Caledonia Gladiators’ SLB Trophy campaign came to a close with a 90–79 defeat on the road to the Sheffield Sharks at the Canon Medical Arena. Despite a committed comeback in the second half of action and strong individual performances, the Gladiators were unable to recover from a slow start as Sheffield used their physicality and pace to pull clear and control the contest.
The Sharks set the tone early, pushing the ball in transition and repeatedly finding success inside, taking a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter. Their ball movement proved effective, registering 25 assists by the end of the game, while the Gladiators struggled to limit second-chance and fast-break opportunities. A tough start offensively, the Gladiators would improve in the second half and end up shooting a respectable 45% from the field (62% from 2) and showed improved accuracy from beyond the arc, shooting 31% from 3.
Jett Speelman led the way offensively for the Gladiators with 23 points, attacking the rim with confidence and using his skill in the mid-range to keep the Gladiators in the game. After a slow start in the first half, Matthew Ragsdale would find his range in the final 20 minutes, finishing with 21 points to help the Gladiators to a stronger second half. Kyle Jimenez played the full 40 minutes due to injuries reducing the availability in the rotation, orchestrating the offence and finishing with seven points and 15 assists, continuing to lead from the front despite the challenging circumstances, while Lloyd Alvin Bryan Jr contributed 11 points and presence in the paint.
From the bench, Captain Fraser Malcolm provided energy and scoring with 12 points, while the Gladiators continued to fight until the final buzzer, cutting the deficit late but unable to close the gap completely. Sheffield’s depth and efficiency ultimately told, with the hosts holding firm in the closing minutes to seal the win.
While the result brings the SLB Trophy journey to an end, the performance once again highlighted the resilience within the Gladiators group and the building chemistry across the roster. With the Trophy campaign concluded, attention now turns fully to league action as the Gladiators look to carry lessons learned into the remainder of the season.
The Gladiators will be back home next Sunday to take on the London Lions in our Festive Double Header at Playsport but will first head to Bristol on Friday the 19th of December to continue their SLB Championship campaign.
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