Bandits fall to Stingers in front of sold-out crowd
By: Matthew Winick • July 28, 2021
Xavier Moon scored 39 points, breaking his own CEBL record for points in a single game as the Edmonton Stingers (10-1) continued their dominant season with a 91-77 win over the Fraser Valley Bandits (5-5) on Tuesday night at the Abbotsford Centre.
After Moon set the previous record of 38 points back on July 2nd against Niagara, he one-upped himself in a dominant performance against Fraser Valley. Just two nights after being held to only 12 points and five turnovers against an aggressive Bandits defense, Moon carved them up on Tuesday. He shot 15-24 from the field, hitting eight two-pointers and seven three-pointers.
In a scrappy affair with 49 total fouls called, it was the speedy, skilled guard in Moon who made the biggest difference. Each run made by Fraser Valley was matched with a pure jump shot from the only Player of the Year the CEBL has ever known. He even added four assists to his tally, meaning he scored or assisted on 19 of Edmonton’s 34 field goals in the win.
“I just came out more aggressive. I watched the film, I saw spots where I could go and get my shots off,” said Moon after the game, “I just executed tonight.”
“What’s a word beyond comforting? I’ve been fortunate enough to have seen him do this for three years now,” said Stingers’ head coach Jermaine Small, “I can just tell when the first two go in, you just know the rest are going in. We’re so fortunate to have him.”
Moon’s offensive success was only one part of the Stingers’ victory on Tuesday. The team rebounded well, put pressure on Fraser Valley with 11 steals, and frustrated the Bandits all night long. For a team that already has its spot in the semifinals secured, the motivation and effort from Edmonton never wavered.
“We’re never satisfied. We have something to prove, and for us that’s the main thing,” said Small, “For us, it’s about us. We’re trying to get better, we know we can get better, and we just take it game by game.”
The loss marked another tough result for Fraser Valley, who have now lost five of its last six games to push what was once a 4-0 start to the season into a middling 5-5 record. It was a frustrating night for the Bandits with the aforementioned 19 turnovers, along with 25 total fouls called including two technicals on head coach David Singleton which led to his automatic ejection from the contest.
“We have a lot to clean up in regard to turning it over,” said acting head coach Tanner Massey, “We have to be able to handle pressure in tough situations.”
A bright spot for the Bandits was the offensive play from big man Brandon Gilbeck, who scored a season-high 20 points. Oddly though, the league’s leading shot blocker only added one rejection to his tally, with many of his swat attempts leading to fouls. Still, Gilbeck’s surprise offensive performance was a welcome sight for Fraser Valley.
“It’s mainly just my coaches and teammates. They’ve been wanting me to be more aggressive all year,” said Gilbeck, “It’s finally starting to click a little bit.”
The reeling Bandits will get a much-needed break from game action after playing three games in five days. Fraser Valley won’t see the floor again until next Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT as it once again sees the Stingers for the third of four straight games.
Edmonton will have a game before that rematch, as it will take on the Saskatchewan Rattlers at home on Monday at 9:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
All CEBL games will be available for live streaming on the CEBL’s new OTT streaming service CEBL+, cbcsports.ca, the free CBC Gem streaming service, the CBC Sports App for iOS and android devices, and on Twitch.
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 75 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season typically runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.
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This weekend, youth across Haida Gwaii will have the opportunity to learn and sharpen their basketball skills from British Columbia’s professional basketball team. Through the generous support of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and Langara Island Lodge, the Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation will be hosting free-of-charge youth basketball camps across Haida Gwaii, marking the organization’s first community visit to the North Coast region. “Haida Gwaii means a great deal to us, and we know how much basketball means to these communities. The game gives young people a place to grow, brings families together, and creates opportunities for teams to proudly represent where they come from,” said Yos Gladstone, Sales Coordinator, Langara Island Lodge. “The young players, coaches, families, and teams here deserve every opportunity we can help bring their way. We are grateful to the Vancouver Bandits, I∙SPARC and the Bandits Community Foundation for their commitment to make this program happen, and especially to those in Haida Gwaii who give so much of their time, energy, and efforts to basketball year-round.” “For us, supporting this program is personal. We care about the communities and the people who make them so special. If this visit from the Vancouver Bandits gives local players more time on the court, encouragement to keep going, and a chance to connect through the game, that is something we are proud to be part of.” The camps are hosted in collaboration with I∙SPARC, Bandits Community Foundation, Haida Gwaii Recreation and School District 50 Haida Gwaii. Across three days, over 200 youth athletes aged 10 to 17 and their families will gather in gymnasiums across Haida Gwaii for camps and workshops led by Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation staff members. Youth participants will also receive complimentary Vancouver Bandits merchandise. "Haida Gwaii holds a legendary place in this province and Indigenous basketball culture and being on the ground in Masset and Skidegate truly showcases how powerful this sport is," said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. "The competitive drive and skill level of these youth are incredible, but what is even more inspiring is how basketball acts as a heartbeat for the entire region. Seeing the immediate connection between the youth, the coaching staff, and the local fans highlights exactly why we wanted to bring the Bandits to Haida Gwaii.” “We want to extend our deepest thanks to the Haida Nation and our partners at I∙SPARC and Langara Island Lodge for hosting us and sharing their incredible hospitality. This visit marks an exciting milestone for our organization, and we look forward to building on this relationship for years to come." The camp schedule for this weekend is as follows: Friday, October 2 Kwiiyaans Community Hall, Old Massett 12:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Daaxiigan Sk’adáa Née School, Masset 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, October 3 George Brown Recreation Centre, Skidegate 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, October 4 George Brown Recreation Centre, Skidegate 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The forthcoming camps are part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits, and build upon recent previous community visits to Williams Lake and Bella Coola earlier this year. Established in 2023, ongoing and past projects through the Collective include camps and clinics for Indigenous youth and coaches, building new basketball courts in Indigenous communities, and hosting the 2026 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament.
The Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team, and the Bandits Community Foundation partnered with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and Nuxalk First Nation to host a series of youth basketball clinics throughout the Bella Coola Valley earlier this month, marking the club’s first visit to the region. Led by Bandits Team President Dylan Kular and Community Manager Pavan Kalair, nearly 200 local youth athletes participated in free-of-charge workshops and basketball camps, furthering the Bandits Community Foundation’s goal of bringing more basketball to more people across the province. Beginning with a welcome ceremony from Nuxalk Nation community leaders and drummers, Bandits staff led PHE classes at Acwsalcta School, hosted skill development clinics at Sir Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School (SAMSS), and assisted community coaches with tryouts for Nuxalk Nation’s U13 and U17 teams participating at the 2027 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament, taking place in March. "Bella Coola has one of the richest basketball traditions anywhere in this province, and you feel it the moment you walk into their gyms. The passion that Nuxalk Nation has for this game runs deep, and it gets passed down from generation to generation," said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. "What stood out to us all week was how basketball brings this community together. Elders, parents, coaches and kids were all in the same room, and that is what the game is supposed to look like. We are grateful to Nuxalk Nation for welcoming us, and to I∙SPARC for helping us get here. This is the first time we have made the trip to the Valley, but it certainly will not be the last." “It was a pleasure to host the Bandits in Bella Coola; we are super grateful for the Bandits and I∙SPARC for their partnership and making the trip to experience the passion and love that Nuxalk Nation has for basketball,” said Nuxalk Nation youth coordinator Cole Sankey. “As a coach, it was a great opportunity to bring high-level basketball minds to our community and show our youth a little bit of what professional players go through. Dylan and Pavan brought great energy to our workshops at Acwsalcta, SAMSS and Nuxalk Hall, and they emphasized in each session that the best players master the basic details every day. Stutwiniititsxw Vancouver Bandits and I∙SPARC!” The camps were part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits. Established in 2023, ongoing and past projects through the Collective include camps and clinics for Indigenous youth and coaches, building new basketball courts in Indigenous communities, and hosting the 2026 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament.
Former Vancouver Bandits guard Jarkel Joiner has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Utah Jazz. The news was announced by the Jazz via press release on Friday . During his time with the Bandits in the 2026 season, House made 10 appearances, including 9 starts, averaging 24.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game and earned CEBL Western Conference Player of the Month honours for May 2026. On June 18, 2026 at Winnipeg, he set the Bandits' single-game franchise scoring record with 42 points. Introduced in the NBA’s 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year deals. They can include a potential bonus if the player spends time with the team’s G League affiliate.
The Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team, hosted a youth basketball camp on Wednesday, September 9 in Williams Lake, in partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and FortisBC. The Bandits welcomed over 40 local athletes and their families to the camp, with the main goal of building confidence, inspiring young athletes, and bringing youth sports development and mentorship to athletes across the province. Held at Lake City Secondary, the camp marked the first community visit by BC’s professional basketball team to the Cariboo region, bringing more basketball to more people across our province. “Community is a core pillar of the Bandits organization, and we are proud to host camps and opportunities that help shape and inspire the next generation of players and leaders,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “Thank you to our partners at I∙SPARC and FortisBC for their support in bringing this camp to fruition, and to the Williams Lake basketball community for welcoming our team this week.” "We're proud to support opportunities that help young people build confidence, strengthen their skills and create lasting connections," said Janet Devaney, senior manager, community & Indigenous initiatives at FortisBC. "Through initiatives like this basketball camp, Indigenous youth can connect with peers and mentors, develop new skills and experience the positive impact that sport can have on confidence, leadership and a sense of belonging.” The free-of-charge camp was part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits. Established in 2023, ongoing and past projects through the Collective include camps and clinics for Indigenous youth and coaches, building new basketball courts in Indigenous communities, and hosting the 2026 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament.
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