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Basketball: Leicester Riders into play-off semi-finals

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Leicester Riders moved a step closer to Wembley with a 14-point aggregate win over London Lions in their play-off quarter-finals.

Having won by just a single basket in the first leg, the Jelson Homes DMU-backed Riders were 73-61 victors on Saturday night to set up this weekend's semi-final with a 143-129 aggregate win.

Their opponents won't be confirmed until after tonight's other quarter-final second legs.

The eighth seeds gave Leicester a difficult 80 minutes over the two legs, but the champions always looked the more likely and eased home in the final quarter.

Anthony Rowe and Drew Sullivan were too much for the Lions to handle, combining for 47 points and 16 rebounds.

In front of another sell-out crowd, all bedecked in red T-shirts the club had given out free of charge in their play-off push, Rowe helped Leicester off to a good start.

He netted six points and Jay Couisnard the other five as Leicester began with an 11-4 lead.

With the Lions determined to contest everything and make it a physical affair, they came back to level the game at 19-all early in the second period.

A spell of eight unanswered points by the visitors saw them move 27-22 in front and ahead by three on aggregate.

But Sullivan and Rowe led Riders to an 11-4 finish to the first half to re-establish the lead at 35-31.

Rowe continued that run at the start of the second half as the lead moved out to eight points, but the Lions hit back to again move ahead.

Again Sullivan and Rowe responded, with the GB captain hitting from behind the arc to give Leicester a six point aggregate cushion.

With just over a quarter to go, the game and the tie were still in the balance as Jordan Spencer tied it at 45-45 with three free throws.

But as has happened so many times this season, with the finish line in sight, Riders turned up the defensive intensity and blew their opponents away.

Leicester held London scoreless for more than six minutes, poured in 13 unanswered points at the other end and, with five minutes left, were 58-45 clear and into the semi-finals.

As they had in the first leg, Riders struggled from the free-throw line in the first three quarterS, but when the Lions tried to use it as a tactic to get back into the game, Leicester made 13 of their last 14 foul shots to shut the door.

Rowe was a rebound away from a double-double, while Sullivan had four assists and two steals to go with his points and rebounds.

Riders 73: Rowe 24, Sullivan 23, Couisnard 8, Taylor 7, Calvo 4, Lamble 3, Williams 2, Anderson 2

Lions 61: Lawson 12, Martin 11, Jackman 9, Brown 9, Ogedengbe 8, Sturt 7, Spencer 5

Basketball: Leicester Riders into play-off semi-finals


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