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Global News
4 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
Saskatchewan Rattlers eliminated from playoff contention for 3rd straight year
A summer without playoffs: it's a feeling the Saskatchewan Rattlers have faced since last making the dance in 2022 and will now reflect on again. The Rattlers were officially eliminated from Canadian Elite Basketball League playoff contention last Friday, dropping a 100-79 decision on the road to the Vancouver Bandits. 'It's tough not going to to the playoffs for I think it's the third consecutive year,' Rattlers guard Devontè Bandoo said. 'I think we just got to finish the season strong, just show the fans that there's hope in the future. Hopefully I can be here next year in the beginning and things can be better than how we started.' The loss to Vancouver dropped Saskatchewan's record on the 2025 season to a sobering 4-14, which has the Snakes sitting dead last in the CEBL's Western Conference. Story continues below advertisement With the Winnipeg Sea Bears (7-10) already taking up one of four playoff spots in the West as hosts for CEBL Championship Weekend, the Rattlers would have needed to catch the Edmonton Stingers (11-7) for third place to qualify. It's the latest in a string of disappointing finishes to the regular season for Saskatchewan, with its last playoff game coming on Aug. 7, 2022 in a 108-96 loss to the Scarborough Shooting Stars. 'Yeah, it's frustrating,' Rattlers head coach Eric Magdanz said. 'We're all in this business to try to win, so to not have that opportunity to go for a championship is frustrating. We're trying to build a level of culture and a level of consistency, I think that's one of the reasons why I was brought in this year was to give some consistency to the coaching staff. So it's something we're going to look at moving forward.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Thanks to the league's expanded schedule of 24 games this season, the Rattlers will have some extra time to reflect on the end to their campaign with six games left on their schedule. 2:06 Saskatchewan Rattlers see playoff hopes dealt massive blow in loss to Calgary Even though playoffs are no longer in the cards this summer, Magdanz is confident his team won't take a mental dip down the stretch and take its foot off the pedal with valuable professional contracts still on the line. Story continues below advertisement 'We're going to make sure that we set them up to the best position possible,' Magdanz said. 'The best way to get a good contract is to win and to compete hard, because everybody is looking for those type of players. I'm not concerned about our level of effort or consistency down the stretch here, it's sort of ingrained in who we are.' For towering forward Grant Anticevich, it's been a challenging first season in the CEBL coming over from his home country of Australia and not seeing the wins pile up this year. When asked about what will be driving him down the final six games of the regular season, however, he credited the team's overall fight and desire to improve as they close off the year. 'It's always difficult when you're not making playoffs and necessarily not playing for anything,' Anticevich said. 'It can sometimes be hard to keep motivation, but we do want to get better as individuals and as a team. We love playing with each other, so I feel like we owe it to each other. No one is going to cave in, or give in, or not care the last part of the season. We've battled throughout the whole season, no one really wants to take the foot off the pedal.' One bright spot for Saskatchewan over its stretch drive to end the season will be the return of guard Jordan Bowden to the lineup, beginning this weekend in Ottawa. Story continues below advertisement Bowden was among the Rattlers' top offensive producers during his tenure before leaving the team earlier this month due to personal reasons, averaging over 17 points per game and recording a 40-point showing in a 93-90 victory over the Blackjacks on July 5. 'Jordan is just another offensive threat, another guy you can give the ball to when you need a bucket,' Magdanz said. 'We refer to it as gravity on the floor, the defence just shifts in his direction whether he has the ball or not because he's such a threat out there. Just another guy who is going to cause the defence to change, adjust and hopefully open up some things for other guys.' For veterans like Bandoo, the franchise's all-time leading scorer who returned to the court mid-season for the Rattlers for the first time since 2022, this final stretch will indicate what kind of team they really haven and how hard they'll play for one another with their goal of playoff basketball once again not coming to fruition. 'I think a lot of us were focused on individual things right now and I think that's what is hurting our nature and our character,' Bandoo said. 'When we practice together as a team, we're a phenomenal team and it's just being consistent with it. I think our goal is just to keep playing the right way for the next six games.' The Rattlers will head to Ottawa for a tilt against the Blackjacks on Saturday afternoon, with a noon tipoff, Saskatchewan time.
Global News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Playoff odds fading away for Saskatchewan Rattlers following loss to Calgary
With a deep three-ball by Evan Gilyard Jr. on Tuesday night at SaskTel Centre, the Calgary Surge guard waved goodbye to the Saskatchewan Rattlers with the winning basket in a 103-81 victory over the hosts. It was a wave which could see the Rattlers say goodbye to their chances of making the Canadian Elite Basketball League post-season, falling to a 4-13 record on the season despite a 31-point showing by Tevian Jones in his debut game with the team. 'We weren't able to knock down those shots and get a run going,' said Jones. 'I feel like that was one of the challenges going into the second half. I think another challenge was just that chemistry out there, being able to get used to the guys, the coaching staff and the offence a little bit.' Jones was dominant in the first half for Saskatchewan, just days after being brought into the organization following previous CEBL stops in Scarborough and more recently Winnipeg before pursuing opportunities in NBA Summer League. Story continues below advertisement When those opportunities did not arrive, he returned north of the border and joined up with the Rattlers organization. According to Rattlers head coach Eric Magdanz, however, the team was not able to stretch Jones' hot start into sustained offence on Tuesday. '(Calgary) did a good job of clogging up the paint and making it difficult for us,' said Magdanz. '(Jones) played really well in the first half, but they looked to take him away in the second half and we just didn't have a counter that could match that.' Saskatchewan guard Nate Pierre-Louis entered the CEBL record books on Tuesday with an eight-assist performance, bringing his total assists on the season to 131 and breaking the previous record of 126 assists by Corey Davis Jr. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Pierre-Louis could have room to stretch that record even more, completing the goal in just 17 games since being moved over to a new position at point guard. While his record-breaking performance didn't result in a needed win, Pierre-Louis added it was a special achievement. 'A lot of great point guards have touched this league,' said Pierre-Louis. 'For me to just start doing this position 17 games ago, I'm truly honoured and grateful that I could actually be in this position to do something like that.' Story continues below advertisement Saskatchewan continues to sit at the bottom of the CEBL's Western Conference standings with just four wins in 17 games, marking a massive uphill climb for the team to reach the post-season over their final seven regular season games. 2:06 Regina's Issac Simon growing into expanded role with Saskatchewan Rattlers With the Winnipeg Sea Bears (6-9) guaranteed a playoff spot as hosts for Championship Weekend next month, the Rattlers will need to hunt down the Edmonton Stingers (10-6) for third place in the conference to grab one of three post-season berths up for grabs. 'We're chasing after not just one team, but another team,' said Pierre-Louis. 'So all of a sudden these games are vital, we have to win every game.' A daunting ascent awaits the Rattlers needing to win all of their final seven games of the regular season, including their next four games on the road beginning Friday night in Vancouver. Story continues below advertisement Requiring nearly flawless basketball to do so, Magdanz isn't worried about a dip in the team's hunger for the post-season with the margins now razor-thin. 'It doesn't matter our win-loss record,' said Magdanz. 'We're coming in ready to fight and ready to compete, we're professionals and ready to do our job. I've been super proud of this team over the course of the year, they've come in every single day with that mindset. 'I don't expect anything to change.' The Rattlers are at risk of missing CEBL playoffs for the third year in a row and for the fifth time in six years since winning their lone CEBL championship back in 2019. For Pierre-Louis and the rest of the veterans in the Rattlers locker room, there's been plenty of inward reflection this season which he believes will be a benefit for the group extending past this summer. 'In life everything is not going to be sunshine and rainbows,' said Pierre-Louis. 'I think that right now we're learning how to deal with adversity as men… I think that this season is teaching us that if you can deal with this, you can deal with anything.' The Rattlers will begin their late-season push on Friday at 8 p.m. as they'll try to topple the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Bandits (13-4).
Global News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Regina guard Simon making most of increased role with Saskatchewan Rattlers
After three years in the Saskatchewan Rattlers organization, Isaac Simon is beginning to put the pieces together towards emerging as one of the most promising young point guards in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. In the process, he has evolved his game to be ready for the professional level. 'It's helped me develop as a player and also as a person, through the highs and lows of it,' said Simon. It's certainly been a season of both highs and lows for the Regina-born guard, part of an ever-changing rotation for the Rattlers this season who sit last place in the CEBL's Western Conference with a 4-12 record. While the team's success hasn't been there in 2025, it's been a summer which has allowed the 21-year-old to become an everyday pro in the CEBL and become a consistent option for Rattlers head coach Eric Magdanz. Story continues below advertisement 'I've been able to watch a lot of these guys,' said Simon. 'They don't get too high, they don't get too low. That's how you become consistent and that's something that I'm working on in my own journey.' First joining the Rattlers in the summer of 2023 after a Canada West all-rookie freshman season with the University of Alberta Golden Bears, Simon has spent the last two CEBL seasons either on the bench or in a limited role off the bench. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy This summer, however, he's been able to get into all 16 games for the Rattlers which has included his first six professional starts. 'I've been blessed to do it for three summers,' said Simon. 'I've been blessed to play with a lot of great players and I've learned a lot. I've been in the gym and this year I'm getting more game experience, so it's all been a blessing.' Magdanz has coached Simon each of the last two years as an assistant and has watched his progression since he graduated from Harvest City Christian Academy. 2:04 Saskatchewan Rattlers head coach Magdanz embracing new role with CEBL club He said Simon's read of the court has caught up with the athletic abilities he first displayed when he came to the Rattlers as a shifty, speedy guard out of high school. Story continues below advertisement 'Being from Saskatchewan there's not a lot of guys who can come out with the sheer level of athleticism and strength that he has coming out of high school and has built in his first couple of years,' said Magdanz. Citing former Rattlers guard Cody John as a mentor of his during his time with the Rattlers, Simon has become a weapon off the bench in recent weeks following the additions of Devontè Bandoo and Jordan Bowden. 'He's used the last couple of years working with some really good point guards to develop his ball handling and his understanding of the game at a higher level,' said Magdanz. 'You can kind of see now he's understanding and can watch the game happen at the pace we're playing at, which is just different than U Sports.' Still calling Regina home, Simon has become the Rattlers' first homegrown local in years to see everyday action on the court. Despite his three years already playing at SaskTel Centre, he remains one of the youngest players on the roster and said his role as a hometown favourite isn't something that's lost on him. 'Being homegrown, I don't take that for granted,' said Simon. 'I know a lot of kids look up to me and say, 'If he can do it, I can do it too.' Whenever I get the opportunity to step on the court I'm going to play with heart, give it all I got and try to help impact winning.' Story continues below advertisement The Rattlers (4-12) will look to keep their faint playoff hopes alive on Tuesday night, welcoming the Calgary Surge (10-5) to SaskTel Centre at 7:30 p.m.
CTV News
12-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Saskatchewan Rattlers hoping to build momentum
Watch WATCH: The 4 and 11 Saskatchewan Rattlers have just four home games left in the regular season, and they're looking to build off some recent momentum.
CTV News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Surge lose late to Rattlers on trio of threes by Pierre-Louis
Nate Pierre-Louis led the Saskatchewan Rattlers past the Calgary Surge 96-89 Thursday night in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan's Nate Pierre-Louis got hot late and the party was soon over for Calgary, as the Rattlers edged the Surge 96-89 in Saskatoon. Pierre-Louis sank three straight threes in Target Score Time to provide the margin of victory, giving the Rattlers their first win at home this season. Saskatchewan has owned the 8-4 Surge so far this season, defeating them by three points in Calgary in early June. Calgary was led by Greg Brown III's 22 points and eight rebounds. Jameer Nelson Jr. added 19 points, while Sean Miller-Moore had 13. Pierre Louis led the Rattlers with 28 points and five assists. The Rattlers outrebounded the Surge 50-47, including 17 offensive boards which gave them a huge advantage in second-chance points. 'They did a good job of crashing the glass and they beat us on the boards and I think that dictated the game,' Calgary head coach Kaleb Canales said. The lead changed hands five times in the third quarter, before the Rattlers took a one point lead, 72-71 on a basket at the buzzer from Isaac Simon. The Surge dropped into second in the Western Conference behind the Vancouver Bandits, who are 8-3. Next up for the Surge is a July 3 road game in Brampton.
