The Montréal Alliance travel to St. Catharines on Friday night looking to build on their dominant rivalry victory against Ottawa while facing an important test against the defending CEBL champions. The Niagara River Lions, sitting atop the Eastern Conference with a 12-5 record and winners of five straight, represent the gold standard the Alliance aspire to reach as they continue their playoff push with a revamped and re-energized roster.

Friday’s matchup carries enormous implications, as the Alliance have an opportunity to clinch their playoff berth with a victory, provided Brampton falls to Scarborough in their 7:30 PM contest. The chance to secure postseason basketball while defeating the defending champions would represent a monumental achievement for a team that has endured significant adversity throughout the season. 

The Alliance enter this crucial game with renewed confidence following their comprehensive 87-79 victory over Ottawa, a performance that showcased the transformative impact of their recent roster moves. The seamless reintegration of Tavis “Pistol” Smith, who erupted for 26 points in his return, combined with Quincy Guerrier’s dominant comeback from NBA Summer League action, has created an entirely different team than the one that struggled through earlier stretches of the season.

Smith’s chemistry with the core group appears instant, particularly his connection with Tavian Dunn-Martin. When asked about their developing partnership, Smith was confident: “We’re clicking. We’re going to be real nice.” His assessment of the team’s ceiling with the “big 3” of himself, Dunn-Martin, and Guerrier was equally optimistic: “The goal is to win a championship like every team. We do have some stuff to work on, like turnovers and free throws, but I think we’re going to be real real nice. We’re going to be a real problem for the league.”

This enhanced roster depth comes at a crucial time, with the Alliance transaction deadline arriving Saturday, July 26. Head coach Jermaine Small indicated satisfaction with the current roster construction: This is who [we] live and die with moving forward. We’re not looking to make any moves unless someone special [comes up].”

The Alliance’s offensive balance has been transformed with their core trio now healthy and available. Dunn-Martin leads all scorers with 18.0 points per game while adding 3.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists, ranking third in the CEBL in assists per contest. Guerrier follows closely with 17.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, while Smith’s return brings 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per contest based on his previous production and opening performance.

The challenge awaiting in Niagara represents the steepest test possible. The River Lions have established themselves as one of the league’s premier franchises, combining championship experience with elite talent across their roster. Their five-game winning streak has them playing their best basketball at the perfect time, with the type of confidence and execution that championship teams display.

Khalil Ahmad anchors Niagara’s attack as one of the CEBL’s most complete players. The 2024 Finals MVP and 2022 CEBL MVP averages 20.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while providing the type of two-way excellence that defines championship-level performers. His ability to impact winning in multiple ways makes him arguably the most dangerous player the Alliance will face this season.

The River Lions’ depth extends far beyond Ahmad, with six players averaging between 8.4 and 12.1 points per game. Kimbal Mackenzie (12.1 ppg), Ron Curry (11.5), Ahmed Hill (10.1), Eddie Ekiyor (9.6), Nathan Cayo (9.5), and Guillaume Boucard (8.4) provide the balanced scoring that has made Niagara so difficult to defend. The presence of former Alliance players Hill, Cayo, and Boucard adds emotional stakes to an already important game.

This represents the third meeting between these teams this season, with Niagara holding a 2-0 advantage following victories of 93-82 in St. Catharines on June 20 and 77-73 in Montréal on July 6. However, the Alliance roster has been completely transformed since those encounters, with Smith back in the lineup alongside Brandon Porter, newly-signed Kappos, and Diggins Jr. fresh off his injury recovery.

The Alliance will be without Alain Louis, who remains on the injury reserve with a lower body injury.

The timing couldn’t be more perfect for a statement victory. With playoff positioning, team confidence, and momentum at stake, Friday night at Meridian Centre provides the Alliance with their biggest opportunity of the season to prove they belong among the CEBL’s elite while potentially securing their postseason future.

As both teams prepare for this important Eastern Conference showdown, the stage is set for the type of high-level basketball that defines championship aspirations and playoff races at their most intense.

Game Information

Date: Friday, July 25, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Meridian Centre, St-Catharines

Broadcast: RDS, TSN, CEBL+