Fraser Valley Bandits Lose Steam, Come Up Short On the Road in Saskatchewan
Bandits Staff • August 3, 2019
SASKATOON, SK, August 2, 2019 – The Fraser Valley Bandits hung with the Saskatchewan Rattlers for three quarters, but ultimately lost momentum in the final quarter of play and fell to the Rattlers 83-73.
Tyrrel Tate (Calgary, Alta.) was a consistent source of offense for the Bandits, scoring 16 points and recording five assists and five rebounds as well in just over 27 minutes of action.
“This was a tough one tonight. Coming off a close loss the night prior and then having a tight turnaround on the road, you really need to find that extra gear and dig in as a group. We struggled to find a rhythm tonight. Now, it’s our job to come home and put on a show for our fans these last two games of the season,” said Head Coach and GM Peter Guarasci.
Game Flow:
After a heartbreaking loss on the road against Edmonton the night prior, the Bandits entered SaskTel Centre determined to get back on track after losing three straight games. The Rattlers were hot early as Alex Campbell scored 13 points in the opening quarter to help fuel an early lead for Saskatchewan. Campbell converted an and-one lay-up off a nice pass from Shaquille Keith to pace the Rattlers at 21-13 with two minutes left in the opening frame. Joel Friesen (Abbotsford, BC) hit his second three of the game to bring the score to 23-16, and then hit another long-distance strike to bring the Bandits to within 24-19 entering the second.
The Bandits continued their push in the second. A pull-up jumper by Tate reduced the Rattlers’ lead to just 32-30 with five minutes left in the quarter. Tate followed up his efforts by sinking two free throws to knot the score at 32. Tate was a force throughout the quarter, hitting a pull-up three in transition off a nice pass from Friesen to give the Bandits a slight edge to close out the half 41-40.
Both teams opened the second half unwilling to give up easy baskets. After the opening five minutes of the frame, the Bandits held a slight lead at 51-49. A push by the Rattlers late in the third quarter helped Saskatchewan retake the lead. Jelane Pryce split a pair of free throws at the end of the frame to give Saskatchewan a 60-56 lead entering the final quarter.
The Rattlers’ lead ballooned in the fourth quarter. A three-pointer by Pryce three minutes into the fourth lifted Saskatchewan’s lead to 69-60. The Bandits responded with a push of their own, trimming the lead to 72-67 after Jelan Kendrick (College Park, GA) converted a free throw following atechnical foul call. Despite Fraser Valley’s best efforts, the Bandits were unable to overcome the late deficit as a three-pointer by Keith with just under two minutes left to play gave the Rattlers a 78-67 lead. The lead proved to be all Saskatchewan would need as the Rattlers closed out the game 83-73.
Fraser Valley’s next game is at home this Thursday, August 8, against the Niagara River Lions at Abbotsford Centre. Tickets can be purchased here.
Key Game Stats:
·Out on the break: The Rattlers showcased their athleticism throughout the game, outscoring the Bandits on the fast-break 19-13 (+6).
·Secondary possessions: Saskatchewan outrebounded the Bandits 52-48 (+4), including +4 in the offensive rebounds category.
·Struggles from deep: The Bandits were unable to find their stroke from long-range, converting on just 6-of-22 attempts (27%).
Bandits Performers of the Game
#10 Tyrrel Tate – Forward – Calgary, AltaLATEST NEWS
The Vancouver Bandits announced today a two-year partnership extension with Sentinel Storage that expands on the companies’ long-standing relationship and reinforces a shared commitment to youth, sport, and community in British Columbia. This renewed partnership builds on a foundation that dates back to 2020 with the Bandits Athletic Centre in Abbotsford, where Sentinel Storage played a key role in supporting multiple sport organizations at the grassroots level during the pandemic. Sentinel Storage and the Bandits are deepening their impact through two major initiatives: co-presenting the Bandits' annual School Day Game, and serving as the founding and presenting partner of the First Buckets program by the Bandits Community Foundation. The School Day Game, set to be held at Langley Events Centre during the Bandits’ 2025 season on May 8th, is a high-energy morning basketball game that invites thousands of elementary and middle school students for an unforgettable field trip experience. The event is designed to inspire youth through sport, while providing educators and students with a unique opportunity to engage with professional basketball in a fun and educational setting. "At Sentinel Storage, we believe in the power of community and the importance of supporting youth development through sport,” said Jenn Johnson, Director of Operations, Western Canada, Sentinel Storage. “We’re excited to be expanding our partnership with the Bandits to help make basketball more accessible to youth across British Columbia, while also fostering important life skills like teamwork, resilience, and leadership. We’re proud to be a part of this journey and look forward to seeing how we can continue to make a difference in the lives of young athletes in B.C.” Sentinel Storage has also committed to leading the launch of First Buckets, a flagship initiative of the Bandits Community Foundation. This program delivers basketball starter kits to schools across British Columbia, helping introduce the game to new communities. Each kit includes basketballs, jerseys, and coaching materials, along with life skills curriculum and the potential for a visit from Berry the Bandit, the team’s beloved mascot. The program makes the sport accessible while championing important lessons in teamwork, resilience, and leadership. “We’re grateful to be partnered with a community-minded organization like Sentinel Storage who also took a chance on us in 2020 when we launched the Bandits Athletic Centre. Since day one with Sentinel Storage it has been evident that they passionately care about the power sport has on supporting youth in British Columbia,” said Dylan Kular, President of the Vancouver Bandits. “Together, through the Bandits Community Foundation, we are going to provide more basketball for more people across British Columbia with the First Buckets program and impact youth across all four corners of the province.”  The partnership between Sentinel Storage and the Vancouver Bandits is a testament to the impact that strong community-focused collaborations can have. With shared values at the core, this partnership is poised to make a lasting difference—on the court and beyond.
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The Vancouver Bandits announced today that Headlands Environmental has signed a three-year extension as an official partner of the club through the 2028 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The renewed partnership continues Headlands Environmental’s commitment to youth development, community building, and Indigenous reconciliation through basketball and environmental stewardship. A cornerstone of the collaboration is the Indigenous Basketball Collective (IBC) , a long-term initiative powered by the Bandits Community Foundation and supported by Headlands since its inception. “Headlands Environmental has been a driving force behind the vision and growth of the Indigenous Basketball Collective,” said Dylan Kular, team president of the Vancouver Bandits. “This renewed partnership is a reflection of shared values — using sport as a tool for access, empowerment, and opportunity in Indigenous communities.” Since 2022, the partnership has helped fund basketball camps for Indigenous youth, officials and coaches, many of whom are attending their first ever organized training sessions led by professional athletes and coaches. In addition, Headlands has played a key role in supporting Court Projects — a program focused on building and revitalizing outdoor basketball courts including in Indigenous communities across British Columbia to create more accessible, safe, and vibrant places to play. Bandits and Headlands worked specifically on the development of an outdoor basketball court in Shxwhá:y Village (near Chilliwack) . "Headlands Environmental is proud to be a founding partner of the Indigenous Basketball Collective (IBC). As avid basketball fans we believe in the power of sport, and giving back to the communities in which we work,” said Mike Hofer, principal and owner of Headlands Environmental. “We’re very excited to be working with the Vancouver Bandits and with our Indigenous partners to be a part of this exciting initiative and to build on this with future opportunities for youth and community development". In addition to supporting Court Projects and Indigenous Basketball Collective, Headlands has played a key role in supporting youth from Mission in basketball participation through the Community Champion program. The Community Champion program with Headlands specifically supports Mission groups such as schools, not-for-profits and charitable organizations. With the 2025 season approaching, the Bandits and Headlands Environmental are excited to expand the reach of the Indigenous Basketball Collective to more communities and continue making sport a sustainable pathway for connection, confidence, and cultural pride. 
The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday that the club has re-signed 6-foot-4 Canadian guard and Hong Kong national team member Glen Yang for its 2025 season in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). Born in Burnaby, B.C. and splitting time between Hong Kong and Calgary, Alta. in his youth, Yang played five seasons of U SPORTS basketball starring at Mount Royal University from 2014-2019. “I’m extremely excited to re-join the Bandits and go after a championship after so much success as a team last season,” said Yang. “The fans, support and resources that both the city and team provide are unmatched. In terms of basketball clubs, the Bandits are as professional as it gets.“ The 2025 season will be Yang’s third in the CEBL. Making his league debut in 2023, he started in all 20 games with the Winnipeg Sea Bears during their inaugural season before signing with the Bandits last year where he appeared in 19 regular season games. “Glen is a tremendous Canadian player in our league. He is the consummate professional and makes everyone around him better,” said head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. “I’m really excited about getting back to work with Glen this summer.” Yang is currently in his fifth season of professional basketball, playing the 2024-25 season with Hong Kong-based club, Eastern, who competed in the East Asia Super League and Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner's Cup competitions. During his time in the PBA, he shot a career high 45 per cent from the three-point line while helping his squad reach the Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals. At the international level, Yang represents Hong Kong. He received his first call up to the national squad during the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers this past February, suiting up in games against New Zealand and Chinese Taipei. Tickets for the 2025 season, including Season Tickets, Jam Packs and Single Game Tickets, are currently on sale for the Bandits’ seventh CEBL season and are available for purchase at this link . The Bandits tip-off the 2025 CEBL campaign on Thursday, May 15 when the club hits the road to take on the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Fans will have their first chance to watch the club at home on Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m. PT when Vancouver hosts the Niagara River Lions in a rematch of the 2024 CEBL Final. Vancouver will play a total of 12 regular season home games in 2025 between Thursday, May 22 and Sunday, August 3. The Bandits wrap up regular season action on the road in Ottawa on Sunday, August 10 at 12 p.m. PT. All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on TSN+, as well as the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ , and on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices). Individuals interested in learning more about tickets for the Vancouver Bandits’ upcoming 2025 season are kindly asked to call (604) 455-8881 or email tickets@thebandits.ca . A complete regular season schedule can be found by clicking here . More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok , as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter .
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