Newcastle Eagles 93, Cheshire Jets 76

Mar 28 2009 by Jeff King, The Journal

ANOTHER routine home win for table-topping Newcastle Eagles kept their great run going last night ahead of tomorrow’s showdown against second-placed Everton Tigers.

That game in the North West at the Liverpool Echo Arena will be vastly different to this encounter with the North West’s other BBL outfit. Cheshire Jets had made a quick return to The Eagles’ Nest after being beaten a week ago at the same venue.

This time they had one of their leading scorers, Philip Perre, back in the ranks and after running Everton to within four points in their last game perhaps were hoping to beat the Eagles for the first time in four attempts this season.

However, it never looked likely as Newcastle once again shot the Jets down all too easily and actually won by a bigger margin than last week’s 87-73 win. But it will be a much different picture tomorrow. At the end of the night perhaps the biggest talking point was the end of Eagles top scorer Trey Moore’s incredible consecutive free-throw streak. Going into the game the extrovert shooting guard had made 81 in a row. He made his first four last night before finally failing as he went for number 86.

No one is 100% sure if this is a BBL record but no one so far has been able to confirm otherwise. Not that finally missing affected Moore’s game as he went on to top score for his side and, just for good measure, was the game’s leading rebounder as well with 10 to complete a personal double-double.

Jets’ Frank Phifer opened the scoring to give Cheshire the lead but a 7-0 Eagles response saw them in front and they were never headed thereafter. A further 8-1 run midway through the quarter, which included a Moore triple, extended the lead and with Charles Smith also hitting from beyond the arc it was 22-16 after one.

The Eagles were soon into a double-digit lead in the second quarter. Worrying though for player coach Fab Flournoy was the nasty-looking injury sustained by Lynard Stewart as he contested a rebound. He was unable to play any further part in the game but his team-mates covered for his absence to cruise even further ahead, 47 -31 at the break.

With Moore sitting out most of the third quarter, it was Reggie Jackson, Charles Smith and Darius Defoe who led the way for the home side. Jackson gave Newcastle their largest lead of the night with a breakaway basket to make it 71-49 and the league points were safe.

Jets did pull six points back but Eagles once again answered as the game entered the final stages. There was time for Jamie Glen, Sam Attah and Will Spragg to all get on the court and scoresheet.

Now for Everton Tigers, whom the Eagles face twice in three days – tomorrow in Liverpool before the teams come together at the Metro Radio Arena on Tuesday night.

NEWCASTLE SCORERS: Trey Moore 17, Charles Smith 17, Darius Defoe 16

CHESHIRESCORERS: Shawn Myers 18, Philip Perre 18, Frank Phifer 13