26/04/2007
Life begins at 40 for Riders

40-years to the day of their first ever game, DMU Leicester Riders are delighted to announce they will continue to play in British basketball’s premier league next season. The Riders are the oldest professional club in basketball’s top flight.

The club endured the most turbulent few months in their history as financial problems blighted the end of the 2006/07 season. But the consortium lead by former Director Mike Steptoe and the Riders’ Supporters Club can now confirm the club’s participation in the BBL next season.

“The last 10 weeks have been a very difficult time for the club,” admitted Steptoe. “However, the fans, players, coaches and all the volunteers have rallied round to ensure we fulfilled our fixtures enabling us to put the building blocks in place for next season.”

“The only way professional basketball is sustainable in Leicester is with a good core fan base and we have got one of the best in the league. We are under no illusions. It won't be easy, we are dependent on the Leicester public continuing to turn out in numbers for our home games.”

The final few home games of last season saw the biggest crowds for Riders games since returning back to Leicester in 2004, which helped the team record an impressive eight wins in their last nine home games.

The club, originally called the Loughborough All Stars, played their first ever game against an American touring team on 26th April 1967 and were founder members of the national league in 1972 and the BBL in 1987.

In 1980 the side moved to the then recently refurbished Granby Halls, before returning to Loughborough University twenty years later when Granby Halls closed. In 2004 they moved back to Leicester and their current venue, John Sandford Sports Centre, part of the De Montfort University campus.

13/04/2007
Sharks 89 - 71 Riders

Sheffield Sharks secured the first spot at the BBL Championship Play-offs weekend thanks to a 89-71 victory over the DMU Leicester Riders at the EIS, Sheffield on Friday evening.

The Riders started the game strongly opening up an 11-4 lead at the start of the game. The Sharks clawed their way back, and trailed by five points at 20-25 at the end of the opening period. The Sharks tied the game up at 35-35 midway through the second quarter, but the Riders held on to a slender two-point lead at 40-42 going into the locker rooms at the half.

The second half started in much the same vain as the first, with the Riders enjoying an 8-2 run to take the score out to 42-50. The Sharks responded immediately with a 9-0 reply to take the lead at 51-50 with 4:30 remaining in the period. A pair of Yorrick Williams free-throws gave the Riders the lead back at 51-52 with 4:21 to go, however this was the last time the visitors would be ahead in the game, as the Sharks broke the game open with a 16-3 close to the quarter to take the score out to 67-55 going into the final stanza. Five points from Joel
Burns at the start of the final period for the Sharks extended their lead to 72-57, The Riders rallied, but could get no closer than eleven points at 80-69 with 4:14 left in the game, as the Sharks held on for the comfortable victory.

Jeff Bonds led all scorers in the game bagging 28 points for the Sharks, while Terrence McGee led the Riders scoring with 25 points personal.

07/04/2007
Plymouth Raiders 78 - DMU Leicester Riders 68

BBL Championship
Plymouth Pavillions 

Kualroos Plymouth Raiders took a firm hold in the race for fifth place in the BBL Championship table thanks to a 78-68 victory over the DMU Leicester Riders at the Plymouth Pavillions on Saturday evening.

In a close game throughout, the Raiders took hold of the game in the second quarter with some good offensive execution, and strong defensive play to lead 34-31 at the half. The second half saw the home side continue to slowly extend their lead, and lead 53-47 going into the final stanza. 

In the fourth period, the Raiders enjoyed their biggest lead of the game at 69-61 with less than two minutes remaining. The visitors bagged five of the next six points to get back into the game at 70-66 with 1:22 remaining, but a 7-2 finish for the Raiders saw them secure the all-important victory.

A combination of DeAntoine Beasley, Andrew Lasker and Carlton Aaron (pictured) led the scoring for the home side netting 18 points each, while Del Herriman led all scorers in the game bagging 21 points personal for the Riders.