Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders will take a convincing 78-55 lead back to Leicester after a dominant display against Bristol Flyers in the first leg of the Super League Basketball Playoff Quarter-Final.
Zach Jackson, making his return from injury, led the Riders with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, going 7-14 from the field. He was backed by an emphatic effort from Jaylin Hunter, who logged 17 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals from the point guard position.
Leicester’s third-quarter defence proved the difference on the night. The Riders held their opponents to four points in the opening six minutes of the second half to burst out to a big lead, which they held in the fourth.
They had success on the fastbreak following momentum-building steals, resulting in a number of buckets at the hoop.
The Flyers shot 34% from the field and 22% from three on the game, led by 11 points from star guard Kedrian Johnson.
The sides now head to Leicester on Monday, the Riders looking to wrap up the fixture and progress to the Semi-Final.
Riders survive slow scoring start
The first half was a contrast to the second. A hard fought defensive affair saw the sides locked at 30 at the half despite the lopsided final score.
Charles Thompson set the tone for the Riders with their first six points of the ball game. Those buckets led the team in the opening ten minutes, but the Flyers took an early lead, and Leicester only amassed 15 points in the first.
Evan Walshe, off the back of his triple double to end the regular season, had 8 points in the opening quarter to lead all players, earning Bristol an early lead. The Flyers’ three point shooting was on target to end the period. They hit two triples near the conclusion of the first to take a four point lead into the second.
The Riders started the game shooting 30% from the field and 1-4 from three midway into the second period. That saw them down 27-19.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) May 2, 2025
Riley Abercrombie ended the shooting drought with 5:10 until the half with a triple from the wing for his first scoring contribution. The Aussie’s triple set of a Riders run which cut it to a one point difference. The Riders tied it up at 30 at the half with a Zach Jackson drive to the hoop.
Riders defence leads third quarter charge
The Riders found third quarter form through Jackson and Hunter to build an 11 point lead to start the second half. Hunter came up with steals and scores on two straight possessions, meanwhile, Jackson got to work on the right elbow for two tough makes.
The defensive prowess shown in the first half continued into the second. Leicester held Bristol to four points in the first six minutes of the second quarter to build a lead. The Flyers turned it over five times in that period, allowing the Riders to get out in transition.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) May 2, 2025
Flyers leading man Johnson took the lid off the basket with a triple and stemmed the bleeding for Bristol. But back-to-back buckets at the hoop for Hunter put an end to any potential Flyers momentum, ending the third 55-38.
Leicester extended their advantage from there- Hunter bringing his tally to 17 with two quick scores and Leicester’s defence continuing to suffocate Bristol. They made it a 26 point advantage in the fourth.
Second Leg in Leicester
The return leg for this fixture will be played on Monday, May 5 at 1:30 pm in Leicester.
Preview: Leicester Riders start SLB playoff campaign in Bristol
Leicester Riders take to the road to play the Bristol Flyers in the Super League Basketball Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg.
The Riders are the second seed for the postseason with a 23-9 record. That earned them a first round matchup with the 13-19 Flyers, who they hold a 5-1 record against on the season.
This season’s playoffs are set to be tightly contested from top to bottom. There has been a feeling that anybody can beat anybody in the SLB, so the Riders will have to be locked in on top form to overcome the Flyers.
Here’s how the first leg is shaping up…
Fixture information
Bristol Flyers vs Leicester Riders
Super League Basketball Playoffs
SGS Arena, Bristol
Friday, May 2, 7:30 pm
Leicester Riders rolling into postseason
The Riders played some of their best basketball of the season on the back end of the year. They finished their league campaign on a 6-1 winning run, which saw them challenge for the league title, falling only one win short of the top of the table.
A congested April schedule saw them play nine games in a month and five games in the last 10 days of the season. They navigated it expertly, however, and can call themselves the in-form team as the Playoffs commence.
“So proud of the guys,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro after the season finale. “They were unfortunately given a schedule to end the season which was crazy, and they dealt with it pretty well. Playing Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday is a challenge and they came through with big wins.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 27, 2025
“We were near the top of the table for most of the season so we were gunning for one, but once we lost the one seed we wanted to get the two. I think we deserved it. Our consistency across the season was excellent.”
The Riders won the season series against Bristol convincingly, but will want to continue to play to their exceedingly high standard in order to progress through to the semi-finals.
The season in statistics
The Riders have impressed on both ends of the court this season, ranking near the top of every statistical category.
They’re the number two scoring offence [87.4 ppg], the second most efficient team [47.4 FG%] and average the most assists per game [21.2].
Led by Zach Jackson, the league’s third leading scorer with 17.7 points per game, and Jaylin Hunter, who averaged the most assists in the league with 7 per game, they have a fluid offence with elite ball movement, swinging the ball around to the open man consistently.
Meanwhile, their Charles Thompson-led defence was number three in points allowed [79.8] and number one in blocks per game [4.5]. Thompson led the league in blocks with 2.5 a night, and was joint second in rebounds with 7.8.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 29, 2025
Bristol Flyers lead with defence
Bristol Flyers have had success on the season when battling out low-scoring affairs. They allowed the fourth-fewest points per game of any team [81.1]. Their 68-67 victory last time Bristol hosted the Riders was a clear example of that.
Despite finishing the year as the second-lowest scorers, the Flyers’ offence did find form in the final games. The Flyers amassed at least 80 points in four of their last five games, and scored 97 to beat Manchester on the road.
Should they continue their offensive form while showcasing their defensive prowess, the Flyers are a threat to anyone. Especially with the fourth-highest scorer in the league, Keddy Johnson, lining up at the guard spot.
A double overtime thriller.
Watch all the highlights as Bristol Flyers hosted Surrey 89ers on the final day of the 2024/25 regular season.
They have beaten Bristol by an average margin of 11 points throughout the year. The Riders beat Bristol by 35 at home to end January, where the Riders held the Flyers to a 59 point night.
Games in Bristol have proved harder to navigate, however. The Riders went to overtime against Bristol in the Trophy group phase, eventually winning 105-101, and Leicester lost to the Flyers in their last visit to the South West, with Bristol beating Leicester 68-67 thanks to a Desmond Robinson game-winning three.
The Riders lost only once at home throughout the entire league season, and won each of their home ties to Bristol in relatively comfortable fashion. Leicester held leads going into every fourth quarter, and saw games out professionally each time.
The success for the Riders in this series may well come down to Leicester performance in their away tie on Friday, therefore.
Bristol Flyers found no answer for Zach Jackson
Zach Jackson has led the Riders’ scoring in every game the club has played against the Flyers this season.
Jackson scored 27 points against Bristol in the Trophy group phase, painting his masterpiece as the Riders battled out an overtime win. He has averaged 21.3 points per game against Bristol, bagging 20 points in all but one outing and shooting at a 56.79% clip.
The American wing was Leicester’s leading scorer in the Championship season with 17.7 points per game- the third best among all active players. He has also been nominated for SLB Player of the month by putting up 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per night in April.
Charles Thompson locks off the paint
On the other end, Charles Thompson dominated on defence against Bristol this season. He blocked seven shots in the Riders’ last outing against Bristol, making his blocks tally 16 against the Flyers on the year.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 29, 2025
Thompson, the SLB Player of the Month in December, averaged 2.6 blocks per game in the season series, bettering his league-leading season average. The American rookie cemented himself as the best interior defender in British basketball from the outset this year.
Bristol Flyers will have to be constantly mindful of Thompson’s presence at the rim throughout these two games to avoid another shot-blocking masterclass from the big man.
Keyed in on Keddy
The Flyers’ danger man against the Riders, especially at home, has been superstar guard Kedrian Johnson this season.
He has gone off for big performances at the SGS Arena, including a 25 point night to force overtime in the Trophy. He’s had two 20 point nights, and a 17 point outing in Leicester in 24 minutes in his first game back from injury.
Johnson, a second year Flyer, was the Flyers’ leading scorer and the fourth highest scorer in the league behind Jackson. His 17.4 points a night make him a significant threat to any team he faces off with, including the Riders in this series.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders secure second seed with win against Caledonia Gladiators
Leicester Riders won their final game of the Super League Basketball regular season 94-74 against Caledonia Gladiators.
It was a wire-to-wire home win led by 22 points and 9 rebounds off the bench from Ethan Wright. In 21 minutes of play, Wright put in an energetic performance as the team’s spark plug.
The win secures second place in the Championship with a 23-9 record. They will face Bristol Flyers in the opening round of the postseason.
Leicester Riders win the game from the jump
The Riders bolted out the gate to make their mark early. They built a double digit lead from the offset, starting 8-0 and finishing the first led by eight points from Johnson.
Johnson stayed hot from his career-high performance in Newcastle on Friday where he went off for 23 and 8. Leicester led 29-15- Wright’s triple the final points of the period. Wright was red hot through the first half with a team-high 15 by the break.
Former Rider Patrick Whelan was the only Gladiators starter to score in the first, logging 9 points from six shots. He also had 15 at the half, but despite his efforts, Leicester led by 20.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 27, 2025
Riders hold off Gladiators third quarter run
Leicester had to dig in and keep the Gladiators at arm’s length in the third quarter. Whelan’s form continued out of the break as the visitors chipped into the lead, and Devearl Ramsey’s and-one made it a 13 point difference.
Riley Abercrombie stopped the bleeding with 20 seconds left in the third, hitting a triple from the top, but the sides entered the fourth with Leicester leading 72-60 as Ramsey got to the line one more time to end the period.
Wright and Johnson rebuilt the lead in the fourth quarter with a quick pair of triples, making it a 17 point difference. Duke Shelton, who was throwing down dunks from wire-to-wire, pulled down a Wright miss before jamming in his fourth slam of the night to put an exclamation point on the win.
Preview: Leicester Riders look to lock up second seed with win against Caledonia Gladiators
Leicester Riders are ready for the final game of the Super League Basketball Championship season.
They look to secure second place with a win against Caledonia Gladiators at home.
Meanwhile this will be the final game of the season for their Scottish opponents, who are out of the playoff race at the bottom of the table.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Caledonia Gladiators
Super League Basketball Championship
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Sunday, April 26, 3 pm
Leicester Riders hope to secure second seed for playoffs
Leicester Riders, after winning in Newcastle on Friday, are 22-9 with one game to play in the Championship. That’s good for second currently, and a win in this one would lock up second place ahead of the SLB Playoffs in May.
They can fall to third with a Sheffield win and Riders loss, making this battle against the Gladiators pivotal for the postseason bracket.
Friday was a bounce back win for the Riders in an eventful evening in the North East. Newcastle ended the game with only four players on the court and no Head Coach on the sideline after three players exited through injury, two were fouled out, and Marc Steutel was ejected with two technical fouls.
Despite the drama, the Riders’ performance was top tier. They played without Zach Jackson, meaning Victor Ndoukou started in his place, and won 106-91 on the road. Spencer Johnson’s career-high 23 points and 8 rebounds led the team, backed by 23 points and 8 assists from Jaylin Hunter.Meanwhile Ndoukou impressed with a 10 point performance.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 25, 2025
The Riders need only one more win to conclude a 6-1 finish to the year and enter the playoffs as one of the in-form outfits in British basketball.
Disappointing season in Scotland for Caledonia Gladiators
Caledonia Gladiators, 7-24 and ninth in the standings, come into this game on a four game slide to end the year.
They went winless through back-to-backs against Bristol Flyers and Sheffield Sharks to rule them out of playoff contention, the losing streak coming after Caledonia appeared to be finding form with a three game winning run.
Caledonia have played Sheffield tough in the past week over their two games, however. They lost the matchups by a combined seven points, falling by one score in their first matchup and four points in the second.
The Gladiators led by 10 points in the first quarter last time out, but couldn’t hang on for the win in the fourth in a game that could have secured second place a game early for Leicester.
Jonny Bunyan, the Gladiators’ midseason coaching hire, has turned Caledonia into an opponent not to be overlooked, despite the Glaswegians falling out of the playoff picture. And with the new found form of Devearl Ramsey, who put up 28 last time out against his former side, the Riders will need to be on good form to round off the Championship season with a win.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Preview: Leicester Riders take on Newcastle Eagles on the road
Leicester Riders take on Newcastle Eagles on the road in their penultimate game of the Super League Basketball Championship season.
With the Championship winners decided on Wednesday in London, the Riders look to lock up second place in their final two games.
Meanwhile, Newcastle can finish between fourth and sixth depending on their final two results, starting with this one.
Fixture information
Newcastle Eagles vs Leicester Riders
Super League Basketball Championship
Vertu Motors Arena, Newcastle
Friday, April 25, 7:30 pm
Leicester Riders look to secure second place in Championship
The Riders’ midweek loss to London Lions meant the league title is no longer in reach. They can secure second, and the number two seed for the playoffs, by winning their final two games.
Leicester endured a difficult shooting night in London, going 1-17 from three, and will hope to re-set their sights on the road in the North East.
They are the second best three point shooters in the league this season at 35.8%, and will therefore be confident in finding their deep shooting form heading into the postseason.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 20, 2025
The Riders have been the second highest scoring team in the SLB, averaging the most assists and knocking down shots at a 46.9% clip. They’ll want to settle back into their rhythm against an Eagles side who held Bristol Flyers to 55 last time out.
Newcastle Eagles steady the ship late in the season
A strong start to the year saw the Newcastle Eagles win the SLB Trophy, and seemingly lock down fourth in the league table. However, a late-season dip in form saw them fall down the standings, and now they hope to hang on to their fourth or fifth seeding.
The North Easterners endured a four game losing streak starting in late March, but have regathered themselves to take three wins on the bounce including an impressive 84-55 victory against the Flyers at home.
Led by 17.8 points per night by the third leading scorer in the league, Mike Okauru, the Eagles are a threat to anyone on any night.
However, their 14-16 record represents a disappointing league campaign for the Eagles, and they’ll be hoping to climb back to .500 in their remaining games.
Preview: Leicester Riders face SLB title defining game against London Lions
Leicester Riders and London Lions are set for the most consequential matchup of the Super League Basketball season.
The two rivals go head-to-head in the capital with Championship title implications taking the pre-game headlines.
The Riders need to win to keep their title hopes alive. Should they get over the line in London, they will be only two wins away from their seventh league title. Meanwhile a London win would secure the league for the Lions.
It’s all to play for at the Copper Box.
Spencer Johnson lines up a corner three against London Lions at the Copper Box Arena. Credit: Nathan Green
Fixture information
London Lions vs Leicester Riders
Super League Basketball Championship
Copper Box Arena, London
Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 pm
SLB Championship title on the line
While the Riders would still have work to do in order to secure the Championship if they win in London, there is a feeling of this matchup being a title decider.
The Riders would finish level at worst with London should they win their last three games of the season, and the win against the Lions would give them the head-to-head at 3-1, securing the league.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 22, 2025
Meanwhile a London win would secure the title on their home floor by putting themselves three wins ahead of the Riders with two games left.
These two sides have shared the floor in some of the biggest battles in British basketball in the last five years.
Leicester Riders and London Lions have won the last eight league championships and the last three playoff titles in top-flight British basketball.
It’s time for another chapter in their storied history.
Leicester Riders in end-of-season form
Leicester have needed to run the table to ramp up the pressure on London Lions in recent weeks. They needed seven straight wins to end the year and for the Lions to lose three on the back stretch. Leicester have since won three on the bounce, London dropped games to Surrey 89ers and Manchester, and now the Riders can hand London their pivotal second loss.
They have averaged 94.25 points over their last four games, winning three of the fixtures by single digits in the clutch. All that matters now is winning.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 21, 2025
Head Coach Rob Paternostro credits the team for learning from their experiences earlier in the year in order to get close games over the line.
“We’re gaining experience. You have to remember we have five first year players, so they’re gaining experience throughout the season, learning about their opponents, and making shots. It’s a make or miss situation sometimes and we’re coming up with big shots.”
London Lions take big win in Sheffield
London Lions have led the league table for much of the season, and after a 12 game winning streak to start 2025, looked certain to win the Championship only a few weeks ago.
But the Riders’ recent form, and London falling three times on the bounce to Leicester, Manchester and Surrey, has creaked the door ajar for the Riders to pile on the pressure in the final games of the year.
They have regathered themselves in the last week, however. London faced Sheffield Sharks in a momentous affair for the title battle, and ended the Sharks’ Championship aspirations on the road.
Leicester Riders Defeat Cheshire Phoenix in Nail-Biting Back-and-Forth Battle
Leicester Riders took another stride towards the Super League Basketball Championship title, with a 94-90 victory over Cheshire Phoenix.
Duke Shelton’s 21 points, off the bench, spurred the Riders to the win, in what was a gritty, hard fought affair.
Words: Daniel Ajanaku
Photo Credit: Katrina Pacaj
First Quarter:
The game started off with a fast-paced, efficient start with both sides on fire. Nick Timberlake kicked things off on a fastbreak layup, before Riley Abercrombie got the Riders off with a wing three, igniting a near perfect scoring streak, the next three possessions.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 20, 2025
Following that, Phoenix pushed on showing their rhythm, with Skyler White’s transition three and TJ Atwood’s lay-up, stretching the lead to 7-15 and forcing the Riders to regroup with a timeout.
Post-timeout, Zach Jackson and Charles Thompson connected on a pick and roll play, but Phoenix continued the way they began. Leicester’s misreading affected them in the points column, Timberlake’s three and Cameron Holden’s putback helped build the largest lead of 11 points.
Ethan Wright and Shelton brought energy to end the quarter, with their strong offensive rebounding and interior play reducing the deficit. Despite their best efforts off the bench, the Riders struggled, shooting 41%.
Part of Cheshire’s 61% shooting came from White’s buzzer-beating three-pointer, ending the quarter back up 11, as Leicester trailed 18-29.
Second Quarter:
The second quarter saw a more settled Leicester team as they stood determined to eat into the 11-point deficit.
After two good defensive possessions, Jackson found Wright on a dime of a full court pass, as the guard converted the layup.
Phoenix responded through Timberlake’s mid-range shot but the Riders kept pushing. Shelton and Wright continued from where he left off, both causing havoc down low.
The forward did through his thunderous alley-oop slam and draining a three, to decrease Phoenix’s lead to two and increased his tally to 12.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 20, 2025
Whilst the guard increased energy with good defensive shifts, hungry for points and providing the necessary spark, as they looked to regain control.
They capitalised on this momentum. Spencer Johnson’s wing three gave Leicester their first lead since early in the first quarter. Despite this it was not safe, with it still being a one-point lead.
The Phoenix worked well to keep the game within arm’s length, with Timberlake racking up his 13th point through a transition slam, whilst White providing contributions within and beyond the arc, giving them a narrow lead going into halftime, 43-46
Third Quarter:
The third stood in more similar fashion to the start of the first, with both sides trading haymakers of their own, from the line, paint and beyond, creating an increasingly competitive atmosphere.
Phoenix kicked things off in competitive spirit, with Larry Austin Jr scoring, for his 16th point of the game. While Thompson responded quickly with a layup on the other end, Holden’s involvement on the boards proved crucial, as a putback slam and free throw conversion kept them ahead.
Both sides were giving their all on both sides of the ball, this saw the game in a small period of deadlock before Jaylin Hunter broke it with his wing three, bringing them within three, followed by Shelton’s slam tying it at 58.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 20, 2025
Austin Jr continued his effective inside work as he drove the cup for two before Wright hit back with a spin move and layup, keeping the score level.
Plenty of lead changes were witnessed with Abercrombie’s corner three tying things up at 63, before White’s three successful free throws got cancelled out by his steal and game-tying triple.
To cap off this heavyweight of a third quarter, Timberlake’s acrobatic reverse layup was cancelled out by another Shelton and-one, completing the three-point play, giving him 17 points.
Leicester began to smell the blood in the water, as they trailed 69-70, with momentum on their side going into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter:
The Riders came out of the gate, hungry and expectant for the win. Shelton’s relentless presence in the paint, giving him 19 points, and Jackson’s contributions, pushed them in the right direction.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 20, 2025
Hunter drained a wing three, causing the crowd to erupt, but Holden responded with a reverse layup. Just as in the third, consistent back and forth remained the story.
Wright’s great defensive shift on White, despite the mismatch, was enough to alter his finish and allow Shelton to finish in transition.
Phoenix duo Holden and Timberlake remained effective, with the latter scoring twice in quick succession taking the lead to 79-83.
Abercrombie momentarily tied the game with a three and later followed it up with another, putting Leicester up by one at 86-85, whilst silencing the duo of Holden and Timberlake.
Down the stretch it was a nerve-racking period for both sides, as free throws continued to fly. With an unsportsmanlike foul on Tyreek Scott-Grayson proving crucial, as Jackson sunk both free throws, making it a two-possession game.
Despite a late Scott-Grayson score, bringing the game within one, Hunter calmly sank his two free throws, when fouled.
Thompson grabbed the biggest rebound of the Riders’ season, off Holden’s missed free throw, capping off a thrilling finish at 90-84.
Shelton’s 21 points, 8 rebounds and single block, won him the TrophiesPlusMedals Player of the Game, steering Leicester further up the climb for the title.
The Riders look to Wednesday, where they will travel to London to face the Lions at the Copper Box Arena, aiming to snatch the title from the hosts with victory.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Preview: Leicester Riders host Cheshire Phoenix in crucial Super League Basketball matchup
Leicester Riders take on Cheshire Phoenix in their second home game of the week.
The Riders have four games to go in the Super League Basketball Championship, all played within eight days. They’re all crucial matchups.
Leicester will be crowned league champions should they win their remaining games. That starts with this fixture as they look to complete the season sweep against Cheshire.
They’re now just a game back from the league leading London Lions, with the Lions still to play midweek. A win on Wednesday would give Leicester the head-to-head on the season against London, putting them in the drivers seat for the league title.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 17, 2025
But there’s three teams in the title fight. Sheffield Sharks are lurking behind, ready to capitalise on any slip ups from the top two. If they were to win out they would only require on Riders loss in order to win Championship gold.
Therefore, every game is crucial for Leicester down the home stretch, including this Sunday’s battle against the Phoenix.
It was a professional 91-78 win on the road the day after an overtime battle against Sheffield Sharks, making it two wins in as many days for the Riders and putting them in the driver’s seat for their own Championship destiny.
Leicester had seven players in double digits led by 18 from Jaylin Hunter.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 13, 2025
The win made it 3-0 against the Phoenix on the season, the sternest test coming on December 1 where the Riders survived a late Cheshire charge on the road, winning 88-86.
This is the most pivotal of all the fixtures however, with the Riders in the midst of an intense title battle and needing every victory, especially at home.
Resilient Leicester Riders Grind out Win over Surrey 89ers
In their quest for the title, Leicester Riders continued their strong form as they defeated the Surrey 89ers 91-84, with Spencer Johnson racking up 20 points, in what was a hard fought contest.
Words: Daniel Ajanaku
First Quarter: Johnson Ignites early momentum, but Surrey Strike Late
The opening quarter delivered a back-and-forth contest with Surrey striking first through a Josh Steel layup.
Riders came into the game looking to attack with Johnson draining three back-to-back triples, giving them a 9-2 lead, and picking up key defensive rebounds to set the tone.
Despite Charles Thompson’s early shooting struggles, Leicester maintained pressure through his and Johnson’s defensive rebounding. Riley Abercrombie added a tough and-one to stretch the lead further.
Surrey battled back, with Cameron Gooden and Dame Adelekun chipping away at the lead. With the Riders shooting 4/15 late in the quarter, Surrey sparked a comeback, beginning with Nedas Cholevinskas making his free throws to tie it at 12.
Ethan Wright responded with a three, whilst Zach Jackson contributed a mid-range bucket, making it 17-14. Dame Adelekun continued to be a problem within 10 feet, keeping the 89ers within reach.
Jaylin Hunter and Wright scored again late but Surrey had the last laugh with Cholevinskas beating the buzzer with his corner three, to end the quarter and level the score at 21-21
Second Quarter: Turnovers Halt Riders’ form as Surrey end with Narrow Lead
The second quarter continued in the same fashion as the first, neck and neck, with neither side able to establish a distinctive advantage.
Despite strong individual plays, including Duke Shelton’s relentless hustle, turning a missed layup into second-chance points and Thompson successfully working the post, Leicester struggled to find consistency with their shot.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 17, 2025
This inconsistency trickled into ball security, with a series of four turnovers in quick succession, allowing the 89ers to go on a small run. Gooden converted a transition slam and Jalen Ray turned transition into points, draining a mid-range shot making it 29-33.
Johnson remained the dominant factor, tallying 15 points on 83% shooting by halftime. A technical free throw from Jackson brought the Riders within one, but the Riders couldn’t capitalize on their final possession, heading into halftime narrowly training 40-41.
Third Quarter: Abercrombie’s burst proves crucial
Leicester came out of the half firing gathering momentum starting off with Hunter’s three contributing to a 9-2 run.
Defensively, the Riders went off, hustling on the glass as Thompson made key defensive rebounds, whilst showcasing defensive IQ, forcing turnovers. and preventing multiple Surrey offensive rebounds.
Jackson began to catch fire with a drained triple and a crafty layup, which forced a Surrey timeout. Abercrombie made a late impact, hitting back-to-back threes, including one in transition, to extend the lead to double digits.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 17, 2025
However, Surrey would not stay down as James and Adelekun attempted to shrink the lead some more.
Thompson continued to show great fight, closing the quarter with a gritty putback bucket, after multiple rebounds, giving Leicester a 66-58 lead going into the final period.
Fourth Quarter: Composure on Both Ends of the Floor to Close
The fourth continued in close fashion as Gooden started with a three to kickstart a 89ers comeback. He followed up with a reverse layup, before Riders’ guard Hunter jabbed back with a reverse layup of his own, to make it 68-63.
The 89ers continued to apply pressure as Cholevinskas’ three followed by James’ fastbreak layup tied the game at 72, forcing Leicester to run through tactics in their timeout.
The Riders responded with Jackson draining the big corner three to regain the lead. However, Adelekun and James were there to halt momentum and keep it within one possession.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 17, 2025
Thompson’s pressure was key once again, with his offensive rebound, spin and composed finish extending the lead 77-74. Despite Gooden, leaving the floor injured, Surrey amped their aggression, with Cholevinskas hitting his second three to tie it up at 79.
The 89ers tried to get the quick bucket and the last say through a James Ray pull up three, but it was not enough to tie the game up
Despite Leicester’s streaky shooting at the line, to start the fourth quarter, they pulled through when it mattered. Within the last 90 seconds, their composure was decisive with Jackson, Thompson and Hunter all converting at the line, icing the game at 91-84.
Johnson’s composed nature on both ends of the floor proved critical, capping off a TrophiesPlusMedals Player of the Game performance, finishing with 20 points and 8 rebounds on 66% shooting and 83% at the line.
With this crucial win, the Riders will look to continue their winning ways as they welcome Cheshire Phoenix to the Mattioli Arena on Sunday.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Preview: Leicester Riders host Surrey 89ers hoping to maintain title hopes
Leicester Riders continue their late season title charge in the Super League Basketball Championship with a midweek clash against Surrey 89ers.
These familiar foes have met seven times before this season, and now face off for the final time in the league with major ramifications for both teams.
The Riders have their eyes set firmly on the top of the table in the final few games of the year, meanwhile the Niners can finish anywhere from fourth to eighth come the end of the season.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Surrey 89ers
Super League Basketball Championship
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Thursday, April 17, 7:30 pm
Riders control their own Championship destiny
Leicester Riders dug deep for two monumental displays last game week.
Friday evening saw them put a significant dent into Sheffield Sharks’ title hopes, winning in overtime with three players out come the final buzzer. It was the team’s first win against Sheffield this season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
The Riders then had to travel to Cheshire the next day on tired legs from the extra period played in a battle a day prior. Leicester pulled off an incredible victory on the road led by star guard Jaylin Hunter, making it two wins from two in a back-to-back.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 13, 2025
Meanwhile, London Lions dropped their third straight game on the road to the 89ers, meaning the Riders now control their own destiny in the SLB Championship. Should they win out, they will be crowned champions.
This will be approached game by game by Rob Paternostro’s side, starting with Surrey 89ers in this fixture. They are not an opponent to be taken lightly.
Not only have the Niners pulled off two wins against the league leading Lions this year, they enter this game having won two straight, and got the better of the Riders in the SLB Cup Semi-Final in January.
Spearheaded by a plethora of scoring threats on the perimeter, namely Cameron Gooden, Mervin James and Jalen Ray, and a dominant big man inside, Dame Adelekun, Surrey’s roster is poised with multiple contenders to go off for game-winning performances every night.
Adelekun is the league’s leading rebounder, meanwhile James’ 17.7 points per game makes him the fourth highest-scoring player behind the Riders’ Zach Jackson in third.
The Riders will therefore have to continue their rich vein of form from last weekend in order to capitalise on the opportunity presented to them.
Report: Jaylin Hunter leads gutsy Riders road win in Cheshire
Leicester Riders recorded a gutsy 91-78 road win on the second game of a back-to-back weekend in Cheshire.
Facing a rest deficit, having beaten Sheffield Sharks in overtime a day prior, the Riders dug deep and led the entire second half to take a momentous win in the SLB Championship title battle.
Jaylin Hunter impressed wire-to-wire, leading Leicester with 18 points and 6 assists off 13 shots. Seven Riders finished in double digits in a red hot three point shooting display, going 10-22 from deep.
Cheshire stayed in contention from wire-to-wire. Tyreek Scott-Grayson’s 19 points led them off the bench, but the Phoenix failed to match the Riders’ deep shooting fire power.
With London losing in Surrey, the league title is now in the Riders’ hands should they win their final five games.
The Riders kept pace with Cheshire’s typically high-octane start with triples from Spencer Johnson and Hunter. The long range bombs kept the game within a possession despite a hot shooting start for the hosts which saw Cam Holden score 7 points in 5 minutes.
Ethan Wright hit string with his first triple of the game with two minutes remaining in the first to give the Riders their first lead, before the American threw down a fastbreak jam off Hunter’s steal.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 12, 2025
Duke Shelton, returning to the team after serving a one game suspension, finished the first at the rim to make it 14-20 and cap off a 10-0 run to end the quarter.
Plauntis finds range to cut Leicester’s lead
The Phoenix had taken 10 threes 12 minutes into the game. They hit on three, including one in transition from Bobby Planutis which helped the hosts get back into the tie. Plauntis followed up with another in the corner to make it 25-26.
Leicester maintained their lead, thanks to the theatrics of Shelton who threw down a windmill on the break, and Hunter who knocked down his second three of the night.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 12, 2025
Cheshire found a way to narrow the Riders’ lead going into the break, however. Plauntis made his third triple, and Scott-Grayson scored four straight to make it 36-38 with two periods played.
Threes fall for the Riders
Riley Abercrombie came gunning out the break for five quick points, extending Leicester’s lead with sharpshooting from the wing. Wright followed with his second three, making him 2-2 from range, and the Riders led 54-45 four minutes into the third.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 12, 2025
Leicester moved the ball fluidly to pile the points onto Cheshire. Charles Thompson finished off a free flowing move with a two handed jam, wide open off an Abercrombie assist. They outmuscled Cheshire in the third as well, pulling down five offensive rebounds in the third.
Scott-Grayson continued his hot run to bring his tally to 14 off the bench and keep the Phoenix in touch, but the Riders took a double digit lead into the fourth with a gutsy third quarter effort.
Riders stretch four quarter lead
Abercrombie started the final period with a bang, draining a second chance three to make the lead 13. Cheshire chipped away inside- TJ Atwood getting on the board twice- but the Riders had enough to keep them at a distance.
Shelton pulled up for his second career three (both coming this season) as the Riders tightened their grip on the game late. They led by 12 with five minutes on the clock.
Backing down from the midrange, Thompson pulled up for a fadeaway and foul string through contact, going to the line for one more. The big man scored five straight in an attempt to seal the win.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 12, 2025
A Plauntis three sparked life into the home crowd who sensed a comeback, but Johnson quickly quietened them with an and-one finish on the other end. Hunter closed it with a floated in the lane with a minute left, earning the Riders an impressive road victory.
The Riders return home on Thursday, hosting Surrey 89ers in the SLB Championship.
Report: Zach Jackson leads Leicester Riders win in overtime thriller against Sheffield Sharks
Leicester Riders battled out a 100-95 overtime win against fellow title contenders Sheffield Sharks.
The Riders, playing without a point guard from five minutes remaining in the fourth, dug deep late on and in the extra period to get a crucial win over the line.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 11, 2025
Zach Jackson led Leicester in the clutch, going off for 28 in the game and hitting momentous shots late. He was backed by Riley Abercrombie whose 7 points in the final five minutes turned the tide of the game, bringing him to 22 on the night.
The Riders thought they had the game won in regulation, but Sheffield’s Rickey McGill had other plans. He hit a three falling away to his right with 5 seconds left to tie the game and Jackson’s attempted game winner was off-line, forcing another period of play.
Jackson started the run to seal it in overtime however, and his steal on McGill with a minute left was the biggest play of the night.
The win meant a four point swing goes the Riders way. They improved to 18-8, moving up to second place above the 18-9 Sharks, and six points behind the table-topping London Lions.
Wright steps up at the point
Leicester were without backup centre Duke Shelton and backup point guard Conner Washington from the jump, a situation which was exacerbated by Jaylin Hunter’s ejection through two technical fouls which left the Riders without a point guard for the final five minutes.
Ethan Wright stepped up to take charge at the point, guiding Leicester over the line late. He finished with 18 points and 7 rebounds off the bench.
Meanwhile Sheffield’s Jacob Groves came up huge on the night, going off in the second to give Sheffield a lead and finishing with 22 points.
Abercrombie throws down exclamation point of opening quarter
It was quickly evident that we were in for a thriller. They went blow for blow from the opening tip, Leicester taking a 10-7 lead in the first five minutes which saw four lead changes.
The battle down low between Charles Thompson and Sheffield’s Donovan Clay was a bruising one in the first quarter. Thompson scored twice in the paint against the League’s second-highest scorer and rebounder to take the early advantage in his matchup.
Riley Abercrombie threw down the exclamation point of the first quarter, connecting with Jaylin Hunter on the break for a thunderous alley-oop jam in transition. That came from an Ethan Wright block as the Riders combined every facet of the game to lead 22-17 after one.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 11, 2025
Groves leads Sheffield comeback in second
Leicester threatened to extend their lead in the second through a Zach Jackson and-one and J’Raan Brooks triple- Jackson logging his eighth points in 12 minutes. But 8 straight Sheffield points from Jacob Groves kept the visitors in touching distance at 30-27. Groves neared his season average of 10 points per game in that stretch.
Rodney Glasgow Jr built on the Groves run to tie the game at 30 with a triple with three minutes remaining in the half. Jordan Ratinho hit his second triple of the game, and the Sharks fought back from eight down to five up.
Abercrombie ended the quarter action with a three at the end of the shot clock, bringing his game tally to 8 and cutting it to a one score difference at the break.
Riders battle back to tie it
The two Riders stars of the first half, Jackson and Abercrombie, got back to work out the break for five points to tie the game at 41.
It was bombs away from there, with back-to-back triples from Rickey McGill and Prentiss Nixon rebuilding the Sharks lead, before Hunter hit back with a three of his own. With five minutes on the clock, Spencer Johnson hit string from deep to re-tie the game.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 11, 2025
In the absence of Washington, sidelined with a leg injury, the Riders put out a lineup without an out-and-out point guard. Wright stepped up as the primary ball handler, attacking the rim with aggression for six straight points with Hunter on the sideline.
Hunter ejection leaves Leicester without point guard
Leicester dug deep to make a run at the start of the fourth. Jackson got the scoreboard ticking at the foul line, then Hunter followed with four straight, snatching a loose pass from Ratinho for an easy finish on the break.
Wright took the roof off out of the following timeout, sinking an off-balance and-one at the rim to take Leicester’s first lead of the fourth.
Leicester’s momentum was stemmed with Hunter picking up his second technical through an unsportsmanlike foul on Groves, but Jackson breathed life back into the building with another score, plus the foul, to tie it up.
McGill heroics forces overtime
Leicester battled to the finish in an inspired performance. Abercrombie checked in to score seven clutch points and keep the Riders in contention. He threw down a jam from a Thompson feed with 2:17 left to give the Riders an 80–79 lead.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 11, 2025
James Reese V drained a clutch three in response to the Aussie, putting the visitors in control down the stretch. But Jackson drained a rainbow from midrange to tie the game at 82 with one minute on the clock.
McGill was sent to the line for two points next time down, then Jackson sank another bomb over a tight contest to take the lead with 24 seconds left.
The first Sheffield shot fell to Donovan Clay, who missed in close. Abercrombie pulled down the crucial rebound and was sent to the foul line, making both to make it a three point lead.
Stepping up in the biggest spot of the game, McGill pulled up off-balance, falling to his right to hit the game tying three with five seconds left. Jackson took on the attempted game winner, but his floater hit the rim and the game was sent to overtime tied at 87.
Riders run takes overtime win
The Riders came gunning out the gate in overtime. Jackson stayed hot, hitting a three from the wing, and Thompson followed with authority at the rim for a monster jam.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 11, 2025
Meanwhile Sheffield, looking to battle back once again in the tie, brought it back to a one point difference through Clay at the rim, after holding Leicester scoreless on two straight possessions.
Leicester had to dig deep to get the game over the line, making one last push to close overtime. Wright muscled inside to put back a Thompson miss, then Jackson snatched the ball away from McGill to set up a Spencer Johnson score at the rim and put Leicester up five.
McGill’s reaction saw him receive a technical foul, and Wright was fouled next time town and made it an eight point lead.
The Sharks had one last surge in them. Groves got to the rim for two, and Reese V stole the inbound and threw down a slam to cut the game to four. But Johnson sealed it at the foul line, securing a gritty win for the Riders.
Leicester are back in action tomorrow, hitting the road to take on Cheshire Phoenix.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders host title rivals Sheffield Sharks in consequential Super League Basketball clash
Leicester Riders continue their end-of-season gauntlet in the Super League Basketball Championship, taking on fellow title contenders Sheffield Sharks at home.
Sharks in the water
Sheffield come to town on Friday- Kids go for a quid!
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 7, 2025
With all three title protagonists, the Riders, Sharks and London Lions all tripping up in their recent games, this battle represents an opportunity to pile the pressure onto the league-leading Lions while handing a loss to the second-placed Sharks.
However, Sheffield have been a thorn in the side of the Riders all season. They handed the Riders their only league home loss of the year, and have a 3-0 record against Leiecster on the year.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Sheffield Sharks
Super League Basketball Championship
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Friday, April 11, 7:30 pm
Super League Basketball title race
It could hardly be closer at the top of the Championship standings in the final month of action.
Three teams can still win the title, with London Lions the favorites currently possessing first place.
The Lions have a 21-6 record with five remaining games, followed by the 18-8 Sharks with six games left, and the 17-8 Riders with seven games to go.
These three teams duel it out against each other in April to decide the title. London and Sheffield play twice, Leicester and London play in London on April 23, and the Riders take on Sheffield Sharks in this one.
The league will likely be decided by the team who can knock off their title rivals in these momentous games.
Recent form
The Riders have faltered on the road in recent weeks, but leaning on their home form, they have remained in contention for the Championship title.
A win against the London Lions on Friday was a statement to their contemporaries. It was an 80-71 victory in which Leicester led by 18 in the final period. The Lions battled back to make it a four point difference late, but Zach Jackson, who led Leicester with 17, hit the dagger from range to take a crucial victory.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 5, 2025
A win in Caledonia two days later would have left the Riders in the driver’s seat for the title. But the second game in a doubleheader, especially on the road, always presents a challenge. The Riders fell short in Scotland 93-88.
Fortunately, midweek results went the Riders’ way. London Lions fell at home to Manchetser in a thrilling one score affair, and Sheffield lost 71-64 on the road to Bristol Flyers.
Sheffield’s form in particular has dovetailed since mid-March. They’re 3-4 in their last seven games, and enter this tie having lost their last three on the road. Late in the year, travel weighs heavy on tired legs, and with the Sharks having suited up on Tuesday evening, they’ll have to dig deep in Leicester.
Season series
Leicester Riders, 0-3 against Sheffield Sharks on the year, will be determined to get one over on their South Yorkshire opponents in what is their most consequential meeting of the season.
Despite not having overcome the Sharks on the year, the Riders will feel like games got away from them, especially in their previous meeting.
Leicester led by eight in the fourth, and by four with two minutes on the clock, close to stealing a win in Sheffield. But buckets from big man Donovan Clay and sharpshooting guard Prentiss Nixon saw Sheffield come back to take a victory at home.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 16, 2025
The current season record means the Sharks will hold the head-to-head should their records be tied at the end of the season, but a victory for the Riders would mean a four-point swing in their favour as they hope to battle back and take the SLB Championship.
Tickets available: Kids go for a quid!
Tickets for this game are still available, and children under 16 go for a quid.
Preview: Leicester Riders face trip to Caledonia Gladiators in pivotal stretch of the season
Leicester Riders head to Glasgow for the second time in as many weeks to take on Caledonia Gladiators.
They are riding the high of keeping their title aspirations alive on Friday night with a crucial win against league leading London Lions, but need to keep the pressure on their rivals from the nation’s capital by stringing wins together.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 4, 2025
This clash, therefore, is vital for Leicester in the final stretch of the season.
Fixture information
Caledonia Gladiators vs Leicester Riders
Super League Basketball Championship
Playsport Arena, East Kilbride
Sunday, April 6, 4pm
Riders keep title hopes alive
Leicester Riders, 17-7 in the Super League Basketball Championship, are joint second with Sheffield Sharks, and two losses behind London Lions with eight games to play.
Games against the Sharks and Lions await them later in the month, allowing Leicester to pile the pressure onto their contemporaries in the final fixtures of the year.
The Riders proved their status as one of the league’s premiere outfits on Friday with a wire-to-wire win against London. A low-scoring first half was battled out with the Riders’ elite defensive prowess, before the third quarter saw Leicester explode from three point land.
They led by 18 in the fourth, and despite a late London surge which cut the difference to four, Leicester survived through a Zach Jackson dagger to take the win.
Led by 7 blocks from the league’s leader in rejections Charles Thompson, Leicester held the Lions to 70 points- 16 less than their season average.
Following the game, Head Coach Rob Paternostro tipped his hat to the American centre.
“From start to finish we were committed to defence. We did a really good job on that end, and Charles’ shot blocking was exceptional.
“He’s been that player from start to finish this year. He’s able to cure the mistake with his ability at the rim. But to be honest- all the guys were able to make an impact on that end of the floor.”
Now, Leicester turn their attention northwards, to a Gladiators side that has already knocked off one of the top three in recent weeks.
Giant killers Caledonia set their sights on Leicester
The Caledonia Gladiators, like Leicester, are brimming with confidence going into this tie after a momentous win on the road against Sheffield Sharks midweek.
They won 81-74 led by 20 from Jett Speelman, duelling out a one score game in the final minutes. A Speelman triple making it a four point Caledonia advantage with 1:34 on the clock.
That brought their record to 5-20 on the season with an outside shot of making the postseason come the end of the month. They’re three more wins from joining Bristol Flyers and Surrey 89ers in a fight for the final playoff place.
Since the arrival of new Head Coach and former player Jonny Bunyan, Caldedonia have been competitive in games, and are beginning to add to the win column. But Leicester left Scotland with a win after their visit to the Playsport Arena last weekend.
A big fourth quarter, which Leicester won 25-10, saw the visitors win the tie by 22 led by 23 points from Zach Jackson. The Riders were at their brilliant best in the second half, holding their opponents to 39.1% from the field on the night.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 28, 2025
But with danger men on the Glads’ roster, such as former Rider Patrick Whelan who leads the team with 14.8 points per game, and a proven ability to get one over on the league’s best, Leicester will need to continue their hot form to follow up Friday’s win.
Report: Riders hang on for a crucial win against league leading London Lions
Leicester Riders held on to take a crucial 80-71 home win against the league leading London Lions in the Super League Basketball Championship.
Leicester led from wire-to-wire, and were up as much as 18 points in the fourth. A late London run put a scare into Leicester, but they held on with a dagger from Zach Jackson to keep their Championship hopes alive.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 4, 2025
Jackson led the game with 17 points- his three over Terrell Holloway putting Leicester up seven with 25 seconds remaining.
Ethan Wright backed Jackson with 15 off the bench, and Charles Thompson continued his defensive dominance as the league’s block leader, sending away seven shots on the night to earn Player of the Game honours.
It was a slow start for offence on both ends. The sides combined for only two threes in the first half, but a three point barrage started by Riley Abercrombie in the third, before the hosts hung on late.
London’s Holloway led their efforts with 19 points off the bench, hitting momentum swinging shots throughout the second half. The Riders win ended a 12-game Lions winning streak.
The win sees Leicester improve to 17-7 in their pursuit of London at the top of the table.
Thompson sets tone in physical defensive start
Thompson established his presence in the paint from the jump. He blocked three shots in the first four minutes as the Riders held London pointless to take an early lead. Thompson’s shot-stuffing was a theme of the half, seeing him enter the break with 6 rejections.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 4, 2025
But with Leicester’s offence disjointed to start the affair they couldn’t fully capitalise. Four starters got on the board to build only a four point advantage eight minutes in, despite the dominant start on defence.
It was Wright who proved the difference. The American sank an and-one with an aggressive drive to the hoop to extend the Leicester lead- his second score of the game in three minutes off the bench.
Wright had nine by the end of the period, which he ended with a tough right-handed layup to make it 20-12.
Shelton poster highlight of second period
Duke Shelton started the second with a bang, putting Ciaran Sandy on a poster with a two handed jam over the Brit. That took the roof off, as the Riders continued to ramp up their defensive intensity with their second unit.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 4, 2025
Leicester forced three straight turnovers out of the Lions in the second to keep their opponents at arm’s length. Shelton joined in on the block party by sending away Alen Hadzibegovic in the post, helping the Riders hold London to zero field goals five minutes into the second period.
The offensive struggles that plagued the Riders to start the game continued into the second, however. They scored three points in seven minutes- Shelton’s slam a rare Riders bucket.
Hunter takes the lid off
Jaylin Hunter hit the game’s first three with two minutes left in the half. That took the lid off going into the break, allowing Leicester to take a five point lead into halftime. Spencer Johnson hit the last shot- a fadeaway from the midrange on the buzzer.
After both sides combined for two threes in the first half, the Riders came gunning out the gates in the third period with back to back bombs from Aussie Abercrombie.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 4, 2025
Leicester snatched momentum in the tie to take a nine point lead. Jackson ran the break coast-to-coast for a tough finish at the rim, forcing a Lions timeout down 42-33. Jackson heated up in the Riders run for 7 Leicester points on the bounce after a scoreless first half.
London’s Holloway brought his game tally to 9 off the bench, hitting key shots deep in the shot clock to keep them in contention. But with Leicester’s offensive in rhythm and deep shots falling, the Riders opened up the difference.
Hunter made it a 14 point lead with a contested triple in the corner to stamp down Leicester’s authority on the tie.
Struckman sent to the sidelines
London threatened to cut into the Leicester lead at the foul line, with Aaryn Rai and Jaiden Delarie drawing fouls. They went 2-4, however, and Wright’s three on the other end got those points right back as the clock ticked down in the third.
An altercation between Hunter and London’s Tanner Strucman saw Struckman take an early exit from the game with two technical fouls. Jackson’s following free throw made the Leicester lead 16 with one to play.
Shelton staves off early London surge in the fourth
London started the fourth threatening to make it a game, holding Leicester scoreless in the first minute and a half and bringing the difference to 13. Shelton’s efforts on the offensive boards put a stop to that, however, pulling down a missed Wright triple to add two to the host’s tally.
Shelton’s energy gave London fits on both ends, as the American flew around the court to jump in passing lanes, contest shots and smother the boards. He scored Leicester’s first four points of the period.
When Shelton took to the bench midway through the fourth, Thompson picked up where he left off to grab a long offensive rebound immediately.
Riders survive Lions surge
An 8-0 Lions run in the dying minutes of the game breathed late life into London. The final points of the run were from Holloway from the foul line, who made it 73-63.
Holoway then hit for a long two, and following a Riders turnover, Tyler Peterson connected with an and-one play to cut it to a four point difference.
The score was 75-71 with 44 seconds on the clock, meaning Leicester needed a bucket to ensure an important win.
Jackson stepped up to sink the dagger, sizing up Holloway on the wing then hitting a three as the clock ticked to zero, putting the tie beyond doubt.
Preview: Leicester Riders host league leading London Lions in crucial SLB clash
Leicester Riders welcome the league leading London Lions to town in a crucial Super League Basketball Championship clash.
Should the Riders want to keep their hopes of a league title alive, they need to pull games back against the Lions who have three fewer losses than them on the season.
Leicester have two games in hand on the Lions, and with two fixtures against the table toppers coming in April, they need to pick up big results in a pivotal part of the season.
Rewinding it
Throwing it back to a huge home win last time London Lions came to town
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 31, 2025
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs London Lions
Super League Basketball Championship
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Friday, April 3, 7:30 pm
Leicester look for late title charge
There is one month remaining in the Super League Basketball Championship, but with nine games remaining, the Riders hopes of a seventh league title are still alive with some momentous fixtures ahead.
Two games against London Lions and a game against the second-placed Sharks are the biggest games of Leicester’s season so far.
Should the Riders win all three, two at home and one away in London, they’ll be firmly in the mix for the top of the table. And the team’s home form leaves them optimistic of favourable results.
They haven’t lost in the league in Leicester since their home opener against the Sharks, making it 10-1 on the season. That includes an 84-75 win against London in January led by 21 from a red hot Ethan Wright off the bench.
Recent form has left Leicester slightly off the pace when it comes to the top of the standings, going 2-3 in their last five games, but a convincing road win in Caledonia put the Riders’ season back on the rails, and they come into this matchup with confidence.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 28, 2025
Lions gaining late season form London Lions have hit a purple vein of form down the stretch to take control of the Championship table. They haven’t lost since January 17, making it 12 on the bounce for the club out of the country’s capital.
They have been played tough in recent outings however, needing a fourth quarter surge against Surrey 89ers at home and Bristol Flyers on the road last time out.
Both were one-score games down the stretch in the fourth quarter, before London stepped up in the clutch to see off their opponents. Alen Hadzibegovic and Tyler Peterson made the plays late in Bristol, leading the team with 20 and 18 points respectively on the game.
Six Lions are averaging double digit points on the year, led by star man Arryn Rai in his first season in London. He’ll be top of the scouting report among many danger-men wearing Lions colours.
Rai has been the mark of consistency night in, night out for the Lions, scoring in double digits 23 times this season with a season-high performance of 31 points. Leicester will need to lock down from the wing to slow him down, along with his contingent of talented co-stars, in order to pick up a momentous win.
Leicester Riders continue their road trip against Caledonia Gladiators, in their first trip north of the border this season.
The team looks to turn their road form around after dropping their last three away games in the Championship.
Meanwhile for the Gladiators, showing some form on the back end of the season, this is an important game in their fight for the final playoff place.
Fixture information
Caledonia Gladiators vs Leicester Riders
Super League Basketball Championship
Playsport Arena, East Kilbride
Friday, March 28, 7:30 pm
Riders need to rebound
Leicester Riders are in need of a lift to their road form in Glasgow. They have fallen in their last three away fixtures, all close affairs in which the Riders fell just short.
They lost the games by an average margin of three points- losing by one against both Sheffield Sharks and Bristol Flyers with shots to take the lead or send it to overtime both rimming out.
Despite the close encounters, they now sit 10 points adrift of the top of the table with a 15-7 record, and need to build form in the final month of the season for a postseason push.
Three point shooting has been a challenge on the road in recent weeks. Their last three road games have seen the Riders shoot a combined 18-67 from distance, but impressively kept the games close despite the struggles.
The heroics of Zach Jackson have played a significant role in this. He scored 15 in the fourth quarter against Bristol Flyers to mount a late comeback, and 14 in the fourth against Manchester to give the team a chance in both of those fixtures.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 23, 2025
Jackson is leading the team’s scoring this season- the American wing logging 17.4 points per game in Championship action. That makes him a top five scorer in the league, and the Riders will need Jackson to continue his top-tier form to bring their season back to an upwards trajectory.
Bunyan’s Gladiators finding form
Making their second coaching change of the season, bringing in former player Jonny Bunyan as Head Coach, the Gladiators have found late season form.
Bunyan’s Gladiators have won two of the last four to double their win tally on the season. Under his stewardship, they have proved a competitive outfit in recent weeks, and will prove a tough test for the Riders.
Midseason arrivals have also assisted the Gladiators’ form. Most notably, Jett Speelman has hit the ground running in British basketball, averaging 16 points in his last two outings. The American is a fifth year pro who suited up in Brazil last season, and whose best season came in the BNXT league averaging 15 points per game.
But as ever, the danger man remains former Riders Patrick Whelan. The GB sharpshooter is their leading scorer this season with 14.9 points per game, shooting a red hot 39% from deep.
Whelan has a 34 point game to his name this season, one of two 30 point outings in the Championship, his most recent a 31 point performance in Manchester on March 14.
Despite enduring a long and difficult season, a chance of making the playoffs remain for the Scots. They need to pick up wins consistently to do so, making them a motivated and challenging opponent for the Riders up North.
Leicester Riders fell in heartbreaking fashion, falling short of a fourth quarter comeback on the road in Bristol to lose 68-67.
Zach Jackson scored 15 in the final period on his way to 24 on the night, leading the Riders charge from down 12 to up two points with nine seconds remaining.
Desmond Robinson hit the game winner for Bristol from three, and Jackson’s attempt on the buzzer hit rim to send Leicester home empty handed.
The Riders struggled on offense throughout, shooting 6-23 from three. Despite the difficulties, they kept it close through to the final buzzer.
The loss makes the Riders record 15-7 in the SLB Championship, a month from the postseason.
Slow shooting start
It was a difficult offensive start for both sides. They started a combined 3-10 from the field, managing nine points between them through five minutes.
The Riders, struggling with their outside shooting, turned to their big man in the paint as Charles Thompson got going with back-to-back scores. Two blocks on Keddy Johnson and Owen Mccormack a steal were his defensive contributions in the first quarter- the bright spark in a tough start to the game.
Thompson finished with a career-high 7 blocks on the night.
The Flyers’ defence held Leicester to looks deep in the shot clock as the visitors couldn’t click into gear, meanwhile a 7-0 Bristol run gave them an advantage in the period, which ended 13-9 to the hosts led by 6 points from Raphell Thomas-Edwards, making his return from injury.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 23, 2025
Shelton run brings Riders back
Bristol’s shooting struggles kept Leicester in contention. They started 3-11 and 1-5 from deep despite their five point lead.
J’Raan Brooks took the lid off from three for Leiecster in the second, allowing them to battle back into the lead. They won the first three minutes of the quarter 10-3, snatching the lead with a Duke Shelton three- the first of his British career.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 23, 2025
Shelton’s three injected confidence into the American big man, who scored eight straight Rider points to build their lead, making him the team’s leading scorer at the half.
Offensive boards costs Riders lead
Kendall Lewis, also making his return to action for the Flyers, made an and-one play on the third time of asking to swing momentum back into their corner. They retook the lead in a low-scoring half through Robinson at the rim with two minutes remaining in the half.
Offensive boards were a theme of the end to the period to maintain the Flyers’ narrow lead. They grabbed four in as many minutes, and finished the half with a drive to the rim from Keddy Johnson to take a 32-29 advantage into the break.
Leicester continued to struggle for good offensive looks to start the second half. They started 0-4, again forced to throw up shots deep in the shot clock, and scored their first points on the fastbreak three minutes in through Jaylin Hunter.
On the other end, a Lewis three and Keddy Johnson’s fastbreak jam forced a Riders timeout down 38-31.
Riders down double digits going into fourth
Leicester got the scoreboard ticking over on the offensive glass, as Spencer Johnson and Shelton bagged second chance points to fight back into it. Shelton then took it hard to the hole for a two-handed throw down for his 12th points.
But Leicester couldn’t make inroads, and Evan Walshe made it a double digit deficit from three. Leicester entered the fourth down 52-40.
Jackson brilliance sparks comeback
Thompson sparked life into Leicester at the beginning of the fourth with an and-one play at the rim. Thomas-Edwards hit back with a three to dent hope of a comeback, but a Jackson three and Ethan Wright finish at the rim brought the Riders back into the game.
Jackson stepped back for two with seven minutes remaining to cut it to six, and force a Flyers timeout.
All the shots that rimmed out before started to go down in the fightback. Hunter was the next to hit from three over a tight contest on the wing, followed by Jackson who stringed another.
Thompson’s defensive dominance continued with his sixth block of the game, this time spiking Keddy Johnson’s layup out of bounds, before Jackson made it 13 on the quarter with an and-one finish. Riders led by one score.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 23, 2025
The finale
The game was decided in the final minute. Jackson missed a chance to make it a three point Riders lead, but next time down Keddy Johnson missed a three in insolation. The Flyers fouled Hunter intentionally with 20 seconds left, and he made one of two.
That proved costly, as Alain Louis drove to the hoop and kicked it out to the open Robinson on the top of the three point line, who hit what would prove to be the game winner.
Jackson was given the opportunity to win it for Leicester at the buzzer, but after he drove to the midrange, his attempted fadeaway fell short and the Flyers took the win.
Leicester return to action on Friday, heading to Glasgow to take on Caledonia Gladiators.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders take the trip South West for the second game in a doubleheader weekend.
They face Bristol Flyers on the road for the second time this month, hoping to continue to pressure the top of the table with their second straight win.
Meanwhile the Flyers look to bounce back from a loss in Caledonia, as they’re locked into a fight for the final playoff place with the Gladiators.
Fixture information
Bristol Flyers vs Leicester Riders
SLB Championship
SGS Arena
Sunday, March 23, 5 pm
Riders red hot on return home
Leicester Riders played their only home game of March on Friday night, and were scorching hot from deep to beat the Newcastle Eagles 99-81.
Three straight triples from Aussie sharpshooter Riley Abercrombie set the tone as the Riders hit nine first half threes. They finished with 17 on the night, led by Abercrombie’s 18 points.
It was an emphatic team display on both ends to see off the visiting Eagles. Five players scored 15 or more, and the team dished 22 assists on the night, moving the ball fluidly for 40 minutes.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 22, 2025
“We were ready to go. You saw a team that was happy to be home- it’s been a while since we’d been here, so it was nice to shoot at our own rims.
“You could see that early on. We came in here with confidence shooting the basketball so that was the catalyst to get us going.”
The Riders will look to bring that shooting form on the road, to a place where they have had success so far this season. Leicester are 2-0 in Bristol this year, and look to make that three from three in this one.
Flyers in playoff fight
Bristol Flyers’ recent form has seen them dragged into a fight for the final playoff place with Caledonia Gladiators on the back end of the season.
They’re currently two wins ahead of the Gladiators with three games in hand, and need to start picking up victories to secure their spot in the postseason.
It’s a tall order for Bristol, who haven’t won at home since January 11. Offence has been difficult to come by, managing over 70 points on only one occasion at home since their last win in the South West, seeing them fall to a 6-12 record in the Championship.
Bristol has been a difficult place to play for Leicester in previous seasons however, as evidenced by the overtime battle in this arena in the Trophy group phase.
A fully motivated Flyers side fighting for postseason contention will prove a difficult task for the Riders as they hunt down the top of the table.
Report: Riders record wire-to-wire win against Newcastle Eagles
Leicester Riders comfortably dispatched of the Newcastle Eagles 99-81 in their only home game of the month.
Five Riders scored at least 15 points, led by Riley Abercrombie’s 18. Spencer Johnson took home player of the game honours with 15, stepping up on both ends of the court in key moments.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 21, 2025
A red hot start from three set the tone for a wire-to-wire win. Leicester hit nine threes in the opening half, before locking down on defence to survive an Eagles run in the third. They finished with 17 made triples, hitting 56% of their looks.
Newcastle’s Mike Okauru led the game with 19, meanwhile De’Sean Allen-Eikens’ second half effort led the Eagles’ comeback. He logged 17 on the night.
The win makes Leicester’s record 15-6 on the year, with only two more losses than the league leading Lions.
Riley’s red hot start
Abercrombie torched the Eagles from deep from the tip off. He hit three straight triples in opening minutes through the playmaking of Hunter, who drew to the defence to find the Aussie wide open.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 21, 2025
Hunter followed up with his own triple to make it 14-4, forcing an Eagles timeout two and a half minutes in.
The Eagles gathered themselves to stem the tide with Trey Pulliam pulling up off the dribble, but Leicester’s double digit advantage gave them a solid foundation to start the tie.
Okauru keeps Eagles in touch
Leicester’s three point barrage ended the first, with Ethan Wright putting Okauru on skates, and they took a 30-21 lead into the second period.
And the start of the second was Duke Shelton’s. He scored three quick points and blacked Okauru’s shot emphatically at the rim next time on defence.
Shelton’s play built a 14 point lead for Leicester, which the Eagles quickly cut to 10 through Okauru’s hot hand. He was the spark for the Eagles on his return to SLB action from injury, scoring 16 points in 10 minutes.
Leicester see half out strong
Leicester tightened their grip on the game as the clock ticked down to halftime. Charles Thompson connected with Hunter on a lob after he laid in a two on the previous possession, and Johnson drained an off-dribble three to make it 49-34.
Abercrombie capped off an incredible return to home action for Leicester with a four point play, drawing contact from Cole Long as he hit from the wing, which ended the first half with Leicester up 56-43.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 21, 2025
He led the team with 13 at the half, as Leicester knocked down nine first half threes to match their game average on the season.
Allen-Eikens sparks comeback
Allen-Eikens started the second half with purpose, scoring the first 8 points of the third quarter for Newcastle to cut it to seven. But with Leicetser struggling offensively, Johnson stole it from Allen-Eikens in transition to take the lid off.
Hunter followed with a triple from the top, and Leicester were back up double digits in a blink.
Allen-Eikens play kept Newcastle in firm contention. The American wing responded to the Riders’ run with an and-one on the fastbreak to bring his game tally to 10.
Leicester defence fends off Eagles
With three minutes left in the third, Shelton picked up his second technical foul of the night and saw himself take an early exit from the game.
Leicester, up six and with their shot not falling, had to fall back on their defensive prowess to remain ahead.
Johnson forced Okauru into a backcourt violation with his defensive pressure, Wright then snatched the ball from the American, and Abercrombie blocked Christian James in an impressive three possession span, before Johnson drained a three to make it 69-60.
Newcastle were in the bonus near the end of the third, allowing the Riders to get to the foul stripe consistently and build their lead. Wright ended the third with a pair of foul shots to make it 75-60.
Riders seal the deal late
Conner Washington started the fourth with a fly by, faking out with a pump fake then draining the triple. Zach Jackson hit from three point range back-to-back next time down, all but sealing the win with eight minutes left with Leicester up 21.
Allen-Eikens and Darius Defoe weren’t finished for the visitors, the latter making an and-one play over Thompson, but Jackson struck back with an and-one of his own to kill any Eagles hope.
The final nail the coffin- an expertly worked Wright triple which saw the ball swung around the entirety of Leicester’s offence, before the two-guard patiently waited for the open three and knocked it down. That made it 94-75 with two minutes left.
Leicester Riders are back at home for the first time in March, hosting Newcastle Eagles in the Super League Basketball Championship.
The Riders look to respond to a two-game slide in their recent road games with a win against their long-standing rivals.
Meanwhile the Eagles are flying high after their midweek win against Bakken Bears saw them through to the Semi-Finals of the ENBL.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Newcastle Eagles
Super League Basketball Championship
Mattioli Arena Leicester
Friday, March 21, 7:30 pm
Riders return home
After a difficult three game road trip, the Riders are back in Leicester where they have been red hot all season. They hold a 9-1 home record in the league this season, and look to put their season back on track in front of their home fans in this one.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 1, 2025
Both of the back-to-back defeats could easily have gone the other way. They were two points down with three minutes left on the road to Manchester, and had a four point lead in Sheffield with two minutes on the clock.
Neither result went their way, and the Riders fell to 14-6 – third in the SLB Championship.
This team-first Riders outfit have fundamentals to fall back on to get back in the win column. They lead all teams in assists per game (20.9), turn the ball over the second least (11.9), and on the defensive end block the most shots in the league (4.8).
And despite the losses, star big man Charles Thompson has moved into another gear. The league leader in blocks per game turned it up on offence in his last two. He averaged 22 points and 11.5 rebounds, putting the ball on the deck for drives to the rim, playing out of the post and finishing emphatically at the rim. There’s been no answer for the American.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 16, 2025
Against the fourth placed Newcastle Eagles looking to keep their home court advantage for the postseason, Thompson and the Riders will look to get back to their strengths to improve to 15 wins on the season.
Eagles’ European euphoria
The Eagles made history midweek, knocking off reigning ENBL Champions Bakken Bears over two legs to progress to the Final Four for the first time.
De’Sean Allen-Eikins led the 93-73 second leg victory with 19 points as the Eagles wrote a new chapter in their storied history.
It was a welcome break from domestic action, where they are in the midst of a five game slide. A home 68-86 loss to Bristol Flyers was their most recent outing, after midseason injuries sent them into the losing streak.
They are still without the services of big man Malcolm Delpeche, but leading scorer Mike Okauru returned for the Bakken game, and will have shaken off some rust ahead of facing the Riders.
Okauru is the league’s leading scorer with 20.4 points per game, making his return to action a key factor in the outcome of this game.
Leicester Riders fell 77-76 in a battle against Sheffield Sharks. Leicester gave the Sharks a war in a building which they hadn’t lost in all season. They led by four with a minute and half remaining, but the Sharks made plays down the stretch to take the win.
Riley Abercrombie had a chance to send the game to overtime at the foul line with 0.8 seconds left, but made one out of the pair as the Riders fell just short.
Charles Thompson continued his dominant week with 16 points and 9 rebounds, scoring 8 straight points out of the half to give control of the game to his side. Ethan Wright was infectious with his energy on both ends to finish with 13 points, and Jaylin Hunter pulled strings from the point to log 12 points and 6 assists.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 16, 2025
Meanwhile Prentiss Nixon scored 20 to lead the game for Sheffield.
The Riders fall to 14-6 on the season with a month and a half to play.
Hot Sharks start
A hot Sheffield start saw them jump out to an early lead. They went 6-8 from the field from the jump led by 7 points from Nixon, who found rhythm with a triple three minutes in.
Riders’ shots wouldn’t fall from the outside. They started 0-4 from beyond the arc in a tough offensive start. They battled inside to keep in touch, Duke Shelton coming off the bench for three scores midway through the period, but were down 20-14 with 2:30 on the clock.
Shelton ended the first with a right handed finish over Jacob Groves, making it 25-19 with one played.
Riders resolve shooting struggles through Wright
Shooting struggles continued to start the second, with Wright hitting the team’s only three through their first seven attempts. Wright was the one to snap the cold streak in transition, however, stringing one from the wing to make it a one score game.
Sheffield maintained their lead at the foul line, as their star scorer Rickey McGill earned charity shots consistently in the second period. The Riders momentum brought them a shot away from the lead on multiple occasions, but they couldn’t knock that shot down to get the edge in the fixture.
Wright’s triple earlier in the second took the lid off. He hit three by halftime, and Abercrombie’s corner triple kept the heat on the hosts. With a minute left in the half, Zach Jackson drained one from the top to give Leicester their first lead since early in the first.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 16, 2025
Sheffield’s Donovan Clay ended the second at the rim, and the score was 42-41 in the Sharks’ favour at the break.
Thompson third quarter takeover
Thompson turned up the offensive aggression to start the third with 8 straight points. He attacked the rim with authority and found no answer at the rim, making an and-one play in transition to give Leicester a three point lead.
The Riders put on the style on the break, as Jaylin Hunter dished a flashy no-look to Thompson who rewarded his point guard with a throw down for the play of the game. Leicester rallied behind Thompson to build a lead, with Hunter hitting a tough three from the corner to make it a six point advantage.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 16, 2025
James Reese V made the final play of the third for the Sharks, making it 56-60 going into the fourth and final stanza.
Sides exchange blows to set up thrilling finale
Wright made a momentous play to start the fourth, stripping it from Nixon and drawing an unsportsmanlike foul. His foul shots made it an eight point Leicester lead. Wright’s intensity threw the Sharks’ offence out of rhythm in a key moment in the game.
The Sharks bit back through Clay, however, whose post play earned him four quick points and forced a Riders timeout up four. The big man scored again out of the timeout to make it a one score affair with six minutes left.
The Riders’ response came from their in form big man, as Thompson hit a rainbow fadeaway over Clay. But Nixon’s three next time down cut it to one, and set up a tense finale.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 16, 2025
Sharks make late plays
Abercrombie started the final four minutes with an and-one to give the Riders some cushion. Thompson reached from behind the backboard to lay in a circus shot next time down, but Clay and Nixon hit back with 1:30 left in the game to keep it within a score. Nixon drew an offensive foul next time down, giving the hosts a shot to tie.
Clay took that chance with a baseline drive and a jam, and after Hunter couldn’t get his mid range effort to go, Nixon drove inside to give the Sharks a 77-75 lead with 17 seconds left.
Shooting to send it to overtime, Spencer Johnson missed a fadeaway, but Abercrombie pulled down the rebound and was sent to the foul line. He made the first but missed the second, meaning Leicester fell in a heartbreaker.
The Riders return to action on Friday, hosting the Newcastle Eagles.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders are set for a colossal matchup against the Super League Basketball Cup Champions Sheffield Sharks in the SLB Championship.
It’s a top of the table clash in Sheffield, with the third placed Riders and second placed Sharks looking to hunt down London Lions at the top of the table.
It’s the Riders’ second trip to South Yorkshire this season as they prepare to take on formidable SLB opponents. Here’s all you need to know about the game…
Fixture information
Sheffield Sharks vs Leicester Riders
Super League Basketball Championship
Canon Medical Arena
Sunday, March 16, 4 pm
Riders look to respond to road loss
Leicester’s title chances took a slight dent last time out, as they fell short of an inspired comeback on the road to Manchester.
Leicester were down 20 in the second quarter and brought it back to a one-score game, and were down 16 with seven minutes left in the game and cut the deficit to three. But Makai Ashton-Langford’s deep three was the dagger in a game of which the Riders could never grab control.
Despite the loss, Riders rookie Charles Thompson went off for a career night. He scored a career-high 26 points, and logged a season-high 14 rebounds and 6 blocks, dominating wire-to-wire.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 12, 2025
Meanwhile Zach Jackson led the late charge with 14 points in the fourth quarter, making it 22 on the game for the American star wing.
Leicester had uncharacteristic defensive struggles in Manchester, partially in the opening stages. They gave up 31 in the first quarter leading to their 20 point hole in the second, before locking down in the second half to climb back into contention.
They won’t be able to afford any defensive lapses in this one against the in-form team in British basketball.
A win would be momentous in the Riders’ season- seeing them move to a 15-5 record one loss behind the top of the table. With Sheffield playing in Surrey the night before this fixture, the fresh legged Riders will look to bring relentless energy to Sheffield in order to get one over their local rivals.
Cup Champions chase Championship
Sheffield Sharks have been nothing short of dominant in 2025. They enter this weekend having won eight straight games, including the Cup Final against Surrey 89ers where they exploded for 102 points.
They followed that with 101 against Cheshire Phoenix midweek,as the league looks for an answer to the hottest team in the country.
They’re 15-4, a game ahead of the Riders and level on losses with the league leading Lions with three games in hand. And led by their big three of Rickey McGill, Prentiss Nixon and Donovan Clay, they’ll be confident of chasing them down.
McGill has been a top three scorer in the league this season since his arrival in South Yorkshire midseason. Nixon stepped up from his role as the Sharks’ sixth man last season to prove himself as one of the deadliest scorers in the league, and Clay earned Final MVP with 23 points and 9 rebounds, ranking top five in the SLB in boards per game.
Sheffield’s biggest strength is it’s deep shooting. They come into this game as the best three-point shooters in the league at 37.4%, and with five players shooting over 40% from range on the season.
They went 9-22 from three in the Cup Final, which was the key differentiator between the sides in that matchup. The Riders will therefore need to lock in on their perimeter defence in all areas of the game to keep Sheffield’s shooters from heating up.
Report: Riders fall in Manchester despite heroic comeback attempt
Leicester Riders fell to Manchester Basketball on the road in the Super League Basketball Championship.
A costly first quarter and a half saw them down 20 midway through the second, and despite climbing back into the game in the fourth through the brilliance of Zach Jackson, they could never get over the hump and take a comeback win.
Jackson had 22 on the game, scoring 14 in the fourth. Meanwhile Charles Thompson logged his career-high in points with a game-high 26, and tied his career high in blocks with 6, and grabbed 14 rebounds in a dominant display inside.
Meanwhile Manchester were led by DJ Mitchell, who scored 24 despite fouling out in the fourth. That forced Makai Ashton-Langford to make the game deciding plays. His deep three with under a minute left proved the dagger.
The Riders picked up their fifth loss of the league season, making their record 13-5 in third place in the Championship.
Hot Manchester start leaves Leicester in early hole
The red hot Manchester offence was the story of the opening stages. Manchester’s Mitchell and Ashton-Langford combined for four Manchester threes through five minutes.
They led 17-10, despite the two-way play of Thompson who logged 10 points and a monster block on Ian Dubose early.
Thompson played like a guard from the five man spot, taking defenders off the dribble, and hitting a fadeaway to bring him to double digits.
But Mitchell lit up the game with four first quarter threes on his way to 12 points, and the hosts led by 14 after one. Dubose had the highlight of the quarter, throwing down a jam over Ethan Wright on the fastbreak.
Leicester fight back from 20 point deficit
Manchester made the lead 20 with their continued high powered offence in the second. They started the period 6-0, getting to the rim with elite ball movement. Leicester trailed the turnover battle 5-0 to start the game, falling into an early hole.
J’Raan Brooks stopped the offensive drought with a triple, followed by Jackson at the rim who showed off delicate touch off the glass. Leicester went on a 10-0 run, with four points from Duke Shelton, to cut into the deficit to 11.
After struggling to contain the Manchester offence early, Leicester locked them down on their run to open up transition opportunities. Jackson made an and-one play on the run following a Thompson block to make the score 43-36.
Thompson finished the first half with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Manchester had the best of the final minute of the half, Kyle Carey’s three making it 50-41 come the break, but Leicester were back in contention after the big second quarter deficit.
Riders cut it close, but can’t take control
Thompson picked up where he left off in the first half to start the third, blocking Elijah Ifejeh to send Johnson on the fastbreak for two. Jaylin Hunter scored five quick points, and the Riders made it a one score game.
Attempting to handle the Thompson dominance, both Manchester big men, Ifejeh and Marcus Delpeche, picked up their fourth fouls, leaving them in dire need of size on the floor.
But Mitchell gave Manchester some breathing room with back-to-back threes, making it 22 on the night and giving his team an 8 point lead and stemming the Leicester momentum.
Plays from Shelton, Spencer Johnson and Conner Washington saw the Riders knocking on the door, but Manchester kept them at arm’s length to close out the third, and they led by nine going into the fourth.
Riders fall short of Jackson inspired comeback
In a key moment of the game, Manchester took control of the matchup in the fourth with two scores to force a Riders timeout. They started the quarter 7-2, giving the Riders a mountain to climb.
Carey’s three made it 81-65 with seven minutes on the clock.
Jackson and-one triggered the Riders comeback following a timeout. That was quickly followed by Thompson’s finish at the rim. Jackson then nailed a three with 4:52 left, cutting it back to eight.
Jackson scored 13 on the Riders’ run to cut the game to one, and as he picked up fouls with his aggressive play, three Manchester players fouled out, including their leading scorer Mitchell.
Carey’s play was the turning point late which kept the hosts narrowly ahead. He stole it from Johnson at halfcourt to add two to their tally.
Thompson scored four quick points to cut the game to a possession, but Ashton-Langford hit back with a deep three to kill the hope of an incredible Riders comeback.
The Riders return to action on Sunday, heading to Sheffield to take on the Sharks in a top of the table clash.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Preview: Manchester Basketball vs Leicester Riders
Leicester Riders take on Manchester Basketball on the road in midweek Super League Basketball Championship action.
The 14-4 Riders face Manchester as one of their four games in hand against the league leading London Lions, who they will join tied at the summit of the Championship should they win all of those games.
Meanwhile the 6-13 Manchester side cast their eyes up the table, having made significant strides since their midseason coaching change just two games ago.
Fixture information
Manchester Basketball vs Leicester Riders
Super League Basketball Championship
National Basketball Performance Centre
Tuesday, March 11, 7:30 pm
Winning at all costs
The Riders have one goal the rest of the way: win games, however they come. Four games back from the top spot and in the midst of a three game title race, the Riders are tasked with navigating a packed schedule on the back end of the season to keep pace with the Lions and Cup champions Sheffield Sharks.
Leicester gritted their teeth to beat Bristol Flyers on the road in their last outing, winning 74-63 in a tense finale. The Riders led by 20 in the third, but scored one point in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter as the Flyers stormed back into contention.
Holding the Flyers to 63 was the key to the victory, becoming only the 17th team since 2008 to win a game whilst shooting below 40% from the field, 25% or worse from three and 3pt and below 60% from the foul line.
Charles Thompson sealed the win in the clutch with two denials at the rim, bringing his game log to 6 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks, meanwhile Jaylin Hunter was named Player of the Game for the second straight game with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
“It wasn’t the prettiest game, but we were solid on the defensive end of the floor. We did a good job of making plays down the stretch. We took care of the ball late and our rebounding was excellent,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro postgame.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 8, 2025
Being able to lean on those fundamentals in big moments of the season is what makes champions, as the Riders seek to win games in any way they can in this crucial stretch of the season.
Manchester turn to Herman to change fortunes
After starting their Championship campaign 5-12, Manchester made a seismic change at head Coach to turn their season around.
Arginine Herman Mandole brings an impressive resume to the North West of England, arriving in Manchester from the Italian Serie A. His coaching career also includes stints as an Assistant Coach in Argentina, and as Head Coach of the Argentinian men’s national team.
The Club’s first two games under new leadership saw immediate improvement. They played the league leading Lions close in London, losing 73-78, before beating Newcastle Eagles 86-79 at home.
Star guard Makai Ashton-Langford led his team to the win with 21 points and 9 assists in a team performance which saw the hosts dish 20 assists in the game.
The Riders are now faced with a different Manchester side to the one they have beaten four times before this season, and will need to be at their best on both ends to take their fourth league victory on the bounce.
Report: Riders battle in Bristol for gritty road win
Leicester Riders battled out a win on the road, beating Bristol Flyers 74-63 in a physical, defensive affair.
The Riders led by 20 points in the third, but scoring only 1 point in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter meant Bristol stormed back to make it a ball game late.
They found enough offence late to see the Flyers off, and dug their heels in on the defensive end led by Charles Thompson heroics to take their 14th win of the season.
Zach Jackson’s 17 points led the team, backed by 16 from Riley Abercrombie who sealed the game with a dagger in the final minute.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 7, 2025
Thompson dominated the paint with 10 rebounds and 2 blocks, meanwhile Jaylin Hunter muscled his way to 7 boards to complement his 13 points and 5 assists from the point.
For Bristol, they continue their tough run of form which has seen them winless at home since January 11. Keddy Johnson led the team with 14 points and 7 rebounds.
Flyers take early lead through Sherfield
Offense was hard to come by from the tip off, as the Riders fell in a 7-1 hole through three minutes. They missed their first six field goals before Abercrombie drained a three from the wing to get them underway.
The lid was off the bucket from there, however, as the Aussie went back-to-back from deep.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 7, 2025
But Bristol’s Jared Sherfield was feeling it early to build the Flyers’ lead. He scored 7 in the first five minutes of play with two shots from three point land.
Riders crash glass to take lead
Leicester shot their way into the lead from three, as Hunter’s rainbow over close contest gave them a 19-16 advantage after Wright’s triple tied the game at 16.
Their three point shooting opened up the paint, where they found joy to start the second quarter through Wright and Duke Shelton, the latter making an and-one play after grabbing his own miss.
That was the theme of the second, as the Riders dominated the glass to grab 10 offensive rebounds with 5:22 left in the half.
Thompson jam caps off scorching second
The Flyers fought to the foul line in the second to keep in touch, but started the game 7-13 from the stripe. Sherfield kept piling in the points to finish the half with 14, and star scorer Johnson’s jumper started to fall to give him 9 points.
But the Riders’ leading scorer on the year Jackson found his rhythm with a corner triple late in the second, kicking off a 7-0 Jackson run to put the Riders up 34-27.
Thompson made the highlight of the half, dropping Leslee Smith in the post with a spin move before jamming one in, and Conner Washington ended the second at the foul line to give the Riders a 40-32 lead at the break.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 7, 2025
Hunter scored 8 points in the third as the Riders blew the game wide open. They scored 20 in seven minutes, as Jackson made it 60-42 at the hoop for his 12th points.
Flyers fightback starts in third
The Flyers found form late in the third to breathe life into the building. Alain Louis put down an acrobatic and-one against Washington, before Desmond Robinson found Evan Walshe with a full court heave who cut it to 14 with 1:16 left.
Bristol brought all out pressure to the ball handler to force turnovers out of the Riders, swinging the game’s momentum.
Washington’s experience saw him navigate the new defensive look expertly to steady the ship for Leicester. He drew a foul next time down, then weaved his way out of a double team and finished at the rim to rebuild the Leicester lead going into the fourth.
Offensive struggles makes for late game drama
The Flyers’ kept their intensity in the fourth to cut the game back to single digits. Leslee Smith got to work down low as Bristol started the quarter 6-1, making the score 67-59 in the Riders’ favour.
Leicesters’s offensive drought opened the door for a Flyers comeback, as the visitors scored only one point in six minutes. Thompson’s hook shot was the team’s first field goal of the fourth with four minutes remaining in the game.
As the game neared its conclusion, Hunter flew in for a monster offensive board to set up a Jackson bucket, making the score 71-63 with three minutes on the clock.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 7, 2025
Defensively, Thompson came up with two emphatic blocks at the rim, one on Lewis to stop a certain fastbreak bucket, to stuff any Bristol hope of a win.
Thompson then found Abercrombie wide open for three, who hit the dagger to earn Leicester a gritty win.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Meanwhile the Trophy Finalist Flyers are 5-10, and hope to bounce back from a three-game slide in league action.
Fixture information
Bristol Flyers vs Leicester Riders
Super League Basketball Championship
SGS Arena
Friday, February 7, 7:30 pm
Riders rolling in title fight
Leicester Riders, London Lions and Sheffield Sharks and engaged in a three way fight for the top of the SLB Championship table.
The Riders have three games in hand on the first-placed Lions, who are 17-4, making it crucial for Leicester to keep the win column ticking over in the second half of the season.
Convincing wins against Cheshire Phoenix, Manchester Basketball and most recently Surrey 89ers have done exactly that for Leicester in their last three outings.
The 91-81 win against Surrey, led by 20 points and 7 assists from Jaylin Hunter, was a tie game going into the fourth, but Leicester’s team ball saw them over the line, winning the final period 27-17.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) March 1, 2025
The Riders lead the League in assists with 21.4 per night, with 7.3 coming from star guard Hunter.
Defensively, the League’s best shot blocker Charles Thompson was at his brilliant best, sending four shots away on the night. Thompson averages a block more than any other player in the country with 2.8 per game, meaning the Riders send away a league leading 5 a night.
Hunter’s playmaking and Thompson’s defence will be essential ingredients if the Riders are to have league-winning success on the back end of the year.
Flyers playing league leaders tough
Reaching the Trophy Final in January has been the peak of the Flyers’ success this season, and have since lost form to fall to eighth in the standings.
They’re 2-5 since the Final, but played the top two in the league standings close in their last two outings, falling in single-digits to the Sharks and the Lions.
The Flyers led in the third in London, but despite hanging around wire-to-wire, couldn’t overcome London once they snatched the lead back.
The electric Kedrain Johnson, who has scored double digit points in every league game this season, is the second leading scorer among all players with 19.4 points per game. He’s always a threat from anywhere on the court, and with two 30 point games to his name this season, Leicester will be locked in on Johnson from the jump.
Having played the Sharks and Lions tough in their last two outings, Leicester will have to be at their best to maintain their winning run and keep the pressure on the teams above them.
Previous meetings
These familiar foes have met four times so far this season, the Riders possessing a 4-0 record against the South Westerners.
Leicester have won the games by an average margin of 17.3 points, and took a dominant 35 point win against the Flyers in January led by 20 points from Zach Jackson.
This is only the second trip to Bristol for the Riders this season, however, a place where the Club have endured hard-fought battles in the past. That includes an overtime war in the Trophy Group phase this season in which Leicester escaped as four point winners.
The Riders should therefore expect to have to overcome an energy-filled Flyers side in front of a raucous home crowd to take a win back to Leicester.
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.
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.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
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.
Getting the dub last time at home!
We're back from the break tomorrow hosting Surrey 89ers!
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.
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.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
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.
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 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.
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!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
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.
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.
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.
Playing out a thriller in Cheshire last time we played Thursday's opponents…
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.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
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.
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!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
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.”
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.
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.
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.
Report: Duke Shelton’s infectious energy leads huge win against Bristol Flyers
Leicester Riders took an impressive wire-to-wire win against Bristol Flyers to improve to 10-4 in the Super League Basketball Championship.
The Riders took a 9-0 lead from the jump and never looked back, leading by as much as 41 points in the fourth. Duke Shelton took Player of the Game honours with a high-energy performance off the bench, resulting in 15 points and 13 rebounds in 20 minutes of action.
His impact was felt on both ends, as Leicester’s lock down defence was impenetrable for 40 minutes. Charles Thompson was typically instrumental to this, blocking 2 shots on the night.
Zach Jackson led the team with 20 points on 9-14 shooting from the field, meanwhile captain Conner Washington scored 10 off the bench, to achieve the milestone of 2000 career Championship points.
Bristol’s Keddy Johnson led the team with 17 off the bench, battling throughout despite the big deficit. The Flyers shot 31% from the field against the Leicester defence, playing at the end of a packed schedule featuring three games in six days.
Riders roll to hot start
Leicester led with their league-best defence to start the game. The Flyers went scoreless against stifling interior efforts through the first three and a half minutes, as the Riders bolted out to a 9-0 lead.
Thompson put an exclamation point on the Riders run with a throwdown in transition- his second bucket of the night- forcing a Flyers timeout.
With leading scorer Keddy Johnson, on the sidelines to start the tie, checking into the game, Bristol made their first buckets. All Flyers starters found the bottom of the bucket with three minutes left in the first, big man Owen Mccormack connecting from deep to make it 16-8.
Leicester held them at eight, finishing the quarter up 23-15 after Shelton fought his way for a second chance bucket at the hoop.
Washington milestone highlight of second quarter dominance
Shelton’s score at the end of the first opened up the basket for the Floridian, who scored twice to start the second half. Washington followed up by putting Desmond Robinson on skates, the Bristol big finding himself in a mismatch as Washington blew by him for an and-one.
He followed up for an off the dribble three, his 2000th top-flight Championship points, another milestone in his illustrious career.
Keddy Johnson replied with a three for the Flyers, but it did little to stem the tide as Spencer Johnson then made it 36-21 with a finish for two. J’Raan Brooks then drained his second three of the night and Leicester’s fifth of the game.
Putting back a Brooks miss from midrange emphatically, slamming it down two-handed, Shelton brought his game tally to 10 points and 7 rebounds, leading Leicester to a 47-29 advantage at the half.
Leicester plant dagger in the third
The second half started as the first ended, with the Riders pouring in buckets. Jackson and Riley Abercrombie hit on contested triples, making it 55-31 in a matter of minutes.
Thompson’s interior dominance continued on the defensive end, his opponents seemingly fearful to pull the trigger against him in the paint. He matched up against former Riders Evan Walshe who tried to take him one-on-one, only to end up in a straight jacket and seeing his shot swatted out of bounds.
Meanwhile Hunter and Abercrombie went back-to-back for paint scores on the other end. Spencer Johnson brought his game tally to double figures with another three as the hosts piled on the points.
Jackson made the lead 30 with a minute left in the third, after Thompson battled for an offensive rebound against two Flyers inside. Thompson then finished the quarter at the foul line to make the score 73-45 with one left.
Young stars cap off big win
Shelton picked up from Thompson in the fourth, banking an and-one then blocking Kendall Lewis to restart the action. Jackson got to work, adding five more to his game log, and Washington got to the line for his eighth points to make it 86-47.
With 6:21 remaining, young star Victor Ndoukou checked into the game and instantly grabbed an offensive board to set up a pair of Shelton foul shots. Shelton knocked down to make it a 40 point lead.
Another promising young Rider Seth Wylie stepped into the game and drained a corner three, assisted by Ndoukou, to the delight of the home crowd.
That was the cherry on the performance- one of the most impressive team wins of the season for Leicester.
Leicester Riders are back in action next weekend in the Super League Basketball Cup Semi-Final! The two-legged affair starts on Friday, February 7 in Surrey, before returning to Leicester for the second leg on Sunday, February 9 at 3 pm.
Leicester Riders are ready to return to Super League Basketball Championship action against Bristol Flyers.
Leicester, third in the league standings, are riding high after progressing through to the Cup Semi-Final last week, beating Manchester on the road.
Meanwhile the Flyers are in need of a bounce back after losing convincingly in last week’s Trophy Final against Newcastle Eagles. They currently sit eighth, having played significantly fewer league games than their competitors.
Here’s how the game is shaping up…
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Bristol Flyers Super League Basketball Championship Mattioli Arena, Leicester Friday, January 31, 7:30 pm Get tickets here!
Rested Riders ready to roll
The Riders battled through a packed schedule last week, playing three games in six days and finishing with the Cup Quarter-Final in Manchester.
Playing a Manchester side coming into the game with 20 days rest. Leicester dug deep down the stretch to hang onto their lead and make it through to the Semi-Final.
Zach Jackson led an 85-77 win with 18 points, making big plays in the clutch including the game sealing layup.
Jackson is the Riders’ leading scorer on the season with 16.9 points per game, ranking fifth among all players in the league.
The Riders haven’t seen action since the Quarter-Final, relishing the opportunity to rest and recover for nine days.
This game represents an opportunity to move to 10 wins on the season in their pursuit of top spot, against a Flyers team off the back of a heartbreaking Trophy Final loss last week.
Flyers in need of SLB bounce back
The tables are turned from Leicester’s last fixture, as the well-rested Riders suit up against the Flyers playing their third game in six days.
They fell in convincing fashion last Sunday against Newcastle Eagles in the Trophy Final, losing 97-78 in a game they were out of from the opening period, before travelling to Estonia to take on Keila Coolbet on Tuesday.
The Flyers re-found form in Estonia, however, battling out an 82-77 win led by 23 points and 8 rebounds from American guard Jared Sherfield. The win meant the Flyers finished their second season in Europe with a record of four wins and four losses, recording a four-game winning streak to round out the group stage.
Bristol are led by the ever dangerous Keddy Johnson on the season, who helps to make Bristol a threat to any opponent. The league’s leading scorer, averaging 23 points per game, is a flashy guard capable of taking over at any moment with lights-out shooting and and elite finishing ability at the rim.
Johnson endured a difficult night in the Trophy Final, finishing with 9 points on 2-10 shooting from the field. He’ll look to right those wrongs against the Riders, meaning Leicester will have to lock into the dominant American.
Previous meetings
These sides are no strangers, having met three times before this season.
The Riders have emerged victors on each occasion, taking two comfortable wins at home and battling out an overtime victory in Bristol in the Trophy Group Phase.
Last time out was an 83-74 Riders home win on December 27, led by 20 points from Riders’ leading scorer Jackson. Leicester led 51-37 at half, and despite an attempted Flyers fightback, saw the game out in the fourth to once again take victory against the South Westerners.
“I always wanted to make this my life.” Riley Abercrombie on his journey to realising his professional basketball dream
Riley Abercrombie was 15 when his family moved from his home country of Australia to the other side of the world.
To most, the life changing move to Houston, Texas, would have been overwhelming. But with the dream of professional basketball at the forefront of his mind, Abercrombie embraced it.
“Looking back now it seems crazy, but at the time I didn’t think twice about it,” reflected Abercrombie. “I loved that in America there was so much more focus on basketball. I always wanted to make this my life. It was always my determined plan to do this.”
At Clear Lake High School, the Aussie quickly took to life in the States. He helped them to the State Championship Tournament as a senior, averaging 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds.
His performances earned him a place on the Boise State Broncos D1 roster as a Freshman in college as he continued on the path towards his dream.
“I loved college. You’re playing an unbelievable amount of basketball and doing so much work. There’s a massive system of people there to help you get better every single day. It’s a basketball player’s dream to be in that type of environment. It was huge for my development as a player and a person.”
Shooter’s mentality- learning to forget
Abercrombie continued to embrace different environments and circumstances throughout collegiate life, transferring from Boise to Rice University, and then to Northern Colorado.
That allowed him to lean on the expertise of multiple coaches, the experience of a plethora of teammates and the resources of elite sporting institutions.
He developed the mentality of an elite shooter, and the key to a short term memory on the court.
“As a shooter, it’s vital to be able to forget about your last attempt and to keep firing with confidence. That comes naturally to some guys, but to me it didn’t. That affected me early in my career because I care so much about playing well and winning, so misses would impact me so much.”
College basketball allows the opportunity for young players to lean on their more experienced contemporaries. In Abercrombie’s case, it was sharpshooter Justinian Jessup who gave him the key to maintaining a level head throughout a game.
Jessup played four years at Boise State, averaging 16 points as a senior on 39% shooting from three. His play saw him drafted into the NBA by the Golden State Warriors, and he now suits up for Ratiopharm Ulm in the German Bundesliga, where he scored 11 points per game on 40% three point shooting.
“Justinian looked like a robot when he shot the ball. Whether it went in or not, he’d have exactly the same reaction all the time, so I was trying to emulate that in my career. I wanted to be a robot who does that same thing every time, and doesn’t get too high or low. It’s made a big impact on my shooting ability.
“The idea is to get into where you shoot your shot with the right form and live with the result, but it’s hard to battle mentally and get to that every day. When you miss a few in a row you feel yourself start to get frustrated and you have to fight to get back to even keel.”
Abercrombie’s learnings from college are evident as he suits up in Riders red. He hit the dagger against London Lions in Leicester’s last game of 2024, his first three of the game after missing his last six three point attempts.
“When it comes down to close games, I’m hunting for the ball because I truly believe I can make that shot. Even when I’ve missed a bunch of shots in that game.
“I said to Jaylin [Hunter] before I hit the shot against London: ‘If you find me, I’ll hit a big one.’ I feel confident in myself in those moments to step up and make plays.”
Dominating down under
Abercrombie’s confidence didn’t just develop from his collegiate experience. He returned back to his home country in the summer to suit up for the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL 1.
He was asked to carry the scoring load for the first time in his career, and did so emphatically.
Abercrombie averaged 23.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, in a season that featured back-to-back 38 point games, five 30 point outings and six double doubles over 19 games.
In a confidence sport, Abercrombie’s summer gave him confirmation of his scoring ability.
“Australia was massive for my game. Going into a team where I had an opportunity to really score the ball and do things I didn’t usually get to do gave me the confidence that I can score at a high level, and do more than spot up and shoot threes.
“I can play off the dribble, get to the rim, and shoot off the move, so playing there and having the chance to put that into game situations really helped me.
“I’ve always believed I can do it, but I’d never been put into a position where it had to be me. Being in a place where the coach wanted me to score a bunch to help the team win was great for me. I did what I always believed I could do.”
The bucket got bigger for Abercrombie in Australia. Night after night he put up monster numbers, riding the momentum from his hot hand.
“Basketball is such a confidence sport. When you’re rolling you’re really rolling. It feels like you’re throwing grapes in the ocean.”
Landing in Leicester: “We’re in the business of hunting trophies”
Abercrombie brought the confidence built in Illawarra to Leicester, where he hit the ground running to log double digit points nearly every night from the jump.
It’s been a quick and happy transition for Abercrombie, whose dad lived in Stoke until the age of eight.
“I don’t think I could have landed in a better spot, with the people in the programme, the coaching staff and teammates that I’ve got. I’ve got really lucky with where I’ve landed and I’m super happy to be here.
“When deciding where to sign, a lot of things pointed towards Leicester. From seeing the way the UK has embraced basketball and how the league has grown, to hearing Coach Rob say a lot of things I liked meant everything lined up. It just made sense.”
This Riders group quickly formed chemistry, going undefeated in the Trophy Group Phase to start the season by playing fluid team basketball. In particular, Abercrombie and Ethan Wright developed a thriving off-court friendship.
“Ethan’s been great. I hang out with him every single day. We’ve been together all the time since we’ve got here, and he’s got a great perspective on life. He’s a smart guy, and listening to his professional experiences makes me appreciate how lucky we are to be in a great situation here.”
As the second half of the season fast approaches, the Riders look ahead to a momentous Cup Semi-Final matchup against Surrey 89ers in two weeks time.
Leicester, having already suited up in the trophy Semi-Final against Newcastle and falling heartbreakingly short, look to right those wrongs and progress to the Cup Final in Nottingham.
“We’re in the business of hunting trophies this year. We want to win as much as we can and make the most of opportunities, so the Newcastle Semi-Final really hurt us.”
The Cup Semi-Final, like the Trophy, will be contested over two legs- a foreign format for many rookies. The Riders narrowly lost the first leg to Newcastle and tied the second, seeing them fall out of the competition on aggregate.
“That gave us some experience on how these two legged games work. We drew the second game which is the first time I’ve drawn a game in my basketball life. Now we understand that we need to go to Surrey and put ourselves in a good position to come back home on Sunday and take care of business.
Semi-Final fixtures locked in
Our SLB Cup Semi-Final games against @surreyniners have been confirmed!
First Leg: Surrey, Feb 7, 7:30 pm Second Leg: Leicester, Feb 9, 3 pm
“We want to put ourselves in a position to win trophies and get ourselves to the top of the league. We had a decent start to the year but we haven’t played our best basketball yet and we’re learning more and more about ourselves and each other.
“I’m definitely looking forward to playing our best basketball the rest of the year and putting ourselves in a position to be one of the best teams in the country.”
Abercrombie is back in action for the Riders on Friday, as the team takes on Trophy finalists Bristol Flyers in the Super League Basketball Championship.
Report: Riders through to the Cup Semi-Final after hard-fought win in Manchester
Leicester Riders progressed through to the Super League Basketball Cup Semi-Final, beating Manchester Basketball on the road 85-77.
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.
Zach 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. Ethan Wright was the spark plug off the bench with 14, pulling down two game-sealing offensive boards and a putback score late in the fourth.
Charles Thompson continued his interior dominance with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks, meanwhile Jaylin Hunter went off for 14 from the point.
Leicester’s highly touted defence, led by Thompson on the inside, held Manchester’s talented offence to 40% from the field and 27% from three. They were led by Makai Ashton-Langford’s 15.
The Riders will meet Surrey 89ers over two legs in the Semi-Final, hoping to book their spot in the Final at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham.
Back and forth first quarter ends with Leicester lead
The game began with an exchange of threes between two Australian-born sharpshooters, as Riley Abercrombie and DJ Mitchell went back-to-back from deep. Jackson followed Abercrombie with a wide open three after a miscommunication from the Manchester defence, and Leicester led 9-8.
Thompson made his presence felt against Manchetser’s Nathan Cayo on both ends, backing him down for two then swatting him on the other end as he drove to the hoop. The American rookie then drove baseline for a monster one reverse jam over Mitchell.
Wright checked in off the bench to inject his energy into the tie, hustling for an offensive rebound and getting two buckets from the midrange. Thompson finished the first by putting back Washington’s three, making it 24-23 by the buzzer.
Leicester take narrow lead into the half
The game’s back and forth nature continued into the second and Wright and Conner Washington got on the board for Leicester, and Manchester got to the basket for two scores.
The game remained within a score for five minutes in the second, before Hunter and Spencer Johnson combined for five points to make the score 35-31. But Zak Irvin quickly pegged Leicester back with a fastbreak bucket.
As Leicester looked to maintain their narrow lead, Jackson showed patience at the rim to make an and-one play. Johnson ran the fastbreak and dished it to the cutting Jackson, who got Junior Madut in the air and finished through contact.
Jackson finished the half at the foul line, making it a 47-42 Leicester lead at the break.
Jackson builds Riders’ foundation
The Riders stormed out to their biggest lead of the night out the half, with Hunter and Abercrombie finishing in the paint to make the difference nine. Manchester got to the foul line to chip away, but big shots from Johnson and Jackson kept them at arm’s length.
Jackson, running in transition, gave Leicester their first double digit lead of the night with a finish over Irvin. After a back-and-forth exchange, Jackson pulled up off the dribble from deep, making it 64-51 and forcing a Manchester timeout.
Hunter hit a floater out of a timeout as Leicester kept their foot on the pedal with a 7-0 run. But Manchester, through Ashton-Langord on the break and Madut on the third quarter buzzer, cut it to 10 points with one to play.
Riders hang on to lead late in the fourth
Madut kept it rolling in the fourth with a layup to start the period. He then got to the line next time down, and it was quickly a seven point difference.
Wright stepped up to stem the momentum with a triple, after he got Madut in the air with a pump fake. After Manchester brought it back to a six point affair with a pair of buckets, Wright drained another three, before Abercrombie found himself wide open to make it 77-63.
Duke Shelton put an exclamation point on the Riders run, flying down the lane to throw it down with authority.
Again Manchester had a response, as Madut’s three kicked off a 7-0 run which made the score 79-72. Leicester, having played a much busier January schedule than their opponents, dug deep late in the game to hang on.
Hunter found the energy to make a play, driving inside two a two through traffic. But the hosts went back-to-back for scores to keep chipping away.
In a five point game, Leicester’s leader stepped up, taking on a one-on-one matchup and getting inside for two. Thompson and Wright then took over on the inside, pulling down four offensive boards to set up a Wright finish inside to seal the hard-fought win.
The Riders are back in action on Friday, hitting the road again to take on Caledonia Gladiators in the Super League Basketball Championship.
SLB Cup Quarter-Final Preview: Leicester Riders vs Manchester Basketball
Leicester Riders are ready to take on Manchester Basketball on the road in the Super League Basketball Cup Quarter-Final.
Leicester look to bounce back after a road defeat to London Lions on the weekend, meanwhile a well-rested Manchester side suit up for the first time since falling to the Riders on January 10.
Here’s all you need to know about the game…
Fixture information
Manchester Basketball vs Leicester Riders
Super League Basketball Cup Quarter-Final
National Basketball Performance Centre
Wednesday, January 22, 7:30 PM
Riders look for response to Sunday’s defeat
Leiecster Riders entered Sunday’s game against London Lions as the League leaders, but lost their spot atop the table with a loss to the Lions.
The Riders were down by as much as 19 in the second quarter and brought it back to a four point game in the fourth, but the Lions hit big shots late to rebuild their lead and take the win.
Charles Thompson and Riley Abercrombie, the stars of Friday’s win against Caledonia Gladiators, hit big shots to start the second half to trigger the comeback- Thompson leading the team with 14 come the final buzzer.
The Riders have won 4 of their last 6 games in the League, and have consistently climbed the standings game week by game week.
But now they turn their attention to knockout basketball, and the chance to make their second semi-final of the season on the road in Manchester.
Manchester back home after two game road trip
After a red hot December saw Manchester find form, a 1-2 start to a lightly scheduled January thus far halted the North Westerner’s charge up the standings.
They fell to Cheshire Phoenix and Leicester Riders on the road, but have hung their hat on their home form so far this season. They went undefeated at home in the League in December, and won their only home game in January against the high-flying Sheffield Sharks.
They spent their previous two games on the road, therefore they will therefore relish the chance to progress to the SLB Cup Semi-Final by welcoming the Riders to town, but will hope for a different result to the last time they faced Leicester. The Riders won 89-76, Zach Jackson leading the team with 21 points.
Manchester hung in the game until the end of the third, when Abercrombie went off for 13 straight points to blow the game wide open. Nathan Cayo continued his impressive start to life in Manchester by leading the visitors with 16, the top three scorer in the League falling just a point short of his season average.
Key Matchup
Two Australian-born forwards are set to go head-to-head from the forward position in tomorrow’s game, as Donovan Mitchell and Abercrombie face off.
Both enjoyed productive nights last time these sides played, Mitchell logging 16 points and 8 rebounds while Abercrombie went 15 and 8, including the red hot run it the third to win the game.
Mitchell, who grew up in the United States, has experience in the BNXT League and the Polish league, and like Abercrombie suited up in Australia’s NBL 1. He helped the Gold Coast Rollers win the 2022 NBL1 North championship.
Meanwhile Abercrombie, a first year pro out of the University of North Colorado, played for Illawarra Hawks in the NBL 1, where he averaged 23.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Abercrombie’s season with the Hawks featured back-to-back 38 point games, five 30 point outings and six double doubles over 19 games.
The 6’9″ sharpshooter is rounding into form at the mid point of the season, scoring 26 against Caledonia Gladiators last Friday.
Meanwhile Mitchell has scored in double digits in his last seven league games, setting up an intense head-to-head between the two Australian-born ballers.
Leicester Riders fell to London Lions 91-71 on the road in the Super League Basketball Championship.
The Riders, down 19 in the first half, cut into the deficit to make it a four point game in the fourth quarter. But London found form late to see off the attempted Leicester comeback.
Charles Thompson led Leicester with a 14 point double double, sparking the fightback in the third with buckets at the rim. He was backed by 11 points from Ethan Wright off the bench who hit momentum swinging threes throughout.
London’s Sean Flood made key baskets in the fourth quarter to bring the win home for London. He scored 15 off the bench including two triples. Aaryn Rai led the Lions with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The game sees Leicester lose top spot in the League standings, falling to a 9-4 record.
Duelling out a tightly fought first quarter
London had the best of the opening stages with their interior presence, with Rai leading them to a 10-7 start with two buckets in close. The Riders, who struggled on the offensive boards on Friday against Caledonia Gladiators, suffered the same issues early by giving up four offensive rebounds in the first six minutes.
Leicester, whose leading scorer on the season Zach Jackson took an early seat with two quick fouls, bit back from range, as Spencer Johnson and Wright connected from three. The triples got the Riders in rhythm as they snatched the lead from London.
But veteran forward Ovie Soko found his way to the foul line continually in the opening period on his way to 8 points, and the Lions led 20-19 after one.
Stuckman leads London run in second
London took control of the tie in the second quarter. Soko started the run with another finish inside, and added another five to his tally in a 10-0 start to the period. Tanner Stuckman’s score made it 32-19 to the hosts.
Wright broke the scoring drought with a corner three for his 8th points of the afternoon, but that was met by Stuckman who hit a triple from the wing then a four point play on Thompson. The former Gladiator had 8 in the period.
Thompson fought back on the other end with an and-one play followed by a finish for two to try and inject some momentum into the Riders. They increased the pace in order to get looks earlier in the shot clock, but couldn’t connect frequently enough to chip into the London lead.
The first half ended 49-33, with Thompson scoring the final point of the second at the foul line.
Abercrombie four point play triggers Riders fightback
Riley Abercrombie came gunning out the break with a four point play to cut it to 12. Thompson followed with an and-one, and it was a single digit game one minute into the third.
Despite Soko’s continued aggression at the rim bagging him another 2 points, Leiecster got themselves back into the game, Abercrombie again drawing a foul from behind the line to make the score 52-45.
Ade Adebayo got London back on the rails with success down low. He led a Lions run to put them back up 8. Duke Shelton ended the third at the foul line, and the sides entered the final period with London leading 65-59.
London run up score late
Shelton got the fourth underway at the rim to cut it to four. But Ciaran Sandy’s corner three and a Flood and-one gave London the edge with 7:46 left up 10. Flood weaved his way to the rim next time down the floor for another two, forcing a Riders timeout.
Wright, again, was the one to try and swing momentum back into Leicester’s favour with a three, but Stuckman got to the line next time down to quiet the visitors. Flood hit another three from the wing to make it a 14 point affair.
The Riders kept grinding, but the deficit was too great late in the fourth, and Leicester fell to London for the first time this season.
The Riders return to action on Wednesday for the SLB Cup Quarter-Final on the road to Manchester Basketball.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders and London Lions are set to engage in a top of the table showdown in the capital tomorrow.
The 9-3 Riders, who snatched the top spot in the Championship on Friday, will take the floor of the Copper Box Arena to defend their pedestal in first position against the 9-4 London Lions.
Leicester are undefeated against the reigning British basketball champions in three games so far this season, but face the tallest task so far in this fixture.
Meanwhile London looks to bounce back from two straight defeats in order to get their season back on the rails.
Here’s all you need to know about this heavyweight clash…
Fixture information
London Lions vs Leicester Riders Super League Basketball Championship Copper Box Arena, London 4 pm
Table topping Riders
An 84-75 home win against Caledonia Gladiators saw the Riders go seven straight home games undefeated, and top of the table for the first time this season.
After Gladiators’ guards Patrick Whelan and Teddy Okereafor made tough shots throughout the first half, Leicester’s league leading defence locked in to hold Caledonia to 10 points in the third quarter and get out to a lead.
Charles Thompson’s defensive dominance continued with 3 blocks in the game, and Australian sharpshooter Riley Abercrombie won Player of the Game for the second straight game with a season-high 27 points.
Abercrombie’s shooting has been the difference in Leicester’s last two games. But like Thompson, his shot swatting has been equally impressive as the team continues to make its name as an intimidating interior presence.
Leicester head to the Copper Box having won eight of their last nine in the League- but only three of those games were away from home. They’ll look to carry their home form to London to take advantage of a London side which has been struggling for offensive output in their last two appearances.
Lions in need of bounce back game
London, who crashed out of the Cup last week to the Surrey 89ers in the Quarter-Final, lost their status as the league leaders by losing to Newcastle Eagles in the North East 74-67. It was a closely contested battle from wire-to-wire against a formidable opponent on the road, but cold deep shooting saw them go 3-17 from deep in the low-scoring affair.
Sean Flood hit all three off the bench, leading London with 14 points. Their leading scorer on the season, Aaryn Rai, hit big buckets late to keep it a game, but the Trophy Finalists got over the line against the Lions.
London’s defence kept them in the tie while in the midst of a tough shooting performance. Like Leicester, they’ve leaned on their defence all season to rank third in points allowed per game. Their big man pairing of Jaiden Delaire and Alen Hadzibegovic have been huge contributors to this, combining for 2.9 blocks per outing.
But offensively, they’ll need the shooters touch at home which went missing on the road last time out should they want to score on the best defence in Super League Basketball.
Previous meetings
These sides, who shared a Trophy group at the start of the season, have met three times so far with the Riders coming away with a win on each occasion.
The first meeting was in London, and Leicester dominated with an 89-66 win led by Jaylin Hunter’s 21.
The second game was a dead rubber at the end of the group, with neither side playing for anything tangible. But Leicester won to go undefeated through the group phase, this time Zach Jackson led the team with 16 in a 76-62 win.
The most recent meeting was the Riders’ last outing of 2024, and the sides battled out a nail-biter in Leicester. Abercrombie’s late three from the top was the dagger in an 84-75 win, which saw Ethan Wright go off for 21 off the bench.
Report: Abercrombie season-high earns Riders hard fought win against Gladiators
Leicester Riders battled out for an 85-74 win at home to the Caledonia Gladiators, led by Riley Abercrombie’s season high scoring night.
He went off for 27 points, going 5-8 from three in a red hot shooting night. He and Spencer Johnson went off from deep late, in what was a closely fought contest until the fourth.
Leicester trailed in the third quarter as Caledonia’s veteran backcourt of Patrick Whelan and Teddy Okereafor hit big shots all night. Whelan played 40 minutes and scored 17, but Trevond Barnes led the visitors off the bench with 22 points in 25 minutes.
Leicester shot 52% from the field and 46% from three in an efficient offensive display. Zach Jackson backed Abercrombie with 16, and Charles Thompson continued his defensive dominance with 3 blocks and 14 points.
They went top of the League with the win and London Lions’ loss in Newcastle, ahead of the Riders facing the Lions on the road on Sunday.
Riders hot start met with Gladiators response
Abercrombie, fresh off his Player of the Game performance last time out, got the Riders going with five points out the gate. He was fouled on a three for a trip to the line, then slammed one down on the break after a Jaylin Hunter steal.
The Riders were on target early, scoring 10 in three minutes, but the Gladiators kept pace through the sharpshooting veteran Okereafor. He drained two early threes to get Caledonia on the board.
But Leicester found separation on the scoreboard midway through the first at the foul line. Abercrombie and Jackson attacked the hoop to earn free throws and put the hosts up 16-8. Abercrombie owned the first, scoring 13 in the quarter.
Caledonia found some form through Trevond Barnes off the bench, who scored 11 in the first 10 minutes. His scoring brought it back to a four points game, as the first ended 27-23 in Leicester’s favour.
Thompson jam takes Riders lead into half
The Gladiators came back to take the lead early in the second. Patrick Whelan, Okereafor, Theo Hughes and Princeton Onwas got to hoop for four buckets and a 32-28 lead. The Caledonia run forced a Rob Paternostro timeout.
Ethan Wright turned the tide after the timeout with a stepback three from the wing. Charles Thompson followed up with a finish inside, before Abercrombie hit a fadeaway to snatch the lead back for Leicester.
But it was a back and forth second quarter, as the visitors responded through Whelan. He hit a tough three for his 12th points, still hot following his career-high 34 points in his last outing. He hit contested buckets all period, at the rim and from range, on his way to 14 by halftime.
The Gladiators spend much of the second in a defensive zone, forcing the Riders to find answers on the offensive end. And they found success against the zone as the clock ticked towards the half with a barrage of buckets in close.
Thompson scored four quick points at the hoop, followed by Jackson who again fought to the foul line to take the lead. Thompson ended the half in style, throwing down a two-handed jam, and Leicester led 44-43 at the half.
Whelan’s hot hand carried into the second half, as he hit a turnaround three from the wing. Leicester’s defence did step up internally, however, as Abercrombie and Thompson sent away shots emphatically at the rim.
With Leicester’s league leading defence clicking into gear, it was a low scoring start to the third. The teams combined for five points in as many minutes. The Riders forced two shot clock violations out of their opponents before taking the lid off the basket through Spencer Johnson.
The American sniper lined up his sights for a triple against Whelan to get the Riders going offensively. He followed up with another three, this time on the fastbreak following Thompson’s third block, to make it 59-51 with 1:23 left in the third.
Abercrombie ended the third with a tightly contested three, making it 62-53 with one to play.
Riders see out win despite Gladiators resistance
Abercrombie and Johnson’s hot hands led to two threes to start the fourth, giving Leicester a platform to see the game out. Wright drove hard to the hoop for an and-one play three minutes in with the Riders having found the keys to unlock the Caledonia zone.
Barnes kept the Gladiators in contention however, pulling out big baskets throughout the fourth as the difference remained around ten points.
The game hung in the balance with the Caledonia resistance, and Wright and Fraser Malcolm traded threes in the pivotal moment of the game.
Wright’s energy forced a huge play in the clutch. He missed a three short but battled for the offensive board, then found Abercrombie at the top of the arc who drained a three over the contest.
Abercrombie’s three blew the game open, as Hunter hit out of a Caledonia timeout, before dishing a lob pass to Thompson who finished for two. That was the final Riders score of the night, who held on for the win.
The Riders are back in action on Sunday, taking on the London Lions at Copper Box in Championship action.
Leicester Riders are back at home on January 31, taking on Bristol Flyers!
Leicester Riders are ready to go head-to-head with Caledonia Gladiators for the first time this season.
The Riders opposition currently prop up the Super League Basketball standings, but have shown signs of finding form in their previous two fixtures. They will look to rally after recent roster changes have left them with a six man rotation for tomorrow’s action.
With the League’s top three teams all playing at the same time on Friday night, the round of fixtures could see a significant swing at the top of the table.
Here’s all you need to know about the game…
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Caledonia Gladiators Mattioli Arena, Leicester Super League Basketball Championship Friday, January 17, 7:30 pm
Riders’ continue to flex their defensive prowess
Leicester Riders are hunting down London Lions at the top of the Championship standings, moving to within one game of the League leaders with last week’s win against Manchester Basketball.
They held Manchester’s red hot offence, which averaged 87 points in December, to 76 at the Mattioli Arena, their League-best defence continuing to set the tone in games.
The Riders blocked seven shots on the night. Charles Thompson, the League leader in blocks, sent away three, and Riley Abercrombie who took home player of the game honours after bagging 13 straight points in the third, had two emphatic rejections.
The team allows 77.6 points per game, making them the stingiest outfit in the SLB. Their 5.2 blocks per game is the most of all teams, and they close possessions effectively by pulling down 73.74% of their defensive rebounds, again the most in the League.
Leicester come into this game having won seven of the last eight Championship games, and have held their opponents to under 80 points in six of those fixtures.
Another shot-stuffing defensive performance would go a long way to securing another League win for Leicester, keeping the pressure on the top of the table as we approach the midway point of the season.
Caledonia look to rally after departures
The Caledonia Gladiators currently sit last in the League standings with a 2-10 record.
Having already made changes to their roster earlier in the season, seeing the departure of Tanner Struckman who has since signed with London Lions, Ian Budose who now suits up in Manchester and Head Coach Gareth Murray, Caledonia were forced into two more changes with leading scorer Jared Wilson-Frame and Malik Dunbar leaving due to a breach of club discipline.
With Fahro Alihodzic, Elijah Cain and Prince Onwas sidelined through injury, the Gladiators are set to roll out a six-man rotation for tomorrow’s action.
They have made additions to the squad throughout the year in the way of the experienced backcourt duo of Teddy Okereafor and Nick Tomsick, and the hiring of coaching veteran Robbie Peers.
Unlike the Riders, who enter this tie on a good run of form, Caledonia have lost six of their last seven in the League, despite showing some promise in their last two games.
They beat Bristol Flyers at home in a low scoring battle, and last time out the Gladiators almost took back-to-back wins for the first time in the League, taking Cheshire Phoenix to overtime. They lost in the extra period 101-98 despite former Rider Patrick Whelan’s incredible 34 points and 8 rebounds,
They led the game 53-44 at the half, but Larry Austin Jr led Cheshire with 26 points and hit the shot to send the game to overtime in the clutch.
Larry Austin Jr forces overtime in Scotland! @CheshireNix
Generating offence has been a difficulty for Caledonia all season, leaving them with the fewest points per game in the SLB with 75.3. They hit on only 45% of their field goals and turn the ball over a league-high 17.9 times per outing.
Taking a short rotation into Leicester, the Gladiators will look to rally together and pull out a hard-fought win against the Riders.
Conner Washington on the impact of Leicester Riders Foundation’s JNBL programme
The Leicester Riders Foundation (LRF) will host a takeover event at the Leicester Riders game against the Caledonia Gladiators on January 17 to showcase the Leicester Riders’ Junior National Basketball League (JNBL) programme.
The LRF aims to develop young basketball players and inspire future domestic talent, and the JNBL programme provides young people with an introduction to high-performance basketball, and develops essential life skills.
The programme emphasises development in all aspects, including basketball skills, athleticism, and personal growth.
Leicester Riders captain and JNBL ambassador Conner Washington actively supports the LRF’s JNBL team by sharing his 12 years of professional expertise and knowledge with the next generation of local talent.
Conner coaches JNBL sessions weekly and, prior to Friday’s takeover, emphasised the significant impact youth basketball programmes have on the future of the sport in the UK.
“These types of programmes are so important,” said Washington. “When I was coming up, the first structured basketball I was involved in was under 16s. Before that I had to go to the court by myself and play.
“If there was a programme available to me where I could have been developed by coaches and play with kids who were just as excited about basketball as I was when I was younger, I could have improved a lot quicker and given me an interest in the sport at a younger age.”
Representation is essential to inspire a generation of hoopers. It took a visit to Washington’s school in the mid 2000s to invest him in the sport, lighting the spark to what grew into a legendary 12 year pro career.
“My turning point was when a player called Victor Wayne came to a small school in Bedford when I was young. I wasn’t too involved in basketball at the time, but just seeing him coach a session and knowing he played professionally inspired me.
“Just knowing there was a professional basketball player in front of me teaching us stuff was mind blowing to me.”
Payne played in the BBL for Milton Keynes Lions between 2000-2004, winning Most Improved Player in 2002.
Now Washington assumes the role of Payne, inspiring the next generation with the LRF. He aims to be a relatable role model, providing an approachable source of knowledge in basketball and life.
“It’s great to be able to do the same as what was done for me. The kids come down to the games and we talk about them during the sessions, and they’re always asking for advice on their game. It’s great to give back.
“We are the guys these kids look up to, so we want to give back in whichever way we can. It’s our duty as professionals to these kids who we are role models to, and I try to be an open book for them.
“Of course, there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with that. You have to hold yourself to a high standard when you’re working with people who have not experienced the world and basketball like you have. But to be able to relay your experiences in a way that others can understand is really important.
“That’s something I take pride in- giving them an authentic piece of my experience from basketball over the years.
“Above everything, I think it’s big for them to see that I can still enjoy the game, no matter who I’m playing with. Basketball brings people together.”
If you want to get involved in basketball with the Leicester Riders Foundation, you can explore a variety of sessions here.
LRF hosts sessions for those of all ages and abilities from baby ballers to walking basketball, and weekly development days at Mattioli Arena.
Want to try out for the Riders JNBL team? Keep an eye out for our trial dates on social media below!
Report: Leicester Riders beat Manchester through red hot Abercrombie third quarter
Leicester Riders put on an explosive second half display to take an 89-76 win against Manchester Basketball.
A slow start meant Leicester trailed for much of the first half, but 13 straight points in the third from player of the game Riley Abercrombie including three consecutive triples gave Leicester a commanding lead.
Abercrombie finished the game with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks- an impressive display on both ends. Zach Jackson led the scoring with 21, going off for 11 in the fourth, and Charles Thompson continued his dominant run with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Led by Abercrombie’s hot hand, Leicester won the third quarter 28-11 which ultimately proved the difference in the game. Manchester, led by Donovan Micthell’s 16 points and 8 rebounds, battled wire-to-wire and threatened to make a run back into it in the fourth.
They fell victim to a poor deep shooting night, going 4-17 from three, and lost the rebounding battle 41-32.
The Riders improve to 8-3 on the season, one win behind the first placed London Lions.
Riders start slow against physical Manchester play
Manchester applied full court pressure from the tip off, guarding the Riders for all 94 feet to make progressing the ball up court difficult. Jaylin Hunter received the brunt of the ball pressure from the point, but coped well to score the host’s first four points.
The Riders fought to the foul line in a physical first quarter for most of their offensive output. But Manchester’s Nathan Cayo scored six quickly with an and-one and a triple from the top to take a 14-8 lead.
Leicester tried to garner momentum on the fastbreak as Hunter fired in a bounce pass to Jackson after Duke Shelton forced a miss inside, but the visitors repeatedly found their way to the rim to extend their lead. Marucus Delpeche leaked out after a Riders score to end the quarter, and made one of two to make the score 21-13.
Riders make it a game by the half
Shelton got the second started in style, throwing down a monster jam through traffic. He took the ball in the pick-and-roll from Conner Washington before rising over and throwing it down one handed.
Ethan Wright and Spencer Johnson followed with buckets, and Shelton put back Wright’s missed triple as the Riders clawed back into it. But Manchester kept Leicester at arm’s length with key shot making in spots throughout the second.
Mitchell led the team with 10 points midway into the period, hitting a big three to stop the Riders run.
As the half neared its close, Leicester’s rim protection stepped up for two monster blocks from Charles Thompson, Riley Abercrombie and Johnson. The defensive stands meant the Riders trailed only a possession at the break, with the score 35-38.
Abercrombie heater gives Leicester the lead.
Jackson leveled the score immediately out the break. He pulled up from three with no hesitation to make it 38-38 but despite multiple chances at the hoop on the next few possessions the hosts couldn’t take the lead straight away.
That was until Thompson stepped up on both ends. He took the ball with his back to the basket for a score before sending Cayo’s dunk attempt away to set up a Hunter transition bucket to give the Riders the lead.
Leicester’s paint was locked off from their rim protection. Abercrombie sent away his second shot of the game, emphatically blocking Makai Ashton-Langford’s layup. The Riders’ points came on the break after defensive stops, Thompson this time getting to the lane on the breakaway.
Abercrombie caught a heater to close the third. He drained three straight triples and single handedly built the lead to nine- Leicester’s biggest of the game. He followed up with two scores for 13 straight points for the hosts.
Thompson joined in on the block party to swat Ian Dubose for the Riders’ sixth block of the matchup. That ended the third with Leicester leading 65-49.
Jackson sees Riders home
Shelton started the fourth with a putback from Jackson’s miss to keep the Riders rolling. But Manchester’s intensity didn’t drop despite a disappointing third- Mitchell draining a three to lead a 7-5 Manchester start to the fourth.
Jackson connected with his next attempt from three to keep Manchester at a distance on the scoreboard, before Conner Washington hit a signature pullup three to follow his teammate. However Junior Madut made tough shots on the other end to keep his side in contention.
Dubose then broke out for an open dunk to force a Riders timeout up nine, with Rob Paternstro urging his side to slow the pace of the game late.
Out of the timeout, Leicester’s leading scorer Jackson took over for back to back buckets at the rim to reestablish the Riders’ control of the matchup. Thompson hit on the buzzer next time down and Leicester led by 14.
Jackson put the cherry on the performance with a stepback three, putting the result beyond a doubt with his 18th points.
Rematch on Sunday
Leicester Riders head to Manchester for the second of a doubleheader against the Northwesterners on Sunday. They will face off in the Super League Basketball Quarter-Final at the National Basketball Performance Centre, with Leicester looking to progress to the Final Four.
The Riders then return to Championship action at home next Friday against the Caledonia Gladiators on January 17.
The Riders return to Championship action next Friday against the Caledonia Gladiators on January 17.
Weekend Preview: Leicester Riders vs Manchester Basketball
Leicester Riders are set for their first home game in 2025, taking on Manchester Basketball in the Super League Basketball Championship.
These are two of the in-form teams in British basketball, who both look to bounce back from win streak ending defeats last time out.
Last weekend, the Riders lost on the road to the Newcastle Eagles to end a six game League winning run, and Manchester fell to Cheshire Phoenix in overtime to end a five game streak in all competitions.
That leaves the Riders in third place with a 7-3 record, taking on the 4-6 Manchester in sixth. The teams will play each other twice this weekend in the League and the Cup Quarter-Final, the first of those games being played on Friday as the Riders host Manchester in League action, before they head to the North West on Sunday to play in the Cup.
Here’s how the weekend is shaping up…
Riders run halted in a thriller in Newcastle
The Riders navigated a congested December schedule emphatically, going on a League run which catapulted them into contention for the top of the Championship standings. But after playing eight games in the month, the Riders ran out of steam for the final action of the festive schedule on January 3.
They dug deep and fought Newcastle wire-to-wire, earning a shot for the tie after big clutch plays late. But Jaylin Hunter’s halfcourt heave didn’t go down, and the Riders lost 93-90.
Leicester’s play before that result, in particular back-to-back wins on December 27 and 30 with the latter coming against the League leading London Lions, established them as one of the premiere teams in British basketball.
Their defence ranks best of all teams, holding opponents to 77.8 points per game. They generate the most assists and turn the ball over the least; they won’t beat themselves while playing their team brand of basketball on both ends.
Their stars delivered throughout the month of December. Big man Charles Thompsonwas named the League’s Player of the Month after averaging 14.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game.
December belongs to CT!
Charles Thompson is the @SprLeagueBballM Molten Player of the Month for December!
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) January 3, 2025
He leads the League in blocks and rebounds per game, while star guard Hunter leads all players in assists with a 7.6 average.
They’ll need every ounce of performance this weekend against a Manchester side who found their groove in December.
Manchester find festive form
Manchester are the trending team in Super League Basketball, and heated up in December to pull out a run of five straight wins in all competitions.
They battled out a win against the second placed Sheffield Sharks, put 106 points on the Phoenix and progressed through to the Cup quarter finals with a win against Hemel Storm.
Manchester have rolled out one of the most explosive offences in the League over recent games. They scored 87.9 points per game in December, making them the second-highest scoring team on the season behind Cheshire.
They’re led by Nathan Cayo, who like Thompson was nominated for the December Player of the Month award. The 6’7” former NBA G-Leaguer is putting up 16.4 points and 6.8 rebounds on the season, with impressive double doubles such as his 23 and 11 night against Caledonia Gladiators and 19 and 10 against the Phoenix.
Manchester’s success, like Leicester, comes from free flowing offence, making these two teams the two best ranked in assists per game. However unlike the Riders, they haven’t had the same success in limiting turnovers on the season, giving the ball away 13.4 times per game.
But the red hot North Westerners, who knock down threes at a 36.6% rate, will need to be met with Leicester’s best defensive effort should they want to add another win to their League tally and progress to their second semi-final of the season on Sunday.
Last matchup
The Riders have faced Manchester Basketball once before, taking a 99-86 win in November.
Riders Riders were a red hot 53% from the field and 43% from three on the game, led by Zach Jackson’s 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Battling for the dub last time we took on Manchester
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) January 8, 2025
Manchester had no answer for Leicester’s free flowing offence, losing the game despite shooting 55% from the field themselves. Cayo led them with 15 points in 29 minutes of action.
Leicester Riders fell just short in a thrilling battle against Newcastle Eagles, losing 93-90.
The Riders, down 9 in the fourth, pulled the game back to within a possession with a shot to take the lead late. But Newcastle hit tough shots throughout, and despite Leicester forcing the game to be fought until the final buzzer with big shots from Riley Abercrombie and Charles Thompson, they ultimately ran out of clock.
Zach Jackson led the team with 24 points and 7 rebounds, going 12-12 from the line and making key free throws throughout the final quarter. Abercrombie logged 15, including a clutch three to keep the team alive with 8 seconds left.
After Newcastle’s Cole Long missed a foul shot which would have put the Eagles up 4, the Riders required a prayer on the buzzer to send it to overtime. Jaylin Hunter fired from halfcourt, but couldn’t get it to go.
Mike Okauru led Newcastle against Leicester for the second straight game, bagging 22 points and getting tough baskets to go in the biggest moments of the tie. As did Seneca Knight, who finished with 21.
Leicester fall to 7-3 in the League, two wins behind the London Lions who top the table.
Riders lead through mistake ridden first quarter
A scoreless first minute of play saw the Riders turn it over on their first two possessions, and the Eagles blew two good looks at the rim. Leicester took the lid off with a transition lob pass from Spencer Johnson finished off by Abercrombie, but it was a combined 1-6 start from the field for the teams.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) January 3, 2025
Thompson, fresh off being named the SLB Player of the Month for December, scored 5 of the team’s first 7 with his elite finishing ability in the post. Jackson involved himself early with two trips to the line, including an and-one finish with a floater, and Leicester led 12-11 with 3:44 left in the first.
The scoring in the period picked up as the clock ticked down. Josh Ward-Hibbert, after putting up 30 last time in Leicester, hit two threes, while Ethan Wright scored five with a coast-to-coast layup and step back three.
Wright’s triple was the final score of the first, which ended 21-18 to Leicester.
Thompson takeover gives Leicester lead
Ethan dropped De’Sean Allen-Aikins to start the second, beating him with a spin move and finishing in an open lane. The Riders were relentless in their attack of the rim with Jackson, Abercrombie and Hunter all finding joy in close.
Newcastle’s Will Neighbour, back in action after being sidelined with injury, hit back-to-back threes to get Newcastle back into it. Knight got to the line with an and-one next time up, and the hosts took the lead back.
Thompson took advantage of his matchup with Neighbour by backing down in the post, scoring possession after possession inside. He took over the game in the second on both ends, swatting Knight’s layup attempt and forcing a miss from Long on defence.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) January 3, 2025
His block on Knight led to a Conner Washington triple, meaning Leicester led 44-38 at the half.
Slow start to the second half puts Riders in a hole
The Eagles stormed back into the lead of the game to start the second half, going 11-0 out of the break. Okauru started it with a triple, and Knight ended it at the foul line after drawing a block on Hunter.
Jackson was the Rider to end the run, stealing it off Darius Defoe and finishing off on the fastbreak. Thompson then took it coast-to-coast after a missed Long three, meeting no resistance in transition.
But the Riders’ form only halted Newcastle temporarily. Ward-Hibbert threw down a fastbreak slam through contact, and Okauru hit from midrange to make it a nine point lead for the hosts.
With Leicester struggling for open shots and the shot clock winding down, Jackson hit a prayer on the buzzer by finding string with a turnaround three. Okauru and Neighbour hit from midrange and the corner respectively, but Wright took it hard to the hole for an and one to keep in touch.
A back-and-forth end to the third finished with the score 69-60 to the Eagles.
Eagles hit tough shots to keep Riders at arms length
The Riders started the fourth from the free throw line, with three trips from Jackson and Wright chipping into Leicester’s deficit. Wright’s foul shot made it a six point game two minutes in.
J’Raan Brooks stepped up for a big shot, making a triple on the wing through contact for a four-point play cutting the game to a possession.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) January 3, 2025
But Knight had the response for the Eagles. He hit a tough fadeaway over Brooks for two, and hit a contested three from the top to rebuild the Newcastle lead once again.
Every time the Riders looked likely to climb back into contention, the Eagles hit big shots. Okauru found the bottom of the bucket multiple times through tight contests to keep Leicester at arm’s length.
Riders rally to give themselves a chance
Jackson stepped up in the closing minutes and hit a midrange pullup on the left elbow brought the Riders back to within one score with two minutes late. Needing a stop to give themselves a chance to tie, Leicester allowed an offensive rebound and a Allen-Aikins second chance bucket to fall back into a five point hole.
Hunter found a quick score in response, but they couldn’t foul on the inbound allowing Long to finish an open layup for two.
Out of a resulting Rob Peternostro timeout, Abercrombie hit a quick three to breathe life back into Leicester. They sent Okauru to the line, but he made both to make the difference four.
Thompson got straight to the hoop on the indound and hit a layup straight away with four seconds on the clock. Long was then sent to the line and made one, giving the Riders an attempt at a miracle buzzer beater. Hunter couldn’t get it to go at halfcourt and Leicester fell just short.
Leicester Riders return to action next Friday, hosting Manchester Basketball in the SLB Championship.
Season series: Leicester Riders vs Newcastle Eagles
Leicester Riders start 2025 with a trip to Newcastle on Friday January 3, taking on the Eagles for the fourth time this season.
The historic rivals have shared the floor in some of the most enthralling matchups of the inaugural Super League Basketball season, fighting wire-to-wire over two legs in the Trophy semi-final and facing off at the Mattioli Arena in league action.
Vertu Motors Arena will now host the latest iteration of the tie, with the Riders looking towards the top of the table after six league wins on the bounce.
Here’s everything you need to know about the season series so far…
Riders defence
Despite the season series being tied with a win each, and a tie in the Trophy semi-final second leg, the Riders are winning the matchup by a points difference of 20 after an 89-65 win in the League.
Leicester held Newcastle to 31% shooting from the field and 14% shooting from three in an impressive performance to continue the Riders’ league winning streak.
The Riders defence has been a defining characteristic of their season so far, allowing the fewest points of any team, but allowed a season-high 95 points in regulation in Newcastle for the Trophy Semi Final first leg.
The Eagles caught fire from three, shooting 40% from deep behind three triples from Cole Long. However, after allowing 59 in the first half, the Riders solved their defensive puzzle in the second half to come back from 19 points down.
The Eagles average 83.9 points per game this season, but scored an average of 74 points in their games in Leicester against the League’s leading defence. Have the Riders cracked the code for slowing Newcastle down, or will the Eagles’ find their shooting form on their return to the North East?
Okauru vs Jackson
Newcastle have a top five scorer in their ranks in Mike Okauru, who is putting up 17.6 points per game in the League this season. He showed off the full force of his scoring powers last time out in Leicester with 34 points in the semi-final, leading Newcastle through a nail biting finish.
The game was a reminder to the Riders of the American guard’s scoring potential, after holding him to 12 points per game in the prior fixtures. He shouldered the scoring load in 37 minutes of action, taking 24 shots, making them at a 60% clip and hitting them from all over the floor.
Okauru is 53% from the field and 40% from three this season- his best three point shooting season since his Freshman year in college with the Florida Gators. He averaged 18.4 points per game in his rookie year in Czechia, and looks to be in the midst of another high-level scoring season this year.
Meanwhile the Riders possess their own elite scoring threat, who has enjoyed success against the North Easterners in the season series between these teams. Zach Jackson is averaging 19.3 points per game against the Eagles in his three appearances, scoring 24 to lead a comeback in the first leg of the Trophy Semi-Final.
Jackson is the Club’s leading scorer on the season with 17 points per game, and has scored double digit points in every game. The biggest moments of the year have seen Jackson step up in the fourth quarter for clutch buckets, including late scores in both Semi-Final legs.
The Riders have one of the most reliable all around performers in British basketball in Jackson, and someone that can go bucket for bucket with anybody in the League.
Riders suffer slow starts
In both semi-final legs, the Riders were forced to dig themselves out of a sizable hole after starting slowly in the tie. They were down 19 at the half in the first leg after allowing a 38 point second quarter for the Eagles, and down 20 in the second leg going into the final period.
The first leg saw a second half fightback giving the Riders a shot for the lead in the final minute, and in the second leg the Riders nearly pulled off a miracle fourth quarter comeback to battle their way into the final. But on both occasions they fell short, and fell victim to their slow starts to the games.
This is something they remedied against London and Bristol after Christmas. Leicester led by 12 in the first period against London last time out, and 14 in the first quarter against Bristol, holding out for the win on both occasions.
Report: Riders win thriller against London Lions led by Charles Thompson dominance
Leicester Riders ended 2024 by taking down the table topping London Lions in a thriller at the Mattioli Arena.
Charles Thompsons’ 16 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks led the team to an 84-75 win, as he continued his dominant end to the calendar year. Ethan Wright led the scoring with 21 off the bench, and Riley Abercrombie finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and the game sealing three in the clutch.
The Riders’ defense sealed the win the the fourth, holding London scoreless for four minutes late with emphatic rejections from Thompson and Wright. In a game between the two best defences in the league, Leicester led by anchorman Thompson proved an immovable object when it mattered most.
Jaiden Delaire was the one to end the scoring drought for London, but it was too little, too late for the visitors. He led London with 16 points and 8 rebounds, backed by Arryn Rai’s who had 14 points, 10 coming in the fourth quarter.
The win saw the Riders take a dent out of the Lions at the top of the table, moving to within one win of them with a 7-2 record.
Riders bolt out to early lead
Two buckets at the hoop started the Riders’ scoring on the night, with Spencer Johnson drawing an and one on Michael Brisker. Abercrombie pulled up from midrange for his second score with three minutes played, making it an 8-2 Riders start.
Everything dropped early for Leicester, including Jaylin Hunter’s pull up triple from the wing. Johnson followed from the perimeter after Zach Jackson was doubled on his drive, and London called timeout down 16-6.
Following the break, Hunter fired a laser into Thompson in the lane who finished for two, before Jackson drew a foul on the inbound to steal a possession.
As the end of the first neared, the Lions gathered themselves to chip into the Riders lead and cut it to five. Ovie Soko battled down low for two scores, and star guard Michael Brisker showed off his handles before adding to his tally from the midrange.
But Ethan Wright stopped the London run with a triple on the buzzer, and the period ended 24-17. And Wright started the second with a bang, drawing an and one play after taking it to the rim with authority.
Lions gather form to take halftime lead
London’s Delaire got going in the second with six points and the Lions cut the Leicester lead to two. The visitors went on a 6-0 run with back-to-back baskets from Delaire as they continued to grow into the contest.
With 7:25 on the clock in the second, Tyler Peterson tied it up with an and-one by scooping in a layup through contact. The sides engaged in a back-and-forth battle with the score locked up.
Peterson bettered his season-high in the second quarter alone, bringing his game tally to 11 with his play in the paint. Meanwhile Wright and Thompson found joy inside to keep pace with the league leaders.
The Lions looked to be building separation in the scoreline as the half closed with Brisker and Soko combining to make a five point lead. But they lost Johnson on the perimeter, who hit a three from the corner to bring it back to a single score.
London had the final shot of the period which fell to Brisker, who airballed a three to send the sides into the half with the score 45-46 to London.
Riders lock down to lead with one to play
The closely fought affair in the first half carried over to start the second as Leicester battled in an attempt to snatch the lead back. Hunter fired a deep three at the end of the shot clock to do exactly that, making it 52-51 in the host’s favour.
The lead was exchanged between the teams with Delaire drawing a goaltend from Thompson and Jackson scoring twice at the foul line. The Riders were in the bonus five minutes into the period, giving them chances at the stripe in the third.
Jackson took advantage of the London foul trouble by drawing a foul on Ade Adebayo, then Spencer connected from the corner to put the Riders up 61-53- their biggest lead of the second half.
London made a charge after Delaire threw down a monster jam on the drive. Peterson followed with an and-one play and the Lions were back in it quickly.
Again, it was Wright to stem the momentum with a triple from the wing off a Johnson offensive rebound. Thompson grabbed an offensive rebound on Wright’s three on the final possession of the third and laid in a hook shot, and Leicester led 66-58 with one to play.
The Riders began to lock down, holding the Lions to 12 points in the third.
Lions muster comeback to start fourth
The Riders continued to get to the foul line to fend off the Lions early in the final period. Wright and Abercrombie had perfect trips to the stripe to nullify Rai’s three straight buckets for London.
The Lions were the first to go on a run in the fourth, however, making it a one possession game once again with a three from Brisker and second chance points from Rai, forcing a Riders timeout.
The break didn’t slow Rai, who came out of the break and got straight to the foul line to cut it to one. Peterson then took the lead at the line with five minutes left.
Riders find late form to see out win
Trying to take hold of the game in the clutch, Wright drove baseline for a layup against Delaire, who on four fouls couldn’t risk fouling. Jackson then took the mantle, drawing a tough and-one make with 2:29 on the clock to make it 77-73.
Next time up, with the clock winding down, Abercrombie hit a deciding three on the buzzer to make it a seven point affair. Blocks on the other end from Thompson and Wright locked down London until Delaire made it to the line and hit both.
The Lions applied full court pressure with less than a minute on the clock, but Hunter found Abercrombie who was sent to the line and made both. Thompson then sealed it with another swat on Delaire, and Hunter finished the game with a pair of foul shots.
The Riders return to action on January 3, taking on Newcastle Eagles on the road. They then return home on January 10 to host Manchester Basketball.
Leicester Riders are ready for their final action of 2024, hosting London Lions in the Super League Basketball Championship.
The 6-2 Riders cast their eyes up the table, looking to chip into the table-topping Lions’ two win advantage over them.
Leicester enter the tie on a five game League winning streak having beaten Bristol Flyers on December 27, and will want to end the year with a bang.
Meanwhile the Lions haven’t lost yet in December, sitting in first place with an 8-2 record.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game…
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs London Lions
Super League Basketball Championship
December 30, 7:30 pm
Get tickets here
Riders rounding off 2024
A victory on Friday saw the Riders return to winning ways against Bristol Flyers, following their exit of the SLB Trophy in the semi-final stage. They came charging out the game to take a big lead early, which they held until the final buzzer despite an attempted Flyers comeback.
The Club’s leading scorer on the season, Zach Jackson, put up his fifth 20 point game in the league campaign so far to earn Player of the Game honours, while the defensive contributions from big man pairing Charles Thompson and Duke Shelton produced 5 blocks.
They held the Flyers to 74 points, maintaining the best defensive record in the country with 76.3 points allowed per game. Thompson leads the league in blocks by a considerable margin, blocking 2.9 shots per game with the next highest average at 1.6, and he added another 3 to his tally on Friday.
“Holding Bristol to 74 points is a really good defensive effort- they can be tough to cover at times,” said Head Coach Rob Patrnostro following the win.
“That was the key to the game- really being stingy defensively and not giving them too many second opportunities at the rim.
“Duke had a really good game tonight coming off the bench, both scoring and protecting the basket. His energy was important for us. And Charles is putting together a real high-quality season here. You watch him every day in practice and the way he is developing on both ends of the floor is great to see. This type of performance is what we expect from him now.
“All in all it was a really impressive victory in a tricky time of the year.”
Lions leading the League
After a slow start to the season saw London crash out of the Trophy at the group phase, the Lions regathered themselves to get off to a League-leading start to their Championship season.
They enter the game on a three game league winning streak and an undefeated December, giving them an 8-2 record ahead of the 7-3 Sheffield Sharks and 6-2 Riders.
London, the most efficient team in the League this season with a 49.15 field goal percentage, hang their hat on the defensive end like the Riders. They allow the second fewest points per game with 78.33 per outing, and block the most shots with a 5.11 average.
They’re led by former G-Leager Jaiden Delaire, who is averaging 1.6 blocks on the defensive end and 13.4 points on offence. He added another 16 points and 2 blocks to his season last time out in the team’s impressive 96-74 home win against Cheshire Phoenix.
Wins against the Sheffield Sharks and Newcastle Eagles during the early stages of the season has established the Lions as the team to beat going into 2025, and the Riders will look to do just that in their final outing of the year in an important clash at the top of the standings.
Report: Leicester Riders bounce back to beat Bristol Flyers
Leicester Riders got back to winning ways, beating Bristol Flyers 83-74 to improve to 6-2 in the Super League Basketball Championship.
A red hot first quarter saw the Riders run out to a big lead in the first, which they held until the final buzzer. Zach Jackson led the team with 20 points, going 8-12 from the field, and Riley Abercrombie hit big shots from three to go 14 and 8.
Bristol fought back from 19 down to cut the Riders lead to 5 points in the fourth, before Leicester refound form through the rim protection of Duke Shelton and Charles Thompson, and the three point shooting of Abercrombie to rebuild a big lead.
Thompson logged 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Shelton went off for 9, 5 and 2 on the game.
The League’s leading scorer Keddy Johnson led Bristol with 20 points, but the Flyers made only four threes on the night as they fell to 2-4.
Riders get off to a Flyer
Thompson, off the back of two straight Team of the Week mentions, got going with a hook shot inside and a big block on Corey Samuels in the opening two minutes. The first three Riders scores came in close as they established themselves in the paint from the tip.
A lob from Jaylin Hunter laid in by Jackson made it 11-5. Abecrombie followed with an and-one on the break, and the Riders built a solid foundation early. Abercrombie drained his first three of the game midway through the first to make it 19-5 and force a Flyers timeout.
Out of the timeout, the League’s leading scorer Keddy Johnson got to work with two straight scores to breathe life into the visitors.
Leicester’s response came from deep, with Ethan Wright coming into the game after his 23 point night last time out to connect from the corner. His triple meant the Riders took a 28-13 lead into the second.
Bristol bombard Riders rim to close half
Wright got the second period underway by pulling up from midrange to keep the Riders rolling. Blake Bowman followed up from the wing before getting a physical defensive stop against Bristol big man Leslee Smith at the rim, and Wright added to his tally inside to make it a 19 point lead for Leicester.
Keddy Johnson continued to go to work, making his tally 10 with an and one. A turnover in transition then gave Bristol an easy two, and the Riders called timeout with their advantage cut to 13.
Leicester locked down defensively to stem the run, before Jackson put four more points on the board. But the Flyers were aggressive to close the half, bombarding the bucket in close to keep in contention. Kendall Lewis and Desmond Robinson combined for eight points near the end of the second quarter, and the sides went into the locker rooms with the score 51-37.
Shelton and Thompson end Flyers run of form
After a successful end to the first half, Robinson started the second with five quick points as the Flyers fightback continued. A three from the top from the 6’9” American cut the lead to single digits for the first time since the first quarter.
Hunter stemmed the momentum with an open three from the wing, but Lewis snatched it right back with a putback jam off a Keddy Johnson miss.
Working inside for Leiceter, Shelton drew an and-one play in the post, finished for two in the pick and roll and emphatically blocked a driving Samuels. But Bristol climbed back into it at the rim through Smith and Keddy Johnson, cutting it to five with an 8-0 run.
After being sidelined through injury for some of the third, Thompson checked back into the game to get four straight points and rebuilt the Leicester lead. Jackson closed the third with a tough floater and a pair of foul shots, and the Riders were up 69-60 going into the fourth.
Abercrombie shot making seals win
The Flyers remained in contention to start the fourth with big shot making. Robinson brought his tally to 15, before Lewis connected from three to stay within single digits.
But a Thompson takeover lit a spark for Leicester, as he swatted Evan Walshe’s attempt out of bounds for his third block, before finishing for two next time up. Jackson connected from midrange, and Abercrombie from three to follow their big man, and the Riders led 80-67.
Abercrombie hit again from the top- his third three from that spot on the night, to make it a 16 point lead for the hosts.
Leicester Riders are back in Super League Basketball action following Christmas, taking on Bristol Flyers and the League’s leading scorer Keddy Johnson at home.
Following a heartbreaking semi-final loss last time out, the Riders look to rebound against the Flyers to continue their hot form in the Championship.
Meanwhile Bristol hope to climb back to a .500 record after a loss to the Cheshire Phoenix on December 15.
Here’s all you need to know about the fixture.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Bristol Flyers
Super League Basketball Championship
Friday, December 27, 7:30 pm
Mattioli Arena
Tickets on sale here!
Rolling Riders halted in semi-final
Leicester Riders spent Christmas regathering themselves from an agonising loss to Newcastle Eagles in the Trophy semi-final. They were down 20 on aggregate going into the fourth, but a spirited comeback led by 23 points from American guard Ethan Wright meant it was a one possession tie late.
But the Riders ran out of time, and fell short of an all-time fightback. The Riders saw their Trophy campaign end at the final four.
It’s now back to League action for Leicester, where they have been gathering form in a packed Christmas schedule. Four Championship wins on the bounce has launched them up to third in the standings with a 5-2 record, led by the interior dominance of American big Charles Thompson.
Thompson earned a Team of the Week selection for his efforts against the Eagles on December 15, logging an index rating of 20 without taking the field goal, the first performance of its kind since index rating was first recorded in 2016.
He then put up back-to-back 18 point games, with monster jams on the offensive end and emphatic blocks on the other side of the ball.
With their attention completely on the League, the Riders will hope to continue their rise up the table with a bounce back win.
Finalist Flyers search for League form
After besting the Riders in the semi-final of the Trophy, the Eagles will meet the Bristol Flyers in Birmingham who reached their first final since 2020.
Bristol beat Cheshire Phoenix over two legs impressively in the semi-final and will be looking to string together performances in the month lead up to the big day.
It’s been difficult replicating Trophy success into Championship form for the South Westerners, who sit seventh in the standings with a 2-3 record. Despite beating the Phoenix in the semis, they lost to Cheshire in League action last time out to put them under .500 on the season.
But the Flyers have a chance in any game with the League’s leading scorer suiting up in their ranks. Keddy Johnson has lit up the League in his second season in Bristol to average 23 points per game- 4.6 points clear of the next highest-scoring player.
Johnson was sidelined from injury for a short period at the start the season, but upon his return put up 32 points, and averaged 27.5 over the two semi-final legs. The Dallas native has found to answer to his offensive play in December, making Bristol the third highest-scoring offence in the League this season.
But they face their biggest test so far in the Riders, who allow the fewest points on any team in the SLB, and who have beaten them twice so far this season.
Previous meetings
The two sides have shared the floor in some of the most entertaining battles in British basketball in recent years, and their clash in Bristol in the Trophy group proved to be another exhilarating clash.
The Riders had the best of an overtime battle in Bristol, with Zach Jackson and Jaylin Hunter leading a fourth quarter and overtime charge after a red hot first half from Blake Bowman. Leicester won 105-101 after the additional period led by 27 from Jackson.
The return leg was a more convincing win from Leicester in their season opener. 22 points from Jackson led a complete team effort, backed by 17 from Hunter and 15 from Wright. The Riders won 91-69 in one of the more impressive displays of the year.
Report: Leicester Riders fall just short of semi-final comeback against Newcastle Eagles
Leicester Riders fell heartbreakingly short of a comeback win in the Super League Basketball semi-finals, losing 174-178 over two legs.
The team were 20 down on aggregate going into the final quarter, but a spirited fightback led by Ethan Wright saw them cut the semi-final to 3.
But Leicester ultimately ran out of time, missing key opportunities down the stretch to get over the line.
Wright led the team off the bench with 23 points, scoring 14 in the final quarter. He was backed by Charles Thompson who continued his dominant run with his second straight 18 point game and 11 rebounds.
The difference in the game was the foul shooting, with Leicester missing nine on the night and losing by four points.
Newcastle’s star man Mike Okauru scored a season-high 34 points to get the Eagles through to the final. He and Josh Ward-Hibbert put up 56 combined points, and no other Eagle scored in double-digits.
Slow start leaves Riders in hole
The game started with a defensive battle, both sides locking down in the opening minutes to allow nothing easy for the other. Thompson continued his dominance from the past few outings with a block on the driving Okauru and the score was 2-3 through three minutes.
Okauru did find early success however, scoring five in the opening stages including a tightly contested three from the wing. The Eagles led 6-12 early, taking a 10 point aggregate lead.
The Riders came roaring back, with Duke Shelton working on Cole Long in the post and Riley Abercrombie connecting with the host’s first three.
But a run started by Ward-Hibbert, into the starting lineup for the game, and ended by Okauru’s transition three, forced the first Riders timeout down 13 on aggregate. The first quarter ended with the Riders down 15-25 on the night.
Riders get back in the game late in half
Leicester started the second quarter aggressively, scoring back-to-back at the bucket to cut into the deficit. But with Ward-Hibbert and Okauru still scoring, they couldn’t make significant inroads.
Wright attacked the entire second quarter to bring his tally to six points five minutes into the period. The Riders got the Eagles in early foul trouble to get themselves to the line throughout. They struggled from the line however, leaving points on the board through continual missed free throws.
But the Riders rallied to end the half to climb back into it. Abercrombie and Hunter combined for three triples in the midst of a 13-2 run which saw Leicester make it a one point game on the night.
The defensive end saw Thompson wall off the paint, sending back Malcolm Delpeche’s shot with seconds left in the half, making the score 127-132 on aggregate by the break.
Third quarter sees Eagles take big lead
The Riders came gunning out the break to take the lead on the night, as Spencer Johnson fired from the corner for three. The Eagles crashed the glass to retake the lead with Ward-Hibbert as their primary bucket getter to score 11 points, and Newcastle rebuilt their advantage to 14 on aggregate.
Conner Washington checked in to breathe life into the Riders with his relentless energy, getting himself and Thompson to the line with his playmaking. Wright drained a triple off the dribble, and the Riders kept within touching distance.
But after an Eagles timeout and three buckets to end the third, Newcastle carried a 20 point lead into the final period.
Riders rally but fall just short
The sides went scoreless in the first two minutes of the fourth, the Riders offensive struggles continuing. Wright scored the first points of the period with a triple then a layup with 7:40 on the clock, igniting the Riders run.
Wright hit again from deep to make it a 13 point game. Thompson fought inside for an and-one play with Leicester showing fight throughout.
Wright, after Thompson missed the resulting foul shot, put it back with a layup, then Jackson got in the lane for two to cut it to 12 on aggregate. Following a Thompson block, he drew an unsportsmanlike foul on Long and hit both.
Down the stretch, Leicester missed a plethora of open threes which would have sliced into the Eagles lead. But they kept battling away to give themselves an outside chance. Seneca Knight turned it over in the backcourt, and Wright hit again from two to make it a 5 point deficit on aggregate.
Okauru hit a layup to extend Newcastle’s lead, but Jackson connected again from three to tie it. Wright then stole the inbound to send the crowd into raptures.
The ball went to Thompson next, who couldn’t connect inside. After a scramble for the ball, Long was fouled by Abercrombie and he went to the line. Long rattled one out of two home.
With seconds left, Thompson rebounded Jackoson’s missed three to make it a three point aggregate game, but the Eagles got the ball in and De’sean Allen-Eikens hit one to end the tie.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Trophy semi-final second leg preview: Riders vs Eagles
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.
Fighting back on Tyneside
Relive the action from our Friday night battle against Newcastle Eagles!
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.
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.
Wright on time!
Ethan continued his hot run of form with a strong performance against the Eagles last night! pic.twitter.com/RUH0lJBjGl
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.
Leicester Riders won their fourth League game on the bounce by beating Surrey 89ers on the road 89-72.
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.
Zach Jackson followed up with 17 points, sealing the deal with a run of buckets in the final period. Meanwhile Riley Abercrombie notched a double-double with 13 and 12, and a three to end the night.
Leicester’s bench also won the battle of the second units 23-9, led by Ethan Wright’s 8 points.
The Riders won despite shooting 3-7 from the foul line to Surrey’s 17-22. Mervin James led the game with 22 for the 89ers, going 7-11 from the field.
Thompson leads dominant start
Fresh off his Team of the Week selection last weekend, Thompson scored six straight points to start the game to stamp his authority on the paint. He threw down a monster jam for his third bucket of the game after getting the switch in the pick and roll.
Thompson has 6 points, 3 rebounds and a big time block in the opening three minutes, his block on Cameron Gooden setting up a Jackson finish on the break. Leicester led 10-2 to start the game.
Hunter, from the point, played aggressively in the first to get to the teeth of Surrey’s defence. He scored six at the hoop in the first quarter.
Duke Shelton closed the quarter for Leicester with a hard-fought rebound and a post hook over James, but James returned the favour with a closely contested fadeaway over Shelton on the buzzer to make it 17-24 after one.
Leicester build on lead in the second
Conner Washington checked into the game in the second to hit back-to-back triples off the bench. But James, in rhythm after the end of the first, brought his game tally to 13 with his first three of the game to keep Surrey in contention.
Thompson re-entered the fray after sitting with two fouls and scored his tenth points immediately, before contesting Dame Adelekun in the post and giving him an empty trip down the court.
Abercrombie drained his first three of the game to make the score 45-31, and Thompson finished the flurry with a two-handed jam on the break to bring his game tally to 12. James ended the half with a bucket, and the sides entered the break with the Riders up 14.
Riders respond to Surrey flurry
Hunter led the team out the half with five points, including a tough floater through contact and a three from the wing. Abercrombie followed with a three from the top as Leicester extended their lead.
A string of Riders turnovers opened the door for a Surrey run, however, with Adelekun scoring on back-to-back possessions on the fastbreak. The second bucket was a finish from a lob pass from Di-Jani Parkinson, and the score was 49-60 with 2:30 left in the period.
The 89ers momentum caused a Riders timeout from Head Coach Rob Paternostro, as Leicester looked to steal the sway of the game back. Thompson and Jackson combined for 6 points once the team had regathered, rebuilding the lead at the hoop.
Jordan Hunt shot hope back into the Niners on the buzzer, however, making a miracle three to make the host’s deficit 15 with one left.
Riders see it out through Jackson
Blake Bowman started the fourth aggressively with a drive inside, euro stepping for two. Wright followed with his second triple from the top as Leicester got off to a hot start in the final period.
Shelton picked up his fifth foul to see him sidelined for the rest of proceedings, and Surrey scored 4 straight points to chip back into it.
But Leicester’s leading scorer Jackson took the game over in it’s pivotal stage. He scored 5 points on the bounce by getting his back to basket and finishing through contact repeatedly.
Thompson and Wright both sent shots away in emphatic fashion late in the fourth, and Hunter sealed the game with a three with a favourable bounce. The 89ers rallied late to cut the score to 13, but it was too little too late for the hosts as Leicester took a professional win.
Trophy semi-final next
The Riders are back in action on Sunday in the Super League Basketball Trophy semi-final against Newcastle Eagles.
Leicester Riders are back on the road for Championship action against Surrey 89ers.
It’s the final scheduled trip to Surrey for the Riders, who have faced the Niners three times in competitive action already this season, winning on each occasion.
Leicester now take the trip South on a three-game League winning streak, having beaten Newcastle Eagles last Sunday.
Here’s all you need to know about the fixture…
Fixture information
Surrey 89ers vs Leicester Riders
Surrey Sports Park
Friday, December 20, 7:30 pm
Riders building momentum ahead of semi-final clash
The team is hitting full stride in a pivotal stretch of games.
Three league wins on the bounce has seen the Riders climb to third in the League standings with a 4-2 record, a record-breaking points tally for a Rob Paternostro side meant the Riders progressed to the second round of the Cup with a 130-61 win in Falkirk, and everything is still to play for in Sunday’s semi-final against Newcastle with Leicester needing a five point win to make the final.
Last time out, the Riders made a statement against their semi-final opponents with an impressive performance wire-to-wire. Led by 20 points from Zach Jackson, Leicester beat Newcastle convincingly 89-65 in one of the best team performances of the year.
The Riders’ bench outscored their opponent’s 32-20, with Ethan Wright’s fine form leading the bench effort with 12 points. Charles Thompson put on an impactful performance from the five-man position, achieving an index rating of 20 without shooting a field goal and blocking five shots, and Jaylin Hunter’s playmaking from the point led to jaw-dropping plays throughout.
The complete team effort showcased the Riders’ elite talent up and down the roster in order to hand Newcastle only their second League loss of the season.
Building on Thompson’s rim protection (the American is leading the League in blocks per game with 2.7) the Riders boast the best defence in the League. They’re the only team holding their opponents to under 80 points per game, and by averaging the most assists and fewest turnovers on the offensive end, they are proving to be a cohesive team unit on both sides of the ball.
Niners finding form
Surrey 89ers, sixth in the League with a 3-4 record, enter this fixture having won back-to-back games with a chance to improve to a .500 record against the Riders.
They fought off the NBL’s Derby Trailblazers in the Cup with a 93-88 win on the road, days after besting Manchester Basketball at home 86-79 led by 20 points and 10 rebounds from Dame Adelekun who didn’t miss a field goal on the night.
Adelekun, going 20/20 from the field over his last two games, made history last weekend. He is the first player in top-flight British basketball history to achieve this, the previous highest tally without a miss being 14 from Caledonia’s Patrick Tape.
Surrey have shown their ability to keep pace with every team in British basketball this season. After being blown out 66-82 against the Riders in their opening league fixture, every Niners game since has been decided in single digits, making their average points difference in league games 7.4.
Close encounters with the Eagles and Sharks, and a win against London Lions, shows that Surrey are ready to compete with the League’s best on any given night, and the Riders will have to be at their best to leave Surrey with a win.
Previous meetings
The sides have met three times in competitive action this season, having been drawn in the same Trophy group and playing one another in the opening game of the Championship season.
The Riders have come out double digit victors on each occasion, winning by an average margin of 13.7 points.
Zach Jackson has enjoyed success in their building, scoring 21 and 20 points in his two appearances at Surrey Sports Park this season. His 20 points and 6 assists last time out led the team to a convincing 82-66 win to kick off the team’s league campaign.
This is the last scheduled visit to Surrey Sports Park for the Riders this season, who will be ready for a battle against what has been a difficult test for every team in recent weeks.
Report: Riders take dominant win against Newcastle Eagles
Leicester Riders made it three league wins on the bounce with a 89-65 victory against Newcastle Eagles at home.
It was 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 star guard Jaylin Hunter and 12 off the bench for Ethan Wright.
The game marked 500 wins for Head Coach Rob Paternostro, who became the fastest in British basketball top-flight history to the tally. It was a fitting way to make the milestone against the Riders’ historic rivals.
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.
The win means the Riders leapfrog the Eagles into third place in the standings with a 4-2 record, and the tiebreaker against Newcastle. It’s three league wins on the bounce for the Riders who are making a surge up the standings during their packed December schedule.
Leicester will take confidence from the game ahead of a rematch with the Eagles next week in the Trophy semi-final second leg in Leicester.
Eagles fightback to keep it close after one
The games started at an electric pace, with buckets pouring in in the opening stages in a back-and-forth exchange. The Eagles drew first blood with a triple from their leading scorer on the season Okauru, but the Riders came up with a string of steals which led to a corner three from Hunter giving the hosts a 7-5 lead.
Leicester’s leading scorer Jackson got in on the action midway through the first for five straight points, including a putback and-one from a Hunter missed triple. Jackson, who led the team last time out against Newcastle, continued to prove too physical for their defence down low.
The Riders’ defence suffocated Newcastle, leading to four turnovers in six minutes for the visitors and only seven points.
However, Christian James took the lid off the basket to get the Eagles back in contention. He scored 5 points, including a corner triple, to make it 20-18. The Eagles comeback made it close after one, the score 23-20 in Leicester’s favour.
Riders bench blows game open in the second
Wright made his impact felt to start the second with a pair of buckets at the hoop. He was followed by a Blake Bowman triple to rebuild the Riders’ advantage to eight.
With momentum in their corner, Leicester blew the game open through scores from Aussie forward Riley Abercrombie. His three gave the hosts their first double digit lead of the game at 39-28.
The Riders second unit stepped up in the quarter to maintain Leicester’s lead. 8 points for Wright and 5 for Bowman at the half meant the Eagles couldn’t climb back into the game.
Hunter checked back in with two minutes left in the half and came up with two scores in succession, before Jackson finished the period with a triple for Leicester to lead 49-40 at the break.
Sharp shooting Riders build dominant lead
Hunter, driving on the fastbreak, made the play of the game to get the Riders going in the second half. He drove hard to the hoop before dishing a no-look, behind-the-back pass to Jackson who laid it in for two.
Jackson cooked out of the break, hitting two triples on his way to eight points in three minutes and a 57-46 lead. Leicester held a double digit lead through the third quarter, despite the Eagles chipping away with buckets at the basket.
The threes poured in for the Riders with Spencer Johnson, Hunter and Jackson heating up to keep Newcastle at distance. Baskets from Conner Washington on the fastbreak and Bowman at the rim made it 74-59 with one left, the Riders in firm control of proceedings.
Leicester see it out in defensive fourth quarter
The Riders stamped their authority on the final quarter early to leave little doubt. Bowman and Wright again combined for back-to-back buckets to make the score 80-59 with 8 minutes on the clock.
Leicester’s defence locked down Newcastle, who went scoreless in two minutes in the fourth. Meanwhile offensively they pounded the paint, with Duke Shelton mucking his way to an and-one inside.
Sprinting through the final line, Hunter put the cherry on top of the game with a fastbreak finish for two.
A low scoring fourth concluded the action for Leicester to get it over the line. The final period was won by the Riders to finish off an impressive victory, and a statement ahead of next week’s semi final.
After two games away from league action, Leicester Riders refocus on their Super League Basketball campaign with a heavyweight clash against Newcastle Eagles.
It’s the second of three games in December against the Riders’ North Eastern opponents, with the teams facing off in the Trophy semi-final over two legs, but this league tie sandwiched in between the two games is not to be overlooked in its significance.
A win for the Riders would swing the league standings in their favour as they cast their eyes to the top of the table, so here’s all you need to know about the matchup.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Newcastle Eagles
Super League Basketball Championship
Sunday, December 15, 3PM
Riders return to League action
This weekend features a marathon double header for the Riders, who return home from a fixture in Falkirk on Friday evening.
The game, against Scottish Basketball Championship league leaders Falkirk Fury, saw Leicester progress to the second round of the Cup comfortably winning 130-61.
It was the highest-scoring game in Rob Paternostro’s 16-year tenure as Riders Head Coach, and the Club’s highest-scoring game since 1997. The game was also the second biggest win for Paternostro as Riders Head Coach.
Facing Falkirk saw a return to winning ways, after the Riders fell in a hard-fought semi-final first leg in Newcastle a week prior. The Riders, down 17 at the half, came back to make it a game going back to Leicester and lose only by four.
Fighting back on Tyneside
Relive the action from our Friday night battle against Newcastle Eagles!
A torrid second quarter meant Leicester had to dig themselves out of the hole, and they will need performances up and down the roster in order to avoid needing another comeback on Sunday afternoon.
Off the back of a long road trip on Friday, and facing a talented Eagles side deep into their bench, the Riders need to lean into their full roster for 40 minutes in order to maintain their intensity late in the game.
Should their second unit match their starters’ production, the Riders will be in good stead to leapfrog the Eagles with a 5-2 league record with an important home win.
High-flying Eagles
The Eagles, who are flying high in the SLB and enter this one having won four domestic games on the bounce, fell for the first time since mid November in midweek.
They played Latvian side Valmiera Glass tough on the road, but lost 87-84 for their first loss in the ENBL this season. Mike Okauru, as he has throughout the SLB season, led the way for Newcastle with 26 points, proving to be a deadly threat from the Eagles backcourt.
He has a 35 point game to his name this season, draining 8 threes on his way to a season-high performance, and is averaging 18.4 points per game making him a top five scorer in Super League Basketball.
He has led the team to a 4-1 record, making Newcastle the only single-loss team in Britain’s top tier. Their fast-paced, high-flying brand of basketball has wreaked havoc in the League this season, as demonstrated by their 38 point second quarter last time against the Riders.
Newcastle has seven players scoring over nine points per game in the League this season, emphasising the need for contributions all the way down the Riders’ roster in order to beat Sunday’s visitors.
And if their last meeting is anything to go by, expect fireworks between these old rivals.
Where to watch
Tickets to the game are still available here! The game will also be available to be streamed live on DAZN.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders hit the road to get their Super League Basketball Cup campaign underway against Falkirk Fury tomorrow.
The Scottish Basketball Championship League leaders are one of seven non-Super League Basketball clubs set to face off against professional opposition in the first round of the Cup.
They will take on four-time British basketball Cup winners Leicester Riders, who have their sights set on the Finals in Nottingham to take back their title last won in 2022.
Here’s all you need to know about the fixture…
Fixture information
Falkirk Fury vs Leicester Riders Super League Basketball Cup First Round Friday, December 13, 7:50 pm
Due to the technical challenges with broadcasting from non-SLB team venues for the First Round, this games will not be broadcast live.
You can follow the game on our social media below, and by following the game’slivestats here.
Falkirk Fury are one of the most successful basketball clubs in Scotland, with 24 National and International titles to their name since their founding in 1992.
Falkirk won the SBC treble last season, winning the League, Playoffs and Scottish Cup in an immensely successful domestic season. It was the third treble in the club’s history, and their first since 2017.
They currently sit top of Scotland’s top division with a 7-2 record, and enter this game on a three game winning streak.
They have some familiarity with first-tier British basketball opponents, having entered the Trophy on three occasions. They suffered three defeats in the competition, however, falling twice to the Glasgow Rocks and one to Loughborough Riders in 2017.
Falkirk have produced a plethora of British basketball talent over the past decades, the most successful of which being former GB international Kieron Achara. Former Rider Ali Fraser, current Caledonia Gladiator Fraser Malcolm and recently retired Jonny Bunyan also suited up for the Fury in the past, meaning the Riders should be prepared to take on a talented group of potential future pros.
Riders set for unique challenge
The Riders travel to Falkirk in the midst of a crammed December schedule, and as part of a doubleheader weekend.
It’s a trip back up North for Leicester who come into this tie off the back of an intense Trophy semi-final first leg against Newcastle Eagles.
It was a hard-fought battle, with the Riders having to fight back from down 17 at halftime to bring the tie to within four come the final buzzer with the sides coming back to Leicester on the 22nd.
Fighting back on Tyneside
Relive the action from our Friday night battle against Newcastle Eagles!
Now, the Riders turn their attention to the Cup, a competition which they have lifted four times in British basketball, most recently as part of their 2022 treble winning season.
A tough task awaits the Riders, who take the long journey north hoping to progress to the second round of the Cup against a Falkirk side not to be overlooked, before heading back to Leicester to take on the Eagles in Championship action on Sunday.
But it’s one game at a time for the team, who are locked in for part one of the doubleheader in Falkirk, and need to take care of business professionally.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Key takeaways from the Riders’ semi-final vs Newcastle
Leicester Riders played the first of three December fixtures against their rivals, Newcastle Eagles, in the first leg of the Super League Basketball Trophy semi-final last Friday.
It was a hard-fought battle, with the Riders having to fight back from down 17 at halftime to bring the tie to within four come the final buzzer.
Fighting back on Tyneside
Relive the action from our Friday night battle against Newcastle Eagles!
With the teams facing off a further two times in the coming weeks, both encounters taking place at the Mattioli Arena, learning from previous games becomes a pivotal part of the Riders’ hopes of December success.
Here’s what we can take from Friday’s game…
Newcastle’s strength in depth
Newcastle proved to possess a talented roster from top to bottom, with weapons in the starting and second unit able to knock down shots at a high rate.
Jaylin Hunter spoke on Newcastle’s strength in depth ahead of Friday’s highly anticipated clash.
“They’re pretty deep,” said Hunter. “They have a lot of guys that can hurt you and win a game for them so they are not a one or two man show.
“They have a lot of players that can drive and shoot, so we have to really pay attention to the scouting report and know who we have to contest hard on and who guys we need to be wary of drives to the rim.”
Hunter’s assessment was accurate, with the Eagles’ bench outsourcing the Riders’ 47-18 led by 18 from former Rider Josh Ward-Hibbert. Three players scored double digit points tallies on the Eagles second unit, with that unit playing a pivotal role in a 38 point second quarter for the hosts.
The Eagles bench was red hot from deep, shooting 7-15 from behind the arc, three of those triples coming in the second. The Riders will have to be locked into their perimeter defence through 40 minutes in the upcoming fixtures to keep Newcastle’s second unit in check.
Riders’ experience proves vital
Down 59-42 at the half, Leicester were forced to fight out of a hole and get themselves back into contention for the semi-final.
The experience of Head Coach Rob Paternostro paid dividends in calming the team at the half, and instilling belief that they could make it a game going back to Leicester.
Paternostro reminded the team that there was plenty of basketball to play in the two-legged semi-final.
“We played poorly in the second to give them the lead, but there weren’t just 20 minutes left, there were 60 left, and that was the message at halftime,” said Paternostro post game “There was plenty of time to just keep chipping away.”
With those words echoing in their ears, the Riders came galloping back into the tie out of the half, going on an 8-0 run in the third quarter to cut it to single digits, and making it a one point game with an incredible sequence late in the fourth.
Ethan Wright epitomised the Riders’ never say die attitude with an incredible chase down block on Christian James, before dishing it to Hunter for three to cut it to one. A late three for Newcastle rebuilt their lead to 4, but the Riders’ fightback has made it a game going into the second leg.
“We did an excellent job in the second half to get back into the tie. Defensively we learned a lot for the second half which is really important in these types of games,” concluded Paternostro.
Big moments, big players
With the team’s back against the wall, Coach Paternostro leaned on his star power to get the Riders back into the tie. Hunter, Zach Jackson and Charles Thompson came up huge down the stretch in the second half to play big minutes and make important plays.
Jackson got the comeback rolling with a 10 point third quarter, battling to the free throw line with physical play at the rim. He led the game with 24 points, shooting 8-8 from the foul line in the game.
Jackson combined with Thompson, who had 8 points in the period, to snatch momentum back and establish themselves in the paint. Then as the clock ticked down in the fourth and the game hung in the balance, Hunter stepped up to drain a pair of crucial threes and chip into the Riders’ deficit.
Leicester’s star trio stepping up in the highest leverage moment of the season means all is to play for when the Eagles come to Leicester for the reverse fixture.
Newcastle next at home
The Riders take on the Eagles in their next home action in a crucial game in the Championship season on December 15.
Report: Riders climb back to make for close Trophy first leg vs Eagles
Leicester Riders pulled off a second half fightback in the Trophy semi-final 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.
Riders overcome slow start to lead after one
Riders’ star duo of Jaylin Hunter and Thompson found themselves on the same page from the jump to combine for two highlights in the first period.
The first score of the game saw Hunter sling a pass through traffic to Thompson, who threw down the first points one handed, then two minutes later Thompson found another lane to the rim from a Hunter feed and threw down another.
The Eagles were in rhythm early, however, to take a 12-6 lead. They entered the game leading all teams in fastbreak points, and took advantage of early Leicester turnovers to get easy scores in transition led by 10 points from Knight.
The Riders clawed back from the foul line, shooting seven free throws including a Duke Shelton and-one, who then took the lead for the visitors from the midrange. Hunter ended a breathless first period with a triple, meaning Leicester led 23-21.
Newcastle take charge in the second
Newcastle took charge early in the second quarter with a relentless flow of buckets. They started on a 13-2 run capped off by a Knight three which forced a Riders timeout down nine points. Josh Ward-Hibbert scored five straight out of the break, with Leicester in need of a response.
Hunter stopped the bleeding with a finish at the rim with six minutes left in the half, followed by Wright on the fastbreak. Leicester’s offence clicked into gear, but couldn’t stop the Eagles on the other end to cut into the deficit.
Knight built on his hot start to bring his tally to 14, and Jordan Spencer got in on the action with a triple from the top. Hunter hit back with four points, and he finished the second with 13, but Cole Long’s three made it a 17 point deficit for the Riders at the half.
Newcastle scored 38 points in a red hot second quarter, putting themselves in firm control.
Fightback begins in the third
Jackson and Spencer Johnson got to work early in the third to chip four points off the Eagles lead immediately. Thompson found joy inside for back-to-back buckets, and Leicester trailed by 11 after three minutes of the second half.
Newcastle, through another Long three, bolstered their lead in response to the Riders run. But the Riders were a different side to the one seen in the second quarter, forcing the Eagles’ possessions to run deep into the shot clock.
Jackson’s hustle turned what appeared an open layup for Spencer into a chasedown block, before Thompson scored on Long and blocked Christian James on the other end to make the score 71-61.
Leicester make it a game
Jackson took over the game to close the third. He scored six straight points, battling to the rim and fighting through contact to put the ball in the bucket, and keep the Riders in contention going into the fourth. The score was 76-67 with one left.
They remained at arm’s length to start the fourth with Riley Abercrombie scoring on the break, and Jackson draining a three. Jackson hustled for a loose ball after a Riders turnover, leading to another Thompson jam, and it was quickly a six point game.
On the next run up, James was fouled on a triple to add three points to the Eagles tally. Long scored on a drive to the hoop to make the hosts’ lead 11 and force a Riders timeout.
But out of the break, Wright and Hunter found string on threes to snatch back momentum and make it a game late on. Wright, again fighting for space down low, made it a one possession game with three minutes left.
With the tie in the balance and James driving to the hoop, Wright rose high for a monster chasedown block. Wright then ran the break and found Hunter, who drained a triple in a huge sequence for the Riders.
Wright had a chance to take the lead with a triple, but hit iron on his shot. Knight then drained a corner three with less than a minute left to build the Eagles lead back to four. Leicester held on for the final shot, which Jackson took and missed, and the Riders now go back to Leicester for the second leg down just four.
The return leg of the semi-final will be played in Leicester on December 22, with both sides vying to progress to the final in the Utilita Arena Birmingham in January.
“We’re ready for the challenge!”: Jaylin Hunter previews Leicester Riders’ Trophy semi-final
Leicester Riders are gearing up for the biggest fixture of their season so far.
Tomorrow, they’ll hit the court for the Trophy semi-final first leg on the road against their British basketball rivals, the Newcastle Eagles.
They enter the tie in good form after a double-winning weekend, in a pivotal part of the season for the newly formed Riders group.
After suffering back-to-back losses to Sheffield Sharks early in the year, their league season was put back on track with victories against Manchester and Cheshire.
Before their losses to the Sharks, the Riders were 7-0 in all competitions after going undefeated in the Trophy’s South Group. The Riders had to prove their bounce-back ability, and they did so emphatically.
Jaylin Hunter, the player of the game in the second of the two wins last weekend, emphasised the importance of the results to this group.
“In those two games against Sheffield we realised we could be beaten, so that made us lock in that little bit more. We felt that people were doubting us a little so we wanted to prove that we can hang with the big dogs.
“It was big to know that we’re not just good in the south- we can compete with the whole League.”
The Riders dove into the film room following the losses to diagnose the issues from the games, and emphasised quicker ball movement and more urgency on the fastbreak to improve their results.
“Our ball movement wasn’t where it should have been against Sheffield- there were a couple of opportunities where we could have ran in transition. We did a much better job of moving it in our last two games, and finding those outlets a second or two earlier.
“Our bigs did a great job of getting their heads up quickly after getting a rebound and getting the ball in transition. That really helped us in winning those games.
Overcoming the road running Eagles
Newcastle enters this game as the League’s most efficient offence, generating their points on the run in transition. They score the most fastbreak points per game, making for an intriguing battle against the Riders who play at the slowest pace in the League.
Hunter believes the Riders, who turn the ball over the least of any team, can limit the Eagles’ fastbreak opportunities with their ball security.
“One thing we pride ourselves on is taking care of the ball, so if we continue to do that it will naturally limit their transition. A lot of it has to do with our offence not giving them the chance to run and generate fastbreak buckets which are impossible to guard.
“Taking care of the ball is the biggest thing in stopping their transition offence, which is what we know they like to do.”
The Riders haven’t yet faced the Eagles this season, but the team have been pouring over film familiarise themselves with their opponents, who they are set to face three times in 16 days.
Hunter has been impressed with their opponent’s strength in depth.
“They’re pretty deep- they have a lot of guys that can hurt you and win a game for them so they are not a one or two man show. They have a lot of players that can drive and shoot, so we have to really pay attention to the scouting report and know who we have to contest hard on and who guys we need to be wary of drives to the rim.
“Knowing the personnel is the most important thing going into these games, and once we’ve played them a few times we’ll feel more and more comfortable.”
The rivalry
Both of these franchises are familiar with facing each other on the biggest stages in British basketball, having established the fiercest rivalry over the past decade of the sport in this country.
But this will be Hunter’s first taste of that rivalry, and he is eagerly anticipating the playing environment.
“Over the last few days I’ve learned what this rivalry is all about. These games are fun when the crowd is into it and the energy is in the building then it ups the level of play from everyone. If that is going to be the environment then we’re ready for the challenge.
“This is what you play for. If the fans are excited that makes us excited. Both teams have been playing pretty well, so now it’s time to play, simple as that.”
The Riders welcome Newcastle to town for their next home game in the Super League Basketball Championship. Get in the stands to support the team in a pivotal game at the top of the table!
Trophy semi final preview: Leicester Riders vs Newcastle Eagles
Leicester Riders turn their attention to Trophy action, heading to Newcastle to take on the Eagles in the first leg of the semi-finals.
The sides have shared the stage for some of the most consequential battles in British basketball over the past decade, as they now prepare once again to suit up in the biggest games of the season thus far.
The Riders and Eagles have established a reputation as not only two of countries’ premiere clubs in recent history, but this season as well.
Here’s how this mammoth fixture is shaping up…
Riders back on track
After going undefeated through the Trophy group phase in October, the Riders suffered their first two defeats of the season back to back against Sheffield Sharks three weeks ago.
The losses meant last weekend was pivotal for getting the season back on the rails ahead of a packed Christmas schedule, and a Trophy semi-final awaiting the team the following week.
The Riders responded emphatically with a 2-0 weekend, beating Manchester Basketball at home before holding on for an impressive win against Cheshire Phoenix on the road. The Riders look back to their best with the back-to-back wins, and their star power shining through in the weekend’s action.
Charles Thompson and Zach Jackson earned Super League Basketball Team of the Week honours from their performances.
Jackson led the team to a 99-86 win against Manchester with a 20 point performance, and Thompson’s efforts at the rim set the tone against Cheshire, logging 14 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks and a monster jam over Skyler White for the play of the game.
Now the Riders turn their attention to the red hot Eagles, with only one League loss to their name so far this season.
Eagles flying high
Newcastle progressed through their Trophy group with a 5-3 record, earning them second place in the North Group and a semi final against the Riders.
But since then, the Eagles have gone 4-1 to start their League campaign, with a number of impressive European victories in the ENBL to accompany their League record.
Newcastle enter this tie having won three Championship games on the bounce, most recently hanging on to beat the Cheshire Phoenix as the Riders did.
The win put them second in the League behind the London Lions, the only team to take a League win against Newcastle so far this season.
The Eagles’ success early in the year has come from ruthless efficiency from turnovers, leading the League in fastbreak points and field goal percentage. They play lock down defence in order to generate this offence, holding their opponents to the lowest field goal percentage in the League, and have generated the highest offensive rating on the other end.
Meanwhile Leicester, who play at the slowest pace of any team in British basketball, turn the ball over the least in the League, setting up an intriguing battle between a potent, halfcourt offence and highflying roadrunners.
One to watch
Newcastle’s Mike Okauru has shown his ability to take over games single-handedly in his introduction to British basketball this season.
He has a 35 point game to his name this season, draining 8 threes on his way to a season-high performance, and is averaging 18.4 points per game making him a top five scorer in Super League Basketball.
Okauru, a third year pro after spending his first two professional seasons in Czechia and France, has proven himself as an efficient scorer, and is knocking down his field goal at a 54% clip, and he’s a career best 40% from three.
The American guard’s threat is predicated on his drives to the rim, both in transition and the pick and roll. Leicester’s rim protection will be pivotal in slowing down his threat driving to the hoop.
His finishing ability opens up the three ball, which he is knocking down at a consistent rate this season, meaning the Riders will need to be locked in on 6’3” Okauru for all 40 minutes.
The Riders head north on Friday to take on their historic rivals, the Newcastle Eagles, in the Super League Basketball Trophy semi-final first leg.
The sides have faced off in the biggest games in British Basketball over the last decade. Here, we catch you up with the history…
2011/12- The first Final meeting
The sides first met in a major final in the Rob Paternostro era in the 2012 BBL Playoff Final: the Riders’ first final since 2001.
The Eagles, then serial winners of the competition having won four since the Riders’ last appearance, added a fifth to their trophy cabinet on this occasion. They won the game 71–62, led by MVP Charles Smith’s 21 points.
That season, the Eagles pulled off the domestic quadruple, their victory against the Riders capping off the achievement.
Leicester pushed the Eagles all the way in the League, falling just two points short to set up the rivalry between the organisations.
2012/13- Riders on the board
The next season, the Riders took the silverware against the North Easterners, winning the treble by lifting the Championship, Cup and Playoff trophies.
They first met the Eagles in the 2013 BBL Cup final. Jay Cousinard’s MVP performance led Leicester to a 85–80 win, earning the first piece of silverware for Head Coach Rob Paternostro.
The Riders went on to lift the League title with a 30-3 record, clearing the second-placed Eagles by ten points, before meeting them in the Playoff final to complete the treble.
Leicester won the tie 68–57, again led by MVP Cousinard, to make it 2-1 in domestic finals between the sides.
Again, the teams fought for silverware at the earliest opportunity the next season in the BBL Cup final. The Riders had the edge, playing out a classic at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham.
Cousinard’s late free throws put Leicester up three with seven seconds remaining, as the Riders fought back from 11 points down with four minutes to play, led by eight points from MVP Drew Sullivan.
The Riders didn’t meet the Eagles in the remaining two finals, as Newcastle went on to top the Championship table and fell short in the Playoff final against the Worcester Wolves.
2014/15- Eagles quadruple
The 2014/15 season saw the Riders and Eagles share a title fight wire to wire. The Eagles emerged victors, finishing with 62 points to the Riders 60, then going on to win the Playoff final against the London Lions.
The Eagles again won the quadruple as they did in 2012, facing off against the Riders in yet another final. This time, it was the 2014 BBL Trophy final, which they won 96-90 led by MVP Smith once again.
Smith’s season saw him named League MVP, as he put up 18.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in the Eagles’ historic season.
2015/16- Riders respond
The Riders responded next season, winning the League and Trophy double. It was Leicester’s turn to pip Newcastle to the Championship title, a 29-4 record seeing them edge out the second-placed Eagles 58 points to 56.
Leicester beat their Eagles on their new homecourt at the Morningside Arena to lift the title.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) May 26, 2020
The Riders went through the Eagles in the Trophy final, winning 85-77 led by MVP Sullivan against his former team. It was revenge for the Riders, who were beaten by the Eagles in the Cup final earlier in the year.
The Eagles’ Rahmon Fletcher won the first of his two BBL MVP awards, and led the team in the Cup win to take home Final MVP.
Leicester had a shot at the treble in the BBL Playoff Final, but fell a game short to the Sheffield Sharks.
2016/17- Building on success
The 2016/17 season saw Leicester build on the previous year’s success, winning another domestic treble.
Winning the League over Newcastle by eight points, and taking a dominant 84–63 victory against the Eagles in the Playoff Final saw them establish themselves as the BBL’s premier outfit, after they lifted their first silverware of the season with a 91-58 win against the Plymouth Raiders in the Trophy.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) June 4, 2020
The Playoffs marked the last time the sides have faced off in a domestic final.
The Eagles weren’t left empty-handed, however, winning the BBL Cup with a 91–83 victory against the Glasgow Rocks. But the Riders finished the season the stronger of the sides, with Pierre Hampton leading the team to a playoff win with a Final MVP performance.
2018/Present- Recent years
2018 saw the first season where Leicester and Newcastle didn’t meet in a final in seven years. It also marked the first season the Eagles failed to make a final in eight years.
Meanwhile, the Riders secured another treble, winning the League by 10 points over the London Lions.
They faced the Lions in the Playoff final to win the treble, taking the victory comfortably 81-60, and beat the Sheffield Sharks to win the Trophy final 90-85.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) June 14, 2020
The Eagles finished third in the standings with a 21-11 record, not facing the Riders in any of the knockout competitions throughout the season.
The most recent high-stakes game between the Riders and Eagles dates back to the 2021 Playoffs, where the Eagles beat the League champions over two legs in a behind-closed-doors semi-final.
They went on to win the Playoffs that season, before the Riders responded with another treble the following season.
Last year, the sides met in a high-stakes Trophy group clash, with the winner progressing through to the Final Four of the competition. Leicester won the game convincingly in Newcastle to progress, and the Eagles will want revenge in this one to settle the scores.
Leicester Riders held on for a nail biting 86-88 win on the road to Cheshire Phoenix.
Leicester led by 14 in the fourth after some hot three point shooting, but Cheshire made it a one possession game and had a chance to tie it from the foul line.
Tyreek Scott-Grayson missed the third of three attempts, and the Riders got the win over the line.
Riley Abercrombie led the game with 16 points, backed by double doubles from Jaylin Hunter (16/12) and Charles Thompson (14/13).
Six players finished in double digits, and the Riders dished 24 assists to Cheshire’s 11 in a complete team effort.
Despite the clutch miss, Scott-Grayson led the game with 24 points and 5 rebounds. Cheshire shot 47% from the field on the game, catching a heater late to make it a game.
The Riders improved to 3-2 on the Championship season after a two-win weekend.
Riders fightback from hot Phoenix start
Playing trademark Phoenix basketball, the hosts made it a track meet from the tip-off getting buckets on the fastbreak. They took a 13-7 lead led by 7 from Cam Christon flying down the court.
Spencer Johnson’s corner three stemmed the early momentum and cut it to a one score game, however, despite the relentless Cheshire start. The three turned the tide of the game as Leicester heated up.
They went 4-6 from deep in the opening period to snatch the lead. A late surge from Cheshire, finalised by Greg Wild’s three, tied it at 24 after one, but the Riders were in rhythm and on-target.
Riders grind out the second quarter
Blake Bowman broke the deadlock in the second quarter with a tough make inside for one of two baskets in three minutes. His play meant Leicester led by five to start the second.
The back-and-forth game swung towards the Phoenix through an Atwood three, however, forcing the first time out of the game for Rob Paternostro with the game tied at 33.
Neither side were able to form a significant advantage through much of the second, until Charles Thompson made the play of the game. Jaylin Hunter found his cut to the rim before he rose high on the drive and threw it down over the rim-defending Skyler White.
This set off an 8-2 Riders run to put the visitors up 44-37, capped off by Hunter’s free throws. Leicester carried this advantage to the half, leading 48-41 going into the locker rooms led by Thompson’s 8 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks- a dominant half for the American.
Battling out the third
Leicester’s lights out shooting translated to the second half, with Hunter pulling up off the dribble to put the Riders up 10.
They were forced to battle, however, to keep Cheshire at arm’s length, as they hit big shots in an attempt to cut into the deficit. Scott-Grayson made the breakthrough from three to cut it to six, the score 53-59.
The Phoenix played full court, physical defence, forcing the Riders to fight through contact and get to the rim. Riley Abercrombie made big plays inside to bring his tally to 11 and keep the visitors ahead.
After Cheshire’s efforts had been subdued for the time being, Zach Jackson got to work down low for his trademark tough finish in the post. Johnson and Hunter put four more on the board, and the lead was back to 10.
Jackson finished off the third at the line for Leiecster, and the sides went into the fourth with the score 64-72.
Leicester catch fire in the fourth
The Phoenix drew first blood in the fourth, with RJ Eytle-Rock sinking a breakaway and-one to start it. After a tough offensive spell to start the quarter, Abercrombie took the lid off to respond to the Phoenix form with a contested three on the top.
Ethan Wright followed up with a finish inside, and Leicester had built a solid foundation late. But Scott-Grayson hit back with an and-one play, ensuring a tense finale for both sides.
With the game in the balance and both sides exchanging blows, the Riders connected with a big blow. Charles Thompson, driving baseline, kicked to Johnson in the corner who hit string and made the lead 81-72.
The Riders caught fire at the key moment in the game. Hunter fired a ball to Wright at the top who again hit from deep to make it a 14 point game.
Riders survive late Phoenix fightback
Cheshire never said die, and fought back to make it close. Skyler White and Holden got points on the board, and a Christon corner three brought the difference to seven. Holden then broke away after a Phoenix steal to lay in another.
Thompson was sent to the line next time down, missing both with 24 seconds left. Eytle-Rock then pulled down White’s miss and put back and and-one play, sinking the resulting free throw to make it a one score game.
Jackson was sent to the foul line next, making one and giving Cheshire a chance to tie with a three. Scott-Grayson had the shot, and was fouled on a three by Johnson sending him to the line.
The first two went down, but dramatically he missed the third, and the rebound was pulled down by Thompson. Thompson was rewarded with another pair of foul shots, this time making one, and Johnson intercepted a full court heave to seal the win.
Leicester Riders got back to winning ways with a 99-86 victory against Manchester.
It was a convincing win from the start after a red hot first half, which saw the team put up 56 points. Manchester fought back in the third to cut into the lead, but big shots to start the fourth saw the Riders put the game beyond reach.
Zach Jackson led the game with 20 points and 5 rebounds, going 7-11 from the field. The Riders had seven players in double digits, including Hunter with 16 and 9 assists and Duke Shelton off the bench with 13 points and 8 rebounds in 12 minutes.
Leicester went 53% from the field and 42% from three, turning the ball over only 9 times in a solid offensive showing.
Manchester had two 20 point scorers in Marcus Delpeche and Nathan Cayo, the former grabbing 9 rebounds and shooting 10-15 from the field.
They lost the bench battle 27-16, the difference in the game.
Riders start hot
A hot shooting start from the Riders saw them jump out to a 12-7 lead. Spencer Johnson, stepping into the starting lineup for the first time as a Rider, hit a three off-balance from the wing, and Riley Abercrombie hit twice from deep, Leicester hitting their first three attempts from behind the arc.
Abercrombie led the game with 10 points in the opening six minutes. Leicester led by double digits through the Aussie’s play, capitalising on their form to build a solid advantage. It was 29-16 after one with Leicester shooting 71% from deep.
Riders dominant to the half
Conner Washington checked into the game to start the second quarter to continue the three point barrage. He was followed by Shelton who bagged a pair of buckets, taking Delpeche off the dribble as the shot clock wound down for a layup inside, making the score 38-20.
With four minutes left in the half, Jaylin Hunter got in on the action with back-to-back triples. Everything was dropping for the hosts, who were 8-12 from three. Hunter scored eight straight, each shot meeting nothing but string.
Leicester dominated the second period. Their fluid offence was met with no answer as they poured on the points for their highest scoring half of the season. Zach Jackson’s put back after a scramble around the bucket was the Riders’ final score of the second, as they entered the locker rooms up 56-36.
Manchester fight back
The sides stalled out to start the third, as the once high-scoring affair slowed down into a defensive duel. Jackson hit a deep two on the buzzer over Delpeche for two of Leiecetsr’s nine points in five minutes, as the Riders kept the lead to 20.
Midway through the period, Manchester began to mount a comeback into the game. Nathan Cayo drained a three for his 12th points to make it 67-52, forcing a Riders timeout to stem the tide.
Jackson stopped the bleeding by getting to work down low, pulling up from the post to sink one. The Riders build on the American’s bucket to make it a 16 point game with one to play.
To start the third, Wright connected on back-to-back threes to set the tone the rest of the way. Jackson pulled up off the dribble to follow up his teammates and hit again, giving the Riders a platform to see the game out from.
Jaylin Hunter got to work to score five straight and stretch the lead. He scored seven in the period to see it out, making his tally on the game 16.
Abercrombie put the exclamation point on the win with a big dunk inside, seeing the Riders home and making it a 2-2 record on the Championship season.
Back at it on Sunday
The Riders return to action on Sunday, taking on Cheshire Phoenix on the road hoping to improve to above .500 on the season.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Preview: Leicester Riders vs Manchester Basketball
Leicester Riders return to Super League Basketball action against Manchester for the first time this season.
The 1-2 Riders will attempt to return to winning ways after back-to-back losses to Sheffield Sharks, as they hope to get their season back on track going into December.
Meanwhile Manchester seek their first win of the League season after a 2-6 Trophy group phase.
Here’s how the fixture is shaping up…
Leicester looks to regain momentum
The Riders face a seven-game December schedule, starting Sunday against Cheshire Phoenix, and will be looking to build form going into the congested run of fixtures.
They will take important lessons from their losses against Sheffield, with a lot of season ahead of them to correct the wrongs from the games.
Last time out was a tough offensive outing after a positive start to the game. They went scoreless through the first six minutes of the second quarter, and were unable to get going ahead to climb back into the tie.
Jaylin Hunter led the Riders’ efforts from the point with 18 points, finishing with a +/- of -1 in an 18 point loss. He was backed by Abercrombie with 14 and Zach Jackson with 11.
The two weeks between games has allowed the team to reset, study the tape and get back on the practice court, and they will look to get back into a rhythm against tomorrow’s North Western opponents.
Manchester look to get over the edge after overtime thrillers
Manchester, a newly formed franchise, still looks to find its feet in Super League Basketball with a roster formed imminently before the season started.
The Trophy group was a useful run of games for the unit to gain chemistry and find fitness, making their 2-6 record secondary to their performances and growth throughout the phase.
Their two wins were the final two games of the group, and now, two games into the Championship season, Manchester will look to turn performances into results and get their first point in the win column in the league against Leicetser.
They have come agonisingly close in both of their Championship games, falling in overtime on both occasions. Their last outing was on the road to Bristol Flyers, the hosts finding late form with Evan Walshe leading the way against his former team.
Their 0-2 record, therefore, is deceptive, and the Riders will need to be operating at peak performance to come out the victors in this one.
Their odds received a slight boost in the week as Manchester parted ways with their third-leading scorer Isiah Moore. But with a top-three scorer in the League, DJ Mitchell, and the second-best assist-maker in Makai Ashton-Langford, the Riders’ opponents will suit up with a plethora of talent at Mattioli Arena.
Tickets still available!
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Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Key matchups: Leicester Riders vs Manchester Basketball
Leicester Riders return to action after the international break, hosting Manchester for the first time in Super League Basketball.
The Club looks to return to winning ways after back-to-back losses to the Sheffield Sharks. Building momentum is pivotal ahead of a busy winter schedule, with this weekend’s double header setting up a seven-game December.
Here’s some of the key matchups to look for in Friday’s action…
Makai Ashton-Langford vs Jaylin Hunter
The League’s two premiere assist makers, Jaylin Hunter and Makai Ashton-Langford, go head-to-head from the point in this matchup.
Hunter, with 8 per game, leads all players in dishes, followed by Ashton-Langford with 7 per game. The two American rookies have quickly made their name in professional hoops as elite playmakers, pulling the strings from the point.
The Riders’ star guard has been one of the standouts from their start to the season, finding quick chemistry with the rest of the roster to continually generate open looks with his flashy passing and court vision.
In addition to his playmaking, Hunter’s finishing ability at the rim has led to some mind-bending circus shots in the paint, and his quickness in transition and three point shooting prowess makes him the second-highest Riders scorer on the season with 14.7 point per outing.
For Manchester, Ashton-Langford has shown similarly impressive passing skills in his introduction to Super League Basketball to rank second in the League in assists, behind Hunter.
Like Hunter, his pass-first, selfless mentality has generated offence up and down the Manchester roster. He breaks holes in defences by willingly attacking the hoop, before swinging passes to cutting defenders and open shooters.
With talented scorers at the forward position, he is a weapon in the pick and roll, looking for switches onto bigger defenders where he can take them off the dribble, or draw double teams so he can find the cutter in the lane.
Slowing down the opposing guard will go a long way for their team’s success for either of these court generals.
DJ Mitchell vs Riley Abercrombie
Manchester’s leading scorer lines up at the forward position. DJ Mitchell is one of three 20 point per game scorers in Super League Basketball this season, averaging 20 points and 6 rebounds per game over his two league appearances so far.
His latest outing showcased his ability to get the ball in the basket and dominate the glass, logging a 15 point, 12 rebound double double against a physical Bristol Flyers outfit.
After starting his professional career in 2021, Mitchell has gained experience in Australia, the Netherlands and Poland to name a few, signing in Manchester from the NBL 1’s Brisbane Bullets.
Mitchell has a willingness to take shots from every spot on the court, making him a tough cover when pulling up from range at 6 ‘8″. He possesses an ability to take defenders off the dribble from the perimeter and play with his back to basket, making Mitchell a true five level scorer.
He was an efficient 50% from the field and 43% from three over the summer with Brisbane, and while he hasn’t matched those numbers early in the season, Mitchell is capable of catching a hot hand on any night.
Matching up vs Mitchell in the power forward position will be Riders’ Aussie Riley Abercrombie, who has experience playing down under over the summer for Illawarra Hawks, where he averaged 23.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Abercrombie’s season with the Hawks featured back-to-back 38 point games, five 30 point outings and six double doubles over 19 games.
For Leicester, Abercrombie is shooting a red hot 45% from three on his way to 13.7 points per game- third best on the Riders roster. He too can score from all five levels, proving his ability to shoulder the scoring load during his summer in Australia.
The 6’9” stretch four has established himself as a consistent scorer for the Riders this season, putting up double digit points in every Championship game so far. His matchup against Mitchell will be a fascinating duel between two versatile scorers.
Nathan Cayo vs Zach Jackson
Rounding off the top three one-on-one battles is the wing matchup between Riders’ leading scorer on the season, Zach Jackson, and Manchester’s CEBL championship winning Nathan Cayo.
Cayo was a key player for Niagara River Lions this past summer averaging 12.8 points as they went on to win the Championship. The former G Leager now suits up in British basketball for the first time, putting up 14.3 points per game in his first two championship outings.
His ball-handling and driving ability means he possesses guard-like skills standing at 6’7”. He has natural instinct as the ball handler in the pick and roll, making him able to take on defenders or find passes to the open man.
Cayo has touch with his back to the rim, and likes to rise up in the midrange to knock down shots. He is capable of stretching the defence with his three point shooting, which make shim a multi-faceted weapon for Manchester to utilise.
Cayo will face off against one of the best two-way players in the British game, Zach Jackson, who has dominated the open stages of the season for Leiecster to average 17 points per game.
Jackson’s physical attributes make him an elite defender, and will come into the matchup against Cayo with confidence in his ability to stay in front of his opponent, fill the passing lane and slow down Manchester’s offence.
On the other end of the floor, his top-level scoring ability on all five levels makes Jackson one of the best scorers in the League. Shooting 54% from the field and 40% from three, he has played efficient ball to start the season, and has come up huge in the clutch for Leicester too.
Jackson starred in the Riders’ overtime win in Bristol, taking over the fourth quarter and overtime with Hunter to lead the game with a season-high 27 points, and his late game heroics against Sheffield, scoring eight straight in the final minutes, made it a one possession game and gave the Riders an chance to send it to overtime with a late comeback.
Manchester will be keyed in on Jackson from wire-to-wire in this captivating battle from the wing.
Leicester Riders lost 79-61 on the road to the Sheffield Sharks to fall to 1-2 in the Super League Basketball Championship.
After a hot start saw them take the lead, Leicester’s offence struggled in the second quarter allowing the hosts to take the advantage. Sheffield came out the half the hotter of the two teams, taking the game beyond reach in the third.
Jaylin Hunter led the Riders’ efforts from the point with 18 points, finishing with a +/- of -1 in an 18 point loss. He was backed by Abercrombie with 14 and Zack Jackson with 11.
Sheffield’s Rodney Chatman III led the game with 20 in an impressive Sheffield showing. Their bench outscored Leicester’s 25-7 in a well rounded effort.
Riders take the early lead
Sheffield looked to get big man Donovan Clay going early. He backed down Riley Abercrombie for a layup inside, and pulled up from midrange for the first 4 points of the evening.
Charles Thompson put an end to the Sharks’ success at the hoop quickly. He blocked Clay twice in a possession next time down the floor before Abercrombie hit back with a triple.
The Riders, in contrast to the reverse fixture, knocked down their threes from the jump. Jaylin Hunter, Ethan Wright and Abercrombie all connected from deep as Leicester burst out to a lead.
Leicester’s stars made emphatic plays, none better than Hunters to end the first. He drove to the hoop and pulled off a circus shot, plus the foul, and the score was 22-15 to the visitors come the buzzer.
Sheffield came steaming back in the second quarter. They started 7-0, with EC Mathews tying the game at 22 on the fastbreak to trigger a Riders timeout.
Leicester’s hot offensive start cooled dramatically. They went scoreless through the first six minutes in the quarter, allowing a 12-0 Sharks run. Leicester’s defence kept them within touching distance before Thompson took the lid off the basket at the foul line.
Abercrombie drained the first field goal in the second with two minutes left, hitting a three from the top. He was followed by a Hunter turnaround with the Riders getting points on the board to close the half.
Thompson threw down a jam off a Hunter dish down low to chip into the lead, meaning Leicester survived their offensive drought to trail only 36-32 at the half.
The Sharks came out of the halftime break to take momentum back, building their lead to 13 with a Clay fastbreak jam.
Leicester again struggled to find the bottom of the bucket. They battled to the free throw line on a couple of occasions, but with the Sharks piling on the points at the rim, the deficit grew larger.
Deep in the third, Johnson hit an important three from the wing to keep Leicester in contention, making the score 58-44. It was vital the Riders kept the difference closer to 10 than 20 with one to play, and with Hunter’s free throws it was 62-48 at the end of the third.
Riders leave comeback too late
The Riders were unable to take the initiative in the final period of play, as the Sharks built the lead to 20.
Leicester again struggled putting the ball in the basket, dashing any hopes of pulling off a comeback late in the game.
They did find form in the final few minutes, Abercrombie adding to his tally with some tough makes at the rim, but it proved too little, too late, and the Riders took their second loss of the season.
The Riders return to action following the international break, hosting Manchester Basketball on November 29.
Leicester Riders seek immediate revenge against Sheffield Sharks in the second of a back-to-back against their South Yorkshire adversaries.
The Sharks handed Leicester their first loss of the season last time out with an intense 79-82 battle at Mattioli Arena, and now the sides head to Sheffield for the reverse fixture.
The sides are ready for round two off the back of a heavyweight clash last time out. It was an electric affair and a heartbreaker come the final buzzer for Leicester, who battled back at the hands of Zach Jackson late in the fourth.
Despite the Riders loss, Jackson again showed his ability to put the scoring load on his back in the clutch to will his team into contention. His Player of the Game performance saw him bag 20 points, and 8 straight for the Riders to claw them back in it.
The Riders were down six with three minutes on the clock before back-to-back threes tied it up. Following a Sharks bucket, Jackson putback Riley Abercrombie’s miss to once again level the scores, and his game tying attempt on the buzzer missed by an inch for what would have been his 11th straight.
For Sheffield, a 16-0 run in the fourth overcame a ten point Riders lead, with EC Mathews sinking the game winning shot on his way to a team-high 18 points.
The Sharks bench was pivotal to their success. Backing Mathews in the second unit was Prentiss Nixon, who was a thorn in the Riders’ side in last season’s playoffs. Nixon went for 11 and 4 on the game in 24 minutes, shooting 50% from the field and finishing with a +/- of 7.
Coach’s words…
Following the loss, Head Coach Rob Paternostro reflected on what he thought was an entertaining spectacle of high-level basketball.
“It was a really well played game from both teams. In the first half we struggled to stop them. They put 49 on the scoreboard and shot 69%. We knew they had some high level players- they’re a talented team and they showed that.
“We turned the game around in the third quarter with our defence and took a lead in the fourth, but we struggled to hit open shots late. We had three or four looks late that we’ll take all day, and give them credit, they hit some clutch threes at the end.”
The Riders had a chance to send it to overtime, having called timeout down three with 18 seconds on the clock. But the Sharks, with fouls to give, wound the clock down to 3 seconds left, forcing Jackson to heave a tough shot on the move.
Paternostro reflected on if things could have been different should the Riders have found more whistles earlier in the action.
“We couldn’t get the best look at the end. They had a couple of fouls to give and we only had six free throws all game so they weren’t in any foul trouble. Zach’s shot was on-line and he had a good opportunity.
“But ultimately, defensively at times in the fourth quarter we just didn’t get the stops we needed, and when you’re playing a good team you need those stops.”
Playing back-to-backs against teams presents an opportunity to right the wrongs of the initial fixture. The Riders have spent the week in the film room, and will look to grow as a unit and put out a more convincing performance this time out.
“This was a good opportunity to get into the film and figure out ways we can play better. We knew the type of team they were so it wasn’t a surprise with what they were able to do. But next time we have to make plays late in the game. It can be a make or miss situation, and if we made some of the looks we had it could have been a different story.”
3 takeaways from Leicester Riders vs Sheffield Sharks
Leicester Riders fell for the first time in 2024-25 on Friday, losing 82-79 at home to Sheffield Sharks.
It was an electric affair and a heartbreaker come the final buzzer for Leicester, who battled back at the hands of Zach Jackson late in the fourth but fell short by only an inch with his game tying attempt on the buzzer.
The Riders and Sharks have faced off in high-stakes battles over past seasons, but for this new Riders group, there is plenty to take from their first encounter with Sheffield in Super League Basketball.
Despite the Riders loss, Zach Jackson again showed his ability to put the scoring load on his back in the clutch to will his team into contention.
His Player of the Game performance saw him bag 20 points, and 8 straight for the Riders to claw them back in it.
The Riders were down six with three minutes on the clock before back-to-back threes tied it up. Following a Sharks bucket, Jackson putback Riley Abercrombie’s miss to once again level the scores, and his game tying attempt on the buzzer missed by an inch for what would have been his 11th straight.
Jackson, the league’s leading scorer, demonstrated his late game heroics earlier in the year on the road to Bristol Flyers, where he led the team to an overtime win. Having the American suited up in red when the game gets close breeds late game confidence for the entire Riders unit.
Sheffield’s second unit scorers
The Sharks got their biggest scoring contribution from the bench on Friday, with EC Mathews checking in to log 18 points and 5 rebounds.
Mathews was a part of the closing unit which got the visitors over the line in Leicester, hitting what proved to be the game winning three with a minute remaining. It was his fourth three of the night- the 6’5” American providing a red hot hand off the bench.
Backing Mathews in the second unit was Prentiss Nixon, who was a thorn in the Riders’ side in last season’s playoffs. Nixon went for 11 and 4 on the game in 24 minutes, shooting 50% from the field and finishing with a +/- of 7.
In a three point win, the Sharks’ bench had an average +/- of 5, proving the difference in a game which came down to the thinnest of margins.
The Riders will have to stay wary of the Sheffield second unit if they want to come away from South Yorkshire with a win.
Stick to the process
A back and forth fourth quarter saw big swings of momentum, the Sharks having the best of the late form to win the game.
But the Riders, after a hot start to the final period, got themselves up double digits for the first time in the game after a Spencer Johnson three, and looked in good position to see it out.
The Sharks caught fire at a pivotal part of the game to win it, a three from Jacob Groves kick starting a 16-0 run to give them a six point lead.
But that three minute stretch, which cost Leicester the game, should not take from the Riders’ play which brought them within seven minutes of an 8-0 record to start the season.
Despite shooting only 40% from the field on the game, the Riders were within a possession of sending it to overtime, so a reversion to the mean and a solid offensive showing should put them in good stead to add a point to the win column this weekend.
Report: Riders fall just short against Sheffield to take first loss of the season
Leicester Riders lost for the first time this season, falling in a heartbreaker 79-82 against Sheffield Sharks.
The Riders led by as much as 10 in the fourth, but the Sharks caught fire from deep to fight back into the lead. Zach Jackson scored eight straight late to tie it, but another Sharks three was the difference, with Jackson unable to tie it on the final buzzer.
Jackson took player of the game honours with 20 points and seven rebounds going 8-16 from the field.
Meanwhile Sheffield’s EC Mathews led the visitors with 18 points and 5 rebounds, and a clutch three to win it.
Tight start sets the tone
Ethan Wright got the game going with a bang, his three representing one of the first five Leicester points of the game, all from Wright. He and Riley Abercrombie drained the first two threes of the night for the hosts to make it 10-8 to the hosts.
But the Sharks, entering the game as the League’s premiere deep shooters, drained three triples early in the game to ensure a back and forth start to the action. Former Rider Jamell Anderson knocked down a three, his first shot of the game, to tie it up at 16.
For Leicester, Duke Shelton threw down the highlight of the first quarter after receiving a flashy pass from Jaylin Hunter, and Zach Jackson closed the period with a steal on EC Mathews, the Riders leading 22-21.
Blake Bowman, checking into the game, grabbed the Riders’ ninth offensive board for an and-one play to get the second underway. But three straight triples from Sheffield saw them snatch their first two-possession lead of the game, the final from guard Prentiss Nixon.
Nixon drove the lane next time up to put Sheffield up six with a euro on the run. While Leicester knocked on the door, a three from Spencer Johnson cutting into the deficit, they couldn’t get over the hump to snatch the lead back in the second quarter.
Riders star defensive big Charles Thompson amassed only seven minutes in the first half after getting into foul trouble. Despite his absence, Abercrombie’s sharpshooting saw Leicester cut the game to one with back-to-back hits from distance. The Aussie had 13 points at the half time break, but the Riders trailed 46-49.
Hunter lights Leicester spark
The Sharks, after shooting 50% from deep in the first half, hit their first in the second through Javon Groves. With Leicester in need of a spark, Jaylin Hunter caught fire.
He chased down Rodney Chatman on the break for a swat out of bounds, then rebounded his following missed three and took off coast to coast. He drove hard to the lane, before reaching out to throw one up and the rim and sinking an emphatic and-one play to tie the game.
Hunter then pulled up from the top for his first three of the night, and stole the ball from Anderson on the next play and layed it in for his seventh straight points. Abercrombie followed up with a three from the wing, and Leicester led 62-57.
Donovan Clay ended the third with a pair of foul shots for the visitors, making it a four point affair with one to play.
Sharks respond to Riders run to set the stage
Spencer Johnson got the fourth going underway with a tough make from deep, beating the shot clock buzzer for three. He was backed by Conner Washington’s three which made it a ten point lead.
The Sharks bit back immediately to make it a one possession game. Groves drained a three to start the run, before Mathews’ and-one and Jordan Ratinho’s finish at the rim made the score 71-69. Groves then gave them the lead with another triple with six minutes left.
Sheffield were red hot in the fourth. Ratinho connected with their third triple of the final period with four minutes on the clock to make the lead six.
Falling short in a thrilling finale
With the game slipping away from Leicester, Jackson stepped up to nail back to back threes and tie the game at 77. Clay found a bucket for Sheffield to reclaim the lead, but Jackson, with his eighth straight points for the Riders, put Abercrombie’s miss back in to tie it again.
With 1:11 on the clock, Mathews stepped up for Sheffield from behind the line to drain another triple and snatch the lead.
The Riders had 18 seconds on the clock to find a response and send it to overtime, but Jackson’s three hit back iron and the Riders fell just short.
The Riders are back in action next week, heading to Sheffield to face the Sharks on the road on Sunday, November 17.
They then return back home on Friday, November 29 to face Manchester Basketball.
Leicester Riders host Sheffield Sharks in their Championship home opener, hoping to improve to 2-0.
The Riders, undefeated in their first seven games of the season, will take on northern opposition for the first time after establishing themselves as the premier outfit in the Trophy’s South Group to start the season.
Meanwhile the Sharks, who narrowly missed out on qualification from the North Group, hope to improve to above .500 on the season after beating the Bristol Flyers last time out.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Sheffield Sharks Friday, November 8, 7:30 Mattioli Arena Leicester
The Riders have started a season 7-0 in all competitions only three times before in the top flight of British basketball, the least successful of those seasons seeing the club win the 2015/16 double.
It’s the first time in eight years Leicester have achieved this feat, and this time around they have done so convincingly.
The Riders have given up 80 points only once this season- an overtime victory on the road to the Bristol Flyers. They have won all but the Flyers game by double figures, their defence allowing the fewest points of any team in British basketball’s top flight.
Leicester continued in the same vein as they got their Championship campaign underway last time out in Surrey. An 82-66 win saw Leicester hold the 89ers to 22 points across the second and third quarters, while knocking down threes in the second half to blow the game open.
The Riders hit threes at the second highest rate on the most attempts in the League, and despite missing on a number of open looks last week, fell back on their deep shooting prowess to start their Championship campaign with a win.
Action Jackson
Leicester’s Zach Jackson 20 point outing against Surrey saw him jump to the top of the League’s scoring charts with 19 points per game in all competitions.
The American wing has found no match so far this season, and is leading Leicester to a historic start to their season upon his return to the East Midlands.
Jackson, who suited up in Japan last year, spent three seasons with the Riders between 2020 and 2023. He played an integral role in the Riders’ 2022 treble, winning four trophies during his time in the East Midlands.
During the 2022-23 season, Jackson averaged 16.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, shooting 55% from the field and 43% from three. He led the Riders in points, rebounds and steals during the 2023 Playoffs, making the final at the O2 Arena with 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
Jackson is now back with a bang, and making his name once again as one of the elite ballers in British basketball.
Dangerous Sharks look for consistency
It’s been an up and down start to Super League Basketball for Sheffield, who have come up with impressive wins in their 5-5 start to the season.
Their hopes of progressing to the Trophy semi-final came down to a head-to head against Newcastle Eagles which they lost 84-82 at home in heartbreaking fashion, but a win on the road in Cheshire and a convincing blowout last time out against Bristol have shown them capable of winning on any given night.
That’s, in part, thanks to their star scorer Rodney Chatman, who is right behind Jackon in the season’s scoring charts. The third year pro put up 24 and 9 against the Flyers, and has three 20 point games to his name so far.
Sheffield, like Leicester, have been red hot from three, leading the League at 37.6%. But performances such as their season opening 92-68 loss to London Lions has shown a lack of ability to guard the three ball, as the Lions hit 53% of their looks that night.
With red hot shooters and a star scorer, Sheffield pose a dangerous threat to the Riders undefeated record however, so expect an intensely fought battle in Leicester.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Stat breakdown: Leicester Riders vs Sheffield Sharks
Leicester Riders host Sheffield Sharks in their League home opener for the inaugural season of Super League Basketball.
The Riders, undefeated on the season through seven games, take on the Sharks for the first time since last season’s playoff matchup, which Sheffield won on the third and final game of the series.
Leicester look for get back, and a place at the top of the Championship standings with a 2-0 record in the League.
Here’s a look at the numbers…
Clash of the titans
The League’s two leading scorers go head-to-head in this one, with Zach Jackson lining up against Sheffield’s Rodney Chatman.
Jackson’s play has earned him back-to-back mentions in the SLB Team of the Week, his 19 points per game leading all players after a 20 point outing in Surrey.
The American wing has justified his pre-season hype with elite scoring on the season, putting up 20 on four occasions, and a season-high 27 in Bristol.
Chatman’s 18.8 points per game average is hot on Jackson’s heels, however. He’s off to a red hot start to the League season, putting up 24 and 9 last time out against Bristol Flyers.
That’s off the back of two 20 point games to end the Sharks’ Trophy campaign- the third year pro hitting the ground running in his first season in British basketball.
SLB fans can look forward to two elite bucket getters going head-to-head at the Mattioli Arena.
Leicester lock down
The Riders defence has been locked in during the early stages of the season.
It allows the fewest points (73.5) and field goal percentage (41.7%) in Super League Basketball, leading to the only sub-100 defensive rating in the League.
The Riders have allowed 80 points only once this season, in an overtime thriller against the Bristol Flyers.
They don’t allow second possessions, ranking first among all teams in rebounding percentage led by Charles Thompson who leads all players in rebound per game with 9.7.
Nothing easy comes against the Riders. On offence, they turn the ball over on only 13.75% of their possessions, the least in the League, leading to the fewest fastbreak points allowed.
Therefore Sheffield, who find 15.30 points off turnovers per game, will need to explore other avenues to find success on the offensive side of the ball.
Three point battle
These sides have been cooking from deep to start the season! The Sharks and Riders rank first and second respectively in three point percentage, with some of British basketball’s deadliest sharpshooters lining up from outside.
Sheffield’s Jordan Ratinho, knocking down an incredible 52% of his threes, leads the SLB in three point percentage, and is one of five Sharks shooting over 40% from distance. Former Rider Jamell Anderson is a member of that group with a career-high 40% so far.
Meanwhile the Riders, who lead all teams in three pointers attempted, are led by Blake Bowman’s 50% rate. The young Brit is enjoying a career year so far after his three point explosion in Bristol, which contributed to a three-game stretch in double figures scoring.
On the other end, Leiecster enter this game with confidence in stopping Sheffield’s three point threat. Teams have put up 29.3% from behind the arc against the Riders, bettered only by Newcastle Eagles.
Their opponents don’t have such a stellar track record in this regard, giving up 37.8% from deep in their games so far, and will need to lock down on the perimeter to prevent the Riders from torching them.
Don’t miss it!
Tickets are still available for the game. Get in the stands and get behind the team!
Report: Riders start Championship season with a win in Surrey
Leicester Riders started their Championship season 1-0 with an 82-66 win on the road to the Surrey 89ers.
Leicester broke the game open in the second half with red hot three point shooting, after struggling to knock down their deep shots in the opening stages. Zach Jackson led the team after being named to the Team of the Week with 20 points and 6 assists, going 8-11 from the field.
He was backed by Jaylin Hunter, whose three point shooting sealed the deal late. Hunter put up 17 and 6 on the night, and big man Charles Thompson bagged a double double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
The Riders’ defence won the night, following the trend of the early season. Big defensive stands led to opportunities on the fastbreak, and Leicester held their opponents to under 80 for the sixth time in seven games.
Surrey’s Cam Gooden kept them in the game early with 20 points in the first half. Leicester came out the break with a plan to slow him down, allowing the Riders to pull away. Gooden finished the game with 22 points, as the Riders took away his hot hand.
The Riders start the season 7-0 in all competitions for the fifth time in Club history after their third victory against Surrey in two weeks.
Gooden goes off
From the jump, Charles Thompson engaged in an early battle with opposite number Dame Adelekun at the rim. He grabbed two offensive boards in the opening three minutes resulting in four points and a 7-7 tie.
The Niners started hot from deep to take an early advantage. Surrey star Cameron Gooden drained two off the dribble, before taking it coast to coast with lightning speed as his side led by five.
Leicester battled back through an Ethan Wright and one play, the two guard attacking the rim relentlessly, and Jaylin Hunter’s first bucket of the game. Zach Jackson muscled down low for another bucket, plus the foul, but Gooden’s third three ended the period 21-20 in the Niners’ favour.
Conner Washington, in his record-breaking 304th league game for the Club, started the second with a triple from the top to take back the Leicester lead.
But missed open looks saw the Riders unable to create distance in the scores, despite the hustle of J’Raan Brooks who smothered the offensive glass early in the quarter. Gooden, meanwhile, made his tally 16 with another three. He was responsible for all but eight Niner points.
The Riders’ rebounding did pay dividends as the clock ticked down to the half. Wright, picking up the ball after Thompson’s tip out, put on a spin move in the lane for two, before Thompson got open in a lane for a two-hand throw down to make the lead 10.
A small Surrey run, capped off by three free throws by Steel, ended the half to cut into the Niners deficit, and the second quarter ended with the Riders up 31-36.
Leicester lockdown blows game open
The Riders, who had struggled from deep in the second quarter, saw one go in at the hands of Hunter in the second. Leicester, leaning on their defence, put up a wall at the hoop as Charles Thompson sent Adelekun’s shot away, which lead to a fastbreak bucket and a double digit Leicester advantage.
A minute later, Hunter put Gooden in a straight jacket to poke the ball away, before Jackson ran the floor for an and-one. The American followed up with a three, and the Riders led by 16 led by their defensive efforts.
Jackson’s three took the lid off the basket, with Hunter hitting back to back in a dominant stretch. The rookie guard finished off the quarter for the Riders, who led 43-59 with one to play.
Seeing it out in style
Jackson got to work to start the fourth to keep the Niners at arm’s length, scoring seven straight points.
Spencer Johnson hit from three with the shot clock ticking down, giving the Riders an 18 point lead to see the game out from.
Once the floodgates opened, all the Leicester shots went through. Riley Abercrombie nailed back-to-back triples followed by another Johnson three, then Thompson threw down another jam in the lane to put a cap on a well earned road win.
The Riders return to action on Friday November 8, hosting Sheffield Sharks at home. You can get tickets here!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders are set for their Championship opener on the road to the Surrey 89ers.
After an undefeated Trophy group phase saw them through to the semi-finals, Leicester will look to take that red hot form into the league season, as they face the Niners for the third time.
Meanwhile the Niners, who failed to qualify out of the group, are ready for a clean slate and an opportunity to get one over the Riders for the first time this season.
Undefeated Riders progress in style
Despite ending on an intensive four games in nine day stretch, the Riders achieved a 6-0 record through the Trophy group to quickly establish themselves as one of the premiere outfits in British basketball.
They held their opponents to under 80 points in five of the six games, the exemption being an overtime battle on the road to Bristol Flyers. Leicester are the only team in the league with a sub-100 defensive rating at 96, giving up only 74 points per outing.
Offensively, Leicester have looked like a cohesive unit since the opening jump. Their assist percentage leads the league, and they turn the ball over the least of any team in Super League Basketball.
This has led to a second-best points per outing with 89 points per game, behind only Cheshire Phoenix.
Their play on both ends has left them as the only undefeated outfit remaining in the League, earning them a semi-final clash against Newcastle Eagles in December.
Coach’s words…
Despite the Riders’ final group game against London being a dead-rubber, with both side’s Trophy seeding already confirmed, Head Coach Rob Paternostro ensured maximum effort from his team in front of the home crowd.
“We knew we were going to be first place no matter what, but any time you come out in from of your home crowd you’re going to be fired up. Give London credit, it didn’t mean anything to them either in terms of standings but they competed hard. It was a hard fought game and a defensive battle.
“We did a great job mentally and physically to play all those games and still be effective. It was a great job from our backroom staff to get the players ready. It’s impressive to go undefeated with that type of schedule.”
It wasn’t all smooth sailing through the group, with the Riders’ away game against Bristol going to overtime, and Leicester falling in an early hole in Surrey. But Paternostro was impressed with the team’s ability to adapt throughout games.
“These guys get locked in on the scouting report. What’s been so nice is that they learn throughout the game. Even when we start slow, we learn fast, and that’s important throughout the season.”
Now, the Riders are ready for yet another battle against the 89ers.
“We’ve played them a lot! They’re dangerous, and Surrey is a tough place to play, so we’ll have to give the guys a few days to recover- that’s going to be important before we lock in on them again.”
Familiar foes
Despite being only a month into the season, this will be the Riders’ fourth game against the newly formed Surrey 89ers franchise. The teams have faced off once in pre-season and twice in the Trophy, the Riders emerging victors on each occasion.
Despite the lopsided results, Surrey have pushed Leicester hard in their last two meetings. They took a 14 point lead in the first quarter in Surrey before Leicester came back emphatically in the third to come away with the win, and kept it close until early in the fourth on the return fixture.
Mervin James impressed in both games, averaging 17 over the two fixtures, but the Niners couldn’t compete with Leicester’s strength in depth. The Riders’ second unit were the difference, injecting energy into close games to find separation in the scoreline and see wins out late.
Surrey finished with a 1-5 record in the group, looking for a spark in their season by becoming the first side to beat the Riders in Super League Basketball.
Zach Jackson has been named to the Super League Basketball Team of the Week for the second time this season.
Jackson, over his three games this week, averaged 18 points and 4.3 rebounds on 66% shooting from the field, leading the Riders to a 3-0 record over the fixtures.
His best performance of the stretch came when the team needed it most. In an overtime win in Bristol, Jackson put up 27 points and 7 rebounds on 64% shooting, going 3 of 6 from behind the three point line.
Jackson has lived up to his pre-season hype upon his return to Leiecster this summer. With the Riders topping their Trophy group unbeaten, he will look to take his red hot form into the Championship season against Surrey on Saturday.
Want to see Jackson in action? Tickets are on sale for our Championship opener against Sheffield Sharks on November 8.Get yours here!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
The Riders struggled to knock down their threes, going 3-17 from deep, but relied on their elite defence to lock down the Lions to 36% shooting from the field.
Leicester led by 20 points in the third, and did enough to see the game through in the final period with big plays from Jackson.
London were led by 14 points off the bench from Ovie Soko, who went 6-9 from the field in an efficient night.
Riders down early
The opening stages were fought at the rim as both sides set out to establish their authority around the rim. The League’s leading scorer Jaiden Delaire added two more to his season tally with a bucket over Charles Thompson, as London took a 6-8 lead after five.
Jackson tied the game for the first time since 0-0 with a tough bucket in isolation, taking and sinking a hook shot from midrange.
But it was the Lions’ Soko who had the best of the period off the bench scoring 8 including a big dunk in the lane. The Brit’s play meant the visitors lead 15-19 after one.
Riders surge snatched back the lead
Blake Bowman got the second underway with a monster jam to jolt life in Leicester. He lost his defender with a backdoor cut, before rising from a standing start and throwing it down two handed.
The Riders went on an 8-1 run from there led by four points from Duke Shelton inside, as the hosts started to find joy on the offensive glass. Conner Washington picked up from Shelton with six straight points, taking Matthew Goodwin off the dribble for a tough make inside.
The stars of the Riders’ Friday night overtime win, Jaylin Hunter and Jackson, led the team into the half. Hunter sank an and-one through heavy contact, before his free-throw was rebounded by Thompson and kicked out to Jackson, who added two more to the tally.
Leicester’s second quarter efforts made it 42-31 at the half.
Riders see out second half
The Riders exploded out the locker rooms to a 16 point lead, locking down London on one end before Jackson drained a corner triple to force a quick Lions timeout.
Thompson took over on the inside with a smooth reverse, before sinking midrange on the shot clock. Shelton added four more to his tally, and the Leicester lead was 20, with a quarter to play.
The Lions showed heart in the fourth to cut into the Leicester lead. Delaire got to work inside, scoring an and-one four his fifth points of the quarter to make it a 14 point game.
The Riders locked in to keep further inroads into their position, and Jackson came up with a pair of buckets inside as the hosts looked to see it home. The American took over the closing stages, swatting Delaire’s attempt before taking it baseline to baseline and finding Abercrombine for two.
That sealed the game, and an undefeated group stage for the Riders.
The Riders are back in action to start their Super League Basketball Championship season next weekend, heading to Surrey on Saturday to take on the 89ers.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders are back at home to face London Lions in their final group game of the Super League Basketball Trophy.
Having already secured top spot in the group with a 5-0 start to the season, the Riders’ aim is to go undefeated through the group phase against London to keep the team rolling into the regular season next week.
London, who find themselves out of the competition, look to build form and bag back-to-back wins after their victory against Surrey on Friday night.
Here’s how the fixture is shaping up…
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs London Lions
Super League Basketball Trophy
Mattioli Arena
4pm
Leicester leading the group
The Riders progressed through the Trophy group phase with few complications- their win against Surrey 89ers midweek booking their place in the semi-finals with two games to spare.
But locking up the top spot in the group was anything but smooth sailing last time out. It took an overtime battle on the road to the Bristol Flyers to decide the group’s seeding, with Leicester coming out eventual winners 105-101.
Zach Jackson and Jaylin Hunter went off in the clutch to see out a game in which Bristol never said die, making a late comeback in the fourth to send it to OT.
Jackson led the game with 27 and 7, and Hunter logged 20 and 9, the duo combining for seven in overtime and 18 in the fourth quarter.
“Zach’s a closer,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro following Jackson’s clutch performance in Bristol. “He wants to step up in big moments, and it’s always great to see number 21 with the ball late in games.”
The gritty win meant the Riders remained undefeated on the season with a 5-0 record. They average the most assists, the second most points and the best three point percentage of Super League Basketball teams, and the Riders allow the least amount of points per game.
Individually, Jackson has put himself among the elite scorers in British basketball. He puts up the third most points of any player with 19.4 per game, and ranks second in three point percentage (over three attempts per game) with 50%, behind only Leicester’s Blake Bowman.
Building off the back of a Player of the Game performance with 14 points against Surrey 89ers midweek, Bowman exploded for 13 points in a red hot second period against the Flyers.
“He’s been fun to watch,” added Paternostro. “He had a great summer playing 3×3 with GB and really worked hard. He’s still a young player and he’s getting better and better. I’ve been really pleased with his commitment to working on his game.
“He’s taken his moment and run with it, and today he was vital with the plays he made in the second quarter.”
London Lions looking for early season form
The reigning British basketball champions have endured a fall back to earth at the start of the inaugural Super League Basketball season.
They failed to qualify from the group phase, and despite yesterday’s 81-69 win to Surrey, have a 2-3 record on the season.
London endured their heaviest defeat of the season to Leicester- an 89-66 blowout at the Copper Box Arena. It was a start-to-finish dominant display from the Riders who led wire-to-wire led by Jaylin Hunter’s 21.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) October 6, 2024
Last night was a step in the right direction for London, who took a dominant win led by 20 from Jaiden Delaire. American wing Delaire leads the League’s scoring with 21 points per game, and logged 17 and 5 against Leicester last time out.
While this game will bear no impact on qualification, the Lions will be keen to get their season on track with a statement win in Leicester.
Report: Riders lock up top spot in overtime thriller in Bristol
Leicester Riders won an overtime thriller 105-101 on the road to the Bristol Flyers to secure top spot in their Trophy group.
Zach Jackson and Jaylin Hunter went off in the clutch to see home a game in which Bristol never said die, making a late comeback in the fourth to send it to OT.
Jackson led the game with 27 and 7, and Hunter logged 20 and 9, the duo combining for seven in overtime and 18 in the fourth quarter.
Throughout the latter stages, Leicester’s performance at the foul line proved pivotal as Hunter and Jackson stepped up to put the game away. They made 26-32 of their free throws, and shot 45% from the field on the game with five players in double digits.
Keddy Johnson was the catalyst of the Flyers’ comeback, making huge plays late on his way to 23 points. But Leicester took one lead too many in overtime, Spencer Johnson’s three proving the dagger in overtime.
A battle from the jump
A physical encounter ensued from the jump, with the first 16 points coming at the rim or the foul line with the scores tied at 8-8.
Back-to-back turnovers combined with four missed threes to start the game gave Bristol a narrow edge through Trey Tennyson’s four points, but Hunter’s active hands snatched two steals leading to a tie game with Charles Thompson’s jam.
The game’s first three went Bristol’s way to end the opening period, as Jared Sherfield made it 23-19 with ten played.
Bowman takeover in the second
Blake Bowman, off the back of a Player of the Game performance against Surrey last time out, caught fire in the second. He scored 10 points in three minutes including a heat check three to make the lead four.
The back and forth nature of the game meant Bristol bit back immediately in a breathless second period, Desmond Robinson tying it up at the foul line.
With the clock ticking down towards the half, Jackson turned it on from deep for back-to-back triples, giving Leicester a seven point advantage with 1:30 left. The American scored eight straight points in a crucial moment in the game.
Bristol’s star Keddy Johson concluded the half with foul shots, bringing the sides to the locker rooms with Leicester leading 51-46.
Back and forth until the fourth
Offences dried up to start the second half, with the Riders managing just two points in four minutes. The Flyers climbed back and tied it up through Keddy Johnson on the drive, before Hunter opened up the Bristol defence with a smooth no-look dish to Jackson inside.
Bowman checked back into the game with four minutes left and made an immediate impact. The young Brit pulled down Keddy Johnson’s miss before taking off, driving into the teeth of the Flyers’ defence and kicking out for a Jackson triple.
Bristol’s aggression paid dividends throughout the third as they attacked the rim relentlessly. An and-one from Raphell Thomas-Edwards got them the lead, followed by a big jam from Kendall Lewis.
Duke Shelton stemmed the bleeding with a long two, setting up an intense finale with the Riders down 66-65 to start the fourth.
Bristol comeback forces overtime
Jackson, in another critical spot, scored six to start the final period and take the Leicester lead back.
With the score close, Hunter stepped up with a pull up three from the top and Jackson bullied his way down low for an and-one play, making it 79-72. Hunter went off in the final quarter, pulling off a circus shot to give Leicester a convincing lead.
A red hot run for Bristol got them right back in it late, however. 8 straight points, including two quick threes, brought them to within a score, before Trey Tennyson stepped up from the wing to deliver the game tying three.
Tennyson, following a Riley Abercrombie missed three, got to the foul line on the next play to make the score 86-84 with 1:20 left.
Hunter was the Rider to step up in the clutch. He nailed a corner three with a defender draped over him to snatch the lead back, and was followed by Spencer Johnson three to put Leicester up four.
In a last gasp effort for the hosts, Keddy Johnson again drove to the hoop, making an and-one play to cut it to one. Hunter was then sent to the foul line with 10 seconds left, making one to make it 91-89. But Keddy Johsnon, with one second left, stepped up in the midrange to tie it next time up the floor to send the home crowd into rapture.
Hunter was given the chance to win it, but missed his three right to send it to overtime.
Seeing off a Flyers fightback in overtime
Leicester got straight to work in OT. Thompson took it down low for a hookshot inside, before Hunter’s steal saw him lay one in on the break. Spencer Johnson drained another three, and Leicester led 100-93.
But in 25 seconds Bristol brought it back to a one score game, once again threatening an unlikely comeback with Keddy Johnson scoring on the fastbreak. Evan Walshe followed up with a trip to the line, and it was 99-100 with 1:33 remaining.
With under a minute on the clock, Leicester found their way to the foul line through Spencer Johnson and Hunter to make it a five point game. That was the final nail in the coffin for the hosts, who ran out of clock despite Keddy Johnson again getting a bucket with less than a second left.
The Riders return to action on Sunday, hosting London Lions in their final Trophy group game.
Leicester Riders are back on the road to face the Bristol Flyers in the Super League Basketball Trophy.
Both sides have already progressed through to the semi-final of the competition having locked up the top two places of the group, but this one could seal the seeding, with a Riders win, or anything less than a 22 point loss, securing top spot and a semi-final game against the North Group’s second placed team.
The Riders come into this one after an 89-76 win against Surrey 89ers just a day ago to remain undefeated on the season midweek.
Meanwhile Bristol are off the back of a dominant display against London Lions, and will hope to get one back against Leicester after they fell to them on opening night.
Here’s how the game is shaping up.
Leicester’s dream start
The Riders achieved their aim of semi-final progression with two group games to spare, taking the pressure off in the next two fixtures which will both be played this week.
Leicester are in the midst of a stretch of four games in nine days, but have passed the test with flying colours so far. They remain the only undefeated side in the League with a 4-0 record with back-to-back wins against Surrey.
They were battle tested against the Niners over the last two. Both games were tightly contested affairs as the Riders were forced to fight for every bucket and lock in for every stop. Leicester proved the deeper unit as the games progressed, however, with their second unit stepping up to find separation in the scoreline.
“The bench were great tonight” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro following the second Surrey win. “Spencer Johnson and Blake Bowman came in and were great in the second quarter. Blake’s been playing really well on the offensive end.”
The pairing checked into the game with the Riders trailing in the second and came up with energy plays to spark life into Leicester- Johnson from deep with 4-9 shooting from three on his way to 13 points, and Bowman with relentless attacks to the hoop to lead the team with 14.
And with the score close throughout the third, Bowman scored back-to-back to snatch the Leicester lead.
“We have confidence in that group, and tonight they did a really good job of extending the lead.”
It was an important victory with a packed schedule ahead, allowing the team to rest and recoup ahead of the League season in November.
Flyers through to the semis
This is the final Trophy group game for the Bristol Flyers, who secured their place in the semi-finals with a home win against London Lions last weekend.
It was a dominating 108-85 win that saw them through. Bristol bounced back from their road loss against the Lions a game prior with 24 points from star man Kedrian Johnson and 23 from rookie forward Desmond Robinson.
A battle under the rim with Kendal Lewis coming out on top
A red hot shooting display saw Bristol shoot 62.3% from the field and 52.4% from three, Jared Sherfield with the hottest hand to go 4-5 from behind the arc.
But it’s been American rookie Trey Tennyson leading the way in the South West early in the year. The sharpshooter out of TCU has scored 17.2 points per game over five games, good for sixth among all players.
The Flyers have set the trend for fluid offensive play throughout the Trophy group phase, leading the League in assists per game with 20.2.
But one of their two losses of the season so far came against Leicester on opening night, and despite having already qualified, they’ll be highly motivated to right that wrong in this one.
Where to watch
All of the Riders games this season will be streamed LIVE on DAZN!
Report: Riders beat Niners to progress to the semis
Leicester Riders progressed to the semi-finals of the Super League Basketball Trophy with two group games to spare, beating the Surrey 89ers 89-76.
Blake Bowman led the team’s effort with 14 points, in a game which saw five Riders score in double digits and every player get on the scoreboard.
Jaylin Hunter notched a double-double with 13 points and 12 assists, but it was the second unit that continued to be the X-Factor in close contests with its effort and intensity.
There was nothing in the game late in the third quarter before Bowman made plays to separate the score. Leicester blew the game open in the fourth and never looked back with made shot after made shot.
The Riders shot 50% from the field and 38% from three in another solid offensive display. But the difference was in their defence, winning the turnover battle 14-6.
Surrey played Leicester close for the second straight game, but again couldn’t stay with the Riders in the closing stages. Jalen Ray led the game with 17 points and 4 assists in his side’s effort.
Battling out the early stages
The Riders were electric from the off, building on Ethan Wright’s hustle to take a quick lead. Wright was busy on both ends, getting a steal from Josh Steel before attacking hard for an and-one play.
Zach Jackson took the mantle for back-to-back scores inside, before Charles Thompson’s efforts at both buckets made it 14-9.
Despite the hot start, a cold streak bit the hosts late in the first, allowing the Niners to climb back into the lead of the game courtesy of an and-one from Cameron Gooden.
Leicester went scoreless over two minutes until Jackson took the lid off the basket, taking a foul in the process for an extra point to close the half, but the Riders trailed 17-20 at the first break.
Thompson takeover snatched Leicester lead
After hitting only one three in the opening period, the Riders drained four quickly in the second, Spencer Johnson nailing three of them to take a 37-35 lead.
But Bowman was the story of the second, scoring 7 points with relentless energy in attacking the teeth of the Surrey defence.
Uncharacteristic defensive lapses kept the 89ers in the game, however, with frequent trips to the foul line and a plethora of offensive boards. Thompson’s introduction into the game midway through the period remedied this with his interior presence, allowing Leicester to take a six point advantage.
Thompson made the highlight of the half, linking up with fellow American Jaylin Hunter to throw it down in the lane.
Hunter found Thompson twice at the end of the half, bringing Thompson’s game tally to 8, but Surrey’s Jalen Ray finished the second quarter from the foul line to make the score 45-42.
Tightly contested third
Riley Abercrombie started the second with more sharpshooting from deep, hitting the Riders’ first three of the second half. But Surrey hung around with buckets from Dame Adelekun, Mervin James and Ray, keeping it a close ball game. James hit a three with 6:37 left to tie it.
It was a one possession game in the third for seven minutes, with swings to the score throughout. While buckets weren’t dropping, Leicester fell back on their defensive prowess to keep the game close as the clock ticked down, their active hands in the lane forcing continual turnovers.
Bowman was the one to find separation in the score line. He drove hard to the hoop again to take the lead, and nailed a three with Tayo Ogendengbe in his face to make the score 66-61 with one to play.
Red hot in the fourth
The Riders’ captain, Conner Washington, stepped up with the score close for the second straight game. He hit a three through contact for a four point play to make the Riders’ lead nine, followed by another Johnson three.
Huge shots fell throughout the fourth, with J’Raan Brooks getting a favourable bounce for a three to drop in, and Hunter beating the shot clock over a heavy contest in the corner.
Johnson stayed hot with a pair of triples in the fourth- the Riders catching fire at the perfect moment to see off the Niners. Jackson saw the game out with a finish at the rim, and the Riders progress through the group and remained undefeated come the final buzzer.
The Riders are back in action on Friday, taking on Bristol Flyers on the road, before heading home to round off the group phase against London Lions.
The Riders are back in action on Friday, taking on Bristol Flyers on the road, before heading home to round off the group phase against London Lions.
Preview: Riders face Surrey 89ers in the second of a back-to-back
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.
Taking the dub in a battle down south
Check out the highlights from last night's win in Surrey
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.
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!
Leicester Riders battled out an 87-75 win on the road against the Surrey 89ers to improve to 3-0 in the Super League Basketball Trophy.
The Riders were forced into a comeback win after falling into a hole early in the game. The team’s second unit sparked a run back into contention in the second quarter, before star wing Zach Jackson took the team home late.
Jackson led 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.
Leicester responded to the early deficit with lockdown defence, holding the Niners to 27 second half points. The hosts, led by Mervin James’ 19 points, couldn’t contain the Riders once they hit their stride in the third period.
Starting slow
A slow Riders start saw Surrey take an 11-2 lead. Josh Steel had the hot hand for the hosts scoring 8 points, as the 89ers had success at the rim from the jump. A three from James forced the Riders’ first timeout of the game four minutes in with an early hole to climb out of.
Abercrombie broke the seal with a second-chance layup against the stifling Niner defence in the opening period. He was followed by the team’s first triple of the game, as Hunter connected from the top of the arc.
Leicester found no real inroads back into the game, but the made shots stopped the bleeding, and the deficit was 11 with one played.
Second unit spark
Surrey stayed hot in the second, sinking a pair of threes to keep Leicester at arm’s length. The Riders fought their way to the rim to get to the foul line in an attempt to climb back into it.
The experience of Conner Washington sparked a jolt into Leicester’s efforts. He hit a three shortly after his introduction to the game, then coming off a screen to his right connected from midrange.
Washington’s hustle then saw him steal the resulting inbound pass, which led to a Johnson three to make the score 36-25.
Following their captain’s example, Leicester locked in to narrow the difference. Johnson stole another inbound on the next possession, and a two-handed jam on the fastbreak from Blake Bowman made it a four-point game.
The second quarter was frantic, with end-to-end play seeing swings in the scoreline. Charles Thompson got himself on the board with back-to-back jams, which offset a scoring outburst from James who couldn’t miss in the first half.
The Riders had chipped the deficit to 48-44 by the halftime break.
Riders take the initiative
Thompson continued his onslaught at the rim in the third quarter. He found an open lane to the rim off-ball, before jamming it in with a quick burst when Abercrombie found him with a lob pass.
The Riders held Surrey scoreless through five minutes in the third, as Leicester took their first lead since the opening score. It was a relentless assault in the paint on both ends for the visitors, emphasised by Duke Shelton’s score followed by a monster block on Jalen Ray.
Abercrombie got in on the action with a driving dunk to make the score 58-51 in his side’s favour. Aggressive play saw the Australian get a fadeaway bucket after taking another defender off the dribble minutes later.
Surrey fightback forces clutch finish
Surrey surged in response to the Riders’ run, cutting it to one with a pull up triple from Rayquan Brown. Johnson found a trey of his own to hit back, but Leicester were forced to battle it out in order to keep the Niners at bay.
The sides continued their exchange of buckets in the fourth, with Cameron Gooden and Bowman both hitting from deep, before Jackson took the air out of the arena with a monster putback slam.
The American took the game over on both ends, driving to the hoop for another two, before Johnson hit on his third triple to give the Riders their first double digit lead of the night.
Jackson extended his tally on the game to 15 with a pair of foul shots, increasing Leicester’s advantage to 78-65.
Back to back corner threes for Surrey breathed life back into the home crowd. It was Nedas Cholevinskas and Steel who connected, keeping their hopes alive late in the game.
The next bucket was pivotal, and Jackson stepped up to ensure the Riders put points on their side of the scoreboard with a triple of his own. Jackson sealed it with a putback layup with 30 seconds left, and the Riders maintained their undefeated record on the season.
The Riders take on Surrey again at home on Wednesday, October 23! Get tickets here!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders look to continue their undefeated start to the season against Surrey 89ers, in the Super League Basketball Trophy group phase.
After winning their opening two games, Leicester head to Surrey for their second straight road game, hoping to strengthen their grip on a place in the semi-final.
Meanwhile Surrey aim to improve to .500 on the season through four games by handing Leiecster their first loss of 2024-25.
Looking to build on our strong start in the @SprLeagueBballM trophy!
Our next home game is right around the corner as we host @surreyniners on Wednesday 23rd October (7:45pm Tip-off) Don’t miss it
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) October 8, 2024
It’s the first of a double header against Surrey for the Riders, who will play the return leg at home on Wednesday October 23. You can get tickets for the home fixture here.
Here’s how Saturday’s game is shaping up…
Riders rolling
It’s been a red hot start to the season for Leicester, whose first two games have seen back-to-back blowout wins against Bristol Flyers and London Lions.
Following a dominant home opener against Bristol, the Riders were again impressive from wire-to-wire in their first road outing of the season. They jumped out to an early lead and didn’t look back, catching fire from deep in the third quarter to put distance between themselves and the EuroCup semi-finalists from a season ago.
The Riders rank second in points per game and first in three point percentage of all SLB teams through their first two outings, and held their opponents to under 70 points in both of their games.
They had six double digit scorers against the Lions, and have seen different players step up the plate at different times throughout games.
“That’s what’s so nice about this team- they really share the ball,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro following the win against London. “We have a lot of different weapons so it can be anyone’s night in any given game.
“From the day they arrived we’ve played that way, and I told them to keep that going. We need to keep improving, and most importantly play a team game.”
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) October 6, 2024
Since then, the Riders have had a two week break from action, and will be eager to continue their hot streak against the Niners.
Hunter heroics lead Leicester in London
Riders star guard Jaylin Hunter made the headlines against London with 21 points, 7 assists and 5 steals to lead the team to the win.
His efforts earned him a place on the Super League Basketball Team of the Week, following up his teammate Zach Jackson who made the team on his first game back in Riders red a week prior.
It’s been an impressive start to Hunter’s rookie season. His debut saw the American log 17 points in 24 minutes of action, impressing from three point land by shooting 50% from deep.
Leading from the front! @_jaylinhunter12 put on a show in London
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) October 7, 2024
He enjoyed success against Saturday’s opposition in pre-season, putting in a complete performance from the point with 19 points and 6 assists to lead the 86-66 win. He’ll look to replicate that outing to help Leicester to a 3-0 record in the Trophy.
Niners lose back-to-back to Bristol
The newly formed Surrey 89ers franchise got off to a dream start to the season with a nail biting win against London Lions in their opening game.
The Niners led by 22 in the fourth quarter, and despite a spirited comeback from London who made it a one possession game late, Surrey held on to win 87-85, taking victory in the franchise’s first competitive outing.
Cameron Gooden led the team with 21 points, backed by Dame Adelekun’s 20. Gooden has been the star of the season so far for Surrey with 16.7 points and 4.3 assists per game, but the team have yet to replicate their success from opening night.
Since then, they’ve played back-to-back games against Bristol Flyers, home and away, falling in both.
The away leg was another thriller, with the game tied at 78 with two minutes remaining. But this time Surrey failed to seal it in the clutch, with Bristol’s Trey Tennyson hitting the go ahead bucket which led to the Flyers winning it 86-79.
The reverse fixture was a no-contest, with former Rider Evan Walshe scoring 22 to lead the Flyers to a 92-69 win at Surrey Sports Park last weekend.
The Niners will look to bounce back from the loss with another game in front of their home crowd, so expect a highly motivated Surrey outfit playing out a competitive game.
Where to watch
The game will be streamed live on DAZN, tipping off at 6 pm.
Leicester Riders improved to 2-0 in the Super League Basketball Trophy with a seismic 89-66 road win against London Lions.
Jaylin Hunter led the charge with 21 points and 7 assists, taking over in the second quarter to stamp the Riders’ authority on the game. Leicester had six scorers in double figures in an emphatic team display, Charles Thompson backing Hunter with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Following a dominant home opener against Bristol, the Riders were again impressive from wire-to-wire in their first road outing of the season. They jumped out to an early lead and didn’t look back, catching fire from deep in the third to put distance between themselves and the EuroCup semi-finalists from last season.
The Riders took charge of the glass, winning the rebounding battle 48-28 led by Thompson. They shot 37% from the field in a red hot shooting display, and their ball movement generated 20 assists on the night.
For London, Jaiden Delaire led them for the second straight game with 17 points, backed by young Brit Matthew Goodwin who scored 14. They struggled to compete with the Riders’ size and physicality, as the visitors grabbed 18 offensive rebounds on the game.
Riders take charge early
Leicester, led by 6 points from Thompson, started the game 8-2 to seize control. The big man made his presence in the paint known from the jump with a one-handed jam off an Ethan Wright dish.
Wright got on the board minutes later after a physics defying Hunter pass around his defender, triggering a Lions timeout with the score 14-7.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) October 6, 2024
London kept it close through one, Sean Flood laying it in on the first quarter buzzer, but the Riders led 12-18 following the hot start.
Leicester fend off Lions fightback
In the second, Spencer Johnson drained his first Riders triple from the corner to make the lead double figures. But the Lions bit back through Goodwin and star summer signing Aaryn Rai, who both made three point plays to peg Leicester back.
Hunter stepped up to snatch momentum back. He stole Jordan Taylor’s inbound from the baseline for an easy two before driving inside to take a foul on Ade Adebayo. A block on the other end from Thompson set up a Riley Abercrombie layup, and the Riders were back up 10.
Hunter went off, scoring 9 points in 4 minutes to blow the game wide open. His no-look dish to Wright in the corner made it a 16 point game, and he finished the half with 14.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) October 6, 2024
The half ended with an unsportsmanlike foul called on Adebayo, which resulted in a pair of Hunter foul shots to make it 47-27 at the break.
Abercrombie slam puts exclamation point on the third
Abercrombie got the action back underway with a three from the top to keep the Riders rolling. Wright followed up with his 11th points of the evening with a triple in front of the Lions bench, and Hunter put Delaire on skates with a step back.
The three point bombs meant Leiecster held their 20 point advantage in the third, following a slow start to the game from distance.
Abercrombie thrust himself to the top of the highlight reel late in the third. Following Johnson running the fastbreak, the Australian stormed in for the follow to throw down a monster putback.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) October 6, 2024
The third ended with three foul shots from Jackson, who was fouled on a triple, as Leicester led by 27 with one to play.
The Lions showed maximum effort until the final buzzer, playing with intensity on both ends.
The fourth was a closely fought, defensive affair as the clock ticked down. Johnson found string on another contested three for one of the late highlights of the game, and the game finished 66-89 after the hosts took the fourth 20-16.
A break in play
The Riders will take a two week break from Super League Basketball action for the international break, before returning on the road to take on Surrey 89ers.
A win would see them improve to 3-0 in the South group, with Leicester in firm control of the standings as they look to progress to the Final Four.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders look to build off an encouraging opening night in the Super League Basketball Trophy in their second group game against London Lions.
It’s Leicester’s first road game of the season, as they head to the capital to face the new look Lions in their first outing in the Copper Box this season.
Here’s how the game is shaping up…
Riders on a high
Head Coach Rob Paternostro would have been hard pressed to expect a better season opener than the one his side produced against Bristol.
A 12-0 start saw the Riders lead the game convincingly from start to finish, with only a couple of instances of the Flyers coming back into contention.
Leicester’s newly formed roster showed cohesion and chemistry rarely seen in a team that has been together barely a month. On both ends, the Riders played with togetherness and communication leading to 22 assists and a points tally of under 70 for their opponents.
Starting as we mean to go on
Check out the highlights from our opening night win
“From the first week our emphasis has been on sharing the ball, but we haven’t had to preach that at all,” said Zach Jackson after the game. “We have a lot of guys with high IQs so it came pretty naturally.”
While Jackson stole the headlines, his 22 points earning a place on the Team of the Week, Charles Thompson proved the defensive glue, dominating the paint defensively, and the boards on both ends.
He finished with 12 rebounds, and 5 on the offensive end, on his way to a +/- of 30, bested only by Jackson with 33.
“I really like the way we played defence. Rebounding was going to be vital, Bristol always offensive rebounds really well,” said Paternostro.
“The pick and roll defence was really good, and a lot of that is thanks to Charles in the 5 position with his quickness which is vital to stopping their guards. The communication was really good, and while obviously there’s still a long way to go, this is a good foundation.”
Losing start for London
After a richly successful run of seasons for the Lions franchise, last week marked the first game day in which both men’s and women’s teams lost since March 2020.
The men suffered their eighth ever loss at Surrey Sports Park, falling 87-85 to the newly formed Surrey 89ers making the franchise’s competitive debut.
Without their full roster, but with star tandem of Aaryn Rai and Ovie Soko in the lineup, London were down as much as 22 points in the fourth quarter, but a spirited comeback led by Rai and returning captain Jordan Taylor meant Taylor had a chance to tie it with a three late.
They couldn’t complete the comeback, however, despite 23 from Jaiden Delaire.
It’s been an offseason of uncertainty for the Lions, and while some of the big names from the past two seasons are gone, some exciting new additions have been welcomed to the capital.
Rai, one of the stories of last season, swapped his Cheshire Phoenix colours for Lions black in one of the headline signings of the offseason, joined by experienced pro Soko and former G-Leaguer Delaire.
The emphasis has been on signing British talent, highlighted by the addition of Matthew Goodwin from Manchester and the retention of the likes of Ciaran Sandy. Taylor’s return was met with approval from the Lions faithful, and despite the opening night loss, the Riders will see a plethora of talent lining up against them at the Copper Box.
The American returned to Riders red with a bang, the four-time British basketball silverware winner not missing a beat as he took to the floor for his first competitive action of the season.
Report: Riders record impressive win in season opener
Leicester Riders got their 2024-25 season underway with an impressive 91-69 victory against Bristol Flyers.
It was a start-to-finish dominant display led by 22 from returning Rider Zach Jackson, who grabbed 7 boards and 5 steals in an impressive effort on both ends. After a series of fluid offensive performances, the newly formed group played with a sense of togetherness leading to a plethora of open looks from deep which the Riders hit at a 46% clip.
Jackson was backed by 17 points from rookie point guard Jaylin Hunter making his professional debut, and Ethan Wright went 3-4 from deep for 15 points in total.
On defence, Charles Thompson’s interior protection held Flyers star Kedrian Johnson to five points, locking off the inside wire-to-wire. Rookie guard Trey Tennyson led their efforts with 15 points, as his team shot 36% from the field.
Starting hot
The Riders flew out the gate to a 10-0 start. Jackson bagged the team’s first Super League Basketball points with a three after free flowing ball movement, before another triple from Riley Abercrombie ended the run to force a Bristol timeout.
Jackson scored eight in five minutes to settle Leicester into it. The Riders maintained this foundation to lead 23-15 after the first quarter, which Blake Bowman ended with a triple.
Riders veterans took over in the second, with Conner Washington and Duke Shelton combining for two straight scores to keep the Riders in control.
Flyers find their feet
The Flyers found form in the middle of the second, making back-to-back scores at the rim- the second from new addition Jaren Sherfield. But Jackson stemmed the tide with his patented hook shot for Leicester.
A throw down for Jackson on the fastbreak got the fans on their feet, and snatched momentum firmly back. Ethan Wright took advantage of that with a three to force another timeout for the visitors, with the score 38-26.
Threes from Sherfield and former Rider Evan Walshe started a Bristol surge back into the game as halftime neared. Washe, playing aggressively late in the second, drove to the rim for an and-one finish, cutting the difference to five.
Abercrombie connected with a three on the other end to maintain the Leicester lead, but the Flyers were back into contention by the break.
Taking control in the second half
Despite finding a hot streak, the visitors couldn’t make an indent into the Leicester lead to start the third period, as the Riders found joy consistently attacking the rim. Wright made it a double digit lead once again with a layup inside for his 10th points of the night.
The American made his presence felt on both ends, chasing down Sherfield emphatically with a swat out of bounds. Jackson and Hunter built on the swat with five quick points, and the score was 58-43.
Jackson caught fire, hitting two triples with the shot clock winding down as Leicester took firm control.
Seeing it out on defence
Washington, again from deep, kicked off the fourth followed by Jackson’s 22nd of the evening. A circus shot at the rim from Hunter kept the foot on the pedal, and the hosts had a convincing position to see the game out from, leading by 15.
Wright stringed another three, making it 3-4 on the night for the American. Hunter then rattled on in to make the score 83-64.
The Riders put the clamps down defensively. Bristol mustered seven points in eight minutes in the final period, suffering from intense ball pressure from the hosts. Charles Thompson, anchoring the defence, was a stifling presence at the rim.
Hunter put the cherry on top of the performance with a pair of threes, epitomising a hot night from behind the arc.
Hitting the road
The Riders are back in action on Sunday for the first game of a two game road trip. They head to London to take on the Lions at the Copper Box, hoping to make it 2-0 in the Trophy.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders are set to get their 2024-25 Super League Basketball season underway, hosting their season opener against Bristol Flyers on Friday.
The Riders, with a host of new names making their professional debuts, start the season with the Trophy group stage, which will provide the first opportunity for silverware in the inaugural season of Super League Basketball.
Meanwhile the Flyers come to Leicester with some familiar star names, and high expectations on their new arrivals.
Here’s how the fixture is shaping up.
Competition format
The 2024-25 Super League Basketball season will consist of four competitions, the Trophy, Cup, Playoffs and Championship.
We begin with the Trophy, of which the group phase will make up the Riders’ opening six games of the season.
The group phase is a round robin tournament with the teams split into two groups, the Riders group featuring London Lions, Surrey 89ers and Bristol Flyers, who will be played once home and away.
We conclude our Trophy group phase against the London Lions at home on Sunday, October 27 at 16:00.
The winners and runners-up in each group will qualify for the two-legged semi-finals, with the winner of Group A facing the runner-up of Group B and vice-versa.
A single-leg Final will take place in January 2025.
Riders pre-season successes
Two wins from two made up the Riders’ pre-season campaign, which was concluded against Super League Basketball opposition.
The Riders bested the newly-formed Surrey 89ers on the road, taking an 86-66 win back to Leicester. After a closely fought opening period, the Riders took charge on their way to a convincing win.
Missed open looks meant the score failed to demonstrate the level of Leicester’s play through 40 minutes. The Riders shot 9-31 from three and 40% from the field, but will back themselves to connect on those shots on a consistent basis this season.
Jaylin Hunter put in a complete performance from the point with 19 points and 6 assists to lead the game. He took over in the second to build Leiecster’s first meaningful lead, and pulled the strings in a fluid Riders offence all game long.
“I always pride myself on making the right play, for myself and for my teammates,” said Jaylin Hunter following an impressive game which featured 16 in the first half.
“I knocked down a three and a layup in the second quarter which helped my game, but my teammates kept finding me and we kept playing.
“We want to be a team that moves the ball and shares the ball every game, and we keep getting better with that.”
Head Coach Rob Paternostro echoed those sentiments after the game: “We got great shots all game. The ball has moved well right from the start with these guys. That’s what’s been so fun about practice each day- guys are unselfish and playing for each other.”
“We have some ways to go, especially in knocking down shots, but overall the way we played on offence was fun to watch.”
The game produced positive signs for the season, but the Riders face their first competitive test against the Flyers on Friday.
New faces at the Flyers
The Flyers offseason recruitment began with the return of star wing Kedrian Johnson. Last season, “Keddy” enjoyed a very successful rookie campaign with the Flyers out of West Virginia University – averaging 15.0 points per game, and sets a standard of high-production for the rest of the roster.
Suiting up in the South West this season are a host of familiar faces, including returners Corey Samuels, Raphael Thomas-Edwards and Pasquale Landolfi, and a familiar face to the Riders Evan Walshe, who played in the midlands between 2021-22.
But the bulk of Flyers talent are new arrivals, with seven new faces arriving to British basketball. The most promising from their pre-season performances has been rookie Trey Tennyson out of Texas Christian University.
The American guard led Bristol’s final pre-season game with 22 points in a 98-89 win against Cheshire Phoenix. That made it 2-1 for pre-season for the Flyers, who bested the Surrey 89ers and fell to the Newcastle Eagles.
“Trey made some big plays down the stretch- including some big threes late”, said Flyers Head Coach Andrews Kapoulas following the game. 2There were some really positive individual performances as we build towards who we want to be as a basketball team.”
“It’s been a really good pre-season for us, and now the real thing starts. Leicester are a very talented team and we need to be fully prepared- we look forward to the challenge.”
Some injuries have plagued the Flyers prior to the season, however with Raphell Thomas-Edwards, Leslee Smith and Jared Sherfield listed as “day-to-day” by Kapoulas.
Leicester Riders finished pre-season with a professional 86-66 road win against Surrey 89ers.
Jaylin Hunter put in a complete performance from the point with 19 points and 6 assists to lead the game. He took over in the second to build Leiecster’s first meaningful lead, and pulled the strings in a fluid Riders offence all game long.
He was backed by Zach Jackson’s 17 points and 5 rebounds. The American took over from where Hunter left off in the second half to keep the Niners at arm’s length. Charles Thompson also logged an impressive display with 10 points and 9 rebounds, dominating the paint for 5 offensive boards.
Missed open looks meant the score failed to demonstrate the level of Leicester’s play through 40 minutes. The Riders shot 9-31 from three and 40% from the field, but will back themselves to connect on those shots on a consistent basis this season.
The win puts Leicester in good stead going into their season opener against Bristol Flyers next Friday. Despite limited time together, the team played in impressive unison on both ends as they built towards the Super League Basketball season.
Tight opening stages
Despite the final score, there was little separation on the scoreboard early.
Jackson started aggressively, getting his head down for a finish at the rim and a pair of free throws following a strong drive to the hole, but Dame Adelekun responded with six points for the Niners, the big man showcasing his versatility with a variety of buckets. It was the Riders, however, who took the early lead through a fastbreak layup from Hunter.
It was a closely-fought, fast paced affair from the jump. No side built a real advantage throughout the opening period, but with the Riders off on their deep shooting early Surrey edged ahead.
Hunter connected from the corner late, before Blake Bowman spiked away a Niner layup attempt to end the first on a positive sequence, the score 20-19 to the hosts.
To begin the second, Bowman snatched the lead for Leicester with three trips to the foul line. He made it 27-26 with 6:46 remaining at the half.
The Niners seized momentum back in response with Jalen Ray and Mervin James making tough shots over good contests to take a five point lead.
Riders take the initiative
The lid lifted off the basket for Leicester as the clock ticked towards half. Hunter and Riley Abercrombie hit from three, and the Riders led 42-36 at the break courtesy of Hunter’s foul shots.
Thompson then got the second half underway from inside, logging seven quick points and a block to extend the Leicester lead. His final score of the stretch was a tough finish at the hoop putting back an Abercrombie missed triple, setting up an and-one play.
Thompson’s dominance at the start of the third built a double digit advantage for the Riders. He was backed by Jackson, who hit his signature turnaround next time up before drawing an offensive foul.
Jackson scored seven straight, but it was generated by Thompson who was undeniable on the glass. Three offensive boards in a single possession saw him fly around the court with Rodman-esque physicality, too strong for the Niners frontcourt to handle.
He put the exclamation point on his third quarter performance with a monster one handed jam to follow a Jackson steal, the duo proving too much on both ends.
Keeping Surrey at arm’s length
Three scores for the Niners saw them climb back into contention, making the score 61-51 with two minutes left in the third. But a three from J’Raan Brooks was the final bucket of the period, making it 64-51 with one left.
Noah Allen found his first triple of the game to start the final period in his first Riders action. Jackson made his way to the rim for another two, and Duke Shelton threw down a thunderous fastbreak slam as Leicester re-extended their lead.
Shelton, who was fouled on the dunk, made it 74-57 from the foul line with six minutes left. He broke away once again, stealing a loose pass and this time throwing down a windmill on the break emphatically.
Brooks found a rhythm from deep, connecting with his eighth points with a three with two minutes left. Hunter followed up with another from the corner to make the difference 19 points with his 19th points.
Thompson finished off the night at the rim and concluded the Riders’ pre-season with a 20-point win.
Pre-season preview: Leicester Riders at Surrey 89ers
Leicester Riders are set to play Surrey 89ers in their final action of the 2024-25 pre-season.
It’s the first fixture between the Riders and the newly formed franchise, and a final opportunity for team chemistry building among Leicester’s roster ahead of the season.
Here’s how the fixture is shaping up.
Fixture information
Fixture: Surrey 89ers vs Leicester Riders
Date: Friday, September 20
Tip-off: 7 pm
Venue: Surrey Sports Park
Last pre-season test for Leicester
Played a week before the Riders’ season opener against Bristol Flyers, this game represents an opportunity to build on the positive first impressions given to fans from this new Riders group. A convincing 111-66 win against USA Select was a successful first performance for the Riders roster which features seven new additions.
And it was the new faces who stole the show. Riley Abercrombie led the scoring with 24 on his Riders debut, and he was backed by a contingent of players making their first Mattioli Arena outings.
The top five Riders scorers were summer additions, as Jaylin Hunter backed up his teammate with 19 points and 5 assists, and Charles Thompson dominated the paint with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
12 points and 7 rebounds from Ethan Wright made for a productive evening, and returning Rider Zach Jackson completed the top five scorers with 13.
“We have a lot of talented players, and you saw that against USA Select,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro. “It was nice to see the group’s versatility.”
Coach Rob was particularly impressed by the game’s leading scorer, taking time to credit Abercrombie’s skillset post-game.
“He can seriously shoot, but he can do much more than that. At 6’9” he has good size and he’s so strong- the future is really bright for him and we’re really happy with the way he’s started.”
Now the Riders turn to professional opposition in the 89ers, which will prove a different test to the one offered by USA Select last time out.
New beginnings in Surrey
A brand new franchise in Surrey has brought some familiar faces to the fray, which should provide a solid benchmark going into the Super League season.
A plethora of players signed with the Niners from the Surrey Scorchers, including a star from last season in Cam Gooden, GB international Andrew Lawrence and club legend Tayo Ogedengbe.
Joining them are some star summer signings, including the club’s latest arrival Mervin James who was announced on Monday. James averaged 18.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in his senior year for Rider Broncos, adding elite scoring to the 89ers front court.
A two-game pre-season tour of Spain kicked off the Niners’ first action as a franchise, before they returned home for three domestic fixtures. They hold a 2-3 record in their five pre-season games going into this one, but raised eyebrows with a 17 point win on the road in Newcastle.
The Niners have played out competitive games with British opposition in their last three fixtures, and while team building, chemistry and fitness are the primary focuses of the game, Surrey should provide Leicester with a broader understanding of where they place in the domestic landscape.
Season opener
We are just over a week away from our highly-anticipated season opener against Bristol Flyers on September 27!
Report: Riders take convincing win to open pre-season
Leicester Riders got their pre-season underway with a 111-66 victory against USA Select.
It was a convincing first outing for the newly formed Riders roster, in front of a pre-season record attendance at the Mattioli Arena.
Riley Abercrombie led the scoring, putting up 24 points on his Riders debut, backed by Jaylin Hunter who went off for 19 points and 5 assists.
Charles Thompson dominated the paint with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and 12 points and 7 rebounds from Ethan Wright made for a productive evening for the Riders rookies.
Thompson got the game underway with dominance inside. He showed his strength from the jump, battling down low for an offensive board before a hook shot netted him his first points in Riders red, and Leicester’s first of the 2024 pre-season.
The big man scored two quick buckets in the midst of a 7-2 Leicester start, and blocked Morgan Brown’s layup attempt. Abercrombie also enjoyed a red hot start, connecting with his first two attempts from deep. It was quickly 15-2, as returning Rider Zach Jackson forced USA Select’s first timeout with a euro-step on the break.
The visitors bit back with two straight buckets halfway into the period, but Abercrombie put an end to any USA Select momentum with an and-one finish, bagging his ninth points of the evening.
A Riders scoring drought did open the door for USA Select on the back end of the quarter, as they found joy on the fastbreak and the offensive glass. A triple saw the score pegged back to 28-21 with a minute remaining.
But they re-found their groove to close the first, and Jackson finished the opening period with a floater to make it 34-23.
Conner Washington picked up from where his teammates left off after the first period. He got the second quarter underway with a triple, the 12-year veteran always a hot hand from outside. He and Abercrombie rebuilt the lead from distance throughout the second, and Hunter effectively pulled the strings from the point.
The Riders, who found difficulty controlling the glass at times early, secured defensive boards consistently in the second to hold their opponents to 12 second quarter points.
In a physical affair, Jackson had multiple trips to the foul line as the half came to a close, knocking down free throws to make it a 20 point Leicester lead. The sides entered the half with the Riders up 57-35.
Out of the break, Hunter got the second half going with a steal and a score, before pulling up in transition on the next play for three. It was a 30 point lead quickly in the third, courtesy of Abercrombie again adding two more on the fastbreak.
USA Select still had no answer for the Australian who brought his game tally to 20 at the foul line with 3:30 left in the third.
A scoring flurry for the visitors saw USA Select maintain the difference at 30 late in the third, draining a three on the buzzer to make it 81-52 with one to play.
Final flourish
Another and-one started the final period, this time Thompson taking the contact inside and connecting with the finish. Hunter followed up with a trip to the stripe next time up, and he made the score 85-52 with 8:42 left.
Hunter was hot in the fourth, and he drained a triple over a hand in his face to add three more to his game tally.
Blake Bowman brought the Riders’ game score to 100 with a spin move inside, and Abercrombie capped off a player of the game performance and a convincing Leicester win with a three.
The Riders return to action on September 20, taking on Surrey Scorchers on the road ahead of the Super League Basketball season opener on September 27.
Tickets go on sale for the Riders’ 2024 SLB home fixtures on Monday, September 9, at 12 pm.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders are set to tip-off their 2024 pre-season campaign against USA Select!
The newly built roster, with seven new faces ready to be welcomed by the Riders faithful, looks to find chemistry and understanding in the upcoming pre-season campaign, before for the debut season of Super League Basketball in September.
Their first test: a USA Select team featuring the next generation of American talent, looking to showcase their ability on their way to their first professional contracts.
Here’s everything you need to know about the fixture.
Fixture information
Fixture: Leicester Riders vs USA Select
Date: Friday, September 6
Tip-off: 7 pm
Leicester basketball is back!
It has felt like a long wait, but Leicester are ready to take to the court for their first action of 2024-25. It’s a pivotal pre-season for the Riders roster, who make their preparations for the debut season of Super League Basketball.
The seven new additions look to settle into Head Coach Rob Paternostro’s system quickly before competitive action begins, but the roster is blessed with experience to ease that process.
Among the summer signings is returning Rider Zach Jackson. His familiarity with both coach and club will be a valuable asset throughout pre-season. Jackson returned to the Club having spent three seasons with the Riders between 2020 and 2023. He played an integral role in the Riders’ 2022 treble, winning four trophies during his time in the East Midlands.
“It’s been great seeing Coach Rob and some familiar faces on the team again,” said Jackson. “I’ve always loved playing for Rob, and I can’t wait to see the fans again.
“Everyone on the team always got along during my time here, which is a big thing in professional basketball. Everyone on this team seems to have good character.
“We haven’t gone live yet to see how each other plays, but hopefully over the next few weeks we’ll start building chemistry and get to know one another.”
This game presents an opportunity for exactly that. It will be the first test for the new team to suit up alongside one another in competitive action.
With four rookies joining the Riders ranks over the offseason, Charles Thompson, Jaylin Hunter, J’Raan Brooks and Riley Abercrombie, that is especially important. These are key minutes early in the professional careers of the rookies especially, as they look to grow quickly accustomed to the team against USA Select.
Leicester Riders meeting with USA Select has become annual tradition, having established a relationship with the programme over previous decades.
USA Select are in the midst of a busy European tour, hoping to secure their players their first professional contracts. The programme has produced household names in British basketball over its 40 year existence, including Sheffield Sharks Head Coach Atiba Lyons.
The Riders have established a thriving relationship with the programme.
“Leicester Riders, like so many other clubs in the UK, has been phenomenal for us over the decades, which is why I never miss the UK out on these tours,” said Head Coach and General Manager Sean Kilmartin.
“The club, and its vision in a sport that was always under the radar and never truly appreciated in the UK, has changed the way people look at basketball in the country. Their venue is the first of its kind, and it set the bar for the other clubs in the league.
“When my players can see all that, they see what professionalism looks like. They see how professionals put pride in their job, and their humility when they put their jerseys on for the fans.
“The Riders fanbase is amazing. The love and respect we get from those fans is humbling. They really get it.”
Join the cavalry
Tickets are still available for tonight’s action! Standard tickets are £10, courtside seating is £25.
The eye of the Tiger: Charles Thompson on his journey to the pros
“Hustle.” When asked what defines his game, that’s how Charles Thompson responded.
This should come as no surprise. It’s a mentality passed down a generation, from Charles’ dad, Tony “The Tiger” Thompson, who fought for a better life in the boxing ring throughout his son’s childhood.
Tony Thompson first entered the ring aged 26, turning professional two years later. He went on to have a 40-7 professional career, having fought for the unified world heavyweight titles against Wladimir Klitschko on two occasions.
Not only a fearless fighter in the ring, Tony Thompson was a role model outside of it.
“It’s how I always knew him,” said Charles Thompson, reflecting on his childhood. “He was getting up at 4 am, working out, coming back home and working out again three or four times a day.
“That played a huge role in my development, because I saw what toughness looks like. My dad gave me a great image to look up to.”
From Tony “The Tiger”, to Towson Tigers
His dad’s work ethic is evident in Charles, who became Towson University’s all-time leader in minutes played.
Thompson showed his heart and hustle from the first tip-off in college to earn himself valuable playtime in his freshman year.
“Even as a freshman when there were people more talented than me on the team, I found a way on the floor. I think that makes me more malleable and versatile, with a willingness to do whatever I need to do to get out there and help the team.”
In his first collegiate year, Thompson had a 17 rebound game. It was tied for ninth best single-game rebounding performance, and the second best by a Towson freshman, in programme history.
Thompson impressed with his effort as a freshman, seeing him in an increased role as a sophomore, which he responded to with a huge jump in production.
After averaging 3.2 points per game a year prior, Thompson put up 9.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game as a sophomore, and earned a place on the CAA All-Defensive Team.
Seeing your own true potential is a skill in itself, and that was the key to Thompson’s growth throughout his five years at Towson.
“I’ve always seen myself as a better player than I truly am at any point, and feeling that way means I’m always looking at where I can get better.
“Consistency is what I’ve learned. Nothing happens overnight, improvement happens over months and years of maintaining the same process.”
Defensive mindset
Thompson was named to the CAA All-Defensive team four seasons in a row. He averaged over 1.5 blocks per game in every one of those seasons, making his name as an anchor in the paint and a force at the rim.
But above his 6’8” stature, explosive vertical and lengthy wingspan, Thompson cites his work ethic and commitment as the leading attributes for his defensive talents.
“Defence is just hard work. I believe that everybody has the capability of being a great defender even without the physical tools. A lot of it is mental concentration and physical effort. Anybody can be great on defence. All you have to do is communicate and show effort.
“If I was playing badly on the defensive end, people would question whether I’m giving max effort. That’s something that I really care about.”
Defence is part of the fabric of Leicester Riders. The greatest teams in Leicester have leaned on their hard-nosed, gritty resistance as the bedrock of their play, and Head Coach Rob Paternostro sees Thompson as the anchor for his 2024-25 defence.
“Coach Rob told me that one of the things he was looking forward to seeing was me leading the defence, anchoring the defence, and being a contributor on that end.
“Defence can give you a spark of life, especially when things aren’t working on the offensive end. Sometimes shots don’t fall, but your defence can be there for you night, in night out.”
“If you had 13 guys like Charles Thompson, you wouldn’t need coaches.”
Those were the words of Towson Head Coach Pat Skerry, who coached Thompson for his five-year tenure at the University.
His hard work and on-court mentality has won the respect of coaches and teammates alike, building a well-earned reputation of being a true professional.
“Everyone we spoke with talked about what a great leader he is both on and off the court,” said Paternostro following Thompson’s signing. “We are thrilled to add him to our locker room.”
— Leicester Riders Basketball Club (@RidersBball) August 4, 2024
The Cavalry will soon get to know Thompson after he lands in Leicester for the upcoming season.
Not only is he set to light up Leicester on the court, but he’ll bring the work ethic, mentality and personality seen in the legends who have worn the Riders red before him.
Want to see Thompson make his Riders debut? We start our pre-season campaign against USA Select on September 6!
“I’ve always had this dream”- Kaia Harrison on signing her first professional contract
“To play professional basketball.” That was Kaia Harrison’s response when asked what her post-graduation plans were when she first arrived at Wake Forest University.
145 games later (the second most in school history), she signed her first professional contract with Leicester Riders, where she will play her rookie season.
Five years competing in a brutally tough conference, the ACC, has tested Harrison in every way imaginable. This isn’t an inexperienced rookie ready to suit up in Riders red.
“I’ve seen a lot of different competition, played so many different schools and players in one of the best conferences in the country,” said Harrison. “That has absolutely helped me prepare for the next level. I’ve gone face to face with WNBA players, and nothing sets you up for success more than testing yourself against the best of the best.
“I always knew that I wanted to play professionally, but I also knew the amount of work that I’d have to put in to get here. I need to thank my support system, my family, because college is not easy at all. It’s mentally and physically draining, but that’s developed me as a person. Knowing that I’ve always had this dream and seeing it come true- I’m extremely grateful.”
It was a collegiate career filled with achievement, not least in 2021. In her sophomore year, Harrison helped the Wake Forest Demon Deacons to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 33 years.
Her development as a player saw Harrison finish her graduation year as the team’s second-leading scorer, adding electric energy to both ends of the court. It’s that energy and effort that Head Coach Ben Stanley sees as one of the biggest additions to the Riders’ roster.
A perfect match
“Coach and I hit it off right away. After our initial conversations, we had a meeting to go over my film of myself and the team last year to see how I fit into the scheme. I’ve never done that before, and the conversations that we had allowed me to see how I fit into the plans and seeing how I can develop as a player.
“I’m a very fast-paced player. I like to push the ball a lot in transition, and Coach really likes that part of my game, especially how I get good shots off early in the shot clock. The Riders played at a fast pace last year, so I can really see myself in that system.
“On the other end of the floor, I’m a very passionate defender. I like to wreak havoc on defence with my energy, and I think that is partly what drew the Riders to me.”
Football fanatic
Basketball wasn’t Harrison’s only calling. In 2019 she received all-county distinctions in football (soccer to her, but we’ll call it by its proper name!), and played until her senior year.
“I grew up playing both basketball and football, and I had the best experience playing football in college. It really helped get in shape over the summer too. I’ve loved watching it- at Wake I’d go down to watch the men and women play and it was really competitive. I can’t wait to get down to a Leicester City game this season!”
Expanding horizons
Off the court, Leicester is a chance for Harrison, who has been abroad only once before, to expand her horizons. When asked what she most looked forward to from her rookie season, the opportunity to travel was near the top of her list.
“I’ve been to Italy once for four days, and that’s the only time that I’ve been overseas! I haven’t been to the UK, or any other countries for that matter.
“I’m excited to branch out and explore somewhere else, outside of America. I’m looking forward to experiencing both a new style of play on the court, but also new people and a different culture. I’m so ready to get there, and play at the professional level.”
— Wake Forest Women's Basketball (@WakeWBB) March 6, 2024
But on the hardwood, Harrison’s number one motivation is improvement. Improvement of herself, and improvement of her teammates.
“I always want to get better than I was last season. I have some things I want to work on with my game, but that also goes for the team. I want to develop my game and the players around me, and win as many games as we can.
“I consider myself a leader, and to me that means bringing your teammates along with you and helping them to be the best that they can be.
“I’m so excited to be a part of this Club and get to work! I’m going to go out there and try to win every game we can. Thank you for having me!”
“Whatever I can do to support the city I’m ready to do”- Get to know Leicester Riders’ new signing Ethan Wright
Ethan Wright grew up with basketball. As much as he found the game, the game found him.
His mother, Ellen, is one of the greatest players in Princeton University history, and ended her four-year career as the school’s second-leading scorer.
A four-time All-Ivy performer, she netted 430 points during the 1983-84 season, the best ever at the time. She currently sits second in program history in rebounds and blocks, and holds the single-game record for blocks in a game with nine.
Ellen was Wright’s coach until eighth grade, but never forced the game onto him.
“She wasn’t the type of parent to beg you to work out or force you into the gym, but she let me know that if I wanted to have success I had to work for it. She gave me all the help and resources I needed, and having a mum who had been through the entire college process was really helpful for me. She’s my biggest basketball resource.”
He quickly followed in her footsteps, declaring for Princeton in 2018.
Playing alongside British forward Tosan Evbuomwan, now of the Detroit Pistons in the NBA, Wright helped the Tigers to a 23-7 record in 2022, winning the Ivy League regular season.
It was the school’s best season since 2017, coming back with a bang after the COVID 19 pandemic saw the cancellation of Ivy League play.
As it did for many student athletes, COVID ripped Wright away from the game, making workouts near-impossible for months on end.
But absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that was certainly the case for Wright’s love of the game coming back from the season-long hiatus.
“It made me fall in love with basketball again,” said Wright, reflecting on his cancelled year at Princeton.
“We hadn’t played for a year and we were dying to get out there. For six months I couldn’t even work out. College basketball is a grind, and it gave me a halftime break to let me miss the game.”
British fans will be familiar with Evbuomwan, who came through the Newcastle Eagles’ youth system.
“Tosan was so fun to play with. He was pretty much our point guard, even as a big, so we ran the offence through him. We had one of the best offences in the country, and I was playing with my best friends who I’d played with for four years.
PIVOTAL PERFORMANCE. @PrincetonMBB grabs a pivotal 81-75 decision at Yale to move into a tie for first place in the standings. Tosan Evbuomwan and Ethan Wright combined for 49 points to pace the Tigers. pic.twitter.com/emal9JY0Kg
“That year was the most fun I’ve had playing basketball.”
Rookie in Romania
After playing out his graduation year for the University of Colorado, Wright’s post-college career started in Romania with CSM Târgu Jiu last season. It was his first time leaving North America, and a big adjustment, as it is for any American rookie playing in Europe.
But he adapted quickly to the new environment, and the new challenge of going up against professionals for the first time.
“It’s definitely a learning curve. You’re no longer going up against kids, for one. In Romania there’s great players who are talented and athletic, and while that talent and athleticism was there in college too, the speed of the game in the pros is quicker.
“The shot clock is shorter, and guys are grown men who are really physical. There’s a lot of really experienced players who don’t make the same mistakes you see in college.
“But you have to have confidence in yourself. If you go to a pro team and you don’t have that self belief and competitiveness then it’s going to be difficult for you. I learned a lot from my rookie year.”
Similarly, life off the court presents challenges for rookies.
“We were in a very rural area in Romania, where there are very few Americans, or even English speaking people. If you don’t get along with your teammates it would have been very isolating. It’s important for your own life and the team’s success that you’re together.”
That’s something that has always come naturally to Wright. In his final collegiate year, Colorado awarded him the Stephen Tebo Family P.A.S.S. Award, for being the player who best exemplified the virtues of Perseverance, Attitude, Selflessness and Success.
The award is a testament to his off-court character and leadership, not only in that season, but throughout his basketball life.
“I’ve always tried to be a good locker room guy. I don’t think I have a big ego at all, and I try to be someone who is fun to be around. With that team at Colorado, there were a lot of young guys who were dealing with things that I’d already gone through. I felt like someone they could go to for advice and talk to when they needed to. I try to do that wherever I am.”
Landing in Leicester
Wright is ready to bring that off-court attitude to the Riders this season, along with his on-court talents.
He put up 11.7 points in 23.7 minutes per game in Romania, logging 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per outing.
“I think I bring shooting as my best attribute, but I can also attack the rim and make plays. I showed a lot of different things last year, and now that I have that overseas experience I feel a lot more comfortable as a pro.
“I do a lot on defence and with my rebounding, and I’m going to go in and try to be a spark plug for the team. I’m a versatile player, so however Coach sees my role in the team I can adapt to.”
While it’s his first venture into the UK, Wright is itching to embrace the culture of the country and the city upon his arrival.
“I’m really excited to get to the UK. I’m especially excited about getting the chance to go to a Leicester City game! I played football for a while, and I’ve always loved watching the game. I can’t wait to immerse myself in the culture, get to know what the city and the country is like.
“I’m looking forward to eating the food. I hear Leicester has one of the biggest Indian populations in the country so I’m enthusiastic about engaging with that community and culture too.
“I’m honoured to be signing in a city with such incredible sporting heritage. Everything I hear about the club is the fans are great, and they support the club passionately, so that’s really cool.
“The city really loves sport, and that makes me really excited to interact with fans, hang out in the community and get to know people. We need the fans’ support, so whatever I can do to support the city and support them back I’m ready to do.
“If you’re a fan, don’t be a stranger! I’m excited to meet everybody!”
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Report: Riders fall to Lions in Playoff semi-final
Leicester Riders’ season ended in London, as they fell in the Women’s British Basketball League Playoff semi-finals 95-70 to the London Lions.
It was a closely fought first half, the Riders taking a seven point lead in the first quarter through hot three point shooting. But the EuroCup champions battled back and took control in the absence of Riders’ captain Mckenzie Johnson, who was injured at the end of the second quarter.
Riders’ record-breaking leading scorer Taylor O’Brien led the team again with 19 points and 8 rebounds, days after being named to the Team of the Year. She was backed by Jessica Eadsforth-Yates, who went 4-9 from three for 12 points and 5 rebounds.
A big night for London’s Abby Meyers saw her lead the game with 22 points, as six Lions scored in double digits to book their spot in the Final. Mayers went 9-16 from the field and pulled down 5 boards.
Red hot Riders start takes first quarter lead
The Riders had a hot start from deep, draining five triples in the opening five minutes to jump out to a 10-17 lead. Sharpshooters Katie Januszewska and Eadsforth-Yates had two each from behind the arc.
Lions’ guard Meyers found lanes to the hoop on the other end to cut into the Riders’ lead with 6 points, London starting 7-7 from two point range. But the hosts started cold from the outside, going 0-7 from three in the first quarter.
Their first one went down with a minute left, as Shanice Beckford-Norton gave the Lions the lead. This took the lid off, and Katsiaryna Snytsina knocked down another to send the sides into the first quarter break with London leading 22-18.
Meyers leads London to big lead
The start of the second saw the Riders cool off, and the Lions built their lead to eight. Maya Price hit a long two to force a Riders timeout a minute and a half in.
Johnston ended the cold streak with a corner triple for her first points of the afternoon. She was followed by O’Brien, who began her patented attacks of the rim to get to the foul line and keep the scoreboard ticking over for Leicester.
Despite O’Brien’s play, the Riders’ deficit grew thanks to the red hot hand of Meyers, who brought her game tally to 11 with a three. It was a 15 point Lions lead with 3:52 left in the half.
Riders run brings visitors back into it
An Erin Powell three, followed by an O’Brien runner, breathed life back into the Riders. With under two minutes left in the half, O’Brien pulled up and banked in a triple, cutting the deficit to single digits and forcing a London timeout.
The Riders, rolling, put the ball in the hands of Januszewska, who logged her 7th points to further make inroads.
Late London buckets from Snytsina and Meyers made it 48-38 at the break, the Riders in touching distance. But Johnston took an elbow to the face as the half closed, seeing her out for the game.
Lions rebuild lead out of the half
A breathless start to the second half saw a Marrissa Hamilton and-one play met by back-to-back threes from Holly Winterburn, as the Lions edged ahead. Savannah Wilkinson drained her first three of the game with 6:25 on the clock, for her 13th points and giving the Lions an 18 point lead.
The Riders’ defence stood strong, keeping the hosts to two points in three minutes, but with Johnston on the sidelines struggled to generate offence.
O’Brien, as she did in the second, continued to get to the foul line on her drives to the rim. She made it 17 points on the game, making the score 70-50. Shahd Abboud followed with a spin move from the midrange to trigger a Lions timeout.
To end the third, Faye Endean hit from close to make it 72-52 with one quarter to play.
London sees the game out
Abboud got the fourth underway with a smooth fake spin, laying in a two at the rim. In response, Beckford-Norton scored two straight buckets to seize back control for the hosts.
Januszewska stayed hot, draining her third three of the game as the Riders kept chipping away. Eadsforth-Yates went back-to-back from three to make it 12 on the night from the British guard.
Endean made the last bucket of the night from the foul line however, and the Lions won the fourth 23-16 to see it out.
Playoff semi-final preview: Leicester Riders at London Lions
Leicester Riders are a game away from the Playoff Final at the O2 Arena. Standing in their way: the undefeated, EuroCup champion London Lions, looking for their third-straight clean sweep.
Here’s how the playoff semi-final is shaping up.
Last time out
The Riders were forced to battle back in the quarter-finals to beat the Essex Rebels in the clutch. A slow start at the Mattioli Arena saw Leicester down as much as 21, but fought back behind Taylor O’Brien’s 21 points and 17 rebounds.
Leicester’s biggest lead of the night was two points- their winning margin at the end of the game. Once the Riders were back in it in the fourth, Shahd Abboud took over with big shots as the hosts vanquished their first playoff foe.
It was a gutsy win, as the Riders dug deep, stemmed the Rebels momentum and slowly climbed back into it over three quarters. They’ll take confidence from their late form into the game against London.
Record-breaking O’Brien
Leading the team in the playoff opener followed the season trend for Riders’ star guard Taylor O’Brien, who was named to the British Basketball League Team of the Year this week.
O’Brien is lightning fast from the backcourt, attacking the rim relentlessly from wire-to-wire. She runs the pick-and-roll effectively to get her moving down hill, and her determination and hustle gets her on the offensive glass for second chance points.
She’ll attack the heart of the Lions’ defence all night long at the Copper Box, attempting to help the Riders to their second-straight visit to the O2 Arena.
Lions’ season
The Lions, last season’s quadruple winners, are yet to be defeated in the British Basketball League this year. They won the League with a 20-0 record, and won the Trophy in January after facing the Rebels in the Final.
However, key players departed to the WNBA ahead of the Lions’ playoff run, including Karlie Samuelson, Temi Fagbenle, Megan Gustafson and Shey Peddy. Samuelson and Gustafson were the Lions’ two leading scorers on the season, the latter winning the Trophy Final MVP.
The adjustment to the departures was felt in their playoff opener, despite confidently putting away the Nottingham Wildcats. The Lions, who averaged 98 points per game over the season, mustered only 80 against Nottingham, winning by 10 on the final buzzer.
Compared to the Lions’ 140-42 and 105-49 wins against the Wildcats earlier in the year, the win was underwhelming as they felt the effects of losing their leading scorers.
One to watch
Holly Winterburn
13.5 points, 4.4 assists, 60.8 FG%, 52.1% 3PT%
Remaining on their roster, however, is Holly Winterburn, who arrived on the European stage for this season. She hit the shot of the EuroCup final, her game-winning three which was dubbed the biggest shot in British basketball history against Besiktas.
Her season can be defined by more than that single three, however. The former Riders led the League in three point percentage, knocking down a red hot 52.1% of her looks from deep, and hitting on 60.8% of her field goals.
Winterburn played once against the Riders this season, but didn’t make her typical scoring impact with only 8 points. But she showed her ability to affect the game in multiple facets, finishing with 6 assists.
Expect Winterburn to show up in the biggest moments should this one be close late.
Where to watch
The game will be shown live on the Women’s British Basketball League YouTube channel, tipping off at 4:30 pm.
Following the conclusion of Leicester Riders’ 2023/24 season, Head Coach Rob Paternostro reflected on the team’s playoffs, and the season as a whole.
Playoff series vs Sheffield
The Riders’ season ended in the quarter-finals of the playoffs, losing 2-1 in a best-of-three series to the Sheffield Sharks.
Leicester took a Game One win, and had a chance to take the lead with seconds left at home in Game Two. But a double-dribble call gave Sheffield’s Prentiss Nixon the opportunity to hit a game winner with 1.6 seconds left, and a hotly contested no-call on a Miryne Thomas three sent the series back to Sheffield the following day.
“We knew we had a great opportunity, holding the lead at halftime and then having a chance to take the lead with 25 seconds left,” said Paternostro. “The double-dribble call was devastating for us, and then Nixon hit a great shot- credit to him.
“It was a tough loss. As tough as they come. Especially when we had to be back on the road 13 hours later. We had our chance to win the series in Game Two, and next thing we know we’re on the road to Sheffield.”
The Sharks won Game Three convincingly in the second half, after a first half in which missed free throws were the difference between the sides. The Riders were down nine at the half after missing nine foul shots in the opening two quarters.
It was a continuation from the day before, where Leicester shot 66% from the line.
“In the first half the free throw line hurt us as it did in Game Two. If we made our free throws we’d have been in it, but we couldn’t handle Sheffield in the second half. Give them credit. Their home court advantage with the way their crowd was was too tough for us to overcome.”
The Riders were without their captain, Kimbal Mackenzie, for the playoff run. Paternostro addressed the impact of losing the team’s point guard, who was recently named to the British Team of the Year, had on the series.
“Not having Kimbal for the playoffs was devastating for our chances. He was our leader, and the guy with the ball in his hands in the biggest moments of our season. It was a huge huge loss, but I thought other guys in Game One and Two stepped up to give us an opportunity to win the series.”
The fans
The raucous crowd played a factor in every game, with travelling numbers adding to every atmosphere.
“The fans were top notch- as good as I can remember in any playoff series. Our fans really got that going on the road in Game One, and their fans came back and were awesome in Game Two.
“Our fans were incredible at home. They played such a big role in driving us on at the end, and the next day they were fantastic again.”
This year’s British Basketball League playoffs featured a new format, with the first two rounds taking place over a best-of-three series. The new format created an electric environment in the arenas.
“As someone who has played in these series as a player, I know that they’re great for the fans. We saw that in this matchup. It really was a positive thing for the League to have that environment.”
Final reflections on the season
The season saw ups and downs throughout, following a large turnaround in players in the offseason.
Paternostro reflected on how it unfolded over the course of the year.
“We lost so much from the year before, where we were 25-11 in the League. We lost a lot of experienced players, who we knew would move on after some time. We missed them, but we put together a roster that was 4-1 to start the year.”
After the 4-1 start, the Riders fell to 7-10 having lost to the London Lions twice, and Cheshire Phoenix three times over a difficult stretch of fixtures. Leicester made changes to their roster, adding high volume scorer Teddy Allen and energetic big man Duke Shelton to the team ahead of the upcoming Trophy run in January.
“We were in the mix and trying to find our feet, but hit a tough stretch of games and had to make some changes. When Teddy and Duke arrived, they provided a boost and we started to play some good basketball around the holidays.
“We put ourselves in real contention for the Trophy, doing a great job to qualify through a challenging group. Then we had an amazing fightback against Cheshire and had the lead with seconds to go. We were trending upwards at that point and with a couple of bounces going differently we would have been in the first final of the season.
Following the Trophy, the Riders faced six double header weekends. They went 2-4 in the second games of double headers after the Trophy, contributing to Leicester’s fall to .500 come the end of the year.
“We were like a lot like other teams at around .500, and dealt with injuries at a crucial part of the season with a lot of double header weekends. Our record on those Sundays wasn’t the best and we dropped some games. This league is very challenging with its schedule, and it’s about who can survive the grind of February, March and April.”
2024/25 season tickets on sale now!
As the offseason awaits for the Riders, you can book your spot in the stands by getting your 2024/25 season ticket now!
Leicester Riders’ season ended in the British Basketball League Playoff Quarter-Finals, after losing to the Sheffield Sharks 86-69 in Game Three.
After a closely fought first half, matching the tone set in the opening two games of the series, the Sharks blew the game open in the third with hot shooting, and the Riders couldn’t get back in it.
Sam Idowu fought hard to chip into the deficit with 13 third quarter points, and led the team in the game with 16. But it wasn’t enough to make inroads, and the Sharks advanced to the semi finals.
As he did in Game One, Prentiss Nixon led the Sharks with 17 points in 19 minutes of play.
Riders fight back after slow start
Sharks had an electric start, with Malek Green capping off a 7-2 run from the tip-off with a putback jam. Sesan Russell found a response with a three from the top to momentarily quiet the crowd, but Devearl Ramsey and Green combined back-to-back to retake momentum.
A shot clock violation from the Riders highlighted their slow offensive start. It was rookie Jaren Holmes whose aggression got them going as he pulled the strings with drive to the hoop. He drew a foul with 4:41 left in the first, his foul shots making the score 11-9, and Mo Walker tied it up at the rim a minute later.
The Riders took their first lead of the game, Teddy Allen hitting his first three off the dribble, but the Sharks had the better of the final minute of the first with Prentiss Nixon banking in a three to end it, the hosts leading 24-21.
Riders run meets Ratinho response
Two Sheffield corner threes started the second quarter to give them a seven point lead. It was quickly double digits through Eytle-Rock on the break, forcing a Rob Paternostro timeout.
A Miryne Thomas three stopped the bleeding, and after Samuel Idowu blocked Kipper Nichols driving to the rim, TJ Lall ran the break for two to cut into the deficit.
As the Riders looked to equal the score, it was Holmes again to lead the charge. His and-one finish followed by a breakaway two cut it to one with 3:06 left in the half.
Threes from Nichols and Jordan Ratinho undid the Riders work, however, and Ratinho hit another on the fastbreak to make the score 46-37 with one possession left in the second. That’s how the sides entered the half, as Nixon missed a prayer on the buzzer.
Sharks blow game open in the third
Ramsey got the second half underway with a midrange, followed by three scores from Green, to get the hosts the better start in the third period. They led 53-37 three minutes in.
Idowu ran the pick-and-roll with Holmes to get two points back, but a Marcus Delpeche slam to get the points straight back. Idowu had 13 points in the third, attempting to get the Riders back in it with his work around the rim.
But a rim-rocking alley-oop jam from Green took the roof off the Arena, and the score was 62-46 with 3:22 left in the period.
Sharks see it out
The Sharks caught fire to end the game. Everything Pipkins and Nichols shot found string, allowing them to pull away to a 20 point advantage quickly in the fourth period. Pipkins logged with 12th points to make the score 74-52.
Blake Bowman scored back-to-back for the Riders, using his athleticism at the rim, but Pipkins hit another three on the other end.
The fourth quarter was 17-17, and the Riders’ season came to a close.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders fell 74-77 to Sheffield Sharks in Game Two of the British Basketball League Quarter-Finals.
Prentiss Nixon’s game winner forced a Game Three in Sheffield, after a closely fought battle throughout.
Teddy Allen led the tie with 23, hitting big shots consistently to keep the Riders in touch. The Riders had a chance to tie with 1.6 seconds on the clock, but Miryne Thomas’ attempt missed, and he found no call despite claims of contact.
Malek Green led the Sharks with 22 points and 11 rebounds going 10-13 from the field.
Game Three is to be played on Sunday May 5 at 4pm, at the Canon Medical Arena.
Teddy takeover starts Game Two
Allen took over the opening stages with his tough shot making, draining two-and-ones including a fadeaway out of a double team. He scored six to lead Leicester to a 12-9 start by the media timeout.
Duke Shelton, checking into the game for the first time, made an immediate impact with a slam, running the pick-and-roll with Sesan Russell. He pulled down an offensive board next time down which led to a Thomas hookshot, and putback Jaren Holmes‘ miss to put Leicester up 18-11.
— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) May 4, 2024
Fending off the fightback
Nixon picked up where he left off after 25 points in Game One, draining a corner three for Sheffield off the bench. He and Kipper Nichols took over for a stretch, and the Sharks tied it at 24 quickly in the second period.
Allen stayed hot, hitting a triple from the top to get three points back for the hosts. TJ Lall drove inside for an and-one, then Conner Washington stepped up to hit a three, which took the roof off the Arena and rebuilt the Leicester lead to seven.
A three from Allen with 3:48 left in the half, following Sam Idowu’s second block of the game, made it double digits and brought his tally to 12.
It was Thomas’ time to get to work a minute later. He sized up Marcus Delpeche at the top of the arc, stepping back for three to make it 45-30.
Ratinho run gets Sheffield back in it
Jordan Ratinho was the Shark to snatch momentum back, laying in a two before driving on the fastbreak to be sent to the foul line by Idowu.
After he made both, Ramsey stole the ball and found Ratinho on the run again, and he went to the line for two more to make it 45-38 with 1:07 left in the half.
Russell, fighting among the trees for an offensive board, made a trip to the stripe himself to stop the 6-0 Ratinho run, but out of a timeout Nixon got to the midrange for two. The half ended with Green at the line, who made it 47-41 at the break.
Sharks snatch the lead in tense third
RJ Eytle-Rock started the half with two buckets at the rim for the Sharks to make it a one score game. But Russell once again settled the team by making his way to the line, stealing the ball from Ramsey in transition and taking a charge on him in three straight plays.
Russell was relentless, covering all 94 feet on defence to suffocate the Sharks. But his defence on Green in the post was deemed too physical for the officials, and he was forced to the bench in foul trouble.
With Russell on the bench, Green tied it up with a drive to the rim with 5:30 left in the third, and the Sharks then took the lead at the hands of Delpeche.
Defences locked down for the rest of the third, with only one point scored in over two minutes. Sheffield led by a score during that time until Jalon Pipkins laid in a two to make it 56-60. He then got to the hoop to start the fourth for two more.
Sharks hit game winner in closely fought clutch
Despite a defensive start to the fourth, Idowu and Lall came up with Riders scores to cut it to two. Allen scored four straight points, but Sheffield got to the rim back-to-back and they took a four point edge.
Two offensive rebounds for Green in succession meant it was 64-70. But Allen came up with a huge four-point play, hitting a three through contact to keep the Riders in touch. Fading away on the baseline, he then hit a tough contested two, and was followed by a layup from Holmes.
Allen and Lall both had chances to tie the game from three, but missed both attempts with two minutes left. Idowu then went to the foul line and made one of two to make it 72-74.
Green missed from two, and Iwodu followed his own miss to tie with 50 seconds left. Idowu was called for a double dribble, giving the Sharks a shot to win. Nixon took it, and hit a three with 1.6 seconds left.
Thomas had a chance to tie on the horn, but missed and found no call despite claims of contact, and the series was sent to a third game.
Leicester Riders pulled off a comeback in the clutch to beat Essex Rebels 81-79 and progress to the semi finals of the Women’s British Basketball League Playoffs.
The Riders were down by as much as 21 in the game, and 11 going into the final quarter, but pulled off a comeback led by star guard Taylor O’Brien’s 21 points and 17 rebounds.
She had 6 rebounds in the fourth, but it was Shahd Abboud’s scoring which lit the fire under Leicester with back-to-back buckets, cutting it to three. Her layup with 52 seconds left proved to be the game winner for the hosts.
Essex had a red hot start, running out to a 20 point lead in the first quarter, but the Riders chipped away until the fourth and snatched the win. Dayzsha Rogan led the game with 23 points and 9 rebounds, going 10-17 from the field.
Essex take early lead
A 13-3 Rebels lead to start the game was built from tough shot making inside. Rogan scored 6 points in four minutes, banking in two layups off balance as she drove to the rim.
After the middle had been established, Renee Busch hit a corner three to make it 13, and force a quick Riders timeout. Essex’s hot first quarter meant they started 22-3, led by 8 points from Rogan.
Marissa Hamilton took the lid off the basket for Leicester with a layup in the post, which was followed by a midrange from Mckenzie Johnston, making it 7-22.
But after chipping into the deficit, it was back to 19 at the end of one after Tia Freeman was sent to the foul line to end the quarter, making it 11-30.
Riders charge back into it
Long range efforts continued to fall for the visitors in the second, keeping Leicester at distance. The Rebels were shooting 50% from three midway through the third, while Jessica Eadsforth-Yates knocked down the host’s second triple with four minutes left in the half.
However, a run to close the second breathed life into Leicester. Katie Januszewska ran the fastbreak at 2:49 on the clock, driving to the rim and finishing through contact to make it 30-43. Erin Powell was next to chip away with two shots from the foul line, and the deficit was 11.
Essex stemmed the tide with free throws from Busch, but O’Brien brought her tally to 11 with a tough finish at the rim, and Januszewska finished the half with a triple to enter the locker rooms down 39-50.
Essex refound their early form to start the second half, building their lead back to 18. Rogan added two more buckets to her tally to shoulder the scoring load, continuing to battle in the paint.
They had no answer for O’Brien, however, who kept the Riders’ side of the scoreboard ticking over and bringing her points total to 16.
Building on their point guard’s play, the Riders fought their way back in it, forcing back-to-back turnovers in the closing seconds of the third.
Abboud and O’Brien punished the mistakes, and Leicester went on a 9-0 run at the end of the quarter to make it 55-66 with one to play.
Riders charge into the lead
Hamilton got the fourth underway with back-to-back scores, cutting the deficit to single digits for the first time since the opening stages.
The Riders dominated the offensive glass from the backcourt through Eadsforth-Yates and Johnston, grabbing three in the first two minutes, and Johnston hit from the foul line after her second offensive board to make it 61-66.
Essex slowed the Riders’ charge with a three from Claire Paxton, but Abboud responded from distance on two straight plays, making it a one possession game. Johnston then tied it up from the foul line, and Eadsforth-Yates drained a three to snatch the lead for Leicester.
Essex steadied themselves to regain the lead, Daniella Turner hitting back-to-back to put them up three.
But the Riders, through Januzsewska’s up and under for two, kept in the game, and Hamilton’s block leading to a shot clock violation gave them a chance to get ahead with under a minute on the clock.
Abboud, again, drove to the hole and finished for two to capitalise on that chance, before Januzsewska stole the resulting inbound. She then pulled down an offensive rebound from an Eadsforth-Yates miss, but couldn’t put in the putback and the Rebels had a chance to win it.
The shot fell to Paxton, but her three hit iron. O’Brien pulled down her 17th rebound, and she was sent to the line with 0.2 on the clock. She made one and missed the second, ending the game and winning it for Leicester.
Heading to the capital
The Riders will head to the capital to face the undefeated London Lions in the semi final. A win would see them progress to the Final at the O2 Arena on May 19.
Playoff Preview: Leicester Riders v Sheffield Sharks Game Two
Leicester Riders are set to take on the Sheffield Sharks in Game Two of the British Basketball League Playoff Quarter-Finals.
The Riders enter the game leading the best-of-three series 1-0, meaning a win in the game would see them advance to the Semi-Finals.
Here is everything you need to know about the fixture.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Sheffield Sharks
British Basketball League Playoffs: Quarter-Finals Game Two
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
6:45 pm
Game One Recap
The Riders enter Game Two up 1-0 in the series, after taking Game One on the road 84-81.
Riders’ rookie duo of Miryne Thomas and Jaren Holmes led the team to the win with a combined 46 points and 14 rebounds, Thomas leading the way with 24/8.
24/8 on your playoff debut Have yourself a night @_1Montana1_
After a hot start for the Riders, seeing them up double digits within minutes, the Sharks responded through their bench play to take the lead back, which they held until midway through the fourth.
But a late Riders surge saw them bounce back in the clutch, locking the Sharks down with their defence. Teddy Allen sealed the win with two trips to the foul line, meaning Leicester are now one win away from the Semi-Finals.
One to watch
The Sharks’ bench, which scored 59 points in Game One, was led by a game-high 25 points from American guard Prentiss Nixon.
It was a season-high for Nixon, who scored 20 on only two occasions prior this season, both times in December.
Nixon averaged 9.2 points per game over the course of the year, but caught fire early in this one for 11 first quarter points off the bench, and led the hosts in the clutch to keep them in contention late. He went 9-15 from the field and 4-9 from three in 23 minutes of play.
The third-year pro will take confidence into Game Two after his performance on Sunday, potentially providing a spark off the bench for the Sharks.
The Numbers
The Riders went through shooting struggles in Game One despite coming away with the win, shooting 6-26 from behind the three point line.
However, looking back on how the season series played out, Leicester can take confidence back to the Mattioli Arena where they shot 46% from three against the Sharks from three this season.
This is in contrast to the 26% three point percentage in Sheffield. Leicester can expect to produce a more consistent threat from three in Game Two of the series.
Turnover troubles also followed a similar trend. The Riders gave up double digit turnovers in their two road games against the Sharks this season, and another 12 in Game One.
But at home, it was 6 turnovers per game for Leicester, and over 100 points scored on both occasions.
If the numbers are anything to go by, home court advantage is set to play a role in Saturday’s action.
Where to watch
Only a few tickets remain to the Riders home playoff opener. You can get them here.
DEFEND OUR HOUSE
We need you behind us on Saturday
Doors open at 2:15 for our playoff double header!
First 1,200 through the door will receive a free Dark Horse T-Shirt.
Pack the house. Bring the cavalry. Get tickets here #DarkHorse
Doors to the Arena open at 2:15, and the first 1,200 fans through the door will receive a free Dark Horse playoff t-shirt thanks to the generosity of the Riders’ sponsors at RDL Technologies, Vertu Motors, Torr Waterfield, Jelson Homes and EverythingBranded.
The game will also be shown live on Sky Sports and Sky Sports YouTube.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders are set to tip-off their 2024 Playoff campaign at the Mattioli Arena against Essex Rebels.
PLAYOFF MODE
It’s that time of year! Our playoff Quarter-final matchup is confirmed! We’ll host the @essexrebelsbasketball at @leicesterarena next Saturday, with this fixture taking place before the Men’s Quarter-Final Game 2.
The Riders enter the postseason as the 4-seed, finishing 15-5 in the Championship. Meanwhile the Rebels’ 11-9 record earned them the 5-seed following their trip to the Trophy Final in January.
Here’s what to expect from the matchup.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Essex Rebels
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Women’s British Basketball League Playoff Quarter-Finals
2:45 pm
One to watch
Kat Tudor
18.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists
American guard Kat Tudor is Essex’s leading scorer this season. She ended the season as the fourth leading scorer in the Women’s British Basketball League, and shot the best from the field of anyone in the top eight of the scoring charts at 46.3%.
The 25-year-old joined the Rebels from Australian NBL1 West side Mandura Magic, where she was the second-leading score on the team with 15.6 points.
Her scoring ability translated seamlessly to British basketball. She scored in double digits in every game this season, and averaged 28.5 over her last two Championship games.
Tudor’s best performance of the season, 31/5 on 80% FG shooting, came in her penultimate game against Oaklands Wolves, heating up in time for the postseason.
She went 6-7 from three in that game, and is capable of catching a heater from deep on any night. She shot 7-12 against the Giants and 5-9 against the Riders earlier in the season.
Tudor also shot 5-6 from three on her way to 24 points to knock the Riders out of the Trophy in January, and will look for another red hot game as the Rebels get their Playoffs underway.
Season series
In all competitions, the Riders won the season series against the Rebels 2-1. It was 2-0 in the Championship season, the Riders winning by an average of 8.5 in two closely fought games, but the Rebels won in a win-or-go-home Trophy game 84-70.
Game one, played in Essex, was a 79-70 Riders win, led by Taylor O’Brien’s 20 points and Rayven Peeples’ 17. It was a closely fought affair, with a four point difference on the scorebaord with three minutes on the clock, but captain Mckenzie Johnston’s 6 points in the final minutes saw the Riders over the line.
Kat Tudor’s game-high 25 points wasn’t enough for Essex, but 24 in the next game was. Tudor shot 6-7 from the field, 5-6 from three and 7-9 from the foul line in a red hot shooting night to progress past the Riders in the Trophy.
The Riders were down by as much as 24 in the game, but pulled it back to six late in the fourth. However, five straight points from Tudor ended the Riders comeback, and their Trophy journey in the first round.
The Riders’ revenge came in April, playing Essex at home for the first time. They won 60-52, Johnston leading Leicester with 15 points. The hosts led wire-to-wire, and by as much as 17 points in the third.
But a run at the end of the quarter saw the Rebels enter the fourth down only 46-40. Johnston, again, put the team on her back late to score six in the final two minutes of play, leading Leicester to a win.
Battle on the boards
The rebounding battle was pivotal to the Riders’ success against Essex this season. In their two wins, they outrebounded their opponents 55-36.5, and by 16.5-5.1 on the offensive glass. The Riders rebounded by committee on the defensive end to complete defensive possessions repeatedly.
However, in Essex’s Trophy win, they found joy on the boards for the first time against the Riders. They pulled down 47 to Leicester’s 38, and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds to Leicester’s 11.
The Riders, as the third best rebounders in the League this season, aren’t accustomed to losing the rebounding battle often, so winning on the glass will be pivotal to their success in this one.
Where to watch
Tickets are on sale now for the Riders men’s and women’s playoff games at the Mattioli Arena.
Doors open at 2:15 for a 2:45 women’s tip off, followed by the men’s tip off at 6:45.
Thanks to the generosity of the Riders’ sponsors at RDL Technologies, Vertu Motors, Torr Waterfield, Jelson Homes and EverythingBranded, the first 1,200 fans through the door will receive a free “Dark Horse” playoff t-shirt.
The Riders opened their 2024 Playoff campaign on Sunday with an 84-81 win on the road against the Sheffield Sharks.
Series are won and lost through game-to-game adjustments, therefore Rob Paternostro and the team will pour over film from Game One to find an edge for Game Two.
Here’s what the Riders can take from Sunday’s action.
Riders’ rookies show resilience
If there were any nerves from the Riders’ rookies, Jaren Holmes and Miryne Thomaswho were both making their professional playoff debuts, it didn’t show.
The American pair led the team to the Game One win with a combined 46 points and 14 rebounds, both putting up 20 to pick up the scoring load.
Thomas’ Player of the Game performance saw him go off for 24 and 8, shooting 9-12 and making tough plays and highlights from start to finish.
“I love this environment,” said Thomas post-game. “I love playing hard in competitive basketball, and tonight was a hell of a show.”
Meanwhile Holmes played downhill all game from the guard spot, relentlessly attacking the rim to keep the Riders in the game while they trailed through the second and third quarter. Like Thomas, Holmes relished the bright lights with his aggressive play.
“I was just trying to make the right plays,” said Holmes. “That’s what I always try to do. I saw lanes and tried to attack, find my teammates and be aggressive. It’s a big part of my game when I’m aggressive and try to get downhill and make plays for others.”
Sharks’ second unit shoulder scoring
The Sharks’ bench carried their scoring, going off for 59 points led by 25 from Prentiss Nixon. But 22 points from the starters, and none of the Sheffield starters scoring in double digits, meant the Riders had the best of the beginning and end of the game.
Nixon checked in down 10 in the first quarter and scored 11 points in five minutes. His play cut the host’s deficit to two by the end of the first period. The Sharks’ bench was responsible for a 20 point swing in the score that saw them leading by seven with one to play.
Rodney Glasgow Jr., also off the bench for Sheffield, led the team in +/- with 12. That tally was bettered only by Mo Walker for Leicester, who recorded a +/- of 15.
The strong bench showing from the Sharks in Game One means the Riders should be prepared for a potential mix up to the Sheffield starting five.
Should there be no changes, the Riders bench will be required to lock in to stop the Sheffield second unit, which has showcased their firepower to start the series.
Defence wins championships
“Defensively is where we made our mark,” commented Head CoachRob Paternostrofollowing Game One, and that was especially true down the stretch.
The Riders held the Sharks to 14 fourth quarter points after giving up over 20 in each of the first three periods, and got big plays from players in the big moments.
The best defence was played in the first half of the final quarter, with Sheffield managing just six points. Sam Idowublocked RJ Eytle-Rock and stole the ball from Jalon Pipkins in that period of play, and Teddy Allenstripped Nixon to set up a Thomas and-one.
The lockdown defence allowed the Riders to run in transition repeatedly, playing to the strengths of their rookie pair of Thomas and Holmes who thrived on the break.
In the closing minutes, Nixon scored five straight to keep Sheffield in it against Leicester, which allowed the Sharks two possessions to go for the win. But the Riders’ defence stood firm, forcing misses from Pipkins and Malek Green with less than a minute on the clock.
While the Riders entered the game with one of the highest powered offences in the League, they’ll need consistent performances on the defensive end to go all the way in the Playoffs.
In that respect, they’ll be encouraged from Game One.
Shooting struggles
The opening game followed the trend set by the regular season series between these two sides. The two games played in Sheffield this year saw the teams duel out closely fought affairs, with the Riders struggling offensively compared to their performances at home.
In game one of the season series in November, the Riders shot 5-21 from three in a loss, and they suffered an even worse shooting slump in the playoff opener.
It was a 6-26 game from behind the three point line, but the Riders overcame their struggles by generating offence at the rim and in transition.
Game two in December put an end to the Riders’ difficulties from deep. They went 51% in a blowout win. Leicester will hope to see a similar pattern unfold in the playoffs, and be able to rely on their three point shooting at home.
Riders bring the cavalry
The Riders’ travelling crowd got them over the line, packing the stands in Sheffield to get behind the team.
Holmes said post-game that he felt the energy from the stands:
“It was a huge victory for us, and we wouldn’t have done it without the fans,” said Holmes. “They were tremendous. They fuel us when they come and support us, so to have this many people come out and show up for us truly means a lot to me and the guys in the locker room.”
11 years ago, Leicester Riders crowned themselves British Basketball League treble winners for the first time in their history, beating the Newcastle Eagles in the 2013 Playoff Final.
The 2012-13 season would kickstart a decade of dominance for Britain’s oldest professional basketball club, where they would win 17 trophies in the coming years.
Here, we re-live the Playoff Final at Wembley Arena…
Setting the scene
Entering the 2012-13 season, the Newcastle Eagles had established themselves as the premiere team in British basketball.
They completed the fourth quadruple in League history a year prior, and the first since they accomplished the same feat in 2006, led by MVP Joe Chapman.
Chapman returned the following season, as did his supporting cast of Charles Smith, the soon to become League MVP in 2014-15, Darius Defoe who would go on to become the most decorated player in League history, and Player/Coach Fabulous Flournoy who had 18 pieces of British Basketball League silverware to his name.
There was no doubt they were the team to beat going into the season.
But of all the teams looking to knock the Eagles off their perch, the Riders were among the most likely. They had pushed the North Easterners all the way in the League, finishing one win behind them in the standings before losing to them in the Playoff Final to end the year.
Andrew Sullivan in the Riders’ 2012 Playoff Final loss to the Newcastle Eagles.
Their roster featured former MVP with the Eagles Andrew Sullivan, who led them to their quadruple in 2006, and the new acquisitions of exciting young guard Jay Couisnard and experienced forward Anthony Rowe, the latter signing with the Riders midseason after playing four seasons with the Plymouth Raiders.
The Riders had next.
Riders take the torch
The promise they had shown in the previous season came into fruition in 2012-13.
The country’s oldest professional basketball club, with two British Basketball League trophies to their name from a decade prior, established themselves as the League’s best.
Led by young Head Coach Rob Paternostro in his fifth season coaching the team, who was named Ed Pericval Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, the Riders set about winning immediately.
Rob Paternostro celebrating 100 British Basketball League career wins with Riders Managing Director Russell Levenston.
An MVP season from Hall of Famer Sullivan took the Riders to a Cup win, where they beat the Eagles in the Final with a 17 point performance from Couisnard, and the team went on to win the Championship five wins clear of the second-placed Eagles.
Leicester made defence their calling card all season long, and finished the year with the second-best defence in League history. They had defensive difference makers up and down the roster, including Zaire Taylor and Couisnard in the backcourt and up-and-coming star Jamell Anderson on the wing.
Three Riders ended up on the All-Defensive team at the end of the year- Sullivan, Couisnard and Taylor- but Couisnard thought it could have been more.
“I know we had three guys on the All-Defensive team, but I think that’s because they couldn’t have all five of us,” he said after the season.
To further mark their new found dominance over the League, the Riders swept Newcastle 4-0 in the season series on their way to the League win.
The Riders were pipped to the Trophy, losing in the Final 71-69 to the Sheffield Sharks in dramatic fashion, but entered the postseason in search of a historic treble.
Collision course
The sides seemed destined to meet in the Playoff Final from the outset after finishing first and second in the League standings.
“These are the two best teams in the League by a mile,” said London Lions Head Coach Vince Macaulay when asked about the sides. They proved as much.
The Riders engaged in a hard-fought first leg against the London Lions, where they escaped two point winners after finding themselves 14 points down in the tie.
But they took control of the second leg, led by 24 points from Rowe, to progress to the second round.
Rowe was pivotal in Leicester’s playoff run, scoring a team-high 18 points in the first leg of the semi finals against his former side, the Raiders.
Anthony Rowe playing against the Durham Wildcats in the 2012-13 regular season.
The semi finals saw them sweep aside the Raiders by 40 points over the two legs, making it a professional run to the Final at Wembley Arena.
All in all, it was a comfortable road to the Final for the Eagles, who dispatched the Sharks and Surrey United to meet the Riders at the summit once again.
It was only right these sides should meet in the final showdown of the season, as they did the season prior.
Final words
As the Playoff Final returned to Wembley Arena for the first time since 2002, Flournoy had a visible chip on his shoulder before the action began.
He reminisced in a pre-game interview about the last time he faced Leicester in this Arena- the 2001 Playoff Final where he suited up as a player for the Sheffield Sharks.
He came out on the losing side all those years ago, and was in no mood to fall short this time around.
“It’s fantastic being back after 12 years, but hopefully I’ll do the job in this game,” said a determined Flournoy.
Macauley, on punditry, commented on a visibly fired up Flournoy: “Fab Flournoy is a really proud guy, and very successful as a coach.
“He will be absolutely burning inside that the Riders in particular have taken two of their trophies away from them, and tonight is an opportunity to reset that balance.”
Paternostro, in a seemingly more relaxed mood while clutching his Coach of the Year award, reflected on the year so far with pride.
Rob Paternostro collects his 2012-13 Ed Percival Coach of the Year award before the Final.
“I’ve been lucky to coach these guys this year. You always want to win the last game of your season, and we have the opportunity to go out as winners today.
“But whatever happens on the day I’ll be so proud of these guys and I’ve enjoyed competing with them. I’m excited about today.”
Riders bolt out the gate
The Riders started the game relaxed and composed, and the fixture began exactly how they would have wanted: slow, deliberate and low-scoring from the outset.
Rowe set the tone inside with a monster block on the driving Smith, and the Riders controlled the game with a narrow lead through the first period.
Anderson, making a dream start, scored seven points in the opening quarter with relentless attacks to the rim. He sank an and-one finish against Smith to make it 20-9.
Jamell Anderson finishes for two in the first quarter.
On the other end, wherever Smith turned he saw bodies, as he tried to generate some offence against the Riders’ historic defence. He continually forced the issue, but the interior defence of Rob Paternostro’s side saw shots sent away by Rowe, Anderson and Taylor.
For the first time in the game, Sullivan found a rhythm, spelling trouble for the Eagles. He built the lead to 15 with multiple finishes at the rim, backing down Smith repeatedly. Smith had no answer throughout the first half to Sulivan’s post ability, and the MVP ran up the score.
Eagles chip away
As the half came to a close, the Eagles forged a way back into the game. It was Kareem Maddox who snatched momentum by fighting to the free throw line, getting points on the board to cut it to single digits.
This allowed Smith some isolation for the first time in the game, and he too found a way to the foul stripe after taking on Leicester’s Yorick Williams.
Charles Smith makes an and-one play against Yorick Williams.
But in response, Williams put an end to the run with a finish at the rim, and Taylor blocked Smith next time up the floor. The half ended with the Riders leading 38-26. The game was playing out as the low-scoring affair the Riders wanted.
“We’re really putting the effort in on defence and the glass,” said Anderson at the half. “We take pride in our defence, and today we’re showing that.”
Hanging in the balance
The Riders’ defence, still an immovable object out of the break, kept them in the lead as they couldn’t find the bottom of the bucket to start the third period.
The Eagles, simply, had no answer for their size and length, and had no joy driving into the lane from buzzer-to-buzzer.
They did cut the difference to seven emphatically, with Smith throwing up a lob pass which was thrown down two-handed by Defoe in a rim-rocking slam. But Sullivan quieted the noise of the Newcastle fans with a layup next time up the floor.
The game seemed on a knife’s edge midway through the third, with neither side able to seize momentum which would turn the game on its head. Instead, they traded the buckets they could find in a defensive affair, and the difference swung from seven to nine.
Zaire Taylor and Drew Sullivan run the pick and roll against Damon Huffman and Joe Ikhinmwin.
Riders seize initiative
After a cagey phase of the game, it was the Riders who took control. The run was started by Couisnard at the rim, and finished by Sullivan who threw down a monster jam on the break to make the score 53-37.
The highlights didn’t stop there for Leicester. Sullivan’s miss was followed by Anderson, who rose high for a putback slam to put the Riders in firm control going into the final quarter.
Couisnard made another momentum play three minutes into the fourth with a contested triple late in the shot clock to send the Sea of Red in the crowd into raptures. Newcastle did make inroads, bringing it back to ten via Damon Huffman, but Leicester had built a platform to bring it home.
Leicester Riders fans on their feet, appreciated by the bench.
Riders slam the door shut
The Riders fell back on their defence to see it out. They held the Eagles to seven points in the final six minutes of the game, keeping Newcastle at arm’s length as they had done wire-to-wire.
There was no “moment”, no shot to end the game. Just an increasing inevitability, through the Riders defensive suffocation, that the Eagles were unable to mount a comeback.
Anderson made the Riders’ final score with a minute left, and the game ended 67-57.
“The greatest ever season, for the oldest team in British basketball, is going to have a silver and gold lining” was the call from Daniel Routledge on commentary. It was a homage to the Leicester Mercury headline following the Riders’ 2001 Cup win, which read “SILVER LINING”.
The final buzzer sounded, and the bench flooded the court in jubilance.
Leicester Riders celebrating victory on the final buzzer.
Post game reaction
An emotional Paternostro dedicated the victory to his late grandmother after the game, who had passed away earlier in the week.
“She was someone who taught me how to compete, and my guys really competed today.” he reflected post-game.
“We’ve been committed to the defensive end of the floor, and it culminated in this today. All season it’s been about intensity and competitiveness for 40 minutes across all 94 feet.”
Final MVP, Sullivan, who logged 24 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds, echoed his Head Coach’s sentiment on the team’s competitive spirit and defensive mindset.
Final MVP Drew Sullivan lifts the award.
“My teammates have been absolutely incredible. They haven’t been worried about trophies or titles. They have just wanted to win every single game.
“We were upset about bad performances, win or lose. We take pride in playing every minute of every game to the best of our ability.”
An elated Rowe, who made his impact felt defensively and on the glass throughout, looked back to midseason where he signed with the team:
“I’m on cloud 9 right now. The first practice I went to this season, it just felt right.
“I think back to my mum, who always tells me to go with my heart, and I’m so glad I did that this season. We have some amazing British players, from our MVP Drew Sullivan to Jamell Anderson who was phenomenal today.
“The future is bright in British basketball.”
Moving forward
That season kick started one of the most dominant stretches of British basketball history. The Riders would go on to win 17 trophies in the next decade, including three trebles.
It was just the beginning of the rivalry between these sides, who would go head-to-head in the biggest games in British basketball in the next ten years.
The would go on to hoist 27 trophies between them, marking an era of fierce rivalry between the Eagles and Riders.
2013 Playoff Final scorers
Leicester Riders
Newcastle Eagles
Andrew Sullivan
24
Darius Defoe
13
Jamell Anderson
13
Charles Smith
12
Jay Couisnard
8
Kareem Maddox
12
Zaire Taylor
8
Damon Huffman
9
Yorick Williams
7
Joseph Chapman
8
Anthony Rowe
4
Joe Ikhinmwin
3
Jorge Calvo
2
Fabulous Flournoy
0
Pavol Losonsky
2
Anthony Martin
0
The Riders are in Playoff action on Saturday May 4, hosting the Sheffield Sharks for Game Two of the opening round.
It’s a double-header for the Riders, whose men’s and women’s teams are playing back-to-back in their respective playoff games.
The first 1,200 fans through the door will receive a free “Dark Horse” t-shirt!
Leicester Riders got their 2024 Playoff campaign underway with a clutch 84-81 win on the road against the Sheffield Sharks.
The Riders came back from behind in the fourth quarter to snatch the win, and made big plays down the stretch to take a 1-0 series lead back to Leicester.
Thomas said the playoff intensity is something he thrives on through his competitive spirit.
“This time last year, I was playing March Madness,” said Thomas, who won the MAC Championship with Kent State in his final collegiate season.
“I love this environment. I love playing hard in competitive basketball, and tonight was a hell of a show.”
The Riders, without their captain Kimbal Mackenzie, stepped up on the road and came through as a unit to take the win. With the words of Mackenzie echoing in their ears, the team put on one of the performances of the season.
“Kimbal told us to stay together. He’s here with us in spirit- he’s our leader and we know he’s in our corner- but the guys we had here came together and said ‘let’s get the job done.’”
Many of the plaudits this season have gone to the Riders’ leading scorer, Teddy Allen. Allen burst onto the British basketball scene with his incredible scoring performances, earning him the Player of the Month Award in December, but the Riders unit is a deep one, with talent up and down the roster.
Last night’s win, as has been the case with many wins this season, was a total team effort.
“We know Teddy is an incredible scorer, but we have to play well for him to play well. If we don’t run in transition and set good screens, he doesn’t get good looks.
“This is a team unit, not just one guy running the show. Everybody has a role, and we’re really settling into our identity. We play hard for each other.”
Jaren Holmes: “We wanted it badly tonight.”
Also making his first professional playoff outing was Jaren Holmes, who was the other Rider to log a 20 point performance. He put up 21 points and 6 rebounds, and shouldered the scoring load for long stretches.
“I was just trying to make the right plays,” said Holmes. “That’s what I always try and do. I saw lanes and tried to attack, find my teammates and be aggressive. It’s a big part of my game when I’m aggressive and try to get downhill and make plays for others.”
The Riders came back from down seven in the final period to win on the road, holding the Sharks to 14 points in the final quarter. The defence down the stretch was instrumental in getting the job done.
“It came down to getting stops. That was a huge point of emphasis down the stretch. Then we made some big shots, and got big plays from everybody.
“Conner [Washington’s] three midway through the fourth was huge for us. Him coming in and giving us those minutes was so valuable, and it’s going to take a team effort to win these games. It’s the playoffs, which means its a different type of intensity. We wanted it badly tonight.”
The Riders’ road following got the team over the line, making raucous noise throughout. Holmes felt their presence on the court from the stands, and said as much after the game.
“It was a huge victory for us, and we wouldn’t have done it without the fans. They were tremendous. They fuel us when they come and support us, so to have this many people come out and show up for us truly means a lot to me and the guys in the locker room.”
Rob Paternostro: “The guys really stepped up.”
After an electric Riders start, the Sharks took initiative in the second quarter and took the lead, which they held until midway through the fourth.
Despite trailing for much of the game, there was no panic from the Riders’ sideline.
“I felt pretty good about us at that point,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro when asked about the team’s mindset while falling behind in the game.
“We took decent shots and, in the halfcourt, we did a really good job on defence. In the open floor we struggled, so the second half was really important to slow the game down and get back on defence, and I thought we did that.
“We didn’t feel like the momentum was stolen, we just felt like we needed to do a better job of getting back in transition.”
Without Mackenzie running the point, Paternostro’s team stepped up from top to bottom to come away with a momentous win to kick off the postseason.
“We’re missing our leader- our point guard with the ball in his hands at the end of the game- but the guys really stepped up to make the plays they needed to.
“Miryne’s energy was excellent all game, he scored the ball really well. Jaren kept us in it with his scoring, TJ Lall was really good on defence and Conner came in and gave us the minutes we needed to settle us down late in the game. His experience was crucial- he’s been here before.
“It was a total team effort. We are missing our point guard but these guys took on the challenge. A lot of people didn’t think we had much of a chance without him, but defensively is where we made our mark.”
The win means Leicester have stolen home court advantage in this best-of-three series, and return home on Saturday with a chance to end the series and progress to the second round.
Coach called out to the fans to bring the same energy back home that they showed on the road.
“Our fans were amazing today. It was an incredible job from them right behind the bench, and we need more of that at the Mattioli Arena on Saturday!”
Leicester Riders snatched Game One against the Sheffield Sharks in the clutch, winning 84-81 on the road.
Miryne Thomas led the team with 24 points and 8 rebounds, scoring 5 points down the stretch in his professional playoff debut. Fellow rookie Jaren Holmes backed him with 21 points and 6 rebounds.
It was Teddy Allen who sealed the game from the foul line, going 4-4 with the pressure piled high and seconds on the clock. Leicester came back from a deficit of seven in the final quarter to steal home court in the best-of-three series.
For Sheffield, Prentiss Nixon exploded for 25 points off the bench, getting big bucket after big bucket when it got close late. The Sharks scored 59 bench points in the game, but didn’t have a starter score in double digits.
The series will go back to Leicester for Game Two on Saturday May 4, tipping off at 6:45 pm, with the Riders having the opportunity to end the series with a sweep.
Riders bolt out the gate
Allen, who averaged 29 against the Sharks this season, wasted no time getting on the board with an and-one for Leicester’s opening score.
It was an 8-2 start for the Riders, as Jaren Holmes knocked down his first shot of the postseason from the corner, settling any nerves from the visiting camp.
Leicester’s lightning start forced a quick Sharks timeout, after Thomas threw down a fastbreak jam- the ninth of the night for the Riders to make it 4-14.
Holmes made the Riders’ second and-one play of the game with 2:21 left in the period, as they continued to lead from the front early.
Sharks bite back
The Sharks got back in it at the hands of Nixon, who snatched momentum with five straight points. Nixon scored 11 in the first quarter to lead the game, and bring Sheffield back into it.
Jalon Pipkins then cut it to five with a tough fadeaway, before Rodney Glasgow Jr followed with a three for the hosts.
The late surge in the first meant it was 26-28 with one played. And quickly in the second the Sharks took the lead, as Kipper Nichols connected from the corner to make it 31-30.
It was the Riders’ turn to try to stem the tide with a timeout after Pipkins’ 11th points. But they only scored 10 in the second quarter in their attempt to take the lead back.
Glasgow got going midway through the second to build the Sharks’ lead to six, and the score was 38-32 by the media timeout. Sheffield’s leading scorer Malek Green then took the mantle from Glasgow with three quick scores and a big block on Holmes.
The Riders got to the hoop to get their side of the scoreboard ticking over late in the half. Holmes charged to the paint repeatedly to set the tone in that regard, while Thomas got to the foul line after an offensive rebound, and Leicester brought themselves back within five.
But two scores at the rim for Sheffield ended the half with the score 47-38.
Sharks fend off Riders run
The Riders made a run back into the game with Thomas hitting their first three of the half, while Allen took it coast-to-coast to cut it to five once again.
Holmes added another six to his tally, making it 17 on the game midway through the third, and the score was 57-53 to the hosts.
Next time up, Sesan Russell led the fastbreak after a steal. He gave it to Allen, who threw up a lob to Thomas. The American rose high and threw it down with authority, making it a one score game for the first time since late in the opening period.
The Sharks, however, kept ahead with timely scores throughout the third. Jordan Ratinho hit from three with a minute left in the period, and Devearl Ramsey finished inside at the buzzer to make it 67-60 with one to play.
Resurgent Riders win in the clutch
To start the fourth, the Riders were right back in it. Veteran guard Conner Washington hit a transition three two minutes into the period, making it a two point difference. TJ Lall then tied it up with a putback layup, and Allen took the lead with a floater.
For Sheffield, Nixon came up huge in the fourth. He scored nine of the Sharks’ 14 points in the quarter, and hit a three for his 20th points to stop the rampant Riders.
Nixon went back and forth with Thomas, the pair exchanging tough buckets throughout the final stages. The Riders looked in control late after Thomas connected on a fadeaway, but a Nixon midrange jumper and Pipkins three tied the game at 79.
Pipkins had a shot for the lead with 21 seconds left, but he hit the rim and Allen was fouled on the rebound. Allen knocked down both shots, and next time up the floor Green missed a three to win it, and Allen got the rebound again to seal the Riders Game One win.
Taking a win back to Leicester
Tickets are on sale for Game Two of the series at the Mattioli Arena, on May 4 at 6:45 pm.
Tickets also include entry to the women’s playoff opener against Essex Rebels at 2:45 pm, and the first 1,200 fans through the door will receive a free Riders “Dark Horse” t-shirt.
Leicester Riders are set to take on the Sheffield Sharks for Game One of the opening round of the 2024 British Basketball League Playoffs.
The four-seeded Sharks earned home court advantage after their performances in the Championship this season, so the Riders will take the short trip to Sheffield for the first game of a best-of-three series.
The sides have played out some closely fought battles in Sheffield this season. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup.
Where to watch
The game will take place at the Canon Medical Arena, Sheffield, tipping off at 4 pm.
The Sharks’ midseason acquisition, Malek Green, hit the ground running in the British Basketball League, and finished the season as their leading scorer.
After going 17 and 7 on his debut in only 16 minutes of action, Green has been a consistent source of boards and buckets for the Sharks, finishing the year with 22 and 14 to lock up home court advantage against the Plymouth City Patriots.
From the wing, Green ranked third among players in rebounds this season, and his 8.7 per game is more than he averaged throughout his five-year college career.
Green averaged 19 and 9 in his two games against the Riders this season, and will pose a true threat throughout this series.
Devearl Ramsey
11.1 points, 4.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds
Devearl Ramsey has protected home court against the Riders this season with two explosive scoring performances.
Typically, Ramsey is the Sharks’ source of playmaking, running the point to lead them in assists this season. But against the Riders the former G-Leager put his scoring ability on full display.
His two highest-scoring games this year have come at home against Leicester, putting up 23 points and 9 assists last time out, and going off for 22 to lead Sheffield to a win in November.
He consistently finds his way to the midrange, where he has shot most efficiently all season, so the Riders will need to be locked into their pick-and-roll defence to stop his drives off the dribble.
Jalon Pipkins
11.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 51.9 FG%
Sheffield’s second-leading scorer, Jalon Pipkins, has been a consistent source of points for the Sharks this season.
The efficient bucket-getter has scored double-digit points in 25 Championship games, and put up 17 last time he suited up against the Riders.
The 6’5” three-level scorer is a threat from anywhere on the court. He’s a human highlight reel, showcasing some of the most high-flying throw downs in British basketball over the last two seasons in Sheffield.
The Riders’ rim protection will be on high-alert when Pipkins looks to rise high on drives to the hoop.
Season vs Sharks
The Riders have faced off against the Sharks four times this season, winning the season series 3-1.
There was, however, a disparity in their performances when playing away compared to their home games. At home, they averaged 106.5 points, turning the ball over only six times per game and knocking down 46% of their threes. In Sheffield, however, it was 86 points per game with an average of 15.5 turnovers.
In games where the Sharks forced over 10 turnovers out of the Riders they beat them by a net score of four, but when Leicester kept the giveaways in single digits they won by an average of 21.
In contrast to Leicester’s varying performances at home compared to on the road, the Sharks found consistency in their output both home and away. However, their typically stalwart defence didn’t find the same success against the Riders as it did the rest of the League.
Their League-best defence made them the only team to hold their opponents to under 80 points per game over the season, but they failed to do so against Leicester in their four meetings. They had no answer for Teddy Allen, who averaged 29 points in his three games against the Sharks.
Sheffield did better their scoring average against the Riders over the series, putting up 86 points per game, but the numbers suggest that Leicester’s ability to take care of the ball will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the series.
Playoff History: Riders vs Sharks
Sheffield are a familiar foe in the Playoffs for Leicester. This matchups marks the 10th time in the last 23 seasons where the sides have met in the postseason, and the fourth time in the past 10 years.
The previous two postseason meetings have gone the Riders’ way, most recently last year where Leicester bested them 153-140 over a two-legged series.
2016 was the last time Sheffield beat the Riders in the Playoffs- Atiba Lyons’ men winning 84-77 in the Final.
The Riders have the advantage of unrivalled playoff-winning experience at the reins. Head Coach Rob Paternostro has won the competition five times, the second most of any coach in League history, and four of those wins have come since the Final was hosted at the O2 Arena.
Sharks’ Head Coach Atiba Lyons is no stranger to playoff success himself, winning in 2016 for the second time in the club’s history. It’s been first-round exits for Sheffield in the last two seasons, however, and they now look to avoid falling to Leicester in the postseason for the second straight year.
What they said
With the Championship season in their rear-view mirror, the Riders are looking forward to the chance to set the record straight after what they feel was a season with unmet potential.
Here’s what they had to say ahead of the opening round:
Teddy Allen
“You never want to go out on a down note in win-or-go-home scenarios,” said leading scorer Teddy Allen.
“We feel like we could have done a lot better throughout the year, and now is our chance to prove that. We are locked in as a unit, and it’s time for everyone to work towards a common goal.
“When asked about the Riders’ path to a potential Final at the O2 Arena, Allen expressed his confidence in the team to be able to beat anybody in front of them.
“Anybody can get it. Whoever is in our way, we feel confident that we can win.”
TJ Lall
“Our mentality has to change now,” added TJ Lall, when asked about the difference in approach between the Championship season and the Playoffs.
“We have to be more locked in and in-tune. We’ll see the Sharks multiple times, so we have to adjust and be ready for their adjustments.”
On a similar note to Allen, Lall looks forward to the chance of showing the League what this unit is capable of.
“Everyone here wants to win. We know we’re talented and have not shown our full potential, and were ready to show it during the playoffs. The pressure is good for us. We play better under pressure.”
Duke Shelton
American big Duke Shelton discussed the level of intensity required ahead of a postseason matchup.
“Everyone is going to step up and raise their level of play. It’s the playoffs, which is almost like a new season where anything can happen.
“It’s a new mindset now. I’m sure the rest of the team feel the same way, and that also goes for the other teams in the league. We’re ready to compete.
“The team that’s willing to give a little bit more, most of the time, will win. Basketball is a game where the team with the fewest mistakes has a huge edge, so we need to be focussed and ready to play our best ball.”
Rob Paternostro
Having reached the summit of British basketball five times before, Head Coach Rob Paternostro knows exactly what winning in the postseason requires.
He is as eager as ever to fight on the biggest stage, at the O2 Arena.
“Once you get to the playoffs there’s so much urgency because if you don’t play well you’re going home. Everyone wants to be at the O2 by the end, and we’ve been there nearly every year. It’s wonderful to be there, so that’s always the goal.
“At our best we feel like we’re a really good team, and we’re in good shape going into the playoffs.”
Tickets are on sale for our home fixture against the Sheffield Sharks!
Leicester Riders conclude their Women’s British Basketball League campaign against the Sheffield Hatters, in a game to decide third and fourth place in the Championship standings.
A win for the Riders will see them lock up third with a 16-4 record, but a loss would see the Hatters take the tiebreaker and third place at 15-5.
One to watch
Georgia Gayle
14.1 points, 4.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds
Hatters leading scorer and 2024 All Star Georgia Gayle is the number one scoring threat the Riders will need to key in on in this matchup.
The granddaughter of Betty Codona, the pioneer of women’s British basketball and founder of the Hatters, Gayle is a GB international and experienced professional.
This season, she leads the Hatters in scoring and assists, scoring in double-digits on 17 occasions and putting up 20 three times in 19 appearances.
Gayle put up 13/4/4 last time out against the Riders, shooting 6-12 from the field. Keeping her quiet for 40 minutes would go a long way towards slowing Sheffield’s side of the scoreboard down.
The numbers
These two teams have been some of the highest-powered offences in the League this season, ranking second and third in points per game.
The Hatters are one of two teams to score over 80 a night (82.7), and maximise their possessions by turning the ball over the least in the League. Meanwhile the Riders, who score 78.5 per game, are an efficient shooting group, connecting on a second-best 44% of their field goals.
The Riders have the game’s highest scorer in American rookie Taylor O’Brien, whose 15.7 points per game has earned her two Player of the Month awards over the course of the season.
Meanwhile the Hatters have seven scorers giving them over 7 points a night, their offence by committee giving the Riders issues last time the teams faced off.
Head-to-head
The Riders have faced the Hatters once before this season, falling 78-70 on the road.
Desiree Ramos impressed with her highest-scoring performance on the season, putting up 25 points in 22 minutes, going 9-12 from the field.
Turnovers were the difference in the game. Leicester lost the battle 25-11, and therefore lost a game in which they shot 43% from the field to Sheffield’s 36%.
Riders’ All Star pairing of Sam Ashby and O’Brien combined for 36 (18 points each) to lead the team’s effort.
But the loss means third place is up for grabs for the winner of this matchup.
Playoff tickets include entry for both men’s and women’s playoff games on May 4, and the first 1,200 people through the door will receive a free “Dark Horse” playoff t-shirt.
Season series: Leicester Riders vs Sheffield Sharks
Leicester Riders tip-off their 2024 British Basketball League Playoff campaign against the Sheffield Sharks on Sunday.
The sides have met on four occasions so far this season, the Riders winning the series 3-1.
Here’s how the games played out…
November 17 Game 1: Sharks 91-84 Riders
Sharks battle from the front to take hard-fought home win
Sheffield drew first blood in the series, winning a closely fought battle late on. The Sharks edged ahead in the second quarter, going into the half up 46-39, and the Riders, despite bringing the deficit to two on multiple occasions, couldn’t take the lead back.
The Sharks’ Devearl Ramsey led the game with 22 points, scoring five in the final 2:33 to lead the hosts down the stretch and secure the win. He was backed by 17 points from Jalon Pipkins who went 7-8 from the field in the game.
The Riders made a charge from down 10 to five with four minutes remaining, but couldn’t get it over the line. Miryne Thomas led the team with 21 points and 11 rebounds- his first double-double in Riders red.
A key difference in the game: three point shooting. The Riders went 5-21 while the Sharks shot 8-19, Ramsey leading the way with three makes from behind the arc.
But water found its level in game two from deep.
December 30 Game 2: Riders 103-75 Sharks
On-fire Riders torch Sharks from three
The Riders levelled the season series at home in convincing fashion to close out 2023. A 21-4 start blew the Sharks out of the water, and the Riders cruised home to a wire-to-wire win.
Miryne Thomas led the team out the gate with 10 points in five minutes, and logged another 20 point double-double against Sheffield with 22 points and 10 rebounds by the final buzzer.
But it was Teddy Allen, in his third game for the Riders, who led the game with 25 points. He went 4-9 from three on the game spearheading what was a red hot shooting night for the hosts.
In contrast to the first game against Sheffield in November, Leicester shot 51.9% from three point land in the blowout. It was the Sharks who went cold on this occasion, knocking down just 28.6% of their attempts from behind the arc.
Prentiss Nixon had an effective outing for the visitors, bagging 17 points in 22 minutes of play, going 6-12 from the field. But it was a drop in the water against a Riders torrent, and Leicester entered the new year on a high.
February 16 Game 3: Riders 108-94 Sharks
Allen explosion makes it two-for-two at home
Teddy Allen led the Riders for the second-straight game against the Sharks, this time going off for 35 points. It was a 35-12 double-double for Allen, shooting 50% from the field and 44% from three.
The Riders were trailing 53-57 at the break and down by as much as 12 points in the second quarter. But a 12 point third period from Allen led them back into the tie, and another 10 in the fourth got them over the line.
The scoreline was deceptive come the final buzzer, not reflecting what was a one possession affair with three minutes on the clock. Two straight buckets from TJ Lall gave the Riders separation, and they saw the tie out from there.
Malek Green, making his first appearance against the Riders this season, led the Sharks with 19 points and 11 rebounds. He scored two buckets to start the final period, but Leicester were able to stem his scoring down the stretch to see it out.
The game made it two wins at home for the Riders against Sheffield, giving them a 2-1 series lead with one game to play in South Yorkshire.
March 29 Game 4: Sharks 85-88 Riders
Riders survive Sharks surge in final seconds
The game to decide the season series was fought wire-to-wire, Leicester coming away three point victors after Sheffield battled to give themselves a chance as the clock expired.
Allen led Leicester in the first half with an emphatic performance, going off for 27 first half points, and finished with 29/8. But down the stretch, big buckets came from up and down the Riders’ roster.
Kimbal Mackenzie, Thomas, Duke Shelton and Lall all scored in the final four minutes, giving the Riders an eight point lead with 2:18 left. But a turn of events, including an unsportsmanlike foul called on Shelton, gave the Sharks a chance to tie.
Bennet Koch went one for two from the foul line after Shelton’s foul, and Ramsey drained a three with nine seconds left to make it a one point game.
Mackenzie was sent to the line, and coolly knocked down both, but Sheffield could send it to overtime with a three. The opportunity fell to RJ Eytle-Rock who fired from the right wing, as Allen closed out but was keen not to foul.
Eytle-Rock missed his attempt, and the rebound was pulled down by Thomas to close the season series.
Tickets on sale!
Tickets for our home game against the Sheffield Sharks on May 4 are on sale now!
Riders speak to BBC Radio Leicester ahead of the playoffs
BBC Radio Leicester stopped by to speak to the team for their weekly “Game Night” show.
Ahead of the upcoming British Basketball League Playoffs, Riders players and Head Coach Rob Paternostro reflected on the Championship season, and previewed the postseason.
Here’s what they had to say…
Teddy Allen
Riders leading scorer, Teddy Allen, has spent the final weeks of the season getting into playoff shape. Working through injuries intensely has led to the American being in the best health that he’s been in all season, right in time for the postseason.
“I have been dealing with some injuries, but I feel like I’ve got my body right and I’m ready to get to work in the playoffs,” said Allen.
“The last few weeks I’ve been working closely with our training staff to get my body right. This is the healthiest I have been since I got here in Leicester, and I’m ready to make a run.”
The Riders enter the playoffs as the fifth seed. Reflecting on the second half of the year, Allen expressed disappointment in how the games fell, but is looking at ways to rectify recent results with his own performances.
“I wish we could have got some more wins down the stretch. I have to look at myself first and think about what I could have done better to help our team win.
“If it’s points, rebounds, assists or defence, whatever the team needs me to do I just want to go out there and compete.
“Nobody wants to lose, but we all left everything out there on the court with our effort and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”
The playoffs represent a fresh start for the Riders, and Allen sees that as an opportunity to set right unmet potential from the Championship season.
“You never want to go out on a down note in win-or-go-home scenarios. We feel like we could have done a lot better throughout the year, and now is our chance to prove that.
“We are locked in as a unit, and it’s time for everyone to work towards a common goal. Anybody can get it. Whoever is in our way, we feel confident that we can win.”
TJ Lall
For the Riders’ end of season awards, TJ Lall was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Player’s Player to recognise his efforts.
Lall looked back on his performances, and how he grew into the season as it progressed:
“I feel like I’ve played my role all year. Whatever the team has needed I’ve been able to give. The second half was better than the first for me personally. Playing together more, we’ve been a more cohesive unit, which has helped my game.”
Despite a season filled with ups and downs, the Riders showed up with big wins in important spots all year.
A win-or-go-home victory in the Trophy against the Newcastle Eagles springs to mind, as well as wins against the Sheffield Sharks on the road and the Cheshire Phoenix at home down the stretch.
“We stepped up in some big games this season. But our mentality has to change now. We have to be more locked in and in tune. We’ll see the Sharks multiple times, so we have to adjust and be ready for their adjustments.”
On a similar note to Allen, Lall looks forward to the chance of showing the League what this unit is capable of.
“Everyone here wants to win. We know we’re talented and have not shown our full potential, and were ready to show it during the playoffs. The pressure is good for us. We play better under pressure.”
Duke Shelton
Duke Shelton, an American big who joined the Riders midseason, has stepped into the starting unit in recent weeks.
After an adjustment period where he looked to settle into the team, he feels comfortable in his role going into the playoffs.
“I’ve adapted really well and found my position within the team. I’ve enjoyed my time here so far.
“I feel like I’ve shown flashes of what I can do, but maybe not to my full potential yet. There’s been times where I’ve been consistent but I’m looking forward to what’s to come.
“Anytime you come into a new situation in the middle of the year it can be a little challenging finding your spot. Everyone is comfortable where they are and you don’t want to ruffle any feathers or step on toes. You want to come in, have good energy and try to help the team any way you can.”
Over the course of his nine-year professional career, Shelton has learned that postseason appearances are a valuable commodity, and is looking to make the most of his upcoming run.
“This is going to be my second time in the playoffs in my professional career. I’m looking forward to the atmosphere we’re going to be playing in. Everyone is going to step up and raise their level of play. It’s the playoffs, which is almost like a new season where anything can happen.”
And with the new season comes a new mentality, where the urgency is ramped up and everything is on the line. Shelton understands as much, and the team is ready to go.
“It’s a new mindset now. I’m sure the rest of the team feel the same way, and that also goes for the other teams in the league. We’re ready to compete.
“The team that’s willing to give a little bit more, most of the time, will win. Basketball is a game where the team with the fewest mistakes has a huge edge, so we need to be focussed and ready to play our best ball.”
Rob Paternostro
Five-time British Basketball League Playoff champion, Rob Paternostro, understands more than anybody what it takes to lift the silverware at the O2 Arena.
Since the Playoff Final has been played at the O2, the Riders have been there every year bar one, and Paternostro is keen to continue that trend.
“Once you get to the playoffs there’s so much urgency because if you don’t play well you’re going home. Everyone wants to be at the O2 by the end, and we’ve been there nearly every year. It’s wonderful to be there, so that’s always the goal.”
As was the case for most teams in the League, the gauntlet of the British Basketball League schedule saw ups and downs throughout the season.
But now that the dust has settled, Paternostro feels the team is in a good position to go on a postseason run.
“We had a tough last couple of games, but we’ve been similar to most teams this year on our ups and downs. It’s been a real grind.
“The changes to our roster had a positive impact for us midway through the season. Of course, injuries hurt us in the second half of the year with Jaren and TJ especially late, but at our best we feel like we’re a really good team, and we’re in good shape going into the playoffs.”
Tickets are on sale for the Riders’ round one home game against the Sheffield Sharks on May 4.
Tickets are 20% off until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, May 24. Get yours here!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Report: Riders finish Championship season with a win in Surrey
Leicester Riders concluded their British Basketball League Championship season with an 94-88 road win against the Surrey Scorchers.
Teddy Allen led the game with a red hot 30 point performance, going 11-22 from the field. Allen was cooking from deep, going 6-11 from behind the line, and draining back-to-back triples from deep three point range to get the Riders out of a deficit in the second quarter.
But it was Sesan Russell who got Leicester over the line, logging a season-high 20 points with 17 in the second half. His free throws sealed the game late, capping off an impressive display.
The win sees the Riders lock up the fifth seed for the postseason, ensuring they will face the Sheffield Sharks in the opening round of the Playoffs.
Scorchers survive sharpshooting Allen
Allen wasted no time in taking it to the Scorchers. A four point play, drawing contact from Abdul Mohamed, gave him 9 points in three minutes as the Riders took an 8-12 lead. He was into double figures quickly after with his third three of the game.
The highlights kept coming in a high-scoring first quarter. Next it was Jaren Holmes on the break, throwing it up for Miryne Thomas who threw it down with authority.
Despite the big plays, they couldn’t shake the hosts who had a hot hand of their own: Quin Cooper. He drained three triples early in a back-and-forth start. He stayed hot in the second, hitting from the corner to make it 27-28 with 11 minutes played.
Scorchers take initiative
An 8-0 Surrey run, highlighted by a breakaway jam from Tayo Ogendengbe, gave them their first separation of the afternoon.
The Riders responded with an and-one at the hoop from Russell, before Thomas connected on a tough fadeaway on the buzzer for his 12th points.
But a corner three from Mohamed took momentum back, and Cameron Copeland made a layup inside to give the hosts a nine point lead. He then went back up the floor and nailed a contested triple over Holmes, making it a double-digit advantage.
Teddy takeover
The Riders, whose high-level scoring to start the game cooled off in the Scorchers run, re-found their rhythm through Allen, who took over once again.
He drove to the rim for two, then drew contact for an and-one to pull the deficit down to eight. Testing his range, Allen went back-to-back from deep emphatically, pulling up from the car park and finding nothing but string.
He cut the game to a single possession as the half came to a close, but Dijiani Parkinson ended the quarter from three to make it 54-48 going into the locker rooms.
On fire out of the half
12 points in two and a half minutes gave the Riders the lead quickly after halftime. Allen got them going by driving inside and dishing to Russell, Thomas followed with an and-one play (his sixth make in as many shots), and Russell then tied the game at 56.
After a Cooper miss, Allen pulled up from the elbow and found the bottom of the bucket to force a Surrey timeout. He then made his tally 27 with a steal and score after the break.
Gooden stopped the Riders’ run with a three, but Leicester were back in it.
Riders win out in the clutch
With Russell shouldering the scoring load with buckets to end the third, Blake Bowman gave the Riders a four point lead with one to play, finishing on the fastbreak, plus the foul.
Leicester started fourth on a run to make it a seven point advantage, Russell staying hot to snatch the ball from Cooper and add another two to his now 13 point tally.
Surrey came storming back after stemming the Leicester momentum, however, and Mohamed’s three cut it to a one possession game with 4:52 left.
The Riders seized control, building off the interior defence of Sam Idowu. He sent away Gooden’s attempted layup, and on the other end Russell and Allen hit threes to put Leicester up nine.
Mohamed made an and-one to breathe life into the Surrey cause, but Holmes hit back with a finish inside.
Copeland had a chance to cut the game to four, but dribbled off his knee, and Russell sank his foul shots next time up for his 20th points, sealing the win.
A series with the Sharks
Game one against the Sheffield Sharks will take place on Sunday April 28 at 4 pm, and will be played at the Canon Medical Arena.
Game two, at the Mattioli Arena, will be played at 6 pm on May 4.
Stay tuned for information on game three, if necessary.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
How things stand in the Women’s British Basketball League Championship
The postseason is fast approaching for Leicester Riders in a tightly packed Women’s British Basketball League Championship.
The Riders have two pivotal games remaining in their League season, which could see them land in second, third or fourth in the standings.
Here’s how things are shaping up for the Riders ahead of their final two games…
The state of play
The Riders currently sit third in the standings with a 15-3 record, tied with the Caledonia Gladiators and a win behind the undefeated London Lions, who have two games in hand.
The Riders are battling for seeding with the Gladiators and the Sheffield Hatters in fourth, who are their two remaining fixtures.
Sunday’s game against the Gladiators will decide the tiebreaker between the sides, which may prove vital come season’s end. Leicester currently possess it with a four point win against the Scots last week, so a win against Caledonia would lock up the two seed for the Riders.
A loss however, would risk the potential of Leicester falling to the four seed, with a showdown against the Hatters awaiting. Sheffield is a win behind the Riders with the tiebreaker, so the winner of that matchup would take the three seed for the postseason.
Riders’ recent form
Leicester enter this game having won nine of their last 10 games in the Women’s British Basketball League Championship.
They have responded to their only hiccup, a road loss to the Hatters, with three straight wins, including an important victory against the Gladiators in the clutch last time out.
The Riders have beaten the Essex Rebels, who knocked them out of the Trophy in January, the Newcastle Eagles twice and the Gladiators on their recent run, coming out on top against the better teams in the Championship.
The win against the Gladiators made a statement to the League as they approach the 2024 Playoffs.
The numbers
The Riders have established themselves as one of the elite offensive threats in British basketball, putting up the second most points in the League this season with 75.9 per game.
They have done so with efficiency inside, knocking down 49% of their two point looks, led by Rayevn Peeples who is connecting on 65% of her shots in close.
Peeples has been pivotal for the Riders establishing themselves on the glass this year. She ranks first among all players in offensive rebounds, and second in total rebounds per game, while sending away an average of 1.1 blocks, third best in the League.
Defensively, led once again by Peeples, the Riders average the most blocks of any team with 4.3 per game. Katie Janusewska has been key to this from the wing, putting up 0.8 blocks per game.
But the leading scorer of the Riders’ high-powered offence is Taylor O’Brien. The two-time Player of the Month has put up 15.7 points per game in her rookie season. She comes off the back of scoring 13 of the team’s 59n points against the Gladiators, and will look to lead the Riders to a crucial road win in Caledonia.
Leicester Riders are set to take on Surrey Scorchers on the road in their final game of the 2023-24 British Basketball League Championship.
Here’s some of the key head-to-heads in tomorrow’s action…
Saiquan Jamison vs Duke Shelton
Making a forceful impact in the paint this season for the Scorchers is Saiquan Jamison, who has established himself as one of British basketball’s elite big men.
He ranks second among all players in rebounds per game with 9.9, and has logged 13 double-doubles over the course of the season.
Jamison is a weapon in the pick and roll, and is near unstoppable when he receive the ball in motion to the rim. He finishes explosively in close, but can also take defenders off the dribble from the centre position to drive inside, and keep defenders honest from distance with his shooting ability.
Jamison is Surrey’s third leading scorer with 10.5 points per game to his name, and is able to generate his own offence at the rim by consistently pulling down missed shots for offensive rebounds.
Looking to keep him off the glass is Riders centre Duke Shelton. Shelton has stepped into a starting role seamlessly in recent weeks, proving energy and hustle from the centre position.
Three double digit performances in his last five outings has seen the 6’10” American become a reliable source of points, and his 14 points, 16 rebounds double double against the Plymouth City Patriots in late March showed his ability to get on the glass for big numbers.
The Riders will need a similar night on the boards from Shelton against the electric Jamison to control the paint in the final game of the Championship season.
Cameron Gooden vs Jaren Holmes
The Scorchers leading scorer this season, high-flying guard Padiet Wang, is set to miss tomorrow’s game through injury. Therefore, they will once again rely on the services of rookie Cameron Gooden, who went off for Surrey last time out.
The American led his team with 21 points and 5 assists against the League champions, going 5-13 from three as he tried to shoot his team back into the game.
Gooden is averaging 9.4 points in 20 minutes per game, but thrived in an increased role against the Lions.
The shifty guard has elite handles to beat defenders off the dribble, getting to the hole or stepping back and taking midrange jump shots consistently.
Looking to slow down Gooden will be rookie guardJaren Holmes, who is lighting up the League in his first professional season.
Holmes is the Riders’ second leading scorer this season with 13.2 points per game, and leads the team in steals with an average of 1.2.
He led the Riders last time out against the Giants with 20 points, his late three point shooting giving Leicester a chance late.
His work on the defensive end has impressed throughout the year, and he will be faced with the challenge of Gooden in the backcourt in this one. But Holmes’ ability to lock down opponents on defence will put him in good stead to stay in front of his opponent one-on-one.
He has the size to contest Gooden inside when he drives to the hoop, and the offensive skillset to keep him honest on the defensive side of the ball whenever he is in the game. Get ready for a hard-fought head-to-head in this one.
Justin Robinson vs Sesan Russell
To overcome the Scorchers, the Riders will have to contend with a two-time British Basketball League MVP in Justin Robinson from the backcourt.
Robinson won the award back-to-back in 2018 and 2019 for the London Lions, averaging 19.2 points per game in his second MVP season to earn the award.
This year, Robinson has provided valuable experience to the Scorchers roster while putting up 10.8 points per game and shooting 39% from behind the three point arc. He has been a consistent threat from deep over the court of his 12-year professional career, and now is no different.
Faced with the tall task of slowing the experience veteran down is Sesan Russell, who made his first start from the point last time out against the Giants.
Russell’s playmaking has been a key asset for the Riders in recent weeks, and it was no different after his insertion into the starting line-up. He put up 10 points and 6 assists, leading the team through the opening stages of the game.
Two games ago, Russell once again pulled the strings to dish 9 assists against the Bristol Flyers. His court vision has found open cutters to the rim consistently, as he runs the pick and roll from the point effectively with the Riders big men.
Keeping Robinson active in defending the pick-and-roll will go a long way in making his life difficult in the Riders’ last game of the Championship season.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders fell to the Manchester Giants 89-94 in their final home game of the British Basketball League Championship season.
After a quick start, Evan Walshe scored 10 straight in the second quarter to lead the Giants a double-digit lead. The Riders made a run late in the game led by Jaren Holmes, but it wasn’t enough to complete a comeback.
Holmes led the Riders with 20 points, going 8-13 from the field, 3-7 from three and grabbing 6 rebounds. He was backed by Teddy Allen’s 19 and Miryne Thomas’ 18.
But leading the game was Walshe for Manchester with 24, sinking the late free throws to end the game.
Early Leicester lead
Thomas got the action underway in style for the Riders emphatically. The lane opened up for him after Mason Bourcier fell in the paint, and Thomas needed little invitation to drive to the hoop and throw down a two handed jam.
Neither side found an edge in the first five, however. Allen and Russell stringed back-to-back threes, but they were offset by Bouricer and Lee from deep as the sides stayed locked.
But out of the media timeout, the Riders found some separation. Allen got to work to snatch momentum, dancing behind the arc before pulling up for a deep three. Next up, he went to the hole on the drive for a two to put the Riders up 26-16.
Giants battle back
Manchester fought back into the game in response, taking the lead early in the second quarter. Former Rider Walshe logged 10 points in as many minutes off the bench to lead the visitors to a 30-28 advantage.
He scored 10 straight to take momentum back, and was followed by Jalen Harris and Callum Jones who connected from within the arc in the midst of the Manchester run.
Russell stopped the run with an and-one, driving to his right and drawing a foul on Harris for three points the old fashioned way. But the Giants led 38-32 by the media timeout.
The Riders mustered just 12 points in the second quarter, unable to take the lead back. Bourcier scored 5 points to end the half, and the sides went into the locker rooms with the score 38-49 in the Giants’ favour.
All even in the third
Nicholas Lewis found his rhythm in the third, hitting a tough fadeaway and a contested three back-to-back to grow the Manchester lead to 15.
But in response to Lewis, Holmes got his head down to get two on the board at the hoop, before Allen connected from three to peg the deficit to 10, and force a Giants timeout.
Homes drew an offensive foul out of the timeout, before Thomas hit from deep- the Riders recapturing their early form.
Lewis responded to take back the big lead with back-to-back threes, but next time up, Holmes made a four point play by connecting on a three through contact, keeping the Giants within touching distance.
But the score remained there until the fourth, Manchester leading 63-74 with one to play.
Giants respond to Riders run
Holmes sparked life into the team to start the final period, driving to the hoop to get it underway, then throwing a lob to Shelton who threw it down two-handed.
The quick scoring brought it to a five point difference quickly in the final period, as TJ Lall added three more points from the foul line.
But Walshe rebuilt the Manchester lead with a three from the corner and a layup inside, taking away the Riders work to start the quarter.
It was 72-81 by the media timeout, with 4:49 left to play.
Riders give themselves a chance late
A barrage of threes went down for the Riders to give them a late chance. Thomas connected first, before finishing off a fastbreak from a Russell three, then Holmes and Allen caught fire.
The Giants kept their side of the scoreboard ticking, Walshe, Lewis and Nick Stampley combining for seven points, but Holmes fired away from the corner with 52 seconds left to make it a three point game.
The Riders got their stops, Walshe then Stampley missing, but the Giants crashed the offensive boards, getting three possessions and forcing Leicester to foul. Walshe made both from the line to make it a five point difference.
Thomas couldn’t hit from three in response, and the Giants dribbled the game out.
Riders return to action on Sunday, hitting the road to take on the Surrey Scorchers. A win will see them lock up home court advantage for the 2024 postseason.
Stay tuned for playoff ticket information.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
The Riders take on the Manchester Giants in their final home game of the 2023-24 British Basketball League season.
It’s an important weekend of action for the Riders in their final two games of the Championship, needing two wins to secure home court advantage for the postseason.
Here are the key matchups as the Riders take on the Giants…
Nicholas Lewis vs Kimbal Mackenzie
The Riders will need to zero in on their opponent’s leading scorer this season, Nicholas Lewis. Lewis is putting up 14.9 points per game this season, 11th among all players, and comes into this one on good form.
He has three 25+ scoring games in his last 10 appearances, his best outing being a 27 points, 7 assists and 4 steals game against the Cheshire Phoenix. Lewis played all 40 minutes for the third time this season in the game, putting a high workload on his back to carry the scoring effort.
The American is a shifty guard who makes his money driving inside, and can step back and take consistent twos from the midrange, finish at the hoop, or kick to teammates for open looks after the defence collapses.
Lewis leads his team in assists with 4.5 per game, pulling the string while leading the scoring for the Giants.
Looking to go back and forth with Lewis is Riders captain Kimbal Mackenzie, who is enjoying the best statistical season of his career. The Canadian is averaging a career high 13.2 points and 5 assists per game, and has led the team through the biggest moments of the season with his clutch play.
He made a go-ahead and-one in the Trophy final four with seconds left, and took over late to see the Riders past the Caledonia Gladiators on the road. In the absence of Jaren Holmes and Teddy Allen, he played 45 minutes in a double overtime win against Plymouth City Patriots and hit the game-tying shot to send it to overtime.
Mackenzie can match Lewis’ scoring and playmaking, making the head-to-head at the point guard position an interesting proposition going into the game with the Riders’ captain facing up against the Giants’ leading bucket getter.
William Lee vs Miryne Thomas
High-flyer and former Riders William Lee patrols the sky for the Manchester Giants, making huge plays on both ends around the rim.
The “Alabama slammer” is playing in his second season in Manchester having won the League in Leicester in 2021.
Lee is best known for his aerial ability. The human highlight reel throws down monster jams and swats away shots emphatically on a game to game basis. But Lee has a versatile game, and can knock down shots anywhere on the court.
He’s scoring 13.4 points per game, and pulling down the third most rebounds of any player with an average of 8.3. From outside, the 6’9” forward is shooting 38.5% from three, the second best on his team.
Meeting him in the frontcourt will be Riders forwardMiryne Thomas, who has composed an electric highlight reel of his own in his rookie season.
Putting up 12.4 points and 6.1 rebounds, the Cleveland native has come up huge for the Riders this season to lead the team to wins. He has scored double digit points in six of the last eight League games, including a 21 point and 15 rebound double double against the Newcastle Eagles.
Thomas is always a threat above the rim, but defenders, like Lee, need to respect the three where he can get hot on any given night. Last month against the Patriots, Thomas went 4-5 from three on his way to 19 points in 22 minutes, demonstrating his threat from anywhere on the court.
The frontcourt matchup between the two athletic fours is sure to get fans out of their seats.
Evan Walshe vs Jaren Holmes
Another former Riders, Evan Walshe, is enjoying his best statistical season of his professional career in his first season with the Manchester Giants.
The Brit, who suited up in Riders red between 2021 and 2023, is putting up 11 points per game with the Giants this season.
Walshe caught the attention of the League from the off this year by putting up 16.5 points per game in his opening two fixtures. He has taken over games for the Giants with seven 20 point performances to his name.
The 6’4” wing is aggressive on offence. He’s quick to get his head down and drive to the hole, but has shown his ability to step outside and knock down shots to keep defenders honest, going four for five from three against the Plymouth City Patriots earlier in the month.
Walshe’s real threat comes in transition, however, where his speed and aggression takes him coast to coast consistently for scores on the fastbreak. He shares this in common with Riders’ guard Jaren Holmes, who made his return from injury last time out.
Holmes was an All-Star in his rookie season after graduating from Iowa State University. He has lit up the league with his energy and effort this season, and is the Riders’ second leading scorer on the season.
Call his name
Jaren is ready to light up the Copper Box for Sunday's @britishbasketm All-Star game
Michigan-born Holmes is averaging 13.4 points per game this season, and his 1.3 steals per game has led to a multitude of fastbreak opportunities where he is extremely effective. His speed is transition and vision when driving at pace makes him a dual threat to score and pass, in the half court and on the break.
The fastbreak battle between Holmes and Walshe will be fought at an electric pace, and paired with the highlight plays from Thomas and Lee, expect a flurry of highlights from the Riders final home game of the Championship season.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Key Storylines: The final weekend of Championship action
Leicester Riders are fast approaching their final weekend in the 2023-24 British Basketball League Championship.
They face pivotal fixtures in determining their seeding for the postseason, with home court advantage hanging in the balance.
Here are the key storylines for the Riders going into their final two games…
Home court in our hands
The Riders hold pole position for home court advantage in the postseason with two games to go. Wins against the Manchester Giants and Surrey Scorchers would secure fourth place, as the Riders possess the tiebreaker against the Newcastle Eagles and Sheffield Sharks.
This scenario would see Leicester finish the season in fourth with a 19-17 record, and could potentially see all three contenders for home court advantage finish on the same number of wins.
The Sharks hold the season series against the Eagles, meaning if all three teams win out it would be Riders vs Sharks in round one of the 2024 Playoffs.
But above anything, the Riders need to handle business in their final two games, and secure home court with two momentous wins.
Riders look to build late form
Wins are not a given for the Riders in the two games, who enter this weekend having lost two on the bounce.
The first was a 91-96 loss to the Eagles in a game where Leicester could have essentially locked up home court after beating the Sharks two games prior. The narrow loss, however, did mean Leicester secured the tiebreaker against their North Eastern rivals.
Most recently, the Riders fell to the Bristol Flyers 77-89, a big result for Bristol in their mission to secure the seventh seed.
After a weekend off, and a chance to recover, the Riders will look to lock in, bounce back and build their form going into the postseason.
Healthy Holmes
The week away from action was significant for the Riders, who can heal any bumps and bruises and get fresh ahead of an important Playoff campaign.
Head Coach Rob Paternostro echoed that sentiment while looking to the remaining two games of the Championship season.
“These last couple of weeks are really significant,” he commented. “We want to make sure we’re healthy, and that we understand what our strengths are going into the playoffs. When we have everyone available we have a lot of weapons that can cause huge problems.”
Jaren Holmes, in particular, will benefit from the added recovery time, having spent a number of weeks away from action through injury.
He returned to the roster in limited minutes last time out, and will look to build back into game shape in the final two games before attacking his first postseason campaign of his professional career.
Having Holmes back is a major boost, and Leicester will look to maintain a healthy roster in their final two fixtures.
“In any sport, the healthiest do well in the postseason,” added Paternsotro. “We’re happy to be able to spend some time recovering.”
The last few tickets remain for our final home game of the Championship season against Manchester Giants.
Leicetser Riders lost 105-89 to the London Lions on the road, to fall to 15-13 in the British Basketball League Championship.
The sides were squared at 27 after one, but an explosion in the second quarter from the Lions gave them a 20 point advantage which the Riders were unable to overcome in the second half.
Leicester won the final three quarters by 5, but couldn’t find enough to get back into it.
Teddy Allen led the game with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals, continuing to establish himself as the League’s premier scorer. He was backed by Miryne Thomas, who scored 10 in the third quarter on his way to 17 points to get the Riders offence back in rhythm.
But the issues were on the defensive end. The Lions had five double digit scorers, led by 17 points from Sam Dekker, and the team shot 58% from the field.
The Riders burst out to a 9-2 start, attacking with authority led by four from Kimbal Mackenzie out the gate. London hit back in minutes to tie it at 11, but the Riders established their offence early to go toe to toe with the hosts.
Allen scored seven in the first five minutes, getting buckets on the board early. A minute later, he drove the length of the floor on the fastbreak for the second time in the game, scoring his second and-one play.
Dekker, in his return to the roster from injury, got to work to close the first. He scored seven straight points to take the lead for London. But the first ended 27-27 led by 9 points from Allen.
London started the second quarter 6-0 to extend out to a lead. They found success at the rim, as the Riders did early, scoring their first five buckets of the period in close to force a Rob Paternostro timeout.
Tarik Phillip scored six points in three minutes for London on their run. They made it a double digit lead through David Nwaba, who was found on a backdoor cut to make it 41-30.
The onslaught continued through to the half, the Lions winning the second quarter 33-14 to take a 60-41 advantage, led by 12 from Dekker at the break.
The Lions picked up in the third quarter where they left the second, scoring six straight to grow their lead. Thomas found joy for the Riders to score 10 points in three and a half minutes, but visitors couldn’t slow down London’s scoring to break into the deficit.
The Lions won the third 28-23 to lead 88-64 with one to play.
The Riders went bucket for bucket to start the fourth, once again finding success at the hoop. Blake Bowman’s free throws made it an 8-6 start to the period.
But London saw it out late, having built enough of a lead early to secure the win.
The Riders return to action on Sunday, staying on the road to face the Bristol Flyers.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
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Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Riders duo named to 2024 British Basketball League All-Star Team
Leicester Riders duo Teddy Allen and Jaren Holmes have been voted 2024 British Basketball League All-Star starters.
They will suit up for the South, alongside London Lions guard Matthew Morgan and forward Sam Dekker, and Bristol Flyers center Brad Greene at the Copper Box Arena on March 24.
Allen is the League’s leading scorer, and has been named captain after amassing the most votes of any player in the South. Since signing with the Riders in mid-December, he’s putting up 26.4 points and 6.7 rebounds, while shooting 47.6% from the field and a red-hot 46.5% from three in the Championship.
Allen commented: “It always feels good to be recognised for what you do, in any light. Thank you to all the fans who took the time to vote!”
Holmes was the highest-voted player in the guard position in the South. He is logging 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in the Championship this season, impressing in his rookie year.
Holmes commented: “It’s an honour to be voted an All-Star. I’m grateful to my teammates for putting me in the situations to be successful, and to the coaching staff for believing in my abilities day in and day out.
“Thank you the fans for voting me in, especially with this being my rookie year. I’m super excited to be making memories that will last a lifetime. I can’t wait to be there, and have a good time with the rest of the players.”
The full starting fives for the All-Star game are as follows.
Position
North
South
Guard
Larry Austin Jr. (c) –Newcastle Eagles
Matthew Morgan- London Lions
Guard
Jordan Johnson- Newcastle Eagles
Jaren Holmes- Leicester Riders
Forward
Aaryn Rai- Cheshire Phoenix
Teddy Allen (c)- Leicester Riders
Forward
Tajh Green- Newcastle Eagles
Sam Dekker- London Lions
Center
Ethan Chargois- Cheshire Phoenix
Brad Greene- BristolFlyers
The remainder of the team will be chosen by the two head coaches, Caledonia Gladiators’ Gareth Murray for the North and London Lions’ Petar Bozic for the South.
Sunday evening sees the 12-11 Riders take the tough trip north to face the 14-9 Caledonia Gladiators and wrap up Round 18 of the British Basketball League Championship.
The game is sure to be a battle of attrition after both teams played in competitive matches on Friday night as part of a weekend doubleheader.
Rob Paternostro’s squad will travel to Glasgow high in confidence after Friday’s 102-81 defeat of the Plymouth City Patriots gives them a chance to extend their League Championship winning run to four games.
The Riders didn’t have it all their own way against the Pats, but a devastating 33-point fourth quarter saw them through to the impressive double-digit win.
Friday’s 102 points was the fifth time Leicester reached triple-digits in the past nine games, and history dictates that when they breach that total, they win.
Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen took Player of the Game honours in the victory, yet again making 20 points look easy with a cool 25 on 58% shooting from the field.
The prolific scorer had an off night from three-point range – dropping just one of his six attempts – but displayed elite adaptability, pulling from an extensive bag of tricks on multiple occasions to finish at the rim.
Big Samuel Idowu also turned heads with a 20 point – 12 rebound double-double from the bench in what is becoming a familiar sight of dominance.
Idowu is proving to be a nightmare for defences, often imposing his will inside before sliding quietly out to the arc to splash from deep, currently hitting around 30% of his three-pointers.
The introduction of Allen and the emergence of Idowu is also allowing captain Kimbal Mackenzie to play a more well-rounded point guard role without the burden of being the roster’s primary scoring option.
The Riders’ leader can still shoot the ball – often in clutch situations – but 11 assists against the Patriots demonstrate his increased role as a distributor as the trust between the squad improves with each game.
Solid shooting, good distribution and trust are three things the Riders will need if they are to best the Gladiators on home court. On recent form, they have all three in abundance.
A Tough Return to Championship Action
The Gladiators have been enjoying a fantastic season so far, sitting third in the League Championship standings and making it to the semi-finals of the League Trophy competition.
Gareth Murray’s men play safe, solid basketball predicated on stingy defence and hustle on the boards.
It is a tactic that has worked well throughout the season, however the return to championship play has been a tough one.
A low-scoring home victory over the Bristol Flyers started February off in winning fashion, however this was followed by a double-digit defeat in Newcastle on Friday night.
The biggest concern for the Gladiators was allowing the Eagles to dominate the fourth quarter after beginning the final stanza just three points adrift.
Former Rider Patrick Whelan scored 21 points to continue the season as Caledonia’s primary scorer. Leicester supporters will be familiar with Whelan’s pinpoint accuracy from three-point range, currently hitting at an impressive 43% clip.
The Scottish side also boast a trio of impressive forwards – Lukas Palyza, Princeton Onwas and Fahro Alihodzic posing a formidable front court arsenal, boosted by true centre Clifton Moore Jnr coming off the bench.
Caledonia are a team without any glaring weaknesses for the Riders to exploit, however their aggressive defence does give up more fouls than most teams.
The Riders are one of the best free throw shooting teams in the League, so if the likes of Allen and Mackenzie can repeatedly get to the line, they could keep the scoreboard ticking over, making like difficult for the Glaswegians.
Key Matchup
There will be entertaining battles all over the court on Sunday, however the most crucial may come between a pair of bench big men: Samuel Idowu and Clifton Moore Jnr.
Standing at 6’10”, Moore Jnr is an imposing figure inside the paint. The young centre – in his rookie season after five years playing college ball – uses his length well to finish at a high clip while also blocking shots at the other end.
The former La Salle Explorer is averaging 9.8 points per game from the bench on over 57% from the field and leads the Gladiators in blocks per game with 1.5.
Moore presents a tough problem to solve for any big man in the League, however in current form, the Riders’ own second unit big man will be up to the task.
Standing at 6’8”, Idowu gives up a bit of size to his younger opponent but makes up for it with bulk, experience and shooting range.
The four-year veteran is a bruiser on the inside, using his strength to force missed shots near the rim before motoring down the other end of the court to forge a scoring opportunity.
The Brooklyn-native averages 8.2 points per game currently, but with four double-doubles since the turn of the year, those numbers are consistently on the rise.
Idowu also brings range to the Riders’ offense, averaging nearly three deep balls a night, so expect to see him dragging Moore out to the perimeter to open up inside space for a cutting guard.
Sunday’s game could be the perfect end to Round 18 between two well-matched teams.
The starting lineups could well cancel each other out, so bench points will be crucial. How effectively Idowu and Moore Jnr use their minutes could decide which set of supporters go home happy.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
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.
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.
MT from Downtown
Riders leading 21-14 with 3 minutes to play in the first.
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.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Riders were unable to make it a three-game winning streak after a tight 87-81 loss to the 11-11 Bristol Flyers in round 16 of the British Basketball League Championship.
Rob Paternostro’s team remains seventh in the standings with a 9-11 record and hopes to finish the year with a win against the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks in two days.
The home team outscored their opponents from three-point range, and strong first-half defence held the Flyers to just 33 points, but a record-breaking game on the offensive glass by Brad Greene willed the visitors to victory.
The powerful centre put up a 19-point, 17-rebound double-double, which included a franchise record of 14 offensive boards.
The Riders spread scoring nicely, with five players dropping double-digit point totals, led by 17 from Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen who started the game on the court for the first time.
Forwards Miryne Thomas and Samuel Idowu both gave good accounts facing up to physical inside play from the Flyers, scoring 10 and 11 points respectively, and Kimbal Mackenzie hit some clutch shots down the stretch to keep the Riders in touching distance.
The Flyers’ Greene was supported by second-half scoring runs spearheaded through Trejon Jacob and Kedrian Johnson, who dropped 18 points apiece, largely helped by the second chances provided by their double-double machine.
The opening minutes of the game began with rare inaccurate shooting by the Riders, who missed their first four attempts allowing the Flyers to build an early six-point lead.
Visiting power forward Rowell Graham-Bell made space for a couple of buckets early, but the Morningside Arena didn’t have to wait too long before Teddy ‘Buckets’ gave fans a reason to cheer.
The wing forward hit high off the glass to open the Riders’ account before casually pulling up from three and draining the game’s opening triple.
The home side’s defence soon started to cause the Flyers problems too, big centre Mo Walker standing up well in the paint against the hulking Greene, forcing missed shots that regularly allowed the Riders to spring a fast break attack.
Excellent defence led to the most eye-catching moment of the quarter, Walker jamming home in transition after a spectacular block by lengthy forward Thomas.
Thomas then splashed from deep to give Leicester the lead and complete the mini-comeback, but tenacious offensive rebounding from the Flyers’ front court (they finished the half with seven) saw them take advantage of the second chances to head into the second quarter with a two-point lead.
The second ten minutes tipped off with a clash of styles, as the Riders’ speed faced off against the Flyers’ size.
Both teams found increased success on the offensive side of the court, but it was Paternostro who appeared the happier as his small second unit built a multiple-shot lead.
High-flyer Blake Bowman led the way, finessing a tough step back jumper before displaying his famed euro step to hit a transition layup. Bowman’s buckets came either side of a picturesque Sechan Russell three, and the Riders were gaining momentum.
A Leslie Smith ‘and one’ slowed the home side’s roll for a minute, but a classic Conner Washington three and a beautifully destructive TJ Lall dunk kept the scoreboard ticking in Leicester’s favour.
The Riders’ defence caused nine first half turnovers for the Flyers and, coupled with good ball movement on the other end of the court, the lead grew.
A late dry spell allowed Bristol to close the gap, but another three from Teddy ‘Buckets’ and a tough layup by captain Mackenzie pushed the Riders to a 38-33 half-time lead.
The defence limited Bristol to a scoreless half from three-point range, and the home fans knew that a better shooting percentage from Leicester would give them a great chance at victory.
The third quarter began with Allen in heat check mode, stringing his 12th point to open the half before another transitional three found its mark.
The Flyers would develop effective offense of their own though, Jacob heating up after a cold first half assisted by Greene’s insatiable appetite on the glass.
The 6’11” big man’s quality play was only trumped by the 16 third quarter points for the red-hot Jacob.
The Riders needed to halt their opponents’ momentum, and a strong rebound from Idowu who put back the easy layup did the trick.
Still, 31 third quarter points from the Flyers catapulted them into a four-point lead, with a lot to do for Paternostro’s squad heading into the closing stanza.
Lall got the Riders off to the perfect possible start, facing up to the much larger Smith to finish at the rim. Idowu soon followed suit and when Jaren Holmes hit his first big three of the night, Leicester retook the lead.
A momentum-stealing takeaway and jam from Holmes saw the home side on a 9-2 run, forcing the Flyers to take a timeout and rethink.
Kapoulas’ squad did manage to swing the pendulum back in their favour, going on a nine-point run of their own, although a crucial five points by captain Mackenzie kept Leicester in contention.
More glass-eating from Greene saw him break the Flyers’ franchise record for offensive rebounds in a game, and the Riders were facing a five-point deficit with 90 seconds left.
A timely block by Idowu gave the home crowd hope, but a couple of calls that went the Flyers’ way allowed the visitors to ice the game.
The Riders return to action on Saturday, hosting the Sheffield Sharks in their final game of 2023. Get tickets here!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders games confirmed for Sky Sports coverage
The British Basketball League have confirmed the Leicester Riders fixtures that have been selected for broadcast live on Sky Sports for the remainder of the Championship campaign.
With this British Basketball League season at the midway stage, fixtures up until the end of the 2023/24 Championship campaign have now been confirmed.
Fans can tune into each game from 7:30 pm via Sky Sports and their YouTube channels.
See the fixtures confirmed for Sky Sports coverage below:
We sat down with new signing Teddy Allen to talk about his arrival in the British Basketball League.
It was a whirlwind week that saw Allen sign in Leicester. Following talks with Managing Director Russell Levenston, he headed straight to the UK to join the team.
“On Thursday, Russell called me to ask if I wanted to come and play for the Riders. I hadn’t played since the CEBL in the summer, so I was itching to get out on the court. I was on a flight the next day.”
Allen played alongside former Bristol Flyers Jelani Watson-Gayle for the Winnipeg Sea Bears in the summer.
In Canada, he competed in the League featuring both Kimbal Mackenzie and TJ Lall, the British Basketball League connection helping to inform his decision to sign with the Riders.
“I knew that Jelani played here. I talked to him about the League, and he had great things to say.”
“It’s cool being able to compete with and against guys in different countries. It should be fun being able to go against them.”
The American joins the team after a historic CEBL season, where his ability was on full display throughout the summer. Allen described his game:
“I’m always attacking the hoop, and I’m versatile on both ends of the floor. I can score the ball, make plays, rebound and compete on both ends. Right now, I’m trying to get my legs under me the best I can and get ready to help the team in any way.”
Sunday evening sees the Riders travel northwest to Cheshire as they take on the Phoenix in Round 12 of the British Basketball League Championship.
It will be the second game of a weekend double-header for Rob Paternostro’s squad after a spirited 89-79 defeat to the London Lions on Friday night.
Fixture Information
Leicester Riders @ Cheshire Phoenix
Ellesmere Port Sports Village, Cheshire Oaks
Sunday, December 3, 6:00pm
Riders Looking to Play Smart
After Friday’s defeat to the league leaders, Paternostro expressed the need for the Riders to play smartly if they are to claim victory in Cheshire. The Phoenix have only lost once at home since October 1 and have won five of their last six in the league.
Every member of the Riders’ squad should expect significant minutes on the floor and will need to make the most of them.
One player that made the best of his opportunity against the Lions was recent signing Sesan Russell. The British two-guard drove his team forwards in the second half, coming off the bench to score 13 points in just 14 minutes.
The Florida Tech University graduate also flashed his playmaking ability, dishing four assists to add to his scoring.
Young forward Victor Ndoukou may also need to step up against the Phoenix as his minutes have increased since the reshuffling of the Riders’ roster.
The 6’8” man from Wigan has bags of potential, representing Great Britain at under-20’s level last summer. Now could be the time for Ndoukou to start realising that promise.
The Phoenix, who sit second in the BBL standings, are excellent on the offensive side of the ball. The Riders’ defence has improved over the past two games, largely down to high effort plays from the likes of Russell and Ndoukou.
That hustle will be needed once more on Sunday night.
Phoenix in Great Form
Cheshire have been the surprise package of the BBL championship this season. Ben Thomas’ squad play turnover-free basketball which – combined with rampant crashing of the offensive glass – gives his team more chances at buckets than anyone else.
The Phoenix have claimed two victories over the Riders this season. The first a shock road win on the opening weekend of the season, the second a tight 102-96 win at home after a previous Riders’ double-header.
Round 12 is an exact replica of Round 9, with Leicester falling to both London and Cheshire. The Riders will be looking to change history on Sunday with a victory.
Cheshire’s success is largely due to the elite play of dynamic duo Maceo Jack and Aaryn Rai.
Jack, a tall point guard who play five seasons in college before joining the BBL, has been at the centre of everything good the Phoenix have done this season. The ‘shoot first’ guard stands at 6’5”, making him difficult to guard and tricky to keep off the boards, shown by 18.1 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game this year.
Rai is a big-bodied 6’6” small forward whose speed and ball handling skill belies his size. The former Dartmouth player has added a lethal second scoring option that Cheshire lacked last season, averaging just over 17 points per game.
Keeping the Phoenix’s scoring stars quiet will be priority number one for the Riders’ defence.
Key Matchup
Both teams possess high volume stars such as Jaren Holmes, Kimbal Mackenzie, Jack and Rai, but the most enticing matchup could come between a pair of rangy big men.
Cheshire’s Skylar White has been putting up good numbers this season, dropping over 11 points per contest, pulling down 4.1 rebounds per game and hitting at nearly 85% from the charity stripe.
The 6’8” Brit is an intelligent player, and while he doesn’t possess great speed or athleticism inside the paint, his shooting touch cannot be questioned. White dropped 22 points on the Riders on opening night, so Paternostro will be aware of the danger he poses.
Facing up to the test of White is exciting rookie, Miryne Thomas.
If White lacks in speed, Thomas has it in abundance. The Cleveland-native has an eye for the spectacular dunk and is adept at freeing space inside for the monster jam. The 6’8” power forward is averaging 12.4 points per night and is hitting over 62% of his shots inside.
Thomas also shows confidence to hit from downtown and shows hustle on the boards, evident in his team-high three double-doubles. #3 is yet to score in double digits against Cheshire this season. If the Riders are to snag the road victory, he may need to set his sights on a fourth double-double.
— Women’s British Basketball League (@britishbasketw) November 27, 2023
Taylor O’Brien makes the team two weeks in a row following her stat-sheet-stuffing outing against Nottingham. She put up 22 points, eight rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks, impacting every aspect of the game.
Player of the Game Sam Ashby backed her teammate with 18 points,10 rebounds, seven steals and four assists, the GB international logging her first double-double of the season.
6 Academy games this weekend including a National Cup Quarter Final win for our U16 Girls Premier. Check out our coaches thoughts below.
U16 Girls Premier 83-50 Bristol Flyers – National Cup Quarter Final
“Solid 30+ point win in the end for the 16s prem girls in the cup quarter final. We had a bad 1st quarter which made it look like it was about to be a game. But then some honest words in between quarters saw them come out a different team, going on a 12-2 run inside about 45 seconds. Sticking to our system, trusting in the process. Onto the semi finals” – Coach Lewis.
U14 Boys Premier 88-63 St Helens Saints
“After a slow start and with poor offence and defence we found ourselves behind by 5 at half time. After talking to the players and going over what we need we had an amazing 3rd quarter scoring 40 points and giving us a 15 point lead. After that was just about slowing down the game and getting the best shot possible.” – Coach Ricardo.
U18 Men 79-62 Nottingham Hoods
“Really solid win on the road for our U18 Men team. On a day when not everything came perfect (3 points % were very low, we we possibly had too many turnovers), we managed to find our identity, made of hard defence and quick transition. The key was the energy throughout the game, keeping it high really helped us to lead from the beginning to the end. Congratulations to the boys and to Luke Heath (double double), Brad Mushambi and Noah (leading our transition), we had a solid impact on the game.” – Coach Pietro.
U16 Boys Conference 67-65 Doncaster Eagles
“U16 kept it close all the way, we just turned it up when needed. Great ball pressure gave us some much needed breaks in the game, the boys showed big hearts today.” – Coach Emo.
The Leicester Riders Foundation are delighted to be hosting a Primary Schools Tournament at the Morningside Arena on Wednesday 10th January prior to the Leicester Riders taking on the Manchester Giants later that evening.
“We are delighted to be able to provide the opportunity for both the schools we work with and new schools in the local area to be able to compete in the tournament and also experience a Riders Game day. This season our team have been working very hard out in schools across Leicestershire, we are looking forward to bringing everyone together to celebrate this hard work.” – Greg Ellis, Interim Head of Education & School Sport.
The Tournament will run throughout the afternoon with the final taking place on centre court during half time of the Riders game. This provides an excellent opportunity for the students to both experience a Riders game day and also put into practice what they have learnt whilst in the sessions we have delivered within their schools.
Schools can CLICK HERE to book their place or email greg@riders.basketball for more information.
8 of our Academy teams were in action this past weekend, check out our coaches thoughts on the action below.
U18 Men 77-64 Charnwood Riders
“U18 Conf beat Charnwood 77-64. We started slow in the first half (sometimes we tend to adapt to the teams we play, rather than imposing our game). The second half was better, defensively and on the break as Dominic and Noah really helped us on both end to take the lead and keep it to the end. We will take the win.” – Coach Pietro.
U16 Girls Premier 96-27 City of Birmingham Rockets
“U16s prem girls took a very convincing 96-27 win against COB. The penny is really starting to drop with this team, fixing the small details week by week. Strong full court press in our system for 3/4 quarters. Right attitudes throughout the entire game. Good game to take us into the quarter final next weekend.” – Coach Lewis.
U14 Boys Premier 85-36 City Of Leeds
“After our first the win the team was very excited to get back on court. With some solid defence and good transition offence we saw ourselves ahead from the start. Throughout the game we played great help defence allowing us to go on fastbreak. Overall great performance.” – Coach Ricardo.
U16 Boys Premier 62-88 Manchester Magic
U16 Boys Conference 113-25 Sheffield Sharks Yellow
U15 Boys 45-57 Shrewsbury Storm
“Disappointing 57-45 loss for the team. We played great defence for the first 3 quarters and was leading narrowly going into the 4th. In the 4th, we turned the ball over too much which lead to fast breaks for the opponents. We had a lot of positives to start the game, we need to improve our composure and take care of the ball better.” – Coach Damon.
U14 Boys Conference 41-54 Northamptonshire Titans
“I’m really proud of the lads, they worked really hard as a team and performed what we have been working on in training, help defense and learning to take charges. We got two charges and and should of had more, we just needs to work a little more on boxing out and it be a lot closer. It was the second quarter that killed us and only having 7 players.” – Coach Ady.
Leicester Riders Foundation Partnership Opportunities
We are delighted to launch our new partnership opportunities brochure showcasing the wide array of opportunities for your organisation to make a positive impact on the community with the Leicester Riders Foundation.
“I am really excited that we have launched our partnership brochure and the potential new opportunities that may come off the back of it. At the Leicester Riders Foundation we are extremely passionate about creating new partnerships within our local community to be able to increase our delivery and provide additional opportunities for young people to access basketball within the community.” – Laura Shephard, Leicester Riders Foundation General Manager.
CLICK HERE to read our Partnership Opportunities brochure.
For more information on our partnership opportunities or to get involved email foundation@riders.basketball.
How to donate to Leicester Hospitals Charity’s “Boss Breakout” event
Leicester Riders’ Head of Commercial, Tracey Hallam, is taking part in the “Boss Breakout” charity event, led by Leicester Hospitals Charity at the Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester.
We need your help to break Tracey out! She needs to raise £1,000 towards the initiative in order to escape the LHC pop-up shop at Highcross Shopping Centre.
The money will be directly channelled into the purchase of 12 fold-away hospital beds. These beds will serve an essential purpose, allowing parents to stay overnight with their children during their hospital stays.
This invaluable support aims to ease the burden on families when faced with the challenging circumstances of having a child in hospital.
Your contribution will make a meaningful difference in the lives of families who find themselves in the difficult situation of having a child in the hospital.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
This weekend saw 5 of our Academy teams in action, including a double header for our U16 Girls Premier who had both a league and cup fixture. Check out our coaches’ thoughts below.
U18 Men 76-83 Nottingham Wildcats
“It was a very close loss for the U18 men at Wildcats. The team played good fast basketball despite the big physical difference between the teams. We managed to fight back multiple times to nearly take the win but just fell short in the end.” – Coach Pietro.
U14 Boys Premier 90-72 City of Birmingham Rockets
“The boys really wanted to win so from the start we played very well on offence and limiting the amount of shots COB got. We led from the start to the end. The team played some great offence and defence allowing us to win the game.” – Coach Ricardo.
U16 Boys Premier 65-78 City Of Birmingham Rockets
U16 Girls Premier 87-24 Manchester Mystics II
U16 Girls Premier 59-51 Sheffield Hatters – Cup Fixture
“We played in an extremely tough environment to be playing in, and with Kyrah and Eliana fouling out, everybody else needed to step up and they did. We were Committed to the zone defence in the second half to slow down the scoring and see out the game.” – Coach Lewis.
The Riders improved to 6-4 in the British Basketball League Championship after a convincing 111-88 victory over the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles on Saturday.
A 36-point third quarter from Rob Paternostro’s team rattled the Eagles in the second half, and the loss drops Marc Steutel’s squad to 3-7 on the season.
On a night where several Riders caught the eye, energetic shooting guard Jaren Holmes had potentially his best game yet, dropping 25 points on 84% shooting, adding four assists and five boards for good measure.
Holmes lit up the pine all game, his impact displayed with a plus 22 score differential when he was on court.
A high-quality first half from Xavier Pinson gave the Riders a boost early, continued by pure dominance from the second unit, who scored 51 points from the bench.
Eagles’ point guard Jordan Johnson bagged his usual 25 points, and enigmatic forward Tajh Green made a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double, but a spectacular second-half of offense from the Riders put the game beyond doubt.
After a pre-game build up heavy with anticipation, both teams came out looking determined to gain a useful lead early. The half that followed, didn’t disappoint.
Three-pointers dominated the first few minutes of play, the dynamic duo of Pinson and Holmes hitting back-to-back triples to answer five early points from the Eagles.
Newcastle crept out to an eight-point lead thanks to tenacious defence and 11 points from Rickey McGill, but a couple of beautiful buckets from Pinson and tough play from the Riders’ bench kept the lead narrow.
One move in the paint from the Riders’ starting point guard saw him scythe through multiple players before readjusting mid-shot to draw the foul and hit the ‘and one’ play.
Skilled big man Samuel Idowu made his presence known from the bench, slamming home a dunk, dismissing a McGill layup with authority and stroking from deep all within a couple of minutes.
With the Idowu three, Riders went into the second quarter trailing by just a single bucket.
The second quarter began, and the pace of the game took a step up.
Five quick points from talented point guard Jordan Johnson were answered by a pair of threes from Riders’ veterans, Mo Walker and Connor Washington.
Leicester’s much discussed depth was showing its value once again, the Riders’ bench outscoring the Eagles 25-6 in the first half.
Johnson was cooking for Newcastle – hitting 14 first-half points – but he was matched by the tandem of Pinson and Kimbal Mackenzie, who dropped 14 and eight points respectively.
A pair of corner threes from the Riders’ captain sparked the home side as the half rushed to a close, and when Pinson hit his free throws following more aggressive play in the paint, Leicester took their first lead of the game.
The Riders were now forcing their visitors into poorly taken shots, and despite Green working his way to his double-double, Leicester went into the locker rooms in the lead, 53-50.
The first 20 minutes was a virtuoso display of deep ball shooting, both teams draining over 50% of their threes – the Riders at an eye-watering 66%.
If fans thought the pace would slow in the second half, they were badly mistaken.
Two deep threes from Green and wing player Devin Whitfield were quickly answered by the Riders – buckets from Braelen Bridges, Caleb Asberry and four fast break points by Holmes giving Paternostro’s squad a steadily growing lead.
Leicester were now running hot, playing wonderful transition basketball combining effective defence with ruthlessness on offense.
Even Eagles’ talisman Johnson was struggling to hit shots, and when scores from Pinson and Miryne Thomas dropped, the visitors were staring at a 15-point deficit.
Leicester were also riding the heat of Holmes’ hand, the two-guard boasting 17 points after hitting every one of his shots from the floor.
A lengthy break following a facial injury to Thomas slowed Riders’ momentum, but Holmes quelled any thoughts of a quick Newcastle comeback with another triple.
The Eagles were still dangerous though, big-bodied forward Malcolm Delpeche wowing both sets of supporters with a thunderous dunk off an alley-oop.
With Newcastle’s shooters hitting a cold snap and the Riders’ second unit continuing to dominate the floor, Leicester entered the final stanza holding a comfortable 20-point lead.
Leicester’s exceptional play continued into the fourth, a cool-headed Washington draining a step back three to build the lead further.
The Eagles could not handle the Riders’ defensive intensity, and with Holmes looking impossible to defend, the result looked certain with six minutes still to go.
The contest meandered to a close in jubilant fashion for the Riders’ faithful as their team saw out the well-earned win.
Late ejections for Green and Darius Defoe for persistent fouling summed things up for the visitors, who will be hoping for better as they look to move up the BBL championship table.
Important Notice: Abbey Park Fireworks Event on November 4th
Leicester Riders fixture on November 4th, 7:30 pm, at Morningside Arena Leicester is set to coincide with Abbey Park Bonfire & Firework Display.
The Arena are working with Leicester City Council to ensure both events can proceed successfully.
To ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience for fans visiting the Arena for Saturday night’s fixture, please note the following information.
Congestion The Abbey Park Bonfire & Firework Display is expected to draw a substantial crowd.
As a result, heightened traffic congestion may occur in the vicinity. We kindly request fans to prepare for potential travel delays when commuting to and from the game.
We recommend planning your travel routes in advance and allowing extra time for any unforeseen traffic hold-ups.
Parking
In light of the anticipated crowd attending the fireworks event at Abbey Park, fans are strongly advised to avoid parking in the Abbey Park car park on the day of the game.
Memory Lane and Charter Street parking areas remain unaffected by the event. Fans can continue to utilize these parking facilities without the risk of interference from the fireworks event.
We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to an exciting game night!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Basketball came late to Cleveland-born Miryne Thomas. At 15, he was searching for a direction to shape his life until the game found him.
Now, he suits up as a professional, competing for the Leicester Riders as one of their marquee players.
The 24-year-old reflected on where it all started:
“I talked with my mum about my future and what I wanted to do in life. I told her that I wanted to go to school and break the generational curse that had been on our family.
“One day in high school, some NCAA advocates showed us the statistics of how many high school students go on to play sport in college. I knew I could be one. I was athletic and felt I had enough time to get good enough.”
With his dream of attending college spurring him on, he applied every part of himself to basketball. That included moving schools to give himself every chance of getting a scholarship.
“The school I was at was very academically focused, so I changed to Central Catholic where athelticim was through the roof. They had three State Championships before I got there and had people go to D1 year after year. I knew that was where I was supposed to be.”
Thomas received a scholarship from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and transferred to Ball State after his Freshman year, then to Kent State as a Senior.
He accomplished what he set out to, graduating in the summer with a B.A. in Telecommunications Video Production and an M.A. in Promotional Management and Tourism.
“Getting to college was never about going pro. It was all about getting a degree and becoming the first in my family to do that. But when I got there, it was clear I was getting better than a lot of the other guys, and one day, my coach told me that I can do this professionally.
“Now I’m a first-generation college graduate, and doing what I love for a living. I’m so proud of how far I’ve come.”
Cleveland: This is for you!
Living in Cleveland during that period meant there was no shortage of basketball inspiration. The Cavaliers’ 2016 Championship inspired a city, and Thomas was there to witness it all.
“Game Seven was in Golden State, and we had a watch party outside the Cavs arena. When the confetti came down, me and my friends started crying. Balling our eyes out. We’d never experienced something like that for our city.
“Growing up in the inner city was always one of the most dangerous places in America. It was overwhelming that the same city accomplished that. It gave people hope that things can be better despite all the darkness.”
The NBA title coming to Cleveland gave Thomas an extra push to fight for his dream.
“I had been playing basketball for one year at the time, and it kicked me into gear. It gave me an extra push to show me I can do it. I remember crying and looking at my friend and saying: ‘We can really be something. Lebron was just a normal kid before he was Lebron.’”
It wasn’t only the star of the city who inspired a young Thomas. Watching the 2016 Cavs showed him that the team is a sum of its parts, and every player down the roster is pivotal to team success.
“I was never the star, so I took a lot of inspiration from the guys who knew their role and helped get the team over the line. It showed me that everyone has an oar on the boat, and they all have to work in the same direction. JR Smith was the guy I looked up to.”
Returning to Central Catholic after that summer, Thomas’ drive saw him achieve his dream. As a former boxer, his devotion to his craft came naturally.
“My work ethic Carried over from boxing. Working as a boxer is so much harder, so applying myself to basketball has never been a problem.
“Being from Cleveland, you can’t just be athletic. We’re inner-city kids: everyone’s athletic! In order to stand out, I realised I had to find a way to be different. The way I did that was learning how to shoot effectively.
“My coaches told me if I got 10,000 shots up over the offseason I could become a shooter. So I followed that plan, worked hard on my shot, and it became automatic.
“That work ethic has carried over to college and the pros. If I play badly I’d be practising the next day, so why is it any different if I play well? You have to keep your grind and process consistent.”
Teammates become family
Thomas quickly learned, coming up as a collegiate athlete the importance of a team pulling in the same direction. Despite finding differences with a teammate to start the year, they ended it as brothers.
“At Ball State, in my sophomore year, we played Kent State and things got a bit chippy between myself and Malique Jacobs who played for them. A couple of years down the line I transferred to Kent State, and he was still there.
“We didn’t have the best relationship off the bat. We just couldn’t see eye to eye.
“But at the end of the year we won the MAC Championship, and when we sealed the Championship game, he walked to me and said ‘It was all worth it’.
“I got the same feeling you get when you’re plummeting down on a rollercoaster. This was a guy who I’d clashed with going back three years, and those few words just cleared the air in an instant.
“We’re like brothers now. We had to battle through not loving each other to becoming family.”
Knowing the importance of the collective unit is one of Thomas’ great strengths. As a rookie, he came to the Riders understanding that he had to get on the same page as his new teammates.
“If you want to be successful, you have to understand your teammates as people. We all come form different backgrounds, upbringings and families, and we all have to find a way to find common ground.”
TO THE RACK!
Miryne Thomas showing his strength inside as he shrugs off the defence to SLAM home for @RidersBball!
— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) October 6, 2023
That has come naturally to this group, who have connected on and off the court.
“I love this team. Mo, Kimbal and Conner are the best vets I’ve ever had. I love their energy.
“Kimbal is one of the greatest people I will ever play basketball with. Mo is such a point of wisdom in my life, and he always has something to say that will help. Conner is like me; he comes with energy, and I look up to him and want to be like him.”
As he did when he first found the game, Thomas has hit the ground running in Leicester. He has two Team of the Week selections, put up a team-leading 20-point double in back-to-back games, and ranks top 10 in the British Basketball League in rebounds.
In his ninth year of playing basketball, the sky is the limit for this ever-improving talent.
It was another busy weekend of Academy fixtures with 9 of our teams in action. Check out our coaches thoughts below.
U14 Boys Premier 58-88 Manchester Magic
“After a slow start against a strong team. We found ourselves behind but the team in the second half played some great basketball on defence and on the fastbreak showing a lot of positives to take away from the game and to improve.” – Coach Ricardo.
U18 men 59-83 Leicester Dynamite
“U18 men lose to Dynamite in a well fought game. The difference was the very effective zone press and better energy shown by Dymanite in the first quarter, that built a deep lead for the home team. Riders did not give in and managed to get back into the game (-13 in the third) to then not find the energy to complete the come back. Harry Smith led the team with a good scoring and defensive performance.” – Coach Pietro.
U15 Boys58-65 Birmingham Bears
U16 Boys Conference 69-71 Doncaster Eagles
U16 Boys Premier 71-67 Trafford Magic
U16 Girls Premier 54-56 Manchester Mystics
U16 Girls Conference 61-29 Leicester Warriors
“Another good win for the girls! We ran a great offence and adapted well to different defence styles that we have not come up against before. Despite having to overcome some adversity, the girls played very well!” – Coach Neve.
U12 Red 48-82 Sheffield Sharks
“A tough first game for us but it was a great learning experience for the team. It was wonderful to give 9 players their first experience at this level.” – Coach Greg.
Earlier this week we headed over to Whitehall Primary School to deliver an assembly on Black History Month for both their KS1 & KS2 students. The aim of the assembly was to educate, inspire and create discussion on Black History and how it has influenced who we are today as a community.
The assembly was led by our Inclusion Activator Myalls Martin who spoke to the students about his story, key figures who influenced him growing up and how black history has shaped the person he is today.
“It was a liberating experience delivering the Black History Month assembly to Whitehall Primary. Black History is a subject that is close to my heart from a professional and personal stand point, so to be able to educate and inspire the students is something I am extremely proud of.” – Myalls Martin, Leicester Riders Foundation Inclusion Activator.
“I just wanted to take this opportunity on behalf of Whitehall Primary School to say a huge thank you to Myalls for taking the Black History Assembly this afternoon. Myalls’s story, background, and messaging to the children was extremely powerful. Myalls was in his enthusiastic element and had a had an amazing impact on the students.” – Neal Ruparelia, PE Consultant at Whitehall Primary School.
The students were engaged throughout the assembly and were encouraged to get involved, discussing black role models who have had an impact on their personal journey and highlighting the challenges that they have overcame to get to where they are today.
Here at the Leicester Riders Foundation we believe that it is important to share the stories of those who have inspired and impacted our lives and use these stories to educate the younger generation.
We’ve launched a WhatsApp Channel to bring you all of the latest news, closer to the Team than you’ve ever been before.
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Check out what went on in our 8 Academy fixtures that took place on October 21st & 22nd.
U16 Boys Conference 61-50 Leicester Warriors
“Great to get a win against Warriors, every player stepped up in a game that challenged the lads to stay focused. Honourable mentions go to Rance for his offensive intensity getting to the basket, Denis closing out the game with 2 clutch steal and scores, along with our bigs Ramaan and Lucious for getting crucial And 1 baskets in the game.” – Coach Ryan.
U16 Girls Conference 56-44 Northants Lightning
“It was a great win to start the season for the u16s girls conf! We managed to run effective offence and be active on defence to create a lead that we held throughout the game. There is still lots to work on and perfect but it was a great start!” – Coach Neve.
U16 Boys Conference 63-62 Sheffield Elite II
“To come away with a gritty comeback win and chase the mistakes we made early on, was impressive to see. We were challenged by a tough Sheffield side, though to see the building spirit from the boys was credit to them. Flynn gets a shout out with his 3 to ice the game.” – Coach Ryan.
U15 Boys 38-59 Northants Thunder
“The game was a real tale of two halves. We struggled offensively in the first half, not taking advantage of some good defence we were playing. But in the second half, they switched on and implemented the adjustments really well. Lots to take away from it but happy with how we responded.” – Coach Damon.
U16 Girls Premier 58-86 Milton Keynes Breakers
“In a game full of controversy, the girls played well in what had the potential to be a very good game. We look to bounce back next week” – Coach Lewis.
U16 Boys Premier 50-86 Milton Keynes Breakers
“We came out on fire pushing Mk all the way showing much improvement from the last game. Despite the score line I am happy with the improvement within our team, we are going in the right direction.” – Coach Emo.
U18 Men 48-74 Leicester Warriors
“It was a bad day at the office for the young men, just struggled to find rhythm against a well drilled warriors team. The team are looking forward to getting back on the practice floor with Coach Pietro and look get back to winning ways in their next game.” – Coach Lewis.
U14 Boys 21-109 Derby Trailblazers
“A Well drilled all round Derby team caused us problems in transition. A positive to take away is that we didn’t give up and the 3/4 quarter we played better defence and offence, scoring 12 points in the fourth.” – Coach Ady.
The Riders host the Manchester Giants on their opening night of the Women’s British Basketball League.
Attempting to follow up on making all three domestic finals last season, Leicester’s revamped roster will test themselves in competitive action for the first time in this one.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Manchester Giants
Netball & Badminton Centre- Loughborough University
The Riders enter a new era under newly appointed Head Coach Ben Stanley, who brought in a plethora of new signings among returning familiar faces.
Accompanying the likes of Mckenzie Johnstone and Jessica Eadsforth-Yates, who played a pivotal part in last season’s success, are six new additions to the roster.
Australian guard Sam Ashby, Israeli forward Shahd Abboud and American pair Rayven Peeples and Taylor O’Brien are just a few of the new faces suiting up the East Midlands this season.
They impressed in pre-season, beating the Sheffield Hatters and Newcastle Eagles, the latter by 20 points on the road.
The League Championship will prove a whole new task, but early signs are positive for the new Riders roster.
Giants re-franchise
Over the summer, the Manchester Mystics franchised to become the Manchester Giants, putting both men’s and women’s basketball under the same name in Manchester.
The @McrMetMystics have re-franchised to join the @McrGiants, forming an exciting dynasty for basketball in the city.
— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) July 24, 2023
The Mystics have left a lasting legacy on the sport, having played nine seasons in the Women’s British Basketball League, memorably lifting the Cup in 2017.
Their first signing of the summer: British Basketball legend Georgia Anderson who returns to action following a season away from the game after the birth of her first child.
Accompanying Anderson is Leah McDerment, who won the quadruple with the London Lions last season, Commonwealth Games Silver Medallist Hannah Shaw, and former Rider Brooklynn McAlear-Fanus.
With a talented roster marking the start of a new-Giants era, Manchester will have high aspirations going into their first game of the season.
Key matchup
Having spent a year on the sidelines, Georgia Anderson will be itching to get back on the court for this season opener.
The 5’8” point guard is one of the League’s all-time greats, leading the Women’s British Basketball League in all-time Regular Season assists (942) and steals (255), ranks third in scoring (2226) and defensive rebounds (615) and in the top four overall for overall rebounds, assists per game and games played.
The last time we saw Anderson in action, she put up 13.8 points, seven assists, 4.3 rebounds and two steals per game.
Facing up against her, and a player who will play a pivotal role from the same spot is American guard Taylor O’Brien.
The rookie signed to the Riders from Flordia State, having averaged 6.7 points for the Seminoles last season.
She spent four years prior at Bucknell University, leading the team in scoring for two straight seasons and earning a place on the All-Patriot League First team for 2021 and 2022. The Pennsylvania native averaged 16.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in her final season with the Bison.
O’Brien also owns Bucknell’s record in the outdoor high jump and was named to the second Team All-Patriot League with a runner-up finish in the 2019 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
That athleticism will aid in her defensive efforts against Anderson, as they battle for supremacy in the backcourt.
Coach’s thoughts: Rob Paternostro on the season so far
Let me start by saying how much your support has meant to the team to start the season. The way you all have embraced our guys, and the new players we have, means a lot to them and myself, and it’s something I’ve come to expect from our tremendous fanbase.
The season is in full swing, and I’m excited about the group we have. As a coach, you’re always looking to improve each game, and I think that we are doing exactly that.
It’s been nice to see the work we’ve done in practice translate over to the court. When I look at our team I feel like we have a high ceiling. We’re nowhere near our best right now, and as the season goes on, that’s what we’re striving for.
Since the opening game, our communication on defence, our transition defence and our ball movement and spacing continue to improve. They’re all work in progress, and now the guys have been together for a couple of months, they’re starting to get a feel for what each other on the floor.
Our game against Plymouth was a pivotal test for us, and I think winning a close game after a loss was important for this team. We showed that not only do we improve game to game, but quarter to quarter.
That was an important step for us. To shrug off a below-par half on the defensive end and respond with better play in the second half showed real maturity and intelligence. And when you have a new group, winning a tight, tough game can certainly build confidence.
When you look at our roster, we have so many guys we can turn to that can make an impact on the game. Our depth is huge, and that becomes especially important with so many games in this league and a lot of two-game weekends.
I’ve been impressed with so many of our players. Jaren Holmes has done a really good job of making plays, and his physicality has been tough for defences. Braelen Bridges’ ability to finish around the basket is really impressive.
Kimbal Mackenzie, TJ Lall and Sam Idowu playing off the bench in this winning streak has been crucial for us. In our wins, those three have made a really good impact, and it’s important to have those types of players on the bench.
Early in the season, we’re a team that is fast and can play in the open floor. We’re unpredictable and can win in different ways with different guys. We have a roster deep enough to where the other team can’t figure out where we’re going.
Being able to win in multiple ways is especially important when you look at the strength of the League across the board. Teams being allowed six imports have changed things. Each team has numerous dangerous players, and it doesn’t look like the type of league where you can play poorly and expect to win.
You need to play well, or teams will get you. It looks like the League is going to be really competitive, even though it’s hard to tell this early. Night in and night out, you need to play well to come away with wins.
That means we’ll need all of our fans behind us every night. The margins are so tight this season, that the extra push from the stands is as important as ever. Thank you for your incredible support, and we hope to make this season an enjoyable one for you all.
Mackenzie was Player of the Game on Friday night, scoring a game-high 22 points against the Surrey Scorchers and putting up six assists and six rebounds.
He followed up the next day with another playmaking exhibition against the Manchester Giants, dishing another six assists on the road.
“Sometimes, I don’t know how I’m still playing.”- Samuel Idowu on battling back from injury
After over a season on the sidelines, Samuel Idowu battled back from injury to take to the court for the Leicester Riders. The American/Brit has returned to the UK after months of dedication to his recovery.
“I surprised myself at what I could endure,” reflected Idowu. “I always knew I was a hard worker, but this was different. From September 2022 to August 2023, I was in rehab at 10 am every day, sometimes until 7 pm.
“It’s not easy, and it gave me a newfound respect for people who have gone through serious injuries that lead to multiple surgeries. I had to do it two years in a row, and it was a massive mental challenge.
“With everything I’ve gone through to get here, I sometimes don’t know how I’m still playing.”
After a dominant two-year stretch to start his professional career in Europe, averaging 16.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in the Netherlands as a rookie, Idowu suffered a ruptured patella in May 2021 and was sidelined for the first time.
He returned the following season after going through knee surgery, and despite his continued elite play, all wasn’t right with Idowu’s body.
“Something had gone wrong with the first surgery, and while I was able to play, I was told the injury was going to happen again. After months of rehab to get back onto the court, I had to go through the whole process again.
“Luckily, the surgery went well the second time, and I took no chances with my recovery. I spent the whole year out to focus on it.”
For any athlete, sitting on the sidelines is a mental challenge. Despite his calm demeanour, this was no different for Idowu.
“It was new for me. Sitting out was really difficult. I’m a level-headed person and I don’t usually stress or get too anxious, but sitting for a whole year was really hard.
“It wasn’t too difficult at the beginning when I could barely walk. My whole focus was on being able to stand. But once I was out of my brace and I could walk or even run, I started thinking I could play, which was really dangerous.
“My body wasn’t there yet, but my mind was ready. I was shooting a little bit and feeling like I could play, which just made me want to do more.
“That was a seven-month period where it was a battle to keep myself off the court, knowing I wasn’t 100% ready to be back.”
After his second surgery, Idowu didn’t take the court until his first practice in Leicester. Many would be anxious to test their injury, hoping the hard work in rehab had paid off. But Idowu’s love of the game left no room for emotion, barring his itching excitement.
“I couldn’t wait to get back on the court. I wasn’t scared. There was so much emotion that goes into joining a new team, so to get back to it felt great. I missed it a lot, and it feels amazing to be able to trust my body.”
His impact was immediate for the Riders. In his first competitive outing, he was named Player of the Game after scoring 12 points in his debut.
“I’m seeing the improvements in my game, and I’m starting to get back to the player I was before. Those small improvements meant a lot. I trained myself to think about that during rehab, so I’m appreciating the little gains I can make on the court.”
Idowu finds himself as a veteran on a young Riders team, tasked with helping to guide six rookies through their first season of professional basketball.
In his five years as a pro, he has been on winning teams and losing teams, and understands what it takes to be the former.
“I try to reiterate the fact that in order for us to win, everyone has to buy in. That was an issue with some teams I’ve been on in the past.
“That’s the main thing that excited me about this team. We get along off the court: the chemistry between us is incredible.
“Everyone has bought into winning. Every game, there’s a different Player of the Game. We don’t care as long as we win.
“Of course, guys want to individually play as well as they can, but it’s ultimately about the team goal. It’s about winning the game. I’m excited to be a part of that winning culture.”
Part of that buy-in comes from the Riders bench, whose play has earned the team the reputation for having one of the deepest rosters in the British Basketball League. Idowu is an integral part of that unit, which takes pride in the impact it can have later in the game.
“We want teams to look at us like we have two starting lineups. Even though we’re coming in off the bench, we still play to the standard of the starters, so there’s no break for the other team.
“That keeps everyone fresh. Coach Rob likes to play everybody, and that keeps our energy up throughout the game.”
As he continues to get back to his best, Idwou’s impact on the Riders roster has proved his dedication in rehab was well worth the wait. He’s proved an invaluable addition to the Riders since his arrival, and expect much more to come.
Leicester Riders improved to 4-1 with a 92-74 win against the Surrey Scorchers.
Here’s how the team reacted to the win…
Rob Paternostro
The Riders blew the game open in the third quarter, holding the Scorchers to five points over an eight-minute stretch. Head Coach Rob Paternostro credited the defensive success to the team’s work on the glass.
“Defensively, we were solid when we started rebounding. We had trouble on the boards early, and they had 15 offensive rebounds in the first half. Once that picked up, it was a solid night for us.
“I don’t think we played particularly well offensively at times, there was some sloppy play, but all in all it was a really good game with contributions from a lot of players on the bench tonight.”
The Riders got 47 of their points off the bench, led by Player of the Game Kimbal Mackenzie who put up 22.
“Kimbal of course played well with those numbers, and I think the rest of the unit did a really good job on defence. TJ Lall and Conner gave us some really good minutes, and it’s nice to have a bench you have confidence in.
“That becomes especially relevant when you play back-to-back games. Nobody played more than 26 minutes tonight, so it was a total team effort.”
The team returns to action tonight on the road against the Manchester Giants. Paternostro spoke on how he plans to prepare the team for the clash.
“Ice baths for the guys! But overall, we’ve got to be focused. When you play a back-to-back, you don’t have an opportunity to talk about that team until the day of the game, so tomorrow we’ll have a meeting to go over them.
“They’re a talented team that played London close last week, so it’s going to be really important to utilise the bench.”
Kimbal Mackenzie
Mackenize led the game with 22 points, six rebounds and six assists, his best statistical performance of the season to date.
He saw the positives of the victory, while recognising the team did not execute a perfect game.
“It was a good win. Any time you can get one in the win column it’s a good thing in this league.”
“We were a little better on the glass than we had been the rest of the game. Today, we were good in stretches and not so good in other stretches, but that’s the nature of the early season. We need to keep getting better.”
The newly formed group have hit the ground running, winning four games on the bounce.
“I’m proud of the guys. Everyone is coming into their own and starting to find themselves as a team. We have a lot of room to grow, and everyone on the team will tell you that, but we’re definitely glad to get four in a row.”
Sam Idowu
After the Riders’ opening night loss to the Cheshire Phoenix, the Riders have bounced back emphatically, putting themselves in a positive position going into the rest of the year.
Riders forward Sam Idowu said the loss made it clear to the team that they needed to lock in.
“The opening game set the tone for us to turn things around quickly, so I’m glad we reacted positively, and that’s led to a four-game winning streak. It feels good to have done that, and we all want to keep the ball rolling and build momentum.”
Idowu matched up against Scorchers big man Saiquan Jamison, who battled on the boards all evening. He finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, but had more joy in the first half than the second.
“Stopping him was something we prioritised. We recognised we needed to keep him off the glass, so it was about boxing him out and being the first to react to the ball coming off the rim.
“We wanted to make sure they didn’t build any momentum from offensive rebounds. We didn’t do a good job of that early, but in the second half, we controlled the glass.”
Idowu had nine points and nine rebounds in the game, making his presence known on the inside. He also drained a three to extend the Riders’ lead in the third.
“It felt good to step outside and hit a three. Being versatile really helps open up different parts of my game, so that’s something I’ll keep working on.”
It’s early in the season, but the British Basketball League is starting to take shape!
Here we take you through the early statistical talking points for the Riders.
Scoring success
The Riders find themselves near the top of the offensive charts, following back-to-back games putting up 92 points. They rank second in points per game with 89.5, and in field goal percentage hitting on 50% of their shot attempts.
Their ball movement leads to 19 assists per game, third-best in the League, and every player sees involvement in the dynamic offence. 10 Riders are scoring over seven points this season: Leicester’s deep roster getting contributions from top to bottom.
Much of the Riders’ success in scoring the ball has come at the free-throw line. They shoot the most free throws in the league, 27.5 per game, converting their foul shots at a 74.55% rate.
Aggressive play in attacking the hoop gets the team to the line, and opponents in foul trouble, proving an effective way to get points on the board.
Braelen’s efficiency
Braelen Bridges’ scoring ability at the hoop means he leads the League’s efficiency charts by a wide margin.
His 18-21 shooting from the field leaves him at 85.7%, over 20% more than the second most efficient scorer in the League, Leicester’s own Samuel Idowu.
With his efficient numbers, Bridges caught the eye last time out against the Newcastle Eagles. He put up 15 points, and more impressively, went 6-6 from the field, not missing a shot.
Alongside Idowu, Bridges ranks 12th in the League in blocks per game, and is scoring 11 points per game on the season so far.
His ability to muscle in close and score consistently with his touch around the rim makes him a deadly threat inside.
Pinson’s playmaking
Establishing himself early as one of British Basketball’s elite playmakers, Xavier Pinson leads the League with his assist numbers through four games. The Chicago-born guard dishes six per game, and boasts an assist:turnover ratio of 3:1.
Pinson dishes an assist on 40% of his possessions, second most in the League. His best game sharing the rock came against the Bristol Flyers, where he put up a near double-double with nine assists.
"If I win MVP … it doesn't mean anything if we don't get the Championship."
Miryne Thomas named to British Basketball League Team of the Week
Riders forward Miryne Thomas has been named to the British Basketball League’s Team of the Week, following his performance in the Riders 92-85 road win against the Newcastle Eagles.
WHAT A SQUAD! The Team of the Week is ELITE … stacked with incredible performances!
— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) October 9, 2023
Thomas led the Riders to victory with 17 points, seven rebounds and a block, injecting energy into the Riders’ roster with ferocious attacks at the rim.
He went 6-11 from the field in 29 minutes of action, finishing with a game-high +/- of 16.
TO THE RACK!
Miryne Thomas showing his strength inside as he shrugs off the defence to SLAM home for @RidersBball!
— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) October 6, 2023
“I’m living my dream. I’ve been working to get here for over 10 years, and now I’m soaking it in,” said Thomas post-game.
“I’ve been telling the team I’m here to run and get tired. If I have zero points and rebounds and we come out with a win, I’m as happy as I would be if I had 100 points.”
This season the Leicester Riders Foundation is offering number of opportunities for you to get involved through our new volunteer programme.
Below are the roles available and you can apply for any of the roles below by CLICKING HERE.
Team Manager
The Role of a Team Manager is to Support the Head Coach with one of Junior National League Academy teams, take lead on communication between parents, kit washing and collecting and handing and making sure the team has all of the equipment they need for game day.
Community Sessions Assistant
This is an opportunity to shadow one of our coaches to learn the roles and responsibilities of a coach whilst supporting on data collection, registers and case studies.
Game Day Activator
Game Day Activators will support LRF staff on our Leicester Riders Game Day activation zone, helping to promote sessions and raise money for hardship fund via our shooting games. This is a great day to be a part of a Leicester Riders Game Day.
Game Day Manager Assistant
Game Day Manager Assistants will support our Junior National League Academy Game Days when we have numerous fixtures at the Morningside Arena. Game Day Manager Assistants will act as a welcome host to opposition and inform them of changing rooms, court timings and make sure that game day runs smoothly.
Table Officiating
Learning how to officiate the game of basketball and towards a qualification in the process.
Refereeing
Learning how to referee the game of basketball and towards a qualification in the process.
Coaching
Learning about all the aspects of being a basketball coach at community and academy levels shadowing and mentored by our qualified staff.
Statistician
Learning how to take stats for our Academy teams.
Team Leader
Certain projects that we run at the Leicester Riders Foundation need a youth worker to liaise with participants and staff so the role wouldd provide opportunities to learn about specific themes such as NCS or working with the Local Police and Home office.
Event support staff
Event Support Staff will engage with schools, communities and charities on various events to raise awareness of the foundation and its delivery sessions and projects.
Birthday Host
Be an integral part of our game day experience by being one of our birthday hosts and welcoming our birthday ballers into the Arena on game day. You will also be a liaison point for parents, guardians or group leaders ensuring that all aspects of their birthday package and game day experience are met.
Chuck A Duck
Chuck A Duck is a fan interaction game that takes place during the 3rd quarter of Leicester Riders games. In this role you will be responsible for selling the ducks and making sure that the activity runs smoothly.
Game Day Season Guide Seller
At Leicester Riders games you will be responsible for selling our Leicester Riders Season guides and game day team sheets.
Steward
Our game day Stewards will be on hand on Leicester Riders games to help fans find their seats and be on hand to help with anything they may need throughout the game.
Courtside Hospitality Host
Courtside hospitality hosts will greet our sponsors and help them to find their seats and that they have an enjoyable game day experience.
For any of the roles above working with children you will be required to go through and full reference check and have a DBS.
The Leicester Riders Foundation offers a wide range of Education programmes from Primary School through to University provision. Our Education offering includes in school coaching, development days, mentoring programmes and much more.
Leicester Riders took a convincing win on the road, beating the Bristol Flyers 92-74. Miryne Thomas led the game with 18 points, shooting 7-10 from the field in a red-hot performance.
Supporting Thomas in a strong team display was Xavier Pinson, whose playmaking provided an offensive spark throughout. He dished a game-high nine assists to pair with his 17 points, pulling the strings with his flashy passing.
The Riders cooked from deep, going to come away with victory in their first road game of the season. They exploded out to a 37-10 lead after a quarter, and fended off a Flyers second-quarter comeback to see the game out comfortably.
In contrast, the South Westerners struggled to get their three-ball falling, going 6-31. American guard Tevin Olison was the hot hand for Bristol, putting up 17 points and shooting 37% from range.
The win improved Leicester’s record to 2-1 early in the season after last week’s win against Plymouth.
The Riders charged out the gate, forcing turnovers from the Flyers, which led to points in transition. Thomas hit a three from the corner with five minutes gone to make it a 20-2 Leicester lead.
Thomas dominated the paint in the opening stages. His buckets inside set the tone for the Riders’ explosion to start the game, his interior play opening up the three for his tenth points of the game.
Leicester caught fire from deep, hitting tough deep shots consistently to extend their advantage. Kimbal Mackenzie concluded the first, his turnaround jumper making it 37-10 in their favour.
The Flyers showed fight in the second, scoring the first seven points of the quarter to cut into their deficit. They crashed the offensive glass to generate second possessions and generate momentum.
British forward Raphell Thomas-Edwards had five offensive rebounds and 11 points by the half, Bristol’s rebounding making it a single-digit game after the Riders led by 27 after one.
The Riders responded coming out of the break, stretching the lead back to 16 following a pair of contested Xavier Pinson triples.
With the Riders having snatched back momentum, Thomas heated up once again, hitting a three off a no-look Pinson pass, and an and-one play next time up the floor.
Thomas forced a Flyers timeout with a minute and a half left in the third, making it 72-52 and bagging his 18th points.
With a significant lead in the final period, the Riders saw the game out in the fourth, keeping Bristol at arm’s length until the buzzer.
The Riders play the second game of their two-game road trip on Friday, taking on the Newcastle Eagles. Newcastle look to bounce back after their first loss of the season last time out, so expect a fiercely fought encounter between long-standing rivals in British Basketball.
Leicester Riders secured their first win of the season, beating the Plymouth City Patriots 88-81.
Here’s what Head Coach Rob Paternostro and game MVP TJ Lall had to say postgame.
Coach Rob- “It wasn’t perfect, but we showed a lot of character.”
The Riders found themselves down nine going into halftime, having given up 35 points in the second quarter to their opponents.
They responded in the second half, and were able to overcome the deficit.
“We had to play better defence in the second half and be a little tougher,” said Paternostro.
“The challenge I set at halftime was for the guys to give it their all on the defensive side of the ball, and we held them to 29 in the second half.
“We did a really good job defensively, and that was important. When we’re getting stops, we can run in transition, which is where we’re strong.”
The return of rookie guard Caleb Asberry from injury lit a spark in the Riders backcourt. His gritty performance led to six points and four rebounds in 13 minutes of action.
“I thought Asberry gave us some really good minutes. He hasn’t played in a while, and defensively he was really solid.
“Caleb adds a lot. He’s quick, and he wins the ball. When the ball is loose, he has a talent for finding it. He can really shoot and make plays on the other end. He was in the lineup that turned the game around.”
It was a gutsy win for the Riders, bouncing back from their defeat to the Cheshire Phoenix on opening night. It was important, in a lot of ways, to get a win on the board.
“It wasn’t perfect, but we certainly showed a lot of character to be able to come back and get the win. We have to understand that we’ve only been together a few weeks. We have to have patience. We have a lot of bodies, and we need to get as healthy as we can.
“A game like tonight will give the team some confidence that they can win a game in the fourth quarter.”
“That’s what was impressive for me. It was a tough loss last week, and no one felt good going into practice. We had a good week of practice, but then we went into halftime down nine.
It was a challenge at halftime to come out and show some mental toughness to get the job done. We have a lot of work to do, but hopefully, we can keep getting better and better.”
TJ Lall- “It was good to get our first win.”
Canadian wing TJ Lall was named MVP after putting up 14 points, four rebounds and two blocks in a well rounded performance.
Lall showed to the Riders faithful his ability to do what is needed to secure a victory. He battled on the glass, contested shots and put the ball in the basket when it counted.
“It was a hard-fought game,” said Lall. “We struggled on defence early, but in the second half, we turned it up, and good things happened for us. It was good to get our first win.”
He got most of his points in the first half to keep the Riders in it, but made clutch free throws down the stretch with the game in the balance.
Lall was bright throughout, but the team’s intensity left room for improvement following the first half.
“Our energy wasn’t where we wanted it to be. We needed to communicate better and rebound to close out possessions. It really helped us once we improved our standard in those areas.”
“We really picked up the ball pressure near the end of the third quarter and forced some turnovers. That got us some easy transition points and we could see the game out from there.”
DF Precision Machinery Ltd sponsor LRF Academy Kit
A massive thank you to DF Precision Machinery Ltd for sponsoring our new playing kit and warm up tops for our Academy teams this season.
DF Precision Machinery Ltd’s sponsorship has meant that we have been able to provide new kit for all 13 of our teams ahead of the season getting underway this weekend, this would not have been possible without their generosity. The kit will be worn in all Academy fixtures up and down the county in both the National League and YBL competitions.
DF Precision Machinery Ltd’s provide specialist support High precision grinding machines in Sales, Applications and Customer Care. In addition to ensuring they build long term mutually rewarding partnerships with customers and suppliers they also want to give back to the community and the environment. 5% of profits are given to charities and good causes each year. CLICK HERE to visit DF Precision Machinery Ltd’s website. Mike Duignan from DF Precision Machinery Ltd is a parent of one of our Academy players who has been in our Academy for a number of seasons.
“It’s fantastic that we have been able to provide new kit for all 13 teams ahead of the new season. The kits look amazing and it’s great that we have been able to unify the kit across all of our teams. A massive thank you to DF Precision Machinery Ltd, without their sponsorship it wouldn’t have been possible.” – Natalie Narrainen, Academy Lead.
“We are delighted that DF have supported us over the past 2 seasons. We’re so excited to showcase the new kits this season. As our Academy has grown it’s brilliant to provide fresh new kits for all the teams in our Academy that will be showcased across the country” – Laura Shephard, LRF General Manager.
Our first fixture of the season takes place this weekend with our U16 Boys Premier team on the road against Frankley Falcons in the National Cup.
Last Friday’s contest with Cheshire tipped off to the sound of anticipation around the Morningside Arena, as the Riders’ fans saw a new-look squad in competitive action for the first time.
The game proved to be a source of valuable lessons for a unit looking to build cohesion over a long British Basketball League campaign.
While the Riders fell to the Phoenix, Coach Rob’s teams take pride in improvement throughout the long British Basketball League season. The first focus after the season opener: offensive rebounding.
Cheshire only secured five more rebounds than the Riders, but 17 of their 38 total came on the offensive glass. Comparing that to the Riders’ five offensive rebounds paints a clear picture of how the visitors were able to secure the win.
There were positives to be taken from the fixture. Versatile guard Jaren Holmes led the Riders’ scoring charts, dropping 16 points in 32 minutes of play. Many of the rookie’s points came from the free throw line – Holmes the only player to make double digits from the charity stripe.
The Riders shot efficiently (54.9% from the field), helped by the impressive bench duo of Samuel Idowu and Xavier Pinson.
Front-court bruiser Idowu looked excellent from deep, draining three of his four three-point attempts, while Pinson reached his 12 points through a mix of difficult finishes and accurate shooting.
Checking into the tie midway through the third quarter, Pinson led a charge back into the game, which saw the Riders trail by just three with one to play.
A major goal for the Riders this Friday is to gain parity on the boards and play turnover-free basketball.
If they can clean up those areas, the sky is the limit for this quick and athletic unit.
Plymouth’s 2022/2023 in Review
Last season proved to be a tough one for the Patriots who, despite a solid start to the year, finished ninth in the championship standings with a record of 11 wins and 25 losses.
A run of difficult results down the stretch dropped Plymouth level with the Newcastle Eagles and out of the playoffs on head-to-head.
Individually, the Patriots’ brightest spark came in the form of Rashad Hassan, who netted 15.6 points per game and seven rebounds per game. Hassan has departed Plymouth, but donning the colours again this season is lead distributor Elvisi Dusha.
Dusha provided 6.1 assists per outing a season ago, enjoying the best statistical season of his career last year.
Led by Dusha, the Patriots will be hoping 2023/2024 brings with it a playoff place come the end of the season.
Significant Retool for the Patriots
After losing the services of influential players like Hassan and Anontio Williams, the latter leaving midway through last year, the Patriots’ front office has worked hard to rebuild the spine of the team.
Joining Dusha (who has returned as club captain) are no fewer than seven new signings to help Plymouth push for a return to the playoffs.
Perhaps the most notable addition of the South Westerner’s summer comes in the form of recent National Basketball League joint-MVP, Taylor Johnson.
The playmaking guard, who is as dangerous as he is unselfish with the ball in his hands, brings a winning mentality to Plymouth, having led the Hemel Storm to an undefeated season in the NBL Division One last year.
Johnson will be accompanied by second-year pro, TJ Atwood. The 6’6″ wing player, who originates from Texas, comes over from Slovakia, where he spent a season playing for BK Iskra Svit. Atwood got big minutes in Europe, leading the Slovakian Extraliga in time on court.
A Tricky Start
Like the Riders, Plymouth sits a 0-1 after a difficult trip to Bristol last Friday.
The Patriots were downed 82-65 in a low-scoring game plagued with turnovers. Plymouth gave up possession 26 times, giving the Flyers impetus on the fast break and the ability to force trips to the line.
It’s all over in the south-west and @BristolFlyers take a comprehensive win over rivals @PlymCityPatriot to get their season started on a high!
T. Johnson and Atwood joint top scored with 17 apiece, assisted by Dusha, who dished eight assists on the night.
Expect the Patriots to be much tighter in possession this Friday, especially against a Riders team that possesses an abundance of pace.
Played for Both
Plymouth Head Coach Paul James will be no stranger to his surroundings in this matchup. The Leicester native is one of the longest-serving Head Coaches in British Basketball and suited up in Riders Red during his playing career.
The 59-year-old began coaching in 1996, enjoying long spells with the Thames Valley Tigers, Guildford Heat, Worcester Wolves and the English National Team, most notably earning BBL Coach of the Year in 2007 after guiding the Heat to a league and cup double.
James has also previously played for Leicester, starting as a 17-year-old with the Leicester All-Stars in 1982 until the 1987/88 season that saw the point guard score 6.9 points per game.
The veteran’s battles against Rob Paternostro have spanned over a decade, as they get set to write another chapter in their storied history in this one.
Rob Paternostro: “We have to be able to bounce back after a tough defeat”
The Riders started 0-1 for the 2023-24 season, falling to the visiting Cheshire Phoenix 110-86.
Following his second opening night loss in 16 seasons as Leicester Riders head coach, Rob Paternostro made clear the areas for improvement.
“They beat us up on the glass. That was the main issue we had. They got every second chance point. For me, that and the points-off turnovers were the most disappointing stats. Those are free points in a lot of ways,” said Paternostro postgame.
The Phoenix grabbed 21 offensive rebounds to the Riders’ seven, leading to 18 second-chance points. Leicester’s 20 turnovers led to 24 points for the visitors too.
Cheshire were also lights out from behind the arc all night long. They made 18 on 46% shooting, with big man Skyler White going 7-14 from three, not attempting a two all game.
“Their three ball was going in like crazy. We really struggled to defend them on the three-point line: they were unconscious from out there. We knew they were a three-point shooting team going in, and when they’re shooting the ball like they did, it will be a long night.”
The Riders’ roster featured six rookies playing in their first professional game. Despite their youth, Paternostro made no excuses for them.
“It’s not about your age, it’s about making the right plays. We’re still a new group that has to learn different things, but when you give the ball away, it has nothing to do with how old you are.”
Leicester cast their attention to the Plymouth City Patriots, who they face on Friday. They’ll need to iron out the creases quickly to avoid an 0-2 start.
“We have to challenge ourselves to come out on Friday and play way better. We ran into a team that played great tonight, so I tip my hat to them, but we have to find a way to improve in these areas. If we don’t, no matter who you’re playing, you’ll face a similar result.
“We have to get out on the practice floor and keep our heads up. We’ll figure it out. We have to be able to bounce back after a tough defeat, so we’ll see what they can do this Friday.”
The Riders fell in their season opener against the Cheshire Phoenix.
It was an uncharacteristic performance from Leicester, who suffered from turnovers and rebounding throughout. This marks only the second loss in an opening game for the club during the 16-year-long Rob Paternostro era.
Iowa State guard Jaren Holmes led the team with 16 points, in a game where 20 Riders turnovers proved costly. The Phoenix had three 20-point scorers, led by Aaryn Rai’s 23 in his first British Basketball League game.
Cheshire settled into the new season quickly, taking an early lead after a number of turnovers from the home side.
The Riders quickly quashed any Phoenix momentum in the opening stages, and a monster Miryne Thomas jam assisted by a no-look assist from Kimbal Mackenzie tied it up at 15 five minutes in.
It rained threes for the Riders at the back end of the first half, with big man Sam Idowu hitting three in the quarter, but the Riders trailed by four after one after Cam Christon’s nine-point first period.
The game stayed in the balance until halftime. Mackenzie took over the opening of the second period with six, followed by back-to-back buckets from Blake Bowman, but the Riders struggled to keep Cheshire off the boards.
Cheshire had 11 offensive rebounds by halftime, and new man Skyler White had success in the first half, putting up 13 by the break. Maceo Jack ended the half with an offensive board off a missed White three, making it 51-44 in their favour.
The Phoenix momentum carried into the third quarter, stretching their lead to 12 a minute in. They maintained their double-digit advantage through the third, until the insertion of Xavier Pinson back into the game.
With Pinson in, the Riders hit back-to-back threes, the second by the Chicago-born guard to light a fire into the team. Bowman continued the run with a triple of his own which cut it to five.
To end the third, Pinson went coast to coast, laying it up for two and making it a one-possession game with one to play. It was a 14-4 finish to the quarter for the Riders.
The Phoenix rebuilt their lead in the final period of play, as second-year Phoenix Maceo Jack’s two three-pointers stole back momentum. From there, they ran away with the game, stretching their advantage to by the final buzzer after a flurry of threes.
The Riders are back in action next Friday, looking to bounce back as they host the Plymouth City Patriots.
The Riders enter the 2023-24 season with a revamped and revitalised roster, with seven new additions entering the fray. Early signs in pre-season show a deep, athletic team, which looks to be gelling quickly ahead of a long, demanding British Basketball League season.
The Riders have had contributions all the way down the roster throughout pre-season, and their ability to get out in transition following suffocating defensive possessions makes them a threat to any team in the League.
Leicester outscored their opponents 82-17 in transition in pre-season and will look to utilise their speed throughout the year.
Coach’s thoughts
Head Coach Rob Paternostro looked back on a positive pre-season campaign.
“Looking back on the pre-season, while the results don’t matter in the long run, ultimately, you want a team that will play hard and try and win every possession.
“Those games were important for getting a feel for the rotation and understanding how to play different lineups. The more pre-season games, the better in that sense, and I think it was a successful run of fixtures for us.
“We don’t look too far ahead at this stage of the season, other than wanting to be in great condition. We want to be in great shape to deal with the season, and we want to be a group that loves playing basketball.
“We always want to grow through the season and be better at the end. We have a great track record of playing our best basketball in the second half of the year. But what jumped out to me straight away is how much speed and athleticism we have out there.”
The Phoenix enter this year off the back of what they’ll consider a successful 2022/23. Finishing fifth in the standings with a 19-17 record, they made it to the Playoff semi-final, losing to the eventual champions in the London Lions.
The first round saw them take revenge over the Caledonia Gladiators, whose game-winning shot at the hands of David Sloan saw the Phoenix fall a game short of silverware in the Trophy final.
But making a domestic final showed progress for the North Westerners, who will look to make the final leap this year.
Cheshire’s off-season overhaul
Like the Riders, Cheshire has faced the task of bringing in a new core of players after their five top leading scorers left the club in the offseason. Their most notable departure, leading scorer Larry Austin Jr., signed with the Newcastle Eagles as they look to rebuild after an eight-placed finish last year.
Hoping to compensate for the loss of Austin Jr. at the point guard position, the Phoenix have invested in a number of young American guards. Among them are EJ Stephens from Lafayette College and Laquincy Rideau, who signed from the Slovenian first division.
Time will tell who can step into the shoes of Austin Jr. Early pre-season signs are that one of their few returners, Maceo Jack, may look to step into that role.
Jack went off for a 31-point explosion against last season’s third-placed finishers, the Bristol Flyers. The American guard averaged 10.5 points per game last year, and the performance suggests further improvement in his second professional season.
Pre-season
The Phoenix faced up against British opposition in their pre-season fixtures. In their only game against British Basketball League opposition, Jack’s 31 points still saw them fall 91-83 to the Bristol Flyers.
They did take wins against Loughborough University and the Derby Trailblazers, concluding their pre-season against Derby, beating the NBL opposition 106-83.
The Trailblazers have pulled off upsets against British Basketball League opposition in the Trophy, and put on a good showing in the Trophy semi-final last season against the Phoenix, so the matchup was a good test for the newly formed Cheshire roster.
Played for both
Riders legend and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Jamell Anderson suited up for the Phoneix last season, following eight seasons in Riders’ red.
The 6’8” British forward amassed over 2000 British Basketball League points for the Riders and won eight pieces of silverware for the club. His prowess on the defensive end earned him a spot on the Molten BBL Defensive Team of the Year on three occasions.
Anderson put up his best statistical performances for the Phoenix last season, putting up 13.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, helping the team to the BBL Trophy Final.
The Leicester Riders Foundation is thrilled to offer an energising morning basketball session “Morning Madness” begining on Wednesday 20th September, 7-8:30am.
Open to all adults aged 18 and older, this initiative invites you to harness the power of sport and camaraderie before heading to work. Our expert coaches will guide participants through skill-building drills and friendly games, fostering teamwork and physical fitness in a fun and supportive environment.
Whether you’re a seasoned player or just looking to try something new, our morning basketball session provides an ideal opportunity to improve your game, meet new people, and kickstart your day with a burst of energy. Join us at the Leicester Riders Foundation for an exciting way to start your mornings and elevate your overall well-being through the love of basketball.
Loughborough Basketball can announce the addition of combo guard Megan Curran.
The 18-year-old played for Charnwood College in both the WEABL and U18s competitions last season, alongside the WNBL D1 side.
Curran will compete for the WNBL D1 side and in BUCS competition this season.
She will accompany her playtime with her studies, as she completes her course in Sports Management at Loughborough College.
Curran commented: “I’ve always said the first thing in my mind for continuing my journey is that I want coaches to have a step-by-step plan in mind for me to be able to develop to my full potential, and Loughborough is definitely the place for me to do that.
“I look forward to all the future challenges that come my way whilst knowing my teammates, friends, and family have my back.”
Nick Moodey, Head of Girls Academy at Charnwood College, commented: “Working with Megan during her two years at Charnwood has been super enjoyable, she’s battled through adversity and developed as a person both on and off court.
“I’m excited to see Megan continue her growth within the Riders programme whilst completing her studies at Loughborough College, I know she is ready to work and bring the energy to any team she is a part of.”
Netflix star Bryan Penn-Johnson on joining Loughborough Riders
The Riders took the win in their final pre-season game, beating USA Select 105-62 in their return to the Morningside Arena Leicester.
Here’s what the team had to say after the game.
Rob Paternostro
“I loved the way we jumped on them early. We moved the ball well, defensively, we were in gaps, and we had a huge lead. Once we were up big, the game was played a little differently.
“Our conditioning needs to get better. because I thought at the end we were a little gassed. But all in all, we were good.”
Coach Rob was cautious with Xavier Pinson to start pre-season as he recovered from an injury sustained in the CEBL over the summer, but he made his return to the court last night.
“I liked Xavier out there. He’s a natural point guard and he’s so slick with his dribble. His head is always up because he’s such a good ball-handler who doesn’t need to look at the ball. He can get in gaps and make plays, and tonight he did that.”
“The injuries hurt us at the start of pre-season. Losing Xavier and Caleb hurt us because we haven’t got a good look at who we are with a full roster.
“But overall, I like our depth. It’s been great having Mo and Conner back out there, and I also thought Blake has been great this pre-season. He’s been playing consistently well. We’ve got a lot of good guys, and come Friday, we’ll be able to utilise them.
“We’re happy to be home, and we’re looking forward to having a good crowd for our season opener. It’s always exciting on opening night.”
Blake Bowman
Young star Blake Bowman has impressed in his second Riders pre-season, scoring in double-digits in every game.
“I’m feeling great. It’s a good opportunity to get out there and put on a show for the fans. I’ve been working on the three-point shot, and my dribble pull-up to add some range to my game.”
“As long as Coach Rob trusts me, I’m going to be out on the floor. I just need to make winning plays to force him to keep me out there.”
Bowman was perfect from the field in the game, going 7-7 and 1-1 from three.
Xavier Pinson
Upon his return to court, Xavier Pinson impressed. He had 12 points, three rebounds and three assists in 19 minutes of action.
“It was great to be out there with my teammates. I thought we controlled the pace better than we had throughout the pre-season, and we were sharper as a team. For the most part, I was just happy to be on the court.
“I know the level of competition is set to increase, but after the game, I feel like I’m in great shape. I’m ready to show the fans what we can do.
“I feel like we learned a lot about each other, and what Coach Rob wants from us as a team. It’s a great starting point for us to build going towards the season.”
Miryne Thomas
Miryne Thomas once again showed his scoring ability against USA Select, leading the Riders with 19 points and seven rebounds despite only playing 19 minutes.
After picking up fouls battling inside, Thomas says his biggest focus is staying on the court.
“The biggest thing for me is to play without fouling. I got into foul trouble tonight, so I couldn’t play for long stretches.
“I’m in good shape and feel like I can play hard for 40 minutes, so I want to be in a position where I can play big minutes.”
In his first game in front of the Riders’ home crowd, Thomas fed off the energy.
“I loved the energy here at the Morningside Arena. I liked how the fans reacted to everything we did out there, and after the game, they stayed to give us love.”
Also making a return to action this pre-season was American/British big Sam Idowu, who sat out the previous season.
“I had a lot of fun tonight, and it was great to meet all the fans. It’s nice being on the court again because it’s been a long year and some change sitting out.”
“I feel good. I’m in the best shape I’ve been in a long time. The preparation going into the season has been good, and I’ve played consistent minutes.
“Now I’m impatiently waiting for the season to start. I can’t wait to get going!”
Pre-season report: Riders take win against USA Select
The Leicester Riders welcomed a near-sellout crowd to the Morningside Arena tonight as they hosted a USA Select squad in their final game of the pre-season.
The Riders put on an entertaining display of offence to win 105-62 against a battling USA Select defence that competed well until the final minute, with 34 of the home side’s points coming on the fast break. It is clear that speed will be a major strength for the Riders this season.
Jaren Holmes put in another impressive performance, knocking down 17 points on 58% shooting as well as dishing four eye-catching assists. The 6’4 guard played solid team basketball as he looked to develop chemistry with fan favourite Kimbal Mackenzie and the exciting Xavier Pinson.
Pinson showed some lovely touches, flashing high-level handling skills on multiple occasions on his way to 12 points.
Second-year forward Blake Bowman also impressed, hitting 15 points at a 100% clip to demonstrate the strides he has made during the off-season.
USA Select benefited from good performances by Vaughn McCall and Braden Young, who scored 17 points each.
Tale of the Game
The Riders’ first possession set the tone of the game as all-action guard Mackenzie sliced his way to the rim for an early layup. Mackenzie was joined in the points column by Miryne Thomas, Holmes and Bowman as Leicester built a 16-point lead.
USA Select defended with endeavour but new Riders’ guards Holmes and Pinson looked too sharp – especially from 3-point range.
Leicester took a 30-4 lead into the second quarter but found scoring a much tougher task in the second as the visitors improved their play. USA Select’s captain McCall led the way, showing hustle on both ends of the court and was rewarded with 12 first-half points.
Despite the stiffer challenge, the Riders found a way to make their class show. Pinson repeatedly caught the eye and drew a rapturous cheer from the home crowd as he hit a devastating spin to shake his defender before calmly hitting the layup.
The half came to an end but not before Samuel Idowu stamped some authority on the game.
Retreating on defence, the 6’8 forward dismissed a layup into the front-row seats before muscling his way into the offensive paint to earn a couple of free throws.
The Riders carried their positive offensive play into the second half, Holmes and Pinson unrelenting in their ability to impress the home faithful.
Idowu once more showed why he could be a wall in the paint this season and athletic forward Thomas was quietly building an efficient stat sheet of 19 points and 7 rebounds.
Passing looked slick, especially on the fast break. One surge down the court saw Thomas receive the ball at speed before slamming a huge two-handed dunk.
The USA Select did still have their moments. Braden Young played a nice second half, hitting 50% of his shots from deep, and Xavier Johnson was active on the boards, pulling down an impressive 9 rebounds.
After a cohesive performance on both ends of the court, the Riders’ Coach Rob Paternostro, will feel happy that his squad are ready for the Cheshire Phoenix in next Friday’s British Basketball League opener.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders Foundation are delighted to launch our Annual Report for the 2022/23 season. We’re really proud of all of the work we have done in the Community over the past year and our Annual Report is a fantastic representation of the impact we have had.
Every year, USA Select take on a gruelling European Tour. Last year they played 19 games in 22 days, on a tour spanning four countries and 18 cities.
The team is made up of rookies straight out of college. For some, it’s an opportunity to showcase their talents on the European stage, hoping to secure their first professional contract. For all, it’s a life-changing life experience.
“It’s brutal, but it’s fun,” explained Sean Kilmartin, Head Coach and General manager of USA Select.
“We don’t frame this as a mental burden, we frame it as an opportunity. They have the chance at an experience that their friends may never receive.”
Kilmartin has personally scheduled each and every camp. He directly organised in excess of 500 games with professional teams all over Europe. He has booked every hotel, flight, train, and bus ride for hundreds of players on tour.
He has personally spoken to each and every one of their players, and helped negotiate every contract for every player signed professionally.
“All the coaching staff have other careers, and the tour costs us money every year. It’s completely self-funded. We take the cost of our trip, divide it by the amount of players, and that’s how much we charge. The coaches pay their own way every year.”
The coaching challenge alone is mammoth. With limited time, Kilmartin and his staff turn a brand new group of young men into a functional team, ready to take on professionals overseas.
And they only have 10 hours of training camp before flying them over the Atlantic. Every player undergoes an intense three-game training camp before the final squad is picked.
Top of the agenda when selecting the team is who will respect the programme’s outstanding reputation. This is taken so seriously that Kilmartin sends coaches to eavesdrop around his camp to decipher who is the right fit for the tour.
“We have three or four people in plain clothes acting like they’re on their phones, but they’re listening to guys between games. How are they acting? How are they talking to their teammates? How are they talking about their teammates? We’re doing character assessments throughout.
“If we think there are going to be issues, it’s just not worth it to us. Our reputation is so much more valuable to us than that. We would never recommend someone to a club that we don’t think will represent us and our values. During our camp, we take the screening process very seriously.”
The process is such that in 25 years, USA Select has never sent a player home for behavioural issues. Every player selected for the tour is a representation of the exemplary standard USA Select sets.
It’s a process that began in Leicester, at the start of Kilmartin’s career.
“The Riders organisation is indirectly the lineage of our first USA select player 40 years ago. When I graduated college, I played in Great Britain. Ricky Pitts was my friend in college, who reached out to me and asked if I could help him play over here.
“I got him in touch with the Riders, and the rest is history. That was in 1987: Our first USA Select player was with the Riders.”
USA Select has been a mainstay on the Riders’ pre-season schedule for a number of years. It’s a thriving relationship between the two organisations, with an immense amount of mutual respect.
“Leicester Riders, like so many other clubs in the UK, has been phenomenal for us over the decades, which is why I never miss the UK out on these tours,” said Kilmartin, reflecting on the relationship between his programme and the club.
The time playing against professional organisations is invaluable to the USA Select team, as Kilmartin explained:
“Leicester are professionals on so many levels. They have a great youth infrastructure with Loughborough and Charnwood, whose programmes are first-class, and a top educational system through the University.
@RidersBball @RidersMD thanks for a great weekend. Your club and it's incredible history have influenced generations of players in the UK. Good luck in Europe , we are proud of you @BBLofficial pic.twitter.com/Ixl4ylx8yp
“Then you get to the club, and its vision in a sport that was always under the radar and never truly appreciated in the UK. The Riders have changed the way people look at basketball in the country. Their venue is the first of its kind, and it set the bar for the other clubs in the league.
“When my players can see all that, they see what professionalism looks like. They see how professionals put pride in their job, and their humility when they put their jerseys on for the fans.
“The Riders fanbase is amazing. The love and respect we get from those fans is humbling. They really get it.”
The relationship between USA Select and the Riders has thrived in no small part thanks to Head Coach Rob Paternostro. Coach to coach, the respect Kilmartin has for Paternostro is evident.
“If there were a backgammon tournament or a thumb wrestling contest, he’d be competitive in that. That’s what I respect about him. From the tip to the buzzer, he’s your mortal enemy, but when the game is over, he’s got your back.
“We always have a player or two that has what it takes, and Rob is always one of the first to make an email or a call or help these guys get a start. A word from him, one of the most respected coaches in the game, can change the trajectory of their lives.”
And changing the trajectory of young people’s lives has been the mission of USA Select for decades. They’ve had great success in doing it.
Sheffield Sharks Head Coach Atiba Lyons came through the ranks of the programme. He represents just a fraction of those who have gone on to enjoy successful careers.
“Sometimes people think they have to be high-level ballers to join the tour. This isn’t the case. If you want the opportunity to play in high-level professional arenas and experience something new, there’s a place for you here.
“From there, you can go be a good middle-school coach, a good father and a good person. That’s where the real success of our programme lies. The most successful people from USA Select use the experience to close the playing chapter of their lives, and go on to do great things.
“We still get phone calls from guys that did our camp in the 90s telling us how we’ve impacted their lives. That’s empowering. Now we have a history of helping young athletes, so that gives us a tangible, realistic opportunity for these players to build a career.
“A lot of these young men have never been coached at the level as Rob coaches the Riders. Our goal is to develop them along the way, whether they become professional or not. This experience will stay with them their whole lives”
As the Riders welcome USA Select through their doors once again, it will be an experience for the group that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Loughborough basketball are delighted to confirm the retention of Harrison Gamble for his fourth and final year.
The 6’10” Brit spent his seven-year professional career for the Leicester Riders, winning, three BBL Championships, three BBL Playoff titles, three BBL Trophies and a BBL Cup.
Gamble is also an NBL Patrons Cup winner with Loughborough and averaged 11.2 points per game in the NBL D1 last season.
Gamble commented: “I’m very excited to be back playing in Loughborough for my final year. It’s great to be back working with the core group of guys from last year and then seeing the new faces that will no doubt be a big part of the programme going forward.”
Head Coach Will Maynard added: “It’s great to have Harrison back for another year. His leadership on the court is excellent for our younger guys, and he has really brought into a veteran role.
“The rest of the guys love having him on the team, and he is definitely someone the players will lean on an awful lot through the season.”
Netflix star Bryan Penn-Johnson on joining Loughborough Riders
Kimbal Mackenzie led the team with 17 points, backed up by his backcourt teammate Jaren Holmes’ 16.
It was a confident display throughout. Donar’s only led the game for 15 seconds early in the first quarter, as the Riders took control of the tie. They won all four quarters, and after a Groningen surge to make it 52-51 to get the second half underway, the Riders blew the game wide open.
Their points total, surpassing a century, came from only five three-point makes. The Riders play style leant into their youth and athleticism, outscoring Donar on the fast break 27-4.
An eight-point quarter from Mackenzie got them over the line, the newly named captain continuing his hot form from last season which saw him named to the BBL British Team of the Year.
Following up a 15 point game in the Riders’ pre-season opener, American rookie Jaren Holmes caught the eye once again with another impressive scoring display.
As was the case in Leicester’s pre-season opener against Loughborough University, forward Myrine Thomas led them out the gate with his infectious energy. His seven-point first quarter set the tone from the jump.
Meanwhile, after a 13 point showing against Loughborough, young forward Blake Bowman continued to show the promise of his potential. The East Midlands native had 12 points and five rebounds, leading the game with a +/- of 22.
“I thought we did a really good job,” commented Head Coach Rob Paternostro.
“Our depth has been impressive. We played 10 guys, and all of them made a great impact. We know we have a long way to go, but I like where we’re going.
“These are the types of trips where you learn a lot about your team, and because we have so many new players this season, it’s a great opportunity for them to bond on and off the court.”
Loughborough basketball is excited to welcome 6’10” forward Sam Keita for the 2023/24 season.
The 23-year-old played in the BBL for the Plymouth City Patriots last season, playing seven minutes per game and featuring on 34 occasions.
Kieta spent his final college season in the NCAA D1, playing for North Carolina Central.
He will accompany his play in the NBL D1 with his studies in Sustainable Engineering at the University.
Kieta commented: “I’m excited to get on board with the programme. I can’t wait to get the ball rolling, and succeed on and off the court.”
Head Coach Will Maynard added: “Sam is a big body for us and definitely adds to our front line. He has had plenty of experiences that will help him at the D1 level.
“He adds both a scoring threat inside and good rim protection, so he will certainly help us on both ends of the floor. We are excited to have him over the next couple of years and are looking forward to seeing him contribute to the team both in BUCS and D1.”
Netflix star Bryan Penn-Johnson on joining Loughborough Riders
The Meet & Greet provides a great to explore all the great education packages and opportunities we can deliver in your school, an opportunity to meet our Community & Education Team, the chance to meet the Riders professional players, exclusive offers on our schools packages & much more!
CLICK HERE to book onto our Teacher Meet & Greet or email greg@riders.basketball for more information.
Leicester Riders are thrilled to announce the signing of American rookie Marissa Hamilton for the 2023/24 season.
The 6’0” forward played her final college season at Merrimack College, where she put up 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and was named to the NEC Third Team.
Just in case you missed the game on Wednesday, here's a hint:
Prior to that, Hamilton spent three years at the University of Buffalo, playing all 31 games as a junior and leading the Bulls in blocks.
Hamilton will play for the Riders while studying at Loughborough University. The club would like to thank the University for their continued support.
Hamilton commented: “I feel blessed to be able to continue my professional career with the Leicester Riders! I’m super excited to get to work and create some fun memories with the new staff and teammates in places I’ve never been!”
The Riders head to the Netherlands to take on Donar Groningen over two games.
Here’s all you need to know:
Fixture information
Leicester Riders at Donar Groningen
Sporthal Wildervanckhal, Wildervank, Netherlands
Friday, September 1, 6:30 pm GMT
Familiar opponents
The sides face off in their annual pre-season meeting, providing a stern test for both outfits ahead of their respective seasons.
Like Leicester, Donar enters this year after falling just short in the BNXT playoffs, losing game five of a best-of-five series to ZZ Leiden in the Finals.
The prestigious organisation has won seven Dutch Championships, seven Dutch Cups and three Dutch Supercups in their history, most recently winning the Cup in 2022.
Last pre-season, the Riders took back-to-back victories against their Dutch opponents, winning 80-75, then 69-61 two days later.
Coach Rob reflects on the double over Donar Groningen & looks forward to welcoming the Swedish champions on Wednesday, Norrköping Dolphins.
There were two tightly contested games, with a late surge seeing the Riders take a win in the second fixture.
Positive strides in pre-season opener
The Riders enter this game after a win in their first pre-season outing against Loughborough University.
It was a 99-64 win in the annual pre-season “Red vs Purple” fixture. Miryne Thomas led the Riders with 17 points, in a game, backed up by 15 from Jaren Holmes.
Thomas impressed throughout, making highlight plays and showing early aggression to build his points tally in the opening stages.
Another positive was the return of Mo Walker and Conner Washington following their injuries last season. Both put on good showings in positive minutes.
“It was great to have them back,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro post-game.
“Conner missed a lot of time with a back injury last season. I gave him a lot of minutes tonight, and he was the same old Conner. Mo also missed almost all the season, and he played really well today.”
Played for both: Carrington Love
Former Riders guard Carrington Love joined the team mid-season, after playing the 2019/20 season for Donar.
There, he averaged 13.4 points and 5.8 assists and 2.3 steals, helping Donar to a 17-5 record in his 22 games.
Donar, seven-time Dutch champions, enter this campaign after finishing second in the playoffs last season.
The game will provide key minutes for the newly formed Riders roster, looking to build on-court chemistry for a packed Britsh Basketball League schedule.
Donar has a storied history in Dutch basketball. We take a look back into the prestigious organisation’s past.
Beginnings
Founded in 1951, Donar is one of the original Dutch first-division clubs, entering the league in 1970. 12 years on, they won their first championship with an emphatic 158–58 win against BOB Oud-Beijerland.
The 100-point win has never been repeated in the Netherlands, as Donar wrote themselves into the history books.
Following relegation just one year later, Donar returned to the first division in 1986, where they remained ever since.
Winning ways
The 2009–10 season kick-started Donar’s modern trophy-winning run. They won their third national championship, beating West-Brabant Giants 4–1 in the Finals.
The title-winning squad returned for the next season, and they became the first Dutch basketball team to take part in the qualifying rounds of the new Euroleague.
Star man Jason Dourisseau was named the Dutch League MVP, and the team won a second NBB Cup in 2011, beating WCAA Giants.
They fell just short in the playoffs Finals to Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden, in a historic game seven featuring three overtimes.
The 2013/14 season saw a reshuffled roster, which won the 2014 NBB Cup by beating Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden 79–71. They went on to win their fourth national title, this time emerging victors of a seven-game series against SPM Shoeters Den Bosch.
Dynastic run
In the 2015 offseason, Erik Braal took the role of Head Coach, and became the most successful coach in club history, winning five trophies in six seasons. The first: Donar’s fifth DBL title.
In the 2016–17 season, Donar reached the second round of the FIBA Europe Cup, their best European performance in club history. That season, they won the treble for the first time, winning the Supercup, the NBB Cup and the playoff title.
In 2017, Donar again qualified for the FIBA Europe Cup. They made strides in Europe, progressing all the way to the semi-finals of the playoffs before falling to the defending Italian champion Reyer Venezia, despite winning the second leg at home.
Domestically, the club had success behind star man Brandyn Curry, who was named league MVP. Donar won its third consecutive Dutch title after sweeping ZZ Leiden in the finals.
— Inception Sports (@Inception_Bball) May 11, 2018
The following season, Donar reached the round of 16 in the FIBA Europe Cup for the second time in their history.
BNXT
In 2020, Braal departed the club. A year later, Donar joined the newly formed BNXT League, which merged the national leagues of Belgium and the Netherlands. They immediately added more silverware to their packed cabinet, winning their seventh Cup, and making the playoff finals.
In 2022/23, under Head Coach Andrej Štimac, Donar reached the finals of the Dutch League for the 13th time. In the series, Donar played ZZ Leiden once again and narrowly lost a decisive Game 5, therefore finishing second in last season’s playoffs.
In late 2022, we partnered with Leicestershire Police to launch our Positive Futures project, funded by Street Games. Positive Futures is our latest project aimed at reaching young people who are at risk of involvement with antisocial behaviour, crime, and violence. Since January, more than 30 youngsters from St Andrews Play Association (SAPA) (a youth club based at Walnut Street, Leicester) have been taking part in the programme led by local neighbourhood officer’s PC Millie Barton and PC Carley Johnson, Leicester Riders player Mo Walker and staff from the Leicester Riders Foundation.
Before the launch of this programme, the core group of individuals were committing offences and causing antisocial behaviour in Leicester City Centre and the St Andrews Centre of the City. One individual had been involved with 10 incidents that had been reported to the police, including offences of assault, public disorder, arson, and possession of an imitation firearm. In the 7 months since the implementation of the diversionary activities, this group of individuals have now only been involved in 3 low level incidents, this is a drop of 77%.
By engaging with the young people at SAPA through our Positive Futures initiative, we have also encouraged them to participate in a variety of our other events, such as our community sessions and camps, where they have been recognised with awards such as Camper of the Week.
“We are proud to be working with the Leicester Riders Foundation on the Positive Futures programme, a project set up to work with young people who have been involved in antisocial behaviour, criminal behaviour or at risk of committing crime and ASB. The Leicester Riders Foundation have been instrumental in providing a support network alongside engagement, interventions, and educational inputs to assist in reducing criminal activity in the Leicester area.” – PC Mille Barton, Leicestershire Police.
The Leicester Riders Foundation was awarded the Problem Management Award from Leicestershire Police in April this year, in recognition of our efforts on the Positive Futures Programme. Winning this award is a testament to our ongoing efforts to better our community and provide positive role models for young people. This is an incredible achievement for our Foundation as we have witnessed the progression and growth of the young people across a number of our provisions, particularly Positive Futures.
In July we launched our Positive Futures project in South Wigston in partnership with Oadby and Wigston Council allowing us to work with a new group of young people and continue to expand the programme across Leicester and Leicestershire.
“The programme has enabled us to build strong relationships with young people from the Oadby and Wigston area throughout the summer holidays, seeing a group of regular attendees. Here at LRF we are excited to take the next steps in our delivery and build on these initial foundations and take the programme to the next level over the next eight weeks, where the young people will take part in a variety of workshops around hygiene, mental health and Respect. Partnership working is key, and we thank the team at Oadby and Wiston council for developing this partnership with us here at LRF.” – Laura Shephard, General Manager.
To refer a young person onto the programme email please email ricky@riders.basketball for more information.
Leicester Riders renew partnership with Everything Branded
Leicester Riders are excited to renew our relationship with our merchandise partner, Everything Branded.
Everything Branded is the UK’s number one for promotional products, merchandise and gifts. Their staff and management team have over 12 years of experience and insight into the worldwide promotional products industry.
Our partnership last season included sponsoring the Leicester Riders pop-up shop in John Lewis.
James Kyte, Commercial Director of Everything Branded, commented: “Here at Everything Branded, we’re delighted to have renewed our partnership with Leicester Riders for a second season.
“As the UK’s leading supplier of branded products, it’s hugely important to us that we partner with organisations who share our passion for innovation and excellence, and it was clear after our inaugural season with Riders that we’ve sponsored a team who clearly embrace these values both on and off the court.
“The hospitality, game night experience and quality of matches have all been fantastic highlights for our team and customers, and we look forward to continuing to supply game night giveaways and an extended range of retail products throughout the 2023/24 season.
“Also – be sure to keep an eye out for some exciting surprises during the mid-game entertainment!”
For more information on partnering with the Riders, please contact tracey@leicesterarena.co.uk, or read more about our sponsorship opportunities here!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Leicester Riders took a 99-64 win in the annual pre-season “Red vs Purple” fixture against Loughborough University.
Miryne Thomas led the Riders with 17 points, in a game, backed up by 15 from Jaren Holmes.
After a tightly contested opening exchange, with Loughbroough’s Justin Hedley’s five quick points making it 10-8 to the hosts after five minutes, the Riders seized control of the game.
Miryne Thomas made an immediate impression on the Riders faithful with eight first-quarter points, and a highlight throw down from Jaren Holmes’ lob pass.
Leicester leapt out to a double-digit advantage early, with Mo Walker’s five-point burst ending the period 26-14 in the Riders’ favour.
Thomas continued to dominate in the second, rising high to swat away Hedley’s layup attempt. He was backed by Kimbal Mackenzie, who came alive in the quarter for eight points.
Loughborough kept within touching distance for stages, and Elija Bailey entered halftime the game’s leading scorer with 11 points and five rebounds.
But Riders big man Sam Idowu stretched the lead to close the half with a three, followed up with a layup and a block of the next possessions. The teams entered the half with Leicester up 49-32.
Mackenzie and Idowu saw the Riders build on their advantage in the third, finishing as the Riders’ two leading scorers by the end of the period. On the other end, Bailey found the hoop consistently to rack up 16 with a quarter to play.
Leicester won the third quarter 28-16, taking a 77-48 lead into the final period.
The fourth was a case of seeing the game out, which the Riders did professionally. They kept their 30-point lead until the final buzzer, taking home a win from their first preseason game.
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Loughborough Basketball is delighted to welcome 6’3” guard Dan Hadley ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Hadley committed to Loughborough from the Charnwood Academy, where he’s suited up since 2020. The 19-year-old has been a part of the Riders pathway system since 2014, averaging 12.5 points per game in the EABL, and 12.7 points per game in NBL DII last season.
“I’m really looking forward to studying at Loughborough University, and getting on the court with the team this season,” said Hadley.
“I’m hoping to take my skills to the next level with the help of this elite programme.”
Head Coach Will Maynard added: “It’s great to see Dan’s progression over the years with the club. We are proud to keep Dan on our Riders pathway. It will be an inspiring story for all junior players within Leicester.
“When I first saw him at the Riders all-star camp, he definitely had something about himself, and he brings that same grit and same tenacity to the court now.
“I loved coaching Dan over our time at Charnwood together, and if there is one player who is trying to outwork everyone else in practice, it’s Dan. I’m excited to see what he can bring to the group, but from what I’ve already seen over the summer, he will bring competitiveness to the team, which will help us in the long run.
“He joins us for four years at the University, and hopefully, he will continue to prove himself like he has done throughout his time with the programme.”
Netflix star Bryan Penn-Johnson on joining Loughborough Riders
Leicester Riders are thrilled to announce Champions (UK) plc as an official partner.
Champions is a strategy-led growth and implementation partner for businesses with market-leading expertise across strategy, digital, communications, creative and talent.
With a team of over 75 dedicated specialists, they provide market-leading expertise to drive businesses forward.
After more than 20 years of adding capability and driving innovation, Champions are one of the UK’s leading full-service business consultancies.
Champions CEO John Hayes commented: “I’m truly proud and excited to begin this partnership with Leicester Riders.
“The Midland has been the home of our business for the last 20 years, and I’m always keen to support the winners in the region which bring more attention to this fantastic area.
“I’ve been following the incredible success of the team closely for the last 10 years. After watching the Riders secure back-to-back championship glory after lifting the trophy in 2022, I knew it was time to get involved with them
“Like Champions, Leicester Riders are winners, which is everything we embody here. This is the perfect fit, and I’m eager to see the continued success of the Riders.”
For more information on partnering with the Riders, please contact tracey@leicesterarena.co.uk, or read more about our sponsorship opportunities here!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Loughborough Basketball are delighted to welcome Seth Wylie ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The 19-year-old 6’2” guard, arrives at Loughborough after spending the last three seasons with Oaklands Wolves EABL and NBL sides, competing in Division One last season. In 2022, he helped Oaklands to the EABL Southern Conference title and was named Student-Athlete of the Year.
Wylie will combine playing with his studies at Loughborough University, starting a foundation year in Sport.
He will suit up for Loughborough’s NBL D1 and BUCS teams.
Wylie commented: “I’m really looking forward to a new challenge. I can already tell that the experience is going to push me! I’m ready to work, and everything I get during my time here will be a blessing.”
Head Coach Will Maynard commented: “Seth joins us from Oakland, where he had 3 good years within their academy set-up. Speaking with Seth’s previous coaches was a no-brainer that we wanted him to be part of the Loughborough programme.
“His attitude to the game is what really stood out for us. He has a great mindset to the game so really looking forward to having him with the group and looking forward to his progression over the next four years.”
Netflix star Bryan Penn-Johnson on joining Loughborough Riders
Leicester Riders have been thrilled to partner with 1284 for the past two seasons.
1284 is a chartered PR agency providing agile corporate communications to innovative public and private organisations in the East Midlands.
The B2B PR agency has deepened its relationship with the Riders and will assist with our business-to-business communications for 2023/24.
In addition, 1284 will sponsor Riders forward Victor Ndoukou for the upcoming season.
George Oliver, founder and director of 1284, commented: “We first went along to the Riders’ hospitality towards the end of the 2021-22 season as guests of one of the other businesses.
“We loved the gameday experience and what the club is about – both on the court and off it through the work being done in our communities through the Leicester Riders Foundation.
“1284 works a lot with social entrepreneurs and innovators we could see those characteristics running through the club.
“The success on the court is used to feed the work done by the Foundation and vice versa. It doesn’t stand still.
“In the middle, there’s this tremendous asset, in the shape of the Arena, which is increasingly being used for world-class events including top-flight snooker and darts.
“We think there’s still much potential for growth here – and that there’s real ambition at the club to push forward and deliver it.
“That’s why we are expanding our investment in sponsorship year-on-year – and why we are also so pleased to now be working with the Riders on their B2B comms for 2023-24.”
For more information on partnering with the Riders, please contact tracey@leicesterarena.co.uk, or read more about our sponsorship opportunities here!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Former Rider JR Blount on Riders signing Jaren Holmes
Jaren Holmes signed to the team this season, but already has Riders connections. He played his final college season at Iowa State University, under assistant coach and former Rider JR Blount.
Blount played for Leicester in the 2010/11 season and made an immediate impact. His 20.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.9 left an impression on the Riders faithful, and he has since established himself as one of the top college coaching prospects in the NCAA.
The 36-year-old helped Holmes through the recruitment process following his college career but left a message for him before he departed for Leicester:
“I told him he won’t top the scoring numbers I had, but he already knows that!”
It would take a special season for anybody to better those numbers, but a talent like Holmes is capable of it. He was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team and received an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, playing in the toughest conference the NCAA has to offer.
Blount has nothing but praise for his game.
“He can play multiple positions, and he’s strong with deceptively good athleticism. He can get to the free throw line and play through physicality, which is something that’s really important in the pros.
“Jaren can defend the perimeter, and he’ll bring toughness. He was the personality of our team at Iowa State. He brings the energy, brings the fight: he’s a throw-the-first-punch kind of guy.”
However, what leaves the biggest impression on those who have known Jaren is his persona off the court.
“He’s a great man, very outgoing, and the fans will love him. He’s the ultimate teammate, and he’ll do anything to win. Jaren isn’t looking for stats and accolades, even though those things come to him.
“He’s someone my wife and kids like and ask about. He’s a genuine person, and a lot of that comes from his mother. I’m sure she’ll be in Leicester in Riders gear because she didn’t miss many games at Iowa State!”
Blount credits Holmes’ work ethic for getting him where he is today. He worked his way from Ranger Junior College to the Big 12 conference through grit and determination.
“Jaren was one of our hardest workers. We started practice at seven in the morning every day, but he was always there at 5 am to get a workout in before and stayed afterwards too.
“He was in the gym all day, and you saw that come to fruition with us. The way he works on his craft, you saw him develop throughout the year until he’s hitting big shots in the NCAA tournament. He was huge in the biggest games.”
Holmes worked with a professional mentality as an amateur, so Blount says he is well-prepared for life in the pros.
“The transition will be easy for him. I told him just to do what he does. He has the mindset and mentality to come in and work hard. His transition will be seamless. He’s going to set the tone based on his work ethic, and he’s a big-time talker and communicator on the floor. He’s someone the guys want to work with and be around.”
I asked Jaren Holmes to reflect on his time with Iowa State, and his response was one of the most measured, gracious and thoughtful perspectives I've ever heard from a college athlete. pic.twitter.com/uVlgfAPlXD
Holmes and Blount grew close during their time together at Iowa State. Helping him through the process of finding a pro team, Blount knew where would be the best fit for him—his time with the Riders told him everything he needed to know.
“I told him it was a great experience for me. The fanbase was great, I still have great memories of playing in Loughborough. Rob’s commitment to development and making it a great experience, and having the Leicester community around you is something that’s really exciting. He’s going somewhere where he’ll be set up for success.
“It’s a great platform. The Riders’ goal is to get to the top, so Jaren’s goal has not changed from college. He’s trying to win trophies, and the individual accolades will come with it. It’s a great place for him to start. There’s a tradition of success, and he wanted to go to a winning programme, so this is the perfect place for him.
In addition to the organisation, Blount believes Rob Paternostro is the best coach for his development.
“Rob’s going to instil confidence in you and allow you to play through your mistakes. Jaren will grow through that, and Rob can coach point guard mechanisms that he knows from his playing days.
“Rob will help him with decision-making: learning when to get teammates involved and when to be aggressive. He is going to allow you to play with freedom, and you don’t really get that in college with how the defence is played, and scouting reports and schemes. Rob will have a major impact on how his game transforms.”
From their initial conversation, Holmes and Coach Paternostro are already on the same page.
“I was able to connect Jaren and Rob, and it seemed like they hit off right away! After a few days, he was a Rider!”
All that’s left now is for Holmes to hit the court.
“I just told him to embrace it,” said Blount, speaking about his conversation with Holmes before his departure to Leicester.
“It’s an opportunity he’s worked his whole life for. I know who he is. He’s not going to take this for granted. He’s ready to go, itching to get there, and the Riders won’t be disappointed!”
This week the Leicester Riders Foundation Academy returned for pre-season as our teams begin to prepare for the 2023/34 season. Over the course of the week we’ve welcomed over 100 players from our 13 teams to the Morningside Arena as the teams come together for the first time since squads were selected.
“It’s been great to have over 100 of our players come together at the Morningside Arena for pre-season this week. It has been the first opportunity for our teams to practice together since our trials so it has been a fantastic opportunity for the players to get to know each other and work with the coaches ahead of the new season” – Ricardo Silva, Academy Lead.
This summer we have added Sports Rehabilitation to the programme for our premier teams, this week the players have gone through pre-season testing alongside their on court workouts.
“This week we’ve been putting the players through some pre-season testing, they’ve done vertical jumps tests, full court sprints and T tests. I’m going to analyse the results over the next week and put together some performance enhancement programmes and hopefully we can continue to push the players and improve their performance.” – Neve Considine, Sports Therapist.
The teams will continue their preparations over the coming weeks with pre-season fixtures getting underway in September before the National League season begins in October.
She spent four years prior at Bucknell University, leading the team in scoring for two straight seasons and earning a place on the All-Patriot League First team for 2021 and 2022. The Pennsylvania native averaged 16.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in her final season with the Bison.
O’Brien also owns Bucknell’s record in the outdoor high jump and was named to the second Team All-Patriot League with a runner-up finish in the 2019 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
“I am so excited to be a part of this organisation, and have the experience of playing professionally for the first time,” said O’Brien.
“I am grateful to be on the Riders, and I’m looking forward to seeing what our team can do this year. I can’t wait to get back on the court!”
Head Coach Ben Stanley added: “We’re thrilled to have Taylor in Riders Red this season.
“We were extremely impressed by her scoring ability both at Bucknell and Floria State, and we’re excited that there is a lot that she continues to add to her game. I’m anticipating her developing a lot with us this year.”
Leicester Riders are thrilled to welcome the return of Conner Washington to their 2023/24 roster.
The Riders veteran holds 10 years of experience in the East Midlands and has 14 pieces of silverware to his name. Washington has been an integral part of the Riders’ successes over the past decade.
Conner has been featured on the British Basketball League all-British team on four occasions and the all-defensive team three times. He is a dangerous perimeter threat, averaging over 40% from three in three separate seasons.
Washington is respected around the League as an intelligent veteran, playing to an elite standard on both ends.
Playing in his entering his 13th year as a pro, Conner brings a wealth of experience to the Riders roster. His championship pedigree is a vital component of Rob Paternostro’s side.
“I’m excited to be back on the court, and feeling free,” commented Washington.
“It feels great to be back out there again. This season is going to be a memorable one!”
Last Season the Leicester Riders Foundation hosted 7 Development Days welcoming 287 children to the Morningside Arena prior to a Riders’ BBL home games. The 2023/24 BBL season gets underway in mid September and we are looking for groups, schools and parties to join us for our Development Day experience.
— Leicester Riders Foundation (@RidersBF) March 3, 2023
Development Days are an opportunity for large groups within the community, including schools to join our team of coaches for a 90-minute coaching clinic on court to enhance their skills, focusing on three different areas: passing, shooting, and dribbling.
Food is provided to the participants following the coaching session, all enjoyed whilst watching the Leicester Riders Professional Team warm up. Finally, as part of the Development Day, participants receive a ticket to watch the Riders in action against another BBL team.
If you would like to book your group onto one of our 2023/24 season Development Days CLICK HERE to express your interest.
Leicester Riders are thrilled to announce the retention of Blake Bowman for the 2023/24 season.
The high-flying Brit returns for a second season after making his pro debut last year. Bowman, a Derby native, lit up the league with electric dunks and highlight plays, quickly becoming a favourite among the Riders faithful.
He is touted as one of British basketball’s exciting young talents, taking significant leaps every single year.
Blake’s father Barry had a spell in the BBL during his professional career, while his uncle, Marc Hawley played 56 games in two seasons for the Riders between 1997 and 1999.
Bowman continues his Riders family legacy while completing his studies at Loughborough University.
The club would like to thank the university for their support.
“I’m super excited to get back out there,” said Bowman. “I’m ready to compete with a group of new guys, and a few returners.”
“I’m hungry to win, after making two finals last season. That lit a fire in me to compete at the highest level.
“With this new young group, I’m ready to fly up and down the court. I’m excited to enter this new era with the team.”
Leicester Riders are thrilled to continue their relationship with Red Monkey Play for the 2023/24 season.
Red Monkey Play are one of the UK’s leading wooden outdoor play equipment and playground designers for primary schools and nurseries.
The bespoke school playground equipment service offers its expertise with free design and consultancy.
The Leicester-based business creates unique playgrounds for schools and nurseries with excellent design, perfect for any play and learning areas, and children of all ages and abilities.
Red Monkey Play will sponsor Riders forward TJ Lall for the upcoming year.
Simon Winfield, managing director of Red Monkey Play and chairman of the Leicester Riders Foundation, commented: “As proud sponsors of the Leicester Riders Basketball team, Red Monkey Play is thrilled to extend our support for yet another year.
“Our enduring partnership with the Riders family has proven to be immensely rewarding, fuelling our growth and success over the years of collaboration.
“Beyond the courts, what truly inspires us is the remarkable impact that the Riders Basketball and Foundation have on the local community and young people.
“Being able to contribute to such meaningful initiatives aligns with our core values, as we firmly believe in the significance of giving back to the community.
“As we eagerly anticipate the upcoming 23/24 season, we wish the team the very best of luck in their endeavours. Together, we will continue to make a positive difference and build a brighter future for the local community.”
For more information on partnering with the Riders, please contact tracey@leicesterarena.co.uk, or read more about our sponsorship opportunities here!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
Sport is in Jaren Holmes’ blood. He and his brother were raised with it, and now, they make careers from it. His brother, William, was drafted to the Los Angeles Angels in the MLB, and Jaren has signed his first professional contract with the Leicester Riders.
“I was raised by a single mother, and she always put sports in our hearts,” said Holmes, reflecting on his journey. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a ball in my hand.
“I played baseball too until my freshman year in high school. But when I had to choose, I couldn’t live down the fact my little brother was better than me at baseball! So basketball was my choice.
“I’ve always had a great IQ, my grandfather taught me how to play the right way: making the right play, not being selfish, it’s all about winning. That’s how I was raised.
“Now, when I step on the basketball court, it always feels like home. It feels like I’m supposed to be there. It’s peaceful.”
It wasn’t a straight road to the best conference in college basketball, where Holmes completed his final college year. It all started at Ranger Junior College, under legendary coach Billy Gillispie.
There, he helped them to a berth in the NJCAA Division I championship game, starting all 33 games as a freshman, averaging 12.0 points and winning 31 games.
“Coach G brings a lot out of you as a player. He has a mentality of everyone leaning on each other to get through all his ways of coaching. Playing for him was one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life.
“I believe that my body changed in JUCO playing Coach G. The workouts he had us doing were second to none, and prepared my body for D1. I give all the credit to him.
“He moulded me into the player I am today, and I take my body very seriously now.”
And at Ranger, Jaren made lifelong friends. Most notably with Caleb Asberry, who will suit up with him on the Riders roster this season.
“Caleb and I have been really good friends for about five to six years. We started from the bottom at Ranger, and we had to endure a lot of trials and tribulations to get where we are today.
“I hold Caleb and his family close to my heart, and we’ve stayed in close contact. Even our mums are close! It’s come full circle now we can play together again, and I’m super excited about that.
“There was nothing to do at Ranger; the town is literally a petrol station and a Subway. We only had each other, and we became brothers. It’s good to be back with my brother again.”
His work at Junior College brought him to the big leagues. St Bonaventure gave him a shot in the NCAA D1, and he took it, proving he belonged at the top level of collegiate sport.
He scored over 1000 points for the Bonnies, putting up 13.5 points, five rebounds and 3.6 assists in the 2021/22 season. He was named to the Atlantic 10 Second Team All-Conference in 2021.
Holmes transferred to Iowa State in the Big 12 conference for his final year of college and continued to impress. He was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team and received an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, playing under Assistant Coach and former Rider JR Blount.
“It was amazing to get to D1—a breath of fresh air. I worked so hard to get to that level: through every no, the doubts and people saying I couldn’t play at that level. After all of the hard work, faith, prayer and sacrifice, it was something I could never imagine. I couldn’t believe it.
“I always thought I was supposed to be at that level. I just had to change my body, become more athletic and become a better ball player. I proved that this year.
“I was able to play in the best conference in the country and not miss a step. I’m tremendously thankful to St Bonaventure and Iowa State for the opportunities they gave me. They both gave me a shot when a whole lot of other teams didn’t.”
But even after all the rejection and upset that led him to this point, Holmes wouldn’t change a thing.
“I’d go through every situation, every heartbreak that I had to endure on this journey to make it here to the Riders. It’s made me a better basketball player and a better person. It helped me understand that life is hard, and you’re going to be disappointed throughout it.
“It doesn’t matter where you want to go, or what you think you deserve. Timing is everything, and I’m a firm believer in waiting for your time and being ready when your name is called. Keep your head down, work and believe in yourself.
“Keep God first, and no matter the situation, the upset and the heartbreak, I keep my head high and move two feet at a time.”
His assistant coach at Iowa State, Blount, helped recruit Holmes to Leicester. Blount played for the Riders in the 2010/11 season, averaging 20.6 points under Head Coach Rob Paternostro.
“JR always talked about his time in Leicester and said it was amazing. He said Coach Rob believed in him and trusted him, and let him play his game. When Coach JR brought this opportunity to me, I would never pass it down.
“I had a great conversation with Coach Rob. We talked everything through and I liked what he said: the way he talked about my game, and how he wanted me to play my role.
“The Riders are the best fit for me because of how they carry their organisation. It’s a well-run club, with a tremendous fanbase.”
Holmes is now ready to build on the success the Riders have had over the last decade.
“I love basketball, and I love to win. And that’s what the Riders do. They win.
“I’m excited and happy to be a part of this great organisation. I can’t wait to see the fans go wild. I’ve watched a couple of games already and the fanbase is crazy! I’m super excited.
“I’ll bring a winning attitude and work ethic, and excitement, laughter and intensity. I’m also committed to working hard in the community of Leicester.
“It’ll be an honour to meet the fans in Leicester. I’m ready to get to work!”
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
The Leicester Riders Foundation have continued to provide opportunities for young girls and women to get involved in the game of basketball over the past year.
This summer we have hosted two All Girls Summer Hoops sessions at Broughton Astley Leisure Centre allowing girls aged 8-16 who have both played previously and never before to come along and play. Broughton Astley is also an area we haven’t previously delivered sessions in so it as been fantastic to continue to expand our reach within the Leicestershire Community.
“I’ve enjoyed learning how to play basketball over the last 2 weeks. I haven’t played basketball much before so to be coached properly has been a great experience.” – Orla, All Girls Summer Hoops Participant.
“It’s been great to deliver our All Girls Summer Hoops sessions at Broughton Astley Leisure Centre. It’s been fantastic to welcome around 60 girls over the past 2 weeks and to engage in a new area within Leicestershire” – Neve Considine, Leicester Riders Foundation Community Coach.
We plan on having many more All Girls events and sessions over the coming season, keep and eye on our website and social media channels (@ridersbf) for more information.
Leicester Riders are excited to present their rebrand ahead of the 2023/24 season, ushering in a new era of Riders basketball.
The Riders are proud to have innovatively evolved throughout their 56-year history as Britain’s oldest professional basketball club. This rebrand allows the club to continue modernising, 10 years on from the launch of its previous logo.
This marks a fresh start for the club, with a revitalised roster of young talent ready to take the reins and add to the Riders’ rich history.
The updated brand incorporates every facet of the club, from its community work with the Leicester Riders Foundation, its player pathways and development through Charnwood College and Loughborough University, to the first teams in the BBL and WBBL.
The club would like to thank its partners at 5or6 for their support during the rebrand.
Leicester Riders managing director Russell Levenston commented: “It’s been 10 years since the previous logo was created, as we thought it was the fitting moment for us to re-evaluate the Riders brand.
“Looking at how branding has changed over the past decade, we thought it was the right time to refresh ours.
“Thank you for all the work 5or6 has put into supporting the club, both with the rebranding and their continued support through the years. We have worked closely with the team there since they designed the last logo in 2013.
“What is especially pleasing is the new brand’s versatility, and how it can incorporate everything we are about, from our pathways and community work through to the pros.
“These are exciting times for the club, and we look forward to seeing how the brand grows over the coming years. We hope everyone loves it as much as we do!”
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
In his final year in Missouri, Pinson exploded for 36 points for his career-high in scoring.
The Tigers needed every one of his points to take a 102-98 win against TCU, as Pinson three point eruption took the game over.
Missouri was down eight with two minutes left, but he led a comeback with a deep shooting, making a four-point play to cut it to four, then tying the game with a clutch three with four seconds left, sending it to overtime.
In OT, yet another three-point bomb connected to take the lead with a minute and a half remaining, which the Tigers would see out.
In the game, Pinson hit a career-high eight threes; the Horned Frogs with no answer to Pinson’s hot hand.
They attempted to stem the bleeding by sending Pinson to the foul line, but he cooly knocked down eight of his nine free throws, including at the end of OT to seal it.
The game was one of his five 20-point scoring explosions in his junior year, and his last season at Missouri.
Winning, whatever it takes
Pinson kicked off his season at LSU on a 12-game winning streak, and winning 14 of his first 15 games.
During that time, he was recognised as a player who would do anything to contribute to winning, no matter how that manifested on the stat sheet.
X came to win.
A conversation with @LSUBasketball point guard Xavier Pinson on toughness, leadership, and winning.
Nothing demonstrates that more than Pinson’s seven-steal game, in a 75-61 win against the undefeated Wake Forest.
Pinson had nine points on the game, six of them from the free throw line, he remained engaged and intense throughout. His defensive efforts allowed LSU to get out on the run, in a game where buckets were tough for both sides.
Pinson found a way to impact the proceedings and proved the difference between the sides without lighting up the points column as he so often does.
Pinson’s play for LSU helped set a new culture, centred around suffocating defence leading to transition points.
Hot start for New Mexico’s new man
Transferring to New Mexico State for his final year of eligibility, Pisnon went off for two 20-point games in his first three outings. The highest scoring of the pair was a 25-point game, another three-point explosion for the 23 -year-old.
He drained six threes in a 90-77 win against the University of San Diego. Pinson shot 80% from the field and dished eight assists for the Aggies, dominating all areas of the game.
His explosiveness and quickness made a quick impression on his new team, as he led the game to take New Mexico State’s second win of the season.
Pinson went on to put up five 20-point outings on the season, leading the Aggies in points and assists per game.
Pinson put Missouri on his back for two straight games in his sophomore year, averaging 30 points to lead his team to consecutive wins.
He followed up a 28-point outing against Auburn, where he went 10-12 from the field and 6-8 from the free throw line, with a 32-point explosion against Ole Miss.
Pinson went 4-4 from three and 10-11 from the foul line in a three-point win, where the Tigers needed every point he put up. He went off for 24 in the second half alone.
He hit six free throws in the final minute, and eight of Missouri’s last 12 points to seal the victory, coming up clutch in just his second college year.
The outings broke Pinson’s career-highs in back-to-back games, as he demonstrated his ability to take over proceedings and lead a team to wins.
Freshman’s first 20 point game
Pinson had consistent success against Ole Miss, putting up his first 20-point game against them in his freshman year.
He had 20 points and six assists, pushing the Rebels all the way in a six-point loss. He led the team with his points tally, going 8-12 from the field in just 29 minutes of play.
Missouri entered the game as underdogs, against an Ole Miss side with their eyes set firmly on the NCAA Tournament.
The game was tied with 3:35 to play, but their opponents saw the best of the late momentum to avoid the upset. Pinson impressed on all fronts in the game, setting him up for three successful seasons in Missouri.
#Mizzou guard Xavier Pinson says he's grown a lot throughout his freshman year. He scored 11 points and brought down nine rebounds in the Tigers win over Arkansas last night. The future looks bright for him at PG. pic.twitter.com/1DPNEGN14Y
Leicester Riders are thrilled to continue their long-standing relationship with 360 Autoleasing!
360 Autoleasing is an independent vehicle finance, contract hire and car leasing broker.
They specialise in sourcing the best car contract hire and van leasing special offers for both businesses and individuals from a range of automotive funders and dealers.
360 Autoleasing’s support of the Riders includes the sponsorship of Riders’ guard Caleb Asberry for the 2023/24 season.
Ian Hallam, regional sales director of 360 Autoleasing, commented: “Being part of the Riders family means so much to us and our team, we are really excited for the forthcoming season.
“Aligning our business with a local sports team helps us to demonstrate our commitment to the wider community.
“What the club offers on a grassroots level through its foundation is inspirational, and we would recommend any businesses to consider their support.”
For more information on how to partner with the Riders, please contact tracey@leicesterarena.co.uk, or read more about our sponsorship opportunities here!
Report: Leicester Riders dominate Bristol Flyers in Playoff Quarter-Final First Leg
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"So proud of the guys!" 
Back at it on Friday!: 
Coach Steutel post-game interview after our Eagles defeated Bristol Flyers at home.
Rewinding it 
back from 
Hunter magic 
Catch the second half: 
First Leg: Surrey, Feb 7, 7:30 pm
For more information and tickets to the Second Leg, click here: 
Relive night's win 
: 
Mike Okauru dropped 26 points to get tonight’s ENBL MVP
Relive yesterday's thriller in Cheshire 
2013 Playoff Final against 
: 
Winning the league title in 2016! 
Rob’s reaction as Sheffield hand us our first loss of the season. 
Taking the dub in a battle down south 
It's a HOT start for 
Looking to build on our strong start in the 
21 PTS | 7 AST | 5 STL 
at the half for JH12 
September 27- no place we'd rather be 
First 1,200 through the door will receive a free Dark Horse T-Shirt.
Snaps of our battles with Sheffield this season 
on the board 
TA landed 
Wok 68 Player of the Game chart so far…
or 
to reply to any questions we ask
The 
Read the full story on our website.
BALL. MOVEMENT. 
"If I win MVP … it doesn't mean anything if we don't get the Championship."
A big thank you to our friends at 
We are delighted to announce our pop-up Christmas shop in 
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