The Rattlers Avenge Their Nest.

The Edmonton Stingers face the Saskatchewan Rattlers with a chip on their shoulder. Both teams have worked harder than ever to reach this milestone. All the sweat and tears are finally showing its worth as both teams are hungry to defeat each other. However, there can only be one winner in this historical match of a lifetime. Even though the Stingers have the MVP of the CEBL, Xavier Moon, they still have work to be done. The Rattlers are also talented, especially at the big man position as they have Marlon Johnson guarding the paint. The defensive player of the year candidate is ready to elevate his team to win this highly anticipated game. Despite both teams having the highest level of dedication, only one team can be victories. The question is, which side will put up the better fight?

From the moment I entered the arena, both teams had different energy on them. For years now, even before the CEBL, Saskatchewan and Edmonton have been rivals. Whether its sports or competing for who is the better province, both teams were prepared and ready to represent their cities. However, with one game on the line, only one player can make it to the CEBL finals. Even though both teams were locked in, only one team can be crowned as champions.

A key aspect about this game is that the Saskatchewan Rattlers are entering this match as the underdogs while the Edmonton Stingers were looking to win it all. Immediately when tip-off emerged, Rattlers Marlon Johnson set the tone and hit a contested three. This three-pointer was vital for this entire game, considering how well it motivated the Rattlers. Of course in Edmonton’s fashion, Mamadou Gueye and Akeem Ellis managed to hit back to back shots which ended up being a confidence booster. The starters for the Stingers were struggling in this quarter; however, Grandy Glaze and Adika Peter-Mcneilly redeemed what the starters produced. Whether it was Grandy making clutch jump-shots or Adika Peter-Mcneilly facilitating the ball, Edmonton’s bench was coming in clutch. The Rattlers were unable to match the production the Stingers had off the bench; however, they had their weapon of destruction.

Shane Osayande was an essential element for the Rattlers. Osayande’s efficiency in the first quarter was incredible, with his 100% shooting from every statistical category. With his seven points in the beginning, Edmonton needed to find a way to answer back to disrupt the flow of the Rattlers. Osayande elevated the Rattlers and gave them that confidence booster his team needed. Not to mention, the Rattlers played on their home court, which was a huge advantage entering the playoffs. The Stingers struggled in the first, especially when it came to shooting the ball. Edmonton managed to score an atrocious 30% from the field compared to the Rattlers outstanding 44% from the ground. This statistic was the most significant difference in this game, considering how Edmonton struggled to make any shots. Even though Grandy Glaze produced high numbers in the first quarter, the rest of the roster struggled to show any signs of actual production. As a result, the Rattlers ended the first quarter with a slight edge with the score of 20-17. The Stingers needed to increase their scoring efficiency if they want to win.

The second quarter was the quarter of redemption. Despite the first quarter being a low scoring quarter, the second quarter was by far the rising action in this game. The Stingers were angry at their first-quarter production and realized that they needed to change their scoring production. Both Xavier Moon and Travis Daniels were the stories of this quarter. Moon managed to score back to back jump-shots immediately, which led to tie the score up. Following Moon’s scoring streak, Daniels managed to hit multiple three-pointers which stunned the Saskatchewan crowd. The Rattlers at times had spurts of scoring; however, they were unable to match the unexpected scoring production from the Stingers. The Edmonton bench came in clutch as well with Grandy Glaze and Adika Peter-Mcneilly caring the second unit to success. Despite the rest of the roster struggling to land anything, the Stingers still managed to stay on top. The Rattlers, however, played completely different in this quarter. Instead of scoring efficiency, the Rattlers lost their momentum. The entire roster managed to lose their strive at scoring the ball. Alex Campbell was the only player on the Rattlers who managed to continue his efficiency in the second quarter. However, basketball is a team sport; hence, why the Stingers took advantage and furthered their scoring streak. This quarter was a gong show for the Rattlers as they only scored six points as a team without the production from the free-throw line or Alex Campbell. Campbell was impressive in this quarter as he scored eight points out of the 21 points that were produced by the Rattlers. His performance was enough to give the Rattlers a slight chance in this game with the final score of 49-41. The Rattlers were on pace to win this game by a considerable margin; however, after the Stingers incredible scoring streak, they needed to regroup and figure out what to change.

Change was vital in the third quarter. The Rattlers struggled in the second quarter; however, they entered the third quarter with determination. Instead of looking defeated, they looked hungrier than ever. The Rattlers realized which nest they are playing at, which is what triggered them to play with persistence. The Stingers were not prepared to slow down their scoring streak either. Saskatchewan right away scored with aggression and determined while the Stingers remained consistent. Whether it was a post move by Chad Posthumus or a Grandy Glaze three-pointer, this quarter was back and forth. The arena would get overwhelmingly intense every time the ball would go through the basket. Although this game was getting closer and closer by the minute, Grandy Glaze was by far the player of the quarter. Grandy, who is not known for shooting threes, managed to shoot an astonishing three, threes to elevate them. The Stingers stayed on top while the Rattlers were still struggling to make an impact. Even though the Rattlers were slowly coming back, the Stingers always knew how to answer back. The Rattlers were desperate to make the leap that they needed to defeat the Edmonton Stingers. Even though the Stingers remained consistent in the third quarter, the score at the end of the third was 66-60. The Stingers are up by six points; however, that lead could quickly disappear if they don’t attack correctly.

The moment the fourth quarter was initiated, the Rattlers realized what was at stake. Saskatchewan was not prepared to lose in front of their home court, which is what motivated them to take the next step to win this game potentially. The Stingers struggled in the fourth quarter. They were unable to make any shots in the clutch. Instead of keeping their composure, the Stingers lost all momentum in the stretch when it mattered the most. Xavier Moon and Jordan Baker were carrying the Stingers in the fourth; however, the Rattlers were finally catching up. Marlon Johnson took this game by storm as he manages to score an incredible 11 points. The duo of Johnson and Campbell in this game was what brought this Rattlers team success. Despite the attempt of Moon with his impressive deep three-pointer towards the end of the game, Marlon Johnson was the answer to all the Rattlers stress. Johnson was by far the story of this quarter with his mature shot selections. Instead of feeling excited or cocky, Johnson took control of his emotions and the game, which resulted in success. The Stingers, however, started to lose their composure towards the end of the quarter. The performance of Johnson stunned the Stingers considering that they blew their scoring lead. The entire arena, including myself, was in shock of what happened especially towards the last minute of the game.

The Rattlers in the last minute of the game wiped out the Stingers led like a weed wacker and managed to build their scoring lead. With an impressive five-point edge over the Edmonton Stingers, the Rattlers were looking like the champs of the game. However, the Rattlers forgot a player of the name, Xavier Moon who was named the MVP of the CEBL. Surely enough, the MVP played like an MVP and hit a needed clutch three-pointer to make the score 85-83. With the Rattlers in the lead by two points, the Stingers required to utilize this opportunity to respond with authority. With only four seconds remaining in the game, Xavier Moon took charge and threw the ball with desperation and hope that it will go in. As a result, Moon missed the half-court three, and the Rattlers won this game with one of the greatest comebacks in CEBL history! The Rattlers managed to not only shock the entire arena with their fourth-quarter performance, but they also managed to defeat the Stingers with the final score of 85-83.