BANDITS DROP CLOSE AFFAIR AGAINST NIGHTHAWKS

Gary Ahuja • July 16, 2022

LANGLEY, B.C., July 15, 2022 – The playoff race just got a whole lot tighter.


One game separates third place from seventh place after the visiting Guelph Nighthawks left Langley Events Centre with an
87-79 win over the Fraser Valley Bandits on Friday night in Canadian Elite Basketball League action.


The Bandits currently hold down third place at 9-7 with Guelph improved to 8-8, tied for sixth place. Teams ranked fifth through eighth place will make the CEBL play-in round, which precedes the quarterfinals and semifinals.


Fraser Valley will look to rebound when it hosts the Ottawa BlackJacks this Sunday, July 17 for its first ever “Star Wars Game.” Tickets are available now by clicking here. Tip-off is at 1 p.m. PT.

Just five games ago Fraser Valley was 8-2 and fighting for a share of top spot but the team has now lost three games in a row.


“My concern is we have to put ourselves in position to win games and finish the games. We were doing that early in the season, and of late, we have not been able to close the games like we need to,” said Bandits head coach Mike Taylor.


Through the first three quarters, the Bandits led for all but 2:23 of the 30 minutes but Ahmed Hill hit a three-pointer for Guelph in the fourth quarter to put his team up 78-77 just ahead of the Elam Ending and the Nighthawks then dominated, outscoring Fraser Valley 9-2.


Giorgi Bezhanishvili scored the first seven Guelph points in the Elam Ending before Cat Barber scored a lay-up in transition for the clinching bucket.


Fraser Valley managed just two points in the Elam Ending as they made just one of their four field goal attempts while also turning the ball over twice.


The Bandits played well for much of the first three quarters, especially the first and third periods, where they combined to score 56 of their 79 points.


Friday’s game marked the 2022 debuts of Brandon Gilbeck and Jabs Newby as well as the return of Thomas Kennedy, who was away playing for Canada at the GLOBL Jam event in Toronto.


Shane Gibson led Fraser Valley with 16 points while Marek Klassen and Alex Campbell each had 15 and James Karnik scored 12. Kennedy finished with 10 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

 

“We have some new pieces that have not played a lot together, we have some guys that are new to the system, and the zone (defence) disrupted us a little bit, so that was the main point,” Taylor said, while also crediting Guelph for their game plan and effort.


“We did not execute (in Elam); what you see is some new pieces who don’t have much experience playing together … we could not get much of an offensive rhythm. That will come.”


At 9-7 and with four games to play, the Bandits are still in a great position to earn a spot in the post-season, but they have their sights set higher as first place receives a bye straight to the Final Four while the second and third seeds get to avoid the play-in game and go straight to the quarterfinals.


“There has to be a sense of urgency from our guys, and I think we have to recognize that we have to help ourselves to achieve the best position for the playoffs,” Taylor said. 


“The common theme in these (last few) games is teams are really getting into us and pressuring us; that’s playoff basketball, so we have to respond, raise our game and respond to that pressure together.”


“The guys didn’t quit. That was a really good win. Our guys just did not quit, regardless of what was happening,” said Nighthawks coach Charles Kissi. “Early on, I thought (Fraser Valley was) a lot more physical, and in the second half, we matched it.”


Guelph was led by Bezhanishvili’s 19 points while Barber and Stefan Smith each had 15.


Smith scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and was a key reason the Nighthawks bench outscored Fraser Valley 26-11.


“I think our bench is understanding what their true value is. We are getting there as a group, but they were fantastic tonight and Stef was huge in the fourth quarter,” Kissi said. 


Game notes:


A fourth-quarter three-ball from Marek Klassen was the 12th of the game for the Bandits and it set a new franchise record for three-pointers made in a season with 183.


Fraser Valley had the rebounding edge 40-33, including 11-5 on the offensive glass.


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.

LATEST NEWS

By Bandits Staff July 28, 2025
The Vancouver Bandits are set to close out the 2025 CEBL regular season with a bang. As part of Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday, August 3rd, Bandits guard and social media sensation Tristan Jass returns to Langley Events Centre for the Tristan Jass $10,000 Halfcourt Shootout . Four lucky fans in attendance will be randomly selected to participate in the competition at halftime against Jass. The last shooter standing takes home $10,000. Event Format: Four fans are drawn from the crowd in the first half. At halftime, each fan takes a shot from halfcourt, followed by Tristan Jass to end the round. If no one scores, they go again. If one person hits, they win the cash. If multiple fans hit, only those who made it advance to the next round. Repeat until one winner remains. Entry Rules: Must be in attendance and hold a valid ticket. If your seat is drawn, you can shoot or nominate someone from your ticket group. All participants must sign a media release waiver before participating. The Bandits, who clinched a playoff berth on July 13 , host the Winnipeg Sea Bears in a tight race for playoff positioning. Fans can expect a sellout crowd with post-season implications on the line, marking one of the most crucial matchups of the season. The Tristan Jass $10,000 Halfcourt Shootout is one of the many additions to what is shaping up to be the Bandits’ most electric night of the year. Pre-game activities begin with the Bandits Backyard BBQ starting at 3 p.m. outside Langley Events Centre , featuring $1 hot dogs, live music, an inflatable kids play area, a sign making station and a beer garden for fans 19 and over. Tip-off takes place at 5 p.m. and single game tickets are available for purchase by following this link . Jass, who appeared in two preseason games for the Bandits on May 8 and 10 respectively, has been placed on the Bandits’ Suspended List since July 1, 2025 as a result of the CEBL’s Import player limitations, restricting clubs to a maximum of four Import (non-Canadian) players on an Active Roster at a time. His “ YouTuber to Pro Hooper ” web series, documenting his day-to-day experience playing with the club, has garnered over 1.2 million views on YouTube. ### For Vancouver Bandits media inquiries, please contact: Senior Manager, Brand & Communications, Justin Sulpico, media@thebandits.ca , 604-626-8513 About Vancouver Bandits The Vancouver Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits offer an entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue at Langley Events Centre (LEC).  About the CEBL: A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .
By Dillon White July 27, 2025
A few friendly bounces at the rim made all the difference for the Calgary Surge in a tense battle against rival Vancouver on Friday night (July 25). With the game on the line in Target Score Time at WinSport Events Centre, Calgary guard Evan Gilyard Jr. launched a deep three that rattled in after a few tense moments. It was Gilyard’s first triple of the game, but it lifted the Surge past the Bandits 98-96. The Surge have now swept the regular season series against the top-ranked Bandits, with both teams already locked into playoff spots in the Western Conference. The intensity of Friday’s contest mimicked a postseason showdown. Calgary head coach Kaleb Canales said the group executed the game plan on both ends of the floor with togetherness and championship poise. “We felt we had a great week of practice. We knew this was a heavyweight fight. We have a lot of respect for that team but I love our team and I love our squad and I love where we’re at,” Canales said. Both teams saw the return of NBA Summer League talent, with Vancouver’s Tyrese Samuel and Calgary’s Jameer Nelson Jr. making an impact after their time in Las Vegas. Nelson Jr. netted 21 points, including 15 in the first half, while tallying six rebounds, six assists and four steals. “[Jameer] was playing both ends at an … elite level. We absolutely love him and he was making plays when it was time to make plays,” Canales said. Sean Miller-Moore and Greg Brown III also had standout performances in the win. Miller-Moore dropped a game-high 27 points and hauled in eight rebounds, while Brown III notched a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double. Meanwhile, Samuel finished with a team-high 26 points for Vancouver on 12-15 shooting. He said he could’ve done better on the boards, but was happy with his return to the lineup overall. “It feels good to be back out there with the guys. Obviously, today wasn't the result we wanted but we're just gonna go back to the drawing board and just be ready for the playoffs,” Samuel said. Aussie big man Mitch Creek was also a force in the frontcourt with 25 points and 13 rebounds in the loss, while Kyle Mangas added 12 off the bench in his second game back from NBA Summer League. After three consecutive games with at least 15 threes, the Bandits cooled down on Friday with eight from long range at a 29 per cent clip. Calgary also capitalized on 18 Vancouver turnovers with 25 points. “Some turnovers and giving them some easy offensive rebounds I think was part of the problem for sure,” Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius said. The range of talent for both squads was on full display in the early stages of the game. The Bandits and Surge each started hot before the pace slowed. A catch-and-shoot triple from Corey Davis Jr. gave the Bandits their first lead at 16-14, and they stayed ahead 25-22 after 10 minutes. Vancouver extended its lead to nine in the second quarter following inside finishes from Creek, Zach Copeland, Samuel and a three from Davis Jr. However, Nelson Jr. willed the Surge back into the game with 11 points in the quarter. He showed off his complete game as well, stealing the rock on defence before dishing to Brown III in transition for a massive slam. After trailing for the entire second quarter, Calgary tied it up heading into the locker room with a buzzer-beating putback from Javonté Brown. Miller-Moore regained the lead for the Surge to kick off the third quarter with a transition dunk. Calgary locked in defensively for the remainder of the frame, limiting the high-powered Bandits' offence to just 18 points. Brown III added to his highlight reel late in the quarter, spinning for a left-handed dunk on Kur Jongkuch that put him on the free throw line as well. Down four points entering the final quarter, Creek and Samuel went to work inside for Vancouver. The frontcourt duo combined for 17 points before Target Score Time to knot the game at 87, but Brown III finished a putback to give Calgary a two-point advantage heading into the final stretch. The bigs continued to duel in Target Score Time, with Samuel opening the scoring before Brown III showed his versatility, connecting on back-to-back threes and rejecting Creek on the other end. Calgary missed multiple shots for the win, and Samuel added another layup before fouling out. A putback from Creek vaulted Vancouver back in front at 96-95, putting both teams a bucket away from victory. On the following possession, Gilyard did his best Kawhi Leonard impression to win the game with a deep three that needed multiple bounces before dropping. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600650
By Bandits Staff July 26, 2025
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By Bandits Staff July 25, 2025
The Vancouver Bandits have announced today the following roster update in advance of its Friday, July 25 away game against the Calgary Surge at 7:00 p.m. PT: F Tyrese Samuel has been removed from the Suspended List and added to the Club's active roster; he will be available for tonight's game. G Izaiah Brockington and G Tristan Jass remain on the Club's Suspended List.

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