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Calgary Surge Stamp Ticket to Championship Weekend With 84-68 Win Over Edmonton Stingers

Josh Kozelj • August 7, 2023

The Calgary Surge clinched a spot in Championship Weekend with a 84-68 win over the Edmonton Stingers at the WinSport Centre on Sunday evening.

 

Stef Smith led the charge with a game-high 21 points, and knocked down the game-winning free throw in target score time to give the Surge a berth in the CEBL’s final four in their inaugural season in Calgary.

 

“It feels great, a lot of time, effort, blood, sweat and tears went into this,” Smith said after the game. “It was a good team win and I’m looking forward to [Championship Weekend].”

 

The game-winner also marked the third time this season that Smith sealed a victory over the Stingers from the free throw line, as the hit a pair of free throws to defeat Edmonton on back-to-back nights in May to begin the season.

 

Tonight, the Ajax, Ontario native shot 7-8 from the free throw line and added seven assists. His backcourt mate, Sean Miller Moore, chipped in with a 17-point, 12 rebound double-double in the western conference semi-final win.

 

“It’s just a matter of practice, reps in the gym, and at the free throw line,” Smith said of his game-winner. “I’m gonna have to do an extra 50 or 100 tomorrow for missing the first one [with a chance to end the game].”

 

The Surge and Stingers entered tonight with the top two defences in the league, averaging 81.6 and 83 points against per game respectively. But it was the Surge who dialed up the defensive intensity from the jump and imposed their physicality on the way to earning their spot in Championship Weekend.  

 

As a team, Calgary converted 19 Edmonton turnovers to 27 points, and held the Stingers to zero points on the fast break. That mark came one game after the Stingers used 32 points in transition to earn a victory in the play-in round on Friday against the Winnipeg Sea Bears.

 

While the Stingers narrowly lost the rebound battle (46-44) and hauled in more offensive boards than Calgary, the Surge—without Simi Shittu—outscored Edmonton 50-34 in the paint.

 

“We knew coming in that Calgary was a physical team, they want to get to the paint, they want to impose their will on you from a physical standpoint,” Edmonton head coach Jordan Baker said. “They’ve done a great job of doing that all year long.”

 

Brody Clarke had a team-high 19 points, 10 rebounds, and three threes for Edmonton, but it wouldn’t be enough to overcome a 19-point halftime deficit. Isiah Osborne added 13 points and two triples in the starting lineup.

 

“Our achilles heel, one of them, is the fact that when teams got physical with us we were a little smaller and not as big, strong, and athletic as the other teams,” Clarke said. “We had a lot of young guys who stepped into bigger roles, they came with fight, [but] we didn’t step up to the challenge and were getting bullied.”

 

Although Edmonton knocked down a pair of threes to start the game, both teams struggled to find their groove offensively. The Surge, who last played on July 28, started three of 10 from the field. Edmonton, meanwhile, shot two for eight in the first half of the opening quarter.

 

Mason Bourcier, however, lit a spark for the Surge off the bench. The Kelowna, B.C. product nailed a three, stole the inbound pass a few possessions later, and dropped a dime to Terry Henderson Jr. to start a Calgary run. Bourcier finished with five points, six assists and four steals—three of which came in the opening frame.

 

Calgary used a 12-4 run in the final two and a half minutes to take an eight-point lead after one.

 

The Surge then extended their lead to double digits in the second. The Stingers tried to cut into the margin with a pair of backdoor cuts on back-to-back possessions, but Edmonton still struggled to get shots to drop—shooting 30 per cent from the field in the first two quarters.

 

Calgary shot close to 50 per cent in the first half and took a 48-29 lead after two.

 

After the break, Edmonton started to mount a comeback, drawing a pair of offensive fouls and using a 7-0 run to crawl back into the game. Smith ended the run with a eurostep layup at the hoop, but an Osborne tip-in following his own miss capped off a 6-0 Stinger run that made it a 12-point game.

 

In the fourth, Clarke dropped a three to bring the Stingers within 10 points, but like they did all night, the Surge immediately responded—scoring six straight points on their way to taking a 15-point lead into target score.

 

After Jordy Tshimanga began target score with an alley-oop, Smith ended the game by drilling his second of two free throws at the line to send the Surge to Vancouver.

 

“The Calgary fans are amazing,” Smith said. “It’s the inaugural season and the support is just amazing... We just got to thank them, this is their win.” 

 

The win, which marks Calgary’s fifth in a row, sets up a date with the Bandits in the western conference final on August 11. Tipoff is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 local at the Langley Events Centre.

 

Full broadcast schedule of CEBL Games of the Week on TSN can be found here. All games will also be streamed live internationally on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, and on the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices. 


A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on
Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

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LANGLEY, BC - The Vancouver Bandits professional basketball team is proud to announce the launch of the Bandits Community Foundation - the team’s dedicated charitable and philanthropic arm. This foundation is committed to empowering youth and driving positive change across British Columbia through innovative basketball and education programs. The Bandits Community Foundation will prioritize creating pathways for youth and adults to excel both on and off the court. Its initiatives include supporting local nonprofits, increasing access to basketball in underserved communities, and creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to engage in the sport—all while fostering community connections and personal growth. “We believe in the power of community and the ability of sports to inspire, unite, and create lasting change,” said Dylan Kular, Executive Director of the Bandits Community Foundation. “The launch of the Bandits Community Foundation is a commitment to giving back and empowering the next generation. Together, we are building a brighter future, one bucket at a time.” To guide this effort, the Bandits Community Foundation will be guided by an esteemed Board of Directors: Shawn Dheensaw, Basketball BC Executive Director Teresa Gabriele, Canada Basketball national team alumni Charles Hethey, O’Neil Law LLP Lawyer and Partner Dylan Kular, Vancouver Bandits Basketball Team President Peter Natrall, ISPARC Regional Coordinator Kim Smith-Gaucher, 3x3 Canada Basketball Women’s Head Coach Lucky Toor, TGL Group CPA’s LLP Co-Founder and Partner Full biographies of the Foundation’s board members can be found here . In addition to basketball-centred programs, the Foundation will support local charities, schools, and community organizations through scholarships, mentorship opportunities, and event collaborations. Its overarching vision is to ensure sport and education are accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic circumstances. The Vancouver Bandits have long championed community engagement through initiatives such as: Court Projects: Building and refurbishing outdoor basketball courts across BC Bandits School Tour: Delivering cost-free basketball workshops and practice instruction to high school teams Community Champion Initiative: Providing youth and families in need with the special experience of a Vancouver Bandits game Indigenous Basketball Collective: A partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council to foster opportunities for Indigenous players and coaches The Bandits Community Foundation invites individuals and businesses to join its mission, amplifying its impact through donations and partnerships. Every contribution helps provide vital tools, experiences, and support for youth to thrive. For more information about the Bandits Community Foundation, its programs, or ways to get involved, visit www.banditsfoundation.ca . Follow the Foundation’s journey on social media: Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter @BanditsFoundation.
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Drew Green’s basketball roots run deep. Green, the CEO of Indochino, played high-school hoops against the likes of Rowan Barrett, starred on the York University squad and went on to ply his trade professionally in Australia and Singapore. Now, his two sons are forging their own careers in the sport — and Green is right there with them. On Thursday, the CEBL announced that the accomplished executive was coming aboard as its first-ever Chair of the Board of Governors and co-owner. “We are a basketball family, right? We've been in the gym, my sons and I, thousands and thousands of hours. We have an NBA half court literally in our front yard that we built during COVID. And so this is going to be a lot of fun,” he said. It’s a partnership that fits as snugly as a well-tailored suit. The Scarborough, Ont., native said that watching his sons find their love for basketball in recent years reignited his own affinity for the sport. “The two areas of passion in my life are basketball and business. And they interplay really well with this role,” Green said. Throughout the many business ventures, Green said his first job was as a father to Liam and Aidan and as a husband to his wife, Andrea Dayco. While his sons are triple-citizens of Canada, the U.S. and the Philippines, Green has made it a point to raise them with Canadian values — and to push them toward the national basketball culture. “I've seen the evolution of basketball in this country firsthand. When I played in high school, I think we had one, maybe two people that ever played in the NBA. The ability to play in the U.S. and go to and play (NCAA) Division One basketball didn't really exist. “Rowan was one of that first cohorts that played, and that was amazing, but it was so rare.” Now, there are nearly 200 Canadians playing in college basketball’s top division. Among those players is Liam, who recently accepted a five-year scholarship at Florida Atlantic University. Aidan plays for the renowned prep school Montverde Academy, which produced the likes of current Raptors RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes. Liam heads to FAU with some CEBL background, having practised with Vancouver Bandits head coach Kyle Julius. Green said the CEBL has quickly become a foundational piece of the Canadian basketball landscape through its partnership with U Sports, its reach to all corners of the country and its affordability. “I think there's just an amazing group of people involved in the league that are really passionate about growing the sport, growing the business (and) providing a really, really incredible experience to customers. “You've got some of the best athletes in Canada and the world playing in the games. … The product continues to get better and better every year,” he said. Besides his impressive basketball resumé, Green has enjoyed a long, successful career in business. He took over as CEO of Indochino, the men’s formal-wear company, 10 years ago and proceeded to launch its retail business, raise over $100 million in strategic capital commitments and guide the brand through the pandemic. Prior to Indochino, Green founded Canada’s first multi-merchant marketplace (now owned by Emerge Commerce) and was an executive at DoubleClick (acquired by Google) and Shop.com. At the CEBL, Green will help introduce the league to potential partners and investors while assisting the league and team owners on business matters. CEBL commissioner Mike Morreale called the partnership with Green “an incredible win.” “Drew’s business success speaks for itself and his passion for the game mimics all involved in making the CEBL a homegrown and global success. His personal financial investment into the league demonstrates his strong belief of our bright future and recognizes the foundation that has been built during our formative years,” Morreale said. “Personally, I look forward to getting right to work with Drew on the next stage of the CEBL and the growth of our game.” Green said the CEBL is on a “great trajectory,” but projected plenty of growth potential too. “Whether that's sponsors or investors or other types of strategic partners that really align with growing the game of basketball and growing the business of basketball in Canada, I think there's lots and lots of opportunities,” he said. “When you try to do something on your own in life, it often takes you a lot longer than it should at the core of it. 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