Rebels Shine on the Road to Defeat Newcastle

The Essex Rebels delivered a dominant performance on the road, securing a convincing 81-67 victory against the Newcastle Knights.

From the opening tip, the Rebels showcased their superior teamwork and relentless energy, setting the tone with a scorching 19-8 first quarter. Connor Nelson led the Rebels with an impressive 20-point performance, showcasing precision from the perimeter. Joe Hart provided a spark off the bench, contributing 14 points and 7 assists, showcasing the depth and versatility of the Rebels’ lineup.

Defensively, Essex shut down the Knights from the start, disrupting Newcastle’s offense and putting them in a constant chase. The Rebels were especially dominant in the second quarter, limiting the Knights to just 10 points and converting turnovers into a commanding 42-18 halftime advantage.

Newcastle came out strong in the second half, finding some offensive rhythm and making brief runs, but the Rebels remained steady. They absorbed the pressure, regained control, and managed the game well to close out the victory.

With this victory, Essex improves to 5-4 on the season, building valuable momentum as they push up the standings to close out 2024.

Head Coach Ross Norfolk expressed his satisfaction with the team’s effort, saying:

Head Coach Ross Norfolk was happy with the teams performance, ”Really happy with how we started, considering our long journey. We set the tone early and were able to stamp our defensive mark on the game. It was great to have some players back from injury which helped with our balance throughout the game.”

The Essex Rebels will be back at the Essex Sport Arena with a huge game this Friday, 13 December, as they will compete in the SLB (Super League Basketball) Cup against the Bristol Flyers. The following day, 14 December, they will take on the Bristol Hurricanes in a big NBL match up. Tickets for both games are still available.

Picture credit: Joel Tshiunza