The first-ever Canadian Elite Basketball League champion is the Saskatchewan Rattlers.

Playing in front of 3,119 fans at SaskTel Centre, the Snakes downed the Hamilton Honey Badgers 94-83 in Sunday’s final.

“I think it’s pretty good at home,” said an understated Rattlers’ General Manager and Head Coach Greg Jockims when asked how special it is to win the initial C-E-B-L title. “It certainly rivals the U Sport (Canadian University Men’s Championship with the Saskatchewan Huskies in 2010) because of all the time and effort and commitment of our family…and all the challenges to pull this together. But, to do it at home is pretty nice.”

Saskatchewan took the lead for good three-and-a-half minutes into the second quarter and never looked back. Point guard Alex Campbell had 20 points while four more Saskatchewan players scored in double figures. The Rattlers shot 42% from the field, compared to 36% for Hamilton, out-rebounded the Honey Badgers 62-37 and the Saskatchewan bench out-scored Hamilton’s reserves 33-11.

One of those Snakes coming off the bench was 36-year-old Saskatoon product and former U of S guard Michael Linklater, who scored four points and added a rebound and an assist in just over six minutes of playing time in his final competitive basketball game.