Paternostro hails intensity of Riders after triumphant week
LEICESTER ENJOYED THREE WINS IN CHAMPIONSHIP AND BBL CUP
HEAD coach Rob Paternostro was hugely impressed with his team’s intensity and focus after Leicester Riders won three matches in seven days.
Riders remain undefeated at the top of the BBL Championship after wins over Plymouth City Patriots and Sheffield Sharks and are through to the BBL Cup final after seeing off London Lions.
In all three games, Riders started the game strongly and had big halftime leads.
Plymouth and Sheffield could find no way back, the Sharks suffering the biggest home loss in their history, while the Lions made it a close affair in the BBL Cup semi-final second leg, but Riders were not to be denied.
“It was a daunting week of fixtures, particularly with everything going on,” said Paternostro, right.
“When you play this many fixtures over the holidays you worry, as a coach, because of all the distractions. To come out of the week 3 and 0 is a testament to the guys’ commitment and focus.
“They are all very determined and united in the common goals and playing great basketball.
“Against Plymouth we jumped on them early and never gave them a chance to come back.
“In the big one versus London we again got a big lead, and withstood the runs we knew would come, very professionally.
“It was very impressive and everyone in the team is really looking forward to the final in Birmingham.
“And the Sheffield game was always a tricky one after the emotion of the Cup semi, but again the team approached it with a lot of focus, and never relented. They deserve a little break now for their efforts.” Riders next face Bristol Flyers away on Friday night in the first round of the BBL Trophy. Elsewhere in the BBL Championship, Manchester Giants rounded out 2021 with a hard-fought 80-76 win over Cheshire Phoenix. There was nothing in it for the first three quarters but then a pair of triples from Dan Clark early in the fourth gave Manchester some breathing room. Cheshire’s Namon Wright’s and-one effort brought the score to within a point with a minute to go, before Tyrik Armstrong’s drive to the basket secured the win for the Giants.
Clark led all scorers with 22 points, while Armstrong added 16 points and nine assists.
The Giants also made a great start to the new year by grinding out an 88-82 home win over Newcastle Eagles.
The visitors led for most of the first half, but the Giants eventually got their noses in front and held on for the win led by GB captain Clark’s 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Cheshire managed to hold off a spirited Newcastle comeback to win on the road 77-74.
Phoenix broke out on a 10-0 run within the first three minutes of the opening period and extended it to a 16-point lead by the end of the first quarter.
The Eagles fought back in the third quarter to cut the lead to 11 with one quarter left, and on a 10-2 run tied the game with under three minutes remaining, but then ran out of steam.
Larry Austin contributed 16 points and six rebounds for Cheshire.
Understrength London Lions were shocked on the road at Surrey Scorchers, beaten 78-77 on New Year’s Day.
London had only six fit players but still expected to overcome the winless Scorchers, and, after trailing most of the game, a hook shot from Will Neighbour put Lions 75-74 in front with three minutes left.
They were still in front by a point with a minute left before Surrey captain Tayo Ogedengbe hit the crucial winning basket.
Scorchers’ Caylin Raftopoulos top scored with 20 points including six three-pointers.