Blackjacks break through for first win

BLACKJACKS 78, BANDITS 76

The Ottawa Blackjacks have been reduced to one Scrubb, but they’ve finally tasted victory at the Canadian Elite Basketball League Summer Series.

Following a wild back and forth finish, the Blackjacks defeated the Fraser Valley Bandits 78-76 Thursday, their first win after losing their opening two games at the CEBL’s “bubble tournament” in St. Catharines.

The Blackjacks are now playing without star guard Philip Scrubb, who has left the team to play with Limoges in France. Scrubb’s brother, Thomas, remains with the Blackjacks.

The ex-Carleton Ravens flavour remains. The Blackjacks have replaced Philip Scrubb with Lloyd Pandi, who was named U Sports rookie of the year last season with Carleton.

The Blackjacks, the lone winless team in the Summer Series before Thursday’s game, started strong, building up a 14-0 lead on Fraser Valley. But the Bandits battled their way all the way back, taking the lead in the fourth quarter.

The topsy-turvy fourth quarter was finally salted away when the Blackjacks’ Johnny Berhanemeskel drained the game winning free throw. Berhanemeskel led the Blackjacks with 19 points.

The Blackjacks faded in the second half in their opening two games.

They began the tournament by dropping an 89-71 decision to the Guelph Nighthawks on Saturday. That game was deadlocked 38-38 at halftime.

On Monday, the Blackjacks led well into the third quarter, but the Edmonton Stingers took control late en route to an eventual 89-82 defeat.

Next up for the Blackjacks is a Sunday game against the Hamilton Honey Badgers, who have opened the tournament with one win and two losses.

After the round robin is complete, six of the seven teams qualify for the playoffs, with the top two teams receiving an automatic bye into the semifinals.