NEWCASTLE Eagles took a huge step towards retaining their BBL Championship crown by winning this astonishing game of basketball last night at Sport Central.

In shooting down the Jets, they took the series head-to-head between the two title rivals 2-1 and also inflicted the defeat that effectively rules Cheshire out of the title race.

It was a game that will be remembered by many as it went right down to the wire and the result was in doubt until the very last shot when Jet Quemont Greer’s long-range effort failed to hit the target and Eagles sneaked home.

In reality it was a game Eagles deserved to win and the victory will give them great heart as they begin the punishing end of season schedule that will decide the destiny of the silverware all the BBL teams would love to see sitting in their trophy cupboard.

For once it was not Trey Moore or Charles Smith who dominated the home side’s scoring but Reggie Jackson who came up huge with a game high-score of 28 points to lead his side to victory.

Ironic in a game usually dominated by big men, it was the pocket rocket Jackson whose jet-propelled drives to the basket and long-range shootingtipped the scales in the Eagles’ favour.

Not that Moore or Smith were quiet. They also played their parts in an Eagles team effort that reflected the philosophy of head coach Fab Flournoy and the spirit and commitment he demands from his players.

Flournoy himself led from the front, making a surprise return to playing duties, enabling Newcastle to rotate their bench and spell players at crucial times.

The minutes Flournoy played were crucial as Eagles suffered from foul trouble throughout the game and even lost Smith early in the final period when he fouled out on a dubious technical foul that brought the away side back in to the game during that final stretch.

Eagles had the better of the opening exchanges and with Jackson quickly out of the blocks started the better of the two sides although there was little in it.

Jets only went with six players and their solid and tight rotation almost was Newcastle’s undoing.

Greer and Bell, who have starred all season for the visitors, were prominent throughout and skipper Colin O’Reilly came with a tremendous surge of scoring at the end of the game.

But Newcastle always just had enough to keep them at bay and with Darius Defoe and Kadiri Richard producing strong inside performances to hold off jets Matt Schneck, it was a battle throughout. Eagles led 48-43 at the break and in the third quarter even stretched that lead to 15 points before Jets mounted a great comeback. But that lead was what made the difference as the fourth and final period wound down with Newcastle just being able to hold off the late Jets charge.

A lot of that was down to the play of Jackson, who Jets couldn’t guard, and with Moore also remaining ice-cool from the foul line and showing all his experience and know-how the Eagles pulled off a tremendous win and one that keeps them on course at the top of the table.

Next up is the long trip to Plymouth tomorrow for another crucial and important BBL encounter but after the character, resilience and determination Flournoy and his men showed tonight they will travel with great heart.

LAST NIGHT’S SCORERS

NEWCASTLE EAGLES: Reggie Jackson 28, Trey Moore 21, Charles Smith 19

CHESHIRE JETS: Quemont Greer 28, Colin O’Reilly 21, Jeremy Bell