Bailey relying on team- mates to deliver cheer this Christmas

JEREMIAH BAILEY wants Caledonian Gladiators to deliver a win over Sheffield Sharks tonight and deliver the cheer he’s missing by spending Christmas 4000 miles from home.

The Scots could jump into the BBL’s top four if they can banish Wednesday’s nightmare Cup exit in Leicester with a rebound victory.

The Gladiators’ Stateside rookies are facing the tough prospect of being abroad for the first time with a busy fixture list.

But that’s a hit Alaskan- born Bailey insists he’s willing to take to build his basketball career.

He said: “I know I have to take that sacrifice and miss an opportunity to be with my loved ones.

“We’ll try to make the most of it through FaceTime, sharing that moment where we’re opening presents and going that extra mile to make it feel more like home.

“This is my job and it’s about knowing that, whenever my time is done in May or June, that’s when I can get back to my family.

“But when I see those pictures and see those videos, it will hit home that I’m not there for Christmas.

“In college, I got to go home for a day or two. This time around, I’m working. But if I’m going to have a long career. this is probably something I’m going to have to do again.”

Murray will demand a radical improvement from the 89- 68 Cup semi drubbing by Leicester in order to see off the Sharks and preserve Caledonia’s unbeaten home record.

“We played them twice and won but even in the Cup quarter- final, we lost a little bit of focus towards the end,” he said.

“Sheffield know how they play: they shoot the basketball well, they play tough defence, they make everything difficult for you.”