The Gladiators would have a double gameday, with the men kicking it off on the road against Manchester Basketball, and the women defending home court against Essex Rebels. Both games would come down to the final buzzer with the men taking home a one-point win and the women securing a two-point win after a strong comeback in the second half.
Caledonia Gladiators 84 – 83 Manchester Basketball
The Gladiators men edged out a thrilling 84–83 victory on the road against Manchester Basketball, holding their nerve in a tightly contested Championship clash at the National Basketball Performance Centre.
The Gladiators men kicked off the game with an unbelievable 16 – 2 run, taking complete control early in enemy territory. The momentum would continue into the second quarter, with the Gladiators finding themselves in the driver’s seat by half-time, up by 15-points.
Manchester would fight their way back with a 28-point third quarter, taking their first lead of the game. The game swung back and forth throughout, with neither side able to build a decisive lead. Caledonia stayed composed down the stretch, executing at both ends in the closing moments to secure the one-point win.
A major spark came from the bench, as today’s MVP Daniel Carr delivered a standout performance with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in just 12 minutes, providing key energy and impact at crucial moments.
Efficient shooting, strong interior scoring and timely defensive stops allowed the Gladiators to come away with a valuable away victory.
Caledonia Gladiators 74 – 72 Essex Rebels
The second win of the day would occur on home court, as the women fought a tough battle against the Essex Rebels, taking a narrow victory in front of a loud Playsport Arena.
A challenging start to the game for the Gladiators as they would allow the Essex Rebels to get a strong foothold, being down 11-points by the half-time break.
The Gladiators game back after half-time with a newfound determination and focus, tying the game by the end of the third quarter at 54 a piece, with the crowd were behind the team every step of the way. The contest remained close heading into the final quarter, where Caledonia delivered crucial stops and executed at the free-throw line to edge ahead. Strong teamwork and disciplined defence in the closing moments ensured the Gladiators held on to claim an important two-point win in front of the home crowd.
The Gladiators women will be back in action next week as they head to Sheffield for a crucial game against the Sheffield Hatters in the SLB Cup Semi-Final on Monday the 16th of February. The men will once again take the court at Playsport to play Sheffield Sharks the following Friday, 20th of February. Lots of SLB action this month, grab your ticket now to not miss a basket!
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