Raiders ink a Strong signing

By Greg Oakford
LESTER Strong, also known as the ‘L-Train’ will make his third consecutive stop at Knox Converse Stadium station this season.
The 201cm forward was instrumental in the Raiders’ tremendous success over the past two seasons, which has included two East Conference Championships (’08 and ’09) and an overall SEABL Championship (’09).
Since the Raiders went after Strong at the conclusion of the 2007 season, the club has moved from strength to strength with Strong holding down the middle for the Raiders for the past two seasons.
Success is something that has followed Strong all his basketball life, winning an NCAA Division 2 Championship for the Metro State Roadrunners in Denver, Colorado, during the 2001/02 season.
Strong’s team-mates on the Metro State team included NBL players Mark Worthington and Luke Kendall who are currently competing for the Melbourne Tigers.
He also teamed up with current Raiders team-mate C. J. Massingale for the 2003/04 college season.
The dynamic duo helped guide the Roadrunners to a final four berth.
In addition, Strong also brought success to the Dandenong Rangers, winning a Big V Men’s Championship in 2006 after Strong first hit Australian shores back in 2005.
Known for his super athleticism and crowd-pleasing dunks and blocks, Strong established himself as a fan favourite of ‘Raider Nation’ from the first game he set foot in Knox Converse Stadium.
While it took the Denver native a portion of the 2008 season to adjust to the consistent high standard of the SEABL competition after making the transition from the Big V playing for Warrnambool in 2007, Strong came into his own in the second half of the 2008 season.
Opposition teams were at his mercy when he was on his game, and the high energy he plays with helped carry the Raiders momentum into their finals campaign where Strong was simply brilliant.
With C. J. Massingale and captain Glenn Siegle banged up with injuries, Strong was like a man possessed, averaging 28.3 points and 19 rebounds over the finals campaign including performances of 19 points and 25 rebounds in the East Conference Championship win against Bendigo and 36 points and 15 rebounds in a gallant undermanned losing effort against Hobart in the SEABL inaugural overall championship match.
In 2009, Strong carried over his red-hot form from the ’08 finals series, averaging a double-double for the season with 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds per contest and close to two blocks per contest.
But again, just like he had a season prior, Strong took his game to another level when the finals came around.
Strong again increased his regular season production and put on a clinic in the SEABL Championship game against the heavily favoured Frankston Blues and 2008 South Conference MVP David Gruber.
Strong was dominant all game long and got the better of the class act that is Gruber, scoring 25 points, pulling down 10 rebounds and holding down the interior defence for his Raiders team throughout the contest with five blocks.
“The decision to return to Knox was pretty easy,” Strong said. “Knox is a great club and I hope to be playing here as long as I can … I love the fans at Knox and the vibe is crazy, it’s so easy to get ready for a game when you have loyal fans like we do at Knox.”
Fans can see Strong live in action when the Knox Raiders face off against local rival Nunawading Spectres in Round one on Saturday 13 March at Knox Converse Stadium.