The Montréal Alliance won their first game in franchise history in their home opener thanks to a couple of runs in the fourth quarter and the Elam Ending. 

The Alliance trailed early in the game but fought back in the second half to beat the Scarborough Shooting Stars 80-70 in front of a noisy home crowd. Forward Dominic Green led all players with 36 points with help from guards Kemy Osse (12 points), Hernst Laroche (10) and Alain Louis (eight). 

Kyle Alexander (22 points, 12 rebounds) and Jalen Harris (18 points, four assists, four rebounds) led the Shooting Stars. Scarborough is still searching for their first franchise victory. 

Scarborough’s Xavier Rathan-Mayes hit a fadeaway to open scoring. It marked a high scoring few minutes with both teams scoring inside and out and moving the ball well. Montréal’s Isiah Osborne swished a three-pointer to tie the game at 7. Scarborough’s Jean-Victor Mukama hit an open three to put the Shooting Stars up 11-7. Scarborough led 22-17 after one quarter, shooting 52 per cent from the field. 

Both teams continued to attack the basket and get to the foul line. The Shooting Stars used the pick and roll effectively, including when Harris found Alexander for a dunk. Montréal’s three-point shots started to fall with back-to-back threes by Laroche and Osse. Then, Green and Laroche nailed triples to cut the lead to 39-37. The visitors responded to take a 45-37 lead into halftime. 

Montréal turned defence into offence on a third quarter run with consecutive fast break baskets by Osborne and Louis to tie it at 47. Green then put in an offensive layup to give the home side their first lead of the game. The Shooting Stars led 56-55 heading into the fourth quarter. 

The Alliance started the fourth with five straight baskets – including back-to-back threes by Green – to go up 68-56. Rathan-Mayes scored two straight times to trim the lead going into the Elam Ending. The home team scored nine straight points in Elam time. Osse hit a fadeaway jumper to win the game as the crowd erupted in applause. 

Green and Osse credited the team’s defence afterwards. “We just locked in,” Osse noted. “We have a really good defensive team in half-court.” Osse added the team wants opponents to play against their half-court defence instead of transition. 

Green was two points away from the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) single-game points record. “It just shows if you put in the hard work, you can accomplish the things you want to accomplish,” Green said. “I still have a long way to go. I don’t think I’m close to where I want to be.” 

Green said the crowd brought a lot of energy, which the players fed off. Alexander also called the game’s atmosphere “amazing.” He said the Shooting Stars have a lot of talent and will watch film and work on getting more chemistry. 

“We came out in the third quarter a little slow,” Alexander said. “I think that’s when they got their momentum and the crowd into it and from there it was a battle. Then it came down to defending and rebounding, which is something we struggled.”

The Alliance host the Ottawa BlackJacks on May 31 while the Shooting Stars also face off against the BlackJacks, on the road on June 2. 

All games will be streamed live internationally on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ and on CEBL Mobile the official app of the CEBL for iOS and Android devices. Games are also available to stream live in Canada via cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices, and the free CBC Gem streaming service.

A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 71 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us (@cebleague) on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.