The Saskatchewan Rattlers (0-9) continue their road trip of southern Ontario on Thursday, travelling to the Sleeman Centre to take on the Guelph Nighthawks (2-6) at 7:00 p.m. ET.

This will be the second time these two teams meet within a week, as Guelph won the first contest last Friday in Saskatchewan, 90-74. The game was close throughout the first half, but a dominant third quarter performance by the Nighthawks put the win out of reach for the Rattlers.

Guelph went on to lose its next game at home against the Edmonton Stingers, and will look to get back into the win column tonight. Saskatchewan has yet to register a victory this season, but the team has seen improvements in recent games.

A boost from the bench

While the Rattlers rank among the league’s lowest in points per game, the team has produced two-straight season high performances of 74 points. Saskatchewan’s bench outscored Niagara in the its most recent game, 30-8, and this secondary scoring will be crucial for the Rattlers if they hope to earn some wins down the stretch.

Kemy Osse returned to the lineup last game for the first time since opening night, and the six-foot-one guard contributed 10 points as part of Saskatchewan’s second unit.

“It was good having Kemy back, the more he gets into game shape, the more dangerous he’s going to be,” said head coach Conor Dow.

Nervens Demosthene also had a strong showing off the bench Tuesday night in Niagara, registering 14 points on 83 per cent shooting. Dow has been juggling his lineup since he took over as interim head coach on July 9, in hopes of sparking the team’s offence. The Rattlers have shown promising stretches, but the team has lacked a consistent offensive effort throughout a full 40 minutes, and this has kept them still in search of their first victory on the season.

Defend the den

Eight games into the season and the Guelph Nighthawks have started to find their chemistry, winning two of their last four contests. A large factor in the team’s wins has been solid defensive play that has forced their opponents into offensive droughts. In last Friday’s game in Saskatchewan, the Nighthawks held the Rattlers to just 13 points in the third quarter. During Guelph’s win over Ottawa, the team used a stifling zone defence to overcome a three-point deficit heading into the Elam ending.

Because the Nighthawks are forcing teams into low-percentage shots, Guelph has also outrebounded its opponents in its two wins this season. Chad Brown has been instrumental on the offensive and defensive boards, grabbing an average of 10.6 rebounds per game. The six-foot-nine forward is one of the Nighthawks’ top scorers and has been dominant down low, helping Guelph outscore its opponents in the paint in both wins this season. The Nighthawks will need another strong two-way performance from Brown if they hope to seal their third win of the year.

Bandoo and Barber in the backcourt

Tonight’s matchup also features a battle in the backcourt between Guelph’s Cat Barber and Saskatchewan’s Devonte Bandoo. Both guards have been key contributors for their team this season and have led their squad’s offensive efforts.

Barber is among the CEBL’s leading scorers, averaging 20.3 points per game. While the former College Park Skyhawk has the capability to heat up at any moment, he has also contributed to the collective success by facilitating for his teammates. Barber ranks as one of the top playmakers in the CEBL averaging 4.6 assists per game, and registered a season high eight helpers in the Nighthawks’ most recent game on Monday night.

Bandoo has been a dependable scorer for his team this season, averaging 17.4 points per game. The former Baylor Bear has tallied double-digits in all of the team’s contests this year and has consistently been a bright spot for Saskatchewan, as the leading scorer in five of the team’s nine games. He has proven his ability to finish in the lane and from beyond the arc, and leads the CEBL with 28 three-pointers made this season.

This backcourt matchup may help decide the game tonight as both Barber and Bandoo are sure to play a major role in their team’s success.