The Fraser Valley Bandits (4-11) play host to the Saskatchewan Rattlers (6-8) to tip-off the week as part of four games in the CEBL. While the Edmonton Stingers may be the hottest team in the league, winners of its past seven games, which constitutes the longest win streak this season - it’s the Bandits that have CEBL teams worried because of its suffocating defence.
(Tickets available at TicketMaster. Watch via CEBL TV or the CBC Gem App ).
Yes, the team is fighting for its playoff lives but will most likely not make the trip to CEBL Championship Weekend in Saskatoon. However, after starting the season with a dismal 0-9 record, Fraser Valley has captured four of its past six games and in doing so, set four opponents’ records for offensive futility.
The winning started for the Bandits against the same Rattlers team they faced Thursday night at Abbotsford Centre. A convincing 101-89 win on June 27 that some initially chalked up to a bad night by Saskatchewan. Looking back, it was the start of a total Fraser Valley commitment to defending the ball.
The next game, July 4 versus Guelph, the Bandits knocked off the Nighthawks, 85-72 , setting its opponent’s low water mark for points in a game (72), which previously sat at 80 during a two-point loss to Edmonton on May 24. The result was not a fluke.
Two days later, Fraser Valley travelled to Hamilton, a team full of offensive productivity, only to embarrass the home team with a resounding 100-82 win. The loss for Hamilton tied for its worst defeat of the season (18) and marked its lowest scoring game (82). It didn’t end there for the Bandits. After a 10-point loss at home to league-leading Niagara, Fraser Valley welcomed the Honey Badgers with a 98-75 outcome that set a new low for Hamilton in terms of points (75) and margin of defeat (23).
While the Bandits lost their most recent game to the River Lions at Meridian Centre on July 20, the effort put an exclamation point on Fraser Valley’s second half of the season so far. Niagara needed a 10-2 run in the final 2:39 of the contest to claim the 80-71 victory. The Bandits handed the River Lions, the most potent offence in the CEBL (101.1 ppg), with its worst scoring output. Fraser Valley did an incredible job of defending the perimeter, forcing Niagara to shoot just .320 from beyond the arc, including a season-low 25 three-point field goal attempts (33.5 3FGA season average).
The Bandits and Rattlers will conclude their season series in Saskatoon on August 2.
Saskatchewan Rattlers bench boss Greg Jockims has already been faced with a struggling offence as his squad has failed to score 100 points in a game since May 16. Combine the Rattlers’ shooting challenges with Fraser Valley’s tough defence, and something magical for Saskatchewan is going to be needed for a team that has already guaranteed its spot in the playoffs as the host squad. To make matters worse for the Rattlers, the team announced on Monday the departure of the league’s leading scorer, Tavrion Dawson, who is travelling overseas to fulfill his European team commitments.
The scenario at hand caused Jockims to make some significant changes to his roster. Joining the team are American point guard Maurice Jones and forward Shaq Keith, who recently played three games for the Honey Badgers. Jones broke the NBLC steals record in 2017, his rookie season, and was later named the Rookie of the Year.
Including Thursday’s game, the Rattlers have six games remaining in its inaugural campaign before hosting the league’s postseason.
Saskatchewan has a lot to prove during this final push, such as earning the right to play in the semifinals.
Tip-Off is 7PM PT.
June 13 at Fraser Valley: Saskatchewan 93, Fraser Valley 81
Leading scorers: Fraser Valley (A. Gill, 17), Saskatchewan (T. Dawson, 26)
Leading rebounders: Fraser Valley (C. Robinson, 12), Saskatchewan (T. Dawson, 9)
June 27 at Saskatchewan: Fraser Valley 101, Saskatchewan 89
Leading scorers: Fraser Valley (C. McLaughlin, 22), Saskatchewan (B. Massey, 22)
Leading rebounders: Fraser Valley (C. McLaughlin, 10), Saskatchewan (M. Johnson, 9)