BBL Championship
Newcastle Eagles 74-77 Cheshire Phoenix (16-29, 25-41, 45-56)
(Eagles – Person Jr. 20, Williams 18, Shelton 15; Phoenix – Austin 19, Dickerson 14, Okereafor 13)
Cheshire Phoenix managed to hold off a spirited Newcastle Eagles comeback Tuesday night, and in the process picked up their third league victory.
The Eagles had a rather difficult start to the contest, as the visitors broke out on a 10-0 run within the first three minutes of the opening period and eventually extending it to a 16 point lead by the end of the first quarter.
By half-time, Cheshire found themselves with a very comfortable 16-point lead, but a renewed Eagles seemingly burst out the locker room after half-time, going on a 8-0 run, and eventually cutting the lead to just 11 points by the end of the third period, bringing some fighting spirit back into the home team after a frustrating first half.
With less than five minutes remaining in the final period, Eagles suddenly found themselves within single digits of the Nix, and following a Cheshire play to bump that lead to seven points, Eagles suddenly exploded on a 10-2 run to tie the game with under three minutes remaining and much to delight and excitement of the home crowd.
The two sides would continue to trade single digits leads but within the final minute of play, Cheshire managed to push out ahead of the Eagles and knocked down seven unanswered baskets, which, despite a determined last few second baskets from Eagles, proved enough for Cheshire to pick up their third league victory, and their second consecutive victory in a row.