Caledonia Gladiators fell to a narrow 76–79 defeat against Newcastle Eagles at Playsport in their first Trophy outing, despite a spirited late surge and a standout performance from guard Kyle Jimenez. The Gladiators started strongly and looked comfortable early on, but Newcastle gradually took control through consistent scoring inside and a decisive advantage at the free-throw line, where they finished 24-of-28. Caledonia matched them on the boards and shot an impressive 40% from three, yet key moments down the stretch just slipped away.

Jimenez was outstanding throughout, producing a complete performance on both ends of the floor. He led all Gladiators scorers with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting, adding three rebounds, six assists and five steals in a display that drove The Gladiators’ offence and kept the team within reach whenever Newcastle threatened to break away. His energy and composure were central to the late fourth-quarter comeback attempt, which brought the home crowd to life as the gap closed to a single possession in the final minute.

The night also marked the debuts of new Gladiators Malcolm Delpeche and LJ Bryan, both showing encouraging signs in their first outing with the club. Bryan delivered seven points and four rebounds, bringing strength in the paint and a clear physical presence around the rim. Delpeche added valuable hustle minutes with four rebounds and plenty of energy on both ends, giving supporters a glimpse of what he will add as he settles into the system.

Despite the disappointment, there were real positives in the performance, from Jimenez’s brilliance to the immediate impact of the new arrivals. With growing depth and chemistry, the Gladiators will feel there is much more to come as the competition continues and that results like this could soon fall their way.

The Gladiators will head out on the road before coming back to Playsport for our Festive Double Header. The women will take on Newcastle Eagles at 2pm before the men take on London Lions at 5pm!

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