Sullivan and Stewart set for Newcastle exit?

Reigning BBL champions Newcastle Eagles could be set to lose their two biggest names and force player-coach Fabulous Flournoy into a major re-building job.

It is understood that Great Britain captain Drew Sullivan is on the brink of joining Everton Tigers for next season after failing to strike a deal to remain on Tyneside.

Sullivan, who has also played in Cyprus and Russia, wants to remain in the UK and league sources confirmed that Everton are set to tempt him to Liverpool.

And he could be joined by former BBL MVP Lynard Stewart, who is also likely to reject a return to the Eagles.

According to a report in The Journal, the American forward is considering retirement in order to take up a teaching post in Philadelphia, where his family is based.

“Lynard hasn’t made a decision yet and I would love to have him back, but I know it’s going to be tough to get him back here,” Flournoy told the newspaper.

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Scotland lose to Newcastle

29 points from Great Britain cap Steve Leven failed to stop Scotland from a late collapse in their friendly against Newcastle Eagles as the BBL champions grabbed a 74-66 win at Benfield.

The Scots, in one of their final warm-ups ahead of the European Championships, built a commanding 42-35 half-time cushion.

However the Eagles second-string, led by 18 from Aaron Neilson, out-scored the visitors 25-12 in the fourth quarter as Tom Campbell’s men fell away.

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Mike McGregor debuts for Scotland in friendly against Newcastle Eagles

Glasgow Rocks guard Mike McGregor has been handed his first Scotland call-up for Saturday’s friendly with BBL champions Newcastle Eagles at the Benfield Centre (6pm).

The Kelvin Hall reserve joins team-mate Gareth Murray in the squad for the tie which is one of the Scots final warm-ups for this summer’s European Championships.

Tom Campbell’s side also includes Great Britain cap Steve Leven, who left Newcastle two years ago after an acrimonious bust-up with coach Fabulous Flournoy during the BBL play-offs.

The Eagles will field most of their domestic contingent, including Darius Defoe, with Flournoy set to give a trial to a number of potential summer recruits, including Birmingham-born guard Lamar Morrison.

Scotland squad: Gareth Murray, Mike McGregor (Glasgow Rocks), Gareth Lodge, Simon Flockhart, Laurie Costello, Paddy Campbell (Edinburgh Kings), Grant Gibson (East Lothian Peregrines), Ross Campbell, Daniel Donnelly (Troon Tornadoes), Steve Leven, Ike Attah (Teesside Mohawks), Tom Pearson (Manchester Magic)

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Newcastle Eagles raise funds for Euro tilt

Newcastle Eagles could yet enter next season's EuroChallenge Cup.

The club's owner Paul Blake has told The Journal that the Eagles have raised the £20,000 bond required to take part.

"There are people working behind the scenes who I can’t name yet but who have been very supportive of our attempts to go into Europe and I would like to do it for them," he said.

"I’m not sure yet whether we would be able to strengthen the team in order to play in Europe, that will depend on various other issues, but my feeling is that we need to do it and see how it works."

Full story here.

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BBL coaches pay tribute to Flournoy

The BBL coaches have voted Mike Cook as MVP while Fab Flournoy is Coach of the Year.

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Newcastle's Chapman, Flournoy head awards list

Newcastle Eagles duo Joe Chapman and Fabulous Flournoy have been named, respectively, as the Player and Coach of the Year.

The awards from the Basketball Journalists Association come at the end of the 2009-10 season in which the Tyneside outfit secured the double of winning the British Basketball League and BBL Trophy.

Sheffield Sharks centre Tafari Toney has won the Pete Jacques Trophy for Best British Player in the BBL.

While Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng has been named International Player of the Year for the Great Britain star’s performances in the NBA.

Chapman claims the Player of the Year prize despite being Newcastle’s sixth man for much of the campaign. The American edged out Sheffield’s Mike Cook (second) and Glasgow’s Rob Yanders (third) in a poll of media who regularly cover the domestic league.

Flournoy picks up Coach of the Year for guiding the Eagles to a fourth league title in five years, beating out Sheffield’s Atiba Lyons (second) and Cheshire’s Paul Smith (third).

Toney averaged 16.3 points and 9.7 rebounds to help Sheffield lift the BBL Cup in January before the Sharks missed out on the league crown on the final weekend of the season. The Great Britain cap narrowly beat out Newcastle’s Darius Defoe for the Pete Jacques Trophy for the leading British Player in the BBL. The award has been newly named in honour of much-respected basketball journalist Pete Jacques who died last month.

“Pete was a good guy so I’m honoured to get this,” said Toney. “It’s been a great season even if I’m disappointed that we’re not in the playoff final."

Luol Deng takes the International Player of the Year award after helping the Chicago Bulls reach the first round of the NBA play-offs. The Londoner, who is expected to feature for Great Britain in this summer’s Eurobasket qualifiers, finished just ahead of Unicaja Malaga’s Joel Freeland in the voting with the University of Washington’s Matthew Bryan-Amaning in third following his impressive performances Stateside in March’s NCAA Tournament.

BJAUK Awards Winners 2009-10
Player of the Year: 1. Joe Chapman, 2. Mike Cook, 3. Rob Yanders
(Others receiving votes, in order, were: Charles Smith, EJ Harrison, Jason Johnson, Reggie Bratton, Jessie Sapp, Shawn Myers)
Coach of the Year: 1. Fab Flournoy, 2. Atiba Lyons, 3. Paul Smith
(Others: Dave Titmuss, Rob Paternostro, Sterling Davis, Tony Garbelotto)
Pete Jacques Award for Best British Player in the BBL: 1. Tafari Toney, 2. Darius Defoe, 3. Olu Babalola
(Others: Anthony Martin, Sam Cricelli, James Jones, Mike Martin, Perry Lawson, Ibrahim Gariba, Andrew Bridge, Drew Sullivan)
International Player of the Year: 1. Luol Deng, 2. Joel Freeland, 3. Matthew Bryan-Amaning
(Others: Andrew Betts, Justin Robinson, Nate Reinking, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Robert Archibald)

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Newcastle Eagles are BBL champions

Newcastle Eagles have been crowned as BBL champions for the fourth time in five seasons after one of the most dramatic title climaxes in years.
Rivals Sheffield Sharks needed to beat Worthing on Saturday to force the Tyneside outfit to overcome Glasgow 24 hours later to snatch the crown on the head to head tiebreaker.

But the Thunder, who led by as much as 20 points at one stage, held off a late Sharks rally to clinch a 97-95 victory that handed the Eagles the title.

In the play-off race, Everton's 108-86 win at Essex means the Tigers finish fifth and will visit Cheshire in the 1st Round of the play-offs. Glasgow Rocks host Leicester while Sheffield meet MK Lions. Newcastle will meet Worthing after the Thunder beat Plymouth 108-99 in an overtime thriller to snatch the final play-off berth. .
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Newcastle retain grip on BBL Trophy

Newcastle Eagles retained the BBL Trophy, producing a dominating display to defeat Cheshire Jets 111-95 in a one-sided final at the Guildford Spectrum.

Veteran Charles Smith, who won the game's Most Valuable Player award, and BBL rookie Joe Chapman, proved too hot to handle from deep with 27 and 21 points respectively as the Tyneside outfit claimed what could be the first part of a potential treble.

Jets, hoping to make a good start, certainly did that as Colin O'Reilly's three point play made it 7-0. The run seemed to spark Newcastle into life though as Lynard Stewart's bucket began a 14-0 burst.

Smith's three levelled it at 7-7 and Joe Chapman gave the Eagles their first lead of the match with a long range effort of his own. Newcastle's first quarter lead peaked at nine, first at 18-9, and then on another Chapman three to close the period 24-15.

Reggie Jackson made it a double-digit lead for Eagles with his first points of the match at the start of the second quarter before 40-year-old Shawn Myers dragged Jets - minus injured James Hamilton - back into the match with two three point scores which reduced the gap to just three at 29-26.

However Eagles quickly recovered their dominance though midway through the second quarter as their rivals' challenge collapsed, the holders breaking the game open with a 35-16 run. It was a devastating passage of play by Fab Flournoy's team and left Jets staring at a daunting 64-42 half time deficit.

Smith began the third quarter with a three to reinforce Eagles' superiority and despite Jets occasionally picking apart the Newcastle defence they couldn't stem the flow of points from their opponents.

With Newcastle taking an 89-63 margin into the final stanza, there was no way back with Cheshire stars Jerrah Young, Paul Peterson and Calvin Davis all well below their best.

Fab Flournoy's men saw their advantage peak at 100-69 on yet another Smith bucket early in the fourth quarter. Despite trying to recapture the magic of their epic comeback in vain against Sheffield Sharks in the BBL Cup, Jets could only get the final deficit below 20 thanks to a late 6-0 run.

The evergreen Myers scored a game-high 28 points but his efforts were in vain as Newcastle coasted to lift the Trophy for the fourth time in six years.

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BBL Trophy final: Smith wary of Newcastle's S-Factor

Newcastle Eagles will bid to lift the BBL Trophy for the third consecutive time when they meet Cheshire on Sunday in the final at the Guildford Spectrum.

The two clubs have dominated the competition during the last decade, winning seven of the last nine editions. However Cheshire coach Paul Smith is wary that the recent return of Great Britain captain Andrew Sullivan to the Tyneside giants could tip the balance.

“There’s probably been 2-3 seasons where we’ve been nowhere near them but this year, I’ve felt we’re getting closer,” said Smith.

“The biggest difference in the last month is that they’ve added Sullivan and we need to find a way to deal with him. But I still see where they have weaknesses we can exploit.”

Newcastle, on a 15-game winning streak following Friday's win over Worthing, have been told not to rest on their laurels despite their run.

"That means nothing," Chapman added. "The reason we're winning is because we play hard every night and Sunday can't be any different."

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Eagles move to Northumbria not yet certain

Newcastle Eagles planned move to a new 3000-seater venue at Northumbria University is not yet a done deal, according to club chief Paul Blake.

The league champions were expected to switch homes at the beginning of next season after spending their entire history at the 6500-capacity Metro Arena.

Blake has long believed that the change would provide the Eagles with the extra revenues they need to enter European competition but he admits talks are still ongoing.

“From a sporting perspective it’s an absolute no-brainer because it is a unique sporting facility,” Blake told The Journal.

“They have laid the floor and some of the seats this week and it is an unbelievable venue, there is no doubt about that. But now our job is trying to make sure that the other elements make sense.”

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Flournoy sticking with rotation policy

Newcastle Eagles coach Fabulous Flournoy has claimed his decision to bring some of his leading players off the bench is a key reason why his team have now moved into the position of BBL favourites.
The leaders have used Joe Chapman and Charles Smith as sixth men during the 12-game winning streak that has taken them to the top of the league – and into the Trophy final.
Flournoy’s men meet Milton Keynes on Friday in what could be a dress rehearsal for this month’s knock-out finale and the New Yorker has no intention of changing his star-second policy.
“There is no one reason that I bring Charles and Joe off the bench,” he said. “At some point in time, everyone on our team has started. Unlike most teams, where you have players that start, we have players that can start or come off the bench and it is not an issue because everyone on our team wants to win.”
He added” “It is one of the reasons we are so successful - because we have some many guys that can hurt you that you can not concentrate on one. Plus, unlike most of the other teams, our players are playing half the minutes everyone else is and are much more productive.”

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Sullivan can spur Eagles title charge

Newcastle Eagles coach Fabulous Flournoy believes the return of Drew Sullivan to Tyneside can provide the missing line in his team’s silverware chase.
The reigning league champions have lured the Great Britain captain back for a third stint after he cut his short stint in Cyprus due to personal reasons.
With fellow GB star Flinder Boyd exiting to play for Spanish club Palencia, the revolving door has left the Eagles strengthened as they chase a potential treble.
And Flournoy, whose side has begun to hit top form, is relishing his additional weapon.
“It’s good to have Sulli back and we all know what he is capable of,” the New Yorker said. “He sets high standards and knows what is required to win trophies. He is the final piece of our jigsaw and he can deliver at both ends of the floor and will now bring even more experience, maturity and leadership to our team.
“While we all know he has talent, third time around we can expect him to have even more smarts than before and to be another leader in this team.
“We have to make sure that we maintain the chemistry that we have but that shouldn’t be a problem because Sulli works as hard as anybody and is a winner.”

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Great Britain duo land in BBL

Two of Great Britain internationals have signed to play in the British Basketball League until the end of the season.

Point guard Flinder Boyd, who has been battling a knee injury, has completed his long-discussed move to Newcastle Eagles.

While twice-capped centre Randall Hanke joins the Glasgow Rocks to make his rookie debut.

Boyd, a Dartmouth graduate, comes to the reigning league champions, as the latest stop in a pro career that began in 2002 at French Pro A club Le Havre. He has since played in French Pro B with Mulhouse and Nantes, before a two year spell with Rosalia in the Spanish LEB. Boyd's last club attachment was with Leicester Riders, before joining the Great Britain national team last summer.

Eagles coach Fab Flournoy believes that he already has a basis of a team to retain the BBL Championship title, but feels Boyd, who will arrive on Tyneside next week, will give the team an extra dimension once he regains full fitness.

"Flinder is a player I have been keen to sign for a little while now. We have talked a lot recently and have monitored Flinders' rehabilitation. He is a much respected player and I think the type of character that is going to fit very easily into our system. He is also the type of guy that makes players around him better, which will be a real shot in the arm for us at this point in the season, both on and off the court."

New York-born Hanke has British citizenship granting him 5 caps with team GB and at 25, has finally completed a protracted move to Glasgow.

"Randall is the body we've been searching for, for what seems like forever now," said Rocks coach Sterling Davis. "He's a hard worker on both ends of the floor with a soft touch around the basket. He will definitely give us some added depth on our frontline."

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Flournoy: Smith can be Eagles X-factor

Fabulous Flournoy believes Charles Smith’s willingness to come off the bench is a major reason why Newcastle Eagles remain a contender for the BBL title.

The reigning champions, looking to bounce back from a sub-standard first half of the campaign, have gone with a smaller quicker line-up in recent weeks in their attempt to overhaul rivals Sheffield.

Flournoy admits that rotation is unlikely to change as the Tyneside outfit bid to defend their crown and achieve the consistency that has eluded them to date.

And although the American is still looking to add to his squad in January, he acknowledges that Smith’s 17 points and 5 rebounds contribution will be a vital component as their side moves forward.

“Everyone has solidified their roles now in our team and Charles is a phenomenal scorer,” Flournoy said.

“He can play inside and outside and gives us some different things, whether it is that veteran leadership, a crucial rebound, or a vital basket.

“To have Charles, a sixth man, coming off the bench, is great for our team, as he should be starting in this league, so he is our X-Factor player.”

Newcastle can close the gap at the top of the table to just two points with a win at Cheshire on Sunday. However Flournoy is demanding an improvement from his team on the road after a damaging four losses already this term.

“This is definitely our weakness at the moment and I think with teams hitting their form, it is important that we keep our rhythm that we had before the break,” he underlined.

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Spragg exit leaves Newcastle bench short-handed

Newcastle Eagles have agreed to a request from assistant coach Billy Spragg to quit his role after nine years - with son and reserve player Will Spragg following him out of the club.

Spragg Sr. joined the club in 2001, joining then head coach Tony Garbelotto, before becoming Fab Flournoy's regular number two.

Managing Director Paul Blake, in a statement, said “We wish Bill and Will all the best in their future endeavours and thank them for the huge role they have played in bringing success to the team in recent years."

However, with the reasons unknown for the exit, this is a huge blow for Newcastle. Spragg, hugely respected within the BBL, has been the key factor in allowing Flournoy to function as both a player and coach while other similar arrangements around the league have floundered.

While it is understood that the American is seeking a replacement "in the long-term", it will likely hunder the team's chances of retaining their title.

"I was sad to see Billy go," Flournoy told The Chronicle. "He was my friend and I think in many ways he was the Ying to my coaching Yang."

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