Riders out to maintain title challenge

Leicester Riders will look to maintain their challenge for the BBL Championship when they host Glasgow Rocks Saturday evening.

Rob Paternostro’s Riders go into the game in third place with a 12-3 record, two wins behind second placed Worcester Wolves with four games in hand, while Rocks are fifth having split their first 18 games.

Paternostro has a good idea what to expect from the Rocks on Saturday evening: “The Rocks can be a tough match-up for teams, last time they played us, they got hot in the second half and were able to make plays at key times.

“It is important that we defend [Mychal] Green, EJ [Harrison], Danny Huffor, and Gareth Murray out on the perimeter, each player has the capability of putting up big numbers and are key to their success.”

It will be the second meeting of the season between the sides at John Sandford Sports Centre, with Rocks winning a tight game 87-82 when they met four weeks ago.

Rocks’ coach Sterling Davis said: “They are an extremely talented team with plenty of experience along with a very good motivational coach in Rob Paternostro.

“Ayron Hardy really impressed me in our first meeting. He is full of energy and really does guard whatever position he’s asked on the floor effectively. I thought we matched their physical play on our last meeting. They are a very big team and I thought we battled them on the interior. We will have to duplicate that again if we want a chance.”