Despite a tremendous fourth quarter comeback, the Newcastle Eagles slipped to their second SLB Championship of the weekend in Cheshire on Sunday night. The hometown Phoenix extracted a modicum of revenge after being knocked out of the Trophy semi-finals last weekend by the Eagles.
It was another explosive, high-octane offensive match-up between two sides that know each other well, having met five times this season. The crucial statistic is the 2-1 lead Phoenix now have in the best-of-four league series.
The Eagles gave their all in their attempt to secure a victory in a tough venue, where they have now lost three times this season. Head Coach Marc Steutel may focus on the first half performance,despite his team’s determined second half effort.
The game saw the Eagles consistently chasing as Phoenix, determined to bounce back from last weekend, jumped to an early lead.
A 7-0 start for the home side didn’t faze the Eagles, who responded with seven unanswered points to level the game. Cheshire scored three, the Eagles replied with three. Cheshire scored another three, and Newcastle leveled again. At 13-points each, the game looked tight.
Phoenix then made a decisive run, with Michael Diggins, celebrating his 28th birthday, leading a 9-0 burst. Gus Okafor hit four straight, bringing the Eagles within five.
Patrick Robinson, the Phoenix’s leading scorer this season, entered the game off the bench and immediately made an impact, scoring four points to give Cheshire a 26-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second period opened with four more points for Cheshire, including two from Robinson.
this extended their lead to double digits for the first time.The Eagles steadied the ship somewhat, but another 7-0 run from the home side pushed them 21 points ahead.
The Eagles were in a challenging position,but managed to net the last six points of the half,reducing the deficit. Though, trailing by 14 points (54-40) at halftime was not ideal.
That late work in the second period was undone as Cheshire started the third period strongly with a 9-2 run, regaining a 21-point lead. Newcastle rallied, finishing the quarter well, tying the ten-minute period 24-24. Despite this,the teams were still separated by 14 points with ten minutes remaining.
Then, in contrast to the previous week, Newcastle dominated the final period. Maceo Jack broke through his earlier struggles, Cole Long was consistent, and the eagles’ two-guard offensive threat of Terrell Burden and Ray’Sean Taylor pulled them back into the game.
long and Taylor both hit three-pointers as a tremendous Eagles run of 12-1 saw them close the gap. However, Cheshire captain Skyler White helped push the gap back to double figures.
Cheshire called a timeout and emerged well, seemingly clinching the game with a 12-point lead going into the final two minutes, thanks to another Robinson lay-up.But the Eagles refused to give up, launching another big run as time ticked down.
Deion Hammond nailed a three-pointer, Taylor added another, and then Long completed an And-1 play and two free throws, scoring ten points without reply. Suddenly,the Eagles were back within one with 11 seconds left.
White was fouled by Hammond and made both free throws, meaning the Eagles needed a three-point basket to tie the game and send it to overtime. It almost happened, as Jack’s shot rimmed out, but Hammond secured an offensive board and found Burden.
Burden got his potential game-tying shot off before the buzzer, but his effort was just inaccurate enough, hitting the rim and bouncing away to safety for the Phoenix. This sealed another tough night on the road and ultimately a loss for the Eagles, despite their last-gasp effort.
Ray’Sean Taylor earned MVP honors, adding 8 rebounds to his 22-point performance off the bench. Cole Long had 16 points and 9 rebounds for another solid performance,and Maceo Jack’s late scoring spree gave him 16 points along with 4 rebounds against his former team.
Gus Okafor with 15 points and 4 rebounds and Terrell Burden with 14 points,6 rebounds and 6 assists were the other main contributors on a night where their combined efforts fell just short.
