Stingers come alive late to push past BlackJacks, advance to CEBL title game
Philip Scrubb's winner lifts River Lions past Bandits to move on to CEBL title game
Xavier Moon scored a game-high 22 points to go along with eight assists to lead the Edmonton Stingers to a 94-87 win over the Ottawa BlackJacks on Friday to stay alive and be able to defend their CEBL title reign.
Sixth Man of the Year Adika Peter-McNeilly, who scored 18 points, and Jahmal Jones combined to score Edmonton's final nine points in the Elam Ending, as the Stingers made a statement defensively holding Ottawa without a field goal through the final minutes.
Despite Ottawa's ability to stay within striking distance or be in the lead late in the game, it was Edmonton's defence wreaking havoc forcing Ottawa to cough up 25 turnovers in the game.
"We want to hang our hat on playing defence," Moon said. "Coach recruited us, he said this is going to be the best defensive team we've had, and we've been showing it.
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"We've just got to keep it going and hopefully we can come out with that win on Sunday."
Going into the Elam Ending down 85-84, Ottawa lost leading scorer Nick Ward with him having fouled out. From that point forth, the only points Ottawa was able to muster up were two free throws from Kadre Gray and one from Chad Posthumus.
Ward led the way for Ottawa with 17 points and seven rebounds, followed by Posthumus' 15 points and 11 rebounds and Gray adding 14 points and nine assists on a night where he struggled from the field and finished with six turnovers.
Marlon Johnson scored 18 points, while Jordan Baker added 11 for Edmonton. The two combined for nine steals on the night as they flustered the BlackJacks.
The Stingers will next face the Niagara River Lions on Sunday in hopes of defending their CEBL title.
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River Lions get by Bandits behind Scrubb's winner
Philip Scrubb's game-winning three-pointer sealed the Niagara River Lions' 84-82 win over the Fraser Valley Bandits on Friday in Edmonton to advance to Sunday's CEBL title game.
With a screen set in front of him, Scrubb held possession for a few seconds until deciding to pull the trigger despite Shaquille Keith's defending.
Fraser Valley had went on a 5-0 run to go up 82-81 after Niagara's Lloyd Pandi, the U Sports Player of the Year, hit a three to make it 81-77 with the target score of the Elam ending being 84.
In a game where the Bandits had already had to rally earlier in the game, their effort just wasn't enough to overtake the River Lions' timing to close the game.
PHIL SCRUBB FOR THE WIN 🗣<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/CURavens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CURavens</a> product with the biggest shot of the season to send the <a href="https://twitter.com/RiverLions?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RiverLions</a> to the Finals 🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurGame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OurGame</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChampionshipWeekend?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChampionshipWeekend</a> <a href="https://t.co/OoSvSEWtn4">pic.twitter.com/OoSvSEWtn4</a>
—@CEBLeagueComing out of the first quarter up 23-13, Niagara eventually surrendered a comfortable lead as the Bandits fought their way to having a chance to advance.
With the score set at 75-71 at the start of the Elam Ending for Niagara, Fraser Valley failed to close the gap until after Pandi's three. Brandon Gilbeck scored four of nine points within the 5-0 run to go up 82-81.
Gilbeck, the Defensive Player of the Year, also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. Alex Campbell led the way in scoring for the Bandits with 19 points followed by Kenny Manigault, who finished with 18 points and seven assists.
The River Lions had five players in double-figure scoring, led by Javin Delaurier who posted 20 points 10 rebounds. Daniel Mullings added 17, along with Pandi's 14, and Jaylen Babb Harrison's 12 points off the bench.
WATCH | Niagara River Lions vs. Fraser Valley Bandits:
