Leicester come out on top over Carnegie (99-61)

Riders coach, Rob Paternostro:

“As the game went on, our shots started falling and that was important for us.  Especially when you see that we shot low 30’s% in the first half and were able to turn it around in the second half to shoot 59%”

“I’m looking to use a lot of guys during this season.  We used 11 guys today and I like having a deep team, I think as the season goes on you need that.”

“Around the perimeter we’re spoiled for choice. We have interchangeable guys so if one guy can’t get it going, another guy can.”

“Cameron is one of our leaders.  I think the effort he put out tonight after a sub-par first half team performance, to come away from the game only a single rebound short of a triple double is something special.”

It was labelled as a ‘friendly’ but the battle at the John Sandford Sports Centre on Saturday 24th September against Leeds Carnegie was anything but. Leeds were the last minute replacements for a fixture originally pencilled in for the Mersey Tigers and despite a nervy first quarter by the visitors, in the second quarter they did their very best BBL Champion impression.

They crashed the boards with reckless abandon, got in the faces of the Leicester Riders and even had that little bit of ‘Champion luck’ as they canned two deep threes with the aid of the backboard. And with everything seemingly going the visitors way as the half-time buzzer sounded, the Riders found themselves in a close game, only up by five points at 38-33.

The second half was all about the home side though, as Coach Paternostro demanded more from his team and they responded accordingly.  Behind the near triple double from Cameron Rundles (20 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists) and the swarming defence from the elastic armed Ayron Hardy, the Riders released the shackles that had seemingly been placed on them in the 2nd quarter and dominated both ends of the floor, eventually running out clear winners, 99-61.

For Leeds Carnegie, the game was a test to see if they could play against a team in the top division and although they couldn’t keep it close all game, they showed enough heart to win them some admirers.

For the Leicester Riders, their final pre-season game was intended as a warm-up for the BBL Trophy opener against the Milton Keynes Lions on Saturday 1st October and with the high level of physicality of the Carnegie contest, the Riders got the perfect warm-up for their history filled fixture against the Lions.

Notes:

Lataryl Williams, an assistant coach for the season, spent some time talking to Ayron Hardy on the bench one-to-one. Good to see the veteran captain turned assistant coach embracing his new role.

Cameron Rundles talking to Rob Paternostro on the sideline, Paternostro walked over to him and spoke quietly to him on the sidelines.  A beautiful sight to see a former point guard imparting his knowledge on a current point guard.

GB guard, Flinder Boyd, made his first appearance for the Leicester Riders after his recent move.  Playing 19 minutes, he resumed ball handling duties for periods of the game and looked comfortable out there.  Is there a better point guard duo in the BBL than Rundles and Boyd?

Stats:

Points:

Riders          –       Rundles (20), Wierzbicki (17), Hardy (20)
Carnegie        –       Wilkins (17), Guerro (12), Clifford (9)

Rebounds:

Riders          –       Rundles (9), Lamble (7), Holmes (7)
Carnegie        –       Berry (8), O Hylands (5)

Assists:

Riders          –       Rundles (11)
Carnegie        –       Berry (4)

Per quarter scoring:

Riders          –       21/17/31/30
Carnegie        –       9/24/14/14

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