Bruce Massey helps Rattlers earn Elam Ending win over Nighthawks in season debut
Saskatchewan comes from behind to win final home court regular-season game
Bruce Massey scored a decisive free throw in his return to the Rattlers to get Saskatchewan to the Elam Ending target in a 84-81 win over the visiting Guelph Nighthawks on Thursday.
The six-foot-two veteran guard played a part of the inaugural CEBL season in 2019 for Saskatchewan, which would go on to win the league after Massey departed to play in Europe. The American recorded ten points, four assists and four rebounds in his 2022 debut.
Tony Carr led the Rattlers (9-8) with 18 points and nine assists. Devonte Bandoo added 16 points, while Jordy Tshimanga had 14 points and nine rebounds.
Guelph (8-9) entered the Elam Ending leading by one at 75-74, but saw its chance to secure a playoff spot and a third consecutive win denied by the home team.
Offence ran to perfection. 👌<a href="https://twitter.com/SASK_Rattlers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SASK_Rattlers</a> <br><br>📺 CEBL Mobile app, CEBL+, <a href="https://twitter.com/ItsNxtLevel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@itsnxtlevel</a> (In the U.S.), <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/hashtag/LetsBall?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsBall</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SKRvsGNH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SKRvsGNH</a> <a href="https://t.co/vZYvKlr0K8">pic.twitter.com/vZYvKlr0K8</a>
—@CEBLeagueCat Barber had the most points for the visiting side, with 20, also posting team-highs with six rebounds and nine assists. A.J. Hess and Giorgi Bezhanishvili tallied 17 and 15, respectively, for Guelph.
So far, the Hamilton Honey Badgers (13-4), the Niagara River Lions (12-4), the Fraser Valley Bandits (10-7) and the Edmonton Stingers (9-8) have secured playoff berths.
The team with the best regular season campaign will join host Ottawa Blackjacks as the two clubs to go straight to the 2022 CEBL Championship Weekend from August 17 to 21.
Thursday's win wrapped up the Rattlers' home court regular-season schedule. They'll take on the Scarborough Shooting Stars next on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.
Guelph will also play on the road, visiting the back-to-back champion Edmonton Stingers on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.
All CEBL games are streamed live on CBCsports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.
