Loving and Hamilton selected in teams of the week
MARC Loving has again been selected in the BBL All-Star 5 after Leicester Riders’ comprehensive home win over Cheshire Phoenix at th weekend.
It’s a second All-Star 5 appearance of the season for American forward Loving, left, but his first since the opening weekend, after he poured in 32 points in Leicester’s win at the Morningside Arena.
Loving shot 6-10 (60 per cent) from the three-point range and scored most of the crucial baskets that decided the game.
Leicester trailed inside the final minute of the third period, until Loving made five straight free-throws.
Loving went 10 from 11 (90 per cent) from the free-throw line in the game.
That began an unstoppable surge, as Loving nailed four consecutive triples in an 18-2 run that opened the fourth quarter and settled the tie.
Loving also had six rebounds, three assists and three steals on the night.
Joining Loving in the All-Star 5 are Jordan Williams, of London Lions, Jordan Harris and Jonny Bunyan, of Glasgow Rocks, and ex-Rider Namon Wright, of Cheshire Phoenix.
Riders’ Geno Crandall was selected off the bench. Riders are next in action on Friday (8pm) against Surrey Scorchers in the BBL Championship at the Morningside Arena. Meanwhile, Leicester Riders women centre Oceana Hamilton has been selected for her third WBBL All-Star 5 appearance of the season. Canadian Hamilton, left, is one of just six players in the WBBL averaging a double-double, as the league’s third leading rebounder and leader in blocked shots.
On this occasion Hamilton scored 19 points, shooting a perfect 7-7 from the free-throw line, along with eight rebounds, three blocks, three assists and two steals, as Riders handily beat Gloucester City Queens. That included two of her free-throws to start a 14-5 finish to the first quarter that put Leicester in front for good, before hitting six quick points and blocking two shots in a third quarter run that made the margin a massive 66-26 with ten minutes to go.
Joining Hamilton in the WBBL All-Star 5 are Georgia Gayle, of Sheffield Hatters, Jo LeedhamWarner and Shanice BeckfordNorton, of London Lions, and Dominique Allen, of Manchester Met Mystics.