Riders take on Sharks in second meeting of the season

The Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders host the Sheffield Sharks tonight at the John Sandford Sports Centre in a game between joint 3rd and 6th placed teams in the league.

Paternostro’s men suffered a disappointing defeat at home last week to the Glasgow Rocks before righting the ship against the Jets the next day. But for Paternostro, the win against Cheshire didn’t hide the disappointment to losing to Glasgow, instead allowing the fourth year coach to evaluate the limitations of his team:

“We feel like if we did a couple of little things in those games (MK and Glasgow defeats) we could have maybe snuck some wins but I guess that is maybe what teams who stay at the top of the league do – they figure out ways to win when they’re not playing great and unfortunately in those two games we didn’t. But we went 2-2 in a four game in nine day stretch and I’m definitely happy on Sunday that we got a win and got ourselves back to winning ways.”

The Riders coach will be looking to keep the winning feeling going with victory over a Sheffield Sharks team who played a tough BBL Trophy semi-final last night against the league leading and cup winning, Newcastle Eagles.

In addition to the fatigue, the Sharks will be playing with a shortened rotation due to the recent loss of Nate Reinking through injury (sustained during the 25/01 clash against the Eagles). The Riders on the other hand have received good news in the form of Tom Sherlock returning to training this week as well as the addition of young British talent, point guard Conner Washington.

Washington joined the Leicester Riders this week and will provide back up at the short-handed point guard position following the departure of Flinder Boyd.

Tip-off is at 7:30pm tonight at the John Sandford Sports Centre.