Recap
Newcastle Eagles were 3-4 going into this game trying to halt a 3 game slide against 3rd top Kingston….
The Eagles took to the court in front of big Panthers crowd looking to get off to a flying start… However the first 3 minutes of the game just saw both teams miss lots of opportunities… By the 7th minute it was 9-10 to the travelling Eagles…. the last 3 minutes of the quarter saw the Panthers edge ahead with a 7 to 4 run making it 16-14…..
The second period saw the home team play much better but the boys in white continued to miss open baskets and the boys in blue took the honours 18-10… (34-24)
The second half got underway with top scorer Themba Yabantu scoring the Eagles total points at 10 but the home team again edged the period by scoring 14….
The fourth saw the Eagles finally start to convert their chances and they pushed the home team hard and with 1.30 left the score was 56-53… The home team however held their nerve at the free throw line and they made their shots… down the stretch… The Eagles did convert their few offences but it was the home team who closed out the game at 61-57… (13-23)
Eagles head coach Graham Heath said “Our defence today was some of the best we have played all season and we limited their scoring… However our missed opportunities especially around the basket hurt us… Our perimeter shooting has got to start improving if we aim to take as many shots as we did and our free throw percentage wasn’t great… In a 4 point game you look back and realise you have to finish what you create….”
Eagles Top Scorers- Themba Yabantu, Tom Usher 9 and Alex Horta 6/ Aaron Wilson 6….
Next game sees the Eagles play Myerscough at Benfield tip off 2pm on Saturday 9/12/17….
