Leicester Riders are set for the second leg in the Super League Basketball Trophy Semi-Final against Newcastle Eagles.
The Riders need to overcome a four point deficit in the aggregate score in order to progress to the Final at the Utilita Arena, Birmingham. They enter the game in high spirits after four straight wins in all competitions.
Meanwhile the Eagles, who started the season well, look to bounce back from two straight losses, to the Riders in the League last weekend and the Caledonia Gladiators in the Cup on Friday.
Here’s all you need to know:
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Newcastle Eagles
Super League Basketball Trophy Semi-Final second leg
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Sunday December 22, 5:30 pm
First Leg Recap
Leicester Riders pulled off a second half fightback in the first leg to keep their Trophy final hopes alive.
Down 17 points at the half, the Riders made it a four point game at the final buzzer. The final score was 95-91, and the sides will go back to Leicester with the tie in the balance for the second leg.
Zach Jackson led the game with 24 points and 5 rebounds, backed by Charles Thompson who was pivotal in the paint, going off for 18 points and 14 rebounds, making big buckets in the fourth.
After giving up 38 points in the second quarter, the Riders’ defence locked down in the second half to climb into the game. Turnovers proved costly against the roadrunning Eagles side, the Riders losing the battle 17-7, but Leicester’s second half shot making meant all is to play for in the second leg.
Newcastle’s Seneca Knight led their efforts with 23 points and 4 rebounds, but the bench was the difference in the game. The Eagles’ bench scored 47 to the Riders’ 18, with former Rider Josh Ward-Hibbert bagging 18.
Read our full report on the game here.
The Riders loss means they need a five point win in Leicester to win the tie over two legs.
Recent form
The Riders take nothing but confidence into this game, having beaten the Eagles in dominant fashion just a week ago in the Championship.
It was an 89-65 victory, and a start-to-finish dominant display for the Riders, who had contributions up and down the roster to win the bench battle 32-20. Zach Jackson led the way with a 20 point performance. He was backed by 17 from Jaylin Hunter and 12 off the bench for Ethan Wright.
It was a tough outing for the Eagles, who suffered only their second league defeat of the season. They were led by 13 from Mike Okauru, who went 6-15 from the floor.
Leicester followed up with a win in Surrey on Friday night, which saw them again win convincingly from the tip-off to the final buzzer.
Charles Thompson’s dominant display led the Riders from the frontcourt with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks, locking off the paint from wire to wire with his relentless effort and energy.
Meanwhile the Eagles, fresh off the loss to Leicester, took a tough loss to the bottom of the table Caledonia Gladiators in the Cup last time out. They fell down 16 in the first half, and despite a 56 point second half which saw them take the lead in the fourth, the Gladiators held on late to knock the Eagles out of the competition.
Mike Okauru led the Eagles with 23 in a typically high-scoring performance, but with only two starters scoring in double figures, Newcastle left themselves with too much to do in the second half.
Tickets avaliable!
Tickets to the game are still available. Get in the stands to get behind the team as they look to progress to the Final.
