My, how time flies.
After an incredible 98 days, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) concludes its inaugural regular season in Abbotsford, British Columbia on Thursday night, as the Fraser Valley Bandits (4-15) play host to the Edmonton Stingers (13-6).
(Tickets available at TicketMaster. Watch via CEBL TV or the CBC Gem App ).
With Niagara defeating Hamilton, 108-94 , on Wednesday night at FirstOntario Centre, the River Lions secured first place in the CEBL standings , leaving the Stingers locked into second spot heading into CEBL Championship Weekend.
Edmonton is looking to avoid its first three-game losing streak of the season, after back-to-back losses at the hands of the resurging Saskatchewan Rattlers. The Stingers won nine straight games before facing the Rattlers, the longest successful run of the CEBL season. Bench boss Jermaine Small will want to get his team back to its winning ways before heading to Saskatoon for the playoffs.
For the hometown Bandits, the team is hoping to leave its fans with fond memories as they look to snap its current five-game losing skid. After starting the season 0-9, Fraser Valley captured four of its next five games but was unable to carry the momentum past its last victory on July 18 over Hamilton. The lone bright spot for the Bandits this season has been the play of guard Marek Klassen, who tops the league in assists (7.7 apg), while leading the team in scoring (14.5 ppg) and steals (1.2 spg).
While the Stingers have won all three matchups against the Bandits this season, the results have not come easy. Edmonton has defeated Fraser Valley by an average of six points, including a 104-94 overtime victory on June 22 in Abbotsford. The Stingers have been required to play nearly flawless basketball to come out on top, shooting .476 (101-212) from the field, .457 (42-92) from beyond the arc and .813 (61-75) from the free-throw line, while averaging just 12.7 turnovers in the season series. Edmonton forward Mamadou Gueye has averaged 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals in the three-game series this season.
Looking back at the inaugural CEBL season, fans may see the Stingers and Bandits as two teams with very different results. However, when competing against each other, Edmonton and Fraser Valley have given us exactly what this new league represents – exciting, high quality and entertaining basketball.
Tip-Off is 7PM PT/ 10PM ET
June 7, 2019 at Edmonton: Edmonton 93, Fraser Valley 88
Leading scorers: Edmonton (M. Gueye, 22), Fraser Valley (D. Kapelan, 24)
Leading rebounders: Edmonton (D. Parks, 8), Fraser Valley (C. Robinson, 12)
June 22, 2019 at Abbotsford: Edmonton 104, Fraser Valley 95 (OT)
Leading scorers: Edmonton (D. Parks, 30), Fraser Valley (T. Tate, 21)
Leading rebounders: Edmonton (G. Glaze, 7), Fraser Valley (K. Bercy, 7)
August 1, 2019 at Edmonton: Edmonton 108, Fraser Valley 104
Leading scorers: Edmonton (M. Gueye, 26), Fraser Valley (M. Klassen, 27)
Leading rebounders: Edmonton (J. Baker, 10), Fraser Valley (K. Bercy, 8)