Jackson makes Eagles soar as Sharks slip up

 REGGIE Jackson was in superb form as Newcastle Eagles closed the gap at the top of the table to just two points as Sheffield Sharks crashed to Everton Tigers.

Jackson hit 22 points, a feat matched by team-mate Joe Chapman, while Darius Defoe chipped in with 15 as the Eagles soared to a resounding 97-46 victory over the Essex Pirates.

From 3-2 down early on, the Eagles went on scoring streaks of eight and then nine without reply to lead 25-11 after ten minutes and from there they didn't look back.

And they were 27 points to the good and cruising at the half-time interval after skipper Andrew Bridge hit a three-pointer on the buzzer.

The Pirates were slightly improved at the start of the second half but Jackson was on target with three consecutive three-pointers to put his side 30 points to the good.  That soon increased to 40 with Bridge and Chapman coming to the fore.

They were relentless until the final whistle as they fell just short of reaching a century but they prevented Essex from reaching 50 points with a thoroughly emphatic win.

That win moved the Eagles to within just two points of league leaders Sheffield as the Tigers chalked up an impressive 73-61 win at the Echo Arena.

A superb defensive display from the Tigers held the Sharks to just 12 points in the final quarter as Flo Larkai led the scorers with 26 points.

In the first league meeting of the season between the two teams it was Everton who began brightest. Olu Babalola scored seven points in a nine-point blitz as it took Sheffield until 6.26 minutes left in the quarter to get on the scoreboard.

The Sharks, led by Mike Cook, came back to level the scores at 11-11 but it was the hosts who retook the initiative to lead 19-15.

Larkai was then instrumental in Everton's second quarter, bagging 13 points to put the hosts up by seven at half-time.

The Sharks responded well and when Todd Cauthorn drained an excellent three pointer the gap was just two.

But that kicked Everton into life and back-to-back three-pointers from Babalola ensured the Tigers stood firm for a particularly impressive victory.

In the other game in Friday night, Marshall MK Lions left it until the final second to secure a 98-97 win over Guildford Heat.

The hosts had roared into an 18-point lead but looked as if they had blown their advantage, only for Robert Youngblood to keep cool and net a free-throw at the death to seal the win.