Wonderful Washington steers Riders to fifth straight victory
LEICESTER MAINTAIN 12-POINT LEAD AND ARE FIRST TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR PLAY-OFFS
LEICESTER Riders recorded their fifth straight victory in the BBL Championship after beating Bristol Flyers 76-62 on the road on Saturday night.
Riders were again missing their star American guard Geno Crandall with a wrist injury, but they put on a defensive masterclass to stifle the powerful Flyers offence.
The visitors were led by point guard Conner Washington, who played the full 40 minutes against the Flyers and had one of the best performances of his career, while matching up against the Great Britain starting back court in Teddy Okereafor and Ben Mockford.
The result means Riders are the first team in the BBL to qualify for this season’s play-offs, as they picked up their 19th win of the season
After an even first quarter, Riders took charge of the game early in the second quarter and gradually built a lead, without ever threatening to break away, limiting Bristol to just 28 second half points, including just 10 points in the final period, while squeezing their shooting from the floor to just 35 per cent.
The game started with the
defences on top and there were over four minutes gone before a driving lay-up by William Lee edged Riders in front 6-2.
Bristol’s new signing, American Justin Baker, rattled in a threepointer to close the gap, and Riders then had a three-minute spell of missed shots and turnovers, halted by a free throw by Corey Johnson.
Mockford suddenly caught fire for the home side for five quick points, but both teams were finding scoring difficult, and it took a three-pointer by Washington right at the end of the
first quarter to keep Riders in touch, trailing 17-15.
Aaron Falzon opened the second period with a three-point play, and captain Darien Nelson-Henry made a couple of trademark post moves to push Riders ahead 22-17, forcing Bristol to a time-out with two-and-ahalf minutes gone in the second period.
But the Riders kept coming, powered by Mustapha Heron, and a three-pointer by Jamell Anderson opened up a 29-19 lead for the Riders.
Former Plymouth guard Josh Wilcher finally sparked Bristol with consecutive three-pointers and the scores were soon back level on 31 points.
The decisive run came when Corey Johnson hit a pair of threepointers just before half-time, to have Riders leading 39-34, and Washington opened the third period with four points in a 6-0 start in what had become a 14-3 push by Leicester.
The lead reached 48-36 when Johnson hit his third triple in a little over three minutes across the break, and Riders weren’t threatened after that as the margin peaked at 76-58 in the fourth quarter, when Heron scored seven quick points, including a pair of emphatic dunks.
Riders did not score in the last three minutes of the game, but their defence kept locked in on the Flyers and a comeback by the home team never looked on the cards.
Washington finished with the joint highest offensive efficiency of his career.
His 22 points was the third best points total in his career, his nine rebounds were the second best in his career, and he made a careerhigh nine field goals, while his seven assists were the ninth highest in his career.
He also made four three-pointers from eight attempts, and overall shot a stunning 69 per cent from the floor.
Johnson also played a vital role with his four of six three-pointers on his way to 15 points coming in a decisive spell that tipped the game Riders’ way.
Heron continues to provide a valuable boost on offence with his 13 points, and he also contributed six rebounds and one assist.
The two teams meet again tomorrow night when Bristol visit the Morningside Arena in Leicester.