BANDITS SNATCH VICTORY FROM NIGHTHAWKS, WIN THIRD STRAIGHT

CEBL Staff • June 22, 2022

GUELPH, ON., June 21, 2022 – The Fraser Valley Bandits came away with a close 90-85 win over the Guelph Nighthawks on Tuesday night to win their third game in a row.


The Bandits improve to 6-2 while the Nighthawks fall to 6-4.


“We really executed pretty well. I thought we had 13 assists and five turnovers in the first half, 18 and 10 for the game. I thought we did a good job getting the paint touches and post touches like we wanted and again when you’re down getting close to Elam Ending I thought we made some big plays,” Bandits head coach Mike Taylor said.


“The three-point shots from Malcolm (Duvivier) in the corner and Alex (Campbell) in the other corner turned the game and then our guys have done really well finishing games up to this point in the year – so really pleased with the team effort and a great road win.”

 

The first quarter was a game of runs. The Nighthawks started the quarter hitting their shots and going on a 7-2 run thanks to an opening three from AJ Hess and the agility of Ahmed Hill and Cat Barber to get to their spots. Following that point in the game, the Bandits took over the first quarter with a 27-11 run. 

 

The shooting of the Nighthawks went up against the physicality of the Bandits and Thomas Kennedy won the battle inside with 10 early points. The tenacity of Campbell kept the Bandits pushing as he got to the rim and distributed for his teammates. The Bandits kept pouring on the points to go up by 11 heading into the second quarter. Barber scored eight points early for the Nighthawks with Hill adding six points but at the end of the first quarter, Fraser Valley led the Nighthawks 29-18.

 

The Bandits kept their lead throughout the second quarter despite Lall, Barber and Hill continuing to fight back. Both teams shot at a lower percentage in the second quarter, and the half-court defence of the Bandits kept them close to a double-digit lead while shots weren’t falling, until Adam Paige came in and scored four unanswered points to put the Bandits up 44-31. 


Barber finished the first half with 14 points to lead the Nighthawks while Kennedy scored 12 to lead the Bandits. On the boards Kadre Gray and Lall each had seven rebounds at the half.  Fraser Valley held a small 23-22 lead in rebounding at halftime, but their ball movement, assisting on 13-of-16 made baskets, gave them their double-digit lead. At halftime, Fraser Valley led Guelph 44-33.


Runs continued in the second half as the Nighthawks, who were down as much as 40-23 in the second quarter, went on a 16-5 run to start the third quarter to tie the game at 49. Barber, Hill and Lall continued to be the primary source of offence for the Nighthawks. Hess contributed with a few three-pointers, which helped open the floor for Guelph. For the Bandits, Kennedy continued to get touches around the rim and Gray attacked the basket to keep the Bandits ahead despite the run from the Nighthawks. At the end of the third quarter, Gray put the Bandits up 64-62 over the Guelph Nighthawks.


Since the Nighthawks’ run to tie the game at 49, neither team was able to race out to a significant lead. Guelph started the fourth quarter with Lall and Clayton Henry, but Shane Gibson answered with an and-one layup to put the Bandits back up two. With 6:04 left in the fourth quarter, Hess pushed his total to 20 points off of six made threes and was a big reason for the Nighthawks’ 77-73 lead with five of those six threes coming in the second half.  At Elam time, the Bandits pushed their way back to an 81-80 lead with the target score set at 90.


Kennedy opened the scoring for the Bandits during the Elam Ending. Moments later, Guelph was threatening with an 85-83 lead. To answer, Gray hit a three-pointer to put the Bandits at 86 and Gibson got to the rim to make it 88, just two points away from victory and up three points on the Nighthawks. A defensive rebound from Campbell and a drawn foul put Gibson at the line to seal the victory for the Bandits. The victory is Fraser Valley’s third straight and snaps Guelph’s previous winning streak at five games.


Four Nighthawks finished in double-digits in scoring. Barber led the team with 22 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block.  Hess finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and an assist.  Hill finished close behind with 19 points, two rebounds, an assist and two steals while Lall recorded 15 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two steals.


Gibson led the way for the Bandits with 23 points, four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.  Kennedy finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and a steal. Campbell had 12 points, five rebounds and an assist while Gray added 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals off the bench.


Fraser Valley returns to Langley Events Centre to host the Montreal Alliance on Friday, June 24 (7 p.m. PT), followed by the Newfoundland Growlers on Sunday, June 26 (3 p.m. PT).

Single game 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.

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By Roid Chand • July 29, 2026
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.”

Bandits Pick Up Win Over Saskatoon, Secure Playoff Home Court Advantage

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.

Former NBA Draft Pick Stephen Zimmerman Signs With Vancouver Bandits

By Bandits Staff • July 24, 2026
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.

Bandits Regain Top Spot in West after road win in Winnipeg

By Rois Chand • July 24, 2026
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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