First CEBL Champions Crowned in Saskatoon
The SaskTel Centre in Saskatchewan served as the stage for the first ever Canadian Elite Basketball League championship round, where the top four teams at the regular season's end would all be vying for the chance to call themselves CEBL champions.
Hosts Saskatchewan Rattlers, who finished second, were to play the third-place Edmonton Stingers in one of the two semi finals, followed by top-seeded Niagara River Lions facing the Hamilton Honey Badgers. The winners of each would play each one another in the title game.
In the first semi final, Saskatchewan's early lead turned into a double-digit deficit just before half time. Edmonton's sudden surge from beyond the arc lifting them into the lead. While the Stingers' long range accuracy continued, the Rattlers matched them in the low post.
The fourth quarter was when the game turned around, with Saskatchewan putting together a number of scoring streaks to take a late lead. Xavier Moon made it a two-point game with thirty seconds to go, but neither team would get another chance at basket in the remaining time.
Grandy Glaze had 17 points and Travis Daniels had 16 along with 13 rebounds for Edmonton in the loss, while Marlon Johnson matched Glaze's scoring total with 17 of his own for Saskatchewan, while Shaquille Keith had 15 for the home side.
At the end of a back-and-forth start to the second semi final, Niagara and Hamilton were tied, but the Honey Badgers' three-point shooting (They had eighteen total threes in this game) gave them the edge and they led by as many as nine points in the game.
The River Lions then took control in the fourth quarter - led by Ryan Anderson who finished with 26 points and Guillaume Boucard with 21 - but Hamilton once again fought back from beyond the arc. The scoreline flipped to the conclusion of the game, when a final three from Sampson Carter would be the clincher for Hamilton.
Xavier Rathan-Mayes was the stand out with 28 points and 11 assists for the victorious Hamilton Honey Badgers, who punched their final ticket with a shock 104-103 win over the top-seeded Niagara River Lions.
There was little to choose between the teams as the game got underway, but Hamilton had the slender lead. In the second quarter, though, Saskatchewan asserted themselves from the field to go in front by six at half time.
Even with another first rate showing from Rathan-Mayes (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Ricky Tarrant Jr and Murphy Burnatowski both also putting in double-digit performances, Hamilton found it hard to catch up after this early set back.
With the superior rebounding show and playing high-percentage offence, Saskatchewan kept themselves in the drivers' seat. Leading by as many as thirteen points and a stand out individual showing from Alex Campbell (20 points, 11 rebounds) which won him the Finals MVP award, Saskatchewan became the first CEBL champions with a final 94-83 win over Hamilton.
For more, visit the league's official website.
