The Scarborough Shooting Stars extended their winning streak to six games on Sunday with a hard-fought 75-69 victory over the Niagara River Lions at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.
Entering the matchup on a five-game winning streak, Scarborough continued its strong run behind a dominant 31-point performance from Myles Powell. The Father’s Day crowd was treated to another impressive display from the Shooting Stars, who had already defeated Niagara 104-93 on June 10 and improved to 2-0 in the season series. The victory also pushed Scarborough’s record to 10-1 on the season.
The opening quarter was defined by physical defence and inefficient offence, as both teams struggled to find a rhythm. Charles Bediako opened the scoring with a strong finish inside, while Powell eventually ended Scarborough’s early drought with a much-needed basket. Niagara finally found the scoreboard through Khalil Ahmad, who converted a layup and an and-one opportunity. Kellen Tynes then provided a spark for the Shooting Stars with back-to-back layups, including a three-point play, helping the home side take a 20-13 lead into the second quarter.
Scarborough’s offensive struggles continued early in the second period despite generating quality looks. Frank Mitchell scored the team’s first point from the free-throw line and quickly made an impact on the glass, collecting three rebounds in the opening minute. Niagara responded through Keonte Kennedy, whose corner three-pointer cut the deficit to three, before Ahmad’s free throws and another Kennedy basket gave the River Lions their first lead of the game. Cole Long extended the advantage during a seven-point unanswered run, while Nathan Cayo added a three-pointer as Niagara’s perimeter shooting began to take control.
The Shooting Stars regained momentum midway through the quarter when Jay Scrubb knocked down a fortunate three-pointer that bounced around the rim before dropping. Powell answered with a steal and finish before scoring through traffic to reclaim the lead, while Scrubb added another steal and transition basket. Kameron Warrens tied the game late with a three-pointer for Niagara, but Scarborough scored just before the halftime buzzer to carry a narrow 42-40 advantage into the break.
Scarborough opened the third quarter with energy as Akoi Yuot threw down a thunderous dunk over a River Lions defender, igniting the home crowd. The Shooting Stars built their lead to six points with a series of baskets, but Niagara continued to respond. While the River Lions found success from beyond the arc, Scarborough attacked effectively in the paint.
The momentum shifted midway through the quarter as the Shooting Stars went cold offensively, allowing Niagara to erase the deficit and take control. Physical play remained a defining feature of the contest, contributing to the low-scoring and tightly contested affair. The River Lions managed the closing minutes of the period more effectively and entered the fourth quarter with a 56-52 lead.
Scarborough quickly responded in the final frame, stringing together strong offensive possessions that allowed Powell to knock down a three-pointer and lead the comeback. Mitchell added another basket to extend the advantage to five points as the Shooting Stars regained control.
Defensively, Scarborough elevated its intensity throughout the fourth quarter, frustrating Niagara and limiting quality scoring opportunities. Free throws from Tynes and Anthony Walker pushed the lead to seven, while the River Lions’ offence became increasingly disjointed. The home crowd fed off the defensive effort as Niagara struggled to mount a late comeback.
The frustration eventually boiled over for the visitors when head coach Kimbal Mackenzie was ejected from the game. Scarborough remained composed down the stretch, closing out the 75-69 victory to secure its 10th win of the season. Powell’s 31-point performance proved to be the difference as the Shooting Stars extended their winning streak to six games.
Scarborough returns to action on Tuesday, June 23, when it travels to face the Ottawa BlackJacks.
