Game Report: Caledonia Gladiators 86 – 80 Manchester Giants

The Caledonia Gladiators edge the Manchester Giants in tense Sunday night British Basketball League clash.

However, thanks to game-sealing free throws from Patrick Whelan and Trent Buttrick, the Gladiators came away with an 86-80 win over the Giants at PlaySport.

Starting Five: 

Caledonia Gladiators starting five: Trent Buttrick, Ian Dubose, Patrick Whelan, Clifton Moore Jr., Lukas Palyza

Manchester Giants starting five: Legend Robertin, Jalen Harris, William Lee, Jamell Anderson, Nicholas Lewis

First Half:

The Gladiators entered Sunday’s contest hoping to stretch out their three-game winning streak.

Gareth Murray’s team are battling for second place with the Cheshire Phoenix and hoped to move one game closer to convincingly chasing the league-leading London Lions.

Their opponents, the Manchester Giants travelled to the Playsport Arena carrying some fresh momentum, after earning a close victory over the Surrey Scorchers on Thursday night.

A statement win in Scotland would go some way in inspiring a run for the playoffs.

The Gladiators set the pace from the opening minutes, with Lukas Palyza making a hot start. The Czech forward recorded six of his team’s first ten points, as they established an early seven point lead.

The Giants answered back swiftly however, as Jamell Anderson made impressive plays to edge in front by one at the end of the opening period.

Caledonia re-established their lead aggressively, as Ian Dubose and Clifton Moore Jr. attacked from all angles, both offering a threat from beyond the arc and underneath the basket.

The home side were missing centre Fahro Alihozic through injury, so required extra help on the boards. Trent Buttrick stepped up, picking up eight rebounds in the first half, to go along with his seven points.

Caledonia returned to the changing rooms in front, despite a strange performance from their lead scorer Patrick Whelan, who shot 0-5 in the first two quarters. Heading into the break, Gladiators led 44-38.

Second Half:

The Giants couldn’t have hoped for a better start to the second half. Four of their starting five scored in the first two minutes, put together a 7-0 run and found themselves in front. Whatever Brian Semonian said at half-time had the desired effect.

Manchester didn’t take their foot off the gas either, Anderson and William Lee forced their way to the bucket, imposing themselves on the game in a major way.

Nicholas Lewis put his own stamp on the contest too, rebounding the ball consistently and creating regular scoring opportunities.

Caledonia didn’t lose composure. Whelan rediscovered his offensive form in the final minutes of the third quarter, while Kyle Johnson offered a scoring punch from the bench.

Heading into the final ten minutes, the Gladiators were back up by two.

The lead went back and forth for the opening five minutes of the closing quarter, due to series of isolation plays from both sides.

Manchester’s Evan Walshe continuously cut to the basket with speed, while Trent Buttrick pounded his way through the low block to regain the edge.

With his forgettable first half in the rear view, Whelan took the reins for Caledonia down the stretch. Draining multiple shots from inside and out, while forcing his way to the charity stripe on numerous occasions.

Whelan’s contested trey with under three minutes remaining provided the Gladiators with a three-point advantage.

When Buttrick sunk a potential dagger to push the lead to six, Caledonia had a sense of renewed confidence, before Jalen Harris responded with a three of his own to bring it back to three.

William Lee was fouled, but he split his shots from the free throw line. Whelan – 84% for the season –  had no such problem, confidently making his foul shots on the other end.

An Anderson turnover and subsequent pair of converted Buttrick free throws brought an end to the game, which Caledonia won 86-80.

Player of the Game:

Tonight’s Player of the Game was Trent Buttrick, who scored 17 points, while also pulling down 12 rebounds and dishing out three assists.