A crowd of 2,020 packed the Verdun Auditorium for what promised to be a compelling CEBL clash, and the opening quarter delivered exactly that. The two sides traded baskets in a breathless opening ten minutes, with Brampton's Landers Nolley II and Sean East II combining to threaten early. The Honey Badgers — propelled by East II's playmaking — briefly moved ahead by two before Ant Nelson's layup at the buzzer levelled matters at 26 apiece.
The second quarter was where the game's narrative was written. Alliance's offence, orchestrated by Freeman-Liberty and fed consistently by Guillaume Boucard's interior presence, overwhelmed a Brampton defence that had looked organised in the first. Quincy Guerrier scored from deep, Davion Warren converted in transition, and the home side assembled a 30–18 quarter to lead 56–44 at the break. East II's ten assists kept Brampton from collapsing completely, but the Honey Badgers left the court at halftime clearly second best.
Brampton attempted a response early in the third. Cameron Tyson hit back-to-back three-pointers and East II continued to find teammates in space, trimming the deficit to nine at one point. But each time Brampton threatened, Alliance answered. Freeman-Liberty — operating at will on the perimeter and at the rim — scored 12 points in the third quarter alone, and Guillaume Boucard registered a crucial block to snuff out any late charge. The quarter closed 79–64, with Alliance's grip now firm.
The fourth quarter became a showcase. Freeman-Liberty orchestrated the Alliance offence with precision, while Guerrier — finishing with 16 points — and Ant Nelson added relentless energy. The lead stretched to 26 at 92–66 as Brampton's resistance broke down. Keon Ambrose-Hylton's 11 rebounds gave his side second opportunities they could rarely capitalise on, and although East II refused to concede, putting up 28 points and 10 assists in a personal tour de force, the outcome had long been decided.
A 13-point final margin understates Alliance's night. The home side were dominant from the second quarter forward, their offence fluid and their defence disruptive. For Brampton, East II and Nolley II showed quality, but with Tyson's 14 and Moncrieffe's 12 providing their only consistent secondary support, the Honey Badgers lacked the depth to sustain a response. Verdun delivered a result, and a performance, worthy of the occasion.
STATS - Final Score: Montréal Alliance 105 — Brampton Honey Badgers 92
- Points by Quarter: Alliance 26 / 30 / 23 / 26 — Brampton 26 / 18 / 20 / 28
- Top Scorers (Alliance): Freeman-Liberty 34, Guerrier 16, Nelson 15, Warren 10, Hughes II 10
- Top Scorers (Brampton): East II 28, Nolley II 16, Tyson 14, Moncrieffe 12, Ambrose-Hylton 9
- Top Rebounds: Ambrose-Hylton (BRA) 11, Boucard (MTL) 9, Moncrieffe (BRA) 9, Freeman-Liberty (MTL) 8, Osawe (MTL) 6
- Top Assists: East II (BRA) 10, Freeman-Liberty (MTL) 8, Nelson (MTL) 5, Nolley II (BRA) 5, Boucard (MTL) 4
- Blocks: Boucard (MTL) 3, Moncrieffe (BRA) 2, Nelson (MTL) 1, Nolley II (BRA) 1
- Venue: Verdun Auditorium, Montréal | Attendance: 2,020
HIGHLIGHTS - Javon Freeman-Liberty produced a near-complete performance: 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists on a night when no Brampton defender could contain him consistently.
- Sean East II's 10 assists alongside 28 points made him the lone statistical standout for Brampton, but his effort was undermined by limited scoring support outside Nolley II and Tyson.
- Guillaume Boucard was the defensive engine Alliance needed: 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and a game-high 3 blocks anchored Montréal's interior.
- Brampton's second quarter — just 18 points — proved the turning point; after that, the Honey Badgers never pulled within single figures.
- Keon Ambrose-Hylton's 11 rebounds led all players, yet Brampton's inability to convert those second chances into points illustrated the gap in efficiency between the two teams.
Alliance's second-quarter explosion was not a fluke — it was the product of superior ball movement and a Freedom-Liberty able to function as creator, finisher, and floor spacer simultaneously. Brampton's defensive structure, which held in the first quarter, could not adapt when Alliance widened the floor and attacked off screens. For the Honey Badgers, rebuilding confidence ahead of their next fixture will require a collective answer — because on this night, East II alone could not carry the weight.
