The Newcastle Eagles, have continued to deliver results, as they are one of only two teams who remain unbeaten, having played three games and won all three, and sit in the top spot in the BBL Championship table. After wins over Cheshire Jets and Glasgow Rocks last weekend, they overcame the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders 112-105.
After the Eagles stormed to a fifteen point fourth quarter lead, at 94-79, the Riders' Tack Minor led a late charge on the game as he grabbed ten points in a 15-2 tear as the Riders got to within one point at 96- 95. Reggie Jackson then stepped up for the visitors with a deep threeball, and the Eagles then outscored their opponents 12-2 to close out the game.
Newcastle were led by Reggie Jackson, who turned in 30 points, and he was supported by Charles Smith and Lynard Stewart, who had 23 a piece. The Riders meanwhile, were led by the excitable Tack Minor (28), and Bradd Wierzbicki and Jason Johnson bagged 22 each.
Eagles player-coach Fabulous Flournoy, had praise for his opposition, but said that his side did not play as much defence as he would have liked: 'Defensively we let things slip in this game, but it was a cracking basketball game, and they had a bundle of key players. Tack Minor did a wonderful job of pushing the ball up the floor, but Bradd (Wierzbicki) and Jay (Johnson) were both integral parts. People may think, looking at the stats, that it was the 'Tack Minor show', but they are both vital as well.'
The Riders bounced back aptly against the Everton Tigers twenty four hours later, as they came from behind to grab a 98-95 win. After entering the last 1:35 trailing by 89-93, Minor scored a quick four points, to tie the scores at 93 with 32 seconds remaining. With 24 seconds left Bradd Wierzbicki hit a three-pointer that gave the Riders a lead that they held on to. They were led by three double-doubles, as Minor put up a massive 32 points and 14 assists, Jason Johnson bagged 22 points and 11 boards, and Shawn Durant got 16 points and the same in rebounds. Kevin Bell led the Tigers in vain with 23 points.
An eventful Saturday evening of BBL action is completed by a one-sided 100-71 victory for the Sheffield Sharks over the Worcester Wolves, who beat the Worthing Thunder 84-78 on Friday night. The Thunder then went on to seize a nail biting 93-91 over the Glasgow Rocks, who had comfortably dealt with Marshall MK Lions via a 96-78 win on Friday evening. Another tense encounter was the Essex Pirates beginning life in the BBL with a 61-60 win over PAWS London Capital.
The Wolves meanwhile, will want to put this weekend behind them, as after a drubbing at the hands of the Sharks, they ran out of steam against a deep Cheshire Jets side, who were led by Chez Marks (18 points) and Shawn Myers, who scored 10 of his 17 points in the final quarter to dispose of the Wolves 96- 83.
To complete reaction to Sunday's games, the Essex Pirates can be encouraged by their first outings as a BBL side, but couldn't quite come back from a third quarter 19-2 blast by Chad McKnight's Guildford Heat, as they fell 94-76 to the Surrey-based outfit, who are also unbeaten in two games, lying second in the table.
Source: www.bbl.org.uk
