COACH KANNEMEYER'S 3 KEYS VS. HHB - MAY 27

Cassidy Kannemeyer • May 27, 2022

Big time plays down the stretch helped the Bandits emerge victorious on Wednesday night, but what is the recipe for success tonight? Here are my 3 Keys to the Game tonight against Hamilton.

In Kadre We Trust!

Kadre Grey showed signs of being the Bandits leading man Wednesday, dancing into the paint and attacking the rim. In other instances he looked hesitant and passive. Scorers score and Kadre is the Bandits’ early go-to. He is versatile enough to score at all three levels and especially in high pick and roll scenarios.


His continued aggression will open up opportunities for the rest of the roster. Murphy Burnatowski, Alex Campbell and Ty Rowell shot eleven for eighteen from three against the BlackJacks on Wednesday, but many of their looks were generated during semi-transition opportunities. When the game slows down it will be important for Gray to lead the charge and continue to create great shooting opportunities for his Fraser Valley teammates tonight in Hamilton.


Zone or Man, Keep the Honey Badgers Guessing

Throughout the second half on Wednesday the Bandits coaching staff mixed man and zone effectively to take away the BlackJacks’ rhythm and mount a miraculous comeback. The toughest job will be to figure out when to use the zone or to just keep it in the back pocket.


Do you use it only in comeback mode or do you use it proactively early in the game to give the Honey Badgers something to ponder during half-time. Also, because the Honey Badgers have had thirty six plus hours to prepare will it be as effective? Based on the tape from Wednesday the team had clearly practiced its zone defence during training camp and were disciplined in their execution. I for one would love to see it early to, at the very least, keep the Honey Badgers guessing.


Easy Buckets

After pulling out a daring win on opening night against the Ottawa BlackJacks, the Bandits will hope to manufacture better inside scoring opportunities Friday against the Hamilton Honey Badgers. Early and often the Bandits dumped the ball into centre, Chris McLaughlin, who was matched up against a brick wall that resembled Chad Posthumus, one of the league's toughest interior defenders. McLaughlin struggled to establish an inside offensive presence, forcing the staff to go versatile down the stretch. It worked, Murphy Burnatowski went five for eight from three, and Maxie Esho got some contested buckets in his office around the key. Now with a game under his belt, and a better matchup, McLaughlin will look to better his output from Wednesday and help the Bandits steal two road wins on this young CEBL season.

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