Sunday nights at Ellesmere Port have become accustomed to grand spectacles, where anything can happen. Add the stakes of an SLB Trophy semi-final second leg? The result is a game that had everything for the neutral.

Newcastle Eagles showed great resilience and determination to punch their ticket to Birmingham for the SLB Trophy Final, where London Lions await. They edged out Cheshire Phoenix on aggregate 205-201, despite losing the second leg 112-105. A messy, loud, chaotic event where Newcastle – as they have proved repeatedly this past month – found a way.

A game played on the edge

Once the whistle was blown for tip-off, this second leg was off to a frantic pace. Cheshire, trying to overcome the 11-point deficit from leg one, pushed the tempo aggressively. They hunted the mismatch on Burden relentlessly, but Newcastle absorbed the pressure and picked their moments to strike.

Throughout the opening twenty minutes, momentum swung violently as neither side could gain control of the tie for long. Pat Robinson III was the standout player, ending his night with 40 points, constantly driving downhill and drawing fouls. For Newcastle, the guard tandem of Raysean Taylor and Terrell Burden Jr combined for 21 points, largely generated through relentless rim pressure.

At halftime, the score stood 45-44 Cheshire, but the ten-point advantage on aggregate provided breathing room for the Eagles.

Composed response after the break

Coming out of the locker room, Newcastle had a point to prove. The Eagles were aggressive, attacking the rim purposefully, and the home side landed in the bonus with over half the third quarter to play. Defensive intensity ramped up, and offensive execution allowed for the aggregate margin to stretch.

At the heart of it all was Canadian forward Cole Long.

The box score barely tells the full tale. His shooting punished lackadaisical coverage, combining that with his off-ball spacing, collapsing the Cheshire defence.

Most importantly, his defensive reads at the rim, whether on the help side or as the on-ball defender, proved critical to preserve the lead. This was a leadership performance in the absence of Josh Ward-Hibbert, highlighting his progression in his second season on Tyneside.

Additionally, Raysean Taylor provided much-needed offensive firepower from the bench, shooting high-percentage looks and embracing the chaos of the occasion.

Late game insanity- and composure

What occurred in the final quarter fully epitomises the wonderful madness that is professional British Basketball.

Fouls mounted, with the two teams combining for 79 free throws attempted and 55 fouls called. Tempers flared as Burden was fouled out on an unsportsmanlike call that will be debated amongst fans.

Runs were exchanged until Cheshire surged to a lead that threatened the aggregate cushion. The crowd, electric. Both sets of fans played their part in cultivating an atmosphere fitting for a spectacle.

Down the stretch, Newcastle showed their nerve at the stripe, with Maceo Jack and Raysean Taylor icing their free throws. Five players from the Eagles are in double figures, with both Raysean and Maceo breaching the 20-point mark.

And as the final horn sounded, Newcastle may have lost the battle but finished victorious in the two-legged war.

Looking ahead to Birmingham

Newcastle’s performance was not perfect- but resilience, adaptability, and trust carried them over the line. Rewarded with a February 1^st date against the Capital’s flagship side, it will prove to be the club’s hardest challenge this season. But we know when the lights shine brightest, the sixth Eagle will act in unison with the team.

A team that never knows when they are defeated.