Third clash between Wolves and Riders could go down to wire again
PREVIOUS MATCHES WERE BOTH DECIDED IN THE LAST SECONDS
LEICESTER Riders will be looking to take a step closer to the league title when they visit Worcester Wolves in the BBL Championship tonight (7.30pm).
The teams have already played twice this season, each winning very close games.
Worcester won at home on a lastsecond shot, with Riders doing the same in the game at the Morningside Arena, when Corey Johnson hit a huge three-pointer with seconds left on the clock.
That win by Worcester at the end of February ended an 11-game winning streak for the Riders.
Worcester have proved one of the most unpredictable teams in the BBL, capable of beating all the top sides, but suffering also some surprising defeats.
In the last two weeks they went to the Copper Box and beat the London Lions by 12 points.
They took the same team to overtime last Sunday, when the Lions finally prevailed.
The Wolves have also won both their matches against Sheffield Sharks, but have lost their last two games against Manchester Giants. So they are unpredictable but have a very balanced squad, with experienced guards augmenting a very strong forward line.
The lynchpin of the side is experienced British forward Jordan Williams, a constant threat in the low post for the Wolves, who is adept at scoring and in involving teammates, and has proved tough for Riders to stop in the previous games.
He is piling up big minutes for Worcester, at 35 per game, while scoring 14 points, pulling down nine rebounds and dishing out five assists per game.
Wolves head coach Matt Newby, in his second season in charge, also relies heavily on Dutch guard Maarten Bouwknecht, back for his second season with the club, who contributes 13 points and five assists per game.
But it is the way Bouwknecht controls the tempo of the game that is key to Wolves’ success.
Those two players are augmented by some quality Americans, including Lamarr Kimble from the University of Louisville, who hit the winning shot against the Riders last time out, centre Mike Parks, signed from Memphis University, and shooting guard Brandon Anderson, from Brown University, who has been missing with injury for the last two weeks.
Former Rider Josh McSwiggan has been proving his worth in recent games and is averaging over eight points and three rebounds per game, while providing a consistent three-point threat.
Meanwhile, Riders will be looking for Geno Crandall and Mo Walker to continue their recovery from injury, with both returning against the Giants, although Walker will take some time before he gets back his game fitness.
Riders head coach Rob Paternostro knows every game for the rest of the season is going to be a battle, with the Worcester clash no exception.
“Those were two very tough and very close games when we last played them,” he said. “Both games went down to the wire and could have gone either way.
“They have a surprising record when you look at the talent they can put on the floor.
“They have all the tools to be up there in the top four in the BBL.
“I believe the Wolves will be a team to be reckoned with come the play-offs, that is for sure.
“They pose a number of challenges for us in matching up.
“But we know what we are facing and have to be very focused on one game at a time.”
“As I have said before, the BBL is full of surprises this season and I doubt that will change as we round out the regular season.”
Leicester Riders: Corey Johnson, Jamell Anderson, Geno Crandall, Mustafa Heron, Darien Nelson-Henry, William Lee, Conner Washington, Ali Fraser, Aaron Falzon, Mo Walker, Greg Wild, Kyle Jimenez, Justin Hedley.
Worcester Wolves: Lamarr Kimble, Maarten Brouwknecht, Mike Parks, Jordan Williams, Josh McSwiggan, Micah Elan, Nathan Ramsdale-Owen, Tola Okiki, Matt Williamson, Henry Wilkins, Elijah Burns, Brandon Anderson, Shaun Parren-Rackley.