JETS secured a semi-final spot in the BBL Cup with a hard-earned victory over Newcastle on Sunday, ending a sequence of five consecutive home defeats to Eagles.

The losing streak began 19 months ago in March 2003 and included a Newcastle win in this same competition a year ago.

However, Jets have now rid themselves of that particular jinx and will challenge Scottish Rocks at Sheffield's Ponds Forge Arena on Sunday, November 28, for a place in the final (5pm). The other semi will be between Milton Keynes and Brighton (3pm).

Coach Paul Smith said: 'It's gone down to the wire for the last couple of games but what else would you expect from Jets? We looked at how Newcastle play and they've been averaging 100 points a game, so we wanted to slow them down. I used all eight players tonight and they all made a contribution.

'We'll certainly be among the favourites to win the cup now but we know that doesn't count for anything. We'll keep building and keep our feet on the ground, but I am aware that Jets are not just there to make up the numbers. We're in the business of winning trophies. It's a tradition that Robbie Peers started and which I want to carry on.'

Jets started sluggishly and found themselves 6-0 down early on. But instead of panicking and calling a timeout, Smith allowed his side to play themselves out of trouble and an 8-0 burst saw them go ahead.

Eagles' hugely-talented guards TJ Walker and Jeremy Hyatt were being kept as much under wraps as is actually possible as Jets led 20-17 at the end of the first quarter.

Shawn Myers dominated proceedings in the second, hitting 10 points including a couple of showcase manoeuvres.

The Trinidadian showed his explosiveness under the basket with a brace of one-handed dunks, the first coming from a Trey Moore alley-oop, as Jets were 43-37 up at the interval.

However, with Hyatt finally finding his three-point range in the second half, Eagles edged themselves to within a point going into the final period (61-60).

It looked like overtime might be on the cards for the third occasion this season at the North-gate, but Eagles player-coach Fabulous Flournoy fouled out as a series of further infringements from the rest of his players cost the visitors dearly late on.

Jets had struggled from the free-throw line early on but held their nerve in the fourth to wrap things up in a messy finale, with the now-departed Theo Dixon also fouling out.

Jets' scorers: Moore (23); Myers (18); Davis & Dixon (both 13); Singleton (8); Martin (5); Murphy (3); Simpson (2).