| Bradford Dragons opened their National Basketball League Division One campaign, with a home win (103-91) against newly promoted Nottingham McDonald’s Hoods, in the Dragons Den on Saturday evening. Despite being newcomers to the top flight, the Hoods do not intend being push overs this season and have already laid down their credentials by beating both Derby Trailblazers and Leicester Warriors in the National Trophy competition, their only defeat being against last seasons league champions, Loughborough Student Riders. |  |
Likewise, the Dragons have enjoyed a successful start to the season, with wins against Team Newcastle University and Manchester Magic in the Trophy competition, securing their place in January’s semi-finals.
Nottingham put the first points on the board, with their Slovakian forward, Andrej Slavik laying up for two. Cole Welle increased their lead from the free throw line, before Rihards Šulcs finally got Bradford off the mark with a layup of his own, whilst also drawing the foul and sinking the extra shot, to level the game at three-a-piece
Nottingham put the first points on the board, with their Slovakian forward, Andrej Slavik laying up for two. Cole Welle increased their lead from the free throw line, before Rihards Šulcs finally got Bradford off the mark with a layup of his own, whilst also drawing the foul and sinking the extra shot, to level the game at three-a-piece
| Welle again gave the Hoods the lead from another layup, but then, with just over two minutes of the game gone, Ricky Fetske bucketed a three-point jump shot to put the Dragons in front. Andreas Lycoudis then sank another three-pointer and Drexler Clark layed up to stretch the Dragons lead (11-5). With six minutes played, Clark sank from beyond the arc to put the Dragons eight up (16-8) but, within thirty seconds, the visitors had pulled back to within two. However, the Dragons then went on an unanswered ten-point scoring spree, to stretch their advantage to twelve, although Slavic had the final say of the quarter, sinking his two-point jump shot to cut the deficit to ten (26-16). |  |
Within two seconds of the restart, Allie Fullah was sent to the free throw line, following a foul by Slavic, and the Dragons lead was back to twelve. But the Slovakian made up for his misdemeanour by laying up at the other end. The Hoods pulled the deficit back to seven (30-23) two minutes into the second period. However, a spectacular dunk from Fullah triggered the home side back into action, and a further dunk from Clark and baskets from Jermayne Laing, Clark and Šulcs extended the gap to seventeen.
The two sides matched one another, almost shot for shot, through the rest of the quarter and the Dragons took a commanding fourteen-point lead back to the locker rooms at half-time.
The two sides matched one another, almost shot for shot, through the rest of the quarter and the Dragons took a commanding fourteen-point lead back to the locker rooms at half-time.
 | The third period opened at blistering pace, with layups from Slavic and Fetske within the first fifteen seconds. The opening three minutes of the half were evenly balanced, with the hosts maintaining their fourteen-point lead. But, as the game progressed, the Hoods found their rhythm and five minutes into the third, they had halved the deficit (66-59). Clark responded with another three-pointer, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Hoods rejuvenation and with 3:29 remaining in the quarter the scores were within two (69-67). Up stepped Clark again, sinking once more from distance, but the Hoods came back again. In the final minute of the quarter, the Dragons finally started to click and opened the gap back out to eight points. However, a buzzer beating lay-up from Nottingham’s Eddie Brownell, left the game precariously balanced at 80-74. |
Fetske opened the final quarter with a sweet three-pointer to settle the Dragons nerves and Šulcs followed up with a two. Gradually, the home side began to reimpose their advantage and, with six and half minutes remaining, Clark laid up to stretch the lead to sixteen (92-76). However, Clark landed badly and stumbled, falling straight into one of the shot clocks and requiring medical attention.
After a substantial delay in play, Joaquím Calvo was brought off the bench to replace the injured Clark. The delay seemed to have worked to Nottingham’s favour as first Euan James and then Luke Mitchell scored for the visitors. However, Laing replied with a layup and another dunk from Fullah put the hosts fifteen ahead, with exactly five minutes remaining (96-81).
After a substantial delay in play, Joaquím Calvo was brought off the bench to replace the injured Clark. The delay seemed to have worked to Nottingham’s favour as first Euan James and then Luke Mitchell scored for the visitors. However, Laing replied with a layup and another dunk from Fullah put the hosts fifteen ahead, with exactly five minutes remaining (96-81).
| The next three minutes saw a succession of missed shots, fouls and turnovers, with neither team being able to add to the scores. Fullah even saw another attempt at a dunk bounce back off the rim. It was during this period that the game saw it’s second extended delay, when Calvo faked his shot with Hoods’ veteran, Dave ‘Tintin’ Watts already airborne and the later rolled over the top of Calvo and fell awkwardly to the ground, with medical assistance once more required. |  |
After another lengthy delay, Watts was back on his feet, but unable to continue and once the claret had been cleared off the court the game resumed.
With just 2:17 on the clock, Aaron Maher sank first a three and then a two to pull the visitors back within striking distance. The Dragons reintroduced Clark to the game, but even he couldn’t stop the Hoods bringing the game to within seven points (98-91) with just over a minute of the game to play.
The Dragons stood firm and a couple of layups from Fetske and a single from the line by Šulcs closed the game out with a comfortable win (103-91).
With just 2:17 on the clock, Aaron Maher sank first a three and then a two to pull the visitors back within striking distance. The Dragons reintroduced Clark to the game, but even he couldn’t stop the Hoods bringing the game to within seven points (98-91) with just over a minute of the game to play.
The Dragons stood firm and a couple of layups from Fetske and a single from the line by Šulcs closed the game out with a comfortable win (103-91).
 | The official University of Bradford Player of the Game award went to Clark, who scored an impressive 33 point (77% shot percentage), also adding 7 assists to his statistics. “A lot of this goes towards my family back home and my teammates and coaching staff for giving me the confidence to play my game from the start,” Clark reflected. “I think we have a chance to surprise a lot of people this season and to achieve something really special, not only for the club but for the city as well.” |
Clark was well supported by Fetske, who contributed 29 personal points to the Dragons total and Šulcs who added a further 19 points. Top scorers for the Hoods were Welle with 21 points and Mitchell with 20 points.
Bradford’s Head Coach, Chris Mellor commented, “We had a decent lead at the half, but Nottingham had a good third quarter and we did a poor job, in the second half, securing defensive boards and taking care of the ball at times. We closed the game out well though in the last eight minutes and its nice to start with a win.”
The Dragons travel to Loughborough Student Riders next Saturday (13th October, Tip-off 6pm) for what will be the toughest test of the season to date. The action then returns to the Dragons Den on Sunday, when the Dragons entertain third division, Barking Abbey in the third round of the National Cup. Tip off in the Dragons Den is at 4:15pm and advance tickets are available on the club website.
Dragons Juniors suffered a disappointing weekend with the Under 14’s going down 64-27 at York Young Eagles on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, the under 16s faced a home double-header weekend, losing 67-96 against Newcastle Eagles on Saturday and then 75-85 against City of Edinburgh Kings the following day.
Photographs © Alex Daniel Photography
Bradford’s Head Coach, Chris Mellor commented, “We had a decent lead at the half, but Nottingham had a good third quarter and we did a poor job, in the second half, securing defensive boards and taking care of the ball at times. We closed the game out well though in the last eight minutes and its nice to start with a win.”
The Dragons travel to Loughborough Student Riders next Saturday (13th October, Tip-off 6pm) for what will be the toughest test of the season to date. The action then returns to the Dragons Den on Sunday, when the Dragons entertain third division, Barking Abbey in the third round of the National Cup. Tip off in the Dragons Den is at 4:15pm and advance tickets are available on the club website.
Dragons Juniors suffered a disappointing weekend with the Under 14’s going down 64-27 at York Young Eagles on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, the under 16s faced a home double-header weekend, losing 67-96 against Newcastle Eagles on Saturday and then 75-85 against City of Edinburgh Kings the following day.
Photographs © Alex Daniel Photography
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