Mike helps Shooting Stars clinch playoff spot, end River Lions' 5-game win streak
Growlers earn 94-71 road victory over fellow expansion team Alliance
The Scarborough Shooting Stars' best wishes have come true on Friday as the expansion team clinched a Canadian Elite Basketball League playoff berth in its inaugural season.
Canada's Isiaha Mike scored 20 points to help Scarborough deny the Niagara River Lions a sixth consecutive win by taking a 86-75 road victory to punch a post-season ticket.
The Shooting Stars entered the fourth frame with a nine-point advantage, managing to control the final frame to pick up the tenth victory in franchise history - a pivotal one in the playoff hunt.
Toronto-born Mike tallied Scarborough's final four points with a three-pointer and a free throw to bring the game to an end.
1 and done to secure the W.<a href="https://twitter.com/RiverLions?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RiverLions</a> 🆚 <a href="https://twitter.com/sss_cebl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sss_cebl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsBall?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsBall</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NRLvsSSS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NRLvsSSS</a> <a href="https://t.co/YQ97loHXir">pic.twitter.com/YQ97loHXir</a>
—@CEBLeagueKameron Chatman added 12 for the expansion Shooting Stars (10-7), who saw the Canadian trio of Kalif Young, Marcus Anderson and David Muenkat all chip in with 10 points each.
Antonio Davis Jr. had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead Niagara (12-5). Canada's Elijah Mitrou-Long added 18.
The Shooting Stars have joined the Hamilton Honey Badgers (13-4), the River Lions (12-5), the Fraser Valley Bandits (10-7) and the Edmonton Stingers (9-8) in the list of teams with playoff berths secured.
Scarborough will play its final home court regular-season game on Thursday when they take on the Fraser Valley Bandits at 7.30 p.m. ET.
Niagara will hope to bounce back against the visiting Fraser Valley Bandits on Monday at 7 p.m. ET.
Growlers down fellow expansion Alliance
In other Friday action, the Newfoundland Growlers defeated fellow expansion team Montreal Alliance 94-71 on the road in the battle of the two lowest-ranked of the 10 CEBL sides this season.
Blake Francis scored 20 points and Nysier Brook grabbed 14 rebounds, the most for Newfoundland (4-12). Nathan Cayo tallied 18 to lead Montreal (4-12).
Fourth Quarter. 📽<a href="https://twitter.com/Growlersbball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Growlersbball</a> 🆚 <a href="https://twitter.com/mtl_alliance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mtl_alliance</a> <br><br>📺 CEBL Mobile app, CEBL+, <a href="https://twitter.com/cbcsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cbcsports</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/cbcgem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cbcgem</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ItsNxtLevel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ItsNxtLevel</a> (US Only)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsBall?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsBall</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MTAvsNFG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MTAvsNFG</a> <a href="https://t.co/HsZNFTB81y">pic.twitter.com/HsZNFTB81y</a>
—@CEBLeagueThe Alliance will host the Saskatchewan Rattlers in its final home game this season on Friday at 7.30 p.m. ET, shortly after the Growlers play the Guelph Nighthawks at home at 6:00 p.m. ET.
All CEBL games are streamed live on CBCsports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.
WATCH l CEBL: Scarborough Shooting Stars @ Niagara River Lions:
WATCH : CEBL: Newfoundland Growlers @ Montreal Alliance:
