Somehow, someway the Newcastle Eagles survived a huge final quarter onslaught from Manchester Basketball to extend their season and move through to the semi finals of the End of Season Play-Offs. They will face Champions London Lions next weekend in that two-legged semi-final.

The first leg will be in London at The Copperbox on Friday night and then in what should be a sell-out crowd at the Vertu Motors Arena, the second leg will be next Sunday.

A battered and bruised but victorious Eagles squad are going to need every second of respite and recharge they can get to face the challenge of the SLB regular season Champions and #1 seeds.

Newcastle came into Manchester defending a narrow seven-point lead. It was never though, about holding on to that and defending it. The Eagles were looking to go after a win on the road as the best method of preserving the advantage they had gained on Friday Night at home in their 78 – 71 win.

As with Friday night, Marc Steutel had to face a tough opponent with a player down. De’Sean Allen-Eikens not recovering in time to take his usual starting five place or even on the roster although he was on the bench along with Malcolm Delpeche to support his teammates.

Despite a huge question mark over the fitness of Josh Ward-Hibbert he managed not only to start the game but give his teammates some great defensive support and inspiration in limited minutes. His attitude rubbing off on the rest of the team who stuck together through a bruising encounter.

Eagles had started well in the opening period and lead by four early on to push the aggregate score to eleven overall. Trey Pulliam and Mike Okauru hitting their straps early. Manchester though in front of a capacity crowd came fighting back and levelled the game on the night at 26-point all after one.

It was then the home side that took a lead they held almost throughout the second quarter apart when Eagles squared the tie up at 35 points all. Manchester though had momentum and suddenly a 6-point burst took them to a 50 – 43 lead and the quarter final was level on aggregate.

Newcastle though closed the half with four points to regain the overall advantage with Seneca Knight coming off the bench to superb effect to net 14 points and grab 9 rebounds in the opening twenty minutes as he showed just why his Coach and team valued his return from injury.

This time it was Head Coach Marc Steutel’s team that had the momentum and they flew into the third period in fine style with Okauru netting ten points personal and Pulliam and Knight continuing their fine form along with the defensive anchor Darius Defoe, battling Cole Long and Christian James.

Eagles though once again were hit with by an injury hoodoo. Defoe landing awkwardly on his ankle with 6:12 to go in the third and leaving the court on a stretcher to go to the locker room. Typical of his commitment to the cause he refused an ambulance ride to hospital returning to the bench instead.

That came after his teammates had come up huge in the third period. Dominating at both ends of the court to win the quarter by 9-points pushing the aggregate to 16 points. Okauru netting ten points personal in that ten minutes and Pulliam pulling the strings supported by the irrepressible Knight.

It looked to have nailed the tie for Newcastle with Manchester needing a huge last ten minutes. That’s exactly what they got with one last magnificent effort who suddenly turned up on defence. They came up with stops to spark their offence as with Newcastle tiring they dragged themselves back into the game and pulled almost all the way back.

Cody John made an and-1 with 1:32 left on the clock and Manchester were suddenly within one point of the aggregate Newcastle lead. The last thirty seconds bringing even more drama and heart palpitations to both sides.

Pulliam made a deuce then stole the ball on the next Manchester offence and was fouled making one of two from the line to keep his side up by four on aggregate. A Makai Ashton-Langford miss then foul on Knight gave Newcastle two free throws with 15 seconds to go to seal the deal.

Knight though missed both and then with six seconds left Donovan Mitchell launched a spectacular triple to put his side up by six on the night and within a point overall. Christian James was immediately fouled and holding his nerve superbly iced both free throws.

Ashton-Langford launched a hail Mary triple. It missed and a late, technical foul on Manchester coach Herman Mandole gave James another made free throw for the delighted Eagles who despite losing the game by three advanced in the time thanks to that seven-point win in the first leg.

All of the magnificent seven who took to the court made worthy contributions in a defeat that was in the end a victory but the plaudits will naturally go to Seneca Knight, Mike Okauru and Trey Pulliam all of whom put up impressive numbers.

Knight had the MVP award with 22 points and 14 rebounds from the bench a second double-double of the two legs. Okauru netted 21 points adding in 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals whilst Pulliam had 17 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals.

The other four adding their vital support were Cole Long with 9 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. The injured Defoe with 8 points and 3 rebounds in limited minutes. James had 5 points including those three late free throws adding in 4 rebounds and Ward-Hibbert had 2 points.

It all added up to a heroic effort from this Eagles side that not only has talent but have massive belief in their own and each other’s abilities as well as heart and commitment to match. They’re going to need all that and as clean a bill of health as they can have before facing the Lions this weekend.