Shooting Stars Cruise Past Blackjacks: Move to 9-1

The Scarborough Shooting Stars defeated the Ottawa Blackjacks 108-90 Friday night at the Toronto Pan Am Centre to move to 9-1 on the season. It's the best start in CEBL Eastern Conference history and the best in the 24 game format. The only team with a better start was the Edmonton Stingers who went 13-1 in 2021 back when the schedule was only 14 games.

On a night where Scarborough was missing their second and fourth leading scorers in forwards Javan Johnson and Aamir Simms, and star guard Myles Powell shot 23% from the field, the Shooting Stars put together one of their best team efforts of the season.

Akoi Yuot recorded eight offensive rebounds on route to a 24 point, 10 rebound performance; a breakout performance for the 27 year old forward who was previously averaging 5.9 points and 3.3 rebounds coming into the game. 

“Just coming and doing the small stuff, the dirty work and just helping the team the best way I can” said Yuot. 

Scarborough and Ottawa are the first and second best rebounding teams in the CEBL, but Scarborough blew them out of the water on the boards. Winning that battle 56-33 and outscoring them 33-6 on second chance points. 

The league's leading rebounder in Frank Mitchell brought in five offensive rebounds and Khalil Miller brought down four as well to finish with 10 on the night. 

“You get 24 offensive rebounds, it’s hard to lose that game” said Head Coach Tyrell Vernon. 

Before tonight, the Shooting Stars were coming off a three game road trip including two games in three days against strong western conference foes in the Edmonton Stingers and Vancouver Bandits. They won all three games on the road trip and as much as skill and tactics have played a role, this team just has fantastic chemistry and vibes. 

“Since we first got to Scarborough in the huddle we say (“us”) and we embrace that, we embody that. We dont care who gets the credit, who gets the glory,” said Scarborough guard Kellen Tynes who finished with 11 points, five rebounds and six assists. 

Tynes is not the only one who echoes this sentiment. Check any interview the players do, good chance the first thing they bring up is the locker room chemistry that has been built by team co-owner Niko Carino, coach Vernon and the players themselves.