Late scare but a win on travels for Eagles
ESH Group Eagles Newcastle will move in to the new Eagles’ Community Arena on Friday night in great form, writes JEFF KING.
They secured a second successive road win in the BBL Championship - triumphing 91-83 at Plymouth Raiders - to move up to third in the table.
What a win it was too against the same opposition who will be the first visitors to the new arena as the Eagles held off a determined fourthquarter comeback from their hosts to claim another vital win in the championship race.
After winning at Leicester in their last game of 2018, Fab Flournoy’s side was determined to follow that up in the first game of 2019 and a superb all-round team performance enabled it to do just that.
Newcastle had seven players in double figures and spread their scoring nicely across the roster to show they are still very much a force to be reckoned with.
Darius Defoe added 11 rebounds for a superb double-double and Rahmon Fletcher nine assists to fall one short of his own double-double.
Again, the key to their win - apart from the unselfish scoring - was their defence as until a final-quarter explosion from the Raiders they had stood firm to prise the opportunity to take the win.
Even that final burst from the home side was matched by the visitors in a terrific final period which saw the Eagles finish with eight unanswered points to thwart the Raiders’ comeback push.
Plymouth started the better and went 4-0 up early on.
Little were they to know that would be their biggest lead of the night.
Newcastle hit back with Victor Moses getting on the board and Kai Williams netting a triple to give his side the lead.
After that it was a great battle with Moses’ two free-throws edging the visitors in front 18-17 after the first quarter.
Fletcher dropped a three-ball to start the second and the Eagles were just edging a tough encounter.
Jeremy Smith’s “And-1” gave Newcastle a five-point advantage at one stage.
However, the Raiders, who had gone through December unbeaten - culminating in coach Paul James winning the Coach of the Month award and Donte Nicholas the Player of the Month honours fought back and cut the gap, leaving Newcastle to take a 39-38 lead into the locker room.
The third period was where Newcastle made their move.
Moses continued his fine form inside and Defoe supported him well as the Eagles began to take charge and close down the Raiders’ offence.
The rest of the side stepped up to help and brothers Jamal and Kai Williams both hit triples to give Eagles a 60-48 advantage.
Raiders’ Josh Wilcher netted the last basket of the third period and into the final ten minutes the visitors led by 10 at 62-52.
They seemed as if they were in the mood to withstand Plymouth’s pressure as the home side showed signs of a revival.
Urged on by a partisan home support, the Raiders responded and the ball began to drop as they swept the Eagles aside with a 15-5 run which took them into a two-point dvantage at 81-79.
However, Newcastle were not finished and Smith and Defoe sparked a 12-2 finish to the game - capped by a Kyle Williams triple which saw the visitors home.
PLYMOUTH : Rashad Hassan 24, Josh Wilcher 19, Joonas Jarvelainen 17. NEWCASTLE : Victor Moses 18, Jeremy Smith 15, Darius Defoe 14.