BBL ROUND UP - EAGLES SOAR TO LEAVE RIVALS GROUNDED
03/09/2010

Yikes! That's the worrying thought that is zipping through the minds of every coach in the BBL not named Fabulous Flournoy after his Newcastle Eagles took two giant steps towards a potential treble within the space of 72 hours.

First up, the re-awoken Tyneside giants bullied their way past Everton Tigers to reach the BBL Trophy final for the sixth successive year, a come-from-behind 96-91 win on Merseyside enough to clinch a 185-176 aggregative win over the two legs of their semi-final.

Then, Newcastle struck a huge psychological blow in their bid to defend their league crown, Reggie Jackson hitting 24 points in a 99-79 rout of rivals Sheffield Sharks in front of 3000 fans at the Metro Arena. The Eagles moved two points ahead in the title race. More significantly, the pendulum has swung in their favour.

"I would say it was almost the perfect weekend," said Flournoy. "I reminded them Sheffield are the only team to come to Newcastle and win in something like three years so we had that to motivate us.

"You could tell we had been building up to this almost the whole season. It is a great, great basketball game for us. "We came out and did everything we were supposed to do."

The Eagles now await the winners of Milton Keynes-Cheshire in the Trophy final with the Lions taking a slender 80-79 advantage into next Sunday's second-leg.

Elsewhere, Guildford Heat boosted their play-off hopes with a thrilling 104-101 win at closest rivals Worthing Thunder, with player-coach Chad McKnight leading the charge with 31 points. While Worcester Wolves, who lost 94-83 at Plymouth on Saturday, kept themselves in the race to oust Worthing from eighth spot with a 107-94 upset of slumping Everton Tigers.

Leicester edged out Milton Keynes 104-101 in overtime to remain fourth while Glasgow reeled off their fifth straight win to remain third, overcoming London Capital 85-62 despite a performance that Rocks coach Sterling Davis described as "disappointing".

Capital's player-coach Milek Jivens, whose side have now won only three times all season, admits being in charge of the league's basement side remains a challenge. And another ignominious last-placed finish looks inevitable.

"It's frustrating because I was hoping to capitalise on the momentum we did generate early on in the season," he said. "But a few things happened. A few key injuries came up. Like Santa Attah, who was a big pick-up for us, but went out. We're battling but it's hard when you're making strides and then it's taken away and you have to start over.

"But I just have to deal with the team that I have and try to make best. I need guys who will listen. We don't need a flashy 30-points a night guy. Those guys cost big money anyway. I'd rather get guys who will buy into what we want to do."

FIXTURES

Friday 12

BBL. Glasgow Rocks v Cheshire Jets (7.30)
Newcastle Eagles v Milton Keynes Lions (7.30)

Saturday 13

BBL. Essex Pirates v Plymouth Raiders (7.30)
Leicester Riders v London Capital (7.30)
Worthing Thunder v Everton Tigers (7pm)

Sunday 14

BBL Trophy, semi-final, 2nd leg. Cheshire Jets (79) v Milton Keynes Lions (80) (5.30)
BBL. Guildford Heat v Worthing Thunder (3pm)

Monday 15

BBL. Sheffield Sharks v Everton Tigers (7.30)

Mark Woods for 24/7