RIDERS SEEKING REVENGE AFTER SHARKS MAULING
WARD-HIBBERT AND WRIGHT BOTH MISSED CLASH THROUGH INJURY BUT FACE SHEFFIELD TOMORROW
LEICESTER Riders round off 2019 with a trip to Sheffield tomorrow, scene of their heaviest defeat of the season so far.
Riders were beaten 79-63 at Ponds Forge in their final game of the group stages of the BBL Cup, although the defeat did not stop Leicester from edging out the Sharks at the top of the North group.
Leicester were under-manned on the night, with Josh WardHibbert and Namon Wright both out injured in that November meeting.
“Well, having Josh and Namon back should help,” said Riders coach Paternostro.
“Playing up there on the second game of a back-to-back without those two hurt us, but I thought they played better than us.
“They rebounded the ball very well and were hungrier than us on the day.
“We both have a game on Friday this
About the Sharks
Sheffield have a fine BBL pedigree, having won the BBL Championship four times and finished runners-up five times. Only Newcastle has won it more times, although the Sharks’ total is matched by Riders and London Towers.
Sheffield’s last league title was in the 2002/03 season.
Head coach Atiba Lyons has provided continuity, originally joining the franchise as a player in 2006.
Further continuity comes from veteran forwards Mike Tuck and Rob Marsden, and time. It’s a tough place to play, as the results this season have shown, and I know our guys want to do a better job than we did last time because that was not one of our better performances. “We’re hoping to have a healthy roster ready to go for that.”
The Sharks were one of the most impressive sides in the league through the group stages of the cup, but were beaten in the quarter-finals by
guards Nick Lewis and Mackey McKnight.
Sheffield’s rookies include guard Conner Cashaw, centre Bennett Koch, and forward Bouna Ndiaye.
Back-up is provided by guards Marko Backovic, Josh Chubb, Sam Speight and Nathaniel Montgomery.
Form Guide
An under-strength Sheffield were heavily beaten by Riders on the opening night of the season in the group stages of the Cup.
But the Sharks won the
Bristol and have opened up 1-1 in league play, albeit both their games have been on the road.
“I don’t see any difference; they still look as strong as they did earlier this season,” said Paternostro.
“They lost at London Lions, I think there will be a lot of teams who lose there.
“Sharks are a dangerous team,
return leg convincingly in Sheffield 79-63.
The Sharks started their Championship campaign with a solid win in Bristol, followed by a defeat last Sunday at the champions, London Lions.
Since Riders’ loss at Sheffield, they have won three of four, and overall Leicester have won ten of their first 14 games in all competitions.
Players to Watch
American point guard McKnight has been key to Sharks’ fortunes this season, keeping the offence ticking
KEY PLAYER: Josh Ward-Hibbert was injured
but like many teams health is going to be important. Who can stay healthy, who has the depth to deal with injuries?
“If everyone stays healthy there are a lot of good teams with a lot of good players and I think they are right there in the mix.
“There will be twists and turns this season, I don’t think the early results mean too much just yet. There will be ups and downs for everyone.”
Lewis, Montgomery, Cashaw, Ndiaye, Backovic, McKnight, Hanson-Young, Chubb, Tuck, Koch, Speight, Marsden.
Cartwright, Chuku, Lascelles, Anderson, WardHibbert, Roberts, Wright, Dieterich, Jimenez, Scott, Thomson, Nelson-Henry.
Riders:
when Riders lost to Sharks last month
I know our guys want to do a better job. That was not one of our better performances
Riders coach Rob Paternostro, left
Sharks:
over, and controlling the tempo of the game.
Last Sunday in London, his personal contribution was 17 points, six rebounds and six assists, while shooting an impressive 58 per cent from the floor.
Riders’ Josh Ward-Hibbert started the season producing regular double-doubles, but following the long injury lay-off, he has struggled to rediscover that form. In their loss at Cheshire, he managed five points, two rebounds and one assist in just over 16 minutes of play.