The dates for Leicester Riders’ two-legged SLB Cup Semi-Final have been confirmed.
Leicester Riders have advanced to the SLB Cup Semi-Final after defeating Manchester Basketball on Wednesday to set up a two-legged encounter with Surrey 89ers.
The winner on aggregate will advance to the SLB Cup Final at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Sunday, March 9, to face either Sheffield Sharks or Bristol Flyers.
Surrey 89ers will host the first leg at the Surrey Sports Park on Friday, February 7 (7.30 pm tip-off), before the return fixture at Mattioli Arena on Sunday, February 9 (3 pm).
Please note the SLB Cup semi-final is included for season ticket holders.
Tickets for the home leg of the SLB Cup Semi-Final are on sale now! Get them here.
SLB CUP SEMI-FINAL DATES
Away Leg – Friday, February 7 (7.30pm tip-off)
Home Leg – Sunday, February 9 (3pm tip-off).
Fixture Update: Leicester Riders at Caledonia Gladiators
Report: Riders through to the Cup Semi-Final after hard-fought win in Manchester
Leicester Riders progressed through to the Super League Basketball Cup Semi-Final, beating Manchester Basketball on the road 85-77.
The Riders led by as much as 15 in the fourth, but having played three games in six days and playing a Manchester team which hadn’t played in 20 days, they hung on for the win late on tired legs with big plays in the clutch.
Zach Jackson hit the dagger, a floater off the dribble, and led the game with 18 points and 5 assists to earn Player of the Game. Ethan Wright was the spark plug off the bench with 14, pulling down two game-sealing offensive boards and a putback score late in the fourth.
Charles Thompson continued his interior dominance with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks, meanwhile Jaylin Hunter went off for 14 from the point.
Leicester’s highly touted defence, led by Thompson on the inside, held Manchester’s talented offence to 40% from the field and 27% from three. They were led by Makai Ashton-Langford’s 15.
The Riders will meet Surrey 89ers over two legs in the Semi-Final, hoping to book their spot in the Final at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham.
Back and forth first quarter ends with Leicester lead
The game began with an exchange of threes between two Australian-born sharpshooters, as Riley Abercrombie and DJ Mitchell went back-to-back from deep. Jackson followed Abercrombie with a wide open three after a miscommunication from the Manchester defence, and Leicester led 9-8.
Thompson made his presence felt against Manchetser’s Nathan Cayo on both ends, backing him down for two then swatting him on the other end as he drove to the hoop. The American rookie then drove baseline for a monster one reverse jam over Mitchell.
Wright checked in off the bench to inject his energy into the tie, hustling for an offensive rebound and getting two buckets from the midrange. Thompson finished the first by putting back Washington’s three, making it 24-23 by the buzzer.
Leicester take narrow lead into the half
The game’s back and forth nature continued into the second and Wright and Conner Washington got on the board for Leicester, and Manchester got to the basket for two scores.
The game remained within a score for five minutes in the second, before Hunter and Spencer Johnson combined for five points to make the score 35-31. But Zak Irvin quickly pegged Leicester back with a fastbreak bucket.
As Leicester looked to maintain their narrow lead, Jackson showed patience at the rim to make an and-one play. Johnson ran the fastbreak and dished it to the cutting Jackson, who got Junior Madut in the air and finished through contact.
Jackson finished the half at the foul line, making it a 47-42 Leicester lead at the break.
Jackson builds Riders’ foundation
The Riders stormed out to their biggest lead of the night out the half, with Hunter and Abercrombie finishing in the paint to make the difference nine. Manchester got to the foul line to chip away, but big shots from Johnson and Jackson kept them at arm’s length.
Jackson, running in transition, gave Leicester their first double digit lead of the night with a finish over Irvin. After a back-and-forth exchange, Jackson pulled up off the dribble from deep, making it 64-51 and forcing a Manchester timeout.
Hunter hit a floater out of a timeout as Leicester kept their foot on the pedal with a 7-0 run. But Manchester, through Ashton-Langord on the break and Madut on the third quarter buzzer, cut it to 10 points with one to play.
Riders hang on to lead late in the fourth
Madut kept it rolling in the fourth with a layup to start the period. He then got to the line next time down, and it was quickly a seven point difference.
Wright stepped up to stem the momentum with a triple, after he got Madut in the air with a pump fake. After Manchester brought it back to a six point affair with a pair of buckets, Wright drained another three, before Abercrombie found himself wide open to make it 77-63.
Duke Shelton put an exclamation point on the Riders run, flying down the lane to throw it down with authority.
Again Manchester had a response, as Madut’s three kicked off a 7-0 run which made the score 79-72. Leicester, having played a much busier January schedule than their opponents, dug deep late in the game to hang on.
Hunter found the energy to make a play, driving inside two a two through traffic. But the hosts went back-to-back for scores to keep chipping away.
In a five point game, Leicester’s leader stepped up, taking on a one-on-one matchup and getting inside for two. Thompson and Wright then took over on the inside, pulling down four offensive boards to set up a Wright finish inside to seal the hard-fought win.
The Riders are back in action on Friday, hitting the road again to take on Caledonia Gladiators in the Super League Basketball Championship.
SLB Cup Quarter-Final Preview: Leicester Riders vs Manchester Basketball
Leicester Riders are ready to take on Manchester Basketball on the road in the Super League Basketball Cup Quarter-Final.
Leicester look to bounce back after a road defeat to London Lions on the weekend, meanwhile a well-rested Manchester side suit up for the first time since falling to the Riders on January 10.
Here’s all you need to know about the game…
Fixture information
Manchester Basketball vs Leicester Riders
Super League Basketball Cup Quarter-Final
National Basketball Performance Centre
Wednesday, January 22, 7:30 PM
Riders look for response to Sunday’s defeat
Leiecster Riders entered Sunday’s game against London Lions as the League leaders, but lost their spot atop the table with a loss to the Lions.
The Riders were down by as much as 19 in the second quarter and brought it back to a four point game in the fourth, but the Lions hit big shots late to rebuild their lead and take the win.
Charles Thompson and Riley Abercrombie, the stars of Friday’s win against Caledonia Gladiators, hit big shots to start the second half to trigger the comeback- Thompson leading the team with 14 come the final buzzer.
The Riders have won 4 of their last 6 games in the League, and have consistently climbed the standings game week by game week.
But now they turn their attention to knockout basketball, and the chance to make their second semi-final of the season on the road in Manchester.
Manchester back home after two game road trip
After a red hot December saw Manchester find form, a 1-2 start to a lightly scheduled January thus far halted the North Westerner’s charge up the standings.
They fell to Cheshire Phoenix and Leicester Riders on the road, but have hung their hat on their home form so far this season. They went undefeated at home in the League in December, and won their only home game in January against the high-flying Sheffield Sharks.
They spent their previous two games on the road, therefore they will therefore relish the chance to progress to the SLB Cup Semi-Final by welcoming the Riders to town, but will hope for a different result to the last time they faced Leicester. The Riders won 89-76, Zach Jackson leading the team with 21 points.
Manchester hung in the game until the end of the third, when Abercrombie went off for 13 straight points to blow the game wide open. Nathan Cayo continued his impressive start to life in Manchester by leading the visitors with 16, the top three scorer in the League falling just a point short of his season average.
Key Matchup
Two Australian-born forwards are set to go head-to-head from the forward position in tomorrow’s game, as Donovan Mitchell and Abercrombie face off.
Both enjoyed productive nights last time these sides played, Mitchell logging 16 points and 8 rebounds while Abercrombie went 15 and 8, including the red hot run it the third to win the game.
Mitchell, who grew up in the United States, has experience in the BNXT League and the Polish league, and like Abercrombie suited up in Australia’s NBL 1. He helped the Gold Coast Rollers win the 2022 NBL1 North championship.
Meanwhile Abercrombie, a first year pro out of the University of North Colorado, played for Illawarra Hawks in the NBL 1, where he averaged 23.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Abercrombie’s season with the Hawks featured back-to-back 38 point games, five 30 point outings and six double doubles over 19 games.
The 6’9″ sharpshooter is rounding into form at the mid point of the season, scoring 26 against Caledonia Gladiators last Friday.
Meanwhile Mitchell has scored in double digits in his last seven league games, setting up an intense head-to-head between the two Australian-born ballers.
Leicester Riders fell to London Lions 91-71 on the road in the Super League Basketball Championship.
The Riders, down 19 in the first half, cut into the deficit to make it a four point game in the fourth quarter. But London found form late to see off the attempted Leicester comeback.
Charles Thompson led Leicester with a 14 point double double, sparking the fightback in the third with buckets at the rim. He was backed by 11 points from Ethan Wright off the bench who hit momentum swinging threes throughout.
London’s Sean Flood made key baskets in the fourth quarter to bring the win home for London. He scored 15 off the bench including two triples. Aaryn Rai led the Lions with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The game sees Leicester lose top spot in the League standings, falling to a 9-4 record.
Duelling out a tightly fought first quarter
London had the best of the opening stages with their interior presence, with Rai leading them to a 10-7 start with two buckets in close. The Riders, who struggled on the offensive boards on Friday against Caledonia Gladiators, suffered the same issues early by giving up four offensive rebounds in the first six minutes.
Leicester, whose leading scorer on the season Zach Jackson took an early seat with two quick fouls, bit back from range, as Spencer Johnson and Wright connected from three. The triples got the Riders in rhythm as they snatched the lead from London.
But veteran forward Ovie Soko found his way to the foul line continually in the opening period on his way to 8 points, and the Lions led 20-19 after one.
Stuckman leads London run in second
London took control of the tie in the second quarter. Soko started the run with another finish inside, and added another five to his tally in a 10-0 start to the period. Tanner Stuckman’s score made it 32-19 to the hosts.
Wright broke the scoring drought with a corner three for his 8th points of the afternoon, but that was met by Stuckman who hit a triple from the wing then a four point play on Thompson. The former Gladiator had 8 in the period.
Thompson fought back on the other end with an and-one play followed by a finish for two to try and inject some momentum into the Riders. They increased the pace in order to get looks earlier in the shot clock, but couldn’t connect frequently enough to chip into the London lead.
The first half ended 49-33, with Thompson scoring the final point of the second at the foul line.
Abercrombie four point play triggers Riders fightback
Riley Abercrombie came gunning out the break with a four point play to cut it to 12. Thompson followed with an and-one, and it was a single digit game one minute into the third.
Despite Soko’s continued aggression at the rim bagging him another 2 points, Leiecster got themselves back into the game, Abercrombie again drawing a foul from behind the line to make the score 52-45.
Ade Adebayo got London back on the rails with success down low. He led a Lions run to put them back up 8. Duke Shelton ended the third at the foul line, and the sides entered the final period with London leading 65-59.
London run up score late
Shelton got the fourth underway at the rim to cut it to four. But Ciaran Sandy’s corner three and a Flood and-one gave London the edge with 7:46 left up 10. Flood weaved his way to the rim next time down the floor for another two, forcing a Riders timeout.
Wright, again, was the one to try and swing momentum back into Leicester’s favour with a three, but Stuckman got to the line next time down to quiet the visitors. Flood hit another three from the wing to make it a 14 point affair.
The Riders kept grinding, but the deficit was too great late in the fourth, and Leicester fell to London for the first time this season.
The Riders return to action on Wednesday for the SLB Cup Quarter-Final on the road to Manchester Basketball.
Leicester Riders and London Lions are set to engage in a top of the table showdown in the capital tomorrow.
The 9-3 Riders, who snatched the top spot in the Championship on Friday, will take the floor of the Copper Box Arena to defend their pedestal in first position against the 9-4 London Lions.
Leicester are undefeated against the reigning British basketball champions in three games so far this season, but face the tallest task so far in this fixture.
Meanwhile London looks to bounce back from two straight defeats in order to get their season back on the rails.
Here’s all you need to know about this heavyweight clash…
Fixture information
London Lions vs Leicester Riders Super League Basketball Championship Copper Box Arena, London 4 pm
Table topping Riders
An 84-75 home win against Caledonia Gladiators saw the Riders go seven straight home games undefeated, and top of the table for the first time this season.
After Gladiators’ guards Patrick Whelan and Teddy Okereafor made tough shots throughout the first half, Leicester’s league leading defence locked in to hold Caledonia to 10 points in the third quarter and get out to a lead.
Charles Thompson’s defensive dominance continued with 3 blocks in the game, and Australian sharpshooter Riley Abercrombie won Player of the Game for the second straight game with a season-high 27 points.
Abercrombie’s shooting has been the difference in Leicester’s last two games. But like Thompson, his shot swatting has been equally impressive as the team continues to make its name as an intimidating interior presence.
Leicester head to the Copper Box having won eight of their last nine in the League- but only three of those games were away from home. They’ll look to carry their home form to London to take advantage of a London side which has been struggling for offensive output in their last two appearances.
Lions in need of bounce back game
London, who crashed out of the Cup last week to the Surrey 89ers in the Quarter-Final, lost their status as the league leaders by losing to Newcastle Eagles in the North East 74-67. It was a closely contested battle from wire-to-wire against a formidable opponent on the road, but cold deep shooting saw them go 3-17 from deep in the low-scoring affair.
Sean Flood hit all three off the bench, leading London with 14 points. Their leading scorer on the season, Aaryn Rai, hit big buckets late to keep it a game, but the Trophy Finalists got over the line against the Lions.
London’s defence kept them in the tie while in the midst of a tough shooting performance. Like Leicester, they’ve leaned on their defence all season to rank third in points allowed per game. Their big man pairing of Jaiden Delaire and Alen Hadzibegovic have been huge contributors to this, combining for 2.9 blocks per outing.
But offensively, they’ll need the shooters touch at home which went missing on the road last time out should they want to score on the best defence in Super League Basketball.
Previous meetings
These sides, who shared a Trophy group at the start of the season, have met three times so far with the Riders coming away with a win on each occasion.
The first meeting was in London, and Leicester dominated with an 89-66 win led by Jaylin Hunter’s 21.
The second game was a dead rubber at the end of the group, with neither side playing for anything tangible. But Leicester won to go undefeated through the group phase, this time Zach Jackson led the team with 16 in a 76-62 win.
The most recent meeting was the Riders’ last outing of 2024, and the sides battled out a nail-biter in Leicester. Abercrombie’s late three from the top was the dagger in an 84-75 win, which saw Ethan Wright go off for 21 off the bench.
Report: Abercrombie season-high earns Riders hard fought win against Gladiators
Leicester Riders battled out for an 85-74 win at home to the Caledonia Gladiators, led by Riley Abercrombie’s season high scoring night.
He went off for 27 points, going 5-8 from three in a red hot shooting night. He and Spencer Johnson went off from deep late, in what was a closely fought contest until the fourth.
Leicester trailed in the third quarter as Caledonia’s veteran backcourt of Patrick Whelan and Teddy Okereafor hit big shots all night. Whelan played 40 minutes and scored 17, but Trevond Barnes led the visitors off the bench with 22 points in 25 minutes.
Leicester shot 52% from the field and 46% from three in an efficient offensive display. Zach Jackson backed Abercrombie with 16, and Charles Thompson continued his defensive dominance with 3 blocks and 14 points.
They went top of the League with the win and London Lions’ loss in Newcastle, ahead of the Riders facing the Lions on the road on Sunday.
Riders hot start met with Gladiators response
Abercrombie, fresh off his Player of the Game performance last time out, got the Riders going with five points out the gate. He was fouled on a three for a trip to the line, then slammed one down on the break after a Jaylin Hunter steal.
The Riders were on target early, scoring 10 in three minutes, but the Gladiators kept pace through the sharpshooting veteran Okereafor. He drained two early threes to get Caledonia on the board.
But Leicester found separation on the scoreboard midway through the first at the foul line. Abercrombie and Jackson attacked the hoop to earn free throws and put the hosts up 16-8. Abercrombie owned the first, scoring 13 in the quarter.
Caledonia found some form through Trevond Barnes off the bench, who scored 11 in the first 10 minutes. His scoring brought it back to a four points game, as the first ended 27-23 in Leicester’s favour.
Thompson jam takes Riders lead into half
The Gladiators came back to take the lead early in the second. Patrick Whelan, Okereafor, Theo Hughes and Princeton Onwas got to hoop for four buckets and a 32-28 lead. The Caledonia run forced a Rob Paternostro timeout.
Ethan Wright turned the tide after the timeout with a stepback three from the wing. Charles Thompson followed up with a finish inside, before Abercrombie hit a fadeaway to snatch the lead back for Leicester.
But it was a back and forth second quarter, as the visitors responded through Whelan. He hit a tough three for his 12th points, still hot following his career-high 34 points in his last outing. He hit contested buckets all period, at the rim and from range, on his way to 14 by halftime.
The Gladiators spend much of the second in a defensive zone, forcing the Riders to find answers on the offensive end. And they found success against the zone as the clock ticked towards the half with a barrage of buckets in close.
Thompson scored four quick points at the hoop, followed by Jackson who again fought to the foul line to take the lead. Thompson ended the half in style, throwing down a two-handed jam, and Leicester led 44-43 at the half.
Whelan’s hot hand carried into the second half, as he hit a turnaround three from the wing. Leicester’s defence did step up internally, however, as Abercrombie and Thompson sent away shots emphatically at the rim.
With Leicester’s league leading defence clicking into gear, it was a low scoring start to the third. The teams combined for five points in as many minutes. The Riders forced two shot clock violations out of their opponents before taking the lid off the basket through Spencer Johnson.
The American sniper lined up his sights for a triple against Whelan to get the Riders going offensively. He followed up with another three, this time on the fastbreak following Thompson’s third block, to make it 59-51 with 1:23 left in the third.
Abercrombie ended the third with a tightly contested three, making it 62-53 with one to play.
Riders see out win despite Gladiators resistance
Abercrombie and Johnson’s hot hands led to two threes to start the fourth, giving Leicester a platform to see the game out. Wright drove hard to the hoop for an and-one play three minutes in with the Riders having found the keys to unlock the Caledonia zone.
Barnes kept the Gladiators in contention however, pulling out big baskets throughout the fourth as the difference remained around ten points.
The game hung in the balance with the Caledonia resistance, and Wright and Fraser Malcolm traded threes in the pivotal moment of the game.
Wright’s energy forced a huge play in the clutch. He missed a three short but battled for the offensive board, then found Abercrombie at the top of the arc who drained a three over the contest.
Abercrombie’s three blew the game open, as Hunter hit out of a Caledonia timeout, before dishing a lob pass to Thompson who finished for two. That was the final Riders score of the night, who held on for the win.
The Riders are back in action on Sunday, taking on the London Lions at Copper Box in Championship action.
Leicester Riders are back at home on January 31, taking on Bristol Flyers!
Leicester Riders Basketball Club can provide the following update regarding Blake Bowman’s injury status.
We regretfully announce that Blake Bowman will miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.
Blake sustained the injury during the Riders’ game against Newcastle Eagles on January 3.
After undergoing an MRI scan and evaluation by the Club’s medical staff, the results confirmed that an extended recovery period with the Club will be necessary.
Leicester Riders extends their best wishes to Blake for a speedy and full recovery.
Leicester Riders are ready to go head-to-head with Caledonia Gladiators for the first time this season.
The Riders opposition currently prop up the Super League Basketball standings, but have shown signs of finding form in their previous two fixtures. They will look to rally after recent roster changes have left them with a six man rotation for tomorrow’s action.
With the League’s top three teams all playing at the same time on Friday night, the round of fixtures could see a significant swing at the top of the table.
Here’s all you need to know about the game…
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Caledonia Gladiators Mattioli Arena, Leicester Super League Basketball Championship Friday, January 17, 7:30 pm
Riders’ continue to flex their defensive prowess
Leicester Riders are hunting down London Lions at the top of the Championship standings, moving to within one game of the League leaders with last week’s win against Manchester Basketball.
They held Manchester’s red hot offence, which averaged 87 points in December, to 76 at the Mattioli Arena, their League-best defence continuing to set the tone in games.
The Riders blocked seven shots on the night. Charles Thompson, the League leader in blocks, sent away three, and Riley Abercrombie who took home player of the game honours after bagging 13 straight points in the third, had two emphatic rejections.
The team allows 77.6 points per game, making them the stingiest outfit in the SLB. Their 5.2 blocks per game is the most of all teams, and they close possessions effectively by pulling down 73.74% of their defensive rebounds, again the most in the League.
Leicester come into this game having won seven of the last eight Championship games, and have held their opponents to under 80 points in six of those fixtures.
Another shot-stuffing defensive performance would go a long way to securing another League win for Leicester, keeping the pressure on the top of the table as we approach the midway point of the season.
Caledonia look to rally after departures
The Caledonia Gladiators currently sit last in the League standings with a 2-10 record.
Having already made changes to their roster earlier in the season, seeing the departure of Tanner Struckman who has since signed with London Lions, Ian Budose who now suits up in Manchester and Head Coach Gareth Murray, Caledonia were forced into two more changes with leading scorer Jared Wilson-Frame and Malik Dunbar leaving due to a breach of club discipline.
With Fahro Alihodzic, Elijah Cain and Prince Onwas sidelined through injury, the Gladiators are set to roll out a six-man rotation for tomorrow’s action.
They have made additions to the squad throughout the year in the way of the experienced backcourt duo of Teddy Okereafor and Nick Tomsick, and the hiring of coaching veteran Robbie Peers.
Unlike the Riders, who enter this tie on a good run of form, Caledonia have lost six of their last seven in the League, despite showing some promise in their last two games.
They beat Bristol Flyers at home in a low scoring battle, and last time out the Gladiators almost took back-to-back wins for the first time in the League, taking Cheshire Phoenix to overtime. They lost in the extra period 101-98 despite former Rider Patrick Whelan’s incredible 34 points and 8 rebounds,
They led the game 53-44 at the half, but Larry Austin Jr led Cheshire with 26 points and hit the shot to send the game to overtime in the clutch.
Larry Austin Jr forces overtime in Scotland! 🔥🤯 @CheshireNix
Generating offence has been a difficulty for Caledonia all season, leaving them with the fewest points per game in the SLB with 75.3. They hit on only 45% of their field goals and turn the ball over a league-high 17.9 times per outing.
Taking a short rotation into Leicester, the Gladiators will look to rally together and pull out a hard-fought win against the Riders.
Conner Washington on the impact of Leicester Riders Foundation’s JNBL programme
The Leicester Riders Foundation (LRF) will host a takeover event at the Leicester Riders game against the Caledonia Gladiators on January 17 to showcase the Leicester Riders’ Junior National Basketball League (JNBL) programme.
The LRF aims to develop young basketball players and inspire future domestic talent, and the JNBL programme provides young people with an introduction to high-performance basketball, and develops essential life skills.
The programme emphasises development in all aspects, including basketball skills, athleticism, and personal growth.
Leicester Riders captain and JNBL ambassador Conner Washington actively supports the LRF’s JNBL team by sharing his 12 years of professional expertise and knowledge with the next generation of local talent.
Conner coaches JNBL sessions weekly and, prior to Friday’s takeover, emphasised the significant impact youth basketball programmes have on the future of the sport in the UK.
“These types of programmes are so important,” said Washington. “When I was coming up, the first structured basketball I was involved in was under 16s. Before that I had to go to the court by myself and play.
“If there was a programme available to me where I could have been developed by coaches and play with kids who were just as excited about basketball as I was when I was younger, I could have improved a lot quicker and given me an interest in the sport at a younger age.”
Representation is essential to inspire a generation of hoopers. It took a visit to Washington’s school in the mid 2000s to invest him in the sport, lighting the spark to what grew into a legendary 12 year pro career.
“My turning point was when a player called Victor Wayne came to a small school in Bedford when I was young. I wasn’t too involved in basketball at the time, but just seeing him coach a session and knowing he played professionally inspired me.
“Just knowing there was a professional basketball player in front of me teaching us stuff was mind blowing to me.”
Payne played in the BBL for Milton Keynes Lions between 2000-2004, winning Most Improved Player in 2002.
Now Washington assumes the role of Payne, inspiring the next generation with the LRF. He aims to be a relatable role model, providing an approachable source of knowledge in basketball and life.
“It’s great to be able to do the same as what was done for me. The kids come down to the games and we talk about them during the sessions, and they’re always asking for advice on their game. It’s great to give back.
“We are the guys these kids look up to, so we want to give back in whichever way we can. It’s our duty as professionals to these kids who we are role models to, and I try to be an open book for them.
“Of course, there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with that. You have to hold yourself to a high standard when you’re working with people who have not experienced the world and basketball like you have. But to be able to relay your experiences in a way that others can understand is really important.
“That’s something I take pride in- giving them an authentic piece of my experience from basketball over the years.
“Above everything, I think it’s big for them to see that I can still enjoy the game, no matter who I’m playing with. Basketball brings people together.”
If you want to get involved in basketball with the Leicester Riders Foundation, you can explore a variety of sessions here.
LRF hosts sessions for those of all ages and abilities from baby ballers to walking basketball, and weekly development days at Mattioli Arena.
Want to try out for the Riders JNBL team? Keep an eye out for our trial dates on social media below!
Report: Leicester Riders beat Manchester through red hot Abercrombie third quarter
Leicester Riders put on an explosive second half display to take an 89-76 win against Manchester Basketball.
A slow start meant Leicester trailed for much of the first half, but 13 straight points in the third from player of the game Riley Abercrombie including three consecutive triples gave Leicester a commanding lead.
Abercrombie finished the game with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks- an impressive display on both ends. Zach Jackson led the scoring with 21, going off for 11 in the fourth, and Charles Thompson continued his dominant run with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Led by Abercrombie’s hot hand, Leicester won the third quarter 28-11 which ultimately proved the difference in the game. Manchester, led by Donovan Micthell’s 16 points and 8 rebounds, battled wire-to-wire and threatened to make a run back into it in the fourth.
They fell victim to a poor deep shooting night, going 4-17 from three, and lost the rebounding battle 41-32.
The Riders improve to 8-3 on the season, one win behind the first placed London Lions.
Riders start slow against physical Manchester play
Manchester applied full court pressure from the tip off, guarding the Riders for all 94 feet to make progressing the ball up court difficult. Jaylin Hunter received the brunt of the ball pressure from the point, but coped well to score the host’s first four points.
The Riders fought to the foul line in a physical first quarter for most of their offensive output. But Manchester’s Nathan Cayo scored six quickly with an and-one and a triple from the top to take a 14-8 lead.
Leicester tried to garner momentum on the fastbreak as Hunter fired in a bounce pass to Jackson after Duke Shelton forced a miss inside, but the visitors repeatedly found their way to the rim to extend their lead. Marucus Delpeche leaked out after a Riders score to end the quarter, and made one of two to make the score 21-13.
Riders make it a game by the half
Shelton got the second started in style, throwing down a monster jam through traffic. He took the ball in the pick-and-roll from Conner Washington before rising over and throwing it down one handed.
Ethan Wright and Spencer Johnson followed with buckets, and Shelton put back Wright’s missed triple as the Riders clawed back into it. But Manchester kept Leicester at arm’s length with key shot making in spots throughout the second.
Mitchell led the team with 10 points midway into the period, hitting a big three to stop the Riders run.
As the half neared its close, Leicester’s rim protection stepped up for two monster blocks from Charles Thompson, Riley Abercrombie and Johnson. The defensive stands meant the Riders trailed only a possession at the break, with the score 35-38.
Abercrombie heater gives Leicester the lead.
Jackson leveled the score immediately out the break. He pulled up from three with no hesitation to make it 38-38 but despite multiple chances at the hoop on the next few possessions the hosts couldn’t take the lead straight away.
That was until Thompson stepped up on both ends. He took the ball with his back to the basket for a score before sending Cayo’s dunk attempt away to set up a Hunter transition bucket to give the Riders the lead.
Leicester’s paint was locked off from their rim protection. Abercrombie sent away his second shot of the game, emphatically blocking Makai Ashton-Langford’s layup. The Riders’ points came on the break after defensive stops, Thompson this time getting to the lane on the breakaway.
Abercrombie caught a heater to close the third. He drained three straight triples and single handedly built the lead to nine- Leicester’s biggest of the game. He followed up with two scores for 13 straight points for the hosts.
Thompson joined in on the block party to swat Ian Dubose for the Riders’ sixth block of the matchup. That ended the third with Leicester leading 65-49.
Jackson sees Riders home
Shelton started the fourth with a putback from Jackson’s miss to keep the Riders rolling. But Manchester’s intensity didn’t drop despite a disappointing third- Mitchell draining a three to lead a 7-5 Manchester start to the fourth.
Jackson connected with his next attempt from three to keep Manchester at a distance on the scoreboard, before Conner Washington hit a signature pullup three to follow his teammate. However Junior Madut made tough shots on the other end to keep his side in contention.
Dubose then broke out for an open dunk to force a Riders timeout up nine, with Rob Paternstro urging his side to slow the pace of the game late.
Out of the timeout, Leicester’s leading scorer Jackson took over for back to back buckets at the rim to reestablish the Riders’ control of the matchup. Thompson hit on the buzzer next time down and Leicester led by 14.
Jackson put the cherry on the performance with a stepback three, putting the result beyond a doubt with his 18th points.
Rematch on Sunday
Leicester Riders head to Manchester for the second of a doubleheader against the Northwesterners on Sunday. They will face off in the Super League Basketball Quarter-Final at the National Basketball Performance Centre, with Leicester looking to progress to the Final Four.
The Riders then return to Championship action at home next Friday against the Caledonia Gladiators on January 17.
The Riders return to Championship action next Friday against the Caledonia Gladiators on January 17.
Weekend Preview: Leicester Riders vs Manchester Basketball
Leicester Riders are set for their first home game in 2025, taking on Manchester Basketball in the Super League Basketball Championship.
These are two of the in-form teams in British basketball, who both look to bounce back from win streak ending defeats last time out.
Last weekend, the Riders lost on the road to the Newcastle Eagles to end a six game League winning run, and Manchester fell to Cheshire Phoenix in overtime to end a five game streak in all competitions.
That leaves the Riders in third place with a 7-3 record, taking on the 4-6 Manchester in sixth. The teams will play each other twice this weekend in the League and the Cup Quarter-Final, the first of those games being played on Friday as the Riders host Manchester in League action, before they head to the North West on Sunday to play in the Cup.
Here’s how the weekend is shaping up…
Riders run halted in a thriller in Newcastle
The Riders navigated a congested December schedule emphatically, going on a League run which catapulted them into contention for the top of the Championship standings. But after playing eight games in the month, the Riders ran out of steam for the final action of the festive schedule on January 3.
They dug deep and fought Newcastle wire-to-wire, earning a shot for the tie after big clutch plays late. But Jaylin Hunter’s halfcourt heave didn’t go down, and the Riders lost 93-90.
Leicester’s play before that result, in particular back-to-back wins on December 27 and 30 with the latter coming against the League leading London Lions, established them as one of the premiere teams in British basketball.
Their defence ranks best of all teams, holding opponents to 77.8 points per game. They generate the most assists and turn the ball over the least; they won’t beat themselves while playing their team brand of basketball on both ends.
Their stars delivered throughout the month of December. Big man Charles Thompsonwas named the League’s Player of the Month after averaging 14.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game.
December belongs to CT! 😤🔥
Charles Thompson is the @SprLeagueBballM Molten Player of the Month for December! 👏
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) January 3, 2025
He leads the League in blocks and rebounds per game, while star guard Hunter leads all players in assists with a 7.6 average.
They’ll need every ounce of performance this weekend against a Manchester side who found their groove in December.
Manchester find festive form
Manchester are the trending team in Super League Basketball, and heated up in December to pull out a run of five straight wins in all competitions.
They battled out a win against the second placed Sheffield Sharks, put 106 points on the Phoenix and progressed through to the Cup quarter finals with a win against Hemel Storm.
Manchester have rolled out one of the most explosive offences in the League over recent games. They scored 87.9 points per game in December, making them the second-highest scoring team on the season behind Cheshire.
They’re led by Nathan Cayo, who like Thompson was nominated for the December Player of the Month award. The 6’7” former NBA G-Leaguer is putting up 16.4 points and 6.8 rebounds on the season, with impressive double doubles such as his 23 and 11 night against Caledonia Gladiators and 19 and 10 against the Phoenix.
Manchester’s success, like Leicester, comes from free flowing offence, making these two teams the two best ranked in assists per game. However unlike the Riders, they haven’t had the same success in limiting turnovers on the season, giving the ball away 13.4 times per game.
But the red hot North Westerners, who knock down threes at a 36.6% rate, will need to be met with Leicester’s best defensive effort should they want to add another win to their League tally and progress to their second semi-final of the season on Sunday.
Last matchup
The Riders have faced Manchester Basketball once before, taking a 99-86 win in November.
Riders Riders were a red hot 53% from the field and 43% from three on the game, led by Zach Jackson’s 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Battling for the dub last time we took on Manchester 💪
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) January 8, 2025
Manchester had no answer for Leicester’s free flowing offence, losing the game despite shooting 55% from the field themselves. Cayo led them with 15 points in 29 minutes of action.
Leicester Riders fell just short in a thrilling battle against Newcastle Eagles, losing 93-90.
The Riders, down 9 in the fourth, pulled the game back to within a possession with a shot to take the lead late. But Newcastle hit tough shots throughout, and despite Leicester forcing the game to be fought until the final buzzer with big shots from Riley Abercrombie and Charles Thompson, they ultimately ran out of clock.
Zach Jackson led the team with 24 points and 7 rebounds, going 12-12 from the line and making key free throws throughout the final quarter. Abercrombie logged 15, including a clutch three to keep the team alive with 8 seconds left.
After Newcastle’s Cole Long missed a foul shot which would have put the Eagles up 4, the Riders required a prayer on the buzzer to send it to overtime. Jaylin Hunter fired from halfcourt, but couldn’t get it to go.
Mike Okauru led Newcastle against Leicester for the second straight game, bagging 22 points and getting tough baskets to go in the biggest moments of the tie. As did Seneca Knight, who finished with 21.
Leicester fall to 7-3 in the League, two wins behind the London Lions who top the table.
Riders lead through mistake ridden first quarter
A scoreless first minute of play saw the Riders turn it over on their first two possessions, and the Eagles blew two good looks at the rim. Leicester took the lid off with a transition lob pass from Spencer Johnson finished off by Abercrombie, but it was a combined 1-6 start from the field for the teams.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) January 3, 2025
Thompson, fresh off being named the SLB Player of the Month for December, scored 5 of the team’s first 7 with his elite finishing ability in the post. Jackson involved himself early with two trips to the line, including an and-one finish with a floater, and Leicester led 12-11 with 3:44 left in the first.
The scoring in the period picked up as the clock ticked down. Josh Ward-Hibbert, after putting up 30 last time in Leicester, hit two threes, while Ethan Wright scored five with a coast-to-coast layup and step back three.
Wright’s triple was the final score of the first, which ended 21-18 to Leicester.
Thompson takeover gives Leicester lead
Ethan dropped De’Sean Allen-Aikins to start the second, beating him with a spin move and finishing in an open lane. The Riders were relentless in their attack of the rim with Jackson, Abercrombie and Hunter all finding joy in close.
Newcastle’s Will Neighbour, back in action after being sidelined with injury, hit back-to-back threes to get Newcastle back into it. Knight got to the line with an and-one next time up, and the hosts took the lead back.
Thompson took advantage of his matchup with Neighbour by backing down in the post, scoring possession after possession inside. He took over the game in the second on both ends, swatting Knight’s layup attempt and forcing a miss from Long on defence.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) January 3, 2025
His block on Knight led to a Conner Washington triple, meaning Leicester led 44-38 at the half.
Slow start to the second half puts Riders in a hole
The Eagles stormed back into the lead of the game to start the second half, going 11-0 out of the break. Okauru started it with a triple, and Knight ended it at the foul line after drawing a block on Hunter.
Jackson was the Rider to end the run, stealing it off Darius Defoe and finishing off on the fastbreak. Thompson then took it coast-to-coast after a missed Long three, meeting no resistance in transition.
But the Riders’ form only halted Newcastle temporarily. Ward-Hibbert threw down a fastbreak slam through contact, and Okauru hit from midrange to make it a nine point lead for the hosts.
With Leicester struggling for open shots and the shot clock winding down, Jackson hit a prayer on the buzzer by finding string with a turnaround three. Okauru and Neighbour hit from midrange and the corner respectively, but Wright took it hard to the hole for an and one to keep in touch.
A back-and-forth end to the third finished with the score 69-60 to the Eagles.
Eagles hit tough shots to keep Riders at arms length
The Riders started the fourth from the free throw line, with three trips from Jackson and Wright chipping into Leicester’s deficit. Wright’s foul shot made it a six point game two minutes in.
J’Raan Brooks stepped up for a big shot, making a triple on the wing through contact for a four-point play cutting the game to a possession.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) January 3, 2025
But Knight had the response for the Eagles. He hit a tough fadeaway over Brooks for two, and hit a contested three from the top to rebuild the Newcastle lead once again.
Every time the Riders looked likely to climb back into contention, the Eagles hit big shots. Okauru found the bottom of the bucket multiple times through tight contests to keep Leicester at arm’s length.
Riders rally to give themselves a chance
Jackson stepped up in the closing minutes and hit a midrange pullup on the left elbow brought the Riders back to within one score with two minutes late. Needing a stop to give themselves a chance to tie, Leicester allowed an offensive rebound and a Allen-Aikins second chance bucket to fall back into a five point hole.
Hunter found a quick score in response, but they couldn’t foul on the inbound allowing Long to finish an open layup for two.
Out of a resulting Rob Peternostro timeout, Abercrombie hit a quick three to breathe life back into Leicester. They sent Okauru to the line, but he made both to make the difference four.
Thompson got straight to the hoop on the indound and hit a layup straight away with four seconds on the clock. Long was then sent to the line and made one, giving the Riders an attempt at a miracle buzzer beater. Hunter couldn’t get it to go at halfcourt and Leicester fell just short.
Leicester Riders return to action next Friday, hosting Manchester Basketball in the SLB Championship.
Charles Thompson voted Super League Basketball Player of the Month for December
Leicester Riders’ Charles Thompson has been voted Super League Basketball Molten Player of the Month for December.
The American center averaged 14.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game in a dominant month of basketball on both ends of the court. He now leads the League in rebounds with 8.8 per game, and blocks with 3.2 per game.
December belongs to CT! 😤🔥
Charles Thompson is the @SprLeagueBballM Molten Player of the Month for December! 👏
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) January 3, 2025
Thompson’s jaw dropping stat lines from December include:
18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks vs Surrey 89ers, December 20
18 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks vs Newcastle Eagles, December 22
16 points, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks and 4 assists vs London Lions, December 30
Against Newcastle Eagles on December 15, he achieved the highest index rating without taking a field goal since records began, logging 8 rebounds, 5 blocks and 3 assists in a blowout win.
He sealed a win against London Lions to close out 2024 with the Riders Play of the Month, sending away Jaiden Delaire’s layup for his sixth block of the game with seconds on the clock.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) January 2, 2025
His monster jam over Skyler White to start the month was one of the highlights of the season so far, as well as his one-man highlight reel against Surrey when he blocked four shots and threw down two jams.
Thompson anchors the best defence in the Super League Basketball in Leicester Riders, who are in the midst of a six game league winning streak which has improved their record to 7-2 going into 2025.
He looks to continue his run of form in January, starting tonight against Newcastle Eagles on the road.
Season series: Leicester Riders vs Newcastle Eagles
Leicester Riders start 2025 with a trip to Newcastle on Friday January 3, taking on the Eagles for the fourth time this season.
The historic rivals have shared the floor in some of the most enthralling matchups of the inaugural Super League Basketball season, fighting wire-to-wire over two legs in the Trophy semi-final and facing off at the Mattioli Arena in league action.
Vertu Motors Arena will now host the latest iteration of the tie, with the Riders looking towards the top of the table after six league wins on the bounce.
Here’s everything you need to know about the season series so far…
Riders defence
Despite the season series being tied with a win each, and a tie in the Trophy semi-final second leg, the Riders are winning the matchup by a points difference of 20 after an 89-65 win in the League.
Leicester held Newcastle to 31% shooting from the field and 14% shooting from three in an impressive performance to continue the Riders’ league winning streak.
The Riders defence has been a defining characteristic of their season so far, allowing the fewest points of any team, but allowed a season-high 95 points in regulation in Newcastle for the Trophy Semi Final first leg.
The Eagles caught fire from three, shooting 40% from deep behind three triples from Cole Long. However, after allowing 59 in the first half, the Riders solved their defensive puzzle in the second half to come back from 19 points down.
The Eagles average 83.9 points per game this season, but scored an average of 74 points in their games in Leicester against the League’s leading defence. Have the Riders cracked the code for slowing Newcastle down, or will the Eagles’ find their shooting form on their return to the North East?
Okauru vs Jackson
Newcastle have a top five scorer in their ranks in Mike Okauru, who is putting up 17.6 points per game in the League this season. He showed off the full force of his scoring powers last time out in Leicester with 34 points in the semi-final, leading Newcastle through a nail biting finish.
The game was a reminder to the Riders of the American guard’s scoring potential, after holding him to 12 points per game in the prior fixtures. He shouldered the scoring load in 37 minutes of action, taking 24 shots, making them at a 60% clip and hitting them from all over the floor.
Okauru is 53% from the field and 40% from three this season- his best three point shooting season since his Freshman year in college with the Florida Gators. He averaged 18.4 points per game in his rookie year in Czechia, and looks to be in the midst of another high-level scoring season this year.
Meanwhile the Riders possess their own elite scoring threat, who has enjoyed success against the North Easterners in the season series between these teams. Zach Jackson is averaging 19.3 points per game against the Eagles in his three appearances, scoring 24 to lead a comeback in the first leg of the Trophy Semi-Final.
Jackson is the Club’s leading scorer on the season with 17 points per game, and has scored double digit points in every game. The biggest moments of the year have seen Jackson step up in the fourth quarter for clutch buckets, including late scores in both Semi-Final legs.
The Riders have one of the most reliable all around performers in British basketball in Jackson, and someone that can go bucket for bucket with anybody in the League.
Riders suffer slow starts
In both semi-final legs, the Riders were forced to dig themselves out of a sizable hole after starting slowly in the tie. They were down 19 at the half in the first leg after allowing a 38 point second quarter for the Eagles, and down 20 in the second leg going into the final period.
The first leg saw a second half fightback giving the Riders a shot for the lead in the final minute, and in the second leg the Riders nearly pulled off a miracle fourth quarter comeback to battle their way into the final. But on both occasions they fell short, and fell victim to their slow starts to the games.
This is something they remedied against London and Bristol after Christmas. Leicester led by 12 in the first period against London last time out, and 14 in the first quarter against Bristol, holding out for the win on both occasions.
Report: Riders win thriller against London Lions led by Charles Thompson dominance
Leicester Riders ended 2024 by taking down the table topping London Lions in a thriller at the Mattioli Arena.
Charles Thompsons’ 16 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks led the team to an 84-75 win, as he continued his dominant end to the calendar year. Ethan Wright led the scoring with 21 off the bench, and Riley Abercrombie finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and the game sealing three in the clutch.
The Riders’ defense sealed the win the the fourth, holding London scoreless for four minutes late with emphatic rejections from Thompson and Wright. In a game between the two best defences in the league, Leicester led by anchorman Thompson proved an immovable object when it mattered most.
Jaiden Delaire was the one to end the scoring drought for London, but it was too little, too late for the visitors. He led London with 16 points and 8 rebounds, backed by Arryn Rai’s who had 14 points, 10 coming in the fourth quarter.
The win saw the Riders take a dent out of the Lions at the top of the table, moving to within one win of them with a 7-2 record.
Riders bolt out to early lead
Two buckets at the hoop started the Riders’ scoring on the night, with Spencer Johnson drawing an and one on Michael Brisker. Abercrombie pulled up from midrange for his second score with three minutes played, making it an 8-2 Riders start.
Everything dropped early for Leicester, including Jaylin Hunter’s pull up triple from the wing. Johnson followed from the perimeter after Zach Jackson was doubled on his drive, and London called timeout down 16-6.
Following the break, Hunter fired a laser into Thompson in the lane who finished for two, before Jackson drew a foul on the inbound to steal a possession.
As the end of the first neared, the Lions gathered themselves to chip into the Riders lead and cut it to five. Ovie Soko battled down low for two scores, and star guard Michael Brisker showed off his handles before adding to his tally from the midrange.
But Ethan Wright stopped the London run with a triple on the buzzer, and the period ended 24-17. And Wright started the second with a bang, drawing an and one play after taking it to the rim with authority.
Lions gather form to take halftime lead
London’s Delaire got going in the second with six points and the Lions cut the Leicester lead to two. The visitors went on a 6-0 run with back-to-back baskets from Delaire as they continued to grow into the contest.
With 7:25 on the clock in the second, Tyler Peterson tied it up with an and-one by scooping in a layup through contact. The sides engaged in a back-and-forth battle with the score locked up.
Peterson bettered his season-high in the second quarter alone, bringing his game tally to 11 with his play in the paint. Meanwhile Wright and Thompson found joy inside to keep pace with the league leaders.
The Lions looked to be building separation in the scoreline as the half closed with Brisker and Soko combining to make a five point lead. But they lost Johnson on the perimeter, who hit a three from the corner to bring it back to a single score.
London had the final shot of the period which fell to Brisker, who airballed a three to send the sides into the half with the score 45-46 to London.
Riders lock down to lead with one to play
The closely fought affair in the first half carried over to start the second as Leicester battled in an attempt to snatch the lead back. Hunter fired a deep three at the end of the shot clock to do exactly that, making it 52-51 in the host’s favour.
The lead was exchanged between the teams with Delaire drawing a goaltend from Thompson and Jackson scoring twice at the foul line. The Riders were in the bonus five minutes into the period, giving them chances at the stripe in the third.
Jackson took advantage of the London foul trouble by drawing a foul on Ade Adebayo, then Spencer connected from the corner to put the Riders up 61-53- their biggest lead of the second half.
London made a charge after Delaire threw down a monster jam on the drive. Peterson followed with an and-one play and the Lions were back in it quickly.
Again, it was Wright to stem the momentum with a triple from the wing off a Johnson offensive rebound. Thompson grabbed an offensive rebound on Wright’s three on the final possession of the third and laid in a hook shot, and Leicester led 66-58 with one to play.
The Riders began to lock down, holding the Lions to 12 points in the third.
Lions muster comeback to start fourth
The Riders continued to get to the foul line to fend off the Lions early in the final period. Wright and Abercrombie had perfect trips to the stripe to nullify Rai’s three straight buckets for London.
The Lions were the first to go on a run in the fourth, however, making it a one possession game once again with a three from Brisker and second chance points from Rai, forcing a Riders timeout.
The break didn’t slow Rai, who came out of the break and got straight to the foul line to cut it to one. Peterson then took the lead at the line with five minutes left.
Riders find late form to see out win
Trying to take hold of the game in the clutch, Wright drove baseline for a layup against Delaire, who on four fouls couldn’t risk fouling. Jackson then took the mantle, drawing a tough and-one make with 2:29 on the clock to make it 77-73.
Next time up, with the clock winding down, Abercrombie hit a deciding three on the buzzer to make it a seven point affair. Blocks on the other end from Thompson and Wright locked down London until Delaire made it to the line and hit both.
The Lions applied full court pressure with less than a minute on the clock, but Hunter found Abercrombie who was sent to the line and made both. Thompson then sealed it with another swat on Delaire, and Hunter finished the game with a pair of foul shots.
The Riders return to action on January 3, taking on Newcastle Eagles on the road. They then return home on January 10 to host Manchester Basketball.
Leicester Riders are ready for their final action of 2024, hosting London Lions in the Super League Basketball Championship.
The 6-2 Riders cast their eyes up the table, looking to chip into the table-topping Lions’ two win advantage over them.
Leicester enter the tie on a five game League winning streak having beaten Bristol Flyers on December 27, and will want to end the year with a bang.
Meanwhile the Lions haven’t lost yet in December, sitting in first place with an 8-2 record.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game…
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs London Lions
Super League Basketball Championship
December 30, 7:30 pm
Get tickets here
Riders rounding off 2024
A victory on Friday saw the Riders return to winning ways against Bristol Flyers, following their exit of the SLB Trophy in the semi-final stage. They came charging out the game to take a big lead early, which they held until the final buzzer despite an attempted Flyers comeback.
The Club’s leading scorer on the season, Zach Jackson, put up his fifth 20 point game in the league campaign so far to earn Player of the Game honours, while the defensive contributions from big man pairing Charles Thompson and Duke Shelton produced 5 blocks.
They held the Flyers to 74 points, maintaining the best defensive record in the country with 76.3 points allowed per game. Thompson leads the league in blocks by a considerable margin, blocking 2.9 shots per game with the next highest average at 1.6, and he added another 3 to his tally on Friday.
“Holding Bristol to 74 points is a really good defensive effort- they can be tough to cover at times,” said Head Coach Rob Patrnostro following the win.
“That was the key to the game- really being stingy defensively and not giving them too many second opportunities at the rim.
“Duke had a really good game tonight coming off the bench, both scoring and protecting the basket. His energy was important for us. And Charles is putting together a real high-quality season here. You watch him every day in practice and the way he is developing on both ends of the floor is great to see. This type of performance is what we expect from him now.
“All in all it was a really impressive victory in a tricky time of the year.”
Lions leading the League
After a slow start to the season saw London crash out of the Trophy at the group phase, the Lions regathered themselves to get off to a League-leading start to their Championship season.
They enter the game on a three game league winning streak and an undefeated December, giving them an 8-2 record ahead of the 7-3 Sheffield Sharks and 6-2 Riders.
London, the most efficient team in the League this season with a 49.15 field goal percentage, hang their hat on the defensive end like the Riders. They allow the second fewest points per game with 78.33 per outing, and block the most shots with a 5.11 average.
They’re led by former G-Leager Jaiden Delaire, who is averaging 1.6 blocks on the defensive end and 13.4 points on offence. He added another 16 points and 2 blocks to his season last time out in the team’s impressive 96-74 home win against Cheshire Phoenix.
Wins against the Sheffield Sharks and Newcastle Eagles during the early stages of the season has established the Lions as the team to beat going into 2025, and the Riders will look to do just that in their final outing of the year in an important clash at the top of the standings.
Report: Leicester Riders bounce back to beat Bristol Flyers
Leicester Riders got back to winning ways, beating Bristol Flyers 83-74 to improve to 6-2 in the Super League Basketball Championship.
A red hot first quarter saw the Riders run out to a big lead in the first, which they held until the final buzzer. Zach Jackson led the team with 20 points, going 8-12 from the field, and Riley Abercrombie hit big shots from three to go 14 and 8.
Bristol fought back from 19 down to cut the Riders lead to 5 points in the fourth, before Leicester refound form through the rim protection of Duke Shelton and Charles Thompson, and the three point shooting of Abercrombie to rebuild a big lead.
Thompson logged 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Shelton went off for 9, 5 and 2 on the game.
The League’s leading scorer Keddy Johnson led Bristol with 20 points, but the Flyers made only four threes on the night as they fell to 2-4.
Riders get off to a Flyer
Thompson, off the back of two straight Team of the Week mentions, got going with a hook shot inside and a big block on Corey Samuels in the opening two minutes. The first three Riders scores came in close as they established themselves in the paint from the tip.
A lob from Jaylin Hunter laid in by Jackson made it 11-5. Abecrombie followed with an and-one on the break, and the Riders built a solid foundation early. Abercrombie drained his first three of the game midway through the first to make it 19-5 and force a Flyers timeout.
Out of the timeout, the League’s leading scorer Keddy Johnson got to work with two straight scores to breathe life into the visitors.
Leicester’s response came from deep, with Ethan Wright coming into the game after his 23 point night last time out to connect from the corner. His triple meant the Riders took a 28-13 lead into the second.
Bristol bombard Riders rim to close half
Wright got the second period underway by pulling up from midrange to keep the Riders rolling. Blake Bowman followed up from the wing before getting a physical defensive stop against Bristol big man Leslee Smith at the rim, and Wright added to his tally inside to make it a 19 point lead for Leicester.
Keddy Johnson continued to go to work, making his tally 10 with an and one. A turnover in transition then gave Bristol an easy two, and the Riders called timeout with their advantage cut to 13.
Leicester locked down defensively to stem the run, before Jackson put four more points on the board. But the Flyers were aggressive to close the half, bombarding the bucket in close to keep in contention. Kendall Lewis and Desmond Robinson combined for eight points near the end of the second quarter, and the sides went into the locker rooms with the score 51-37.
Shelton and Thompson end Flyers run of form
After a successful end to the first half, Robinson started the second with five quick points as the Flyers fightback continued. A three from the top from the 6’9” American cut the lead to single digits for the first time since the first quarter.
Hunter stemmed the momentum with an open three from the wing, but Lewis snatched it right back with a putback jam off a Keddy Johnson miss.
Working inside for Leiceter, Shelton drew an and-one play in the post, finished for two in the pick and roll and emphatically blocked a driving Samuels. But Bristol climbed back into it at the rim through Smith and Keddy Johnson, cutting it to five with an 8-0 run.
After being sidelined through injury for some of the third, Thompson checked back into the game to get four straight points and rebuilt the Leicester lead. Jackson closed the third with a tough floater and a pair of foul shots, and the Riders were up 69-60 going into the fourth.
Abercrombie shot making seals win
The Flyers remained in contention to start the fourth with big shot making. Robinson brought his tally to 15, before Lewis connected from three to stay within single digits.
But a Thompson takeover lit a spark for Leicester, as he swatted Evan Walshe’s attempt out of bounds for his third block, before finishing for two next time up. Jackson connected from midrange, and Abercrombie from three to follow their big man, and the Riders led 80-67.
Abercrombie hit again from the top- his third three from that spot on the night, to make it a 16 point lead for the hosts.
Leicester Riders are back in Super League Basketball action following Christmas, taking on Bristol Flyers and the League’s leading scorer Keddy Johnson at home.
Following a heartbreaking semi-final loss last time out, the Riders look to rebound against the Flyers to continue their hot form in the Championship.
Meanwhile Bristol hope to climb back to a .500 record after a loss to the Cheshire Phoenix on December 15.
Here’s all you need to know about the fixture.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Bristol Flyers
Super League Basketball Championship
Friday, December 27, 7:30 pm
Mattioli Arena
Tickets on sale here!
Rolling Riders halted in semi-final
Leicester Riders spent Christmas regathering themselves from an agonising loss to Newcastle Eagles in the Trophy semi-final. They were down 20 on aggregate going into the fourth, but a spirited comeback led by 23 points from American guard Ethan Wright meant it was a one possession tie late.
But the Riders ran out of time, and fell short of an all-time fightback. The Riders saw their Trophy campaign end at the final four.
It’s now back to League action for Leicester, where they have been gathering form in a packed Christmas schedule. Four Championship wins on the bounce has launched them up to third in the standings with a 5-2 record, led by the interior dominance of American big Charles Thompson.
Thompson earned a Team of the Week selection for his efforts against the Eagles on December 15, logging an index rating of 20 without taking the field goal, the first performance of its kind since index rating was first recorded in 2016.
He then put up back-to-back 18 point games, with monster jams on the offensive end and emphatic blocks on the other side of the ball.
With their attention completely on the League, the Riders will hope to continue their rise up the table with a bounce back win.
Finalist Flyers search for League form
After besting the Riders in the semi-final of the Trophy, the Eagles will meet the Bristol Flyers in Birmingham who reached their first final since 2020.
Bristol beat Cheshire Phoenix over two legs impressively in the semi-final and will be looking to string together performances in the month lead up to the big day.
It’s been difficult replicating Trophy success into Championship form for the South Westerners, who sit seventh in the standings with a 2-3 record. Despite beating the Phoenix in the semis, they lost to Cheshire in League action last time out to put them under .500 on the season.
But the Flyers have a chance in any game with the League’s leading scorer suiting up in their ranks. Keddy Johnson has lit up the League in his second season in Bristol to average 23 points per game- 4.6 points clear of the next highest-scoring player.
Johnson was sidelined from injury for a short period at the start the season, but upon his return put up 32 points, and averaged 27.5 over the two semi-final legs. The Dallas native has found to answer to his offensive play in December, making Bristol the third highest-scoring offence in the League this season.
But they face their biggest test so far in the Riders, who allow the fewest points on any team in the SLB, and who have beaten them twice so far this season.
Previous meetings
The two sides have shared the floor in some of the most entertaining battles in British basketball in recent years, and their clash in Bristol in the Trophy group proved to be another exhilarating clash.
The Riders had the best of an overtime battle in Bristol, with Zach Jackson and Jaylin Hunter leading a fourth quarter and overtime charge after a red hot first half from Blake Bowman. Leicester won 105-101 after the additional period led by 27 from Jackson.
The return leg was a more convincing win from Leicester in their season opener. 22 points from Jackson led a complete team effort, backed by 17 from Hunter and 15 from Wright. The Riders won 91-69 in one of the more impressive displays of the year.
Report: Leicester Riders fall just short of semi-final comeback against Newcastle Eagles
Leicester Riders fell heartbreakingly short of a comeback win in the Super League Basketball semi-finals, losing 174-178 over two legs.
The team were 20 down on aggregate going into the final quarter, but a spirited fightback led by Ethan Wright saw them cut the semi-final to 3.
But Leicester ultimately ran out of time, missing key opportunities down the stretch to get over the line.
Wright led the team off the bench with 23 points, scoring 14 in the final quarter. He was backed by Charles Thompson who continued his dominant run with his second straight 18 point game and 11 rebounds.
The difference in the game was the foul shooting, with Leicester missing nine on the night and losing by four points.
Newcastle’s star man Mike Okauru scored a season-high 34 points to get the Eagles through to the final. He and Josh Ward-Hibbert put up 56 combined points, and no other Eagle scored in double-digits.
Slow start leaves Riders in hole
The game started with a defensive battle, both sides locking down in the opening minutes to allow nothing easy for the other. Thompson continued his dominance from the past few outings with a block on the driving Okauru and the score was 2-3 through three minutes.
Okauru did find early success however, scoring five in the opening stages including a tightly contested three from the wing. The Eagles led 6-12 early, taking a 10 point aggregate lead.
The Riders came roaring back, with Duke Shelton working on Cole Long in the post and Riley Abercrombie connecting with the host’s first three.
But a run started by Ward-Hibbert, into the starting lineup for the game, and ended by Okauru’s transition three, forced the first Riders timeout down 13 on aggregate. The first quarter ended with the Riders down 15-25 on the night.
Riders get back in the game late in half
Leicester started the second quarter aggressively, scoring back-to-back at the bucket to cut into the deficit. But with Ward-Hibbert and Okauru still scoring, they couldn’t make significant inroads.
Wright attacked the entire second quarter to bring his tally to six points five minutes into the period. The Riders got the Eagles in early foul trouble to get themselves to the line throughout. They struggled from the line however, leaving points on the board through continual missed free throws.
But the Riders rallied to end the half to climb back into it. Abercrombie and Hunter combined for three triples in the midst of a 13-2 run which saw Leicester make it a one point game on the night.
The defensive end saw Thompson wall off the paint, sending back Malcolm Delpeche’s shot with seconds left in the half, making the score 127-132 on aggregate by the break.
Third quarter sees Eagles take big lead
The Riders came gunning out the break to take the lead on the night, as Spencer Johnson fired from the corner for three. The Eagles crashed the glass to retake the lead with Ward-Hibbert as their primary bucket getter to score 11 points, and Newcastle rebuilt their advantage to 14 on aggregate.
Conner Washington checked in to breathe life into the Riders with his relentless energy, getting himself and Thompson to the line with his playmaking. Wright drained a triple off the dribble, and the Riders kept within touching distance.
But after an Eagles timeout and three buckets to end the third, Newcastle carried a 20 point lead into the final period.
Riders rally but fall just short
The sides went scoreless in the first two minutes of the fourth, the Riders offensive struggles continuing. Wright scored the first points of the period with a triple then a layup with 7:40 on the clock, igniting the Riders run.
Wright hit again from deep to make it a 13 point game. Thompson fought inside for an and-one play with Leicester showing fight throughout.
Wright, after Thompson missed the resulting foul shot, put it back with a layup, then Jackson got in the lane for two to cut it to 12 on aggregate. Following a Thompson block, he drew an unsportsmanlike foul on Long and hit both.
Down the stretch, Leicester missed a plethora of open threes which would have sliced into the Eagles lead. But they kept battling away to give themselves an outside chance. Seneca Knight turned it over in the backcourt, and Wright hit again from two to make it a 5 point deficit on aggregate.
Okauru hit a layup to extend Newcastle’s lead, but Jackson connected again from three to tie it. Wright then stole the inbound to send the crowd into raptures.
The ball went to Thompson next, who couldn’t connect inside. After a scramble for the ball, Long was fouled by Abercrombie and he went to the line. Long rattled one out of two home.
With seconds left, Thompson rebounded Jackoson’s missed three to make it a three point aggregate game, but the Eagles got the ball in and De’sean Allen-Eikens hit one to end the tie.
Trophy semi-final second leg preview: Riders vs Eagles
Leicester Riders are set for the second leg in the Super League Basketball Trophy Semi-Final against Newcastle Eagles.
The Riders need to overcome a four point deficit in the aggregate score in order to progress to the Final at the Utilita Arena, Birmingham. They enter the game in high spirits after four straight wins in all competitions.
Meanwhile the Eagles, who started the season well, look to bounce back from two straight losses, to the Riders in the League last weekend and the Caledonia Gladiators in the Cup on Friday.
Here’s all you need to know:
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Newcastle Eagles
Super League Basketball Trophy Semi-Final second leg
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Sunday December 22, 5:30 pm
First Leg Recap
Leicester Riders pulled off a second half fightback in the first leg to keep their Trophy final hopes alive.
Down 17 points at the half, the Riders made it a four point game at the final buzzer. The final score was 95-91, and the sides will go back to Leicester with the tie in the balance for the second leg.
Fighting back on Tyneside 👊
📹 Relive the action from our Friday night battle against Newcastle Eagles!
Zach Jackson led the game with 24 points and 5 rebounds, backed by Charles Thompson who was pivotal in the paint, going off for 18 points and 14 rebounds, making big buckets in the fourth.
After giving up 38 points in the second quarter, the Riders’ defence locked down in the second half to climb into the game. Turnovers proved costly against the roadrunning Eagles side, the Riders losing the battle 17-7, but Leicester’s second half shot making meant all is to play for in the second leg.
Newcastle’s Seneca Knight led their efforts with 23 points and 4 rebounds, but the bench was the difference in the game. The Eagles’ bench scored 47 to the Riders’ 18, with former Rider Josh Ward-Hibbert bagging 18.
The Riders loss means they need a five point win in Leicester to win the tie over two legs.
Recent form
The Riders take nothing but confidence into this game, having beaten the Eagles in dominant fashion just a week ago in the Championship.
It was an 89-65 victory, and a start-to-finish dominant display for the Riders, who had contributions up and down the roster to win the bench battle 32-20. Zach Jackson led the way with a 20 point performance. He was backed by 17 from Jaylin Hunter and 12 off the bench for Ethan Wright.
Wright on time! 🔥🚨
Ethan continued his hot run of form with a strong performance against the Eagles last night! 😤 pic.twitter.com/RUH0lJBjGl
It was a tough outing for the Eagles, who suffered only their second league defeat of the season. They were led by 13 from Mike Okauru, who went 6-15 from the floor.
Leicester followed up with a win in Surrey on Friday night, which saw them again win convincingly from the tip-off to the final buzzer.
Charles Thompson’s dominant display led the Riders from the frontcourt with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks, locking off the paint from wire to wire with his relentless effort and energy.
Meanwhile the Eagles, fresh off the loss to Leicester, took a tough loss to the bottom of the table Caledonia Gladiators in the Cup last time out. They fell down 16 in the first half, and despite a 56 point second half which saw them take the lead in the fourth, the Gladiators held on late to knock the Eagles out of the competition.
Mike Okauru led the Eagles with 23 in a typically high-scoring performance, but with only two starters scoring in double figures, Newcastle left themselves with too much to do in the second half.
Tickets avaliable!
Tickets to the game are still available. Get in the stands to get behind the team as they look to progress to the Final.
Leicester Riders won their fourth League game on the bounce by beating Surrey 89ers on the road 89-72.
Charles Thompson’s dominant display led the Riders from the frontcourt with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks, locking off the paint from wire to wire with his relentless effort and energy.
Zach Jackson followed up with 17 points, sealing the deal with a run of buckets in the final period. Meanwhile Riley Abercrombie notched a double-double with 13 and 12, and a three to end the night.
Leicester’s bench also won the battle of the second units 23-9, led by Ethan Wright’s 8 points.
The Riders won despite shooting 3-7 from the foul line to Surrey’s 17-22. Mervin James led the game with 22 for the 89ers, going 7-11 from the field.
Thompson leads dominant start
Fresh off his Team of the Week selection last weekend, Thompson scored six straight points to start the game to stamp his authority on the paint. He threw down a monster jam for his third bucket of the game after getting the switch in the pick and roll.
Thompson has 6 points, 3 rebounds and a big time block in the opening three minutes, his block on Cameron Gooden setting up a Jackson finish on the break. Leicester led 10-2 to start the game.
Hunter, from the point, played aggressively in the first to get to the teeth of Surrey’s defence. He scored six at the hoop in the first quarter.
Duke Shelton closed the quarter for Leicester with a hard-fought rebound and a post hook over James, but James returned the favour with a closely contested fadeaway over Shelton on the buzzer to make it 17-24 after one.
Leicester build on lead in the second
Conner Washington checked into the game in the second to hit back-to-back triples off the bench. But James, in rhythm after the end of the first, brought his game tally to 13 with his first three of the game to keep Surrey in contention.
Thompson re-entered the fray after sitting with two fouls and scored his tenth points immediately, before contesting Dame Adelekun in the post and giving him an empty trip down the court.
Abercrombie drained his first three of the game to make the score 45-31, and Thompson finished the flurry with a two-handed jam on the break to bring his game tally to 12. James ended the half with a bucket, and the sides entered the break with the Riders up 14.
Riders respond to Surrey flurry
Hunter led the team out the half with five points, including a tough floater through contact and a three from the wing. Abercrombie followed with a three from the top as Leicester extended their lead.
A string of Riders turnovers opened the door for a Surrey run, however, with Adelekun scoring on back-to-back possessions on the fastbreak. The second bucket was a finish from a lob pass from Di-Jani Parkinson, and the score was 49-60 with 2:30 left in the period.
The 89ers momentum caused a Riders timeout from Head Coach Rob Paternostro, as Leicester looked to steal the sway of the game back. Thompson and Jackson combined for 6 points once the team had regathered, rebuilding the lead at the hoop.
Jordan Hunt shot hope back into the Niners on the buzzer, however, making a miracle three to make the host’s deficit 15 with one left.
Riders see it out through Jackson
Blake Bowman started the fourth aggressively with a drive inside, euro stepping for two. Wright followed with his second triple from the top as Leicester got off to a hot start in the final period.
Shelton picked up his fifth foul to see him sidelined for the rest of proceedings, and Surrey scored 4 straight points to chip back into it.
But Leicester’s leading scorer Jackson took the game over in it’s pivotal stage. He scored 5 points on the bounce by getting his back to basket and finishing through contact repeatedly.
Thompson and Wright both sent shots away in emphatic fashion late in the fourth, and Hunter sealed the game with a three with a favourable bounce. The 89ers rallied late to cut the score to 13, but it was too little too late for the hosts as Leicester took a professional win.
Trophy semi-final next
The Riders are back in action on Sunday in the Super League Basketball Trophy semi-final against Newcastle Eagles.
Leicester Riders are back on the road for Championship action against Surrey 89ers.
It’s the final scheduled trip to Surrey for the Riders, who have faced the Niners three times in competitive action already this season, winning on each occasion.
Leicester now take the trip South on a three-game League winning streak, having beaten Newcastle Eagles last Sunday.
Here’s all you need to know about the fixture…
Fixture information
Surrey 89ers vs Leicester Riders
Surrey Sports Park
Friday, December 20, 7:30 pm
Riders building momentum ahead of semi-final clash
The team is hitting full stride in a pivotal stretch of games.
Three league wins on the bounce has seen the Riders climb to third in the League standings with a 4-2 record, a record-breaking points tally for a Rob Paternostro side meant the Riders progressed to the second round of the Cup with a 130-61 win in Falkirk, and everything is still to play for in Sunday’s semi-final against Newcastle with Leicester needing a five point win to make the final.
Last time out, the Riders made a statement against their semi-final opponents with an impressive performance wire-to-wire. Led by 20 points from Zach Jackson, Leicester beat Newcastle convincingly 89-65 in one of the best team performances of the year.
The Riders’ bench outscored their opponent’s 32-20, with Ethan Wright’s fine form leading the bench effort with 12 points. Charles Thompson put on an impactful performance from the five-man position, achieving an index rating of 20 without shooting a field goal and blocking five shots, and Jaylin Hunter’s playmaking from the point led to jaw-dropping plays throughout.
The complete team effort showcased the Riders’ elite talent up and down the roster in order to hand Newcastle only their second League loss of the season.
Building on Thompson’s rim protection (the American is leading the League in blocks per game with 2.7) the Riders boast the best defence in the League. They’re the only team holding their opponents to under 80 points per game, and by averaging the most assists and fewest turnovers on the offensive end, they are proving to be a cohesive team unit on both sides of the ball.
Niners finding form
Surrey 89ers, sixth in the League with a 3-4 record, enter this fixture having won back-to-back games with a chance to improve to a .500 record against the Riders.
They fought off the NBL’s Derby Trailblazers in the Cup with a 93-88 win on the road, days after besting Manchester Basketball at home 86-79 led by 20 points and 10 rebounds from Dame Adelekun who didn’t miss a field goal on the night.
Adelekun, going 20/20 from the field over his last two games, made history last weekend. He is the first player in top-flight British basketball history to achieve this, the previous highest tally without a miss being 14 from Caledonia’s Patrick Tape.
Surrey have shown their ability to keep pace with every team in British basketball this season. After being blown out 66-82 against the Riders in their opening league fixture, every Niners game since has been decided in single digits, making their average points difference in league games 7.4.
Close encounters with the Eagles and Sharks, and a win against London Lions, shows that Surrey are ready to compete with the League’s best on any given night, and the Riders will have to be at their best to leave Surrey with a win.
Previous meetings
The sides have met three times in competitive action this season, having been drawn in the same Trophy group and playing one another in the opening game of the Championship season.
The Riders have come out double digit victors on each occasion, winning by an average margin of 13.7 points.
Zach Jackson has enjoyed success in their building, scoring 21 and 20 points in his two appearances at Surrey Sports Park this season. His 20 points and 6 assists last time out led the team to a convincing 82-66 win to kick off the team’s league campaign.
This is the last scheduled visit to Surrey Sports Park for the Riders this season, who will be ready for a battle against what has been a difficult test for every team in recent weeks.
Report: Riders take dominant win against Newcastle Eagles
Leicester Riders made it three league wins on the bounce with a 89-65 victory against Newcastle Eagles at home.
It was a start-to-finish dominant display for the Riders, who had contributions up and down the roster to win the bench battle 32-20. Zach Jackson led the way with a 20 point performance. He was backed by 17 from star guard Jaylin Hunter and 12 off the bench for Ethan Wright.
The game marked 500 wins for Head Coach Rob Paternostro, who became the fastest in British basketball top-flight history to the tally. It was a fitting way to make the milestone against the Riders’ historic rivals.
It was a tough outing for the Eagles, who suffered only their second league defeat of the season. They were led by 13 from Mike Okauru, who went 6-15 from the floor.
The win means the Riders leapfrog the Eagles into third place in the standings with a 4-2 record, and the tiebreaker against Newcastle. It’s three league wins on the bounce for the Riders who are making a surge up the standings during their packed December schedule.
Leicester will take confidence from the game ahead of a rematch with the Eagles next week in the Trophy semi-final second leg in Leicester.
Eagles fightback to keep it close after one
The games started at an electric pace, with buckets pouring in in the opening stages in a back-and-forth exchange. The Eagles drew first blood with a triple from their leading scorer on the season Okauru, but the Riders came up with a string of steals which led to a corner three from Hunter giving the hosts a 7-5 lead.
Leicester’s leading scorer Jackson got in on the action midway through the first for five straight points, including a putback and-one from a Hunter missed triple. Jackson, who led the team last time out against Newcastle, continued to prove too physical for their defence down low.
The Riders’ defence suffocated Newcastle, leading to four turnovers in six minutes for the visitors and only seven points.
However, Christian James took the lid off the basket to get the Eagles back in contention. He scored 5 points, including a corner triple, to make it 20-18. The Eagles comeback made it close after one, the score 23-20 in Leicester’s favour.
Riders bench blows game open in the second
Wright made his impact felt to start the second with a pair of buckets at the hoop. He was followed by a Blake Bowman triple to rebuild the Riders’ advantage to eight.
With momentum in their corner, Leicester blew the game open through scores from Aussie forward Riley Abercrombie. His three gave the hosts their first double digit lead of the game at 39-28.
The Riders second unit stepped up in the quarter to maintain Leicester’s lead. 8 points for Wright and 5 for Bowman at the half meant the Eagles couldn’t climb back into the game.
Hunter checked back in with two minutes left in the half and came up with two scores in succession, before Jackson finished the period with a triple for Leicester to lead 49-40 at the break.
Sharp shooting Riders build dominant lead
Hunter, driving on the fastbreak, made the play of the game to get the Riders going in the second half. He drove hard to the hoop before dishing a no-look, behind-the-back pass to Jackson who laid it in for two.
Jackson cooked out of the break, hitting two triples on his way to eight points in three minutes and a 57-46 lead. Leicester held a double digit lead through the third quarter, despite the Eagles chipping away with buckets at the basket.
The threes poured in for the Riders with Spencer Johnson, Hunter and Jackson heating up to keep Newcastle at distance. Baskets from Conner Washington on the fastbreak and Bowman at the rim made it 74-59 with one left, the Riders in firm control of proceedings.
Leicester see it out in defensive fourth quarter
The Riders stamped their authority on the final quarter early to leave little doubt. Bowman and Wright again combined for back-to-back buckets to make the score 80-59 with 8 minutes on the clock.
Leicester’s defence locked down Newcastle, who went scoreless in two minutes in the fourth. Meanwhile offensively they pounded the paint, with Duke Shelton mucking his way to an and-one inside.
Sprinting through the final line, Hunter put the cherry on top of the game with a fastbreak finish for two.
A low scoring fourth concluded the action for Leicester to get it over the line. The final period was won by the Riders to finish off an impressive victory, and a statement ahead of next week’s semi final.
After two games away from league action, Leicester Riders refocus on their Super League Basketball campaign with a heavyweight clash against Newcastle Eagles.
It’s the second of three games in December against the Riders’ North Eastern opponents, with the teams facing off in the Trophy semi-final over two legs, but this league tie sandwiched in between the two games is not to be overlooked in its significance.
A win for the Riders would swing the league standings in their favour as they cast their eyes to the top of the table, so here’s all you need to know about the matchup.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Newcastle Eagles
Super League Basketball Championship
Sunday, December 15, 3PM
Riders return to League action
This weekend features a marathon double header for the Riders, who return home from a fixture in Falkirk on Friday evening.
The game, against Scottish Basketball Championship league leaders Falkirk Fury, saw Leicester progress to the second round of the Cup comfortably winning 130-61.
It was the highest-scoring game in Rob Paternostro’s 16-year tenure as Riders Head Coach, and the Club’s highest-scoring game since 1997. The game was also the second biggest win for Paternostro as Riders Head Coach.
Facing Falkirk saw a return to winning ways, after the Riders fell in a hard-fought semi-final first leg in Newcastle a week prior. The Riders, down 17 at the half, came back to make it a game going back to Leicester and lose only by four.
Fighting back on Tyneside 👊
📹 Relive the action from our Friday night battle against Newcastle Eagles!
A torrid second quarter meant Leicester had to dig themselves out of the hole, and they will need performances up and down the roster in order to avoid needing another comeback on Sunday afternoon.
Off the back of a long road trip on Friday, and facing a talented Eagles side deep into their bench, the Riders need to lean into their full roster for 40 minutes in order to maintain their intensity late in the game.
Should their second unit match their starters’ production, the Riders will be in good stead to leapfrog the Eagles with a 5-2 league record with an important home win.
High-flying Eagles
The Eagles, who are flying high in the SLB and enter this one having won four domestic games on the bounce, fell for the first time since mid November in midweek.
They played Latvian side Valmiera Glass tough on the road, but lost 87-84 for their first loss in the ENBL this season. Mike Okauru, as he has throughout the SLB season, led the way for Newcastle with 26 points, proving to be a deadly threat from the Eagles backcourt.
He has a 35 point game to his name this season, draining 8 threes on his way to a season-high performance, and is averaging 18.4 points per game making him a top five scorer in Super League Basketball.
He has led the team to a 4-1 record, making Newcastle the only single-loss team in Britain’s top tier. Their fast-paced, high-flying brand of basketball has wreaked havoc in the League this season, as demonstrated by their 38 point second quarter last time against the Riders.
Newcastle has seven players scoring over nine points per game in the League this season, emphasising the need for contributions all the way down the Riders’ roster in order to beat Sunday’s visitors.
And if their last meeting is anything to go by, expect fireworks between these old rivals.
Where to watch
Tickets to the game are still available here! The game will also be available to be streamed live on DAZN.
Leicester Riders hit the road to get their Super League Basketball Cup campaign underway against Falkirk Fury tomorrow.
The Scottish Basketball Championship League leaders are one of seven non-Super League Basketball clubs set to face off against professional opposition in the first round of the Cup.
They will take on four-time British basketball Cup winners Leicester Riders, who have their sights set on the Finals in Nottingham to take back their title last won in 2022.
Here’s all you need to know about the fixture…
Fixture information
Falkirk Fury vs Leicester Riders Super League Basketball Cup First Round Friday, December 13, 7:50 pm
Due to the technical challenges with broadcasting from non-SLB team venues for the First Round, this games will not be broadcast live.
You can follow the game on our social media below, and by following the game’slivestats here.
Falkirk Fury are one of the most successful basketball clubs in Scotland, with 24 National and International titles to their name since their founding in 1992.
Falkirk won the SBC treble last season, winning the League, Playoffs and Scottish Cup in an immensely successful domestic season. It was the third treble in the club’s history, and their first since 2017.
They currently sit top of Scotland’s top division with a 7-2 record, and enter this game on a three game winning streak.
They have some familiarity with first-tier British basketball opponents, having entered the Trophy on three occasions. They suffered three defeats in the competition, however, falling twice to the Glasgow Rocks and one to Loughborough Riders in 2017.
Falkirk have produced a plethora of British basketball talent over the past decades, the most successful of which being former GB international Kieron Achara. Former Rider Ali Fraser, current Caledonia Gladiator Fraser Malcolm and recently retired Jonny Bunyan also suited up for the Fury in the past, meaning the Riders should be prepared to take on a talented group of potential future pros.
Riders set for unique challenge
The Riders travel to Falkirk in the midst of a crammed December schedule, and as part of a doubleheader weekend.
It’s a trip back up North for Leicester who come into this tie off the back of an intense Trophy semi-final first leg against Newcastle Eagles.
It was a hard-fought battle, with the Riders having to fight back from down 17 at halftime to bring the tie to within four come the final buzzer with the sides coming back to Leicester on the 22nd.
Fighting back on Tyneside 👊
📹 Relive the action from our Friday night battle against Newcastle Eagles!
Now, the Riders turn their attention to the Cup, a competition which they have lifted four times in British basketball, most recently as part of their 2022 treble winning season.
A tough task awaits the Riders, who take the long journey north hoping to progress to the second round of the Cup against a Falkirk side not to be overlooked, before heading back to Leicester to take on the Eagles in Championship action on Sunday.
But it’s one game at a time for the team, who are locked in for part one of the doubleheader in Falkirk, and need to take care of business professionally.
Key takeaways from the Riders’ semi-final vs Newcastle
Leicester Riders played the first of three December fixtures against their rivals, Newcastle Eagles, in the first leg of the Super League Basketball Trophy semi-final last Friday.
It was a hard-fought battle, with the Riders having to fight back from down 17 at halftime to bring the tie to within four come the final buzzer.
Fighting back on Tyneside 👊
📹 Relive the action from our Friday night battle against Newcastle Eagles!
With the teams facing off a further two times in the coming weeks, both encounters taking place at the Mattioli Arena, learning from previous games becomes a pivotal part of the Riders’ hopes of December success.
Here’s what we can take from Friday’s game…
Newcastle’s strength in depth
Newcastle proved to possess a talented roster from top to bottom, with weapons in the starting and second unit able to knock down shots at a high rate.
Jaylin Hunter spoke on Newcastle’s strength in depth ahead of Friday’s highly anticipated clash.
“They’re pretty deep,” said Hunter. “They have a lot of guys that can hurt you and win a game for them so they are not a one or two man show.
“They have a lot of players that can drive and shoot, so we have to really pay attention to the scouting report and know who we have to contest hard on and who guys we need to be wary of drives to the rim.”
Hunter’s assessment was accurate, with the Eagles’ bench outsourcing the Riders’ 47-18 led by 18 from former Rider Josh Ward-Hibbert. Three players scored double digit points tallies on the Eagles second unit, with that unit playing a pivotal role in a 38 point second quarter for the hosts.
The Eagles bench was red hot from deep, shooting 7-15 from behind the arc, three of those triples coming in the second. The Riders will have to be locked into their perimeter defence through 40 minutes in the upcoming fixtures to keep Newcastle’s second unit in check.
Riders’ experience proves vital
Down 59-42 at the half, Leicester were forced to fight out of a hole and get themselves back into contention for the semi-final.
The experience of Head Coach Rob Paternostro paid dividends in calming the team at the half, and instilling belief that they could make it a game going back to Leicester.
Paternostro reminded the team that there was plenty of basketball to play in the two-legged semi-final.
“We played poorly in the second to give them the lead, but there weren’t just 20 minutes left, there were 60 left, and that was the message at halftime,” said Paternostro post game “There was plenty of time to just keep chipping away.”
With those words echoing in their ears, the Riders came galloping back into the tie out of the half, going on an 8-0 run in the third quarter to cut it to single digits, and making it a one point game with an incredible sequence late in the fourth.
Ethan Wright epitomised the Riders’ never say die attitude with an incredible chase down block on Christian James, before dishing it to Hunter for three to cut it to one. A late three for Newcastle rebuilt their lead to 4, but the Riders’ fightback has made it a game going into the second leg.
“We did an excellent job in the second half to get back into the tie. Defensively we learned a lot for the second half which is really important in these types of games,” concluded Paternostro.
Big moments, big players
With the team’s back against the wall, Coach Paternostro leaned on his star power to get the Riders back into the tie. Hunter, Zach Jackson and Charles Thompson came up huge down the stretch in the second half to play big minutes and make important plays.
Jackson got the comeback rolling with a 10 point third quarter, battling to the free throw line with physical play at the rim. He led the game with 24 points, shooting 8-8 from the foul line in the game.
Jackson combined with Thompson, who had 8 points in the period, to snatch momentum back and establish themselves in the paint. Then as the clock ticked down in the fourth and the game hung in the balance, Hunter stepped up to drain a pair of crucial threes and chip into the Riders’ deficit.
Leicester’s star trio stepping up in the highest leverage moment of the season means all is to play for when the Eagles come to Leicester for the reverse fixture.
Newcastle next at home
The Riders take on the Eagles in their next home action in a crucial game in the Championship season on December 15.
Report: Riders climb back to make for close Trophy first leg vs Eagles
Leicester Riders pulled off a second half fightback in the Trophy semi-final first leg to keep their Trophy final hopes alive.
Down 17 points at the half, the Riders made it a four point game at the final buzzer. The final score was 95-91, and the sides will go back to Leicester with the tie in the balance for the second leg.
Zach Jackson led the game with 24 points and 5 rebounds, backed by Charles Thompson who was pivotal in the paint, going off for 18 points and 14 rebounds, making big buckets in the fourth.
After giving up 38 points in the second quarter, the Riders’ defence locked down in the second half to climb into the game. Turnovers proved costly against the roadrunning Eagles side, the Riders losing the battle 17-7, but Leicester’s second half shot making meant all is to play for in the second leg.
Newcastle’s Seneca Knight led their efforts with 23 points and 4 rebounds, but the bench was the difference in the game. The Eagles’ bench scored 47 to the Riders’ 18, with former Rider Josh Ward-Hibbert bagging 18.
Riders overcome slow start to lead after one
Riders’ star duo of Jaylin Hunter and Thompson found themselves on the same page from the jump to combine for two highlights in the first period.
The first score of the game saw Hunter sling a pass through traffic to Thompson, who threw down the first points one handed, then two minutes later Thompson found another lane to the rim from a Hunter feed and threw down another.
The Eagles were in rhythm early, however, to take a 12-6 lead. They entered the game leading all teams in fastbreak points, and took advantage of early Leicester turnovers to get easy scores in transition led by 10 points from Knight.
The Riders clawed back from the foul line, shooting seven free throws including a Duke Shelton and-one, who then took the lead for the visitors from the midrange. Hunter ended a breathless first period with a triple, meaning Leicester led 23-21.
Newcastle take charge in the second
Newcastle took charge early in the second quarter with a relentless flow of buckets. They started on a 13-2 run capped off by a Knight three which forced a Riders timeout down nine points. Josh Ward-Hibbert scored five straight out of the break, with Leicester in need of a response.
Hunter stopped the bleeding with a finish at the rim with six minutes left in the half, followed by Wright on the fastbreak. Leicester’s offence clicked into gear, but couldn’t stop the Eagles on the other end to cut into the deficit.
Knight built on his hot start to bring his tally to 14, and Jordan Spencer got in on the action with a triple from the top. Hunter hit back with four points, and he finished the second with 13, but Cole Long’s three made it a 17 point deficit for the Riders at the half.
Newcastle scored 38 points in a red hot second quarter, putting themselves in firm control.
Fightback begins in the third
Jackson and Spencer Johnson got to work early in the third to chip four points off the Eagles lead immediately. Thompson found joy inside for back-to-back buckets, and Leicester trailed by 11 after three minutes of the second half.
Newcastle, through another Long three, bolstered their lead in response to the Riders run. But the Riders were a different side to the one seen in the second quarter, forcing the Eagles’ possessions to run deep into the shot clock.
Jackson’s hustle turned what appeared an open layup for Spencer into a chasedown block, before Thompson scored on Long and blocked Christian James on the other end to make the score 71-61.
Leicester make it a game
Jackson took over the game to close the third. He scored six straight points, battling to the rim and fighting through contact to put the ball in the bucket, and keep the Riders in contention going into the fourth. The score was 76-67 with one left.
They remained at arm’s length to start the fourth with Riley Abercrombie scoring on the break, and Jackson draining a three. Jackson hustled for a loose ball after a Riders turnover, leading to another Thompson jam, and it was quickly a six point game.
On the next run up, James was fouled on a triple to add three points to the Eagles tally. Long scored on a drive to the hoop to make the hosts’ lead 11 and force a Riders timeout.
But out of the break, Wright and Hunter found string on threes to snatch back momentum and make it a game late on. Wright, again fighting for space down low, made it a one possession game with three minutes left.
With the tie in the balance and James driving to the hoop, Wright rose high for a monster chasedown block. Wright then ran the break and found Hunter, who drained a triple in a huge sequence for the Riders.
Wright had a chance to take the lead with a triple, but hit iron on his shot. Knight then drained a corner three with less than a minute left to build the Eagles lead back to four. Leicester held on for the final shot, which Jackson took and missed, and the Riders now go back to Leicester for the second leg down just four.
The return leg of the semi-final will be played in Leicester on December 22, with both sides vying to progress to the final in the Utilita Arena Birmingham in January.
“We’re ready for the challenge!”: Jaylin Hunter previews Leicester Riders’ Trophy semi-final
Leicester Riders are gearing up for the biggest fixture of their season so far.
Tomorrow, they’ll hit the court for the Trophy semi-final first leg on the road against their British basketball rivals, the Newcastle Eagles.
They enter the tie in good form after a double-winning weekend, in a pivotal part of the season for the newly formed Riders group.
After suffering back-to-back losses to Sheffield Sharks early in the year, their league season was put back on track with victories against Manchester and Cheshire.
Before their losses to the Sharks, the Riders were 7-0 in all competitions after going undefeated in the Trophy’s South Group. The Riders had to prove their bounce-back ability, and they did so emphatically.
Jaylin Hunter, the player of the game in the second of the two wins last weekend, emphasised the importance of the results to this group.
“In those two games against Sheffield we realised we could be beaten, so that made us lock in that little bit more. We felt that people were doubting us a little so we wanted to prove that we can hang with the big dogs.
“It was big to know that we’re not just good in the south- we can compete with the whole League.”
The Riders dove into the film room following the losses to diagnose the issues from the games, and emphasised quicker ball movement and more urgency on the fastbreak to improve their results.
“Our ball movement wasn’t where it should have been against Sheffield- there were a couple of opportunities where we could have ran in transition. We did a much better job of moving it in our last two games, and finding those outlets a second or two earlier.
“Our bigs did a great job of getting their heads up quickly after getting a rebound and getting the ball in transition. That really helped us in winning those games.
Overcoming the road running Eagles
Newcastle enters this game as the League’s most efficient offence, generating their points on the run in transition. They score the most fastbreak points per game, making for an intriguing battle against the Riders who play at the slowest pace in the League.
Hunter believes the Riders, who turn the ball over the least of any team, can limit the Eagles’ fastbreak opportunities with their ball security.
“One thing we pride ourselves on is taking care of the ball, so if we continue to do that it will naturally limit their transition. A lot of it has to do with our offence not giving them the chance to run and generate fastbreak buckets which are impossible to guard.
“Taking care of the ball is the biggest thing in stopping their transition offence, which is what we know they like to do.”
The Riders haven’t yet faced the Eagles this season, but the team have been pouring over film familiarise themselves with their opponents, who they are set to face three times in 16 days.
Hunter has been impressed with their opponent’s strength in depth.
“They’re pretty deep- they have a lot of guys that can hurt you and win a game for them so they are not a one or two man show. They have a lot of players that can drive and shoot, so we have to really pay attention to the scouting report and know who we have to contest hard on and who guys we need to be wary of drives to the rim.
“Knowing the personnel is the most important thing going into these games, and once we’ve played them a few times we’ll feel more and more comfortable.”
The rivalry
Both of these franchises are familiar with facing each other on the biggest stages in British basketball, having established the fiercest rivalry over the past decade of the sport in this country.
But this will be Hunter’s first taste of that rivalry, and he is eagerly anticipating the playing environment.
“Over the last few days I’ve learned what this rivalry is all about. These games are fun when the crowd is into it and the energy is in the building then it ups the level of play from everyone. If that is going to be the environment then we’re ready for the challenge.
“This is what you play for. If the fans are excited that makes us excited. Both teams have been playing pretty well, so now it’s time to play, simple as that.”
The Riders welcome Newcastle to town for their next home game in the Super League Basketball Championship. Get in the stands to support the team in a pivotal game at the top of the table!
Leicester Riders announce the continuation of their relationship with Champions Speakers
Leicester Riders basketball club are thrilled to announce the continuation of its successful partnership with Champions Speakers, now entering its third year.
Champions Speakers, the UK’s lead keynote speaker agency, has been an incredible supporter of the Club through exciting initiatives and collaborations.
For the past two years, Champions Speakers has been a vital part of the Riders’ journey, and we are excited to extend this collaboration into a third year.
Their support allows the Riders to continue to grow our presence within British basketball while providing us with access to influential guest speakers, motivational events, and fan engagement opportunities that help bring more excitement to game days and beyond.
Announcing the continuation of the relationship, Kevin Routledge, Chairman of Leicester Riders commented: “For the past two years, Champions Speakers has been a great supporter to the Riders and we are excited to extend this collaboration into a third year. As a Leicester brand representing the City on a National and International level, we are looking forward to working with them again.”
Jack Hayes, Director of Champions Speakers, added:
“We are incredibly proud to be entering our third year of sponsoring Leicester Riders. The team’s commitment to excellence, their values, and the sense of community they foster perfectly align with what Champions Speakers stands for. We look forward to continuing this journey together and helping the Riders succeed both on and off the court.”
“As we look ahead to the upcoming season, we’re excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, and we’re grateful for Champions Speakers’ continued dedication. Together, we aim to bring even more exciting experiences to our fans, further enhancing the Leicester Riders brand. With Champions Speakers by our side, we’re ready for another year of success both on the court and in the wider basketball community!”
Trophy semi final preview: Leicester Riders vs Newcastle Eagles
Leicester Riders turn their attention to Trophy action, heading to Newcastle to take on the Eagles in the first leg of the semi-finals.
The sides have shared the stage for some of the most consequential battles in British basketball over the past decade, as they now prepare once again to suit up in the biggest games of the season thus far.
The Riders and Eagles have established a reputation as not only two of countries’ premiere clubs in recent history, but this season as well.
Here’s how this mammoth fixture is shaping up…
Riders back on track
After going undefeated through the Trophy group phase in October, the Riders suffered their first two defeats of the season back to back against Sheffield Sharks three weeks ago.
The losses meant last weekend was pivotal for getting the season back on the rails ahead of a packed Christmas schedule, and a Trophy semi-final awaiting the team the following week.
The Riders responded emphatically with a 2-0 weekend, beating Manchester Basketball at home before holding on for an impressive win against Cheshire Phoenix on the road. The Riders look back to their best with the back-to-back wins, and their star power shining through in the weekend’s action.
Charles Thompson and Zach Jackson earned Super League Basketball Team of the Week honours from their performances.
Jackson led the team to a 99-86 win against Manchester with a 20 point performance, and Thompson’s efforts at the rim set the tone against Cheshire, logging 14 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks and a monster jam over Skyler White for the play of the game.
Now the Riders turn their attention to the red hot Eagles, with only one League loss to their name so far this season.
Eagles flying high
Newcastle progressed through their Trophy group with a 5-3 record, earning them second place in the North Group and a semi final against the Riders.
But since then, the Eagles have gone 4-1 to start their League campaign, with a number of impressive European victories in the ENBL to accompany their League record.
Newcastle enter this tie having won three Championship games on the bounce, most recently hanging on to beat the Cheshire Phoenix as the Riders did.
The win put them second in the League behind the London Lions, the only team to take a League win against Newcastle so far this season.
The Eagles’ success early in the year has come from ruthless efficiency from turnovers, leading the League in fastbreak points and field goal percentage. They play lock down defence in order to generate this offence, holding their opponents to the lowest field goal percentage in the League, and have generated the highest offensive rating on the other end.
Meanwhile Leicester, who play at the slowest pace of any team in British basketball, turn the ball over the least in the League, setting up an intriguing battle between a potent, halfcourt offence and highflying roadrunners.
One to watch
Newcastle’s Mike Okauru has shown his ability to take over games single-handedly in his introduction to British basketball this season.
He has a 35 point game to his name this season, draining 8 threes on his way to a season-high performance, and is averaging 18.4 points per game making him a top five scorer in Super League Basketball.
Okauru, a third year pro after spending his first two professional seasons in Czechia and France, has proven himself as an efficient scorer, and is knocking down his field goal at a 54% clip, and he’s a career best 40% from three.
The American guard’s threat is predicated on his drives to the rim, both in transition and the pick and roll. Leicester’s rim protection will be pivotal in slowing down his threat driving to the hoop.
His finishing ability opens up the three ball, which he is knocking down at a consistent rate this season, meaning the Riders will need to be locked in on 6’3” Okauru for all 40 minutes.
The Riders head north on Friday to take on their historic rivals, the Newcastle Eagles, in the Super League Basketball Trophy semi-final first leg.
The sides have faced off in the biggest games in British Basketball over the last decade. Here, we catch you up with the history…
2011/12- The first Final meeting
The sides first met in a major final in the Rob Paternostro era in the 2012 BBL Playoff Final: the Riders’ first final since 2001.
The Eagles, then serial winners of the competition having won four since the Riders’ last appearance, added a fifth to their trophy cabinet on this occasion. They won the game 71–62, led by MVP Charles Smith’s 21 points.
That season, the Eagles pulled off the domestic quadruple, their victory against the Riders capping off the achievement.
Leicester pushed the Eagles all the way in the League, falling just two points short to set up the rivalry between the organisations.
2012/13- Riders on the board
The next season, the Riders took the silverware against the North Easterners, winning the treble by lifting the Championship, Cup and Playoff trophies.
They first met the Eagles in the 2013 BBL Cup final. Jay Cousinard’s MVP performance led Leicester to a 85–80 win, earning the first piece of silverware for Head Coach Rob Paternostro.
The Riders went on to lift the League title with a 30-3 record, clearing the second-placed Eagles by ten points, before meeting them in the Playoff final to complete the treble.
Leicester won the tie 68–57, again led by MVP Cousinard, to make it 2-1 in domestic finals between the sides.
Again, the teams fought for silverware at the earliest opportunity the next season in the BBL Cup final. The Riders had the edge, playing out a classic at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham.
Cousinard’s late free throws put Leicester up three with seven seconds remaining, as the Riders fought back from 11 points down with four minutes to play, led by eight points from MVP Drew Sullivan.
The Riders didn’t meet the Eagles in the remaining two finals, as Newcastle went on to top the Championship table and fell short in the Playoff final against the Worcester Wolves.
2014/15- Eagles quadruple
The 2014/15 season saw the Riders and Eagles share a title fight wire to wire. The Eagles emerged victors, finishing with 62 points to the Riders 60, then going on to win the Playoff final against the London Lions.
The Eagles again won the quadruple as they did in 2012, facing off against the Riders in yet another final. This time, it was the 2014 BBL Trophy final, which they won 96-90 led by MVP Smith once again.
Smith’s season saw him named League MVP, as he put up 18.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in the Eagles’ historic season.
2015/16- Riders respond
The Riders responded next season, winning the League and Trophy double. It was Leicester’s turn to pip Newcastle to the Championship title, a 29-4 record seeing them edge out the second-placed Eagles 58 points to 56.
Leicester beat their Eagles on their new homecourt at the Morningside Arena to lift the title.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) May 26, 2020
The Riders went through the Eagles in the Trophy final, winning 85-77 led by MVP Sullivan against his former team. It was revenge for the Riders, who were beaten by the Eagles in the Cup final earlier in the year.
The Eagles’ Rahmon Fletcher won the first of his two BBL MVP awards, and led the team in the Cup win to take home Final MVP.
Leicester had a shot at the treble in the BBL Playoff Final, but fell a game short to the Sheffield Sharks.
2016/17- Building on success
The 2016/17 season saw Leicester build on the previous year’s success, winning another domestic treble.
Winning the League over Newcastle by eight points, and taking a dominant 84–63 victory against the Eagles in the Playoff Final saw them establish themselves as the BBL’s premier outfit, after they lifted their first silverware of the season with a 91-58 win against the Plymouth Raiders in the Trophy.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) June 4, 2020
The Playoffs marked the last time the sides have faced off in a domestic final.
The Eagles weren’t left empty-handed, however, winning the BBL Cup with a 91–83 victory against the Glasgow Rocks. But the Riders finished the season the stronger of the sides, with Pierre Hampton leading the team to a playoff win with a Final MVP performance.
2018/Present- Recent years
2018 saw the first season where Leicester and Newcastle didn’t meet in a final in seven years. It also marked the first season the Eagles failed to make a final in eight years.
Meanwhile, the Riders secured another treble, winning the League by 10 points over the London Lions.
They faced the Lions in the Playoff final to win the treble, taking the victory comfortably 81-60, and beat the Sheffield Sharks to win the Trophy final 90-85.
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) June 14, 2020
The Eagles finished third in the standings with a 21-11 record, not facing the Riders in any of the knockout competitions throughout the season.
The most recent high-stakes game between the Riders and Eagles dates back to the 2021 Playoffs, where the Eagles beat the League champions over two legs in a behind-closed-doors semi-final.
They went on to win the Playoffs that season, before the Riders responded with another treble the following season.
Last year, the sides met in a high-stakes Trophy group clash, with the winner progressing through to the Final Four of the competition. Leicester won the game convincingly in Newcastle to progress, and the Eagles will want revenge in this one to settle the scores.
Leicester Riders held on for a nail biting 86-88 win on the road to Cheshire Phoenix.
Leicester led by 14 in the fourth after some hot three point shooting, but Cheshire made it a one possession game and had a chance to tie it from the foul line.
Tyreek Scott-Grayson missed the third of three attempts, and the Riders got the win over the line.
Riley Abercrombie led the game with 16 points, backed by double doubles from Jaylin Hunter (16/12) and Charles Thompson (14/13).
Six players finished in double digits, and the Riders dished 24 assists to Cheshire’s 11 in a complete team effort.
Despite the clutch miss, Scott-Grayson led the game with 24 points and 5 rebounds. Cheshire shot 47% from the field on the game, catching a heater late to make it a game.
The Riders improved to 3-2 on the Championship season after a two-win weekend.
Riders fightback from hot Phoenix start
Playing trademark Phoenix basketball, the hosts made it a track meet from the tip-off getting buckets on the fastbreak. They took a 13-7 lead led by 7 from Cam Christon flying down the court.
Spencer Johnson’s corner three stemmed the early momentum and cut it to a one score game, however, despite the relentless Cheshire start. The three turned the tide of the game as Leicester heated up.
They went 4-6 from deep in the opening period to snatch the lead. A late surge from Cheshire, finalised by Greg Wild’s three, tied it at 24 after one, but the Riders were in rhythm and on-target.
Riders grind out the second quarter
Blake Bowman broke the deadlock in the second quarter with a tough make inside for one of two baskets in three minutes. His play meant Leicester led by five to start the second.
The back-and-forth game swung towards the Phoenix through an Atwood three, however, forcing the first time out of the game for Rob Paternostro with the game tied at 33.
Neither side were able to form a significant advantage through much of the second, until Charles Thompson made the play of the game. Jaylin Hunter found his cut to the rim before he rose high on the drive and threw it down over the rim-defending Skyler White.
This set off an 8-2 Riders run to put the visitors up 44-37, capped off by Hunter’s free throws. Leicester carried this advantage to the half, leading 48-41 going into the locker rooms led by Thompson’s 8 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks- a dominant half for the American.
Battling out the third
Leicester’s lights out shooting translated to the second half, with Hunter pulling up off the dribble to put the Riders up 10.
They were forced to battle, however, to keep Cheshire at arm’s length, as they hit big shots in an attempt to cut into the deficit. Scott-Grayson made the breakthrough from three to cut it to six, the score 53-59.
The Phoenix played full court, physical defence, forcing the Riders to fight through contact and get to the rim. Riley Abercrombie made big plays inside to bring his tally to 11 and keep the visitors ahead.
After Cheshire’s efforts had been subdued for the time being, Zach Jackson got to work down low for his trademark tough finish in the post. Johnson and Hunter put four more on the board, and the lead was back to 10.
Jackson finished off the third at the line for Leiecster, and the sides went into the fourth with the score 64-72.
Leicester catch fire in the fourth
The Phoenix drew first blood in the fourth, with RJ Eytle-Rock sinking a breakaway and-one to start it. After a tough offensive spell to start the quarter, Abercrombie took the lid off to respond to the Phoenix form with a contested three on the top.
Ethan Wright followed up with a finish inside, and Leicester had built a solid foundation late. But Scott-Grayson hit back with an and-one play, ensuring a tense finale for both sides.
With the game in the balance and both sides exchanging blows, the Riders connected with a big blow. Charles Thompson, driving baseline, kicked to Johnson in the corner who hit string and made the lead 81-72.
The Riders caught fire at the key moment in the game. Hunter fired a ball to Wright at the top who again hit from deep to make it a 14 point game.
Riders survive late Phoenix fightback
Cheshire never said die, and fought back to make it close. Skyler White and Holden got points on the board, and a Christon corner three brought the difference to seven. Holden then broke away after a Phoenix steal to lay in another.
Thompson was sent to the line next time down, missing both with 24 seconds left. Eytle-Rock then pulled down White’s miss and put back and and-one play, sinking the resulting free throw to make it a one score game.
Jackson was sent to the foul line next, making one and giving Cheshire a chance to tie with a three. Scott-Grayson had the shot, and was fouled on a three by Johnson sending him to the line.
The first two went down, but dramatically he missed the third, and the rebound was pulled down by Thompson. Thompson was rewarded with another pair of foul shots, this time making one, and Johnson intercepted a full court heave to seal the win.
Leicester Riders got back to winning ways with a 99-86 victory against Manchester.
It was a convincing win from the start after a red hot first half, which saw the team put up 56 points. Manchester fought back in the third to cut into the lead, but big shots to start the fourth saw the Riders put the game beyond reach.
Zach Jackson led the game with 20 points and 5 rebounds, going 7-11 from the field. The Riders had seven players in double digits, including Hunter with 16 and 9 assists and Duke Shelton off the bench with 13 points and 8 rebounds in 12 minutes.
Leicester went 53% from the field and 42% from three, turning the ball over only 9 times in a solid offensive showing.
Manchester had two 20 point scorers in Marcus Delpeche and Nathan Cayo, the former grabbing 9 rebounds and shooting 10-15 from the field.
They lost the bench battle 27-16, the difference in the game.
Riders start hot
A hot shooting start from the Riders saw them jump out to a 12-7 lead. Spencer Johnson, stepping into the starting lineup for the first time as a Rider, hit a three off-balance from the wing, and Riley Abercrombie hit twice from deep, Leicester hitting their first three attempts from behind the arc.
Abercrombie led the game with 10 points in the opening six minutes. Leicester led by double digits through the Aussie’s play, capitalising on their form to build a solid advantage. It was 29-16 after one with Leicester shooting 71% from deep.
Riders dominant to the half
Conner Washington checked into the game to start the second quarter to continue the three point barrage. He was followed by Shelton who bagged a pair of buckets, taking Delpeche off the dribble as the shot clock wound down for a layup inside, making the score 38-20.
With four minutes left in the half, Jaylin Hunter got in on the action with back-to-back triples. Everything was dropping for the hosts, who were 8-12 from three. Hunter scored eight straight, each shot meeting nothing but string.
Leicester dominated the second period. Their fluid offence was met with no answer as they poured on the points for their highest scoring half of the season. Zach Jackson’s put back after a scramble around the bucket was the Riders’ final score of the second, as they entered the locker rooms up 56-36.
Manchester fight back
The sides stalled out to start the third, as the once high-scoring affair slowed down into a defensive duel. Jackson hit a deep two on the buzzer over Delpeche for two of Leiecetsr’s nine points in five minutes, as the Riders kept the lead to 20.
Midway through the period, Manchester began to mount a comeback into the game. Nathan Cayo drained a three for his 12th points to make it 67-52, forcing a Riders timeout to stem the tide.
Jackson stopped the bleeding by getting to work down low, pulling up from the post to sink one. The Riders build on the American’s bucket to make it a 16 point game with one to play.
To start the third, Wright connected on back-to-back threes to set the tone the rest of the way. Jackson pulled up off the dribble to follow up his teammates and hit again, giving the Riders a platform to see the game out from.
Jaylin Hunter got to work to score five straight and stretch the lead. He scored seven in the period to see it out, making his tally on the game 16.
Abercrombie put the exclamation point on the win with a big dunk inside, seeing the Riders home and making it a 2-2 record on the Championship season.
Back at it on Sunday
The Riders return to action on Sunday, taking on Cheshire Phoenix on the road hoping to improve to above .500 on the season.
Preview: Leicester Riders vs Manchester Basketball
Leicester Riders return to Super League Basketball action against Manchester for the first time this season.
The 1-2 Riders will attempt to return to winning ways after back-to-back losses to Sheffield Sharks, as they hope to get their season back on track going into December.
Meanwhile Manchester seek their first win of the League season after a 2-6 Trophy group phase.
Here’s how the fixture is shaping up…
Leicester looks to regain momentum
The Riders face a seven-game December schedule, starting Sunday against Cheshire Phoenix, and will be looking to build form going into the congested run of fixtures.
They will take important lessons from their losses against Sheffield, with a lot of season ahead of them to correct the wrongs from the games.
Last time out was a tough offensive outing after a positive start to the game. They went scoreless through the first six minutes of the second quarter, and were unable to get going ahead to climb back into the tie.
Jaylin Hunter led the Riders’ efforts from the point with 18 points, finishing with a +/- of -1 in an 18 point loss. He was backed by Abercrombie with 14 and Zach Jackson with 11.
The two weeks between games has allowed the team to reset, study the tape and get back on the practice court, and they will look to get back into a rhythm against tomorrow’s North Western opponents.
Manchester look to get over the edge after overtime thrillers
Manchester, a newly formed franchise, still looks to find its feet in Super League Basketball with a roster formed imminently before the season started.
The Trophy group was a useful run of games for the unit to gain chemistry and find fitness, making their 2-6 record secondary to their performances and growth throughout the phase.
Their two wins were the final two games of the group, and now, two games into the Championship season, Manchester will look to turn performances into results and get their first point in the win column in the league against Leicetser.
They have come agonisingly close in both of their Championship games, falling in overtime on both occasions. Their last outing was on the road to Bristol Flyers, the hosts finding late form with Evan Walshe leading the way against his former team.
Their 0-2 record, therefore, is deceptive, and the Riders will need to be operating at peak performance to come out the victors in this one.
Their odds received a slight boost in the week as Manchester parted ways with their third-leading scorer Isiah Moore. But with a top-three scorer in the League, DJ Mitchell, and the second-best assist-maker in Makai Ashton-Langford, the Riders’ opponents will suit up with a plethora of talent at Mattioli Arena.
Tickets still available!
Tickets are still available for the game! You can secure your seat here!
Leicester Riders announce NordVPN as headline sponsor of Business Club
Leicester Riders, the UK’s oldest professional basketball club, are thrilled to announce NordVPN as the headline sponsor for the Leicester Riders Business Club. This exciting new partnership, built on trust and security, celebrates a shared commitment to innovation, community, and the promotion of online security in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
NordVPN are the global market leaders in providing cyber security through their VPN products and digital services. Helping to provide online users with a safe and secure digital experience, ensuring peace of mind and security while using any unsecured networks, such as public Wi-Fi connections in hotels, airports and coffee shops.
Other features allow secure access to personal information or work files, encryption internet connections and browsing history privacy. As part of the new partnership, NordVPN are offering Riders fans up to 75% off and four months extra for free!
As part of this collaboration, NordVPN will be front and centre in supporting Leicester Riders Business Club’s aim of fostering a community of businesses. This partnership looks to support businesses in elevating their operations while ensuring the highest levels of online security and privacy.
Simon Winfield, CEO of Leicester Riders, said:
“We are proud to partner with NordVPN, a globally recognised leader in cybersecurity, as we work together to elevate both our business community and online presence. This partnership not only highlights our shared values of innovation and collaboration but also provides our business network with the essential tools to protect their digital interests.”
NordVPN’s commitment to online security aligns with the Riders’ vision for providing a safe, secure environment for businesses to connect and grow.
Bob Brinklow, Country Manager UK, NordVPN said:
“NordVPN is delighted to partner with Leicester Riders to help educate supporters on the importance of staying safe online.
“While cybersecurity and privacy tools help to protect internet users from a technical perspective, human error remains an essential factor in cybersecurity and no one is fully protected from online scams.
“Tactics used by cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated and even cyber-savvy users are often exposed.
“NordVPN now offers cyber insurance benefits with its Ultimate plan so users can secure their internet connection and enjoy the additional protection against online shopping fraud and online scams.”
Key matchups: Leicester Riders vs Manchester Basketball
Leicester Riders return to action after the international break, hosting Manchester for the first time in Super League Basketball.
The Club looks to return to winning ways after back-to-back losses to the Sheffield Sharks. Building momentum is pivotal ahead of a busy winter schedule, with this weekend’s double header setting up a seven-game December.
Here’s some of the key matchups to look for in Friday’s action…
Makai Ashton-Langford vs Jaylin Hunter
The League’s two premiere assist makers, Jaylin Hunter and Makai Ashton-Langford, go head-to-head from the point in this matchup.
Hunter, with 8 per game, leads all players in dishes, followed by Ashton-Langford with 7 per game. The two American rookies have quickly made their name in professional hoops as elite playmakers, pulling the strings from the point.
The Riders’ star guard has been one of the standouts from their start to the season, finding quick chemistry with the rest of the roster to continually generate open looks with his flashy passing and court vision.
In addition to his playmaking, Hunter’s finishing ability at the rim has led to some mind-bending circus shots in the paint, and his quickness in transition and three point shooting prowess makes him the second-highest Riders scorer on the season with 14.7 point per outing.
For Manchester, Ashton-Langford has shown similarly impressive passing skills in his introduction to Super League Basketball to rank second in the League in assists, behind Hunter.
Like Hunter, his pass-first, selfless mentality has generated offence up and down the Manchester roster. He breaks holes in defences by willingly attacking the hoop, before swinging passes to cutting defenders and open shooters.
With talented scorers at the forward position, he is a weapon in the pick and roll, looking for switches onto bigger defenders where he can take them off the dribble, or draw double teams so he can find the cutter in the lane.
Slowing down the opposing guard will go a long way for their team’s success for either of these court generals.
DJ Mitchell vs Riley Abercrombie
Manchester’s leading scorer lines up at the forward position. DJ Mitchell is one of three 20 point per game scorers in Super League Basketball this season, averaging 20 points and 6 rebounds per game over his two league appearances so far.
His latest outing showcased his ability to get the ball in the basket and dominate the glass, logging a 15 point, 12 rebound double double against a physical Bristol Flyers outfit.
After starting his professional career in 2021, Mitchell has gained experience in Australia, the Netherlands and Poland to name a few, signing in Manchester from the NBL 1’s Brisbane Bullets.
Mitchell has a willingness to take shots from every spot on the court, making him a tough cover when pulling up from range at 6 ‘8″. He possesses an ability to take defenders off the dribble from the perimeter and play with his back to basket, making Mitchell a true five level scorer.
He was an efficient 50% from the field and 43% from three over the summer with Brisbane, and while he hasn’t matched those numbers early in the season, Mitchell is capable of catching a hot hand on any night.
Matching up vs Mitchell in the power forward position will be Riders’ Aussie Riley Abercrombie, who has experience playing down under over the summer for Illawarra Hawks, where he averaged 23.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Abercrombie’s season with the Hawks featured back-to-back 38 point games, five 30 point outings and six double doubles over 19 games.
For Leicester, Abercrombie is shooting a red hot 45% from three on his way to 13.7 points per game- third best on the Riders roster. He too can score from all five levels, proving his ability to shoulder the scoring load during his summer in Australia.
The 6’9” stretch four has established himself as a consistent scorer for the Riders this season, putting up double digit points in every Championship game so far. His matchup against Mitchell will be a fascinating duel between two versatile scorers.
Nathan Cayo vs Zach Jackson
Rounding off the top three one-on-one battles is the wing matchup between Riders’ leading scorer on the season, Zach Jackson, and Manchester’s CEBL championship winning Nathan Cayo.
Cayo was a key player for Niagara River Lions this past summer averaging 12.8 points as they went on to win the Championship. The former G Leager now suits up in British basketball for the first time, putting up 14.3 points per game in his first two championship outings.
His ball-handling and driving ability means he possesses guard-like skills standing at 6’7”. He has natural instinct as the ball handler in the pick and roll, making him able to take on defenders or find passes to the open man.
Cayo has touch with his back to the rim, and likes to rise up in the midrange to knock down shots. He is capable of stretching the defence with his three point shooting, which make shim a multi-faceted weapon for Manchester to utilise.
Cayo will face off against one of the best two-way players in the British game, Zach Jackson, who has dominated the open stages of the season for Leiecster to average 17 points per game.
Jackson’s physical attributes make him an elite defender, and will come into the matchup against Cayo with confidence in his ability to stay in front of his opponent, fill the passing lane and slow down Manchester’s offence.
On the other end of the floor, his top-level scoring ability on all five levels makes Jackson one of the best scorers in the League. Shooting 54% from the field and 40% from three, he has played efficient ball to start the season, and has come up huge in the clutch for Leicester too.
Jackson starred in the Riders’ overtime win in Bristol, taking over the fourth quarter and overtime with Hunter to lead the game with a season-high 27 points, and his late game heroics against Sheffield, scoring eight straight in the final minutes, made it a one possession game and gave the Riders an chance to send it to overtime with a late comeback.
Manchester will be keyed in on Jackson from wire-to-wire in this captivating battle from the wing.
Leicester Riders lost 79-61 on the road to the Sheffield Sharks to fall to 1-2 in the Super League Basketball Championship.
After a hot start saw them take the lead, Leicester’s offence struggled in the second quarter allowing the hosts to take the advantage. Sheffield came out the half the hotter of the two teams, taking the game beyond reach in the third.
Jaylin Hunter led the Riders’ efforts from the point with 18 points, finishing with a +/- of -1 in an 18 point loss. He was backed by Abercrombie with 14 and Zack Jackson with 11.
Sheffield’s Rodney Chatman III led the game with 20 in an impressive Sheffield showing. Their bench outscored Leicester’s 25-7 in a well rounded effort.
Riders take the early lead
Sheffield looked to get big man Donovan Clay going early. He backed down Riley Abercrombie for a layup inside, and pulled up from midrange for the first 4 points of the evening.
Charles Thompson put an end to the Sharks’ success at the hoop quickly. He blocked Clay twice in a possession next time down the floor before Abercrombie hit back with a triple.
The Riders, in contrast to the reverse fixture, knocked down their threes from the jump. Jaylin Hunter, Ethan Wright and Abercrombie all connected from deep as Leicester burst out to a lead.
Leicester’s stars made emphatic plays, none better than Hunters to end the first. He drove to the hoop and pulled off a circus shot, plus the foul, and the score was 22-15 to the visitors come the buzzer.
Sheffield came steaming back in the second quarter. They started 7-0, with EC Mathews tying the game at 22 on the fastbreak to trigger a Riders timeout.
Leicester’s hot offensive start cooled dramatically. They went scoreless through the first six minutes in the quarter, allowing a 12-0 Sharks run. Leicester’s defence kept them within touching distance before Thompson took the lid off the basket at the foul line.
Abercrombie drained the first field goal in the second with two minutes left, hitting a three from the top. He was followed by a Hunter turnaround with the Riders getting points on the board to close the half.
Thompson threw down a jam off a Hunter dish down low to chip into the lead, meaning Leicester survived their offensive drought to trail only 36-32 at the half.
The Sharks came out of the halftime break to take momentum back, building their lead to 13 with a Clay fastbreak jam.
Leicester again struggled to find the bottom of the bucket. They battled to the free throw line on a couple of occasions, but with the Sharks piling on the points at the rim, the deficit grew larger.
Deep in the third, Johnson hit an important three from the wing to keep Leicester in contention, making the score 58-44. It was vital the Riders kept the difference closer to 10 than 20 with one to play, and with Hunter’s free throws it was 62-48 at the end of the third.
Riders leave comeback too late
The Riders were unable to take the initiative in the final period of play, as the Sharks built the lead to 20.
Leicester again struggled putting the ball in the basket, dashing any hopes of pulling off a comeback late in the game.
They did find form in the final few minutes, Abercrombie adding to his tally with some tough makes at the rim, but it proved too little, too late, and the Riders took their second loss of the season.
The Riders return to action following the international break, hosting Manchester Basketball on November 29.
Leicester Riders seek immediate revenge against Sheffield Sharks in the second of a back-to-back against their South Yorkshire adversaries.
The Sharks handed Leicester their first loss of the season last time out with an intense 79-82 battle at Mattioli Arena, and now the sides head to Sheffield for the reverse fixture.
The sides are ready for round two off the back of a heavyweight clash last time out. It was an electric affair and a heartbreaker come the final buzzer for Leicester, who battled back at the hands of Zach Jackson late in the fourth.
Despite the Riders loss, Jackson again showed his ability to put the scoring load on his back in the clutch to will his team into contention. His Player of the Game performance saw him bag 20 points, and 8 straight for the Riders to claw them back in it.
The Riders were down six with three minutes on the clock before back-to-back threes tied it up. Following a Sharks bucket, Jackson putback Riley Abercrombie’s miss to once again level the scores, and his game tying attempt on the buzzer missed by an inch for what would have been his 11th straight.
For Sheffield, a 16-0 run in the fourth overcame a ten point Riders lead, with EC Mathews sinking the game winning shot on his way to a team-high 18 points.
The Sharks bench was pivotal to their success. Backing Mathews in the second unit was Prentiss Nixon, who was a thorn in the Riders’ side in last season’s playoffs. Nixon went for 11 and 4 on the game in 24 minutes, shooting 50% from the field and finishing with a +/- of 7.
Coach’s words…
Following the loss, Head Coach Rob Paternostro reflected on what he thought was an entertaining spectacle of high-level basketball.
“It was a really well played game from both teams. In the first half we struggled to stop them. They put 49 on the scoreboard and shot 69%. We knew they had some high level players- they’re a talented team and they showed that.
“We turned the game around in the third quarter with our defence and took a lead in the fourth, but we struggled to hit open shots late. We had three or four looks late that we’ll take all day, and give them credit, they hit some clutch threes at the end.”
The Riders had a chance to send it to overtime, having called timeout down three with 18 seconds on the clock. But the Sharks, with fouls to give, wound the clock down to 3 seconds left, forcing Jackson to heave a tough shot on the move.
Paternostro reflected on if things could have been different should the Riders have found more whistles earlier in the action.
“We couldn’t get the best look at the end. They had a couple of fouls to give and we only had six free throws all game so they weren’t in any foul trouble. Zach’s shot was on-line and he had a good opportunity.
“But ultimately, defensively at times in the fourth quarter we just didn’t get the stops we needed, and when you’re playing a good team you need those stops.”
Playing back-to-backs against teams presents an opportunity to right the wrongs of the initial fixture. The Riders have spent the week in the film room, and will look to grow as a unit and put out a more convincing performance this time out.
“This was a good opportunity to get into the film and figure out ways we can play better. We knew the type of team they were so it wasn’t a surprise with what they were able to do. But next time we have to make plays late in the game. It can be a make or miss situation, and if we made some of the looks we had it could have been a different story.”
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
17:30
Championship
Newcastle Eagles
H
Friday, December 27
19:30
Championship
Bristol Flyers
H
Monday, December 30
19:30
Championship
London Lions
H
Friday, January 3
19:30
Championship
Newcastle Eagles
A
Friday, January 10
19:30
Championship
Manchester
H
Sunday, January 12
14:00
Cup
Manchester
A
Friday, January 17
19:30
Championship
Caledonia Gladiators
H
Sunday, January 19
16:00
Championship
London Lions
A
Saturday, January 24
19:30
Championship
Caledonia Gladiators
A
Friday, January 31
19:30
Championship
Bristol Flyers
H
Thursday, February 13
19:30
Championship
Cheshire Phoenix
H
Friday, February 28
19:30
Championship
Surrey 89ers
H
Sunday, March 9
15:00
Championship
Manchester
A
Sunday, March 16
16:00
Championship
Sheffield Sharks
A
Friday, March 21
19:30
Championship
Newcastle Eagles
H
Sunday, March 23
17:00
Championship
Bristol Flyers
A
Friday, March 28
19:30
Championship
Bristol Flyers
A
Friday, April 4
19:30
Championship
Cheshire Phoenix
H
Sunday, April 6
16:00
Championship
Caledonia Gladiators
A
Friday, April 11
19:30
Championship
Sheffield Sharks
H
Thursday, April 17
19:30
Championship
Surrey 89ers
H
Sunday, April 20
16:30
Championship
London Lions
H
Wednesday, April 23
19:30
Championship
London Lions
A
Friday, April 25
19:30
Championship
Newcastle Eagles
A
Sunday, April 27
16:00
Championship
Caledonia Gladiators
H
Please note, these fixtures may be subject to change. For our up to date fixture list, please click here.
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.
