BBL Game Report: Cheshire Phoenix 65 Esh Group Eagles Newcastle 106

It wasn’t the home season start Cheshire Phoenix were hoping for as they succumb to the might of the Esh Group Eagles Newcastle in the 100th meeting in the history of these two franchises, as the returning Paul Gause and league rookie Malik Cooke helped tear apart the home side 106-65 in the BBL Championship.

Starting Fives:

Cheshire: Middleton, Myers, Coleman, Doumbe, Clemmons

Newcastle: Martin, Cooke, Gause, Defoe, Smith

An incredibly intense and well-drilled opening quarter for the Eagles set the tone for the evening in front of a packed crowd at Northgate Arena.

Missed shots and turnovers throughout the first quarter for Phoenix meant that Eagles could capitalise, and they did so without much need to ask twice, as they made three big runs to lead 34-9 at the end of the first quarter.

John Lavery’s side did seem to turn a corner in the next period, bringing the deficit down to 16 at one stage, but it could not be sustained and Eagles always kept control in their seamless ability to rotate with their strong roster, however they did take the second quarter, and reduced the gap at 54-36.

The start to the third period was in a similar vein to that of the first, and it soon became clear that it would be a case of just how big this scoreline would become. Stuart Thomson, an ex-Cheshire Phoenix star of last season, rubbed salt into the wound with a buzzer beating three pointer from the halfway line to give Eagles a commanding 40 point lead.

A low scoring, and much tighter final quarter saw more rhythm to Lavery’s side in regards to how they will expect to set up their plays against sides like Newcastle, working right to the end and improving their defence, but it came a little too late in the game for it to affect the result and was little consolation for Coach Lavery with such a heavy defeat by 41 in their first home game of the season.

“I’m not happy coming out with a loss; I’m a winner and have got a lot of passion for the game and also for the club,” said the Phoenix coach post-game.

Looking at how the first period transpired, Lavery was expectant of Newcastle’s approach, but disappointed at his own charges: “It wasn’t how they started it was how we started, we had no intensity, let them get any look that they wanted to get; we just didn’t come to play.

“Give credit to Newcastle, they came out really, really hard, putting in together really good runs in the first quarter, ending up with us down by 25 at the end of it.

It was ultimately a killer blow, and Lavery admitted that to swing it back in his side’s favour was just too much: “My guys did what they could out there, that momentum from Eagles carried on in the second, third and fourth quarters. We got outworked, out-hustled and Newcastle just wanted it more than what we wanted it.”

Player/head coach of Newcastle, Fab Flournoy, was pleased with his side’s attitude after a close shave against local rivals Durham Wildcats on Friday night.

“We played Friday, had a video session Saturday, looked at what we needed to do in terms of ourselves, and this game here tonight was an extension of that preparation we have had before the season began, that is no disrespect to Cheshire Phoenix as they have great talent here, and good coaching and experience,” said Flournoy.

“Tonight was a good game for us. We had a good night both offensively, but more importantly, also defensively. Paul Gause being back paid dividends to the guys, but getting everyone in early to have three weeks of getting team philosophy, how we want to play and structure.

Finally, he was more than happy with how his whole roster were able to contribute positively throughout, and prevent any opportunity for Cheshire to get back into the game: “When we brought players off the bench, that was key as Cheshire never got the chance to make that run on us. They almost did in the second quarter, but the energy off the bench maintained us through the rest of the game.”

MVP

It was only going to ever come from one side, and whilst Malik Cooke hit 9 from 9 field goals, only missing one free throw, another BBL rookie in Scott Martin claiming a double-double of 13 rebounds and 12 points, almost two with Darius Defoe’s attempts, it was one man who took the plaudits; Paul Gause. The returning point guard from the clean sweep season of 2011/12 came back with a bang with 23 points, five steals and two blocks to boot – all within 26 minutes of play. Incredible. No doubt there will be a battle to pick up spots in the BBL Team of the Week within this Eagles side for the rest of the season.

Next up:

Cheshire Phoenix at home to Manchester Giants, Sunday 6th October, 5:30pm tip-off, Northgate Arena, Chester.

Newcastle Eagles away to Plymouth Raiders, Sunday 6th October, 4:00pm tip-off, Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth.