Bandits, Nighthawks set to Duel for Semifinals
August 5, 2020
The Bandits and Nighthawks have already earned a berth in the CEBL Summer Series playoffs, but Wednesday’s matchup has big implications for both the victor and the loser. The winner automatically moves ahead to Saturday’s playoff semifinals, while the loser returns to the Meridian Centre Thursday night for a quarterfinal game.
Both the Nighthawks and Bandits sport 3-2 records. Guelph is coming off an 85-71 loss against the Edmonton Stingers, while the Bandits are coming off a 70-57 win over the Niagara River Lions.
Guelph was outrebounded by 18 against Edmonton and felt the impact of the Stingers’ energy on the glass as Travis Daniels and Jordan Baker did their part to keep possessions alive. Guelph has relied on a team effort to consistently play quality basketball throughout the Summer Series.
Fraser Valley was able to get back on track against Niagara after losing consecutive games to Ottawa and Hamilton. The Bandits held the River Lions to a CEBL-record low 57 points in the contest and will look to channel that same defensive intensity against an athletic Nighthawks group.
Tonight’s game is being livestreamed on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Gem App and Twitch (CEBLeague). Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT)
Beware Jonathan Arledge
Arledge currently sits fourth in blocks per game at 1.4 and is averaging 8.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Typically, a formidable presence on the offensive glass and in the paint defensively, Arledge was rendered ineffective against Edmonton and attempted just three shots before fouling out with no blocks in just shy of 10 minutes of action.
Arledge is a two-way force who can alter the game on both sides of the ball. The big man has also showed a willingness to take the three, connecting on 33 percent of his attempts in the Summer Series. Standing 6-foot-10, Arledge has the size and athleticism to make Fraser Valley pay, especially considering the fact that the Bandits’ tallest player, Tavarion Nix, is 6-foot-7.
Punching Above Their Weight
The Bandits’ two tallest players are the aforementioned Nix and Olu Ashaolu (6-foot-6). The rest of Fraser Valley’s roster consists of a talented collection of guards that have been asked to size up and defend players much larger than them. Six-foot-4 guard Marcus Capers epitomizes the Bandits’ small ball approach. Despite having a wiry frame, Capers is defensively sound thanks to his understanding of angles, footwork and defensive principles. Like Arledge, Capers is averaging 1.4 blocks per game thanks to his sense of timing and ability to obstruct shooters and opposing forwards without fouling.
Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius has also tasked Junior Cadougan (6-foot-1) and Malcolm Duvivier (6-foot-2) with managing the paint. The results have been mixed as in an opening night win over Edmonton, Cadougan and Duvivier were able to keep larger forwards off the block, but in case of the game against the BlackJacks, mobile bigs like Thomas Scrubb were able to shoot over the top thanks to their size advantage.
Turning It Around
Guelph and Fraser Valley finished fifth and sixth during the CEBL’s inaugural season. Fast forward to 2020 and both teams have qualified for the Summer Series playoffs. Guelph has leaned on both a new cast of players, as well as key returnees such as Kimbal Mackenzie, Olu Famutimi and Myles Charvis to lead the way, while Fraser Valley hit the reset button and brought in an entirely new cast in support of its lone returning player, Marek Klassen.
Both clubs have rewarded their respective fanbases with a quality of basketball that will certainly fuel a hunger for more of the same in 2021. But for head coaches Kyle Julius of Fraser Valley and Charles Kissi of Guelph, the future is now as they seek to capture the 2020 CEBL Championship this weekend.
Next Up
This evening’s contest is both teams’ final game of the round robin. The winner is seeded second in the playoffs and plays next on Saturday. The loser will be seeded either fourth or fifth depending on the outcome of tonight’s second game between Ottawa and Saskatchewan and dependent on tie-breakers. Both games are available to watch on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Gem App and Twitch (CEBLeague).
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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.
WINNIPEG, MB - July 23, 2026 - The Vancouver Bandits are back in the win column after a second half comeback against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Thursday night. The Bandits defeated the Sea Bears 92-77 to take them atop of the Western Conference, now tied with the Sea Bears at 13-8. “For the past two years, we’ve been in first place and we’ve been hunted. We’re the hunters this time around,” said Bandits head coach Ransford Brempong. Vancouver trailed for most of the game, and by as many as 14 points, before exploding in the final 20 minutes of the game. The Bandits shot just one-for-seven from three point range in the first half. “We’ll make mistakes but keep the game close and see if we can steal it, which is what we did.” Vancouver’s defence stepped up in the second half, holding Winnipeg’s best stars to a rough shooting night. Isiah Osborne, who averages 12.9 points, was held to four points on two-for-eight field goal shooting, while Emmanuel Akot made just one field goal for four points. CEBL scoring leader Teddy Allen scored 26 points, but he took 22 shots to do it and committed four turnovers. Jarkel Joiner’s 24 points once again led the Bandits. He also recorded three assists and two steals. “He’s quick and he’s strong,” said Sea Bears head coach Mike Raimbault about Jarkel Joiner. Joiner said there’s a “fight” within the team, especially with a close schedule remaining. “We know we’re fighting for homecourt advantage,” he said Bremprong praised the Bandits for sticking together in an unorthodox season. “This team is extremely resilient,” said Brempong about the Bandits’ second comeback win in three games. “The year has already thrown punches. We got thrown into the fire, but the fire is also a place where iron gets sharpened.” The paint was dominated by the Bandits as they scored 62 of their 92 points in the paint, including countless ferocious dunks from Tyrese Samuel and James Karnik. Rookie big man Dominic Parolin also poured in seven points, eight rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes of action. “We got those guys because they’re big boys and they’re Canadian,” said Brempong. Tied at 70 heading into the fourth, Tevin Brown was the answer Vancouver needed, scoring 10 of his 12 points in the final frame. Brown’s play catapulted a 22-7 scoring run in the fourth quarter to clinch the win. A putback layup by Karnik was the game winner. He finished with a season-high 17 points and season-high 12 rebounds. “To slay a Sea Bear isn't easy,” said Brempong. The Bandits will return home for a quick one game home stand on Saturday against the Saskatoon Mamba at 6 p.m. Tickets can be found at thebandits.ca . “Every game is a new challenge.”
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