Gladiators Rally Late, Edge Scorchers 105-103 on Sharma's Clutch Three
Sharma's Late Heroics Lift Barcelona in Thriller
BARCELONA – The Barcelona Gladiators secured a nail-biting 105-103 victory over the Phoenix Scorchers Tuesday night, a win that felt earned through sheer grit and a crucial late-game surge that captivated the home crowd. In a contest that swung back and forth throughout the final quarter, it was Priya Sharma’s deep three-pointer with under a minute remaining that ultimately sealed the deal for Barcelona, pushing them to 3-1 in the February season standings.
The Phoenix Scorchers, led by a dominant performance from Mikael Svensson, controlled much of the first half, building a lead through aggressive play and efficient scoring. Svensson was a force inside, gobbling up rebounds and posing a constant threat. However, the Gladiators, despite a shaky shooting night from beyond the arc, found ways to stay in the game, relying on their superior rebounding and a balanced scoring attack.
The second half saw Barcelona chip away at the deficit. Daniel Green provided a significant spark off the bench, knocking down timely jumpers. Freya Lindqvist and Marco Bianchi were instrumental in controlling the glass, ensuring the Gladiators had second-chance opportunities. The game reached a fever pitch in the final five minutes, with both teams trading baskets.
With the score tied in the closing moments, Sharma, who had been steady all evening, found herself with an open look from downtown and drained the go-ahead triple. The Scorchers had one final chance, but a determined defensive stand by Barcelona forced a turnover, securing the hard-fought win.
“We knew this would be a tough one,” said Gladiators coach Javier Rodriguez. “Phoenix is a good team, and Svensson was incredible. But our fight, our resilience, that’s what won us this game. Priya stepping up like that, that’s what champions do.”
Sharma, who finished with 21 points and 6 assists, was succinct. “The team trusted me, and I took the shot. That’s all there is to it. We needed this win.”
Key Notes:
- Mikael Svensson led all scorers with 26 points and grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds.
- Barcelona outrebounded Phoenix 61-54, including 18 offensive boards.
- Priya Sharma recorded 21 points and 6 assists for the Gladiators.
- The Gladiators’ free-throw shooting was a concern, converting just 11 of 21 attempts (52.4%).