Caledonia Gladiators were beaten 73–86 by the Surrey 89ers at Playsport on Sunday, 11 January, as a busy home crowd gathered for the team’s first outing of 2026. Despite a close first half of action, the visitors would begin to slowly separate themselves from the Gladiators, eventually taking the 13-point win.

The Gladiators started the contest with energy and intent, moving the ball effectively and pushing the tempo early. Strong offence in the opening period saw The Gladiators take a 23–19 lead after the first quarter, giving the home support plenty to get behind. A strong start from guard Ria’n Holland, with 11-points in the first 10 minutes of the game, who was back in the starting line-up for the first time since his brief injury.

Surrey responded in the second quarter, increasing their physicality on both ends of the floor. While the Gladiators continued to compete, the visitors found greater consistency in their scoring to take the quarter and edge into a narrow halftime lead. The 89ers came back to take the 1-point lead entering the half time break behind Tyrin Lawrence’s 16 points by the end of the first half.

Momentum swung in Surrey’s favour after the break. A strong third-quarter performance allowed the 89ers to stretch their advantage, capitalising on defensive pressure and converting at a higher rate. The Gladiators battled to stay within reach but entered the final period facing a growing deficit. Despite the deficit increasing, the Gladiators remained within two possessions with the score entering the final quarter of action being 55 – 61 to the Surrey 89ers.

The Gladiators showed resilience in the fourth quarter, continuing to fight and look for scoring opportunities, but Surrey managed the closing stages effectively to secure an 86–73 victory on the road.

Ria’n Holland delivered a standout all-around performance for the Gladiators, finishing with 32 points and making a significant impact defensively with 5 steals. Ethan Wright provided valuable support with 16 points and 6 rebounds, while LJ Bryan added 8 points and 8 rebounds in a physical battle inside.

Despite the result, the Gladiators were backed by a strong Playsport crowd and will now turn their attention to their next Super League Basketball Championship fixture at home vs Cheshire Phoenix on Friday the 30^th of January.