The Ottawa BlackJacks ended the regular season with one last game before their dance in the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League playoffs. In a game to prepare for the postseason, the nation’s capital hosted the first-place Vancouver Bandits.
With notable players resting on each side, the BlackJacks dropped Sunday’s fan appreciation game at TD Place Arena 130-112 — the second-highest scoring game in league history.
Despite the loss, the BlackJacks’ primary focus now is the playoffs.
“Today was more about just getting through the game, staying healthy, giving some other players some opportunities,” head coach Mike DeAveiro said in a post-game scrum. “Just a few minor adjustments here or there.”
DeAveiro said he was pleased with the offensive power from his squad, but would have enjoyed a stronger defensive performance. Without key defensive players in Isaih Moore and Shakur Daniel, who both rested, Ottawa could not contain the forward pairing of Mitch Creek and Tyrese Samuel.
“They punished us inside quite a bit … they went to the rim, and that’s where they were successful,” DeAveiro said. “We’re missing our big bodies today — I thought they were the difference.”
Creek made his case for the league’s most valuable player, scoring a game-high 36 points while his partner in crime Samuel added 33 points and 17 rebounds. Whether it was from range, in the paint or at the free throw line, the pair crushed any hopes at a comeback.
“I’m proud of how we’ve executed one more effort on every single thing, every aspect of the organization from the foundational level to what you see here on a game night,” Creek said after the game. “You want to know [the opponent’s] offences, their defences, their weaknesses.”
Ottawa’s only lead of the game came in the opening minute of the first quarter, when their 2-0 lead was held for a mere 14 seconds. Vancouver responded with a 21-7 run and didn’t turn back, holding the lead for the remaining 35 minutes of play.
It was the Bandits’ strong touch from range that separated them early, finishing the quarter with seven threes. Guard Shamar Givance scored three and refused to miss en route to his 11 first-quarter points.
Both teams continued to pour shots from everywhere, shooting 61 per cent from the field through the first half. Each team was seemingly unable to stop the other.
“It’s tiring, honestly … it was 60 to 73, and that’s when we’re just trying to get stops,” said Ottawa guard Deng Adel when asked about the high-scoring. “They shot the ball unbelievably today and dominated inside.”
In his league debut, Alvin Icyogere kept the BlackJacks within reach late in the second frame, draining three straight three pointers. But Zach Copeland spoiled the momentum, hitting a buzzer beater that widened the Bandits’ lead to double digits heading into the half.
The second half continued with similar high-scoring action. Javonte Smart and Justin Ndjock-Tadjoré heated up and slowly clawed back, but were unable to regain the lead.
In the fourth, Zane Waterman’s ejection on fouls kicked off target score time, where the Bandits went back to work. Creek’s free throw stood as the game winner.
Although Ottawa ended their season on a loss, their focus is on winning the single-game elimination playoffs.
“First priority is just getting healthy, and then getting back in the gym and working on those things that we need to get cleaned,” DeAveiro said. “But the good thing is we’ve seen [Scarborough and Montreal] three or four times, so not a lot of surprises.”
At second seed in the eastern conference, Ottawa will skip the conference play-in game and host the winner between Scarborough and Montreal on Aug. 16.
But Ottawa’s upcoming home court advantage will be in an unfamiliar arena.
With TD Place Arena’s status as a primary venue for the upcoming Masters Indigenous Games 2025 — which takes place the same weekend as the BlackJacks’ scheduled August 16 playoff game — the squad will play a home game at Centre Slush Puppie in Gatineau.
“We look forward to being in Gatineau, expanding our game and our brand,” DeAveiro said.
“Hoping our fans from Ottawa will cross the bridge and that we’ll get some new fans in Gatineau to be part of the BlackJacks family.”
Featured image by James Paddle-Grant/Freestyle Photography
