Leicester Riders pushed Manchester Basketball to the final possession in a hard-fought Super League Basketball Championship clash, showing resilience and togetherness despite a shortened rotation.
With the Riders managing a depleted roster following Club Captain Spencer Johnson’s season-ending injury this week, and new signing Keddy Johnson not being cleared by the league to play in this fixture.
It was Flynn Boardman-Raffet who stepped into a leading role, delivering a career-high 35 points to spearhead Leicester’s offence, while Travis Evee orchestrated play throughout as Riders battled back repeatedly against one of the league’s strongest sides.
Manchester Capitalise on Momentum Swings
Flynn Boardman-Raffet opened the scoring for Leicester, while Travis Evee immediately set the tempo offensively with confident ball movement and early assists. Riders competed well early, but Manchester found rhythm through Max Jones and Patrick Smith Jr, using transition scoring to build momentum.
Despite strong defensive effort and late free throws from Victor Ndoukou, Manchester closed the quarter ahead 27–19.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Riders Respond Through Energy and Execution
Leicester settled into the game behind improved defensive pressure and interior work from Aaron Menzies and Nathaniel Martin. Evee controlled possessions calmly, creating opportunities that allowed Boardman-Raffet to heat up from deep.
Riders repeatedly cut into the deficit, with Boardman-Raffet knocking down key threes and attacking the rim, but Manchester’s perimeter shooting kept the hosts in front as Leicester trailed 47–40 at halftime.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Manchester Stretch the Lead Despite Riders Resistance
Manchester opened the second half strongly at the free-throw line before extending their advantage through Max Jones’ scoring run. Leicester answered through collective effort. Martin added second-chance points, Menzies finished emphatically inside, and Evee attacked the basket to keep Riders within reach.
Boardman-Raffet continued to lead the scoring push, but Manchester maintained control heading into the final quarter with a 69–59 advantage.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Evee Sparks Comeback as Riders Push Game to the Final Shot
Manchester extended their lead early in the fourth, but Riders refused to fade. Evee drove aggressively to the basket, while Menzies and Martin battled on the glass to generate second-chance points.
A sustained Leicester run began midway through the quarter, Menzies finished inside, Tomiwa Sulaiman added a crucial layup, and Boardman-Raffet’s scoring brought Riders back within striking distance.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
With under 30 seconds remaining, Boardman-Raffet produced a huge defensive steal before finding Evee on the perimeter. Evee calmly knocked down a clutch three-pointer to cut the deficit to 87–86, setting up a dramatic finish.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Manchester responded at the free-throw line through Patrick Smith Jr to extend the lead to three. Riders had one final opportunity, but Evee’s contested three at the buzzer bounced off the rim as Manchester secured the rebound and the 89–86 victory.
