Bunton blocks path to Riders fightback
Local derbies rarely live up to their billing but Leicester Riders did everything possible to make their Championship match with Derby Storm exciting except win, the hosts losing out 80-83.
But the winless Riders excelled in overturning a 15 point third quarter deficit to their East Midlands neighbours, coming back to take a 80-79 lead with :52 remaining. However the Storm, who now head the Northern Conference standings by two points, ran in the last six points of the night to pull off a victory.
"We've been talking all week about how big the rivalry is," admitted Storm star Cypheus Bunton, who had an outstanding 7 blocks, 6 rebounds and 14 points.
"Now we've shown ourselves on national TV, maybe we'll get the respect we deserve."However Martin Ford's team came so close to blowing a game which was in their control from the early stages as they ran up 17 points without reply in the first quarter to lead 18-33 at the close of the period.
Leicester coach Tim Darling switched his defense and his team around upon the re-start and the measure worked, as Karl Brown orchestrated a run of scores for Purnell Perry as the contest was re-ignited, the Riders trailing 40-48 at half time.
A 0-8 Storm spurt, which included three pointers from Carl Miller and Chris Fite again widened the game in the third quarter, but the hosts hung on, closing first to 70-71 with a 12-3 final stanza burst before their 10-1 race for the tape put them into an unexpected lead.
But coach Tim Darling's hopes of a win were dashed as baskets from Bunton, Fite and Kip Stone opened up the Storm lead and Karl Brown's last attempt to achieve overtime was deflected into safety.
Perry led all scorers on 23 points and a game best 10 rebounds.
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