Steutel pride as injury-hit Eagles secure fifth spot

MANCHESTER UP NEXT IN PLAY-OFFS

- By SIMON RUSHWORTH

MARC Steutel described the “best 10-point loss of his life” then paid tribute to the never-say-die attitude of a roster ravaged by injuries.

Newcastle Eagles can look forward to a mouthwatering play-off quarter-final tie against Manchester Basketball this weekend after securing a fifth-place finish in the Super League Basketball Championship.

But just who is fit to suit up for Friday's first leg on Tyneside is anyone's guess after another bruising encounter at Cheshire Phoenix saw De’Sean Allen-Eikens added to a mounting injury list.

Newcastle avoided defeat by 12 points or more against Larry Austin Jr’s men on Sunday to seal fifth, and Steutel said: “People can look at the 99-89 scoreline but I think you've got to look at the circumstances.

“To be finishing the game with only six healthy players reveals just what we were up against.

“Josh Ward-Hibbert wanted to give it his best shot against the Phoenix but after a couple of minutes it was clear he just wasn’t there.