VIDEO: Bandits secure spot in Western Conference finals

The Vancouver Bandits clinched first place in the Western Conference and a bye to Championship Weekend in Montreal with a 104-90 victory over the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Friday night, July 26, at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

“It was definitely a goal of ours to come here this weekend and get that done,” said Marcus Carr, who scored efficiently eight of the 13 times he played as a substitute for the Bandits.

Leading into the game, the Bandits had the highest average points per game, the lowest average points against per game, and the best points differential in the league.

Coach Kyle Julius believes this team needs to step it up a notch to win it all in Montreal.

“This was Phase 1 for us and now we have to move on to Phase 2,” Julius noted.

“These guys have nothing to do with last year, but I was really embarrassed by the way we played last year and we really worked hard this year to bring in a different group with a different approach and when we started that was Phase 1 and now it’s playoff basketball and everybody’s got to get better. The coaching staff, the water guys, the trainers, the last guy has to get better and it starts now.”

Vancouver now has the longest active winning streak in the league: four in a row.

“Of all the teams I’ve been on in my entire life, we’re the most bonded,” said Vancouver guard Taze Moore, who finished with 15 points and five rebounds. “We go out to dinner, rock climbing, jump out of planes.”

Bandits forward Ward appeared to suffer a calf injury and had to leave the court on assist in the third quarter. Before leaving the game, he had scored 12 points and three rebounds, numbers that put him at 900 points and 400 rebounds for his CEBL regular season career.

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