The 2024/25 SLB Trophy holders Newcastle Eagles made it through to the semi-finals of this season’s competition after a terrific 94-89 victory over Sheffield Sharks. It was a pulsating exciting quality game of basketball that was just edged by the home side in the final quarter.

It meant that the Eagles had followed up their win in Caledonia last Sunday in their first Trophy group game with a second victory thus giving them that automatic qualification to the last four. They will now take on Cheshire Phoenix with the first leg of the two-legged semi-final at home in the Vertu Arena.

That game will be played on Friday January 2 with the return leg being in Cheshire on Sunday January 4. The winners of that two-legged encounter moving on to the SLB Trophy Final in Birmingham on Sunday February 1.

Once again Newcastle had to rely on a short-handed roster with both Marco Anthony and Malcolm Smith now having left the Club and Josh Ward-Hibbert and Gus Okafor still injured and playing their part as ‘cheerleaders’ from the bench. It meant another eight-man rotation for Steutel.

The Head Coach once again putting his faith in youngsters Manny Kanwei and Sauver Kande in the starting five alongside Ray’Sean Taylor, Cole Long and Maceo Jack. Darius Defoe, Deion Hammond and Mitch Clarke the back-up from the bench.

This was the fourth time these two sides have met this season and it was always going to be a tight contest given that familiarity. It was a breathless high octane opening quarter that saw both sides showing the explosive power of their potent offences. There was little in it as the minute’s passed by.

Long heating up early for the Eagles with their first seven points of the game before the first decisive run came from Sheffield as they scored eight in a row to lead by 18-24. Long though kept scoring and his teammates joined in to produce an 11-4 run that included back-to-back triples from Hammond.

It put Steutel’s charges back in front but Sheffield scored the last five points of the quarter to take a high-soring opening ten minutes by 29-33. The second period saw both sides increase the intensity at the defensive end.

• With the score at 35-37 Sharks scored five straight to nudge seven points ahead but Eagles were ready for them and an eight-point run capped by a Clarke and-1 play saw them once again manage to turn the lead around.

Newcastle then suffered another blow with Defoe being helped off the court with a head/neck injury that would mean he couldn’t return to action. It may have worried Steutel and his coaching staff but Kanwei stepped up magnificently to control the paint thereafter for the Eagles.

His 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in the game eventually earning him deserved MVP honours on the night as the young forward continues to establish himself at this level. He helped his side to a 17-16 second period meaning the game was well poised at 46-49 to Sharks at half-time.

Sheffield held that three-point lead as the third quarter unfolded. Hammond, Long and Taylor combined for ten points unanswered for Newcastle though to surge them in front. But once again in a no questions asked no ground given period Sharks, mainly through Nick Kern Jr came storming back.

Rodney Chatman III was also looking dangerous as the combatants traded blows meaning the matc-up was all tied at 68 points apiece as they went into a crucial final ten minutes with all to play for.

Sheffield edged in front but at 73-74 down the Eagles launched the decisive run. Jack started it with a triple and a 9-0 run gave Newcastle the control they needed especially with Sharks in foul trouble. Both Dirk Williams and Chatman III being fouled out as the game entered its final stages.

Once again Sheffield hit back and got to within one point at 90-89 but they had foul to stop the clock. It saw Taylor and Clarke both showing steady hands and calm minds to make a pair of free throws that eventually saw the Eagles over the line and into that semi-final two-legged clash with Cheshire.

This was a magnificent win for Newcastle. After Defoe went down with that second quarter injury they only had a seven-man rotation to throw at a fully loaded Sheffield roster. Those magnificent seven once again did Coach Steutel and the Club proud.

Six of them were in double figures and the only one that wasn’t was Kande who still splashed three triples in the contest to give him nine points and show the progress he’s continuing to make and justify that first full professional contract he signed in his seventh year with the senior squad.