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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sports scoreboard for Sunday, June 8, 2025
Sunday's Scoreboard NBA Final Oklahoma City 123 Indiana 107 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1) — WNBA Washington 104 Connecticut 67 Minnesota 81 Dallas 65 — Canadian Elite Basketball League Vancouver 101 Saskatchewan 76 Niagara 94 Brampton 80 Calgary 107 Ottawa 93 — AHL Western Conference Final Abbotsford 4 Texas 2 (Abbotsford wins best-of-seven series 4-2). — MLB American League Minnesota 6 Toronto 3 Cleveland 4 Houston 2 Kansas City 7 Chicago White Sox 5 Athletics 5 Baltimore 1 Seattle 3 L.A. Angels 2 Boston 11 N.Y. Yankees 7 National League San Diego 1 Milwaukee 0 Pittsburgh 2 Philadelphia 1 Cincinnati 4 Arizona 2 L.A. Dodgers 7 St. Louis 3 N.Y. Mets 13 Colorado 5 San Francisco 4 Atlanta 3 Interleague Detroit 4 Chicago Cubs 0 Tampa Bay 3 Miami 2 Texas 4 Washington 2 —- MLS Vancouver 3 Seattle 0 Portland 2 St Louis City 1 Los Angeles FC 3 Sporting Kansas City 1 — Canadian Premier League Forge (Hamilton) 2 Wanderers (Halifax) 1 Cavalry (Calgary) 2 York United 1 —
Global News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
Saskatchewan Rattlers aim to break franchise attendance record against Bandits
When the Saskatchewan Rattlers take to the court on Sunday afternoon hosting the Vancouver Bandits, not only will the team be searching for their first home win of the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League, they'll be surrounded by what they hope will be a record-breaking crowd. This after the 1-4 Rattlers fell 105-65 to the Bandits in their CEBL season opener back on May 15. 'Vancouver is coming back and we're ready to get a little bit of revenge onto them,' said Rattlers manager of ticket sales and premium seating Graham Forrester. 'We're looking to set a new attendance record, so that's obviously weighing heavily on everybody's minds here of filling the 'Snake Pit' and making sure everyone is getting the best experience.' The Rattlers will be aiming to smash their previous single-game attendance record of just over 3,200 fans on Sunday with the team projecting at least 3,600 fans through the door by opening tip-off. Story continues below advertisement According to Forrester, the weekend tilt against Vancouver had been identified as a big seller and has only ramped up over the last few weeks, with new ticket and drink promotions. 'We've had some big groups come in prior to the season,' said Forrester. 'So we knew that it already was going to be a really successful game. We started seeing a little bit more momentum, we launched our 'Family Pack' and that started off really, really well. We were like, 'OK, we've got a really good shot to fill the 'Snake Pit.'' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Saskatchewan is coming off its first win of the 2025 season on May 31, as they managed to beat the defending CEBL champions in the Niagara River Lions 89-87 off a Jordan Bowden put-back in target score time. 0:53 Saskatchewan Rattlers blown out 105-65 in CEBL season opener to Vancouver As part of their record-breaking attempt, the Rattlers have also donated 100 tickets to the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority for their games Sunday against Vancouver and on June 13th versus Scarborough to evacuees of the recent Northern Saskatchewan wildfires. Story continues below advertisement It's a gesture they hope will provide a few hours of normalcy for those residents who have had to flee their homes. 'Obviously we're not donating toothbrushes and the basic necessities for life,' said Forrester. 'But if we can give them an experience for two, two and a half hours where they can take their mind off things that are going on back in their home communities, that's what we can do as a pro basketball team. 'I think the community is starting to see that as well and they've actually said to us the importance of donation of activities is really, really important.' The push for a new record attendance benchmark comes after teams like the Winnipeg Sea Bears and Calgary Surge have packed their respective arenas, as well as the CEBL playing its first outdoor game between the Montreal Alliance and Ottawa BlackJacks at IGA Stadium which had to be declared a no-contest due to rain. Forrester added that success around the league is pushing the Rattlers to raise their own standards and bring more attention on the CEBL as a whole. 'I think the whole team is incredibly excited,' said Forrester. 'The whole organization is excited, I think even our league is excited. We've seen some huge crowds across the entire league. Right now, us keeping pace with them is happening and it's important to continue happening. I think everybody is really excited to see that place full.' Story continues below advertisement Sunday's game will be a 4 p.m. tip-off at SaskTel Centre, while the Rattlers will kick off the weekend with a Friday evening tilt in Calgary against the Surge.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Half measures sink Sea Bears
In a blink, the Winnipeg Sea Bears were back in the same place. After outperforming the surging Vancouver Bandits for two quarters, Winnipeg's pro hoops team went through a stretch that's become all too familiar in the early goings of the Canadian Elite Basketball League campaign and found themselves in a hole too deep to dig out of in Target Score Time. Sparked by a 27-point performance from guard Kyle Mangas, the Bandits defeated the Sea Bears 100-89 before 7,142 fans at Canada Life Centre on Wednesday evening. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Sea Bears guard Tevian Jones (centre) controls the ball under pressure as Bandits guard Curtis Hollis (right) covers him. Mangas sealed the game with one of his five three-pointers in the contest. 'We loved the first-half compete, we loved the first-half teamwork. Put ourselves in a great position… came out (of halftime) and kind of lost control of the tempo of the game,' said head coach Mike Taylor. 'What we look at is controlling the tempo of the game, the shot-selection, and I think for the majority of the game, there were a lot of positives there. A lot to build on and a lot of good things from the team. But again, that third quarter, where it kind of got sped up a little bit, and made some poor decisions and got back to that shot-selection situation. For the majority of the game, we made strides and showed good things, but we weren't consistent enough for the entire time, and that stretch came back to haunt us.' The Sea Bears dropped to 1-3 on the young season, while the Bandits improved to 4-0. If there's a silver lining for Winnipeg, it's that it was Vancouver's toughest test to date. The visitors entered the contest having beaten their opponents by 35.6 points on average, while averaging 107.6 points per game. Tevian Jones paced the Sea Bears' offence with 23 points and six assists in 37:23, while Jaylin Williams supplied 21 points and four rebounds in 31:52. Terry Roberts added 16 points while playing 32:13. 'I personally just think keep building on the effort,' said guard Alex Campbell. 'The effort was there. I think we let our foot off the gas for about 10 minutes, and in that 10 minutes, the team went up 20, so I think it's just about putting together a full game.' After a thrilling season-opening victory at home, the Sea Bears found themselves down on their luck on the heels a pair of uninspiring performances against the Calgary Surge in which they were outscored by a combined 44 points. Winnipeg looked like a different team in the opening half as a terrific defensive start made life difficult for the dangerous Bandits. The hosts forced seven turnovers, six of which were steals, while building a 29-23 lead after the first frame — which marked their highest offensive output in the opening quarter this season. A slightly less stellar second quarter saw the Bandits go on a 13-4 run to end the half, but Winnipeg still held a 48-45 lead going into halftime. Vancouver came out of the locker room firing, connecting on 13 of its 18 shots in the third quarter. After registering two points in the first half, Mangas, who is averaging a league-leading five made threes per game, began to heat up with three triples as part of a 19-point quarter for the sharpshooter. Just like that, the Sea Bears were down 79-59 heading into the fourth quarter. The Bandits entered Target Score Time with a 90-78 lead. BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Sea Bears guard Tevian Jones goes up for a dunk Wednesday against the Vancouver Bandits. 'We had some defensive breakdowns that gave him some open looks,' Taylor said of defending Mangas. 'The shot-fake side-step three that he hit (in Target Score Time), we had a different type of a post-double on, and (Emmanuel Akot) left him on the ball-side and we had a double coming from the baseline… it shouldn't have happened that way. 'The last one (Campbell) just got hung up on the screen. He was worried for the third quarter about the back door cut, where we gave up the easy basket, give them credit — he popped, wide open, made us pay.' Forward Mitch Creek supplied 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Bandits. Fellow big man Tyrese Samuel was also a force in the paint, chipping in with 16 points and seven rebounds. If any team has designs of beating the Bandits, it will have to slow down Creek, Samuel and Mangas, who have formed a big-three early on. Meanwhile, the Sea Bears have played solid basketball at times but are still trying to put it all together. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'I think it's just chemistry, cohesiveness, and obviously putting together a full 40 minutes,' said Campbell. I' think right now we're almost there, I'd say 75 (per cent), but in that 25 per cent where we're not all locked in, that's where teams are having their way with us. 'We need to change that for Saturday's game.' The Sea Bears will host the Ottawa BlackJacks (1-2) on Saturday. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. X: @jfreysam Joshua Frey-SamReporter Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh. Every piece of reporting Josh 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. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Surge overpower Sea Bears
It reached a point where players of the Calgary Surge were more concerned about how many points they had individually rather than the lead they were building. A stats check during a 34-14 run in the third quarter should've been the last thing on players' minds, yet there they were on Friday evening. It was that kind of night for the Winnipeg Sea Bears. BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Sea Bears forward Jaylin Williams (centre) shoots over Surge guard Jameer Nelson Jr. (right) Friday night at Canada Life Centre. While the hosts never showed any signs of waving the white flag, a 98-86 loss to the Surge before 7,475 at Canada Life Centre left the Sea Bears with questions about their extended lapses for the second game in a row. 'We knew coming in that it would be a test of us athletically. Calgary is a really athletic team. And give them credit, we played their game today,' said head coach Mike Taylor. Jameer Nelson Jr. hit the game-winning free throw to improve the Surge to 2-1 on the young season in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Winnipeg dropped to 1-1. 'It was a transition game. It was fast-paced. They drove strong at us (in) one-on-one situations. I think for our guys, we started the game a little bit slow. Like we said to them early in the game, they punched us in the mouth early, and how do we respond to that?' Taylor added. 'It took us a while to get going, the physicality and pressure defence that they played, we did not get the same quality of shots that we did, say, in the first game, and that kind of sputtered our offence a bit at times.' The Sea Bears had their moments but got in their own way more times than not. A few numbers that will jump out: outscored 22-3 in fast-break points and 58-38 in points in the paint. Jaylin Williams paced Winnipeg's offence with 21 points in 29 minutes. Meanwhile, Terry Roberts supplied a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Tevian Jones supplied 16 points. 'Nothing really surprised me much,' Williams said. 'We've been preparing for — they like to drive, they're a driving team, which we struggled with tonight and helping each other out and being there for each other. That's something that we got to improve on.' Surge guard Sean Miller-Moore led the charge for the visitors with 29 points in 38:05 of play time, both game-highs. Fellow guard Nelson Jr. chipped in with 25 points, seven rebounds and three steals. 'In the first quarter they came out very aggressive. They played very physical,' said Emmanuel Akot, who finished with 10 points and three rebounds. 'We went down, fought back, but when you create a deficit like that, it's always hard to win games, so I think we just need to start out quarters better, especially in the first and third.' The Surge held leads of 27-14, 48-47 and 81-61 at the end of each of the first three quarters. For the second game in a row, Williams scored the first basket, and the Sea Bears jumped out to an early lead. Unlike their previous contest, this one didn't last long. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Sea Bears forward Solomon Young (left) and guard Geoffrey James (right) battle for the ball with Surge forward Greg Brown III (on floor) Friday night at Canada Life Centre. The Surge offence began to cut through the Sea Bears' defence like a hot knife through butter, racking up 24 points in the paint to the host's eight and scoring 12 fast-break points to Winnipeg's zero in the opening frame. While Calgary opened the game with a 23-11 run, Winnipeg went through a dry spell on offence that lasted more than four minutes. It finally ended with a three-pointer from Solomon Young. The Sea Bears came alive in the second quarter with a unit led by Roberts and Akot. A pair of sweet buckets from Roberts and a make from long range from Akot sparked a 22-12 run for Winnipeg to open the second quarter. Things began to unravel for the hosts in the third quarter as Calgary opened the game up on a 14-0 run, which proved to be enough as Winnipeg's shots struggled to fall. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Calgary entered Target Score Time with an 89-74 advantage. 'Definitely lapses,' said Akot. 'Definitely got to work on that. Last game, giving up a big lead, and this game, giving them a big lead. We're still a new team. We've only been together for a short period of time, so we learn from this as the season continues to go on. We just keep getting better. Yeah, a learning experience.' Winnipeg was still without standout centre Simi Shittu, who remains with Promitheas Patras of the Greek Basketball League. The Sea Bears and Surge will complete the second of a home-and-home in Calgary on Sunday (3 p.m. CT). Joshua Frey-SamReporter Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh. Every piece of reporting Josh 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. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Calgary Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
'I love our group': Surge hope to bring championship to Calgary in third CEBL season
Success off the court has defined the Calgary Surge in its first two years of existence … Article content Article content Far reaching into the community, with even more planned for 2025. Article content On the floor, fortunes have been pretty darn good, as well. Article content But an elusive Canadian Elite Basketball League championship is still on the wish-list for the team that's now in transition and set for its home tip-off this weekend. Article content Article content 'It's just a great environment to want to win in and want to perform in,' said Surge veteran Sean 'Rugzy' Miller-Moore, ahead of Sunday's home opener against the Winnipeg Sea Bears at WinSport Events Centre (2 p.m., TSN+/CEBL+). 'So I think that's why we always have success on the basketball court, just because of how things are around here. Article content Article content 'It's just an amazing program. So anyone could come in and fit in easily and want to win.' Article content Good thing, because Year 3 — billed as 'Trilogy' by the team — brings many a change to the Surge, as is often the case in the CEBL. Article content Not only is that evident at head coach, which sees long-time NBA assistant Kaleb Canales take over from Tyrell Vernon, marking a new man at the helm for the third time in three years, but there's been plenty of turnover on the court, as well. Article content 'Yeah … it feels like a reset — a reset, for sure,' said Miller-Moore, who's been a part of two CEBL Championship Weekends — but without a crown to show from that final four — with the Surge. 'Your common goal is to win a championship, and when you don't, you have to reset. But we all have that common goal. Article content Article content 'And no knock on last year, but I feel like it's more of a professional environment,' added Miller-Moore. 'Having coach Kaleb with his NBA experience and having other guys with the NBA experience, I think there's just more energy. The time we use — like let's say we get two hours in the gym — is very efficient. Article content Yes … there is certainly an NBA feel to the roster, with guard Khyri Thomas and forward Greg Brown III having played two seasons each with the Detroit Pistons and the Portland Trail Blazers respectively. The 2025 edition of the Surge also includes a couple of Calgarians — Will Tong, a CEBL draft pick this spring, and rookie pro Olumide Adelodun — and a pair key returnees — Miller-Moore and big forward Gabe Osabuohien.
