The Niagara River Lions (15-5), the best team during the inaugural CEBL regular season, tips off against the fourth-seeded Hamilton Honey Badgers (10-10) in the second CEBL Championship Weekend semi-final on Saturday afternoon.

Tipoff is 3:30 p.m. CST. (Tickets available at TicketMaster. Watch via CEBL TV or the CBC Gem App ).

The River Lions own a 3-1 season series record against the Honey Badgers, including a 14-point win during the regular season finale at FirstOntario Centre on August 14. None of the games have been close. In fact, all four games between Hamilton and Niagara were decided by 11 or more points. While there have been no nail biters, the four games were high scoring and very entertaining. The River Lions averaged 104.5 points in the season series, made 51 triples, averaged a staggering 25.5 assists and shot .480 from the floor. Entering the semifinal as a heavy favourite, Niagara brings many deserved accolades but with it, added pressure. Staying together is their key to success.

“We have to focus on the things that actually matter. The stuff that we did for 20 games this season,” explained River Lions bench boss Victor Raso. “Our guys like each other. They are committed and have an open mind to getting better. It’s the strength of who we are. We don’t necessarily have one best player. That’s who we are. We are a collective group.”

Important to Hamilton pulling off the upset may be how well they come out of the gates. In the season series against Niagara, the Honey Badgers were 0-3 when losing the opening quarter. The River Lions are averaging 30 points in the opening frame against Hamilton.

In their lone win against Niagara on June 12, the Honey Badgers took a season-low 19 three pointers, turned the ball over a season-low 11 times and outscored the River Lions in the paint 50-36. They forced Niagara to the line an opponent-high 36 times (and made only 25). It’s better to have the River Lions on the charity stripe for a maximum of two points than to give them open looks from beyond the arc where they led the league in triples made.

Honey Badgers forward Mike Fraser needs to be a presence inside against the River Lions. During Hamilton’s win, Fraser set the league record for rebounds with 17. He averaged nine boards in the season series. CEBL Player of the Year finalist, Ricky Tarrant Jr., is averaging 17.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the four games against Niagara, including a game-high 26 points in the season finale on August 14. Scoring 20 points in each of the final three games against the River Lions, Demetrius Denzel-Dyson averaged 19.5 points and 5.8 rebounds against Niagara.

The River Lions will look to a series of players to keep their winning ways. Averaging 39.3 points off the bench, the league’s top reserve is Niagara’s Ryan Anderson, who is averaging 18.8 point against the Honey Badgers, shooting .500 (18-for-36) from beyond the arc. CEBL Defensive Player of the Year finalist Samuel Muldrow recorded 21 points, eight rebounds and five blocks against Hamilton during their last meeting. Lastly, CEBL Canadian of the Year finalist Guillaume Payen-Boucard has recorded two double-doubles and averaged 16.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists in four games.

Niagara and Hamilton are the top two offences in the league but they score in very different ways. For the fans at SaskTel Centre on Saturday afternoon, they will be treated to a track meet and the quality of basketball that has become expected in this new basketball experience called the CEBL.

June 8 at Niagara: Niagara 107, Hamilton 96
Leading scorers: Hamilton (J. Edwards, 19), Niagara (Payen-Boucard, 24)
Leading rebounders: Hamilton (Ejim, 9), Niagara (Payen-Boucard, 13)

June 12 at Hamilton: Hamilton 107, Niagara 95
Leading scorers: Hamilton (Denzel-Dyson, 24), Niagara (Pinson, 20)
Leading rebounders: Hamilton (Fraser, 17), Niagara (Bell-Haynes/Pinson, 8)

June 26 at Niagara: Niagara 108, Hamilton 96
Leading scorers: Hamilton (Denzel-Dyson, 20), Niagara (Anderson, 25)
Leading rebounders: Hamilton (Agada, 12), Niagara (Payen-Boucard, 11)

August 14 at Hamilton: Niagara 108, Hamilton 94
Leading scorers: Hamilton (Tarrant Jr., 26), Niagara (Pinson, 24)
Leading rebounders: Hamilton (Fraser, 11), Niagara (Pinson, 11)