Zane Waterman continued his hot start to the season Sunday scoring 28 points to help the Honey Badgers (2-0) defeat the BlackJacks (0-1) 99-82. 

The Brampton forward’s offence was dialed in throughout the game as he hit three shots from beyond the arc, dished out five assists and snagged three rebounds in 32 minutes of play. Waterman made history tonight becoming the first Honey Badger player to score 25 points in consecutive games as he finished with 27 in the team’s win over Niagara on Friday night.

“Zane had two great games in a row, but again, I'm not surprised. You know, there's been a couple of questions about his improvement. This is going to be his third year now. You know, he's a really good player,” Brampton head coach Sheldon Cassimy said when asked about Waterman's performance. “He can shoot the three really well, can play the pulse really well, and he's really leading our group” 

While Waterman had himself a game, his teammates also made an impact in Brampton’s win. Guard Javonte Cooke scored 15 points with nine rebounds, and guard Cole Syllas finished with 13 points and three assists.

“I think we got the same mindset every game so far, you know we’re the underdogs, we take pride in that and we got a chip on our shoulder going in every game,” Waterman said about the team's mindset before games.

Despite the loss, Ottawa guard Brandon Sampson had a great game, scoring 25 points on 50 per cent shooting from the field, knocking down four shots from beyond the arc, and bringing down three rebounds.

Ottawa was without two star players that they recently announced will be returning this season in forward Deng Adel and centre Zena Edosomwan. Both are finishing up their seasons overseas and figure to give the club a massive boost when they return.

Brampton and Ottawa spent the majority of the first quarter trading buckets as there were 11 lead changes in the frame. The Honey Badgers started to knock down some big-time shots near the end of the quarter to take a 31-22 lead and never look back. The took a 49-41 lead into the half largely due to Waterman’s play and he led all scorers at the half with 13 points on 66 per cent shooting.

Brampton wasn’t letting up in the third as they had an answer for everything Ottawa threw at them. Syllas flipped the switch and poured it on for the Honey Badgers scoring seven of his 13 points in the frame. The Honey Badgers led 71-62 heading into the final quarter.

“Cole might be the best 3-and-D guy in the league,” Waterman said about teammate Syllas. “For sure, he proved that tonight, it was amazing.” 

Head coach Sheldon Cassimy lauded his team for its execution and adjustments made throughout the game.

“Execution. We're not supposed to be playing too much one-on-one, but sometimes we do have mismatches and that's part of our execution,” Cassimy said. “So really, truly just about getting the best shot and making sure that we're playing very well defensively. We had a possession there where we're able to speed up the other team. And, you know, it's all about one position at a time, getting stops and good scores.”

History Made

Some notable accomplishments in tonight’s game include:

• 
  Brampton’s Zane Waterman became the first Honey Badger to score 25 points in consecutive games
• Ottawa’s Jermel Kennedy hit 100 career assists
• Ottawa’s Tyrrel Tate hit 500 career points

What’s next for both teams? 

Brampton looks to extend their win streak to three as they take on the Niagara River Lions this Thursday. As for Ottawa, they hope to bounce back as they face the Edmonton Stingers this Wednesday.

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About the Brampton Honey Badgers

One of the original franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the 2022 CEBL Champion Brampton Honey Badgers proudly call the CAA Centre home. The Brampton front office and basketball operations department bring NBA, NBA G League, national team, NCAA and major international pro league experience to the franchise. With a vision of promoting Brampton grassroots basketball and local businesses through community and corporate engagement, the Honey Badgers will leverage the explosion of basketball as a vehicle for innovation and change. For more information visit www.honeybadgers.ca.

About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) 

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+, Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.