First or second. Third or fourth.
There remains a lot to be determined in the latter stages of the CEBL inaugural season as theEdmonton Stingers (13-4) and Saskatchewan Rattlers (9-8) conclude their season series in a back-to-back, starting Thursday at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
(Tickets available at TicketMaster. Watch via CEBL TV or the CBC Gem App ).
Both teams have already clinched a spot into CEBL Championship Weekend from August 22-25 in Saskatoon. While the Rattlers were guaranteed a spot as host team, they have earned their way - currently sitting third in the league. The team has been up and down all season. Saskatchewan’s nine wins have come via three three-game win streaks, one of which they are enjoying heading into Thursday night’s game in Edmonton.
Speaking of nine wins, that’s how many consecutive victories the Stingers have captured. Edmonton has not lost since a three-point defeat at the hands of Hamilton on June 14. The Stingers have won the same number of games during this run as the Fraser Valley Bandits (4-14) and Guelph Nighthawks (5-13) combined have all season.
It’s not just that Edmonton boasts the top scorer in the league with Xavier Moon averaging 20.5 points per contest. It’s not just that the Stingers also enjoy having the top rebounder in the CEBL with Jordan Baker averaging 9.2 boards per game ( Although, it helps ). The team has done everything head coach and general manager Jermaine Small have asked of them. The little things, like fighting for loose balls, sharing the rock (assisting on 68% of field goals made), and focusing on the free throw line (shooting .756 as a team during the streak). These are the reasons why Edmonton jumped from third to first in the standings and why both Saskatchewan and Hamilton are playing to avoid the Stingers in the first round of the Championship Weekend.
With both teams playing quality basketball near the end of the season, it’s hard to imagine these same competitors played in the lowest scoring game in CEBL history, when the teams combined for just 131 points in a 69-62 Saskatchewan win on June 6. Two very different teams play in consecutive nights this week, first in Edmonton, then in Saskatoon.
Will they meet again for a fifth time this season when the league showcases its talent during CEBL Championship Weekend? The pair of games this week will likely determine that postseason schedule.
Tip-off is 7PM MT/ 9PM ET
May 31, 2019 at Edmonton: Edmonton 93, Saskatchewan 84
Leading scorers: Edmonton (T. Daniels, 19), Saskatchewan (B. Massey, 35)
Leading rebounders: Edmonton (J. Baker, 16), Edmonton (M. Johnson, 10)
June 6, 2019 at Saskatoon: Saskatchewan 69, Edmonton 62
Leading scorers: Edmonton (T. Daniels, 20), Saskatchewan (N. Webster-Chan, 17)
Leading rebounders: Edmonton (G. Glaze, 10), Edmonton (T. Dawson, 8)