Leicester Riders were beaten 108-94 by Cheshire Phoenix after a difficult opening three quarters left them with too much ground to make up, despite a strong offensive finish.
Cheshire established control early and led 30-18 after the opening period before taking a 55-37 advantage into half-time. Phoenix extended their lead to 83-60 through three quarters, but Riders continued to battle and produced their best offensive period of the game in the fourth, outscoring Cheshire 34-25 before the final buzzer.
Thomas Hurley led Leicester with 23 points, while Taryn Todd added 15, Deante Johnson Jr finished with 14, and Trent Johnson scored 10. Julian Mackey and Jaylon White both added eight points while helping create opportunities for their teammates throughout the game.
Phoenix Make Fast Start
Cheshire made the quicker start and put Leicester under pressure immediately.
Ryker Cisarik opened the scoring before Jo’el Emanuel added another basket to give Phoenix an early advantage. Rory Stewart and Cisarik continued the run as Cheshire established an 8-2 lead in the opening minutes.
Leicester began to settle through Jaylon White and Thomas Hurley, with Bernard Pelote also getting himself on the scoreboard, but Phoenix continued to find success inside and in transition.
Cisarik remained active around the basket while Isaiah Gray and Nazir Williams added to the home side’s advantage.
Riders fought to stay within touching distance through Todd and Hurley, but Jordan Hinds connected from three late in the quarter to send Cheshire into the first break leading 30-18.
Riders Battle Through Second Quarter
Leicester came out with more offensive rhythm in the second.
Todd got Riders going before Mackey connected from three, and Tomide Akinsiku also found the basket as Leicester looked to eat into the deficit.
Phoenix responded from the perimeter, however, with Emanuel knocking down a three before Gray and Stewart helped restore Cheshire’s advantage.
Deante Johnson Jr began to make his presence felt inside, scoring around the basket, while Hurley continued to attack offensively.
White and Victor Ndoukou added scores late in the half as Riders attempted to keep themselves in the contest.
But Phoenix continued to answer every Leicester run. Williams hit from behind the arc in the closing stages to leave Riders trailing 55-37 at half-time.
Cheshire Extend Advantage After Half-Time
Riders looked for a response coming out of the locker room, with Ndoukou getting to the free-throw line and Hurley connecting from three.
Phoenix again had an answer.
Stewart knocked down back-to-back threes during the opening stages of the third before Jaylen Searles added scores at the rim to keep Cheshire comfortably ahead.
Hurley continued to provide Leicester’s biggest offensive threat, attacking the basket and drawing fouls before knocking down another three midway through the period.
Todd also found success driving to the basket, while Johnson Jr continued working inside.
Leicester were able to create opportunities, with Mackey and White both helping move the ball, but Cheshire maintained control through Williams, Emanuel and Hinds.
Hinds converted in the final seconds of the quarter to make it 83-60 heading into the fourth.
Riders Finish Strong
Despite facing a 23-point deficit, Riders refused to let the game drift away.
Johnson Jr threw down a dunk early in the final period before Todd attacked the rim and Johnson Jr scored again.
Trent Johnson then began to make a major impact.
He finished at the rim, knocked down a three and converted a tip-in as Leicester started to find significantly more offensive momentum.
Todd and Johnson Jr continued to contribute, while Leicester’s defence created opportunities through steals from Johnson and Todd.
With Cheshire still holding a sizeable advantage, Riders kept attacking.
Pelote converted inside before knocking down a three, and Mackey followed with a layup as Leicester steadily cut into the deficit.
Hurley then caught fire late.
He knocked down a three with just over three minutes remaining before Mackey added another from deep. Johnson Jr scored inside, and Hurley connected again from long range in the closing seconds.
It was Leicester’s most productive quarter of the night, with Riders putting up 34 fourth-quarter points.
Phoenix were able to keep enough distance through Williams, Emanuel, Cisarik and Gray, with Gray’s tip-in in the final seconds completing a 108-94 Cheshire win.
Riders Show Fight Despite Defeat
Hurley led the Riders offence with 23 points, with Todd adding 15 points and Johnson Jr contributing 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Trent Johnson finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three steals, while Mackey added eight points and seven assists. White also recorded eight points and seven assists.
The 108-94 defeat leaves Riders with plenty to take away from the game, particularly after their response in the final period.
After being outscored across each of the opening three quarters, Leicester produced a 34-25 fourth quarter, continuing to compete until the final possession.
Quarter scores:
Q1: Cheshire 30-18 Riders
Q2: Cheshire 55-37 Riders
Q3: Cheshire 83-60 Riders
Final: Cheshire Phoenix 108-94 Leicester Rider
BE THERE FOR OUR HOME OPENER
The Riders return to the Mattioli Arena on Friday 9 October as we take on Bristol Flyers at 7:30pm in our first regular-season home game of the 2026/27 season.
Make sure you’re there to get behind the team and be part of the start of our 60th anniversary season at home.
Tickets are on sale now – secure your seats and join us for opening night.
