Winners of four straight games, the Edmonton Stingers (8-4) host the Guelph Nighthawks (3-9), who welcome Charles Kissi as its new general manager and head coach, during the first of two intriguing matchups on Thursday night.

(Tickets available at TicketMaster. Watch via CEBL TV or the CBC Gem App ).

Edmonton and Guelph are becoming familiar foes, playing its second meeting in less than a week, with their final tilt scheduled for July 20. In their last contest, the Stingers dominated the inside game again, outscoring the Nighthawks 50-32 in the paint en route to a 99-89 win. The victory was the second of the season against Guelph and cemented Edmonton’s second place standing in the league.

What’s most surprising about the Stingers’ recent success, is its offensive turnaround. Edmonton still ranks last in the league, averaging just 91.2 points per game, while also sitting in the basement statistically in three-pointers made (108) and three-point percentage (.317). After averaging 85.6 points throughout the first eight games of the inaugural campaign, the Stingers have averaged 102.5 points during its current four-game win streak. The team went 17-for-36 from beyond the arc in its second win (105-99) at home over league-leading Niagara on June 28. Edmonton is 6-1 at Expo Centre and the only team to defeat the River Lions twice.

Jermaine Small, who took over for Barnaby Craddock as the Stingers head coach and general manager on June 20, remains undefeated as the bench boss. Small has placed an emphasis on crashing the boards and defense. Edmonton has not given up 100 points since its first three games of the season and they rank tops in the league, averaging 42.8 rebounds per game. Stingers fans are waiting for the return of Jordan Baker, who leads the CEBL in rebounding (8.7 rpg), and is currently enjoying his honeymoon. He is expected to return mid-July.

The Guelph Nighthawks, who have lost three straight games and have captured only one win on the road, welcome one of the bright coaching stars to its lineup, and the change could not have been timelier. Charles Kissi, who turned around a struggling Brock University basketball program, has enjoyed tremendous experience with both the Toronto Raptors as an apprentice coach, and the Raptors 905 as an assistant coach. He will bring an infectious positive attitude to the Nighthawks lineup, demanding effort and sportsmanship from every player who wears a Guelph uniform. Kissi won’t be joining his new team until game day, but it will still be interesting to see how his players respond.

Guelph is averaging just 93.6 points on the season and rank last in rebounding (37.4). With such a disadvantage on the boards, the Nighthawks are going to have to spread the ball around the perimeter, led by guard Myck Kabongo, who ranks second in the league, averaging 6.4 assists per game. Guelph, who is shooting .375 from beyond the arc (second-best in the CEBL) must have a hot night from three-point land to keep this game close.

If the Nighthawks have any chance of playing in the CEBL Championship Weekend, they have to start turning things around now. Time is not on their side, and neither are the odds against the red hot Stingers.

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

Edmonton (8-4) Guelph (3-9)

2-0           Head-to-Head         0-2
90.5            PPG           84.5
.441 (71-161)         FG%          .411 (60-146)
.267 (16-60)         3FG%          .408 (20-49)
.590 (18-25)          FT%          .617 (29-47)
100 (29-71)          REB           (OR-DR) 95 (23-72)
50             AST           38
24              TO           27
36            PTS off TO         26
53            BENCH PTS         79