basketball

FILE - Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner sits during the first half of Game 2 of basketball's WNBA Finals against the Chicago Sky, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Phoenix. Brittney Griner said she's “grateful” to be back in the United States and plans on playing basketball again next season for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury a week after she was released from a Russian prison and freed in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange. “It feels so good to be home!” Griner posted to Instagram on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, in her first public statement since her release. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

Brittney Griner says she’ll play basketball in Arizona again

Brittney Griner said she’s “grateful” to be back in the United States…

FILE - Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner sits during the first half of Game 2 of basketball's WNBA Finals against the Chicago Sky, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Phoenix. Brittney Griner said she's “grateful” to be back in the United States and plans on playing basketball again next season for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury a week after she was released from a Russian prison and freed in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange. “It feels so good to be home!” Griner posted to Instagram on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, in her first public statement since her release. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Oak Bay downed the Kelowna Owls 73-47 Saturday, Dec. 10, in the final game of the 32-team, 64-game 2022 Tsumura Basketball Invitational Tournament at Langley Events Centre (Garrett James/Langley Events Centre)

Oak Bay downs Kelowna to take Tsumura title at Langley Events Centre

Winning margin averaged nearly 29 points

  • Dec 11, 2022
Oak Bay downed the Kelowna Owls 73-47 Saturday, Dec. 10, in the final game of the 32-team, 64-game 2022 Tsumura Basketball Invitational Tournament at Langley Events Centre (Garrett James/Langley Events Centre)
Langley Christian Lightning struck quickly and often in opening the game on a 12-0 run against the R.E. Mountain Eagles in the championship final of Draw 3 at the Tsumura Basketball Invitational on Friday morning at Langley Events Centre. They went on to win 72-64. (Langley Events Centre)

Langley Christian Lightning and Victoria’s Spectrum Thunder crowned champs at Tsumura

Invitational basketbal tournament contnues at Langle Events Centre

  • Dec 10, 2022
Langley Christian Lightning struck quickly and often in opening the game on a 12-0 run against the R.E. Mountain Eagles in the championship final of Draw 3 at the Tsumura Basketball Invitational on Friday morning at Langley Events Centre. They went on to win 72-64. (Langley Events Centre)
Day one is in the books for the boys Tsumura Basketball Invitational (TBI) at Langley Events Centre as 16 teams remain in contention for one of the three tournament titles up for grabs. (Courtesy of Langley Events Centre)

Happening now at LEC: Tsumura Basketball Invitational boys tournament

16 teams in race for one of the three tournament titles

  • Dec 8, 2022
Day one is in the books for the boys Tsumura Basketball Invitational (TBI) at Langley Events Centre as 16 teams remain in contention for one of the three tournament titles up for grabs. (Courtesy of Langley Events Centre)
FILE - WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing in Khimki just outside Moscow, on July 7, 2022. Russia has freed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

American WNBA star Griner freed in swap for Russian arms dealer Bout

2-time US Olympic medallist exchanged for Russian felon once nicknamed ‘the Merchant of Death’

FILE - WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing in Khimki just outside Moscow, on July 7, 2022. Russia has freed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

B.C. basketball legend Nash fired as Nets coach after poor start, more controversy

Plagued with controversy surrounding their stars, Brooklyn started the season 2-5 under Nash

Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
In this Novermeber 2019 file photo, Canada’s Aaliyah Edwards (15) goes up for the shot against the Dominican Republic during second half action of FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre Qualifying Tournaments Americas 2019, in Edmonton. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson)

Carleton scores 19 points, Canada beats Japan to remain undefeated at FIBA World Cup

Canadians next play Australia on Monday, then Mali on Tuesday

In this Novermeber 2019 file photo, Canada’s Aaliyah Edwards (15) goes up for the shot against the Dominican Republic during second half action of FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre Qualifying Tournaments Americas 2019, in Edmonton. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson)
Langley’s Kevin Dhaliwal (left) and Mission’s Bryan Slusarchuk (right), the new owners of the renamed Vancouver Bandits, posed for a picture with Canadian Elite Basketball League Commissioner and co-founder Mike Morreale (centre) during a Tuesday Sept. 13 press conference at the Langley Events Centre. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: Fraser Valley Bandits change name and owners

Langley-based team to be known as Vancouver Bandits

Langley’s Kevin Dhaliwal (left) and Mission’s Bryan Slusarchuk (right), the new owners of the renamed Vancouver Bandits, posed for a picture with Canadian Elite Basketball League Commissioner and co-founder Mike Morreale (centre) during a Tuesday Sept. 13 press conference at the Langley Events Centre. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Fraser Valley Bandits forward Thomas Kennedy has been named U SPORTS Player of the Year for the 2022 season. (Fraser Valley Bandits/CEBL)

Fraser Valley Bandits forward Thomas Kennedy has been named U SPORTS Player of the Year

Kennedy was a breakout performer for Fraser Valley this season, averaging 14.5 points a game

  • Aug 10, 2022
Fraser Valley Bandits forward Thomas Kennedy has been named U SPORTS Player of the Year for the 2022 season. (Fraser Valley Bandits/CEBL)
Fraser Valley Bandits’ Shane Gibson goes up against a Guelph Nighthawks player in regular season action. On Thursday, the two teams will meet again in a do-or-die match to decide who makes the league quarter-finals.(Fraser Valley Bandits/Canadian Elite Basketball League)

A win-or-go-home game for Fraser Valley Bandits on Thursday

Winner of play-in round will go to quarter-finals, loser is done for season

  • Aug 3, 2022
Fraser Valley Bandits’ Shane Gibson goes up against a Guelph Nighthawks player in regular season action. On Thursday, the two teams will meet again in a do-or-die match to decide who makes the league quarter-finals.(Fraser Valley Bandits/Canadian Elite Basketball League)
Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, left, photographed in NBA playoff action against Philadelphia’s James Harden last spring, will be among the stars in Saanich next month for the Raptors’ training camp at the University of Victoria. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Toronto Raptors return to B.C. for 2022-23 NBA training camp

Former champions’ pre-season workouts Sept. 26 to Oct. 1 at University of Victoria

Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, left, photographed in NBA playoff action against Philadelphia’s James Harden last spring, will be among the stars in Saanich next month for the Raptors’ training camp at the University of Victoria. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jabs Newby and Marek Klassen in action for Fraser Valley Bandits Saturday, July 30, at Langley Events Centre against Edmonton Stingers. Klassen led all players with 19 points, 10 of which came in the first quarter(Fraser Valley Bandits/CEBL)

VIDEO: Fraser Valley Bandits finish regular season with a win

After downing Edmonton, the playoffs await

  • Jul 31, 2022
Jabs Newby and Marek Klassen in action for Fraser Valley Bandits Saturday, July 30, at Langley Events Centre against Edmonton Stingers. Klassen led all players with 19 points, 10 of which came in the first quarter(Fraser Valley Bandits/CEBL)
Maple Ridge’s Malcolm Williams looked relaxed and confident as he made back-to-back shots at the Fraser Valley Bandits Sunday, July 17 games to claim a double prize of a Flair Airlines trip the league championships, plus a year of free flights anywhere the airline flies. (CEBL)

VIDEO: Two shots win a year of free airline flights for Maple Ridge basketball fan

Malcolm Williams plans to start with a trip to Mexico

Maple Ridge’s Malcolm Williams looked relaxed and confident as he made back-to-back shots at the Fraser Valley Bandits Sunday, July 17 games to claim a double prize of a Flair Airlines trip the league championships, plus a year of free flights anywhere the airline flies. (CEBL)
Shane Gibson had 25 points, five rebounds and four assists as the Fraser Valley Bandits ended a season-high three game losing streak with a 95-88 victory over the visiting Ottawa BlackJacks at Langley Events Centre on Sunday, July 17. (CEBL)

VIDEO: Fraser Valley Bandits clinch playoff berth with win over Ottawa Blackjacks

Record now 10-7 on the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season

  • Jul 18, 2022
Shane Gibson had 25 points, five rebounds and four assists as the Fraser Valley Bandits ended a season-high three game losing streak with a 95-88 victory over the visiting Ottawa BlackJacks at Langley Events Centre on Sunday, July 17. (CEBL)
Shane Gibson led Fraser Valley with 16 points as the Bandits fell 87-89 to the visiting Guelph Nighthawks Friday, July 15 at Langley Events Centre. (Canadian Elite Basketball League CEBL)

Nighthawks down Fraser Valley Bandits

Team now in third place

  • Jul 16, 2022
Shane Gibson led Fraser Valley with 16 points as the Bandits fell 87-89 to the visiting Guelph Nighthawks Friday, July 15 at Langley Events Centre. (Canadian Elite Basketball League CEBL)
Organizer Keith Azak’s goal to continue building a large-scale open basketball tournament to Terrace. (Brittany Gervais/Terrace Standard)

‘Rockin’ to the final game’: High hopes for northern B.C. roundball tourney

The Riverboat Days Open Basketball Tournament tips off this August in Terrace

Organizer Keith Azak’s goal to continue building a large-scale open basketball tournament to Terrace. (Brittany Gervais/Terrace Standard)
Bandits James Karnik lay-up versus Ottawa on July 8. BlackJacks won 100-79. Spencer Colby/Canadian Elite Basketball League

VIDEO: Ottawa Blackjacks down Fraser Valley Bandits

Up next, Montreal

  • Jul 9, 2022
Bandits James Karnik lay-up versus Ottawa on July 8. BlackJacks won 100-79. Spencer Colby/Canadian Elite Basketball League
James Karnik scored five points as the Fraser Valley Bandits road game against the Newfoundland Growlers got underway Tuesday, July 5. Bandits won 88-81. (Canadian Elite Basketball League CEBL)

VIDEO: Fraser Valley Bandits down Growlers

Three-game road trip starts with a win

  • Jul 6, 2022
James Karnik scored five points as the Fraser Valley Bandits road game against the Newfoundland Growlers got underway Tuesday, July 5. Bandits won 88-81. (Canadian Elite Basketball League CEBL)
Fraser Valley Bandits’ Murphy Burnatowski was surrounded by Niagara River Lions Sunday, June 3 at Langley Events Centre. River Lions won, 102-99. (Fraser Valley Bandits CEBL)

VIDEO: River Lions down Fraser Valley Bandits

‘Giving up 102 points is too much:’ coach of Langley-based team says

Fraser Valley Bandits’ Murphy Burnatowski was surrounded by Niagara River Lions Sunday, June 3 at Langley Events Centre. River Lions won, 102-99. (Fraser Valley Bandits CEBL)
Fraser Valley Bandits five-game winning streak came to an end Friday night, July 1, as the visiting Scarborough Shooting Stars knocked off the first-place Bandits 93-86 at Langley Events Centre. Shane Gibson scored 27 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists while Kyle Adnam added 12. Fraser Valley Bandits (CEBL)

VIDEO: Fraser Valley Bandits streak ended by visiting Scarborough Shooting Stars

Next up, Niagara River Lions

Fraser Valley Bandits five-game winning streak came to an end Friday night, July 1, as the visiting Scarborough Shooting Stars knocked off the first-place Bandits 93-86 at Langley Events Centre. Shane Gibson scored 27 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists while Kyle Adnam added 12. Fraser Valley Bandits (CEBL)