't necessarily play through one guy over and over. I mean, Khalil Ahmad has been that for us in the past, but we weren't necessarily playing through Ahmed tonight. He just does a lot of things. He does a lot of winning things, and he's proven in this league. And he played really well in the second half tonight,” Raso said. The River Lions also welcomed back forward Eddie Ekiyor, who played for the team in 2023 but missed last season with a knee injury. The Ottawa native recorded 11 points and four rebounds in his return. Mackenzie, the team captain, was second in scoring behind Hill with 17 points. Guillaume Boucard, who played with Montreal last season but was a River Lion from 2019 to 2021, added 15 points and nine rebounds. CEBL rookie Olumide Adelodun led the Surge with 25 points, including multiple key three-pointers as Calgary waged a comeback attempt in the second half. Greg Brown III contributed 23 points and six rebounds for Calgary, while Stefan Jankovic poured in 12 points off the bench. Canales said he’s been impressed with his team’s cohesiveness through two games. “Love our competitiveness, our grit, our connection on both ends. You know, everything we've been practising, we're working on, we're seeing it on the floor, and we know every game's going to be tough, so we just got to focus on the next game and turn the page,” he said. Niagara was up 28-24 after the first quarter despite leading by as much as 12 in the early going. It extended its lead to 57-50 at halftime. The River Lions’ lead swelled up to 16 in the third quarter, but Niagara took an 80-74 into the final 10 minutes. Then came the dramatic fourth quarter. Now, Niagara looks set on defending its title. And the scary part for River Lions opponents? This may not be their final form, as Ahmad — who led Niagara in its title run and scored the winning bucket — could return to the team later in the season. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600565 Up Next The River Lions hit the road to face the BlackJacks on Sunday, while the Surge have a week off before visiting the Winnipeg Sea Bears next Friday. Next CEBL Action In addition to the River Lions-BlackJacks game on Sunday, the Montreal Alliance will host the Brampton Honey Badgers in their home opener. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL - ### Media Contact: Mya Hastings Social Media & Marketing Coordintaor mhastings@riverlions.ca
May 11, 2025
Ontario licensed and regulated Sportsbook to power all CEBL+ streaming broadcasts during 2025 season

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