Month: January 2024

Riders Media - 31st January 2024
Mid-season Recap: Reviewing the Leicester Riders’ British Basketball League Championship season so far

After taking a break from Championship action for the British Basketball League Trophy in January, Leicester Riders return to League action on Saturday to take on the Surrey Scorchers on the road.

Here, we bring you back up to speed with the Championship season so far…

The State of Play

The Riders sit seventh in the standings with a 10-11 record, battling to get over .500 to set up the rest of their season. 

Having played the same number of games as the second-placed Caledonia Gladiators, they find themselves just three wins behind and are ready to make a run up the table. 

It’s a tightly packed midfield in this season’s British Basketball League Championship. Only three wins separate second and seventh, and six wins separate second from ninth, allowing for movement up and down the table as the teams fight for playoff seeding. 

PositionTeamWinsLossesGames Back
1London Lions223–
2Caledonia Gladiators1387
3Cheshire Phoenix1287.5
4Newcastle Eagles1198.5
5Sheffield Sharks11109
6Bristol Flyers11119.5
7Leicester Riders101110
8Surrey Scorchers71413
9Manchester Giants71614
10Plymouth City Patriots31716.5

The Riders, in good form in the League of late, will look to benefit from that movement. 

Last time out 

The Riders went 4-1 to close out the year, heating up going into their Trophy run. They scored over 80 points in each of those games and finished 2023 with a dominant win against the Sheffield Sharks. 

It was a 103-75 victory, led by Teddy Allen and Miryne Thomas, who scored 25 and 22 points, respectively. The Riders had four double-digit scorers, Jaren Holmes having the biggest positive effect on the team, leading the game with a +/- of 32. 

Leicester exploded from three, shooting 51.9% from behind the arc, and held the Sharks to 28% deep shooting on the other end. 

The three-point accuracy has been a trend for the Riders all season long. 

The numbers 

In all phases of the game, the Riders are among the elite in the British Basketball League with their shooting efficiency. 

They lead all teams in three-point percentage (38.9%), and are second in field goal percentage (46.9%) and free-throw percentage (77.1%). This has led to 88.9 points per game, which is third in the League. 

After a solid Trophy campaign defensively, where the Riders ranked second in defensive rating, they will look to lock into that side of the ball as the Championship resumes. 

They’ve struggled in that department so far, giving up the second most points per game with 87 a night, but the additions of Duke Shelton and Teddy Allen have helped in that regard, allowing the Riders to defend the rim and pull down defensive boards more effectively. 

Should they maintain their offensive efficiency while showing more resistance on the other end as they did throughout January, Leicester will put themselves in good stead in the later months of the season. 

Want to see the Riders in action?

Get tickets to our next home game against Plymouth City Patriots!
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Riders Media - 27th January 2024
Final Four Report: Riders bow out of Trophy to Phoenix

The Riders fell short of a dramatic comeback in the British Basketball League Trophy Final Four, losing 92-91 to the Cheshire Phoenix. 

Leicester were down 12 with 2:55 left, but led the game with 20 seconds on the clock after a spirited comeback. But the Phoenix had the final say, as Rideau finished a layup through contact to win it.

Miryne Thomas had a shot to win the game, but missed a tough running triple on the buzzer. 

Star guard Teddy Allen led the team with 20 points scoring five quick points to trigger the comeback. He was backed by 13 from Mackenzie and Thomas.

Cheshire’s physical wing Aaryn Rai led the game with a monster 27-point, 11-rebound double-double. Stretch big Skyler White went off for 23, hitting six threes in key moments throughout for Cheshire. 

Leicester’s veterans settled the nerves to start the game, as Mackenzie and Mo Walker put up the first seven points of the game. Jaren Holmes followed up with an and-one finish in transition, making it a 10-5 Riders start. 

Walker had a dominant start on the boards. He grabbed 3 offensive rebounds in the opening five minutes, the third making it 16-9 as he finished for two. 

The Phoenix hit back by driving to the hoop for back-to-back and-one plays. Rai had to second of the plays cut it to 16-13. 

The first closed at a slower scoring pace, but the Riders had the stronger of it and finished the quarter up 22-18. 

The Phoenix tied it up at 24 to start the second, with Maceo Jack running the break and finishing in close. Rideau drove to the hoop next time up the court, and took contact from Leicester’s Conner Washington for another score, plus the foul, to force a Riders timeout. 

Leicester locked in on defence to stem the tide and keep in touch with their opponents. They held the Phoenix to three points in two minutes, keeping them from the hoop with effective perimeter defence. 

All of the Riders’ second-quarter points came at the hoop. With their deep shots not falling, they stayed aggressive on both ends. 

But Cheshire ended the half with a 10-0 run, led by five from Rai, and the teams finished the half with the score 46-34 to the Phoenix. Rai led all scorers at the break with 13 points. 

Back-to-back White threes started the second half for the Phoenix, putting them up 18. The Riders started off 0-2 from deep, bringing them to 1-10 from three on the game. 

Thomas came up with a monster highlight, throwing down a putback jam off a Mackenzie missed layup. 

Walker connected to take the lid off the rim as the Riders attempted to claw back into the game. Holmes followed up with two scores to bring it to a 12 point difference. But the Riders efforts had a dent put in them with a Maceo Jack triple for Cheshire. 

Allen hit back with his first three of the game, and heated up with an and-one play, fading away from Cam Holden through contact. But Rai hit shots to keep the Riders at arm’s length, keeping his team up double digits. 

Allen scored seven in the third, but Rai came up with 9 points for the Phoenix. He blocked TJ Lall’s attempted three to end the third, Cheshire up 69-57. 

The Riders battled to start the fourth, Duke Shelton cutting it to 10 with a layup over Rai. Thomas quickly made it a single-digit affair on the next play with a score in the post. 

Allen drained a tough stepback three, then ran the break with Shelton with 5:41 remaining to bring the score to 79-73. Duke sent back Rai’s attempt in close to keep it to six with 4:52 left. 

White responded with a miracle three, pulling up from the corner with Shelton draped over him to snatch momentum back. White kept connecting from behind the arc, and the Phoenix stretched the lead back to 12 with 2:55 left. 

Thomas responded with back-to-back buckets to make it 82-89, before Mackenzie took a charge and drained a three to peg the Phoenix back. Holmes followed with a three, making it a one point affair. 

White got to the foul line with less than a minute left to put the Phoenix up two. The Riders fell back on their captain in the clutch, as Mackenzie came up with a monster and-one play with 20 seconds remaining to put Leicester up one. 

But Rideau had the final say, driving to the rim for an and-one of his own to snatch the lead back. Thomas missed a running three on the buzzer, ending the game. 
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Riders Media - 26th January 2024
Trophy preview: Riders vs Phoenix

Saturday evening sees the Riders attempting to claim their most important win of the season as they take on the Cheshire Phoenix in the British Basketball League Trophy semi-final.

Rob Paternostro’s young squad will take the trip to Birmingham to face the Group A winners under the lights of the Utilita Arena.

Fixture Information

Leicester Riders vs Cheshire Phoenix

Utilita Arena, Birmingham

Saturday, January 27, 6:00pm

Get tickets!

Riders’ Road to the Semis

The Riders’ journey to the final weekend of the Trophy initially looked tough, placed in Group B with the London Lions, Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles, Bristol Flyers, and Manchester Giants – all of whom have scored wins over Leicester this season.

However, with a renewed focus on defence and the seamless introduction of mid-season signings, the Riders finished the group stage with a 3-1 record to finish second behind the Lions.

The Trophy season began on January 5 with the visit of the Flyers to the Morningside Arena, confident after defeating Leicester on their home court in the Championship just a week prior.

The Riders learned from the previous contest that limiting big man Brad Greene’s effectiveness on the offensive glass was key to victory, and so they did, outboarding the visitors 45-36, led by a physical showing from Samuel Idowu, who bagged 14 rebounds.

The second-unit power forward backed up his glass-eating with 15 points for a maiden double-double, only bested by a spectacular 30-point night from Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen.

The CEBL MVP showed against the Flyers that he isn’t just a dominant scorer – he can dish an assist, use his 6’6” frame to grab rebounds and make life tough in perimeter defence.

The Riders hit the ground running with a 21-point win, and despite losing 89-74 to the London juggernaut, carried moment into a Wednesday-night tilt against the exciting Manchester Giants.

Paternostro knew that a win would put pressure on both the Flyers and the Eagles playing later that week, and with the Giants’ leaky defence and lack of Jamell Anderson, the Riders’ coach sent his team onto the floor to score early and often.

The players responded, buoying the home crowd with 59 first-half points and a double-digit lead going into halftime. The Giants threatened a comeback in the third quarter behind Nick Lewis’ 17, but it proved to be a false dawn after a 29-point fourth quarter from the Riders saw them to a 104-88 win.

The team win treated fans to several excellent performances, but the pairing of Miryne Thomas and TJ Lall stood out from the crowd.

Athletic big Thomas hit a near triple-double, rattling the rim for 16 points, collecting nine boards and even laying on eight assists for his team.

Lall also stuffed the stat sheets in 19 minutes from the bench, blocking shots on defence as well as bagging 19 points at the other end in an efficient display.

Sitting at 2-1 and in prime position to make the ‘Finals Weekend’, the Riders faced a must-win battle in Newcastle’s Vertu Motors Arena. 

Facing the prospect of crashing out of the Trophy with a loss, Paternostro galvanised his squad throughout the night which inspired them to put on a fantastic showing.

After a back-and-forth game of scoring runs, the Riders rose over the typically raucous Newcastle atmosphere to earn a 101-85 win, led by ‘Team of the Week’ point guard, Kimbal Mackenzie (22 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists).

Phoenix’s Road to the Semis

After a surprisingly bright first half of the season, Cheshire entered Group A of the League Trophy as favourites to progress through.

The unexpected pressure didn’t appear to tell on Ben Thomas’ squad though, as they remained unbeaten through group play and came top with a perfect record.

The trickiest game of Cheshire’s Trophy campaign came in Round One with a long trip north to face the in-form Caledonia Gladiators.

The two teams often play each other tight, and January 5 was no different, with the scores level on points after four quarters and overtime needed to decide the winner.

 With a 100-97 lead in the final minute, Cheshire missed a couple of free throws to give the home side a chance to tie the game at the overtime buzzer.

Luckily for the Phoenix, Clifton Moore Jr’s three-pointer missed the mark and Cheshire could ride the wave of a late win into the upcoming rounds.

As he has been throughout January, free-scoring forward Cam Christon made the difference for the Phoenix, bringing 18-points off the bench on an 80% shooting day.

The next two games were a pair of one-sided affairs which showcased the scoring potential of Cheshire’s offense.

First, Christon, Ethan Chargois and Maceo Jack all scored 20-plus points in a 102-74 victory over the Plymouth City Patriots, soon to be followed up with a 105-63 demolition of the Surrey Scorchers, where floor general Laquincy Rideau fed his team with ten dishes.

With qualification all but guaranteed, the Phoenix rotated the squad heavily in their final group game against the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, but despite being down heading into the fourth, role-player EJ Stephens led a comeback to give Cheshire a healthy 78-70 win.

Key Matchups

The Utilita Arena court will be awash with talent this weekend, as two of the league’s best offences face off.

The team that advances to the Trophy Final will be the one that can orchestrate their potent attack most effectively, making the point guard battle between Kimbal Mackenzie and Laquincy Rideau the key matchup.

6’1” Florida-native Rideau has been a huge part of Cheshire’s rise in the Championship this season and has continued that form into the Trophy competition.

Known as a dynamic defender, Rideau is displaying his fast hands and timing by averaging over three steals per game, good for second in the league.

The 27-year-old – who has seen his professional career take him to Luxembourg and Ecuador – also has an eye for a pass, feeding out six assists per game including a ten-assist performance against the Scorchers.

 Attempting to unlock Rideau’s defence will be in-form Riders’ captain Kimbal Mackenzie.

Leicester’s leader has displayed excellent form during January, saving his best for the crucial victory over the Eagles.

The experienced Canadian is a big game player and Riders fans are accustomed to seeing him come through in the clutch with a dagger bucket.

If the Phoenix threaten to go on a run or the game is tight in the final few minutes, expect to see Mackenzie’s famous stop-and-pop jumper swishing the net.

The all-action point guard is averaging nearly 13 points per game and is +41 in plus/minus in the Trophy.

For the Riders to advance to the tournament final, Mackenzie may need to go over and above the already significant impact he is having on each game.
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Riders Media - 25th January 2024
Trophy by Numbers: Breaking down the stats for the Riders Final Four clash

Leicester Riders are set to take on the Cheshire Phoenix in the British Basketball League Trophy Final Four on Saturday.

Here, we take a look at the numbers behind the matchup…

Locking off the paint

The Riders have invested in the defensive side of the ball, making the paint their own over the Trophy campaign. 

They lead the competition in blocks, sending away 6.3 shots per game, with four Riders averaging at least a block per outing. They’re led by Canadian forward TJ Lall, who has denied opponents on six different occasions through the four group games. 

Riders captain, Kimbal Mackenzie, said his CEBL teammate over the summer has been an integral factor in the defensive effort:

“TJ is a high-level, all-around threat. He can score the ball to a great standard, he is an underrated passer, and his defence, length and athleticism are special. I’ve gone against him many times in practice, and he can be tough to shake.”

READ MORE: Kimbal Mackenzie previews the Final Four

This rim protection will be vital against the Phoenix, who lead the Trophy in points in the paint with 47 per game. 

Battle on the boards

No defensive possession is complete until the rebound is pulled down, and the Riders have been closing the possessions to a high standard in recent weeks. They pull down the second-most defensive boards in the Trophy with 30 per game, just 0.5 per game away from the highest-ranked London Lions. 

The battle on the boards will be key in this matchup. Cheshire crashes the offensive glass to grab the second most offensive rebounds in the competition with 13.5 per game. 

However, their leading offensive rebounder, Ethan Chargois, will be sidelined for the game after suffering a dislocated finger last time out against the Sheffield Sharks. 

For the Riders, Lall, again, has been a beast on the boards, grabbing 4.8 defensive rebounds per outing. But it’s big man Samuel Idowu who has rebounded at the highest rate in total, with 7.5 per game, including 2.8 on the offensive glass. 

Idowu, who has been recovering from a season-ending knee injury for the previous two seasons, is back to his bruising best. He feels back to 100% fitness and can play with full confidence and athleticism. 

“My body has been feeling good,” said Idowu. “It’s finally feeling normal after recovering from an injury for two seasons. I’m not overthinking any decisions on the court and playing how I used to play. 

“I feel 100% because I have confidence in my knee again. It doesn’t hold me back from doing what I want to be doing out there when jumping or running, as it did at the start of the season. I’m where I wanted to be when I started my rehab.”

READ MORE: Samuel Idowu previews the Final Four

Idowu has ranked second on the team in scoring during the Trophy group, scoring 13.8 points per game after his 17-point explosion against the Newcastle Eagles to help send the Riders to the Final Four. 

Track meet in transition 

A key to the Phoenix’s success this season has been their ability to get out and run. They lead all teams in points off turnovers (24.75 per game) and fastbreak points (23.5 per game) and take the ball from the other team at the highest rate (21.11 turnover %), leading to the breakaway buckets. 

American guard Laquincy Rideau has been a key factor in this, leading the team in steals, and ranking third among all players in that statistical category.

The Riders will have to play clean basketball, which they have done throughout January, turning the ball over the second-least with 11.75 turnovers per game. 

Head Coach Rob Paternostro emphasised the importance of winning in transition:

“We can’t allow easy baskets. We have to take away easy runouts and layups, offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities. We have to make it tough for them to get good looks. 

“In these types of games, it’s important to limit offensive opportunities, and if you do that, you put yourself in a good position to win.

“They’re really good in the open floor- they’ve scored the most in transition of any team season. They’ve done a good job of getting second-chance opportunities. That’s going to be vital to stop. 

“When we’ve been able to limit those against anyone, we’ve been successful this year.”

READ MORE: Rob Paternostro previews the Final Four

Want to see the Riders go for gold this weekend? You can join the Sea of Red and get behind the team! 

Get tickets here!
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Riders Media - 24th January 2024
Sam Idowu looks ahead to the British Basketball League Trophy Final Four

Few have stepped up like Samuel Idowu for the Riders on their British Basketball League Trophy run. 

The big man has averaged 13.8 points per game to help the team to the Final Four, the second most on the team, and exploded for 12 points in the first quarter against the Newcastle Eagles to steady the nerves after an 0-7 start for Leicester. 

Want to see Sam represent the Riders in the British Basketball League All-Star game?

Vote here!

Idowu has battled back from injury for the last two seasons to get to where he is today, and he’s relishing the challenge. 

“The Trophy is something to really compete for,” he said. “It ups the stakes, mentally and physically, and it’s something I’ve been taking seriously. We have a chance to win with the team that we’ve been building, so we’ve all been locked in.

“My body has been feeling good. It’s finally feeling normal after recovering from an injury for two seasons. I’m not overthinking any decisions on the court and playing how I used to play. 

“I feel 100% because I have confidence in my knee again. It doesn’t hold me back from doing what I want to be doing out there when jumping or running, as it did at the start of the season. I’m where I wanted to be when I started my rehab.”

READ MORE: Sam Idowu reflects on battling back from injury

Leicester locked in

The Riders have upped their level for the Trophy and went 3-1 through the group phase. Their loss was to the League-leading London Lions, and their three wins came in dominant fashion. 

“Our mindset was to win every group game. We didn’t play well in London- we didn’t shoot it well and turned the ball over too much- but for the other games, we handled business. 

“I’m proud of the statement we made. We tried to jump out the gate early, and we did a good job of grabbing those wins to get through to the Final Four.”

In front of a raucous home crowd in a win-or-go-home environment, it was important to start quickly in Newcastle and keep the crowd out of the game. Former Eagle Duke Shelton said as much beforehand in his preview of the fixture:

“Everybody is going to be up for the game, and we know it’s going to be rowdy in there. The key is to set the tone early, throwing the first punch and take it from there.”- Duke Shelton before the Riders faced the Newcastle Eagles.

But the Riders failed to do so, and the Eagles game flew out the blocks and forced them to dig themselves out of a hole. 

Leicester showed poise and composure, fought back and won in commanding fashion. Idowu thought it said a lot about the team’s strong mentality.

“Being down early against Newcastle showed growth for us. Coach called a timeout, and we knew it would be a game of runs- it always is against them. We just had to stay poised and play our game for the full 40 minutes. 

“Just because we went down in the first two minutes didn’t mean we needed to panic. We weren’t down on ourselves. At that point, the confidence throughout the team was there to come back and compete.”

Defence wins championships

After a difficult start to the season, the Riders have hit their stride at the right time as they go for silverware. Idowu discussed the secret to Leicester’s recent success. 

“We’ve cleaned up smaller mistakes that plagued us at the start of the season and paid attention to detail. We’re also able to adjust at halftime when we need to fix something. We take pride in our ability to do that going into the second half.

“We’re taking defence personally. That’s from practice to in the games. We’re prideful in our efforts to get stops, so we’re happy to see it translate to the games. If we stay competitive, we’ll get results.

“Our rebounding especially has improved throughout the year, and we know how much that can control the game.”

Chemistry with new teammates

The Riders have seen an improvement in their performances since the addition of star guard Teddy Allen and Idowu’s frontcourt teammate Shelton, who have complimented Idowu’s game and seen him thrive. 

“Teddy and I have a great connection on the court, especially in the pick and roll, which has led to a lot of dunks for me. 

“He reads the floor really well and sees openings to get me the ball. He’s been great for us, and we’ve found a way to integrate him into our offence. The energy has definitely changed since he arrived.”

Shelton, in particular, is a player that Head Coach Rob Paternostro expects to benefit Idowu’s game. 

“Sam’s athleticism on the defensive end has been important,” said Paternostro. “He’s a great teammate, and he’s a guy that plays with a passion out there. 

“That can really lift the players around him. Now, playing with Duke, his versatility will be on display even more, because he’ll be able to step outside and hurt teams from inside and out.”

Idowu seconded his coach, adding how much they complement each other’s game and personalities.

“Duke is an immediate energy guy, and he has contributed in a big way. I don’t see anything negative about him being out there. He’s a great rebounder and really athletic. 

“I enjoy playing with him. We communicate really well together and match each other’s energy, and it comes naturally between us. I think that’s helped him adjust at the perfect time going into the Final Four.”

Ready for the big stage

Should the Riders progress on Saturday against the Cheshire Phoenix, it will be Idowu’s first major final as a professional. 

As a rookie, playing in the Netherlands for LWD Basket, he made the final of a domestic competition, but it was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This makes the potential of a final all the more exciting. 

“I’m looking forward to going to Birmingham. I’ve heard it’s a great city and a great atmosphere. I can’t wait.

“I’ve played in a couple of big arenas and in knockout games in the conference tournament at the end of college seasons. I’m looking forward to embracing an atmosphere like that again.”

Getting one back against Cheshire

But before then, the Riders have to beat a hot Cheshire team, who are one game behind second in the Championship standings and have beaten the Riders three times already this season.

Idowu laid out the keys to success. 

“The key for us is to keep doing what we’ve been doing. When we’ve played them we’ve had a different roster and played a different style of basketball, so we’re looking forward to facing them again. 

“I’m excited to see the intensity- ours is going to be through the roof knowing we’ve lost to them three times already. We definitely have a chip on our shoulders. We’ve been waiting for this, and we’re hungry for it. We’re not trying to lose them a fourth time when it matters most.”

The moment means everything to Idowu, who has fought to be out of the court in the first place. That’s not lost on him.

“I’ve been through so much in the past two years, so win or lose, I’m grateful for how far I’ve come. I thank god that I’m still able to play the game that I love professionally.

“For everything I’ve gone from recovering from injuries and watching from the sideline to potentially winning a trophy, which would be an incredible feeling.”

Want to see the Riders go for gold this weekend? You can join the Sea of Red and get behind the team! 

Get tickets here!
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Riders Media - 23rd January 2024
Rob Paternostro previews the British Basketball League Trophy Final Four

The Riders are set to take on the Final Four in the British Basketball League Trophy this weekend. 

For Head Coach Rob Paternostro, it will be his sixth trip to Birmingham at the Riders’ reins as he goes for his 18th piece of League silverware with the club. 

He reflected on his team’s journey through the competition so far, and previewed Leicester’s clash with the Phoenix on Saturday. 

Building momentum

To punch their ticket to Birmingham, the Riders faced off against their historic rivals, the Newcastle Eagles, in a win-or-go-home scenario. The Riders controlled the game on the road against the Eagles, coming out 101-85 victors.

The result saw the Riders through with a 3-1 record, winning both of their home games against the Manchester Giants and Bristol Flyers before getting it done in the North East. 

“We played some good basketball on both ends of the floor,” said Paternsotro, looking back at the team’s performances throughout the group phase. 

“We took care of our home games, which was very important, and we showed a real toughness to go on the road in a win-or-go-home game and win by such a big margin in Newcastle.

“We felt really good about our team going into the game. With the additions of Teddy and Duke, we feel like we’re in a great position. 

“We have confidence, we’ve been having great weeks in practice, and we can see the work we’ve been putting in on the court in games. It was an impressive win to be in control like that.”

The Riders made waves midseason with the acquisition of CEBL MVP Teddy Allen and experienced forward Duke Shelton to their roster. 

The midseason moves have had a significant impact on the team.

“Our rebounding has certainly picked up, and both of those guys have really helped in that regard. Teddy’s size and energy from the wing have helped us close possessions, and adding Duke means we feel like we have more options to play bigger if needed. 

“Looking at this roster, we have a lot of guys now that are locked in and alert.

“That has improved from the beginning of the season until now, and it’s vital when you come into any important game. We have to have a group that’s aware of what the team is doing defensively.”

Impact players

It’s no secret to anyone following the team that the impact of Allen on this Riders roster has been immeasurable. He led the Trophy in scoring throughout the group phase and has given the team confidence going onto the court with an elite scoring threat. 

Riders captain Kimbal Mackenzie attested to this: 

“Of course, the thing that stands out with Teddy is his ability to score, but above that has provided us with an extra layer of confidence and swagger. 

“He’s given our team the confidence to go on the road in a game like Newcastle, knowing we have him on our side. He’s a winner. It’s simple to say, but he cares about winning. You can tell throughout the week at practice- he always wants to play more, and he works hard on both ends.”

Paternostro seconded his skipper, speaking on what having another All-Star talent on the roster has added to the team:

“Before Teddy arrived, we were already beginning to put together some smart, intelligent play, but he’s given us an X-Factor that can do so much. 

“His scoring has been tremendous. It’s given the group confidence knowing they have a guy who can make plays like that. But he’s also helped us in a lot of ways that people haven’t talked about. 

“His physicality from the wing, his rebounding and his ability to find the ball are all things that we’ve been looking for before he arrived, and he’s been someone that can explode and take your team to another level.”

TJ’s Trophy Performances

Beyond Teddy, the Riders have difference-makers up and down the roster. A player that has particularly impressed since he landed in Leicester is Canadian forward TJ Lall. 

“TJ has been fantastic in this competition, and he’s been a really good player for us all year. He’s one of the most underrated players in the league. 

“He can impact the game in many ways on both ends of the floor, cover multiple positions defensively, and his athleticism is valuable, but offensively, he has shown an ability to score and shoot efficiently and to create as well. 

“We’ve been very happy to have him playing for us. He’s been vital. He’s a hard worker- he’s there early and late in practice- and he wants to be in big games. 

“Going forward, the sky is the limit for him. When you combine his skills with his willingness to guard anyone, you’re looking at a player who is going to have a bright career.”

Back to Birmingham

Paternostro returns to Birmingham for the sixth time as head coach. He played for the Birmingham Bullets in the British Basketball League for two stints between 2000 and 2004. It’s a city of great sentiment for him. 

“I love it there. It’s always been a great place to play. I’ve been in this country a long time and played so many memorable games there, coaching and playing.”

The all-new Trophy format sees the Final Four fight it out over the weekend, bringing the Riders to Birmingham with the reigning champions Caledonia Gladiators, as well as the Cheshire Phoenix and London Lions. 

“The exciting part about this weekend is that it’s four teams and four sets of fans coming to the Arena on Saturday. Having a lot of British Basketball League fans around the city is going to make a great environment for British basketball.”

Facing the Phoenix

The Riders will take on the Cheshire Phoenix on Saturday, who have already bested them three times this season. 

Paternostro said that keeping them in the halfcourt is a big key to success in this one. 

“We can’t allow easy baskets. We have to take away easy runouts and layups, offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities. We have to make it tough for them to get good looks. 

“In these types of games, it’s important to limit offensive opportunities, and if you do that, you put yourself in a good position to win.”

Cheshire are one of the stories of the season, sitting a win behind second in the British Basketball League Championship standings. They reached the final of the Trophy last season but fell on the buzzer to David Sloan’s corner three. 

The Riders will look to prevent them from making it back-to-back Finals appearances for the Phoenix.  

“They’re really good in the open floor- they’ve scored the most in transition of any team season. They’ve done a good job of getting second-chance opportunities. That’s going to be vital to stop. 

“When we’ve been able to limit those against anyone, we’ve been successful this year.”

These games, in these environments, are the types of matchups that the best players thrive in. Paternostro called out to his team to enjoy the occasion. 

“There’s a lot of good players in this game, so it should be a really good event for everyone involved. We’ve got to enjoy it. These are the games we play for, and you have to have a group that enjoys the challenge and is fired up to play well on the day.”

Want to be a part of the atmosphere, and join the Sea of Red in Birmingham? 

Get tickets here! 
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Riders Media - 22nd January 2024
Kimbal Mackenzie named to British Basketball League Team of the Week

Riders captain Kimbal Mackenzie has been named to the British Basketball League Team of the Week for the final round of Trophy group games.

In a win-or-go-home clash on the road against the Newcastle Eagles, Mackenzie went off for 22 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds to lead the team to a 101-85 win.

The victory saw the Riders through to the final four in Birmingham, where they will take on the Cheshire Phoenix.

Get tickets here!

“I let the game come to me, didn’t force anything and played within myself,” said Mackenzie.

“Shots were falling, my teammates got me good looks, and Newcastle sat back into a zone a lot which got some clean looks from three. It seemed like guys were making shots every time I passed the ball, so all credit to them.”
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Riders Media - 22nd January 2024
Kimbal Mackenzie previews the British Basketball League Trophy Final Four

Ahead of the Leicester Riders British Basketball League Trophy Final Four clash against Cheshire Phoenix on Saturday, captain Kimbal Mackenzie reflects on the campaign so far, and looks ahead to the matchup…

Thank you to everybody for your incredible support during our Trophy run so far. We’re all excited that we’ve been able to pay our fans back with another trip to Birmingham this season. 

I’m proud of the team for how we’ve played during the group phase, and that we’ve booked our ticket to the Final Four. 

Personally, I’m really looking forward to going back to Birmingham. I love that city, and I love that arena. It’s always a great atmosphere, and it’s cool to have a new format with the Final Four being played out over the weekend.

Hopefully, we can take care of business on Saturday and have the opportunity to play there again on Sunday in the Final.

We’re really looking forward to the opportunity to play Chesire again in the semi-finals. They have gotten the better of us so far this season, so we will really be looking to play well and get the win.

We’ve put together a good month of basketball so far, and most importantly, handled business at home during the group phase. Of course, we didn’t get the result we wanted in London, but they’re a tough team to play, and we knew that winning 3 games should be enough. 

Going on the road and beating Newcastle was a great response. It was a fun game, and those are the games you remember, win or lose. It’s always a good atmosphere there, so adding a win-or-go-home scenario to it created a playoff-esque environment.

It was great to get the win, and it was important to get a big game under our belts before heading to the Final Four.

The arrival of Teddy Allen has been a great boost for us over the last month. Of course, the thing that stands out with Teddy is his ability to score the ball, but he has also provided us with added depth and an overall confidence and swagger. 

There is no doubt that he is a winner. It’s simple to say, but he cares about winning. You can tell throughout the week at practice- he always wants to play more, and he works hard on both ends. He’s been great to have around. 

And beyond Teddy, we’ve had guys stepping up all the way down the roster. We’re definitely more locked into the game plan, and locked in on defence, and a special shout goes to  TJ Lall, who has been playing excellently over the last stretch.  

TJ is a high-level, all-around threat. He can score the ball to a great standard, he is an underrated passer, and his defence, length and athleticism are special. I’ve gone against him many times in practice, and he can be tough to shake. 

Another shout-out goes to Sam Idowu, who has also been playing excellently recently. He’s given us a spark off the bench which is so important, he’s been shooting it well and finishing around the net effectively. His activity level, blocking shots, rebounding, and overall energy have been amazing for us.

It’s also been great to add Duke to the roster! 

Duke has fit in seamlessly, and he’s a true professional. He came in and learned the sets quickly, and understands our concepts really well. 

His length and athleticism and his ability to finish above the rim have really benefited us on the court, and just having a great guy around who wants to win is always beneficial. It’s been great to have him and has been a brilliant addition to our team.

Having guys up and down the roster who are locked in and playing with confidence and energy has been great and it’s something we’re going to have to fall back on going into Birmingham. 

We’re hoping to be playing games in back-to-back days, and part of what has allowed us to have a good group stage is getting contributions from all over the place. 

And as usual, we’ll have to lock in on defence, rebound and take care of the ball. When we’ve done those things well, we’ve been on the right side of the scoreline this season. 

We’re hoping to do that twice this weekend and bring some silverware back to Leicester. We can’t wait to see that Sea of Red in Birmingham!

See you there! 

Your captain,

Kimbal Mackenzie

Want to join the Sea of Red and get behind the Riders in Birmingham?

Get your tickets here!
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Riders Media - 20th January 2024
3 things we learned from the Trophy Group Phase

The Riders punched their ticket to the British Basketball League Trophy Final Four, after beating the Newcastle Eagles in a win-or-go-home matchup.

The team has built momentum in recent weeks, putting in good performances in high-pressure matchups to progress out of Group B.

Here’s what we learned from the group phase…

The Riders are rolling

The Riders have hit a rich vein of form in the Trophy, winning by an average margin of 17.6 points on their way to a 3-1 record. 

Their loss came to the league-leading Lions on the road, but they bounced back emphatically with consecutive wins to progress to the final four. 

The Riders did so by making the most of every possession. They rank second in assists, second in scoring and third in field goal percentage through the Trophy phase, led by scoring savant Teddy Allen.

Allen leads all scorers in the Trophy through four games with a 21.5 average. His gravitational pull on offence has opened up the court for all of the Riders scorers, allowing them to click into gear as they go for silverware. 

The team are peaking at the right time, and will take confidence in their performances heading into Birmingham. 

Strength in depth

Leicester’s bench is what saw them to their momentous win against the Newcastle Eagles last night, mustering 37 points from the sideline. 

They have six scorers averaging double-digit points in the Trophy, but no one has impressed more of late than big man Samuel Idowu. 

Idowu led the charge out of the gate in Newcastle, going off for 12 first-quarter points and 17 on the game. He is the team’s second-leading scorer in the competition behind Allen, with an average of 13.8. 

“It was a real team effort. We have guys giving contributions all over the court,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro after the win against the Eagles. 

“We’re pretty deep now, we have guys in every position, and we’re locked in. We’re especially locked in on the defensive end, which has been a real positive for us recently.”

Defence wins championships

As has been the trend for Paternosto teams over the last decade, the Riders have hung their hat on their defence. 

They lead the Trophy in blocks, with 6.3 per game, led by TJ Lall’s 1.5 per outing, laying down a gauntlet at the rim and forcing teams to shoot over them from deep. 

Another strength of the team is closing defensive possessions. The Riders rank second in the Trophy in defensive rebounding with 30 a game, allowing their opposition little opportunity for second chance points. 

The Riders’ defence will need to remain locked in should they want to lift the silverware in Birmingham.

Want to join the Sea of Red, and get behind the Riders in Birmingham?

Find out how you can book your ticket here!
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Riders Media - 19th January 2024
Ticket information: Trophy Final and Semi-Final

Leicester Riders have progressed to the Final Four of the British Basketball League Trophy at the Utilita Arena, Birmingham.

You can get tickets in the Riders allocation to join the Sea of Red and get behind the team!

Click here for tickets!

Here’s all you need to know about our ticket offers…

Weekend and Saturday Tickets 

With this year’s British Basketball League Trophy Semi-Final and Final taking place on the same weekend at the Utilita Arena, Birmingham, you can choose to purchase tickets for the entire weekend or just for the semi-finals. 

Tickets for the full weekend are £48 for adults and £38 for children in Band A, and £39 for adults and £34 for children in Band B. 

Alternatively, you can purchase tickets for the semi-final only, at £41 for adults and £32 for children. 

Band A tickets are for seats in the lower tiers, and Band B is for seats in the upper tiers. 

Should the Riders fail to progress to the Final on Saturday, your ticket will still be valid to watch Sunday’s action with a weekend ticket.

Travel

We can arrange your travel from our Arena to the Utilita Arena, Birmingham, on both Saturday and Sunday. 

Travel is £30 per day, or £45 for both days. 

Timings will be confirmed upon booking.

How to collect your tickets

Tickets will be available for collection at the Arena on Tuesday and Wednesday between 6 and 9 pm. 

Please collect from the main reception, at the following address:

Morningside Arena
12 Memory Lane
Leicester
LE1 3UL

You can also choose to have your tickets posted to your home address for the price of £4. 

Sea of Red

We need your support in the Trophy Final Four! Help us to create a Sea of Red at the Utilita Arena Birmingham, by wearing red to the game! 

Click here to buy your Riders t-shirt!

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
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Riders Media - 19th January 2024
Riders beat Eagles to punch their ticket to the Trophy Final Four

The Riders deservedly reached the British Basketball League Trophy semi-finals tonight after a clinical 101-85 road victory over the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles.

Rob Paternostro utilised his squad’s depth perfectly, taking advantage of the depleted Eagles roster that is plagued with the injury bug.

Leicester’s bench contributed an impressive 40 points, led by big man Samuel Idowu who dropped 17 points in a display that perfectly demonstrates what he brings from the sideline.

Captain Kimbal Mackenzie also proved he can still be the main man under pressure, top-scoring with 22 points, pulling down six rebounds and dishing out eight assists.

TJ Lall and new man Duke Shelton also showed nice flashes, Lall hitting his customary near double-double going 14 and eight, with Shelton – a former Eagle – protecting the rim with some authoritative blocks.

Newcastle’s shortened rotation showed plenty of endeavour, the enigmatic Tajh Green mixing up trey-balls with rim-rattling dunks, and Larry Austin Jr displayed his rabid competitiveness on both ends of the court.

In the end, the Riders’ strength in depth was too much for the home side, and the win sees Leicester travelling to the Utilita Arena in Birmingham for the Trophy Finals Weekend.

As is often the case in the Vertu Motors cauldron, Newcastle hit the ground running, crashing out of the locker room to hit seven unanswered points in the first minute.

A Green triple kicked things off, followed by an Austin Jr layup and capped with a thunderous dunk from Newcastle’s power forward (11 first-half points).

A quick timeout was taken by Paternostro and his decision bore immediate fruit as Mackenzie pulled up for a three after causing Jordan Johnson to slip.

Both teams suddenly got hot, with every Eagles bucket being matched by the Riders.

Leicester’s captain got his second bucket with a nice layup, then Mo Walker found rare space beyond the arc to hit a triple of his own.

The net kept swishing as Teddy Allen, Miryne Thomas and Jaren Holmes all found the hot hand. Then Idowu stepped onto the court.

The second-unit star instantly made his presence felt, driving the Riders forward with aggression on both ends of the court.

The big man opened his account with a quick hit at the rim, bettering that finish with an ‘and one’ play before pulling up from three and showing his range. Idowu’s 12 first half points were a just reward for his impact from the bench.

The hot streak saw the Riders come back from the early deficit, and after taking their first lead of the game with a Thomas trey, pulled ahead of the home side.

Great defence and a lethal touch in transition saw the Riders hit 37 first quarter points and boasting a comfortable lead.

The second ten minutes told a slightly different story, as both teams locked down on defence, forcing multiple runs of missed shots.

The turnover bug also plagued the Riders, who ended the first half with ten giveaways to the Eagles’ four.

The quarter began with a much-needed Rickey McGill bucket, answered by ‘Buckets’ Allen after a nicely timed block from Lall.

Allen soon added to his total and – with Idowu and Shelton protecting the rim diligently – the lead remained a significant one.

However, galvanised by Green and Johnson, the Eagles started slowly crawling back into the game.

The lead eventually cut to single-figures and, despite Allen hitting picturesque floaters and making a one-handed offensive rebound to transition into a layup, the Eagles were back within six.

The crowd got to their feet after the 39-year-old Darius Defoe stole the ball and embarked upon a fast break that belied his years, but Lall immediately settled things down with an athletic ‘and one’ play.

The entertaining half wound down with the Riders in front, 55-49.

Leicester started the crucial second half in great fashion, showing quick hands on defence which was rewarded with a pull up and pop triple from Thomas.

The Eagles were displaying a fighting spirit, but after Green had to sit down for his third personal foul, a Mackenzie running triple saw Leicester breach 60 points.

The three was soon answered by Johnson though, and the tension in the building began to hang heavy.

One thing that remained consistent was the Riders’ protection at the rim, and during a prolonged period of missed shots and mistakes, solid defensive play in the paint kept the road team ahead.

Leicester’s front court defence was forcing Newcastle to take several ill-advised deep threes, and the lead stretched back out to 11 following a Mackenzie fast break layup and physical work on the offensive boards by Idowu.

The lead continued to advance after ice cold back-to-back threes from Idowu and Mackenzie, the latter hitting his 20th point of the night.

The quarter ended with the Riders in control but needing to keep their foot on the gas with the six-man Eagles rotation looking leggy.

Now, it was only ten minutes between the teams and a place in the semi-finals.

Yet again, the Riders shot into the quarter with a three, Lall pulling up from the top of the arc and stringing home a beautiful bucket.

Green ran the floor to dunk home a statement of defiance and to give the bumper home crowd something to shout about, but with the Riders slowing things down and sitting on a 19-point lead, the result appeared decided.

The game then started to reflect the spice seen in previous meetings between the two teams this season, and a period of heavy fouling resulted in Johnson having to take a seat.

The Riders’ rode their composure to the final whistle, capping off an excellent League Trophy group stage with a terrific performance on the road.

It remains unclear who the Riders will face in Birmingham, as the fate of Group A remains undecided.

Want to see the Riders in action?

Get tickets to our next home game against Plymouth City Patriots on Febuary 9!

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Riders Media - 18th January 2024
Trophy Preview: Riders at Eagles

The Riders will take the long, straight trip up the M1 this Friday as they take on the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles in a win-or-go-home clash in Group B of the British Basketball League Trophy.

With two wins in the bank, Rob Paternostro’s squad know that victory in the Vertu Motors Arena sends them through to the final four of the competition to face the winners of Group A.

Fixture Information

Leicester Riders @ Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles

Vertu Motors Arena, Newcastle

Friday, January 19, 7:45pm

Welcome to ‘Knockout’ Basketball

Leicester’s young squad face possibly the most pressurised night of the season on Friday, with the unenviable prospect of bowing out of the League Trophy lurking behind a loss.

However, much of this squad have faced games of this magnitude before. Kimbal Mackenzie, Conner Washington, Mo Walker and Blake Bowman have all suited up for the Riders multiple times in playoff basketball and in the latter stages of cup competitions, and first-year Riders’ Teddy Allen and TJ Lall have both experienced the pressure of the CEBL playoffs.

A much-improved defence has propelled Leicester into their second-place spot in Group B, a point against per game average of less than 84 proof that the squad is gelling nicely in 2024.

The tighter defence has come both on the front court – led by Miryne Thomas and Walker – and on the perimeter, with Allen proving his worth without the ball alongside his skills with it.

Those three have shown quick hands all through January, leading the Riders with over two steals per 40 minutes.

Double-digit home victories over the Bristol Flyers and Manchester Giants – where Leicester put up 104 – demonstrate that things are also clicking on the offensive side of the ball.

Teddy ‘Buckets’ has continued his devastating form, leading the league with 24 points per game, but it is the contributions of Lall and Samuel Idowu from the bench that have kept the Riders ahead in those games.

The second-unit pair are knocking down nearly 24 points a night between them, punctuated by Lall’s 19 points against Manchester and Idowu’s pair of double-doubles versus Bristol and the London Lions.

With Newcastle’s well-publicised injury troubles potentially acting as a hamper, expect coach Paternostro to utilise the full reach of his squad on Friday night to go into a crucial fourth quarter with the fresher team.

Coming Through in the Clutch

Like the Riders, the Eagles have won two games in a tough League Trophy Group B, although one of the victories was far from comfortable.

Leicester’s 104-88 defeat of the Manchester Giants last Wednesday laid down the gauntlet to the Flyers and the Eagles. Losing in Bristol could have meant the end of Newcastle’s campaign.

The contest was as tight as predictions expected, both teams trading blow-for-blow over the 40 minutes with both winning two quarters each.

Decorated veteran Darius Defoe had the final say, finding himself free after a scramble to drop in a two-pointer with 19 seconds remaining in the game. Defoe’s clutch bucket was reward for the depleted Eagles, who could only send six senior players onto the court.

Both teams have had at least a week to rest ahead of Friday’s clash, but it appears that Marc Steutel’s squad will still be without Josh Ward-Hibbert, Will Neighbour, Devin Whitfield and Scott Spencer.

As a result, many of the remaining Eagles have clocked heavy minutes in January, reflected by the four players who average over 15 points per game. Jordan Johnson, Larry Austin Jr., Tajh Green and Rickey McGill have done well to keep the team in winning form, and prove why Newcastle are a tough opponent, despite the injuries.

The battles between the Riders and Eagles have carried an added spice this season, with Leicester leading the series 2-1. Due to the high stakes – and the fact that new Rider Duke Shelton is returning to his former club – the Vertu Motors Arena will be bouncing come Friday night.

Newcastle will be hoping to shine under the bright lights.

Key Matchup

As intriguing as it is to see Shelton returning to his former club, the juiciest matchup in this game has got to be the battle of the scorers – Jordan Johnson and Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen.

Floor general Johnson has shown true leadership qualities in recent weeks for the Eagles. The former Caledonia Gladiators point guard is in top form, averaging 20 points per game in Group B.

Often required to be Newcastle’s primary scoring option, the 27-year-old can do it all, whether it’s draining shots from beyond the arc (42% from three) or driving into the lane before finessing home a tricky layup.

Johnson has played in the NBA G-League and across Europe (Netherlands, Kosovo and Germany), and his experience will tell during Friday’s biggest moments. 

Aiming to go bucket-for-bucket with Johnson will be the Riders’ mid-season magician, Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen.

The CEBL MVP has only suited up for Leicester seven times but has already made a sizeable impression with his scoring ability and fearlessness when taking big shots.

Allen began his time with the Riders with a 32-point exhibition of three-point shooting. His numbers from downtown have calmed somewhat during the League Trophy, but the 6’6” winger has shown versatility by sauntering into the post to drop a layup or earn a trip to the free throw line.

It is the charity stripe where the former Winnipeg Bear has really shone, hitting 22 free throws (the most in the league) at a clip of over 90%.

The battle between these two premium scorers is sure to be an exhilarating one. One thing is for sure – even if the game is low-scoring, Johnson and Allen are sure to get theirs.

Want to see the Riders in action?

Get tickets to our next home game against Plymouth City Patriots on Febuary 9!

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Riders Media - 17th January 2024
Riders vs Eagles: The season series so far

The Riders face off in a win-or-go-home matchup against the Newcastle Eagles on Friday, the victor progressing to the Final Four in the British Basketball League Trophy. 

The sides have shared centre stage in some of the biggest battles in British basketball history over the last decade and once again meet with the stakes at their highest.

READ MORE: Riders vs Eagles: The History

Every Riders-Eagles fixture has been a battle so far this year, the Riders winning the season series so far 2-1. 

Here’s how the teams have matched up…

Game 1- Newcastle Eagles 85-92 Leicester Riders 

The teams first went face-to-face this season in the North East, and the Riders game out winners in the clutch. 

It was a one-score game with 1:25 remaining, after Malcolm Delpeche got to the hoop and laid in a finish. 

From there, it was a Riders onslaught on the free throw line, kicked off by Jaren Holmes’ and-one in transition. Kimbal Mackenzie finished it off from the stripe, making both attempts to seal a hard-earned win. 

Miryne Thomas impressed throughout with his interior presence, going off for 17 points and 7 rebounds in a Player of the Game performance. He was backed by Mackenzie’s 16, as the captain went 8-10 from the free throw line. 

Game 2- Newcastle Eagles 95-90 Leicester Riders

The Eagles had a chance to get back later that month and won in a war. Heated exchanges lasted throughout, seeing Newcastle’s star forward Tajh Green ejected from the game, but a 31-point explosion from Rickey McGill saw them win in a game that was contested wire-to-wire once again. 

McGill went 6-10 from three, the Riders with no answer to his hot hand. 

It was a one-possession game within the final two minutes after Miryne Thomas threw down a slam to cut the game to three. But this time it was Newcastle who finished strong, McGill scoring six down the stretch to win it for the hosts. 

Thomas impressed again, putting up 22 point and 10 rebound double-double. But ultimately, Leicester were outgunned from deep, the Eagles shooting 54% from behind the arc and tying the season series at 1-1. 

Game 3- Leicester Riders 111-88 Newcastle Eagles

Back in their own building, the Riders made a statement with a commanding win at the Morningside Arena. 

Jaren Holmes went off for 28 points and 5 rebounds, going 4-5 from three in the win. The Riders were down 10 in the first quarter, but a dominant third saw them turn a close game at the half to a 20 point lead.

Vote for Jaren for the 2024 British Basketball League All-Star game!

Holmes scored 13 on the run, and the Riders won the period 36-19 to burst out to a dominant lead. 

Mackenzie put up another 16 in the game, matching up well against the Newcastle backcourt to go 5-8 from the field. It was Leicester’s turn to shoot the light out, led by Holmes, going 57% from three-point range. 

Game 4- Win or go home

We’re back in Newcastle for our fourth meeting, in the most significant meeting between the sides so far this season. 

Should the Riders secure their second win in Newcastle, they’ll have booked their place against the winner of Group A in the Utilita Arena, Birmingham. 

The Riders’ roster has been revamped since the last meeting, with new signings Teddy Allen and Duke Shelton looking to face the Eagles for the first time. 

Watch the clash live on Friday, on the British Basketball League’s YouTube channel! 

Want to see the Riders in action?

Get tickets to our next home fixture!
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Riders Media - 16th January 2024
“It’s definitely a rivalry”- Duke Shelton on facing his former team, the Newcastle Eagles

Duke Shelton, in his second outing in Riders red, is set to walk into his old building in a win-or-go-home game against his former club.

The American forward suited up for the Newcastle Eagles between 2021 and 2022, and is well accustomed to the historic rivalry these teams hold. Shelton knows all too well the environment that is waiting for the Riders in the North East. 

“It’s a highly anticipated game, and there’s been a bit of heat between the teams in the last couple of games,” said Shelton. “Everybody is going to be up for it, and we know it’s going to be rowdy in there.

“We’re two of the most winning teams in the country. It’s definitely a rivalry, and you feel that when you play in these games. There’s definitely more energy, focus, and will to win when these teams play.”

The American, born in Florida, signed last week, and impressed in limited minutes on his debut in the Riders’ 104-88 win. He appreciated the chance to take to the court and impact the game where he could. 

“I felt comfortable, and really at home. I didn’t play a whole lot because I had just arrived the day before, but overall, I think I gave good effort and energy, and it was a good team win.

“I’m trying to bring energy, rebounding, communication and running to the team, and I think I did that during my time out there.”

Having been with the team for just over a week, Shelton can already see the makings of a team ready to make a run in the Trophy. 

“We have all the potential in the world. We are a pretty balanced team in all positions, and we have good team chemistry, so we just need to keep rolling. The Giants game was a good win, so we need to pick up where we left off.”

The Eagles, too, are coming into this one after a confidence-building win. They went into Bristol to play the Flyers, and got it done in the clutch to set up this knockout-style matchup against the Riders.

It was Shelton’s former teammate Darius Defoe who hit the go-ahead bucket from the elbow with seconds on the clock, and he thinks the veteran forward will have a say in the proceedings on Friday. 

“Darius is huge for them. You saw that last time out in the clutch- that was his signature shot. 

“He’s got a lot of experience, so everything he does is second nature. It’s huge to have a guy on the floor with you like that, especially on the defensive end. He can get guys in their spots and communicate- he’s the quarterback. He’ll play a huge role in the game.”

But despite the presence of the most decorated player in league history lining up against the Riders, they enter the game with confidence, having already gone into Newcastle and coming away with a win earlier in the year. 

“We match up pretty well against them, so we’ve got to come out and play team basketball. The atmosphere is going to be great, we know that, so we have to stick together and not get sidetracked by anything that’s not basketball. We can’t focus on anything that’s outside of sidelines.”

To fight for silverware so soon after signing is an exciting prospect for Shelton. With his new team, he’s ready to go to battle and help bring the Trophy to the East Midlands. 

“It would mean everything to win the Trophy. It’s what basketball is all about, and what every player is dreaming of. To have the opportunity, and be a part of a team that has to potential to win it is a great feeling, and we’d love to bring that to reality for the fans.”

Want to see Shelton in action?

Get tickets to our next home game against Plymouth City Patriots on Febuary 9!
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Riders Media - 13th January 2024
Report: Riders fall short of a comeback against Rebels

The Riders fell out of the Women’s British Basketball League Trophy, losing to the Essex Rebels 84-70 on the road. 

Leicester fell into a 17-point hole early after a slow start, and were down 23 to start the final quarter. 

They came storming back into it, cutting the deficit to six with 3:39 left after a three-point explosion from Taylor O’Brien. But it was too little, too late, and the Rebels knocked down late free throws to progress to the semi-final. 

Sam Ashby led the Riders’ scoring with 21 points after putting up 14 in the first half, backed by Mckenzie Johnston’s 18 and O’Brien’s 15. O’Brien hit five threes in the fourth quarter to spark the comeback. 

Katherine Tudor’s monster third quarter meant she led the game with 24 points. The Rebels cooked from deep, shooting 50% from three on the game. 

Ashby got straight to work for Leicester from the tip, attacking the hoop on the team’s first three possessions for a return of four points. Ashby scored the Riders’ first six, getting to the line with 7:24 left to tie the game. 

Despite the GB international’s play, it was Essex who took the early initiative. Rebel’s star guard Katherine Tudor drained the team’s second three of the game to make it 14-6. 

It was quickly 19-8 with 4:15 left in the first, forcing Head Coach Ben Stanley to call his first timeout. But the Riders had no answer for the Rebels’ physically inside throughout the first. Their opponents scored 20 points in the paint and led 31-14 after one.

Jessica Eadsforth-Yates got the second quarter going for Leicester with a triple from the top of the arc. Ashby followed up from the same spot before nailing another on the next play as the Riders began to chip into the deficit. 

But Essex hit back, and burst back out to a 20 point lead. Megan Haines’ three for her 11th points capped off an 8-0 run with 4:49 remaining in the half. 

It was Leicester’s captain, Johnston, who led the charge going into the break. She scored eight in the second quarter, and cut it to a 13-point game after Katie Januszewska blocked Claire Paxton’s three-point attempt. 

The final score of the half was Essex’s Dayzsha Rogan pulling up from midrange, and the sides entered the locker rooms with the hosts up 48-33. 

Johnston got right back to it in the third, pulling up in the lane to make the first basket of the second half. But a red-hot Rebels team kept gunning from deep, Tudor hitting three triples in as many minutes. 

Another three from Tudor with 3:42 left in the third rebuilt their advantage to 20. Johnston kept battling, scoring another eight points to bring her game tally to 16, but turnovers cost the Riders throughout the quarter, keeping the Rebels out of reach. 

Rogan finished the quarter at the foul line, making it 71-48. 

The Riders battled back in the final quarter, Taylor O’Brien connecting from deep to cut the deficit to 15. She fired again with 6”30 remaining, making the score 72-59. 

O’Brien caught fire, knocking down her third triple of the period with 4:40 left in the game to bring the score to 75-65. Johnston then drove to the hole and made it a single-digit affair for the first time since the first quarter. 

O’Brien pulled up from deep again and cut it to six, forcing an Essex timeout with 3:39 remaining. 

But the timeout stalled the Riders offence, and the Rebels had enough to hang on in the closing stages by making their free-throws. 

Want to see the Riders in action?

Get tickets to our next home game against Cardiff Met Archers on Febuary 10!

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Riders Media - 12th January 2024
Trophy Preview: Riders at Rebels

The Riders return from their winter break to tip off their Women’s British Basketball League Betty Codona Trophy campaign on the road against the Essex Rebels. 

They enter the competition at the quarter-final stage- last year’s finalists received a BYE for the first round of the competition. 

Here’s how the teams shape up…

Fixture information

Leicester Riders at Essex Rebels

Essex Sports Arena

Saturday, January 13, 4 pm

Back after the break

The Riders last played on December 9, and are now set to take on the same opponents in the same building. 

They concluded their pre-winter campaign with a 79-70 win on the road to Essex, led by 20 points from star guard Taylor O’Brien. 

The Riders are one of two teams with a single loss in the Championship this season, their only defeat coming on the road to the undefeated London Lions. They’re 5-1, with the second-best points production in the League. 

Tay leading the way

O’Brien has hit the ground running in Riders red, leading the team in scoring on the season. She’s scoring 19.7 points per game, the second-highest scorer in the League through six games, getting her points on 46.4% shooting from the field. 

Her efforts in November saw her named Women’s British Basketball League Player of the Month, averaging 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 61.7% shooting from the field. 

The American guard signed from Flordia State, having averaged 6.7 points for the Seminoles last season. 

She has established herself as one of the stars of British basketball and will look to lead the team to the Trophy final this year. 

Want to see Taylor in the British Basketball League All-Star game?

Vote here!

Battle in the backcourt

Facing off against O’Brien is fellow American Katherine Tudor, who went off for a game-high 23 points last time out against Leicester. 

Tudor signed in Essex in the offseason and leads the team’s scoring with 18.3 points per game. 

The 25-year-old signed from Australian NBL1 West side Mandura Magic, where she averaged 15.6 points per game last season across 22 NBL games, the second-highest points average amongst the team.

Her best scoring performance of the season came against the Riders, and the ever-consistent scoring threat will look to match O’Brien in this one. 

Want to see the Riders in action?

Get tickets to our next home game against Cardiff Met Archers on February 10!
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Riders Media - 11th January 2024
Riders sign Thompson!

Leicester Riders are thrilled to sign Athena Thompson to their 2023/24 Women’s British Basketball League roster. 

Thompson, an exciting 15-year-old youth prospect, plays for Milton Keynes Breakers in the WNBL Under 16s. 

She has experience suiting up for GB under 18s, and competed for the under 16s at the FIBA European Youth Championships this summer, alongside Riders forward Katie Januszewska who played for the u20s, leading the team in scoring with 14 points per game. 

Thompson has been a valuable participant in Riders’ practices throughout the season. The club, in collaboration with the Breakers, have decided that signing to the first team roster will be a positive step in her development going forward. 

Thompson will continue to play for her current side, Milton Keynes Breakers, while signed to the Riders. 

“We’re really happy to be able to announce Athena joining us,”  commented Head Coach Ben Stanley. 

“She’s been a huge impact player in her age group with some big games already this year, and she has really come into her own in recent practices. We’re excited to help her develop and to see her on the court with us.” 

Thompson added: “Joining Leicester Riders has been a great opportunity for me, and I’ve been able to develop my knowledge around more experienced players. It’s allowed me to compete at a high level, and I’m grateful for this opportunity going forward.”

Josh Merrington, General Manager of Milton Keynes Breakers, added: “We’re grateful to the Leicester Riders for providing Athena the opportunity to play high-level basketball with their Women’s British Basketball League team. Athena has been dominating her own age group for a while, so playing at a higher level will really aid her development.”

Want to see Thompson in action?

Get tickets to our next home game against Cardiff Met Archers on Febuary 10!

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Riders Media - 11th January 2024
5 things we learned from Giants win

The Riders improved to 2-1 in the British Basketball League Trophy Group B last night with a 104-88 win against the Manchester Giants.

The victory puts them in the driving seat as Leicester looks to advance to the semi-finals in the Utilita Arena, Birmingham.

Here’s what we can take from the game…

TJ explodes with efficiency

The ever-reliable TJ Lall showed his ability to explode for big points last night and proved pivotal down the stretch. 

The Canadian wing put 19 points and 5 rebounds on the Giants in 19 minutes of action, shooting 7-8 from the field and 5-6 from deep.

Lall drained two clutch threes when the game was tight in the fourth, building a platform for the Riders to see the game out from. 

His size and strength down low provided much-needed resistance at the rim and on the glass, and his game-leading index rating of 27 demonstrates his impact on the game. 

“I was getting open shots at the beginning, saw a couple of shots go down and kept shooting,” said Lall post-game. 

“TJ is an excellent player,” added Head Coach Paternostro.

“He can play multiple positions and fill multiple roles. He doesn’t have to score. It doesn’t have to be about that for him. He can play defence, pass and rebound, so he’s a really valuable player for this team.”

Riders show their strength in depth

The Riders, having made two additions to their roster in a month with the arrival of Teddy Allen and Duke Shelton, flexed their strength in depth last night as they achieved a century of points. 

Ten Riders saw court time, five of which scored in double-digits led by Allen’s 21, Lall’s 19 and Miryne Thomas’ 16 points. 

Every Riders player finished with a positive +/- in the win, the most effective being Thomas, who finished with a +/- of 19 in a near-triple double performance. 

This proved a significant advantage over a short-handed Giants team, who in the absence of leading scorer and GB international Jamell Anderson, fielded seven players for significant minutes. 

Being able to transition seamlessly between the first and second unit is a strength of this Riders roster as the games progress.  

Want to see your Riders at the British Basketball League All-Star game?

Vote for your All-Stars here!

Duke impresses on debut 

New Riders signing Duke Shelton impressed on his first Riders outing after joining the team only the day before. 

In six minutes, the American forward put up 6 points and 6 rebounds, 3 on the offensive end. His energy saw him all over the offensive glass, making an impact where he could during his limited court time. 

“I thought he was great today,” said Paternostro following Shelton’s performance. “He only practised with us for the first time yesterday, so he came into the game not knowing a lot of our stuff, but with his effort, he deserved more minutes than I gave him tonight. 

“He’s something we haven’t had with his athleticism and ability to run from the centre spot. He did a good job tonight.”

Allen’s infectious impact 

The Riders are 5-2 in all competitions since the arrival of CEBL Teddy Allen, who has led the team in scoring in every appearance so far this season. 

This time, it was 21 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals, which led all scorers in the game. 

He has sparked life into the team, who are playing with confidence as they look to attack the month of January and lift the Trophy in Birmingham. 

Lall, who played against Allen in the CEBL this summer as he suited up for the Niagara River Lions, complimented an overlooked aspect of Allen’s game: his defence. 

“He’s helped us a lot defensively and takes the pressure off our defence on the other end with his scoring,” said Lall.  “He makes our team way better.”

Win, and we’re in

The Riders’ 2-1 record in Group B means a win next week in Newcastle will most likely be enough to see Leicester through to the semi-finals in Birmingham. 

The Newcastle Eagles take on the Bristol Flyers on Friday evening, and a win would also give them a 2-1 record entering the faceoff against the Riders. 

This would mean a win would see both teams through, creating a knockout environment in the clash between the two long-standing rivals. 

For Leicester, regardless of permutations elsewhere, the focus is on the win on the road. With nine days between the Giants and Eagles games, they can rest up and prepare for the showdown. 

Want to see the Riders in action?

Get tickets to our next home game against Plymouth City Patriots on Febuary 9!

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Riders Media - 10th January 2024
Report: Riders beat Giants to improve to 2-1 in the Trophy

The Riders took another step towards the final four of the British Basketball League Trophy with a midweek 104-86 victory over the 0-2 Manchester Giants.

The win takes Leicester’s record to 2-1, putting pressure on the Bristol Flyers and Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles, neither of whom can afford to lose if they want to claim a top two spot in Group B.

The Riders struggled at times to score efficiently, but coach Rob Paternostro will be happy with his team’s dominance on the boards – outrebounding the visitors 50-37 – and the unselfish basketball on display, the Riders dishing 30 assists on the night.

The home side also did an excellent job of forcing missed shots down low, Leicester’s big men battling hard against the sizeable Manchester front court.

Athletic power forward Miryne Thomas took ‘Player of the Game’ honours, putting up a stat line of 16 points, seven rebounds and eight assists to flirt with a triple-double.

The Riders’ second unit also played well, spearheaded by 19 from TJ Lall who consistently hit big shots in important moments to keep the home side ahead.

Not to be outdone, Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen drained 21 in what appeared to be a ‘quiet’ display by his standards, popping up each quarter with a play to get the Morningside Arena bouncing.

Manchester’s defensive issues continued, but they flashed on offense, William Lee and Nick Lewis the top scorers with 16 and 17 points respectively.

As predicted, the game started quickly, both teams wasting no time putting points on the board. Lee, one of a glut of former Riders suiting up for the Giants, opened the scoring with the first of his ten first half points before an instant answer from captain Kimbal Mackenzie, who had eight of his own.

Thomas soon drained the first three of the night after nice play from Jaren Holmes – five first half assists – before Allen got in on the act, casually pulling up and stringing a classy deep trey to give the Riders an early ten-point lead.

Thomas then splashed again from deep in transition and, with Mackenzie constantly pushing the pace of the offense, Leicester looked in control.

A couple of threes from big-man Lee (the main scoring option with Jamell Anderson injured) kept Manchester within striking distance as the first quarter clock wound down, but an authoritative jam by Samuel Idowu and Lall joining the three-point party maintained Leicester’s control.

The second quarter started with super-sub Lall hitting a tough, fadeaway three and rising for a huge block to get the Morningside on its feet.

Not to be outdone, Holmes drove to the basket for a nice ‘+1’ play which led to a string of Riders free throws, facilitated by the aggressive attacking play of high-flyer Blake Bowman.

The Giants showed fight through Evan Walshe’s 13 first half points and Legend Robertin was his usual abrasive self-down low but continued quality play from Lall and the introduction of debutant Duke Shelton – six points – built the home side’s lead.

A beautiful block on Robertin from Shelton set the tone for the last five minutes of the half, matched by another ‘+1’ play from ‘Buckets’ Allen who reminded the fans why he won December’s ‘Player of the Month’.

Thomas drained his third deep ball of the game to stretch the Riders’ lead to 15 and good team basketball carried Paternostro’s squad towards half time. 

A great first half for Leicester saw them take a 59-44 lead into the locker room, punctuated by a breakaway dunk from Holmes with a few seconds remaining.

The second 20 began and the Riders were now showing dominance on the offensive glass, Mo Walker using his size well before Thomas put back a missed Allen layup with feeling.

However, the following few minutes were scrappy for the home side, missed shots and turnovers allowing Manchester to come back into the game through Lewis, who was slowly heating up.

A nervous energy rippled through the Riders’ fans, but that was soon put to bed after a silky move by Allen.

The CEBL MVP had his man in knots with isolation moves before blowing past him and laying home a tough shot. When Thomas thundered in a two-handed dunk, home supporters were back on their feet.

The final minutes of the quarter saw both teams slow down on the offensive side of the court, the Riders uncharacteristically missing several three-point attempts, allowing the Giants to creep back within ten going into the final stanza.

As he had done to start the second quarter, Lall drained from deep to get the Riders back on track.

Bowman hit another nice move into a layup to bring the lead back to 11, but the Giants were showing something, sticking around with buckets from Jalen Harris and Robertin.

The teams hit a period of trading baskets, going toe-to-toe, the Riders lead at just four points. Leicester soon wrestled back the momentum though, Thomas setting up Idowu for a one-handed flush before ‘Buckets’ Allen hit a layup that only he can for back-to-back scores.

Paternostro’s squad rode that momentum to another double-digit lead with three minutes left, a pair of corner triples in succession from Lall virtually clinching the Riders’ victory.

A clutch trey from the Riders’ captain took them into triple-digits and iced the game, with the Giants unable to make a late-game comeback.

The Riders return to action on Friday, January 19, taking on the Newcastle Eagles on the road.

The game will decide the team’s seeding in Group B, and whether they will advance to the Trophy semi-finals at Utilita Arena Birmingham.

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Riders Media - 10th January 2024
British Basketball League Launches All-Star Game Voting for North vs South Clash

The British Basketball League have unveiled the much-anticipated launch of the All-Star voting platform, providing fans with a unique opportunity to shape the Men’s and Women’s lineups for the star-studded event taking place at the Copper Box Arena in London on March 17, 2024.

The All-Star Games will see the best of the best from the British Basketball League come together for one day only in a North v South showdown. It’s an event where rivals become teammates and fans can witness their favourite players battling together (and against each other) on the court.

Power to the fans

From today, fans can visit the All-Star voting webpage and pick their favourites for the North v South teams starting fives. They can select one centre, two forwards and two guards per team, and there is no limit on how many players from one club can be picked in the starting five. 

Voting closes on February 15 at 7:00pm (GMT), and the players with the most votes will be selected to start in their respective teams.

The battle of North v South

With 10 Men’s teams and 11 Women’s teams across the UK, the North v South rivalry will be greater than ever on March 17. The split of teams is as follows:

Men

North: Caledonia Gladiators, Cheshire Phoenix, Manchester Giants, Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles, B. Braun Sheffield Sharks.

South: Bristol Flyers, Leicester Riders, London Lions, Plymouth City Patriots, Surrey Scorchers.

Women

North: Caledonia Gladiators, Durham Palatinates, Manchester Giants, Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles, B. Braun Sheffield Hatters.

South: Cardiff Met Archers, Essex Rebels, Leicester Riders, London Lions, Nottingham Wildcats, Oaklands Wolves.

How to vote:

Taking the lead

The two top-performing North and South coaches in the League will be chosen as the head coaches for each team. These coaches will have the responsibility of selecting the reserves next month, with one selected from every team.

The All-Star voting allows fans to seize the opportunity to make their voices heard and gives them the power to have their favourite players grace the court on March 17, in what will be a momentous day in British basketball. 

For more information about the All-Star Game, visit britishbasketballleague.com.

Want to see the Riders in action?

Get tickets to tonight’s fixture against the Manchester Giants here!
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Riders Media - 9th January 2024
Riders sign Duke Shelton!

Leicester Riders are thrilled to welcome the arrival of Duke Shelton to their 2023/24 roster. 

The American big brings a wealth of experience to Leicester, having played eight seasons of professional basketball across Europe. 

Shelton played two seasons for the Newcastle Eagles in the British Basketball League. The 6’10” forward averaged a double-double in ten games for the Eagles in the 2021/22 season, logging 14.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. 

The 28-year-old’s European experience has seen him compete in Israel, Finland and Slovakia, and now he brings his talents to the East Midlands. 

Shelton’s eligibility means he does not require a certificate of sponsorship since he already possesses a right to work in the UK. 

“It feels good to sign with the team,” commented Shelton. 

“It’s a blessing really to be a part of such an established club. I’m excited and anxious all in one to get started! I know it’s the right decision, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

“We’re excited to have Duke sign with the team,” added Head Coach Rob Paternostro. 

“We were looking for more depth up front and someone that plays energy, quickness and athleticism. He brings all of those things.  

“We were already familiar with him following his time in Newcastle, and we think his skill set can be a good addition to our roster.”

Want to see the Riders in action?

Get tickets to our Trophy matchup against the Manchester Giants!
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Riders Media - 9th January 2024
Trophy Preview: Riders vs Giants

The group stages of the 2024 British Basketball League Trophy continue Wednesday night as the Riders welcome the Manchester Giants to the Morningside Arena.

Rob Paternostro’s squad split their two games in the competition so far, dominating the Bristol Flyers before a difficult trip to London a couple of days later resulted in a loss.

Fixture Information

Leicester Riders vs Manchester Giants

Morningside Arena, Leicester

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Get tickets here!

A Packed Schedule

The start of the new year continues in frenetic fashion for the Riders as the Giants’ visit marks a third game in six days.

Leicester’s bid for the League Trophy started perfectly on January 5 with a confident 95-74 win over the Flyers, Teddy Allen the ‘X Factor’ once again with a cool 30-point, seven rebound and seven assist showing.

Second-unit superstar Samuel Idowu also caught the eye, combining 15 points with 14 boards to post his first double-double for the Riders.

48 hours later, the squad found themselves facing a deep London Lions team in the Copper Box. The Riders fought hard, outplaying the home team in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t match London’s strength in the paint and roster depth which propelled them to an 89-74 win.

Despite the loss, Idowu continued his excellent start to 2024, bagging a second double-double in as many games. A certain quote about London buses comes to mind.

One major positive for the Riders is that they have maintained a positive points difference, which could prove crucial in a tough Group B, sending just the top two teams into the semi-finals.

Only the Lions remain undefeated, so victory over the Giants will put the Riders in great position to take the all-important second spot and put pressure on Friday’s clash between the Flyers and the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles.

Expect the Riders to fire on all offensive cylinders this Wednesday as they face a Manchester squad with the leakiest defence in the League championship. Newcastle’s Jordan Johnson posted 30 points in their round one win over the Giants, so home supporters should be treated to another special night from ‘Player of the Month’ Allen, Kimbal Mackenzie and Idowu.

It wouldn’t be a surprise for Paternostro to challenge his team to a triple-digit offensive output against Manchester.

Wins are vital, but points differential could decide who advances to the semis.

Out for Revenge

Trophy games often carry an extra bite to them, but Wednesday’s visit of the Giants may bring even more spice as they try to avenge a first-round loss to the Riders in last year’s competition.

2023’s knockout format saw the Giants hosting Leicester in the first weekend of action, falling to a dominant Marc Loving display in an entertaining 114-107 game where both teams ended with a 30-point scorer.

Former Rider Loving dropped a 32/13 double-double and Tajh Green – who now suits up for the Eagles – posted an incredible 38 points and 14 rebounds, mainly fed by flashy point guard Rahmon Fletcher, who dished 14 assists on the night.

The road team clinched the win through efficiency from beyond the arc which outstretched the Giants’ defence and forced them to try and keep pace on just 28% three-point shooting.

Now, Fletcher has retired, and Green is shooting hoops in Newcastle, but the same defensive struggles remain.

The Giants do possess solid offensive weapons – Jamell Anderson, Nik Lewis and Evan Walshe – but if the Riders limit them to less than 80 points as they did on December 23, Manchester supporters may need to wait a little longer for revenge.

Key Matchup

The 86-73 championship victory the Riders took away from Manchester towards the end of 2023 was largely due to accuracy from beyond the three-point line.

The big men cancelled each other out and may do again, so the key battle could come between sharpshooters Teddy Allen and Nick Lewis.

6’3” British-Canadian guard Lewis is a confidence shooter that maintains hot streaks longer than most in the League. 

His usually high three-ball numbers are down this season – standing at just over 23% from deep – but if he drops a couple of treys in a row, he can take over a 10-minute quarter.

Lewis has made some huge contributions for the Giants this season, hitting the 20-point mark on five occasions including a red-hot 33 points against the championship-leading Lions.

Put simply: the Riders cannot afford to let Lewis get his eye in.

A player who knows all about heat checks is the Riders’ mid-season star, Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen.

Allen, who deservedly clinched December’s ‘Player of the Month’ after starting his Riders career off in style, brings sureness in spades.

A scorer more than a shooter, the former Winnipeg Bear has looked impossible to guard during his small sample of games, averaging over 26 points per game including totals of 30 and 21 in the Trophy.

The 6’6” combo-guard has also been deadly accurate from downtown, splashing threes at a 55% clip in the championship, his only blemish a 3-11 effort against London.

Allen versus Lewis is a tussle between two players that thrive on confidence. Whoever can maintain that for most of the 40 minutes will be key to victory.
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Teddy Allen named in British Basketball League Team of the Week

Riders guard Teddy Allen has been named to the British Basketball League Team of the Week following his opening two Trophy performances.

On Friday against the Bristol Flyers, Allen led the Riders to a 95-74 win with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists- his second 30-point outing since signing with the team in mid-December.

He followed this up on Sunday with a game-high 21 points on the road to the London Lions, as the team fell short in the capital.

This comes fresh off the Phoenix native being named British Basketball League Player of the Month for December after he averaged 23.8 points and 5.5 rebounds over his first four Riders games.

He returns to action on Wednesday when the Riders take on the Manchester Giants at home, hoping to improve to 2-1 in Group B.

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Report: Riders lose in London

The Leicester Riders 89-74 lost on the road to the London Lions, falling to 1-1 in the British Basketball League Trophy Group B. 

Teddy Allen, recently named British Basketball League Player of the Month for December, led the game with 21 points. Sam Idowu backed up Allen with 13 points and 10 rebounds, logging his second straight double-double off the bench.

The game got away from them in the third quarter, as Leicester went scoreless through five minutes. London stretched the lead to 20, and despite a positive Riders fourth quarter, saw the game out from there. 

Leicester struggled to connect from three all afternoon, finishing the game 8-29 from range. 

London’s Matthew Morgan led the hosts with 15 points, and their big man Donte Grantham put on a good showing with 14 points in 19 minutes. The Lions dominated in close, going 30-51 from inside the arc. 

The Riders hung with the Lions through the opening stages, despite struggling for offence. Allen got to the line twice to lead the team through five minutes with 4 points, but the Lions led 10-7. 

Miryne Thomas picked up two quick fouls, allowing Blake Bowman to impress off the bench. 

He scored on back-to-back possessions, draining a contested turnaround from the post before taking Josh Sharma off the dribble and laying in a bucket, then dishing an assist to Sam Idowu next time up the court. 

The Riders trailed 25-19 after a quarter, but that quickly became 31-19 a minute into the second. They started 1-9 from three, and the Lions started the second quarter on a 6-0 run by getting to the bucket on three straight trips. 

Jaren Holmes connected from deep for the Riders’ first points of the quarter, cutting the deficit to nine. 

This took the lid off the basket, and Leicester were able to stem the tide. Allen found his shooting form after an 0-5 start from the field, and put 8 points together quickly to make the score 39-34. He had 15 with 4:18 remaining in the half. 

The Lions rebuilt their lead to double digits come halftime, as GB guard Luke Nelson put the ball in the basket to generate some offence for the hosts. The score was 50-40 by the buzzer to end the second. 

London scored 11 quick points to start the second half to extend their lead. Grantham drained three straight triples, two more than the team scored in the first half, making it 61-40. 

The Riders went scoreless until 4:04 left in the third. Thomas put it through, but the Riders were down 21. It was 70-49 going into the fourth, after Leicester lost the period 20-9. 

Leicester’s efforts to chip into the deficit saw them contest in a hard-fought final quarter. Kimbal Mackenzie got on the board to score five straight points and cut the game to 15 with 5:58 left. 

The Riders kept chipping away, and Allen attacked the hoop and made it 76-62.  But after making it a 14-point deficit, the Lions held the Riders from there and saw the game out led by Grantham’s shot-making. 

The Riders return to action on Wednesday, taking on the Manchester Giants at home, tipping off at 7:45 pm. 

Get tickets here!
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Riders Media - 7th January 2024
Riders revisited: Reliving 2001 NTL National Cup Final

“Cinderella no more, champions today,” exclaimed Head Coach Billy Mims, after securing the Leicester Riders their first silverware in major competitions in 30 years.

23 years and 19 trophies later, the Riders’ 2001 NTL National Cup Final victory remains sweet in the memory of the fans who witnessed it.

To those who didn’t, it marks the first addition to a now stacked trophy cabinet, representing the renowned success of Britain’s oldest professional basketball club.

We take you back to the game, to reflect on the historic win.

Image credit: Mansoor Ahmed

20 years of “nearly”.

In the decades preceding the National Cup win, the Riders’ story was one of agonising near-misses.

They reached their first major final in 1980, falling short to a dominant Solent Stars. That was the theme for the Riders: They repeatedly came close, but never quite got the silverware.

They reached the Cup final in 1990, hoping to break their duck, but once again couldn’t get over the hump with an 88-81 loss to Sunderland.

The Riders followed up with a loss in the Trophy final in ’91, this time a heartbreaking three-point loss to Kingston – at the time, the closest Final in the competition’s history.

They had to wait until ‘half a decade for another shot at glory, this time reaching the British Basketball League Cup final.

But a cruel twist of fate saw star man Gene Waldron break his leg, and so too went Riders’ chances of winning. Thames Valley edged the Final by four points.

So entering Wembley Arena in 2001, Riders fans would have been forgiven for guarding their optimism cautiously, following 20 years of heartbreak in the biggest games.

Riders run to the final

The Riders entered the turn of the millennia with a fresh start. They returned to the place of their founding, Loughborough, to play their home fixtures at the Sir David Wallace Centre, and immediately found success.

Their run through the National Cup saw them push aside the Teesside Mohawks 100-102, fight through an overtime win against the Birmingham Bullets, and beat the Thames Valley Tigers 95-85 at the Sky Dome in Coventry.

Head Coach Billy Mims, who was appointed after his departure from the London Leopards, hoped a change of finals fortune could get them over the hump.

He was set to face his former club in the final, making the match-up all the more personal.

Billy Mims leads an impassioned Riders’ huddle.

This was emphasised by the Leopards, who led by former Leicester coach Bob Donewald, refused to take part in the pre-game handshake.

The game became “about the bigger picture” from there, said Mims.

Down early

Despite Leicester starting the brightest, racking up 14 unanswered points in the first quarter to lead 24-11, London’s answer showed shades of the narrow shortcomings that had tortured the club for the past 20 years.

London, haunted by their own ghosts of finals past following defeat in the Cup Final a year prior, exploded going into halftime. A 10-1 run made it 45-38, the Riders surrendering a lead after a bright start.

In desperate need of some momentum going into the break, Ralph Blalock drained a three for the Riders, stemming the tide and cutting the deficit to a reasonable four points at halftime.

But the Leapords still held the advantage.

Fighting to the wire

The Riders’ Larry Johnson, also competing against his old club, ran the show in the third quarter.

He pulled the strings throughout, leading them to a 9-0 run to end the period and snatch back the lead.

The score swung back and forth until the finale. Blalock, heating up, inspired a 7-0 Leicester burst. The Leopard fought back with nine unanswered points, putting them ahead 78-81. 

Johnson responded with a three-pointer in the corner to level again, the score 81-81 with seconds remaining.

Coming in clutch

The Riders turned to the hot hand to take a late advantage. Blalock drove to the rim, laying in a crucial bucket for his game-high 26th points of the affair.

The Leopards missed a crucial foul shot on the following play, and Karl Brown went to the line to take the most important free throw of his career.

He knocked down a crucial point, and London failed to get a shot off to tie or win, as the Riders secured the first major trophy in their history, winning 84-82.

The players, staff and fans erupted in the Sheffield Arena, and decades of anguish were released. The Riders had brought their first major silverware home.

Blalock was named Final MVP after his game leading, and game-winning, performance.

Riders scorers

PlayerPoints
Ralph Blalock26
Larry Johnson21
Billy Singleton (c)12
Malcolm Leak10
Purnell Perry9
Karl Brown6

Want to see the Riders in action?

Get tickets to our Trophy matchup against the Manchester Giants!
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Riders Media - 6th January 2024
December Dominance: How Teddy Allen won Player of the Month

Teddy Allen has been named the British Basketball League Player of the Month for December following an explosion on the British basketball scene. 

The American guard and reigning CEBL MVP did so after signing to the club three games into the month, dominating his first four games in Riders red to win the award. 

Dazzling Debut

Allen hit the ground running with the Riders, leading the team to a win against the Caledonia Gladiators with the highest-scoring debut since 2016. 

He scored 32 points, and a late dagger three to win it in the clutch. Allen finished the game with 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 28 minutes off the bench. 

“I had to keep my mind and my body right through the last few months, and for that I thank God, but there’s definitely more to come from me,” said Allen after the game. 

“My legs felt better than I thought they would. I’m a hooper, so it feels good to be playing in front of people again.”

Buckets by name, buckets by nature

Teddy “Buckets” scoring went unmatched through December. He averaged 23.8 points over the four games, including two 20-point game and a 30-point performance on his debut.

Allen is the League’s best-ranked bucket-getter early in his Riders tenure. He’s carried his hot form from the CEBL where he set the single-game regular season and postseason scoring records this summer. 

His scoring ability generated much-needed offensive firepower to the Riders’ roster, and his gravitational pull on the court opened up space for his teammates to succeed. 

Turning fortunes 

Arriving to the team with a 7-10 record, Allen helped the Riders back to winning ways since his first appearance. 

Leicester went 3-1 with Allen on court, taking victories against the Manchester Giants, Sheffield Sharks and Gladiators to bring their record to 10-11. 

With the newly revamped British Basketball League Trophy in full swing, the Riders will look to translate their recent performance to make a run at the silverware. 

Want to see the Riders in Trophy action?

Get tickets to our final January home game against Manchester Giants on Wednesday, January 10!
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Riders Media - 6th January 2024
Teddy Allen named British Basketball League Player of the Month for December

Riders guard Teddy Allen has been named Molten British Basketball League Player of the Month for December! 

Allen, a new arrival who made his League debut on December 15, has exploded onto the British basketball scene in his four games so far in Riders red, averaging a League-leading 23.8 points and 5.5 rebounds. 

His 32 point debut against Caledonia Gladiators was the highest-scoring debut in the British Basketball League since 2016. 

Teddy “Buckets” followed up the 30-piece with 22 points against the Manchester Giants, 17 against the Bristol Flyers and 25 to close out 2023 against the Sheffield Sharks. 

This summer’s CEBL MVP has lived up to his stellar reputation in the early stages of his Riders tenure and looks to lead the team to a successful British Basketball League Trophy campaign in January. 

“It’s an honour to win this award,” commented Allen.  “It feels great to bring positive attention to the team.

“Thank you to my teammates and coaches for putting me in a position to succeed, and thank you to everybody who voted for me!

“Now it’s time to continue to work hard and try and bring the Trophy home.”

Want to see Allen in Trophy action?

Get tickets to our final January home game against Manchester Giants on Wednesday, January 10!
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Riders Media - 5th January 2024
Report: Riders beat Flyers to start Trophy campaign

Leicester Riders began their British Basketball League Trophy campaign with a bang, beating the Bristol Flyers 95-74. 

Teddy Allen dropped his second 30-point performance as a Rider, putting up 30 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists to earn Player of the Game honours. 

He was backed by Sam Idowu off the bench, whose impact inside prevented second-chance points for the Flyers, and prevented star big man Brad Greene from dominating the matchup as he did two weeks prior. 

Greene was held to 7 points, and the Flyers to 9 offensive rebounds, below their season average of 13.4, which leads the British Basketball League. 

The Riders’ offence was clicking throughout, shooting 50% from the field, and found success at the rim to shoot 64% from the field. Idowu and Allen combined for 14-19 from within the arc. 

Miryne Thomas’ 7 points to start the game led the Riders to an early lead. He hit the team’s first three of the game before getting to work down low for his next two buckets, making it 11-9 to the hosts. 

Following the first commercial timeout, the Riders blew the game open. A barrage of Riders offence, which included a four-point play from Allen who drained a three through contact, saw them grow the lead to double digits after a quarter. 

The Riders made it 20 quickly in the second quarter. Veteran guard Conner Washington pulled up from deep three-point range to get the period underway before Allen dropped Rowell Graham-Bell with a crossover and hit a triple. 

Allen, catching fire and running in transition, then connected with Thomas, who threw down a lob pass emphatically for the play of the game. Leicester won the second 30-17, and led 57-32 at the half, led by Allen’s 15 and Thomas’ 11 points. 

Idowu made his impact felt off the bench. Getting to the rim with ease, he went 6-7 from the field in the first half, logging 13 points and six rebounds. 

Towards the end of the third, Bristol clawed back into contention with hot three-point shooting. They cut it to 18 after Kedrian Johnson and Trejon Jacob hit on back-to-back possessions, but Kimbal Mackenzie drove to the hoop for an and-one to stem the tide. 

The captain drained a three next time down with 1:30 to go to make it 73-49. Jacob ended the third with a slam in transition, the Riders up 21 with a quarter to play. 

Washington got the final quarter going, hitting a turnaround catch-and-shoot three with a hand in his face. 

The Flyers continued to battle, chipping into the lead once again in the fourth. Forced a Riders timeout, the score 81-64 with 7:06 left. 

The Riders fell back on their defence, holding Bristol to four points in as many minutes to keep them at arm’s length. Allen and Jaren Holmes combined for five quick points with three minutes left to put the game beyond doubt, with Leicester up 22. 

The Riders return to action on Sunday, facing the London Lions on the road, before returning home to play the Manchester Giants on Wednesday, tipping off at 7:45 pm.

Get tickets here!
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Riders Media - 3rd January 2024
Statement: Bristol Flyers Fixture Unavailable for Live Stream Viewing

Due to adjustments in this week’s fixtures, our Trophy fixture against the Bristol Flyers on Friday, January 5, will not be available to be viewed via live stream. 

The game, tipping off at 7 pm at Morningside Arena Leicester, will therefore only be able to be watched in person at the Arena. 

You can purchase tickets for the game here.

If you cannot attend the fixture, we will be providing updates throughout the game on our social media channels. 

We apologise for any inconvenience caused. 
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Riders Media - 3rd January 2024
Trophy Preview: Riders vs Flyers

The Riders begin 2024 by welcoming the Bristol Flyers to the Morningside Arena in Round One of the British Basketball League Trophy.

The competition’s format has been revamped this season, placing Rob Paternostro’s squad in Group B with the championship-leading London Lions, the in-form Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles, the dangerous Manchester Giants and the always-tough Flyers.

READ MORE: 2024 Trophy format explained!

Fixture Information

Leicester Riders vs Bristol Flyers

Morningside Arena, Leicester

Friday, January 5, 7:00pm

Get tickets here!

One Shot Away

Riders’ fans will be keen to see the return of the British Basketball League Trophy competition after last season’s second-round exit to the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks. The pure knockout format saw the Riders play just two games – both on the road.

The opening round was an entertaining 114-107 victory in Manchester, the Riders benefitting from a deadly night of three-pointers from Marc Loving and Zach Jackson, who finished with 32 and 25 points each.

Fellow former Rider Patrick Whelan also splashed for 20 points, and current Riders’ captain Kimbal Mackenzie dropped 18 in a typically energetic display.

Both Loving and Whelan pulled down enough rebounds for a double-double as the Riders matched an excellent rebounding team in the Giants.

Posting double-doubles will be tough for the current Leicester squad against a Flyers team containing Brad Greene (17 boards against the Riders on December 28) but look for 2024’s power forward-shooting guard duo of Miryne Thomas and Teddy Allen to replicate Loving and Whelan.

The second-round loss told the opposite story for last season’s squad, who fired more shots than the Sharks but only converted at a 17% clip from deep.

Loving, Jackson and Mackenzie once more led the way for the Riders in the box score, but only four of their 23 three-ball attempts hit the mark, allowing the Sharks to take advantage of a rare night of inaccuracy.

The current crop of Riders ended 2023 with a clash against the Sharks and the ball hit nothing but net from downtown. Leicester’s shooting percentage has been a major strength this season, demonstrated by the team hitting 50% from inside the arc, 51% from beyond it and 87% from the free throw line in the victory on December 30.

If the Riders want to get their Trophy campaign off to a flyer, they need to learn from the mistakes of last season’s second-round performance.

An Early Exit

If Riders’ supporters were starved of Trophy action, the Flyers’ faithful must be ravenous after last year’s first-round exit to the Surrey Scorchers.

Bristol hosted the Southeasterners and – given the form of each team – will have been confident of victory. However, in a minor shock the Scorchers rode the hot hands of Padiet Wang and Boban Jacdonmi to claim a deserved 78-72 win.

The Flyers, who have struggled hitting from the floor efficiently this season, suffered the same woes last January, dropping only 37% of their field goals despite having 12 more attempts than the visitors.

They also failed to outrebound Surrey, a problem 2024’s squad do not have. 

Assisted by their hulking centre Greene and a brilliant showing from Rowell Graham-Bell, the Flyers bested the Riders on the boards 48-40 on December 28, and after a poor first half, shot accurately enough in the second half to take the win.

Leicester allowed Friday’s first-round opponents too many second-chance points the last time they visited the Morningside. Victory may hinge on how well the Riders’ frontcourt manages to box out the ball-hunting Greene.

Key Matchup

As previously mentioned, the battle to grab missed shots between Brad Greene and the Riders’ ‘bigs’ is going to be huge, but the supplementary scoring from Rowell Graham-Bell and Miryne Thomas could become the deciding factor in the game.

Versatile British forward Graham-Bell showed the Riders how effective he can be in a supporting role in their last game. 

The 29-year-old’s experience led him to 14 points and eight boards – all on the defensive end of the court – despite dealing with two personal fouls early in the game.

A journeyman who has played primarily in Spain, Graham-Bell is a big-bodied defender who has the range to pull up for long two balls or the occasional three. 

He is averaging just north of ten points per game as the Flyers’ fourth scoring option and has nearly broken the 20-point barrier on several occasions.

Aiming to use his speed and athleticism to outplay Graham-Bell will be Riders’ rookie Miryne Thomas.

On form Thomas has proven to be one of the most devastating power forwards in the league, able to blend his offence between high-flying jams and picturesque threes.

The young American is also improving dramatically on defence, using his length and timing to block multiple shots a game.

The Ohioan is currently in sparkling form, earning a spot on the British Basketball League Team of the Week for superb performances against the Sharks and the Flyers.

Thomas is averaging a cool 12 points per game this season and has posted multiple double-doubles.

He will need to continue that form into the Trophy. The first obstacle is Graham-Bell and the Flyers.

How to watch

This game will not be available to view via live-stream. Therefore, the only way to watch the action is at the Arena.

You can purchase tickets for the game here.

If you cannot attend the fixture, we will be providing updates throughout the game on our social media channels. 
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Riders Media - 2nd January 2024
Miryne Thomas named to British Basketball League Team of the Week

Miryne Thomas has been named to the British Basketball League Team of the Week for his performances against the Bristol Flyers and Sheffield Sharks. 

Thomas earned Wok 68 Player of the Game honours against the Sharks with 22 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes, leading the Riders to a 103-75 win. 

This followed 10 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks two days prior against the Bristol Flyers. 

The American rookie is putting up 12 points and 6.2 rebounds per game midway through the season as the Riders approach their Trophy campaign.

Want to see Thomas in action?

Get tickets to our first Trophy game against the Bristol Flyers! 
Playoff Preview: Riders v Sharks Game One
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2001 - PLAY OFF CHAMPIONS

2001 - CUP WINNERS

2013 - PLAY OFF CHAMPIONS

2013 - LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

2013 - CUP WINNERS

2014 - CUP WINNERS

2016 - LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

2016 - TROPHY WINNERS

2017 - PLAY OFF CHAMPIONS

2017 - LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

2017 - TROPHY WINNERS

2018 - PLAY OFF CHAMPIONS

2018 - LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

2018 - TROPHY WINNERS

2019 - PLAY OFF CHAMPIONS

2021 - LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

2022 - CUP WINNERS

2022 - LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

2022 - PLAY OFF CHAMPIONS

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