Wildcats at Eagles – BBL Championship Preview

Friday 12th October

Newcastle Eagles vs Durham Wildcats

Newcastle Eagles return to Sport Central on Friday looking to extend their perfect 5-0 record against local rivals, Durham Wildcats. The Champions are buoyant having safely avoided two potential stumbling blocks in their quest for BBL glory over the weekend. It’s way too early in the season to talk about season defining performances but Flournoy’s men were delighted with two hard fought wins on the road.

New boys Manchester Giants provided a stern test in Gorton on Friday and pushed the Eagles all the way in a nail biting encounter that ended with a 91-82 victory for Newcastle. Chapman and Smith were the Eagles top scorers on the night.

The Eagles had the honour of being the Glasgow Rocks’ opponents at the inaugural game at the new Emirates Arena. The 5,000 crowd went home unhappy however as the Rocks capitulated under the Eagles hard nosed defence and lights out offense in a brutal 40 point fourth quarter from the visitors.

The Newcastle Eagles ran out 106-84 winners with power forward Kareem Maddox had his most impressive performance in an Eagles’ vest with a devastating 29 points and 12 rebounds despite facing the much vaunted GB star Kieron Achara.

The Durham Wildcats took the league by surprise when, during the opening round of BBL fixtures, Coach Dave Elderkin’s side travelled to Worcester to face Coach James’ Wolves and ran out 82-76 winners. The surprise from that victory was short lived though, with the following day’s fixture against the Glasgow Rocks finishing as a 92-82 loss for the Wildcats.

In both performances, the Wildcats showed flashes of real promise with the 6’4 Mike Baldarelli leading the ‘Cats in scoring in both games (25 and 18 respectively).

Baldarelli, who joined the Wildcats in the Summer, will look to stretch the Eagles defence by receiving the ball on the perimeter where he is a combined 10-for-17 this season.”