Bradford Dragons made the long, arduous journey down to the South Coast, on Saturday, to face Worthing Thunder in a crucial National Basketball League Division One match up. With the Dragons sitting just one place below Worthing in the league table, and just outside of the play off places, this was a game that both teams needed to win, but it was Bradford that travelled home with the points, following an 86-98 victory.
The Dragons started the game slowly, allowing the home side to take a six point lead into the first break (20-14). Despite the play balancing out in the second quarter, Worthing increased their advantage to seven, going into half-time with the scores at 44-37.
Whatever the Bradford head coach, Chris Mellor, said to his team during the interval it certainly did the trick, as the Dragons turned on the style in the second half. By the end of the penultimate quarter the scores had been turned on their head and the visitors now held a four point advantage, at 65-69.
The Dragons started the game slowly, allowing the home side to take a six point lead into the first break (20-14). Despite the play balancing out in the second quarter, Worthing increased their advantage to seven, going into half-time with the scores at 44-37.
Whatever the Bradford head coach, Chris Mellor, said to his team during the interval it certainly did the trick, as the Dragons turned on the style in the second half. By the end of the penultimate quarter the scores had been turned on their head and the visitors now held a four point advantage, at 65-69.
Bradford stretched that advantage further in the final quarter, taking the well-deserved 86-98 victory and keeping their hopes of play off qualification well and truly alive.
American point guard, Jeremee J.P. Davis top scored for the Dragons with 27 points, ably supported by Rihards Sulcs and Miguel Lorenzo, who scored 23 points and 17 points respectively.
Following the victory, coach Mellor said, “It’s a huge win for us and keeps us in with a shot at the play offs. We weren’t good in the first half – we played soft defensively and made poor decisions offensively – but I thought we played really well in the second half. Our defence created a lot of fast break opportunities and we played smart and under control in the final five minutes to see the game out.”
Worthing went on to beat league leaders Essex Leopards on Sunday, keeping them just above Bradford in the table, however a defeat for Leicester Warriors at Tees Valley Mohawks moves Bradford into the final play off place.
Dragons’ final league game of the season takes place next Saturday evening at the Amaechi Basketball Centre in Manchester, the home of Manchester Magic. A Bradford victory would leave them in a commanding position, however they may have to wait until the following weekend to find out if they have qualified, due to other teams having games in hand.
Elsewhere for the Dragons, the under 16’s finished their regular season games with an 80-73 defeat at Cheshire Wire, leaving them fifth in the table and facing an away game in the first round of the playoffs.
The under 14’s celebrated a double victory, following up a 119-43 home win against Leeds Tigers, on Saturday morning, with an away triumph at Tees Valley Mohawks, 33-100, on Sunday. These results mean that the under 14’s finish second in their table and will have home advantage in their opening playoff game.
American point guard, Jeremee J.P. Davis top scored for the Dragons with 27 points, ably supported by Rihards Sulcs and Miguel Lorenzo, who scored 23 points and 17 points respectively.
Following the victory, coach Mellor said, “It’s a huge win for us and keeps us in with a shot at the play offs. We weren’t good in the first half – we played soft defensively and made poor decisions offensively – but I thought we played really well in the second half. Our defence created a lot of fast break opportunities and we played smart and under control in the final five minutes to see the game out.”
Worthing went on to beat league leaders Essex Leopards on Sunday, keeping them just above Bradford in the table, however a defeat for Leicester Warriors at Tees Valley Mohawks moves Bradford into the final play off place.
Dragons’ final league game of the season takes place next Saturday evening at the Amaechi Basketball Centre in Manchester, the home of Manchester Magic. A Bradford victory would leave them in a commanding position, however they may have to wait until the following weekend to find out if they have qualified, due to other teams having games in hand.
Elsewhere for the Dragons, the under 16’s finished their regular season games with an 80-73 defeat at Cheshire Wire, leaving them fifth in the table and facing an away game in the first round of the playoffs.
The under 14’s celebrated a double victory, following up a 119-43 home win against Leeds Tigers, on Saturday morning, with an away triumph at Tees Valley Mohawks, 33-100, on Sunday. These results mean that the under 14’s finish second in their table and will have home advantage in their opening playoff game.
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