Month: February 2025

Charlie Walker - 28th February 2025
Report: Hunter leads Riders win against Surrey 89ers

Leicester Riders beat Surrey 89ers  to improve to 13-4 in the Super League Basketball Championship. 

It was a hard fought win, contested within single digits through much of the affair. Jaylin Hunter and Riley Abercrombie’s shot making earned separation in the scoreline in the fourth, the pair leading the team with 20 and 19 points respectively.

The Riders were red hot from deep on the game, shooting 40% from three. Hunter and Abercrombie both went 3-5, and Ethan Wright hit 2-3 off the bench.

Surrey’s Mervin James was the game’s leading scorer, finding the bottom of the basketball from start to finish to score 27 on the night. They couldn’t find much production down the rest of their roster however, going 5-18 from three and 6-11 from the foul line. 

This was only the third double digit loss of the league season for Surrey, all three coming to Leicester. They fall to 5-12 on the year.

Riley’s rim rocking start

Abercrombie took the roof off early in the first. He faked a three to get James in the air, before driving baseline for a physical two-handed jam. He drained a three later in the period as the sides exchanged baskets to lead the game with 5 points early. 

James put on a show on the other end despite giving up the Abercrombie slam. He got to work from the midrange to lead the Niners to a narrow lead. British basketball veteran Andrew Lawrence then ended the period from three, making it 24-22 to the visitors through one. 

Late surge give Riders halftime lead

Wright started the second period with a bang, draining a three on the first possession.  But Leicester couldn’t make inroads despite Shelton firing to keep the scoreboard ticking over with 10 first half points. 

Surrey maintained their narrow advantage through James, who also brought his game total to 10 at the rim. 

Hunter hit tough looks through the first half from all over the court. The game’s first bucket was his rainbow shot from midrange, then the American guard hit a three with Jordan Hunt draped over him later in the quarter. 

Hunter broke away for a fastbreak slam in the second to bring his game total to 7 points and cut it to a one point game in the second. He was followed by Charles Thompson, who got to the line for the second time in the game to give Leicester their first lead of the quarter. 

Abercrombie ended the half with a second-chance layup, and the Riders led 45-42 at the break. 

Surrey fightback ties game in the third

Zach Jackson got Leicester going in the second half with a pull up jumper in the pick and roll after Spencer Johnson snatched the ball from Dame Adelekun. Leicester’s defence locked up the Niners in the first two minutes of the third to come up with three steals. 

Hunter turned on the magic from the point. His flashy pass found a wide open Jackson, who nailed a three to make the lead eight. Jackson then finished inside the next possession to give the Riders their first double-digit lead of the game. 

Surrey remained attached in the third, however. They got to the rim consistently through shifty guard play to keep it to a single digit affair, despite a scoring outburst of Hunter which brought him to 16 points. 

The 89ers got out on the run on back-to-back plays, resulting in two baskets at the rim to cut it to a three-point difference. They then tied it at the hands of Lawrence following a Riders timeout to make it 64-64 with one to play. 

Riders run rebuilds double-digit lead

The fourth started with Nedas Cholevinskas, who after hitting four threes in the fourth quarter of the Cup Semi-Final, hit from three to start the final quarter. But Shelton, Jackson and Wright responded quickly for the Riders at the rim to snatch the lead back.

Shelton chased down James emphatically for a monster block to set up Jackson free throws on the other end as the Riders’ locked in for the finale. 

Hunter checked back in for yet another three over a tight contest to send the crowd into a frenzy. Wright then stole it from Cameron Gooden, before Abercrombie followed his miss with a putback jam to force a Surrey timeout, Leicester up 10 once again. 

Leicester fend off Niners for win

James kept up the fight for the Niners out of the timeout. He scored twice at the rim quickly to cut it back down to a six point difference. 

The Riders rim protection stood firm to prevent Surrey from making any more inroads, with Thompson setting the tone inside with solid contests at the hoop. 

Abercrombie had the dagger with 2:29 left, draining a three to swat away any attempted comeback in the clutch. That proved the game winner, as the Riders took their third straight in the league. 
Preview: Caledonia Gladiators vs Leicester Riders
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Leicester Riders tip off time change vs Cheshire Phoenix
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Report: Riders fall in a close battle in Bristol
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Charlie Walker - 27th February 2025
Preview: Leicester Riders vs Surrey 89ers

Leicester Riders are out for revenge against Surrey 89ers. 

The sides last shared the court in the Super League Basketball Cup Semi-Final, and Surrey took the win in a hard fought two legged affair. 

Now Leicester seek to get back against Surrey in a pivotal fixture in a three-way title race in the Championship. 

Fixture information

Leicester Riders vs Surrey 89ers

Super League Basketball Championship

Mattioli Arena Leicester

Friday, February 28, 7:30 pm

Tickets available here!

Back after the break

Super League Basketball returns to Leicester after a two week international break. 

The Riders took back-to-back wins going into the break against Cheshire Phoenix and Manchester Basketball to stay in touch with the top of the table, as they’re engaged in a title battle with Sheffield Sharks and London Lions. 

All three have four losses as we head into the final stretch of the season, the Riders having played three fewer games than the Lions and one fewer than the Sharks.

Their back-to-back wins before the break flexed Leicester’s offensive firepower. They scored 110 against the Phoenix in a home blowout, and led by Zach Jackson in the fourth quarter, bested Manchester on the road later in the week. 

Jackson leads Leicester’s second-highest scoring offence with 17.5 points per game, making him a top five scorer in the league. 

On the other end, the Riders held Cheshire’s league-best offence to 87, and Manchester to 74, both 7 points below their average. Their shot blocking ability up and down the roster makes for an intimidating prospect for any player driving to Leicester’s hoop. 

Surrey shot over the shot blockers from three in  the fourth quarter of the Semi-Finals, however, meaning Leicester will have to lock in on the perimeter against the 89ers cast of snipers to keep rolling in the Championship. 

Surrey look to translate Cup form to the Championship

Surrey ran the gauntlet in the SLB Cup, besting London and Leicester on their way to the Final against Sheffield. 

In doing so, they have proven they can go toe-to-toe with the best the League has to offer, and they are not to be overlooked by the Riders.

Despite that, Cup success hasn’t translated to the Championship as of yet. They’re 5-11 on the season, fighting for the seeding near the bottom of the playoff bracket. 

It’s a talented roster suiting up in the south, with players showing up among the league leaders in all statistical categories. Dame Adelekun is the leader in rebounds from the big man spot, Mervin James is a top six scorer, and Cam Gooden averages the sixth most assists per outing. 

It’s been a season of near misses for the Niners this year. Nine of their losses have come within single digits, losing their games by an average margin of 7.7 points. The Riders have brought that average up this season, however, winning by an average of 16.5 points in their two league meetings. 

But the Cup Semi-Final will mean Surrey come to Leicester brimming with confidence, and will look to replicate that success to take their fifth Championship win of the year. 

Riders doubleheader!

Tickets are still available for this fixture, which is a double header featuring Leicester Riders women. 

Tickets are valid for both women’s and men’s games. You can get them here!

Doors open at 4 pm for the Riders women’s game against Cardiff Met Archers. Upon entry, your hand will be stamped, and fans will be allowed to leave and re-enter the building. 

Please note, from 6:30pm there will be no re-entry to the Arena. 
Preview: Caledonia Gladiators vs Leicester Riders
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Leicester Riders tip off time change vs Cheshire Phoenix
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Report: Riders fall in a close battle in Bristol
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Charlie Walker - 23rd February 2025
The spark plug: Ethan Wright on what it takes to be a great sixth man

The sixth man. The spark plug. The energy guy. 

It’s a role often overlooked when discussing the key components of a team, but Ethan Wright decided to make it his own for Leicester Riders in one of the most pivotal developments of the year.

Wright started the season in the starting five. The second year pro out of Princeton University was an established baller and was playing well in this role. He began with 15 points in a win against Bristol Flyers, and helped the Riders’ to a 6-0 Super League Basketball Trophy Group Phase. 

But back-to-back losses to Sheffield Sharks in the Championship saw Head Coach Rob Paternostro seek change. The Riders’ bench was outscored 60-30 in those games, and scored only seven in the second fixture. The solution: move Wright to the second unit and the newly signed Spencer Johnson into the starting five. 

It was a decision that could have affected someone of lesser character, and something that hinged on Wright’s attitude and Paternostro’s approach. The trust between the pair saw the move go from success to success. 

“It came down to the relationship I have with Coach Rob,” reflected Wright. “We trust each other, and the biggest thing was being positive with my attitude. 

“For some guys, being moved to the second unit could be negative and seen as a slight, but Rob explained to me that the second unit needed some more scoring. It wasn’t out of the blue either which I appreciated- he communicated it really well. He told me that it wasn’t slight on me, and he still has the utmost confidence in me. 

“I took it as a positive thing, and that comes back to Coach Rob having confidence in me, and trusting that I wouldn’t be negative about it.”

Similarly, Paternostro cited Wright’s attitude to the game as a key component to the seamlessness of this move.

“It wasn’t too difficult of a conversation,” he acknowledged. “Ethan is a player who throughout his career is known to be a team player. He does whatever it takes for his teams to be successful.

“He understands the game of basketball and we saw an opportunity for him in the second unit to make an impact.

“Over the years here we’ve had plenty of players who have been really successful in that role.”

Finding his freedom in the second unit

Wright’s response was telling of his character. He scored 11 points in 13 minutes next time out, finishing the game with a +/- of 10 in a win against Manchester. The Riders’ bench outscored their opponents 27-16, and Wright went on to score in double digits the next two games. 

The new role allows him to play with the ball in his hands, create shots for himself and others and play with aggression and freedom. 

“I really love it. Obviously every player wants to play 40 minutes, but the second unit gives me a good opportunity to come in and do my thing. 

“I’ve found a good role off the bench, and I think I’ve probably been better coming into the game with some freedom.”

Paternostro noted that along with Wright’s attitude, being able to both start for the team and step into another role off the bench successfully is a testament to his malleability as a player.

“What we liked about Ethan is his versatility,” he said. “He can be a few different types of players. He’s a ball handler, a shooter and much more, so my communication with him was that this was an opportunity to display that.”

Although there was a slight acclimatisation period for Wright, he’s settled into the role and proven his coach exactly right.

“It took a little bit of adjustment to come off the bench,” said Wright. “I haven’t done it much in my career, but it has given me more freedom on offence to be myself and be more aggressive. 

“We have a lot of star power in our first unit- a lot of guys that demand the ball, which is a great thing and it’s one of our strengths, but when I’m in the second unit I get a bit more of a ball dominant role so there’s more shots available. The guys in that unit are really fun to play with.”

“You have to take advantage of big moments in the game.”

Along with the mental adjustment of accepting the new role, the move to the second unit meant Wright had to change his approach to the game. 

Sitting out the first few minutes allows him to get a feel for what the team needs from him when he takes the floor. 

“The good thing is you get to see how the game is going and what the team needs, and you have to take advantage of big moments in the game. 

“If I’m coming into the game with three minutes left in the first quarter, I need to analyse how I fit into what the team is doing if we’re up or how I make an impact to turn the game if we’re down.

“It can actually be a little harder to get yourself into the game too, so the other priority is to make sure I find a way to stay ready for when my name is called.”

Paternostro said that Wright has been “one of the best players in the league coming off the bench”, leaving him firmly in the running for the SLB Sixth Man of the Year award. It’s not something he’s going after directly, but it would be an apt appreciation of what he has brought to the Club this year. 

“I’m not chasing individual awards, I want to win championships, but it’s something I can definitely strive for. Hopefully I’ve been playing well enough to be in that conversation. I’d love to be considered for it.”

“The bigger the moment the higher you should rise”: Fighting back against Newcastle

Wright’s biggest moment of the season came under the bright lights. With the Riders down 20 on aggregate going into the fourth quarter, Wright scored 14 in the final period as the Riders mounted a comeback.

They made it a one possession game late, and despite ultimately falling short, the American showed all the heart and hustle possible in a player.

“It was a big moment, and I was angry.” said Wright, when explaining what went into the momentous fourth quarter effort. 

“I thought we should have played better, and I was frustrated with how I was playing and the way things were going. I hate losing. I thought we could beat them, so I was motivated. 

“I’ve tried to replicate that energy since then. Sometimes you get in a zone where you’re seeing red. You stop caring about missing shots and getting beat and just try everything to make plays. 

“It felt like freedom. I was hitting shots and the crowd were getting into it. That was a really fun and competitive game, and the more competitive the game is the harder you go. The bigger the moment the higher you should rise, and that’s what I tried to do in that moment.

“Obviously we didn’t get the result we wanted but just fighting back and showing we weren’t going to go out like that was a positive.”

“We’re really excited to compete for championships“

With the Riders on the back nine of the season, the next stretch is pivotal for the club’s hopes of silverware. They currently sit third in the league standings in a three-way fight for the Championship title. 

London Lions, Sheffield Sharks and Leicester Riders all have four losses, deadlocked at the top. 

Wright is optimistic that Leicester can emerge the victors with their current play. 

“We have really high expectations. We know that we’ve missed some opportunities that I think we could have done better with, but overall we’ve been consistent responding to any losses we do have really well. 

“It’s a long season and we’ve put ourselves in a position to be at the top of the table by the end of it. We feel really good about where we are basketball wise. 

“Now we’re in the home stretch, and we’re really excited to compete for championships and we’re in a position where we feel like if we stay who we are and make a push we can be in a really good spot going into the playoffs.” 

Wright returns to SLB action on Friday, February 28, against Surrey 89ers at home.

Tickets are still available for the doubleheader, which features Riders women taking on Cardiff Met Archers before the men play Surrey.

Get your tickets here!
Preview: Caledonia Gladiators vs Leicester Riders
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Report: Riders fall in a close battle in Bristol
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Riders Media - 17th February 2025
Leicester Riders announce changes to April tip-off times

Leicester Riders can announce that the tip-off times for two of their home games in April have been changed. 

The games, against Cheshire Phoenix and Caledonia Gladiators, were originally scheduled for 4 pm on Sunday, April 20, and Sunday, April 27. Both games will now tip off at 3 pm.

If you have already purchased tickets for either of these games and can no longer attend due to the time change, please contact Leicester Riders reception at reception@leicesterarena.co.uk to have your ticket transferred to an alternative game.
Preview: Caledonia Gladiators vs Leicester Riders
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Leicester Riders tip off time change vs Cheshire Phoenix
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Charlie Walker - 16th February 2025
Report: Zach Jackson brilliance leads Riders team win in Manchester

Leicester Riders made it back-to-back league wins after beating Manchester Basketball 87-74 on the road in the Super League Basketball Championship. 

Zach Jackson proved a cut above from wire-to-wire, finishing with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. When Manchester fought back to make it a one possession game in the third, his introduction snatched back momentum and allowed Leicester to build a platform to see it out late.

The Riders’ ball movement and team play was elite from start to finish. They generated wide open looks all afternoon and knocked down shots at an efficient rate, going 39% from three on the game. 

Charles Thompson dominated on both ends, finishing with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. He made the play of the game in the third with an emphatic slam on the drive. 

Meanwhile Manchester, led by 21 from Makai Ashton-Langford, kept pace with Leicester for much of the game with big shot making in key spots. They couldn’t find an answer to Jackson in the fourth however, and continued their five game slide in Championship action.

The Riders improved to 13-4 on the season going into the international break. 

Not much in high-scoring first

The sides duelled out a high-scoring first, with Leicester taking the lead from the jump.

Jaylin Hunter, playing the role of conductor, led Leicester to a 14-7 lead by pulling the strings from the point. With Manchetser attempting to send him to his right, he obliged by throwing in a teardrop floater four minutes into the game. 

Hunter’s finish followed up threes from Riley Abercrombie and Jackson in the opening stages of the game as Leicester led from the front. 

Ashton-Langford had the response for Manchetser, scoring 7 quick points including a spin move for an and-one play. The hosts found their way to the foul line frequently to keep in touch. 

Duke Shelton, following his Player of the Game performance on Thursday, brought energy off the bench as the end of the first neared. He put the moves on Elijah Ifejeh from the elbow, spinning in for two. He then muscled in for an and-one on Ifejeh a minute later. 

But also coming in off the bench was Manchester’s Nick Lewis, who set off a succession of threes for the hosts as they got back into the tie. They went 4-6 from deep in the first 10 minutes to make it 27-32. 

Missed chances keeps Manchester in the game

A continual exchange of buckets started the second period, as Manchester found retorts to Leicester’s scores to maintain their deficit. 

The Riders, with a three from Spencer Johnson and an and-one from Hunter at the hoop, threatened to pull away, but Cody John and Nathan Cayo reeled the Riders in with scores of their own. 

Missed opportunities prevented a big halftime lead for Leicester, with their shooters missing open threes throughout the second. Jackson did knock one down with three minutes remaining in the half, however, to put the visitors up eight. 

Ethan Wright, who was active in the passing lanes defensively to disrupt the Manchester offence, finished the half at the foul line, making it 49-40 to the Riders at the break. 

Abercrombie hits back after Manchester flurry

Starting the second half, Thompson gave Leicester their first double digit lead running the triangle with Hunter and Jackson. Thompson then swatted Ian Dubose on the drive for his third block of the afternoon. 

But back-to-back threes from Ashton-Langford, bringing him to a game-high 17 points three minutes into the third, was the latest response for a Manchester team still not going away, making it back to a five point game in a flash. 

Manchester couldn’t miss to start the half. Cayo was the next to connect from distance. He cut it to a one score game with 3:37 left in the third with a finish inside. 

Thompson made the play of the game in the midst of the Manchester run to snatch momentum back. He beat Ifejeh on the perimeter before rising for a Statue of Liberty jam on the drive. He kicked off a dunk party, as Abercrombie got in on the action with a driving stuff of his own on the next possession. 

Abercrombie, in typical fashion, caught a heater from deep to take control of the game back. He hit three in a row from behind the arc, making it 71-62 with one left. 

Jackson takes Riders over the line

Jackson joined Ashton-Langford at 17 points to start the final period with a finish at the rim. 

Leicester struggled to control the glass to kill the game, however, with Manchester pulling down three offensive boards in as many minutes. That kept the Leicester lead at seven.

The difference between the sides was Jackson, who took over the fourth. He sank tough looks, off the dribble and over contests throughout to sink Manchester heads. 

On the other end, Leicester’s defence held Manchetser scoreless through four minutes in the final stanza- Zak Irvin ending the drought at the rim. 

Thompson made his game tally 16 with an and-one finish driving the lane. Hunter then got to the teeth after breaking a double team to all but seal the Riders win with 3:08 on the clock, Leicester up 86-72. 

The Riders now take a two week break from action, returning home on February 28 to take on Surrey 89ers.

You can get tickets here!
Preview: Caledonia Gladiators vs Leicester Riders
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Report: Riders fall in a close battle in Bristol
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Charlie Walker - 15th February 2025
Preview: Leicester Riders at Manchester Basketball

Leicester Riders take on Manchester Basketball on the road in their last action before the international break. 

They’re high on confidence after a 110-84 win against Cheshire Phoenix on Thursday which improved them to 12-4 in the Super League Basketball Championship standings. 

Meanwhile Manchester look for a bounce back after falling 93-74 against Sheffield Sharks midweek. 

Here’s all you need to know about the fixture…

Leicester hunting down top spot

Thursday’s win against the Phoenix meant the Riders remained within touching distance of the top of the Super League Basketball standings, as they continued their season-long battle with Sheffield Sharks and London Lions. 

It was a complete team effort to beat Cheshire with 52 bench points scored on the night. Duke Shelton took home Player of the Game honours with 19 points and 8 rebounds, dominating the paint with his post play wire-to-wire.

It was the first time the Riders had scored a century of points since October- their offence clicking into gear for the home stretch of the season. 

The Riders dished 32 assists that night, led by 9 from star guard Jaylin Hunter. That continues the trend of team basketball Leicester have played all season to lead all teams in assists per game with 21.7. 

On the defensive end, they blocked six shots to maintain their elite defensive record and league-leading blocks average. Five players sent away Cheshire shots on the Riders roster, led by 2 from Ethan Wright off the bench. 

The Riders’ shot blocking prowess will be pivotal against the high-flying Manchester team with an affinity for playing above the rim. 

Manchester look to stop four game slide 

Manchester Basketball look to get their season back on track after four League defeats on the bounce. 

The North Westerners appeared to be in rhythm after winning four games in a row in December, but recent form has seen them slide back down the table into seventh with a 5-11 record. 

Giving up 88.4 points per game, Manchester allow the second most points in the League behind the Riders’ midweek opponents, Cheshire Phoenix. Their opponents have scored over 80 in every game in their four game slide. 

Offensively, Manchester remain a fastbreak threat, punishing their opponent’s mistakes at the highest rate in the league. They score the most points from turnovers of any team, running in transition with killer quickness. 

Nathan Cayo leads their scoring with 16.7 points per game, putting him sixth among all players, a place behind Leicester’s Zach Jackson. The CEBL champion has scored in double digits in all but one league game this season, and will look for another big performance against the Riders to get his side back in the win column. 

Previous meeting 

The sides last met in the Super League Basketball Cup Quarter-Final in Manchester- the Riders coming away 85-77 victors. 

The Riders led by as much as 15 in the fourth, but having played three games in six days and playing a Manchester team which hadn’t played in 20 days, they hung on for the win late on tired legs with big plays in the clutch.

Jackson hit the dagger, a floater off the dribble, and led the game with 18 points and 5 assists to earn Player of the Game. 

Where to watch

This game will be streamed live on DAZN. You can watch it here!
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Charlie Walker - 13th February 2025
Report: Shelton leads Riders blowout of Phoenix

Leicester Riders returned to Super League Basketball action with a bang, blowing out Cheshire Phoenix at home 110-87.

Leading the Leicester bench, which scored 52 on the night, Duke Shelton took home Player of the Game honours with 19 points and 8 rebounds, dominating the paint with his post play wire-to-wire. 

Zach Jackson logged 19 points and 6 rebounds, meanwhile Ethan Wright went off for 17 in 22 minutes off the bench. 

It was a big night from the foul line, with the Riders going 29-32 on their free throws, Shelton leading the team with 11-12 on his charity shots.

The win brings the Riders to 11-4 in their hunt for top spot in the standings. 

Meanwhile Cheshire gave up 100 for the third game straight, struggling to find defensive resistance as they fell under .500 on the season. They were led by Cameron Holden’s 18.

Riders edge back and forth start

The game started with a long exchange of buckets, the Riders emerging 12-11 leaders midway through the period. 

Charles Thompson had the highlight of the game early, throwing down a thunderous jam over Cheshire’s Holden after driving hard inside. He took the feed from Jaylin Hunter before rising over Holden’s contest and putting it through on his head. 

That was one of two monster slams in the first ten minutes of action. With a minute left, Shelton drove an open lane before rising high for a right-handed stuff again over Holden. Shelton drew contact from his defender and was sent to the line for a three-point play.

On the other end, Holden had the best of the opening period, scoring 11 for the visitors. His play meant the Phoenix trailed by only two after one, following Conner Washington’s buzzer-beater to close it. 

Shelton takes over second

Washington came into the game hot, scoring 7 off the bench in 5 minutes including two from the elbow to beat the buzzer. Leicester’s bench scored 23 of the team’s first 38 after Ethan Wright’s spin finish at the rim. 

Shelton continued his rim rocking start with a carbon copy of his earlier jam, before Wright followed with a corner three to continue the bench dominance. That was in response to Skyler White’s three which had potential to spark life into the Phoenix cause. 

The spark was lit with three minutes to go until half, however, as Holden and Nick Timberlake combined for five quick points, making it a single digit affair. But a Rob Paternostro timeout put that to bed, the Riders coming out of the huddle with Zach Jackson free throws and Shelton’s 15th points of the evening. 

Shelton scored 13 in the second period, 9 coming at the foul line, to extend the Riders’ lead. 

Paternostro brought out a small ball lineup to close the period. With five shooters on the court, Jackson hit from deep for the first time in the game. That was the Riders’ final field goal of the half, which ended 61-48. 

Riders blow game open in the third

The Phoenix came gunning out the gate with a pair of threes to start the second half, chipping into their deficit. Leicester had a response through Abercrombie and Spencer Johnson from deep, but Cheshire were back within reach with a 10 point difference. 

The Riders took firm control of the third shortly afterwards, however. Johnson hit from deep again to cap off a 7-0 run and put the hosts up 17. The run was then extended to 12 unanswered following a Phoenix timeout. 

J’Raan Brooks ended the third with a three on the move to beat the buzzer, making it 32 on the quarter and 94 through three to give the Riders a 23 point lead with 10 minutes left. 

Defensive intensity sees out the game

Leicester locked down on defence to start the fourth, keeping Cheshire scoreless through four minutes with big blocks from Jackson and Wright. 

It was a low-scoring period compared to the three that preceded it as the Riders killed the game off with killer intensity. Wright brought his game tally to 17 with five straight points, including a three from the wing. 

Washington headed to the foul line for the final Riders points of the night, concluding a 16-16 quarter.

The Riders are back at home on Friday, February 28, taking on Surrey 89ers in the Championship.

You can get tickets here!
Preview: Caledonia Gladiators vs Leicester Riders
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Leicester Riders tip off time change vs Cheshire Phoenix
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Report: Riders fall in a close battle in Bristol
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Charlie Walker - 12th February 2025
Preview: Leicester Riders vs Surrey 89ers

Leicester Riders are set for a return to Super League Basketball Championship action, taking on the 8-8 Cheshire Phoenix in Thursday night action. 

The Riders look to respond to the end of their Cup campaign last weekend, meanwhile the Phoenix need to bounce back from back-to-back league losses which brought their record to .500. 

Here’s how the game is shaping up…

Fixture information 

Leicester Riders vs Cheshire Phoenix

Super League Basketball Championship

Mattioli Arena, Leicester

Thursday, February 13, 7:30 pm

Get tickets here!

Leicester return to League action

Leicester Riders are faced with an opportunity to respond to a disappointing loss on Sunday. They fell out of the Cup competition at the Semi-Final stage to Surrey 89ers over two legs. The sides entered the Second Leg locked at 93 each, and in a thriller in Leicester it was the Niners who had enough late in the clutch to hold off a Riders charge led by Zach Jackson. 

Jackson scored seven straight down the stretch and had the ball in his hands with seconds left with a chance to tie. He lost his handle driving to the hoop, however, and Leicester fell short of a comeback. 

The American wing led the team with 22 points and 7 rebounds in an impressive display. 

Now the Riders can turn their attention back to the League, where they are locked in a three-way fight for the top of the table. The Riders, with a 10-4 record, are level on losses with London Lions and Sheffield Sharks ahead of them having played less games than their rivals.

This game, therefore, represents an opportunity to make up some ground with games in hand and climb up the standings with a win. 

Cheshire look for bounce back

After winning four games in a row to improve to 8-6 on the season, the Cheshire Phoenix enter this game on a poor run of form after blowout losses to Bristol Flyers and Newcastle Eagles. 

They found themselves down 22-0 to start the game at home against the Flyers, giving up 122 on the night and allowing Bristol to go 17-22 from deep, then fell 110-101 to Trophy Champions Newcastle Eagles, as the Eagles scored 31 in the final period in the North East. 

The last two fixtures have contributed to the Phoenix allowing the most points per game in Super League Basketball at 94.2. On the other end, they lead the League in points per game, playing out some of the highest scoring games in British basketball this year.

Cheshire flies up and down the court each and every night, playing at a league-leading pace. Their midseason addition Larry Austin Jr, who came back to the Club after playing last season in Newcastle, is one of the catalysts for this, pushing the pace in transition at every opportunity. 

Austin Jr was recently named SLB Player of the Month for his play in January, which saw him average 16 points and 8 assists per game.

This game, therefore, will feature push and pull between the flying Phoenix and the Riders, who are one of the slowest playing teams in SLB. Leicester will look to keep Cheshire in the halfcourt in order to play the game on their terms. 

Previous meeting

These teams last faced to start December, playing out a nail biter in Cheshire. 

Leicester looked to have sealed the game last, with Riley Abercrombie’s free throws putting them up 12 with 3:13 on the clock. But a late Cheshire surge, led by Cam Holden, meant Tyreek Scott-Grayson was at the foul line shooting three free throws for the tie. 

He made the first two, but in dramatic fashion missed the third, allowing Charles Thompson to pull down the rebound for a Riders win. 

Abercrombie led the team with 16, in a game with six Riders scorers finishing in double digits. 

Tickets still available!

Tickets are still available for tomorrow’s action! You can secure your seat here!
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Charlie Walker - 9th February 2025
Report: Riders fall to 89ers to end Cup campaign

Leicester Riders lost to Surrey 89ers 86-90 to fall out of the Super League Basketball Cup at the Semi-Final stage. 

It was a hard fought affair wire-to-wire, leading to Zach Jackson having a chance to tie it at the rim with four seconds left. But he stepped on the line after losing control of the ball, and the Riders fell just short. 

Jackson scored seven straight in the fourth to put Leicester in position to win it. He led the team with 22 points and 7 rebounds in an impressive display. Jaylin Hunter made big plays throughout the game to keep Leicester in it, finishing with 18 on the night. 

Leicester suffered from missed shots in the game, finishing 6-30 from three. Meanwhile Surrey’s shooters were on point in key moments, Nedas Cholevinskas hit four threes in the final quarter to get the 89ers over the line. The young brit finished with 19 points. 

Surrey bounce back from strong Riders start

Hunter, after ending Friday’s First Leg with a game-tying three, picked up where he left off with an assist to Thompson and a fadeaway and-one from midrange. 

Leicester’s rim protection made a statement to start the game with three blocks, two from the league leader Charles Thompson and one from Riley Abercrombie, who pinned Cam Gooden’s layup to the glass.

Back-to-back threes from Spencer Johnson and Abercrombie meant Leicester had a 13-5 start. 

Meanwhile the Niners missed on their first four three point attempts, but 10 points in the paint in seven minutes kept them in contention in the opening period. They stayed persistent against Leicester’s shot blocking threat. 

Thompson, charging downhill on the break, scored the Riders’ final points of the first with an and-one finish, before Gooden ended the period at the foul line to make it 23-19. 

Surrey end half hot to take lead into the break

The Riders couldn’t find separation in the second, despite their success driving to the hole. Jackson got Leicester going in the quarter, which started with four different Leicester scorers, but 4 points from Gooden kept Surrey within a score, and Mervin James tied the game at 31 with a mid range jumper. 

The Niners’ shooters made tough shots throughout the second, swishing fadeaways at a high rate. They took the lead through a contested shot from Gooden. Surrey also found their way to the foul line consistently to keep the score ticking over. 

But Leicester snatched momentum with two minutes left in the half. Duke Shelton escaped in the pick-and-roll with Hunter to throw down a two-handed slam, before Jackson snatched the ball from James and threw one down on the fastbreak. 

Surrey had the best of the end of the half. They scored eight straight, including two threes, making it 48-55 going into the locker rooms. 

Tough shooting quarter leaves Riders in fourth quarter hole

Thompson came out of the half on a mission. He was fouled on a jam, swatted James’ shot, then stole the ball on the next possession and went coast-to-coast for two. 

Jackson followed with an open three but Surrey kept draining threes on the other end to keep their lead. Gooden hit one on the break to make it 58-68. 

Meanwhile Leicester went cold from deep. They missed threes on four straight possessions in an attempt to get back in it, making it 4-20 from three on the night. 

They found form as the clock ticked down in the third. A 10-3 run made it a five point game, with Jackson hitting from the midrange behind a raucous Riders’ crowd. The third ended with Hunter at the line, who made it 70-74 with one to play. 

Cholevinskas builds Surrey lead

The Riders took the lid of the three ball to start the fourth, as Hunter hit from the corner. But Cholevinskas hit two big threes to keep the Riders at arm’s length. 

Thompson fed Abercrombie for a throw down to bring it to a one point difference, and the Riders had two shots for the lead from three, but missed both. On the other end, Cholevinskas stayed red hot for another two triples from the wing to make it seven with 3:24 left. 

Jackson takes over to give Riders a chance late 

Jackson stepped up in response, hitting a three over a contest to cut it back to four. He then picked up Jalen Ray on the other end and forced a miss inside. James stepped up for Surrey a minute later and added two to the visitor’s score, however. 

Continuing his takeover in the clutch, Jackson got to the line twice in response to cut it to a one possession game. His second trip was forced after Johnson rose high for a crucial offensive board. 

The ball fell to Cholevinskas to seal it with 20 seconds left, but he missed, giving Leicester to tie or take the lead. Jackson drove to the hoop but stepped on the line, giving it back to the Niners. 

Jordan Hunt was sent to the foul line, making both to end the game. 
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Charlie Walker - 7th February 2025
Report: Leicester Riders all square with Surrey 89ers after Cup Semi-Final First Leg

Leicester Riders and Surrey 89ers are locked at 93 each after the First Leg of the Super League Basketball Cup Semi-Final.

Surrey had a red hot start, and led by 28 points and 11 rebounds from Jalen Ray, had the lead for much of the game. But Riley Abercrombie caught fire for four straight threes in the third to get the Riders back into contention, and the visitors tied the game with seconds left through a three from Jaylin Hunter. 

Charles Thompson’s 20 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks led Leicester- his dominance inside allowed the Riders to battle back late. Abercrombie finished with 19 and Hunter with 18 in a high-scoring affair. 

The emphasis will be on rebounding for Sunday’s Second Leg. Surrey, led by Dame Adelekun’s 6 offensive boards contributing to 15 total rebounds, pulled down 19 offensive rebounds in the game leading to 17 second chance points. 

Meanwhile Leicester will look to carry their hot hand back home, shooting 41% from three on the night led by a 5-8 night from deep from Abercrombie. 

Slow start allows early Surrey lead

The start was breathless in an electric Surrey Sports Park. Both sides were red hot from the jump, exchanging constant jabs in the opening minutes. 

Spencer Johnson drained a three at the end of the shot clock to get Leicester underway, meanwhile Adelekun scored six points to lead Surrey to a 15-9 start. The big man’s rebounding made an impressive impact on the opening stages as the Niners took the lead.

Zach Jackson battled down low to tie it at 15, but the three ball fell for Surrey as they took a 10 point lead in the first. Ray hit two from beyond the arc, and the hosts ended the period up 31-19. 

Riders fight back to keep it close at half

Thompson started the second quarter fightback with a two-handed jam and a block on Adelekun, before Hunter took charge with a step in midrange and an and-one in transition. 

The Riders upped the pace of the game to find buckets on the break. After stealing the ball from Nedas Cholevinskas, Ethan Wright threw a touchdown pass to Thompson at the rim who finished for two and cut the difference to three. 

The Riders started the second on an 18-6 run to get straight back in the tie. Wright followed his assist with a turnaround, stepback three off an inbound pass to tie it up. 

Surrey found themselves in foul trouble early in the second, which saw the Riders to the free throw line frequently. That kept the scoreboard ticking over as Leicester fought to snatch the lead for the first time since the opening minute. 

They were unable to do so in the second quarter, with Surrey’s shooters making plays to maintain a narrow advantage. Ray sized up Thompson on the perimeter and connected from deep to give them a three point lead at the half. 

Abercrombie third quarter takeover 

A minute into the second half, threes from Jackson and Johnson took the lead for Leicester. The Niners’ response came from tough shot making in the midrange, as Cholevinskas and Ray banked in for two. 

The hosts rebuilt a seven point lead with a three from New Zealander Jordan Hunt, forcing a Riders timeout with 5:15 left in the third. 

After Surrey led much of the period, with red hot shooting from Ray, Abercrombie caught fire. He exploded for 12 straight points, draining four threes in a row to cut it to a one point game with one to play at 73-72. 

Surrey build foundation in fourth

Starting the fourth in close, Thompson took the lead for Leicester. An exchange of buckets followed, concluded by a monster Adelekun jam as the score swung back and forth. Thompson promptly responded in transition with a jam of his own minutes later. 

Abercrombie, still on fire after this third quarter outburst, hit his fifth three of the game off an inbound, meaning the game was tied at 83 with five minutes on the clock. 

Surrey seized control late in the game after Ray brought his tally to 28 with an and-one. Mervin James followed Ray with a putback next time out, and Adelekun finished in the post for another two. 

Riders battle back in dying minutes

On the other end, Hunter hit a transition three, before Thompson battled for two offensive boards on one possession before making an and-one play of his own. 

A series of misses down the stretch meant Leicester had the ball down three with six seconds left. Hunter caught the inbound, then hit a turnaround three to tie the game at 93. 

Tayo Ogendengbe missed on the buzzer for Surrey, and the sides were all square after the first leg. 

The Riders return to Leicester for the Semi-Final Second Leg on Sunday, at Mattioli Arena. A win would see them through to the Final at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on March 9.

Tickets are still available for Sunday’s Second Leg at Mattioli Arena Leicester. Get yours here!
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Charlie Walker - 6th February 2025
Cup Semi-Final First Leg preview: Leicester Riders at Surrey 89ers

Leicester Riders are ready to take on Surrey 89ers over two legs in the Super League Basketball Cup Semi-Final. 

The first leg takes place in Surrey on February 7- a crucial tie for the outcome of this matchup. 

Here’s all you need to know ahead of the biggest games of the Riders’ season thus far…

Fixture information

Surrey 89ers vs Leicester Riders
SLB Cup Semi-Final First Leg
Friday, February 7, 7:30 pm
Surrey Sports Park

First Leg importance 

Leicester Riders have gotten the better of the 89ers so far this season, going undefeated through their four games against each other. 

READ MORE: Season series so far: Leicester Riders vs Surrey 89ers

They will therefore bring confidence into this pivotal first game, having learned lessons from their Trophy Semi-Final against Newcastle Eagles in December. 

The Riders got down big in the first half of the first leg, and therefore trailed going back to Leicester for the second. They put up a fight wire-to-wire, but the poor run in the first leg was too much to overcome, and the Riders’ Trophy journey ended there. 

Riley Abercrombie, previewing the Semi-Final midweek, emphasised the importance of the First Leg: “We really focused this week on having a good start to Friday’s game. Having experienced this aggregate scoring game before, we know how important the First Leg can be. 

“Getting down big to Newcastle really hurt us in the Second Leg, so making sure we go down to Surrey, put in a good performance and put ourselves in a position to come back to Leicester on Sunday and have a great game.”

Recent form

The Riders enter this game with momentum behind them, putting on one of the most impressive performances of the season against Bristol Flyers last week.

They won 94-59, leading wire-to-wire behind Zach Jackson’s 20 points. The bench performed exceptionally, scoring 33, led by Duke Shelton’s Player of the Game performance which saw him log 15 points and 13 rebounds. 

That’s back-to-back impressive bench efforts for the Riders. They scored 22 in the Cup Quarter-Final against Manchester Basketball which earned them this matchup with Surrey- Ethan Wright leading them with 12. 

Meanwhile Surrey bounced back from a three game slide in their previous fixture. They’ve been duelling out closely fought games all season long, and emerged 77-68 victors on the road to Caledonia Gladiators on February 2. 

Talented wing Mervin James led the team with 17 points off 11 shots to improve the Niners to 5-10 on the year. 

Key matchup

Big men Charles Thompson and Dame Adelekun have enjoyed battles down low in each of the matchups between these teams this season. 

Thompson, the front runner for the SLB Defensive Player of the Year award at the midpoint of the season, has been his typically impressive self against Surrey in each of the four games. He’s averaged 11.5 points and 1.75 blocks, and thrown down some of his most explosive jams in Surrey Sports Park. 

In his last trip to Surrey, Thompson put up 18 points and 4 blocks, finding no answer from the Niners on both ends of the floor. He leads the League in blocks per game with 2.9, and is second in rebounds with 8.8 per game. 

The League leader in rebounds is his opposite number in this matchup, Adelekun, who is averaging 12.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Adelekun also had 18 points in his last game against Leicester, and has stuffed the stat sheet for Surrey this year. 

He put up double digit rebounds for five straight league games to start the New Year, including a 26 and 16 effort against Manchester January 24. 

With his monster rebounding games and ability to create second chance points for his team consistently, Adelekun is a constant threat on any given night. 

Where to watch

This game will be shown live on DAZN. You can watch it here!

The Second Leg of this Semi-Final matchup will be played in Leicester on Sunday. You can get tickets here!
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Riders Media - 5th February 2025
Leicester Riders confirm April schedule changes

Leicester Riders can confirm changes to their 2024-25 schedule. 

The Club’s Super League Basketball Championship games originally against Cheshire Phoenix on April 4, and London Lions on April 20, have been swapped. 

The dates and timings of these games have not been altered, only the opponents the Riders will play on those dates. 

Fixture changes

Friday, April 4, 7:30 pm

WAS: Leicester Riders vs Cheshire Phoenix

NOW: Leicester Riders vs London Lions

Sunday, April 20, 4 pm

WAS: Leicester Riders vs London Lions

NOW: Leicester Riders vs Cheshire Phoenix

If you have purchased tickets to these games, they will still be valid for the same date. For example, if you purchased tickets to see the Riders play Cheshire Phoenix on April 4, your ticket will be valid to see the Riders play London Lions on April 4.

If you wish to change your ticket to the game against the original opponent, please contact Leicester Riders reception at reception@leicesterarena.co.uk. 
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Charlie Walker - 4th February 2025
Season series: Leicester Riders vs Surrey 89ers

Leicester Riders and Surrey 89ers are set to face off over two legs in the Super League Basketball Cup Semi-Final this weekend. 

The winner will progress to the Final at Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham on March 9 to fight for the second piece of SLB silverware available for clubs this season. 

Leicester and Surrey are familiar foes, having gone head-to-head four times so far in all competitions, the Riders taking victory on all four occasions.

Here’s a breakdown of the season series so far… 

Leicester sweep season series so far

Leicester have gotten the best of the season series from the jump this year. During the Riders’ undefeated run through the Trophy group, they took on the Niners back-to-back in October for two wins, then beat them twice early in the Championship season. 

Leicester won by an average margin of 14.5 points per game, winning each fixture by double digits, scoring over 80 each time and holding Surrey to under 80 points on every occasion. 

It started with 87-75 and 89-76 wins in the Trophy group, one home and one away. Then the Riders started their Championship campaign with a trip to Surrey, winning 82-66, then took another road win before Christmas 89-72. 

Leicester’s successes in Guildford will breed confidence in the Riders’ roster going into their biggest games of the season so far. 

Riders’ stars shining in Surrey

Zach Jackson, the Riders’ leading scorer on the season, has led Leicester through the season series with Surrey by averaging 17.25 points per game. 

He’s put up 20 twice against the Niners, his best outing coming in the Trophy on the road where he logged 21 points on 53.8% shooting from the field. 

Defensively, Charles Thompson has put in dominant performances at the rim, sending four shots away in his last trip to Surrey, meanwhile Jaylin Hunter has found success pulling the strings from the backcourt with 13 points and 7.75 assists per game.

For Surrey, Cameron Gooden went off for the most points of this series with 22 points to kick off the SLB Championship. He’s averaged the most points for the Niners with 13.25 points.

Dame Adelekun also impressed with his ability on the boards through his games against Leicester, putting up a monster 10 points and 18 rebounds at home in October. 

Leicester better their season averages

The Riders have bettered most of their season averages against Surrey this season. 

Scoring 86.75 points per game, the Riders shoot 48.55% from the field and dish 21.5 assists per game, all better than their average numbers in all competitions. 

Their shooting from distance, despite the high scoring numbers, has been slightly below their typical number on the season at 35.89%, and Leicester will be locked into their foul shooting also. 

They went 3-7 from the line in their last matchup against Surrey, and 66% in their four games against the Niners this year- 9% below their norm. Having left 19 points at the foul stripe in the season series, they’ll be locked in on improving that number this weekend. 

Meanwhile defensively, Leicester have held the Niners to only 72.25 points per game. Surrey average 79.45 points in all competitions this year, and Leicester hold their opponents to 78.32 points on average, therefore Leicester will look to lean on their defensive prowess to continue their success in the series. 

Fixture information

The first leg of this Semi-Final will be played on Friday, February 7, in Surrey, tipping off at 7:30 pm.

You can watch it live on DAZN here.

The return leg in Leicester will be on Sunday, February 9, tipping off at 3 pm.

All tickets are £10- get yours here!
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Riders Media - 1st February 2025
Super League Basketball Statement

Super League Basketball was created by the existing clubs in the summer of 2024 and awarded the license to operate a professional league in Great Britain for a period of three years. Since then, clubs have collectively invested over £15 million to establish an exciting foundation for growth.

SLB clubs in good faith engaged with the British Basketball Federation throughout last summer to continue elite professional men’s and women’s basketball in Great Britain.

It was understood then that a collaborative approach would be undertaken to secure a longer-term licence on behalf of the SLB. This has not happened, and we have not at any time been consulted or included in its development, despite the fact we were listed as key stakeholders in the tender application process.

Following the BBF’s decision to run an open invitation to tender for the long-term license to run the men’s professional league in GB, the SLB’s shareholders and directors unanimously took the difficult decision to withdraw from the process after concerns were raised over the legality of the BBF’s actions.

Despite communicating these concerns to the BBF over a period of months, the SLB never received any substantive responses and the tender document did not allow for any changes to fees and conditions. This approach would have rendered the league un-investable.

We will continue to engage with all necessary stakeholders in order to safeguard the future of basketball in Great Britain.

Vaughn Millette
Chair, Super League Basketball
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