Eagles stun Lions in final thriller to seal 27th title in style
BBL PLAYOFF FINAL LONDON LIONS .............. 66 NEWCASTLE EAGLES ... 68
NEWCASTLE Eagles’ comeback kings produced a vintage defensive display to silence the London Lions and clinch a spectacular 27th title in dramatic fashion.
Ian MacLeod’s men trailed for almost all of the game and had to rally back from a 12-point deficit late in the third quarter to stun the highflying, star-studded capital club.
Barring a one-point lead in the first minute, Newcastle had to wait until there were less than five minutes left to sneak in front.
Tasked with shutting down an expensively assembled London roster, the Eagles held firm with a pair of final-minute free-throws from final MVP Cortez Edwards ultimately sealing a stunning victory.
The win means head coach MacLeod has now secured three trophies in his first two campaigns in charge, once again proving himself an excellent choice to take over from club legend Fab Flournoy.
Not that he has done it on his own. The 27th trophy in the club’s history is also the 27th for wily veteran Darius Defoe, who now has to change his nickname to Mr 27.
Then there’s Drew Lasker who may be in the twilight of his career but he will never get tired of that winning feeling.
Newcastle’s very own Captain Fantastic, Rahmon Fletcher, showed why he is a two-time league MVP just 24 hours after missing out on a third. The talented point guard proved he is one of the best players in BBL history, if not the very best.
In those three stalwarts, the Eagles have a trio that have seen and done it all before. Their new supporting cast proved themselves capable of a few star turns, though.
Evan Maxwell’s superb secondhalf showing was key, while sharpshooter Louis Sayers added 11 points, most of which came from outside the arc.
Even without scoring a single point, Rex Pflueger’s defensive effort was telling throughout a tense contest. Justin Gordon was held to two points and ran into early foul trouble but it didn’t matter in the end.
The best of the bunch was Edwards. With 22 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, four steals, a block and no turnovers, he certainly deserved his MVP award.
He and the Eagles had to earn their accolades, pushed to the brink by Vince Macaulay’s talented Lions.
With little over three minutes on the clock, Newcastle were already down by double digits, with Orlando Parker helping himself to 10 early points. By the end of the first quarter, the Lions were up 24-12, with Parker already up to a stunning 15 points.
London’s aggressive defence had an impact, particularly on Fletcher, but in the second period it was Newcastle who caused problems.
By half-time, they had managed to claw their way back into proceedings, cutting the Lions’ lead to five points, with the score at 35-30 as the teams headed for the locker room.
The third was a real slog and war of attrition as the game swung like a pendulum, leaving both sides fighting to get a firm grip on the game.
It was at this point that Edwards began his crusade to win the MVP award, dragging his team back into the game – until an 11-2 burst put the Lions back in the driving seat. But that wasn’t to be the end of it. Edwards and Maxwell brought the Tynesiders back into it, exhibiting the heart and determination which have characterised Newcastle’s performances in the Playoffs.
Still down by five entering the last 10 minutes, the Eagles elevated their game to another level. Not for the first time this season, Newcastle came up with the key clutch plays in a final against London.
Fletcher kept driving his side forward, the defence remained rock solid and Edwards kept going. They even missed four free throws in the final few seconds which would have iced the game but it made no difference.
London had no time left to change the destiny of the BBL’s final showpiece event of 2020/21. Once again, Newcastle were ready to be crowned the kings of British basketball.