What a win that was!

Lions 96-99 Riders

For me, this campaign marks the 21st season of following the Riders and it's fair to say that in that time i've seen some very poor games, some good games, some great games and some flat out barnstormers and last week's road win at Vince's Lock Up was definitely in the latter category.


A game with the added spice of a steadily escalating local rivalry got off to a blistering start with both teams going at it from the opening tip, the excellent Demarius Bolds was pulling all the strings for the home side whereas Riders tried and trusted team ethic provided a stark contrast with the points being shared around as per usual. The lead changed hands on numerous occassions throughout the game but no team had a lead of more than 9 as each mini run was halted and another one started. Bolds was proving a tough assignment inside and out as his pull up J's and knifing moves to the hole racked up the points and with Daniel Northern claiming 17 and 8 in the opening twenty minutes for the home side, it would need a special effort from the boys in white to get the away win.


Cam Rundles was trying his hardest on D to slow up Bolds and added to this he was hitting some tough shots for Riders ably backed up by the reliable arm of Bradd Wierzbicki whose persistence to get to the bucket in the absence of any whistles was great to watch. The long arm of the law provided by Messrs Sullivan, Royster and Lamble kept Northern and Crawford quiet into the second half and the irrepressible force of Ayron Hardy supplied the now expected array of steals, dunks, tremendous D and fantastic attitude and will to win, have we ever had a better player in this position? I personally don't think so.


Riders had a 6 point lead into the closing stages which Bolds and Crawford wiped out and the Lions had the lead 96-93 with 71s left in the ball game on the back of Bolds' 38th and 39th points of the night. Riders now had their work cut out for them but a nerveless fake in the corner followed by a big triple from Rundles saw the game tied up at 96. Unsurprisingly, Lions went to Bolds for their next attack but Riders switched on the D with Hardy taking the Bolds assignment and his swarming style left Bolds with a difficult step back effort which was short, Royster garnered the rebound and Riders had the chance for the lead......


 #5 brought the ball up the floor and checked the options available to him, he could maybe find Hardy cutting hard to the bucket or maybe go inside to Sulli or Royster or even pick out the loitering Wierzbicki licking his lips outside?


Nah, let's gun another one from deep shall we?


Swish.


Time out Lions, with Mike New's towel getting ever wetter on his shoulder..........


4.7s were left for Lions to try and save it but their final play was flimsy to say the least, Bolds inbounded to Pedroso who ran down a blind alley and could only find Bob Youngblood who had entered the arc, he found himself with the ball and tried to step back and hit the big one, he got one off but it drew iron leaving a rowdy road support to go crazy and the road team celebrated a crucial 2pts added to the total.


The win had the added gravitas of being achieved without Rob on the sidelines after his young son was taken to hospital that afternoon, a situation which just like the game itself had a happy ending. LT and Phil stepped in to the breach and between them engineered a big win, one of which the absent Coach would have been proud to oversee himself.


Now we head towards a home game and a quick chance of revenge over the Rocks who can't shoot as well as they did last time, can they??