Almost winner-takes-all in second leg quarter-final playoff for Riders-Lions

The rivalry between Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders and London Lions will be put to the extreme test tonight in the second leg of the BBL Playoff Quarter-Finals, after Rob Paternostro’s side fought back from a 14 point deficit late in the second period to take a slender advantage back to the John Sandford Centre.

Leicester will be happy to now take the game back up the M1 to their home court, where they have lost just once all season, against Worcester Wolves in the BBL Trophy semi-final, and for most neutrals now they would give the win for Riders. However, those who criticise the playoff format of aggregate scoring over two legs, the two point lead opens wide the prospect of winner-takes-all as Vince Macaulay’s men only need to level out with a basket for the shock upset to be back on.

The game was a tight affair with baskets traded throughout the first, and Lions only taking a one point lead after ten minutes at 18-17. A second quarter burst of 13-0 from Lions gave them the game high score, but after a much-needed timeout, Riders went on a 8-2 run themselves to rein things back at 38-30.

Leading the charge for Lions on the night with a game-high score of 20 points was Orlan Jackman, who went after every offensive board he could to keep in check with the resurgent Riders slowly but surely ate their way into Lions’ lead, coming as close as a single point with 17 seconds left before Joel Barkers hit a bucket to give breathing space at 53-50.

However, Leicester started with aplomb, making the first seven points of the final quarter. Despite their best attempts to extend the lead and give more room for manoeuvre in the second leg, London would not be shaken off as Tayo Ogedengbe made all the moves to bring the score to within a point, before a three from Drew Sullivan came the visitors’ way. However, the last word of the ‘first half’ of this playoff belonged to Lions’ Laurent Irish, leaving everything to play for on Saturday night.

In the night’s other quarter-final first leg, Newcastle Eagles comfortably swung the advantage in their favour ahead of Monday night’s return fixture against Sheffield Sharks.

A 15-point lead over one of the in-form sides coming into this stage of the season would not have been expected after the early part of the game as Sharks came back from nine points down midway through the first quarter to lead 18-20 into the second, but it was to be a game of big runs from the home side as they took all-but complete command of affairs at Sport Central.

Sharks just could not seem to find their aim, and will need to search hard for it over the weekend, whilst for Eagles, Kareem Maddox shone on the night with a solid statline of 19 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks and 2 assists.

It is a difficult task now for Sheffield, but with a similar performance to that of those at the close of the regular season, and at their home court, it could prove the difference and make for an exciting clash.

• Saturday’s BBL Playoff action continues with the second leg of Leicester Riders and London Lions (7:30pm – John Sandford Centre) and also the first leg of Worcester Wolves and Surrey Heat (7pm – University of Worcester)