Newcastle Eagles finally ended their losing streak of seven consecutive defeats with a win in the European North Basketball League on Tuesday night. In doing so and in defeating KK Dubrava they kept alive their slim hopes of getting to the next stage.

The Eagles will have to beat BK Olomoucko of Czech Republic on Friday February 6th if they are to make a round of 16 that a week ago didn’t look possible. The loss to Riga Zelli in Latvia had given Eagles a 0-5 record meaning they were virtually out.

However, a forfeit 20-0 win awarded after Go+ Peja of Kosovo were disqualified from the competition by ENBL officials. It meant that if the Eagles won their last two games and results elsewhere go for they could yet go through.

But just as important and crucially so it was a win that will give them momentum with the SLB Trophy Final against London Lions in Birmingham on Sunday looking. Basketball is a lot about momentum and a win can breed confidence and belief going forward.

Certainly that was Head Coach Marc Steutel’s message to his players before the game and it was great to see smiles on the faces of players, coaches and fans in the stands after netting such an important victory.

That it also gives them a chance at ENBL qualification will also be a boost to the team and lift spirits all round. So, a good night for Newcastle in the end after a highly competitive entertaining game.

The Eagles did, as is almost their trademark these days, have to come from behind to take the win but that also was a bonus. In previous games where they have mounted comebacks they haven’t quite managed to get the job done. This time they did.

It took a big fourth quarter where Steutel’s players turned a defence screw into an offensive springboard and completed a superb second half comeback to delight all inside the Vertu Arena of an Eagles persuasion.

On the night Newcastle were led by Deion Hammond who’s 23 points included five triples and Maceo Jack who netted four of his own on the way to 20 points with 7 rebounds. At the half Ray’Sean Taylor only had three fouls and no points to show for his efforts.

By the end of the contest he’d torched Dubrava for 16 points in the second twenty minutes and was the spark and energy his teammates needed to show their own abilities and contributions. Gus Okafor added nine points and nine rebounds.

At half-time the Eagles were shooting at 30% compared with the Croatians 57%. Newcastle seemingly relied on the 3-ball to keep them in it. Dubrava were on the other hand moving the ball around well and getting inside the paint too easily at times.

An even first quarter had ended 26-26. Newcastle though only led once when Hammond hit his first triple to make it 3-2. From there Dubrava were in the ascendency but Eagles were dogged and determined and didn’t let the visitors get away.

The second period though looked ominous for Newcastle. Despite Jack putting them ahead 28-26 it was a 14-0 burst from Dubrava that broke the game open. The game went from 30-31 to a 13-point lead in the blink of an eye.

Jack and Hammond did triple late on but the period went to outstanding defence from Dubrava and a 20-10 ten minutes that gave them a double-digit half-time lead.

The third period saw Taylor finally come to the party but Dubrava held firm. Newcastle were unable to make any headway until Taylor dropped two free-throws to give them the quarter but only by a single point. But it was the light Eagles needed to spark.

They took those free throws and added nine more to make it 11 points unanswered run and taking them into the lead at 66-65 and then four more with two in reply made it a 70-67 game and Dubrava called for time.

The game was then tight down the stretch until Hammond tripled again and Taylor also kept this and the Eagles momentum with a 7-2 run to close the game out and finally nail a first win since January 2nd.

What the Eagles need to do now and they are all well aware of this is use this result and in particular the second half, fourth quarter, defensive effort as a springboard for what comes next.

Tickets for next Friday’s final pools stage ENBL home game are available from the box office.