Rattlers kick off title defense with statement win over Niagra in St. Catherines

The defending Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Champions kicked off the season with a win.

The Saskatchewan Rattlers kicked off its season against the Niagra River Lions Sunday, a 96-79 win in the CEBL’s Summer Series.

Rattlers guard Negus Webster-Chan led the way for the Rattlers with 20 points and four rebounds.

Guard Kemy Osse also stood out, leading the Rattlers with 9 rebounds, 5 assists and registering 17 points in the win.

Kemy Osse with the KO. Icing the game for your Saskatchewan Rattlers. #FearTheFang x #OurGame pic.twitter.com/82AcLEWc9p

— Saskatchewan Rattlers (@SASK_Rattlers) July 26, 2020

The CEBL’s Summer Series includes the league’s seven teams, convening in St. Catherines, Ont. for a 26-game competition.

Each team will play each other once in the opening round-robin competition, with the top six teams then seeded into a bracket. The top two get a bye, while the remaining four battle in a one-game elimination-style, bracketed tournament.

It all comes down to Aug. 9, the CEBL Championship game.

The Rattlers will now get set to take on the Fraser Valley Bandits in a Tuesday night matchup.