Best of CEBL: End of July Edition
As time in the CEBL moves on towards the playoffs, four games stood out in a packed week of basketball where everyone brought their A-game.
Guelph Nighthawks vs Saskatchewan Rattlers (July 22nd)
Picking up a lot of early points in the paint, the Guelph Nighthawks put themselves up by seven towards the end of the first quarter and then went even further into the lead. After which Saskatchewan finally responded with 11 points unanswered with a second run of nine without reply to finish the first half in the lead.
Throughout the third the Nighthawks cut down a double-digit deficit to level the scores ahead of the decisive period of play, wherein there were five lead changes and the teams never more than three points apart. As time wound down Kemy Osse gave the Rattlers an initial lead and then made the game-winning three pointer. Long-suffering Saskatchewan were now jubilant at their first win of 2021, 86-83 over the Guelph Nighthawks.
Hamilton Honey Badgers vs Fraser Valley Bandits (July 23rd)
After a high-scoring Fraser Valley start, the Honey Badgers' response was immediate, closing the gap and after a one-point lead changed hands eight times, Lamont Wiggington found his rhythm from three-point territory put the Badgers ahead by eight points.
The second half started similarly with many narrow lead changes, leading to a rise in tension as the game continued with either result a possibility. It was Hamilton who had the lead going into the final stretch, though Jamal Reynolds was keeping it close for the Bandits. The decisive play was a foul by Ryan Ejim on Wiggington sent him to the line, his second free-throw sealing the final result.
Wiggington and Alex Campbell shared top scoring honours with 21 each but Hamilton continued on their winning ways with the victory over Fraser Valley 96-93.
Niagara River Lions vs Ottawa Blackjacks (July 24th)
A 6-0 River Lions start saw Ottawa respond with five unanswered, but were interrupted by Niagara. After the Blackjacks tied the scores three times, another run of six for the River Lions gave them the lead
which Javin Delaurier led the Lions in building on in the second quarter. Tyree Green's three-point shooting and Nick Ward's inside play kept Ottawa within reaching distance as Niagara kept finding scoring chances to keep their lead alive.
Down by nine in the third Ottawa put up eleven in a row for a lead that was short-lived but they did not give up and kept the gap close. Lloyd Pandi and Daniel Mullings combined to give Niagara a six-point lead to start the final quarter, with the Blackjacks still on their tail. Nick Ward continued being a thorn in the River Lions' side, putting them in front at the period's mid-point.
In the final stretch Philip Scrubb tied the scores, then put Niagara in front, then Guillaume Boucard made the game-winning layup for the Lions. Ward had the consolatory prize of top scorer with 28 points, with 20 for his team mate Dominique Archie, while five River Lions finished in double digits in the hard-fought win, 94-92 over the Blackjacks.
Guelph Nighthawks vs Hamilton Honey Badgers (July 27th)
The Nighthawks had the best start: Anthony Barber with eight points in a row early on was followed by a barrage of three-pointers from Ahmed Hill at the end of the first quarter. Guelph's lead became fifteen in the second quarter with Hamilton's chances few and far between until they closed the gap with an 11-2 run.
Guelph matched this with ten unanswered points to start the second half as the Badgers tried to instigate something from beyond the arc, only for the Nighthawks to quash their comeback attempt and extended their lead further. Hamilton began the final quarter down by fifteen, within four minutes they had it down to a single-possession game.
Lamont Wigginton then tied the scores with a three followed up by Kalif Young who put the Badgers in the lead. Barber put Guelph back in front and inches from victory, but on the other end Wiggington put up another three to put the game to bed. With 24 points Hill and 23 Barber, the Nighthawks looked set to claim victory were stunned by an incredible turnaround by the Honey Badgers.
Wiggington had 20 while Cody John was Hamilton's top scorer with 24 in the sensational win, 80-78 over Guelph. Hamilton went the week without a loss, while at the same time the Edmonton Stingers remain on top of the CEBL with a big win over Guelph and two against Fraser Valley. The Bandits fall down the order after successive losses, above the struggling Nighthawks and Blackjacks, who finished this slate of games with a win over last-place Saskatchewan.
Picture Credit: Barry Gray
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