Raiders down Fliers in classic

The first quarter saw very cagey performances from both teams, but Fliers finished with the smallest of margins, leading 19-18.

Fliers then took control in the second quarter, as they adopted a zonal defence to clog up the interior, suffocating the supply to Raiders interior scoring threat and subsequently daring their opponent’s perimeter players to beat them with long distance shooting.

The visitors’ plan worked as they took a stranglehold on the contest, although Jordan Spencer’s three-pointer on the buzzer cut the gap to 30-25.

In the third quarter, Raiders coach Leon Noel made key tactical adjustments which would ultimately decide the contest as he instructed his side to play with a full court press, to force the Fliers into mistakes.

It paid dividends, as Circus outscored their rivals 20-14 to trail by just one point in the final quarter.

Fliers resumed with a greater degree of poise, but Raiders’ defensive intensity was too much for them as Spencer, Omari Heron and Vivian Lee wreaked havoc and begin to score freely in the open court to see their side run out comfortable winners.

A key mention should go to Dennis de Jorge whose immense defensive performance was key to keeping the opposition’s interior threat quiet during the second half.

To see what Raiders coach Noel thought of the victory, and pictures from the game, pick up a copy of the Luton News / Dunstable Gazette out now.