BANDITS LOSE PLAYOFF HEARTBREAKER TO NIGHTHAWKS IN FRONT OF RAUCOUS CROWD AT LEC

Gary Ahuja • August 5, 2022

LANGLEY, B.C., August 4, 2022 – Cat Barber called game and that means season over for the Fraser Valley Bandits.


Barber was able to shake his defender and pull-up from three-point range to close the deal on a terrific season for the Bandits that featured fans from across the Lower Mainland supporting the club by filling Langley Events Centre (LEC) game in and game out.


Barber shook off his defender and drained an open three-pointer to send the Guelph Nighthawks through to the Canadian Elite Basketball League quarter-final round.


Barber scored seven points in the Elam Ending as the visiting Nighthawks ended the Bandits season with an 90-85 win on Thursday night at LEC.


“My teammates believe in me, and I believe in myself and once I put (the ball) behind my back, I saw the shot and took it,” he said. 


Guelph led for nearly the entire contest, trailing for just 2:40 of the first quarter with the teams tied at 25 when the buzzer sounded. But while the points were pouring freely in the opening 10 minutes – the teams shot a combined 19-for-35 (54.3 per cent) including 10 of 16 (62.5 per cent) from beyond the arc, the Bandits offensive fizzled in the second quarter as they managed just 11 points.


While Fraser Valley was struggling to put points on the board, the Nighthawks capitalized, scoring another 25 in the quarter with a dozen of those second-quarter points coming off Bandit turnovers as the visitors led 50-36 at the half.


“We did not execute; we turned the ball over and they got some run-outs and easy baskets and built a lead,” said Fraser Valley head coach Mike Taylor. “It came down to our offensive execution, in particular against their zone. We were not as productive as we needed to be.”


“We (needed) better ball movement, better teamwork and attack defenses together and I don’t think we did that at a well enough level to beat these guys today. I love the team, the heart, the effort, the fightback, we just came up a little bit short,” he added. 


“But let’s give credit today to Guelph, especially Barber and (Ahmed) Hill: those guys made big baskets, were really difficult to guard and at the end of the day, those were the difference makers.”

Hill (27 points) and Barber (25) – who entered the game averaging a combined 37.4 points per game – finished with 52 points while Giorgi Bezhanishvili had 14 points and 10 rebounds.


Fraser Valley was led by 21 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots from Brandon Gilbeck while Shane Gibson and Maxie Esho each had 16 points. Marek Klassen finished with 15 points and 10 assists.


Both Hill and Barber were part of the 2021 Guelph team that lost in the quarterfinal round against Fraser Valley and while 2022 was a new season and relatively new team, the defeat was a motivating factor.


“They remember what it was like to be (in this situation) and get eliminated and punked as we say. Last year, we got beat up pretty good and they remembered that. They came in and wanted to lead and that was the conversation we had before the game with those two guys specifically, and they did their jobs,” said Guelph coach Charles Kissi.


“It was definitely personal. Same situation. We wanted to make a statement. We talked before the game, and we remembered what happened last year and didn’t want that to happen again. We had a chip on our shoulder when we came out and knew what we had to do,” Barber added.


After trailing by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, the Bandits did get the lead down to a one-possession game in the fourth quarter at 73-71 and 77-75 but could get no closer.



Kissi said the fourth quarter was a good test for his team for the highs and lows of playoff basketball.


“You have to fight. If things don’t go your way, you have to stay locked in and disciplined. We had some moments when we could have unraveled, and our guys refocused pretty fast and got it done,” he said.


The win was a third straight for Guelph, who earned the last post-season berth with a 10-10 record, two games behind the fourth-place Bandits (12-8).


“We played together. I feel like these last couple of games, we have been playing together. Nobody is trying to do something they are not supposed to do. We keep doing that and it will be tough for teams to beat us,” Barber said.


Up next for the Nighthawks is a quarter-final game this weekend against the second-place Niagara River Lions (13-7) with a spot in the CEBL Championship Weekend at stake.


CEBL games are available on CEBL+ live internationally and in Canada at cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices and the free CBC Gem streaming service. Games are also available on the CEBL’s official app, CEBL Mobile (available on iOS and Android devices).


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By Roid Chand • July 29, 2026
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By Rois Chand • July 26, 2026
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.

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