The Leicester Riders headed north for the first time this Super League Basketball Championship season but fell to a 79–65 defeat against the Caledonia Gladiators after a momentum-shifting second half.
All eyes were on a depleted Riders squad coming off Friday night’s narrow loss to the Cheshire Phoenix. Leicester were without Flynn Boardman-Raffet, who did not travel with the team after picking up a knock early in that contest, a significant absence for an already stretched roster.
Head coach Rob Paternostro had praised his side’s effort after pushing second-place Cheshire to the wire.
Riders Set the Early Pace
Leicester started with real intent, immediately setting the tempo. Spencer Johnson led the charge with five quick points, including an and-one from the free-throw line.
Travis Evee attacked the glass as the Riders pushed the pace, while Johnson produced a steal and went coast-to-coast before Victor Ndoukou finished the play to extend the lead to 13–4 midway through the quarter.
Nate Martin then went to work inside with a smooth spinning fadeaway as Leicester continued to dominate the opening exchanges. The Riders’ fast start saw them firmly in control by the end of the period, building a commanding 30–17 advantage after the first quarter, with Evee already leading all scorers with 13 points.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Gladiators Fight Back
Aaron Menzies ignited the Riders defensively early in the second quarter with a huge block before Johnson scooped in another finish to stretch Leicester’s lead.
However, the Gladiators began to claw their way back into the game through Rian Holland, who sparked an 8–0 run with back-to-back scoring plays to ignite the home crowd.
Both sides began trading three-pointers as the tempo increased. Tomiwa Sulaiman knocked down a triple from the wing for Leicester, but Caledonia tightened their defence and forced the Riders into tougher perimeter shots while steadily reducing the deficit.
Victor Ndoukou produced a slick step-back three late in the quarter to cap an impressive first-half showing that included 10 points and three assists, while Evee remained Leicester’s leading scorer with 13. Despite Caledonia’s late push, the Riders managed to hold onto a 43–38 lead heading into halftime.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Momentum Swings
The momentum of the game shifted dramatically after the break. Former Rider Ethan Wright ignited the Gladiators with a deep three-pointer just before the shot clock expired, cutting the deficit to a single possession.
Rian Holland followed with back-to-back triples to hand Caledonia their first lead of the afternoon, completing a rapid scoring burst that forced Coach Paternostro to call a timeout as the Gladiators seized control of the momentum.
Leicester fought hard to stay in contention. Evee continued attacking the rim, while Sulaiman produced a strong baseline drive and finish to keep the Riders within touching distance.
However, Wright continued to punish his former team, knocking down another three to move to 16 points alongside seven rebounds. By the end of the third quarter, Caledonia had completed the turnaround and opened up a nine-point lead, leaving the Riders with work to do heading into the final period.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Gladiators See Out the Win
Leicester opened the final quarter with renewed determination. After forcing a turnover, Sulaiman drove through the lane and finished with a smooth Eurostep before Nate Martin added another tough basket inside, using his strength to spin and score below the rim.
Tomide Akinsuku battled hard on the glass to create a second-chance opportunity that eventually led to a deep three from Johnson, briefly reigniting the Riders’ hopes.
But with just three minutes remaining and Leicester still trailing by nine points, the Gladiators delivered the decisive blow. Ethan Wright struck once again from beyond the arc, draining another triple to maintain Caledonia’s control of the contest.
Despite showing plenty of heart and determination, the short-handed Riders were unable to mount a late comeback as the Gladiators managed the closing stages effectively to secure the 79–65 victory.
Leicester will take positives from their dominant first-quarter performance and the continued efforts of players like Evee, Ndoukou and Martin, but a strong second-half surge from Caledonia ultimately proved decisive.
