It would have been easy to bill Sunday's game as the Leopards opportunity to avenge the National Cup defeat at the hands of the Riders last month, but in fact after the two defeats over the previous 72 hours, the Leopards desperately needed the win to get their season back on track.

It took just four seconds for the officials to call a foul on a Leopard, when Rashod Johnson was called for a foul on Purnell Perry as he attempted to make the lay up.

Perry hit the foul shots but Leopards responded positively, Mo Robinson tied the game and then Leopards proceeded to take the lead at 9-4 after a three point shot from Jason Kimbrough.

However Kimbrough was then called for two quick fouls and a 10-2 run by the Riders gave them the lead at 15-16 with two minutes remaining in the quarter.

Dave Attewell replaced Robinson as Leopards Coach Bob Donewald rotated his squad.

A rare Rico Alderson three point shot restored the Leopards advantage which they held to the end of the period.

During this period the action was all off the ball. On two occasions it appeared that Riders Malcolm Leak had punched Alderson in the back.

The officials, on the wrong side of the incidents, refused to make calls, and, not surprisingly, Coach Donewald was incensed, as better positioning could have either prevented the offenses or seen Leak ejected from the game.

To Alderson's credit he did not retaliate and he refused to be intimidated as Leopards led 24-20 at the end of the half.

The second quarter started with Attewell being called for two quick fouls on Billy Singleton but Rod Brown extended Leopards lead to six points.

The Riders came back and after a 7-0 run took the lead momentarily.

Attewell was then called for his third foul on the next offense and returned to the bench.

At this stage the Riders were greatly assisted by the foul count which stood 6-0 in the Riders favour as the game stood tied at 28-28.

A Johnson three point shot restored Leopards lead at 35-32 and the Big Cats went further ahead when J.R.Alexander, in for Brown, stole the ball off Ralph Blalock and sent Alderson away for the basket.

Leopards now got their fast break going and it was this that enabled them to pull ahead as half time approached.

Leopards put together a 9-0 run and although the Riders tried to stem the flow the home side led by seven points (50-43) at the half.

Alderson opened Leopards' account in the second half and within just over two minutes the Leopards had moved into a ten point lead.

Alderson, playing at the top of his game, then took a rebound, declined the outlet pass and went coast to coast, before being fouled by Larry Johnson for his fourth foul.

Leopards moved ahead by 11 points but the Riders forced their way back into the contest by constructing a 10-0 run which saw Leopards lead trimmed to just one point with two minutes remaining in the third.

Significantly Brown was called for his fourth foul and Donewald was forced to return him to the bench.

The Riders surge was halted by Alderson following an assist by JR.Alexander but worryingly whenever the Leopards stepped up the defensive pressure they drew quick fouls that allowed the Riders to close the gap from the "charity stripe".

Nevertheless the Leopards retained control and led by seven points (73-66) going into the final ten minutes.

A Johnson three point shot restored Leopards' ten point advantage, which they held for a significant period.

Gradually however the Leicester side reduced the arrears to six points with six minutes remaining on the clock.

Attewell fouled out shortly after and a three point shot from Leicester's Karl Brown tied the game up at 84-84 with just after 5 minutes left.

When Robinson fouled out there was under four minutes remaining.

At face value it seemed the Leopards might now struggle inside, but fortunately seconds later Leicester's Billy Singleton followed Robinson to the bench after collecting his fifth foul and the Leopards offense regained momentum.

By their high standards Kimbrough and Johnson had not had the best of weeks but in the space of the next minute they effectively sealed the win with Kimbrough and then Johnson both hitting three point shots to give Leopards a seven point lead.

Rod Brown then fouled out as the contest reached the end game with Leopards ahead by six points as the final two minutes started.

The next 120 seconds produced some of the most ugly basketball witnessed in a long time.

The Riders refused to accept defeat and fouled to stop the clock. Under normal circumstances that would mean fouling the player in possession of the ball who would then endeavour to capitalise from the foul line.

The Leopards, aware of such tactics, would put the ball in the hands of Kimbrough and wait for the fouls.

The Riders coach, Mims, instructed his players to foul players without the ball. The referees watched as first Alderson and then JR Alexander were pushed, elbowed and jostled to stop the clock.

Eventually the officials decided enough was enough and started to call intentional fouls.

Amazingly the Riders' Karl Brown and Coach Mims challenged their decision but to no avail as the Leopards added to their total from the foul line and kept possession of the ball as the seconds ticked away.

Leopards eventually reached 113 points adding ten of the final twelve points from the line, the additional basket being the icing on the cake with JR Alexander being fouled in the act of shooting, making his shot and completing the "and 1" to end the game.

Once again the game was a personal triumph for Alderson who left the court with seconds remaining on 26 points, 16 rebounds and four assists.

The victory was made sweeter for Leopards fans when news came through that Milton Keynes Lions had lost to Sheffield Sharks to give Leopards second place in the Southern Conference.

The Leopards' points scorers were: Jason Kimbrough 19, Rico Alderson 26, Rod Brown 10, Michael Martin 11, JR Alexander seven, Rashod Johnson 18, and Mo Robinson 22.

In possession: The Leicester Riders player tries to find a a way forward in Sunday's BBL Championship match against the Leicester Riders at The Brentwood Centre.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.