Riders escape Cheshire unscathed to stay top of the table

Cheshire Phoenix were unable to produce a second shock of the weekend, but for those home fans in attendance at the Northgate Arena, they could be forgiven for thinking that maybe their players were on the wrong end of the result, as the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders ran out 60-69 victors.

Turnovers, and the resulting points in Leicester’s favour, together with Pavol Losonsky’s top scoring tally of 24 points, were the significant factors in the East Midland side’s win.

The first quarter initially began with baskets being traded between the two sides, however it did not take long before Leicester made in roads, and in quick fashion.

A lead of five points was established, thanks to Jay Couisnard’s quick steal and conversion after the inbounded baseline ball by Cheshire, and despite consistent pressure on the offense by Phoenix, they just could not find shots to drop being forced to shoot from deep due to Leicester’s solid and effective defense which has been a key to their success so far this season, however the same story could be said for Leicester’s own efforts, however the stanza finished with Leicester ahead 10-17 after Chez Marks’ late bucket.

Over the two periods of play, Cheshire went on an 11 point run to take the lead, rounded off with Stuart Thomson hitting one from outside the arc. It sounds a fantastic passage of play, but when you consider it took almost five minutes for it all to happen, and just under another minute before Riders got off the mark again, which led to their own mini run of six points and regained control.

Once more, Cheshire responded with  their own six point run, which included Thomson shooting for the three-point play, only for the clean attempt to be tipped out as it was halfway through the hoop, and was somehow not given the point – it was to be the first of two incidents late on in the quarter that were to cause controversy.

Shawn Myers and Drew Sullivan traded points, before a trademark three by Marks gave Cheshire the upper hand, however, all was not over.

Couisnard missed at the opposite end, and with 2.3 seconds left on the clock, the ball made it to the hands of Thomson, shooting an outrageously long three to drop and give a six point lead at the half. The problem was that the scoreboard clock had not been set off, and Rob Paternostro on the Riders bench seemed livid at the decision to give the basket as good and not have the time replayed, and refused to take his players in to the locker room at first. After the protests, his team reluctantly made their way off court, down 31-25.

Coming out after the break, it all looked to be on the cards that a shock double over the leading two teams in the BBL Championship was on the cards, a 12 point lead had been built halfway through the quarter, as long as it took them to gain that lead did they lose it and go behind as the intensity of Leicester stepped up, their focus sharpened, and ultimately their zone defence took more of an effect. Jamell Anderson’s jam right at the end of the quarter gave Leicester the 13 point turnaround, and the lead at 46-47.

In the final ten minutes, Cheshire’s foul count almost doubled, and for all their attempts at staying in touch with the league leaders, reaching foul trouble so early on caused a major headache for them; Zaire Taylor going to the line as he had done for most of his points on the night, was the difference claiming nine points of his 14 during the last quarter.

It was an awfully scrappy affair, Losonsky and turnovers thanks to Phoenix were the only constants in Riders’ equation for success on the night. Three point shooting was poor yet again from Leicester for the second night in a row (4/30 over the whole weekend), but that can be forgiven for their return from the free throw line.

Play of the game

The ten point run made in the third hauled Leicester back into the game, and epitomised what the story of the game was, poor handling and concentration from Cheshire when it matters most.

Game MVP

Pavol Losonsky

If it wasn’t for this man, Riders could have been in serious trouble. His points were more than precious – they were game winning.

Next up

Cheshire Phoenix away to Manchester Giants, Wright Robinson College, 22nd February, 7:30pm

Leicester Riders away to Glasgow Rocks, Emirates Arena, 24th February, 5:00pm