NEWCASTLE Eagles may well have finished victorious on the scoresheet, but the real winner in Newton Aycliffe was North East basketball.
Durham Wildcats became the newest professional top-tier British basketball franchise and put on quite a show for Saturday’s sell-out capacity crowd.
Many have questioned the wisdom of Durham entering a team in the higher echelons of the British Basketball League.
Yet anyone inside the sauna-like atmosphere of the Wildcats Arena saw a club determined to make their mark and who promoted the game of basketball in fine fashion.
Perhaps there were one or two teething problems as the Wildcats made their bow but these will soon be ironed out – and it is hugely comforting to see a club tackling the task of surviving and growing in the top league in such a manner.
First-class presentation and a packed arena were a fabulous start.
The Eagles, though, were not quite ready to share the party mood and give their gracious hosts victory to put the seal on a successful night.
In what hopefully is the first derby game of a long, fierce but sporting rivalry, Fab Flournoy’s men had too much strength in depth and experience for the BBL rookies.
Newcastle’s comfortable 88-66 victory gave them a second BBL Trophy success within 24 hours and established them at the top of their group and in pole position to qualify for the knockout stages.
The Eagles started the better in the first quarter with new point guard Paul Gause leading the way as he picked open the Durham defence to allow Andy Thomson, in particular, to establish an early rhythm.
Newcastle were in determined mood and looking to build upon their win 24 hours earlier over Glasgow Rocks.
Durham, meanwhile, found it difficult to get into the game but with ex-Teesside Mohawk Ralph Bucci in their ranks, they were never going to be completely blown away – and it was Bucci who finally got them on the board.
The Eagles, though, held firm and were 21-13 up after the first period.
Bucci was the ‘go-to guy’ for the home side and he kept the Wildcats in the contest in the second period.
His younger, less experienced team-mates did show great energy on defence to disrupt the Eagles offence which spluttered in the run-up to the half. The Wildcats edged the second 15-14 to be only eight points down at the break.
Flournoy’s message to his team at half-time was clear. They needed to dominate more inside and use their experience, know-how and strength to put out the Wildcats’ fire.
They did this by totally dominating the third quarter.
Darius Defoe came up with great post play and moves as he upped his points tally to lead the Eagles, and with ten minutes to go Newcastle held a decisive 67-46 advantage.
Newcastle continued to push this lead in the final period, although Durham’s new American forward Fred Hinnenkamp did find his shooting boots for the home side, albeit only in consolation.
Flournoy even had the luxury of allowing 18-year-old Lamar Morrison his Eagles’ senior debut and the rookie point guard even managed to get on the score sheet with a great coast-to-coast drive. It was the silver lining on a competent Eagles performance which capped a great first weekend of the new basketball season. For many, though, the abiding memory was seeing history made as Durham proudly entered the BBL ranks – with the promise of more to come.
DURHAM: Ralph Bucci 23, Fred Hinnenkamp 13, Mike Capocci 6
NEWCASTLE: Darius Defoe 23, Andy Thomson 14, Charles Smith 12
