FRASER VALLEY BANDITS SILENCE GROWLERS ON THE ROAD IN NEWFOUNDLAND

ST. JOHN’S, N.L., July 5, 2022 – The Fraser Valley Bandits defeated the Newfoundland Growlers 88-81 to improve to 9-4. The Growlers are now 1-11 on the season. 

The Bandits started with five points from James Karnik and a Shane Gibson jumper to push out to a 7-2 lead. The Growlers subbed in newcomer Blake Francis and he immediately knocked down a three which sparked the Growlers’ offence to help stage an early lead entering the second frame.   

Malcolm Duvivier started the second quarter with five points of his own to cut the deficit to one but the Growlers had an answer. Sampson continued his offensive performance by facilitating and taking his opportunities when provided. Terry Thomas provided energy and key baskets to support the Growlers’ early outburst. Newfoundland pushed out to their largest lead, 34-25 with 5:18 remaining in the second quarter. 

Fraser Valley did not let the deficit get to double-digits as Klassen made a floater that cued a 14-6 second quarter scoring run for the Bandits. Alex Campbell and Karnik were the primary contributors with Klassen setting up many of their opportunities.

Sampson had 14 points at halftime and Francis followed with 10 points on 50 per cent shooting. Newfoundland led the Bandits 40-39 going into the break. 

After a first half of runs, Karnik and Sampson sparked a back-and-forth third quarter. Neither team was able to go on a big run as the lead changed four times in the first five minutes from Newfoundland’s lead at the half. At the end of the third quarter, the Bandits led 67-60. 

Fraser Valley started the fourth quarter with five quick points from Gibson to push their lead to 12 but a trio of threes from Newfoundland cut the deficit back to three with 7:20 remaining in the fourth. Going into Elam time, Fraser Valley held a 78-73 lead over the Growlers with the target score set to 87.

Sampson started the scoring in Elam to cut the differential to three, but Karnik got a dish from Campbell to put it back to five points, 80-75. The Growlers were able to respond to Bandits runs throughout the game but the shot-making ability of Gibson put the Bandits within four points of victory with the Growlers 12 away.

It was a lead that would prove too large to overcome. Gibson scored five straight points, including an acrobatic lay-up in traffic to secure the win for Fraser Valley.

Francis led the Growlers with 22 points, a rebound and six assists.

Leading scorer for the Bandits was Gibson who finished with 25 points, five rebounds and two steals.  Karnik shot 72 per cent from the field to finish with 18 points and six rebounds.

Player of the game for the Bandits was Duvivier, who came off the bench to drop 17 points on 7-of-8 from the field, while also grabbing four rebounds. 

“I think we just started getting out in transition and locking in on defence, I think in the first half we were playing a little more of a half-court game and that was kind of going to their type of game and in the second half we got into transition and that started to open up the floor. We kept attacking and it started going our way,” Duvivier said.

The Bandits now head to Ottawa for the second leg of their three-game road swing. Fraser Valley takes on the BlackJacks on Friday, July 8 at 4:30 p.m. PT, followed by Montréal on Monday, July 11 at 4:30 p.m. PT.

Following the completion of its three-game road trip, Fraser Valley returns to Langley Events Centre for a two-game homestand against the Guelph Nighthawks on Friday, July 15 and the Ottawa BlackJacks on Sunday, July 17.

Tickets are available for purchase at thebandits.ca/tickets. Fans are kindly asked to call (604) 866-0529 or email tickets@thebandits.ca for any questions or ticket related inquiries.

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), as well as TELUS Optik TV Channel 1901 Lower Mainland and via live streams on 604 Now’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Head to thebandits.ca for more information or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.