NEWCASTLE Eagles skipper Andrew Bridge admits the gruelling BBL run-in will provide one of the biggest tests of his career.
After securing back-to-back weekend wins, the Eagles are back on the road tonight for a potentially treacherous away game against the MK Lions.
It is their fifth match in ten days – and they have another five to play before the season ends on Sunday week.
It’s a tough schedule, which is why Eagles moved swiftly to replace the influential Trey Moore, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after damaging a metatarsal in his right foot against Guildford last week. Andrew Lasker, who up until last season was a mainstay of Plymouth Raiders’ line-up, will link up with the Eagles and could feature in tonight’s clash.
For coach Fab Flournoy, the priority is avoiding further injuries as the Eagles continue what is a punishing programme. “I have never known anything like it. It is an intense run of fixtures and I don’t think the BBL has ever finished like this,” Bridge said.
“It is probably very exciting for anyone looking in because it’s the first time for a while that there are three teams in it, and all three teams have similar schedules. Mersey play Sheffield three times and then we play them as well next week, so there is still all to fight for.
“Of course I think we can do it. It’s going to be tough but you have to be confident – you have to be sure that you’ve got the ability and the character to do it.
“And the good thing is because of the way the results have gone, it is all in our hands. If we win all of our games, we’re champions – simple as that. And that is all you can ask for at this stage of the season.” It sounds simple, but the long trek to Milton Keynes is hardly ideal for wearied limbs.
A Lions side beaten last Friday are a much tougher prospect in their own gym and Bridge (pictured left) is braced for another war of attrition. “MK Lions are a tough team – they gave us a good game on Friday and I think that they’ll probably be changing things a little bit.
“They’ll pick up on our weaknesses and we’ll do the same the other way,” he said. “It is a tough schedule for us, a really tough schedule. We’ve got a lot of long trips but I actually think that could help us. It gives you time to focus on the game ahead.”
The Eagles have at least been boosted by Flournoy’s return to the court. He played significant minutes against the Lions on Friday and then played against Guildford Heat on Sunday when Moore was hit by his injury. Bridge admits that has helped the Eagles’ defensive efforts in a big way.
“Fab coming back has been very big for us,” he said. “I think that was most evident on Sunday.
“Trey picked up his injury and we needed Fab’s skill set to see out the fourth quarter, when we had to go quite defensive. He played pretty much all of the fourth quarter and brought his defence which was really important.
“Hopefully he is still in good shape but he has to be careful. No-one wants a relapse so the question is how quickly and how strongly he will be able to recover. He always felt he could play but he’s got to be careful. It’s a tough schedule and we want him to ready for it.”
