Latest news with #SaskatchewanRattlers
Global News
6 days ago
- 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.
Global News
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Saskatchewan Rattlers head coach Magdanz learning on the job following promotion
Lessons are learned more often in losses than in wins in professional sport and unfortunately for the Saskatchewan Rattlers, that's been the case over the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League season. Stumbling out of the gate with a 2-7 start, it's been a learning process not only for the Rattlers' group of rookies but first-year head coach Eric Magdanz as well. 'It's been a growing opportunity for me,' said Magdanz. 'We've been in a bunch of close games here that we've wanted to get over the hump. We haven't quite had the accomplishments yet that we've wanted, but we're right there.' Named the Rattlers' fifth head coach in franchise history back in March, Magdanz was promoted from his role as the team's lead assistant coach which he served in for three seasons. Though the wins have been few and far between in his first nine games at the helm of the team, his offensive instincts have stood out according to starting guard Jamir Chaplin. Story continues below advertisement 'Coach really has a great mind for the offensive flow,' said Chaplin. 'When he runs plays it's pretty good for us. Getting either inside or finding the hot hand and stuff like that, or switching the matchups that we want. But his offensive scheme is really good.' According to Magdanz, the biggest adjustments have come in understanding the working mechanisms behind the scenes of the CEBL franchise and establishing new relationships with his roster, even those who he's worked alongside in previous years. 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 They include guard Isaac Simon, who is playing the most minutes of his professional career so far under Magdanz. 'I've been blessed to be with him the last three seasons and I'm happy for him that he got that head coaching job,' said Simon. 'Everyone here believes in him, he's been doing a good job. We just got to help him out and get some wins.' While the Rattlers have been injected with a new structure with Magdanz's promotion, they've struggled to gain overall consistency as the team nears the midway mark of the CEBL season sitting last place in the Western Conference. Beginning the season with an 0-4 start, Saskatchewan bounced back in late May and early June with back-to-back wins against a pair of powerhouses in the Niagara River Lions and Calgary Since. 1:11 Saskatchewan Rattlers looking to iron out defence following 101-93 loss to Scarborough Since then, the Rattlers have not been able to build on those wins with a trio of losses to the Vancouver Bandits, Scarborough Shooting Stars and Winnipeg Sea Bears being outscored 293-253 over that span. Story continues below advertisement 'At the end of the day us as players, we got to execute (Magdanz's) game plan a lot better,' said Rattlers guard Cody John. 'He's doing his part, but as players we're not doing ours and we need to pick it up for sure.' Moving from an assistant coaching role to the Rattlers' head coach position has meant becoming a bit more of a disciplinarian for Magdanz, a transition which he's still trying to evolve on. 'I've had to change my role within them,' said Magdanz. 'Had to get one them a little bit more and change as the person who is setting that accountability for them. The previous relationship, they know it's coming from a place of love and where I want the best for them. But in order for us to be successful, that accountability has to be there.' Growing up in Lloydminster, Magdanz is Saskatchewan's first home-grown head coach since the early days of the franchise when the team was led by Greg Jockims and Chad Jacobson. With that background, he added he's eager to return the Rattlers to their 2019 championship glory and overcome the steep hill the team faces over the back half of the CEBL regular season. 'Saskatchewan born and raised,' said Magdanz. 'Saskatoon is my home now and I'm very proud to be a part of this community. To be able to represent Saskatchewan as a whole is huge. To be able to go out there, hear my name called, have my family in the stands to cheer us on, it gives us a lot of energy to want to get back to work and bring a successful team here.' Story continues below advertisement Adding to their offence, Saskatchewan announced the signing of franchise leading scorer Devontè Bandoo who previously played for the Rattlers between 2020-2022 scoring 584 points over three seasons. The Rattlers will aim to end their three-game losing streak on Friday night, visiting the Brampton Honey Badgers (2-7) at 6 p.m.
