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Ottawa BlackJacks Hand Montreal Alliance First Loss of Season in 89-75 Win

Josh Kozelj • June 2, 2023

With all five of their starters scoring in double figures, the Ottawa BlackJacks (2-1) knocked off the previously undefeated Montreal Alliance (2-1) 89-75 in a matchup of the top two teams in the CEBL’s eastern conference on Thursday night at TD Place Arena.

 

Ottawa big man Zena Edosomwan helped lead the way for the BlackJacks with a double-double, recording 14 points and 12 rebounds, including 5 offensive boards.

 

“Z is our captain and he’s an incredible guy off the court and that’s why we wanted him back,” BlackJacks head coach James Derouin said after the game.

 

“His energy and relentlessness on the court is how he shows his leadership.”

 

Edosomwan secured the win with a backdoor cut and slam in Target Score Time to get Ottawa to the magic score of 89. Jackson Rowe, who finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds himself, fed Edosomwan the ball from just outside the paint on the game-winning play.

 

With the win, Ottawa avenged a 97-76 loss to Montreal on Sunday May 28.

 

Derouin said the focus tonight was on stopping Blake Francis and Ahmed Hill, who combined for 46 points in their previous game.

 

“They’re two guys that have had some success in the league, those two guys you really got to send all your resources and defence to them. They’re two of the best shot-makers and scorers in the league,” Derouin said. “I thought we made them look a little harder for their looks and maybe they got a little tired at the end.”

 

Francis and Hill, however, still led the way offensively for the Alliance tonight, scoring 18 and 20 points respectively. Elijah Ifejeh also chipped in with six points, and seven rebounds.

 

Tonight’s game was hotly contested from the jump, with both teams shooting effectively from three point range.

 

Montreal shot 47 per cent from the field in the first, while Ottawa shot five of 12 from three in the opening quarter.

 

Kadre Gray, specifically, two days after hitting a game-winning jumper against Scarborough in the target score frame, had 11 of his 20 points on the night in the first quarter.

 

There were 11 lead changes and 8 ties in the first half, and Ottawa entered the break with a slim five point lead.

 

After halftime, Ottawa cooled off from three point land.

 

Following five threes in the first quarter, the BlackJacks made six in the remainder of the game and asserted themselves inside the arch—racking up a total of 42 points in the paint.

 

Ottawa built up an 11 point lead after three, and led by nine when the game shifted to Target Score Time. Edosomwan collected four points in target score, capped off with the game-winning dunk to secure the win for Ottawa.

 

Montreal, meanwhile, relied heavily on their starters, as four of their five starters played over 30 minutes on the night.

 

“I think we just ran out of gas a little bit,” Francis said. “It was a physical game, all game, but we’ll learn from this.”

 

However, the Alliance were still able to shoot 40 per cent from the field and over 30 per cent from three. They also shot 51 per cent inside the arch.

 

“It’s a process,” said Montreal head coach Derrick Alston. “We have a very young bench… It’s still early, so we’re just making sure everyone knows what’s going on when they get their chance to get in the game.” 

 

In total, 9 of the game’s 10 starrers reached double figures, with three players—Hill, Rowe, and Gray—scoring 20 points.

 

Montreal will look to rebound in a home matchup with the Brampton Honey Badgers on Sunday. The BlackJacks, meanwhile, will have one week off before they travel to Calgary on June 9. 

 

Ottawa and Montréal will square off for the third and final time in the regular season back at TD Place Arena on June 22.

 

Full broadcast schedule of CEBL Games of the Week on TSN can be found here. All games will also be streamed live internationally on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, and on the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices. 


A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on
Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

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The holiday season is about spending time and celebrating with friends and loved ones while also supporting important causes and initiatives in the community. The Honey Badgers front office staff visited the Regeneration Marketplace and the Regeneration Marketplace on Tuesday afternoon to sort food donations, portion meals, stock shelves and assist guests with food selection. “As leaders in our Brampton community, it is extremely important for us to collaborate with local organizations that continue to make a positive impact in the lives of others on a daily basis,” said Josie Pingitore, vice president of the Brampton Honey Badgers. “Our organization is committed to continue to make strides in our community growth, not only during the holiday season but throughout the calendar year.” Regeneration Marketplace is a local food bank in the heart of downtown Brampton, operating to provide quality, helpful food and household items for those in need in the community. Open 365 days a year, they proudly serve 39,000+ meals annually with more than 1,100 households receiving the necessary food and goods on a weekly basis. “Right now we are just inundated with donations, and the work the Honey Badgers did to help us sort saved us so much time,” said Katie Cleland, director of development at Regeneration Outreach Community. “This will help us get the food on the shelves much quicker so that we can serve more people this week.” The Honey Badgers staff were also joined by Amisha Moorjani, owner of The Food Quotient, and Rod Power, City of Brampton Councillor of Wards 7 and 8. This is one of many initiatives that the Honey Badgers and Councillor Power have collaborated on this holiday season, including turkey drives and Christmas dinners for underprivileged youth. To learn more about how you can contribute to the Regeneration Office & Meal Program or Regeneration Marketplace, please contact [email protected] or visit www.regenbrampton.com .
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LANGLEY, BC - The Vancouver Bandits professional basketball team is proud to announce the launch of the Bandits Community Foundation - the team’s dedicated charitable and philanthropic arm. This foundation is committed to empowering youth and driving positive change across British Columbia through innovative basketball and education programs. The Bandits Community Foundation will prioritize creating pathways for youth and adults to excel both on and off the court. Its initiatives include supporting local nonprofits, increasing access to basketball in underserved communities, and creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to engage in the sport—all while fostering community connections and personal growth. “We believe in the power of community and the ability of sports to inspire, unite, and create lasting change,” said Dylan Kular, Executive Director of the Bandits Community Foundation. “The launch of the Bandits Community Foundation is a commitment to giving back and empowering the next generation. Together, we are building a brighter future, one bucket at a time.” To guide this effort, the Bandits Community Foundation will be guided by an esteemed Board of Directors: Shawn Dheensaw, Basketball BC Executive Director Teresa Gabriele, Canada Basketball national team alumni Charles Hethey, O’Neil Law LLP Lawyer and Partner Dylan Kular, Vancouver Bandits Basketball Team President Peter Natrall, ISPARC Regional Coordinator Kim Smith-Gaucher, 3x3 Canada Basketball Women’s Head Coach Lucky Toor, TGL Group CPA’s LLP Co-Founder and Partner Full biographies of the Foundation’s board members can be found here . In addition to basketball-centred programs, the Foundation will support local charities, schools, and community organizations through scholarships, mentorship opportunities, and event collaborations. Its overarching vision is to ensure sport and education are accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic circumstances. The Vancouver Bandits have long championed community engagement through initiatives such as: Court Projects: Building and refurbishing outdoor basketball courts across BC Bandits School Tour: Delivering cost-free basketball workshops and practice instruction to high school teams Community Champion Initiative: Providing youth and families in need with the special experience of a Vancouver Bandits game Indigenous Basketball Collective: A partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council to foster opportunities for Indigenous players and coaches The Bandits Community Foundation invites individuals and businesses to join its mission, amplifying its impact through donations and partnerships. Every contribution helps provide vital tools, experiences, and support for youth to thrive. For more information about the Bandits Community Foundation, its programs, or ways to get involved, visit www.banditsfoundation.ca . Follow the Foundation’s journey on social media: Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter @BanditsFoundation.
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The Canadian Elite Basketball League mourns the loss of one of our most beloved players, Chad Posthumus. Chad was a founding player in our league, helping lead Saskatchewan to the inaugural CEBL championship in 2019. He was a fan favourite in ensuing years playing with Ottawa and Winnipeg and representing Edmonton and Brampton in international tournaments. Chad had a love for people and for the game of basketball that lit up even the largest arenas. His spirit and passion touched the hearts of fans and inspired teammates and all of us blessed to have shared Chad’s all-too-brief life with him. Chad represented the best in aspiring Canadian basketball players during his professional career in Japan, Argentina, and here at home. Off the court he was an Academic All-American in college and was a dedicated advocate for those living with Diabetes. The impact Chad made on our world is as undeniable as the force that he was on the court. Our deepest sympathies go out to Chad’s family, his legion of friends, fans, and teammates, and to the Winnipeg Sea Bears organization. - CEBL -
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Drew Green’s basketball roots run deep. Green, the CEO of Indochino, played high-school hoops against the likes of Rowan Barrett, starred on the York University squad and went on to ply his trade professionally in Australia and Singapore. Now, his two sons are forging their own careers in the sport — and Green is right there with them. On Thursday, the CEBL announced that the accomplished executive was coming aboard as its first-ever Chair of the Board of Governors and co-owner. “We are a basketball family, right? We've been in the gym, my sons and I, thousands and thousands of hours. We have an NBA half court literally in our front yard that we built during COVID. And so this is going to be a lot of fun,” he said. It’s a partnership that fits as snugly as a well-tailored suit. The Scarborough, Ont., native said that watching his sons find their love for basketball in recent years reignited his own affinity for the sport. “The two areas of passion in my life are basketball and business. And they interplay really well with this role,” Green said. Throughout the many business ventures, Green said his first job was as a father to Liam and Aidan and as a husband to his wife, Andrea Dayco. While his sons are triple-citizens of Canada, the U.S. and the Philippines, Green has made it a point to raise them with Canadian values — and to push them toward the national basketball culture. “I've seen the evolution of basketball in this country firsthand. When I played in high school, I think we had one, maybe two people that ever played in the NBA. The ability to play in the U.S. and go to and play (NCAA) Division One basketball didn't really exist. “Rowan was one of that first cohorts that played, and that was amazing, but it was so rare.” Now, there are nearly 200 Canadians playing in college basketball’s top division. Among those players is Liam, who recently accepted a five-year scholarship at Florida Atlantic University. Aidan plays for the renowned prep school Montverde Academy, which produced the likes of current Raptors RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes. Liam heads to FAU with some CEBL background, having practised with Vancouver Bandits head coach Kyle Julius. 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Prior to Indochino, Green founded Canada’s first multi-merchant marketplace (now owned by Emerge Commerce) and was an executive at DoubleClick (acquired by Google) and Shop.com. At the CEBL, Green will help introduce the league to potential partners and investors while assisting the league and team owners on business matters. CEBL commissioner Mike Morreale called the partnership with Green “an incredible win.” “Drew’s business success speaks for itself and his passion for the game mimics all involved in making the CEBL a homegrown and global success. His personal financial investment into the league demonstrates his strong belief of our bright future and recognizes the foundation that has been built during our formative years,” Morreale said. “Personally, I look forward to getting right to work with Drew on the next stage of the CEBL and the growth of our game.” Green said the CEBL is on a “great trajectory,” but projected plenty of growth potential too. “Whether that's sponsors or investors or other types of strategic partners that really align with growing the game of basketball and growing the business of basketball in Canada, I think there's lots and lots of opportunities,” he said. “When you try to do something on your own in life, it often takes you a lot longer than it should at the core of it. 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