By Rob Dugdale

Guildford coach James led Heat to their first Trophy win

Daniel Gilbert and EJ Harrison hit 25 points each as the Guildford Heat beat the Newcastle Eagles 86-79 in the BBL Trophy final at Plymouth.

The Eagles, led by 26 points from Lynard Stewart, were 47-35 up at half-time but were unable to hold on.

Harrison hit 10 of his points in a tense final quarter and Gilbert's three in the last minute proved decisive.

The Heat did the league and cup double last season but the Trophy is their first silverware of 2007/08.

Guildford Heat coach Paul James never thought the game was lost, despite trailing by 12 points at half-time.

He said: "We were never out of it but I felt we had to get back into it pretty sharpish, which we did.

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"It was a great effort from the team. (Bench players) John Nottley and Chi Lewis-Perry came on and gave us the spark."

Guildford won the first quarter 21-20 but fell behind early in the second as Stewart his 10 points and drew crucial fouls from Heat veteran forward Tony Dorsey.

But Gilbert, Harrison and young guard James Jones led the fightback, with Heat skipper Mike Martin dominating the rebounds.

After taking the lead on a Jones three-pointer with five minutes remaining of the third quarter, Guildford lost the lead again in the opening salvos of the fourth.

But Harrison and Gilbert took command in the final eight minutes as Newcastle missed crucial shots.

The defeat is Newcastle's second final loss of the season, after their defeat to Milton Keynes in January's cup final.

Guildford, who won the league last season and are lying third at present, still have to play leaders Newcastle twice more before the end of the regular season.