Caledonia Gladiators Men were defeated 76 – 101 by Cheshire Phoenix at Playsport in Friday night Super League Basketball Championship action.

The visitors set the tone early, using sharp shooting and a strong presence in the paint to build momentum in the opening quarter. The Gladiators battled to stay in touch through periods of physical defence and transition play, but Cheshire continued to find consistent scoring options and carried a commanding advantage into the half. The Gladiators would keep the game close in two of the four quarters of action but were unable to bring the game back in front of their home fans.

The Gladiators showed improved intensity after the break, moving the ball more effectively and matching Cheshire’s energy for spells in the second half. However, the Phoenix maintained control, dominating inside and capitalising on second-chance opportunities to keep the gap firmly in their favour.

Ria’n Holland led the scoring for the Gladiators with 18 points, while LJ Bryan added 17 and worked hard at both ends. Matthew Ragsdale and Ethan Wright also made solid contributions as the Gladiators competed until the final buzzer.

The Gladiators will now look to take positives from the performance and refocus as they continue their Championship campaign. The Gladiators will be back in action next weekend on the road as they head down to face Manchester at the National Basketball Performance Centre