The Jets are picking themselves up and re-grouping after a disappointing 73-80 defeat to the Leicester Riders, last night at the Northgate Arena. Both sides traded baskets throughout the first quarter but it was the Jets who held a slender one-point lead as the quarter drew to a close with the home side leading 14-13 at the end of the opening period.
In the second quarter however, it was the Riders that made the first break of the contest thanks to a 9-0 burst to take the score out to 16-24. A further 12-2 tear from the visitors helped them into a 25-39 lead and they held that advantage as the sides headed into the locker rooms with the Riders leading 28-42 at the half.
In the second half two early three-pointers from Bill Cole trimmed the deficit to six points at 40-46 midway through the third period, but an 11-2 immediate response from the Riders took the score out to 42-57. Both sides traded baskets before a Bradd Wierzbicki three-pointer sent the Riders into a 17-point lead at 49-67 heading into the final stanza.
In the final period back-to-back three pointers from Cole and Colin O’Reilly sparked a 20-6 Jets tear to get the home side to within three points at 73-76 with 58 seconds remaining in the contest but that was as close as the home side were able to get as a Brett Royster basket and a pair of free-throws from Bradd Wierzbicki helped keep the Jets at bay and secure the victory for the Riders.
Wierzbicki led all scorers in the contest with 23 points for the Riders, while Matt Schneck led the scoring for the Jets with 22 points personal.
