Photo’s by Emma McKinnon
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The Caledonia Gladiators women’s team headed down to Newcastle, hoping to replicate the success seen last night by the men’s team against the Eagles. However, it wouldn’t be there night as the Gladiators would fall to the hot Newcastle team away on the road. A tough 81 – 66 on the road for the Gladiators who will look to bounce back next weekend at home against Manchester Basketball.
The Gladiators would start the game strong, battling hard against the strong Eagles team. A back-and-forth quarter would end with the Newcastle Eagles taking the early 1-point lead in front of their home crowd. The Eagles would take the quick lead after tip, going up 7 – 2 within the first 3 minutes of the game but the Gladiators would answer back, tying the game within the first 5 minutes. The quarter would continue with the two teams trading baskets. The Gladiators would struggle from three in the first quarter, scoring the majority of their points from under the basket. The score at the end of the first quarter was 18 – 17 to the Newcastle Eagles.
The Gladiators would struggle in the second quarter, only being able to put up 9 points against Newcastle’s 23-points. The Gladiators looked out of sync during the 10 minutes of the second quarter, unable to find their rhythm against a tough Eagles defence, committing 7 turnovers and struggling both beyond the three-point line and under the basket. After a tough second quarter, the Gladiators would find themselves trailing the Eagles by 15 at the half.
The half-time score was 41 – 26 to the Newcastle Eagles.
The Gladiators wouldn’t let the second quarter define their game, coming out of the half-time break. With both teams coming out strong, the Gladiators were able to cut the lead down to 6 in the first five minutes of the quarter. However, the Eagles would regain their lead by the end of the quarter, entering the final 10 minutes of the game up by 14-points. Both teams would struggle from three. Despite the strong quarter for the Gladiators, they were unable to reduce the deficit from the second quarter and would enter the final quarter with a tough hill to climb. The score at the end of the third was 65 – 51 to Newcastle.
Both teams continued their strong third quarter performance into the fourth, with another tight quarter between to two. Unfortunately, it would be too late for the Gladiators to make up the ground from the first half, and they would ultimately fall to the Eagles by 15-points, 81 – 66. A tough game for the Gladiators on the road this evening, but lots to learn and grow from as they refocus on their home game next weekend against Manchester Basketball.
