Newcastle Eagles complete clean sweep with victory in BBL Playoff Final

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/may/10/newcastle-eagles-clean-sweep-bbl-playoff-final

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Newcastle Eagles completed a clean sweep of domestic honours yet again when they eased to a 96-84 win over London Lions in the BBL play-off final.

Charles Smith scored 24 points and Rahmon Fletcher 23 with nine assists after the Eagles dominated the second and third quarters in front of 14,700 fans at The O2. The Lions rallied in the fourth quarter but could not get close.

It is the second time the Eagles have completed the clean sweep of BBL Cup, Trophy, Championship and play-off final in the last four years and the seventh time their player-coach, Fab Flournoy – unable to play through injury – has won this trophy.

Flournoy, whose playing future is uncertain after a serious achilles injury at the age of 42, is the most decorated coach in the competition’s history.

Drew Sullivan, the Great Britain captain, scored 27 points against his former club but was unable to add to his four previous titles.

“Newcastle have had a great season,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for what they’ve done, and I was lucky before to be part of it.”