Latest news with #CalgarySurge
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shittu lifts Sea Bears over Surge in defensive grind
A dominant performance from Simi Shittu against his former team pushed the Winnipeg Sea Bears past the Calgary Surge 79-78 at WinSport Event Centre on Sunday. The Winnipeg big man notched 28 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in the defensive battle, including the game-winner and a clutch rejection in Target Score Time. 'It was personal,' Shittu said. 'They kind of shouted us out in the media … but at the end of the day, we're a whole new team, a whole different vibe, so we wanted to come in and show everybody that we're here in the CEBL and ready to play.' The final regular-season meeting between the Western Conference rivals yielded a back-and-forth showdown with a playoff atmosphere. Trailing by as much as eight in Target Score Time after entering the final stretch with the lead, Winnipeg head coach Mike Taylor credited defensive stops and rebounding with the comeback. 'In the beginning (of Target Score Time), we weren't very efficient, and we dug a hole for ourselves. And then it was just no quit,' Taylor said. Calgary had a dozen chances to win the game in Target Score Time, including a pair of free throws, but came away empty-handed and had its four-game winning streak snapped…
CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
‘Definitely a basketball city': Calgary Surge host free youth camp at Chinook Mall
Surrounded by stores and people with shopping bags, dozens of young basketball players are learning the fundamentals. With a mini court installed right in the middle of Chinook Centre, the Calgary Surge hosted a free kids camp on Saturday. Spots for children were all spoken for within 12 hours of it opening up. For the Surge, Calgary's professional basketball team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), it's important to hold camps for younger kids. 'When it comes to sports and youth sports, everyone goes one tier up and they think about the elite and the next level. But it all starts at the grassroots,' said Dylan Howe, senior vice-president of the Surge. 'At this age, it doesn't matter your skill level, it's about being active. And for us basketball is one of the top growing sports in the country,' Howe said. Calgary Surge Members of the Calgary Surge hosted a free kids camp Saturday at Chinook Centre. (Jordan Kanygin, CTV Calgary) The camps offer a chance for children between the ages of seven and 14 to be put through the paces in dribbling, shooting and passing drills. The Surge are also holding free youth basketball camps every Tuesday and Saturday until October. Kids can sign up for the camps, which happen at the Century Gardens Basketball Courts, online. Now in season three in Calgary, the Surge have seen success both on and off the court. The team recently secured a CEBL playoff spot and attendance has averaged about 3,000 per home game at WinSport. 'Calgary is definitely a basketball city. I, myself, am from Ontario. I wasn't too sure of the landscape here, but being entrenched in it now since launch in October 2022, Calgary is definitely a basketball city,' said Howe. 'You see it here today, you see it at our games and you see it with the basketball scene across the across the city, but also ultimately the province, too.' he said. The Surge have three more home games left before playoffs start, including the regular season finale at the Saddledome on Aug. 10.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Playoff preview? Surge edge Bandits in Friday thriller at WinSport
In a Friday night showdown between two CEBL heavyweights, the Calgary Surge got the best of it, edging the Vancouver Bandits 98-96. The weather was a little crisp for late July Friday night, and the atmosphere at WinSport was playoff intense as the Surge defeated their arch rivals, the Vancouver Bandits 98-96. Evan Gilyard Jr. launched a long three in Target Score Time that bounced once, bounced twice, then bounced in to give the Surge the win. It was Gilyard's first three of the night. Surge coach Kaleb Canales said it felt like a playoff preview. 'We felt we had a great week of practice. We knew this was a heavyweight fight. We have a lot of respect for that team but I love our team and I love our squad and I love where we're at,' Canales said. The Surge welcomed back Jameer Nelson Jr. from NBA Summer League and he didn't take long to make an impact, netting 21 points. Sean 'Rugzy' Miller-Moore led the Surge with 27 points and eight rebounds, while Greg Brown III chimed in with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Tyrese Samuel who was also back from NBA Summer League, led the Bandits with 26 points. In Target Score Time, with both teams within a bucket of victory, Gilyard Jr. found the range to give the Surge the win. Next up for Calgary is a Sunday afternoon home game against Winnipeg.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Surge return to Saddledome for Aug. 10 regular season finale against River Lions
The Calgary Surge return to the Scotiabank Saddledome to play their regular-season finale Aug. 10 against the Niagara River Lions, the defending CEBL champions. Friday night, the Surge take on first-place Vancouver Bandits at WinSport at 8 p.m. The Calgary Surge are hoping to turn their regular-season finale into a record-setting one. On Aug. 10 at the Saddledome, the Surge will take on the defending Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) champions, the Niagara River Lions. The Surge have already qualified for the post-season but will be hoping to shatter their one-game attendance record set last season, when 12,237 attended a game to set an all-time CEBL record. Both the Surge and the River Lions have qualified for the CEBL Championship Weekend two years in a row, so their Saddledome showdown could be a preview of a post-season clash to come. 'We are thrilled to be back at the iconic Scotiabank Saddledome and to be able to make good on the promise to our fans that we would return,' said Surge vice-chairman and president Jason Ribeiro. 'I would like to thank Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation for their partnership and collaboration as we work to bring a premier night of basketball, arts and culture, and community to thousands of Calgarians.' Meanwhile, the second-place Surge take on the first-place Vancouver Bandits Friday night at WinSport. Game time is 8 p.m. For more information, go here.
Winnipeg Free Press
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Struggling Sea Bears fall to Surge
A clutch three in Target Time by Winnipeg Sea Bears star Jalen Harris got the 7,836 fans at the Canada Life Centre on their feet. Seconds later, Calgary Surge guard Evan Gilyard Jr. sent them to the exits by drilling a mid-range jumper to reach the winning score and give the visitors a 93-89 victory over the Sea Bears. 'We just wanted to get a stop,' said Sea Bears centre Simi Shittu. 'I felt like we had the game, and had a good chance at winning, but obviously, he made a tough shot. We made it as tough as we could for them, but at the end of the day, sometimes things fall and sometimes they don't.' BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Winnipeg Sea Bears guard Emmanuel Akot (7) drives down the court while Calgary Surge forward Jamorko Pickett (9) covers him during the fourth quarter the Surge's 93-89 victory over the Sea Bears Thursday at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. Winnipeg can't solve Calgary as they have now lost five straight against their Western Conference rival. The loss drops the Sea Bears to 6-10 on the year and 2-8 all-time versus Calgary. The result clinched the Surge a playoff spot and improved their record to 12-5. 'They just played harder than us through stretches. We had a couple stretches throughout the game where we didn't defend well as a team, or individually,' said point guard Will Richardson. 'We didn't come together and get stops when we needed it.' It was a close game all night, but Winnipeg's sloppy offence and lack of bench production is what did them in. The Sea Bears entered the contest in last place in the Canadian Elite Basketball League in field goal (41.2) and three-point percentage (29.5), as well as points per game (84.7). They managed to shoot above their season averages by finishing at 45.1 per cent from the field and 37.9 per cent from deep, but they were careless with the basketball and lost the turnover battle 17-7. Calgary outscored them 22-10 off mistakes. The Sea Bears bench has now been outduelled by the opposition's second unit in six of their last seven games as the Surge surpassed them 20-5 in the category. 'I think it was a great game. I think we gave tremendous effort. I think at the most crucial possessions we had some turnovers,' said head coach Mike Taylor. 'But you know, in Target Time, and especially in that third quarter, some of the turnovers and defensive breakdowns gave them an advantage and we were playing from behind… In winning time, we got to be better.' BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS The Winnipeg Bears guard Jalen Harris (20) shoots the basketball while contacting Calgary Surge forward Gabe Osabuohien during fourth quarter action. New additions Richardson and Trevon Scott made their home debuts after signing last week to replace Terry Roberts (Brooklyn Nets) and Jaylin Williams (Dallas Mavericks) who left temporarily to play in the NBA Summer League. Canadian forward Maurice Calloo made his season debut for Winnipeg after signing on Monday. Richardson, who was most recently in the NBA G League with the Grand Rapids Gold, had the biggest impact out of the newbies by hitting 9-of-13 from the field for 23 points while also adding seven assists and eight boards in a game-high 34:55 minutes. 'He's a really high IQ point guard. He's been well coached, let's give credit to the University of Oregon… You can tell he really knows how to play,' said Taylor. 'He's enjoying our situation, he's enjoying the game, and I love a natural floor general like that who organizes the game, that gets the ball to the right players. He's really a quarterback out there, and it's something that I love.' Richardson had 18 points in Friday's 94-70 win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers and Scott also made a strong first impression in that one with 16 points. 'My teammates help me out a lot, putting me in the right position. I'm still a little lost out there. They talk me through the plays and where to be at, but I think I can play a little bit harder and stop taking a couple possessions off,' said Richardson. Home court wasn't too kind to Scott on the offensive end as he scored 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting, but the former Cleveland Cavalier came up huge on the glass with 16 rebounds. Calloo recorded two points in 6:31 of floor time. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The Sea Bears will have a tough decision to make when Roberts and Williams come back to town, which they're expected to, as teams can only dress four imports on game day. BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS The Winnipeg Sea Bears guard Will Richardson, left, controls the basketball while Calgary Surge shooting guard Khyri Thomas covers him during fourth quarter action, Thursday. 'I haven't thought about that. It's out of my control, bro,' said Richardson. 'I just play the game when I can get in and we'll see what happens.' Harris hit five threes to end with 22 points and Shittu added 19. Former Portland Trail Blazers/Dallas Mavericks forward Greg Brown III led Calgary with 20 points. The Sea Bears are back in action on Sunday in Montreal when they take on the Alliance (6-9) at 3 p.m. CT. Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. 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