Mamba take 97-91 lead into target score, go on to 107-97 victory in penultimate game of regular season
EDMONTON — With the Saskatoon Mamba set to finish in third place in the Canadian Elite Basketball League Western Conference, it’s now a matter of playing out the string and finishing off their regular season with plenty of momentum.
The Mamba did just that on Friday night as they took a 107-97 victory over the Edmonton Stingers in their second-last game of the campaign in Edmonton.
They didn’t leave much to doubt, either, as they held a 97-91 lead at target score and never let the Stingers get closer than five points the rest of the way before taking the 10-point win.
Tavian Dunn-Martin finished things off with a lay-up, capping a win that the Mamba had to battle for despite early success.
Saskatoon got off to a torrid start, roaring out to a 20-4 lead in the first five minutes before Edmonton clawed their way back into things, leaving the Mamba with a 30-26 lead after the opening quarter.
The Stingers got the lead down to one early in the second quarter and Saskatoon led by as much as nine before a late rally by Edmonton saw the Mamba holding a 52-50 lead at halftime.
Edmonton actually took the lead early in the third quarter, but an 11-4 run would help give Saskatoon a 79-72 edge heading into the final break.
All of Saskatoon’s starting five hit double digits in offence on the night, with Dunn-Martin leading the way with 30 points. Jamir Chaplin scored 20 and added seven rebounds, Trey Townsend scored 14 and added six boards and six assists, Jaden Bediako scored 13 and Devonte Bandoo scored 12 with seven rebounds and seven assists. Damari Monsanto came off the bench to score 14 and bring down seven boards.
Kendrick Ray tipped Edmonton with 18 points, Nick Hornsby had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Scottie Lindsay dropped 15, Stanley Davis Jr. scored 13 and Tre King added 10.
Saskatoon improves to 12-11 and will finish third in the Western Conference, with their first round opponent to be either the Vancouver Bandits or Winnipeg Sea Bears pending a meeting of those two teams on Sunday.
The Mamba wrap up their regular season on Monday when they host the Calgary Surge at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon (4 p.m.), with the playoffs set to begin on Thursday.