Scarboro Shooting Stars lost 84-86 to Niagara River in a CEBL match on 6 August 2026. The home side had won their previous meeting between the two sides 82-75 on 24 July. The result ended a run of three straight victories for Scarboro and extended Niagara's struggles in the table.
Scarboro led the field in total field goals at 72 to 74, but Niagara's 10 steals to 3 gave them an edge in transition. The hosts dominated the boards with 44 rebounds against 33, yet could not convert that advantage into a win. Niagara shot 10 three-pointers compared to Scarboro's 8, and their free-throw accuracy proved decisive in the closing moments.
To be fair, Scarboro had looked solid in recent weeks, beating Brampton Honey Badgers twice and Montreal Alliance before that. But Niagara had also shown resilience, dropping close games against Ottawa Blackjacks and Saskatoon Roughriders. The visitors dug in defensively when it mattered, limiting Scarboro's second-chance opportunities despite the rebound disparity.
The table tells a story of two sides on different trajectories. Scarboro sit top with 15 wins from 19 games, while Niagara are fourth with 9 wins from 20. This result means the gap between them narrows slightly in the standings, though Scarboro still hold a comfortable lead. Niagara will need to find consistency if they want to close the gap further.
By then, the coaching staff at Scarboro will have to decide whether to keep faith with the current rotation. The home side had nothing to do all evening in the final quarter, but Niagara refused to let the game go. A fourth straight win for the visitors would have changed the mood around the league, but for now the leaders remain on top.