Preview: Leicester Riders vs Bristol Flyers

Leicester Riders are ready to return to Super League Basketball Championship action against Bristol Flyers. 

Leicester, third in the league standings, are riding high after progressing through to the Cup Semi-Final last week, beating Manchester on the road.

Meanwhile the Flyers are in need of a bounce back after losing convincingly in last week’s Trophy Final against Newcastle Eagles. They currently sit eighth, having played significantly fewer league games than their competitors. 

Here’s how the game is shaping up…

Fixture information

Leicester Riders vs Bristol Flyers
Super League Basketball Championship
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Friday, January 31, 7:30 pm
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Rested Riders ready to roll

The Riders battled through a packed schedule last week, playing three games in six days and finishing with the Cup Quarter-Final in Manchester. 

Playing a Manchester side coming into the game with 20 days rest. Leicester dug deep down the stretch to hang onto their lead and make it through to the Semi-Final. 

Zach Jackson led an 85-77 win with 18 points, making big plays in the clutch including the game sealing layup. 

Jackson is the Riders’ leading scorer on the season with 16.9 points per game, ranking fifth among all players in the league. 

The Riders haven’t seen action since the Quarter-Final, relishing the opportunity to rest and recover for nine days. 

This game represents an opportunity to move to 10 wins on the season in their pursuit of top spot, against a Flyers team off the back of a heartbreaking Trophy Final loss last week. 

Flyers in need of SLB bounce back

The tables are turned from Leicester’s last fixture, as the well-rested Riders suit up against the Flyers playing their third game in six days.

They fell in convincing fashion last Sunday against Newcastle Eagles in the Trophy Final, losing 97-78 in a game they were out of from the opening period, before travelling to Estonia to take on Keila Coolbet on Tuesday. 

The Flyers re-found form in Estonia, however, battling out an 82-77 win led by 23 points and 8 rebounds from American guard Jared Sherfield. The win meant the Flyers finished their second season in Europe with a record of four wins and four losses, recording a four-game winning streak to round out the group stage.

Bristol are led by the ever dangerous Keddy Johnson on the season, who helps to make Bristol a threat to any opponent. The league’s leading scorer, averaging 23 points per game, is a flashy guard capable of taking over at any moment with lights-out shooting and and elite finishing ability at the rim. 

Johnson endured a difficult night in the Trophy Final, finishing with 9 points on 2-10 shooting from the field. He’ll look to right those wrongs against the Riders, meaning Leicester will have to lock into the dominant American. 

Previous meetings 

These sides are no strangers, having met three times before this season. 

The Riders have emerged victors on each occasion, taking two comfortable wins at home and battling out an overtime victory in Bristol in the Trophy Group Phase. 

Last time out was an 83-74 Riders home win on December 27, led by 20 points from Riders’ leading scorer Jackson. Leicester led 51-37 at half, and despite an attempted Flyers fightback, saw the game out in the fourth to once again take victory against the South Westerners. 

Get tickets here!

Tickets are still available for this game!

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