Raiders no match for rampant Eagles
Newcastle Eagles 90 Plymouth Raiders 67
BBL Championship Friday 25th November 2011
Newcastle Eagles dominated from start to finish in a devastating display of power at both ends of the court last night at Sport Central. The much hyped Plymouth Raiders made the long journey to Newcastle for a hotly anticipated encounter between two of the favourites for this season’s BBL Championship title and probably wished they’d stayed on the South coast.
Eagles coach Fab Flournoy revealed prior to the game that he had found a solution to the Eagles first half scoring woes of late. One of the baskets at Sport Central had been 7cm too high in previous games at Sport Central. It’s difficult to believe that such a discrepancy could occur at the best facility in the top flight of British Basketball, but I guess that’s the BBL for you!
Basket adjustment or not, the home side came flying out of the blocks and virtually put the game out of Raiders reach in a blistering first quarter. Darius Defoe began his MVP performance with 6 points in the first five minutes as the Eagles stifled the visitors’ offensive with a remarkably resolute defensive display. Defoe was admirably aided by his partner Andy Thomson who was playing with a heavily strapped shoulder and had been a doubt prior to the game. The Eagles ended that first period with a commanding 24-8 lead that could conceivably been even greater.
The lead grew in the second half, rising to 22 on the back of another trademark Joe Chapman 3-pointer and never fell below twenty, with the home side reaching the break 49-28 to the good. Despite the offensive fireworks from Newcastle it was the defensive and that caught the eye.
The lead remained around the twenty point mark throughout the second half as the Eagles did what they had to do. Young Eagle Ross Wilson grabbed almost 14 minutes of game time and Lamar Morrison was handed a rare cameo role picking up two fouls, two points and missing two free throws in an eventful final three minutes and 38 seconds.
Darius Defoe was the main man, not for the first time this season, with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Andy Thomson had yet another double double, despite being hampered by his shoulder, racking up 13 points and 10 boards. Lehmon Colbert being the sole resistance fighter for the Raiders with 19 points, which I’ll take as he’s in my fantasy team!
Last year’s BBL MVP Jeremy Bell had a night to forget shooting just 23% from the field with his team as a whole managing a meagre 35%. This can only be partly explained by the high intensity defensive of the home side. The Raiders simply didn’t turn up for this one. The telling statistic was 34% shooting from the free throw line for the visitors. That is unacceptable for professional basketball players.
So on a night when two legends, TJ Walker and Lynard Stewart, were inducted into the Newcastle Eagles Hall of Fame, several of the current line-up looked intent on writing their own names in the Eagles history books. Next up for Newcastle, it’s on to Leicester and the Riders for a mouthwatering BBL Cup semi-final first-leg and what looks like a genuinely close game. The home side must be favourites but you would be foolish to back against Newcastle Eagles this year. The second leg is at Sport Central on Friday 2nd December, and if you’re a basketball fan get yourself down to either or, even better, both legs. You won’t be disappointed.
Plymouth and their Green Army move on to Newton Aycliffe Saturday to take on the Durham Wildcats, hoping that they can return from their raid on the North East with a vital two points. Judging by last night’s horror show what previously looked like an easy fixture has now become a tad more unpredictable.
