Leicester Riders returned to Super League Basketball action with a bang, blowing out Cheshire Phoenix at home 110-87.
Leading the Leicester bench, which scored 52 on the night, Duke Shelton took home Player of the Game honours with 19 points and 8 rebounds, dominating the paint with his post play wire-to-wire.
DUKE BROUGHT THE HEAT TONIGHT
â Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) February 13, 2025pic.twitter.com/9Beq4Agd6J
Zach Jackson logged 19 points and 6 rebounds, meanwhile Ethan Wright went off for 17 in 22 minutes off the bench.
It was a big night from the foul line, with the Riders going 29-32 on their free throws, Shelton leading the team with 11-12 on his charity shots.
The win brings the Riders to 11-4 in their hunt for top spot in the standings.
Meanwhile Cheshire gave up 100 for the third game straight, struggling to find defensive resistance as they fell under .500 on the season. They were led by Cameron Holdenâs 18.
Riders edge back and forth start
The game started with a long exchange of buckets, the Riders emerging 12-11 leaders midway through the period.
Charles Thompson had the highlight of the game early, throwing down a thunderous jam over Cheshireâs Holden after driving hard inside. He took the feed from Jaylin Hunter before rising over Holdenâs contest and putting it through on his head.
Sending them home with a poster
â Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) February 13, 2025@CThompson_19 pic.twitter.com/76rpazKXAI
That was one of two monster slams in the first ten minutes of action. With a minute left, Shelton drove an open lane before rising high for a right-handed stuff again over Holden. Shelton drew contact from his defender and was sent to the line for a three-point play.
On the other end, Holden had the best of the opening period, scoring 11 for the visitors. His play meant the Phoenix trailed by only two after one, following Conner Washingtonâs buzzer-beater to close it.
Shelton takes over second
Washington came into the game hot, scoring 7 off the bench in 5 minutes including two from the elbow to beat the buzzer. Leicesterâs bench scored 23 of the teamâs first 38 after Ethan Wrightâs spin finish at the rim.
All string, all the time
â Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) February 13, 2025@Con_Air11 pic.twitter.com/UNmAwFSU8o
Shelton continued his rim rocking start with a carbon copy of his earlier jam, before Wright followed with a corner three to continue the bench dominance. That was in response to Skyler Whiteâs three which had potential to spark life into the Phoenix cause.
The spark was lit with three minutes to go until half, however, as Holden and Nick Timberlake combined for five quick points, making it a single digit affair. But a Rob Paternostro timeout put that to bed, the Riders coming out of the huddle with Zach Jackson free throws and Sheltonâs 15th points of the evening.
Shelton scored 13 in the second period, 9 coming at the foul line, to extend the Ridersâ lead.
Paternostro brought out a small ball lineup to close the period. With five shooters on the court, Jackson hit from deep for the first time in the game. That was the Ridersâ final field goal of the half, which ended 61-48.
Riders blow game open in the third
The Phoenix came gunning out the gate with a pair of threes to start the second half, chipping into their deficit. Leicester had a response through Abercrombie and Spencer Johnson from deep, but Cheshire were back within reach with a 10 point difference.
Spence finds string
â Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) February 13, 2025
The Riders took firm control of the third shortly afterwards, however. Johnson hit from deep again to cap off a 7-0 run and put the hosts up 17. The run was then extended to 12 unanswered following a Phoenix timeout.
JâRaan Brooks ended the third with a three on the move to beat the buzzer, making it 32 on the quarter and 94 through three to give the Riders a 23 point lead with 10 minutes left.
Defensive intensity sees out the game
Leicester locked down on defence to start the fourth, keeping Cheshire scoreless through four minutes with big blocks from Jackson and Wright.
It was a low-scoring period compared to the three that preceded it as the Riders killed the game off with killer intensity. Wright brought his game tally to 17 with five straight points, including a three from the wing.
Washington headed to the foul line for the final Riders points of the night, concluding a 16-16 quarter.
The Riders are back at home on Friday, February 28, taking on Surrey 89ers in the Championship.
