Caledonia Gladiators fell to a 67 – 96 defeat against the Newcastle Eagles in the Super League Basketball Championship, in front of a sold-out crowd at Playsport.

The Gladiators made a positive start, matching Newcastle’s intensity in the opening quarter and showing good defensive energy to keep the game close. The Gladiators and Eagles fought hard in the first 10 minutes, with the first quarter ending tied at 17 each.

Newcastle took control in the second quarter, capitalising on strong shooting and defensive pressure to build a lead heading into halftime. That momentum carried into the third period, where a decisive scoring run from the Eagles stretched the gap further. Turnovers proved costly for the Gladiators, with Newcastle converting them into fast-break opportunities.

The Gladiators continued to compete throughout the second half, with solid effort on the boards and contributions from the bench but struggled to consistently convert offensively and particularly from three-point range. Newcastle’s dominance in the paint and overall efficiency ultimately proved the difference, as they maintained control to close out the game.

Despite the result, the backing of a packed home crowd remained strong throughout, with the Gladiators now turning their focus to the next fixture. The Gladiators will be back at home next Sunday as they take on Leicester Riders.