Game Report: Leicester Riders 88-81 Plymouth City Patriots

The Leicester Riders were able to escape the biggest upset of the 2023/24 British Basketball League with the win over the Plymouth City Patriots in game week two.

Leicester Riders were able to overcome their loss to the Cheshire Phoenix in game week one to register their first win of the season, beating the Plymouth City Patriots to the score of 88-81.

Starting Five:

Leicester
Riders starting five: Miryne Thomas, Xavier Pinson, TJ Lall, Jaren Holmes,
Braelen Bridges

Plymouth City Patriots starting five: D’Andre Johnson, Jacob Wiley, Mason Faulkner, Taylor Johnson, TJ Atwood

First Half:

As most of
the game went, the first quarter surprised many, with the Leicester Riders only
taking the first quarter by the score of 18-17.

The
Plymouth City Patriots were showing their ability to hang with arguably the second-best
team in the league. Even though both teams couldn’t shoot from beyond the arc
in the first quarter, the Patriots were sticking with the Riders.

Both TJs
for each team, Atwood and Lall, led their teams in the first quarter with five
points each. As stated, neither team could shoot from three with both teams
combining for one-for-10 from beyond the arc in the first.

The second
quarter couldn’t have been any different, however.

While Leicester poured in 25 points in the second quarter, the Patriots showcased their potential, scoring 35 of their own. Atwood was able to lead the team by the end of the first half, scoring 20 points alone in the first half.

Fastbreak points were the tale of the first half with the Patriots putting up 14 fastbreak points, in comparison to the Riders’ two points.

💥👀 OK BLAKE! @RidersBball‘s Blake Bowman gets UP early against the @PlymCityPatriot!

📺 WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/qXJSumzPY6#UNBEATABLE #BritishBasketballLeague pic.twitter.com/Ob5g2qAVFF

— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) September 22, 2023

Second Half:

The lead
continued into the third quarter with the Riders struggling. Captain Kimbal
Mackenzie couldn’t get onto the board until the fourth quarter but went
scoreless for the first 30 minutes of the game.

Mason
Faulkner was able to catch fire, going four for five from the three-point line and
added a couple more points to add up to 14 by the end of the third.

The Riders
saw themselves behind to the score of 65-59 by the start of the fourth quarter.

Leicester
were able to show their added experience in the fourth quarter. With the team
down by six entering the quarter, the Riders came back after nearly being
behind the entire game.

With an
all-round performance from the Riders’ starters, with four of five scoring at
least 10 points. An unfortunate end for the Patriots who were led by Mason
Faulkner and TJ Atwood who both had 20 points each.

Tonight’s
MVP was TJ Lall of the Riders. The Canadian put up 14 points, four rebounds,
and three assists on only four shots.

With the new season here, you can still get your British
Basketball fix by following the League on social media or heading to our YouTube
channel to relive all of the best moments from last year!