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Calgary Surge upset Edmonton 78-69, book ticket to Championship Weekend for second year in a row

Josh Kozelj • August 5, 2024

The Calgary Surge waltzed into Edmonton and ended the Stingers season for the second year in a row, securing a 78-69 victory at EXPO Centre on Sunday night to book their ticket to Championship Weekend.


Sean Miller-Moore, who flirted with a triple-double in a Play-In game victory over Winnipeg two days ago, scored six of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning layup through contact in Target Score Time. 


“I was thinking about going to the left but I just ducked my head, tried to get it up, and the ball bounced in my favour,” said Miller Moore after the game. 


The victory comes roughly one year after Calgary defeated Edmonton at home in the Western Conference Semifinal to seal the fourth and final spot in Championship Weekend 2023, where they ultimately fell to the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Championship Final.


Jordy Tshimanga who scored only three points in Calgary’s Play-In game, was a force on the glass, hauling in eight rebounds — three offensive — and adding 14 points. Gabe Osabuohien and Trhae Mitchell, who combined for 15 rebounds, also led the Surge to a 48-37 edge over Edmonton in rebounds. It was a factor that helped Calgary overcome 22 team turnovers that resulted in 24 Edmonton points.


“It was amazing to watch, we stayed together and made it work,” Tshimanga said. “I’m proud of the guys, proud of the coaching staff, and happy to move on.”


The game went back and forth right from the opening tip, as neither team created any separation on the floor or scoreboard.


After the Surge won the jump and missed a quick layup, Nick Hornsby found Brody Clarke running the floor for the Stinger’s opening basket. Four of Edmonton’s first six points were scored in layups in transition. And roughly one quarter of the total points in the game were scored on the fast break (19).


However, the Surge — not showing any signs of fatigue from their victory on Friday night — used the three-point ball to take an early one-point lead after one, converting four triples in the first quarter.


Reserve Mike Nuga did his best to counteract the Surge’s sharp shooting in the opening frame. Nuga, who knocked down both of his three-point attempts in the first quarter, converted his third three of the game on a dish from Trey McGowens in the second quarter. Nuga finished with 11 points, while Jacob Evans III scored a team-high 13 points on 45 per cent shooting from the field and added eight boards.


Nuga’s efficiency came as the long balls stopped dropping for the Surge. Calgary didn’t score another three pointer until the third quarter — a Corey Davis Jr. triple in the corner, which marked his third three pointer of the game. Davis Jr. led all scorers with 22 points and four triples. But Calgary shot 25 per cent from beyond the arch as a team. 


The Surge, instead, relied on midrange jumpers and buckets inside after the first. 


Miller-Moore had a couple of those midrange jumpshots. And Tshimanga started flexing his muscles after being subbed in halfway through the first, chipping in with six points off the bench in the first two quarters.


Mindaugas Kačinas a 37 per cent three-point shooter during the regular season, found space moving without the basketball to knock down a three and tie the game at 39 heading into halftime. 


Following the intermission, the Surge once again started feeding Tshimanga. The 6-foot-11 big man from Montréal, who dealt with a nosebleed in the second quarter, found success in a one-on-one matchup against Ben Krikke, drawing a foul and scoring a tip-in off the glass in the paint on back-to-back possessions in the third.


“He did a phenomenal job rebounding the ball, scoring the ball down low, putting pressure on the rim… His energy and attention to detail was phenomenal today,” Calgary head coach Tyrell Vernon said of Tshimanga, who nearly registered a double-double (13 points and 8 rebounds) through three quarters.


The Surge also used seven third quarter points from Davis Jr. to take a 63-54 lead heading into the fourth.


Although Edmonton started the fourth on a 5-0 run to cut into the lead, Brody Clarke, who notched 11 points and 8 rebounds, fouled out right before Target Score Time with Calgary clinging to a seven-point lead. Without Clarke, Calgary went on a 7-0 run with the game clock shut off. Davis Jr. then knocked down a three pointer on a bounce-pass from Osabuohien that forced Edmonton head coach Jordan Baker to call a timeout.


“It’s professional basketball, you gotta put the ball in the basket. When you don’t score 70 points it becomes hard to win basketball games,” Baker said. “Guys battled, to their credit, we had some really good possessions that resulted in some easy ones that we missed.”


The Stingers shot under 40 per cent from the field as a team. And despite coming into tonight as the best free throw shooting team in the CEBL, Edmonton converted only 6-11 shots from the line.


Edmonton crawled within eight points in Target Score Time, but following a Surge timeout, Miller-Moore fought through a pair of Stingers to get a layup to fall, silencing the crowd.


The Surge will face the Vancouver Bandits in the Western Conference Final on Friday night, which is a rematch from Championship Weekend 2023. Calgary defeated the host Bandits last summer to advance to the Championship Final.


Vernon says another victory over the Bandits won’t come easy, but preparation for that matchup is already underway.


“For us, it’s just attention to detail, go back to the film, rest up and keep everybody healthy,” he said.


“We’ll be motivated come the weekend.”


- CEBL -


About the CEBL

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 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+, Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on InstagramTwitterTikTokLinkedInFacebook & YouTube.

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The holiday season is about spending time and celebrating with friends and loved ones while also supporting important causes and initiatives in the community. The Honey Badgers front office staff visited the Regeneration Marketplace and the Regeneration Marketplace on Tuesday afternoon to sort food donations, portion meals, stock shelves and assist guests with food selection. “As leaders in our Brampton community, it is extremely important for us to collaborate with local organizations that continue to make a positive impact in the lives of others on a daily basis,” said Josie Pingitore, vice president of the Brampton Honey Badgers. “Our organization is committed to continue to make strides in our community growth, not only during the holiday season but throughout the calendar year.” Regeneration Marketplace is a local food bank in the heart of downtown Brampton, operating to provide quality, helpful food and household items for those in need in the community. Open 365 days a year, they proudly serve 39,000+ meals annually with more than 1,100 households receiving the necessary food and goods on a weekly basis. “Right now we are just inundated with donations, and the work the Honey Badgers did to help us sort saved us so much time,” said Katie Cleland, director of development at Regeneration Outreach Community. “This will help us get the food on the shelves much quicker so that we can serve more people this week.” The Honey Badgers staff were also joined by Amisha Moorjani, owner of The Food Quotient, and Rod Power, City of Brampton Councillor of Wards 7 and 8. This is one of many initiatives that the Honey Badgers and Councillor Power have collaborated on this holiday season, including turkey drives and Christmas dinners for underprivileged youth. To learn more about how you can contribute to the Regeneration Office & Meal Program or Regeneration Marketplace, please contact [email protected] or visit www.regenbrampton.com .
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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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The Canadian Elite Basketball League mourns the loss of one of our most beloved players, Chad Posthumus. Chad was a founding player in our league, helping lead Saskatchewan to the inaugural CEBL championship in 2019. He was a fan favourite in ensuing years playing with Ottawa and Winnipeg and representing Edmonton and Brampton in international tournaments. Chad had a love for people and for the game of basketball that lit up even the largest arenas. His spirit and passion touched the hearts of fans and inspired teammates and all of us blessed to have shared Chad’s all-too-brief life with him. Chad represented the best in aspiring Canadian basketball players during his professional career in Japan, Argentina, and here at home. Off the court he was an Academic All-American in college and was a dedicated advocate for those living with Diabetes. The impact Chad made on our world is as undeniable as the force that he was on the court. Our deepest sympathies go out to Chad’s family, his legion of friends, fans, and teammates, and to the Winnipeg Sea Bears organization. - CEBL -
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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. And so that's why partnerships have always been a core ethos of mine to build businesses.” Green also remained connected to sports through business as Indochino established partnerships throughout the four major North American sports leagues. There was one NBA draft, Green said, in which half of the first round wore Indochino — though the company cannot take credit for Gradey Dick’s infamously bedazzled red suit. “We had a deal to provide him with suits and actually suited him up,” Green recalled, “and then I saw the suit and I was like, what the, how did that happen? That was not an Indochino. So he went off the reservation and did his own thing, but good on him. It got a lot of hits.” Like Dick, CEBL players have quickly become known for their personal branding and tunnel fits. 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