Game Seven: Revamped defence leads Shooting Stars over Honey Badgers on Filipino Night
Fresh off of a one week break, the Scarborough Shooting Stars were ready to build off the momentum of their dominating 104–72 win over the Montreal Alliance on June 11.
That victory ended a four-game slide and instilled renewed confidence as the Shooting Stars returned to Pan Am Sports Centre for Filipino Night on June 18.
And back on home court to kick off a three-game homestand, Scarborough did not disappoint.
It was another win over the defending CEBL champion Brampton Honey Badgers — this time in convincing fashion, 93–73.
“We had that championship rematch on their ring night, we stole a win in their spot,” said Kalif Young following the win. “Anytime you play a great team like that, you come ready to play. From the jump we came with a different energy and focus on the little things, and do the right things tonight.”
Young led the Shooting Stars with 22 points and 10 rebounds on 90% shooting from the field.
On both ends of the floor, Young was a catalyst in the team’s new focus on defence, which forced Brampton to commit a season high 23 turnovers.
Despite being outrebounded 47–37, Scarborough put the pressure on every Honey Badger possession, which forced Brampton to commit multiple shot clock violations.
While the Shooting Stars remain at 3–4 on the season, the two-game winning streak is an indicator that the team is finally gelling together. The players are connecting on the shots and have become more responsible defensively.
“I think it has just been about time,” Young said about the team’s winning streak. “These types of seasons where you’re playing games at a rapid pace, I think you can kind of get bogged down, and get worried.”
Both teams were unable to hold onto any substanial lead for long stretches in the first half and were going back and forth on offence.
Scarborough held a 40–39 lead heading into the third quarter before their offence erupted and never looked back.
With the score 54–51, Cat Barber led the way with a series of three pointers to help the Shooting Stars go on a 15–3 run entering the fourth.
“With me being a leader on this team, I got to keep on my guys and uplift them,” Barber said about the team finding a way out of their early season losing streak.
Barber finished with 23 points, six assists and six rebounds.
He remained adamant that the team needed to maintain its scoring and defensive stops through out the entire game, and the new approaches have paid off.
“It’s a long season, you stay with it, [and] we don’t get down on each other.”
The fourth quarter was no different as the Shooting Stars held back the Honey Badgers from mounting a comeback.
After trailing 73–56, Brampton would cut the lead to 11, with the score 84–73 entering Target Scoring Time.
However, Scarborough would go on a 9–3 run to easily win the game.
The Shooting Stars received other contributions from Thomas Kennedy’s seven points and six rebounds, and 10 points from newly signed Kyree Walker, who made his debut with the team.
This game also featured key contributions from David Walker, who played his second game of the season.
The rookie and TMU Bold standout provided toughness and hustle for Scarborough.
He has continued to gain the trust of head coach Chris Exilus, who deployed the two-way guard in crucial stretches during crunch time.
“It was tough at first because I hurt my ankle and I wasn’t playing the first couple games, but then coach Chris knew what he had in store when he recruited me from TMU,” Walker said. “On the court, I just have to play hard, play my role and it will all come together.”
Walker finished with seven points, three assists and two rebounds in 27 minutes.
The Honey Badgers were led by Jeremiah Tillman’s 15 points and four rebounds, and Cody John’s 14 points and seven rebounds.
Christian Vital remained out of the lineup for Brampton, and Jalen Harris was out for the Shooting Stars.
It was the first themed night for Scarborough that celebrated the east end’s large Filipino community.
The night’s slogan of “Mabuhay Philippines” translates to “Long Live the Philippines.”
Notable Filipino Canadians including Canada Basketball coach Chris Cheng and CP24’s Kayla-Marie Tracey were honoured during halftime.
Looking forward to the next two home games, Young said the approach remains focused on being dialed in early and staying consistent on defensive coverages on the opposition’s top players.
“We can’t take a day off in this league,” he said referring to past games when the likes of Teddy Allen and Justin Wright-Foreman scored career highs against Scarborough on their home floor.
Next up for Scarborough is against the Ottawa BlackJacks.
The Shooting Stars lost to the BlackJacks in Ottawa, 93–82, on May 30 earlier this season.
