New year, same old Riders!
SHARKS HAVE NO ANSWER AS LEICESTER DISH OUT THEIR HEAVIEST-EVER HOME DEFEAT
LEICESTER Riders started 2022 as they finished 2021, undefeated in the BBL Championship, after a comprehensive demolition of thirdplaced Sheffield Sharks 100-62, handing them their heaviest home defeat in their history.
After the teams traded baskets early on, Riders pulled away gradually, with the lead peaking at 42 points late in the fourth quarter.
Riders dominated close to the basket, outscoring the Sharks 56-18 in the paint and outrebounding the home side 44-28.
Riders had six players in double figure points and their bench also outscored the Sharks 46-12, notwithstanding point guard Conner Washington was missing on paternity leave.
Riders started the game looking to pound the ball inside, and it was an effective strategy as Mo Walker scored three early baskets. A breakaway dunk by Marc Loving helped Riders to an early 10-6 lead. Kipper Nichols was finding some joy driving at the Riders defence but Loving hit a long range three-pointer, which followed a steal and breakaway by Patrick Whelan, and Sheffield were forced to a timeout trailing 19-9 with six minutes gone.
That did the trick for the home side as Nichols hit two three-pointers, sandwiching one from Jordan Ratinho, and the Riders lead was down to four, at 24-20, at the end of the first quarter.
Riders came out on fire in the second, sparked by Kimbal Mackenzie. He drove to the basket, scored and drew the foul, Riders turned over the Sharks a few possessions in a row, and further scores from Mackenzie sparked a 10-nil run for Riders, forcing yet another Sheffield timeout, trailing 34-20.
Ratinho hit another three-pointer, but Riders had their tails up and that was countered by one from Adekoya, followed up by one from a long way out by Geno Crandall, giving Riders a 42-25 lead.
Loving hit another three-pointer, Walker was making mincemeat of the Sheffield big men inside and another Mackenzie fadeaway jumper on the halftime buzzer saw Riders well on top, leading 57-34, in one of their best offensive halves of the season.
Both sides stepped up the defensive pressure in the second half, but Sheffield were struggling to score.
A Zach Jackson three-pointer was countered by one from Ratinho, but then Whelan and Crandall both hit long-range efforts to force Sheffield yet again to a timeout to stem the flow, trailing 70-39.
There was no respite from the Riders and now it was Darien NelsonHenry’s turn to dominate close to the basket and pick up some big offensive rebounds and a couple of scores from the big man helped Riders in front 77-46 with a quarter left.
Sheffield looked to restore some pride in the final period, but they were tentative on offence and Riders, led by Jubril Adekoya, kept up the pressure.
The big man hit a pair of longrange efforts and made a couple of big steals to keep Riders well on top.
Head coach Rob Paternostro was able to give Crandall an early rest and youngster Greg Wild came on and dished out a pair of assists to put a flourish on the final result.
Nelson-Henry led the way with 19 points, 11 rebounds and two assists, while shooting 64 per cent, while Walker was not far behind with 14 points on 75 per cent shooting, and he added five rebounds.
Crandall gave a typical all-round performance finishing with eight points, six assists, five rebounds, six steals and one block, while Adekoya stood out with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Riders’ defence put a stranglehold on the Sharks shooter, holding them to just 38 per cent from the floor, while Riders shot an efficient 55 per cent.