St. Catharines, ON – A returning star and another late comeback effort gave River Lions fans plenty to cheer about Wednesday night, but the Scarborough Shooting Stars proved too much to overcome as Niagara fell 104-93 at Meridian Centre. Tonight's matchup marked the return of Khalil Ahmad following his overseas season, giving Niagara its first look at a roster that hopes to complete the first three-peat in CEBL history. Early on, the River Lions showed signs of that potential. Niagara led in the first half for the first time since their Home Opener on May 29, jumping out to a 10-5 advantage behind Ahmad and an energized start. Scarborough quickly responded, however, as Myles Powell helped erase the deficit in a tightly contested opening quarter that featured six lead changes. The Shooting Stars closed the first frame ahead 26-22, led by Powell’s eight points. The momentum shifted in the second quarter. The Shooting Stars lived up to their name, opening the frame shooting 3 for 3 from beyond the arc and 5 for 5 from the charity stripe as a part of a 18-9 run. Scarborough continued to dominate throughout the second quarter especially on the Offensive Glass. At the centre of it all was Frank Mitchell, whose relentless work fueled the visitors’ attack. Mitchell pulled down seven rebounds in just three minutes helping Scarborough build a 21 point lead. By halftime the Shooting Stars owned a commanding 19-9 edge in second-chance points, led by Mitchell’s 15 points and 9 rebounds. “We knew today was going to be a physical game with the way Niagara plays and how they get after it, so the guys were up to the task,” said Scarborough Head Coach Tyrell Vernon “I thought Frank and Charles did a phenomenal job, and our guards were coming down and helping out. That’s going to be a part of our identity going forward, so hopefully we can keep that level of offensive rebounding up.” Despite trailing by as many as 21, Niagara refused to go away. The River Lions closed the half on a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to 12 entering the break. Defensively, Scarborough made life difficult for Ahmad and the River Lions with Kellen Tynes recording four first-half steals while drawing the primary defensive assignment. Tynes ended the night with five steals and earned praise from his coach after the game. “Kellen’s probably one of the best on-ball defenders I’ve ever coached,” Vernon said. “For him to be able to be selfless, defend, and take the toughest matchup every night takes a lot of energy, but he loves doing it, and he takes it as a challenge every night” Scarborough maintained control early in the third quarter behind Powell, who reached 19 points midway through the frame. The momentum appeared to shift when Powell went down hard while attempting to draw a charge and exited the game with the assistance of his teammates while grabbing his knee. Niagara capitalized.  The River Lions closed the quarter on a 15-7 run to trim the deficit to eight points heading into the fourth. Nathan Cayo led the charge for Niagara, knocking down three crucial three-pointers to bring his points total up to 15 on the night while shooting 5-for-6 from beyond the arc. However, another slow start proved costly. Scarborough opened the final frame on an 11 - 4 run to rebuild their cushion. Powell later returned to the floor and immediately made his presence felt, drilling a pair of three-pointers to help extend the lead to 13 entering Target Time. Powell finished with 25 points, while Javan Johnson added 22, and Mitchell chipped in 19 points and 10 rebounds for his league leading fifth Double Double. Niagara opened Target Time with multiple defensive stops and transition buckets, bringing the game to within five points at 97-92. The River Lions defensive intensity created opportunities in the open floor, while aggressive drives to the basket generated quality perimeter looks. But just as Niagara appeared poised to complete the comeback, Scarborough’s work on the glass resurfaced. A pair of crucial offensive rebounds extended possessions for the Shooting Stars and halted the River Lions’ momentum. Moments later, Powell buried a fadeaway three-pointer to reach the Target Score and secure Scarborough’s sixth win of the season. “That’s my third game winner in our six wins this season,” Powell said. “My teammates and my coaches believe in me so much that it’s hard to lack confidence in that moment.” The victory improved Scarborough to 6-1, while Niagara was left searching for answers after another game spent playing from behind. The River Lions trailed for more than 31 minutes and entered halftime behind for the sixth time this season. Still, there were encouraging signs. Ahmad’s return had a positive impact on Niagara’s offensive play, and the River Lions generated 93 points despite having just one practice with their star guard back in the lineup. “This was our first day with him, but I thought he did a good job,” said River Lions Head Coach Kimbal Mackenzie. “Khalil’s a good basketball player and I thought the guys played really well off of him, so I’m not too worried about that, but obviously it will take a little bit of time to get him fully integrated” For Ahmad, the return felt familiar “This is like my second home,” he said. “ I’ve been here for so long that I know everybody, I know where to go, and I’m always super comfortable, so it’s great to be here” Ahmad also expressed confidence in the group’s potential moving forward. “We’re super talented and we have all the potential in the world. We just have to put it together. If we can put together 40-minute games, I think we will be really hard to beat and we will put ourselves in a great position by the end of the year.” The Niagara River Lions continue their homestand on Saturday, June 13, against the Montreal Alliance. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.as Niagara looks to fight their way back into a playoff spot with a win against the Alliance. 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 . ### Media Contact: Cole Meyering Communications Coordinator communications@riverlions.ca

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 . ### Media Contact: Cole Meyering Communications Coordinator communications@riverlions.ca