New Eagles coach gets off to a flier
DEPLETED SQUAD RISES TO CHALLENGE TO SEAL CUP WIN FOR MACLEOD
A PERFECT symmetry or pure coincidence?
In 2002 Fab Flournoy’s opening game and first victory as Newcastle Eagles coach was against Chester Jets – a nailbiting three-point win featuring standout performances from TJ Walker, Jeremy Hyatt, Andrew Mavis, Nikki Arinze and rising star Andrew Bridge.
Fast forward 17 years and the same franchise stood between Ian MacLeod and his first competitive victory as interim head coach of the BBL’s most successful club. History repeating itself? Kind of.
Where Flournoy’s men squeaked past the famous ‘Jet Wash’ side, his successor could sit back and relax long before the final buzzer. There was nothing nailbiting about a win as dazzling as it was destructive.
Yet few could have predicted such a confident stroll to victory against a backdrop of pre-match problems.
Prior to tip-off neither Rodney Glasgow Junior nor Nick Schlitzer had been able to secure the documentation required to make their BBL Cup debuts.
There was also a doubt over the eligibility of young gun Sauveur Kande after the 17-year-old was added to Newcastle’s roster earlier in the week.
Sade Aded Hussein and Themba Yabantu both failed to suit up after the pair were ruled out with injury.
That left interim playcaller MacLeod with a huge headache as he approached his first competitive clash at the helm.
With just seven available players, Fabulous Flournoy’s successor faced an immediate test of his coaching credentials.
Yet one crumb of comfort for Newcastle’s Geordie boss was the appearance of Bronx bruiser John Mitchell in a physically intimidating starting five.
The pumped-up rookie lined up alongside fellow close-season capture Mike Morsell and Eagles’ veterans Darius Defoe, Drew Lasker and Rahmon Fletcher.
Given the litany of pre-match setbacks facing a franchise in transition, nobody could have expected the lightning start which paced the impressive hosts.
Newcastle – wearing a commemorative black and green kit celebrating a 10-year association with key sponsors Esh Group – raced into an 8-0 lead within 60 seconds.
It was two-time BBL MVP Fletcher who had all eight points as the busy American punched through the Phoenix defence at will.
Cheshire fought back to within four points before Mitchell rammed down a dunk from a Fletcher assist.
That eye-catching score was bettered by Morsell who somehow emerged from a pack of white shirts to sink a buzzer-beating two.
Newcastle led 28-21 heading into the second quarter and a lead built on staunch defence and truly exciting offensive invention was fully deserved.
Yet would the short-handed Eagles be able to maintain their high-pressure game? In a word, yes.
Stretching their lead to 20 points with two minutes of the half remaining, MacLeod’s men were in complete control. Fletcher went into the break with 19 points and six assists while Morsell added three rebounds to his 11 points.
Defoe? H celebrated the start of his 16th season in some style, the forward claiming 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and four steals in 17 minutes of first-half action.
If the Phoenix were banking on fatigue setting in, Newcastle’s magnificent seven were having none of it. In fact, the relentless hosts somehow found an extra gear during a thrilling third period - Fletcher moving on to 26 points and 11 assists and that man Mitchell one board away from a debut double double.
Cheshire trailed 82-50 heading into the final quarter – a scoreline which barely made sense given coach MacLeod’s pre-match problems. All four Eagles starters took double-figure hauls into the decisive stanza on what was proving a simply sensational night of top-flight hoops.
Defoe and Fletcher both deserved credit for trademark double doubles but it was Mitchell’s abrasive debut which had fans buzzing – the US import’s 13 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two blocks in just 26 minutes one of the most memorable bows in Newcastle history.