Newcastle Eagles narrowly failed to close out a titanic tussle down at Oakland Wolves that would have cemented a top four finish for the regular season. Their 81-76 loss a great effort and one when the only time they didn’t really lead was crucially down the stretch.

Head Coach Chloe Gaynor commented on the result and performance and whilst disappointed was also clearly proud of her players.

“It was unfortunate, but they fought hard. They had the intent I’ve been asking for all season, just struggled with the fatigue mentally and physically at the end.”

Very true words on a display that deserved a better end result than it got. Oaklands had opened with a triple but Shanique Lucas and Andrea Daley both netted buckets to get the Eagles scoreboard ticking and put them into the lead.

From there it was a lead that they held all the way until the last two minutes and 45 seconds. That was when Wolves finally nudged in front on another triple and then held their nerve particularly late on to crush Newcastle’s hopes of a famous vital victory.

Lucas with 28 points and 6 rebounds led the way with a superb driving effort and once again the prolific Daley picked up another double-double of 25 points and an astonishing 18 rebounds. Jada Dapaa with 10 points 7 rebounds and Sarah Wells with 10 points 5 rebounds the main support.

But as ever, every player that took to the court for Gaynor’s team gave their all and played vital roles to support their main scoring teammates as the Eagles showed their togetherness and cohesive intent. It was just a shame they did not get their deserved rewards.

After Daley and Lucas had put Newcastle in front, they continued that momentum in the early going to establish themselves a 16-7 lead. Wolves bit back and cut the gap to three. Lucas though with three from three from the charity strip gave Eagles a six-point first quarter lead at 24-18.

There was never much between the sides and indeed on a couple of occasions Oaklands got back to within two points. But Newcastle had Lucas in scintillating form, and she netted two triples and another 3-from-3 visit to the free throw line to record 13-points personal in the period.

With Daley’s support Wells and Dapaa chipping in it meant that the Eagles were able to maintain their lead throughout the first twenty minutes and even edged the second period 23-22 to take a seven-point lead at 47-40 into the half-time locker room.

Oaklands looked determined once again to close the gap as the third period opened and once again narrowed it to a single basket score at 58-56. Dapaa though answered the Wolves run with two triples and Daley added a free throw.

That 7-0 run put the Eagles in front by nine points at 65-56 but ominously Oaklands were not down and out and scored the last five points of the period to make it 65-61 going into the final crucial ten minutes stretch.

Once again Newcastle weathered the storm at first and deep, deep into the final quarter Lucas nailed two free throws to put Newcastle up 73-67. But Wolves were relentless and determined and finally a Lavinia Da triple capped seven unanswered points that gave them a late lead.

Eagles were in foul trouble now as time expired and GB-International and Oaklands captain Shanice Beckford-Norton was able to ice the game from the charity stripe. Time energy and physicality finally running out for a gallant unbowed Eagles side.

Now Gaynor has to regroup her players. They have a week’s practice and recuperation before they face their final regular season game which is a huge one at home in the Vertu Arena against confirmed second-placed finishers Caledonia Gladiators.

That game takes place this coming Saturday night with a 7:30pm tip-off with tickets available on the box office. Depending on results and if the Eagles can get a win in what will be a tough encounter they could still yet finish in that coveted fourth place and net a home quarter-final tie in the play-offs.