Coach is proud of team as Riders move top of BBL
LEICESTER HAD TO WEATHER THE STORM AGAINST SHEFFIELD SHARKS TO MAINTAIN UNBEATEN START
LEICESTER Riders head coach Rob Paternostro hailed his team after a pair of wins at the weekend to maintain their unbeaten start to the BBL Championship and move them into first place.
Riders won on the road 80-72 at third-placed Sheffield Sharks after a comfortable 90-61 home victory over winless Surrey Scorchers.
The win over Sheffield was Riders’ first away victory in the BBL Championship and came after a delayed start to the game due to the weather conditions.
Paternostro, below, said: “It was a great pair of wins for us, and I was proud of the guys.
“We did what we had to do in different circumstances and that is what is important in a long league campaign.
“Obviously, Surrey was understrength, but we have been as well all season long without our captain.
“It was a bit scrappy at times, but we took control in the second period and always looked like winning. “The Sheffield game was a really good one for us.
“They came out on fire, and we had to weather the storm.
“I thought we were poor defensively in the first period, giving up 30 points, and a bit slow to the loose balls.
“But we tightened up in the second period and held them to just 12 points in the quarter and that got us a narrow lead at halftime. “The third quarter was a good defensive battle between two locked-in teams, but we really came on in the fourth quarter. “Geno Crandall getting to the rim was important at that stage, and making his free throws, and Marc Loving was really big for us, giving us big shots when needed. “I thought Mo Walker was also very solid for us, using his size and skills inside to make some big buckets, and he gave us 30 good minutes, when we needed them, with Jubril Adekoya in foul trouble for much of the game. “It was a gutsy win for us.
“We know Sheffield are a very solid team and will be there or thereabouts come the end of the campaign and this was an important victory for us.”
In the only other BBL match at the weekend, Sheffield moved up to third in the BBL Championship after beating Newcastle Eagles away in front of the Sky Sports TV cameras.
The Eagles failed to lead at any stage as the Sharks made a brilliant start which saw American forward Jordan Ratinho string his first three three-point attempts to put some distance between the two sides.
Ratinho ended the night on a game-high of 22 points, while exEagle Rodney Glasgow Jr was also very impressive on the offensive end as he contributed 17 points.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s experienced BBL veteran Darius Defoe was in fine form as he put up 19 points, including one highlight dunk – while American forward Duke Shelton also impressed as he managed a double-double before halftime.
Riders are next in action against Glasgow Rocks in the BBL Championship on Friday night at the Morningside Arena (8pm).