The Leicester Riders’ Super League Basketball Playoff campaign came to an end after a 78–65 defeat against the London Lions in the second leg of their Semi-Final matchup at the Copper Box Arena.
After falling short in the first leg at the Mattioli Arena, the Riders travelled to London knowing they needed a big performance to keep their season alive. Rob Paternostro’s side started brightly and showed plenty of fight, but the Lions finished strongly to secure their place in the Playoff Final.
Riders Start Fast in London
The Leicester Riders opened with real intent, responding to an early Ethan Price three through Flynn Boardman-Raffet and Xavier Bledson.
Kedrian Johnson quickly found rhythm, knocking down from deep before attacking the basket to help Leicester build momentum. Michael Akintomide Akinsiku added energy defensively, while Victor Ndoukou contributed late in the quarter as the Riders took control.
A strong opening period saw Leicester lead 24–16 at the end of the first quarter.
Leicester Build First-Half Momentum
The Riders continued to push in the second quarter, with Michael Joiner hitting from three before Boardman-Raffet added another big shot from outside.
Aaron Menzies made his presence felt inside, finishing strongly around the rim, while Johnson continued to lead the offence with composed drives and timely scoring.
London responded through Joel Scott, Tarik Phillip and Kameron McGusty, but Leicester stayed in front and went into halftime with a 45–39 lead.
Boardman-Raffet Leads Third Quarter Push
Leicester came out after halftime looking to extend their advantage, with Xavier Bledson finishing a tough and-one play early in the third.
Boardman-Raffet then took over for an important spell, attacking the rim and scoring consistently as the Riders pushed their lead to double digits.
Victor Ndoukou added a strong finish inside, while the Riders’ defensive effort continued to frustrate London for long stretches. However, the Lions responded late in the quarter through Joel Scott and Morayo Soluade, tying the game at 58–58 heading into the final period.
Lions Pull Away in Final Quarter
With the game finely balanced, London found their rhythm in the fourth quarter.
Aaryn Rai and Kameron McGusty struck early to give the Lions control, before Kedrian Johnson and Boardman-Raffet kept Leicester within touching distance.
Johnson cut the deficit to two with just over six minutes remaining, but London responded with key plays from Joel Scott, Shavar Reynolds Jr and Ovie Soko to pull away late.
Despite free throws from Johnson in the closing stages, the Riders were unable to complete the comeback as London secured a 78–65 win.
Riders’ Season Ends After Tough Battle
The defeat brings the Leicester Riders’ season to a close after a challenging campaign filled with injuries and roster changes.
Despite losing key players and having to battle through difficult moments across the season, the Riders continued to show character, resilience and togetherness. Reaching the Semi-Finals after everything the team has faced is a credit to the group and the work they have put in throughout the year.
While the season ends in disappointment, the Riders can be proud of the fight they showed and the way they continued to compete when many had written them off.
