The first home staging of a Super League Basketball (SLB) game in the M&S Bank Arena ended in a narrow 77 – 74 victory for Liverpool Basketball. Joy unbounded for the home side but for Newcastle Eagles despair in game where they were right in the mix until the very end.

The Eagles opened with the first five points of the game before Liverpool hit back with nine unanswered. But Newcastle responded with ten points straight and a 13 – 2 run that gave them the lead in the first period.

A lead they held until 50 seconds from the end of the contest when Liverpool who had only hit two triples in the entire game made three in quick succession resulting in them taking a lead they managed to hold on to take a come from behind win.


Head coach Steutel head to Leicester this Friday night hoping to return to their winning stride. (Photos: Abbie Orwin)

“There were large portions of the performance I was pleased with. Liverpool are super physical basketball team,” said Eagles head coach, Marc Steutel.

“Their energy and motivation to play at home meant I knew at some point they were going to try and find the momentum to go on a bit of a run.

“We started the game exceptionally well. Our defence was disruptive and took them out of any sort of rhythm. But our offensive execution in that period at times needed to be a bit more clinical to try and keep them out of the open floor.


“We did a great job of utilising Trevond really well and he did a great job of making plays. I’m disappointed that his best game in an Eagles jersey so far didn’t end up in a win. He’s been a joy to work with.

“The second half they threw some punches, but we still found a way. Every time they got within a couple of possessions, we would manage to stretch it back out to a further couple of possessions again.

“That fourth quarter we just have to value possession better. We were physically tired and fatigued, and you could see that in us with Friday and playing Sunday.

“But that’s the league so we have to find a way when we are on the back end of a double-header and the last ten minutes, we value the ball better. No disrespect to Liverpool in that moment but they didn’t do anything we didn’t expect.


“For some reason we made uncharacteristic turnovers that we haven’t made. When you do that and you give the opposition a chance, they made two 3’s at the end off our turnovers which is exceptionally frustrating.

“I’m frustrated for sure. For 90% of the game, we put ourselves in a great opportunity then that last portion we didn’t and Liverpool capitalised. That’s what happens in this league.

“An occasion like that where you’ve got to find a way to take the spike out of them with the energy that they had. We allowed them to gain extra momentum give them extra rhythm not valuing the ball at key moments which was really frustrating.

“We’ll all reflect upon that try to learn from it and see how we can be better.

Over 100 Newcastle fans travelled to Liverpool for their opening night and to cheer on the Eagles. (Photos: Abbie Orwin)

“The travelling fans that were spread across the Arena and everywhere you looked there was black and white mixed amongst the Liverpool fans. The banners, the flags, and the noise. I’m heartbroken for the fans.

“They made an incredible effort to travel with the weather. Obviously with the roads it was a tough journey down with the wind and the weather. The fans in the Arena stayed with us the whole game and I’m disappointed that we weren’t able to execute at key times for the fans.”

The Eagles stay on the road this week as they head to both Leicester and Caledonia on Friday and Sunday respectively. Both games are free to watch live on DAZN.