The Leicester Riders made it three consecutive wins in the Super League Basketball Championship with a hard-fought 95–93 victory over Cheshire Phoenix who were second in the league going into the game at the Mattioli Arena on Halloween night.
It was a thrilling end-to-end contest that saw the Riders dig deep to see off a late Cheshire comeback, continuing their resurgence in front of an electric home crowd.
End to End Start to the Game
Cheshire opened the scoring through Tobias Cameron, but the Riders responded quickly with Aaron Menzies getting Leicester’s first points from the line before throwing down a powerful dunk.
Travis Evee and Emmanuel Akot found their rhythm from deep as the Riders built early momentum, while RaeQuan Battle and Donald Carey Jr. added firepower to keep the scoreboard ticking.
It was a back-and-forth opening spell, with both sides trading baskets and Frankie Policelli leading the charge for Cheshire with nine early points. The first quarter ended level at 29–29, setting the stage for a thrilling contest.
Riders Finding Flow in the Second
The Riders began to find their rhythm in the second quarter. Menzies continued to battle inside, while Carey Jr. and Battle combined beautifully on the break. Akot showed his touch with a composed jumper as Leicester built a 39–33 lead.
Carey Jr. controlled the tempo, dishing assists and finding Spencer Johnson for a slick layup as the Riders began to pull away. Cheshire fought back late in the half through Policelli, who remained a constant threat, but Leicester held firm to take a 56–52 lead into the break.
Highlight Plays and Control
Leicester came out firing in the third with back-to-back threes from Carey Jr. and Akot. The chemistry between Carey Jr. and Battle was on full display once again as they linked up for a spectacular alley-oop finish, which is slowly becoming their trademark combo that brought the Mattioli Arena to its feet.
The Riders’ offence was efficient, shooting at 57% from the floor, while Tomiwa Sulaiman and Ndoukou brought energy off the bench. Despite Cheshire’s best efforts, led by Policelli’s 19 points, Leicester stayed in control and entered the final quarter ahead 75–69.
Riders Hold Their Nerve
The fourth quarter was a tense affair, with Cheshire coming out aggressively to cut the deficit to three points. Menzies answered with a powerful dunk before Battle hit another jumper to restore the cushion.
As the clock wound down, both sides traded big shots. Battle hit his fifth triple of the night to keep Leicester ahead, but Skyler White responded with a deep three to bring it to a one-point game.
With 30 seconds remaining, Donald Carey Jr. stepped up in style, crossing over his defender and draining a clutch three-pointer to put the Riders up by two. The Phoenix had one final possession, but their last attempt bounced off the rim before Spencer Johnson secured the rebound as the buzzer sounded.
Final Score: Riders 95–93 Phoenix
It was a statement win for the Riders, who showed resilience and composure down the stretch to seal their third straight victory.
RaeQuan Battle and Donald Carey Jr. led the way with outstanding performances, but it was Captain Spencer Johnson’s double-double which earned him the Trophies Plus Medals Player of the Game.
The Riders continue their momentum going into a competitive game against top of the top-of-the-table London Lions in the Super League Basketball Championship on Sunday.
