'Tough' Sharks up next in Eagles' brutal week

TEAM LOOK TO SHAKE OFF MIDWEEK DEFEAT

- JEFF KING

Newcastle Eagles were comprehensively beaten by Iraklis BC on Wednesday night

(GARY FORSTER)

NEWCASTLE Eagles tipped off the first of their brutal three games in five days schedule in the Vertu Arena on Wednesday night with an 80-108 defeat to Iraklis BC of Greece in a European North Basketball League group match, writes JEFF KING.

It was their third defeat from three in this season’s competition.

Not the ideal way for head coach Marc Steutel’s players to start the run, with a tough trip in the SLB Championship at Sheffield tonight and then a visit to Caledonia on Sunday afternoon in the SLB Trophy on the horizon.

The defeat to the Greeks did have some positives for Newcastle - the debut of young British guard Max Matthews, the continuing improvement of academy graduate Sauver Kande and the performance of USA guard Ray’Sean Taylor, who had 28 points on the night in the losing cause.