One thing was certain in this curtain raising opening pre-season game at the Vertu Motors Arena. The winning team would come from Newcastle! That’s because former Eagles Assistant Coach Mark Elderkin brought his Knights NBL Division 1 side to take on Marc Steutel’s new-look 2024/25 roster.

In the end it was the home court Super League Basketball Eagles that took the honours on a night when Steutel got to see his new charges in action together for the first time.

After a tough summer where at times there was doubt over whether there would even be a top-flight league in Britain it was good to see his fully recruited roster take to the floor.

For Elderkin and the Knights, who play in the Division below the Eagles, it always felt that they were going to have a hard task particularly as they themselves were not up to full speed with two American imports on the bench not suited up and another one still to arrive.

The Eagles by comparison had everyone bar former London Lions point guard Jordan Spencer available.

Having been introduced to the fans at The Launch on Friday night, the players all got valuable minutes under their belts as the drive towards the first competitive fixture began.

Steutel started with new Eagles Jaelin Llewellyn and Mike Okauru in the back court complemented two other new faces Seneca Knight and Cole Long. Power forward Malcolm Delpeche returning for his second season on Tyneside made up the starting five.

From the off the Eagles clicked straight into gear with Llewellyn starting at the point and Okauru netting their first two points. USA small forward Ronald Blain replying for the visitor’s before Steutel’s men went 14 to 6 in front causing Elderkin to call the first time-out of the season.

The home side’s first change was GB international forward Josh Ward-Hibbert for Knight and Long had the honour of nailing the first three-ball of the night enabling Eagles to lead 17 to 8 at the five-minute mark. Steutel’s rotations enabled him to get his whole bench minutes within the first quarter.

Last off the bench was home-grown Eagle Sauveur Kande who came on with 3:39 to go as the Eagles continued to dominate taking a 31 to 18 lead by the end of the first period with Knight netting 8 points personal and Ward-Hibbert having 5. Blain had 7 in reply for the Knights.

The Eagles continued to dominate particularly inside and off the bench De’Sean Allen-Eikens provided the best assist of the night so far to allow Delpeche to hammer home the first dunk of the season as Eagles stretched away,

They actually held their opponents scoreless for the first 3:42 of the second period as they continued to rotate looking at different line-ups and also combinations at both ends of the floor. Delpeche in particular really enjoying the second period to lead all scorers at half-time with 12 points.

It all added up to a 24 to 8 quarter that gave Eagles an unassailable 55 to 26 half time lead with Knight on 10 points joining Delpeche in double figures. From there it was an exercise in giving his players game exercise and time. Eagles continuing to dominate to lead 78 to 36 after three completed quarters.

The final quarter did see Steutel’s charges ease up a touch as first game weariness got into their legs although Llewellyn did hit some great outside shots in that final period to see him lead the team in scoring with 18 points by the end of the game.

Credit though to the Knights who never laid down and actually sneaked the last ten minutes by 25 to 24 to gain some semblance of respectability and show when they’re up to full capacity they have an exciting season ahead.

But for the vast majority inside the VMA it was about the Eagles who dominated in pretty much every aspect of the contest.

Scoring wise after Llewellyn came the impressive Knight with 16 points. Delpeche didn’t add to his half-time tally but Long did and almost had a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Okauru also netted double figures and filled the stats sheet with 11 points 7 rebounds 5 assists and 4 steals for a very solid start to his Eagles career.

There will be tougher tests ahead for sure for Steutel and his men but this was a pleasing way to start the 2024/25 pre-season.

Tickets for the next stage are available now when both the Eagles men and women will be in action with a Sunday afternoon double-header. Fans can secure their seats now from the box office.