CEBL 2021 Season Rolls On - All The Action

July began with a packed slate of action-filled CEBL games.

The Fraser Valley Bandits remain undefeated after two blowout victories: first they led the Sakatchewan Rattlers by double digits for three quarters and outscoring them in the paint 46-20. After starting the week with a 86-66 victory, two days later they led the Ottawa Blackjacks for the last three quarters, their solid field shooting and ten three-point shots keeping them at a double digit advantage. Kadre Grey had a game-high 20 points for Ottawa in their 92-77 loss, in which the victorious Bandits had five players score in double digits.

It was the second loss of the week for the Blackjacks: earlier in the week they saw a back-and-forth

with the Hamilton Honey Badgers, the lead changing hands frequently in the mid-section of the game. The teams started the fourth quarter level, but the tail end of another outstanding show from

Wiggington, finishing with 33 points, restored Hamilton's lead with Jean-Victor Mukama and Trevon Duval edging them closer and closer to the finish line. Ottawa were resigned to the 99-92 loss, despite four players scoring in the teens.

The Badgers looked to extend their win streak in their next match-up against the Guelph Nighthawks, but found it hard to contain the inside play of Guelph, who put up seven three-pointers in the second quarter to leave just a point between teams at half-time. Hamilton tried to pull away at the end, only for the Nighthawks to quickly catch up and make it a one-point game.

A final three-pointer from Cody John would be the deciding play and also the last of his team-best 23 points for the Badgers. Justin Jackson matched him with 23 for Guelph, who were led by 30 points from Anthony Barber, but the win was still Hamilton's, 102-98.

It was the first of two match-ups between Hamilton and Guelph this week, with the Nighthawks again playing hosts to their fellow Ontarians two nights later. This time the teams were evenly matched from the start, matching one another from the same spots on opposite ends of the court, though Hamilton held the lead for the first half.

Upping the pressure in the paint, the Nighthawks went in front in the third quarter, but had to defend it in the face of Trevon Duval regularly finding scoring chances until he returned the lead to the Honey Badgers. When the clock was turned off Hamilton led by four points, but a 10-2 run quickly put the game to bed with the Badgers victorious 101-89. Duval finished with 21 points, one behind game leader Wiggington for Hamilton in the win.

Meanwhile the Edmonton Stingers continue a dominant start to the season, outscoring the Niagara River Lions 34-17 in the opening quarter of their Canada Day match-up. The River Lions closed the gap from three-point territory, but with Edmonton led by an outstanding show from Xavier Moon - a season-best 38 points on 66% field shooting - they remained in control to the end of proceedings. The final score 82-75 in their favour.

They followed this up with an even more comfortable victory over the Blackjacks. Though Ottawa tried to build an early lead from the low post, the Stingers surged in front from three-point territory. Edmonton went on to build a twenty-two point lead in the second quarter and finishing with nineteen threes by the end of the contest, they held their advantage and finished as winners 104-87. Moon was once again the leading scorer with 25 points while Peter Adika-McNeilly had 21 and Brady Skeens finished with 15 and 11 rebounds in Edmonton's win.

The highlight game of the week took place at the SaskTel Centre, where the lead between home team Saskatchewan and the Niagara River Lions changed hands six times in the opening period. The lead kept going back and forth between them throughout the game, with Niagara's long-range shooting success being matched by Saskatchewan's points in the paint keeping it a close game.

Decisive plays from Devonte Bandoo kept the Rattlers in front for much of the way and as the game started to wind down they had a six-point advantage over Niagara. Xavier Sneed closed the gap to one for the River Lions and Guillaume Boucard later tied the scores, both times though Bandoo put Saskatchewan back in the lead.

After a dunk by Daniels, Kassius Robertson put up a three-point shot which brought proceedings to a close. The River Lions had emerged victorious in the closest win of the CEBL season so far, 72 points to 71.

This leaves Guelph and Saskatchewan as the only teams so far without a win with Fraser Valley and Edmonton both at the top of the table, yet to concede a loss. This could change dramatically in the upcoming CEBL fixtures, which can be seen via this link to the official CEBL website.