For the second Friday in a row inside their own Vertu Arena, Newcastle Eagles failed to take advantage of a winning opportunity against a top four side in the SLB standings. Last weekend Manchester took a 3-point win and this Friday it was fierce rivals Sheffield Sharks taking the win.

In losing a game they probably should have won the Eagles missed another chance to better their current 8th placed seeding for the end of season playoffs. It was disappointing after a great start to the game that it ended in defeat and once again gave Head Coach Marc Steutel plenty to ponder.

Newcastle now have two regular season games left. At home to Leicester Riders next Friday and then on the road in Bristol two days later. Two wins would move them out of eighth, but they need to show better discipline and execution at crucial times to achieve that goal.

Steutel spoke honestly after the game about his disappointment in his players and the way they played in the second half to allow Sharks back in the game. It was a capitulation that hardly anyone in the Arena saw coming after a scintillating first half display from the Eagles.

Taking this loss on the night with the news that broke during the day of losing Maceo Jack to a season ending injury was a double whammy for the Eagles. Although to be fair the absence of Jack looked a non-factor in that blistering first half effort.

But ill-discipline, perhaps complacency and a failure to carry out their intended game plan and follow up on those opening twenty minutes in the end gave Sheffield a win that they looked even surprised with themselves. It was definitely a basketball game of two halves.

Steutel started Manny Kanwei in place of Jack in his opening five and he played his part in helping the Eagles get off to a flying start. With Ray’Sean Taylor, Deion Hammond, and Mitch Clarke in particular looking sharp early on the men in black got out to a 14-2 super start.

Sheffield mainly in the form of big-man Faroh Alihodzic and the dangerous Dirk Williams did manage to get back into the game and gain a footing. But triples from Taylor and Gis Okafor from the bench and a thunderous Cole Long dunk from a Taylor alley-oop kept Newcastle in front.

The Sharks doing well to be only 31-22 down after the opening ten minutes following Eagles strong cohesive start. Okafor, Terrell Burden Jr and Josh Ward-Hibbert all coming off the bench to enhance their side’s performance.

Eagles still looked in control in the second, but Sharks were looking dangerous at times and cut the gap to six points at one stage. But back came Newcastle and with the visitor’s getting into foul trouble Newcastle launched an 11-2 burst that took their lead back into double-digits.

Nick Kern Jr. started to show his ability at both ends of the floor as Sheffield tried to combat the Eagles dominance, but he and his teammates could not slow down Newcastle. Six more unanswered points giving the home side their biggest lead of the night at 53-35.

Kern Jr. netting the final points of the first half to at least give Sharks something to bite on for the second twenty minutes and so it proved as they added eleven more from the start of the third period to Newcastle’s two and were within seven points with the tide seemingly turning.

Eagles tried to hold firm and repel the Sharks and were just about hanging on. But missed free-throws, not hitting open triples and Williams and Kern Jr. really getting into stride saw Sheffield get back to within one point before Burden Jr. netted a free-throw to make it 64-62 after three periods.

The final quarter was a real mismatch of everything as the two sides slugged it out. Fouls on both sides but seemingly more from Newcastle. Turnovers missed opportunities and scrappy play at both ends meaning neither side could establish a gap.

The with the game poised at 68-68 a crucial moment. Hammond called for an unsportsmanlike foul reacted to the call and was given a technical and disqualified from the game. Jordan Ratinho netted both free throws. Sheffield after 34 minutes and 35 seconds had their first lead of the night.

Williams netted a deuce from the extra possession and suddenly the Sharks were in the ascendancy and Eagles were chasing. It was breathtaking no holds barred basketball and for the neutral no doubt a superb spectacle. But try telling that to Steutel whose side could not get back.

Eagles did get back to one but with time running out had to resort to fouling to stop the clock and both Long and Taylor picked up game-ending fifth infringements. Burden Jr. who got Newcastle back to that one-point gap picking up the game’s last foul to send Williams to the line.

Both sides had left plenty of missed free throw opportunities out on court, but Williams iced both of his meaning Eagles had only four seconds left and no time-outs left to tie the game. Clarke’s long-range effort on the buzzer falling short to give Sheffield the win.

A win that had looked highly unlikely at half-time and a loss that stung Newcastle, their players and Steutel all who have to now dissect the events that unfolded. Eagles needing to find a way to get back to winning ways next weekend and look to move up the table in their final two games.