RIDERS SUFFER PLAY-OFF HEARTBREAK
FLETCHER STARS AGAIN AS LEICESTER SUFFER FIRST PLAY-OFFS LOSS IN FIVE YEARS
LEICESTER Riders crashed out of the BBL play-offs at the semi-final stage last night.
They were beaten by Newcastle Eagles 88-69 in the second leg at the Morningside Arena, resulting in a 164-145 defeat on aggregate.
It was Riders’ first defeat in the play-offs in five years, having been beaten in the final by the Sheffield Sharks in May 2016.
The scores were level on aggregate at half-time, but the Eagles used a 25-12 third quarter to turn the tie in their direction.
The game was won from the threepoint line, with the Eagles hitting an impressive 12 from 31, while Riders were misfiring, making just three from 24.
Turnovers also hurt the Riders as they made 16 to just nine by the Eagles.
Newcastle started the game as Riders had in the first leg – on fire.
Louis Sayers found his way to the basket twice in succession and a Justin Gordon three-pointer put them 9-8 up.
Rahmon Fletcher was in poaching mode, forcing a steal, one of three by him in the first half, and Newcastle edged ahead 12-6.
Cortez Edwards hit a three cancelled out by one from Conner Washington, but the Eagles had their shooting touch and a three by Fletcher took Eagles 22-12 clear, forcing Riders to a time-out.
Evan Maxwell came off the bench to force a couple of scores inside for the visitors and when the big man hit a three-pointer of his own, Newcastle were coasting at 29-15 with still two minutes left in the first quarter.
Mo Walker forced a three-point play and Mustapha Heron followed up with a jumper and Riders closed the lead to 29-20 after the first quarter.
Jamell Anderson hit a threepointer to open the second quarter, and the defensive intensity from both teams stepped up.
Geno Crandall was starting to influence the game with slick passing and Riders slowly closed the gap.
Riders captain Darien NelsonHenry was also starting to get the better of veteran Darius Defoe inside in an arm tussle, and five points from him and a basket from Walker gave Riders the lead at 39-38.
Fletcher had the final say in the first half with a 20-foot jump shot, giving the Eagles the narrowest lead at half-time, 40-39. The third quarter proved decisive.
After Heron hit a jump shot, Gordon hit a huge three, followed up by two scores from Edwards, around one by Fletcher, and the Eagles had a 49-41 lead.
William Lee replied immediately for Riders but Gordon hit another three, matched by one by Lee.
But Riders were getting themselves into foul trouble, and Eagles were collecting from the free throw line, and a Fletcher three-pointer pushed the lead out to 65-51 with ten minutes left.
Riders needed to bounce back early in the final quarter, but instead two baskets by Gordon and consecutive threes by Fletcher and Louis Sayers kept Eagles on top 75-61 midway through the quarter.
There was no way back for the Riders from there.
Nelson-Henry had a solid doubledouble with 13 points and 11 rebounds, as well as four assists.
Lee did not quite have his shooting touch but still finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Crandall was also not quite at his normal high standard, scoring 11 points, while dishing out nine assists and grabbing six rebounds.
But it was Fletcher again who stole the show, with 27 points and 10 assists, while his back court partner Edwards chipped in with 22 points and five rebounds.
Fletcher scored a total of 61 points in the tie with 16 assists, helping the Eagles to their 12th play-offs final.