For the second consecutive year, the Niagara River Lions reign supreme over the rest, reclaiming the coveted Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) championship for the second time in two years. Niagara edged out the Calgary Surge in a 79-73 war, capped off by two free throws by the Lion King, Khalil Ahmad.
After what seemed to be a disappointing regular season, the defending CEBL champions came into the playoffs with a chip on their shoulders. Finishing the season on a five-game losing streak, many were quick to write off Niagara as a fraudulent team with little hope of going back-to-back. Head Coach and General Manager Victor Raso mentioned how different it was coming from a championship season and the challenges of trying to repeat.
“It’s not gonna be like the first time,” said Raso. “It’s gonna be hard, there’s gonna be ups and downs. You’re gonna have to find a new ‘why,’ you have to shed last year.”
Entering the playoffs with a 14-10 record, many believed a new champion was going to be crowned in Winnipeg, with the Vancouver Bandits and Calgary Surge entering the post-season as favourites. Right from the tip-off of the final game, Niagara came out with an intense poise that only champions possess.
For Niagara, this title was more earned than the previous year. After losing key depth players like the 2024 CEBL sixth man of the year Aaryn Rai, Omari Moore and fan favourite “Juggy” Jahvon Blair ahead of the season, Coach Raso was forced to put new players into the lineup. Newcomers like Guillaume Boucard, Eddie Ekiyor and Ron Curry played their roles perfectly, providing a combination of shooting, energy and defensive versatility that fit the gritty Niagara style of basketball.
To some players, this meant more than just lifting a trophy. Ahmed Hill, the CEBL’s all-time leading scorer, had been chasing the coveted title for four years to that point, always falling short. It wasn’t until joining the River Lions that Hill truly felt the feeling of winning. Hill said in his post-game interview how thankful he was to finally win a title.
“It’s amazing. I’ve always been a player to, you know, want to score and get all the accolades, but this was one thing I’ve always missed,” said Hill. “I never won a championship […] It’s just a dream come true.”
Hill dropped 16 points to go along with six rebounds and two assists, delivering instant impact coming off the bench. Now with a CEBL championship under his belt, he has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players in league history.
Sharing the court with Hill would be somebody who was no stranger to winning. Coming off two straight league titles, Elijah Lufile still had something to prove through the 2025 campaign. Entering the season “out of shape,” the Niagara big man would come into the playoffs on a mission. Clutch play after clutch play, Lufile played his best brand of basketball when it mattered most. Growing up in a family full of athletes, three of his brothers would play professional basketball, including his brother Meshack, who the Lions would sign towards the tail end of the season.
After losing their mother just a few years back, the championship-winning moment became even more special as the brothers were able to win a title together in a heartfelt moment.
“Having my brother on the same team as me, that’s something we can tell our kids… For my late mother, this would mean a lot to her,” said Elijah Lufile.
Lufile would tell reporters how Niagara’s culture got them over the mid-season hump and ultimately led them to the championship.
“We just stayed true to ourselves and our identity […] guys giving 110 per cent effort, and that’s what it is, trying hard. That’s one of the things Coach Raso emphasizes.”
There’s one story that stands out as one of the most legendary to unfold in front of the eyes of Canadian basketball fans. The aforementioned “Lion King” Khalil Ahmad has all but solidified his place as the best player in CEBL history after this title win. In a post-game interview after the CEBL final, Coach Raso would have nothing but good things to say about his star player.
“He is the greatest player to ever have played in this league,” said Raso.
Former league MVP, multiple-time clutch player of the year and defensive player of the year, Ahmad is only adding to his already stacked resume. With what seems like a target score winner every game, the River Lions guard proved to everyone why he earns so much praise from not only the media, but his team as well.
Ahmad would discuss how much this win meant for him and his team, coming off year when many didn’t believe in Niagara’s ability to win consecutively.
“There’s no words that you can put on this, the emotions that are going through our team right now, and I’m just proud of the guys,” said Ahmad. “We did an amazing job this season, we fought through so much adversity, and we deserved this win.”
Outside of the court, Ahmad has brought more than just entertaining basketball to the Niagara region. With a flashy, hard-nosed and take-no-prisoners style of play, the “Lion King” has fostered an expanding basketball culture around him. Bringing winning basketball to the city of St. Catharines only helps the game and the league grow to new heights. Many coaches around the league describe Niagara as the toughest environment to play in, partly due to the amazing atmosphere that has been created over the years.
Now with the franchise’s first two titles, the Lions look to stay atop the CEBL in the coming years. The men in black and green proved this year that you can never count them out, no matter how hard you try.