Winners of four of its last five games, the Edmonton Stingers (7-4) have catapulted up the CEBL standings from fourth place just a couple of weeks ago, to now a half-game ahead of Hamilton for second spot. The Stingers travel to Guelph (3-8) on Saturday to face a Nighthawks team searching for its identity, and desperate for a win.

(Tickets available at Ticketmaster. Watch via CEBL TV or the CBC Gem App ).

Edmonton knocked off the Honey Badgers, 102-92 on Thursday night at Expo Centre, where they have taken down Niagara twice, and now Hamilton once this season, putting the league on notice that it belongs in the upper echelon of the CEBL.

The Stingers welcomed back Xavier Moon, who showed his love for the fans by producing an impressive 14 points, eight rebounds and game-high 11 assists in 34 minutes. Not to be outdone, Grandy Glaze recorded a team-best 20 points to go along with a game-high 14 rebounds. The win slipped Edmonton past Hamilton in the standings, and as a result, have just one more loss than league-leading Niagara (9-3). The Stingers may be the hottest team in the CEBL, but they have managed just one win on the road this season. With six of its final nine games away from Expo Centre, Edmonton will have to start winning away from home in order to keep pace with the elite.

A replacement at the helm on July 1 saw Nighthawks Head Coach and General Manager Tarry Upshaw removed and assistant coach Juan Nunez named the successor on an interim basis. The change did not bare immediate fruit. Guelph returned home after a crushing 85-72 loss to last-place Fraser Valley on Thursday night. The Bandits held Myck Kabongo, the Nighthawk’s leading scorer, to just eight points and two assists in 33 minutes before fouling out. Guelph has not defeated a team this season that wasn’t named Fraser Valley. Suddenly, the Nighthawks are just one game out of the CEBL basement.

In their only meeting earlier this season, Edmonton squeaked by Guelph, 82-80 , at Expo Centre on May 24. Stingers forward Jordan Baker led all scorers and rebounders with 23 points and 13 boards. The product of the University of Alberta will likely miss Saturday night’s game as he celebrates his wedding and honeymoon.

Guelph and Edmonton will meet two more times in the next 14 days: July 11 at Expo Centre, and July 20 at Sleeman Centre. Three games against the same opponent over two weeks usually helps create some fireworks. This season series will help clarify the standings and by the end of it, the Nighthawks can find themselves fighting for the final playoff spot in the CEBL Championship Weekend , or simply playing out the calendar.

 

 

 

 

 

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

Edmonton (7-4) Guelph (3-8)

1-0     Head-to-Head       0-1

82       PPG      80

.400 (35-87)       FG%     .400 (29-71)

.200 (7-35)      3FG%     .360 (9-25)

.350 (5-14)      FT%    .650 (13-20)

54 (19-35)     REB (OR-DR)      48 (9-39)

25      AST      15

12      TO      14

15     PTS off TO       11

52     BENCH PTS        34

May 24, 2019 at Edmonton: Edmonton 82, Guelph 80

Leading scorers: Edmonton (J. Baker, 23), Guelph (C. Lufile, 18)

Leading rebounders: Edmonton (J. Baker, 13), Guelph (E. Marshall, 11)