No hangover for champions Leicester as they wipe out Mersey

Leicester Riders’ first game as the official BBL Championship title holders began in emphatic style with a 65-95 victory over Mersey Tigers, after giving a number of younger players an opportunity for decent minutes.

Rob Paternostro’s Leicester Riders, who let his assistant Mark Jarram take charge and make the majority of calls, began in double quick fashion, despite intentionally leaving out a number of regular starters to allow them sufficient time to recover from minor stresses and strains.

Jamell Anderson and Josh Lockett traded baskets to open proceedings, but the visitors then went on a 11-2 run, which includes a glut of three pointers from Yorick Williams, and it seemed as though both sides were playing in the same vein of form as their previous games this weekend. However, Mersey were to finish the stronger, when at 7-19 down, they were able to put a run of 10-1 on the board, before Barry Lamble widened the gap before the end of the first period.

The response from having won the title on their home court from the previous night began to shine through as another run from the champions early in the stanza, as Connor Washington played a huge part at both ends of the floor.

Two jams in a row for Anderson midway through the second quarter, but it was the second one that sent the travelling supporters wild when a fast break from Riders saw Washington shoot the ball off the glass for Anderson to throw down with sheer ferocity.

Ryan Gallagher came on for Mersey and began to make an impression towards the break, but still the experience, tenacity and overall quality from Riders was enough to stretch the lead to 31-46 going into the locker room.

It was a relatively quiet third quarter, and Tigers struggled to find any real productive way of breaking down the Riders, who continued to showcase why their depth, when called upon throughout the season, could still turn in dominant performances.

That was pinpointed by the team basketball involved on another fast break finished by yet another Anderson jam.

Yorick Williams brought the ball up court, split the defence with a pass to Washington who provided Anderson with the goods to slam down and hang on to the basket with a roar; to compound matters even worse, Anderson was fouled on the way to making the score, but Mersey were spared the extra point at 35-60.

Baskets were traded, however Riders continued to push the gap further out of the Merseysiders’ reach finishing the quarter 42-69.

The game was all but over, as it seemed inconceivable that Mersey would pull back such a deficit. Ryan Gallagher did make a concerted effort and his haul of points in the fourth quarter meant he would finish as the game’s top scorer with 18 points, ten of which came in the last ten minutes, but at this point there were a host of Loughborough University squad members who had already made names for themselves, a sign that this Leicester Riders side have all the makings to put on order a ‘Roll of Honours’ board for their new arena with plenty of space to fill up over the next few years.

Speaking about the performance of MVP, Connor Washington, and a host of other young future stars that have begun to make waves through the ranks, head coach Rob Paternostro said: “Connor is a player who’s played very well for us when we’ve ever called upon him this season; we trust him, we expect him to play well. This is a great win for our programme, trying to bring through as many young British players as possible, and today you saw that not just to make up the numbers, but to win the game.

“I said to the guys that we’ve had a lot of great wins this season, but that this one is also another of them – it’s not just about getting the W; it’s about showcasing our programme, and we’re very proud of what we’re doing.

For Tony Walsh, it was yet another weekend of defeats, but he was left to ponder how his side were not wanting to make more of a game against what was effectively a weakened side: “They’ve not won the league for nothing, they know their structure, they know what to do, with an excellent coach, who was confident enough tonight to let his assistant [Mark Jarram] take charge today.

“I was disappointed, I wanted to use this game to push my guys on ahead of the Durham game on Friday night. We didn’t come out of the blocks, we started blaming everything and everyone, and at half-time I had to give them a rollocking. It’s close to the end of the season, and a lot of them have their heads down thinking it’s over with after next weekend.”

Ryan Gallagher, who has been somewhat under-used during the season, had a great final quarter and seemed to push for every second he was on court for, and Walsh hopes he can be someone that he can work with in the future, and help begin a similar programme to what is clearly working in Leicester: “Ryan I was really happy with. He’s strange in that he’s a mix of players to a degree. Hopefully, I’ll be working with him during the summer to bring him on. He was put almost straight into an adult side with little experience previously, but I’m pleased with what he gives us in games, and especially tonight.

“Leicester have a very good programme and that is an example of what we are trying to do in the future and follow in the footsteps of, but that’s something we have to build on over time.”

Play of the game

Without doubt the jam put home by Jamell Anderson in the third quarter – this weekend Tigers have been beat down on a number of dunks and if only there had been video coverage of this one because it was something to behold.

Game MVP

Connor Washington’s all-round effort had him control the game all over the court. Consistent numbers to match what was a consistent showing in the flesh, and only a few figures off a triple-double (16pts, 6 rbs, 8 assists). The utility player at times this season, but proving he is worthy in his own right, as were plenty of others for Leicester in this fixture.

Next up

Mersey Tigers at home to Durham Wildcats, 7:30pm, Friday 5th April, Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park

Leicester Riders away to London Lions, 7:30pm, Wednesday 3rd April, Crystal Palace National Sports Centre