Vancouver Bandits dominated the first pro basketball game ever played in Kelowna on Saturday, downing Saskatoon Mamba 105-85 as part of the first ever Kelowna HOOPFEST.
Bandits controlled the game from the opening tip, taking a 23-3 lead in the first quarter.
The lead would only build, extending to as many as 21 points in the opening half and eventually 29 points as the game went on.
Jarkel Joiner (23 points) and Tyrese Samuel (22 points) led the team while Miller Kopp followed with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
With this win, the Bandits boast a 6-2 record and are winners of five of their last six games.
Kelowna native Grant Sheppard also chipped in with a CEBL career-high 10 points and three rebounds on perfect five-for-five efficiency from the floor.
Shephard credited his hometown fans for a jolt of support.
“I just had that extra energy and passion tonight. I want to play my best but tonight it was just for Kelowna,” said Shephard.
“This whole stadium reminds me of Langley Events Centre. The atmosphere and the fans were great.”
The event brought the Bandits to Kelowna for their first-ever neutral-site home game. Because the Bandits are a Langley-based franchise, their team logos and branding, and the Langley Events Centre logo, were prominently featured at Prospera Place
Bandits head coach Kyle Julius also applauded the atmosphere at Prospera Place as “tremendous” and said his team felt the support from the fans for all four quarters.
“I knew it was going to be good, but this was better than I could’ve expected,” he said.
Samuel scored 13 of his 22 points by halftime.
Eight Bandits were on the scoresheet, including seven points and nine rebounds from standout rookie Dominic Parolin.
Everything went right for Bandits tonight as they shot 12-27 from three point land and forced the Mamba into a hole that was too deep to climb out of.
“To play the way we did feels great,” said Julius.
Bandits are back in action at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, June 13 to battle the Ottawa BlackJacks.