London Leopards stepped up their pursuit of Milton Keynes in second place in the BBL Championship Southern Conference with a 77-110 victory over the Edinburgh Rocks at Meadowbank.

It was an all too predictable tale for the hosts who have now lost 14 in a row but scarcely in their barren spell have they been so comprehensively out-foxed by an opponent's game-plan.

Leopards' defence in numbers was often a joy to watch, their early pressure bringing a 0-10 spurt in the opening minutes as both Rashod Johnson and Jason Kimbrough quickly set the tone from beyond the three-point arc.

Ahead 18-31 after the first quarter, the Essex outfit reached the interval 31-51 in front, an advantage which increased ten further at the close of the third.

Only a foul-mouthed tirade directed by Leopards coach Bob Donewald towards the match commissioner served to enliven a contest which had already been killed over before it had truly begun.

"We come out with the approach of playing the same way every night," said Johnson who hit 25 points, two less than the game-best 27 from Kimbrough. 

"One of our strengths is our defence and we emphasised that this week. Of the defence is right, the offense will go. The inside game with Mo (Robinson), Rico (Alderson) and David (Attewell) fires us up and gives us opportunities outside."

Jo-Jo Chambers led the Rocks with 20.

Donewald left without talking to reporters but the American is likely to be reported to the authorities once again for his behaviour.

 

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