 | A depleted Bradford Dragons team travelled to the division one favourites, Kent Crusaders, on Saturday evening but, despite putting up a valiant effort, they came away at the wrong end of a 79-76 score-line. |
Bradford were without the services of both American big-man Chis McGrew and Polish point-guard Maciek Koskiuk through injury, whilst Ryan Holmes was also left at home suffering with a virus. With Spaniard Miguel Lorenzo still away on study leave, the travelling side were left with a squad of only 8 players to make the long distance trip down to the Garden of England.
The scores were tied at 18 apiece at the end of the first quarter, but the Dragons led by 2 points (32-34) when the teams went back to the locker rooms at half time.
The scores were tied at 18 apiece at the end of the first quarter, but the Dragons led by 2 points (32-34) when the teams went back to the locker rooms at half time.
Despite the home side opening up a five point lead, mid-way through the penultimate period, the visitors pulled it back again to go into the final period with a single point advantage, at 55-56.
However, in the final and deciding quarter of the game, it was the Southern side that got themselves into the driving seat and, despite the Dragons keeping the score close, they couldn’t quite do enough to snatch the win.
Dragons’ captain, Vance Silcott put in another man-of-the-match performance, scoring 22 points and taking 12 rebounds, whilst J.P. Davis added 17 points and veteran Jason Swaine scored 14 points, which included 4 of his trademark three-pointers.
Bradford’s head coach, Chris Mellor, said “We put ourselves in a good position after three quarters, but in the last ten minutes we were always playing catch up by a few points. Every time we got close they managed to come up with a basket and we had some sloppy turnovers which hurt us. They played well though and are as tough as anyone in this league.”
Dragons face another tough fixture next weekend, when they travel to Reading Rockets, for the reverse of this season’s opening league fixture.
The first silverware of the 2014/15 season was handed out on Sunday afternoon, with Manchester Magic beating next weeks opponents, Reading Rockets, 74-63 in the National Cup final, played in Sheffield.
Elsewhere for the Dragons, the under 16’s beat Team Birmingham 88-64 on Saturday morning, but then lost out, 81-95, against Sheffield Junior Saints on Sunday afternoon. The under 14’s faced Kilamarsh Derbyshire Arrows in a mid-day tip-off on Saturday, with the Dragons running away with a 121-35 victory.
However, in the final and deciding quarter of the game, it was the Southern side that got themselves into the driving seat and, despite the Dragons keeping the score close, they couldn’t quite do enough to snatch the win.
Dragons’ captain, Vance Silcott put in another man-of-the-match performance, scoring 22 points and taking 12 rebounds, whilst J.P. Davis added 17 points and veteran Jason Swaine scored 14 points, which included 4 of his trademark three-pointers.
Bradford’s head coach, Chris Mellor, said “We put ourselves in a good position after three quarters, but in the last ten minutes we were always playing catch up by a few points. Every time we got close they managed to come up with a basket and we had some sloppy turnovers which hurt us. They played well though and are as tough as anyone in this league.”
Dragons face another tough fixture next weekend, when they travel to Reading Rockets, for the reverse of this season’s opening league fixture.
The first silverware of the 2014/15 season was handed out on Sunday afternoon, with Manchester Magic beating next weeks opponents, Reading Rockets, 74-63 in the National Cup final, played in Sheffield.
Elsewhere for the Dragons, the under 16’s beat Team Birmingham 88-64 on Saturday morning, but then lost out, 81-95, against Sheffield Junior Saints on Sunday afternoon. The under 14’s faced Kilamarsh Derbyshire Arrows in a mid-day tip-off on Saturday, with the Dragons running away with a 121-35 victory.
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