EVERTON Tigers overcame a spirited Leicester Riders with a 101-86 victory at the Greenbank Academy.

The Tigers had to recover from a poor start to take the points.

With the sides level on points ahead of the BBL game, a win was vital.

The Riders ended the first quarter nine points up, leading 28-19. Everton rallied in the second period but could not peg Leicester back until a 12-5 stretch in favour of the Tigers levelled the scores. Richard Midgley then put Everton ahead.

Further points from Josh Gross and James Jones gave Everton a 46-41 lead at the interval.

Everton held their lead 70-64 going into the final quarter when they ran away with the game in the last 10 minutes.

Tigers coach Tony Garbelotto said: “We’re not at the level we need to be still and I’ve told the players that, although it is a positive in a way as I know there is still more to come. This was an important victory against a team so close to us in the League. They started very well but we recovered.”

Josh Gross finished with 30 points, Andre Smith 20 and James Jones 16.

Cheshire Jets went down 82-75 to title-chasing Scottish Rocks.

The Jets made the Rocks work hard for the win at Warrington’s Birchwood Centre.