After strong start, Fraser Valley Bandits fall against league leading Niagara River Lions

ST. CATHARINES, ON, May 31, 2019 – After a spirited game on Wednesday that saw the Fraser Valley Bandits push the Hamilton Honey Badgers into overtime, the Bandits were unable to pull out a win against the Niagara River Lions. The Bandits fought hard, but ultimately fell 108-87 to the first-place team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

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Tyrrel Tate (Calgary, AB) was a consistent force of offensive for the Bandits, contributing a double- double performance that saw the guard score 17 points on 6-of-10 (60%) shooting while also pulling down 11 rebounds and pitching in with a block and a steal as well.

“We played a very good 17 to 18 minutes before giving up a run at the end of the first half. We fought for a bit, but Niagara just showed why at this point they’re the top team in the league,” said Head Coach and General Manager Peter Guarasci. “They played great on both sides of the ball, so full credit to them for really bringing it tonight.”

Game Flow:
The Bandits entered Friday night’s game following a tightly contested 106-99 overtime loss against the Hamilton Honey Badgers on Wednesday, May 29. Marek Klassen (Abbotsford, BC) made his first start on Friday night after coming off the bench for Wednesday’s game and recording 10 assists.

Nem Mitrovic helped the River Lions get off to a quick 9-4 start after sinking a three-pointer three and a half minutes into the game. Guillaume Payen-Boucard padded the lead with a lay-up in traffic that pushed Niagara’s lead to 13-5 at the 4:39 mark. The River Lions’ lead grew to as large as nine points in the opening frame, but a pull-up jump shot by Tate with 32 seconds left in the first quarter kept the Bandits within striking distance at 21-14.

The Bandits were strong out of the gate in the second quarter, starting the frame with a 5-0 run that was capped off by a lay-up by Diego Kapelan (Vancouver, BC). A spot up three-pointer by Rodney Pryor (Evanston, IL) trimmed the River Lions’ lead to 29-27 off a nice set-up from Klassen. Pryor, known for his athleticism as well as his deft shooting touch, threw down an impressive dunk moments later off another assist from Klassen to give the Bandits a 36-35 lead, but Niagara responded with a 19-9 run that helped the River Lions enter half-time ahead 54-45.

Although the Bandits made strides in the first half, the River Lions continued to gather momentum in the second half of play. Trae Bell-Haynes was a key cog for Niagara and was able to navigate through the Bandits’ defence and converted a variety of floaters in the lane that helped the River Lions break ahead in the third quarter. Yohanny Dalembert was a force in the paint for Niagara as well, converting a number of highlight reel dunks in the third quarter. A two-point jump shot by Anton Gill (Raleigh, NC) cut the score to 74-61 with three minutes left in the third, but that would be as close as the Bandits would get throughout the remainder of the game.

The Bandits made a few final pushes in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t reduce the deficit to less than 14 points before the River Lions eventually closed the game out 108-87.

With the win, the River Lions improve to 4-1 on the season, while the Bandits fall to 0-5. The Bandits take on the Edmonton Stingers at the Edmonton EXPO Centre on Friday, June 7.

“We are focussed on the next game and every day in between. The guys will recuperate and we are dedicated towards getting the first win for the organization and build from there,” Guarasci said.

Key Game Stats:
Getting to the line: The Bandits were aggressive throughout the game, resulting in 22 free throw attempts, compared to 19 for the River Lions.
Bench production: Niagara’s bench provided steady relief for the River Lions’ starting five by outscoring the Bandits’ second unit 49-22 (+27).
Second chance points: The Bandits turned in an energetic performance and constantly fought for loose rebounds, leading to 15 second chance points, compared to nine for the River Lions.

Bandits Performer of the Game
#10 Tyrrel Tate – Forward – Calgary, AB