GREAT TIGERS EFFORT ENDS IN TROPHY DEFEAT |
The Newcastle Eagles are the first team in this year's BBL Trophy Final, as a 91-96 win tonight saw them reach an aggregate score of 185-176 over their title rivals from last year, Everton Tigers. Meanwile in Milton Keynes, the Lions overcame the Jets by a single point to hold an advantage going into the second leg of the other BBL Trophy Semi Final.
It was the Tigers who got off to a narrowly better start in the 2nd leg of the BBL Trophy Semi Final tonight, as they finished the quarter up 25-20. In the second quarter, the home side really got going, as after Joe Chapman had tied it at 31 a piece for the Eagles, Tony Garbelotto's side went on an 18-5 run capped off by a Jerome Gumbs lay in, as they went into the locker rooms 49-39 ahead in this all-important game.
In the third period, the game took an interesting turn. After the Tigers stretched out their lead to 52-45, the Eagles then went on a 12-10 run to regain the lead at 62-67 going into the final quarter. A three pointer from Joe Chapman off yet another Reggie Jackson pass, pushed the Eagles out to 70-63, after Jerome Gumbs had made a free throw for the Tigers within the first ten seconds of the final quarter.
Gumbs then slotted two more home from the line, whilst Jackson and Stewart added a field goal each for the Eagles, to nudge them nine points ahead with 8:29 left in the game. The sides then traded baskets until another Chapman trey stretched Newcastle's lead to double digits at 67-77.
The Tigers were not about to give up though, as Andrew Thomson found Babalola for a triple, and James Jones knocked down another shot from behind the arc. However, Chapman was proving unstoppable, as his third three pointer of the period took the score out to 78-85 in the Eagles favour.
The Tigers then launched a remarkable last gasp comeback, as they went on an 18-9 charge which took them to within two points of the visitors, at 91-93, but free throws from Sullivan and Chapman in the last minute proved too much for the Tigers, and the Eagles clinched their place in the BBL Trophy Final with a 91-96 victory.
There were some remarkable performances from the Tigers as Olu Babalola went for 23 points to go with his 31 from the 1st leg. Gerome Gumbs had a double double of 21 points and 10 rebounds and in addition dished up 5 assists and had 1 block and 1 steal.
New boy Marcel Jones delivered his own double double of 18 points and 10 rebounds while James Jones went 6 for 8 from the field including 5 for 6 from beyond the arc in his 19 points. Newcastle were led by Joe Chapman with 21 points.
TIGERS SEARCH FOR ANOTHER SILVER LINING |
Everton Tigers will be aiming to overcome a slender four point deficit in order to reach their second cup final in consecutive years on Friday night.
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Arch rivals Newcastle Eagles arrive on Merseyside for the second leg of the BBL Trophy semi-final after coming out on top in last week’s tense first leg encounter 89-85.
Friday’s game at the Greenbank Academy will evoke memories of last season’s 'BBL Cup' semi final clash where the Tigers put aside a first leg defeat to triumph on aggregate.
That night has since gone down in Tigers folklore and head coach Tony Garbelotto will be hoping memories of that game can galvanise his players to end the Tigers’ third ever BBL campaign with another piece of silverware in the cabinet.
Refecting on the first leg at the Metro Arena last weekend, Garbelotto felt his side played well despite coming away with a defeat:“There is no doubt that I feel we played well in this first leg. We had strong performances across the board but just did not close the game out as well as Newcastle did."
He continued, “On top of this, we shot the ball poorly for the second game running. Statistically it does not look like the game was played at a high standard, but I think if you looked at the tape and the level that the players play at, I would say it was. The defence was intense from both teams, the referees let the players play which led to some turnovers, but overall, I thought it was a game deserving of a semi final tie.”
The Tigers will be without new signing Trey Moore who will serve a one match ban due to his ejection against the Scottish Rocks.
Garbelotto is demanding more from two of his British shooters, James Jones and Andrew Thomson, in the absence of the American.
He concluded: “I think we need to shoot the ball better so I hope that both James and Andy can elevate their games to another level.”
TIGERS POUNCE FOR MARCEL JONES |
Everton Tigers have today announced the signing of highly-rated forward Marcel Jones.
The 24-year-old arrives on Merseyside having spent last summer training with the Chicago Bulls in New Zealand having previously enjoyed successful spells in Finland and Hungary.
The 6ft 8in forward grew up in Los Angeles, California, before playing college basketball for Oregon State University.
Tony Garbelotto, Everton Tigers head coach, is confident Jones will help the Tigers push for honours on all fronts and will bring them an extra dimension.
He said: “We have been searching for a while now to replace Flo Larkai and I feel we have signed the best player available in the short time that we had. “Marcel is not a like-for-like replacement for Flo but he will bring qualities to the squad that we have been missing in recent weeks."
Garbelotto added “He has all the attributes you need to be a success in the BBL, and his ability to operate at both ends of the court will be a huge benefit to the team as a whole.”
Jones is in line to make his Tigers debut on Friday evening as the Newcastle Eagles arrive at the Greenbank Academy for the crunch BBL Trophy semi final second leg.
TIGERS HOLD EAGLES TO 4 POINTS. FINAL SCORE 89 - 85 |
SECOND LEG TO COME AT GREENBANK THIS FRIDAY
BBL Trophy semi-final first leg
Newcastle Eagles 89 (27,40,62) (Smith 20, Chapman 17, Defoe 14)
Everton Tigers 85 (18,37,64) (Babalola 31, Gumbs 22, Moore 20) |
Newcastle Eagles will take a four point lead into the second leg of their BBL Trophy semi-final with Everton Tigers after an excellent fourth quarter.
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Everton had led by nine points midway through the final period but a 24-11 close to the match by the home team, capped off by a Charles Smith (pictured) three, ensures they have a slender advantage for their trip to Merseyside next Friday.
Earlier Trey Moore had re-introduced himself to his former club with a three-pointer which gave his new team-mates an 11-15 lead. It was as good as it would get for Everton though as Eagles went on a 16-3 run to hold a 27-18 advantage after ten minutes.
Newcastle stretched out to 31-18 before Tigers began to find their form once again. A 9-3 burst by Everton to close the first half saw the Newcastle lead cut to 40-37.
Moore put Tigers in front at 55-56 as the teams began to exchange baskets. Chris Haslam had the final say of the third quarter to give Everton a 62-64 lead.
Another former Eagle Olu Babalola made an impact in the fourth period to move Everton to 65-74. However, Newcastle began chipping away at the visitors advantage and re-took the lead at 85-83 on Darius Defoe's dunk.
Moore made a late layup as Everton threatened to trail by just one, but Smith stepped forward to make what could be a crucial three.
The teams will meet for the second leg of this BBL Trophy Semi-Final this Friday night at Greenbank Academy. Tip off 7:30pm.
Victory by five or more points for the Tigers will see the team progress to the BBL Trophy Final for the first time in their history.
GLASGOW ROCKS GET SWEET REVENGE OVER TIGERS |
Everton Tigers 71 (14,36,53) (Davis 28, Sapp 20, Murray 15)
Glasgow Rocks 90 (16,37,66) (Jones 18, Moore/Hymns 14)
Glasgow Rocks maintained their stranglehold on third position in the BBL Championship table thanks to a comfortable 71-90 victory over the Everton Tigers at the Greenbank Academy on Friday night. The Tigers were looking for back to back victories over the Rocks following their sensational 1 point victory in Scotland in the BBL Trophy.
However in this BBL encounter at the Echo Arena, both sides traded baskets throughout much of the opening period but it was the Rocks who took control of the game as they held a slender two-point advantage, 14-16 at the end of the first quarter.
The second period followed much of the same pattern as the first with the teams trading baskets through the quarter as the visitors held an even slimmer one-point lead at 36-37 as the teams headed into the locker rooms at the half.
The second half finally saw both sides began to score a little more freely, but the Rocks stepped up their intensity at both ends a bit more as they won the third period 17-29 to lead 53-66 heading into the final stanza.
In the final period the Tigers tried valiantly to get themselves back into the game but to no avail as the Rocks ran out comfortable winners. Sterling Davis led all scorers in the game for the Rocks with 28 points while James Jones led the scoring for the home side with 18.
Celebrations of this victory will be tempered for the Rocks faithful as their starting guard, and BBL favourite, Rob Yanders left the floor with a damaged shoulder and was taken to hospital.
There is no news yet as to his condition but everyone at the Everton Tigers wish him the very best.
