Newcastle Eagles Boost European Hopes
Newcastle Eagles boosted their hopes of success in the European North Basketball League with back-to-back victories leaving their hopes of qualifying from the group stages firmly in their own hands.
The Vertu Motors backed side faced a busy January as the British Basketball League took a backseat, with the revised BBL Trophy instead taking centre stage as the Eagles looked to secure the title for a record-extending eighth time.
The Eagles kicked off their Trophy campaign with a trip to the Copper Box to face off against the London Lions and a tight first half saw the away side take the lead – moving three points clear following the second quarter.
However, the second half saw London roar out of the blocks and the Lions took a seven point lead following the third before stretching clear in the fourth to secure a 99:77 win – a success that wasn’t nearly as comfortable as the final score may have suggested.
Just 24 hours later, the Eagles returned to action at the Vertu Motors Arena to face off against the Manchester Giants live on Sky Sports and the response to the London defeat was swift.
Shorn of four key players, the Eagles went 10:2 down in the early stages of the first quarter but bounced back to take a seven point lead, and held on at the end of the second quarter to retain a single point advantage.
A scoring run from Jordan Johnson at the end of the third allowed the Eagles to take a twelve point advantage and a gritty performance in the fourth saw the home side edge further clear to take victory by 92:78.
Next up was a trip to Bristol Flyers, who needed to win the game to stand any chance of making it through to the semi-final stage.
Again short on numbers, the Eagles took an early lead in the first before Bristol battled back to secure a narrow half-time advantage but the third would then see Newcastle hit their opponents with a number of quick scores to move six clear.
In a tense final quarter, Bristol battled back and had a chance to win the game at the death – missing a potential three pointer as the Eagles took a second successive win by just two points.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, Leicester Riders would prove to be too strong in the final group game and having taken a 13 point lead after the first quarter, were able to stay out front throughout.
A 101:85 defeat would see the Eagles therefore finish third in Group B to miss out on progressing to the next stage.
Instead, focus turned towards the European North Basketball League, with a home tie first up against Royal Liege.
The Belgian side were well fancied going into the game but the Eagles took control through the opening three quarters to establish a handy lead to take into the fourth.
It meant that even when Liege took eight points off the Eagles in the final quarter, it was the home side that emerged victorious by 100:92.
Heading to Estonia to face off against Keila Korvpallikool, the Eagles battled to a 92:84 victory that means that they have their destiny in their own hands heading into the final group game in mid-February.
January Results:
- London Lions (A) – Lost 99:77
- Manchester Giants (H) – Won 92:78
- Bristol Flyers (A) – Won 84:82
- Leicester Riders (H) – Lost 101:85
- Royal Liege Basket (H) – Won 100:92
- Keila KK (A) – Won 92:84