Dutch mastery gives the Riders intensive pre-season workout
LEICESTER Riders faced a testing weekend with two tough pre-season games against European Champions League side Donar Groningen in the Netherlands, the Dutch side winning both 70-59 and 90-72.
Without US imports Geno Crandall and Zach Jackson, the games provided an opportunity for a new signing, American forward Marc Loving, to bed into the team, and to provide valuable minutes for youngsters Justin Hedley and Victor Ndoukou ahead of the new BBL season, which starts on Friday, September 24.
Having beaten a USA Select team last week, Rob Paternostro’s side was back in action 48 hours later in a gym in the Dutch town of Wildervank, near Groningen, on Friday.
Donar has quality European pedigree and in first of the weekend’s games, on Friday night, the hosts made the early headway, running up an 8-0 lead. But Riders soon found their rhythm, with Kimbal Mackenzie and latterly Mo Walker drawing the Riders back into contention.
The home side edged the first quarter 14-10, and in a tight defensive affair was narrowly ahead 29-26 at half time.
The second quarter saw Conner Washington dominating the ball and keeping Riders in contention as found his range from beyond the arc.
In the third quarter, Washington urged on the Riders to a 41-39 lead, but finally the home side started to use their strength in depth and closed out the quarter with a 10-0 run to lead 49-41 going into the final quarter which saw both sides rotate their squads, with the teams due to meet again 40 hours later.
Riders never threatened the Donar lead.
Washington was Riders’ top scorer with 15 points, including three of six three-pointers, while MacKenzie had a fine all-around game with 10 points, three rounds and three assists. Patrick Whelan added 11 points, including two of three threepointers.
Riders were over-powered on the boards 41 to 29, with Donar scoring 15 second-chance points, which proved decisive. On Sunday afternoon, in the more impressive surroundings of Donar’s home venue of the 4,500-capacity MartiniPlaza, Riders took an early 5-3 lead. But the Dutch came roaring back with three three-pointers by US shooting guard Austin Luke, which helped the home side to a 19-12 first quarter lead.
Struggling to find their shooting touch, the visitors were put under severe defensive pressure by the physical Donar team and shot just 34 per cent in the first half, including two of 10 from beyond the arc. They trailed 43-29 at half time.
Washington was held scoreless in the first half, but nailed two threepointers in the third quarter as Riders’ offence sparked to life and the industrious Walker made inroads inside.
The home side edged a hightempo, high-quality third quarter 26-25.
Washington and Patrick Whelan were both finding their shooting range in the final period, but Donar always had a response and Riders never threatened the home side’s lead.
Whelan led Riders with 17 points, two rebounds and two assists, including three of six three-pointers, and Washington scored 15 points, including four of six three-pointers, along with six rebounds and four assists.
Walker added 12 points and six rebounds.
Donar’s greater strength in depth was again decisive, as they mustered 41 points from their bench, while Riders had just 14.
WEEKEND DOUBLE HEADER IN THE NETHERLANDS