Bandits Win First-Ever Game at LEC, Bounce Back Against Rattlers

Gary Ahuja • June 5, 2022

LANGLEY, B.C., June 4, 2022 – It is fair to say the Fraser Valley Bandits accepted the challenge from their head coach and responded appropriately.


Just days earlier in Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan Rattlers dominated on the boards, hauling in 52 rebounds – 18 on the offensive end – compared to 32 for the Bandits, on their way to an 86-77 victory.


The Bandits would host those same Rattlers three days later on Saturday afternoon, in their inaugural Canadian Elite Basketball League game at Langley Events Centre with Fraser Valley sending the fans home happy with the 90-78 victory.


Fraser Valley won the rebounding battle on Saturday 43-35, including holding the Rattlers to just a dozen offensive rebounds. And with less offensive rebounds come fewer second-chance points as Saskatchewan had 20 second-chance points in their win compared to just six on Saturday.


“We responded physically. The challenge on the boards. If you look back at the tape and the video from Saskatoon, they just crashed the boards and pushed us under the rim and bullied us around the basket,” said Bandits’ coach Mike Taylor.


“In Saskatoon, you could physically see guys were missing block outs, were just turning to rebound and today we answered that challenge and responded physically. You want to clear the circle to control the defensive boards, and this was our mantra today and the guys really responded to it.”


Also working in Fraser Valley’s favor was the fact Saskatchewan centre Jody Tshimanga was ejected in the third quarter alongside the Bandits’ Maxie Esho, after the two became tangled and had to be separated by teammates.


The six-foot-11 Tshimanga recorded a double-double in the first meeting between the two teams with 14 points and 13 rebounds, but on Saturday he was saddled with two fouls in the first five minutes and was held to six points and three rebounds in just under 11 minutes of action.


The melee seemed to favour the Rattlers as they hit both free throws – Esho had been called for a foul preceding the double technical fouls – and then Saskatoon hit back-to-back three-pointers to stretch their lead 62-56 with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter.


But the Bandits closed the quarter with a 13-2 run for a 69-67 advantage before pulling away in the fourth and winning the Elam Ending when Murphy Burnatowski nailed his seventh three-pointer of the game for the 90-78 victory, improving the Bandits to 3-1 on the CEBL season.


Fitting he got the game-winning shot in the Elam Ending because he shot the ball well and played so well tonight,” Taylor said. “The experience shows. He’s so smart, he finds his spots to get his shot. When he comes out and hits 7 of 12, that is really going to help our team.”


Burnatowski finished with a season-high 27 points while another Bandits’ big man, Thomas Kennedy chipped in with 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Guard Shane Gibson added 16.


Selected in this year’s CEBL U SPORTS Draft, Kennedy was making his first career start as a member of the Bandits.


Taylor said Kennedy’s advanced stats so far this season were a factor in moving him to the starting line-up for the game and the fourth-year university player from the University of Windsor rewarded the coaching staff’s decision.


“You see a knowledge of the game in Thomas that is on par with some of our veteran players out here and that is something special for a young guy,” Taylor said. “He has great physicality, great energy, great mobility. And what I love about him is he understands how to read the game in situations that I think is beyond his years.


“(Thomas) came in here and played great defence in rim protection and pick and roll coverage and then his ability to finish pick and rolls on the offensive end. Our guards did a great job of finding him – their defence didn’t really have their help-side set up so it was like a clear path to the basket most times.”


The Rattlers finished with four players in double figures, led by Malik Benlevi’s 18 while Tony Carr scored 15, Scottie Lindsey had 14 and Devonte Bandoo chipped in with a dozen points.

Up next for Fraser Valley is another home game as they host the Hamilton Honey Badgers on June 7 (11:00 a.m. PT) at Langley Events Centre.


Kennedy said the 3-1 start is a great way to kick off their 2022 campaign, especially considering three of the four games were on the road as now the players are in the comfort of their home building.


“We were able to do our thing, what we like to do before a game which gives you a rhythm and then you come out in front of a crowd like this – it is a big add to every game,” he said. “Great to get a win in front of the home crowd; it was electric.”

Game Notes:

The game featured six times and eight lead changes with the biggest Saskatchewan advantage being seven points (in the third quarter) while the Bandits led by 15 in the fourth quarter. Fraser Valley was also ahead for 29:45 compared to 7:40 for the Rattlers.


Fraser Valley’s next game of the season against the Hamilton Honey Badgers on June 7 at 11 a.m. PT is sold-out. The Tuesday contest will see the Bandits welcome thousands of students as part of its “School Day Game” festivities.


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.


Partial season ticket packages, as well as group and 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.


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

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Bandits Fall To Montreal on Final Road Game of Regular Season

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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