Eagles Regain Winning Feeling After Winless Run
Newcastle Eagles rounded out 2023 with back-to-back victories to get the Vertu Motors-backed side back on track following a difficult start to the month of December.
The Eagles had been in fine form throughout November with seven successive victories in all competitions, the last of which had seen them put 100 points on the Surrey Scorchers at Surrey Sports Park.
The reverse fixture in the British Basketball League at the Vertu Motors Arena kicked off the final month of the year, with the two sides level at half-time after the Eagles won the opening quarter but Surrey fought back in the second.
The away side then moved four points clear in the third and although the Eagles battled back to retake the lead mid-way through the final quarter, the Scorchers prevailed as they grabbed a narrow win by just five points.
A week later it was Bristol Flyers who made the trip to Tyneside and it would once again prove to be a tight start to the match, as the two sides shared the opening two quarters to go into half-time level at 46-46.
In similar fashion to the previous week, the away side then moved ahead in the third quarter before the Eagles hauled themselves back into contention, but it was Bristol who ended the match stronger to move clear and take the win 89:71.
After back-to-back league defeats, the Eagles hit the road to visit Group B leaders CSO Vountari in the European North Basketball League, with the home side emerging from the game as victors by 84:76 – a result that leaves the Eagles just outside the play-off places in Group B following a game that could easily have ended in victory.
The final game before Christmas would see the Eagles return to winning ways however, with an impressive victory away at Cheshire Phoenix.
Taking an eleven point lead after the first quarter, the Eagles were in control from the off against a side that had started the game sitting second in the table, with a fine 37 point haul from Rickey McGill setting up a 113:91 victory.
The final game of the year saw the Eagles back in action on home soil, and the curtain would come down on 2023 with victory against Plymouth City Patriots to leave Newcastle sitting fourth in the standings going into the New Year after the return fixture was postponed due to travel issues.
December Results:
- Surrey Scorchers (H) – Lost 93:88
- Bristol Flyers (H) – Lost 89:71
- CSO Voluntari (A) – Lost 84:76
- Cheshire Phoenix (A) – Won 113:91
- Plymouth City Patriots (H) – Won 95:82