Eagles fly past Sharks to reach Trophy Final!
BBL Trophy Semi-Final Second Leg
Friday 10th February 2012
Newcastle Eagles 104 (Chapman 31, Thomson 19, Gause 15)
Sheffield Sharks 84 (Tuck 28, Babalola 19, Dobbins 17)
(Aggregate 220-168)
The fallout from last Friday’s BBL Trophy semi-final first leg between these two sides has awoken the relatively small world of the BBL into a frenzy of accusations, counterclaims, conspiracy theories and downright lunacy at times. Perhaps we could just concentrate on the basketball this week?
Speaking before the game, Fab Flournoy was keen for his team to concentrate on the task at hand despite the 32 point lead they carried into the second leg, “I don’t know how they’re going to come out but we’re going to play with a lot of intensity and pride and if they don’t there going to hear my mouth.” Last week’s crucial wins at Sheffield and Worcester occurred exactly a year after Flournoy was admitted to hospital with pneumonia and he admitted that the anniversary had an emotional one for him, “It was good emotion though. I’m honoured and privileged to be with the most successful club in British Basketball history. I want this basketball game bad. It’s a marker of where we were one year ago and where we are today.
The visiting Sheffield Sharks player coach, Atiba Lyons, was banished to the stands following his ejection in the first leg in Sheffield although he managed to entertain fans both at Sport Central and elsewhere with his in game Twitter commentary on the state of the refereeing and his opponent’s team selection! Injured veteran Nate Reinking handled the play calling from the bench.
The home side were quick out of the blocks, no doubt galvanised by the harsh words fired in their club’s direction following the first leg. Three quick 3-pointers gave the Eagles a 9-4 lead but the visitors rallied and peaked at a game high 6 point lead at 22-16 with 2.04 remaining in the first quarter. This brief hope for Sharks was immediately extinguished as Joe Chapman lit the Eagles fire with 13 first quarter points culminating in a huge three on the buzzer to give his team a 24-23 lead. The second stanza belonged to the Eagles with pin point shooting from Andy Thomson and a further 13 from the incredible Joe Chapman who looked capable of scoring from anywhere on the court. Add the Eagles lock down defence to that potent offensive mix and it all added up to a 56-41 lead at the break.
Sharks had their best, and only winning period, of the entire two-legged semi-final in the 3rd quarter as they slightly narrowed the Eagles lead to 13 points at 81-68 finishing with a 21-11 flourish. Joe Chapman took a step back but he was ably supported by the rest of the Eagles line-up as Fab Flournoy took advantage of the commanding lead to unleash his full bench in the second half. In a rare opportunity to shine Joel Madourie, Ross Wilson and Lamar Morrison all found themselves on the scoresheet on yet another party night at Sport Central. The final score of 104-84 gave Eagles a huge 52 point aggregate win over a side that many pundits had quoted as pre-season favourites for silverware. The beleaguered Sharks look far from that but the buoyant Eagles march with the second trophy of the season looming near on the horizon. The BBL Trophy final against Plymouth will take place over two legs in March with the exact dates yet to be confirmed.
Next up for Newcastle Eagles is the visit of local rivals, Durham Wildcats on Friday 17th February.
Follow Darrin Smith on Twitter at OleDJ
