From Last Dance to a Championship Berth: Bandits Complete Comeback to Defeat Honey Badgers, Advance to CEBL Summer Series Final
August 9, 2020
ST. CATHARINES, ON, August 8, 2020 – The Fraser Valley Bandits pulled off a miraculous comeback in the semifinals of the CEBL Summer Series on Saturday afternoon, turning around a 14-point fourth quarter deficit and winning a game for the ages on the strength of a reverse lay-up from Olu Ashaolu that sealed the game, 76-75. With the win, the Bandits advance to the CEBL Championship game Sunday afternoon where they will meet the Edmonton Stingers, 88-75 winners over the Ottawa BlackJacks in the back-end of Saturday’s semifinal double-header.
After finishing last in the league standings during the 2019 inaugural season with a 4-16 record, the Bandits hit reset and entered the 2020 campaign with one returning player – Marek Klassen. Head coach and general manager Kyle Julius recruited an entirely new roster that was athletic and guard oriented. With a roster featuring eight guards and two forwards, pundits labelled the Bandits undersized. But they failed to account for the size of the hearts in the orange and blue jerseys.
The Bandits trailed the Honey Badgers 39-32 at halftime and 64-50 entering the final period. A 12-1 run during the first five-and-a-half minutes of the fourth quarter cut the deficit to 65-62, and a Junior Cadougan three-pointer made the score 67-65 in favour of Hamilton heading into the Elam Ending.
With an Elam Ending target score of 76, the Honey Badgers clawed to a 73-67 lead after Mukama hit a pair of free throws. The Bandits clamped down defensively and converted one timely bucket after another. Ashaolu hit a lay-up to put the Bandits ahead, 74-73, but the lead was short-lived as Kalif Young threw down another dunk to draw Hamilton to within a single point of victory. But the Bandits would not be denied a comeback. Ashaolu barrelled his way to the rim off a pass from Cadougan and dropped in the game winning basket on a reverse lay-up.
“We lost our composure a few times today, but I think we regrouped. I don’t think it’s about not losing your composure, it’s about how you react to it, and I think we did a great job of that,” Julius said. “If we don’t make that last shot and they make the last shot, I’m really proud of the fight in our guys.
It was Fraser Valley’s third come-from-behind victory of the season, with the previous two coming over Saskatchewan and Guelph.
One week removed from a 102-96 thriller during round robin play that ended with a Hamilton Honey Badgers victory, these two teams picked up right where they left off.
Hamilton got out to a big lead in the first half as rising star Jean-Victor Mukama continued his hot shooting, scoring 14 of his 18 first-half points in the second quarter, fueling an 11-point run for Hamilton. Mukama nailed four three-pointers in the second quarter to fuel a 39-32 lead for the Honey Badgers at halftime.
Hamilton continued to pull away from Fraser Valley in the third quarter on the ability to navigate the pick-and-roll and break the Bandits down off the dribble, leading to 14 points in the paint for the team in pinstripes. Young threw down a two-handed slam a split a pair of free throws in the quarter’s closing moments to give the Honey Badgers a 14-point lead entering the final frame.
The Bandits were left to play the fourth quarter without Marcus Capers, who was ejected from the game midway through the third for unsportsmanlike conduct after appealing a foul call to the officials.
With a small-ball lineup of four guards in Cadougan, Jahenns Manigat, Malcolm Duvivier, Klassen and Ashaolu as the lone forward, Fraser Valley came alive in the fourth quarter. The Bandits outscored the Honey Badgers 26-11 in final frame, though Fraser Valley did not take the lead until the game’s closing moments.
“We’re happy to get over that hump,” Ashaolu said. “I think this game of basketball is about trying to win possessions – you’re trying to win possessions offensively and defensively and put some stops together.”
The semifinal win marks another exciting chapter in the Bandits’ bounce back season. The loss sends Hamilton home with a 4-4 record.
“To their credit, they kept competing as we knew they would,” said Honey Badgers head coach Ryan Schmidt, who had his contract extended July 31 for the 2021 season. “We made way too many mistakes and too many self-inflicted errors. But like I said, hats off to them. I thought they played a good game. They competed from start to finish, and we didn’t make enough plays down the stretch to win.”
The Bandits and Stingers will compete for the league championship Sunday, with tip-off scheduled for 12 p.m. ET (10 a.m. MT, 9 a.m. PT).
Sunday’s Championship game will be nationally televised by CBC and livestreamed on Twitch, CBCSports.ca and the CBC Gem App. A complete broadcast schedule can be found here.
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The Vancouver Bandits announced Sunday that the reigning Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Most Valuable Player Mitch Creek has re-signed with the club and will suit up on Monday, June 15 against the Scarborough Shooting Stars. The 6-foot-5 forward and fan favourite returns to the Bandits after a stellar 2025 campaign in which he was named Most Valuable Player and an All-CEBL First Team Selection. Creek had one of the most statistically productive stretches of his career during the 2025 CEBL season. Starting in all 20 regular season games, he averaged a team-high 24.4 points per game along with 6.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 34.4 minutes.Creek made his CEBL debut during the 2024 season and currently ranks second on the Bandits’ all-time leading scorers list (643 points). Creek appeared in five NBA regular season games during the 2018-19 season, splitting time between the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves averaging 4.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game on 50 per cent shooting from the field across both clubs. A veteran of 15 professional seasons, Creek was a mainstay and all-star in his home country’s National Basketball League (NBL), logging 338 games and served as captain for both the Adelaide 36ers and South East Melbourne Phoenix. Most recently, Creek competed for Romanian club U-BT Cluj-Napoca during the 2025-26 season where he captained the team to a Romanian League championship and received All-EuroCup Second Team honours. A native of Horsham, Australia, Creek is a major basketball figure in his home country and has been instrumental to the success of the national team, known as the Boomers, and was recently named to Australia’s roster for the upcoming 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers taking place in July. Creek will step away from the Bandits’ roster later this month to join the Australian national team in advance of its FIBA World Cup Qualifier games on July 3 and 6 against Guam and the Philippines, respectively. He will rejoin the Bandits at the conclusion of his international duties. Bandits Single Game Tickets and additional 2026 ticket options can be purchased here . All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, the CEBL Mobile app, the CBC Gem app and the CBC Sports YouTube channel. Marquee games will air nationally on CBC TV. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.
The Vancouver Bandits led nearly from start to finish, avenging an earlier loss with a 104-95 victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks. The teams met on Saturday night on Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre, with the Bandits improving to 7-2 atop the Canadian Elite Basketball League's Western Conference. The BlackJacks fell to 4-5, dropping into a tie for third place in the Eastern Conference. “The way they beat us was pretty evident and obvious,” said Vancouver Bandits coach Kyle Julius of the earlier meeting on June 2. “So, I thought we did a great job – for the most part – correcting what hurt us, so that was nice to see.” “I think there was probably a little more urgency defensively,” he explained. The Bandits led for all but 29 seconds of the game, thanks in large part to a 30-point opening quarter. From there, however, the offence struggled to maintain the same rhythm. “Fatigue. We just didn’t have our rotation,” Julius said. “We were shorthanded, and I wasn’t really surprised with the ebb and flow and the dips we had. “Even D’Andre Davis – who is going to be a very good player for us – but if you look at his ankle, it’s still swollen, so he’s out there hobbling around.” The offence was powered by Jarkel Joiner, who had 37 points – a franchise record – seven assists and four rebounds. “The coaches had a great game plan, and we executed it,” Joiner said. “We locked in, we didn’t take the game for granted.” Joiner had a larger role in the game, especially with point guard and leading scorer Jaelen House sidelined. “Honestly, it’s hard without him. He makes the game so much easier with his quickness, how fast he is, how explosive he is, how he sees the game,” Joiner admitted. “But coach needed me to step up tonight, and (Duane Notice) helped with the point guard role, and everybody stepped up.” Miller Kopp added 15 points and eight rebounds, Mychal Mulder finished with 13 and Tyrese Samuel chipped in 10 points and eight boards. Dominic Parolin came off the bench to finish with a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds, giving Vancouver five scorers in double figures. Ottawa was led by Javonte Smart’s 29 points with Matthew Cleveland and Justin Harmon both adding 19. "They play hard. They have respect for the game and force you into a lot of contested shots, so for us, we have to continue to fight for great shots," said BlackJacks coach Justin Mazzulla. “We have to continue to play together and have our energy not be impacted by whether the ball goes in or not.”  Up next, the Bandits return to Envision Financial Court on June 15 to host the Eastern Conference-leading Scarborough Shooting Stars (7-1). Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Vancouver Bandits professional basketball team have announced that internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and music producer Sukshinder Shinda will perform at the club’s third annual South Asian Heritage Game, presented by Westland Insurance, Envision Financial and SDC by Tut on Saturday, June 20 when the Bandits host the visiting Brampton Honey Badgers at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. Exclusive to Bandits ticket holders, fans attending the game can look forward to two performances on June 20; including a pre-game concert in the arena bowl and a half-time show during the intermission between the second and third quarters of gameplay. Tickets for Shinda’s performances, which are included with the purchase of a game ticket, start as low as $30 each; all ticket prices are inclusive of taxes and fees are on sale now at this link . Fans in attendance are strongly encouraged to arrive prior to 6:00 p.m. PT to ensure that they have time to find parking (free on-site) and locate their seats before Shinda’s performance, which will be shortly after the top of the hour before the Bandits and Honey Badgers tip-off at 6:00 p.m. The festivities celebrating basketball, community and culture begin with the free Bandits Backyard BBQ presented by Otter Co-op starting at 4:00 p.m. Taking place outside Gate 4 adjacent to Willoughby Community Park, the Backyard BBQ will feature an array of outdoor food vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities for fans of all ages to enjoy. Widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in the Punjabi music industry, Shinda has built an extraordinary legacy both as a powerful vocalist and as a pioneering music producer. His distinctive voice, innovative productions, and ability to blend traditional sounds with contemporary influences have helped shape the modern Punjabi music landscape and inspired artists around the world. Over the years, Shinda has delivered numerous hit songs and produced music for some of the biggest names in Punjabi entertainment. His groundbreaking work behind the scenes, combined with his success as a recording artist and live performer, has earned him international acclaim and a devoted fan following spanning generations. Join us for a night of unforgettable music and exciting pro basketball action as Sukshinder Shinda brings his legendary sound, celebrated catalogue, and unparalleled stage presence to the 2026 Vancouver Bandits South Asian Celebration Game Halftime Show on Saturday, June 20. Ticket to the game required; the halftime show is included as part of your Vancouver Bandits game experience.
A change of scenery didn’t stop the Vancouver Bandits’ wrecking crew in Kelowna on Saturday night. The Bandits cruised to a dominant 105-85 win over the Saskatoon Mamba as part of the first ever Kelowna HOOPFEST. Jarkel Joiner (23 points) and Tyrese Samuel (22 points) led the team while Miller Kopp followed with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists. With this win, the Bandits boast a 6-2 record and are winners of five of their last six games. Kelowna native Grant Sheppard also chipped in with a CEBL career-high 10 points and three rebounds on perfect five-for-five efficiency from the floor. Shephard credited his hometown fans for a jolt of support. “I just had that extra energy and passion tonight. I want to play my best but tonight it was just for Kelowna,” said Shephard. “This whole stadium reminds me of Langley Events Centre. The atmosphere and the fans were great.” Bandits head coach Kyle Julius also applauded the atmosphere at Prospera Place as “tremendous” and said his team felt the support from the fans for all four quarters. “I knew it was going to be good, but this was better than I could’ve expected,” he said. Julius praised Shephard’s play and his ability to enter action without seeing heavy minutes. “He doesn’t complain. He comes in everyday with a smile and he’s locked and loaded and ready to go,” said Julius. The Bandits controlled the game from the opening tip, jumping out to a 23-3 lead in the first quarter. The lead would only build, extending to as many as 21 points in the opening half and eventually 29 points as the game went on. Samuel scored 13 of his 22 points by halftime. Eight Bandits were on the scoresheet, including seven points and nine rebounds from standout rookie Dominic Parolin. Everything went right for Bandits tonight as they shot 12-27 from three point land and forced the Mamba into a hole that was too deep to climb out of. “To play the way we did feels great,” said Julius. The Bandits are back in action at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre on June 13 to battle the Ottawa BlackJacks in the second game of a three game home stand.
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