SATURDAY SPORTS PAGE: BOMBERS ROUT TICATS

WINNIPEG – Zach Collaros was glad Blue Bombers fans were able to cheer just as much at the end of the game as they did early on in Winnipeg’s 42-31 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday.

Collaros threw for 189 yards and three touchdowns in the first quarter en route to a commanding 29-4 halftime lead, but the Blue Bombers had to hold off a late Hamilton surge in the first game of the season for both teams.

“That was a wild one, for sure,” Collaros said. “The viewers at home and the people in the stadium got their money’s worth.

“Our fans were probably a little nervous there at the end, but it was a great CFL game.”

Collaros finished 21-of-32 passing for 354 yards and the trio of touchdowns.

Winnipeg’s defence also contributed to a pivotal first quarter by forcing two turnovers for two TDs in front of 29,057 roaring fans at IG Field.

One turnover was an interception thrown by quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who was Hamilton’s big-name acquisition in off-season free agency.

The other was a fumble by running back James Butler, who was another major off-season signing for Hamilton.

Mitchell went 18-of-34 for 187 yards with two interceptions and one TD throw.

“I thought he had some good spots,” Hamilton head coach Orlondo Steinauer said. “I think there’s some throws he definitely would want back.”

“Is this the best that we’ve seen Bo play? No, but this is a team game and so that’s how we always focus on it. I think Bo can play better, but Bo isn’t the reason we lost tonight.”

NBA

The Denver Nuggets are a win away from an NBA championship. Denver downed the host Miami Heat 108-95 to take a three-to-one series lead in the final. Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets with 27 points while Jamal Murray of Kitchener, Ontario contributed 15 points and 12 assists to the victory. Game five is Monday in Denver.

CEBL

For the second time in as many games, a Jelani Watson-Gayle free throw on the road in Target Score Time helped the Winnipeg Sea Bears (4-1) hold off a surging rival, as Winnipeg squeaked out a 96-93 victory over the Saskatchewan Rattlers (2-2) at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon Friday night.

Stef Smith’s 14 points in the fourth quarter fueled the Calgary Surge to an 86-79 bounceback win over the Ottawa BlackJacks on Friday night (June 9) at WinSport Event Centre.

CANADIAN OPEN

Corey Conners is one shot off the lead heading into the Canadian Open’s third round at Oakdale Golf and Country club in Toronto. The golfer from Listowel, Ontario, is in a four-way tie for second behind Carl Yuan of China atop the leaderboard at nine-under-par.

NHL

The Stanley Cup final is looking more like a competitive series after the Florida Panthers rallied to win game three in overtime and cut the Vegas Golden Knights’ lead to two games to one. Vegas outscored the Panthers 12-4 over the first two games. The Knights look to re-establish that dominance in today’s game four in Sunrise, Florida.

MLB

Michael A. Taylor homered and drove in all three Minnesota Twins runs in a 3-2, 10-inning victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. The host Jays stranded a dozen runners on base in the game. The two teams meet again this afternoon for the second of a three-game set at Rogers Centre.

(Canadian Press)