The Niagara River Lions defeated the Ottawa BlackJacks 109–97 [2] at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ontario.
The victory ensures the River Lions finish their Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) regular season without a single loss on their home court [3]. Maintaining an unbeaten home record provides a significant psychological and tactical advantage as the league transitions into the postseason race.
Despite the outcome, the Ottawa BlackJacks saw a historic individual performance from Javonte Smart. Smart scored 44 points [1], marking both a season-high and a franchise record for the BlackJacks. His offensive output kept Ottawa competitive throughout the matchup, though it was not enough to overcome the Niagara offense.
The game was characterized by a strong comeback from the River Lions. While Ottawa held momentum through Smart's scoring, Niagara utilized the home crowd and a balanced attack to secure the win. The 109–97 final score [2] reflects a dominant closing stretch by the home team.
Both clubs entered the game competing for improved standing in the CEBL regular season and playoff positioning. The result reinforces Niagara's status as a formidable opponent when playing in St. Catharines, where they have remained unbeaten [3] throughout the current campaign.
League officials and analysts said the home-court dominance in the CEBL has an impact. By protecting their home floor, the River Lions have positioned themselves as a primary contender for the championship title.
“The River Lions finish their CEBL regular season without a single loss on their home court.”
The River Lions' perfect home record creates a strategic imbalance in the CEBL playoffs. Teams facing Niagara in St. Catharines must now contend with a squad that has proven it cannot be beaten in its own arena, placing immense pressure on visiting teams to steal a win in a high-stakes environment.
