One game after their head coach called their preparation and execution unacceptable, it was a much better-looking Vancouver Bandits team that took to the court on Saturday night, July 1, resulting in a 90-80 Bandits victory over the visiting Edmonton Stingers in Canadian Elite Basketball League action at Langley Events Centre.

“I have had a lot of ups and downs during seasons; a lot of low points, dark days…this team just keeps coming and fighting. They know when they haven’t played well. We know. Some teams, the energy will reflect that. The guys were here every single morning at 9 a.m. with good energy; I was really impressed with their approach this week, but to be honest, when we were 0-2 at the start, it was the same,” said Bandits head coach Kyle Julius.

“I knew today was going to be better. I didn’t know if we were going to win or not, but I knew today was going to be better.”

The Bandits improved to 5-6 with the win while the Stingers fell to 5-7 as the two teams jockey for position in the middle of the CEBL’s Western Conference standings.

“We came out really soft (last week). I can’t say too much, but we didn’t look like we belonged on the same floor as the other team. This week, we wanted to come out in the first half and make a statement,” said Jahenns Manigat, who led Vancouver with 21 points, including hitting five of his nine 3-point attempts.

Saturday’s game featured 18 lead changes – 11 in the first half alone – with Vancouver overcoming a three-point half-time deficit as they outscored Edmonton 51-38 in the second half.

Vancouver Bandits’ MJ Walker went for a lay-up against the Edmonton Stingers. Bandits won Saturday night, July 1, 90-80 in Canadian Elite Basketball League action at Langley Events Centre. (Vancouver Bandits/Special to Langley Advance Times)

Much of the offensive success can be attributed to the fact Vancouver opted to have a true point guard on the floor at all times – Diego Maffia and Doug Herring Jr. – allowing players such as Manigat to play their natural position.

With Manigat leading the outside game, the Bandits big man duo of Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15 points) and Nick Ward (17 points) combined for 32 points with each also dishing out three assists. Ward added six rebounds and three blocked shots while Bezhanishvili hauled in four rebounds. Ward in particular was back to his dominant self in the second half, scoring 15 of his 17 points after halftime.

As a team, the Bandits hit 13 of their 32 three-point attempts (40.6 per cent) while also scoring 32 points in the paint. They finished the game shooting 50 percent from the field.

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The Stingers struggled, connecting on 27-for-71 from the field (38 per cent) and 11-for-37 (29.7 per cent) from downtown. Elijah Miller led Edmonton with 21 points and Isiah Osborne chipped in with 14.

The teams are in Edmonton to complete the home-and-home series.

The Bandits’ next home game at Langley Events Centre is set for Sunday, July 9 at 7 p.m. against the Ottawa BlackJacks.

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