Defending Edmonton Stingers champions narrowly ahead of Hamilton Honey Badgers

Marlon Johnson scored the game-changer, crowning a 27-point lead for the team as defending CEBL champion Edmonton Stingers defeated Hamilton Honey Badgers 91 -87 Saturday.

Edmonton looked quite among the defending league champions as they opened the first quarter looking to make a statement.

A 12-5 run over a four-minute period midway through the first quarter gave the Stingers an 11 lead and catapulted them to a 30-15 lead at the end of the first.

The second quarter was no better for the Honey Badgers who struggled to understand the Stingers.

WATCH | Johnson lifts the Stingers to claim victory over Honey Badgers:

Marlon Johnson scored 27 points, a team-high, to lead the Edmonton Stingers to a 91-87 victory over the Hamilton Honey Badgers in their first CEBL game of the season. 1:00

Edmonton maintained their lead steadily, eventually pushing their lead to 19 before halftime, going up 49-30 and dominating the paint edging Hamilton 34-14 on the inside.

Hamilton didn’t let his disappointing play in the first half dictate how the second half unfolded.

After the Stingers opened the halftime by pushing their lead to 21, the Honey Badgers had a 7-0 streak in 53 seconds.

After a three-ball Adika Peter-McNeilly for the Stingers, Hamilton made another run, this time a 12-3 run, reducing the deficit to 6 with 3:31 left in the third.

After a continuous exchange of baskets from both sides, Edmonton closed the third quarter with a 67-59 lead.

The Stingers opened the fourth with four straight runs from Johnson, only for the Honey Badgers to retaliate with a 10-2 run to make it 69-71.

It was tight as Edmonton helped Hamilton get through to the Elam end, as the fourth quarter saw an ongoing battle for the lead.

Ahead of Elam Finishing 81-77, Edmonton managed to fend off the Honey Badgers, despite reigning Player of the Year Xavier Moon missing one of two late free throws that could have sealed him off. After Hamilton didn’t take advantage of his opportunity to come back, Johnson froze him with a contested float from the backboard to seal him for the Stingers.

Moon finished with 25 points, six rebounds and 11 assists for the Stingers, in addition to Johnson’s 27 points.

Lindell Wigginton led the way for the Honey Badgers with 30 points and nine assists that day.

Hamilton will face the Saskatchewan Rattlers on June 28.

Meanwhile, the Stingers face the Niagara River Lions on July 2.

WATCH | North Courts panel on what to expect in CEBL’s 3rd season:

Vivek Jaocb speaks with CEBL commentator Sean Woodley to discuss the next CEBL season, which kicks off Thursday, June 24. 6:44

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