Game One: Shooting Stars edge out Honey Badgers in season opener
The Scarborough Shooting Stars entered 2023 determined to build off last year’s success of making it to the CEBL championship finals in their inaugural season.
And in a finals rematch to start season two, the Shooting Stars did just that with an 80–78 statement win over the reigning champion Brampton Honey Badgers on May 26.
The backcourt of former Toronto Raptor Jalen Harris and newly signed Cat Barber contributed 41 of Scarborough’s total points down the stretch.
Efficient shooting beyond the arc (11 three-pointers made) and key contributions from the bench kept Scarborough in control for nearly all four quarters.
The Honey Badgers, who shot 4–14 from three in the first half, were led by 2022 CEBL finals MVP Christian Vital and his 36 points.
Scarborough entered halftime with a 45–34 lead and were up 71–64 entering into Target Score Time with less than four minutes left.
Vital continued to be the catalyst on offence for the Honey Badgers with two quick threes to cut into the lead.
The back and forth baskets from both sides deadlocked the game at 78.
As DEFENCE chants rang across an enthusiastic CAA Centre, Scarborough called a timeout.
In the ensuing play, Harris missed a tip-in before Kalif Young scored the game winner with his own putback.
An ecstatic Shooting Stars cheering section echoed through the disappointed majority in the arena.
The Honey Badgers faithful (new and old) were hoping to celebrate the beginning of pro ball in Brampton and the 2022 championship ceremony with a win.
Instead, the Honey Badgers fall to 0–2, who also dropped their season opener to the Ottawa BlackJacks 95–93 on May 24.
The team’s original home, Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre, is undergoing extensive renovations until at least December of this year.
Brampton looks for its first win at home against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on June 1.
For the Shooting Stars, they will travel to Ottawa to face the BlackJacks (1–0) on May 30.
The long awaited home opener will be on June 2 against the Sea Bears at Scarborough’s Pan Am Sports Centre.
With a team set on contending once again, the 2022 core of Harris, Young, Kassius Robertson, Danilo Djuricic, Kameron Chatman and Marcus Anderson were all re-signed.
Harris joined the New York Knicks training camp in September and played seven games for the G League’s Westchester Knicks before returning to Scarborough for the upcoming 2023 season.
In 19 games in 2022, Harris led the Shooting Stars with 19.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
Barber, who starred for the Guelph Nighthawks (now the Calgary Surge) last season, joined Scarborough along with Thomas Kennedy, Matt Grace, Daniel Mullings and Gediminas Juozapavicius in the offseason.
Notable USPORTS faces on the Shooting Stars are returning 2022 draft pick Aaron Rhooms and 2023 draft pick David Walker. Both players are currently part of the TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University) Bold’s men’s team.
Before joining Scarborough, Rhooms was the 2021–22 USPORTS rookie of the year, OUA rookie of the year and first-team All-star.
Former NCAA player and Canadian junior standout Chris Exilus returns as head coach and former Raptor 905 and Canada Basketball regular Brady Heslip returns as Shooting Stars general manager.
