BANDITS DEFENCE AT HOME COULD BE KEY TO QUARTERFINAL SUCCESS
By: Matthew Winick • August 15, 2021
A team on a roll or homecourt advantage, something has to give on Sunday.
Winners of three of their last four games, the Guelph Nighthawks are hoping momentum and some high-flying guards help punch a ticket to Edmonton and their first CEBL Championship Weekend appearance in franchise history. The fourth-seeded Fraser Valley Bandits will host the quarterfinal game Sunday afternoon (4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT, live on CBC TV) against Guelph with the final berth to the big weekend on the line.
After a midseason struggle, Fraser Valley will look to their success at home and a raucous Abbotsford Centre crowd to continue their championship drive. A 5-2 record in their home venue, the Bandits are a significantly better team when sleeping in their own beds – on the defensive side of the ball.
The difference between Fraser Valley’s offence at home compared to on the road is negligible. We’re talking just two points per game better in Abbotsford. Even their shooting accuracy from the field and the line are indifferent to location.
Bandits’ opponents? That’s a different story.
When visiting Fraser Valley, opponents average just 78.1 points compared to 90.6 points when they are in their own building. They also tally significantly fewer three pointers, rebounds, and assists when playing at the Abbotsford Centre. The Bandits really have created a advantage.
Kenny is the Man
Kenny Manigault has been on fire as of late. Coming into the quarterfinals, Manigault has averaged 19.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 9.7 assists in his last three games. He put together a solid performance during the win against the Nighthawks as well when he registered 14 points, five rebounds and six assists. If he continues his strong play, Guelph will certainly have their hands full.
Dynamic Duo
You would be hard pressed to find another pair of guards in the CEBL who have taken such a heavy load of its team’s offence than Cat Barber and Ahmed Hill from the Royal City. The tandem accounted for 41 per cent of Guelph’s scoring and an equal amount of the team’s assists. The Nighthawks were the only squad in the CEBL to have two players rank in the top five in scoring. Barber (18.1 ppg) finished third, while Hill finished fifth (17.5 ppg). However, during the only meeting against Fraser Valley this season, the Bandits held the dynamic duo to a combined 26 points, six rebounds and seven assists, in addition to eight turnovers and a .314 (11-35) shooting mark from the field.
A hard fall midway through the Nighthawks’ August 4 game in Ottawa forced Barber out of the lineup for the season finale against the BlackJacks two days later. Fans are hoping a week of rest for their leading scorer will be enough to return Barber to form.
In order for Guelph to book its ticket to the CEBL Championship Weekend, the Nighthawks will need Barber and Hill at their best - share the ball and be their explosive self.
New-Look Lall
If there was a most improved player award in the CEBL, Nighthawks forward T.J. Lall would certainly be under consideration. The six-foot-six forward from Cambridge, Ontario made a significant physical makeover in the offseason. Lall was a backup player for the Ottawa BlackJacks during the 2020 CEBL Summer Series but a focus on nutrition and strength training saw him return to the league 40-pounds lighter, significantly stronger, and with the addition of a decent outside shot to his game. The results have been rewarding. Lall leads the list of current Nighthawks in rebounding (4.6 rpg), and steals (0.9), while listing second in field goal percentage (.518).
In the final five games of the season in which Guelph won three times to secure the fifth seed, Lall averaged 9.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and logged more than 30 minutes in each game. Look for him to be an X-Factor in the quarterfinal game against Fraser Valley.
Last Meeting
In their only meeting this season, the Bandits handled Guelph convincingly in a 92-71 rout on July 14. Bandits guard Malcolm Duvivier led all scorers with 20 points, including five triples in just 24 minutes, despite starting on the bench. The Nighthawks led, 24-23, after the first quarter but ran out of gas, producing just 47 points the rest of the night.
What’s on the Line?
Unless there is a major upset in Saturday’s first game between (3) Hamilton and (6) Ottawa, the winner from this Bandits versus Nighthawks playoff tilt will play the top-seeded host Stingers as part of semifinal Friday.
Championship Weekend Schedule
Semifinals: Friday, August 20, 2021
No. 2 Niagara River Lions vs. Higher Seeded Quarterfinal Winner (7 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. MT)
No. 1 Edmonton Stingers vs. Lower Seeded Quarterfinal Winner (9 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. MT)
Championship Game: Sunday, August 22, 2021
Semifinal Winner 1 vs. Semifinal Winner 2 (4 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. MT)
LATEST NEWS
Tomorrow's Canadian Elite Basketball League game in Vancouver between the Winnipeg Sea Bears and the Vancouver Bandits has been moved from 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET to 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET due to travel disruptions. All tickets for the game remain valid. For any further ticketing issues or inquiries, please contact tickets@thebandits.ca.
A season-high 25 points from Shamar Givance wasn’t enough as the Vancouver Bandits came up short in the final road game of the season. The Montreal Alliance defeated the Bandits 87-82 on Tuesday night, a game where three Bandits recorded their highest point totals of the season. Along with his 25 points, Givance also added eight rebounds and five assists in 36 minutes of action. “He was the definition of a warrior tonight,” said Bandits head coach Ransford Brempong. Givance, who came off the bench, took a bulk of the guard minutes after leading scorer Jarkel Joiner exited the game in the first half. “He picked up 94 feet and he went over every screen. It’s commendable. That’s why we brought Shamar here for the effort he gives,” said Brempong. Stephen Zimmerman in just his second game with Vancouver recorded 13 points and six rebounds. Jarrell Eddie scored a season-high 17 points and notched his first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. “Certain guys were thrust into positions they’re not normally in and that’s growth,” said Brempong. Both teams struggled offensively, particularly outside the paint, but what they lacked in offence was made up by their defence. The Bandits shot 9-33 from beyond the arc, and the Alliance cashed in on just 11 of the 32 three point opportunities. The Bandits recorded seven blocks and six steals, while the Alliance recorded four blocks and six steals. Montreal native Tyrese Samuel recorded 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. He played just 22 minutes after picking up two early fouls in the first quarter. No Canadian player has scored more points than Tyrese Samuel’s 358 points this season. Neither team separated themselves as the game stayed close for all four quarters. The largest lead of the game was eight, which belonged to Montreal. Vancouver exploded in the third quarter and outscored Montreal 27-17, yet their scoring wouldn’t translate to the fourth quarter. The Bandits offence lacked consistency all night, scoring just 16 points in the final frame. Quincy Guerrier led the Alliance with 26 points and seven rebounds. The Bandits will head home for the final game of the regular season against the Winnipeg Sea Bears. The Bandits (14-9) currently sit top of the Western Conference while the Sea Bears (13-10) sit in second place. “The mission is still the same.”
Five players were in double figures as the Vancouver Bandits defeated the Saskatoon Mamba 104-97 on Saturday night. The Bandits led for the entirety of the game, leading by as many as 17 points. Vancouver now sits atop of the Western Conference at 14-8, topping the Winnipeg Sea Bears (13-9). This win also secured home court advantage in the playoffs for the Bandits, who will officially begin the postseason on Thursday, August 6 at 7:00 p.m. at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. Tevin Brown led the Bandits in scoring with 23 points and seven three pointers made. “My teammates did a good job of getting me open,” said Brown. “They just let me play my game. (We) play a fast-paced offence and that’s where I thrive.” James Karnik followed with 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. The Bandits jumped out to an early 31-15 lead as Brown scored 11 of his 23 points in the first quarter. The Mamba went on a 29-21 run in the second quarter to cut the lead to 52-44 by halftime. Bandits head coach Ransford Brempong applauded his team for their resilience in the wire-to-wire win, even as the lead dwindled. “They might fight back but (we) still have to stay aggressive,” said Brempong. “Credit to Saskatoon. They made their run, but I’m more proud of the team and the resilience they’ve shown during the last handful of games.” All 11 players who played tonight recorded a made basket. Former NBA draft pick Stephen Zimmerman made his Bandits debut, recording two points and four rebounds in just three minutes of action. “It’s going to take everybody. Whether you come off the bench, I don’t care. Be strong enough that you affect the game and you impact winning,” said Brempong. Brempong said the Bandits are still bought into the mentality of being “on the hunt”, despite being first in the Western Conference. Brempong also said they can’t take their recent success for granted. “Don’t let it lull you to sleep. You still have to stay sharp,” he said. A layup from Shamar Givance won the game for the Bandits in target time. He finished with nine points and eight assists. Next, the Bandits will head on the road for a matchup with the Montreal Alliance on Tuesday, before wrapping up the season at home against the Winnipeg Sea Bears.
The Vancouver Bandits announced Friday that the club has signed former NBA draft selection and decorated overseas champion Stephen Zimmerman for the remainder of the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. A 7-foot centre hailing from Las Vegas, Nev., Zimmerman was selected 41st overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2016 NBA Draft and appeared in 19 games as a rookie. With the signing, Zimmerman becomes the first-ever NBA draft selection to sign with the Bandits. “Zimmerman brings additional size to our team and experience from the highest levels of the game around the world,” said Bandits general manager Kyle Julius. “His signing is part of our strategic plan to ensure we have a strong roster to compete in the CEBL playoffs.” A veteran of 10 professional seasons, Zimmerman most recently played for Gigantes de San Francisco in the Dominican Republic during the 2025-26 season where he helped lead the club to a Dominican LNB championship. He also earned championships in the Czech Republic, guiding ERA Nymburk to both a Czech Cup and Czech NBL title in 2021. His journeyman career overseas includes previous stops in Germany, Poland, Australia, Japan, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Malaysia and China. In addition, Zimmerman played parts of four NBA G League seasons with the Orlando Magic’s affiliate (Erie Bayhawks, now Osceola Magic) in 2016-17, the Los Angeles Lakers’ affiliate (South Bay Lakers) in 2017-18, the New York Knicks’ affiliate (Westchester Knicks) in 2018-19, and San Antonio Spurs’ affiliate (Austin Spurs) in 2022-23. Internationally, Zimmerman represents the United States. He competed for his country at the senior level at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup and 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, and won a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in 2014. Before playing professionally, Zimmerman played one season of NCAA DI basketball for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). As a freshman, he started 24 of 26 games played and averaged 26.2 minutes, 10.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots per game while shooting .477 per cent from the field.
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Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Mamba on May 14, 2026.
A message from Vancouver Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius on the 2025 season and thoughts on the CEBL Western Conference Semifinal.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on August 16th, 2025.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on August 3rd, 2025.