Leicester Riders returned to the Sports Park for the second week in a row after taking a 22-point win last Friday on the Scorchers.
It was a game that would rain threes for Leicester, as they knocked down 16 shooting a remarkable 51% as a team. Whelan made six, and Washington drained three of his own as Leicester scored over 100 points for the eighth league game this season.
Scorchers would start the game strong as captain Tayo would open the scoring with a strong take to the basket. Stanley would follow this with finding a rolling Desmond Ringer and Scorchers would jump out to a 6-0 run.
It didn’t take long for the away side to find their feet as Marc Loving would knock down a triple and Whelan would join in spark would be a fire for Riders from beyond the arc.
With their offense settled the Riders score inside from Nelson-Henry and MVP Geno Crandall. Whelan knocks down another 3 to stretch out a 15 – 8 advantage.
Riders hammer the ball inside as Mo Walker takes the size advantage for back to back buckets and Riders lead by 10.
With the clock winding down McLemore hits on the buzzer for a 10 point differential finishing the quarter 18-28.
Riders start the 2nd strong crashing the offensive boards and punishing scorchers on the glass. Stanley Davis Jr takes things into his own hands spinning his way to the rim to get the Scorchers going.
Captain Tayo forces his way to the hoop and finishes at the rim. The verteran then follows with a steal and behind the back pass from Caylin Raftopoulos as Ogedengbe hammers one home to bring the game back to 15 points.
Scorchers seem to be relish in a last second shot as with 1.5 on the clock the home side exit the time out and find a cutting Lamar Hamrick for a lay-up to finish off the half 39 – 54.
With the intentions of the home side to chip away at the score MVP Crandall opens the 2nd half with another 3-pointer. Scorchers show some energy on defence as Hamrick steps up and pins Crandall off the back board. This energy transfers on offense as the Portland state guard knocks down the first 3 for the home side in the game.
Halfway through the quarter Riders lead by 20 as Crandall finesses his way to the hoop for the basket plus the foul.
Riders continue to find the net from deep as Conor Washington joins the party and the league leaders move to 12 3-pointers and push out a 23-point advantage.
Riders look comfortable in the control in the final quarter. MVP Crandall rests on the bench alongside Whelan as Conor Washington takes over the reins.
With only pride to play for Mclemore hustles hard and Wilkins comes off the bench to put some points on the board, however it would only put a dent in the margin between the two sides.
Familiar face and former Scorcher Evan Walshe hit the floor and drains a 3 in the corner to put the nail in the coffin as Riders take a 76 – 102 victory on at Surrey Sports Park.
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