Newcastle Eagles 105, Worcester Wolves 96

Apr 26 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

FABULOUS Flournoy’s Newcastle Eagles edged past Worcester Wolves last night to book their place in the semi-finals of the play-offs in Birmingham.

For the first time in four games, they clinched the win without the need of overtime – but both sides ended the tie with three players fouling out.

Flournoy’s men finally closed out the nine-point basketball game to round off the Tynesiders’ best-ever regular season league performance and join Milton Keynes at the National Indoor Arena on Saturday.

Darius Defoe emerged as the first-quarter hero as he scored eight points in the first 10 minutes and gave the Eagles the early impetus.

Wolves took a brief lead in the first quarter when player-coach Skouson Harker hit a two-point shot.

But within moments, the Tynesiders’ lead was restored and the home-side assumed control.

Olu Babalola hit two from the line as he laid down a foundation on which to mount his Eagles-high tally of 21 points.

James Life kept the visitors in contention with six points in the opening period, closely followed by Harker and Chuck Evans, who secured six points apiece.

In the second quarter, the aggressive defence of the travelling roster limited the impact of the normally ferocious Lynard Stewart. In 20 minutes of play, he could only take two shots and only one of those found the net.

And if that gave Flournoy a headache, the free-scoring double act of Anthony Paez and James Life may well have pushed him over the edge. The pair scored a combined total of 17 points as Harker looked to pull his team back into contention.

Chuck Evans hit a two-point shot from under the basket to give the visitors the lead with only three minutes left of the first half. And those points came in the middle of a 12-0 run that put a three-point cushion between the two sides. Steve Leven ended Worcester’s dominance with two baskets from the free-throw line, and Defoe continued his good form with a further six points that maintained the Eagles’ resilience in a disappointing second period.

A foul on the buzzer sent Flournoy to the line and he struck only once to give his side a slim one-point advantage going into the interval at 52-51.

With just less than two minutes left of the third period, Shaun Durant collected his fifth foul of the game, and when the Wolves’ assistant coach encroached on the court, a technical foul was also awarded.

Leven was sent to the line, but could only shoot two from four to extend the Eagles’ lead to 74-63.

Babalola bagged 10 points either side of the third break before Worcester’s Ivan Brosko was fouled out of the game.

Defoe, Flournoy and Leven all followed him, and Douaine Anderson rounded off proceedings when he was forced off the court with only 52 seconds left on the clock.

TOP SCORERS – Newcastle Eagles: Babalola 21, Defoe 20, Leven 15. Worcester Wolves: Life 28, Paez 24, Harker 20.