Ahead of his side’s Friday night clash with Guildford Heat, Newcastle Eagles boss, Fabulous Flournoy, has nothing but positive vibes about his side’s progress at the moment.

Despite struggling as of late, in 9th place, the Heat beat the Eagles earlier in the season 102-98. However, Newcastle snuck an 82-75 win in the second encounter, their last game before Christmas on December 27th.

The Eagles will be missing the services of promising youngster Aaron Nilsen through injury, and play three games in seven days. They comfortably overcame EBL Division One side, Reading Rockets, in the BBL Trophy last night, but Flournoy had no doubt that the rest of this week’s fixtures will stretch his team. He said: ‘This week will be a huge test of our team. On Friday, we play the Heat, who have already beaten us in our first meeting and pushed us to the end the last time we meet.’

Both sides had victories over PAWS London Capital last weekend, and Flournoy took his hat off to Charles Smith, Lynard Stewart and Jamie Glen for their efforts in the game. He added: ‘Last week, we played well. London played very well and it was only in the second half where we pulled away. We had a total team effort with all players playing well; I just want it to carry on into this week. Also Joe (Chapman), Charles (Smith), Lynard (Stewart), and young Brit Jamie Glenn where our stand out players last week.’

Friday’s BBL Championship action is capped off by a head-to-head decider between Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders and Everton Tigers, and Riders coach Rob Paternostro expects a tough time from the Tigers, in what could be a crucial game in deciding playoff places. He commented: ‘Friday at Everton will be a tough game. Last time we went up there they got ahead of us early and they were able to hold us off right at the end of the game. We can’t afford to have a slow start again.’

This weekend is the fourth weekend out of five where the Riders will be playing back-to-back games, but the charismatic Connecticut native said he had nothing to complain about at the moment, saluting the performances of Lataryl Williams and Shaun Durant in last Saturday’s 100-86 defeat of Marshall MK Lions. He concluded: ‘This weekend is the third weekend in a row where we will be playing back-to back games, and fourth out of five. I’m not sure I can remember ever doing that before, but we are feeling good right now. We have a lot of depth and have shown that we can play with a lot of energy in the back to backs. We are getting contributions from all nine players. I thought Lataryl Williams and Shaun Durant really played well last Saturday. Lataryl played with a lot of energy and Shaun was a monster on the boards. I also thought our bench (Tony Windless, Duane James, Aaron Westbrooks and Barry Lamble) were significant contributors, with twenty seven points and some really good defence.

Before these crucial league fixtures however, is a BBL Trophy Quarter Final clash involving Glasgow Rocks and Everton Tigers at Kelvin Hall.