The Montréal Alliance's 2024 season opener ended in a 95-75 loss to the Vancouver Bandits Thursday night. Despite the result, there were a number of positives for Alliance fans.

Chris Smith stands out in the first game

Chris Smith was a true leader for the Alliance in this first game of the season, finishing with an impressive performance of 18 points and 9 rebounds. His energy and consistency on the court showed why he is a key acquisition for the Alliance this year.

Promising debut for Ismaël Diouf

Ismaël Diouf, the Alliance's first overall pick in the 2024 CEBL Draft, score his first points as a professional. In 15 minutes of play, he scored 6 points, grabbed 3 rebounds and handed out 1 assist. His six points are a record for an Alliance draft pick in their first professional game, promising a bright future for this young talent.

An imposing center

Shaquille Doorson, the Alliance's 7-foot center, also made his debut with the team. Doorson showed promising signs in the first half with solid defense and an imposing presence under the basket. As he finds his rhythm over the course of the season, he should have an even more significant impact, bringing much-needed stability to the Alliance defense.

Alain Louis takes the reins

Montréal native Alain Louis is now the starting point guard after two seasons coming off the bench. He has already proven his worth as the main playmaker, taking over following Blake Francis' injury last season. Louis is now firmly established as the Alliance's number one playmaker.

Game analysis

Despite some notable individual performances, the Alliance couldn't contain Koby McEwen and the Bandits. McEwen scored 22 points, with an impressive three-point  percentage of 62%. Ahmed Hill, the Alliance's leading scorer last season, was limited to 12 points.

In the first half, the Alliance struggled to contain the Bandits' three-point shots, who built up a 20-point half time lead. However, the Alliance showed character in the second half, reducing the gap to just six points early in the fourth quarter thanks to a revitalized defense.

Coach Ryan Thorne's optimistic outlook

Alliance interim head coach Ryan Thorne emphasized the positive aspects of his team's performance despite the loss. "That third quarter showed that we can be a good group capable of doing positive things," said Thorne. "We have to focus on that, because if we only focus on the negative aspects, we won't find out what it takes to be successful."

Coming up:

The Alliance won't have much time to digest this defeat, as they'll be back on the court on Saturday to take on the Saskatchewan Rattlers (1-0). This game represents another opportunity for the Alliance to show their resilience and continue to build on the positive aspects of their first game of the season.