Leicester Riders look to book their place in the Super League Basketball Trophy semi-final with a win against Surrey 89ers.
It’s the second of back-to-back games against Surrey for the Riders, who took a hard-fought 87-75 win from the south on Saturday to improve to 3-0 on the season.
The victory on the road means one win from the Riders’ last three group games would see them progress to the next round. Meanwhile, the Niners look to pick themselves up from three losses on the bounce, and keep their slim semi-final hopes alive with a win in Leicester.
Here’s all you need to know about the fixture…
Battle tested in Surrey
Leicester’s hot start to the season has put them in pole position to win the Super League Basketball South Group with three games left.
Back-to-back road wins in London and Surrey have made it a 3-0 start to the season, the latter proving the toughest task of the year so far for Rob Paternostro’s side.
A two week break from action saw the Riders start slow in Surrey. They were down by as much as 16 in the opening period, before hustle plays from the team’s second unit sparked a comeback in the second half.
“We knew they’d come out aggressive,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro following the win. “They’d lost the last two games, and they really put it on us early.
“The second unit, led by Conner Washington, really turned the game around for us. Their defensive aggressiveness really got us going, and in the second half our defence got better and better.
“The first group saw their effort and that got them going. We were on our toes to start the second half after starting the game a little flat-footed.”
Star wing Zach Jackson led Leicester on the game with 21 points, shooting 7-10 from the field. Riley Abercrombie played an aggressive game on his way to 14 points, and Spencer Johnson came off the bench for 11, hitting big shots in timely moments throughout the tie.
It was the first test the Riders have faced in the clutch this season, and they made the plays to seal the win when the stakes were highest.
“This was a different type of game to the ones we’d played recently,” added Paternostro. “We had to battle back and see it out in the fourth quarter. These guys certainly showed today they had the composure to see it out.”
Niners down, but not out
Saturday’s result meant Surrey face an almighty task to get out of their Trophy group. They now need to win their remaining group games, and hope that results and points differential swings in their favour to take Leicester’s place in the semi finals.
That journey starts on Wednesday, where the Niners will have to beat the Riders to give themselves a chance to progress.
They will take some confidence from Surrey after playing the Riders closer than any of their opponents so far this season. Their hot start, led from defensive intensity, saw Surrey dominate the opening stages of the game before the Riders found form and took charge of proceedings.
Mervin James was their star of the night with 19 points, but it was turnovers that proved the ultimate difference between the sides as four of the Surrey starters gave possession away more than three times.
But this desperate Surrey side will look to recapture the start of Saturday’s game in this one to keep their Trophy hopes alive.
Where to watch
Tickets are still available for Wednesday’s game- get down to the Arena to help the team to the semi finals!
Get your tickets here– kids go for a quid with the code KFAQ!
