Bittersweet end game for Phoenix

THERE was a strange feeling in EPSV as the final buzzer sounded on Sunday night. Despite a hardfought win, the atmosphere was one of a loss.

- BY MARK TIMPERLEY

With fifth place up for grabs in the final standings of the inaugural SLB Championship, the scenario was set.

The visitors Newcastle Eagles were 2-1 up in the head to-head with an 11-point advantage in the points plus/minus.

So, a Phoenix win by 12 points or more would see them leapfrog the Eagles into fifth spot and a play-off quarter final against local rivals Manchester Basketball.

A loss or a win by anything less and the Nix would remain in sixth place and face Sheffield Sharks in the post season knockout.

Both sets of fans eagerly awaited the start of this one and the home faithful in particular, weren't disappointed as the Nix made a bright start. Cam Holden opening the scoring on the night tipping in the rebound from his own missed lay-up.

Mike Okauru levelled things up for the visitors before Nick Timberlake opened his account from range and a Larry Austin Jnr rebound went straight in to give Cheshire an early 7-2 lead inside the opening couple of minutes. Austin Jnr extended the lead to seven points (11-4), Timberlake providing the assist, forcing Newcastle Head Coach Marc Steutel into and early timeout with just over four minutes gone.

However, this didn’t throw the Nix off their stride as Holden punished Newcastle from beyond the arc with backto-back threes, Phoenix skipper Skyler White the provider with both, extending their lead to 17-9.

Cheshire continued where they left off at Bristol on Friday, moving the ball well, creating better looks that were easier to knock down.

The Nix were soon into a double-digit lead, White this time the beneficiary, taking the score to 23-12, just a point away from the magic twelve needed and still just over two minutes of the first quarter to go.