Durham Wildcats went down 75-90 against rivals Eagles Newcastle in front of an enthusiastic Aycliffe crowd on Sunday afternoon. The visitors started the game strongly, edging the first quarter 21 points to 18 led by big man Malik Cooke.
Durham’s Danny Huffor took the game to the visitors in the second period, leading his team into the locker room at half time winning the close contest by just one point. Game MVP Huffor, new to the Wildcats this season, impressed home supporters again with 16 first half points to give his team real belief that a first ever Wildcats win over Newcastle was more than possible.
The visitors however had other ideas, and a 17-6 run at the start of the third quarter saw the Eagles take a comfortable lead for the first time in the game. Following a Wildcats timeout, Durham gained the momentum once more to pull the game to within five points, but this was followed by another Eagles run that saw the visitors take a double digit lead late in the quarter.
Durham fought back to within six, as big man Mike Allison scored two key baskets in the final minute of the penultimate quarter to lift home spirits going into the final 10 minutes.
Charles Smith, who had been relatively quiet for the visitors throughout the games, came to life in the final 10 minutes making consecutive 3 pointers to all but end the contest.
Odiba Attah converted a number of chances for the Wildcats late on, but it was too little too late as the travelling supporters from Newcastle were left celebrating on the full time buzzer. The points leave Newcastle joint top of the table, while defeat for Durham leaves them looking nervously over their shoulder in 7th following wins for Cheshire (9th) and Glasgow (8th) over the weekend.
Coach Davie was disappointed not to get his team’s first ever win over their neighbours, “We started really well and worked hard to get the lead and felt we were in control of the game going into the half. In the third quarter we didn’t execute our game plan and when you play a team like Newcastle, you can’t make mistakes, or they will punish you.  Once they got a comfortable lead, it was always going to be very difficult for us to get back into the game.”
Davie was keen to praise the magnificent home support following the game, “the atmosphere today was something else, both sets of supporters were fantastic and kept the noise levels going throughout the contest. The home support this year has been great, but today was something else, despite the defeat, it was a very proud day for the club, and I hope we can repeat tonight’s atmosphere many times in the future.”
Coach Davie’s attention will now turn to next Sunday’s game at Glasgow Rocks, a team the Wildcats sit level on points with in the BBL table. “We have some extra time this week to prepare for next weekend’s game. Glasgow are a difficult team to play, but if we focus this week in training and work hard to correct our mistakes, I’m confident we can get back to winning ways”.
Durham are back in action at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre on Sunday 22nd December for their final game of 2013. Cheshire Phoenix will provide the opposition for third time this season, the ‘mini-serious’ is currently tied at 1-1. Tickets are available online now or directly from Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre. Tip-off on the 22nd is 4pm, doors open from 3pm.
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