Caledonia Gladiators got back to winning ways as a dominant third quarter propelled them to an 84-75 victory over the Surrey Scorchers. Despite missing Patrick Whelan, the hosts were able to get the win as Princeton Onwas' 17 point performance lead the way.
It was a game decided on the interior, as Surrey struggled to match the size that the Gladiators had on the floor. Caledonia scored 50 points in the paint, as they exploited their size advantage to devestating effect. Surrey's ten made three-pointers kept them in touch, but it wasn't enough in a game that they never lead.
A quick start for the Gladiators saw them establish a 5-0 lead early on. Padiet Wang elevated to stop the run and get the Scorchers on the board, but the visitors began slowly and by the mid-way point of the first quarter they trailed by nine, shooting just 2/6 from the field.
Following the commercial timeout the hosts extended their lead to eleven, but as it looked like the game might get out of hand the Scorchers hit back. Quin Cooper came off the bench and hit a three, which sparked a 7-0 run for the visitors. Caledonia weathered the storm and held a six-point lead at the end of the first.
Both teams made a slow start to the second quarter, making just one solitary field goal each in the opening three minutes of play. With Surrey struggling to make shots, Cooper came back into the game and made a corner three. However instead of sparking a comeback, it lead to a 7-1 run for the hosts and they went back up by 11 points.
Following a timeout by Lloyd Gardner, the Scorchers scored the next five points to stay in contention. With time about to expire, Lukas Palyza scored a floater to send the Gladiators to the locker room with an 8-point lead at half time.
In the third quarter the game took a decisive turn. Saiquan Jamison, after a scoreless first half, pulled the Scorchers back within five-points as he converted an and-one opportunity. However the Surrey offence malfunctioned after that.
They would go on to miss their next nine shots, whilst commiting numerous turnovers. Caledonia capitalised on their opponent's cold shooting, as they went on a 15-2 run to blow the game open.
Caledonia continued to dominate inside, with Clifton Moore Jr and Fahro Alihodzic doing most of the damage. They outscored the Scorchers 22-11 in the quarter, as they effectively put the game away with a 19-point lead heading into the fourth.
Despite the deficit, Surrey continued to battle and stuck to their task. Cooper sunk another three-pointer to open the quarter, but it was too little too late. Further three-balls from Elliot Bailey and Cam Gooden made the final 84-75 scoreline look a bit more respectable, but it was the Gladiators who would see out a comfortable win.
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