Pride in victory for Bunten as Sport Central finale proves grand

NEWCASTLE Eagles WBBL waved goodbye to Sport Central with a hard-fought 70-56 win against Caledonia Pride.

Chris Bunten’s top-six challengers overcame an unconvincing first half to claim successive victories for the first time this season.

On the back of yet another Kara Bonenberger double double – the American posted 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds – the Eagles were good value for their win.

Newcastle went into their crossborder clash with the Pride buoyed by an impressive 71-61 win against Manchester Mystics - but that muchneeded victory just 24 hours earlier appeared to take its toll on Bunten’s team during a scrappy first half.

The visitors’ intense defence and efficient shooting kept the Eagles in check.

The self-inflicted errors Bunten had vowed to eradicate in 2019 were worryingly evident as the Scots grew in confidence.

Fast-rising teenager Maya Price – deservedly retaining her starting-five spot – was responsible for a series of uncharacteristic mistakes as she turned the ball over three times before the break.

However, the former GB under-18 international was not alone as Bunten’s side gave up possession eight times in the first 20 minutes.

Fatigue was an issue for the sloppy hosts and the half-time break could not come soon enough for a team requiring an urgent reboot.

Pride took a 28-26 lead into the third period as they sought to avenge Newcastle’s victory north of the border earlier this season.

The Eagles netted the first four points of the second half to re-establish their lead and breathe new life into a stuttering display.

However, the Pride refused to surrender and an eye-catching clash was locked at 42-42 with less than 14 minutes to play – coach Bunten trying everything in a bid to put distance between his players and their relentless rivals.

Newcastle hit six of the last eight points of the quarter to take a ninepoint advantage into the fourth quarter and establish a solid platform for eventual victory.