Vancouver Bandits fought hard but fell to Calgary Surge in tight playoff battle

JEN FIELD/ GATG

In a disappointing and anticlimactic loss at the end of a dramatic game, the Vancouver Bandits 2025 season came to a close on August 17 while the Calgary Surge moved on to the Western Conference Finals.

Both teams entered the match up with impressive regular season records, though the moment they set foot on the court Saturday, the only thing that mattered was leaving everything on the line and moving on to the next round.

Vancouver brought their signature physicality into the game right away in the first quarter, and looked poised to take the lead towards the end of it. Calgary had something to say about that in the dying minute of the frame though, as they made quick work of a 7 point deficit.

By the second quarter, while the initial intensity and heat had worn off, the Bandits weren’t able to capitalize on all of their scoring opportunities. Instead, their defensive miscues combined with missed shots and rebound opportunities saw the Surge pull ahead by 12 points for a while.

Both teams started to foul more, causing the second quarter to drag on. In fact, fouls became the norm for the rest of the night, to the point where 5 players from both teams combined either came close to or did in fact foul themselves out of the game by the very end.

As the clock drained in the first half, one of Calgary’s players knocked Zach Copeland to the ground as he attempted a three-point shot in a move that would foreshadow the end of the game. Copeland was awarded 3 free throws and made 2 of them, bringing the Bandits 10 points away from the lead.

The Bandits, though, are known for making big statements in the third quarter and they certainly did not disappoint. Zach Copeland kicked things off for the home team in the back half with a three-point bucket followed by 2 successful free throws. The rest of the team quickly followed suit, battling their way back into the game as they often have when trailing going into the third.

While it was by no means a quiet crowd in the first half, Bandits fans erupted each time the team inched closer to tying and taking back the lead. 

With every basket and foul called, a chorus of cheers and boos rained down on the court from the packed bowl. After the game, Bandits captain and CEBL MVP 2025 nominee Mitch Creek talked a bit about how the fanbase rallied around his team.

“Tonight was beyond one of the most special basketball occasions…we came out and then all of a sudden this place woke up because we woke up...”

The sheer volume particularly blew Creek away.

“People are going crazy. It is shaking. You can’t hear. I’m trying to talk to a teammate this far away. Can’t say anything, can’t hear anything.”

Ultimately, quarter 4 was what made the game. Emotions were at an all time high on both sides as the Bandits and Surge traded baskets and blows. As the intensity began to grow again, so did the number of fouls being called yet again.

It came down to the wire by Target Score Time. The scores were once again even, with Vancouver only needing 9 more points and Calgary needing 10 to win. The initial moments saw both teams trade baskets, though it was starting to look like Vancouver could be moving on to face the Winnipeg Sea Bears in the Western Conference finals.

The momentum started to falter though as both sides made valiant efforts but struggled to get the ball in the net. As frustrations and anticipation of a win for either side grew, as did the number of foul calls. By this time, Vancouver was only 2 points away from the win, while Calgary was 3.

As is standard practice in many leagues, there were automatic reviews of every foul call that could result in potential game-winning free throws. 

As such, 4 consecutive fouls called in Target Score Time were looked at by an independent official video review. All 3 of the fouls drawn by Vancouver were overturned after review. The fourth came as a result of a foul call against Kyle Mangas while Calgary’s Gilyard II made a three-point attempt. Gilyard was awarded 3 free throws, each of which he netted easily.

As the ball sank through the net one last time, the Bandits incredible season was over. The atmosphere in the arena shifted as the reality of it all set in. Despite the disappointing end, Vancouver’s Captain still appreciated all that the fanbase has done for the franchise.

“This has been one of the most incredible atmospheres I’ve ever played in front of. We can’t thank the Bandits community, family, organisation, everyone enough. You’ve been incredible throughout the season…We couldn’t have given anymore, but you gave everything as well. We just want to say thank you.”

And with that, a monumental Bandits season comes to a somber end.