A magnificent night in the Vertu Motors Arena ended in triumph for the Newcastle Eagles. After a sensational top-quality 40 minutes of basketball Head Coach Chloe Gaynor’s side took a thrilling win that cemented their place as the third-best team in the standings and the country.

The Eagles will now fly into next Saturday night’s home play-off quarter final against Essex Rebels full of confidence and belief after they completed a league double over a very strong and talented Manchester side in front of a packed home arena.

It was the last regular season home game and the fans came in huge numbers and left delighted as they celebrated a significant statement win with the players at the final buzzer. A final buzzer that finally brought a chance for everyone to catch their breaths after a pulsating encounter.

For the Eagles, Kendall Currence, Jada Guinn and Shannon Hatch were the standouts and deserve all the accolades they get. But a Newcastle side that went into the game without star forward Tierra Hodges in truth had heroes all over the court as everyone stepped up to cover Hodges absence.

Credit too has to go to Manchester who never gave up, were always in the game and gave a very good account of themselves in defeat. Their commitment and determination as they also looked for third place a catalyst to bring the best out of their well-drilled opponents.

In Danni Williams who ended the game with a superb double-double of 30 points and 18 rebounds and Anastasia Warren who 20 points they had star performers of their own. Add in Maura Fitzpatrick’s 14 point, 5 rebound, 5 assists supporting effort as well which all made it tough for Newcastle.

But Currence, Guinn and Hatch shot the lights out for Newcastle contributing 83 of the home side’s 97 total points and at the end of the game were awarded a joint MVP award or as someone cleverly said the MV3 performances.

Currence went off from the off and finished with 29 points and 7 rebounds. Guinn was her partner in crime particularly in the first half when both ended the first twenty minutes with 17 points. Guinn finishing the game with a superb stat line of 28 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.

Then there was Hatch who just grew and grew into the game and probably produced her best ever game in the famous black and white. Her 17 second half points giving her 26 in total and she also added in 4 rebounds.

It was a thrilling fast-paced game that saw swings and turns throughout. The transition offence from both sides was electrifying as both teams showed they have plenty to offer with those potential paths to play-off glory just around the corner.

Eagles flew out of the nest early and looked well up for the contest soaring into an early 9 points to 2 lead. Manchester though showed their metal and came back strong and as the quarter ticked down had actually taken a 21 to 18 lead.

Guinn and Currence though responded and Newcastle took the final six points of the period to take a three-point advantage into the second ten minutes of the contest. And with the dynamic duo continuing their work and Hatch coming to the party they kept that momentum in the second.

Manchester did get back to within one on a couple of occasions but good defence and solid scoring kept Newcastle in front and when Hatch nailed two free throws late in the period the Eagles were up by ten. Eventually taking a 50 to 41 advantage into the locker rooms.

Abby Lowe whose first half minutes had been restricted by early foul trouble started the second half in fine style netting the first four points of the final twenty minutes to give Newcastle a 13-point advantage which they looked comfortable with.

Manchester though were not done and came storming back. From 59 to 47 down scored 11 unanswered to cut the deficit to a single point. Despite a Gaynor time-out and a Guinn triple the visitor’s kept the momentum going and took the lead 64 – 63 on captain Laura Thomas-Johnson’s layup.

The gauntlet had been thrown but once again this never-say-die Eagles side accepted it, picked it up and threw it back in Manchester’s face as they closed out the third period with a 9 – 2 run of their own to lead 72 – 66 with ten minutes left to play.

Once again though Manchester refused to go away nor lie down. Williams in particular produced big shot after big shot. Every time Newcastle looked like stretching away she and Warren seemed to pull them back in the game. They got within three points at one stage but that was as close as it got.

At 74 to 71 the Eagles made the decisive run. Ten points without reply took them to a 13-point lead as the time began to ebb away for the visitors. The Arena was rocking as the fans roared their favourites home. Manchester tried to stop the clock by fouling but Eagles held their nerve.

A series of late free-throws not just keeping them in front but eventually icing the victory by the night’s biggest margin as third place for the regular season with still one game to go was secured. A magnificent effort from a team that plays with so much heart and togetherness.

That final game will be played in Durham against the Palatinates in a derby clash that perhaps now could be seen as a ‘dead rubber’ if ever a derby game could be called that. Durham will be determined to spoil the Eagles run and gain revenge for the earlier season defeat.

But on this form and with this level of basketball within them it’s going to be a very hard task for the Palatinates to stop the Newcastle juggernaut from rolling down the road and then coming back home to prepare for the play-offs with win.