Caledonia Gladiators fell to a 80 –114 defeat against the Cheshire Phoenix in Super League Basketball Championship action at a packed PlaySport Arena.

In front of a full arena, the Gladiators started brightly and matched Cheshire’s intensity early on. The Gladiators edged the opening quarter 22 – 19, moving the ball well and finding scoring opportunities both inside and from the perimeter.

The visitors responded in the second quarter, gradually increasing the tempo and attacking the paint effectively. Despite the shift in momentum, the Gladiators remained competitive throughout the first half and kept the game within reach, heading into halftime trailing 41 – 46.

The decisive moment came after the break as Cheshire produced a huge third quarter, scoring 38 points while limiting the Gladiators to just 16. That scoring burst allowed the visitors to quickly extend their advantage and take firm control of the game.

Cheshire maintained their momentum in the final period, adding another 30 points to close out the contest and secure the 80 – 114 win on the road.

Despite the result, the strong first-half showing and the atmosphere inside a full Playsport Arena highlighted the continued support behind the Gladiators as they look ahead to their next Championship fixture on Mother’s Day against the Leicester Riders.