Right & Wrong: An Analysis of the Bandits' round robin performance
By Contributing Bandits Writer: Grant Vassos • August 8, 2020
On the final day of the CEBL Summer Series round robin, the Bandits earned a crucial victory against the Guelph Nighthawks to earn their fourth CEBL Summer Series win and secured a bye to the semifinals. With the prospect of advancing to the team’s first-ever CEBL championship game, let's take a look at what has gone right – and wrong – for the Bandits thus far.
Right – Teamwork makes the dream work
Early on in Summer Series action, the Bandits relied on a combination of physical play inside the paint, and quality shooting from guards Junior Cadougan, Kyle Johnson, Marek Klassen and the league’s runner-up in three-pointers made (19) in Jahenns Manigat.
The Bandits’ offensive philosophy is to play up tempo with quick ball movement, utilizing the pick-and-roll and making sure every player is involved in each possession. Unselfish basketball has also been a staple of the Bandits as they currently lead the league with 18.8 assists per game.
In the game against Guelph, the Bandits rebounded from a scrappy opening half to pull off an outstanding 46-point second-half; highlighted by Klassen's decision-making, Manigat's six-of-seven shooting from beyond the arc and all-around play by forward Olu Ashaolu.
Fraser Valley has recorded three halves where they finished with 50-plus points, respectively, this Summer Series. However, it was the 113-point performance against the Edmonton Stingers that showed what this team is truly capable of when everyone works together.
Right – Grit and Tenacity
While the roster assembled by Julius may not wow an audience in size or household basketball names, there may not be a more well-conditioned, battle-tested team that plays with more swagger or toughness in the Summer Series than Fraser Valley.
Where the Bandits excel is by getting in your face, making you uncomfortable when the ball is in your hands, and winning on the hustle plays by sacrificing their bodies and diving for loose balls.
"We just picked up the intensity, and we pride ourselves on defence. Whatever happened on offence, that's it, but defence wins games. We pride ourselves on getting stops, so we did, and that helped our tempo on offence," Cadougan said, following the game against Guelph.
Fraser Valley also possesses a roster of versatile, defensive players in Ashaolu, Malcolm Duvivier, and Marcus Capers – who ranks fifth in the CEBL in rebounds per game (6.8) and fourth in blocks per game (1.2).
It's the steals, however, that have been a defining difference-maker for this team. Never was this more evident than in their game against Guelph, where the Bandits recorded 15 steals in comparison to the Nighthawks’ two. The Bandits also rank in the upper echelon of the CEBL in points off turnovers, which was critical in Fraser Valley’s victory against Edmonton when they outscored the Stingers 31-17 in that category.
Wrong – Slow First Quarter Starts
When the Bandits are riding a hot hand, slow starts are a liability they can live with. But when the shots aren't dropping, and they miss easy dunk and layup attempts, they can often find themselves fighting to stay within reach of the lead.
In the last four games before facing Guelph, the Bandits were outscored in the first quarter by an accumulated point total of 89 to 74. Two of those games ended in losses and the only game in which they scored more points in the opening frame was against the River Lions, who converted on just 28 per cent of their field goals.
"I liked the shots that we were getting, they definitely didn't go in the way I wanted them to today, but the truth is I liked what we were getting," Julius said after the Niagara game. "Our offensive identity, we've only been together for four or five games now, it's hard to really have a true identity, but we do want to space the floor and play quickly."
Despite what recent numbers may indicate, slow starts haven't always resulted in poor results for the Bandits. Against the Rattlers, Fraser Valley trailed by a margin of 10 points to end the first quarter before mounting an incredible second-half comeback where they outscored the Rattlers 49-28 to steal the victory.
Wildcard – Shooting Slumps
As important as team rebounding and establishing a robust inside presence may be for this team, especially against a physical team like Hamilton, shooting will continue to be the backbone that holds this scoring unit together.
Fraser Valley has proven to be one of the better-equipped shooting teams in the league.
Entering Saturday’s semifinal game, the Bandits are shooting 43.7 per cent from the field and a second-best 35.2 per cent from the perimeter. In the paint, Ashaolu, Capers, and forward Tavarion Nix are all capable of holding down the fort after recording a combined 27 points, two steals, two blocks, and a +23 plus-minus rating against the River Lions.
When wide-open shots come, shooters must capitalize on the broken coverage of their opponents. But this isn’t always the case for Fraser Valley.
Against Ottawa, the Bandits made 42 per cent of their two-point attempts compared to the Blackjacks’ 51 per cent, and followed up their next games against Hamilton and Niagara by going 33 per cent and 28 per cent on three-point attempts, respectively. When the shots become stagnant, and their rhythm is interrupted, that's when the Bandits benefit from their intangibles.
Fraser Valley finds a way to overcome their in-game struggles and push through.
"This is why you assemble a team with veterans," Julius said. "You can't coach everything, and you can't hold people's hands through adversity and things like that. This is why you have leadership and experienced players. Leadership does that, and we have a lot of leadership in that locker room."
Fraser Valley will attempt to stave off elimination at 10:30 a.m. PT this morning as the Bandits take on the Hamilton Honey Badgers on CBC.
LATEST NEWS
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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