NEWCASTLE Eagles wrapped up their domestic action for the year with a win at Guildford, bouncing back from Friday’s disappointing loss to Worcester.
Having crashed 94-86 at Sport Central to experience their first league defeat of the season, Fab Flournoy and his players made the long trip to Guildford Heat yesterday desperate not to end 2011 with successive losses and a bitter taste in the mouth.
The pressure was certainly on without point guard Paul Gause, while Heat went into the contest buoyed by their first win of the season and were universally considered to be in a false position at the foot of the table and a dangerous opponent.
However, the league leaders showed their stomach for the fight and willingness to win ugly as they claimed a precious 83-73 success to restore the festive cheer for supporters who will no doubt be expecting a silverware laden 2012.
It was a scrappy game but that mattered very little because as title favourites, the Eagles simply had to grind out a positive result at all costs, especially when not at full-strength and coming off a surprise home defeat.
There was little to separate both teams in what was a tight game from tip to buzzer with the final scoreline flattering the Eagles. The visitors didn’t make a decisive move until with four minutes left to play, they finally established sufficient daylight to breakdown their belligerent hosts who looked a real threat throughout.
Both teams had enjoyed leads at various times during the contest but not by more than six points either way. Guildford were stronger on the glass and dominated the rebounds while the Eagles relied on their defence to keep Heat at bay.
It had looked ominous towards the end of the third quarter as Guildford threatened to make the break but in a great end to the period, Charles Smith drained a last gasp three-pointer from deep to swing the pendulum back the way of his team at 54-53.
The last quarter was tense and with the game locked at 63-63 with just over five minutes to play, it hung in the balance and was there for the taking for both clubs.
Eventually it was the Eagles who made their move, scoring nine of the next 12 points to go 72-66 ahead. Defence was the key to their new found momentum and it proved crucial as they then kept their composure from the free-throw line during the last two minutes to ease away.
Charles Smith and Joe Chapman combined for 47 points but it was a real gutsy team performance, the kind of which Fab Flournoy thrives on and he will have no doubt relished greatly - especially considering how irate he was in the immediate aftermath of what happened last Friday.
The Eagles are back in BBL action on the January 6 but rest isn’t on the agenda with a Christmas and New Year exhibition tournament to play in Holland.
GUILDFORD: McLemore 19, Ogedengbe 17, Lasker 11.
NEWCASTLE: Smith 24, Chapman 23, Defoe 12.
