Vancouver heads to Scarborough with sights set on 1st place in the West

Steven Loung • July 26, 2024

The Vancouver Bandits (13-5) can clinch the top seed in the Western Conference and a bye to 2024 Championship Weekend with a road win over the Scarborough Shooting Stars (11-7) on Friday night.


The Shooting Stars, who are locked into second place in the East and a home date with the Ottawa BlackJacks in the Eastern Conference Play-In, will look to Friday’s game against the Bandits as a solid test against stiff competition before the playoffs begin.


The game tips off at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET) from Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, with live coverage available on CEBL+, TSN+ and on the CEBL mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. The game will also be televised on Game+.


Expect lots of fireworks Friday night as this matchup pits the two top scoring teams in the league against one another.


Statistically, the Bandits are coming in as the favourite as they also allow the fewest points per game, and have the best point differential in the CEBL, but this isn’t to say that the Shooting Stars can’t compete. Far from it, in fact. Scarborough is currently the hottest team in the league right now having won four straight and its solid 7-1 home record certainly gives it an advantage over the 4-4 mark that Vancouver has managed on the road.


Led by the electric Cat Barber, the defending champs are peaking at the right time, and he’s been a big part of it, averaging 25.2 points per game over the course of the Shooting Stars’ win streak.

Toronto native Koby McEwen has taken the reins as Vancouver’s leader this season, with his deadeye three-point shooting a key aspect of the Bandits’ balanced attack, but he missed last night’s game in Brampton and is currently listed as day-to-day.


Both the Shooting Stars and Bandits are locked into playoff spots. The Montreal Alliance will be hosting Championship Weekend this year and get an automatic bye to the Final Four tournament.


Considering how their respective regular seasons have gone, Scarborough and Vancouver alike look to have legitimate aspirations toward earning their place in Montreal for Championship Weekend.


Key matchup

The potential of a duel between MVP candidate Tazé Moore and Barber should make you excited. Both are great, athletic guards who aren’t shy about shooting the three. They are also capable of filling it up in a hurry with their marksmanship from outside.


Milestone watch

  • Scarborough’s Kalif Young, of Vaughan, Ont., needs 16 points to reach 500 for his career, regular season only.
  • Vancouver’s Nick Ward needs 12 points to reach 900 for his career, regular season only.
  • Scarborough’s Kadre Gray, of Toronto, Ont., needs 34 points to reach 900 for his career, regular season and playoffs.
  • Scarborough’s Cat Barber needs four rebounds to reach 250 for his career, regular season only.
  • Scarborough’s Kadre Gray, of Toronto, Ont., needs four rebounds to reach 250 for his career, regular season only.
  • Scarborough’s Kalif Young, of Vaughan, Ont., needs eight rebounds to reach 500 for his career, regular season only, and 11 rebounds to match Jordan Baker as the CEBL’s all-time rebounding leader, regular season and playoffs, with 560.
  • Vancouver’s Nick Ward needs three rebounds to reach 400 for his career, regular season only.
  • Scarborough’s Cat Barber needs 12 assists to reach 300 for his career, regular season only.
  • Scarborough’s Kadre Gray, of Toronto, Ont., needs three three-pointers made to reach 100 for his career, regular season and playoffs.
  • Vancouver’s Duane Notice, of Toronto, Ont., needs five steals to reach 50 for his career, regular season and playoffs.



2024 season series

This is the second meeting between these two sides. The first one happened way back on May 26, with the Bandits emerging victorious 88-83 in Vancouver. Moore had 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the victory then.


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Tomorrow's Canadian Elite Basketball League game in Vancouver between the Winnipeg Sea Bears and the Vancouver Bandits has been moved from 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET to 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET due to travel disruptions. All tickets for the game remain valid. For any further ticketing issues or inquiries, please contact tickets@thebandits.ca.

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By Roid Chand • July 29, 2026
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By Rois Chand • July 26, 2026
Five players were in double figures as the Vancouver Bandits defeated the Saskatoon Mamba 104-97 on Saturday night. The Bandits led for the entirety of the game, leading by as many as 17 points. Vancouver now sits atop of the Western Conference at 14-8, topping the Winnipeg Sea Bears (13-9). This win also secured home court advantage in the playoffs for the Bandits, who will officially begin the postseason on Thursday, August 6 at 7:00 p.m. at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. Tevin Brown led the Bandits in scoring with 23 points and seven three pointers made. “My teammates did a good job of getting me open,” said Brown. “They just let me play my game. (We) play a fast-paced offence and that’s where I thrive.” James Karnik followed with 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. The Bandits jumped out to an early 31-15 lead as Brown scored 11 of his 23 points in the first quarter. The Mamba went on a 29-21 run in the second quarter to cut the lead to 52-44 by halftime. Bandits head coach Ransford Brempong applauded his team for their resilience in the wire-to-wire win, even as the lead dwindled. “They might fight back but (we) still have to stay aggressive,” said Brempong. “Credit to Saskatoon. They made their run, but I’m more proud of the team and the resilience they’ve shown during the last handful of games.” All 11 players who played tonight recorded a made basket. Former NBA draft pick Stephen Zimmerman made his Bandits debut, recording two points and four rebounds in just three minutes of action. “It’s going to take everybody. Whether you come off the bench, I don’t care. Be strong enough that you affect the game and you impact winning,” said Brempong. Brempong said the Bandits are still bought into the mentality of being “on the hunt”, despite being first in the Western Conference. Brempong also said they can’t take their recent success for granted. “Don’t let it lull you to sleep. You still have to stay sharp,” he said. A layup from Shamar Givance won the game for the Bandits in target time. He finished with nine points and eight assists. Next, the Bandits will head on the road for a matchup with the Montreal Alliance on Tuesday, before wrapping up the season at home against the Winnipeg Sea Bears.

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By Bandits Staff • July 24, 2026
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