Rebels Defeat Riders to Conclude Trophy Group Stage Undefeated

The Essex Rebels finished their final Super League Basketball Trophy group game on Saturday with a decisive 92–54 win over the Leicester Riders.

Leicester opened the first quarter strong, jumping out to a 9–4 lead. The Rebels responded quickly, as quick baskets from Paige Meyer, captain Claire Paxton, and Maria Blazejewski put Essex ahead midway through the period. From that point on, the Rebels stayed in control, closing the quarter with a 25–16 lead.

In the second quarter, Essex continued to share the ball effectively, with multiple players contributing to the scoreboard, while their defense was particularly impressive, limiting Leicester to just four points in the quarter. Essex went into halftime with a comfortable 51–20 advantage.

The Rebels maintained their dominance in the third quarter. Rhema Ogele provided a spark with three consecutive layups, extending the gap further as the team continued to control the tempo. Defensively, Essex again limited the Riders’ scoring opportunities, holding them to only eight points in the period.

Essex entered the final quarter with a 70–28 lead. Leicester’s Soniyah Reed found her rhythm late, scoring eight quick points as the Riders produced their best stretch of the game, outscoring the Rebels 26–22 in the period. Still, Essex’s dominant early performance secured a convincing 92–54 victory.

Every player on the Rebels roster saw game time and made it onto the scoresheet — a reflection of the team’s depth and balance. Top performer for the Rebels was Rhema Ogele who had her first double-double of the season with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists in under 22 minutes!

Head Coach Tom Cookson praised his side’s focus and execution:

“Really proud of our group for finishing top of the Trophy stage and getting the job done against Leicester. It’s been a good early test for us, and now we’re excited for the semi-final against Caledonia. We’ll also see them in our first league game, so it’s a great chance to measure ourselves and see where we’re at as a team.”

The victory confirmed Essex’s position at the top of the SLB Trophy South Group with a perfect 4–0 record. In the North Group, the B. Braun Sheffield Hatters also went unbeaten, with the Caledonia Gladiators securing second place. The Rebels now advance to the SLB Trophy semi-finals, where they’ll face Caledonia in early December. Details on the venue, date, and time will be announced soon — follow the Rebels on social media for updates.

The Rebels return to action on Saturday, 25 October, where they’ll get an early look at their semi-final opponent in their first regular-season SLB Championship game against the Caledonia Gladiators.

Tickets are available now — don’t miss the chance to support your Rebels as they begin their championship campaign.