In-form Eagles can win silver

Oct 19 2007 The Journal

BBL Championship novice Richard Midgley may only have been on Tyneside a matter of months, but the Great Britain star has seen enough to be convinced the Eagles are destined for silverware this year.

Player-coach Fab Flournoy made the California graduate the newest acquisition to his bulging roster during the off-season, and Midgley has repaid the BBL veteran with a string of outstanding performances.

And the Maidstone-born point-guard is confident his in-form teammates can get an early season advantage over the competition this evening when they travel to the EIS Stadium for a top-of-the-table clash with the Sheffield Sharks.

“It’s like any other game – they are all really important and we’ll be playing for points,” said Midgley.

“And we should be able to perform well and beat them. We want to win every game we play and then we can gain a points advantage over all the other teams.

“We are stronger than anyone else in this league and that should show tonight. I don’t know much about the Sheffield team, but Fab (Flournoy) is a pro and he’ll take us through a gameplan and we’ll know everything we have to.”

The former London Towers junior is relishing the chance to be part of an Eagles roster bulging at the seams with a depth of talent unrivalled in the league.

And despite the fact the Eagles go into tonight’s contest off the back of a six game unbeaten run and having played four games in six days, Midgley is certain that a team built on tenacity can overcome the Sharks.

“The amazing start we’ve had this year is down to the quality of players in the team,” said Midgley.

“We have the strongest team in the league, and that strength goes right through the squad, which means that we have been able to win games and start the season well.

“There are so many good players on the team. Pick any one these guys. We have the older guys like Jeremy Hyatt and Lynard Stewart, and Charles Smith and Darius Defoe are doing great too.”

Midgley has quickly taken up the reputation as the BBL’s brightest new asset – a tag that fails to faze the former California graduate. And the 24-year-old is taking pleasure in playing among a team of big performers and seasoned pros in his first season in an Eagles jersey.

“It’s good to be playing for the Eagles, I’m enjoying it and the team is winning games. I’m not sure how to react when I get praised, but I think it helps with confidence,” continued Midgley. This league is good, but I’m used to a high standard of basketball, and that has made it quite easy to settle in.

“I like the challenge of having to performing well every week.”

Peter Scantlebury’s Sheffield Sharks enter this evening’s game with a record equalled only by the Eagles. They have won five games this year and have toppled the likes of the Guildford Heat and the MK Lions.