| A devastating second quarter cost Bradford Dragons the game, as they went down 80-67 at Reading Rockets on Saturday evening. Bradford kept it tight in the opening period of play, trailing by a single point, 19-18, going into the initial break. However, the hosts restricted the travelling Dragons to only 5 points in the second quarter and as the teams went back to the locker room Reading held a massive twenty point advantage, at 23-43. |
It certainly couldn’t get any worse for the Dragons and, following coach Mellor’s half time team talk, they regrouped for the second half of the game. A much more balanced third period of play saw the Rockets again increase their lead, though only by a solitary point, going into the final phase of the game at 62-41.
Whilst the home side had the game in the bag, Bradford worked hard, in the final quarter, to make the score more respectable. However, a second loss on the road in successive weekends, leaves the Dragons now two points adrift of the final playoff position.
Canadian shooting guard, John Bantock, who has struggled to find his consistency this season, put in a confidence boosting performance, top scoring for the Dragons with 15 points. American point guard, J.P. Davis added 13 points to Bradford’s total, whilst Latvian Rihards Sulcs saw the game out with 11 points.
Head Coach, Chris Mellor said after the game, “We had an awful second quarter and it was always going to be a tall order to come back from twenty points down. We were better after the interval, but never really threatened to get close.
Reading shot the ball well and we did a poor job of containing the dribble.”
In other results for the Dragons, the under 14’s took all four quarters at local rivals Leeds Force, finishing the game with a twenty-nine point victory, 67-96. The under 16’s were also away, against City of Birmingham, on Sunday afternoon, coming away with a 59-68 victory.
Whilst the home side had the game in the bag, Bradford worked hard, in the final quarter, to make the score more respectable. However, a second loss on the road in successive weekends, leaves the Dragons now two points adrift of the final playoff position.
Canadian shooting guard, John Bantock, who has struggled to find his consistency this season, put in a confidence boosting performance, top scoring for the Dragons with 15 points. American point guard, J.P. Davis added 13 points to Bradford’s total, whilst Latvian Rihards Sulcs saw the game out with 11 points.
Head Coach, Chris Mellor said after the game, “We had an awful second quarter and it was always going to be a tall order to come back from twenty points down. We were better after the interval, but never really threatened to get close.
Reading shot the ball well and we did a poor job of containing the dribble.”
In other results for the Dragons, the under 14’s took all four quarters at local rivals Leeds Force, finishing the game with a twenty-nine point victory, 67-96. The under 16’s were also away, against City of Birmingham, on Sunday afternoon, coming away with a 59-68 victory.
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