With a win and a little help, the Hamilton Honey Badgers (8-8) could clinch the fourth and final playoff berth to CEBL Championship Weekend when they play host to the Saskatchewan Rattlers (7-8) at FirstOntario Centre on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern.
(Tickets available at TicketMaster. Watch via CEBL TV or the CBC Gem App ).
Playing its final game against a team from the west, Hamilton can punch its ticket to Saskatoon and the postseason with a victory Saturday and a Guelph Nighthawks loss. The Honey Badgers will be able to watch the second game as the Nighthawks take on Niagara around the same time the festivities will be wrapped up in Hamilton.
While the four playoffs teams are nearly settled, their place in the standings remains a mystery. Niagara and Edmonton, who played the marquee matchup against each other Friday night , will most likely continue to battle for the top two seeds in the CEBL. The Honey Badgers and the Rattlers will jockey for the third and fourth spot, not knowing which of the River Lions or Stingers they will face in the semifinals.
With Saskatchewan holding a 2-1 season-series lead against Hamilton, Saturday afternoon’s game is important should the two teams finish the campaign with identical records. The Rattlers hold a +25 advantage in scoring differential against the Honey Badgers through their first three contests, so Hamilton will want to take the game and not have to worry about math other than wins and losses.
Hamilton defeated the Rattlers, 102-96 , on July 12, thanks in large part to Joe Rocca, who contributed a game-high 28 points. Ricky Tarrant Jr., the American guard who leads the Honey Badgers in scoring, and ranks fifth in the league, averaging 18.3 points for the season, has enjoyed playing the Rattlers. In their three previous meetings, Tarrant Jr. is averaging 25.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists, including a season-best 33 points May 16 at Saskatchewan.
The Rattlers ended its five-game losing skid with a 91-79 victory against the Fraser Valley Bandits in Abbotsford, BC on Thursday night. While the Bandits were applauded for a recent string of amazing defence, it was Saskatchewan who played an aggressive style against the Fraser Valley Bandits, making 18 steals as part of 34 points off turnovers, including a 28-8 advantage in fast-break points. The Rattlers were led by former Honey Badgers guard Shaquille Keith, who netted a season-best 27 points.
Hamilton has only played three of its past nine games at home. They haven’t won a game at Ontario Centre since June 12 against Niagara. With three of its final four games scheduled for its homecourt, the Honey Badgers, and its fanbase, are hoping the playoff-clinching celebrations start on Saturday and carry them through the month of August.
Tip-Off is 5PM ET.
May 16, 2019 at Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan 113, Hamilton 95
Leading scorers: Hamilton (R. Tarrant Jr., 33), Saskatchewan (T. Dawson, 30)
Leading rebounders: Hamilton (M. Fraser, 8), Saskatchewan (T. Dawson / B. Massey, 10)
May 18, 2019 at Hamilton: Saskatchewan 98, Hamilton 85
Leading scorers: Hamilton (R. Tarrant Jr., 21), Saskatchewan (A. Campbell, 23)
Leading rebounders: Hamilton (R. Ejim, 11), Saskatchewan (C. Posthumus, 17)
July 12, 2019 at Hamilton: Hamilton 102, Saskatchewan 96
Leading scorers: Hamilton (J. Rocca, 28), Saskatchewan (L. Moore, 18)
Leading rebounders: Hamilton (D. Denzel-Dyson, 10), Saskatchewan (N. Webster-Chan, 10)