Newcastle Eagles Miss Out To Eventual Winners
Newcastle Eagles had to settle for a semi-final slot in the end-of-season play-offs as the British Basketball League season drew to a close.
The Vertu Motors-backed side had headed into the business end of the campaign chasing success on two fronts, with the Eagles going into March hoping to a strong end to the domestic season whilst also still being involved in the European North Basketball League.
The European programme kicked off March with a home game against Bakken Bears, with the Danish side able to grab a narrow victory by 92:87 ahead of the second game later in the month.
Between those two ties, came two important ties in the BBL, the first of which saw a place in the play-offs secured thanks a solid 109:77 win at home to Manchester Giants.
Blitzing their rivals in the second and fourth quarters proved to be key, with Devin Whitfield ending the game with 23 points to his name.
After a loss on the road to Caledonia Gladiators, the return tie with Bakken Bears proved to be on the most of the dramatic of the season, with the Danish side taking control through the first half to leave the Eagles starting at the end of their European adventure.
However, an astonishing performance in the third quarter saw the Eagles outscore their rivals by 20 points to roar back into contention, with the game eventually ending with the aggregate scores level.
Bakken however managed to get over the line in overtime to make it through to the next stage, leaving the Eagles to focus on domestic honours.
Two losses to Sheffield came either side of a fine victory on the road to Surrey Scorchers and that would prove to be pre-cursor to the remainder of the league campaign – with the Eagles winning two but losing four of the final six fixtures.
The opening game of the play-offs saw the Eagles head across the border to face off with the Caledonia Gladiators, with Jordan Johnson taking on a starring role as he scored 31 points to guide the team to 97:78 victory a lead in the best of three series.
Rickey McGill then took the lead in the second game as the Eagles won 94:71 at the Vertu Arena to earn a place in the second round against London Lions – who had comfortably topped the regular season.
The Lions grabbed victory in the first game with a 106:75 success in Newcastle and whilst the Eagles battled hard in the second game at the Copperbox, London scored the win by 94:81 to head through and leave the Eagles to focus on preparations for another season.
March – May:
- Bakken Bears (H) – Lost 92:87
- Manchester Giants (H) – Won 109:77
- Caledonia Gladiators (A) – Lost 98:80
- Bakken Bears (A) – Lost 96:92
- Sheffield Sharks (H) – Lost 87:77
- Surrey Scorchers (H) – Won 125:84
- Sheffield Sharks (A) – Lost 91:83
- Caledonia Gladiators (H) – Lost 90:84
- Leicester Riders (A) – Won 96:91
- Bristol Flyers (H) – Lost 90:86
- Surrey Scorchers (A) – Lost 90:77
- Cheshire Phoenix (H) – Won 104:89
- Manchester Giants (A) – Lost 91:89
- Caledonia Gladiators (A) – Won 97:78
- Caledonia Gladiators (H) – Won 94:71
- London Lions (H) – Lost 106:75
- London Lions (A) – Lost 94:81
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