Basketball Bandits are back in town

The Fraser Valley Bandits returned from their extended road trip battered and bruised, but unbowed. And thanks to some clutch late-game finishes in the Elam Ending, they finish a three-game road swing tied for the best record in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

Now the Bandits (2-1) look forward to two straight games at the Langley Events Centre, starting with today's home-opener against the Saskatchewan Rattlers (2-1). The 5,276-seat area is nearly sold out for the game, as are the next two home dates.

“I think if you said you're going to be 2-1 at the end of the road trip, we'd take that every time,” Bandits coach Mike Taylor said of his team opening the season with three road games. “One of the points that we talked about was being a better road team this season, and I'm glad the guys took that to heart ...

“We're looking forward to the rematch here. I hope our guys can really respond physically to the challenge, and I think they'll be really energized with all of the support and the great crowd we'll have.”

The season started with guard Alex Campbell capping a late-game comeback by hitting a game-winning three-pointer off a broken play to beat the Ottawa Blackjacks 90-87. Two days later in Hamilton, Windsor, Ont., native Thomas Kennedy iced the Honey Badgers with two late free throws to beat his former team 71-70 in front of family and friends.

They made a quick trip home and then got back on a plane to Saskatoon and led the Rattlers into the fourth quarter before injuries to three key guards — Kadre Grey, Malcom Duvivier and Kyle Adam — let the home team pull away late. But they don't have to wait too long, with their chance at revenge coming today.

“This is why we love Alex so much. Man, talk about a leadership moment; taking a big shot and making a game-winning three,” Taylor said of the season-opener. “That's exactly the way you would script up a dream scenario to start the season. And then we had another meaningful moment in Hamilton (with) Thomas Kennedy.

“I think in both of these games ... the guys really have played together, we've had great ball movement, we've had a commitment to defend. I think that's the mark of a good team.

“The mark of a great team is anybody can step up any game. When we go into the games with a great team attitude, it could be any guy's night, and I think we've got that type of team that different guys can step up and have that winning moment.”