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BROOK JONES\/FREE PRESS The Winnipeg Sea Bears host the visiting Niagara River Lions in Canadian Elite Basketball League action at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Man., Friday, May 22, 2026. The Sea Bears earned a 97-71 victory over the River Lions. Pictured: Sea Bears guard Teddy Allen (No. 8) passes the ball to a Sea Bears teammate while River Lions forward Kameron Warrens (No. 10) covers him during first quarter action.<\/p>\n
From the tip-off, the Sea Bears\u2019 physicality seemed to overwhelm the defending CEBL champions, earning five steals and holding the River Lions to under 30 per cent shooting from the field in the first quarter.<\/p>\n
The hometown club boasted a 10-point lead minutes in. But the visitors responded with a 6-0 run to narrow the lead to four by the end of the first frame.<\/p>\n
Winnipeg recorded 38 points in the opening frame, shooting 58.3 per cent from the field. Teddy Allen\u2019s three first quarter assists led a total of nine for the Sea Bears, who scored nine points off of turnovers.<\/p>\n
Niagara\u2019s momentum was erased in the second quarter, as Winnipeg\u2019s offence continued to produce. Armani Chaney was nearly unstoppable, draining four of five three-pointers in the first half. The guard went on to make five-of-seven from beyond the arc on the night.<\/p>\n
Chaney \u2014 who calls himself the \u201cold head\u201d on the team \u2014 said the home-court advantage is real here.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou feel the energy from the crowd, it\u2019s electricity through your veins,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely big, I think it helps us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Winnipeg paired a physical first half with a quick transition game, recording 13 points on the fast break to Niagara\u2019s zero. Allen\u2019s 11 first-half points led the team, while former Manitoba Bison Hildebrandt led the Sea Bears with four rebounds.<\/p>\n
Niagara\u2019s Donald Carey Jr. and Keonte Kennedy were a bright point for Niagara in the first half, each recording 10 points as the Sea Bears went into halftime with a 53-39 lead.<\/p>\n
Winnipeg\u2019s consistent play continued in the second half, leading by as much as 23 in the third quarter. After scoring 20 points in the paint through the first half, the Sea Bears tacked on 16 more in the third quarter, including back-to-back three-point plays from Allen, whose 25 points led both teams through three quarters.<\/p>\n
Kildonan East Reivers alumni and Sea Bears captain Emmanuel Akot led the way with five rebounds heading into the fourth quarter, while Chaney stayed hot from behind the arc, converting three-of-four three-point shots.<\/p>\n
Niagara\u2019s bench recorded 23 points in a response that included a game-high 14 combined fouls. After three, the Sea Bears led Niagara 80-64.<\/p>\n