Lee Ridley

The Cinderella story isn't done yet. 

Lowest play-off seed Leicester Riders reached their first ever BBL  Championship Final and ended London Towers' post season almost as soon as it  had started with a 87-79 win thanks to an explosive start to the third quarter.

A massive 18-2 run from the Riders from the restart which included two three's from Malcolm Leak and five points from on-form Ralph Blalock saw them take a 59-43 lead in just over three minutes of play. Throughout the game, Leicester blew hot and cold however, and they then missed their next 
six shots but the Towers only marginally took advantage to pull it back to 67-55 going into the final ten minutes.

With the experienced Malcolm Leak on four fouls, the Riders' lead looked to be on a knife edge against the more experienced London team. What Leicester lacked in experience though was more than made up for in team spirit and fan support, Billy Mims especially looking as animated as ever on the sidelines. 

As the fourth quarter went on, the Towers gradually ate into the Riders lead and managed to reduce it to six points at 76-70, but they failed to get any closer as Leicester hung on for a memorable win.

Earlier in the game, Blalock looked to be on fire as he recorded a first half haul of 19 points personal. However, it was London who were the better team at the start, Randy Duck helping them to a 11-17 lead by firing in eight of those points. With Larry Johnson starting despite a strapped 
shoulder, Leicester showed bad handling and suffered from turnovers throughout but a big three point shot from Blalock ended the opening quarter 18-24.

Riders started the second period much stronger, Blalock getting nine in a 13-2 tear before the Towers responded with six points of their own. A third trey from Blalock saw him go three from five from three point range and the teams went into the half tied at 41-41. Whatever Mims said at the break evidently had the desired effect.
 
"We delivered the knockout blow in the third quarter - we came out of the locker room rejuvenated and ready to go and I don't think they were expecting that," admitted Mims.

"We've now won all three games in the play-offs through playing with passion."

Top scorers for Leicester were Blalock on 29 points, Johnson on 21 and Purnell Perry on 16.
London were led by Kendrick Warren on 22, Duck on 19 and Martin Henlan on 14.