Saskatchewan Rattlers reflect on second-straight year missing CEBL playoffs

After 1 of nan champion starts successful franchise history, nan Saskatchewan Rattlers find themselves wondering what could person been.

Saskatchewan’s 2024 CEBL play has travel to a adjacent connected nan extracurricular of nan playoff image for nan 2nd consecutive year, finishing past successful nan Western Conference pinch a 6-14 grounds contempt winning 5 of their first 7 games of nan season.

The Rattlers saw their roster depleted midway done nan play pinch starters Jalen Harris, Grant Basile, Elijah Harkless, Maurice Calloo and later Bryson Williams each leaving for opportunities pinch different teams and leagues.

“The frustrating portion astir it for america I deliberation was that it each converged astatine 1 constituent successful time,” said Rattlers wide head and VP of hoops operations, Barry Rawlyk. “It was fundamentally successful 3 aliases 4 days we mislaid for illustration 80 per cent of our scoring.

“I astir apt didn’t do nan champion occupation that I perchance could aliases I needed to I conjecture successful bid for america to flooded that convergence of modulation successful our roster.”

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While nan Rattlers were capable to bring successful caller pieces for illustration 2023 CEBL MVP Teddy Allen, nan chemistry wasn’t location arsenic nan squad dropped 12 of their last 13 games of nan year.

“I deliberation that’s nan biggest point conscionable figuring retired really to triumph successful Elam,” said squad skipper Anthony Tsegakele. “Being up, being down, figuring retired really to get those other stops and other possessions that you request to triumph a shot game. I consciousness for illustration we conscionable didn’t really do a bully occupation astatine that.”

Despite nan deficiency of on-court success, nan Rattlers are reporting a near-40-per cent bump successful attendance successful 2024, pinch nan extremity of having complete 40,000 tickets sold adjacent season.

Rattlers president Lee Genier besides confirmed nan squad has been fielding calls from prospective section backstage entrepreneurs expressing liking successful perchance ain nan team, adding those conversations will proceed passim nan off-season.