Riders trio are selected in All-Star 5 team
WITH a dearth of games at the weekend, three Leicester Riders players – Geno Crandall, Marc Loving and Mo Walker – have been selected in the latest BBL All-Star 5 Five.
Making his fifth appearance of the season, Crandall now leads all the other players in the BBL in that regard, and could have featured in the team twice after his performances in Leicester’s two victories at the weekend.
Crandall was dominant in their home victory over Surrey Scorchers on Friday night, putting up 24 points including 5-7 (71 per cent) threepointers, with nine assists, four rebounds and three steals in just 24 minutes of play.
Riders led from tip-to-buzzer, and won all four quarters, as Crandall set the tone early on by opening with a pair of triples, before switching up to also add three assists and three steals in a first period where they took control.
American forward Loving makes his second BBL All-Star 5 appearance in a row, and third overall, for his performance in Leicester’s second win of the weekend on the road at Sheffield, to go a perfect 4-0 in BBL Championship play.
Like last week, Loving put on a shooting clinic at key moments in the game as he opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, scoring seven points in the last ten minutes, as Riders came from behind to snatch it with a 25-15 fourth period.
Loving finished with 23 points on 6-10 (60 per cent) shooting from the field and 7-7 at the freethrow line.
Making his second All-Star 5 showing of the season, Leicester’s big man Walker, right, put in two dominant displays in their double-winning weekend, playing more than 30 minutes in the victory at Sheffield which is the most he has played since returning from a serious injury last season.
Walker scored 17 points on 7-9 (77 per cent) interior shooting, is currently fifth overall in the BBL for field goals at 62.1 per cent, and grabbed seven rebounds, including five points in the decisive fourth quarter. The Riders trio were joined in the All-Star 5 by Jordan Ratinho and Rodney Glasgow Jr of Sheffield Sharks. Riders’ Conner Washington was selected off the bench. Leicester are next in action at the Morningside Arena on Friday (8pm) against Glasgow Rocks in the BBL Championship. Meanwhile, Leicester Riders woman’s captain Anna Lappenkuper has been selected in the
WBBL All-Star 5. Leicester came from behind to secure a big win at Essex Rebels on Sunday, as Lappenkuper poured in 35 points, to earn a first All-Star selection of the season.
The German shot an amazing 9-10 (90 per cent) inside, 8-9 (88 per cent) at the free-throw line and also knocked down three triples. Riders trailed by 14 points inside the final 13 minutes, but were irrepressible in scoring a huge 43 points from then onwards to outscore their hosts by 20. Lappenkuper scored 21 of those points, including six in a row midway through the fourth quarter, which gave Riders the lead for good.
Joining Lappenkuper in the AllStar 5 are Kennedy Leonard and Jo Leedham-Warner of London Lions and Brooklyn Pannell and Kennedy Nicholas of Nottingham Wildcats. Riders’ Canadian centre Oceana Hamilton was selected off the bench.