Eagles in a crash landing

Apr 13 2009 by Jeff King, The Journal

NEW BBL champions Newcastle Eagles came crashing down to earth in Everton last night.

After lifting the title on Friday it was always going to be difficult for coach Fab Flournoy to ensure his men were focused for the remaining league games.

It was certainly a task beyond him in this game. A far hungrier and determined Tigers side at least restored some pride after the mauling they took a few weeks ago.

Those two wins set up Newcastle’s title and made last night’s game academic.

The Eagles had gone into the game on a 16-game unbeaten run and looking to emulate last season’s 29-4 winning record.

A win would also have seen them equal a club record 17 straight victories.

But it was not to be as the Eagles turned in a very lacklustre performance. While the loss means little in the final analysis, the manner of the defeat will not have pleased coach Flournoy.

Winning breeds confidence, losing affects it. Flournoy will now look to re-group his players for the final two league games before setting his side up for the end-of-season play-offs.

Right from the off Everton dominated. With the score at 10-8 Josh Gross and Andre Smith combined for a 10-3 home run that broke the game open, ex-Eagle Tony Dorsey spinning in the final score of the quarter to give his side a 27-15 advantage. Newcastle were not firing at all and the Tigers increased their lead in the second to 15.

Skipper Andrew Bridge then brought his side back into the game to some extent, cutting the gap to nine at one stage.

However, Tigers scored the last five of the half to lead 52-38.

The home side started the second half with a 9-0 run that killed off any chance of an Eagles comeback and effectively made it game over.

Flournoy tried to rally the team for one last effort but it was to no avail.

Eventually, with just over four minutes to play, he turned to his young bench and at least had the satisfaction of seeing local lad Aaron Nielson hit eight points in an impressive cameo.

So it was a poor night at the office for coach Flournoy and his men. Tigers took a deserved win but it was probably little consolation to them as the championship already rests in Newcastle.

Eagles will no doubt bounce back. They always seem to show greater strength in adversity and it would be a brave man to bet against them returning to high-flying form very quickly.

Guildford Heat and Cheshire Jets also recorded wins yesterday as the battle for play-off places hots up.

The Heat strengthened their grip on a top-four place with a 100-76 win over the Worcester Wolves.

Jets recorded a pivotal 82-68 road success over the Airwaves Plymouth Raiders.

EVERTON SCORERS: Andre Smith 25, Josh Gross 22, Delme Herriman 13.

NEWCASTLE SCORERS: Andrew Bridge 22, Tafari Toney 16, Trey Moore 15.