Riders smash Rocks again to seal final place
LEICESTER TO FACE LIONS IN SUNDAY’S PLAY-OFF SHOWDOWN
LEICESTER Riders reached the BBL Play-off Final after another convincing semi-final win over Glasgow Rocks, winning 104-78 at the Morningside Arena to take the tie 209-162 on aggregate over the two legs.
Riders were never really troubled in the second leg, which they led for all but the opening minutes of the game, and will now play London Lions in Sunday’s final at the O2 Arena in London in front of an expected capacity crowd of over 16,000.
Leicester completed the sweep over the Rocks by winning all five games this season, and it was Riders’ 37th victory in all competitions.
Carrying over a 21-point lead from the first leg, Riders’ biggest danger was complacency, but after the Rocks’ player-coach Gareth Murray hit an opening three-pointer, Leicester quickly showed they meant business.
BBL MVP Geno Crandall hit a three and that was followed by one from Patrick Whelan, and when captain Darien Nelson-Henry followed up scores by Marc Loving and Zach Jackson, Riders had all of their starters on the scoresheet and a 14-3 lead.
Loving piled on the agony for the visitors with a huge three-pointer and Riders were threatening a blowout.
But Scottish international Fraser Malcolm finally stopped the rot for
Glasgow, and he almost singlehandedly sparked the revival.
He hit seven points in a row, including a three, but Riders’ offence was rolling and another layup by Whelan and three-pointer by Crandall pushed the lead out to 29-10 with just seven minutes gone.
Rocks’ impressive American guard Jordan Harris then hit a threepointer and British centre Boban Jacdonmi showed his strength inside to claw the Rocks back into the game, with the visitors trailing 29-17 at the first quarter break. Johnny Bunyan, Jordan Johnson and Jaycee Hillsman all hit threes early in the second period for the Rocks, cutting Riders’ lead to 34-28.
Successive scores by Malcolm closed the gap to 38-34 and Riders suddenly found their hot shooting turning decidedly cool.
Crandall came back on to steady the ship and by half-time Riders were back on top, leading 46-38.
Riders came roaring out at the start of the second half with a jump shot by Crandall followed by Whelan and Loving three-pointers.
A three-point play by NelsonHenry increased the Riders lead to 57-42 with three minutes gone in the second half.
The quicksilver point guard Jordan Johnson hit a pair of threepointers to drag Glasgow back but impressive distribution from Crandall had Riders ahead 72-61 with a quarter left.
By this stage, Riders had the tie secured but did not want to lose the game and five points in a row from Kimbal Mackenzie and some scintillating play by Conner Washington ensured a Rocks comeback to edge this match was out of reach.
Once again Crandall was the star man, leading the scoring with 22 points, including three of five threepointers, along with eight assists, four rebounds and two steals in just 25 minutes of play.
Washington was not far behind with 20 points, including four of nine three-pointers, while Whelan added 13 points and seven rebounds.