NEWCASTLE Eagles were in tremendous form at Sport Central yesterday to pick up a first win in three BBL games and maintain their place at the top of the table.
After suffering such close losses in the encounters versus Sheffield and at Leicester, the two weeks’ rest had obviously done them some good as they got back to winning ways with a vengeance.
It was surprisingly easy against a Plymouth side stacked with talent that came to Newcastle having won at title contenders Mersey Tigers last time out.
This had been the Raiders’ second win over the Tigers this season, something the Eagles have not achieved, and therefore marked them down as dangerous opponents for yesterday’s game.
However, a disciplined Newcastle side played with real energy, spirit and commitment throughout. They had read and digested the scouting report fully and put their game plan into operation from the first buzzer to the last to take a very important win.
Head coach Fab Flournoy was once again absent from his home court as he continues to recover from his recent serious illness.
But his players coped well without him in the capable and knowledgeable hands of assistant and acting head coach Dave Forrester. Forrester now has a winning record of 5–1 as acting head coach and it is his calm assurance that enables Flournoy to trust his side to his hands.
When Flournoy receives the game report and assessment from his able right-hand man it can only aid his recovery more.
The Eagles’ big two of Trey Moore and Charles Smith were once again in unstoppable scoring form and Reggie Jackson also showed exactly why Newcastle brought him back to cover the absence of the injured Joe Chapman.
Big men Darius Defoe and Kadiri Richard also stepped up, with the latter weighing in with a double-double performance of 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Skipper Andrew Bridge, despite nursing a hand injury picked up in training the previous night, still put in a good shift, while Andre Lockhart produced another valuable contribution from the bench.
The Eagles struggled in the early going and fell behind 4–0 before Moore in particular got in to the scoring groove. Smith quickly picked up his pace and, with the rest of the team hustling away, Newcastle soon turned this deficit around to end the first period 23–19 in front.
The Eagles also controlled the second quarter with Jackson in particular looking sharp. At one point they led 39–28 before settling for a well-deserved half-time advantage of 45–36.
As the teams came out for the second half Plymouth tried to up the game’s tempo and pull their way back in to the game. But whatever the visitors threw at them, Eagles were able to counter, with Smith and Moore in scintillating form. The home side really turned the screw as the clock ticked down in the third and ended it 81–58 in front.
One last push in the final 10 minutes saw an effervescent Eagles stretch their lead to 100–74 before Moore and Smith were replaced with 3:31 left on the clock to tremendous applause and well-earned seats on the bench. Coach Forrester was able to give local youngsters Aaron Neilsen and Ross Wilson a few valuable BBL minutes as the Eagles completed a very convincing win in dismissive fashion.
Next up for Newcastle in their quest to retain their BBL Championship is Worcester Wolves who come to Sport Central this Friday to face a buoyant and determined Eagles side that continues to show its character and mettle as the season approaches crunch time.
NEWCASTLE: Trey Moore 32, Charles Smith 26, Reggie Jackson 20.
PLYMOUTH: Chez Marks 20, Lehmon Colbert Jnr 15, Anthony Rowe 14.
