Eagles women battle through to play-off final
58 EAGLES 60
THE Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles continued the Cinderella story that has become this season’s playoff run by knocking off the second-seeded Caledonia Gladiators in sensational style at the Playsport Arena at East Kilbride in Scotland.
It was yet a further vindication of the togetherness and sheer determination not to lose and extend their season for another week.
Now they go to the O2 Arena London next weekend to face the all-conquering London Lions for one last 40 minutes of high pressure basketball.
The Eagles had to show real character from the off as Gladiators’ USA guard set off like a house on fire and the home side raced into an 11 – 2 lead from the tip-off, forcing an early time-out from Newcastle’s
Head Coach Matt Newby. He introduced Jada Dapaa from the bench and her presence seemed to inspire her teammates and in particular Tierra Hodges as Newcastle hit back in tremendous style and a 13 – 4 burst saw them level the game at 17 points all.
Caledonia and their Captain Erin Mcgarrachan however had the last word as she netted late on to help her side just edge a fast and furious first period.
The second quarter started well for the Eagles who scored the first four points to take their first lead of the game at 19 – 17 and force ex-eagle and now Caledonia Head Coach Chantelle Handy into a time-out.
And what a response she got from her team who ripped off ten unanswered points to reestablish their lead and make Newcastle’s Newby respond with a time-out.
Unfortunately, his words didn’t initially work as Gladiators scored five more before Dapaa stopped the run.
It was then a case of swapping baskets and possessions as the Eagles did steady the ship slightly and went in to the locker rooms only seven points down at 35 to 28 with all to play for in the second half.
If the plan was to step up the defence in the second half for both sides then that was a plan that worked for both.
Neither side could establish an advantage and neither side could manage a run in a real war of attrition for ten minutes.
However, the Eagles did just shade the quarter by 9 points to 7 leaving them going into the final period only five points behind at 42 – 37 and ready for a battle royale in those last ten minutes.
And that ten minutes became 15 as the sides couldn’t be separated after 40 minutes of pulsating basketball. That it went to an overtime period was due to the fact that Newcastle stopped James and Gladiators didn’t stop Dapaa and Hodges who were dominate in the last period.
Eagles actually looked as if they had won in regulation with only skipper Mcgarrachan saving the home side for defeat in the last quarter with two point basket that tied the game up and could have knocked the stuffing out of a lesser side.
The fact that it didn’t and Eagles prevailed was almost too much to believe as the fairytale came true. The very last play of the game summing up the game. Gladiators had the ball and a chance. They missed, Chloe Gaynor grabbed a rebound and was fouled with 2.8 seconds on the clock.
Gaynor calmly strolled to the other end of the court and netted the two free throws that sent Newcastle all the way through to next weekend’s playoff final in dramatic fashion.