Leicester Riders held on for a nail biting 86-88 win on the road to Cheshire Phoenix.
Leicester led by 14 in the fourth after some hot three point shooting, but Cheshire made it a one possession game and had a chance to tie it from the foul line.
Tyreek Scott-Grayson missed the third of three attempts, and the Riders got the win over the line.
Riley Abercrombie led the game with 16 points, backed by double doubles from Jaylin Hunter (16/12) and Charles Thompson (14/13).
Six players finished in double digits, and the Riders dished 24 assists to Cheshire’s 11 in a complete team effort.
Despite the clutch miss, Scott-Grayson led the game with 24 points and 5 rebounds. Cheshire shot 47% from the field on the game, catching a heater late to make it a game.
The Riders improved to 3-2 on the Championship season after a two-win weekend.
Riders fightback from hot Phoenix start
Playing trademark Phoenix basketball, the hosts made it a track meet from the tip-off getting buckets on the fastbreak. They took a 13-7 lead led by 7 from Cam Christon flying down the court.
Spencer Johnson’s corner three stemmed the early momentum and cut it to a one score game, however, despite the relentless Cheshire start. The three turned the tide of the game as Leicester heated up.
They went 4-6 from deep in the opening period to snatch the lead. A late surge from Cheshire, finalised by Greg Wild’s three, tied it at 24 after one, but the Riders were in rhythm and on-target.
Riders grind out the second quarter
Blake Bowman broke the deadlock in the second quarter with a tough make inside for one of two baskets in three minutes. His play meant Leicester led by five to start the second.
The back-and-forth game swung towards the Phoenix through an Atwood three, however, forcing the first time out of the game for Rob Paternostro with the game tied at 33.
Neither side were able to form a significant advantage through much of the second, until Charles Thompson made the play of the game. Jaylin Hunter found his cut to the rim before he rose high on the drive and threw it down over the rim-defending Skyler White.
This set off an 8-2 Riders run to put the visitors up 44-37, capped off by Hunter’s free throws. Leicester carried this advantage to the half, leading 48-41 going into the locker rooms led by Thompson’s 8 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks- a dominant half for the American.
Battling out the third
Leicester’s lights out shooting translated to the second half, with Hunter pulling up off the dribble to put the Riders up 10.
They were forced to battle, however, to keep Cheshire at arm’s length, as they hit big shots in an attempt to cut into the deficit. Scott-Grayson made the breakthrough from three to cut it to six, the score 53-59.
The Phoenix played full court, physical defence, forcing the Riders to fight through contact and get to the rim. Riley Abercrombie made big plays inside to bring his tally to 11 and keep the visitors ahead.
After Cheshire’s efforts had been subdued for the time being, Zach Jackson got to work down low for his trademark tough finish in the post. Johnson and Hunter put four more on the board, and the lead was back to 10.
Jackson finished off the third at the line for Leiecster, and the sides went into the fourth with the score 64-72.
Leicester catch fire in the fourth
The Phoenix drew first blood in the fourth, with RJ Eytle-Rock sinking a breakaway and-one to start it. After a tough offensive spell to start the quarter, Abercrombie took the lid off to respond to the Phoenix form with a contested three on the top.
Ethan Wright followed up with a finish inside, and Leicester had built a solid foundation late. But Scott-Grayson hit back with an and-one play, ensuring a tense finale for both sides.
With the game in the balance and both sides exchanging blows, the Riders connected with a big blow. Charles Thompson, driving baseline, kicked to Johnson in the corner who hit string and made the lead 81-72.
The Riders caught fire at the key moment in the game. Hunter fired a ball to Wright at the top who again hit from deep to make it a 14 point game.
Riders survive late Phoenix fightback
Cheshire never said die, and fought back to make it close. Skyler White and Holden got points on the board, and a Christon corner three brought the difference to seven. Holden then broke away after a Phoenix steal to lay in another.
Thompson was sent to the line next time down, missing both with 24 seconds left. Eytle-Rock then pulled down White’s miss and put back and and-one play, sinking the resulting free throw to make it a one score game.
Jackson was sent to the foul line next, making one and giving Cheshire a chance to tie with a three. Scott-Grayson had the shot, and was fouled on a three by Johnson sending him to the line.
The first two went down, but dramatically he missed the third, and the rebound was pulled down by Thompson. Thompson was rewarded with another pair of foul shots, this time making one, and Johnson intercepted a full court heave to seal the win.
The Riders return to action for the Super League Basketball Trophy semi-final first leg, heading to Newcastle to take on the Eagles on December 6.
