BBL Championship

Esh Group Eagles Newcastle 69 (21,36,55)

One Health Sharks Sheffield 59 (9,22,42)

Fab Flournoy played his 540th game in the British Basketball League, equalling the all time appearance record, as Esh Group Eagles Newcastle celebrated a 69-59 victory against the visiting One Health Sharks Sheffield.

Both teams had an identical 14-4 record coming into the game, but the Newcastle club now has the second place in the standings all to themselves, after extending the winning streak to four games.

After a low-scoring start of the game, Eagles ended the scoring drought with a 13-4 stretch to end the opening quarter with a 21-9 lead.

The hosts led by as many as 21 points in the second period, with Malik Cooke scoring at will, but a late 7-0 push by Sharks cut the gap to 36-22 at the half.

Eagles had managed to stay clear throughout the third period, but three quick buckets by Sheffield at the start of the final quarter cut the deficit to single digits after Demetrius Jemison made it 55-47.

Despite allowing Sharks to get back in the game, Newcastle held off the visitors from doing any more damage, as they registered a gritty win.