Fraser Valley Bandits’ Comeback Falls Short Against League-Leading Stingers

Bandits Staff • August 2, 2019

EDMONTON, AB, August 1, 2019 – The Fraser Valley Bandits overcame a 15-point first-half deficit and clawed back to within two points of the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s (CEBL) top team, the Edmonton Stingers, but were unable to complete the comeback, falling 108-104 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.

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Kevin Bercy (Kanata, ON) was a solid spark off the bench for the Bandits, scoring 22 points on 9-of-11 (81%) shooting while also collecting eight rebounds and an assist in just over 17 minutes of action.

“I’m really proud of how we fought through adversity tonight. We were down big after the first-half, and the guys were able to come together to make the game close down the stretch. Obviously, it’s not the result that we wanted, but this is something we can use as motivation as we prepare for tomorrow’s game against the Saskatchewan Rattlers,” said Head Coach and GM Peter Guarasci.

Game Flow:

The Bandits arrived in Edmonton to take on a Stingers squad that had won eight straight games. The Bandits; however, entered losers of two straight, and were looking to make amends. It was a tight contest early as both teams traded three-pointers. A three by Marek Klassen (Abbotsford, BC) tied the score at 18-18, but Jordan Baker responded with a three of his own to keep Edmonton ahead 21-18 with three minutes left in the opening frame. Baker followed up his long-distance strike by tipping in a missed lay-up by Mamadou Gueye at the buzzer, which gave the Stingers a 33-26 lead entering the second quarter.

The Stingers continued to keep their feet on the gas in the second. A pull-up jumper by Adika Peter-McNeilly pushed the score to 38-29, forcing Guarasci to call a timeout. Edmonton did well to keep the pressure on throughout the second quarter, boosting the lead to double digits as the Bandits struggled to find their rhythm offensively. A three-pointer by Akeem Ellis with a minute left in the frame cemented a 58-43 lead entering half-time.

The Bandits entered the second looking to claw back into the game. Fraser Valley showed signs of life thanks to some strong defensive adjustments and close-outs on Edmonton’s three-point shooters. An offensive rebound by Clint Robinson (Montego Bay, JA) trimmed the score to 61-52 with just over six minutes left in the quarter. Ellis continued to light it up from distance, stroking a three to push the score back to 71-57 in favour of Edmonton.

With the fate of the game still within the Bandits’ grasp in the fourth quarter, Fraser Valley tried to cut the score to less than eight points, but each time the Bandits inched closer, Edmonton was able to weather the storm and keep Fraser Valley at bay. A three by Bercy brought the score to 92-82 with seven minutes left in the final quarter. Joel Friesen (Abbotsford, BC) did his part to keep the Bandits close by nailing a three-pointer off a nice screen to reduce the deficit to just 98-94 with two and a half minutes left to play.

Both teams traded baskets late in the game, but two missed free throws by Friesen sealed an eventual 108-104 victory for the Stingers. The Stingers’ ninth win in a row makes them the top team in the CEBL with a 13-4 record.

Fraser Valley’s next game is tomorrow, August 2, against the Saskatchewan Rattlers at SaskTel Centre.

Key Game Stats:

·Getting to the line: Edmonton was aggressive in the lane throughout the game, attempting 30 free throws compared to just 17 for the Bandits.

·Strong on the glass: The Bandits did a great job of boxing out and recovering defensively, outrebounding the Stingers 43-34 (+9).

·Turnovers: Lost possessions were a poison for the Bandits early in the game as Fraser Valley committed 18 turnovers, leading to several opportunities in transition for the Stingers.

Bandits Performers of the Game

#22 Kevin Bercy – Forward – Kanata, ON

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