London, Sunday 10 May — The London Lions secured their place in the SLB Championship Final at The O2 Arena on May 17, keeping alive their bid for a quadruple title. The Lions sealed qualification with a 78–65 victory over Leicester Riders in the second leg of the semi-finals, advancing comfortably on aggregate after taking a 19-point advantage into the game.

In a game that tested them for over two and a half quarters, the Lions found another gear late in the third, using a decisive run to flip the momentum before closing with authority in the fourth to keep their quadruple hopes alive.

Joel Scott led the Lions with 19 points and 7 rebounds, providing a consistent interior presence throughout, while Shavar Reynolds Jr. added 12 points and 6 assists, including several key plays down the stretch. Aaryn Rai and Kameron McGusty each contributed 11 points, with McGusty also adding 5 assists as London’s offense found rhythm late. Morayo Soluade chipped in 7 points off the bench, including a crucial three during the third-quarter run, as the Lions forced 20 turnovers and won the rebounding battle 41–38 to swing the game.

Ethan Price opened the scoring with a three off a ball screen, but the Riders immediately responded through Flynn Boardman-Raffet and a sharp early stretch from Kedrian Johnson. Leicester’s zone caused early disruption, and Johnson took control, scoring seven quick points as the Riders surged ahead 11–5.

Moments later, Johnson converted a transition and-one to cap a 16–5 run, forcing a Lions timeout and silencing the home crowd.

London began to settle late in the quarter through Kameron McGusty’s playmaking and a finish from Ovie Soko, but Leicester remained in control, leading 24–16 after one.

The Riders maintained that edge into the second quarter.

Aaron Menzies made his presence felt inside, while Boardman-Raffet added a high-arcing three off the glass to stretch the lead. London started to find answers against the zone, with Shavar Reynolds Jr. feeding Joel Scott inside and McGusty knocking down a three to spark a response.

Scott’s footwork in the post and physicality helped steady the Lions, while Aaryn Rai and Tarik Phillip attacked gaps to cut into the deficit.

But each push was met with a Leicester response.

Johnson continued his standout half, finishing through contact and controlling the tempo. By halftime, Leicester led 45–39 on the night, with Johnson pouring in 20 first-half points.

“We came into today knowing we had a lead, but they came hungry and ready to fight,” Head Coach Tautvydas Sabonis said. “The first half shots weren’t falling, but the problem wasn’t the shots—it was the defence...the difference was clear—45 points in the first half, then 20 in the second, and just seven in the fourth. When we do what we’re supposed to do defensively, we are a team that can win games.”

The third quarter followed a similar pattern early.

Boardman-Raffet continued to create, using crafty finishes to push Leicester back in front. His spin move and step-through extended the Riders’ lead to 58–48 with under three minutes remaining.

A zone defence from Leicester forced a London shot-clock violation out of a timeout, and Leicester looked firmly in control.

Then everything changed.

Rai attacked and found Scott for a three to spark the response. Deane Williams added free throws, and suddenly the energy shifted.

On the next possession, the ball moved crisply around the floor, every player touching it before Morayo Soluade knocked down a corner three to ignite the crowd.

Moments later, Soluade stepped to the line and tied the game at 58–58.

“It shows the fight and grit that this team has,” Scott said. “Even when we’re not doing what we need to do, we can lock back in, follow what the coaches put in front of us, and battle back.”

That momentum carried straight into the fourth.

Rai opened the quarter with a spinning finish to give London their first lead since the opening minutes, before drawing an offensive foul on the defensive end.

McGusty then trailed the play and buried a three to extend the lead. Boardman-c briefly answered from deep, but London’s ball movement began to take over.

Another sharp possession ended with Rai hitting a corner three, before Reynolds attacked the rim to push the lead to six with under five minutes to play.

From there, the Lions closed the door.

Reynolds took control down the stretch, driving for a strong finish before knocking down a step-back three to extend the lead to double digits. Soko added an interior finish as London’s defence suffocated Leicester.

The Riders managed just seven points in the fourth quarter.

Leicester were led by Johnson’s 24 points and Boardman-Raffet’s 21, but were held to just 20 second-half points as London’s defence took control.

The win sends the Lions back to the SLB Championship Final at The O2 Arena, where they will face either Cheshire or Manchester with a chance to complete a historic quadruple.

“It’s exciting—it’s a final,” Scott said. “Not everyone gets the chance to play in one. We’ve got to enjoy the moment, the venue, the crowd, but also stay locked in, block out distractions, and play our game.”

With momentum firmly on their side, the Lions are now one win away from completing a remarkable four-trophy season.