2025-26 OCAA season has Begun

Canadore Panthers open their 2025-2026 OCAA Season

The Canadore Panthers opened their 2025–26 OCAA men’s basketball season at home on Saturday afternoon, falling 90–64 to the visiting Lambton Lions at the Education Centre Gym in North Bay.

After a competitive first quarter that saw Canadore trail just 25–23, the Lions began to take control before halftime, using a 22–12 second quarter run to build a double-digit lead. Lambton’s inside presence proved to be the difference, outscoring Canadore 64 28 in the paint and shooting an impressive 55.2% from the field overall.

Canadore’s offense struggled to find rhythm, connecting on 33.3% of its field goals and 21.6% from beyond the arc. Despite the loss, the Panthers saw strong contributions from Woodli Cime, who led all Canadore scorers with 16 points, including four three pointers. Sylas Corbiere added 14 points, while Baron Kabeya and Zuriel Mhlongo chipped in 7 points apiece. Defensively, Levi Coombs led the team with 4 assists and remained active on both ends of the floor while Kejon White provided energy off the bench, scoring 5 points and recording 4 assists and 1 steal in just nine minutes of action.

Lambton was led by Owen Newell, who posted 18 points on 8 of 10 shooting, and Javonte Griffith who added 13 points and 6 rebounds. The Lions also moved the ball effectively, dishing out 27 assists on their 37 field goals. Canadore’s bench outscored Lambton’s 48–33, showing depth and potential as the season progresses. However, turnovers and shooting consistency proved costly as the Panthers were held to single digits in the third quarter.

The Panthers (0–1) will look to bounce back next weekend when they travel to face Fanshawe College in OCAA action.