Colchester Gladiators' basketball team beat Forest Green Harriers 77-47 to make it five wins out of five and stay top of Suffolk Senior League division two.

Their dominant second-half performance put newly-promoted Harriers firmly in their place.

The Gladiators trailed early and struggled to find their rhythm.

But top-scorer Dan Vilkys accounted for eight of his team’s 13 first points to keep them in touch, at the end of the first period.

Vilkys also hit a three-pointer to open the second and a 9-0 run put the Gladiators in front.

Rhett Burton and Richard Ese gave Vilkys scoring support but the Harriers hit two threes, to level the scores going in to half-time.

The injured Stuart Stearns stepped in as coach in the absence of Lawrence Walker and made a strategic adjustment during the interval.

This proved to be key to the Gladiators winning the game.

Harriers sneaked ahead 31-29 but a 10-0 run put the Gladiators ahead for good.

And excellent defence along with accurate shooting enabled the Gladiators to totally dominate the third period.

Vilkys scored 14 points in the quarter and when Burton sunk another three to start a 12-0 run, the game was out of reach.

The Gladiators were not going to let a healthy lead slip and with the Gladiators continuing to play exceptional defence, the Harriers were successful with only four shots in the whole quarter.

Andis Leitis led the team in scoring in the final period ably supported by Ese and Zidrunas Valancius and they ran out comfortable winners.

The Gladiators host Leiston Lynx at Colchester Academy Sports Centre next Wednesday (November 13), tip-off 8.15pm.

Gladiators Ladies team continue to train at Colchester Academy Sports Centre on Wednesdays from 8pm and are still looking for new players.

Contact the sports centre or visit www.colchestergladiators.com or email basketball@colchestergladiators.org.uk for more information.