NEWCASTLE Eagles qualified for the BBL Trophy Semi-Finals but not in the manner they would have liked.
They went down to their first defeat of the season against arch-rivals Glasgow Rocks in what was a closely-fought encounter.
However, the Rocks needed to win by 23 points to knock the Eagles out of the competition after Newcastle won the previous game at Sport Central 85-63.
Coach Fab Flournoy was not happy with his charges. The energy levels were not at the level he would have liked and he included himself in that criticism.
Time and time again his side turned the ball over, failed to grab a rebound or didn’t finish offensive opportunities. Nobody really stepped up to take charge although Charles Smith’s top-scoring efforts were worthy of praise as he played through a niggling injury.
Paul Gause is also beginning to find his feet in the BBL and contributed well at times with Darius Defoe also battling hard inside. Eagles, though, came up short with a combination of tiredness and a Rocks side that was determined to put on a show for the large home crowd.
The first quarter gave notice that the game was to be tight throughout. Eagles just shaded a tough quarter 16-15 but in reality they needed to lock down guards E J Harrison and Mychal Green who served intention early of their shooting prowess.
In the second there was nothing between the two. Baskets were being traded and neither side could gain a significant advantage in a low-scoring affair. It was no surprise when the sides trooped in to the locker room level at 34.
The third period opened with Gause driving Newcastle but it was the Rocks who did gain the upper hand and managed to move ahead creating a little gap. Back came Newcastle, though, and Smith in particular – he scored seven unanswered points to once again bring the sides to within one point at 56-55 to the home side with ten minutes to play.
In the final period it was the Rocks who just seemed to want it that little bit more as Flournoy struggled to find a five that could answer his call and turn the game around. Harrison dominated in the final period and eventually was the difference between the sides as he led his time to a victory.
Rocks won the battle but Eagles the war. While the Glasgow side have so often been on the wrong side of Newcastle’s power and supremacy, they’ll take the victory. The Eagles need to re-group and work hard in training this week before the huge trip to Sheffield in the BBL.
TOP SCORERS
GLASGOW: E J Harrison 22, Mychal Green 14, Gareth Murray 11
NEWCASTLE: Charles Smith 18, Paul Gause 15, Darius Defoe 13
