BBL Trophy holders Leicester Riders look favourites to make a Final return
BBL Trophy Semi-Final (First Leg)
Leicester Riders 91 (21, 46, 75) (King 19, Hampton 14, Bernardini 13)
Cheshire Phoenix 71 (13, 32, 57) (Adekoya 19, May-Thompson 16, Anderson 13)
Reigning BBL Trophy winners Leicester Riders look like they have one foot in another Final after taking a commanding 91-71 win in the first leg of their Semi-Final match-up with Cheshire Phoenix.
Taking advantage of the return of captain Tyler Bernardini and their opponents being without head coach Robbie Peers due to personal reasons, they wasted little time in getting onto the front foot and taking control.
Once again Taylor King proved handful and the forward was into double-figures by half-time as the hosts jumped into the box-seat with a handy 46-32 advantage.
While Cheshire worked hard to try and slow down their opponents, they had no answer and the hosts kept their foot on the gas, with King recording a 19-point and 11-rebound double-double.
The second leg takes place at Cheshire Oaks Arena at 5.30pm on Sunday, with Riders looking to finish the job and set up a meeting against Plymouth Raiders in the Final.