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.”
Leicester Riders confirm fixture changes due to SLB Cup scheduling
Leicester Riders have been scheduled to play Falkirk Fury away in the first round of the Super League Basketball Cup on Friday, December 13 at 7:50 pm.
Our home Championship game against Caledonia Gladiators, previously scheduled for December 13, has therefore been postponed, and will be rearranged to an alternate date.
Furthermore, our home Championship fixture against Newcastle Eagles has been scheduled for Sunday, December 15. This game will tip off at 3 pm, instead of our typical Sunday tip-off time of 4 pm.
If you had already purchased tickets to our game on December 13 against Caledonia Gladiators, your ticket will automatically be assigned to the new game scheduled for December 15 against Newcastle Eagles. If you are unable to attend this new fixture, please contact [email protected] to reallocate your ticket to a different Riders home game.
Our Trophy semi-final first leg on the road against Newcastle Eagles has also been scheduled for Friday, December 6 at 7:30 pm, followed by the return leg at home on Sunday December 22 at 5:30 pm.
See the full schedule changes below.
Trophy: Away vs Newcastle Eagles
New: December 6, 7:30 pm
Cup: Away vs Falkirk Fury
New: December 13, 7:50 pm
Championship: Home vs Newcastle Eagles
New: December 15, 3 pm
Championship: Home vs Caledonia Gladiators
Original: December 13
New: TBC
Our full December schedule is now as follows:
6/12: SLB Trophy semi-final first leg, away vs Newcastle Eagles, 7:30 pm
13/12: SLB Cup, away vs Falkirk Fury, 7:50 pm
15/12 SLB Championship, home vs Newcastle Eagles, 3 pm
20/12: SLB Championship, away vs Surrey 89ers, 7:30 pm
22/12: SLB Trophy semi-final second leg, home vs Newcastle Eagles, 5:30 pm
27/12: SLB Championship, home vs Bristol Flyers, 7:30 pm
30/12: SLB Championship, home vs London Lions, 7:30 pm
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.
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!
Rob Paternostro wins Coach of the Month award for October
Leicester Riders Head Coach Rob Paternostro has been awarded the Super League Basketball Kevin Cadle Coach of the Month for October!
Paternostro coached the team to an undefeated 5-0 record in October, seeing the Riders progress through the Super League Basketball South Group in first place.
Leicester have the best defensive record in the competition, giving up more than 80 points on only one occasion, and have played as a cohesive unit on both ends to average the most assists and the fewest turnovers of any club in the league.
The team won their six games by an average margin of 14.5 points, with only one game being decided within single digits.
Paternostro, a 17 time silverware winner in the top flight of British basketball, adds the first ever Super League Basketball Coach of the Month award to his extensive trophy cabinet.
Conner Washington named captain ahead of major club milestone
Club legend Conner Washington has been named Leicester Riders captain for the 2024-25 Super League Basketball season.
Washington, in his 12th season for the Club, has been called on for his wealth of experience by Head Coach Rob Paternostro to lead the team through the inaugural season of SLB.
He steps into the role as the club’s joint all-time leader in league games played with 303, ready to break Barry Lamble’s record upon his next Championship outing.
Washington is ready to take on the additional responsibility that comes with captaincy, on and off the court.
“I feel like the timing is perfect, and I’m ready to step into this role where I can be the guy that people come to if they have any problems, and be the voice of consistency on the floor,” said Washington.
“I want to provide anything my teammates need on and off the court. It means a lot to be named captain, and when you step into this role, people start to expect more from you and expect you to deliver.
“I think my relationship with Coach Rob will also continue to grow from this. There are things that he now expects from me as I represent the club as captain.
“I want to make this captaincy my own. That means doing more off the court and making sure the guys are ready, so all that they have to do is focus on what’s happening on the court.
“I’m a captain that will lead by example. I’m surrounded by great players and great people, so I want to help put them in the best possible position to win.”
The Riders are set to get their championship season underway on the road against Surrey 89ers on Saturday, where Washington will break the club’s league games played record should he feature on the court.
Leicester then return home for their Championship home opener against Sheffield Sharks on November 8.
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.”
🎥 Rounding out a perfect SLB Trophy Group stage! Here’s coach Rob’s Reaction! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ceEswcEwvY
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.
Leicester Riders schedule changes due to Trophy semi-final
Following our progression through the Super League Trophy Group Phase, we can confirm that we will play Newcastle Eagles in the semi-finals over two legs.
This will replace our previously scheduled Championship game against Newcastle Eagles on December 22, which was set to tip-off at 4pm. This Championship fixture will be rescheduled to a date yet to be confirmed.
If you have bought tickets to our December 22 Championship fixture against Newcastle, your ticket will still be valid for this Trophy semi-final.
If you can no longer attend this later tip-off time, please contact [email protected] to reallocate your ticket to a different Riders home game.
Season tickets will be valid for the semi-final.
Additionally, our away fixture against Bristol Flyers on December 6 has been rescheduled to March 23 due to schedule conflicts with Bristol’s Trophy semi-final against Cheshire Phoenix.
See the full schedule changes below.
Championship: Home vs Newcastle Eagles
Original: December 22, 2024, 4pm
New: TBC
Trophy: Home vs Newcastle Eagles
December 22, 2024, 5:30 pm
Championship: Away vs Bristol Flyers
Original: December 6, 2024, 7:30 pm
New: March 23/3, 2025, 5 pm
Make sure to bring the noise, and help the team to the Final!
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!
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.
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.
During Saturday’s game against Surrey 89ers, it was brought to our attention that our team’s jersey colours caused difficulty for spectators with colour blindness in distinguishing between us and our opponents.
While we still await the arrival of our official “Black Edition” jersey, the Club has decided to wear our temporary black kit for Wednesday’s game against Surrey 89ers and any future fixtures where our red jersey could result in a kit clash for those with colour vision deficiency.
Leicester Riders are committed to making our games accessible and enjoyable for all. We will continue to work diligently to ensure that our games are inclusive and accommodating for everyone.
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, Leicester Riders Foundation and Mattioli Arena Interim CEO Simon Winfield provides an update on the Club’s revised car parking charges.
Dear Supporters,
Following the first two home games of the season, we have conducted a thorough review of the recently introduced car parking fees. As part of this process, we consulted with the official supporters’ club, listened to individual fans, and held internal discussions within the business.
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to provide feedback and share their thoughts. Your input is invaluable to us. Our goal is not only to grow and develop the Club, but also to ensure we continue to recognise and appreciate the tremendous support of our fans. Together, we aim to create a winning team and an enjoyable, memorable game night experience for all.
The majority of feedback we received acknowledged that the introduction of car parking fees is understandable. However, many of you expressed concerns that the initial prices were too high. We’ve listened to those concerns and, in response, have revised our car parking charges for future home games.
The new fees are as follows:
£6 for parking on Memory Lane, covering the two car parks linked to Leicester College.
£12 for Premium Parking within the main Arena Car Park.
£6 for disabled parking in the main Arena Car Park (valid disabled parking pass required).
All revenue generated from car parking fees will be directly reinvested into the Club and its Foundation. These funds help us support the teams, enhance the game night experience and contribute to the many projects run by the Foundation as we continue our commitment to reinvesting back into our community.
Car Parking Passes can be purchased online at the same time as your game ticket- you will need to show your QR code at the time of entering the car park. We strongly advise supporters to purchase in advance in order to make entry to the car park as safe and quick as possible for everyone. This is the only way to guarantee your parking space for the game.
We are conscious that some fans have purchased their car parking for future games, and arrangements will be made to refund any difference in the costs within the next 14 days.
Once again, we truly appreciate your support and feedback, and we look forward to welcoming you to our upcoming games!
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!
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.
Behind the scenes at PDC Darts with Leicester Riders business club!
Leicester Riders 2024-25 Business Club got underway at the Mattioli Arena on October 10 for the PDC World Grand Prix of Darts. Members were taken behind the scenes at one of the world’s elite darts competitions, where the best of the best went head to head for all the glory.
Tournament Director Graham Fairhurst and Head of Security & Operations Andrew Slinger showed the group around the production and invited them on to the oche to test their Darts skills.
The Riders Business Club has been formed to offer business owners something different to the usual networking, bringing together events held at the Mattioli Arena, and Riders Basketball. Members will also be able to secure tickets ahead of general sale at specified Events throughout the year.
If you would like to join the Business Club at £500 (pro-rata to remainder of season) email [email protected]
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.
Leicester Riders responds to its supporter’s frequently asked questions
In the interest of improving communications between the Club and its fans, Leicester Riders Basketball Club have engaged in open conversations with its official supporters club and individual fans in recent months.
After listening to your comments and queries, the Club has committed to various changes, and is able to provide answers to some of the specific enquiries that have been made.
Below, you can find answers to some of your most frequently asked questions.
Please note, further comments will be made in the near future regarding our game night car parking arrangements.
We appreciate your feedback, and will look to make additional improvements to your fan experience throughout the season.
Questions and Answers
Q: At the first game of the season we played in a black kit. Will we be playing in this kit at home this season?
A: As shared by Super League Basketball there has been a delay in teams receiving their official kits and an interim solution was put in place. For this season our kit colours will be Red and Black, therefore, once we receive our official kits the vast majority, if not all our home games will be played in our Red kit whilst our Black kit will feature primarily in our away games.
Q: Will we be able to purchase our new kit soon?
A: Once we receive our new official kits we will be able to order the replica kit for fans. Due to the wide range of sizes that will be available we have made the decision for all kit to be available on pre-order. If you want to guarantee your kit and be the one of the first to receive it you can pre-register by emailing [email protected] with your full details and kit size, pricing will be confirmed shortly.
Q: The atmosphere at the game was poor and there was no commentary. What happened and what are the plans for the future?
A: We share your disappointment of the events on Friday night. It fell well short of the standards we aspire to and want to deliver for existing and new fans. Arrangements with our planned commentator fell through with short notice, and while we worked hard to find an alternative on the day and thank our team for stepping up to fill the role last minute, we understand that this had a negative impact on the game night atmosphere. In addition, our musical support faced unexpected in-game restrictions upon request from a game official, all far from ideal. We are focussed on addressing these issue for our next home game and are confident that we will meet expectations of supporters. We appreciate the understanding of those that have been in contact regarding this issue.
Q: Where were the Cheerleaders? Will they be part of the game night experience this season?
A: During the offseason we undertook a detailed review of all our existing arrangements and partnerships. We want our events to reflect the community that we live in and attend the games and bring the multi cultural aspect which is at the heart of Leicester. Following detailed discussions with the Cheerleader representative it was a mutual agreement that they would not form part of the game day experience for this season. We will be bringing a range of pre and half time entertainment this season and will update you as we progress through the season.
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.
Leicester Riders are excited to announce the signing of American Spencer Johnson for the 2024-25 season.
The 6’4” wing signs from BYU, where he spent four seasons of his collegiate career. Johnson averaged 11.5 points as a senior for the Cougars on 51% shooting from the field, and logged 10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in his graduate year on his way to a 23-11 record.
Photography by Nate Edwards/BYU
Johnson, a Utah native, had a decorated college career, seeing him named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team, receive an All-Big 12 Honourable Mention in 2024 and an All-WCC Honourable Mention in 2023.
He is no stranger to the big stage, going off for 11 points and 16 rebounds in the 2024 NCAA Tournament against Duquesne. It was one of 47 occasions Johnson scored in double digits for BYU, including a career-high 28 in a win over Iowa State in January.
Prior to BYU, he suited up for Salt Lake Community College. Johnson helped Salt Lake to a record of 29-4 and the No. 4 overall seed in the NJCAA National Tournament, averaging 13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 49.0 percent from the field.
The 27-year-old now takes his first step into professional basketball, signing with the Riders for his rookie season.
Johnson said: “Leicester has an amazing basketball tradition and I’m excited to be a part of it. I have high expectations for this team this season and I can’t wait to give my heart to this club. Let’s go!”
Leicester Riders Head Coach Rob Paternostro added: “Spencer had a great career at BYU. He’s an enjoyable player to watch. He’s a guard that does variety of things really well- he can rebound and pass the ball, and he’s an all around player who is also known for his defensive ability.
“I really look forward to seeing him on the floor!”
In a related roster move, the Riders can confirm it has parted ways with Noah Allen ahead of the season. The Club thanks Noah, and wishes him the best for his future.
The Riders get their season underway against Bristol Flyers this evening at 7:30 pm. Get your tickets here.
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.
Behind the scenes at PDC Darts with Leicester Riders Business Club
Go behind the scenes at PDC Darts and much more with our Business Club!
With this year’s Business Club, we’re giving you the opportunity for behind-the-scenes access to PDC Darts at the BoyleSports World Grand Prix!
On October 7 12pm – 1.30pm, you can take a look behind the curtain ahead of this prestigious World event, before you take part in a quick-fire game of darts in the Mattioli Court with tea, coffee, biscuits*
Our Business Club also includes a behind the scenes look at WST Snooker’s World Snooker Shootout, Baseline Balcony hospitality at Leicester Riders and much more!
A place at our Business Club is £500 per business + VAT. To book, please email [email protected]
The full list of benefits are:
◾ Opportunity to purchase tickets for Mattioli Arena events (subject to availability) ahead of general sale ◾ Networking at 4 events operated by the Leicester Riders at the Mattioli Arena ◾ Behind the Scenes at PDC BoyleSports World Grand Prix of Darts ◾ Behind the Scenes at the World Snooker Shoot Out (December). Details to be finalized ◾ Leicester Riders BCS Baseline Balcony package for two, Friday 17th January ◾ Leicester Riders BCS Baseline Balcony package for two, Thursday April 17th ◾ 10% off Room hire at the Mattioli Arena ◾ £2 off Riders game night tickets (subject to availability and terms & conditions) ◾ 10% off Riders game night hospitality (subject to availability) ◾ 10 game night tickets to be used flexibly during the season ◾ Logo to go on Business Club court side LED and Big Screen
We hope to see you there! *darts game played with other Business Club members. No professional Darts players involved. Events restricted to member only unless stipulated
Leicester Riders Basketball Club can confirm it’s basketball staff for it’s men’s, women’s and Loughborough NBL Division 1 teams ahead of the 2024-25 season.
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!
Leicester Riders looking for game night entertainers
Attention, entertainers!
Leicester Riders are seeking game day entertainers for the upcoming 2024-25 season!
In line with the Club’s dedication to investing in and establishing connections with the local community, it will prioritise hiring local talent for game day entertainment throughout the year.
Are you a local dance group, singer, freestyler, or possess any other unique skills? This is your opportunity to showcase your talent and perform in front of thousands at Leicester’s largest indoor arena during a Riders game.
If you’re interested in performing, please contact [email protected] with the subject line “Game day entertainment.”
Don’t miss this chance to share your talent and add excitement to the Riders game day experience!
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.
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.
Leicester Riders basketball club is set to tip-off for the first time in 2024-25, suiting up pre-season against USA Select.
In response to fan feedback, the Club has pledged to improve the game-day experience at Leicester Riders game day. This includes offering various activities and entertainment to ensure an enjoyable evening for all attendees.
The Arena will feature a new food selection, fan zone activations and in game entertainment throughout the season.
Here’s all you need to know about Leicester Riders game day against USA Select.
Fan Zone in Mattioli Courts
The Fan Zone, located in Mattioli Courts, will open at 5:45 pm before the game. It will feature a range of new entertainment and activities, and an improved food selection.
The Club’s Foundation has worked hard to bring an entertaining environment for its fans and visitors prior to games in Mattioli Courts.
Mattioli Courts will host a “beat the pro” free throw challenge, where fans are invited to beat a Riders player’s free throw total on ten attempts, a local acoustic duo performance, Bollywood dancing, and the presence of USA Select team.
Our game day sponsors, Gresham Hotel, who have generously hosted the USA Select team for the game, have a stand at the fan zone, along with Edmunds and Slatter and Leicester Riders Foundation, who will explain to fans how they can get involved in basketball through their community sessions.
Doors to the main arena will then open at 6:30 pm, half an hour before tip-off.
Eating at the Arena
Mattioli Arena has introduced a new and improved menu for the 2024-25 season, offering a high-quality array of food options.
The menu includes fish goujons and chips, chef’s bake of the day, Indian snack selection with sauces, and warmed doughnuts served with strawberries, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce.
You can see the full menu and pricings below:
In Game Entertainment
As part of the Club’s commitment to investing in and connecting with the local community, it will focus on employing local entertainment for game days.
For the game against USA Select, the club will showcase Bollywood dancing group, representing Leicester’s Indian community.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, fans can expect a variety of entertainment from local Leicestershire talent.
Those interested in performing on Riders game day can contact [email protected] for more information.
Super League Basketball gets green light to unite elite men’s and women’s game
Super League Basketball (SLB) has confirmed the unification of Great Britain’s elite men’s and women’s leagues under one banner.
Following a unanimous vote by shareholders of the Women’s British Basketball League, both the men’s and women’s elite competitions will now adopt SLB branding and work together to unlock the sport’s considerable potential across the country.
The Men’s League’s nine member clubs will be joined by 11 counterparts in the Women’s League, ensuring Super League Basketball is accessible for all, with the inaugural season set to get underway on September 27 2024.
By uniting under a single brand, the leagues will leverage each other’s strengths to create a more cohesive and powerful identity, increasing visibility and commercial opportunities across both men’s and women’s basketball in the UK.
Speaking following confirmation of the partnership, SLB Interim Chair Vaughn Millette said:
“Uniting under the Super League Basketball banner marks a pivotal moment for us. By bringing together the Men’s and Women’s Leagues, we are not just enhancing the visibility and reach of the sport, but also fostering a stronger, more unified community that will drive the growth and success of basketball across the UK.”
Chair of the Women’s League, Jim Saker, added: “This unification under Super League Basketball represents an exciting step forward for the sport in the UK. We are excited to create a shared platform that amplifies the strengths of both leagues. This collaboration will not only elevate the game but also inspire a new generation of fans and players across the country.”
Fixture information for the Men’s League has already been announced, with tickets now available to purchase via the club websites. Fixture information for the Women’s League will be announced in the coming days.
Leicester Riders raise awareness of gaming and gambling harms with new charity partnership
Leicester Riders, the UK’s oldest professional basketball club, have announced a pioneering new partnership with Ygam, a charity with a mission to prevent children and young people from experiencing gaming and gambling harms.
This collaboration, a first for any team in British basketball, signifies a major stride in the Riders’ commitment to the digital safeguarding of all children and young people associated with the Club.
Through its Foundation’s Academy and partnerships with Charnwood College and Loughborough University, the Riders organisation’s commitment to young people extends beyond the basketball court. Collaborating with Ygam further enhances the organisation’s capacity to safeguard and equip young people with essential skills and knowledge to thrive in later life.
Ygam has been appointed Leicester Riders ‘Charity of the Year’ for the forthcoming 24/25 season, alongside the Riders Foundation.
The latest report from the Gambling Commission revealed that 40% of 11- to 17-year-olds have had some experience of gambling over the last 12 months. 1 in 4 have spent their own money on gambling in the past 12 months and 35% of young people have encountered gambling advertisements at sports events. Research from the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms revealed that basketball has one of the highest gambling participation rates for young people aged 18-24 in the UK, compared to other popular betting sports like football, horse racing, and combat? sports.
Basketball is a growing sport at grass roots level in the UK, with nearly 1.25 million children and young people playing the sport at least once a week, and over 1200 licensed coaches nationwide. Popularity of professional basketball in the UK has also seen immense growth over recent years, where viewership of live and on-demand games across YouTube and Sky Sports has jumped from 1.4 million to over 20 million since the 2022/23 season.
This partnership aims to build greater awareness and educate more children and young people about the potential risks associated with gaming and gambling, both within a sporting context and beyond.
Simon Winfield, Interim CEO of Leicester Riders, said: “We’re excited to be working with Ygam. We have a deep admiration for their efforts in promoting gaming and gambling awareness among the youth of today.
“The Riders organisation takes seriously its responsibility to the young people who have entrusted us with their futures, both at Charnwood College and Loughborough University. A large part of that responsibility is ensuring that they are well set up for life beyond the Riders. Through Ygam’s education on the potential risks and dangers associated with gaming and gambling, we are fulfilling our commitment to ensuring their well-being and long-term success.
“We’re also excited at the prospect of helping to educate thousands of young people across Leicestershire, who we work closely with through the Leicester Riders Foundation. Through this partnership, we uphold the Club’s dedication to its local community, ensuring that we leave a lasting, positive influence on the lives of generations to come.”
Sacha Kent, Programme Lead for Education, Sports, and Youth at Ygam, said: “We are honoured to partner with Leicester Riders for the upcoming season and extend our reach within the sport of basketball. With gaming and gambling so heavily intertwined with professional sports, it is vital that we are doing all we can to safeguard all young people who participate in the sport they love.
“Leicester Riders do fantastic work in surrounding communities, including one of the country’s largest Basketball Apprentice schemes at Charnwood College, and a partnership with Loughborough University. The club’s community programmes also reach nearly 20,000 young people from across the city and wider county, and we are excited to use sport as a vehicle to make a real difference in the lives of young people, helping them navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.”
The partnership will involve key home games dedicated to Ygam and the charity’s work, with awareness raising and fundraising events throughout the season, alongside delivering Ygam’s City & Guilds Assured CPD training to all coaches and staff associated with the club.
More details about the partnership and the initiatives planned for the upcoming season will be announced soon.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) August 28, 2024
Here’s how the season will shape up:
SLB Trophy
The season will begin with the Trophy group phase on Friday, September 27, where we will host Bristol Flyers at 19:45 in our first competitive action of 2024-25.
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 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.
SLB Championship
Our Championship campaign begins at home on Saturday, November 2, against Surrey 89ers at 18:00.
The Championship features all nine SLB franchises playing each other four times (twice at home, twice away from home) over a 23-week season, equating to 32 games per club.
Our final game of the 2024-25 Championship season will be away at Newcastle Eagles on Friday, April 25 at 19:30.
SLB Cup
The SLB Cup will begin at the quarter-final stage, with the Riders’ fixture being played between February 7-9, against an opponent to be decided.
A random draw will take place to draw seven teams straight into the Cup quarter-finals, with the remaining two franchises playing a single-leg qualifier for the chance to join the other seven teams in the next round.
The Cup semi-finals will be two-legged ties, and the single-leg Final will take place in March at a venue to be confirmed.
SLB Playoffs
Following the conclusion of the Championships season, the top eight placed teams from the standings will qualify for the Playoffs.
Both quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played over two legs, with the quarter-final ties assigned by Championship seeding (1st vs 8th, 2nd vs 7th, 3rd vs 6th, 4th vs 5th).
The semi-final ties will be assigned by the highest remaining seed facing the lowest remaining seed and the second-highest facing the second-lowest.
In both rounds, the higher seed has the choice of home leg.
A single-leg Final will take place in London on May 18 with venue information to be confirmed.
You can find our full fixture list below:
Date
Tip-off
Competition
Opponent
H/A
Friday, September 27
19:45
Trophy
Bristol Flyers
H
Sunday, October 6
16:00
Trophy
London Lions
A
Saturday, October 19
18:00
Trophy
Surrey 89ers
A
Wednesday, October 23
19:45
Trophy
Surrey 89ers
H
Friday, October 25
19:30
Trophy
Bristol Flyers
A
Sunday, October 27
16:00
Trophy
London Lions
H
Saturday, November 2
18:00
Championship
Surrey 89ers
A
Friday, November 8
19:45
Championship
Sheffield Sharks
H
Sunday, November 17
16:00
Championship
Sheffield Sharks
A
Friday, November 29
19:45
Championship
Manchester
H
Sunday, December 1
17:30
Championship
Cheshire Phoenix
A
Friday, December 6
19:30
Championship
Bristol Flyers
A
December 6-8
Trophy semi-finals
TBD
Friday, December 13
19:45
Championship
Caledonia Gladiators
H
Friday, December 20
19:30
Championship
Surrey 89ers
A
Sunday, December 22
16:00
Championship
Newcastle Eagles
H
Friday, December 27
19:45
Championship
Bristol Flyers
H
Monday, December 30
19:45
Championship
London Lions
H
Friday, January 3
19:30
Championship
Newcastle Eagles
A
Friday, January 10
19:45
Championship
Manchester
H
Sunday, January 12
17:30
Championship
Cheshire Phoenix
A
Friday, January 17
19:45
Championship
Caledonia Gladiators
H
Saturday, January 25
17:00
Championship
Caledonia Gladiators
A
Friday, January 31
19:45
Championship
Bristol Flyers
H
February 7-9
Cup Quarter-Final
TBD
Thursday, February 13
19:45
Championship
Cheshire Phoenix
H
Friday, February 28
19:45
Championship
Surrey 89ers
H
Sunday, March 9
15:00
Championship
Manchester
A
Sunday, March 16
16:00
Championship
Sheffield Sharks
A
Friday, March 21
19:45
Championship
Newcastle Eagles
H
Friday, March 28
19:30
Championship
Bristol Flyers
A
Friday, April 4
19:45
Championship
Cheshire Phoenix
H
Sunday, April 6
16:00
Championship
Caledonia Gladiators
A
Friday, April 11
19:45
Championship
Sheffield Sharks
H
Sunday, April 13
16:00
Championship
London Lions
A
Thursday, April 17
19:45
Championship
Surrey 89ers
H
Sunday, April 20
16:00
Championship
London Lions
H
Friday, April 25
19:30
Championship
Newcastle Eagles
A
Please note, these fixtures may be subject to change.
Ticket information for our upcoming SLB games will be confirmed in the near future.
Super League Basketball, the new elite basketball competition in the UK, has announced the iconic American sports brand Reebok, as the official kit supplier and basketball sneaker of the league with a multi-year partnership.
A dominant force on the court, Reebok’s legacy is rooted in innovative designs and iconic endorsements by some of the game’s greatest players. The brand has made strides in its re-entry to the sport and appointing basketball legends Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson as President and Vice President of Basketball, respectively.
Partnering with the Super League Basketball reinforces Reebok’s rightful place in the sport.
“We are thrilled to partner with the newly established Super League Basketball,” said Todd Krinsky, CEO of Reebok. “This collaboration represents a perfect synergy between Reebok’s storied basketball heritage and the vibrant future of the elite league in the UK. We are excited to bring our innovative designs and high-performance gear to the court, and we can’t wait to see the players and fans embrace the new kits this season.”
Starting in September with the 2024/25 season, all the Super League Basketball teams will be equipped with elite Reebok-designed playing kits, training kits, travel attire and basketball sneakers. Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase replica kits for the 2024/25 season, with the unveiling of the new kits scheduled for early September.
Paul Blake, owner of Newcastle Eagles commented: “Speaking on behalf of all the basketball clubs competing in our newly launched Super League, I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure this partnership with Reebok. It’s been a challenging few months for our sport, but to attract a brand of Reebok’s status, heritage and association as we launch our new league is fantastic.”
“It is perfect timing for this partnership as Reebok relaunches its performance basketball division and we embark on new future as Super League Basketball. Seeing stars like Shaq and Allen Iverson involved in a project that touches our League is incredibly exciting and with them on-board, we look forward to achieving great things both on and off the court.”
Nick Woodhouse, President and CBO, Authentic Brands Group, owner of the Reebok brand said: “We are delighted to witness Reebok’s renaissance in the basketball arena through this collaboration with the Super League Basketball. This partnership blends Reebok’s legacy with the energy of the league’s future, creating a fusion of style and performance that will echo through the courts.”
John Carden, CEO of Sports Hub Group, UK distributor for Reebok said: “Being able to bring two amazing brands together in Reebok and the League is a real personal achievement, and I can’t wait to see this pairing brought to life when the kit is launched next month.”
It’s with regret that we have taken the decision to defer the Fan’s Q&A Session scheduled for September 19 to an alternative event as soon as possible.
Whilst we are really keen to present our new teams to our loyal fans and have you get to know them better, the changing schedule this season and practice commitments of our top teams mean we have to look for a better date.
We’ll be in touch with those who have already purchased tickets to arrange a full refund and will share details of an alternative event as soon as possible.
The Leicester Riders family apologise for this change of plans, but we look forward to seeing you all for our first pre-season game against USA Select.
Super League Basketball announces four competition formats for debut season
Ahead of a hotly anticipated debut campaign, Super League Basketball announced the four competitions that will make up the inaugural season, which is set to tip off on Friday September 27.
The SLB have introduced four formats for the 2024/25 season which pay homage to the storied history of top-flight British basketball, with Championship, Cup, Playoff and Trophy competitions set to keeps fans on the edges of their seats throughout the year.
Getting underway in late September, the Trophy tournament takes centre-stage from the tip-off as five weeks of group stage action will see SLB fans to the start of November, when the Championship campaign commences.
Utilita Arena Birmingham will host the first major Final in SLB history on January 26, 2025, as the Trophy title will be up for grabs, representing the first in a trio of showpiece events taking place before the end of the season.
Continuing the history of one of British basketball’s most storied competitions, the SLB have established a Cup competition which will take place over six weeks from February ahead of a Final in March at a venue to be confirmed, before the road to the Playoffs resumes with the Championship action concluding on April 27.
The top eight teams in the SLB will qualify for the post-season, battling in two-legged quarter- and semi-finals for a place in London on May 18 in the Playoff Final to compete for the biggest prize in British basketball. Venue information for the Cup and Playoff Finals will be announced in the coming weeks.
Speaking following confirmation of the competition formats, SLB Interim Chair Vaughn Millette said:
“We’re delighted to be launching our inaugural season with four fantastic competitions for our fans to look forward to. British basketball has a rich history and we’re pleased to pay tribute to that heritage with these competitions, setting the stage for a spectacular SLB season.
“The excitement for the return of elite level British basketball is evident and we’re delighted to be able to give the fans what they want from September 27, with a full fixture list for all of our competitions to be released in the coming days.”
Leicester Riders prepare for Super League Basketball against USA Select on September 6.
The Leicester Riders are renowned for our game night atmosphere and we are looking for energetic and fun additions to our Game Night Crew to help us bring even MORE entertainment to all those attending the Mattioli Arena ahead of our new season tipping off next month.
Game Night Crew members are responsible for managing our in-game entertainment, delivering birthdays, mascot packages and more, plus ensuring our fans have an enjoyable visit!
Here are a selection of the Volunteer roles we are recruiting for:-
a) Half time : Ensuring our half time entertainers are ready, willing and on time
b) Birthday Parties : Meet, greet and deliver all our amazing birthday party packages
c) Mascots : Meet, greet and deliver our growing number of Mascots on game night
d) Chuck a Duck : a Manic game which requires speed, accuracy and fun! Selling the ducks and then picking them up – all great fun!
e) Guard of Honour: Meet, greet and ensure our Guard of Honour are on time, in place and have a great time!
The above positions are Volunteer only where you will receive a complimentary game night ticket in exchange for your help. Some roles will require a full DBS check.
For more information, or to show interest in these roles, please contact [email protected].
Closing date for these applicants will be 30th August 2024
Leicester Riders basketball club are excited to welcome J’Raan Brooks to their 2024-25 roster.
The 6’9” American signs from UC San Diego Tritons, where he played his final two collegiate seasons.
Brooks averaged 5.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in his final year with the Tritons. He was named to the Winter Big West All-Academic Team, named Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators for his work in the classroom and on the court and earned NABC Honors Court academic recognition.
Prior to joining the University California San Diego, Brooks played his freshman year at USC, before transferring to the University of Washington. A 2018 graduate of Garfield High School in Seattle, Brooks led Bulldogs to a state championship in his senior year.
Brooks is a versatile offensive threat, able to step outside and shoot from distance (hitting on 38% of his looks in his final collegiate season), pass and score out of the post and finish at the rim.
He is the 11th member of the Riders’ 2024-25 roster, and the sixth American, ahead of the Super League Basketball season.
Brooks said: “I’m beyond excited for the opportunity from the Riders and Coach Rob for allowing me to be able to achieve my dream goal of playing ball at the pro level.
“I’ve heard nothing but great things about the Club and city, can’t wait to get out to Leicester to meet the team and staff, and as well as play in front of the Riders fans. I’m ready to get to work!”
Head Coach Rob Paternostro added: “J’Raan is a versatile big who can play either the 4 or the 5. He has a skill set that will add something different to the frontcourt players we have on our roster
“He is versatile defensively: he is a player who can guard multiple positions and who plays with a high IQ. We’re looking forward to having him on our team this season.”
Your first chance to see J’Raan in action is September 6, as Leicester Riders get their pre-season underway against USA Select.
Leicester Riders are excited to announce the signing of American Noah Allen for the 2024-25 season.
The 6’7” wing is a nine-year pro, who played most recently for Culiacan in the Mexican first division. 2022-23 saw Allen suit up for Club Comunicaciones in Argentina, putting up 14 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.
His professional experience has seen him play two seasons in the NBA G-League, and log 10 points and 6 rebounds per game in 2019 for the Capital City Go-Go.
Allen also suited up for Würzburg Baskets in the German first division in 2019-2020, averaging 7 points and 5 rebounds, played two seasons in the Spanish second division for HLA Alicante and Zunder Palencia, and averaged 11 points per game in the Mexican first division for Soles de Mexicali.
Prior to Allen’s professional career, he spent his first three college seasons with the prestigious UCLA Bruins, before transferring to the University of Hawai’i. He put up 15.7 points and 5.8 rebounds as a senior in a history-making season.
Allen earned all-Big West first team honours, led the team in points, rebounds and steals, and became the first Warrior in 21 years, and just the fifth in school history, to score 30 or more four times in a season.
Allen said: “It feels amazing to have the opportunity to play for this organisation! I’m very grateful and excited to get out there! I hope to see everyone soon!”
Allen is Head Coach Rob Paternostro’s fifth American signing of the offseason, following the additions of Jaylin Hunter, Zach Jackson, Ethan Wright and Charles Thompson previously.
He added: “We are excited to have Noah for this season . He is a veteran player with good experience in many different leagues.
“He is a versatile player with good size who can be effective in many different spots on the floor and has shown the ability to defend multiple positions.”
Franchises confirmed for Super League Basketball’s debut season
Super League Basketball (SLB) is pleased to confirm the line-up for its inaugural campaign:
Bristol Flyers
Leicester Riders
Newcastle Eagles
Cheshire Phoenix
London Lions
Sheffield Sharks
Caledonia Gladiators
Manchester
Surrey 89ers
Nine teams from England and Scotland will take to the court on the opening weekend of SLB action at the end of September, with further franchises expected to join this exciting cohort for the 2025/26 campaign.
Speaking on behalf of SLB, Interim Chairman Vaughn Millette said: “We are pleased to be able to welcome new ownership into the league with Sherwood Family Investment Office securing the Manchester franchise; and Lithuanian tech-group Tesonet, shareholder of leading EuroLeague organisation Žalgiris Kaunas, successfully completing the purchase of London Lions.
“Our focus is to strategically grow this league with sustainable and secure partners. The consortium of clubs has been impressed by the international attention we have attracted since being awarded the men’s professional licence by our governing body, the British Basketball Federation.
“The process for securing franchises for this inaugural season is now complete. We are delighted that there is further competition for franchises for the 2025/26 season, and we will be announcing the formal franchise expansion process during the forthcoming season.
“All ownership groups have now signed up to SLB’s operating terms and we are delighted that we’ve been able to secure the partners that we have thus far. Our clubs are looking forward to getting the new season underway with fixtures and the competition formats to be released in the coming days.
“Thank you to all the fans for their patience. We can’t wait to welcome you to Super League Basketball.”
Former Great Britain captain, current all-time GB men’s record cap holder, and co-owner of the Surrey 89ers Dan Clark added:
“It has been an extremely busy off-season and has taken a huge amount of work to get the new league ready for September.
“There’s a great mix of continued long-term ownership and new investment into the league. I’ve been hugely impressed by the commitment from all the club owners to work collegiately and collaboratively alongside the British Basketball Federation to bring a sustainable and elite offering to the court in the coming weeks.
“I personally can’t wait for top-flight basketball to resume. The level of passion and support for our sport is higher than ever and it will be great to see British basketball fans cheering their teams to success.”
Leicester Riders get their pre-season campaign underway on September 6 against USA Select.
To see the Riders 2024-25 roster in action for the first time, get tickets here!
Leicester Riders are thrilled to announce the re-signing of Duke Shelton to their 2024/25 roster.
The American, who holds a British passport, first signed in Leicester in January 2024, putting up a productive 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 16 minutes per outing. Shelton brings a wealth of experience to Leicester, having played nine seasons of professional basketball across Europe.
Prior to joining the Riders, Shelton played two seasons for the Newcastle Eagles. The 6’10” forward averaged a double-double in ten games for the Eagles in the 2021/22 season, logging 14.1 points and 10.5 rebounds. The 28-year-old’s European experience has seen him compete in Israel, Finland and Slovakia.
Shelton is an energetic force in the paint on both ends, using his length and vertical ability to rise and swat away shots, and his relentless hustle to run in transition and lead the charge up the court for breakaway buckets.
His efforts were epitomised by his 14 points and 16 rebounds in 22 minutes of action against the Plymouth City Patriots in March, where he grabbed 6 offensive boards in the Riders’ double overtime win.
“I’m excited to be back,” said Shelton. “I’m ready for the great atmosphere that the fans bring and I’m looking forward to playing alongside my teammates. I believe we have a really good opportunity ahead and I can’t wait to get started.”
Head Coach Rob Paternostro added: “We’re really happy to have Duke back with the Riders. Last season we were impressed with his consistent effort in games and in practices. He was a true professional, and he lifted us with his energy.
“Duke is a frontcourt player that can run the floor, he’s active on the glass on both ends and he’s someone that plays with passion and emotion.
“He’s a veteran. Duke has been around professional basketball for a while, and hell add veteran leadership to the locker room.”
Want to see Duke in action? Tickets to our pre-season opener against USA Select are on sale now!
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!
Leicester Riders are excited to announce the signing of 6’9” forward Riley Abercrombie for the 2024-25 season.
The Australian, who possesses a UK passport, signs from the Illawarra Hawks in Australia’s 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.
Prior to Abercrombie’s summer in Illawarra, he played his graduation year with the University of North Colorado. He averaged 7.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game over his two seasons with the Bears, logging his best statistical season as a senior with 8.2 points per game.
The Wollongong native declared for Boise State as a freshman, before transferring to Rice University for two seasons. At Rice, Abercrombie was a two-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, and was named to the NABC Honors Court in 2021.
At 6’9”, Abercrombie can take defenders off the dribble, use his deep range to knock down shots and can score with his back to the basket. As a three level scorer, he poses a threat from anywhere on the court, and his size allows him to impact the boards on both ends.
Abercrombie said: “I’m extremely excited to be a part of the Leicester Riders this upcoming season. It’s a great club and with an amazing support system behind it.
“I can’t wait to be in England and put on a Leicester Riders jersey!”
Abercrombie is Head Coach Rob Paternostro’s eighth signing of the summer ahead of the 2024-25 season.
He added: “We are looking forward to having Riley on our team. He has good size and has the ability to stretch defences with his three point shooting. He is also an effective rebounder who has shown the ability to play team basketball.
“He has had an excellent summer playing in Australia, where he put up some impressive numbers. We are looking forward to working with him this season.”
Want to see Abercrombie in action? 2024-25 season tickets and tickets to our pre-season opener against USA Select are on sale now!
Leicester Riders are excited to welcome back Zach Jackson for the 2024-25 season.
Jackson returns 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.
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’s career-high night in Leicester came against the Newcastle Eagles, where he put up 29 points and 9 rebounds and went 10-13 from the field in an 87-79 win. It was one of 11 20-point games during the 2022-23 season for the Wichita native, who went off for 20 points and 9 rebounds in the Playoff Final against the London Lions.
Prior to the Riders, Jackson spent his rookie season in Ukraine for Kharkivski Sokoly, averaging 12 points and 4 rebounds per game. He went on to sign for Shonan United BC of the Japanese B.League last summer, before returning to the Riders for the upcoming season.
The 6’6” wing is respected as an elite scorer, rebounder and defender, and is known for stepping up in the biggest moments and delivering clutch plays.
Jackson said: “It feels good to be coming back to play for Coach Rob, and play in front of the fans that we’re a part of a very good time in my career.
“I hope to help win some more trophies for the organisation. I look forward to getting back to Leicester and getting to work.”
Head Coach Rob Paternostro added: “It’s fantastic to have a player like Zach back. In his time with the club he was a pleasure to work with both on and off the court.
“He knows how to win, he has played in a lot of big games and has made so many important winning plays in his time in Leicester.
“Zach is a versatile player who is comfortable playing the two through four positions, which should give us many different combinations to use throughout the season.”
Jackson is Paternostro’s sixth addition to the Riders 2024-25 roster, and fourth American following the signings of Jaylin Hunter, Ethan Wright and Charles Thompson.
Want to see Jackson back in Riders red? 2024-25 season tickets and tickets to our pre-season opener against USA Select are on sale now!
Leicester Riders are excited to announce the signing of American forward Charles Thompson for the 2024-25 season.
6’8” Thompson will suit up for his rookie season in professional basketball after five seasons with Towson Tigers in the NCAA Division 1.
He averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds as a senior at Towson, and 10 points and 9 rebounds in his graduation year, leading the team to four winning seasons during his collegiate tenure. He graduated with an 87-51 record over five years.
Photo credit: Kenny Storck
Thompson finished his college career as Towson’s all-time leader in games played and games started, and second in all-time minutes. He is one of three players all-time to score over 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds for the University, and was named to the All-CAA Third Team and CAA All-Defensive Team in 2023-24.
He ranks third in all-time in total rebounds and field goal percentage, and fourth in blocks. An efficient scorer and dominant force in the paint, Thompson averaged over 50% shooting from the field in every season for Towson. His physical play on both ends made for a prolific college highlight reel, and he looks to build on that electric portfolio with the Riders.
His father, Tony “The Tiger” Thompson, was a heavyweight boxer who retired with a 40-7 record. Tony Thompson had two fights for the unified world heavyweight titles in 2008 and 2012, both times against Wladimir Klitschko.
Tony Thompson fighting Wladimir Klitschko for the unified heavyweight title in 2008. Getty Images
Charles now looks to bring his own heavyweight style of play to British basketball.
Thompson commented: “It feels great to be signed to the team. I can’t wait to get over there, meet the guys and get my feet on the ground and running. I am excited for this opportunity that I have been given and will surely make the most of it!”
Head Coach Rob Paternostro added: “We are thrilled to add Charles to our team for next season. He had a highly decorated career at Towson where his team won 20 or more games the last three seasons.
“He has put up some excellent numbers and is a very impressive defensive player, whose strength, quickness and mobility will be an excellent addition to our team.
“We are thrilled to add him to our locker room. Everyone we spoke with talked about what a great leader he is both on and off the court.”
Thompson makes the Riders’ 2024-25 roster six-strong so far, following the signings of Americans Ethan Wright and Jaylin Hunter, the re-signing of club legend Conner Washington and retention of the young British pairing of Blake Bowman and Victor Ndoukou.
The consortium of clubs awarded the licence for men’s professional basketball in Great Britain has today revealed the official trading name as Super League Basketball.
Just two weeks ago the group of clubs were successfully awarded the playing licence by their governing body, the British Basketball Federation, allowing elite level men’s professional basketball to continue in Great Britain this September.
Chris Grant, Chair of the British Basketball Federation commented: “The arrival of Super League Basketball represents another significant step forward. Considerable credit must go to the clubs for their unified approach and clear focus on delivering the best possible league for fans, players and everyone with an interest in the future of top-level British basketball.”
Speaking on behalf of the clubs, Steve Timoney, owner of Caledonia Gladiators said: “There has been much speculation over what our new league name would be, and we have unanimously decided that a fresh approach is needed.
“We hope all our fans are looking forward to the clubs taking to the court in September as part of this new league and we are excited for our future together. It has been a turbulent time for the clubs and our supporters, and we thank all the fans for their continued support and enthusiasm.
“There is a lot still to do before the season starts, but we are looking forward to sharing news with our fanbase and followers as we count down to the opening weekend of Super League Basketball this September.”
Information on clubs, competition, fixtures and commercial partners will all be revealed in the next few weeks.
Leicester Riders are happy to confirm the retention of Victor Ndoukou ahead of the 2024-25 season.
The 6’8″ forward signed his first professional contract with the Riders in January 2023 to accompany his studies at Loughborough University, committing him to Leicester for 4 and a half years, which will see him signed to the Club through to the end of the 2026-27 season.
Ndoukou is a product of Charnwood Academy. There, he won the 2021/22 EABL MVP award after averaging 11.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in NBL D1, shooting 46% from three that season.
He added another trophy to his cabinet last season with Loughborough Riders, winning the BUCS title after hitting back-to-back clutch threes late in the final.
Ndoukou will suit up for another season at Loughborough while playing for the Riders. The Club would like to thank the University for its continued support.
“I’m excited for another opportunity to play this season,” said Ndoukou. “I’m really looking forward to meeting all the guys and getting back to work!”
Head Coach Rob Paternostro commented: “Vic is a promising young player who continues to develop in our program. He has good size and skill and an excellent feel for the game.”
Since the announcement of a new professional league in British Basketball, the club consortia have been working diligently to ensure the launch of a new season by the end of August 2024.
To that end we expect to make several key announcements that will satisfy the fanbase up and down the country that a return to topflight basketball is in hand.
It is expected that the new league name will be announced in the coming days and that will be followed by some exciting news on how the league will operate and commercial partnerships as soon as the details are completed.
Further to this, communication will come regarding the direction of the league, the 2024/2025 season, the number of franchises and our new media deal.
As clubs begin to announce new signings, further developments include the commitment to move forward with a strategic growth plan which has been agreed by all parties. The overall desire is to grow the league and the sport commercially and will result in increased franchise areas over a medium-term period.
This new season will not only see the return to elite basketball but a return to European competition for many of our teams with plans to expand that participation in the season to follow.
The club consortia appreciate the patience of their fans during this difficult process, but we look forward to rewarding all with an exciting season ahead.
“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!”
Leicester Riders today announce the signing of American guard Ethan Wright for the 2024-25 season.
Wright signs following his first professional season in Romania, where he suited up for CSM Târgu Jiu. He averaged 12.1 points on 45/37/90 shooting splits, and pulled down 3.1 rebounds per game.
Prior to his rookie year, the Massachusetts native played four seasons of NCAA D1 basketball, initially for Princeton University alongside British forward Tosan Evbuomwan, currently of the Detroit Pistons in the NBA.
Wright helped lead the Tigers to the 2022 Ivy League regular season championship. He was named to the 2022 All-Ivy League and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Second Team, and was three-time Ivy League Player of the Week in the 2021-22 season. Wright was also named to the NABC Honours Court in 2022.
In Wright’s final year in Princeton, he was his team’s third leading scorer with 14.7 points per game. His 50% shooting from the field and 39.5% shooting from three ranked third in his conference, and his 6.9 rebounds per game was fourth best among all Ivy League players.
His final collegiate season was spent at the University of Colorado for the Buffaloes. Wright was one of four Buffs to feature in all 35 games, and ranked third on the team in three-pointers made with 29, while hitting 34.9% beyond the arc.
Wright commented: “It feels great to sign in Leicester. I’m really excited to be a part of a club and city with so much sporting history, and my goal is to be a big part of continuing that history.
“I’ve always wanted to visit the UK, so it is a dream come true to be able to play for Leicester. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to succeed as a group and I can’t wait to get started!”
Wright is Head Coach Rob Paternostro’s second American signing ahead of the 2024-25 season, following the addition of Jaylin Hunter last week.
He commented: “Ethan is someone we feel fortunate to pick up. He has one year of pro experience in Romania already, and we’re impressed by his all around play. He plays on both ends with intelligence, and we feel he will fit into our programme very well.
“When you look back at his career so far, he’s a very effective shooter, but there’s more to his game than that. He has good athleticism and a great IQ and feel for the game.”
Leicester Riders announce Rob Jarram as Head of Foundation and Performance Pathway
Leicester Riders are thrilled to introduce Rob Jarram as the new Head of Leicester Riders Foundation and Performance Pathway.
Rob’s role will encompass not only continuing the Foundation’s invaluable charitable efforts throughout Leicestershire, but also allocating resources and attention to the Academy pathway, fostering the growth of youth basketball in the region.
This appointment underscores the Club’s dedication to developing its youth pathway system. Its connections with Loughborough University, Charnwood College, and its Foundation’s Academy are essential not only for the Club’s future successes, but also for the sustained development of British basketball.
Through its collaborations with local schools and basketball clubs, the Academy plays a crucial role in making the sport accessible to hundreds of children, thereby fostering inclusivity and encouraging participation in basketball.
Rob’s background in sport, particularly his ten years at Loughborough College primarily as Sports Development Manager, make him ideally suited to propel the Academy to the next level of player development.
In the past, his company, Everymind Performance, has collaborated with Leicester Riders, Charnwood, and Loughborough players to enhance their performance and development both on and off the court.
Everymind Performances’ contribution was pivotal in achieving the Club’s mission of not only elevating the on-court performance of players in its youth system, but also equipping them with the necessary tools for a successful transition into adult life.
Rob has familial ties to the Riders. His brother, Mark Jarram, served as Head Coach of Loughborough University Riders for eight seasons. Rob looks to continue his brother’s legacy of player development in Leicestershire through working with the Leicester Riders Foundation’s pathway.
Jarram commented: “Leicester Riders, by work or by leisure, has been part of my life since I was 14 years old. I’m extremely excited to be leading areas of the club that make a huge impact to so many young people and adults.
“I want to continue to build on the strengths within our Foundation and Performance Programmes as well as expand our provision and standards of delivery.
“Ultimately, it’s all about our community, as a club and as a sport, and the future of British Basketball.”
Leicester Riders are happy to confirm the retention of Blake Bowman ahead of the 2024-25 season.
The British forward will take to the floor for his third season with the Club, having signed a multi-year deal last summer.
High-flying Bowman made big contributions throughout last year, leading the Riders with 15 points against the Caledonia Gladiators in October. He’s a mainstay on the highlight reel with his play above the rim, and a constant fastbreak threat for opponents.
Bowman will suit up for the Riders while competing for Loughborough University, where he also enters his third year. Bowman has won back-to-back BUCS championships with Loughborough, winning MVP in the Final last season.
The Club would like to thank the University for its continued support.
“I’m super excited to get back going with the Riders,” said Bowman. “I’m looking forward to the grind of the season and getting back out there in front of our fans.
“After a successful BUCS season, we had some key guys graduate, but were hungrier than ever to get another national championship for Loughborough.”
Head Coach Rob Paternostro commented: “We are happy to have Blake back with us. He is a player that is continually improving and we expect big things from him next season.
“Blake has two BBL seasons under his belt and has gained good experience playing in our league. I’ve been really impressed with the work that he has put in this summer- he is motivated to have a great season.”
Leicester Riders Basketball Club today announced the signing of American Jaylin Hunter for the 2024/25 season.
Hunter, a 6’0” guard, will suit up for his rookie season in professional basketball having spent his final two collegiate years at the Ohio University.
He averaged 14 points, 4.9 assists and 4.4 rebounds for the Bobcats in 2023/24, and was named Second Team All-Conference after finishing the year as the MAC assists leader.
The Connecticut native helped Ohio to the MAC Championship semi-finals last season, scoring 17 points in the final four.
Before the University of Ohio, Hunter spent three seasons at Old Dominion University, captaining the team in 2021/22. Starting all 32 games for the Monarchs, he averaged 9.7 points and ranked top 10 in the Sun Belt Conference in assists, steals, assist-to-turnover ratio and minutes played.
Hunter commented: “I’m excited to get to Leicester and join my teammates and the fans to get working on a successful season! I’m thrilled for this opportunity and can’t wait to get started with the Riders!”
Hunter becomes Head Coach Rob Paternostro’s first American signing of the offseason, and is the second addition to the Riders’ 2024-25 roster following the announcement of the re-signing of club legend Conner Washington on Thursday.
Paternostro commented: “Jaylin is a dynamic guard, with an ability to get to the paint, make plays for his teammates and score in different ways. I’ve been impressed throughout the recruitment process with the positive references on his leadership and ability to be a good teammate.
“I’m excited to work with him. He has the characteristics you want from a point guard, and someone with the ball in his hands. His quickness, strength and shooting range make him a really difficult cover.”
Leicester Riders today announce the re-signing of club legend Conner Washington for the 2024-25 season.
The GB guard returns for his 12th season with the Riders, having won 14 pieces of silverware during his storied tenure with the Club.
After arriving in the East Midlands in 2011, Washington has been featured on the All-British Team of the Year on four occasions and the Defensive Team of the Year three times He is a dangerous perimeter threat, averaging over 40% from behind the arc in three separate seasons.
Paternostro commended: “It’s great to have Conner back. He is a legendary player at the club who has had incredible success in his time with us.
“He has been one the best three point shooters in club and league history, and he continues to be a threat . His experience on the court and in the locker room has always been valuable to our team.”
Washington added: “I’ve been hooping for 20+ years and I still find myself getting nervous before games – it is a true blessing, the hard work never stops! I’m excited to get right back to it!”
Washington’s re-signing also marks the first signing for interim CEO Simon Winfield.
“I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve signed Conner. He’s proven his worth within the Club for a number of years, and is clearly a fan favourite. For him to be out of contract and choose to stay with us again for another season is really exciting.
“It’s important for him to be here, and mentor the new players coming in. Having spoken to Conner he’s really fired up about next year, not only about playing, but also supporting the organisation however he can.”
Statement: Professional Men’s League License Awarded to “Premier Basketball Limited”
The British Basketball Federation (BBF) has today confirmed a three-year license has been awarded to a consortium of British clubs for the professional men’s basketball league in Great Britain.
The BBF revoked the license from Basketball League Limited (the operating company of the BBL) following breaches in the license after the 23/24 Season concluded. The BBF stated it would work with the clubs to try and establish a route for the 24/25 season to go ahead and today confirmed a new license has now been issued.
Chris Grant OBE, Chair of the British Basketball Federation said: “I’m delighted that fans, players, staff and partners can look forward with confidence to the continuation of top-level British club basketball.
“The fact that we’ve been able to move so quickly following the termination of the previous licence is down to the positivity and unity of the clubs, as well as the professionalism and focus of our BBF team and Board.
“The way we’ve worked together bodes well for the ongoing improvement and alignment of our player pathway so that the wealth of British basketball talent can translate to success on the international stage.”
Speaking on behalf of the consortium of clubs, Vaughn Millette, new majority shareholder of Sheffield Sharks, said:
“Since the license was revoked, we (the clubs) have all worked together to sustain the elite professional pathway in the UK. There has been a huge amount of work undertaken in a very short amount of time to enable this to happen.
“We would like to thank Chris Grant and the team at the BBF for working with us to deliver this solution and reassure our fans that a professional basketball league will get underway this September.
“We are pleased that the British Basketball Federation has made the decision to award the men’s professional license to our newly formed operating company “Premier Basketball Limited”. Our fans will appreciate there is a huge amount still to be done and more details will be released shortly – including the fixture schedule for the forthcoming season.”
Premier Basketball Limited has been established by clubs that previously competed in the BBL. The new League name, club line-ups, start date and fixtures will all be announced in the weeks to follow.
Leicester Riders announce new interim management arrangements as part of an ongoing restructure of their three businesses.
Simon Winfield, Managing Director of Red Monkey Play will, on an interim part-time basis, provide ongoing managerial oversight of the businesses, and support and drive, in particular, the preparations for the new Riders basketball season.
Mark Torr, joint Managing Partner at Leicester accountants Torr Waterfield, will also continue to provide financial oversight of the businesses, while the new structure of the businesses is finalised and implemented.
Simon and Mark are long time sponsors and supporters of the Riders, and Simon is also the Chairman of Leicester Riders Foundation, as well as another well-known Leicester charity, the Furnley House Foundation.
Riders Chairman Kevin Routledge said,
“We are hugely appreciative of the support and experience Simon and Mark are providing to the businesses over the last number of months, and their commitment to defining a new way forward for the growth and sustainability of the Club.
“We are all busy making preparations for the new season in September, and these changes will accelerate that process.”
Leicester Riders announce departure of Managing Director Russell Levenston
Leicester Riders announce the departure of Managing Director Russell Levenston.
Russell is moving on to pursue new opportunities, after 17 years with the Club.
Riders wish to thank Russell for his great service to the Club, which covered a period of very significant developments off the court, and exceptional success on the court.
The Board and all the staff and players at the Riders wish Russell well in all his future endeavours.
Leicester Riders Chairman Kevin Routledge commented:
“Thank you to Russell for great service over many years, which helped to develop and grow the Club. His work is appreciated by everybody at the Riders, and we wish him luck for whatever is next.”
Please stand by for further communications from the Club, which will be provided in the coming days.
A message from Russell Levenston
Dear Riders Fans, Sponsors, Staff, and Volunteers,
After 17 years, more latterly as Managing Director of the Leicester Riders, it is with a very heavy heart that I must say goodbye. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported me since I joined the club. I have countless stories and fond memories shared with the people whose lives we as a club have impacted.
My journey with the Riders began in 2007 when I moved from Milton Keynes to Leicester as a young British basketball fanatic. Vince Macaulay, my mentor for over 30 years, guided me as I took the bold step of investing in the Leicester Riders. Many thought I was crazy, but I believed in the potential of British basketball to change lives. I am proud to say that belief has been validated by the programs’ successes – the men’s team winning 17 BBL national titles in the past 11 years and the women’s team securing 4 WBBL national titles.
One of my proudest achievements has been establishing pathways for athletes in partnership with Loughborough University, Loughborough College, and Charnwood College. These pathways have allowed aspiring professional athletes to receive high-level education comparable to opportunities in the USA and other countries. The academy’s success in EABL, WEABL, and BUCS is a testament to our efforts.
I would like to extend a special thank you to Robert Jelley for his unwavering support, both personally and financially. Without Robert’s support, the Leicester Riders program would not be where it is today, and I am forever grateful for his contributions. Robert helped lay the foundations and supported a great community program that has changed many lives.
My passion has always been to prove that British basketball can be successful both on and off the court with the right approach. I want to thank every Riders fan, volunteer, player, and staff member who believed in the vision and direction of the club. Your support has been invaluable, especially in those early days.
There are many players and staff I would like to acknowledge, but I must single out Rob Paternostro, who has been a colleague and great friend for the past 16 years. Our journey together has been filled with challenges, but I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else. I have loved every minute of it both the ups and downs!
To the sponsors and partners, thank you for your unwavering support and belief in our vision. Your passion and commitment have been instrumental in our success.
Lastly, I want to thank my family. My parents and brothers, who initially thought I was crazy for leaving my job at Reebok in 2007 to take on this project, have supported me every step of the way. My amazing wife has been my rock, enduring my 24/7 work schedule, and my children, who have become diehard Riders fans. One of my best moments was during the playoffs this year, seeing Noah on the drums and Lydia on the horn, rallying the Riders fans. My family has shared many special moments with me during this journey, and I couldn’t have done it without their support.
As I step away, I am not sure what comes next other than taking some time off to spend with my family. However, I am confident that I will not be far from British basketball for long.
Good luck to all of the Riders family and to Kevin Routledge, who will continue to take the Riders program forward.
Following the announcement by the British Basketball Federation, the governing body of Basketball League Ltd (BBL), to terminate the current operational professional league licence, the BBL Clubs have taken the decision to issue the following statement.
In what has been a very challenging period in recent times, the decision to act by the BBF has been accepted in good faith by the incumbent club members of the British Basketball League, including Leicester Riders.
We understand the decision was not taken without serious consideration of what would be best for the future of professional basketball across the UK.
Furthermore, the BBL Club owners will now begin the task of co-operating with the BBF to ensure there is a topflight men’s professional League operating from September 2024 and to assist British Basketball and its stakeholders in the rebuilding and strengthening of the position for our sport.
The British Basketball League has made a significant impact in the growth of the game in profile, participation, development pathways, performance and especially in new purpose built Arenas and it is our intention to continue these contributions in partnership with the governing body.
Further information will be made available in the near future, meanwhile all existing clubs will continue with their summer preparations for the new season.
Leicester Riders and Leicester Arena Partner with Cyferd to Propel Sports Operations into the Future
Leicester Riders Basketball Club and Mattioli Arena, Leicester, proudly announce a new partnership with Cyferd, a leading innovator in artificial intelligence and digital solutions. Cyferd is set to become the Official AI and Digital Partner for both entities, signalling a significant leap forward in the integration of cutting-edge technology within the sports landscape.
Kevin Routledge, Chairman of Leicester Riders, and Jas Hayer, Global Sales Director at Cyferd, shake hands.
This strategic collaboration aims to enhance the efficiency of operational decisions within the Riders and Arena. Cyferd’s AI-driven platform operates as a centralised hub, offering comprehensive solutions for team management, development, knowledge, and training. The Cyferd Sport Platform is meticulously designed to address the unique operational needs of team sports clubs, providing an integrated ecosystem for streamlined operations.
Ranjit Bahia, CEO of Cyferd, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to join forces with the Leicester Riders and Leicester Arena. Cyferd is dedicated to supporting the local community and bringing innovation to the forefront of sports operations.”
Kevin Routledge, Chairman of Leicester Riders, and Jas Hayer, Global Sales Director at Cyferd, discuss the impact AI can have on sport.
Kevin Routledge, Chairman of the Leicester Riders and Mattioli Arena, emphasised the pivotal role of AI in the future of sports operations, stating, “As someone who focuses on data, I believe that integrating AI into our operations is not just a choice but a necessity. This collaboration with Cyferd signifies our commitment to staying ahead in the sports technology game, ensuring the Leicester Riders and Mattioli Arena are at the forefront of the digital revolution in sports.”
Kevin Routledge, Chairmain of Leicester Riders, discussing how Leicester Riders is leading the way with embracing AI.
The partnership signifies a shared vision for the future, where advanced technology and sports excellence converge. The Leicester Riders and Arena, in collaboration with Cyferd, are poised to redefine the landscape of sports operations, embracing a new era of innovation.
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!
A message from Leicester Riders Chairman, Kevin Routledge
Dear Supporters,
With the Riders 2023/24 British Basketball League season coming to a premature end last Sunday in Sheffield in the playoffs, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our fans, supporters, commercial partners, staff and volunteers for their unwavering support.
This has been a challenging season for the Riders, with the loss of a significant number of our experienced players in the last off season, and there have been more changes in personnel throughout the season than we would have ideally liked.
The British Basketball League has become ever more competitive each season and maintaining the high standards we have achieved on the court over the last decade or so becomes increasing more difficult.
In addition, our cost base, like many of your own family and business budgets, have come under increased pressure, due to the cost-of-living crisis, and, with our now large overheads, we have had to respond to the pressures and rethink how we do things.
Some of the matters at league level have been very transformational, but other aspects, as many of you know, have distracted from the many good things going on in the British Basketball League, the Club and in British basketball.
But national success has continued in other areas in our Club with our university and college teams.
We are fortunate in the strong support we have received throughout the community and are confident we can build on a stronger base for the future.
We will make the necessary changes in the off-season to make improvements wherever we can and look forward to earning your further support in the future.
Look out for further communications throughout the offseason and look forward to a reenergised Riders when we come back in the new season in September.
Teddy Allen named to 2024 British Basketball League Team of the Year
The British Basketball League announced today that Leicester Riders’ Teddy Allen has been named to the 2024 Team of the Year.
The American wing was the Club’s leading scorer this season with 22.7 points per game. He was one of only two players in the League to average over 20 points, and one of three players to rank top 10 in points (2nd) and rebounds (10th), pulling down an average of 6.4.
Allen played his first game for the team on December 16, logging 32 points and 6 rebounds in the Riders’ win against the Caledonia Gladiators. He went on to score over 30 points five times, and over 20 points 14 times in his 23 appearances for the Club.
His performances this year saw him named 2024 All Star captain for team South. He put up 32 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the game to earn All Star MVP.
Allen adds to his growing list of accolades, which include 2023 CEBL MVP, 2022 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year and 2022 Western Athletic Conference Tournament MVP.
Kimbal Mackenzie named to 2024 British Basketball League British Team of the Year
The British Basketball League announced today that Leicester Riders captain Kimbal Mackenzie has been named to the 2024 British Team of the Year.
The Canadian/British guard finished the Championship season as the Riders’ second-leading scorer with 13.2 points and leading playmaker with 5.2 assists per game.
Mackenzie’s assist average ranked fifth in the British Basketball League among all players. He also ranked fifth in free throw percentage for players who have over 40 attempts on the season, shooting 87.2% from the foul line.
This was Mackenzie’s best statistical season in his five-year professional career. He averaged a career high in points, rebounds, assists and minutes. His performances earned him his first appearance on the British Team of the Year in his third season in Leicester.
Mackenzie scored in double digits in 28 of 39 appearances this season, topped by his 26 points and 15 assists against the Plymouth City Patriots in March. He was a consistent performer in the clutch, taking lead and hitting big shots in key moments late in games.
He was named a 2024 All Star in recognition for his performances this season.
Mackenzie commented: “It’s a huge honour to be named to the British Team of the Year. I’m proud to represent a fast growing league with a tonne of talent.
“Credit goes to the coaching staff and my teammates for trusting me and putting me in a position to succeed.”
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.
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.
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!
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!
The 2024 British Basketball League Playoffs will feature a new format, with the first two rounds taking place over a three game series.
The top four in the Championship standings have home court advantage in the opening round, playing two of the potential three games at home.
Those sides have the choice of the structure of those series, opting for game one or two to be their opening home fixture.
Here’s how the postseason is set to unfold for the Riders…
Riders’ Round One
The Riders secured the fifth seed in the British Basketball League Championship, and will face Sheffield Sharks in round one.
They will open the series on the road on April 28 at 4 pm, host game two on May 4 at 6:45 pm, and if necessary, play a deciding game three in Sheffield on Sunday May 5 at 3 pm.
Tickets are on sale for game two at 5 pm, and thanks to the generosity of the Riders’ sponsorsat RDL Technologies, Vertu Motors, Torr Waterfield, Jelson Homes and EverythingBranded, the first1200 fans at the Arena for our home game on May 4 will receive a free Dark Horse Riders T-Shirt.
If you are travelling to game one in Sheffield and want a Dark Horse T-shirt, you can contact [email protected] to arrange.
Playoff Bracket
After round one has concluded, the seeding will be restructured so the highest remaining seed will play the lowest.
Therefore, the only scenario where the Riders would have home court advantage in the second round would be if two or more of the higher seeds lost in the opening round.
If one or none of the top seeded teams lose, the Riders will host only one game of the second round series.
The Final
As was the case in previous seasons, the Playoff Final will be a single game to decide the 2024 Playoff champions.
Both Men’s and Women’s Finals will be played at the O2 Arena on Sunday May 19.
You can purchase tickets here, but if the Riders should make the Final at the O2, Leicester Riders will release ticket allocation for the Riders section of the Arena.
Leicester Riders play their men and women’s 2024 playoff home openers on Saturday, May 4.
Our men’s home game has been confirmed to be played at 6:45 pm, and will be preceded by our women’s playoff fixture at 2:45 pm.
Tickets will be released on general sale from tomorrow (April 23) at 5pm.
Leicester Riders season ticket holders will receive priority for their usual seats until Friday, April 26, at 11:59 pm.
Tickets include entry to both men’s and women’s quarter-final playoff games.
Thanks to the generosity of the Riders’ sponsors at RDL Technologies, Vertu Motors, Torr Waterfield, Jelson Homes and EverythingBranded, the first 1,200 fans at the Arena will receive a free Dark Horse Riders T-Shirt.
Doors will open at the Arena before our women’s game, at 2:15 pm.
Leicester Riders launch Dark Horse campaign for the 2024 British Basketball League Playoffs
Leicester Riders basketball club are excited to launch their Dark Horse campaign for the upcoming 2024 British Basketball League Playoffs.
The Riders enter the postseason as the fifth seed, and look to start their run to the Finals at the O2 Arena, which take place on Sunday 19 May 2024.
Despite a League campaign which hasn’t reached the heights of previous years in Leicester, the Riders are a team that no team wants to face in the postseason, and is capable of knocking off any team in British basketball.
No matter the opponent, seeding, time or place, the Dark Horse is a team that can bounce with the best the British Basketball League has to offer.
The goal, like any season, is to stand under the confetti at the O2 Arena, lifting the silverware. The six time Playoff champions aim to bring what would be their 20th British Basketball League silverware back to the East Midlands.
The all new Playoff format features best of three series in the first two rounds, before the Final in the O2 Arena, London.
The Riders will open the playoffs in Sheffield against the Sharks at 4 pm.Game two of the first round will be played at Mattioli Arena on May 4 at 6pm. If necessary, game three will be played in Sheffield on a yet to be confirmed date.
Leicester Riders Managing Directors Russell Levenston commented: “We’re excited to launch our Dark Horse campaign ahead of the upcoming playoffs.
“The postseason represents a fresh campaign and we’re looking forward to getting started. As a club, we always feel confident in our ability to win every competition we enter, and these playoffs are no different.
“Thank you to all of our fans for their incredible support this season. We’ll give it everything we’ve got to give you another trip to the O2 Arena!”
Tickets for the Riders first round home fixture will be on sale shortly! Stay tuned for ticket information.
Thanks to the generosity of the Riders’ sponsorsat RDL Technologies, Vertu Motors, Torr Waterfield, Jelson Homes and EverythingBranded, the first1200 fans at the Arena for our home game on May 4 will receive a free Dark Horse Riders T-Shirt.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Leicester Riders are thrilled to be working with LivingWell Health ClubsLeicester as its official health club provider.
LivingWell Health Club prides themself on being Leicester’s friendliest health club, providing a welcoming and comfortable location to both exercise and relax.
They offer a range of facilities including a swimming pool, spa pool, sauna, steam room, air conditioned gymnasium, pro-shop and relaxation area.
Sam Ford, Health Club Manager at LivingWell Leicester, commented:
“LivingWell Leicester are delighted to be working in partnership with Leicester Riders basketball as their official health club provider, which brings together the power of fitness and athleticism to promote a healthy lifestyle and community engagement.
“We very much look forward to welcoming both the Men’s and Women’s first teams into the club, and building further relations within the community.”
Interested in joining the Riders family? For more information read our corporate brochure here.
Andrew Sullivan named to British Basketball League Hall of Fame
Leicester Riders legend Andrew Sullivan has been named as one of the first 10 inductees of the British Basketball League Hall of Fame.
Sullivan played five seasons of his 13-year professional career with the Riders, helping to bring nine pieces of silverware to Leicester, including two trebles in 2013 and 2017.
He suited up for Leicetser from 2011-2014, before re-signing for two more seasons in 2015.
He was named British Basketball League MVP for the second time in 2013, averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
A serial winner, Sullivan won 20 pieces of British Basketball League silverware and two MVP awards.
Internationally, Sullivan was capped 100 times for Great Britain, and captained his country in the 2012 London Olympic games. He also won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in 2006 in Melbourne.
Sullivan’s services to basketball earned him a place in the League’s Hall-of-Fame, amongst legends of the Men’s and Women’s League, from players, coaches, officials and those who have demonstrated invaluable services to the Legaue.
You can read the full list of inductees to the British Basketball League Hall of Fame here!
Leicester Riders fell 108-71 on the road to the Bristol Flyers, making their record 15-14 in the British Basketball League Championship.
The Flyers led convincingly wire-to-wire, hitting shots consistently all afternoon. Tevin Olison went off for 31 points, and was one of three Flyers with over 20 points.
Jaren Holmes led the Riders with 20 points and 3 rebounds. Despite their All-Star guard’s play, Leicester lost the turnover battle 17-9, and shot 39% to the Flyers’ 49% in the defeat.
The sides exchanged jabs through the first few minutes, the Flyers building a narrow advantage going into the first media timeout. They found joy getting to the rim, generating eight points in four minutes in close, giving the hosts an 11-7 lead with 4:41 left in the opening quarter.
Bristol went on a run out of the break to stretch the difference to nine. An Olison and-one followed by a Levi Bradley long two sparked the run, allowing the Flyers to lead 32-20 after one.
The momentum continued in the second quarter, the hosts building their lead to 16 midway through the period. Miryne Thomas and Jaren Holmes, with 10 and 9 points respectively, led the attempted comeback, but the Flyers had three scorers in double digits 15 minutes into the game in an offensive onslaught.
The Flyers won the second 29-16, led by Tevin Olison who had 25 points at the half. Bristol shot 13-20 from the foul line in the first to the Riders 3-5, turned the ball over four times to the Riders eight, and shot 50% from the field to the Riders 36%.
Leicester trailed 61-36 at the half.
The Riders chipped into the deficit in the third, but the Flyers hit big shots throughout to maintain their hefty advantage. Back to back Flyers’ threes rebuilt their lead, and an Olison corner triple made it 30.
It was 92-57 with one to play, Blake Bowman ending the quarter from the foul line.
The final quarter was a formality, with the game proving out of reach for the Riders. The Flyers won the fourth 16-14 to seal their win.
Leicester returns to action after the All-Star break, hosting the Caledonia Gladiators on March 22.
Leicester Riders are set for their final game before the All-Star break, hitting the road to take on the Bristol Flyers.
The game features two teams with contrasting styles, looking to play the game on their own terms to take control of the fixture.
Here’s what the Riders can expect from Sunday’s opponents…
Battling on the boards
Bristol have made their name on the boards this season, leading the League in total and offensive rebounds. The Flyers pull down an offensive board on 34.48% of their misses, leading to 11.87 second chance points per game.
Their All-Star Brad Greene leads the League in this department, and is the only player averaging double digit rebounds in the British Basketball League this season.
It’s a group effort on the boards, despite Greene’s dominance down low. Five players average over four a game, as the who roster crashes the glass every possession, from front court to back court.
Sam Idowu’s outing last time the Riders faced Bristol neutralised their rebounding threat, however. He grabbed 14 boards to pair with 15 points, making the paint his own as the Riders took a Trophy win.
Greene still pulled down 11 rebounds, but Leicetser won the rebounding battle 45-36 to take the victory. It will take the same level of effort on the glass to come away with the win in the South West.
Points in the paint
On the defensive end of the ball, the Flyers have a stifling defensive interior. They allow the fewest points in the paint of any team this season, allowing only 31.55 points per game around the basket.
Bristol contest without fouling, ranking seventh in fouls per game, and their sixth ranked blocked shots ranking means they have found ways of preventing opponents from driving their way inside, and forcing difficult attempts when they do.
The Riders rank third in points in the paint with 40.18 per outing, and will look to counteract Bristol’s interior defence to establish themselves inside. They can open up the rim from distance, however, with their second ranked 37.74% shooting from three.
Bristol have not prevented the three at the same rate as the layup this season, allowing their opponents to shoot 35.8% from distance.
The Riders, with their sharpshooting quartet of Miryne Thomas, TJ Lall, Teddy Allen and Conner Washington who are each shooting over 40% from deep this season, will hope to continue their hot form from three to get points on the board.
Setting the tempo
The game may feature a tug of war between two sides who play at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Bristol plays a slow paced, half court brand of offence for the majority of their possessions. They play at the second slowest pace of any team in the League at 76.85, compared to the Riders who lead all teams at 80.61.
The Riders continually want to get out and run in transition, using their speed and vision to push the pace and get easy looks at the rim.
In the halfcourt, they take shots early in the shot clock to maximise the amount of possessions they have in the game.
Leicester Riders are set to take on the Bristol Flyers on the road, in their last game before the 2024 British Basketball League All-Star game.
Here are the key battles to watch in the game…
Brad Greene vs Sam Idowu
The Riders face the challenge of taking on the League’s leading rebounder in Brad Greene. The American, who was named the All-Star starter for the centre position, has averaged a double double this season with 12.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
Greene is a force on the offensive boards. He leads all players in offensive rebounds with 3.9 per game, on a team that grabs the most rebounds of any team this season.
The 6’11” California native went off for 19 points and 17 rebounds against the Riders in December, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds.
In the rematch, however, in January, Riders big man Sam Idowu was his equal. Greene was held to 7 points, while Idowu muscled his way to 15 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks, pulling down 5 offensive rebounds going against Greene.
Idowu has been a physical force inside the paint off the bench for the Riders this season, . He has the size, the physicality and the hustle to contest Greene on the boards, and limit the Flyers’ second chance opportunities.
Trejon Jacob vs TJ Lall
Despite his team’s loss, Trejon Jacob led the Flyers in a spirited performance last time against Leicester, scoring 16 points with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
He scored 10 points in the third to keep Bristol in the game, but the visitors couldn’t capitalise on the offensive momentum, and Leicester kept their opponents at arm’s length.
Jacob has averaged 17 points in the last two games against Leicester, finding joy putting points on the board. The American is putting up 12.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game committing to the glass from the wing.
Tasked with helping to slow Jacob down will be Canadian wing TJ Lall, who is coming off the back of a Team of the Week selection for his performance against the Cheshire Phoenix.
With leading scorer Teddy Allen and captain Kimbal Mackenzie ejected from the game, Lall stepped up in the fourth against the Phoenix to lead the team to a win. He scored seven to start the quarter, bringing his game tally to 22 points and 7 rebounds.
Lall has made his name as an elite two-way wing, able to impact every facet of a contest. His size and length, combined with his playmaking and shooting ability, makes him a versatile threat on the offensive end.
On defence, Lall can pick up all five positions, and will feel comfortable going up against Jacob’s scoring threat from the wing. Should Jacob get hot again in this one, Coach Rob Paternostro will feel confident in Lall’s ability to stem the tide.
Tevin Olison vs Jaren Holmes
Alongside Greene, Bristol’s other All-Star on their roster is Memphis-born guard Tevin Olison, who is shining in his second season as a pro.
Olison is Bristol’s leading scorer, averaging 15.8 points per game on 46.5% shooting from the field. He’s taken a step up from his rookie year, where he averaged 10 points as a rookie for the Flyers.
Olison missed the previous two fixtures against the Riders through injury, but played at home against Leicester at the start of the season. He scored 17 points on 37.5% shooting from three, leading his team’s scoring in a 92-74 Riders win.
Going face to face with Olison in the backcourt will be Leicester’s own All-Star, Jaren Holmes, who has been playing elite hoops of late.
He went off for 15 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists in the game, stepping up alongside Lall. Holmes has gone off for big performances throughout the year, and is the Riders’ second leading scorer on the season.
Michigan-born Holmes is putting up 13.2 points and 4.4 rebounds from the backcourt, and can go toe-to-toe with any guard in the League on both ends of the ball.
Expect a battle between the two All-Star guards in Bristol.
Teddy Allen named British Basketball League Player of the Month for February
Teddy Allen has been named February’s British Basketball League Player of the Month.
Allen averaged 28.6 points and 7.6 rebounds during February, including back-to-back 35 point performances.
He became the first British Basketball League player to score 35 in consecutive Championship games since 2012, and the second player to post 35 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists since 2008.
The Phoenix-born wing is the League’s leading scorer this season, putting up 24.8 points per game, and the Riders’ leading rebounder, pulling down 6.6 per game.
Leicester Riders are the back of a 1-1 weekend, where they faced the top two ranked teams in the British Basketball League Championship standings.
They kicked off with a hard-fought 101-93 victory against Cheshire Phoenix, handing them their first loss in 2024.
On Sunday, they headed to London to face the league champion Lions, falling 105-89.
Riders All-Star guard Jaren Holmes reflected on the weekend of play…
Overcoming adversity
The Riders pulled out the win against Cheshire in the face of adversity. They fell in a 20-2 hole to start the game and battled back to tie it in the second quarter.
Their leading scorer, Teddy Allen, then picked up a double technical foul as the game approached the half, and their captain, Kimbal Mackenzie, picked up a second unsportsmanlike foul in the third quarter.
Despite all of that, playing against a team they were yet to beat this season, they rallied to grind out a win.
“It shows our competitive nature,” reflected Holmes, who went off for 15 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists in the game.
“We had to have a next man up mentality, and we have a great group of guys that love to play the game and compete. It showed that night.
“When Kimbal and Teddy were ejected, we took a breath and continued to play our game. Guys stepped up and it showed in those moments. We have a lot of talent on this team.”
Despite falling in a big hole early, the home crowd willed their team to the win with infectious energy all night.
“There was a great energy in the building, and our team really fed off it,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro after the game, and Holmes seconded that sentiment.
“The crowd had a huge impact. They willed us to it. They kept getting louder and louder, and bringing that positivity. It truly helped me throughout the entire game. It was an exciting game overall, and they made it fun. They were world-class.
“I think it was our best win of the year so far.”
Battling in the capital
The second quarter is where the damage was done against the Lions. They lost the second 33-14, heading into halftime down 19.
“Playing London, you have to hit shots and get back in transition. We missed a few shots in a row and they ended up with two threes. Those are swings you can’t have when you come up against a team that talented,” said Holmes.
Despite the loss, the Riders won the other three quarters by five, fighting wire to wire despite the heavy deficit.
“There are always positives to take from games. Kimbal had to sit out in the second quarter, and Conner [Washington] stepped up to lead the point.
“It showed his ability to step up in the big moments. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but we didn’t skip a beat. The offence continued to flow, we played hard until the end.
“We were up against a good team who are in the playoffs of the EuroCup. There are moments where anyone can be beaten, so if you keep knocking on that door, it’s going to open.”
Ready to bounce back in Bristol
The Riders are back in action on Sunday, heading to Bristol to face the Flyers.
The last time the sides met in Championship action, the Flyers took an 87-81 win in Leicester. The Riders took revenge in the next meeting, winning 95-74 in the British Basketball League Trophy.
“They’re a great team, coached well with dynamic players,” commented Holmes on his next opponent.
They’re up in your face and they press most of the game. We have to take care of the ball because they thrive in transition, and then limit their three-point opportunities in the half-court.”
The Flyers lead the league in rebounds per game in the Championship this season and pull down the most offensive boards in the League as well. Their All-Star centre, Brad Greene, leads all players in rebounding with 10.2 a game and is averaging a double-double this season.
“They rebound extremely well, especially on the offensive end,” said Holmes. “We have to keep them off the glass. Rebounding is absolutely the emphasis this week.
It’s not just Greene, They all crash and help him, so we have to find ways to create two-on-one against him and take him out of the play when the ball comes off the rim.”
The sides play at opposite ends of the spectrum in regards to their play style. Leicester play at the fastest pace of any team this season, and Bristol at the second slowest.
Holmes says it’s important to establish the game at Leicester’s tempo.
“We have to trust in the work we have, not change who we are regardless of who is in front of us. We want to push the pace, get up shots and play together as a team.”
The game tips off on Sunday, March 10, at 2 pm. You can watch the action live here, on the British Basketball League Youtube channel!
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.
Leicester Riders are set to take on the London Lions in their second game of the weekend. They will face the League champions for the final time in the British Basketball League Championship, heading to the Copper Box for the second time.
Here, we take you through what to expect from our opponents…
Shooting efficiency
London have operated with killer efficiency on the offensive end this season. They lead the League in field goal, three point and free throw percentage, their effective field goal percentage sitting at 58% on the season, 4% more than the second ranked Riders.
The Lions attack the hoop to generate offence. They lead all teams in points in the paint and free throw rate, getting easy buckets at the rim and putting their opponents in foul trouble consistently.
While their leading scorer, Matthew Morgan, is the second highest scorer in the League with 19.4 points per game, the Lions share the ball to great effect to lead all teams in assists.
The Riders offensive production is close to matching the Lions on the season, scoring just one point less on average in their games, but they’ll have to lock in on the defensive end to find success in this game, especially because of the quality London has on the other side of the ball.
Stifling defence
While some of the Lions’ defensive success can be credited to their high field goal percentage, preventing opponents getting easy looks on the fastbreak, they have ranked among the League’s best in their score stopping.
The Lions are the best at stopping transition buckets, allowing only 15.4 fast break points per game, they also hold their opponents to the worst field goal percentage of any other team at just 41%.
In addition, London close possessions consistently, allowing few second looks at the basket. Their 31.69 defensive rebounds per game is best of any team. Their defence is a contributing factor with that number, forcing their opponents into more misses and getting more opportunities for defensive rebounds.
Another aspect of London’s stifling defence is their rim protection. Led by the league-leading rim protector Josh Sharma, who sends away the most shots of any player with 1.7 per game, London tops the blocked shots charts also.
The Riders’ high powered scoring will need to be at its best to overcome London’s defence.
Giveaways
An area of weakness in the table toppers is their tendency to give away possessions.
The Lions turn the ball over 15.69 times per game, the most in the League. This leads to them giving up the third most points off turnovers per game at 13.86 per game.
While their shooting efficiency means London doesn’t give up many fastbreak points, but the Riders will look to take advantage of any Lions turnovers to generate good shots against London’s defence.
Report: Riders grind out gritty win against Cheshire
Leicester Riders pulled off a gritty 101-93 win against Cheshire Phoenix, snapping the visitor’s undefeated streak in 2024.
The entire Riders unit stepped up after the League’s leading scorer, Teddy Allen, and Leicester’s captain Kimbal Mackenzie were ejected from the game.
TJ Lall topped the team’s scoring off the bench with 22 points, backed by Miryne Thomas’ who had 19 and exploded out of the half following Allen’s ejection.
Leicester were red hot from three, shooting 47% from deep on the game led by Lall and Thomas who combined for six.
Aaryn Rai led the game with 28 points, fighting wire to wire in his team’s effort. But they couldn’t overcome a spirited Riders effort, backed by a raucous home crowd.
Starting slow
Leicester weren’t just faced with the adversity of two ejections. They started slow, falling in a 20-2 hole in the first quarter.
Rai scored 8 points to start the game, and Leicester turned the ball over four times in three minutes in a stuttering start.
Thomas took the lid off the basket with a score at the rim to make it 20-4. One score was all it took for the Riders to find form, and Lall sank a corner triple to make it 20-9 with 4:10 left in the first.
Bouncing back
The Riders rallied, going on a 15-3 run to end the first. Big man Duke Shelton ended the first with a drive to the hoop to make it 23-17, getting Leicester right back in it.
The surge continued in the second, and Sam Idowu grabbed the Riders the lead, as the hosts continued to attack inside.
The sides were locked in a back-and-forth towards halftime. Jaren Holmes put up seven points in the second quarter to shoulder the scoring load, hitting a corner triple after an Allen behind-the-back pass.
But the big moment in the game came minutes later, as Allen picked up a quick double technical which saw him ejected from the game. With the League’s leading scorer out of the tie, the Phoenix ended the period on a 4-0 run to make it 42-42 at the half.
Gunning out of the break
Thomas drained a three to settle the Riders into the second half. Leicester started the quarter in a 7-0 run, after three Skyler White misses on the other end. Thomas came out hot, hitting two quick triples to put Leicester up 55-48.
He brought his game tally to double figures with 3:55 left in the quarter, sinking a tough and-one finish over White.
Up 10, Leicester battled hard to close the third to keep their opponents at arm’s length. But to close the quarter, Riders captain Mackenzie picked up an unsportsmanlike foul after incidental off ball contact, which saw him out of the game with Allen.
Battling it out late
The third ended 70-62, the Riders needing heart and hustle to see it out.
Holmes attacked the hoop for two to start the final quarter, followed by Lall who put Leicester up 12. Lall hit a corner three, assisted by Holmes, before Miryne came down and nailed a triple of his own as the Riders ran away with the tie late.
Cheshire’s star guard LaQuincey Rideau was the third player thrown out of the game, picking up his fifth and final foul in the fourth.
On the other end, Riders’ veteran Conner Washington stepped up in the absence of Mackenzie and Allen, taking a charge on Cam Christon and finishing a layup through heavy contact with four minutes remaining.
Lall put the exclamation point on the performance with an explosive one handed jam, sending the Riders fans into raptures and sealing the win.
The Riders are back in action on Sunday, heading to London to take on the table topping Lions.
Mackenzie is one of the League’s premier playmakers, ranking top 10 in assists per game on the season. He is scoring 13 points per game from 44.9% shooting, and has been the team’s go to man in the clutch of late.
Leicester Riders take on the British Basketball League’s only undefeated team in 2024, the Cheshire Phoenix, in their next Championship fixture.
The Phoenix have proved too much to overcome for every opponent this calendar year, including the League leading London Lions who they bested in the Trophy final.
Here have been the keys to their success…
Running the Fastbreak
Cheshire plays fast, with willing runners going coast to coast in transition at the highest rate of any team in the British basketball League.
The Phoenix lead the League in fast break points with 18.97 per game, and get their opportunities on the break often by topping the points from turnovers charts with 16.77 per game
Their ability to get buckets in transition stems from their ball pressure on the defensive end, where they rank first in steals with 8.53.
Trophy Final MVP Laquincy Rideau has been key to getting the Phoenix on the run. The American point guard is first among all players in steals this season with 3.1 per game in his first season in the British Basketball League.
He also leads the League in assists with 6.8 per game, pushing the pace in transition and dishing off to his teammates on the run for easy buckets.
— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) October 7, 2023
Good shot selection and hustle in transition will be key to keeping Cheshire in the halfcourt in this one, and prevent easy baskets on the break.
Offensive rebounding
As well as getting easy looks on the break, the Phoenix crash the glass for second chance points to generate their offence.
Cheshire ranks second, behind the Bristol Flyers, in offensive rebounding with 13.57 per game, leading to a League-high 11.80 second chance points per game.
🤯 CAM CHRISTON! Hustlin' his way to beat the buzzer and put @CheshireNix up after 10 minutes against @Cal_Gladiators.
— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) January 5, 2024
Front court pairing Ethan Chargois and Arryn Rai lead the effort on the glass, grabbing 2.5 and 2.4 offensive rebounds per game respectively. They both rank in the top 10 among all players in that department, their two pronged attack making it difficult to box out from missed Phoenix shots.
The Riders have multiple players willing to do the work on the glass, from the League’s leading scorer Teddy Allen who pulls down a team-high 6.7 boards per game, to the Riders’ depth at the big position of Mo Walker, Sam Idowu and Duke Shelton who all take pride in their rebounding efforts.
With the Phoenix shooting at a 45.55 % rate on the season- third best of all teams- the Riders cannot afford to give them second looks at the hoop.
Points in the paint
Cheshire’s speed in transition, offensive rebounding and halfcourt approach means they rank second in the League in points in the paint. The Phoenix score 39.73 points in the paint per game, led by stars who relentlessly attack the hoop.
Arryn Rai has been key to the offensive playstyle. The new acquisition from the NBL in the offseason is the team’s leading scorer and a top five scorer in the League with 18.3 points per game.
Rai attempts 8.2 shots from within the arc per game, connecting on 62.2% of his looks in close.
This ranks third in the League of those who have taken over 100 shots. Rai’s aggressive drives to the rim opens up shots for teammates and draws fouls on opponents, highlighting the emphasis on the Riders being able to contest without fouling.
The Riders have bodies to throw at Rai in the paint, but staying in front of the talented wing may be key to preventing a big scoring night. Cutting off Rai’s drives to the rim will be tasked with the Riders premier perimeter defenders, who are in for an intense night to limit Rai’s effectiveness.
We need you there!
The team need your help to get over the line in this one!
Key matchups: Leicester Riders vs Cheshire Phoenix
Leicester Riders take on the Cheshire Phoenix on Friday, in an important clash for the team.
The star-studded fixture features three All-Star starters, and some of the best talent the League has to offer going head to head.
Here, we take a look at the key matchups in the game…
Aaryn Rai vs Teddy Allen
Last season’s NBL Player of the Year, Aaryn Rai, has established himself as one of the League’s best in his step up to the British Basketball League.
The Canadian wing ranks top five in scoring (17.38 points per game), sixth in rebounding (7 per game) and top 10 in field goal percentage (56.47%), as well as knocking down his threes at a red hot 41% rate.
Rai leads the League in three point percentage from the top of arc, finding success pulling up in transition and losing his defenders at the top of the three point line.
He has also relentlessly attacked the rim all season long, and his willingness to push the tempo in transition has been key to Cheshire’s high-paced, fastbreak offensive approach.
Rai has exploded for huge games this season, the biggest of which was a 32 point outing against the London Lions. But he’ll be faced with the tall task of keeping up with the League’s leading scorer- Teddy Allen.
Allen enters this game after back-to-back 35 point performances. Only two players have scored more points in their first eight Championship games. Allen has averaged 26.4 points per game in the League so far, and will look to continue to rack up the points in an attempt to overcome the Phoenix.
Laquincy Rideau vs Kimbal Mackenzie
Laquincy Rideau was instrumental to Cheshire’s Trophy success, hitting the game winning layup against the Riders in the Final Four, and winning Final MVP with 25 points and 10 rebounds against London Lions.
He has been the League’s true point guard, leading all players in assists (6.8 per game) and steals (3 per game), making his impact felt on both ends of the ball.
Rideau pulls the strings for Cheshire, and has logged double digit assists seven times this season. This has contributed to his seven double doubles so far, three of which coming against the Riders.
He battled down the stretch with Riders captain Kimbal Mackenzie in the Trophy, Rideau having the final say on that occasion, but Mackenzie has stepped up consistently in the clutch for the Riders over the past few seasons, and will look to again when his number is called.
He led the team down the stretch in a clutch win against Caledonia Gladiators, scoring six points in the final two minutes, and has hit a rich vein of form of late.
Mackenzie had scored 15+ in his last three games, earning Player of the Game with his 21 point performance against the Gladiators.
The Canadian has been a killer from midrange, getting to his sports consistently and connecting on over 50% of his looks. Expect a back-and-forth between him and Rideau from the backcourt in this one.
Skyler White vs Sam Idowu
A Cheshire weapon that has been effective against the Riders this season has been stretch four Skyler White, who has put up big numbers from behind the arc.
Two of his best games of the season were against the Riders, the first a 22 point outing on opening night, and 23 points in the Trophy Final Four.
White hit a combined 13 threes in those games, and chucked up 31. His high volume of three point attempts mean the Riders have to close out when he drifts to the perimeter.
Sizing him up in the front court will be Sam Idowu, a versatile forward who is more than comfortable stepping up to the outside.
Idowu has a versatile game on both ends, capable of hitting the three, taking defenders off the dribble and working in the post down low. He has the size to challenge White when he goes to work in the paint, and the athleticism and perimeter defence to follow him out to the three point line and contest his three point attempts.
Idowu has enjoyed good form over the last few months, and went off for 20 against Plymouth City Patriots on February 9. The matchup at the forward position has been a significant factor between the sides this season, and it could be no different in this one.
We need you there!
The team need your help to get over the line in this one!
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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.
The Riders fell on the road 109-93 to the Plymouth City Patriots.
A second-straight 35-point performance from Teddy Allen wasn’t enough to overcome a red-hot shooting night from the Patriots.
The hosts went 12-26 from three, led by 33 points from Tyrell Green who went from 8-10 distance on the night.
The Riders fall to 14-12 in the British Basketball League Championship, faltering in their pursuit of the Caledonia Gladiators and Cheshire Phoenix above them in the table.
The Riders came gunning out the gate, with Mo Walker and Allen combining for their first 17 points. Allen made the highlight of the first, pulling up from near the logo and banking in a three to make the score 17-10 with 4:20 left in the first.
The Patriots came into the game as the worst three-point shooting team in the League, but caught fire from deep to cut into their early deficit. They hit three straight to cut the difference to three points, Green connecting back-to-back.
The Patriots tied it up at the hands of Jules Dang-Akodo from deep with less than a minute left in the period, but Allen ended the quarter with his 12th points, making it 26-24 after one.
The hosts found their groove in the second, riding the hot hand of Green for 6 points and starting the quarter 14-5. Green hit his fourth three with a contest in his face, making it a double-digit advantage at 41-31.
The Riders came storming out of the following media timeout with eight straight points, Allen pulling up from deep once again for his 18th points to make it 41-39 within a minute.
It took another three minutes to tie the game up, and it was Shelton who did it with a putback layup. It was the last score of the half, and the sides entered the break tied at 46.
Allen got the second half underway with a finish at the rim to get Leicester the lead back. The sides exchanged buckets to start the third quarter, both attacking the rim relentlessly.
Both teams couldn’t miss to start the third. They combined for 36 points through six minutes, Kimbal Mackenzie making the last score before the media timeout to make the score 65-63 in the Riders’ favour.
But the Patriots were the team to find some separation, Green staying hot to knock down his sixth three from seven attempts. Dusha stole the following inbound and beat the buzzer at the end of the period to make it 82-73.
Green hit another to start the fourth to help build the host’s lead to 14. Allen then responded with a three in transition and a spin move in the lane to get five points back. Next time up the floor, he hit a stepback three to complete an 8-0 run on his own. Out of the following timeout, Allen drained yet another triple for 35 points.
The Patriots responded with two straight scores, Cam Copeland with the second at the rim. With the newfound momentum they scored eight straight points, Jacob Wiley’s fastbreak jam off a lob pass forcing a Riders timeout.
Green hit a three out of the timeout, making the difference 14. The Riders couldn’t overcome that deficit and fell to the Patriots on the road.
The Riders return to action after the international break, hosting the Trophy champions Cheshire Phoenix on March 1.
Leicester Riders are set to play the Plymouth City Patriots on the road for the first time this season after beating their opponents twice at home so far this year.
A win would see the Riders improve to
Here are three things to look out for in our game in the South West…
Close games
The Patriots have featured in 10 games that finished within single digits in the Championship this season. Their record in those games is 2-8, including three losses that finished within a single score.
Two games ago, they lost another heartbreaker against the Surrey Scorchers 94-92. Should they have secured a defensive board following Saquon Jamison’s deliberately missed free throw with five seconds left, they’d have had a shot for the win.
Plymouth are 0-2 against the Riders this season, and they remained in both games until late. The first was an 88-81 Leicester win, and the game was within two points with less than two minutes remaining. The Riders saw it out late, led by four points from Mackenzie.
Mackenzie has put the Riders on his back this season and scored six points in the clutch against the Caledonia Gladiators last week to secure an important win.
Should Plymouth keep it close once again, the Riders may look to their captain to get over the line. But the Patriots will expect these close games to bounce their way later in the season, as they look to step it up in the clutch.
TJ Atwood
Plymouth’s leading scorer this season, and a player who has been in hot contention for a place on the British Basketball League starting five, is American TJ Atwood.
Atwood went off for 17 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists last time he suited up against Leicester, and has been one of the Patriots’ most effective players all season.
He is putting up 15.26 points per game from an efficient 52% from the field this season, leading the team. His 6.74 rebounds per game is second most on the Patriots roster, and he also leads them in steals with 1.44 per game.
Atwood doesn’t need much of the ball to do his damage. He ranks eighth on his team in usage rate at just 18.85%, meaning the Riders will have to remain aware through 40 minutes of his presence on the court off the ball.
If they’re not, he can go off for 30 as he did earlier in the year against the Bristol Flyers.
Offensive rating
Despite the firepower of Atwood, the Patriots’ offence has struggled for rhythm this season, ranking last in offensive rating with 99.95. They score 78.46 points per game, one more point than bottom-ranked Sheffield Sharks, but rely on their offensive rebounding for second-chance opportunities.
Their lack of consistent deep threat has been a contributing factor to this, as they shoot the lowest percentage from behind the arc in the League at 28.67%. From two-point range, they rank fifth, finding success attacking the hoop.
In addition to their shooting percentages, the Patriots have struggled to take care of the ball. They rank second in turnover percentage, giving the ball away on 16.04% of their possessions.
The Riders will need to maintain pressure on the ball to force mistakes while limiting chances within the arc and pulling down defensive rebounds to hold Plymouth to their season trends.
Leicester Riders made it four wins on the bounce with a 108-94 win against the Sheffield Sharks.
The win improved their record to 14-11 in the British Basketball League Championship, one win behind the Caledonia Gladiators in third.
Here’s how the Riders reacted to the win…
Teddy Allen- “Pressure is a privilege.”
Star guard Teddy Allen went off for his highest-scoring night in Riders red so far, exploding for 35 points and 12 rebounds.
It was one of only two such performances in the last 15 years in the British Basketball League, as the leading scorer continues to take the League by storm.
He put the scoring load on his back when the team needed him most last night.
“Pressure is a privilege,” said Allen, when asked how he handles the scoring responsibility when the Riders need a basket.
“I’m happy my teammates put me in those positions and that I could deliver for them when my opportunities arose. I’m just happy to get this win at home with my team.”
The Riders found themselves in a double-digit hole in the first half, and gave up the highest-scoring half in the Sharks’ season so far. Defence was the priority for the Riders to come back.
“We had to lock in on defence. You’re not going to win many games if you give up 57 in a half. We did that in the second half, and I’m proud of my guys.”
Allen has hit the ground running with the Riders since signing in December. He spoke about how his relationship with Head Coach Rob Paternostro has allowed him to succeed.
“We have a lot of trust in each other. He has never got on me for a shot- he just wants me to play my game, and he trusts me in those moments. I can do nothing but thank him and be appreciative to have a coach like that.”
Rob Paternostro- “He’s worth the price of admission!”
Coach Paternostro repaid the compliment from Allen, signing the American’s praises after the win.
“He’s worth the price of admission! He was awesome tonight. He had two quick fouls, but we rode him for a while, and he did a good job of not fouling.
“What’s impressive about Teddy is his stamina. He has the ball a lot and takes a lot of shots, but he doesn’t get tired. He can stay on the floor for a long time without me needing to give him a break. He came up big tonight.”
After a tough start to the game, unable to stop the Sharks’ scoring onslaught, Paternstro made adjustments at the half to slow Sheffield down.
“To give them credit, they were really shooting the ball well, and we struggled to guard them in the first half. But we knew if we were in the game after they shot like that, then this one could be ours.
“We had to do better in transition and stop second chance points, and we were much better defensively after halftime.”
The Riders saw it out in the clutch for the second straight game, after they beat the Caledonia Gladiators in the final minutes on the road last weekend.
Getting wins out of close games has given the group confidence in those situations.
“It was an entertaining game! Anyone who was here tonight enjoyed that. We really made the big plays late in the game, which we’ve been doing as of late. We played really well in the second half.
“Our guys were really confident late in the game. When it’s tight, we feel like we can see the game out, and earlier in the year, we didn’t have the same confidence after we lost a couple of close ones.”
It’s a quick turnaround for the Riders, who head to Plymouth to take on the Patriots on Sunday afternoon. Rest and recovery is the priority for the Riders.
“Rest is our biggest focus now. We know Plymouth can be a difficult opponent and challenging on the road. It’s our first time there this season, so we have to go down here and have a solid game to finish the weekend right.”
The Riders return to the Mattioli Arena on March 1, taking on the Cheshire Phoenix.
The Sharks started hot, scoring 57 points in the first half, their most in any half this season. But the Riders overcame it, ending the third quarter on an 11-0 run and seeing out a win in the clutch.
Sheffield was led by Malek Green who put up 19 points and 11 rebounds. They entered the game as the lowest-scoring offence in the League, but caught fire from the off to challenge the Riders throughout.
A slow start for the Riders, with them struggling to find the bottom of the basket despite generating good looks, saw them fall into a 10-3 hole after 5 points from Sharks’ forward Jordan Ratinho.
It became 15-6 after Green spilt out onto the fastbreak for an easy two, which forced a Riders timeout after 3:24.
The Sharks poured in the points in the first quarter. Green was firing from the jump to put up double digits in six minutes, and he made it a double-digit lead at 22-12 with a triple. Sheffield found joy on the glass to snatch 5 offensive rebounds until the Riders closed in to end the period.
The insertion of Duke Shelton into the game saw the Riders clean up the glass and get back into the game. An 8-2 end to the first meant they trailed 30-27 after one.
The high-scoring start didn’t stop in the second quarter, with each of the teams scoring on their first two possessions. Sheffield rebuilt their lead to 10 as Rodney Glasgow Jr pulled up from midrange- the visitors continuing their offensive hot streak.
But again, Leicester found form as the clock ticked down. They went on an 11-2 run, capped off by a triple from Mo Walker, to bring it back within a score with two minutes left in the half.
The Sharks bit back, bringing it back to an eight-point game with a pull-up from three in transition by Glasgow Jr, but Holmes ended the second period with a three-point heave, taking a foul for another point at the foul line to make it 57-53 at the half.
Leicester quickly tied it up to start the second half. Allen and Samuel Idowu scored four quick points to even the score and set the stage for the remainder of the tie. They took their first lead of the game a few minutes into the half, and Allen pulled up from deep to find separation with the score 64-59.
Leicester had momentum in the final few minutes, Allen lighting the spark after pulling up on the dribble from deep. He drew an unsportsmanlike foul on Jalon Pipkins after they tangled legs on the break, and Shelton followed his subsequent free throws with a monster two-hand jam.
The Riders entered the final period leading 82-71.
Allen made his mark on the start of the fourth, pulling up from the car park for his fourth triple. But the Sharks stayed in the game, finding runs to the rim to chip into their deficit. They started the fourth 12-5, RJ Eytle-Rock cutting the game to five at the foul line.
It was a tie game with five minutes left, as Devearl Ramsey pulled up from midrange to lock the teams at 88. They took the lead next time down through Bennet Koch, the Sharks holding all of the momentum.
Kimbal Mackenzie took it back with a corner three, off the back of his clutch performance last time out in Caledonia. He was followed by Holmes, who fought his way to the free-throw line and put Leicester up 94-90.
Lall was the next to be sent to the foul line, and rebounded his own miss and made the putback as the Riders found form in the clutch. Idowu scored a layup next time up the floor to put Leicester up seven with 1:37 left, and the Riders saw the game out from there.
The Riders return to action on Sunday, heading to Plymouth to take on the Patriots on the road.
Basketball returns to the Mattioli Arena this Friday as the in-form Riders host a B. Braun Sheffield Sharks squad that have only won once in 2024.
Rob Paternostro’s team have recently pushed beyond .500 after carrying their strong British Basketball League Trophy form into the League Championship and sit comfortably in the top half of the standings.
The Riders enter Round 19 of Championship play brimming with confidence after claiming one of the most impressive wins of the season – a 97-93 defeat of the high-flying Caledonia Gladiators on their home court.
Success for the Riders was crucial to maintain their current momentum and to avenge an agonising one-point loss in Glasgow towards the end of October.
As predicted, Leicester had to put in a strong performance for the entire 40 minutes to bag a 12th win of the season, coming through in the clutch after the home side took a narrow lead with less than a minute left on the clock.
Kimbal Mackenzie put in a captain’s performance, going 8-12 from the field for a total of 21 points – including six down the stretch – and dishing out five assists on the night.
The powerful Jaren Holmes also had a nice night, making his presence felt all over the court to the tune of 15 points and nine rebounds for a near double-double.
The most eye-catching plays, however, came from the palms of Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen, who delved deeply into his box of tricks to drain 28 points on the Gladiators, including four deep balls, two of which were taken from a different postcode.
The standout performances from the Riders’ backcourt trio allowed the rest of the squad to play solid team basketball, and Sunday’s victory over a good opponent demonstrates how far this team has come.
More strong opposition presents itself this Friday in the form of Sheffield. Riders’ fans won’t know which trio will take the game by the scruff this time but should be confident that every player on the roster has the skills to shape victory.
Struggles in the New Year
The Sheffield Sharks currently sit in strong playoff contention in the League Championship with an 11-13 record and well clear of the bottom two.
An impressive November saw Friday’s visitors go five of six, including a 91-84 home win over the Riders where they utilised the fast break to great effect.
The Sharks boast a league-leading defence, conceding just 79.1 points per game while holding opposing teams to under 32% from three-point range.
A large contingent of Sheffield’s roster possesses fast hands on defence, especially American guard Terrell Allen and dunk artist Jalon Pipkins. The aggressive defenders 1.4 and 1.3 steals per game respectively, forcing teams to think twice about taking them on the dribble.
However, tenacious defence does have its drawbacks, and for the Sharks, it comes in the form of opposition free throws.
Earlier in the season, Atiba Lyons’ charges were getting away with giving up the ninth-most free shots in the League Championship, but a 2024 littered with tight losses has magnified the consequences of not matching the opponent at the line.
The Riders are the second most accurate charity stripe shooting team in the league – hitting at a cool 77.3% – and get to the line nearly 21 times a game.
The Sharks’ recent losses average a losing margin of ten points. This could be flipped on its head if Sheffield can figure out a way to avoid fouls while defending determinedly.
Key Matchup
A large number of matchups catch the eye this Friday as one of the league’s most prolific offenses battles against the league’s stringiest defence, but the key matchup will be between guards, Jaren Holmes and Jalon Pipkins.
#5 Pipkins is a true entertainer of the league. The American’s most desirable trick is his ability to almost levitate in the air before jamming home a satisfying dunk. The guard has serious hops.
Pipkins experienced a short stint of play in Finland after graduating from the Fort Wayne Mastodons and found his eventual home in Sheffield last season.
The high-flyer is having a decent season, averaging 11.8 points per game and going nearly 60% from inside the arc.
The true test for Holmes will be to penetrate Pipkins’ defence which is some of the best the British Basketball League has to offer.
The Leicester man has mostly been excellent this season and uses his size and strength excellent to get the better of both smaller and bigger opponents.
A star of the Big-12 NCAA conference, Holmes’ rookie campaign with the Riders sings to the tune of 13.3 points per game – second on the roster – 4.3 boards each night and a couple of assists to boot.
Riders’ fans will know that despite being a primary offensive weapon, Holmes is also good on the defensive side of the ball, snagging 1.2 steals per game.
The back-and-forth contest between these two athletic guards should be fun to watch. One thing is for certain – win or lose, Holmes and Pipkins will create more than a few highlights along the way.
Riders recap: What we can take from a winning weekend
The Riders recorded two wins in a crucial doubleheader weekend, beating the Plymouth City Patriots at home, and the Caledonia Gladiators in the clutch on the road.
Here’s what we can take from the weekend of action…
Multiple scoring threats
In both games over the weekend, the Riders had three players score over 15 points and two score 20.
Different games are for different guys, and only two players, Jaren Holmes and leading scorer Teddy Allen, put up double digits in both games, but the Riders showed they can rely on multiple players to step up and put the ball in the basket when their name is called.
Last time, he pulled up from midrange with 10 seconds to go to put the Riders up one, but the Gladiators found a response to win it at the hands of Clifton Moore Jr.
Two weeks ago, Mackenzie had a clutch outing in the Trophy Final Four, where he drove to the bucket for an and-one score to put the Riders up one with 20 seconds left.
But this time, he led Leicester to a win with his performance late. The Canadian took over with a minute and a half left and scored six straight points, including two go-ahead buckets to put the scoring load on his back.
Mackenzie’s play earned him the Player of the Game, and secured an important win for the team in a doubleheader weekend.
Turning a corner
Leicester entered the weekend with a .500 record, with an important pair of games awaiting them as they hoped to climb the Championship standings. On Sunday night, they improved to 13-11, and now sit fourth, just a game behind the Gladiators in third.
The Riders have won four on the bounce in the Championship, a run which started at home against the Sheffield Sharks with a 103-75 win on December 30. They have a chance to make it five with the same fixture on Friday.
Their game against the Sharks marks the first of another doubleheader, with a trip to the Plymouth City Patriots awaiting them on Sunday. It’s another vital run of games for Rob Paternostro’s side, and they need you behind them.
Teddy Allen led the game’s scoring, however, exploding for 28 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals.
The Gladiators, led by Lukas Palyza’s 17, were down big in the fourth but fought back to take the lead with less than a minute left. They didn’t have enough to secure the win however, and the Riders improved to 13-11 on the season.
Leicester endured a slow offensive start, which found them in an early hole. They started 1-7 from the field, and the Gladiators ran out to a 9-3 start led by 4 points from Fahro Alihodzic.
Allen took the lid off the basket with a three from the top of the arc to cut the difference to a score. The Riders found some rhythm from there, and the sides exchanged baskets going up and down the court.
Caledonia had the better of the final stages of the first quarter. They crashed the offensive glass for second-chance points, and led 24-15 after one led by 6 points from Whelan.
Allen got the second quarter underway with a triple to claw some points back. But the Gladiators kept pouring on the points, getting to the foul line consistently to keep their scoreboard ticking over.
The Riders came storming back midway through the period. TJ Lall and Allen hit threes back to back, Allen pulling up in transition to make it 34-31. He exploded in the quarter, scoring 13 to bring his game tally to 17 by halftime.
The hosts threatened to pull away, rebuilding their lead to eight, but a 7-0 Riders run to end the half, finished off by a buzzer-beating three from Holmes, to make the score 48-47.
Mackenzie ran in transition to start the second half to take the Riders’ first lead of the game. The Riders kept the Gladiators at arm’s length for the start of the third, finding consistent offence to contrast their start to the game.
Miryne Thomas connected from deep with a big three to put the Riders up nine going into the media timeout. Out of the break, Mackenzie ran the floor for a tough finish inside to make it a double-digit difference.
Allen stayed hot, putting in 7 points in the third, and the Riders entered the fourth up 75-67.
But the Gladiators came out into the fourth with two straight scores to make it a four point affair.
Mackenzie hit back, draining a three to stop the run of momentum, and Holmes built off the triple, making two buckets at the rim to keep the Gladiators at bay. Allen followed him up with two finishes of his own, responding to Caledonia’s trips to the foul line.
But the hosts did find a way back, and Palyza hit a big three with 2:49 left to make the score 87-90. Clifton Moore Jr hit back-to-back baskets to take the lead with 1:35 left.
Mackenzie hit back with a three from the top of the arc, putting the Riders up two. With the ball going the other way, Holmes rejected Whelan, but Bothwell found the bottom of the basket after the subsequent rebound to tie the game at 93.
Mackenzie struck again with a midrange pull-up with 52 seconds left, and Palyza missed a three on the next possession. With 30 seconds left, Mackenzie made one of two free throws to make it a three-point lead.
Bothwell had a chance to tie it for Caledonia but missed from three, and Idowu put the game beyond doubt from the foul line with eight seconds left, securing an important win for the Riders.
Leicester returns to action on Friday, hosting the Sheffield Sharks.
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.
A superb fourth quarter by the Riders fired them to a 102-81 British Basketball League Championship victory over the Plymouth City Patriots.
The contest was much closer than the final score suggests as Rob Paternostro’s squad were made to work hard by a determined Patriots side, who remain at the foot of the championship standings.
The home side dropped 33 points in the final ten minutes, heating up from three-point range to finish the game with a decent 37% from deep.
Led by captain Kimbal Mackenzie (who had a quiet scoring game with six points but distributed 11 assists), the Riders played excellent team basketball, ending the night boasting 24 dishes.
There were several solid performances, but Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen and Samuel Idowu stole the show, making 45 points between them with Idowu putting up yet another double-double.
Athletic big man Miryne Thomas also had a good game, especially from beyond the arc, draining a hot four from five on his way to 19 points, scoring 14 in the final quarter.
Paul James’ Patriots side showed plenty of positive flashes throughout the game and won on the offensive glass, pulling down 18 to the Riders’ seven.
Star man Jacob Wiley hit 22 and the speedy TJ Atwood scored 17, but the visitors were crippled by poor accuracy from the free throw line, hitting just 58% from the line.
An aggressive start to the game by the Riders saw a swell of scoring early on, started by Allen with a silky-smooth reverse layup. Mo Walker then hit an ‘and one’ play after a lovely dish from Mackenzie and – following a transition three from ‘Buckets’ – Leicester had seven points in two minutes.
The Riders were working hard to utilize their size inside, but the Patriots did a good job of keeping pace, showing fast hands-on defence and tenacity on the offensive boards, totalling ten offensive rebounds in the first half.
It wasn’t long before the familiar sight of a scoring run from Idowu had the home supporters cheering, the bench big man dropping an impressive 11 points in seven first-half minutes.
The power forward was dominant on both sides of the arc, hitting turnaround jumpers in close and stretching the floor with pick-and-slide splashes from deep.
The game then entered a somewhat messy period as both sides engaged in numerous scrambles below the rim.
Leicester kept a small lead going into the second quarter, narrowed down to three points following a Wiley fast break dunk.
The opening minutes of the second were dictated by the visitors, who demonstrated excellent team basketball to ride a 13-0 scoring run.
Danger-man Wiley was starting to heat up, showing his skills in close with powerful finishes and accurate jump shots.
The Riders had to stop the bleeding, and a typically impassioned timeout from Paternostro did the trick, prompting Allen to start the mini comeback with an acrobatic, falling layup while under heavy pressure.
TJ Lall followed suit with a tricky finish of his own, and when Jaren Holmes slammed home a breakaway dunk following a nice steal, the Riders were back level.
The teams went bucket-for-bucket as the half drew to a close, but increased defensive pressure exerted by the home side caused Plymouth to cool down, allowing the Riders to edge ahead.
Duke Shelton threw his weight around in the paint to earn multiple trips to the line, and after a clutch corner three by Lall, Leicester found themselves five points in front, a leading margin they maintained to go into the locker rooms 48-43 to the good.
The second 20 couldn’t have started any differently than the first as both teams struggled to get into an offensive rhythm, perpetuated by a rare Mackenzie turnover.
Holmes didn’t get the memo though, hitting a pair of backdoor layups to keep the Riders ahead by five, answered by a buzzer-beating fadeaway by shooting guard Cameron Copeland.
A quiet phase of missed shots and fouling followed, ended by a stop and splash three from Thomas which sparked Idowu into action again.
The big American matched Thomas’ deep ball before finishing a nasty Holmes alley-oop with a one-handed jam.
Back came the Patriots again, Wiley hitting four quick points including a monstrous alley-oop slam.
Four points from Mackenzie – his first of the night – ended the third quarter, giving his side a 69-64 lead going into the final stanza and with everything to play for.
The Riders began the fourth perfectly, relaxing the Mattioli Arena with four quick points to make it a nine-point ball game.
Atwood’s first trey of the game was matched by Thomas, and Leicester looked in good shape for another home win.
Lall soon put a punctuation mark on the ever-growing lead, dropping a corner three despite being fouled for a spectacular four-point play.
The Riders were now taking over the game, Thomas dropping a heat-check triple which preceded ‘Buckets’ Allen’s 23rd point of the night.
Paternostro’s squad were flowing, and despite some splash plays from the visitors, they rode the double-digit lead for the final two minutes to send the Riders’ faithful home happy.
Leicester Arena becomes Mattioli Arena in recognition of charitable trust
Leicester Riders’ home venue, Leicester Arena, will now be known as the Mattioli Arena.
The Ian & Clare Mattioli Charitable Trust has accepted naming rights to Leicester Arena, the largest indoor arena in Leicester.
The venue – previously the Morningside Arena – is now being rebranded.
The Trust has donated funds to the Leicester Riders Foundation, the charity which develops basketball and other sport participation for people of all ages across Leicester and Leicestershire.
The generosity of the Mattioli family has resulted in the Trust being offered naming rights to the Arena in recognition of their continued support.
Recent donations from the Trust are in addition to the £500,000 donation made to help fund the Arena’s extension in 2022.
The Arena will work with the family to create a lasting legacy gifted to communities in Leicester and Leicestershire.
The Trust – established by the Mattioli family in 2016 – works to help enhance the lives and opportunities of local people.
In particular it works with communities and socio-economic groups which are often sidelined and struggle to access opportunities for advancement, personal growth, and to fully participate in society.
Ian Mattioli MBE, Founder of the Trust and CEO of Mattioli Woods, said: “We are delighted to continue our support of the Arena, and are proud to accept the naming rights.
“The Mattioli Arena delivers high-quality and high-class events, while at the same time focussing on its community commitments and increasing the profile of the city.
“Leicester has always looked after our family in the very safest of environments and that is why we are delighted to be part of creating a legacy for the diverse communities we support in the City of Leicester and beyond.
“To also be able to do this through sport and a venue that has the potential to impact so many people is something we will continue to take great pride in, and we hope it will be used by many, many people over coming years.”
Kevin Routledge, Chairman of Leicester Riders, Trustee of Riders Foundation, and a Director of the Arena, said: “Once again, Ian and Clare Mattioli Charitable Trust has shown its commitment to the city and the work of our Foundation, and the Mattioli Arena, and we are hugely appreciative of that.
“The work of the Riders Foundation, and the demands on the Arena, continue to grow and we are committed to further enhancements to our facilities.
“We are hugely appreciative to the Mattioli family’s generous support, which will enable us to deliver an arena, community services, and events that will continue to make the city proud.”
The 3,000-capacity Mattioli Arena stages an increasingly wide range of national and international sports and entertainment events.
It also provides a wide range of community sports opportunities through the Riders’ extensive underage basketball programmes through the Leicester Riders Foundation.
The venue also provides opportunities for Leicester College students, wheelchair basketball users, and other community sport users – making it the largest of its type in the UK.
Last year’s extension to the Arena is already bringing significant additional revenue to the city. It consists of a standalone, 1,200-metre squared, two-court sports hall, with a new entrance to the arena also completed at the top of Memory Lane.
It also has the largest solar array on any individual building in the city, generating 246 kW(p) of solar power as helping the Arena focus on becoming a net zero business.
The Riders are in action at the Mattioli Arena tonight, taking on the Plymouth City Patriots.
British Basketball League Championship action returns to the Morningside Arena this Friday as the Riders host the 4-18 Plymouth City Patriots.
The home side will certainly be favourites to take victory following impressive winter form, but coach Rob Paternostro will warn his team against complacency after Plymouth ran Leicester close at the start of the season.
After a turbulent first quarter of the season, which resulted in the Riders revamping the roster and sat on a record below .500, the recent upturn in form sees captain Kimbal Mackenzie and his team poised to take a leap into the upper echelons of the league.
After a promising League Trophy campaign and last week’s 20-point victory in Surrey, the Riders hold a record of 11-11, fifth in the League Championship and only three wins shy of the Caledonia Gladiators in second place.
Mackenzie himself has seen his form improve simultaneously with his squad, taking advantage of the defensive attention dedicated to Teddy Allen to drop double-digit points in five of his last six outings.
The do-it-all point guard has also seen his assist totals spike over the winter, proof that even with Allen and Duke Shelton being relatively new additions, the team is gelling more and more with each passing week.
Allen could certainly be considered the Riders’ catalyst – the league’s top scorer has failed to breach 20 points only twice as a Rider – but speaking to BBC Radio Leicester earlier this week, he stated that the team was prepared for success when he arrived.
“The team were on a skid when I got here, but we had to pieces to compete. There is a lot of talent in every position, all the way down the bench. I was able to inject some energy into the group, and after that, we rediscovered our form and everyone has been playing well.”
Expect the Riders to maintain that energy heading into tomorrow’s clash with Plymouth. The Patriots have the least potent offense in the league (averaging less than 80 points per game) and if Mackenzie and Allen continue on their current trajectory, 80 points could be surpassed before the start of the fourth.
New Year. New Start.
The end of 2023 was tough for the Patriots. Three losses on the bounce leading up to the break in League Championship play consigned Paul James’ men to bottom of the standings with a 3-17 record.
To compound things, top scorer Taylor Johnson had recently departed the club and it was tough to see who Plymouth could look to for an offensive spark.
However, much-improved performances in the League Trophy and the emergence of Jacob Wiley as a true scoring threat has given them cause to believe that a playoff berth is not out of reach.
The solid Trophy campaign carried forward into the Patriots’ return to the Championship as they travelled to Manchester and bested the Giants 93-79.
The trifecta of Wiley, Spencer Levi and Mason Faulkner overcame a superb 26-point showing from the Giants’ William Lee to take the win, Levi particularly impressing with a Miryne Thomas-esque 14-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Wiley once again displayed his offensive prowess with 20 points and Faulkner was instrumental, running the floor during his 26 minutes from the bench.
The Riders will provide a different challenge than the struggling Giants however, and Friday’s clash could prove how ready the Patriots are to make a run at the playoffs.
Key Matchup
Friday’s game is a battle between two teams with in-form, free-scoring, 6’6” wing forwards: Teddy Allen and Jacob Wiley.
Wiley, a veteran who has married his play on the court with his name, has a career that spans at least four continents.
Following college, the 25-year-old suited up for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA before taking his skills to Europe, Australia and Japan.
His impact in the British Basketball League has been felt in the last couple of months after regular outings of 20 points or more.
Wiley isn’t a threat from beyond the arc, but his ability to use strength and finishing ability inside makes him a problem for defences, and combined with his tenacity on the boards, he will be a standout on the Morningside Arena court.
Allen will now be familiar to every Riders fan and many supporters across British Basketball.
The CEBL MVP has shown innate ability to score from anywhere, whether that’s slicing into the lane for a quick two or executing a nasty step back before splashing on a three-point dagger.
Possibly the least talked about facet of Allen’s game has been his defensive effort, rarely giving up on the cause and seldom getting beaten on the dribble.
Wiley and Allen are currently the primary outlets on offense for their teams, but both provide so much more around the court.
The winner of that battle could decide the winner of this game.
Radio Leicester spoke to the team about their season so far and their mindset going into the rest of the year.
Here’s what they had to say…
Teddy Allen- “The team welcomed me with open arms”
Teddy hit the ground running in Leicester following his arrival in mid-December, winning British Basketball League Player of the Month right off the bat.
He credited his early success to the unselfishness of his new team.
“It’s hard to come in somewhere and be successful with my teammates being unselfish,” Allen told BBC Radio Leicester.
“This group is exactly that. I had messages from players even before I arrived, and it was good to feel welcomed to the team. Everybody had open arms for me when I got here. I can’t thank them enough for that.”
The Riders have seen a turn in form since Allen’s arrival, but the American guard said everything was already in place for the group to be successful.
“The team were on a skid when I got here, but we had to pieces to compete. There is a lot of talent in every position, all the way down the bench. I was able to inject some energy into the group, and after that, we rediscovered our form and everyone has been playing well.”
Basketball is in Allen’s blood, as his younger brother, Timmy Allen, currently suits up for Memphis Hustle in the NBA G-League. Teddy said that growing up in a competitive environment with his brother helped them both become the players they are today.
“We’re only a year and a half apart, so we were always competing growing up, playing with and against each other. When you have a brother is a blessing. You have a competitor and someone to help you get where you want to go, and he’s definitely been that for me.”
Kimbal Mackenzie- “This group will do anything they can to win.”
Kimbal started off by reflecting on a hard-fought Trophy Final Four battle with Cheshire Phoenix, where the Riders fell just short against the eventual champions.
“It was a difficult loss in Birmingham- that was a tough pill to swallow. I’ve been on both sides of those types of games, and I hate being on that end of it.
“That said, our team is playing well and with a lot of confidence at the moment, and I think we’re in a good place. We have to keep looking forward, and it’s time for us to move on to League play.”
It was a difficult start to the season for the Riders, but their recent form has seen them rise in the Championship standings, and they look to kick on for the remainder of the season.
Mackenzie said the professionalism of the team has helped them turn their play around.
“My teammates have been great. They’ve been excited to show up and put their best foot forward. This is a group that will do anything they can to win. That’s what I expect of myself, and that’s what Coach Rob expects of all of us.
“Everyone here is professional. At every level you play, you have ups and downs, no matter how good you are, so it’s good to be back on track. We have great coaches and vets around me and it’s a professional group to be around.
“We approach every game to win and put ourselves in a position to lift the title come playoff time. Seeding really matters with the new format, so we have to work hard to be as high as possible in the league going into the postseason.”
Rob Paternostro- “We’re putting ourselves in a good position for a nice run.”
Head Coach Rob Paternostro has always taken pride in seeing improvements in his teams throughout the season.
Therefore, he has wanted to see the uptick in recent form all season long.
“We always want to have a team that gets better throughout the season. We have had a lot of great teams here, but they’ve always been better in February than they were in January. Everyone is improving. It’s a long season, so you need to have that in your group.
“I like the way we’re playing right now. Over the last 10 games, we’re ranked first in offence and second in defence. We’re putting ourselves in a good position for a nice run.”
Home form has been consistent all season long for Leicester. They have a 9-4 record at the Morningside Arena in all competitions, with two of the losses coming at the hands of the table-topping London Lions.
And Paternostro has been pleased with the recent improvement in play on the road.
“Away games always are a challenge in any sport. We went up to Newcastle in a hostile environment a couple of weeks ago and came away with a big win, so it’s clear that we’re getting better on the road. We’re showing more focus away from home than we did earlier in the season.”
While the start of the season was below the standards Paternsotro has set for this team over the previous decade, the recent improvements to the Riders’ play has given him confidence in their ability to challenge for playoff silverware.
“Let’s let it all play out. We’ve had a run that is unprecedented in any sport in this country, and of course, it’s tough to maintain that. We know there will be highs and lows, but I like how we’re playing.”
Duke Shelton- “There’s still a lot of basketball to be played.”
Another new signing to the team, Duke Shelton, has also settled quickly into Leicester life. His high-energy play style has been a welcome addition to the roster.
“This team really likes to get up and down the floor, so I thought it would be a good fit for how I play. It’s been great playing for Coach Rob, who knows how to get the best out of his players. He’s a player-coach, and that’s something different to what I’ve been used to.”
Basketball-obsessed Shelton’s seamless fit into the team is partly thanks to his dedication to the game off the court.
“I started playing basketball when I was 15, so I came to it late, but since then, it’s been my daily regimen. Every day I’ve had something to do with basketball, and it has given me the opportunity to see the world and meet a lot of different people from all walks of life.
“The game offers a lot more than what you see inside the lines.”
After their Trophy campaign, where the Riders showed signs of high-level play, Shelton sees that there is more to come from his new team.
“We showed a bit of what we can do in terms of our identity, but there’s more potential in this roster, and there’s still a lot of basketball to be played.”
TJ Lall- “We’ve been focused on the end goal”
With the Trophy in the books, the Riders now apply their full attention to the remainder of their Championship campaign and the playoffs after that.
TJ Lall, like the rest of the team, is locked in.
“All year, we’ve been focused on the end goal, but now, with the Trophy done, there’s an extra level of focus on the league and the playoffs.
“It would mean the world to win the playoffs at the end of the year. That’s what we’ve been striving for. We’re here to win, so it would be incredible.”
With big roster changes taking place earlier in the year, players such as Lall, who have been with the team at the start of the season, have had to adapt. But to him, it’s part of playing in professional basketball.
“Teams change all the time. You have to adapt and move on; the new guys have improved the team.
“We feel like it’s achievable to win it all. We showed what we can do in the Trophy, despite the loss. We were right there and lost by a point to the team that went on to win it.
“The emphasis is on getting better every practice, and hopefully, by the end of the season, we’re at our best, and we’ll see what we can achieve.”
The Riders are in action on Friday, hosting the Plymouth City Patriots.
The Riders returned to British Basketball League Championship action with a bang, beating the Scorchers 104-84 on the road.
Here’s what we can take from the win…
Strength in depth
The Riders had contributions all the way down the roster, with every player in the game day squad scoring multiple field goals.
From the leading scorer, Teddy Allen, who topped the game’s scoring charts with 20, to Blake Bowman, who attacked the hoop effectively in his 14 minutes of action, Leicester relentlessly scored throughout with multiple lineups.
The Riders bench, led by TJ Lall’s 13 points, outscored Surrey’s 39-27, despite Surrey’s Quin Cooper providing a hot hand off the bench to score 16 and go 4-9 from three.
“We knew they were coming off a back-to-back, so we wanted to play all 10 guys and get up and down the floor,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro postgame.
“We did a really good job of that, especially in the first half.”
Jaren Holmes, who went off for 14 points in the game, praised the group’s effort to get the job done in Surrey:
“We went out and played together and let the ball move. We had a lot of guys in double figures, so it was a good experience. It was fun to be out there- I love playing these types of games, where everyone is moving the ball and scoring.”
Practice makes perfect
Both Holmes and Paternostro reflected on the week of practice, and how intense 5-on-5 action helped prepare them for the Scorchers and lift the mood in camp after last weekend’s Trophy Final Four defeat.
“We were obviously a little down after the loss in Birmingham, but we had a great scrimmage on Thursday with 10 players playing really well, and that translated on the court today,” noted Paternostro.
“The scrimmage we had this week was intense,” added Holmes. “Coach let us play for the longest we’ve played all season, and everybody was going at it.
“We were competing, getting into it with each other and trying to win, no matter what. That carried over into this game.”
Triple threat
Coming into the game against Surrey, who take the most three-point shots in the League, it was important for the Riders to be able to win the battle from distance.
They did exactly that, and as the most efficient deep shooters in the British Basketball League, shooting 39.5% on the season, they went 14-27 from behind the arc led by three triples from Kimbal Mackenzie.
“We know they’re a really good three-point shooting team, and Cooper was exceptional out there. We really wanted to limit those opportunities for them where we could.”
Surrey shot 37% from three on the game, but couldn’t match the Riders’ pinpoint accuracy from range.
“We’re not always looking for the three, but we have a lot of guys that can make it, and they made them today.”
Leicester had six players hit two or more threes in the game, providing deep threat from up and down and roster, everywhere on the court.
Leicester Riders recorded a dominant win on the road, beating the Surrey Scorchers 104-84.
The British Basketball League’s leading scorer Teddy Allen came up with another 20-point game, logging 6 rebounds and 3 assists while leading the game’s scoring.
He was backed by his captain Kimbal Mackenzie, who put up 15 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in the wake of his nomination for January’s Player of the Month.
Surrey shoots the most three-point shots in the League, but the Riders hit at a 51% rate from deep in the game to win the battle from behind the arc. In a team display, every Rider scored at least two baskets, and five scored in double digits.
The win sees the Riders get back to a .500 record at 11-11 as they look to climb the Championship standings in the back half of the year.
The Scorchers made three triples to start the game to take an early lead. Two-time League MVP Justin Robinson took the lid off the basket with back-to-back triples, followed by Padiet Wang who made it 11-9.
Wang made the highlight of the first quarter, cutting back the door before taking off to throw down Robinson’s lob pass emphatically.
The Riders came back to take the lead by the media timeout, Allen faded away for a tough bucket to make it 16-13.
With a minute to go in the first, both sides flexed their shot-blocking ability. Wang kickstarted a block party by spiking Blake Bowman’s layup before Sam Idowu returned the favour next time up the floor by pinning Elliot Bailey’s shot.
Bailey hit back and finished a succession of blocks with a denial on TJ Lall. But it was the Riders who carried a narrow advantage after a quarter, as Washington hit a corner three to put them up 30-25.
Leicester blew the game open to start the third with back-to-back threes from Idowu.
Surrey’s GB guard Andrew Lawrence then picked up two quick technical fouls as tensions ran high midway through the second. Leicester took advantage, and Idowu’s finish inside put Leicester up 18.
Scorchers Head Coach Lloyd Gardner was the next to pick up a technical, putting Mackenzie to the line for his 9th point of the matchup.
Miryne Thomas exploded to close the half, draining a contested three with a minute left, and ending the quarter with a monster putback off Allen’s missed layup. They entered the locker rooms up 62-40.
It was the Riders’ first 60-point half of the season, as their offence clicked into gear upon its return to Championship action.
Leicester extended their lead in the second half, playing physical ball on both ends and running the break consistently. Jaren Holmes attacked relentlessly, bringing his game tally to 10 with 6:06 left in the period and making the score 72-45.
The Riders threatened to make the lead 30 throughout the third quarter, but Surrey kept plugging away to keep their side of the scoreboard ticking over. Wang led the game with 15 points with three minutes left, running the pick-and-roll with Saiquan Jamison effectively.
Allen and Conner Washington combined for triples to quash any Scorchers momentum, finding open looks against Surrey’s aggressive defensive approach. Their threes made it 87-61 with one to play.
Lall got the fourth underway for Leicester with his second three of the game. But the Scorchers came flying out in the fourth to cut the Riders’ lead back to 20, finding joy in attacking the hoop.
The Riders hit back with a 6-0 run, capped off by a second chance make from Holmes, to take any life left from Surrey’s comeback hopes.
Leicester returns to action next Friday, hosting the Plymouth City Patriots at the Morningside Arena, Leicester.
But Cheshire’s Laquincy Rideau’s finish at the rim saw the Phoenix take back the lead with four seconds left, and Miryne Thomas’ Hail Mary three came off the rim to send the Riders home.
“That was a heartbreaker,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro postgame.
“I’m proud of how we hung in there and put ourselves in a position to win. It was a heck of a comeback but a disappointing way to go out.”
Trending up
Despite Saturday’s loss, Leicester have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games in all competitions, seeing them capture some midseason form.
A 3-1 record in the Trophy group phase saw their play rewarded with a trip to the Utilita Arena Birmingham, where they were seconds from toppling the eventual champions.
The Riders currently possess a 10-11 record in the Championship following a 4-1 end to 2023. Their defence and rebounding, which were areas in need of improvement to start the season, became a strength during January.
“We’re taking defence personally,” said Riders forward Samuel Idowu before the Final Four.
“That’s from practice to in the games. We’re prideful in our efforts to get stops, so we’re happy to see it translate to the games. If we stay competitive, we’ll get results.
“Our rebounding especially has improved throughout the year, and we know how much that can control the game.”
Surrey Scorchers
Positive steps
Surrey looked set to progress to the Final Four after winning their opening two group games, but after suffering key injuries and running into two of the League’s inform teams in the Caledonia Gladiators and the Phoenix, they finished third in the group with a 2-2 record and failed to progress.
They now turn their attention to the League, where their 7-14 record leaves them in the final playoff place, with two games in hand from the ninth-placed Giants on the same amount of wins.
Surrey started the season 0-5, but responded with a 3-1 run and have picked up important wins throughout the year, including back-to-back victories against the Bristol Flyers in November.
They’ll look to continue to add to their wins collum on the back stretch and make their first postseason appearance since 2018.
Living by the three
Surrey live and die by the three-point line this season, jacking up the most attempts in the League this season with 30.9 per game.
While they don’t connect on the attempts at the most efficient rate, shooting 33.5%, when their shots are falling, the Scorchers become a difficult team to slow down.
— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) January 6, 2024
The Riders can compete from three, and connect on their deep shots at the highest percentage in the League at 37.8%, so expect the trading of three-point bombs in this one.
Key matchup
Surrey’s three-point philosophy is led by two-time British Basketball MVP Justin Robinson, who takes a team-high 6.3 threes per game.
The 17-year pro enjoyed his best years in British basketball with the London Lions, winning League MVP in 2018 and 2019. He signed with the Scorchers this summer, and leads the teams scoring with 12.2 points per game.
The British point guard has been a lights-out three-point shooter throughout his career, averaging over 40% shooting in the last two seasons.
Meeting him in the backcourt will be Riders captain Kimbal Mackenzie, who comes into this game off the back of two lights-out performances.
In a win-or-go-home game against the Newcastle Eagles in the final round of the group, he led the team with 22 points in an important win.
He followed up with a monster fourth quarter against Cheshire, where he took a charge, hit a three and made a go-ahead and-one play with seconds on the clock to lead the comeback.
The back-and-forth between two of the League’s best point guards will be a can’t-miss action!
Mid-season Recap: Reviewing the Leicester Riders’ British Basketball League Championship season so far
After taking a break from Championship action for the British Basketball League Trophy in January, Leicester Riders return to League action on Saturday to take on the Surrey Scorchers on the road.
Here, we bring you back up to speed with the Championship season so far…
The State of Play
The Riders sit seventh in the standings with a 10-11 record, battling to get over .500 to set up the rest of their season.
Having played the same number of games as the second-placed Caledonia Gladiators, they find themselves just three wins behind and are ready to make a run up the table.
It’s a tightly packed midfield in this season’s British Basketball League Championship. Only three wins separate second and seventh, and six wins separate second from ninth, allowing for movement up and down the table as the teams fight for playoff seeding.
Position
Team
Wins
Losses
Games Back
1
London Lions
22
3
–
2
Caledonia Gladiators
13
8
7
3
Cheshire Phoenix
12
8
7.5
4
Newcastle Eagles
11
9
8.5
5
Sheffield Sharks
11
10
9
6
Bristol Flyers
11
11
9.5
7
Leicester Riders
10
11
10
8
Surrey Scorchers
7
14
13
9
Manchester Giants
7
16
14
10
Plymouth City Patriots
3
17
16.5
The Riders, in good form in the League of late, will look to benefit from that movement.
Last time out
The Riders went 4-1 to close out the year, heating up going into their Trophy run. They scored over 80 points in each of those games and finished 2023 with a dominant win against the Sheffield Sharks.
It was a 103-75 victory, led by Teddy Allen and Miryne Thomas, who scored 25 and 22 points, respectively. The Riders had four double-digit scorers, Jaren Holmes having the biggest positive effect on the team, leading the game with a +/- of 32.
Leicester exploded from three, shooting 51.9% from behind the arc, and held the Sharks to 28% deep shooting on the other end.
The three-point accuracy has been a trend for the Riders all season long.
The numbers
In all phases of the game, the Riders are among the elite in the British Basketball League with their shooting efficiency.
They lead all teams in three-point percentage (38.9%), and are second in field goal percentage (46.9%) and free-throw percentage (77.1%). This has led to 88.9 points per game, which is third in the League.
After a solid Trophy campaign defensively, where the Riders ranked second in defensive rating, they will look to lock into that side of the ball as the Championship resumes.
They’ve struggled in that department so far, giving up the second most points per game with 87 a night, but the additions of Duke Shelton and Teddy Allen have helped in that regard, allowing the Riders to defend the rim and pull down defensive boards more effectively.
Should they maintain their offensive efficiency while showing more resistance on the other end as they did throughout January, Leicester will put themselves in good stead in the later months of the season.
Final Four Report: Riders bow out of Trophy to Phoenix
The Riders fell short of a dramatic comeback in the British Basketball League Trophy Final Four, losing 92-91 to the Cheshire Phoenix.
Leicester were down 12 with 2:55 left, but led the game with 20 seconds on the clock after a spirited comeback. But the Phoenix had the final say, as Rideau finished a layup through contact to win it.
Miryne Thomas had a shot to win the game, but missed a tough running triple on the buzzer.
Star guard Teddy Allen led the team with 20 points scoring five quick points to trigger the comeback. He was backed by 13 from Mackenzie and Thomas.
Cheshire’s physical wing Aaryn Rai led the game with a monster 27-point, 11-rebound double-double. Stretch big Skyler White went off for 23, hitting six threes in key moments throughout for Cheshire.
Leicester’s veterans settled the nerves to start the game, as Mackenzie and Mo Walker put up the first seven points of the game. Jaren Holmes followed up with an and-one finish in transition, making it a 10-5 Riders start.
Walker had a dominant start on the boards. He grabbed 3 offensive rebounds in the opening five minutes, the third making it 16-9 as he finished for two.
The Phoenix hit back by driving to the hoop for back-to-back and-one plays. Rai had to second of the plays cut it to 16-13.
The first closed at a slower scoring pace, but the Riders had the stronger of it and finished the quarter up 22-18.
The Phoenix tied it up at 24 to start the second, with Maceo Jack running the break and finishing in close. Rideau drove to the hoop next time up the court, and took contact from Leicester’s Conner Washington for another score, plus the foul, to force a Riders timeout.
Leicester locked in on defence to stem the tide and keep in touch with their opponents. They held the Phoenix to three points in two minutes, keeping them from the hoop with effective perimeter defence.
All of the Riders’ second-quarter points came at the hoop. With their deep shots not falling, they stayed aggressive on both ends.
But Cheshire ended the half with a 10-0 run, led by five from Rai, and the teams finished the half with the score 46-34 to the Phoenix. Rai led all scorers at the break with 13 points.
Back-to-back White threes started the second half for the Phoenix, putting them up 18. The Riders started off 0-2 from deep, bringing them to 1-10 from three on the game.
Thomas came up with a monster highlight, throwing down a putback jam off a Mackenzie missed layup.
Walker connected to take the lid off the rim as the Riders attempted to claw back into the game. Holmes followed up with two scores to bring it to a 12 point difference. But the Riders efforts had a dent put in them with a Maceo Jack triple for Cheshire.
Allen hit back with his first three of the game, and heated up with an and-one play, fading away from Cam Holden through contact. But Rai hit shots to keep the Riders at arm’s length, keeping his team up double digits.
Allen scored seven in the third, but Rai came up with 9 points for the Phoenix. He blocked TJ Lall’s attempted three to end the third, Cheshire up 69-57.
The Riders battled to start the fourth, Duke Shelton cutting it to 10 with a layup over Rai. Thomas quickly made it a single-digit affair on the next play with a score in the post.
Allen drained a tough stepback three, then ran the break with Shelton with 5:41 remaining to bring the score to 79-73. Duke sent back Rai’s attempt in close to keep it to six with 4:52 left.
White responded with a miracle three, pulling up from the corner with Shelton draped over him to snatch momentum back. White kept connecting from behind the arc, and the Phoenix stretched the lead back to 12 with 2:55 left.
Thomas responded with back-to-back buckets to make it 82-89, before Mackenzie took a charge and drained a three to peg the Phoenix back. Holmes followed with a three, making it a one point affair.
White got to the foul line with less than a minute left to put the Phoenix up two. The Riders fell back on their captain in the clutch, as Mackenzie came up with a monster and-one play with 20 seconds remaining to put Leicester up one.
But Rideau had the final say, driving to the rim for an and-one of his own to snatch the lead back. Thomas missed a running three on the buzzer, ending the game.
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.
Trophy by Numbers: Breaking down the stats for the Riders Final Four clash
Leicester Riders are set to take on the Cheshire Phoenix in the British Basketball League Trophy Final Four on Saturday.
Here, we take a look at the numbers behind the matchup…
Locking off the paint
The Riders have invested in the defensive side of the ball, making the paint their own over the Trophy campaign.
They lead the competition in blocks, sending away 6.3 shots per game, with four Riders averaging at least a block per outing. They’re led by Canadian forward TJ Lall, who has denied opponents on six different occasions through the four group games.
Riders captain, Kimbal Mackenzie, said his CEBL teammate over the summer has been an integral factor in the defensive effort:
“TJ is a high-level, all-around threat. He can score the ball to a great standard, he is an underrated passer, and his defence, length and athleticism are special. I’ve gone against him many times in practice, and he can be tough to shake.”
This rim protection will be vital against the Phoenix, who lead the Trophy in points in the paint with 47 per game.
Battle on the boards
No defensive possession is complete until the rebound is pulled down, and the Riders have been closing the possessions to a high standard in recent weeks. They pull down the second-most defensive boards in the Trophy with 30 per game, just 0.5 per game away from the highest-ranked London Lions.
The battle on the boards will be key in this matchup. Cheshire crashes the offensive glass to grab the second most offensive rebounds in the competition with 13.5 per game.
However, their leading offensive rebounder, Ethan Chargois, will be sidelined for the game after suffering a dislocated finger last time out against the Sheffield Sharks.
For the Riders, Lall, again, has been a beast on the boards, grabbing 4.8 defensive rebounds per outing. But it’s big man Samuel Idowu who has rebounded at the highest rate in total, with 7.5 per game, including 2.8 on the offensive glass.
Idowu, who has been recovering from a season-ending knee injury for the previous two seasons, is back to his bruising best. He feels back to 100% fitness and can play with full confidence and athleticism.
“My body has been feeling good,” said Idowu. “It’s finally feeling normal after recovering from an injury for two seasons. I’m not overthinking any decisions on the court and playing how I used to play.
“I feel 100% because I have confidence in my knee again. It doesn’t hold me back from doing what I want to be doing out there when jumping or running, as it did at the start of the season. I’m where I wanted to be when I started my rehab.”
Idowu has ranked second on the team in scoring during the Trophy group, scoring 13.8 points per game after his 17-point explosion against the Newcastle Eagles to help send the Riders to the Final Four.
Track meet in transition
A key to the Phoenix’s success this season has been their ability to get out and run. They lead all teams in points off turnovers (24.75 per game) and fastbreak points (23.5 per game) and take the ball from the other team at the highest rate (21.11 turnover %), leading to the breakaway buckets.
American guard Laquincy Rideau has been a key factor in this, leading the team in steals, and ranking third among all players in that statistical category.
The Riders will have to play clean basketball, which they have done throughout January, turning the ball over the second-least with 11.75 turnovers per game.
Head Coach Rob Paternostro emphasised the importance of winning in transition:
“We can’t allow easy baskets. We have to take away easy runouts and layups, offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities. We have to make it tough for them to get good looks.
“In these types of games, it’s important to limit offensive opportunities, and if you do that, you put yourself in a good position to win.
“They’re really good in the open floor- they’ve scored the most in transition of any team season. They’ve done a good job of getting second-chance opportunities. That’s going to be vital to stop.
“When we’ve been able to limit those against anyone, we’ve been successful this year.”
Sam Idowu looks ahead to the British Basketball League Trophy Final Four
Few have stepped up like Samuel Idowu for the Riders on their British Basketball League Trophy run.
The big man has averaged 13.8 points per game to help the team to the Final Four, the second most on the team, and exploded for 12 points in the first quarter against the Newcastle Eagles to steady the nerves after an 0-7 start for Leicester.
Want to see Sam represent the Riders in the British Basketball League All-Star game?
Idowu has battled back from injury for the last two seasons to get to where he is today, and he’s relishing the challenge.
“The Trophy is something to really compete for,” he said. “It ups the stakes, mentally and physically, and it’s something I’ve been taking seriously. We have a chance to win with the team that we’ve been building, so we’ve all been locked in.
“My body has been feeling good. It’s finally feeling normal after recovering from an injury for two seasons. I’m not overthinking any decisions on the court and playing how I used to play.
“I feel 100% because I have confidence in my knee again. It doesn’t hold me back from doing what I want to be doing out there when jumping or running, as it did at the start of the season. I’m where I wanted to be when I started my rehab.”
The Riders have upped their level for the Trophy and went 3-1 through the group phase. Their loss was to the League-leading London Lions, and their three wins came in dominant fashion.
“Our mindset was to win every group game. We didn’t play well in London- we didn’t shoot it well and turned the ball over too much- but for the other games, we handled business.
“I’m proud of the statement we made. We tried to jump out the gate early, and we did a good job of grabbing those wins to get through to the Final Four.”
In front of a raucous home crowd in a win-or-go-home environment, it was important to start quickly in Newcastle and keep the crowd out of the game. Former Eagle Duke Shelton said as much beforehand in his preview of the fixture:
“Everybody is going to be up for the game, and we know it’s going to be rowdy in there. The key is to set the tone early, throwing the first punch and take it from there.”- Duke Shelton before the Riders faced the Newcastle Eagles.
But the Riders failed to do so, and the Eagles game flew out the blocks and forced them to dig themselves out of a hole.
Leicester showed poise and composure, fought back and won in commanding fashion. Idowu thought it said a lot about the team’s strong mentality.
“Being down early against Newcastle showed growth for us. Coach called a timeout, and we knew it would be a game of runs- it always is against them. We just had to stay poised and play our game for the full 40 minutes.
“Just because we went down in the first two minutes didn’t mean we needed to panic. We weren’t down on ourselves. At that point, the confidence throughout the team was there to come back and compete.”
Defence wins championships
After a difficult start to the season, the Riders have hit their stride at the right time as they go for silverware. Idowu discussed the secret to Leicester’s recent success.
“We’ve cleaned up smaller mistakes that plagued us at the start of the season and paid attention to detail. We’re also able to adjust at halftime when we need to fix something. We take pride in our ability to do that going into the second half.
“We’re taking defence personally. That’s from practice to in the games. We’re prideful in our efforts to get stops, so we’re happy to see it translate to the games. If we stay competitive, we’ll get results.
“Our rebounding especially has improved throughout the year, and we know how much that can control the game.”
Chemistry with new teammates
The Riders have seen an improvement in their performances since the addition of star guard Teddy Allen and Idowu’s frontcourt teammate Shelton, who have complimented Idowu’s game and seen him thrive.
“Teddy and I have a great connection on the court, especially in the pick and roll, which has led to a lot of dunks for me.
“He reads the floor really well and sees openings to get me the ball. He’s been great for us, and we’ve found a way to integrate him into our offence. The energy has definitely changed since he arrived.”
Shelton, in particular, is a player that Head Coach Rob Paternostro expects to benefit Idowu’s game.
“Sam’s athleticism on the defensive end has been important,” said Paternostro. “He’s a great teammate, and he’s a guy that plays with a passion out there.
“That can really lift the players around him. Now, playing with Duke, his versatility will be on display even more, because he’ll be able to step outside and hurt teams from inside and out.”
Idowu seconded his coach, adding how much they complement each other’s game and personalities.
“Duke is an immediate energy guy, and he has contributed in a big way. I don’t see anything negative about him being out there. He’s a great rebounder and really athletic.
“I enjoy playing with him. We communicate really well together and match each other’s energy, and it comes naturally between us. I think that’s helped him adjust at the perfect time going into the Final Four.”
Ready for the big stage
Should the Riders progress on Saturday against the Cheshire Phoenix, it will be Idowu’s first major final as a professional.
As a rookie, playing in the Netherlands for LWD Basket, he made the final of a domestic competition, but it was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This makes the potential of a final all the more exciting.
“I’m looking forward to going to Birmingham. I’ve heard it’s a great city and a great atmosphere. I can’t wait.
“I’ve played in a couple of big arenas and in knockout games in the conference tournament at the end of college seasons. I’m looking forward to embracing an atmosphere like that again.”
Getting one back against Cheshire
But before then, the Riders have to beat a hot Cheshire team, who are one game behind second in the Championship standings and have beaten the Riders three times already this season.
Idowu laid out the keys to success.
“The key for us is to keep doing what we’ve been doing. When we’ve played them we’ve had a different roster and played a different style of basketball, so we’re looking forward to facing them again.
“I’m excited to see the intensity- ours is going to be through the roof knowing we’ve lost to them three times already. We definitely have a chip on our shoulders. We’ve been waiting for this, and we’re hungry for it. We’re not trying to lose them a fourth time when it matters most.”
The moment means everything to Idowu, who has fought to be out of the court in the first place. That’s not lost on him.
“I’ve been through so much in the past two years, so win or lose, I’m grateful for how far I’ve come. I thank god that I’m still able to play the game that I love professionally.
“For everything I’ve gone from recovering from injuries and watching from the sideline to potentially winning a trophy, which would be an incredible feeling.”
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Rob Paternostro previews the British Basketball League Trophy Final Four
The Riders are set to take on the Final Four in the British Basketball League Trophy this weekend.
For Head Coach Rob Paternostro, it will be his sixth trip to Birmingham at the Riders’ reins as he goes for his 18th piece of League silverware with the club.
He reflected on his team’s journey through the competition so far, and previewed Leicester’s clash with the Phoenix on Saturday.
Building momentum
To punch their ticket to Birmingham, the Riders faced off against their historic rivals, the Newcastle Eagles, in a win-or-go-home scenario. The Riders controlled the game on the road against the Eagles, coming out 101-85 victors.
The result saw the Riders through with a 3-1 record, winning both of their home games against the Manchester Giants and Bristol Flyers before getting it done in the North East.
“We played some good basketball on both ends of the floor,” said Paternsotro, looking back at the team’s performances throughout the group phase.
“We took care of our home games, which was very important, and we showed a real toughness to go on the road in a win-or-go-home game and win by such a big margin in Newcastle.
“We felt really good about our team going into the game. With the additions of Teddy and Duke, we feel like we’re in a great position.
“We have confidence, we’ve been having great weeks in practice, and we can see the work we’ve been putting in on the court in games. It was an impressive win to be in control like that.”
The Riders made waves midseason with the acquisition of CEBL MVP Teddy Allen and experienced forward Duke Shelton to their roster.
The midseason moves have had a significant impact on the team.
“Our rebounding has certainly picked up, and both of those guys have really helped in that regard. Teddy’s size and energy from the wing have helped us close possessions, and adding Duke means we feel like we have more options to play bigger if needed.
“Looking at this roster, we have a lot of guys now that are locked in and alert.
“That has improved from the beginning of the season until now, and it’s vital when you come into any important game. We have to have a group that’s aware of what the team is doing defensively.”
Impact players
It’s no secret to anyone following the team that the impact of Allen on this Riders roster has been immeasurable. He led the Trophy in scoring throughout the group phase and has given the team confidence going onto the court with an elite scoring threat.
Riders captain Kimbal Mackenzie attested to this:
“Of course, the thing that stands out with Teddy is his ability to score, but above that has provided us with an extra layer of confidence and swagger.
“He’s given our team the confidence to go on the road in a game like Newcastle, knowing we have him on our side. He’s a winner. It’s simple to say, but he cares about winning. You can tell throughout the week at practice- he always wants to play more, and he works hard on both ends.”
Paternostro seconded his skipper, speaking on what having another All-Star talent on the roster has added to the team:
“Before Teddy arrived, we were already beginning to put together some smart, intelligent play, but he’s given us an X-Factor that can do so much.
“His scoring has been tremendous. It’s given the group confidence knowing they have a guy who can make plays like that. But he’s also helped us in a lot of ways that people haven’t talked about.
“His physicality from the wing, his rebounding and his ability to find the ball are all things that we’ve been looking for before he arrived, and he’s been someone that can explode and take your team to another level.”
TJ’s Trophy Performances
Beyond Teddy, the Riders have difference-makers up and down the roster. A player that has particularly impressed since he landed in Leicester is Canadian forward TJ Lall.
“TJ has been fantastic in this competition, and he’s been a really good player for us all year. He’s one of the most underrated players in the league.
“He can impact the game in many ways on both ends of the floor, cover multiple positions defensively, and his athleticism is valuable, but offensively, he has shown an ability to score and shoot efficiently and to create as well.
“We’ve been very happy to have him playing for us. He’s been vital. He’s a hard worker- he’s there early and late in practice- and he wants to be in big games.
“Going forward, the sky is the limit for him. When you combine his skills with his willingness to guard anyone, you’re looking at a player who is going to have a bright career.”
Back to Birmingham
Paternostro returns to Birmingham for the sixth time as head coach. He played for the Birmingham Bullets in the British Basketball League for two stints between 2000 and 2004. It’s a city of great sentiment for him.
“I love it there. It’s always been a great place to play. I’ve been in this country a long time and played so many memorable games there, coaching and playing.”
The all-new Trophy format sees the Final Four fight it out over the weekend, bringing the Riders to Birmingham with the reigning champions Caledonia Gladiators, as well as the Cheshire Phoenix and London Lions.
“The exciting part about this weekend is that it’s four teams and four sets of fans coming to the Arena on Saturday. Having a lot of British Basketball League fans around the city is going to make a great environment for British basketball.”
Facing the Phoenix
The Riders will take on the Cheshire Phoenix on Saturday, who have already bested them three times this season.
Paternostro said that keeping them in the halfcourt is a big key to success in this one.
“We can’t allow easy baskets. We have to take away easy runouts and layups, offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities. We have to make it tough for them to get good looks.
“In these types of games, it’s important to limit offensive opportunities, and if you do that, you put yourself in a good position to win.”
Cheshire are one of the stories of the season, sitting a win behind second in the British Basketball League Championship standings. They reached the final of the Trophy last season but fell on the buzzer to David Sloan’s corner three.
What dreams are made of!
All angles of @Cal_Gladiators David Sloan's game winning buzzer beater for the BBL Trophy!
The Riders will look to prevent them from making it back-to-back Finals appearances for the Phoenix.
“They’re really good in the open floor- they’ve scored the most in transition of any team season. They’ve done a good job of getting second-chance opportunities. That’s going to be vital to stop.
“When we’ve been able to limit those against anyone, we’ve been successful this year.”
These games, in these environments, are the types of matchups that the best players thrive in. Paternostro called out to his team to enjoy the occasion.
“There’s a lot of good players in this game, so it should be a really good event for everyone involved. We’ve got to enjoy it. These are the games we play for, and you have to have a group that enjoys the challenge and is fired up to play well on the day.”
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Kimbal Mackenzie named to British Basketball League Team of the Week
Riders captain Kimbal Mackenzie has been named to the British Basketball League Team of the Week for the final round of Trophy group games.
In a win-or-go-home clash on the road against the Newcastle Eagles, Mackenzie went off for 22 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds to lead the team to a 101-85 win.
🔥👀 For one last time in the #BritishBasketballLeague Trophy group stages, the team of the week is HERE!
“I let the game come to me, didn’t force anything and played within myself,” said Mackenzie.
“Shots were falling, my teammates got me good looks, and Newcastle sat back into a zone a lot which got some clean looks from three. It seemed like guys were making shots every time I passed the ball, so all credit to them.”
Kimbal Mackenzie previews the British Basketball League Trophy Final Four
Ahead of the Leicester Riders British Basketball League Trophy Final Four clash against Cheshire Phoenix on Saturday, captain Kimbal Mackenzie reflects on the campaign so far, and looks ahead to the matchup…
Thank you to everybody for your incredible support during our Trophy run so far. We’re all excited that we’ve been able to pay our fans back with another trip to Birmingham this season.
I’m proud of the team for how we’ve played during the group phase, and that we’ve booked our ticket to the Final Four.
Personally, I’m really looking forward to going back to Birmingham. I love that city, and I love that arena. It’s always a great atmosphere, and it’s cool to have a new format with the Final Four being played out over the weekend.
Hopefully, we can take care of business on Saturday and have the opportunity to play there again on Sunday in the Final.
We’re really looking forward to the opportunity to play Chesire again in the semi-finals. They have gotten the better of us so far this season, so we will really be looking to play well and get the win.
We’ve put together a good month of basketball so far, and most importantly, handled business at home during the group phase. Of course, we didn’t get the result we wanted in London, but they’re a tough team to play, and we knew that winning 3 games should be enough.
Going on the road and beating Newcastle was a great response. It was a fun game, and those are the games you remember, win or lose. It’s always a good atmosphere there, so adding a win-or-go-home scenario to it created a playoff-esque environment.
It was great to get the win, and it was important to get a big game under our belts before heading to the Final Four.
The arrival of Teddy Allen has been a great boost for us over the last month. Of course, the thing that stands out with Teddy is his ability to score the ball, but he has also provided us with added depth and an overall confidence and swagger.
There is no doubt that he is a winner. It’s simple to say, but he cares about winning. You can tell throughout the week at practice- he always wants to play more, and he works hard on both ends. He’s been great to have around.
And beyond Teddy, we’ve had guys stepping up all the way down the roster. We’re definitely more locked into the game plan, and locked in on defence, and a special shout goes to TJ Lall, who has been playing excellently over the last stretch.
TJ is a high-level, all-around threat. He can score the ball to a great standard, he is an underrated passer, and his defence, length and athleticism are special. I’ve gone against him many times in practice, and he can be tough to shake.
Another shout-out goes to Sam Idowu, who has also been playing excellently recently. He’s given us a spark off the bench which is so important, he’s been shooting it well and finishing around the net effectively. His activity level, blocking shots, rebounding, and overall energy have been amazing for us.
It’s also been great to add Duke to the roster!
Duke has fit in seamlessly, and he’s a true professional. He came in and learned the sets quickly, and understands our concepts really well.
His length and athleticism and his ability to finish above the rim have really benefited us on the court, and just having a great guy around who wants to win is always beneficial. It’s been great to have him and has been a brilliant addition to our team.
Having guys up and down the roster who are locked in and playing with confidence and energy has been great and it’s something we’re going to have to fall back on going into Birmingham.
We’re hoping to be playing games in back-to-back days, and part of what has allowed us to have a good group stage is getting contributions from all over the place.
And as usual, we’ll have to lock in on defence, rebound and take care of the ball. When we’ve done those things well, we’ve been on the right side of the scoreline this season.
We’re hoping to do that twice this weekend and bring some silverware back to Leicester. We can’t wait to see that Sea of Red in Birmingham!
See you there!
Your captain,
Kimbal Mackenzie
Want to join the Sea of Red and get behind the Riders in Birmingham?
The Riders punched their ticket to the British Basketball League Trophy Final Four, after beating the Newcastle Eagles in a win-or-go-home matchup.
The team has built momentum in recent weeks, putting in good performances in high-pressure matchups to progress out of Group B.
Here’s what we learned from the group phase…
The Riders are rolling
The Riders have hit a rich vein of form in the Trophy, winning by an average margin of 17.6 points on their way to a 3-1 record.
Their loss came to the league-leading Lions on the road, but they bounced back emphatically with consecutive wins to progress to the final four.
The Riders did so by making the most of every possession. They rank second in assists, second in scoring and third in field goal percentage through the Trophy phase, led by scoring savant Teddy Allen.
Allen leads all scorers in the Trophy through four games with a 21.5 average. His gravitational pull on offence has opened up the court for all of the Riders scorers, allowing them to click into gear as they go for silverware.
The team are peaking at the right time, and will take confidence in their performances heading into Birmingham.
Strength in depth
Leicester’s bench is what saw them to their momentous win against the Newcastle Eagles last night, mustering 37 points from the sideline.
They have six scorers averaging double-digit points in the Trophy, but no one has impressed more of late than big man Samuel Idowu.
Idowu led the charge out of the gate in Newcastle, going off for 12 first-quarter points and 17 on the game. He is the team’s second-leading scorer in the competition behind Allen, with an average of 13.8.
“It was a real team effort. We have guys giving contributions all over the court,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro after the win against the Eagles.
“We’re pretty deep now, we have guys in every position, and we’re locked in. We’re especially locked in on the defensive end, which has been a real positive for us recently.”
Defence wins championships
As has been the trend for Paternosto teams over the last decade, the Riders have hung their hat on their defence.
They lead the Trophy in blocks, with 6.3 per game, led by TJ Lall’s 1.5 per outing, laying down a gauntlet at the rim and forcing teams to shoot over them from deep.
Another strength of the team is closing defensive possessions. The Riders rank second in the Trophy in defensive rebounding with 30 a game, allowing their opposition little opportunity for second chance points.
The Riders’ defence will need to remain locked in should they want to lift the silverware in Birmingham.
Want to join the Sea of Red, and get behind the Riders in Birmingham?
Here’s all you need to know about our ticket offers…
Weekend and Saturday Tickets
With this year’s British Basketball League Trophy Semi-Final and Final taking place on the same weekend at the Utilita Arena, Birmingham, you can choose to purchase tickets for the entire weekend or just for the semi-finals.
Tickets for the full weekend are £48 for adults and £38 for children in Band A, and £39 for adults and £34 for children in Band B.
Alternatively, you can purchase tickets for the semi-final only, at £41 for adults and £32 for children.
Band A tickets are for seats in the lower tiers, and Band B is for seats in the upper tiers.
Should the Riders fail to progress to the Final on Saturday, your ticket will still be valid to watch Sunday’s action with a weekend ticket.
Travel
We can arrange your travel from our Arena to the Utilita Arena, Birmingham, on both Saturday and Sunday.
Travel is £30 per day, or £45 for both days.
Timings will be confirmed upon booking.
How to collect your tickets
Tickets will be available for collection at the Arena on Tuesday and Wednesday between 6 and 9 pm.
Please collect from the main reception, at the following address:
Morningside Arena 12 Memory Lane Leicester LE1 3UL
You can also choose to have your tickets posted to your home address for the price of £4.
Sea of Red
We need your support in the Trophy Final Four! Help us to create a Sea of Red at the Utilita Arena Birmingham, by wearing red to the game!
Riders beat Eagles to punch their ticket to the Trophy Final Four
The Riders deservedly reached the British Basketball League Trophy semi-finals tonight after a clinical 101-85 road victory over the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles.
Rob Paternostro utilised his squad’s depth perfectly, taking advantage of the depleted Eagles roster that is plagued with the injury bug.
Leicester’s bench contributed an impressive 40 points, led by big man Samuel Idowu who dropped 17 points in a display that perfectly demonstrates what he brings from the sideline.
Captain Kimbal Mackenzie also proved he can still be the main man under pressure, top-scoring with 22 points, pulling down six rebounds and dishing out eight assists.
TJ Lall and new man Duke Shelton also showed nice flashes, Lall hitting his customary near double-double going 14 and eight, with Shelton – a former Eagle – protecting the rim with some authoritative blocks.
Newcastle’s shortened rotation showed plenty of endeavour, the enigmatic Tajh Green mixing up trey-balls with rim-rattling dunks, and Larry Austin Jr displayed his rabid competitiveness on both ends of the court.
In the end, the Riders’ strength in depth was too much for the home side, and the win sees Leicester travelling to the Utilita Arena in Birmingham for the Trophy Finals Weekend.
As is often the case in the Vertu Motors cauldron, Newcastle hit the ground running, crashing out of the locker room to hit seven unanswered points in the first minute.
A Green triple kicked things off, followed by an Austin Jr layup and capped with a thunderous dunk from Newcastle’s power forward (11 first-half points).
A quick timeout was taken by Paternostro and his decision bore immediate fruit as Mackenzie pulled up for a three after causing Jordan Johnson to slip.
Both teams suddenly got hot, with every Eagles bucket being matched by the Riders.
Leicester’s captain got his second bucket with a nice layup, then Mo Walker found rare space beyond the arc to hit a triple of his own.
The net kept swishing as Teddy Allen, Miryne Thomas and Jaren Holmes all found the hot hand. Then Idowu stepped onto the court.
The second-unit star instantly made his presence felt, driving the Riders forward with aggression on both ends of the court.
The big man opened his account with a quick hit at the rim, bettering that finish with an ‘and one’ play before pulling up from three and showing his range. Idowu’s 12 first half points were a just reward for his impact from the bench.
The hot streak saw the Riders come back from the early deficit, and after taking their first lead of the game with a Thomas trey, pulled ahead of the home side.
Great defence and a lethal touch in transition saw the Riders hit 37 first quarter points and boasting a comfortable lead.
The second ten minutes told a slightly different story, as both teams locked down on defence, forcing multiple runs of missed shots.
The turnover bug also plagued the Riders, who ended the first half with ten giveaways to the Eagles’ four.
The quarter began with a much-needed Rickey McGill bucket, answered by ‘Buckets’ Allen after a nicely timed block from Lall.
Allen soon added to his total and – with Idowu and Shelton protecting the rim diligently – the lead remained a significant one.
However, galvanised by Green and Johnson, the Eagles started slowly crawling back into the game.
The lead eventually cut to single-figures and, despite Allen hitting picturesque floaters and making a one-handed offensive rebound to transition into a layup, the Eagles were back within six.
The crowd got to their feet after the 39-year-old Darius Defoe stole the ball and embarked upon a fast break that belied his years, but Lall immediately settled things down with an athletic ‘and one’ play.
The entertaining half wound down with the Riders in front, 55-49.
Leicester started the crucial second half in great fashion, showing quick hands on defence which was rewarded with a pull up and pop triple from Thomas.
The Eagles were displaying a fighting spirit, but after Green had to sit down for his third personal foul, a Mackenzie running triple saw Leicester breach 60 points.
The three was soon answered by Johnson though, and the tension in the building began to hang heavy.
One thing that remained consistent was the Riders’ protection at the rim, and during a prolonged period of missed shots and mistakes, solid defensive play in the paint kept the road team ahead.
Leicester’s front court defence was forcing Newcastle to take several ill-advised deep threes, and the lead stretched back out to 11 following a Mackenzie fast break layup and physical work on the offensive boards by Idowu.
The lead continued to advance after ice cold back-to-back threes from Idowu and Mackenzie, the latter hitting his 20th point of the night.
The quarter ended with the Riders in control but needing to keep their foot on the gas with the six-man Eagles rotation looking leggy.
Now, it was only ten minutes between the teams and a place in the semi-finals.
Yet again, the Riders shot into the quarter with a three, Lall pulling up from the top of the arc and stringing home a beautiful bucket.
Green ran the floor to dunk home a statement of defiance and to give the bumper home crowd something to shout about, but with the Riders slowing things down and sitting on a 19-point lead, the result appeared decided.
The game then started to reflect the spice seen in previous meetings between the two teams this season, and a period of heavy fouling resulted in Johnson having to take a seat.
The Riders’ rode their composure to the final whistle, capping off an excellent League Trophy group stage with a terrific performance on the road.
It remains unclear who the Riders will face in Birmingham, as the fate of Group A remains undecided.
The Riders will take the long, straight trip up the M1 this Friday as they take on the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles in a win-or-go-home clash in Group B of the British Basketball League Trophy.
With two wins in the bank, Rob Paternostro’s squad know that victory in the Vertu Motors Arena sends them through to the final four of the competition to face the winners of Group A.
Fixture Information
Leicester Riders @ Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles
Vertu Motors Arena, Newcastle
Friday, January 19, 7:45pm
Welcome to ‘Knockout’ Basketball
Leicester’s young squad face possibly the most pressurised night of the season on Friday, with the unenviable prospect of bowing out of the League Trophy lurking behind a loss.
However, much of this squad have faced games of this magnitude before. Kimbal Mackenzie, Conner Washington, Mo Walker and Blake Bowman have all suited up for the Riders multiple times in playoff basketball and in the latter stages of cup competitions, and first-year Riders’ Teddy Allen and TJ Lall have both experienced the pressure of the CEBL playoffs.
A much-improved defence has propelled Leicester into their second-place spot in Group B, a point against per game average of less than 84 proof that the squad is gelling nicely in 2024.
The tighter defence has come both on the front court – led by Miryne Thomas and Walker – and on the perimeter, with Allen proving his worth without the ball alongside his skills with it.
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Riders leading 21-14 with 3 minutes to play in the first.
Those three have shown quick hands all through January, leading the Riders with over two steals per 40 minutes.
Double-digit home victories over the Bristol Flyers and Manchester Giants – where Leicester put up 104 – demonstrate that things are also clicking on the offensive side of the ball.
Teddy ‘Buckets’ has continued his devastating form, leading the league with 24 points per game, but it is the contributions of Lall and Samuel Idowu from the bench that have kept the Riders ahead in those games.
The second-unit pair are knocking down nearly 24 points a night between them, punctuated by Lall’s 19 points against Manchester and Idowu’s pair of double-doubles versus Bristol and the London Lions.
With Newcastle’s well-publicised injury troubles potentially acting as a hamper, expect coach Paternostro to utilise the full reach of his squad on Friday night to go into a crucial fourth quarter with the fresher team.
Coming Through in the Clutch
Like the Riders, the Eagles have won two games in a tough League Trophy Group B, although one of the victories was far from comfortable.
Leicester’s 104-88 defeat of the Manchester Giants last Wednesday laid down the gauntlet to the Flyers and the Eagles. Losing in Bristol could have meant the end of Newcastle’s campaign.
The contest was as tight as predictions expected, both teams trading blow-for-blow over the 40 minutes with both winning two quarters each.
Decorated veteran Darius Defoe had the final say, finding himself free after a scramble to drop in a two-pointer with 19 seconds remaining in the game. Defoe’s clutch bucket was reward for the depleted Eagles, who could only send six senior players onto the court.
Both teams have had at least a week to rest ahead of Friday’s clash, but it appears that Marc Steutel’s squad will still be without Josh Ward-Hibbert, Will Neighbour, Devin Whitfield and Scott Spencer.
As a result, many of the remaining Eagles have clocked heavy minutes in January, reflected by the four players who average over 15 points per game. Jordan Johnson, Larry Austin Jr., Tajh Green and Rickey McGill have done well to keep the team in winning form, and prove why Newcastle are a tough opponent, despite the injuries.
The battles between the Riders and Eagles have carried an added spice this season, with Leicester leading the series 2-1. Due to the high stakes – and the fact that new Rider Duke Shelton is returning to his former club – the Vertu Motors Arena will be bouncing come Friday night.
Newcastle will be hoping to shine under the bright lights.
Key Matchup
As intriguing as it is to see Shelton returning to his former club, the juiciest matchup in this game has got to be the battle of the scorers – Jordan Johnson and Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen.
Floor general Johnson has shown true leadership qualities in recent weeks for the Eagles. The former Caledonia Gladiators point guard is in top form, averaging 20 points per game in Group B.
Often required to be Newcastle’s primary scoring option, the 27-year-old can do it all, whether it’s draining shots from beyond the arc (42% from three) or driving into the lane before finessing home a tricky layup.
Johnson has played in the NBA G-League and across Europe (Netherlands, Kosovo and Germany), and his experience will tell during Friday’s biggest moments.
Aiming to go bucket-for-bucket with Johnson will be the Riders’ mid-season magician, Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen.
The CEBL MVP has only suited up for Leicester seven times but has already made a sizeable impression with his scoring ability and fearlessness when taking big shots.
Allen began his time with the Riders with a 32-point exhibition of three-point shooting. His numbers from downtown have calmed somewhat during the League Trophy, but the 6’6” winger has shown versatility by sauntering into the post to drop a layup or earn a trip to the free throw line.
It is the charity stripe where the former Winnipeg Bear has really shone, hitting 22 free throws (the most in the league) at a clip of over 90%.
The battle between these two premium scorers is sure to be an exhilarating one. One thing is for sure – even if the game is low-scoring, Johnson and Allen are sure to get theirs.
The Riders face off in a win-or-go-home matchup against the Newcastle Eagles on Friday, the victor progressing to the Final Four in the British Basketball League Trophy.
The sides have shared centre stage in some of the biggest battles in British basketball history over the last decade and once again meet with the stakes at their highest.
Every Riders-Eagles fixture has been a battle so far this year, the Riders winning the season series so far 2-1.
Here’s how the teams have matched up…
Game 1- Newcastle Eagles 85-92 Leicester Riders
The teams first went face-to-face this season in the North East, and the Riders game out winners in the clutch.
It was a one-score game with 1:25 remaining, after Malcolm Delpeche got to the hoop and laid in a finish.
From there, it was a Riders onslaught on the free throw line, kicked off by Jaren Holmes’ and-one in transition. Kimbal Mackenzie finished it off from the stripe, making both attempts to seal a hard-earned win.
Miryne Thomas impressed throughout with his interior presence, going off for 17 points and 7 rebounds in a Player of the Game performance. He was backed by Mackenzie’s 16, as the captain went 8-10 from the free throw line.
The Eagles had a chance to get back later that month and won in a war. Heated exchanges lasted throughout, seeing Newcastle’s star forward Tajh Green ejected from the game, but a 31-point explosion from Rickey McGill saw them win in a game that was contested wire-to-wire once again.
McGill went 6-10 from three, the Riders with no answer to his hot hand.
It was a one-possession game within the final two minutes after Miryne Thomas threw down a slam to cut the game to three. But this time it was Newcastle who finished strong, McGill scoring six down the stretch to win it for the hosts.
Thomas impressed again, putting up 22 point and 10 rebound double-double. But ultimately, Leicester were outgunned from deep, the Eagles shooting 54% from behind the arc and tying the season series at 1-1.
Back in their own building, the Riders made a statement with a commanding win at the Morningside Arena.
Jaren Holmes went off for 28 points and 5 rebounds, going 4-5 from three in the win. The Riders were down 10 in the first quarter, but a dominant third saw them turn a close game at the half to a 20 point lead.
Holmes scored 13 on the run, and the Riders won the period 36-19 to burst out to a dominant lead.
Mackenzie put up another 16 in the game, matching up well against the Newcastle backcourt to go 5-8 from the field. It was Leicester’s turn to shoot the light out, led by Holmes, going 57% from three-point range.
We’re back in Newcastle for our fourth meeting, in the most significant meeting between the sides so far this season.
Should the Riders secure their second win in Newcastle, they’ll have booked their place against the winner of Group A in the Utilita Arena, Birmingham.
The Riders’ roster has been revamped since the last meeting, with new signings Teddy Allen and Duke Shelton looking to face the Eagles for the first time.
Watch the clash live on Friday, on the British Basketball League’s YouTube channel!
“It’s definitely a rivalry”- Duke Shelton on facing his former team, the Newcastle Eagles
Duke Shelton, in his second outing in Riders red, is set to walk into his old building in a win-or-go-home game against his former club.
The American forward suited up for the Newcastle Eagles between 2021 and 2022, and is well accustomed to the historic rivalry these teams hold. Shelton knows all too well the environment that is waiting for the Riders in the North East.
“It’s a highly anticipated game, and there’s been a bit of heat between the teams in the last couple of games,” said Shelton. “Everybody is going to be up for it, and we know it’s going to be rowdy in there.
“We’re two of the most winning teams in the country. It’s definitely a rivalry, and you feel that when you play in these games. There’s definitely more energy, focus, and will to win when these teams play.”
The American, born in Florida, signed last week, and impressed in limited minutes on his debut in the Riders’ 104-88 win. He appreciated the chance to take to the court and impact the game where he could.
“I felt comfortable, and really at home. I didn’t play a whole lot because I had just arrived the day before, but overall, I think I gave good effort and energy, and it was a good team win.
“I’m trying to bring energy, rebounding, communication and running to the team, and I think I did that during my time out there.”
Having been with the team for just over a week, Shelton can already see the makings of a team ready to make a run in the Trophy.
“We have all the potential in the world. We are a pretty balanced team in all positions, and we have good team chemistry, so we just need to keep rolling. The Giants game was a good win, so we need to pick up where we left off.”
The Eagles, too, are coming into this one after a confidence-building win. They went into Bristol to play the Flyers, and got it done in the clutch to set up this knockout-style matchup against the Riders.
It was Shelton’s former teammate Darius Defoe who hit the go-ahead bucket from the elbow with seconds on the clock, and he thinks the veteran forward will have a say in the proceedings on Friday.
“Darius is huge for them. You saw that last time out in the clutch- that was his signature shot.
“He’s got a lot of experience, so everything he does is second nature. It’s huge to have a guy on the floor with you like that, especially on the defensive end. He can get guys in their spots and communicate- he’s the quarterback. He’ll play a huge role in the game.”
🐐Congratulations to one of the greatest to ever do it in the BBL, @NewcastleEagle superstar Darius Defoe, who tonight will move into outright second all-time in Championship appearances – his 570th game!
— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) March 17, 2023
But despite the presence of the most decorated player in league history lining up against the Riders, they enter the game with confidence, having already gone into Newcastle and coming away with a win earlier in the year.
“We match up pretty well against them, so we’ve got to come out and play team basketball. The atmosphere is going to be great, we know that, so we have to stick together and not get sidetracked by anything that’s not basketball. We can’t focus on anything that’s outside of sidelines.”
To fight for silverware so soon after signing is an exciting prospect for Shelton. With his new team, he’s ready to go to battle and help bring the Trophy to the East Midlands.
“It would mean everything to win the Trophy. It’s what basketball is all about, and what every player is dreaming of. To have the opportunity, and be a part of a team that has to potential to win it is a great feeling, and we’d love to bring that to reality for the fans.”
Lall drained two clutch threes when the game was tight in the fourth, building a platform for the Riders to see the game out from.
His size and strength down low provided much-needed resistance at the rim and on the glass, and his game-leading index rating of 27 demonstrates his impact on the game.
“I was getting open shots at the beginning, saw a couple of shots go down and kept shooting,” said Lall post-game.
“TJ is an excellent player,” added Head Coach Paternostro.
“He can play multiple positions and fill multiple roles. He doesn’t have to score. It doesn’t have to be about that for him. He can play defence, pass and rebound, so he’s a really valuable player for this team.”
Riders show their strength in depth
The Riders, having made two additions to their roster in a month with the arrival of Teddy Allen and Duke Shelton, flexed their strength in depth last night as they achieved a century of points.
Ten Riders saw court time, five of which scored in double-digits led by Allen’s 21, Lall’s 19 and Miryne Thomas’ 16 points.
Every Riders player finished with a positive +/- in the win, the most effective being Thomas, who finished with a +/- of 19 in a near-triple double performance.
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Riders leading 21-14 with 3 minutes to play in the first.
This proved a significant advantage over a short-handed Giants team, who in the absence of leading scorer and GB international Jamell Anderson, fielded seven players for significant minutes.
Being able to transition seamlessly between the first and second unit is a strength of this Riders roster as the games progress.
Want to see your Riders at the British Basketball League All-Star game?
New Riders signing Duke Shelton impressed on his first Riders outing after joining the team only the day before.
In six minutes, the American forward put up 6 points and 6 rebounds, 3 on the offensive end. His energy saw him all over the offensive glass, making an impact where he could during his limited court time.
“I thought he was great today,” said Paternostro following Shelton’s performance. “He only practised with us for the first time yesterday, so he came into the game not knowing a lot of our stuff, but with his effort, he deserved more minutes than I gave him tonight.
“He’s something we haven’t had with his athleticism and ability to run from the centre spot. He did a good job tonight.”
Allen’s infectious impact
The Riders are 5-2 in all competitions since the arrival of CEBL Teddy Allen, who has led the team in scoring in every appearance so far this season.
This time, it was 21 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals, which led all scorers in the game.
He has sparked life into the team, who are playing with confidence as they look to attack the month of January and lift the Trophy in Birmingham.
Lall, who played against Allen in the CEBL this summer as he suited up for the Niagara River Lions, complimented an overlooked aspect of Allen’s game: his defence.
“He’s helped us a lot defensively and takes the pressure off our defence on the other end with his scoring,” said Lall. “He makes our team way better.”
Win, and we’re in
The Riders’ 2-1 record in Group B means a win next week in Newcastle will most likely be enough to see Leicester through to the semi-finals in Birmingham.
The Newcastle Eagles take on the Bristol Flyers on Friday evening, and a win would also give them a 2-1 record entering the faceoff against the Riders.
This would mean a win would see both teams through, creating a knockout environment in the clash between the two long-standing rivals.
For Leicester, regardless of permutations elsewhere, the focus is on the win on the road. With nine days between the Giants and Eagles games, they can rest up and prepare for the showdown.
Report: Riders beat Giants to improve to 2-1 in the Trophy
The Riders took another step towards the final four of the British Basketball League Trophy with a midweek 104-86 victory over the 0-2 Manchester Giants.
The win takes Leicester’s record to 2-1, putting pressure on the Bristol Flyers and Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles, neither of whom can afford to lose if they want to claim a top two spot in Group B.
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Riders leading 21-14 with 3 minutes to play in the first.
The Riders struggled at times to score efficiently, but coach Rob Paternostro will be happy with his team’s dominance on the boards – outrebounding the visitors 50-37 – and the unselfish basketball on display, the Riders dishing 30 assists on the night.
The home side also did an excellent job of forcing missed shots down low, Leicester’s big men battling hard against the sizeable Manchester front court.
Athletic power forward Miryne Thomas took ‘Player of the Game’ honours, putting up a stat line of 16 points, seven rebounds and eight assists to flirt with a triple-double.
The Riders’ second unit also played well, spearheaded by 19 from TJ Lall who consistently hit big shots in important moments to keep the home side ahead.
Not to be outdone, Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen drained 21 in what appeared to be a ‘quiet’ display by his standards, popping up each quarter with a play to get the Morningside Arena bouncing.
Manchester’s defensive issues continued, but they flashed on offense, William Lee and Nick Lewis the top scorers with 16 and 17 points respectively.
As predicted, the game started quickly, both teams wasting no time putting points on the board. Lee, one of a glut of former Riders suiting up for the Giants, opened the scoring with the first of his ten first half points before an instant answer from captain Kimbal Mackenzie, who had eight of his own.
Thomas soon drained the first three of the night after nice play from Jaren Holmes – five first half assists – before Allen got in on the act, casually pulling up and stringing a classy deep trey to give the Riders an early ten-point lead.
Thomas then splashed again from deep in transition and, with Mackenzie constantly pushing the pace of the offense, Leicester looked in control.
A couple of threes from big-man Lee (the main scoring option with Jamell Anderson injured) kept Manchester within striking distance as the first quarter clock wound down, but an authoritative jam by Samuel Idowu and Lall joining the three-point party maintained Leicester’s control.
The second quarter started with super-sub Lall hitting a tough, fadeaway three and rising for a huge block to get the Morningside on its feet.
Not to be outdone, Holmes drove to the basket for a nice ‘+1’ play which led to a string of Riders free throws, facilitated by the aggressive attacking play of high-flyer Blake Bowman.
The Giants showed fight through Evan Walshe’s 13 first half points and Legend Robertin was his usual abrasive self-down low but continued quality play from Lall and the introduction of debutant Duke Shelton – six points – built the home side’s lead.
A beautiful block on Robertin from Shelton set the tone for the last five minutes of the half, matched by another ‘+1’ play from ‘Buckets’ Allen who reminded the fans why he won December’s ‘Player of the Month’.
Thomas drained his third deep ball of the game to stretch the Riders’ lead to 15 and good team basketball carried Paternostro’s squad towards half time.
A great first half for Leicester saw them take a 59-44 lead into the locker room, punctuated by a breakaway dunk from Holmes with a few seconds remaining.
The second 20 began and the Riders were now showing dominance on the offensive glass, Mo Walker using his size well before Thomas put back a missed Allen layup with feeling.
However, the following few minutes were scrappy for the home side, missed shots and turnovers allowing Manchester to come back into the game through Lewis, who was slowly heating up.
A nervous energy rippled through the Riders’ fans, but that was soon put to bed after a silky move by Allen.
The CEBL MVP had his man in knots with isolation moves before blowing past him and laying home a tough shot. When Thomas thundered in a two-handed dunk, home supporters were back on their feet.
The final minutes of the quarter saw both teams slow down on the offensive side of the court, the Riders uncharacteristically missing several three-point attempts, allowing the Giants to creep back within ten going into the final stanza.
As he had done to start the second quarter, Lall drained from deep to get the Riders back on track.
Bowman hit another nice move into a layup to bring the lead back to 11, but the Giants were showing something, sticking around with buckets from Jalen Harris and Robertin.
The teams hit a period of trading baskets, going toe-to-toe, the Riders lead at just four points. Leicester soon wrestled back the momentum though, Thomas setting up Idowu for a one-handed flush before ‘Buckets’ Allen hit a layup that only he can for back-to-back scores.
Paternostro’s squad rode that momentum to another double-digit lead with three minutes left, a pair of corner triples in succession from Lall virtually clinching the Riders’ victory.
A clutch trey from the Riders’ captain took them into triple-digits and iced the game, with the Giants unable to make a late-game comeback.
The Riders return to action on Friday, January 19, taking on the Newcastle Eagles on the road.
The game will decide the team’s seeding in Group B, and whether they will advance to the Trophy semi-finals at Utilita Arena Birmingham.
British Basketball League Launches All-Star Game Voting for North vs South Clash
The British Basketball League have unveiled the much-anticipated launch of the All-Star voting platform, providing fans with a unique opportunity to shape the Men’s and Women’s lineups for the star-studded event taking place at the Copper Box Arena in London on March 17, 2024.
The All-Star Games will see the best of the best from the British Basketball League come together for one day only in a North v South showdown. It’s an event where rivals become teammates and fans can witness their favourite players battling together (and against each other) on the court.
Power to the fans
From today, fans can visit the All-Star voting webpageand pick their favourites for the North v South teams starting fives. They can select one centre, two forwards and two guards per team, and there is no limit on how many players from one club can be picked in the starting five.
Voting closes on February 15 at 7:00pm (GMT), and the players with the most votes will be selected to start in their respective teams.
The battle of North v South
With 10 Men’s teams and 11 Women’s teams across the UK, the North v South rivalry will be greater than ever on March 17. The split of teams is as follows:
Men
North: Caledonia Gladiators, Cheshire Phoenix, Manchester Giants, Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles, B. Braun Sheffield Sharks.
South: Bristol Flyers, Leicester Riders, London Lions, Plymouth City Patriots, Surrey Scorchers.
Women
North: Caledonia Gladiators, Durham Palatinates, Manchester Giants, Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles, B. Braun Sheffield Hatters.
South: Cardiff Met Archers, Essex Rebels, Leicester Riders, London Lions, Nottingham Wildcats, Oaklands Wolves.
Choose your favourite players for both North and South teams using the interactive court.
Download your selected teams and share on social media to rally support.
Taking the lead
The two top-performing North and South coaches in the League will be chosen as the head coaches for each team. These coaches will have the responsibility of selecting the reserves next month, with one selected from every team.
The All-Star voting allows fans to seize the opportunity to make their voices heard and gives them the power to have their favourite players grace the court on March 17, in what will be a momentous day in British basketball.
Leicester Riders are thrilled to welcome the arrival of Duke Shelton to their 2023/24 roster.
The American big brings a wealth of experience to Leicester, having played eight seasons of professional basketball across Europe.
Shelton played two seasons for the Newcastle Eagles in the British Basketball League. The 6’10” forward averaged a double-double in ten games for the Eagles in the 2021/22 season, logging 14.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
The 28-year-old’s European experience has seen him compete in Israel, Finland and Slovakia, and now he brings his talents to the East Midlands.
Shelton’s eligibility means he does not require a certificate of sponsorship since he already possesses a right to work in the UK.
“It feels good to sign with the team,” commented Shelton.
“It’s a blessing really to be a part of such an established club. I’m excited and anxious all in one to get started! I know it’s the right decision, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”
“We’re excited to have Duke sign with the team,” added Head Coach Rob Paternostro.
“We were looking for more depth up front and someone that plays energy, quickness and athleticism. He brings all of those things.
“We were already familiar with him following his time in Newcastle, and we think his skill set can be a good addition to our roster.”
The group stages of the 2024 British Basketball League Trophy continue Wednesday night as the Riders welcome the Manchester Giants to the Morningside Arena.
Rob Paternostro’s squad split their two games in the competition so far, dominating the Bristol Flyers before a difficult trip to London a couple of days later resulted in a loss.
The start of the new year continues in frenetic fashion for the Riders as the Giants’ visit marks a third game in six days.
Leicester’s bid for the League Trophy started perfectly on January 5 with a confident 95-74 win over the Flyers, Teddy Allen the ‘X Factor’ once again with a cool 30-point, seven rebound and seven assist showing.
Second-unit superstar Samuel Idowu also caught the eye, combining 15 points with 14 boards to post his first double-double for the Riders.
48 hours later, the squad found themselves facing a deep London Lions team in the Copper Box. The Riders fought hard, outplaying the home team in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t match London’s strength in the paint and roster depth which propelled them to an 89-74 win.
Despite the loss, Idowu continued his excellent start to 2024, bagging a second double-double in as many games. A certain quote about London buses comes to mind.
One major positive for the Riders is that they have maintained a positive points difference, which could prove crucial in a tough Group B, sending just the top two teams into the semi-finals.
Only the Lions remain undefeated, so victory over the Giants will put the Riders in great position to take the all-important second spot and put pressure on Friday’s clash between the Flyers and the Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles.
Expect the Riders to fire on all offensive cylinders this Wednesday as they face a Manchester squad with the leakiest defence in the League championship. Newcastle’s Jordan Johnson posted 30 points in their round one win over the Giants, so home supporters should be treated to another special night from ‘Player of the Month’ Allen, Kimbal Mackenzie and Idowu.
It wouldn’t be a surprise for Paternostro to challenge his team to a triple-digit offensive output against Manchester.
Wins are vital, but points differential could decide who advances to the semis.
Out for Revenge
Trophy games often carry an extra bite to them, but Wednesday’s visit of the Giants may bring even more spice as they try to avenge a first-round loss to the Riders in last year’s competition.
2023’s knockout format saw the Giants hosting Leicester in the first weekend of action, falling to a dominant Marc Loving display in an entertaining 114-107 game where both teams ended with a 30-point scorer.
Former Rider Loving dropped a 32/13 double-double and Tajh Green – who now suits up for the Eagles – posted an incredible 38 points and 14 rebounds, mainly fed by flashy point guard Rahmon Fletcher, who dished 14 assists on the night.
The road team clinched the win through efficiency from beyond the arc which outstretched the Giants’ defence and forced them to try and keep pace on just 28% three-point shooting.
Now, Fletcher has retired, and Green is shooting hoops in Newcastle, but the same defensive struggles remain.
The Giants do possess solid offensive weapons – Jamell Anderson, Nik Lewis and Evan Walshe – but if the Riders limit them to less than 80 points as they did on December 23, Manchester supporters may need to wait a little longer for revenge.
Key Matchup
The 86-73 championship victory the Riders took away from Manchester towards the end of 2023 was largely due to accuracy from beyond the three-point line.
The big men cancelled each other out and may do again, so the key battle could come between sharpshooters Teddy Allen and Nick Lewis.
6’3” British-Canadian guard Lewis is a confidence shooter that maintains hot streaks longer than most in the League.
His usually high three-ball numbers are down this season – standing at just over 23% from deep – but if he drops a couple of treys in a row, he can take over a 10-minute quarter.
Lewis has made some huge contributions for the Giants this season, hitting the 20-point mark on five occasions including a red-hot 33 points against the championship-leading Lions.
Put simply: the Riders cannot afford to let Lewis get his eye in.
A player who knows all about heat checks is the Riders’ mid-season star, Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen.
Allen, who deservedly clinched December’s ‘Player of the Month’ after starting his Riders career off in style, brings sureness in spades.
A scorer more than a shooter, the former Winnipeg Bear has looked impossible to guard during his small sample of games, averaging over 26 points per game including totals of 30 and 21 in the Trophy.
The 6’6” combo-guard has also been deadly accurate from downtown, splashing threes at a 55% clip in the championship, his only blemish a 3-11 effort against London.
Allen versus Lewis is a tussle between two players that thrive on confidence. Whoever can maintain that for most of the 40 minutes will be key to victory.
Teddy Allen named in British Basketball League Team of the Week
Riders guard Teddy Allen has been named to the British Basketball League Team of the Week following his opening two Trophy performances.
On Friday against the Bristol Flyers, Allen led the Riders to a 95-74 win with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists- his second 30-point outing since signing with the team in mid-December.
The Leicester Riders 89-74 lost on the road to the London Lions, falling to 1-1 in the British Basketball League Trophy Group B.
Teddy Allen, recently named British Basketball League Player of the Month for December, led the game with 21 points. Sam Idowu backed up Allen with 13 points and 10 rebounds, logging his second straight double-double off the bench.
The game got away from them in the third quarter, as Leicester went scoreless through five minutes. London stretched the lead to 20, and despite a positive Riders fourth quarter, saw the game out from there.
Leicester struggled to connect from three all afternoon, finishing the game 8-29 from range.
London’s Matthew Morgan led the hosts with 15 points, and their big man Donte Grantham put on a good showing with 14 points in 19 minutes. The Lions dominated in close, going 30-51 from inside the arc.
The Riders hung with the Lions through the opening stages, despite struggling for offence. Allen got to the line twice to lead the team through five minutes with 4 points, but the Lions led 10-7.
Miryne Thomas picked up two quick fouls, allowing Blake Bowman to impress off the bench.
He scored on back-to-back possessions, draining a contested turnaround from the post before taking Josh Sharma off the dribble and laying in a bucket, then dishing an assist to Sam Idowu next time up the court.
The Riders trailed 25-19 after a quarter, but that quickly became 31-19 a minute into the second. They started 1-9 from three, and the Lions started the second quarter on a 6-0 run by getting to the bucket on three straight trips.
Jaren Holmes connected from deep for the Riders’ first points of the quarter, cutting the deficit to nine.
This took the lid off the basket, and Leicester were able to stem the tide. Allen found his shooting form after an 0-5 start from the field, and put 8 points together quickly to make the score 39-34. He had 15 with 4:18 remaining in the half.
The Lions rebuilt their lead to double digits come halftime, as GB guard Luke Nelson put the ball in the basket to generate some offence for the hosts. The score was 50-40 by the buzzer to end the second.
London scored 11 quick points to start the second half to extend their lead. Grantham drained three straight triples, two more than the team scored in the first half, making it 61-40.
The Riders went scoreless until 4:04 left in the third. Thomas put it through, but the Riders were down 21. It was 70-49 going into the fourth, after Leicester lost the period 20-9.
Leicester’s efforts to chip into the deficit saw them contest in a hard-fought final quarter. Kimbal Mackenzie got on the board to score five straight points and cut the game to 15 with 5:58 left.
The Riders kept chipping away, and Allen attacked the hoop and made it 76-62. But after making it a 14-point deficit, the Lions held the Riders from there and saw the game out led by Grantham’s shot-making.
The Riders return to action on Wednesday, taking on the Manchester Giants at home, tipping off at 7:45 pm.
Riders revisited: Reliving 2001 NTL National Cup Final
“Cinderella no more, champions today,” exclaimed Head Coach Billy Mims, after securing the Leicester Riders their first silverware in major competitions in 30 years.
23 years and 19 trophies later, the Riders’ 2001 NTL National Cup Final victory remains sweet in the memory of the fans who witnessed it.
To those who didn’t, it marks the first addition to a now stacked trophy cabinet, representing the renowned success of Britain’s oldest professional basketball club.
We take you back to the game, to reflect on the historic win.
Image credit: Mansoor Ahmed
20 years of “nearly”.
In the decades preceding the National Cup win, the Riders’ story was one of agonising near-misses.
They reached their first major final in 1980, falling short to a dominant Solent Stars. That was the theme for the Riders: They repeatedly came close, but never quite got the silverware.
They reached the Cup final in 1990, hoping to break their duck, but once again couldn’t get over the hump with an 88-81 loss to Sunderland.
The Riders followed up with a loss in the Trophy final in ’91, this time a heartbreaking three-point loss to Kingston – at the time, the closest Final in the competition’s history.
They had to wait until ‘half a decade for another shot at glory, this time reaching the British Basketball League Cup final.
But a cruel twist of fate saw star man Gene Waldron break his leg, and so too went Riders’ chances of winning. Thames Valley edged the Final by four points.
So entering Wembley Arena in 2001, Riders fans would have been forgiven for guarding their optimism cautiously, following 20 years of heartbreak in the biggest games.
Riders run to the final
The Riders entered the turn of the millennia with a fresh start. They returned to the place of their founding, Loughborough, to play their home fixtures at the Sir David Wallace Centre, and immediately found success.
Their run through the National Cup saw them push aside the Teesside Mohawks 100-102, fight through an overtime win against the Birmingham Bullets, and beat the Thames Valley Tigers 95-85 at the Sky Dome in Coventry.
Head Coach Billy Mims, who was appointed after his departure from the London Leopards, hoped a change of finals fortune could get them over the hump.
He was set to face his former club in the final, making the match-up all the more personal.
Billy Mims leads an impassioned Riders’ huddle.
This was emphasised by the Leopards, who led by former Leicester coach Bob Donewald, refused to take part in the pre-game handshake.
The game became “about the bigger picture” from there, said Mims.
Down early
Despite Leicester starting the brightest, racking up 14 unanswered points in the first quarter to lead 24-11, London’s answer showed shades of the narrow shortcomings that had tortured the club for the past 20 years.
London, haunted by their own ghosts of finals past following defeat in the Cup Final a year prior, exploded going into halftime. A 10-1 run made it 45-38, the Riders surrendering a lead after a bright start.
In desperate need of some momentum going into the break, Ralph Blalock drained a three for the Riders, stemming the tide and cutting the deficit to a reasonable four points at halftime.
But the Leapords still held the advantage.
Fighting to the wire
The Riders’ Larry Johnson, also competing against his old club, ran the show in the third quarter.
He pulled the strings throughout, leading them to a 9-0 run to end the period and snatch back the lead.
The score swung back and forth until the finale. Blalock, heating up, inspired a 7-0 Leicester burst. The Leopard fought back with nine unanswered points, putting them ahead 78-81.
Johnson responded with a three-pointer in the corner to level again, the score 81-81 with seconds remaining.
Coming in clutch
The Riders turned to the hot hand to take a late advantage. Blalock drove to the rim, laying in a crucial bucket for his game-high 26th points of the affair.
The Leopards missed a crucial foul shot on the following play, and Karl Brown went to the line to take the most important free throw of his career.
He knocked down a crucial point, and London failed to get a shot off to tie or win, as the Riders secured the first major trophy in their history, winning 84-82.
The players, staff and fans erupted in the Sheffield Arena, and decades of anguish were released. The Riders had brought their first major silverware home.
Blalock was named Final MVP after his game leading, and game-winning, performance.
December Dominance: How Teddy Allen won Player of the Month
Teddy Allen has been named the British Basketball League Player of the Month for December following an explosion on the British basketball scene.
The American guard and reigning CEBL MVP did so after signing to the club three games into the month, dominating his first four games in Riders red to win the award.
Dazzling Debut
Allen hit the ground running with the Riders, leading the team to a win against the Caledonia Gladiators with the highest-scoring debut since 2016.
He scored 32 points, and a late dagger three to win it in the clutch. Allen finished the game with 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 28 minutes off the bench.
“I had to keep my mind and my body right through the last few months, and for that I thank God, but there’s definitely more to come from me,” said Allen after the game.
“My legs felt better than I thought they would. I’m a hooper, so it feels good to be playing in front of people again.”
Buckets by name, buckets by nature
Teddy “Buckets” scoring went unmatched through December. He averaged 23.8 points over the four games, including two 20-point game and a 30-point performance on his debut.
Allen is the League’s best-ranked bucket-getter early in his Riders tenure. He’s carried his hot form from the CEBL where he set the single-game regular season and postseason scoring records this summer.
His scoring ability generated much-needed offensive firepower to the Riders’ roster, and his gravitational pull on the court opened up space for his teammates to succeed.
Turning fortunes
Arriving to the team with a 7-10 record, Allen helped the Riders back to winning ways since his first appearance.
Leicester went 3-1 with Allen on court, taking victories against the Manchester Giants, Sheffield Sharks and Gladiators to bring their record to 10-11.
With the newly revamped British Basketball League Trophy in full swing, the Riders will look to translate their recent performance to make a run at the silverware.
Teddy Allen named British Basketball League Player of the Month for December
Riders guard Teddy Allen has been named Molten British Basketball League Player of the Month for December!
Allen, a new arrival who made his League debut on December 15, has exploded onto the British basketball scene in his four games so far in Riders red, averaging a League-leading 23.8 points and 5.5 rebounds.
His 32 point debut against Caledonia Gladiators was the highest-scoring debut in the British Basketball League since 2016.
Teddy “Buckets” followed up the 30-piece with 22 points against the Manchester Giants, 17 against the Bristol Flyers and 25 to close out 2023 against the Sheffield Sharks.
This summer’s CEBL MVP has lived up to his stellar reputation in the early stages of his Riders tenure and looks to lead the team to a successful British Basketball League Trophy campaign in January.
“It’s an honour to win this award,” commented Allen. “It feels great to bring positive attention to the team.
“Thank you to my teammates and coaches for putting me in a position to succeed, and thank you to everybody who voted for me!
“Now it’s time to continue to work hard and try and bring the Trophy home.”
He was backed by Sam Idowu off the bench, whose impact inside prevented second-chance points for the Flyers, and prevented star big man Brad Greene from dominating the matchup as he did two weeks prior.
Greene was held to 7 points, and the Flyers to 9 offensive rebounds, below their season average of 13.4, which leads the British Basketball League.
The Riders’ offence was clicking throughout, shooting 50% from the field, and found success at the rim to shoot 64% from the field. Idowu and Allen combined for 14-19 from within the arc.
Miryne Thomas’ 7 points to start the game led the Riders to an early lead. He hit the team’s first three of the game before getting to work down low for his next two buckets, making it 11-9 to the hosts.
Following the first commercial timeout, the Riders blew the game open. A barrage of Riders offence, which included a four-point play from Allen who drained a three through contact, saw them grow the lead to double digits after a quarter.
The Riders made it 20 quickly in the second quarter. Veteran guard Conner Washington pulled up from deep three-point range to get the period underway before Allen dropped Rowell Graham-Bell with a crossover and hit a triple.
Allen, catching fire and running in transition, then connected with Thomas, who threw down a lob pass emphatically for the play of the game. Leicester won the second 30-17, and led 57-32 at the half, led by Allen’s 15 and Thomas’ 11 points.
Idowu made his impact felt off the bench. Getting to the rim with ease, he went 6-7 from the field in the first half, logging 13 points and six rebounds.
Towards the end of the third, Bristol clawed back into contention with hot three-point shooting. They cut it to 18 after Kedrian Johnson and Trejon Jacob hit on back-to-back possessions, but Kimbal Mackenzie drove to the hoop for an and-one to stem the tide.
The captain drained a three next time down with 1:30 to go to make it 73-49. Jacob ended the third with a slam in transition, the Riders up 21 with a quarter to play.
Washington got the final quarter going, hitting a turnaround catch-and-shoot three with a hand in his face.
The Flyers continued to battle, chipping into the lead once again in the fourth. Forced a Riders timeout, the score 81-64 with 7:06 left.
The Riders fell back on their defence, holding Bristol to four points in as many minutes to keep them at arm’s length. Allen and Jaren Holmes combined for five quick points with three minutes left to put the game beyond doubt, with Leicester up 22.
The Riders return to action on Sunday, facing the London Lions on the road, before returning home to play the Manchester Giants on Wednesday, tipping off at 7:45 pm.
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!
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:
Allen has enjoyed a dream start to Leicester life, his two games so far both earning him a place on the team after putting up 32 points and six rebounds on his debut.
He returns to action on December 28 to take on the Bristol Flyers.
The Riders’ penultimate game of 2023 sees them host the 10-11 Bristol Flyers, the first contest of a three-game stretch in the Morningside Arena.
Thursday night’s tilt gives Rob Paternostro’s squad the chance of a three-game winning streak, and victory could see the Riders leapfrog their visitors in the British Basketball League championship.
After a tricky start to December – three tough losses to the top two teams in the league – the Riders have picked up their play, downing the Caledonia Gladiators 96-90 before a double-digit win in Manchester.
The introduction of Teddy Allen has energised the entire roster, and performances on both ends of the court have risen as a result.
Leicester’s offence remains one of the most potent in Britain, highlighted by a field goal efficiency of 46.9% and 38.2% accuracy from beyond the arc.
Since Allen’s debut, the Riders have married their efficiency with production from three-point range, outshooting both the Gladiators and the Giants from deep.
The American has taken the plaudits – averaging 26.5 points per game – but the play of Kimbal Mackenzie was also key to the Riders’ improved fortunes.
Leicester’s captain steered his team to victory in both games by taking responsibility in clutch moments, knowing when to drive to the basket for a quick two or stopping and popping in all areas of the court.
The point guard’s leadership has been evident in the last few weeks, and it will be needed again on Thursday night in a tough game with the Flyers.
A Tough Flyers Stretch
Bristol’s 76-66 loss in Sheffield on December 22 was the Flyers’ seventh in their last ten games, dropping them down the British Basketball League standings with a below .500 record.
Andreas Kapoulas’ team struggled for consistent offence against the stingy Sharks, being held to just 11 points in the first and third quarters.
The Flyers – as has been the case for much of the season – dominated the offensive glass, snagging 15 offensive rebounds, but a 32% field goal percentage hampered them.
Field goal percentage is something Thursday’s visitors have wrestled with throughout the season, currently sitting near the bottom of the league on 41.5%.
The majority of the Flyers’ ten wins have come from out-hustling their opponents on the boards. Skilled big man Brad Greene and lengthy forward Raphell Thomas-Edwards are two players home fans need to look out for, the hardworking duo combining for an average of 17 rebounds per game.
Their physical play in the frontcourt gives dangermen like Trejon Jacob extra chances to hit buckets.
The quick wing player dropped 23 points on the Sharks, carrying his team’s offence by combining athletic inside moves with touch from three-point range.
The Flyers may not have the most feared offence in the league, but letting a player like Jacob get hot could be a losing strategy for the Riders.
Key Players
Jacob may have taken charge against the Sharks in round 15, but the juiciest matchup on Thursday night may come between big men, Brad Greene and Samuel Idowu.
Greene, who joined the Flyers from Austrian outfit OCS Capital Bulls this season, is a hulking 6’11” centre who possesses moves in the post that bely his size.
The Californian is averaging a near double-double, sinking 12.5 points per game and pulling down 9.6 rebounds per game, illustrating his dominance in the paint.
Greene’s finest outing came a couple of weeks ago against the in-form Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles as he put up a 27 and 14 double-double to lead the Flyers to a dominant victory.
Facing the former Irvine Anteater from the bench will be the rangy Idowu.
Idowu is an experienced front-court baller who has grown into the season, providing a defensive wall in the paint and an ability to score in the post, off the dribble or from deep range.
The fourth-year veteran gives up some size to Greene but makes up for it with tenacity, shown in a ten-rebound performance against the Giants, and a season-best 18-point showing against Cheshire in November.
Greene and Idowu may not share the court at the opening tip-off, but Riders’ fans can expect a titanic battle when they do.
The Riders battled out a road win against the Manchester Giants in last night’s British Basketball League Championship action.
Here’s what we can take from the win…
Defence Wins Championships
A hallmark of Rob Paternostro’s sides is suffocating and stifling defence, and that was on full display last night.
The Riders entered the game with the second-highest points allowed per game in the British Basketball League (89) but went on the road and held their opponents to under 80 points for just the third time this season.
Their intense ball pressure forced 22 turnovers out of the Giants, allowing them to show their speed in the full court and get buckets on the break.
Manchester were held to 42% from the field and 22% from three against the Riders’ defence.
“Defence was the name of the game, and we are really happy with what we held them to,” said Paternostro postgame.
“We really ground them out, and we thought it was important to stop them running the fastbreak. They’re a team that likes to run, and we got bodies back and defended.”
Captain Kimbal finds form
Kimbal Mackenzie has made an impact on the scoring column on back-to-back performances, finding scoring form as we approach the midpoint of the season.
The GB international scored 16 points on 5-9 shooting, going 2-3 from deep and pulling down 4 rebounds.
This came off the back of a 19-point outing against the Gladiators last time out, making it two straight games where he has ranked second in the team in points behind the red-hot Teddy Allen.
“I’m just being aggressive and being myself,” said Mackenzie when asked about his recent scoring form.
“When I’m looking to score everything else opens up, and my teammates trust me to make plays.”
Winning on the road
Having lost the last seven games on the road, the Riders were in need of an away win to build momentum going into the new year.
They did so in confident fashion, leading for the entirety of the second half in a game that was in little doubt in the fourth quarter against a team that had won their last three at home.
“It wasn’t the prettiest of games, but to come on the road and beat Manchester who have been playing really well at home was a good win,” added Mackenzie.
“We were pretty gritty. Our effort and attention to detail was good tonight, and we hung in there and did what we had to do.”
The Riders now return home to the Morningside Arena Leicester for back-to-back games, looking to bring their record to above .500 to start 2024.
“We needed a road win,” said Paternostro. “We’ve been in a lot of close games where we haven’t got the job done, so that was really important.
“Now we’re looking forward to getting back to the Morningside. We want that place rocking on the 28th!”
The Riders gave their fans an early reason to celebrate the holiday period with a confident 86-73 win over the Manchester Giants in round 15 of the British Basketball League Championship.
Teddy Allen continued his dream start to Leicester life with his second game-leading scoring performance, following up his 32-point debut with 21 points and six rebounds on the road.
Leicester forced tough shots and double-teamed the Giants’ key weapons down low, resulting in a low 22% three-point percentage and 22 turnovers.
The Riders, led by Allen and Kimbal Mackenzie, shot more accurately from deep and from the foul line – 48 of the away team’s points coming in those areas.
Coach Rob Paternostro will also be pleased with how his team spread the scoring; Allen’s 21 points backed up by three other Riders hitting double-digits.
Mackenzie and quick forward Miryne Thomas dropped 16 points each, while TJ Lall scored 11 hard-earned points on his way to a plus/minus of 17.
Quick hands from Allen saw him add to his scoring totals with five steals, Thomas and bench big man Samuel Idowu getting in on the act with four and three takeaways, respectively.
Speedy shooting guard Evan Walshe top scored for the home squad with 18 points from the bench, as star duo Jamell Anderson and Nick Lewis had quiet nights by their standards, contributing 15 points each.
Tonight’s victory for Leicester sees them take back-to-back wins heading into Christmas, improving their record on the season to 9-10 and pushing them within touching distance of the top four.
The game started in disjointed fashion, with both teams committing early turnovers but also failing to capitalise on opposition mistakes.
A Thomas two-handed dunk – something that is becoming a familiar sight to Leicester supporters – opened the Riders’ account, but offensive play remained muted in the opening five minutes.
Paternostro soon introduced new star Allen to the Manchester crowd and his impact was felt immediately, the 32-point debutant bringing impetus and focus when on the ball.
The shooting guard’s presence also opened space on the floor for his teammates, allowing captain Mackenzie to stroke home the Riders’ first three-pointer and workhorse Lall to score two with a nice finger roll.
A couple of buckets from downtown kept Manchester in touch, but seven first-quarter fouls gave the Riders plenty of opportunities at the free-throw line.
The opening ten minutes predictably finished with a score from ‘Buckets’ Allen, who hit high off the glass to give the Riders a narrow, one-score lead.
After a short break, the teams entered the court for the second quarter and – after a surprisingly subdued opening stanza – the scoring began to accelerate.
Buckets from former Riders Anderson and Walshe were answered by a smooth Allen three-ball, and with the Riders’ continuing to force fouls, the contest became a back-and-forth affair.
It continued in that fashion until the final minute of the half, which saw Leicester ride the momentum of a clutch Jaren Holmes trey to build an eight-point halftime lead.
Solid play on the defensive side of the ball – including a huge block by the athletic Thomas – gave Lall a chance to finish at the rim and saw Allen (12 first-half points) stroke home another triple.
More good defence from Thomas stunted the Giants’ attempt at a final first-half bucket, and the teams entered the locker rooms with the score at 41-33 in favour of the Riders.
The second 20 minutes began with a quickfire six points from the home team, Legend Robertin and Anderson entertaining the crowd with some spectacular plays.
The Riders soon stopped the bleeding, though, Holmes hitting a pair of important free throws followed by a run of five points from Mackenzie that stretched the lead to double-digits.
Leicester’s defence also started to clamp down, forcing the Giants into the low post to meet a defensive wall of Mo Walker and Idowu.
Dangerman Anderson couldn’t beat the consistent double-team, and Manchester were struggling on 43 points deep into the half.
An eye-catching alley-oop from Austin Lawton gave the home crowd something to celebrate, but once more, a deep three from Lall staunched any thoughts of a Giants run.
The Riders continued to pour on the points to end the quarter with pretty three-balls from Allen and Mackenzie, and Blake Bowman showed some shifty footwork down low to hit a nice layup.
Key Manchester man Anderson finally began to make his mark on the game during the opening minutes of the first quarter, but a tricky finish by Holmes and yet another silky triple from Allen saw the Riders boasting a 16-point lead.
As the clock wore down, the Riders were helped by clutch scoring from Mackenzie and their 79% free throw shooting, negating Manchester’s attempt to set pulses racing with a Walshe-led comeback.
A final layup from Thomas ended the game, giving the Riders a deserved win.
Leicester is back in action on December 28, hosting the Bristol Flyers as they look to get back to a .500 record.
Saturday night gives the Riders a chance to give fans an early present for the holidays with a win in Round 15 of the British Basketball League Championship.
Coach Rob Paternostro’s squad travel northwest to face the Manchester Giants, who sit eighth in the standings with a record of six wins and thirteen losses.
Fixture Information
Leicester Riders at Manchester Giants
National Basketball Performance Centre, Belle Vue Sports Village, Manchester
Since the Riders’ impressive 96-90 victory over the Caledonia Gladiators last weekend, all the talk and excitement has been focused on the performance of new signing, Teddy ‘Buckets’ Allen.
Making his British basketball debut, the 6’6” combo guard set fire to the Morningside pine, dropping 32 points – including five buckets from three-point range – pulling down six rebounds, laying on three assists and finishing the game with a plus/minus of ten.
Allen showed confidence from deep, aggression when finishing at the rim and an uncanny ability to slice to the basket with finesse and style.
Despite a three-month gap between his British Basketball League debut and MVP season in the CEBL, ‘Buckets’ came ready to put on a show and to live up to the extensive hype surrounding him.
The Arizonan’s influence also impacted the play of his teammates, most notably Kimbal Mackenzie and experienced big man Samuel Idowu.
The Riders’ captain had one of his best shooting displays of the season – hitting 19 points at a FG% of 63 – and Idowu controlled the low post, scoring 14 points and building a game-high plus/minus of 11.
Now, for Allen and the Riders’ squad, it’s about riding the wave of momentum into 2024 and finishing Championship play on top before the Trophy competition commences.
That starts with Manchester.
Struggling for Consistency
November 17 saw Brian Semonian’s Giants’ squad score an impressive road victory in Bristol – just Manchester’s third of the season – and it looked like they would turn a corner.
In the ensuing weeks, the Giants’ play has improved, however they have been unable to put consecutive wins together, alternating wins and losses in the last eight games.
Most of Manchester’s problems have come on the defensive side of the court as they currently sit last in points conceded per game and defensive rating at 91.1 points allowed and 114 defensive rating.
The Riders have been one of the better offensive teams in the League, and – with the introduction of Allen – away supporters should expect plenty of points to fall.
Manchester can put up big numbers of their own though, with weapons like the free-scoring Jamell Anderson and long-range sniper Nick Lewis leading the scoring charts.
The deadly duo collectively contributes over 30 points per night for the home team and the Riders need to be constantly aware of their positions on the court.
Rangy guard Lewis particularly catches the eye, putting up six deep balls a game as one of the most prolific three-point shooters In the BBL.
Preventing the Canadian from getting hot must be a priority for Paternostro.
Key Players
There are a number of exciting matchups to look forward to across the court, but perhaps the most fun contest will be between rookie Rider Jaren Holmes and former Rider Evan Walshe.
Walshe is a speedy guard that can finish athletically around the rim and is dangerous on the fast break.
Riders’ fans will know how effective the Brit can be at bringing energy off the bench and changing the game with attacking intent and positivity.
After impressing with the Surrey Scorchers, the guard spent two seasons with Leicester before joining the Giants this season, currently dropping nearly ten points per game in his new home.
Much like his opponent, Holmes predicates his game on speed and athleticism, often with a show of strength thrown in for good measure.
The wing player – who is as effective beyond the arc as he is near the rim – has been ever-present for the Riders this season, scoring 13.6 points per game including a high of 28 against the Eagles.
Holmes has been knocking on the door of a 20-point performance during December, and with the Giants’ defensive record, look for the former Iowa State star to hit that mark on Saturday.
British Basketball League to introduce first-ever Hall of Fame to honour outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the League
First inductees to be named at British Basketball League’s prestigious All-Star Game in March.
The British Basketball League are excited to announce the launch of the League’s first-ever Hall of Fame, which will honour and recognise individuals from all eras of the Men’s and Women’s Leagues who have made a significant contribution to the sport in the UK.
The first inductees into the Hall of Fame are set to be announced alongside the return of the highly anticipated All-Star Game which takes place at London’s Copper Box Arena on Sunday March 17 2024.
Five individuals will be inducted into the Hall of Fame from the following five categories, in line with similar organisations across world basketball:
Services to the League (i.e. volunteers, photographers, videographers, team managers, general managers, members of the community etc.)
Inductees will be selected and nominated by a selection committee consisting of Club-elected Directors, alongside a representative from the League Office and two invited members of the media.
Each member of the selection committee would be entitled to three nominations per category. The selection committee will then meet to discuss the nominations as a group and finalise the inductees for the upcoming class.
For the first class of inductees, which will be announced in March 2024, one nomination in each category will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, meaning five total inductees.
Future classes would see five new inductees into the Hall, but these would simply be the five nominations most worthy of induction in the eyes of the selection committee.
The League’s Hall of Fame will initially take pride of place on the League website, and as the League continues to grow over the coming years, plans are in place to have a physical Hall of Fame space at the League office in addition to online.
Speaking on the launch of British Basketball League’s Hall of Fame, Chief Executive Officer Aaron Radin said:
“We’re proud to launch the British Basketball League Hall of Fame, which will enable us to honour and give recognition to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the League and the growth of the sport.
“So many people have played a significant role in growing British basketball throughout the years, so it’s great to have a permanent feature for us to continually celebrate new members each year.
“We’re excited to see the first generation of inductees announced at this season’s All-Star Game on 17 March in London. This addition to the weekend will add to what is already set to be a special occasion to showcase and celebrate the talent in the Men’s and Women’s Leagues.”
The Riders made waves around the British Basketball League with the signing of the highly touted CEBL MVP.
With that came external attention and the expectation of a big performance. Allen delivered in the face of pressure.
“Pressure is a privilege,” Allen told the Drew and Jay Podcast. “I expect that of myself every night, and I put pressure on myself to play to that standard.
“I always want to live up to my reputation, so I come into every game with a chip on my shoulder.”
While the American guard is comfortable with expectations, his coach tempered them ahead of his debut. Allowing Allen to provide what he could on the court built him the platform to succeed under the bright lights.
“Coach Rob took the pressure off of me and told me to go out there and give the team what I can give.
“That alleviated the pressure for me and allowed me to take a deep breath. Once game day rolled around, it was just hoop.”
His coach and teammates put him in a position to succeed, and he rewarded them with one of the all-time British Basketball League performances.
“I knew the team was unselfish and was going to look for me, so I knew there would be opportunities.
“Mo [Walker] was telling me not to be passive and just to be me. That opened me up, and when it came down to the clutch, the plays were there to be made.”
Getting ready for the Trophy
It was Allen’s first competitive outing since August, but he still hit the ground running without being in optimal condition.
Joining a team midseason is difficult, and Allen looked ahead at the task of getting in 100% game shape.
“It isn’t easy coming in late to a pro team, but the best way of getting in game shape is by playing. I have spent the 30 minutes after every practice running to get back in shape, so I’m going to try and rev it up over these next few weeks.
“By the time the Trophy comes around, I hope to be on top form.”
“The whole experience has been surreal!”- Seth Wylie on playing with the pros
This summer, Seth Wylie joined the Loughborough Riders, stepping into the NBL D1.
Three months later, he competed against the British Basketball League-leading London Lions and scored his first points in professional basketball.
“Coach Rob [Paternostro] looked down the bench and pointed in my direction, and I didn’t want to wait for him to change his mind!” said Wylie, reflecting on the build-up to his first minutes in Riders red.
“I wasn’t even sure if he was pointing at me. I just took my tracksuit off and ran down to the scorers’ table. It was all a blur.
“All I was thinking coming into the game was: ‘I have to play good defence!’ I was looking around and saw Luke Nelson, who played for GB, and I was hoping Conner [Washington] would pick him up! But he told me to guard him, and I wasn’t going to argue!”
Practice makes perfect
Wylie was called up to the Riders’ game-day roster for the first time as the team prepared for the clash against the Lions. In a sliding doors moment, it took him catching fire in his first Riders practice to get the nod.
“I took part in practice a week before with the first team to make up numbers, and I had a great day. We were running as the scout team ahead of a game against Manchester, and I hit a bunch of threes from the corner.
“Everything that released from my fingers was going in! I remember Kimbal [Mackenzie] saying: ‘he’s on fire. We’ve got to stop him!’. That boosted my confidence even more, and my shots kept going in. The next week, a day before the London game, I was called up to the team.”
Life at Loughborough
The University’s association with the Riders is an attractive concept for anybody joining Loughborough basketball.
Players such as Washington and Jamell Anderson have paved the way for British basketball player development pathways, leading to long and successful professional careers.
“Loughborough has been a blessing to me. The facilities blew me away as soon as I got here. The facilities and education at the University are better than what I would get in a lot of places in America, which is great to see.
“I was happy just playing for Loughborough when I arrived. In the back of my mind, I thought it would be nice to play for Leicester if I had the opportunity, but in my head that was years down the line. But here I am!”
First pro points
Here he is. Wylie checked into the game against London with 1:48 to go, and found the ball in his hands open in the corner.
“By the time the ball was in my hands, I was in the zone. I think it had to be that way for the shot to go in. I wasn’t thinking, which was the main thing.
“Before the game, the guys were really supportive. Kimbal said to me, ‘if you get it, shoot it,’ so I shot it!”
The opportunity to practice with the first team and be in a professional environment isn’t lost on Wylie, who is trying to learn every possible lesson from the experience.
At only 20 years old, he remembers watching the players in the stands in his home city of London as he was growing up.
“I used to watch Conner play against the Lions at the Copper Box, and now I’m playing with him! Now, it’s a blessing to be able to learn from them. If I could play like anybody on this team in the future, it would be Conner Washington.
“My goal is to soak up the experience and knowledge. Everything happens so quickly at that level, so it’s about slowing the game down in my head, putting it into terms I can understand and learning from them.”
In addition to the players, Wylie has benefitted from coaching at the highest level from Loughborough Head Coach Will Maynard and Riders Head Coach Paternostro.
“I’ve gained so much confidence from my coaches. Having them believe in me and put me in games that even I wouldn’t have put me in is the first step for me.
“Hearing their reasoning behind everything they do has opened up a whole new level of understanding. The whole experience has been surreal!”
Five things we learned from win against Gladiators
Friday’s 96-90 win against the Caledonia Gladiators gave the Riders lots to build on going into the rest of the season.
Here is what we can take from the win…
Buckets has arrived
The debut that has everyone talking! Teddy Allen’s 32 point outing, the highest-scoring British Basketball League debut since 2016, meant the Phoenix-born guard lived up to the hype in his first appearance in Riders red.
Allen was pivotal in the clutch, hitting a three to put the Riders up five before dishing to Jaren Holmes for a dagger triple next time up the floor. He reached his points tally with the game-sealing free throws to conclude a historic outing.
He made his mark on every facet of the game with his scoring, playmaking, rebounding and defence. His message after the game to further excite the Riders faithful: “there’s definitely more to come!”
Allen provides an explosive scoring threat on any given game, just three games before the start of the all-new Trophy.
A Threat from Three
Aside from his scoring ability, which was on full display throughout his debut, the gravitational pull of Allen, who attracted a wall of defenders whenever he touched the ball, meant for open shots for his teammates.
The new man’s playmaking saw the ball find the open man, and the Riders knocked down 50% of their attempts from deep on the night.
Kimbal Mackenzie, in particular, benefitted from the good looks, going 3-4 from three on the evening.
Leicester have been a threat from three all season, ranking third in deep shooting percentage at 38.2%. The improved spacing will allow their sharpshooters the chance to punish defenders for leaving them open on the arc.
Decisive Defencelate
After giving up 51 in the first half, the Riders stepped up the defence late for a comeback win.
The message from Head Coach Rob Paternostro at the break was clear: “we’re going to have to play defence at some point.” The Riders responded to his message after falling into a 13-point hole in the third.
The team held the Gladiators to under 20 points in the fourth quarter, which they won 27-17 to secure the win.
Sam Idowu was a key factor defensively late, his efforts in the post preventing Clifton Moore Jr from putting in a bucket in the clutch, and Jaren Holmes’ 2 blocks from the perimeter earned the Riders emphatic stops.
Paternostro will look to put together 40 minutes of defence to that level next time out against the Giants.
Idowu’s impact
Idowu logged a season-high 28 minutes in the game, and his impact was felt all game long.
The big man led the game in +/- with 11, demonstrating the positive influence of his efforts down low.
He ran the pick and roll effectively throughout, battled hard on defence and was effective on the glass, putting back Allen’s miss late to give the Riders a late lead for his second offensive board of the night.
All of Idowu’s buckets came in the paint, as he went 7-12 from the field on his way to 14 points – his second-highest tally of the year.
His consistent performances all season have made Idowu a reliable source of points and rebounding and was vital to Friday’s win.
Taking advantage of turnovers
While the teams were tied in total turnovers, each giving the ball away 14 times, the Riders made their opponents pay for their mistakes.
They scored 20 points off turnovers compared to Caledonia’s 13, a key factor in a game decided by six points.
They proved a threat on the fastbreak throughout, with Miryne Thomas and Holmes’ speed in transition making for easy buckets at the rim and electric high-flying plays.
Should the Riders’ defence continue its form from late in Friday’s affair, expect more opportunities in transition for Paternostro’s side.
The Riders won a hard-fought battle against the Caledonia Gladiators 96-90 last night, moving their record to 8-10 in the British Basketball League Championship.
Here’s how the Riders reacted to the victory…
Teddy Allen- “There’s definitely more to come.”
Teddy Allen exploded onto the British basketball scene with the highest-scoring debut in the League since 2016.
He scored 32 points, including a clutch three late to put the Riders up five with a minute left.
“I’m happy to get the win with my new team,” said Allen post-game. “My teammates were looking for me, telling me to look for the basket and that helped me to succeed. I’m grateful for them.”
It was Allen’s first competitive action since August, but you’d have been forgiven for not noticing. He hit the ground running with a 14-point second quarter, coming off the bench and making an immediate impact.
Any concerns of rust were washed away quickly for Riders fans.
“I had to keep my mind and my body right through the last few months, and for that I thank God, but there’s definitely more to come from me.
“My legs felt better than I thought they would. I’m a hooper, so it feels good to be playing in front of people again.”
Rob Paternostro- “We were deserved winners”
It had been a difficult run of games for the Riders going into last night’s fixture. Having played the League’s top two teams in their last three games (the table-topping Lions’ twice), they were in need of a win to get back on track.
Emerging victors of a nail-biter was important for this group.
“That was fun!” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro after the win. “Playing a tight ball game in the fourth quarter and coming up with the big plays was fun to watch. The crowd was into it, and we were deserved winners tonight.”
The Riders gave up 51 to the Gladiators in the first half, and found themselves down 13 in the third quarter. But they flipped a switch on offence and came back for the win.
“We went into halftime knowing we were going to have to play some defence at some point. We did pick it up in the third quarter, and that turned the game around.
“We then did a great job in making plays late, and we had Teddy Buckets on our team today! He put on a show today.”
As he did everybody else in the building, Allen impressed his head coach with his ability to immediately find form in Riders red.
“One thing I know, having been around the game this long, is that there are certain guys that when the lights turn on, they’re ready to go.
“When he took the floor in warm-ups, he said he was feeling good. He was special. He did a great job in finding other guys too, and the rest of the guys dug in on the defensive end.”
Allen was supported by his captain, Kimbal Mackenzie, who scored 11 in the first quarter and 19 in the game, and big man Sam Idowu who made his presence felt in the paint all evening.
Paternostro sang the praises of his duo:
“I really thought Sam played well today. He played with lots of energy on both ends of the floor, and his competitiveness was a big factor tonight.
“Kimbal was solid too. He came out tonight with 19 after a few quiet games recently, and that was great to see.
“I feel really good about these guys. They work hard and they work together, and Teddy provided something extra for us tonight to get us the win.”
Sam Idowu- “We fought through adversity.”
Idowu put up 14 points and six rebounds, going 7-12 from the field in a solid showing. He battled all night on the glass and on the defensive end in the post.
“It was a lot of hard work. My body’s sore!” said Idowu. “I’m proud of the team, we fought together and came through a lot of adversity and played hard from wire to wire.”
The New York-born big man came up with a huge stop in the clutch again Clifton Moore Jr to give the Riders a chance to seal the game late. He reflected on his individual performance:
“I think I played way better than I have been playing! I was just trying to find a rhythm. I had a good week of practice, so I’ve been trying to follow that up with some good games. I’m keeping my energy up, keeping in shape and staying healthy. That’s my biggest priority right now.”
With a road trip to Manchester coming on the 23rd, Iwodu spoke on how the team can build on the performance.
“Today was a big win. We had a tough schedule and taken a couple of tough losses, but it showed our resilience here in how determined we were to turn it around.
“It’s good for us to show we can come from behind to win. We can go into future games knowing we can stay confident when we’re down, so I’m glad we were able to pull through.”
The Riders won a hard-fought battle against the Caledonia Gladiators 96-90, led by Teddy Allen’s emphatic debut.
Allen scored 32 points in his first appearance in Riders red, putting on a show in the clutch. Teddy “Buckets” went 5-7 from three and 10-19 from the field to explode on the British Basketball scene.
It was a tightly contested game throughout, the Riders coming back from a double-digit deficit in the third to win it late. They won the fourth 27-17 to secure the win.
Allen was backed by his captain, as Kimbal Mackenzie went off for 19 points, including 11 in the opening period to get the game underway. Sam Idowu also found success, working with his teammate’s elite guard play to score 14.
The Riders cooked from three, shooting 50% from deep in the game and going 33-66 from the field in an efficient shooting display. They overcame the League’s third-placed team to bounce back from recent losses, improving to 8-10.
For Caledonia, Ian Dubose went off for 22 and seven assists to lead the team. They came close to a second win against the Riders this season, but it was Leicester who got it done in the clutch this time around.
The Riders hit the ground running with a hot start, as TJ Lall and Mackenzie combined for the game’s first five points. Mackenzie scored 11 to start the game, the captain exploding early.
Caledonia quickly clicked into gear. Led by Prince Onwas who scored seven points, they climbed back into the game and made it a back-and-forth encounter. Former Rider Patrick Whelan ended the first with four points to make it 25-18 to the visitors.
Allen opened his Riders account with a layup to start the second quarter. But it was New York native Idowu who got to work down low to chip into the deficit, throwing down the highlight of the night with an explosive two-handed slam over Lukas Palyza.
Allen caught fire midway through the second, connecting with his first three as a Rider before hitting at the foul line to cut the game to one.
The debutant scored 14 in the second quarter to burst onto the scene at the Morningside Arena, the Gladiators finding no answer for Allen as he attacked the rim relentlessly.
But Caledonia, led by 12 from Onwas, led 51-47 after the first half of action. They went on a 6-3 run in the final minute to build their narrow lead.
The Gladiators were the better team to start the second half, building their lead to double digits with a 9-2 start after Palyza’s three.
The Riders cut into the deficit with Allen checking back into the affair. He lit up the Arena with a four-point play with three minutes left in the quarter, before Jaren Holmes put away a tough finish inside to make it a seven-point difference.
Idowu scored back-to-back baskets, including a breakaway jam to lift the roof off the building as the Riders continued to roll. Holmes cut it to a possession with an and-one to cap off an 11-2 run.
Idowu tied it up at 73 to start the final period of play, setting up an intense finale. The sides exchanged baskets through the opening stages, but it was 81-81 by the media timeout with 4:21 left.
The Riders continued to pour in buckets. Allen dropped Moore Jr with a stepback, draining his fourth three of the night following the ankle breaker, before Idowu hit a putback layup to take a late lead.
Allen continued his emphatic display, draining a three for his 29th points with 1:11 on the clock to make it a five-point Leicester lead. Holmes followed up his new teammate with a triple of his own to seal it.
From West End to Covent Garden: A Night of Opera for the Leicester Riders Foundation
Morningside Arena Leicester is excited to host “West End to Covent Garden”, an Opera evening hosted by Octave Opera Group on Febuary 14, 2024.
Octave, founded by Jill Worth, will perform music to raise money for the Leicester Riders Foundation’s incredible work throughout the Leicestershire community. The Leicestershire-based opera group consists of only local signers, and performs for charitable causes around the county.
Jill is the wife of Bill Worth, a founding member of the Loughborough All-Stars in 1967, which would later become the Leicester Riders.
Octave will host an evening of live opera entertainment, as they take you on a musical journey featuring iconic songs from Les Miserable, Phantom of the Opera and many more classics!
Enjoy a 2-course sit-down meal and a cash bar throughout the evening. We will also be hosting a charity auction, featuring numerous items of sporting memorabilia, events and experiences.
Jill Worth commented: “It feels absolutely brilliant to give something back to the Riders, who I have had a lifelong connection with through my husband, Bill. It should be an amazing night.
“We have something for everybody on the night, so please come down to the Arena and support the fantastic work of the Leicester Riders Foundation.”
Tables of 8 and 10 are available at £40 + VAT per head, offering a perfect opportunity to enjoy the night with friends, family, or colleagues.
You can associate your company brand with this charitable event, as we offer sponsorship opportunities for £100 + VAT per advert.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of this incredible evening. For reservations click here.
Join us for a night of live opera in the heart of Leicester. You can make a meaningful impact on the Leicester Riders Foundation’s charity initiatives.
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.”
Round 14 of the British Basketball League Championship sees the Riders tip-off against the 11-5 Caledonia Gladiators.
Friday night is the first time the Morningside Arena will see the Gladiators this season, as Rob Paternostro’s squad look to notch their eighth championship win.
The most enticing feature of this week’s contest is the much-anticipated debut of Canadian Elite Basketball MVP, Teddy Allen.
Riders’ supporters will – for the first time – be witness to the skills of the Canadian league’s best player as he comes off a season averaging 27.6 points per game, eight rebounds per game and 1.7 steals per game.
The former Winnipeg Sea Bears guard had a record-breaking year for his team and should provide a significant offensive figurehead to Paternostro’s roster.
✅ Most points in a single CEBL game ✅ Most points in a single CEBL playoff game ✅ Second-most points per game in CEBL history
📝 We look back on a historic summer in the @CEBLeague for our new man…
Allen – tall for a guard at 6’6” – brings an insatiable appetite for points, especially from beyond the arc, leading the CEBL in three-pointers made.
Leicester currently sit middle of the pack in three-pointers attempted per game with an average of nearly 25. Expect that number to take a leap on Friday night and potentially for the remainder of the season.
The Phoenix-native is also efficient from deep, hitting 72 triples at a clip of 36.5%, which will only add to the Riders’ already high accuracy from downtown.
Leicester’s defence has improved markedly in the last few weeks. With the introduction of an offensive anomaly like Allen, fans can expect scoring numbers to improve too – starting with the tilt against the Gladiators.
On a High
This week’s visitors are currently experiencing a terrific run of form.
Coach Gareth Murray’s team are riding the momentum of a four-game winning streak, and it will take a good performance from Leicester to slow them down.
Three of those four victories were against the other teams in the BBL’s top four, illustrating the high level the Gladiators are reaching.
Murray likes his team to be a defensive wall inside the paint and to aggressively attack the basket to draw fouls on the other end.
Teams that struggle to shoot from distance find it particularly difficult to put up points on the Gladiators, who are the best in the British Basketball League at blocking shots (4.1 per game) and hustle hard on the defensive glass. They pull down 29.5 defensive rebounds each night, greatly limiting second chances.
Offensively, the regularity at which Caledonia make it to the free-throw line masks a 44.3 field goal percentage that sits in the bottom half of the league.
The Glads do possess some good shooters – primarily former Rider Patrick Whelan – but if the home side can avoid committing fouls and force contested shots, they have a chance to severely limit Caledonia’s scoring total.
Coupled with the efficient outside shooting of the Riders, it appears Paternostro’s squad match up favourably with Friday’s opponents.
Key Matchup
The back-and-forth between Teddy ‘Buckets’ and Whelan will be an entertaining watch, but the key matchup could well come down to a couple of experienced big men: Mo Walker and Fahro Alihodzic.
Alihodzic is an imposing centre who has plied his services all over the world, spending time in the United States, Argentina, Kosovo, Greece and here in Britain.
The 6’10” Bosnian-Brit will bring a good inside touch and rebounding strength, particularly on the defensive board.
Alihodzic currently averages 11 points per game, just over six rebounds per game and has notched a double-double on a couple of occasions this season.
A 19-point performance against Plymouth in November showed his offensive threat, but Riders’ defensive lynchpin Walker will be a tricky puzzle to solve.
The Riders’ stalwart has seen increased minutes over the past month, and his quality of play has taken a leap.
#9 may is an excellent inside link player on offense and focal point on defence.
By clogging up the paint, Walker provides space and opportunities for Leicester’s primary weapons, and his deftness of touch has seen him record assists in eight of his last 10 games.
If the Canadian-born Brit can lock up his opposite man while providing an outlet for the offense, the Riders should enjoy a lot of success on Friday night.
Leicester Riders’ new man, Teddy Allen, joins the team after a history-making season in the CEBL.
Here, we reflect on how Allen made waves in Canadian hoops…
Getting Buckets
Teddy “Buckets” put on a never-seen-before scoring clinic this summer. Over the season, Allen failed to score over 20 on just three occasions, putting up 40 points twice and 30 points five times in 20 games played.
His 27.6 points average was the second most in CEBL history, as the three-point marksman drained a league-high 72 triples on 36.5% shooting from behind the arc.
His 40 and 30-point explosions broke regular and post-season records, hitting highs never seen before.
Single-game scoring record
Allen broke the CEBL single-game scoring record in only his third appearance as a Sea Bear.
He caught fire for 42 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists against his former team, the Scarborough Shooting Stars, going 14-20 from the field and 11-13 from the foul line.
Winnipeg needed every one of his points as they edged past the Shooting Stars 98-93. Allen led them down the stretch, sealing the victory with a runner in transition with 19 seconds remaining.
It was the second game of a back-to-back for Allen, who put the team on his back for 40 minutes to stuff the stat sheet.
Early in the season, Allen planted his flag as the best player in the league with his record-breaking performance.
Single-game playoff scoring record
Allen made his name as a post-season performer later that season, breaking the CEBL single-game playoff scoring record with 35 points against the Edmonton Stingers.
It was another double-double for Allen who grabbed 10 rebounds in the game, as the Sea Bears fell just short 87-81 in the opening round of the Playoffs.
Allen made big shots down the stretch to keep Winnipeg in the game. His craftiness driving inside and finding space around the rim had no response from his opponents on the night.
The game ended his season in the CEBL, in which his performances earned him the MVP award.
Most Valuable Player
With his league-leading, history-making performances all season long, Allen was named the first CEBL Most Valuable Player in Winnipeg Sea Bears history.
Leading the team to the playoffs, Allen put up 27.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He ranked top 10 in the CEBL in points (27.6), total assists (77), rebounds (8.0), and steals (1.7), and he led the league in three-pointers made (72).
🏆🔥 They don’t call him ‘Teddy buckets’ for nothing!
Nine of the Sea Bears’ 12 wins were within single digits, and three came down to the final possession, as Winnipeg needed every point from the record-breaking Allen to guide them to the postseason.
In his second CEBL campaign, Allen established himself as the league’s elite scorer.
Leicester Riders fell 100-62 on the road to the London Lions, making their record 7-10 in the British Basketball League Championship standings.
A 33-17 third quarter in London’s favour sealed the game, in which the Riders trailed from midway through the opening quarter.
Miryne Thomas led the Riders with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Leicester shot 33% from the field and went 4-23 from three in a tough offensive showing.
For the Lions, Irish forward Conor Morgan once again showed his deep shooting threat against Leicester. He went 5-7 from deep on his way to 21 points to lead the game.
Following a 6-0 Lions start, Kimbal Mackenzie got the Riders on the board with an and-one pull-up from the elbow.
Leicester matched their opponent’s scoring early, taking a 10-9 lead following TJ Lall’s fadeaway, but couldn’t stop the Lions’ drive to the baskets. London’s first four makes came from attacking the hoop.
Conor Morgan, whose three-point shooting proved the difference between the teams last time out, hit two straight from distance to build a London lead. It was 28-17 to the hosts after one, and Morgan led the game with eight points.
The Riders’ defence stepped up in the second quarter. They held the Lions to six points in five minutes to match their opponents once again.
Thomas led a low-scoring second period for the Riders, putting up 9 points and 4 rebounds by the half. The Cleveland-born forward’s highlight of the game saw him pin Matthew Morgan’s layup attempt to the backboard after scoring four straight points.
Mackenzie’s midrange ability kept Leicester in the game, as the Canadian/British guard drained another deep two with 2:06 left in the second. The Riders entered the locker rooms down 44-32, but remained within striking distance despite shooting 2-12 from three.
Thomas got the second half underway with a breakaway slam to bring the deficit to 10. The Lions hit back through Conor Morgan, who scored 11 quick points to make the Lions’ lead 21.
London put the game beyond reach with their three-point shooting in the third. Tarik Phillip’s corner triple with 4:26 left made it 68-42.
Samuel Idowu and Conner Washington put points on the board for Leicester, Idowu throwing down a putback slam as the Riders’ highlight of the period, but they couldn’t chip into the deficit and ended the third with the score 77-49.
The fourth was a formality, as London saw it home. Mo Walker went to work for six points inside, but London continued to drop in threes to stretch their lead to 38.
The Riders are back in action on Friday, taking on the Caledonia Gladiators at home.
Sunday afternoon sees the Riders continue their tough run of fixtures as they travel to London to face the Lions in Round 13 of the British Basketball League Championship.
The trip to the Copper Box arena is only nine days removed from a 89-79 victory for the Lions over Rob Paternostro’s squad.
The Riders came agonisingly close to claiming a statement win in Cheshire last Sunday after three-quarters of excellent basketball.
The away side, playing the second of a two-game doubleheader, went into the final ten minutes boasting a 13-point lead, but a cold fourth quarter on offence gave the hometown Phoenix the opportunity to stage a comeback for the win.
Fatigue will certainly have been a large factor in the Riders’ late-game troubles, but with a full week of rest behind them, Paternostro will be expecting a 40-minute performance from his squad.
The squad saw an exciting new addition in the week, as reigning CEBL MVP Teddy Allen joined the Riders’ ranks. He will bolster the Riders backcourt with his elite scoring ability which saw him break several CEBL single-game scoring records in the summer.
But as Riders’ fans have experienced first-hand, the Lions have unmatched squad depth, demonstrated by the seven players who have put up double-digit games against Leicester in just two meetings.
The production of the second unit will be crucial. Riders’ bench only dropped 16 points on the Phoenix last weekend – a rarity this season – so that number must improve if they are to have a chance at besting the league leaders.
Playmaking two-guard Sesan Russell and strong big man Samuel Idowu will be the players to watch, as they must step up against a London squad playing it’s fourth game in a week.
The Lions could well use the squad’s full depth, giving fringe members more playing time than usual. The Riders’ must take advantage.
Defeats at Home
The British Basketball League Championship leaders go into the weekend having won just two of their last eight games across all competitions.
Victory at the Morningside Arena and a home win in Europe are the only triumphs for a Lions squad that has struggled during the second half of November.
With the expected fixture congestion that comes with European competition, London’s squad has been stretched, culminating in two home losses on the bounce in the League.
However, the ballers of the capital still sit comfortably clear at the top of the standings with a 15-3 record and have had the better of the Riders in their two clashes so far.
Key to the Lions’ success against Leicester is the double-digit scoring from across the roster. If one star has a bad game, another has stepped up to take his place.
In the tilt on December 1, experienced point guard Jordan Taylor failed to get on the scoring sheet, going 0-4 from the field and league top scorer Matt Morgan was held to just five points – his lowest total of the season.
The scoring was taken up by forwards Sam Dekker, Conor Morgan and Dante Grantham, all of whom scored in double-digits, with Morgan netting 19.
The Lions have also dropped 83 points from the bench on the Riders so far this season.
If the road team can stifle that production, they could replicate the feats of both Newcastle and Caledonia with a win in the Copper Box.
Key Players
The contest to watch on Sunday afternoon is one between permitter men with swathes of experience: Jordan Taylor and Kimbal Mackenzie.
34-year-old Taylor has seen it all outside of the NBA. The veteran has competed in Italy, Israel, Turkey, France and (more recently) Japan.
While he hasn’t posted knockout scoring numbers this season – about six points per game – Taylor is a quintessential floor general.
He is the perfect player to have orchestrating the offence and attempting to dish the ball to the right shooter.
The former Wisconsin Badger has performed well against the Riders, laying on 13 assists so far in two games.
Attempting to throw Taylor off rhythm will be Riders’ captain Mackenzie.
Leicester’s talisman has, once again, been a standout player in Paternostro’s squad this season.
Coming off the bench for the first quarter of the season before stepping up to a starting role, the Canadian has been a storm of energy and effort anytime he takes to the court.
Mackenzie can do it all. Drive to the rim, stop on a dime and fire up a pop shot, lay on a nasty pass to an open teammate.
He has the full package, shown with his 12.6 points per game total as well as an assist number that sits at 4.1.
Both players are vitally important to their team’s chances. Whoever has the better performance on the night could decide the fate of this game.
Leicester Riders sign 2023 CEBL Most Valuable Player Teddy Allen
Leicester Riders are delighted to announce the signing of 2023 CEBL Most Valuable Player Teddy Allen for the remainder of the 2023/24 season.
The 6’6” guard from Phoenix, Arizona, broke multiple CEBL scoring records for the Winnipeg Sea Bears this summer, earning him the MVP award and the nickname “Teddy Buckets”.
He dropped 42 points against the Scarborough Shooting Stars to match the CEBL single-game scoring record, before going off for 35 points to break the league’s playoff scoring record in the same season.
Allen ranked top ten in the CEBL in points (27.6), total assists (77), rebounds (8.0) and steals (1.7), and led the league in three-pointers made (72).
The 25-year-old became the first Sea Bear to win MVP in the franchise’s history.
Allen spent his final college season at New Mexico State University, where he led the Aggies to a first-round NCAA Tournament upset of the fifth-seeded UConn Huskies with a game-high 37 points.
12-seed Aggies with a double-digit lead at the half 👀
He led the Western Athletic Conference in scoring, averaging 19.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals as a senior.
Leicester Riders Head Coach Rob Paternostro commented: “We’re excited to have Teddy on the team. I watched a lot of him in the CEBL this summer, and he was a standout player. He can score in a lot of different ways, and he’s a good size for someone who can handle the ball, so that makes him a difficult player to guard.
“We knew it was important to get a player or two in, but we wanted to make sure it was the right player for a team, which takes time. It’s exciting to get a player of this calibre, and the ability he’s shown will make him a great addition to the group. To add a player with that ability gives us optimism going forward.
🏆🔥 They don’t call him ‘Teddy buckets’ for nothing!
“I’d like to extend my thanks to Mike Taylor, who is a long-time friend of mine in the profession and a well-respected head coach for Winnipeg. I trust his opinion, and he had great things to say about Teddy. We both believe this will be a great spot for him.”
Allen commented: “I’m incredibly happy to be a Leicester Rider. This is a great franchise with a long history of winning, and I hope to contribute to the club’s historic success.
“I spoke to Coach Taylor before I signed, and he had nothing but respect for Coach Rob and the organisation. I can’t wait to meet the team and the fans in Leicester, and get to work!”
Leicester Riders Managing Director Russell Levenston added: “We’re thrilled to welcome a player of Teddy’s calibre to the Riders. He established himself as one of the CEBL’s elite players, so we’re excited to see the impact he’ll have on the team.
“We were incredibly impressed by what we saw from him in the summer, and we are looking forward to him bringing his immense talent to Leicester. We can’t wait to see him suited up in Riders red!”
The Riders take on the London Lions for the third time this season on Sunday, after falling to the league leaders twice at home earlier in the year.
Leicester have been in both games late, but haven’t found enough to get over the line. They now head to the capital, looking to take a game back. Here are three areas of emphasis ahead of the clash…
Stopping the three
The only side that has been able to match London’s elite deep shooting early in the season is the Riders, with both sides locked at the top of the shooting charts with a three-point percentage of 38.8%.
The Riders have gunned from deep against London, shooing 40% over the two games and 44% in their most recent matchup, but on the other end have failed to slow down their opponents on the perimeter.
It was Irish stretch forward Conor Morgan who heated up last time out, making four threes and scoring 17 points in a decisive first half of action. Morgan hit five attempts in the first game, totalling 36 points across the two games between the sides.
Not only will the Riders have to maintain their hot hand in the capital, but their defence on the outside will prove a pivotal element of this clash.
Bench contributions
Playing against a deep Lions squad, who have had seven different players put up double-digit games in the two meetings so far, the Riders will need contributions from all the way down the roster.
It was 11-year Riders veteran Conner Washington and newly signed Sesan Russell who put the scoring load on their shoulders last weekend, Washington earning Wok 68 Player of the Game honours with 15 points after shooting 5-8 from beyond the arc.
Kimbal Mackenzie led the second unit in the first matchup with 17, as the Riders remained late in the game on both occasions thanks to their ability to field high-level scoring throughout.
The Riders will look for contributions from every player who takes the court to match London on the road.
Play clean basketball
Over the previous two fixtures, foul trouble has prevented the Riders from throwing their full force at the Lions.
In the most recent game especially, the Lions commenced their game-deciding second-quarter outburst with star guard Jaren Holmes on the bench. He picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter and another in the second which saw him sidelined for much of the first half.
Holmes played foul-free basketball in the second half and made an immediate impact on the game, but the damage was already done, and Leicester were never able to recover fully.
Leicester Riders Foundation brings Highscross Hoops to Leicester’s Highcross Shopping Centre
The Leicester Riders Foundation and Leicester Riders are excited to announce that on Saturday, 16th December, we will be hosting a Leicester Riders takeover in Highcross Shopping Centre.
Highcross Hoops will be located in a prime location on the lower mall of Highcross Shopping Centre near Luke 1977 and Damaged Society, and will include a court for activations with our Leicester Riders Foundation team, a merchandise area and visits from our professional players throughout the day.
The event is the perfect chance for us to interact with the local community and provides us with the opportunity to promote the wide range of community sessions that we offer across the county.
Jo Tallack, General Manager of Highcross Shopping Centre said: “We’re excited to welcome The Leicester Riders to Highcross this festive season. It’s a great opportunity to be able to support the Foundation at our busiest time of year, while also bringing our visitors a unique experience to take part in.
“Whether you’re visiting the centre to do your Christmas shopping or stopping by for a festive sweet treat, Highcross Hoops is sure to bring a smile to your face.”
The Foundation’s county-wide sessions include our New Years Community Camp at the Morningside Arena, to which we are offering places through the Leicester City Council HAF programme, which provides children in Leicester who receive benefits-related free school meals with free activities and a healthy meal during the Christmas break.
There will also be exclusive Leicester Riders merchandise offers ahead of Christmas and purchase tickets for Riders fixtures at the Morningside Arena over the festive period.
Laura Shephard, General Manager of the Leicester Riders Foundation, added: “We are thrilled to have the chance to display the incredible efforts of the Foundation at Highcross. This is an invaluable opportunity to show Leicester the work that we do in our local area through our community sessions.
“During the height of Leicester’s Christmas shopping season, we’ll bring exclusive Leicester Riders merchandise and tickets to the heart of Leicester, which will make for excellent gifts during the festive period. We are also excited to be able to provide the chance for Riders fans to meet their favorite players!
“I’d like to extend my gratitude to Highcross for providing us this priceless platform to highlight the Foundation’s initiatives across the county. We can’t wait to see you there!”
If you are in Leicester on Saturday, 16th December, make sure you come down and get involved in Highcross Hoops with the Leicester Riders and Leicester Riders Foundation!
Captain’s Log: Kimbal Mackenzie on the season so far
Leicester Riders captain Kimbal Mackenzie shares his thoughts on the team’s British Basketball League season so far…
As always, thank you all for your support this season.
I can’t express enough how important it has been to have you in our corner. You have been right behind us when we needed you most, and it’s been amazing to see the entire club come together the way it has.
As you all know, there’s been some big changes to the roster. We all understand that there’s a lot that goes into these decisions, and it’s the organisation’s job to do what’s right for the team. Our job is to trust the people making the decisions and show up and perform on the court with the team.
It’s a difficult part of professional basketball, but I hope the guys can learn and grow from the experience and keep moving in the right direction. They’re good people, and I wish them all the best in their careers.
And on the other side of that, we have a fresh face in the building! It’s been great to have Sesan here. He has an infectious love for the game and loves to compete. You can tell he’s disappointed when practice ends because he just loves to play.
On the court, he’s curious about the game and how we want to play. To lead NCAA Division II in assists is an incredible feat, so we know we have another ball handler out there. He knows how to play the game the right way and play both sides of the ball.
There’s a different energy about us now. Everyone is on the same page, and we’re all locked into getting better every day and winning as many games as possible. It’s been a good couple of weeks of practice, and we all know that this is a long season with a lot of games to play.
Our defence has been improving, and we’re buying in on that end of the floor. It is a challenge at times to do that- it’s hard work to commit to defence- but we’re seeing the guys apply themselves to that side of the ball.
Connor and Mo have been especially important in building the mentality of this group. They’re the pinnacle of professionalism, and I can say that having played with them for three years now.
Our current group of guys come into the practice with a good focus, and that’s all you can ask for. They show up and are professionals whether they’re playing well or not. This group has shown up and put their best foot forward.
It’s exciting to see guys getting more opportunities. Victor, for example, has been getting more minutes, and it’s a great chance for some guys to step into a bigger role. I’ve been in that position in my career where the team needs you to step into a bigger role, and as a pro, you have to stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready.
Now, the aim is to keep improving every day. We’ve shown all year we can put points on the board and that we have plenty of talent. For us, it’s about tightening things up so that when these games get close and physical, we can fall back on our habits and win plenty of games.
We’re ready for the challenge, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.
The Riders fell 87-83 on the road to the Cheshire Phoenix to drop their record to 7-9.
They looked in control of the tie going into the fourth, but the Phoenix won the final period 25-8 as the Riders took their second straight loss.
Leicester’s TJ Lall led the game with 24 points, going 5-7 from deep and cooking in the third quarter to build a lead. But the Riders’ offence stalled in the final quarter, while Cheshire took 16 foul shots to get points on the board.
Laquincy Rideau led the Phoenix with 22, as four of their starters put up double-digit points. Rideau accompanied his scoring with 10 rebounds and eight assists in a near-triple double performance.
After a 6-0 Phoenix start, the Riders relied on their captain Kimbal Mackenzie to steady the ship and get the team’s first six points on the board.
Kimbal Mackenzie gets @RidersBball their first points 🐴
The Riders found joy at the basket to generate their offence as they edged a narrow lead. They had seven scorers in the first quarter, which was concluded by Lall who made it 26-19 with a reverse at the rim.
The hosts came back into it in the second, draining their shots from distance at the hot hands of American guard Maceo Jack. The sides engaged in a back and forth, trading buckets up to the half. Sam Idowu hustled hard to bring his quarter tally to six points and a monster block on Rideau.
There was nothing in it going into the locker rooms, the Riders edging a 45-44 lead at the half led by nine from Mackenzie.
Lall took over to start the second half, scoring 10 points in five minutes including three triples. Miryne Thomas followed up his teammates from range to extend the visitor’s lead to eight.
Lall made it a double digit advantage with two minutes left in the quarter with another three point bomb, brining his tally on the game to 22. Holding a 13 point lead, the Riders were in control with one to play.
The Phoenix started the final quarter 8-2 to get themselves back into the tie. Jaren Holmes stepped up to stem the tide for Leicester, driving into the lane to string a floater, but Cheshire brought it to a three point game with four straight trips to the free throw line.
They tied it up on the following possession with a three from EJ Stephens, and took the lead with an and-one play scored by Aaryn Rai. They went on to extend their lead, Ethan Chargois laying it in from close to make it 85-79 with 1:42 to play.
Mackenzie drained a long two to keep the Riders in with a chance of the win, but a 50/50 out of bounds call went Cheshire’s way with eight seconds left to seal the win for the hosts.
The Riders are back in action next Sunday, taking on the London Lions in the capital.
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.
A spirited performance from Rob Paternostro’s Riders wasn’t enough to overcome a clinical London Lions team, who left the Morningside Arena with an 89-79 victory in the British Basketball League Championship.
Tonight’s defeat was Leicester’s second of the season to the league leaders, dropping their record to 7-8.
Most of the Riders’ success came from beyond the arc where they shot at a 44% clip, largely due to the play of second-unit point guard, Conner Washington. The experienced sharpshooter hit five treys to lead the team with 15 points from the bench.
Washington was ably supported by fellow bench guard Sesan Russell, the new man dropping 13 points after an action-packed second half.
A number of Lions played their part, but big man Conor Morgan was the pick, top-scoring with 19 points after a near-perfect display of shooting, going 87% from the floor.
The opening minutes saw the visitors gain ascendency with clean, incisive play. Early buckets from key men Conor and Matt Morgan gave the Lions an early six-point lead and with the Riders struggling at 1-7 from the field, London looked in charge.
However, industrious play from TJ Lall and a red-hot Washington brought the home side back into the game and got the home fans on their feet.
Lall – who is becoming increasingly important for the Riders with each game – was effective on both ends of the court, making chase down blocks and using his strength to work to the foul line.
Three-ball specialist Washington was the star of the first quarter, knocking down three deep balls, including a catch-and-shoot attempt from a different postcode.
The fast-paced quarter sped to an end, with the scores at 20-20 and Leicester showing plenty of fight.
The second ten minutes began with London turning the heat up on the Riders. Clean jump shots coupled with telescopic offensive rebounding by Josh Sharma pushed the Lions out to their second six-point lead of the night.
The Riders’ effort was present on both ends of the court, but the clean looks they were producing were hitting rim rather than net. Captain Kimbal Mackenzie was all over the court, combining four first-half points with five boards and three assists, but even he couldn’t hold back London’s onslaught.
Getting to the foul line seemingly at will, the Lions opened a commanding double-digit lead, and with the likes of Sam Dekker heating up from the outside, Paternostro’s squad would need to play tough basketball in the second half.
Another picturesque three from Washington and an emphatic fast-break dunk by Miryne Thomas showed that toughness, but the Lions went into the half with a 52-36 lead.
The start of the second 20 was the story of Jaren Holmes versus the Lions. The Riders’ most prolific scorer had the bit between his teeth, draining a pair of threes and slamming home a breakaway dunk to bring the home side back into the game.
Lall continued to hustle hard and Russell’s chemistry with Samuel Idowu was yielding points, but the league leaders managed the contest well, keeping the Riders in a double-digit deficit.
The final stanza started in jubilant fashion for the Riders, Russell and Victor Ndoukou stringing triples before Mackenzie followed suit. When Russell splashed from distance once more, the deficit was down to single figures and the Riders looked to be on a charge.
More deep balls in the final minutes from Washington and Division One prospect Seth Wylie drew cheers from the Riders’ faithful, but more efficient play from London down the stretch gave them the win.
British Basketball League Nets Deal With Most-Watched U.S. Regional Sports Broadcaster, the YES Network
The British Basketball League has announced its programming partnership with the YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the United States and the exclusive regional television home of the 27-time World Champions New York Yankees, the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty.
As part of this collaboration, the YES Network’s Emmy Award-winning YES App will stream two live British Basketball League games per week each Thursday and Friday starting at 2:30 pm ET, with the Riders clash with the London Lions today at 7:45 GMT.
The games will be available on the YES App to subscribers in YES’ regional footprint, which includes all of New York State and Connecticut, northern and central New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania. The network has been the most-watched regional sports network in the country for 18 of the past 20 years.
In addition to the two games streamed weekly, fans can enjoy replays of select games on the YES Network’s linear channel Thursday or Friday in primetime. The British Basketball League’s brand-new UNBEATABLE magazine show will also air on the YES Network and the YES App.
YES App subscribers will be able to watch homegrown talent play across the pond, including Samuel Idowu and Rob Paternostro of the Riders.
The YES App is accessible via yesnetwork.com/info/watch-yes-network and through devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Google TV and Samsung-connected TVs, and on mobile.
British Basketball League Chief Executive Officer, Aaron Radin, said:“We’re very excited about our partnership with the YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the US, to bring our League into the homes of the New York tri-state area. This announcement marks a major milestone for our League, signifying our continuing growth and ambitions.
“We are committed to delivering high-quality sports entertainment to the YES Network’s viewers to build an audience with new overseas fans.”
The following Riders games have been selected for coverage on the YES Network (subject to change).
Friday, December 01, 2023: Leicester Riders vs. London Lions
Friday, December 15, 2023: Leicester Riders vs. Caledonia Gladiators
Friday, January 19, 2024: Newcastle Eagles vs. Leicester Riders
Leicester Riders join forces with Trophies Plus Medals as Official Trophy Partner
Leicester Riders are thrilled to announce their partnership with Trophies Plus Medals as the club’s official trophy supplier.
Trophies Plus Medals are the UK’s leading wholesale supplier of trophies and awards, offering a diverse range of sports trophies manufactured to the highest standards.
This partnership will allow the club to celebrate the many successes of its players, from the first team to its academy, encapsulating their triumphs through Trophies Plus Medals’ first-class products.
They will supply trophies for the Wok 68 Player of the Game Award for Leicester Riders home games and the Leicester Foundation with awards for their academy programmes.
Leicester Riders season ticket holders can now enjoy 10% off at TrophiesPlusMedals.
Trophies Plus Medals Director Ashley Sinclair commented: “As the UK’s fastest & largest supplier of trophies, medals and awards, we are thrilled to be teaming up with the Leicester Riders as their official trophy partner.
“It is hugely important to us to partner with a local organisation that promotes, engages, and develops the sport not only at a professional level but also in the community. We are proud and excited to support the Leicester Riders and look forward to building a strong relationship together.”
Leicester Riders Head of Commercial Tracey Hallam added: “We are thrilled to welcome Trophies Plus Medals to the Leicester Riders family. This exciting partnership promises tremendous benefits for both our club and the community through the Leicester Riders Foundation and its academy programmes.
“At the Riders, we are in continual pursuit of excellence on and off the court. Our partnership with Trophies Plus Medals enables us to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our first team and academy players, allowing them to showcase their achievements proudly in their trophy cabinets.”
The all-new Wok 68 Player of the Game award will be presented to the Riders’ Player of the Game following their clash against London Lions on December 1.
The Riders begin December basketball on Friday night by welcoming the London Lions to the Morningside Arena in Round 12 of the British Basketball League Championship.
It will be the second meeting between the two sides, the first a high-scoring 102-95 victory for the league leaders.
After a tricky run of results and significant changes in personnel, the 7-7 Riders jumped back to winning ways with a 94-79 defeat of the Manchester Giants.
Coach Rob Paternostro’s team completely outplayed their opponents, most pleasingly restricting Manchester to just less than 80 points.
A commanding first-quarter lead and accuracy from three-point range – led by the experienced Connor Washington – made the difference. Washington went four of seven from deep, leading the bench with 14 points in a show of effective ‘shoot first’ point guard play.
The starters also had impressive nights, most notably the versatile TJ Lall, who ended the game just shy of a 16-point double-double.
The Lions should be a much stiffer test and, as the Riders’ faithful discovered in early November, have game-winners throughout their roster.
However, a packed European schedule has forced London to manage playing time and the 102-80 loss to a surging Newcastle shows potential vulnerability in the BBL Championship.
There’s no doubt that the Lions will bring their best to Leicester come Friday, but on the back of a refreshing victory over the Giants, the Riders may well replicate the feat of the Eagles.
Conquering Europe
The championship leaders may have an eight-point advantage in the British Basketball League with a 14-2 record, but it is their performance in Europe which demonstrates the quality of this roster.
The Lions are 7-2 in EuroCup play and sit second in Group A having beaten top European competition at home and on the road.
Star players like Matt Morgan and Donte Grantham have elevated London to a new level this season, but last Thursday’s loss in the Copper Box to Newcastle shows that teams can rise to meet them.
The Eagles hurt the Lions with their guard play. Jordan Johnson and Larry Austin Jr both having impressive nights, scoring 25 and 14 points respectively.
Austin Jr backed up his scoring with seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals. The Riders have players who can fill the stat sheet like Austin. It will be needed on Friday.
London also suffered at the hands of bench shooter Josh Ward-Hibbert, who drained five three balls at a high clip. Riders’ fans should look for rangy big man Samuel Idowu, or the deadly accurate Washington to provide points in bunches from the second unit.
Morgan, his namesake Conor Morgan, Grantham and Gabe Olaseni all troubled Leicester in the previous clash between these two teams.
Continuing the three-ball shooting accuracy from the win over Manchester and restricting these four to limited points could be the recipe to hand London their third domestic loss of the season.
Key Matchup
The crucial battle on Friday may develop between two players who do everything well – the previously mentioned TJ Lall and Conor Morgan.
Morgan, a 6’9” Irish Canadian forward, came to the UK this season with a fine pedigree after seasons spent in the top tiers of Spain, Poland and Turkey.
The big man has shown that he can do it all in the League, mixing his offensive output up with smooth skills inside and an ability to shoot efficiently from beyond the arc.
Among forwards, Morgan has one of the best jump shots in the league and is often the outlet after the Lions drive into the lane, demonstrated by eight contests scoring double-digit points.
The former Joventut player has also shown hustle around the rim and an eye for an assist in his 13 games with the Lions.
Lall may not have the height of his counterpart – standing at 6’7” – but he makes up for it with physicality and sheer determination.
The Canadian, a former first-overall pick in the CEBL draft, predicates his game on hard work on both sides of the court.
Due to minor injury, Lall has only suited up 10 times for the Riders this season, but each time he has taken to the court, opposition players and fans alike can feel his impact.
The forward’s best game came last week versus the Giants with 16 points and eight rebounds. As Lall earns more minutes, expect those numbers to become a regularity.
Riders Head of Commerical Tracey Hallam raises £1625 for Leicester Hospital’s Charity
Leicester Riders Head of Commerical Tracey Hallam raised £1625 for Leicester Hospital’s Charity in their Boss Breakout event!
The event, hosted in Leicester Highcross, saw Tracey, among other Leicester business leaders, use her business skills to raise money for the purchase of 12 fold-away hospital beds.
The aim of each of the participants was to raise £1000, leaning on their business connections to encourage donations. Tracey comfortably achieved this total and more, thanks to the generosity of the Riders family.
The 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 contributions will make a meaningful difference in the lives of families who find themselves in the difficult situation of having a child in the hospital.
The Riders got back to winning ways in their latest outing in the British Basketball League, besting the Manchester Giants 94-79.
Here’s what we can take away from the result…
The importance of hitting the ground running
The Riders have found themselves battling back from early deficits throughout this season, but with three new players brought into the starting lineup, they hit the ground running in this one.
Miryne Thomas burst out of the gate with eight points, two rebounds, and two steals, setting the tone and leading the team to a 29-11 opening quarter.
Leicester built a platform to see the game out from, and never allowed the Giants to come within single digits the rest of the way.
“We’ve been starting slow and playing from behind early, and we couldn’t have that tonight,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro after the game.
“We knew they were coming into this one having played the night before, and we stuck it to them early and saw the game out really well.”
Getting ahead at the jump injected life into the Riders faithful, building an incredible atmosphere in the arena and giving energy into the team throughout. The early form was pivotal to the victory, and the team will be hoping for more quick momentum this weekend.
Experience steadies the ship
Following the departure of three players in the previous weeks, it fell on the Riders’ veterans to take up bigger roles in this one. They stepped up in a big way, with three long-term Riders bagging double-digit points.
Kimbal Mackenzie made his return to the starting lineup, after leading the bench unit for much of the season so far. He didn’t miss a beat, tallying 16 points and six assists, and finishing the game with a +/- of 14.
Mo Walker, in his second straight start, saw the team over the line with his impact in the fourth quarter. The Giants brought the game back to 11 going into the final period, so making the next run was pivotal for either team’s success.
The Riders dumped the ball down low to the big man, and he responded with six quick points to put the game to bed.
The final piece of the puzzle was 11-year Rider Conner Washington, who put up a season-high of 14 off the bench. Washington was gunning from deep, hitting four of his seven three-point attempts and hitting timely shots throughout the game.
The calm heads of players who have seen it all in Riders red played an important role in getting back to winning ways.
Strength in numbers
In addition to Walker, Washington and Mackenzie, the Riders had three further double-digit scorers in a team effort up and down the roster.
Thomas led the game with 17 points in only 19 minutes, but it was TJ Lall who earned player of the game honours with 16 points and eight rebounds in his return to the starting five.
Lall combined with Washington to make waves in the second quarter, going for six points and three rebounds to close the half and keep the Riders in control. His impact on both ends through his 33 minutes of play, through his scoring, rebounding and defence, saw him put together a well-rounded performance in the win.
Making it count at the line
The Riders showed poise and composure at the foul stripe in the game, not letting a single freebie go to waste. They made all 14 of their attempts, with six different Riders making journeys to the line and making all of their shots.
Leicester ranks among the League’s best in free throw percentage, knocking them down at 77% rate, the second-best in the British Basketball League.
Their killer efficiency from the line was an important part of seeing the game out, preventing any life from being breathed into a Giants side that fought wire to wire.
Battling in back-to-backs
The Giants played the Riders off the back of a gruelling battle with the Plymouth City Patriots, where they took home a 91-90 win.
They made the trip to Leicester the next day, and perhaps lacked the legs underneath them to keep up with the Riders’ energy early.
It has been a theme of this British Basketball League season, with teams having to dig deep through a densely packed schedule.
The Riders face a similar task this weekend, taking on the Cheshire Phoenix on the road two days after a clash against the London Lions, with Cheshire enjoying a week’s rest in the build-up to the game.
They’ll have to find ways of overcoming this task when they hit the road next weekend.
The Riders got back to winning ways in the British Basketball League Championship, beating the Manchester Giants 94-79.
A 29-11 first quarter set the tone, in a game which Leicester never trailed. The hosts fended off the Giants’ runs throughout the game to remain in control wire to wire.
Points contributions came from all over the roster, the Riders getting six double-digit scorers in the box score. Miryne Thomas led the way with 17 points and missed just one shot along the way.
TJ Lall and Kimbal Mackenzie backed him up with 16 each, the latter tallying his points in 23 minutes.
The Giants, on the second day of a back-to-back which has proved difficult for all in the League this season, struggled with the congested schedule in this one. Nick Lewis led the game with 22 points, but couldn’t overcome the Riders’ infectious energy throughout.
Three straight triples settled the Riders into the game, as they bolted out to a seven-point lead. The hosts suffocated the Giants with relentless energy on both ends, holding them to a 4-12 start and bagging a quick 18 points through five minutes of action.
Thomas led the energetic explosion with eight points, two rebounds and two steals. He proved the catalyst for the early run. The Riders led 29-11 after one, starting 5-10 from three.
Washington started the second with the same deep shooting form, nailing a three in his first contribution to the game. He and TJ Lall took charge of the game in the quarter as the Riders maintained their lead.
The Giants matched the Riders in the second but were unable to make significant inroads. Canadian guard Nick Lewis led the game with 12 points at the half, draining a buzzer-beating three from halfcourt, making it 52-36.
Manchester threatened to commence a run coming out of the half, getting the first two buckets to make it a 12 point affair. Lall and Thomas hit back with a pair of threes to stifle any comeback and settle into the second half.
Manchester found form late in the quarter, going on a 7-0 run concluded by Evan Walshe’s three to make it a closer contest with one to play. The difference was 11 points going into the fourth.
Kimbal Mackenzie got the fourth underway with a pair of threes to snatch back momentum in the tie. Jaren Holmes and Mo Walker contributed to a 13-4 start to the final period, which was capped off by a deep three from Washington.
The Riders saw the game out comfortably from there, capped off by Washington taking charge on Lewis for his fifth and final foul.
The Riders are back in action on December 1, taking on London Lions at home.
Leicester Riders are thrilled to announce the signing of Sesan Russell for the remainder of the 2023/24 season.
The 6’1” British guard comes off the back of a four-year collegiate career for Florida Tech University in the NCAA Division II. He averaged 18.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.3 rebounds as a senior, leading the nation in his assists total.
Russell has been a member of the Riders family since 2015, joining Charnwood College at the age of 16. He went on to play for the Loughborough Riders until 2018 and represented Great Britain for the under-18s and under-20s.
He helped Charnwood to an EABL North Division title, earning EABL North Player of the Year and EABL First Team selection in 2018, and lifted the NBL Division 1 title with Loughborough Riders.
Head Coach Rob Paternostro commented: “Sesan is a guy that we know well. He came through our academy and saw some time on our bench during that time, so he understands the club and what it takes to be a Rider.
“He brings a combination of scoring and passing, and he was excellent at Florida Tech. I know the coaches there were really impressed by him. He’s someone that can step in and make a real impact out there.”
Russell added: “It’s a pleasure to be back with the Riders. Thank you to Coach Rob and Russell for the opportunity, and I’m looking forward to getting out there with the team.”
The Riders are back in action tomorrow, taking on the Manchester Giants at home.
Buy a ticket to our game against the London Lions on December 1 or the Caledonia Gladiators on December 16, and get a free ticket to our Trophy clash against Manchester Giants on January 10!
Following the departure of three Riders plays as part of a Riders roster restructure, Head Coach Rob Paternostro spoke to BBC Radio Leicester to explain the organisation’s decision-making process.
“We had to try and find a way to be pulling in the same direction,” said Paternostro.
“We want a group that is committed to winning together. It was an organisational decision to turn a page and head in a different direction.
“This was something that we have spoken about for a number of weeks. In my 16 seasons at the club, we’ve always had a team that is committed to winning and playing the right way. When we don’t see that, we want to correct that as quickly as possible.
“The players had been here since August, and we did everything we could to create the best environment possible for those guys. We have a track record of players around the world that will tell you this is a great place to play basketball.
“There’s a lot of factors that go into that, and we want to continue to ensure we have a great basketball club on and off the court. But sometimes you have to make tough decisions, and those decisions weren’t made hastily.
“We were having discussions for a while, and each one of the players knew that. There are certain criteria we have to play for the Riders, and that isn’t just about winning. I love to win, but there’s more to it than that. We want to play the right way, and we want our whole team to pull in the same direction.”
Looking ahead
“We’re excited about this group going forward, and they are a group that’s come together through this. We have a team that’s excited to play, and we have had great practices this week. These guys were the reason we were in these games. They’re model professionals, and they’re ready to go.
“We know we’re down bodies, but we’re excited about going out and fighting in front of our fans. These are the times that their support is really needed. I love our fans, and we expect great support on Saturday night. This is a group of guys that really deserve that.”
The Riders are back in action tomorrow, taking on the Manchester Giants at home.
The weekend’s clash with the Giants will be a good test of how coach Rob Paternostro’s talented squad face adversity after falling to three close defeats in the past couple of weeks.
In the first championship fixture between the two clubs, the Riders came away from Manchester with a 94-80 loss.
It was the second game of an attritional back-to-back weekend for Leicester, who had downed the Surrey Scorchers the previous night.
This time, the roles are reversed as Manchester will arrive in the East Midlands following a Friday night game against the Plymouth City Patriots.
Expect Paternostro to employ a fast-paced game, wearing down the visitors and reaping rewards in the second half.
Riders’ captain Kimbal Mackenzie will be crucial to this strategy, his speed of foot and thought is a large part of an offence that is putting up over 90 points a night.
Another player who could have a sizeable impact is second-unit big man Samuel Idowu.
Aside from his brick wall defence, the 6’8” power forward is a great floor stretcher and often finds space beyond the arc for a three-pointer.
Idowu is no slouch from long range, hitting on over 35% of his three-point attempts.
The veteran may prove to be a nightmare for a tiring Giants defence that should be slowed in the fourth quarter.
Scoring Depth Needed for Giants
Coach Brian Semonian’s Giants squad have faced a tough start to the season and sit ninth in the British Basketball League Championship standings with six points.
Playoff quarter finalists last year, Manchester have seen a significant drop in offensive production in 2023, falling from over 89 points per game to just over 80.
Star forward Jamell Anderson – who dropped 19 on the Riders in October – and ‘shoot first’ guard Nick Lewis are balling, but points from the rest of the roster have been scarce.
The Giants are seventh in points per game and eighth in true shooting percentage.
Saturday’s visitors struggle to fashion offence from sources other than Anderson and Lewis, so shutting that dynamic duo down will be a top priority.
The Riders may also expect to break three figures on offense, exploiting Manchester’s league-worst defence that is giving up 92 points per contest.
These factors, coupled with the fact of a back-to-back weekend of fixtures, means it could be a difficult night for the Giants.
Key Players
A current Rider takes on a former Rider in what is possibly the juiciest matchup of British Basketball League Championship round 11.
High-flying power forward Miryne Thomas will put his skills to the test against the reliable William Lee.
Lee, playing a second season in Manchester, has only suited up for three games this season, but showed his value with a 19-point performance in a recent win over the Bristol Flyers.
The 6’9” forward has had trouble with injuries during his spell with the Giants, but has been impressive when on the court, winning Molten Player of the Month honours twice last season.
The veteran was kept quiet in a round 10 loss to the London Lions, but Riders’ supporters will be aware of his dangerous combination of solid defence and efficient scoring.
The athletic Thomas has had an excellent start to his career as a Rider.
A team standout this season, #3 has posted three double-doubles including a 21 and 11 showing against the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks last week.
The Cleveland native spends most of his time in the paint, using his shiftiness to find space inside before slamming home a powerful dunk.
Thomas is knocking down over 66% of his close-range shots, but supplements that with solid accuracy from the top of the arc, draining 44% of his three-pointers from that area.
A plethora of talent will take to the floor this weekend and the Riders’ faithful should see a thoroughly entertaining game.
If round 11 follows the trends of the season, expect the home offence to catch fire.
The Riders fell to the Sheffield Sharks 91-84 on the road.
It was an intensely fought battle from wire to wire, but the Riders could never grab the lead despite bringing their deficit back to a possession several times. Miryne Thomas led the team’s efforts with 21 points, backed by Jaren Holmes’ 16.
Devearl Ramsey went off for his season-high of 22 points for Sheffield, taking charge to hit key shots throughout to keep the Sharks narrowly ahead. They shot 52% from the field and 40% from three in a hot shooting night.
Turnovers ultimately cost the Riders, who gave the ball away 15 times to the Sharks’ 10. They couldn’t get it going from deep either, hitting 23% from three against Sheffield’s sharpshooting clinic.
Starting for the first time this season, Mo Walker got to work from the tip, playing physically inside to establish the Riders’ offence in the paint. He and Thomas found success down low early, combining for 11 points by the first commercial timeout.
The Sharks led 21-20 after one, led by seven points from star scorer Jalon Pipkins who had his team up by as much as six in the quarter. But Samuel Idowu hit the Riders’ first three of the night to close the score by the buzzer.
The Sharks continued to lead from the front in the second, as big man Bennet Koch drew two and-one plays to rebuild the host’s lead.
Sheffield found success running the floor, as point guard Devearl Ramsey leaked out on the fast break to log 11 halftime points. Kimbal Mackenzie ran the Riders’ show off the bench to keep them in it, scoring eight in the second quarter, and made free throws to cut it to seven to end the half, the Riders still with work to do.
Thomas put the team on his shoulders out of the half to keep the team in it. He scored eight in five minutes, including two threes, responding to big Sharks plays to start the third.
The Riders clawed their way back into it, Jaren Holmes finding his range to spearhead the comeback, but the Sharks kept their noses in front by making timely threes throughout the period. Ramsey hit two of them, keeping up with Thomas’ scoring as the game approached its final stanza.
Representing the theme of the game so far, Leicester looked like they’d be entering the fourth within a possession after Mackenzie’s score inside. But Pipkins’ miraculous full-court heave went through to make it 68-62.
Sheffield exploded in the fourth, relentlessly hitting their deep ball to build their first double-digit lead of the tie.
Trailing in the turnover battle 15-7 midway through the period, the Riders found a way to force steals of their own to get back into the game. Holmes and Lall intercepted passes on back-to-back possessions to trigger fastbreaks, resulting in four important points.
But as was the case throughout, Leicester couldn’t get over the hump, Ramsey hitting shots in response to earn Sheffield the win.
The Riders are back in action next week, taking on the Manchester Giants at home on November 25.
Leicester Riders announce the departure of Braelen Bridges from their 2023/24 roster.
The club have decided to part ways with the American center, who joined the Riders this past summer.
Riders would like to put on record their thanks and gratitude to Braelen for his efforts whilst in red, and wish him the best for his future endeavours.
Ted Lasso star Tom Hendryk to attend second Riders business club
Leicester Riders are set to build on the success of their relaunched Business Club with the second of three events this season on November 20, hosted by EverythingBranded.
The event, sponsored by 1284, will feature a Q&A with Ted Lasso star Tom Hendryk!
Hendryk, a Leicester native, plays goalkeeper Tom O’Brien in the hit Apple TV show. Guests will be invited to ask questions during a 30-minute talk with our special guest.
The club would like to thank its partners at 5or6 for their key role in arranging the Q&A with Tom.
Sponsors are invited to bring a senior figure from other businesses as guests, to showcase what sponsorship with the Riders can do for local organisations.
There has been increased interest this summer in Riders’ corporate packages. Player sponsorship has increased 50% year-on-year, the vast majority of last season’s corporate sponsors have renewed, and new businesses joining for first time include Better IT, Abel Alarm, 2XL Commercial Finance, and Griffin Fit.
Leicester Riders Chairman, Kevin Routledge, said: “We’ve been building our business offer over the summer following the arrival of Tracey Hallam as our commercial manager and our partnership with 1284.
“The support of our sponsors is crucial, not just for the Riders but also for our community foundation and the Arena itself.”
Loughborough-based 1284 provides award-winning B2B corporate communications to innovative public and private organisations in the East Midlands.
George Oliver, Managing Director of 1284, said: “We’ve been involved for a couple of years now and are really excited about getting more involved with the new-look Riders Business Club.”
For more information on partnering with the Riders, please contact [email protected], or read more about our sponsorship opportunities here!
The Riders will take the short journey up the M1 this Friday as they visit the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks for the first time since defeating them in the first round of playoffs last season.
Victory in this Round 10 matchup will see Rob Paternostro’s squad return to a record above .500 and leapfrog their opponents in the British Basketball League championship standings.
Fixture Information
Leicester Riders @ B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
Canon Medical Arena, Sheffield
Friday, November 17, 7:30pm
Returning to Winning Ways
The Riders will be hoping to get back in the winner’s column this Friday after a tough Round Nine of championship action brought with it two narrow defeats.
Losses to the London Lions and Cheshire Phoenix by near-identical margins (102-95 and 102-96) dropped Leicester to 6-6 and sixth spot in the table, but winning back-to-back games against two of the best offenses in the UK was always going to be a tall order.
The Riders played some of their best basketball this season in defeat, especially when in possession of the ball, so many positives can be taken from them.
Determined shooting guard Caleb Asberry shone in both games, dialling up 16 points and nine boards versus the Lions before hitting five shots from deep in a 23-point performance in Cheshire.
The former Oklahoma State Cowboy also showed quick hands on defence, snatching five steals across the weekend and constantly affecting the play of the opponents’ big men.
Sheffield will present a different challenge for the Riders this week.
The Sharks are averaging 13 PPG less than Paternostro’s squad so far this season and, despite holding a better record than the Riders, have only scored more than 90 points on two occasions.
Leicester currently averages 91.5 PPG and appears to have the advantage when scoring the basketball.
However, the Sharks also play some of the best defensive basketball in the BBL, conceding the lowest number of points per game in the league at 74.4.
Look for Sheffield to try and frustrate the Riders through on-ball tenacity and the forcing of tough shots.
The Riders will need to call on all their offensive weapons to crack open Sheffield’s defence. Expect big games from starters Miryne Thomas, Jaren Holmes and Xavier Pinson.
Defence is the Key
Atiba Lyons’ Sheffield squad have started the season strongly, earning fifth place in the championship standings with a 7-6 record.
On the back of a stingy defence, the Sharks have claimed impressive wins over the Cheshire Phoenix, Caledonia Gladiators and Surrey Scorchers and have only lost once at home – to the league-leading London Lions.
Sheffield combines their excellent perimeter defence with good ball retention and efficient scoring from three-point range.
The Sharks take less deep shots than many teams in the British Basketball League, but hit at a 38.3% clip, third best in the league.
Contributing heavily to the high percentage shooting is wing player Jordan Ratinho and second-unit guard, RJ Eytle-Rock.
The sharpshooters may not be Sheffield’s most prolific scorers but look for them to capitalise on any space the Riders leave at the perimeter.
The Sharks’ most athletic weapon is undoubtedly high-flying guard, Jalon Pipkins.
The third-year professional has speed in the lane, hops near the rim and an ability to perform the spectacular. #5 has upped his offensive output this season, so expect plenty of highlight-reel plays on Friday night.
Key Matchup
Round 10’s key matchup will see youthful exuberance against solid experience as Xavier Pinson faces up to the test of Devearl Ramsey.
Ramsey, a 6’0” guard who spent a season playing NBA G-League ball with the Stockton Kings, is the floor general for the Sharks and their premier playmaker.
Dishing five assists per game, the 26-year-old is adept at finding the right shooter while also avoiding risk of turnovers.
Reliable, mistake-free basketball is Ramsey’s game, and with a points per game average of 11.5, he also contributes to the scoreboard.
Aiming to best Ramsey will be Riders’ young point guard Pinson.
All season, fans have witnessed Pinson showcase his ball-handling skills and penchant for the flashy play.
A former University of Missouri and LSU player, Pinson has excellent basketball pedigree and his numbers back up his attacking flair.
11.5 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game and a three-point percentage of 45% display Pinson’s versatile game – all while sharing minutes with Riders’ captain, Kimbal Mackenzie.
The Chicagoan plays a riskier brand of basketball than his seasoned opponent, but the result is a stronger offensive profile.
This game is a tale of the unstoppable force versus the immovable object.
The battle between Pinson and Ramsey could well play out in the same way.
The Riders fell on the road 102-96 against the Cheshire Phoenix.
It was a tie game entering the final quarter, little separating the sides throughout the contest. Cheshire went up 11 with 2:30 to go, but the Riders found a spirited comeback to cut it to a possession with 30 seconds on the clock.
They went on an 8-0 run led by Samuel Idowu’s three and putback slam to give themselves a chance, and Cheshire’s Laquincy Rideau missed both at the line with the difference only three points.
But the officials pointed Cheshire’s way on a 50/50 out of bounds call, allowing the hosts to see it out.
Caleb Asberry continued his hot form after his 16 point performance against the London Lions on Friday night, leading the Riders with a season-high 23 points going 8-12 from the field.
Iwodu also impressed off the bench throughout with 18 points and seven rebounds, finishing the game with a +/- of 15.
For Cheshire, American forward Ethan Chargois led the game with 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists. They took a late advantage with hot shooting to start the fourth, benefitting from a week’s extra rest late.
Asberry picked up where he left off after his Player of the Game performance against London, scoring the Riders first eight points. But the Phoenix exploded to a hot start, gunning from behind the arc to make their first five three point attempts, going up 10 early.
The Riders’ second unit checked into the game midway through the first to breath some life into the Riders’ offence. Mo Walker immediately got to work with two quick baskets, before Sam Idowu drove to the rim for an and-one play- Leicester’s frontcourt doing the business inside.
The bench got the Riders back into the game despite a red hot Chesire offensive start led by 10 points from American forward Ethan Chargois. Walker came up with a block on Rideau with seconds left in the period, setting up an Asberry buzzer beating layup to cut the deficit to four.
Leicester took the game by the reins in the second, starting with two triples from TJ Lall and Kimbal Mackenzie which took their first lead of the game. It was the Riders’ turn to punish their opponents from deep, making four in five minutes.
The Phoenix hung around in the game, the Riders keeping ahead in the ball game by finding success attacking inside. Mackenzie’s drive to the hoop concluded the half’s action with Leicester leading 55-49.
Cheshire started the second half the nighter of the sides, running in transition to generate their offesnce in the open floor and snatch back the lead. The Riders fired back in response to reclaim their advantage at the hands of Lall, who scored four quick points inside.
Lall kickstarted a 7-0 Riders run to give the Riders a five point lead, but a stong end to the quarter from Cheshire’s Aaryn Rai tied it up at 72 with one to play.
The Phoenix started the fourth hot, attacking the rim to start the quarter 9-1. The Riders battled back, finding their way to the free throw line by driving to the hole to keep it to a six point defecit as the clock ticked down to five remaining in the game.
But Cheshire closed out strong, hitting big shots down the stretch led by Chargois’ seven point final quarter to secure a win. Asberry and Idowu came up with late threes to bring it back to six, before Idowu threw down a huge putback jam to give Leicester a late chance.
Mackenzie followed up a missed free throw with a bucket to cut it to a possession, and Rideau missed both after the subsequent foul, but the referee’s gave the out of bounds call Cheshire’s way, allowing them to seal it at the line.
The loss sent the Riders home empty handed in a closely fought game for the second time in the weekend. They return to action next week on the road against the Sheffield Sharks.
Sunday evening sees the Riders travelling northwest to take on the 7-4 Cheshire Phoenix in the British Basketball League Championship.
It will be the second game of the weekend for Rob Paternostro’s squad after they fell 102-95 to the league-leading London Lions in an epic clash on Friday night.
Fixture Information
Leicester Riders @ Cheshire Phoenix
Ellesmere Port Sports Village, Cheshire Oaks
Sunday, November 12, 6:00pm
Close to Victory
The Riders may have been defeated by the Lions on Friday night, but there was plenty of evidence that this squad can beat anyone on their day.
The home side bettered their opponents in several categories, including three-point percentage, points in the paint and rebounds. Victory looked possible, especially during a sustained period in the third quarter which saw the Riders holding onto a narrow lead.
However, what makes the Lions special is the ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over. They very rarely waste a possession, and even as the Riders’ defence forced several missed shots, London’s knack of getting to the foul line told in the final score.
The visitors – who claimed their thirteenth win in fourteen British Basketball League Championship games on Friday – hit 26 points from the free throw line at a clip of 86%, nine more than the Riders who knocked down 16 at an uncharacteristically low 72%.
A major positive for the Riders was the play of shooting guard Caleb Asberry.
The 6’3” Texan balled out on both ends of the court, tormenting the opposition big men with fast hands-on defence, knocking down 16 points on offence and leading the Riders with nine rebounds for good measure.
As Friday’s game went on, the energy of the Morningside Arena grew, and Asberry’s tenacity grew with it.
The in-form Jaren Holmes also had a nice showing, flashing his skills as a playmaker to dish eight assists to go with 18 points for a near double-double.
Leicester scored 95 points on a defence that gives up only 79.5 points per game, but it wasn’t quite enough.
Cheshire is another team that can score the ball, averaging an impressive 88.5 points per game, so the Riders may find themselves needing another total within touching distance of three figures to take victory on the road.
The Surprise Package of the Season
Judging on whispers throughout the pre-season, few around the BBL were predicting the Phoenix to have a hot 7-4 start.
Ben Thomas’ team sit third in the standings on 14 points, playing consistent basketball predicated on a solid defence and dominance on the boards.
The Phoenix are currently pulling down 40.9 rebounds per game and sit second in total rebounds percentage with 54.3% – just behind the 8-4 Bristol Flyers.
That hustle to get to missed shots allows Cheshire to be the most prolific team in the league when on the fast break, hitting 17.9 fast break points each night. The Riders have been susceptible to giving up fast break points this season, so this is sure to be an area of focus for Coach Paternostro.
Top scorer for the Phoenix is guard Maceo Jack, the second-year American having an excellent sophomore season, dropping 18.7 points per night to become one of the most prolific scorers in the league.
Jack is ably supported by big men Aaryn Rai and Skylar White who put up double-digits in points on most outings.
Rai, who has only played in six of the Nix’s 11 games this season, is a 6’6” forward with an eye for a pass. Should he play on Sunday, expect him to be a large part of Cheshire’s offense.
Key Matchup
Sunday’s key matchup is between two players who bring high-quality minutes from the bench – Cam Christon and Riders’ captain, Kimbal Mackenzie.
Christon, a rookie who joined the BBL this season from the Grambling State Tigers, stands at 6’6” and uses his combination of speed and length to slice inside and finish effectively in the paint.
The Texan has scored close to 20 points on several occasions this season despite second-unit minutes, even dropping 21 points in 23 minutes on the Patriots in an October win.
Riders’ fans may be somewhat familiar with Christon’s ability to score in bunches as he knocked down 16 in just ten minutes on opening day.
A player Riders’ supporters will certainly be familiar with is energetic point guard, Mackenzie. The Leicester veteran is often brought off the bench to galvanise the team when the opposition is on a run or to hit clutch shots in the waning moments of a game.
#1’s presence was felt yet again on Friday night, as he bolted around the court and involved himself in everything positive the Riders produced.
Mackenzie finished the night with 17 points, five assists and managed to draw four trips to the charity stripe.
It is going to be interesting to see when and how both coaches decide to use their second-unit weapons. The player who brings the best from the bench could prove to be the one that wins this game for their team.
Last night, the Riders went toe to toe with the table-topping London Lions, falling just short in a 102-94 loss.
Here’s what we can learn from the fixture.
Hanging with the best
From wire to wire, this Riders roster showed it could compete with the best the British Basketball League has to offer. It was a one-score game at the end of the second and third quarters before the Lions found late form in the fourth.
It was just a four-point game late after Miryne Thomas’ layup in close, the Riders hanging around until the final buzzer.
After their blowout of the Eagles last time out, and pushing London all the way, Leicester are growing into the season and establishing themselves as a contender for the top end of the table game by game.
Caleb’s tenacity
Last night’s Wok 68 Player of the Game was Caleb Asberry, who covered every inch of the floor in an energetic display.
Asbery’s infectious energy spread through the entire Arena, snatching the ball of the Lions three times, including a timely steal on Donte Grantham to end the half, which led to two important points.
He finished with a stat line of 16 points, 9 rebounds, three steals and three blocks, all worth an index rating of 30. He made his mark all over the stat sheet and kept the Riders in the tie through heart and hustle.
Offence clicked into gear
The Riders’ offence has been a strength all season, but in this one it showed it can contest with the League’s most productive and high-firing unit.
Four of the Riders starters scored in double-digit points, Xavier Pinson missing out by only one, and Kimbal Mackenzie made an incredible impact off the bench with 17.
Competing with a Lions side that had three 20-point scorers on the game, the Riders have consistently found multiple plates who can put the ball in the basket up and down the roster.
Led by Jaren Holmes’ 18 points, topping the Riders’ scoring charts once again, the Riders shot 47% from the field and 35% from three, their killer efficiency allowing them to go blow for blow with the Lions.
After their 111-point scoring night against the Eagles, the Riders have proven their ability to blow anybody out of the water on any given night.
Recipe for rebounding
After having difficulty on the defensive glass throughout the season, the Riders had no such issues last night.
They kept the Lions off the offensive boards completely for three and a half quarters to secure every defensive possession and won the offensive rebounding battle 9-5 by the finish.
Friday night saw the Riders fall 102-94 to the league-leading London Lions after a captivating game in the British Basketball League Championship.
Coach Rob Paternostro’s squad fought to the last buzzer and led mid-way through the second half, but clinical offense from Petar Božić’s side gave them their 13th win in 14 games.
The best player on the court for the Riders was tenacious shooting guard Caleb Asberry, who dropped 15 points, pulled down nine rebounds and snagged three steals in a complete display.
BBL ‘Team of the Week’ member Jaren Holmes top scored for the home side, dropping 18 points, including three of four from deep range. The wing forward also showed his ability to hit the open man, dishing eight assists on the night.
London’s roster quality showed in a big way, three players scoring over 20 points, Dante Grantham the pick of the bunch with a 22-point/11-rebound double-double.
The game started at a frenetic pace as both teams looked to use speed and ball movement to create easy buckets.
After a breathless first three minutes, the score sat at 12-9 in favour of London – the Lions looking in fine form but being matched by the Riders.
Miryne Thomas once again opened the Riders’ account, hitting two shots from the free throw line, followed by an emphatic two-handed dunk by Braelen Bridges who found space with a nice perimeter move.
A beautiful cut to the basket from Holmes was rewarded with a layup and Xavier Pinson brought the home faithful to its feet by hitting a nasty crossover on the experienced Jordan Taylor, before draining a three.
It didn’t take long before the Lions – who became the first British outfit to defeat Spanish opposition on Wednesday – showed their quality, Matt Morgan leading all scorers with 10 first quarter points.
Leicester’s depth was also showing its value, led by a fired-up captain in Kimbal Mackenzie, who hit a pair of ‘and one’ plays to peg the visitors back from an eight-point lead.
A corner three from veteran Connor Washington brought the Riders within three, and a premium quality quarter ended with the Lions holding a 29-26 lead.
If the first ten minutes started with a bang, the second quarter was the opposite.
Both teams found hitting buckets tough, and the vaunted Lions’ offense was struggling to get through the Riders’ ‘three-two’ zone defence.
Mackenzie continued to bring energy from the bench, feeding Bridges on consecutive plays for two quick buckets, and after a deep three from Holmes, Riders were within reach of a first lead of the game.
Once more, London showed their class and built another useful gap after a pair of threes from Connor Morgan, but like a marching band, the Riders kept moving forwards and bringing the noise.
The loudest moment of the night came with the first half buzzer ready to sound, as Asberry pilfered the ball and slammed it home to record his tenth point and bring the Riders within three.
An entertaining first 20 concluded with London leading 51-48 and all to play for.
The second half commenced with the home crowd in full voice, and the back-and-forth basketball didn’t disappoint.
London were showing a metronomic ability to get to the foul line and hit at a clip of over 90%, but the intensity from the Riders was rattling the league leaders.
Bridges was showing his skills inside, hitting on a couple of smooth post moves, but the defence of Asberry was ‘stealing’ the show.
The Texan was all over the court, picking pockets, smashing home dunks and showing hustle on the offensive glass – his excellent play helping the Riders to a narrow third quarter lead.
Not to be outdone, the Riders’ bench also flashed, Samuel Idowu demonstrating soft hands to feed a cutting Thomas, and when Mackenzie dropped yet another ‘and one’ coupled with a deep three, the Morningside was rocking.
As good as the Riders were playing, the Lions matched them, ending the quarter with an easy layup from a missed free throw to lead 74-72.
The final ten minutes brought with it a tense atmosphere, but consecutive shots from downtown by Holmes and Mackenzie saw the home fans on their feet once more.
The Lions’ offense would not be denied however, as they hit three shots in a row to take a five-point lead.
Gabe Olaseni and Grantham were providing most of the visitors’ threat, showing strength and accuracy inside to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Coach Paternostro’s young squad showed commendable endeavour and fight during the final five minutes, but big plays from Holmes and Thomas weren’t enough to reel last season’s champions in.
The final buzzer sounded, and the Lions returned to the capital after possibly the toughest game of their campaign so far.
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.
This Friday is an important one for the Riders as round nine of the British Basketball League Championship brings the visit of the table-topping London Lions to the Morningside Arena.
It will be the first time Rob Paternostro’s team will face the reigning champions this season, having narrowly lost to them in the Playoff Final last May.
Both squads will also need to manage their minutes wisely, with the Riders due to play Cheshire on November 12 and the Lions competing in midweek EuroCup games.
Since the opening-day loss to the Cheshire Phoenix, the Riders have turned the Morningside Arena into a fortress, winning four consecutive home games by a margin of 14.8 points.
Victories against Plymouth, Newcastle and a double over Surrey have proved vital in keeping the Riders above .500, but their fiercest test of the young season is likely to come this Friday.
One thing the Riders need to maintain is a prolific offence at home.
Leicester are hitting an average of 94 points in front of their home supporters and last Saturday’s 111-point demolition of the Eagles shows a continuous upward trend in scoring production.
Jaren Holmes, Miryne Thomas and Xavier Pinson regularly drop double-digits in the scoring column, ably supported by captain Kimbal Mackenzie and cultured big man Samuel Idowu off the bench.
They must be at the top of their game against the Lions, who are giving up just 79.2 points per game on the road so far and are one of the best defensive teams in the league.
Depth scoring, which proved so successful against the Eagles, could once again be the key to success for the Riders.
Leicester’s bench dropped an immense 51 points on Newcastle, and players like Mackenzie and high-flying wing Blake Bowman finished with a plus/minus of 17, illustrating the positivity a strong second unit can bring.
The Lions also have a squad that runs deep with quality, so expect this contest to be a battle of attrition – especially with both teams looking to important games in the next few days.
A ‘Near Perfect’ Start
In the first 13 games of their title defence, the Lions have looked nothing short of dominant.
Remaining unbeaten until a loss in Plymouth on November 5, where six Lions first team players were inactive, Petar Božić’s team have sat first in the British Basketball League Championship table since round one.
Sunday’s 94-70 defeat to the Patriots came after the Lions heavily rotated the squad as they attempt to manage the rigours of competing in two competitions simultaneously.
Top contributors Tariq Phillip, Luke Nelson and Conor Morgan were rested, and League leading scorer Matt Morgan was limited to just 16 minutes on court.
However, the blowout proves that if teams force tough perimeter shots – London shot just 19% from three-point range – and work hard on the offensive glass for second chance points, the Lions can be outmatched.
Friday’s trip to Leicester bisects two road games in Europe (last night against Joventut Badalona and next week at Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul) so the Lions’ strength in depth will be tested to its limits.
The Riders will still need to front up on the defensive side of the ball though, as their opponents bring an offense that leads the League in every major shooting category.
⚔️ Battles with @LondonLions in recent years… who’s coming on Friday
A 99.9 PPG average, a field goal percentage of over 50 and a 39.1% three-point clip demonstrate the potency of the Londoners’ attack.
The visitors can score from anywhere, matching the Riders at just over 38 points in the paint per game and sitting atop the league in buckets from beyond the arc with 144.
In what is sure to delight both sets of supporters, this contest could turn into a shootout.
Key Matchup
Friday’s key matchup is between two American guards who can do it all: Jaren Holmes and Matt Morgan.
A free-scoring point guard who is proving deadly from beyond the arc this season, Morgan is crucial to the Lions’ success.
In his first British Basketball League season since joining from Le Mans (French Betclic Elite league), the North Carolina native leads the league in scoring and three-point percentage, hitting 20.3 PPG and 47% of his deep shots.
The 26-year-old comes with high-level pedigree, having spent two seasons in the NBA G-League for the Toronto Raptors before moving to Europe where he shone during spells in Turkey and France.
Morgan is a matchup nightmare for opposing defences. If there is one player on the Lions that can never be left open, it’s #33.
Riders’ ‘Team of the Week’ member Holmes may lack the experience of his opponent, he makes up for it with sheer intensity and will to score.
Standing at 6’4” and powerfully built, Holmes is formidable when he finds a lane, and his ability to fight through contact to finish inside is largely why he sits atop the Riders’ scoring charts with 14.4 PPG.
Evidence from last Saturday’s 28-point performance against the Eagles shows that #13 can also score with finesse as he dropped three-pointers and delicate floaters inside with barely a miss.
The former Iowa State athlete is getting better every time he enters the court, and despite not directly facing Morgan on Friday, the points battle between the two could prove crucial.
Played for both- Josh Ward Hibbert
Josh Ward-Hibbert, playing in his eighth British Basketball League season, has played seven of those years with the Riders and Lions.
He first joined Leicester in 2016, kicking off his Riders career with back-to-back trebles in 2017 and 2018. He collected seven pieces of silverware during his four seasons in the East Midlands, improving season on season.
His final year saw Ward-Hibbert average 11.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, shooting 51.6% from the field and 41.2 % from three. The season, cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, proved to be his final in Riders red.
He moved to the Lions the following season, remaining in the capital for three years. Last year he helped London to a treble of their own, contributing 4.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
This season, Ward-Hibbert took his talents to the North East to suit up with the Newcastle Eagles. Early in the year, he’s scoring 4.6 points per game, shooting 35.1% from the field.
Leicester Riders and Audacious Church Collaborate to Bring Basketball to Cyabatanzi, Rwanda
Leicester Riders are proud to have contributed to the creation of a basketball club in Cyabatanzi, Rwanda.
This initiative was made possible through the club’s collaboration with Audacious Church in Manchester, as part of the church’s broader mission to provide healthcare, education and other amenities to the village, which is situated approximately 100 kilometers to the east of Rwanda’s capital, Kibaji.
The church raised funds and actively participated in the construction of a basketball court within the local school in Cyabatanzi.
In conjunction with these efforts, the Riders provided essential basketball equipment, including t-shirts, jerseys, kit bags and basketballs, to facilitate the youth’s involvement in the sport.
This was made possible thanks to the efforts of the Leicester Riders Foundation, who generously donated the equipment.
The Riders’ affiliation with the church traces back to former Rider Patrick Whelan’s mother, Catherine. Along with 16 volunteers, Catherine visited Cyabatanzi to kick-start the project, which began in May 2022.
The culmination of their efforts materialised in September, marked by the completion of the basketball court and the establishment of a basketball club for the village’s youth.
Catherine Whelan expressed her excitement about collaborating with the club, saying, “We were very excited to work with the Riders. With them, we can help to change the lives of the children in Cyabatanzi.
“They were over the moon. As soon as the court went up, they were so excited to be wearing real basketball gear. They were so grateful to have a focus.
“Who knows what can happen with those kids now? It can change their lives. It goes beyond explanation what having a court can do for them.”
Leicester Riders Managing Director Russell Levenston added: “We’re delighted to be able to contribute towards this terrific project and support the progression of basketball in Rwanda.
“The support that Audacious Church continues to provide Cyabatanzi is impactful to so many, and we were honoured to assist in the mission.
“Thank you to Catherine for helping to make this happen, and for all the work she and the rest of the team put into making this incredible project happen.”
Catherine, who was recognised as one of Africa’s Top 10 basketball players over the last half-century by FIBA, emphasised the immeasurable value of providing access to sports in the lives of young people.
She shared her own experience, saying, “I began playing basketball only because I had a court across from my house. That’s all I did before and after school. I feel incredibly strongly that something is going to come from that place. We’ve invested in the court, so now they can grow up with the sport like I did.”
Audacious Church’s involvement in Cyabatanzi extends into the future, as they plan to support Rwanda’s English in Action Programme during the upcoming summer. This program focuses on enhancing the quality of English teaching in the formal education system through a variety of strategic interventions.
For those interested in contributing to the church’s mission in Cyabatanzi, you can donate below.
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