Not quite a frightful night in the Halloween showdown for the Eagles against the Flyers but a scary worrying trend with another defeat that will send shivers down Head Coach Marc Steutel’s spine.

The Eagles slipped to a sixth consecutive defeat and their fifth in a row in the Super League Basketball (SLB) Championship. A run that will be praying on their minds and one they need to look to arrest as soon as possible. But Steutel, his support staff and players will all know this and will continue to try and reverse fortunes.

There were signs in this game that Newcastle do have the personnel to overcome this latest adversity. New signing Gus Okafor showed real promise on his debut and Deion Hammond continues to acclimate into the group as they look to gel as a unit.

There was no Malcolm Smith in the line-up who has been there from the start of the season but the likes of Maceo Jack and Marco Anthony continue to show they have the tools to help Newcastle dig themselves out of the slump they are currently in.

It’s about cohesion, togetherness and learning their own identity if Newcastle are to move forward this season. No-one will know that more than the committed and driven Steutel who will reassess, reenergise and focus on the future and making it brighter with his current group.

Some will point to the Eagles getting heavily outrebounded last night or that Bristol looked perhaps a bit more powerful and cohesive as a unit. But statistics only tell so much of the story and in truth there was little between the two sides at the end of a tough entertaining 40 minutes from them both.

Newcastle actually started the quicker. Emmanuel Kanwei netting twice in a 6 – 0 start. No-one would have guessed that this would be men in black’s biggest lead of the night so early on. Bristol hit back to level the contest and for a while it was tight.

However, a 9 – 0 Bristol run capped off by a Cam Holden triple gave The Flyers a good opening ten minutes that they took 14 – 23 despite Okafor coming off the bench and immediately showing his skill set despite only being with the team for a short period.

Eagles scored the first five points of the second period including a Ray’Sean Taylor triple to cut the gap to four. But they also got into early foul trouble in the quarter and the visitor’s took advantage. Five makes from the Charity Stripe were included in a 9 – 0 run that took them to a 13-point lead.

Okafor continued to impress and Eagle’s top scorer Maceo Jack also joined the party and this pair inspired Newcastle to a 10 – 1 run that brought them back into the game again. In a game of runs Bristol countered again with the next six points unanswered to return to a double-digit advantage.

Jack though continued to give Newcastle hope and a 7 – 2 dash to end the first half saw Newcastle go to the locker rooms to talk things over only down by five at 36 to 41.

Once again as the sides opened the third period Eagles looked to Jack and along with Marco Anthony it was a good 9 – 3 start to the second half that saw Steutel’s charges regain the lead by a single point. Things looked good as Newcastle continued this effort and led by five points at one stage.

Bristol though were not going anywhere just yet and closed the gap to two points at 60 to 58 as the third quarter ended. All to play for in the final ten minutes then with the game really on the line.

The sides traded baskets and possessions although the Eagles held sway, and a Hammond triple actually gave them a four-point lead. Then Bristol responded with what was the most decisive run of the night.

Flyers ripped off ten unanswered points including back-to-back triples from Holden and Jonathan Brown and went six points in front as the seconds and minutes ticked by. Eagles were still in it but every time they threatened a run a Bristol basket held them in check.

Cole Long did knock down a triple with four seconds to play to cut the deficit to two points at 83 – 85 but Brown held his nerve after being fouled and knocked down the two free throws that sealed the deal for a Flyers side that moved into second placing in the SLB standings with a 5 – 2 record.

Newcastle’s record is the reverse of that and after winning their opening two Championship encounters, they have struggled for results since. With a tough, tough ENBL trip to Greek side Iraklis in midweek they have to look to bounce back as soon as they can.