15/11/2001
Gaines set for Loughborough return

Jon Gaines will be in action at Loughborough University this weekend, but this time he'll be helping to plot Riders downfall.

The guard, who was replaced on the Riders roster last week by Tim Moore, has been signed by Kevin Wall and the Edinburgh Rocks. Pending work permit clearance - which should be a formality - he'll make his debut this Saturday against the Riders.

Coach Wall felt the firepower Gaines could bring to the Rocks was what they needed, although he rated the abilities inside of David Washington, who has been released to make way for Gaines.

“We are rolling the dice a little bit,” he said. “But we feel like we lack firepower from behind the three point line and now we have landed a premier three point shooter in Jon Gaines. We feel he will fit in with our group and contribute to what we are doing as a team. Right now our guys have played well at the defensive end and we are all getting along. We are battling together night in and night out and we think that Jon will fit in well with that.”

Rocks’ Director, Ian Reid, added: “It was felt that the team required a slightly different shape and the franchise concentrated its efforts on signing a proven point scorer. In this regard Jon Gaines fits the bill, so we are delighted to welcome him to the Rocks.”

10/11/2001
Moore cleared for Sunday

Tim Moore, Riders newest recruit, will make his debut in the East Midlands derby at Loughborough University this Sunday (6.00).

The news comes after Moore received a work permit, international clearance from his last team in Argentina and a BBL playing license just before the deadline of close of business Friday.

The news will come as a massive boost to coach Billy Mims, but won't guarantee him a full squad to pick from.

Ralph Blalock is still trying to overcome an ankle injury sustained at Milton Keynes and will face a late fitness test to see if he can go on Sunday.

Karl Brown, who returned from knee injury last weekend only to aggravate the injury once more, is also a doubt for the Derby match. Michael New may have to wear goggles again this weekend to protect his damaged eye, whilst Tom Mahood (ankle) is expected to play through the pain barrier.

08/11/2001
Another crown for the King!

'King' Ralph Blalock has been crowned Nurishment Player of the Month for October it was revealed Thursday. The honour comes after Blalock cruised the vote in an on-line poll of fans at the official BBL website.

Blalock scooped a staggering 43% of the vote, miles clear of second placed Lynard Stewart who had 24% of the five man vote. In the coach's category, Leicester-born Thames Valley Tigers boss Paul James won comfortably with 57% of the three man vote.

Astonishingly, it is the first time in his BBL career that Blalock has won a monthly award and he becomes the first Rider since Purnell Perry in February 2000 to collect one.

Although currently battling an ankle injury, Blalock has enjoyed a fruitful opening month of the season, averaging 22.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4 assists per game in his first ten games. He also converted a staggering 87% of his foul shots.

His efforts helped the Riders to five BBL Championship victories in the first month of the season, which lifted the club to second in the Northern Conference. Riders also progressed to the quarter-finals of the ntl:home National Cup, eventually exiting to Westfield Sharks Sheffield.

In the coach's category, Paul James beat off competition from Pertemps Bullets' Birmingham's Lance Randall and Chester Jets' Robbie Peers. Although initially close, James received a late flurry of votes to win with 57% of the vote.

The 37-year-old play-caller led the Tigers to an 8-2 win/loss record in all competitions. That included a 6-2 win/loss record in the BBL Championship, which was enough to hoist the Tigers to the top of the Southern Conference table. Meanwhile, two successes in the ntl:home National Cup have set up a semi-final tie against Chester Jets next month.

Blalock will be presented with his award in Riders' forthcoming BBL Championship game against East Midland rivals, Derby Storm, on Sunday (tip-off 6.00pm at Loughborough University). Meanwhile, Coach James will received his award on Saturday, when Brighton Bears visit Bracknell Sport Centre for a BBL Trophy game.

07/11/2001
Moore to make Mims merrier

Billy Mims has drafted 6'8" power forward Tim Moore to add strength to his Nurishment Leicester Riders squad. In a related move, guard Jon Gaines has been released from the roster.

Moore, 28, is no stranger to Mims or the BBL, having had a successful season at the Leopards in 1998/99. During his time with Mims at the London franchise, he averaged 21.42 points (7th in BBL) and 10.45 rebounds (2nd in BBL) per game.

"Tim is a quality forward and importantly he knows what is required in the BBL," explained Mims. "Wherever he has been he's posted quality numbers - he averaged a double-double through four years at college and did likewise during his time with the Leopards."

During his time in the BBL, Moore led the league in defensive rebounds, was selected for the All Star Game, helped Leopards to the Cup Final and was voted by the BBL coaches as one of the top ten players in the country at the end of season BBL All Star Awards.

"His experience and strength inside will help us not only offensively, but also on the boards. Right now we are an average rebounding side - with Tim on the team I think we will become very strong on the boards."

Since leaving the Leopards, Moore has spent his time in South and Central America, much of it in Argentina.

He signed in 1999 for Pico FC in Argentina where he averaged 21 points, 9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, which ranked him in the top six in the LNB for all three categories. The following year he was with Estudiantes de Bahia Blanca, before moving to Paraguay and in the summer Venezuela. After that he went to the Dominican Republic and back to Argentina from where he joins the Riders.

His career also includes stops in Spain and American leagues the IBA and CBA since he graduated from NCAA Division I University of Houston in 1996, where he was twice All Southwest Conference 1st Team. He also came close to reaching the NBA after being invited to Phoenix Suns training camp in both 1996 and 1997, having previously been selected to three invitation-only NBA training camps.

Moore is now awaiting a work permit and international clearance, but should both come through by Friday evening will make his debut for the Riders against East Midland rivals Derby Storm on Sunday at Loughborough University (tip-off 6.00pm).

Gaines played 10 Championship games for the Riders averaging 13.60 points per game. "I hope things go well for Jon," said Mims. "He is a really nice guy and we wish him well for the future."

THE MOORE FILE:
Averaged a double-double through his entire college career.
Scored double figures in his last 64 consecutive college games.
Invited to three invitation-only NBA Camps
Invited to Phoenix Suns Camp in 1996 and 1997
Averaged 23.6ppg (2nd) and 11rpg (1st) in USBL
National Cup Finalist with Leopards
BBL All Star Game Appearance 1999
BBL All Star Team 1999
Averaged 21ppg (6th), 9rpg (3rd), 1.4bpg, 60% FG, 80% FT for Pico FC in Argentina
Averaged 21.8ppg, 7.3rpg, 64% FG, 42% 3PT for Estudiantes de Bahia Blanca in Argentina
Averaged 19.4ppg, 5.2rpg, 61% FG, 36% 3PT for Crocodrilos de Caracas in Venezuela
Averaged 31ppg, 10rpg for CDP Cardinals in Dominican Republic

02/11/2001
King Ralph gets Nurishment nomination

Ralph Blalock's free scoring month of October has been rewarded with a shortlisting for the Nurishment Player of the Month award.

Blalock, who at one stage led the league in scoring, averaged 24.44 points per contest in the month of October (and September).

He goes head-to-head with Chester's Calvin Davis, Newcastle's Shawn Myers, Rico Alderson of the Leopards and Sheffield's Lynard Stewart in the internet poll held on the official BBL website.

In the coaching category Robbie Peers of Chester, Paul James of Thames Valley and Birmingham's Lance Randall have been shortlisted.